The
liberty north high school
Eagle’s View Volume 9 Issue 5
LGBTQ+ PG. 13
of Table contents EV
news 4
Government Shutdown Over
eagle's life 6 8
Support Animals at North Mind over Matter
4
6
sports 10
The Starting Five
indepth 13
13
LGBT+ Community
lifestyle 20 22
Beautiful but by whose standards?
Keeping Up with your Resolutions
a&e 23 24
What's hot: 2019
on the cover
Staff Ed: Build a Bigger Table
spotlight 30 2
24
Politics? @RealDonaldTrump
opinion 28
22
Creating a Future at the Career Center october
The Eagle's View
cover by Claire Henry
This issue covers the LGBT+ community in Liberty, Missouri. Our cover reflects that and the struggles that LGBT+ individuals experience, as well as how they rise above it. Two same-sex students pose holding hands together, while their faces are still covered, showing the hiding some LGBT+ students experience. However, the cover still maintains a colorful scheme showing the rise above hate.
design by Daniel Harper
Staff Letter The Editor From
EV 2018-19
Editor in Chief Kaylen Aldridge
Copy Editor Karlee Kent
Managing Editor Kari Tott
Kaylen Aldridge
H
Editor in Chief
appy 2019 Liberty North! Hopefully the beginning of your year has been good and you’re ready to finish out the rest of the school year! We’re in the home stretch and I know senioritis is kicking in for a lot of seniors (and some underclassmen). 2019 has been very promising for many people, whether it be life-changing resolutions, new relationships, or even just continuing to take things a day at a time. To those that are struggling through the new year, thank you for being here. You’ve made it. Personally, I’m just trying to make it through this cold winter, although I am enjoying
all of the snow days! Here at the Eagle’s View, we decided to kick off the new year by taking a look at the diverse culture of Liberty North, specifically highlighting the LGBTQ+ community and how they are represented in the media. Being in the midst of the basketball season with courtwarming right around the corner, we also talked to the starting five of the both the men’s and women’s basketball teams. With the promise of the new year also comes the promise of new movies, music and books. The A&E section highlights some of the most anticipated new releases. Our opinion section covers an issue that is currently on the forefront of the American people’s mind: the border wall. Two different views on the issue are displayed and the editorial is a letter of encouragement to the students of North. Although it’s been a month since New Years, we can all resolve to better ourselves and help others. One drop of water in the ocean can make a ripple. This year, North, let’s make a positive ripple in this fast paced world. I hope your year has started off on the right foot, and as always,please don’t hesitate to email me with any questions, comments, or concerns at: kald7762@lps53.org.
design by Daniel Harper
Design editor Daniel Harper
ADs Manager
Zack Zell
News Editor
Ingrid Weaver
Eagle’s Life Editor
Aashree Gandhi
Sports Editor Kari Tott
InDepth editor
Mackenna Rowe
Lifestyle Editor
Sophia Tulipana
A&E Editor
Santana Cervantes
Opinion and Spotlight Ed. Ella Pritchett
Reporters
Zachary Purdue Emma Suppes Claire Severson Abby Roberts Madi Burrow Emily Johnson Caroline Utz Sami Binning Jaeda Dickens
Photographers Claire Henry Ashton Overby
Adviser
Jennifer Higgins The Eagle's View
October
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4 News
Eagle’s View News
February
written by Ingrid Weaver
22 KCK Priests Accused of sexual abuse
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s reported by the Kansas City Star, Kansas City Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann released a list of 22 priests who have been credibly accused of sexual abuse against minors. The allegations span over the past 75 years and 1,080 clergy files that were reviewed by the Husch Blackwell law firm. Naumann has reported that none of the accused are currently serving in the ministry of the archdiocese, but 10 of the accused were previously priests of the archdiocese. The results of the investigation into the allegations against all 22 of the priests have been reported to the photo courtesy of Flickr Common
attorney general of Kansas. Releasing the names was not an easy task, but Archbishop Naumann told the Kansas City Star, “The Church has a responsibility to be transparent about sexual misconduct with children or minors by those with leadership responsibilities in the Church. I have an obligation to protect all those entrusted to my pastoral care, especially with children… Each name on this list represents a grave human tragedy. Each name represents a betrayal of trust and a violation of the innocent.”
LNHS Student Anthony Garcia featured on Fox 4
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n his four years at Liberty North High School, Senior Anthony Garcia has worked extremely hard to be involved in a number of Liberty North clubs and advanced classes in order to pursue his dream of going to college for medicine. After his acceptance to Johns Hopkins University, Garcia was featured on the local Fox 4 News Channel where he spoke about his dreams of becoming a trauma physician for the military. Garcia was featured as one of Fox 4’s “Reaching for Excellence” Achievers in an online story and on air. “Everything I do, I try to go
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as far as I can, and I don’t try to stop halfway with anything I do,” Garcia told Fox 4. Garcia is the first in his family to go to college and is heavily involved inside and outside of Liberty North. He is the president of Health Occupation Students of America, a member of Student Council, part of the National Hispanic Recognition Program, an AP scholar with honors, and has volunteered his time at hospitals in the northland, has led fundraisers for a program in Nepal, and was recognized as Homecoming king his senior year. photo by Ashton Overby
The Eagle's View
design by Ingrid Weaver
news 5
photo courtesy of Flickr Common
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n Friday, January 25th the longest government shutdown in history came to an end- at least temporarily. CNN reports that the shutdown began on December 22nd of last year when President Trump closed the federal government after numerous threats to shut down if he did not receive billions of dollars in federal funding for the border wall between the United States and Mexico. As a result of the shutdown, thousands of federal workers have gone without pay for over a month. Trump agreed to a temporary deal that will allow these employees to return to work with pay, but received none of the funding for the wall he spent the last month demanding. The end of the shutdown came with much more of an impact than just President Trump’s frustration. The Congressional Budget Office reported that the federal economy lost 11 billion dollars, 3 billion of which will never be recovered. “In CBO’s estimation, the shutdown dampened economic activity mainly because of the loss of furloughed federal workers’ contribution to GDP, the delay in federal spending on goods and services, and the reduction in aggregate demand,” the report stated, “In particular, CBO is
Government Shutdown uncertain about how much discretionary spending was affected by the partial shutdown, how affected federal employees and contractors adjusted their spending in response to delayed compensation, and how agencies will adjust their spending on goods and services now that funding has resumed.”
“Does anybody really think I won’t build the WALL? Done more in First two years than any President! MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!” -@realDonaldTrump
The tension of the political dynamics that started the government shutdown also did not get resolved, but Democrats agreed only to discuss border wall funding after the reopening of the federal government. Trump said that if a new plan for funding was not made, he planned to shut down the government again. Congress has three weeks to come up with a new plan to fund billions towards the
design by Ingrid Weaver
border wall or Trump threatens to shut down again. “If we don’t get a fair deal from Congress, the government will either shut down on February 15 again, or I will use the powers afforded to me under the laws and the Constitution of the United States to address this emergency,” Trump said. “We will have great security.” Many federal workers who were forced to skip two paychecks are fearful of what another shutdown could bring. Transportation Security Administration officer Becky Mancha told NBC News, “It’s very scary to know that that in 21 days it can happen all over again…It’s hard to know that I have to go through this when I’m doing my job.” Both political parties have agreed to continue discussing the logistics of funding Trump’s border wall over the course of the three-week agreement. According to CNN, if the president doesn’t receive his funding he could possibly declare a national state of emergency and order the Department of Defense to construct the wall along the southern border. If this does not happen, lawmakers believe it is likely that the government will be shut down again.
The Eagle's View
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6 Eagle’s Life
a man’s best friend For years, these four-legged canines have been assisting humans, acting as companions and aides
written by Jaeda Dickens
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ogs are, statistically speaking, America’s favorite pet. Over 40 million households across the United States own one or more of the adorable, furry friends. What most people do not know is that a large perce tage of these dogs are actually helping
“The therapeutic effect of animals on people is amazing.” teacher Cheryl Pena said to keep their humans healthy. Whether dogs help their owners by helping people ward off depression or by guiding the visually impaired dogs do so much for their owners. People had been fighting for a person’s right to service animals for years, but in 1990 the Americans with Disabilities Act declared, “Subject to the provisions of this subchapter, no qualified individual with a disability shall, by reason of such disability, be excluded from participation in or be denied the benefits of services, programs, or activities of a public entity, or be subjected to discrimination by any such entity.” “The therapeutic effect of animals on people is amazing. When I bring my therapy dog in for my kids, the
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counseling and office staff benefit just as much as my students. It brightens everyone’s day when I bring my dog in,” Special Education teacher Cheryl Pena said. There is a nonprofit based in Kansas City, Missouri called Warrior’s Best Friend. It’s this company’s mission to train dogs from local animal shelters to be service dogs for veterans, current service members, and first responders. “More than 30% of veterans have been diagnosed with PTSD or traumatic brain injury, though it is estimated the number may be even higher due to the stigma or fear of discharge. Every 11 seconds a shelter dog is put down in the United States. Our program works
SERVICE DOGS
THERAPY DOGS both
• Works with one person/ handler • Trained to do very specific task • Assigned to physically disabled to help improve quality of life
The Eagle's View
to save two lives,” Warrior’s Best Friend’s Melissa Chesnut said. Any pet can be certified to become an emotional support animal, but dogs just so happen to be the easiest to train and are willing to work with their owner. The training to become a service dog is rigorous. “The dog must be 23 inches or taller at the shoulder and must be 65 pounds or more. The dog also must pass a screening process based on good temperament, willingness to work, and ability to focus. After the screening, the dog goes through a comprehensive training that lasts six to eight months. Each dog then masters 25 commands. After that, the dog must pass a series of tests. After all this, they are finally matched with a veteran,”
• Are talented and trained to help people with their disabilites
• Works with multiple people • Trained to help lower stress in multiplitude of ways • Assigned to people struggling with a mental challenge
design by Aashree Gandhi
Eagle’s Life 7 “More that 30 percent of veterans have been diagnosed with PTSD... Every 11 seconds a shelter dog is put down in the United States. Our program works to save two lives at once,” Melissa Chesnut said. Chesnut said. There is, however, a difference between the qualifications it takes to become a service dog and the qualifications for becoming a therapy dog. “If you have a dog as part of your curriculum and get permission from administration, you can bring a therapy dog in. Pepper, my dog, began the training, but due to my schedule wasn’t able to complete it. I think she’s an amazing therapy dog without it,” Pena said. In the past few years, there has been an increase in awareness of mental illness in high school age students across the United States. Many students claim it is the stress of the social, academic, and extracurricular demands of school that are making them depressed and anxious. “It’s calming to students the unconditional love that Pepper, and all pets, give. Students feel accepted by her without having to prove themselves to her. They can feel how much she loves them without having to do anything to earn it,” Pena said.
Fry v. Napoleon Community Schools What happened?
Dylan Fansher
“
They tend to look for kennel anxiety, how calm the dog can be, and their listening ability when looking for a well fit dog. I have Type One Diabetes, so my dog, Buddy, tells me when my blood sugar is going too high, or even too low. He can smell when my blood sugar isn’t normal and he’ll come up to my hand and bump it to let me know. He can smell a change in my blood sugar 20 minutes before my technology can sense it. We went to a 3 month long training with a company called Heads Up Hounds. Then I trained for 3 days with him so I could learn how to handle him. I would put cotton in my mouth whenever my blood sugar was increasing or decreasing and they taught him to recognize different scents. He gets anxious when I leave him alone and he sits with my parents during my games so he can alert them when I need to take a second and eat something.”
design by Aashree Gandhi
A kindergartener, Ehlena Fry, had Cerebral Palsy and had a service dog for her protection. Her school was willing to provide her with a human aide, but she was not allowed to take her prescribed dog, Wonder, to school with her. There were several restrictions around the dog that forced Ehlena to be homeschool.
The ruling.
The courts sided with the girl in a major win for disabled people and service dogs are now allowed in schools.
Why?
The supreme court was able to rule on this case because they declared it discrimination based on a disability.
The Eagle's View
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cause and effect Mental health has a large effect on physical health, especially in high school students
written by Emily Johnson
E
very one in five teenagers are diagnosed with a mental disorder every year. Mental health is considered a very serious thing in today’s culture. Mental and physical health are very important to every individual’s life, promoting their well-being. Both influence every aspect of life in various ways. “I have noticed a few ways mental
How dogs can help humans with mental illnesses
health can affect your physical health. When someone is not feeling good mentally, they tend to be more sluggish and grumpier. After a really long week they get mentally drained and it can affect who they are around and how they act physically. It goes both ways sometimes. If they are in a really good state mentally then they are more energetic and actually wanting to go out and do things or be around more people,” senior Lauren Bierle said. These two things can also easily become a struggle in everyday life if it they are not handled well or taken care of when needed. Life can get very stressful with school, social life and possible other things going on, when all of this piles up, that is when mental health is very important. People could lose motivation to do things that need to get done. “Everyone struggles with different things and does it differently. Some of us do not know how to deal with school life and other things going on at the same time and it can show through a lot. Going to the gym less,
Depression has become a widespread issue in the United States, affecting about 40 million people across the nation. Studies have shown simply playing with a dog boosts your dopamine levels, the chemical in your brain which makes you happy, almost immediately. Experts are saying having a dog leads to a decrease in anxiety and loneliness, encourages exercise, and increases overall health. Exercise releases endorphins which helps battle depression. Dogs also increase socialization as you’re likely to talk to people while at the dog park. Socialization is known to ease symptoms of depression such as loneliness. Dogs help you gain a sense of responsibility and help you battle depression by helping you learn how to take care of both yourself, and a living creature.
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The Eagle's View
eating fast food because you are in a rush to go somewhere or just not eating at all because you feel like you do not have time. It can all add up quickly when you feel overwhelmed about things going in your life,” junior Rimee Coy said.
As much as people like to think mental and physical health are the same thing, they could not be more different. They both affect different things since mental affects your brain and physical affects the rest of your body. However, they are fundamentally linked. They both significantly impact people’s quality of life, health and the way people are perceived. “Mental health affects your physical health because most disorders target your motivation and without that it is really hard to do anything to maintain your physical health. Plus your brain controls everything in your body so if it feels bad, so does everything else. It is important to try to take breaks and give time to yourself, so you do not overwork yourself,” senior Anita Hallmon said.
design by Aashree Gandhi
What it takes to be a
Sports 9
Golden Girl
written by Abby Roberts
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or most people, the Golden Girls are a staple of Liberty North culture. They work to perform at competitions like KC Classic, Lee’s Summit North, DTU nationals, and state. These girls have to also have inner qualities to handle the Golden Girl life. Part of being a successful Golden Girl is putting in the time to get work done. This year practices are longer and the coaches are being more selective about girls on the team. “We practice everyday, five days a week from 3:45 to 5:30, for two hours. Occasionally, we will have extra morning practices or weekend practices. We always practice on days off,” senior Courtney Rowe said. There are several qualities required to be a Golden Girl, such as, being a team player and working hard. The team bond has been strengthening over the years, as practices get longer “Golden Girls requires perseverance. It is easy to give up, the practicing everyday gets tiring and it is very routine,” sophomore
Makenzie Horn said. The choice to be a Golden Girl is seen as a huge commitment to some. The decisions to be a Golden Girl could put a lot of stress on girls with a busy schedule. “Initially, I did not want to be a Golden Girl. I was planning on joining the golf team. My mom then said, you know what just try it, and it changed my high school career,” Rowe said. Past decisions also reflect how the girls do in Golden Girls. A lifetime full of dance can be useful when it comes to getting a spot on this dance team. “I have always wanted to be a Golden Girl since Liberty North was built. I have been dancing for so long that I wanted it to go somewhere,” Horn said. All of the work that the girls put in after school, is seen as a huge commitment. Some would consider the people on the team to be what really makes it worthwhile to a lot of the girls.
topFive
“The bond that you make with all of the girls and the team bond is amazing. You put a lot of time into Golden Girls and knowing that all of your hard work and all of the energy and time you put into Golden Girls gets amazing results. Both of our teams have placed in first place and second place, so it is amazing to see the results,” Rowe said. Seeing hard work go into something, makes these girls see the reward of all the time put into Golden Girls. “Being a Golden Girl is worth all the hardships, and the struggles of being tired of it. It feels like all of our hard work is going toward something,” Horn said
What’s in my bag
TRESemme Target $4.49
Muscle Roller Target $19.99
Tennis Shoes Addidas $60.00
Apple Adapter Target $9.00
“Being a Golden Girl is a lot of hard work and takes dedication since it’s all year. But it’s worth it when you place well at competitions and go to nationals in Florida! I’ve grown so close to many of the girls and would consider them to be a part of my family,” senior Alaina Lee said. photos by Kari Tott
design by Kari Tott
The Eagle's View
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photos by Ashton Overby
Forward
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Benny
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Purcell
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Erickson Kaplan
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written by Madi Burrow
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Point Guard
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Jayme
Gabby
Emma
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Eagle Club Memberships available EAGLE CLUB for all Students, Staff, and Parents Scholarships available For Seniors
McConnell
brad@eigliberty.com (816)792-1410
bjprobuild@gmail.com (816)582-8841
LESBIAN GAY BISEXUAL TRANSGENDER QUEER PLUS
L G B T Q +
community and am completely okay with dating someone who identified as transgender,” junior Hannah Estes said.
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here are around 9 million members of the LGBT community in America, and that number is more significant than the population in 40 of our states. Gary Gates of UCLA’s Williams Institute estimates that approximately 3.5 percent of Americans identify as lesbian, gay, or bisexual, while 0.3 percent are transgender. Along with the typical bisexual, lesbian, gay, and transgender, there are plenty of other groups that associate with the LGBT community. Some examples are asexual, which means they do not have any sexual feelings or associations and pansexual, which means they are not limited in sexual choice and have no preference for gender identity.
MEDIA
“Social media is a place for people like me to be themselves without judgment and get compliments while also learning how to deal with people who do not compliment us as much. Whether it is good attention or bad attention, any media is always a good thing because it is making [the community] known,” junior Yin Silver said. Both people who are and are not members of the LGBT community use social media on a daily basis, and it has an influence on how people view multiple topics, including the LGBT community. According to the Human Rights Campaign, approximately 73 percent of LGBT youth say that they are more honest about themselves “Whether it is than they are in the good attention or bad attention, online real world. any media is always a good thing “For me, media helped to make it easier to come because it is making [the out because it was becoming more community] known,” open, more people knew about it, more people were accepting, its junior Yin Silver said. great,” Estes said. All of the positivity comes at a “When I first came out as price. Along with the media helping pansexual, it was the same thing multiple people accept themselves, as bisexual to me except [being it is also a significant cause as to bisexual] excluded from the why so many people stay in the transgender community, and being closet for so long. The Human part of the LGBTQ community, Rights Campaign show I recognize the transgender that 42 percent of LGBTQ youth report
Queer Eye
“Queer Eye” features five gay men who “make better” other men and women who need advice on everything from fashion and grooming to cooking, culture and interior design.
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The feel-good show, which is a reboot of the Bravo series “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy,” also touches on social issues such as LGBT rights, race and religion. The original show ran from 2003-07.
The Eagle's View
living in a community that is “not accepting.” Ninety-two percent of them also said they “hear negative messages about being LGBT.” “Media can be terrible in that it can terrorize people; also a lot of the time it makes the few people who hate people like me, it gives them a voice, and they become the loudest people,” Silver said The LGBT community receives a high amount of hate from almost all angles, especially on social media platforms. According to the Human Rights Campaign, 26 percent of LGBT youth say that their most significant problems are not feeling accepted by their family, trouble at school/bullying, and a fear of being out/open. “There is bad media about [the community] which can make people go further back into the closet because they are afraid. [I like] being able to help other people who do not know how to come out or be a part of society,” sophomore Diane Bollengier said. Although there is quite a bit of hate, most social media platforms have some way people can be anonymous or hide their identity. According to the Human Rights Campaign, nine in ten LGBT youth say that they are out to their close friends and 64 percent say that they are out to their classmates. Coming out stories tend to be a pivotal moment in the LGBT communites life. “We were doing an ELA project in one of my classes, so I wrote a story about myself, and trying to figure everything out. As I wrote that story, I figured things out with it.
Season 3 will feature eight episodes shot in and around Kansas City. This is the first time the show has produced episodes outside of Atlanta, where seasons 1 and 2 were filmed.
design by Mackenna Rowe
I actually had to present this story so I did it all up alone in front of the class, half of the room was excited for me and the other half was very confused or uncomfortable,” Silver said.
LGBT Families Along with the typical bisexual, lesbian, gay, and transgender there are plenty of other groups that associate with the LGBT community. Some examples are asexual, which means they do not have any sexual feelings or associations and pansexual, which means they are not limited in sexual choice and have no preference on gender identity. “When I first came out as pansexual, it was the same thing as bisexual to me, except [being bisexual] excluded from the transgender community, and being part of the LGBTQ community, I recognise the transgender community and am completely okay with dating someone who identified as transgender,” Estes said. According to data collected by Gallup and analyzed by the Williams Institute, 30-39.9 percent of the LGBT community and 1519.9 percent of same-sex couples are currently raising children
in Missouri. “I’m so excited to go home everyday because my dads are so fun to be around. They are so loving towards me and my siblings and each other and it is just great to have that great parent to kid relationship but I would not say that they are different than any other parents,” Estes said. Out of the 6,093,000 adults living in Missouri, around 160,009 of them are openly part of the LGBT community. “[My dads] are way better at talking to me about struggles because they have been through the worst kinds of stuff and they are easy to talk to with that kind of stuff,” Estes said. High school can be a confusing time for everyone. According to the youth risk behavior survey, eight percent of all highschool students in America report being lesbian, gay, or bisexual. “A lot of times people who don’t fit into gay or straight are stereotyped in a way that isn’t true, such as bi people being seen as unfaithful or untrustworthy. It’s similar with trans people. They’re seen as untrustworthy just because people think they used to be one gender and now they’re another and people see that as being dishonest instead of taking steps to better their own quality of life by coming out.” junior Simon Whitsitt said.
design by Mackenna Rowe
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The Eagle’s Eagle's View View The
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“
Being gay is not something that defines me. What defines me is what my mom always taught me: to treat everyone with respect, to always be a hard worker, and to be kind. ~Olympic ice skater Adam Rippon
photo by Ashton Overby
The Eagle's Eagle's View View The
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18 18 13 indepth About the Story Every issue released in the 2018-2019 school year will contain a story from “Enough is Enough”. It will cover different topics under the umbrella of sexual harrasment/assualt.
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he LGBTQ+ community is at a higher risk of sexual assault, by almost half according to the Human Rights Campaign. Mainstream media tend to focus on only heterosexual statistics but overlook homosexual relations. It can already be difficult to come out for many people but especially if it is a community that tends to be overlooked. “Guys hit on me and get very taken aback or embarrassed when I turn them down. The usual response is ‘oh you have a boyfriend?’ or ‘oh sorry I didn’t realize this wasn’t mutual.’ To which I have to explain I enjoy their friendship. I just play for the other team. I usually do not like leading with ‘I’m gay.’ Because sometimes that is aggressive and I should not have to explain why I am turning them down. People should be standing up for themselves,” Liberty High School 2012 graduate Kelley Rowe said. The “Me Too” movement tended to be focused on women who had been sexually assaulted by men. This excludes many situations like Rowe’s and a majority of the LGBTQ+ community. “There is probably more sexual assault and harassment in the community because it is easier to hide when no one is looking out
18 february 14 17 September october
En
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for the LGBT youth. It is easier to hide abuses within a community that is overlooked,” junior Cyenne Pulliam said. People can continuously change over time. In today’s age, many generations are starting to become more accepting of what used to be a shame to talk about. With the newer generations also comes the internet. With the internet, people are now open to millions of different ideas, people and situations. It can be a place where almost everyone is now accepted for who they are. “The internet is so big and vast. There is hate, but it is filled with so much love. A community you can build and find in a safe way when you cannot find that in your everyday life. High school is so small, and such a narrow view of this world. There are people who will and do love you for all of who you are. Never feel the need to hide or change the parts of you that make you different. Things get better. Things get so so so much better. In high school, I was never allowed to be open about who I loved. Now I hold hands with my girlfriend in public. Small things like that make a world of a difference,” Rowe said.
The Eagle’s Eagle's View The Eagle’s View
written by Mackenna Rowe
To get in contact with Liberty North’s Eagle’s View or Mackenna Rowe, please use the emails listed below. mrow9940@lps53.org Jennifer.higgins@lps53.org
Helpful sexual assualt hotlines
800.656.HOPE online.rainn.org Teen dating abuse hotline
1-866-331-9474 sTalking crisis resources http://victimsofcrime. org/our-programs/ stalking-resource-center
design by by Mackenna Mackenna Rowe Rowe design
Classy Chocolate
classychocolate@kc.rr.com (816)781-2260 @momof3embroidery @momof3embroidery
Jennifer Griffis
momof3emb@gmail.com 816-405-1586
IPlanTables
iPlanTables Helping you see the big picture
kevin.rowe@iplantables.com (816)985-0707
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Polished Edge
20 Lifestyle
Getting the
Standards
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eauty standards come and go with each generation, from the pale faces and tall hair of the French Revolution to the small waists and bright faces of the twenty first century. These standards have oppressed women for generations. “Beauty standards are things that people feel they have to live up to in order to be perceived as normal by society. For women, shaving your legs. That’s a beauty standard,” senior Christina Mackenzie said. Many beauty standards are aimed towards women, but not all. “I do believe that women, especially, are held to a higher standard. Being medium to tall height, being slender, attractive, curvy in all the right places without being chubby. For young men, I think athleticism, clear skin, [and] clothing [are beauty standards],” head Library Media Specialist Connie King said. Beauty standards can be enforced through many types of media. “You have these movie stars and celebrities who are shaped really well, and that’s because they have hours of physical training and surgeries that they go through.
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written by Samantha Binning
Without realizing it, social media affects the way people see themselves. However, social media can also change the beauty standards. All of that is then set in stone about how someone is supposed to look, and that’s not how it should be,” freshman Sofi McCroskie said. The media presenting unrealistic body types is not a new thing. “We can look back to Star Trek, with Lieutenant Uhura. She was insanely gorgeous, drop dead gorgeous. We see those people in the starring roles,” King said. In 2016, Dove conducted the Dove Global Beauty and Confidence Report interviewed 10,500 women in 13 countries. The information gathered showed that women’s self confidence is decreasing, but 69% of participants want the media to do a better job at portraying more diverse women. “I think [the media] has promoted girls [to think] that they need to be skinny, they need to be thin, they need to have a thigh gap, and that’s nowhere close to what females actually look like. I think that gives a distorted view in what significant others are really looking for in someone. I think that it has given females the idea that that is what they have to look like to have self worth, however that is not true,”
the Eagle’s Vew
counselor Jill Brock said. On the red carpet, celebrities are looking their best, but the secrets they use are anything but glamorous. Celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Kristen Bell have shared some of their red carpet secrets from using makeup to contour, tape, butt pads, and Spanx. “You see so many beautiful people on TV and when you don’t look like that yourself it’s kind of sad,” Mackenzie said. More recently, social media has taken over and changed beauty standards in many ways. “I think [social media] has brought to light a lot more issues. I was in high school from 2000-2004 and I know that my friends worried about their body image. They wanted to be skinny and I think that was more from magazines, but now that it is everywhere and then you see people you follow on instagram and snapchat I think that that has definitely heightened the awareness of what they are perceived to be,” Brock said. Platforms like Instagram and Snapchat are where many beauty standards lie. Many students feel that they are affected by beauty standards, even without realizing it. “In the past I think I would have said [I haven’t been affected by beauty standards], but honestly now I see so many things on social media, and subconsciously I think ‘I wish I looked like that’. I realize that it is a bad thing, but at the same time I still fall into [beauty standards] just like other people,” Mackenzie said. design by Sophia Tulipana
A quick
History in
During the 50’s and 60’s beauty standards were very different and about the “american dream,” meanwhile the 70’s and 80’s were all about bright colors and having a good time which changed the standards.
clothes
written by Emma Suppes and Abby Roberts The 1960’s was an ear of rebellion and self-expression, the goal was to get away from the proper look of the 1950’s. Bold colors and striking cuts were popular in the 60s. Beatnik fashion included black turtlenecks and trousers, berets, and striped tops worn by individuals interested in the arts. However, hippie fashion begun in the 60’s with bell-bottom jeans, fringing, floral prints, peasant blouses and other colorful designs.
60’s
The 80’s were a time of big and bold. 1980’s hip-hop fashion became popular as the hip-hop culture became prevalent in the United States. Baggy and bold colors were the staple of the trend. 80’s punk fashion came to light with studded leather jackets, ripped jeans, band t-shirts, and heavy-duty boots. This style was intense and edgy. Workout fashion was huge since aerobic workout videos started to became popular. Big trends of the 80’s also include big shoulder pads, bold colors, sequins, ruffles, and off-the-shoulder tops and dresses.
Lifestyle 21 The 1950’s were a decade of new iconic colors and silhouettes, as well as new clothing trends like pin up and rockabilly. The 50’s brought in an extremely feminine look that was completed by a full tea length skirt and padded busts to accentuate a small waist. Big bulky coats, dresses, and sweaters were also in style during the 1950’s.
50’s
The main goal of the fashion movement in the 70s was selfexpression rather than the trend following the 50s and 60s. The face of 1970s fashion was bright colors, mix and matched patterns, and crossing gender guidelines. What makes the 70s so iconic in the history of fashion is its combination of different aspects from the previous decades to create one big conglomerate of color and self-expression.
70’s
In the 1990s, many trends from the 1980s carried over. The use of fluorescent colors on clothing was one of the main trends which carried over into the 90s. The other side of 90s fashion was iconic: grunge. Women preferred crop tops, baby doll dresses with leggings, leather jackets, shoulder pads, and embroidered jeans. Men rocked bright t-shirts, striped sweaters, and lots of denim. Later into the 90s, women began wearing more form fitting clothing, such as tailored skirts and pantsuits. Men’s fashion also transitioned into more bold prints.
90’s
80’s
photo courtesy of Vogue design by Sophia Tulipana
the Eagle’s Vew
February
21
22 Lifestyle
New Year, New Me written By Emma Suppes
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ew Year’s resolutions are something that a lot of people think. Most times it is the latter. While many people create New Year’s resolutions, it is often hard for them to keep up throughout the entire year. Some of the most popular resolutions are to eat healthy, work out, and generally be a better human being but often times those resolutions can be very difficult to sustain. “I have many resolutions; In 2019 I want to spread kindness, read every day, exercise daily, drink more water, add to my savings, play the guitar frequently, and limit the time I spend on my phone,” sophomore Katherine Mackenzie said. While creating a resolution to be healthier sounds easy and the rockin’ bod people will have after seems within reach, many people abandon their resolutions quickly. Whether it is too hard to obtain, too broad, or just too much work, most resolutions fall to the wayside. “I think it is hard for people to keep up their resolutions because they have to put forth more effort than they want to, or normally would,” sophomore Meghan
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February
Hammond said. There are many reasons why resolutions do not work out and putting in extra effort is one of those reasons. People come up with hundreds of excuses every year as to why they let go of their resolutions, but for some people they just simply forget. “I think it is hard for people to keep up with their resolutions because they simply forget about them. Since they are trying to implement something new, it is easier to forget since it is not already a habit. By the time they remember their resolutions they might convince themself it’s too late,” Mackenzie said. But while resolutions can be difficult, there are many ways people can keep up with them and get the results that they were wishing for. “I think that if people want to keep up with their resolutions they should start with a plan and always do it with a friend or family so that they can hold you accountable to your resolutions,” Hammond said. There are many different ways to keep up with resolutions, getting someone to hold friends
The eagle’s view
accountable is a great one. Anything that can make resolutions simple and easy to attain, without losing sight of the main goal, is a great way to keep them up. “It helps if you make a tracker of sorts for your resolution. Since I’m trying to read more, I made a
“I think it is hard for people to keep up with their resolutions because they simply forget about them.” list of ‘challenges’ such as ‘A book set in your home state’ or ‘Cover with your favorite color’ and these make finding a book easier. I also made a fitness tracker so I can see all of my workouts, this is helpful when I’m feeling discouraged. Really, anything that makes your resolutions easier, fun, and more accessible is key,” Mackenzie said.
design by Sophia Tulipana
A&E 23
What’s NEW in 2019
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The new year promises a new collection of much-anticpated media
he new year is a year of major events for media. Many childhood favorites are being remade, new music is going to be released, and TV shows are coming back with much anticipated seasons. Liberty North students are excited to see what is in store this year with new music, movies, books, and television shows. Marvel did a number on many of the fans last year with Avengers: Infinity War, Ant-Man and the Wasp, Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse, and Black Panther. This year people get to see how many of these Marvel characters’ stories evolve, and possibly end. “I am definitely excited for Avengers Endgame because the last one ended on a cliffhanger and I have to see the rest; it will be so good. I’m so excited for SpiderMan Far From Home; it looks so good. Obviously all the live-action Disney movies, because it is our childhood revamped into real people which is really interesting,” sophomore Peyton Thompson said. For bookworms, every year brings new reads. This year is no different, with new books like An Orchestra of Minorities, Sugar Run, The Age
of Light, Black Leopard, Red Wolf, and How to be Loved. Some series are continuing as well this year like The Brotherhood series, The Cruel Prince sequel, The Crown’s Game series, and the sequel to Ink, Iron, and Glass. “I am looking forward to Defy Me by Tahereh Mafi from the Shatter Me series, and the third book in the Second Bourne series, The Bourne Nemesis. I am looking forward to these because they are series’ I started, and the last books were not out yet, and I had to wait for them to come out,” sophomore Lauren Vinson said. The childhood movie remakes are in full swing this year. In the past movies like Beauty and the Beast, The Jungle Book, and Winnie-thePooh have been remade. “When they did live-action Beauty and The Beast, I really liked it. But this year, coming out with three new ones – The Lion King, Aladdin, and Dumbo. They should’ve spaced it out a lot more over the years,” Thompson said. Music in 2019 is also turning heads. Abba, Ariana Grande, The 1975, Shawn Mendes, and Rihanna all have been under watch for new
design by Santana Cervantes
written by Abby Roberts albums dropping. This is a year for music lovers of all genres. “I am a really big country music fan, so I am really looking forward to Florida Georgia Line dropping new music this year,” sophomore Hadley Sicks said. Television shows hit big this year with shows like The Haunting of Hill House, Peaky Blinders, Supernatural, Shameless, Black Mirror, and Riverdale. Looking forward, shows like Game of Thrones, Sex Education, Stranger Things, I Am the Night, True Detective, and American Horror Story are returning for new seasons on Netflix. “I am hoping for a second season of The Haunting of Hill House on Netflix, if it is coming out,” sophomore Erma Williams All of these television shows, books, movies, and music have some people very excited. If 2019 let someone down by not renewing a show, all one can really do is keep those fingers crossed, and keep hoping. “I think that they should have a Fullest House on Netflix this year,” Sicks said. photos courtesy of Google Commons
The Eagle's View
February
23
24 A&E
#Politics
written by Zac Purdue
S
ome prefer to stay off of social media, and others may not go a day without posting on social media. However, most politicians have been starting to utilize social media more and more to communicate with people all over the globe. Most media outlets now seem to rush to cover a story and seem to work less and less on getting accurate information, rather than fast. “I think politics within social media is a good thing, it gives bite sized information that people have access to from multiple sources, but it’s also led to abuses and there’s not as much careful venting of information that you would’ve seen years ago, and now the rush is to get the story out first, which is the real danger,” AP Government teacher Kurt Gates said. A possible glaring issue with this type of political information is how unfiltered it is. With the focus now shifting onto speedy coverage some details may be missed and swept under a rug that are the key to understanding the subject material. Despite this, social media is an extremely accessible platform that can lead to more and more people
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Politics have increasingly become a part of social media
February
gaining a deeper understanding if they look in the right places. “Because of the way our system works people can publish whatever they want and leads to people being misinformed, but as a whole I think it’s definitely leaning towards being better for people to educate themselves better,” senior Max Brown said. Sadly, there are some people who are not keen on being able to hold a decent debate or conversation without becoming outright unaccepting of another’s views. Some websites and other platforms have become segregated between these communities, and shutting out any who may challenge their viewpoint or sincerely wish to have a discussion. “I think that shutting out other people’s views may be a large problem with politics in social media. If people don’t want to listen or read then they can just shut out all opposing views. With a website like Reddit you can subscribe to whatever subreddits you want and just ignore the others that are out there,” sophomore Jack Gahr said. Even if people themselves are
The Eagle's View
possibly using social media to educate themselves, there lies the question of how politicians are using social media. Unlike with formal televised debates, social media provides a much less professional and unmediated platform for politicians to speak, and sometimes argue bitterly. “I don’t think that some politicians use this outlet well, some of them seem to just argue and cause firestorms with anyone who opposes their views, which blows everything out of proportion as more and more people join one side or the other,” Gahr said. Overall it is unclear which side of good or bad the integration of politics into places like Twitter, Facebook, and Reddit falls on. Misinformation spreads and preys on a lack of diligence some readers may possess even as it grants access to multiple people’s views on important subjects. “There’s always going to be good and bad with the entire thing. We have access to information from multiple views like never before, but there’s also a drawback of giving practically everyone a voice on these platforms,” Gates said.
design by Santana Cervantes
A&E 25
error code 404: You are not safe online
S
written by Zac Purdue
ure, it’s mostly common knowledge to stay off of sketchy websites and not download anything that seems remotely suspicious, but there is much about online safety that may not be known to the vast majority of people inside and outside of Liberty North. “I don’t think that I know enough to stay completely safe on the internet. Sure, we’re told what to watch out for but there are always cases of people being affected by something on the internet even if they think they are safe,” freshman Leah DeGarmo said. Being loose with online information seems to be a surefire way to land into danger. Someone may be able to get a hold of the Internet Protocol Address and perform a distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack. A DDoS works by overloading whatever is being used with multitudes of pings until the device cannot handle the stress anymore. “One of the ways someone can help defend their online info is
by using a VPN to hide their IP address so they can’t be hit with a denial of service attack as well as keeping their information away from their internet service provider as well,” sophomore David Forquer said. Even though a virtual private network may protect private info from theft on the web, the problem arises of whether or not the VPN is trustworthy or not. Generally free VPNs can be prime examples of something useful being turned into a harmful tool that may also lead to identity theft. “Even if you get protection in the form of an antivirus you can’t be certain it’s safe. The internet is highly unregulated, which can sometimes lead to what you think is protection actually just like a Trojan Horse,” Forquer said Without major monitoring and watching of what may be put onto the internet and with technology constantly evolving, there may not be a way to fully stay safe whilst browsing the web. There may always be a small risk associated
with surfing the web that many are okay with. “I think even if there is that small risk, it’s not enough to be worried about. If you’re smart enough about how you use the internet, then I don’t think there’s any reason to be extremely worried,” sophomore Brayden Burton said. Strangers online may be another very serious danger online. With the anonymity that websites often give to their users, one can prey on other unsuspecting users. Worse yet they can attempt to get close to other people and then begin to suddenly act maliciously after befriending someone, causing irreparable damages in extreme cases. “Talking to strangers online is something that has been kind of drilled into our heads ever since middle school, and I guess I can see why people would want us to be cautious. One second we might think we’ve met someone similar to us and the next we could be in deep trouble,” DeGarmo said.
photo by Ashton Overby design by Santana Cervantes
The Eagle's View
February
25
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Want to Join journalism at North? Q: Students who apply for and are on newspaper, yearbook, and or broadcast at Liberty North:
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28 Opinion
I
zac(k)
attack
Zac Purdue
would like to preface my views with the fact that, while I support protecting our southern border from illegal entry, I also think that the cost of building a wall is far too high to be worth it. The anticipated cost of the wall seems to billions of American dollars at the least, an amount Trump promised Mexico would pay for. Not only could the funding be used and put towards better uses, such as education, but there is also the fact that the Mexican border only accounts for a portion of illegal immigration to the US. With other methods of getting into the country illegally existing such as overseas or air accounting for some 30%-40% of illegal immigration. With the money needed to even build the border wall and pay for labor the United States could instead fund the Environmental Protection Agency to ensure clean air, water, and food through 2020. It would also be able to provide more federal aid for schools within the country which will allow them to expand, update, and grow their buildings to accommodate for growing numbers of students according to the National Priorities Project organization. To be honest, I don’t think that building the wall would affect much, sure we’d have a stronger border between the United States and Mexico, but there would still be other methods to entering the country. Instead of trying to focus on one area of illegal entry, we should be looking at how to enhance the security and attempt to stop unsolicited entry to the United States in multiple areas, instead of narrowing our focus too much. Drug smuggling also is not limited to just the border of mexico, with some amount of it being from the coasts of the United States as well as the portion that does come from the Mexican border.
28 February
The Eagle's View
Zack Zell
F
irst off, walls work. According to Business Insider, 67% of the US-Mexico border is unfenced, making it that much easier to smuggle drugs across the border into the United States. Heroin seizures have almost tripled since 2009 and methamphetamine seizures have quintupled since 2014, according to data on drug seizures at the US-Mexico border. The reason for an upgrade of security at our southern borders in the shape of a wall would be to dramatically decrease the need for as many members of active border patrol. These drug-related crimes can be cut into a significantly smaller amount of cases per year. The wall, paired with the legalization of marijuana, would free up the time spent at the border for seizure of more drugs that are outlawed such as ecstasy, cocaine, and methamphetamine. Building a wall along the US-Mexico border will also limit the amount of illegal immigrants entering our country. Trump’s border wall is NOT saying that ‘nobody is allowed into our country’. It’s more of a ‘please knock first’ policy. Every president since Reagan has stated publicly that the United States has a border security issue, which the wall would fix (for the most part), although there still would be illegal immigration through airlines and seafaring. The fact that these illegal immigrants are taking working class jobs such as working in auto shops, on construction areas, and other forms of manual labor, as well as taking lower pay is inflating the economy. This inflation will contribute to a harder crash in the future of the US economy. With the country’s budget being spent on salaries for illegal immigrants, our debt deficit will raise an estimated $1.6 trillion by 2027 without a solution to this issue. design by Ella Pritchett
Build a biggertable not a taller fence
A
pathy is rampant in this society. It’s as smiple as that. As rude or judgemental as it sounds (which is never my intention), it’s true. We live in a society that has become so self obsessed that we can’t find it in ourselves to help others and better society as a whole. There are TV shows that pit women against each other. Slavery still exists in the modern world. Flint, Michigan still doesn’t have clean water. People’s worth is based on their material possessions. People are defined by their sexuality, ethnicity, or their gender. Whatever is controversial is on the table for debate, not discussion. In the modern day and age, apathy is put up on a pedestal. The rich and famous are worshiped and the poor and struggling are forgotten. In politics, minorities are pushed aside. The very idea of a woman becoming president sent the country into a rampage, let alone the prospect of a gay or non-white president. It was a miracle just for Barack Obama, a well-educated African American man, to be elected back in 2008. News flash: slavery ended in 1863. Racisim is bad. The same people who preach about loving your neighbor refuse to accept the lifestyles of the people around them. When innocent children are killed in a shooting at a school, we send ‘thoughts and prayers’ instead of taking action. We focus on a tragedy until it’s no longer the popular thing to do. The humanitarian crises in the Middle East and Africa are forgotten. It’s almost as if we as a human race
have forgotten how to love others. Soup kitchens, homeless shelters, and women’s sanctuaries hardly make a dent on the strife we see in the world around us. Some tell the poor and starving that, ‘We shouldn’t give them handouts,’ We blame homeless veterans for
Ella Pritchett
their situation when they put their very lives on the line to protect our country. We blame women for being “too sexy” and call them liars when they tell us they’ve been hurt in an irreversible way. Where is our compassion? Where is our empathy? Where did our hearts go? But this sense of apathy didn’t begin in this generation. Just look at human history. Look at enslaving a whole race of people and calling
design by Ella Pritchett
Opinion
29
written by Ella Pritchett
it good. Look at the oppression of women starting at the beginning of time. Look at the treatment of orphans. Look at the Holocaust and how we use swastikas as a joke and discredit survivors’ experiences. Apathy has swarmed our society so badly, it seems impossible to reverse its effects. But it is possible. It starts with not only an ‘I’m sorry’ (sympathy), but it’s continued with a ‘How can I help make this situation better?’ (empathy). Instead of focusing on making our nation great again, we should focus on making empathy great again. When our country learns from its mistakes and helps itself, only then can we help other countries. Apathy is an epidemic sweeping across our nation, but it can stop here. If we were able to reach beyond ourselves and see how others live, not only would we get a true sense of what our neighbors are going through, but we would be able to see the best versions of ourselves. When someone needs help, help them. When someone tells the truth, believe them. When people want in our country and lives are at stake, let them in. The legal way in is the right way. When people come to our country seeking asylum and come in legally, the people of this nation and its government can best help them if they know they’re here. Even though we live in a dark world where wars rage, people are oppressed, and human beings are reduced to simple statistics, we can make a difference. We can choose to build bridges instead of walls. We can choose tables instead of fences. We can choose empathy.
The Eagle's View
February
29
30 Spotlight
Preparingthefor workforce
written by Caroline Utz and Zac Purdue
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dam True participates in the Career Center through their Aviation Technology and Mechanics program to aid him in his future career choice. Unlike other courses, this course specifically focuses on the mechanics of planes, helicopters, and other aviation technology. “I am currently in the program for Aviation Technology and Mechanics. I decided to take the program because I like planes and helicopters and I really want to work on them in the military,” True said. The program offers an in-depth look into the workings of aviation that force the students to apply themselves and challenge themselves. These challenges allow them to grow and learn to solve problems as they utilize their skills and knowledge on the daily. “I like the daily assignments where I get to work with my hands and I am really able to think outside of the box,” True said. The course has proven to be very beneficial to True, who joined with the intention of entering the military post-high school. The skills he has learned from the Career Center will have real life application for him. “After marine boot camp I will be, if I make it in one piece, going for aircraft operation specialist. With what I want to do with plane maintenance in the military, it is a very practical course,” True said.
adam
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30 February
The Eagle's View
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daniel mcaninch
he Career Center offers many opportunities in many different career fields. The career center programs include teaching, agricultural science, industrial welding, law enforcement, and crime scene investigation. Daniel McAninch is currently in the electrical trades program. Many students that are involved enjoy getting to learn specialized skills in a nontraditional environment. “I like being able to go on a job site, using my hands, and getting first hand experience [in my career field]. Instead of sitting in a classroom all day and reading, I get to take what I’ve learned and apply it at an actual job site,” senior Daniel McAninch said. Although most students choose to only do the career center one year, it can be done multiple years. Students that do the Career Center over the course of multiple years find it to be beneficial. Daniel has done the electrical trades program during both his junior and senior years. “The longer you’re in [the Career Center] the more experience you get. My first year first year it was like not so much guessing, but following the other guys and seeing what they’re doing, and trying to understand how they’re doing [their tasks], and taking after them. I’m a second year senior, so now it’s kind of different because I’m more of a leader to the group now and I have other guys following my lead, so I kind of get to be in charge,” McAninch said.
design by Ella Pritchett
F
or Katie Ngo choosing a program at the career center was easy. She took something that she was passionate about and took it a step further. “I really like to draw and when I heard about the animation classes offered at the career center I really wanted to see my drawings come alive and move around,” senior Katie Ngo said. The career center has many different courses to offer and the beginning of the day looks different for all of them. “During the beginning of the day we usually work on bill work relating to the project that we have, and we usually talk about it as a class and get peoples input, and after that we usually work on the project. Sometimes we go out to the community center that’s right next door and shoot photos. Sometimes if its graphic design we work on Illustrator or on Photoshop,” Ngo said. The graphic design and multimedia program has many different focuses within the entirety of the year. They start off with many different “At the career center we focus on things related to graphic design and multimedia projects such as videography, photography, graphic design, and things like that. Towards the end of the year we are going to work on animation and right now we are just learning the foundations of animation that will lead us to [the final project],” Ngo said. The career center is highly recommended to help students find out what they want to do later in life. The program can give students a glimpse into a career that they are interested in. “It will give you a foundation, because a lot of people they don’t know what to do. They don’t know where to go to college or what [to major in], and I feel like the career center helps people find what they want to do,” Ngo said.
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design by Ella Pritchett
spotlight 31
connor
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filley
onnor Filley is another senior that participates in the Career Center. He participates a lesser known strand of the program. “I am in the CCT program, carpentry, and construction. We are building a house right now, we are mostly working on the deck. We are trying to finish the house by the end of the year,” senior Connor Filley said. It took Filley a while to find what he wanted to work with. It was something that he found and eventually continued to pursue. “When I took the intro to woodworking class here at Liberty North I just loved working with wood and building stuff. Next, I took Stagecraft so I really liked building the set pieces for the plays and musicals,” Filley said. The projects that students do at the Career Center can even benefit the community. The projects are fun, educational, and beneficial. “My favorite part is about Career Center is building an actual house and I think it’s really cool that someone actually came by and wanted us to build this house for them. I just work hard and try to get the best learning experience,” Filley said. Many students that go to the career center choose to continue with their career path. Weather they choose to go to college or straight into the workforce, they leave prepared for whatever their next step in their career path is. “I am planning on being a carpenter. It will help me definitely with all the experience from building this house. This might lead me to build more houses, maybe even bigger houses,” Filley said.
The Eagle's View
February
31
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"Openness may not completely disarm prejudice, but it's a good place to start."
-Jason Collins
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