Twins
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Microaggressions
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Addi Webster
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THE VOICE
Rain; Raging Floods Reign Photo by Emily Parkinson
How High Waters Changed Lives of Many By Ben Randall COPY EDITOR
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he school bus rattled along, making a leisurely trip along Interstate I-80, cruising along wet and muddled roads. Inside, kids were loud, oblivious and ignorant, focusing more on themselves than the expanding plain in their peripherals. Actually, the lack thereof in reference to that plain is a better way to word it. The bus passed through usually dry hills and valleys along the Platte River, which were brimming with grimy water and twigs. In Nebraska, this is the season of spring; thunderstorms, fresh mulch and seasonal allergies are usually the worst of our problems. However, spring 2019 brought a new adversary: floods. “It’s affected family members that live in Iowa the most,” junior Abigail McGargill said. “My family lost a big chunk of their farm and a lot of the pigs and cows that they had.” Water levels have risen and will continue to rise throughout this season, showing new levels of overflow along the Platte, Missouri and Mississippi rivers throughout the Midwest. In Nebraska alone, damage to roads, levees and other structures in the state has reached $450 million in damages, according to Nebraska
Gov. Pete Ricketts. As Nebraskans and other midwesterners struggle with their homes and lives, some people have elected to help out. Cars, homes and other commodities can be replaced, but lives cannot. McGargill and fellow junior TJ Huber realized this and started a fundraising organization (which will continue raising funds when throughout this catastrophe) for the floods. “I saw a fundraiser online with GoFundMe from other schools districts, so that sparked my idea for the t-shirts,” McGargill said. “I thought that a t-shirt is an easy way to get the word around quickly, and who doesn’t want a new t-shirt?” Early in the fundraiser’s career, McGargill and Huber were able to raise a surplus of money towards helping flood victims. As to the organization’s goals, McGargill simply wants to sell 100 shirts, but realizes that every shirt is more helpful to someone in need. “In three days, we have sold 57 shirts,” McGargill said. “It has been cool to see how the community is coming together to support a cause, even though not much of Gretna was affected. Along with the t-shirts, extra donations have been made, which has helped how much money will go towards the Red Cross.” According to Vox Online writer
Umair Irfan, we have been cast upon an unprecedented season of flooding. On the Niobrara River, the gauge was ripped away by massive waves of water. The dam failed under all the rain, snowmelt and broken ice that plagued the Midwest. Additionally, Mother Nature had more in store for Nebraska on Mar 17 (the same day). Bombogenesis occurred, a massive drop in air pressure which results in historic weather events. The blizzard that resulted only increased the hazardous conditions for western Nebraskans, adding 2- to 6-inches of precipitation to a state that already felt the remnants of a snow-filled winter. The flooding has killed at least three people and caused more than $1 billion in total damages across Nebraska. Perhaps even more stunning: more than 2,000 homes and 340 businesses have been lost. “The flooding demolished the land around our lake house,” senior Chaylea Mandina said. “The road was flooded for a week, so we had to evacuate our house and couldn’t get back in or out. We were one of the lucky ones and only had to deal with groundwater in the basement. While others basements flooded and their septic backed up.” To most Midwesterners, this is something astonishingly new, and has a high possibility of being one of many new things as we set into a decade that could
consist of record-setting temperatures and levels of precipitation. All of these forces of nature are expected to be more prevalent due to climate change; However, before any logical explanations can be derived from this harsh season of weather, people will need to get back to their homes and try to establish a dry, safe environment once again. “The flooding made me feel helpless and anxious to get back into our house,” Mandina said. “We have only been living in this house for seven months, but the old people around the lake said they have never seen water nearly that high.” The Platte River splashed viciously against the bridge of the interstate, calling the attention of the formerly distracted high schoolers. Eyes peered through creaky windows as a hush fell upon the bus, the voices succumbed to the utter awe of the river. Mankind is accustomed to taming rivers; the Egyptians and Romans were masters of it. However, every once in a while, nature will remind us all who is the boss. Going forward, it will take more than the effort of several high schoolers and school systems to get through this disaster, but every bit helps. As the Platte River clung uncomfortably to the interstate bridge, one can only hope that soon, this will all be nothing but water under the bridge.
On the Move Nebraskans, and other fellow Midwesterners have been forced to flee their homes and towns, which were destroyed by flooding. Many families had to live in hotels or family’s houses while they waited for the water levels to fall. photos by Suzanne Brudny
HOSA TAKES STATE, PLACES Kelsey Lowe, Nora Weaver Explore Medical Field By Samantha Chase STAFF WRITER
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eniors are beginning to think about life after graduation. For senior Kelsey Lowe, being a doctor is her dream job. In order to prepare for a future in health-care, she participated in Health Occupation Students of America, also known as HOSA. This group is for people interested in the medical field. They compete against other schools and do service for the community. “I was so excited when I found out there was HOSA,” Lowe said. “So many other bigger schools have it and it feels like such a good way to get opportunities and exposure to that field before I go to college, so I hopped on the chance to be in HOSA.” Lowe placed second at state HOSA in the division “Health Career Photography,” which qualifies her to go to nationals in Orlando, Florida. Co-directors of HOSA, science instructors Mrs. Deb Childs and Mrs. Shauna Stauffer, are proud of what she
accomplished this year and are excited to see her future in the medical field when she graduates this spring. “She is one of our leaders,” Mrs. Childs said. “You always miss your leaders, but you hope that they have mentored the younger students and someone will be able to fill their big shoes.” HOSA is an activity that can only be found in the high school setting; nothing else mixes health-care with competition. For Lowe, being in HOSA was a way to prepare for her future in the medical field but in a fun, competitive environment. “Right now I like it because none of my friends are in it so it’s like ‘Doctor Kelsey’ is doing her own thing,” Lowe said. “I don’t think there is a way to compete with those type of skills later in life, so I like that it brings competition meets health care.” With graduation quickly approaching, Lowe feels she is prepared to embark on her journey into the medical field. HOSA provided a unique introduction to healthcare for Lowe and several other members. All in all, HOSA is a one-of-a-kind experience
that is found exclusively in the high school setting. High school is a way for students to try new things and possibly find what they are passionate about. For freshman Nora Weaver, figuring out what she wants to do as a career throughout high school will not be an issue. She discovered her passion at an early age, entailing an interest in a medical career. She joined Health Occupation Student of America (HOSA) to learn the basics of the medical field and see what a future involved with medical care could be like. “I decided to join HOSA because I’m very passionate about the medical field,” Weaver said. “I’d like to do as much as I can to prep for my future.” Weaver placed second at state HOSA in “Extemporaneous Writing.” The co-directors of HOSA, science instructors Mrs. Deb Childs and Mrs. Shauna Stauffer, are excited to see Weaver’s future in HOSA. They applaud her potential and have high expectations for future competitions. “For it being Nora’s first year in HOSA, it is impressive she was able to place at state
and qualify for national competition,” Mrs. Stauffer said. “I’m excited for her.” Weaver plans on continuing with HOSA and plans to participate in different events at state HOSA throughout the rest of her high school career. Although Weaver competed specifically in “Extemporaneous Writing,” there are several other categories she would like to enter for competition. “I look forward to participating in certain events that I did not participate in this year such as Career Health Display, Extemporaneous Poster and Biomedical Debate,” Weaver said. “There was one about Pharmacy, another about Radiology and one explaining all the different branches of the field, and how to choose the one that suits you most.” Although state was overwhelming for Weaver at first, she was interested in learning more about the medical field and competing to win her second place medal. She holds potential for years to come to compete at a high level of competition in HOSA throughout the rest of her high school career.
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News
APRIL 2019
Page Design By Connor Bulgrin
Volume 5 Issue 7
ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES 2020 Roger Miller
Current: Principal Future: Director of Student Services
“I’m going to be overseeing a number of different projects and different things for the district. For example, we have the #BeKind initiative right now, I’ll take that over. I’ll be in charge of things like our Teammates for the district.” “The excitement is the new challenge. I’m doing something different. I’ve been a high school administrator for twenty years, and this is an administrator role, but it’s just a different role. As a high school administrator, I’m just kind of concerned about the high school. I’ll be doing a lot of things for the district. It’s a new challenge. I’ll be working with a lot of different people within the district, so that part will be kind of cool.”
Mr. Miller
Todd Mueller
Current: Assistant Principal Future: Principal
Mr. Mueller
“Honestly, I’ve never been somebody that got into this thinking I want to be a principal and I want to run my own building, but it just kind of happened. The AD (athletic director) job opened up, and I accepted and when I was there, the assistant principal job opened up, and I accepted. It just kind of happened. It’s never been a goal of mine. It wasn’t like I was trying to get rid of Mr. Miller so I could be the principal.” “It’s kind of like being an official. A good official is one where everything goes so smoothly in the game that nobody knows you’re there. I would love it if this just ran really smoothly and nobody would know there are any changes. Ideally, that’s what I would want. I’m not some guy that thinks I want to leave some mark on the school.”
Chad Jepsen
Current: Athletic Director Future: Assistant Principal
Jami Ewer
Current: Math Dept. Head Future: Assistant Principal
Photos and Quotes by Emily Shurtliff
“I’ve always been an assistant principal, it’s just I’ve always had the pleasure of doing the activities stuff with it. So, I’ve been both this whole time. What will happen in the transition is that I will no longer be doing the activities, and I will be adding a few more responsibilities on the assistant principal side of things.” “One of my goals I have, although it will be more attainable up there is getting to know more kids. More interaction on a daily basis with some of our students, it’s always a goal. It’s kind of why you get into education.”
Mr. Jepsen
Mrs. Ewer
“I started my admin program six years ago not intending to be an administrator but to help me move on the pay scale. Through my program, it made me realize this might be something I want to do. About two years ago, I started to realize that I do want to go into administration. I was ready for a new challenge. I wanted something new. I still enjoy teaching. I’m going to be sad to leave the classroom, but I want a new challenge. I want to learn more. I want to grow in the profession.” “I’ll still be with the kids, but not in the same capacity. When I’m in class teaching and we’re having discussions with students, students get to laugh, and when students have those light-bulb moments, that’s what I’m going to miss.”
BUILDING FUTURE LEADERS
American Legion’s Girls & Boys State Conference BY Grace Coufal STAFF WRITER
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he American Legion hosts the Cornhuskers Boys and Girls State at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The purpose of the conference is to teach students about duties, rights, responsibilities, and privileges of being an American citizen. These students will be able to learn about the government in a new and unique way. “It will be a lot of speakers, and seeing how different kids from across the state live,” Bradley Sullivan said. “And understand that we are all one world but how different we are and our opinions.” Boys and Girls State is held every June and provides delegates with a week-long conference to learn about the government process while working on their leadership skills. The juniors selected are Trystan Nord, Bradley Sullivan, Emily Schultz, and Kylie Lenz. The conference helps students develop a better understanding of government. “It is an event where you go to Lincoln and have a lot of government speakers and everyone talks about government,” Sullivan said. “It is hands-on learning, where you run for office and go to debates.” This year the conference is from June 2 through 8, and the delegates will do multiple activities. When the delegates get there, they will be split into two political parties Federalist and Nationalists. After that, they will further be divided into eight different towns. From that point, they will be able to campaign for governor, secretary of state, the mayor and numerous other positions in their simulation.
“You stay at the UNL campus the whole time, you cannot leave unless it is a medical emergency,” Schultz said. “You have to plan out everything beforehand, and cannot start campaigning until the conference starts.” This week-long conference will teach the delegates a little bit of everything about the government. It is said to build leadership skills and teach the delegates about how the government works. Those who are interested in the judicial system get to attend a legal school of instruction. There they will get to participate in mock trials and get to hear from the Supreme Court chambers at the capitol. “To prepare for my campaign, I am going to read newspapers all across Nebraska and getting around on world topics,” Schultz said. “At Girls State, I think I will learn about the positions that many people don’t know, so I can educate myself.” When the delegates are divided up and are campaigning, they will visit other delegates towns to do questions and answers. The delegates will also discuss major issues that Nebraska is currently facing. While campaigning the delegates will have to stand up for their town, their opinions and be able to fight for what they think is right. “It will be about responsibilities in the state government,” Schultz said. “Also about getting to know other people on the opposite side of Nebraska and understanding their challenges and their problems they are facing in their communities.” There are roughly 800 delegates yearly that attend Boys and Girls State. The goal is to encourage the delegates to have an opinion, be more informed about the government and to understand the meaning
of good citizenship. The American Legion motto for this conference is “A week that changes your life” because it gives students stronger leadership skills. “Down in Lincoln we will be doing seminars and listen to different government speakers,” Shultz said. “That is where I think I will learn the most about leadership.” The delegates will get to hear from Senator Ben Sasse, who happens to be a 1989 Boys State alumni. Governor Pete Ricketts, Jane Kleeb Chair of the Nebraska Democratic party and Ryan Hamilton from the Republican party is set to speak at the conference this year. Also, Nebraskan Supreme Court justice Michael Heavican. According to the Lincoln Journal Star, the
speakers will talk about what is currently happening in society and what they can do in Nebraska. “It was amazing. I met so many new people and made incredible friendships all while learning about how our country works,” senior Jed Merriman, who attended the conference the year before, said. “I experienced government, politics, campaigning, and [had an] overall great time.” This conference incorporates a variety of skills crammed into one week. It is said to that when the delegates get back, they might not be student council president, but they are more informed and understand why and how the government works. Submitted Photo
New Firends “Since nobody at the conference knew anybody, I got to know the girls on my floor quickly,” VanOeveren(19) said. “By the end of the week it was so hard just to say goodbye.” The leadership conference lead to on of Cassandra’s life-long friends.
APRIL 2019
Page designed by Jacey Hammer
Volume 5 Issue 7
On My Own
OpEd
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Twins Leave for College By Jacey Hammer EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
A pril 2006 - 4
June 2008 - 6
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rowing up, my twin, Jayda, and I have done absolutely everything together. For me, I was lucky enough to always have a builtin-best friend; everything always came in two’s. I have never had to go anywhere alone. When we moved to GHS, I had someone with me; I was far from alone. In August, we will both be going off to college. This time, when I step foot onto the new school campus, I will not have my sister by my side. In the fall, we will be 91 miles away from each other. Although that is only a one hour and 34-minute drive, it will be a drastic change for both of us. Whenever I have to tell her something, I just run down a set of stairs and tell her. The thought of those stairs not being there scares me, and I am not ready to leave all of that behind. Jayda will forever be my best friend, even though we are walking different paths. Being a twin definitely has its pros and cons. To begin with, having a double closet is by far the best part. However, it can also be the most frustrating part. We fight constantly, but the fighting ends almost immediately
after it starts. Our arguments typically end in laughing. Although we argue, I will miss all of our routines. Every single Monday, we bought a box of Cheez-Its and watched “The Bachelor” together. Even though I got impatient and googled everything that happened prior to the episode, I pretended I was clueless about what happened. When her favorite character got sent home, I made sure I bought her white cheddar Cheez-Its. Those are her favorite ones. Who in the world am I going to spend Bachelor Mondays with? Although leaving will be challenging, I am excited to branch out on my own and finally be my own person. We have always been known as the ‘Hammer twins.’ I will not lie, it gets frustrating being stereotyped as just a twin, and occasionally, I have felt as though people will never know me as being my own person. We may look the same, but our personalities are extremely different. A definite downside is every person naturally picks a favorite between Jayda and me. It can be a challenging feeling when it seems like everyone likes Jayda more, and I am anxious to see what life is like without that occurring on a daily basis. In college, no one will even know I am a twin.
July 2007 - 5
June 2008 - 7
March 2019 - 17
July 2016 - 14
The Voi ce: Yellow Staff EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Jacey Hammer (19)
STAFF WRITER
Colin Kitson (19)
COPY EDITOR
Ben Randall (19)
STAFF WRITER
Samantha Chase (21)
PAGE EDITOR
Emily Shurtliff (20)
STAFF WRITER
Bayleigh Koch (21)
PAGE EDITOR
Connor Bulgrin (21)
STAFF WRITER
Grace Coufal (22)
CARTOONIST
Emma Mayer (20)
STAFF WRITER
Regan Ehlert (22)
ADVISOR
Mrs. Baijnauth (88)
STAFF WRITER
Gabby Hytrek (22)
STAFF WRITER
Matt Goblirsch (19)
STAFF WRITER
Kaleigh Zollman (22)
4 Indepth
APRIL 2019
Page Designed By Emily Shurtliff
Volume 5 Issue 7
Microaggressions S
By Ben Randall COPY EDITOR
tereotypes, biases and opinions all combine to create a quality that every human has subconsciously: a viewpoint. Maybe it has to do with the NCAA tournament, and how one thinks his or her bracket is unquestionably the best of all time. Perhaps one thinks the government is a sham, and everything is monitored. There are millions of viewpoints that exist in our society, which is a good thing- the United States has a system of free speech and free opinions, so we may think whatever we deem thinkable. However, there is a class of viewpoints that exist solely to discriminate, prejudice and demean members of our society. These are microaggressions, and they are the driving force behind a 200-yearold nation’s instability. The word, microaggression, was coined by psychiatrist and Harvard University professor Chester M. Pierce in 1970, per Harvard University records. It was used to describe insults and dismissals that he noticed regularly on campus between non-black Americans and African Americans. In essence, a microaggression is a term used to communicate brief verbal, and behavioral indignities that are hostile, derogatory or incite negative feelings in any one person or group. These are brief, everyday exchanges that send degrading messages to certain individuals because of who and how they are affiliated with something. This may sound complicated, but so did math class before you saw examples of it on the board. Consider the following. Five individuals sit in a softly lit coffee shop, sipping caffeinated beverages and engaged in their own worlds of thought. In the far corner sits an African-American couple, apparently on their first date, sharing pleasantries and remarks on each others appearance. In the middle of the room sits a Caucasian woman, talking rapidly on the phone while typing with the same exuberance on a keyboard, accompanied by a plethora of papers spewed out on the table. A young Chinese man sits close to the barista table, with a number of books in front of him, deep in thought. Lastly, a Mexican barista quietly makes drinks and walks amongst her customers, making light conversation. This is the scene of microaggressions, and the following is only an example of a few that could be displayed in a general American workplace. By no means does The
Voice support microaggressions, derogative natures or other degradations of any kind. The African-American man, with a look of disgust, approached the barista and asked why they were treated to one of the back, least-comfortable tables opposed to the roomy booths near the center. This action of placing this couple near the back of the room is a microaggression in itself- in that the barista recognized these individuals as second-class citizens and thought they were undeserving of first-class treatment. The barista, flushed with annoyance, replied that she only placed them there because she thought it was an okay spot. This tangle led to the African-American male calling her bossy, which is the introduction of our second microaggression. Oftentimes in our culture, when an assertive female manager makes tough decisions, she is labeled as bossy or another derogatory term, while her male counterpart would be described as a “forceful
leader.” The hidden microaggression in this is that women should be passive and men should be the outspoken ones. As this scene shook out, the young Chinese student spilled his tea on the floor. In a haste, he rushed to grab napkins to clean up his mess, and the African-American man followed suit. As the African-American man made his way across the café, he passed by the Caucasian woman, who clutched her purse and wallet tightly, giving him a glare as he went by. This is an example of a microaggression associated with AfricanAmerican and Latino peoples: that they are a group of criminals and must be watched carefully. As the Chinese student and AfricanAmerican man cleaned up the tea, they talked briefly about his studies and where the Chinese student went to school. After a bit, the African-American man remarked that his English was excellent, and bid him farewell. Our last example of a microaggression just
occurred, in something that seemed like a good-natured act. Complimenting an Asian American on their English sends a message that they are not true Americans and that they will always be a perpetual foreigner in the United States. These have been a few examples of microaggressions, and if anything, this should tell you one thing about microaggressions and their enormity on societal life: they are complicated. In all circumstances, each individual was offended in some small way, sometimes subconsciously, and sometimes quite vividly, as when the African-American man noticed the Caucasian woman hold her valuables tightly when he approached. Research has indicated that these small occurrences in everyday life are more than harmless, or as trivial as they seem. They have a powerful impact on the psychological well-being of marginalized groups and affect those group members’ standard of living by creating lasting inequalities in basic life; health care, education, and employment, per Psychology Today writer Derald Wing Sue, PH.D. You may be wondering what all of this means, or what it says about humans. If anything, it should lead us to question our reality and everyday experiences. Although this does not apply to all, thinking before acting is something that has quite apparently gone out the door in the past decade, and so have other key factors of life. Where are the women, the people of color, and who are the culprits that keeping these people from being in positions of success? In a recent study by Psychology Today, white American males constitute for approximately fourfifths of positions in higher education and the United States Senate and House of Representatives. Additionally, white males account for over 90% of CEO-level positions, superintendents and athletic team owners. And, of course, there has been only one president in United States history who predominantly a race other than Caucasian. So we must act on these microaggressions to improve our society. Every glance, shrug or nonchalant racial judgment that our society partakes in plays a small but important role in our inequalities. Thankfully, we can change society, and we hold that power of democracy in our country. We elect the leaders, we raise our children and overall, we control the outcome of how we want our country to be. Hopefully, in the future, microaggressions will be eliminated, and we can take a step towards an equal society.
Page Designed By Emily Shurtliff
Volume 5 Issue 7
APRIL 2019
Words Cut Deeper Than We Think By Kaleigh Zollman STAFF WRITER
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n offhand comment about how “you do not act ghetto,” is made during a conversation. Should it be ignored or addressed? These words might not have had harmful intentions, but they can be. For many young people of color in America, these comments, better known as microaggressions, are a daily struggle. “Back in middle school I really struggled with my race,” junior Sofie Gunn said. “I wanted a boyfriend, and it was hard knowing that some of them did not see me as more than just a friend because of my race. It was hard being different.” Microaggressions are insults that can be made about race, gender, age, religion and sexual orientation. The term has recently popped up on social media platforms because it gives a name to the experience of dealing with inadvertent racism on the daily. Microaggressions can catch people off guard because most of the time, they are completely uncalled for. “One time during a class discussion, one of my classmates said that they would have loved to be the only person that was different from everyone else,” freshman Vania Stukenholtz said. “My teacher then directly asked me how I felt about that. It
made me feel uncomfortable being put on the spot like that.” There are an abundant amount of ways that individuals respond when microaggressions happen. Some choose to let it go, for the fear of being called sensitive, while others decide to stand up for themselves, not worrying about how the other person will react. “Most of the time, I don’t say anything,” freshman Jamie Vaughn said. “I either laugh them off or just go with them instead of taking them to heart. Sometimes, I do wish that I would stand up for myself, but it’s just not worth the argument.” At the moment, it may seem like a harmless comment, but the words do have an impact. According to researchers at Columbia University, microaggressions have been directly linked to poor mental health. The weight of every word truly does matter. When one is constantly subjected to this version of racism, they start to believe it. “I went through a time in middle school where I hated not being white,” freshman Isabelle Rangel said. “I used to picture myself as white, I hated being brown. I wanted to fit in with everyone else very bad, and that destroyed my confidence for a while.” When an unfair bias is present in the back of one’s mind, most of the time they do not even realize what they are saying and its potential impact. Whether
it is genuine curiosity or disguised bigotry, microaggressions have effects that run deep. “I think many people do not exactly realize what they are saying,” freshman Kayliah Ramsey said. “I can tell that it just slips out. Sometimes, I know that the comments are made with the sole purpose of hurting me, but I have learned to deal with that.” It is burdensome not to wonder if the environment one grows up in effects if they make these comments or not. Not being exposed to diversity at a young age in a predominantly white community can be the reason most of these microaggressions are widely believed. “Everyone grows up with different backgrounds, kids that have grown up around other kids that only look like them are definitely a little more ignorant,” Rangel said. “I think it’s because they haven’t grown up in a diverse community. It was not as bad where I used to live. I think that sometimes when kids say this stuff to me, it’s because they don’t know. They don’t have my history, and I try not to be too offended.” According to the American Psychological Association, it is important that those who are offended by microaggressions speak up for themselves. Everyone can make a conscious effort to be aware of the impact of the words they speak. It is crucial that people form thoughts from a new perspective.
the most part I just kinda ignore it, so like it really doesn’t bother me. I don’t tend to actually care what people think about me.” Microaggression is not just movements or actions toward an individual; it can also be actions or sharp-wittedness towards one’s ideas. Being close-minded or indirect towards one’s opinions plays a large role in microaggressions. “(To me microaggression is) negative judgments against another person or an idea that a person has without being direct,” junior Caleb Meehan said. “In classes, we’ll have a topic or discussion about our opinions, and I’ll give my opinion and you’ll always see a student glaring at you or rolling their eyes at you, or your statement or your comment. It makes you feel a little bad about it.” Microaggression is an action that is used almost every day. It has become such a large part of how people express themselves that it has also begun to play a role of its own in society and how society expresses themselves. To help the use and effect of microaggressions and the tole it has on students schools have begun the #BeKind movement which focuses on spreading kindness throughout schools and communities. Removing and/or ending something that is culturally imprinted into everyone would be an implausible task, but the #BeKind movement is helping one student at a time. “Honestly, there’s probably a lot that can be done to decrease the amount of microaggression that’s going on, but I don’t think that it can be resolved,” Meehan said. “I think that the only way it can be close to resolved is if students can get to know each other a little bit more. Get more experience with hearing other peoples stories or opinions and whatever state of matter that
they are discussing.” Microaggression can make an impact on the way people feel throughout the day or about themselves and others. Although it can be used positively, it is mainly seen used negatively, acting as a wall to hide behind. “It disappoints me,” Meehan said. “I think they use it because they don’t have the courage to act on the negative thoughts that they’re having towards another person. They use microaggression to ease their negative thoughts towards somebody or ease how they feel about somebody in a negative way.” Everyone has experienced some type of microaggression. Sadly, even those people who are only trying to help and protect those around them from the harsh reality of the world still experience microaggression. “They assume I’m after them because I’m a teacher, I target them for like their behavior and use of vapes or jewels,” Mr. Jeff Sturgeon, a behavioral teacher at Burke High School said. “They primarily just think I’m out to get them. I understand that they’re young they’re still figuring things out, they have tough hardships at home. I may not understand everything that they are going through at the time. I just try to help them work through it, explain ‘hey I’m just doing my job’.” Although quiet, microaggression has a big impact on not only society as a whole, but also in the way others view themselves, leading one to isolation. Microaggression cannot be stopped altogether but it can be prevented or decreased by getting to know someone and their ideas before judging or just listening to them. Once people recognize microaggressions, they are easier to stop. The #BeKind movement is giving students the opportunity to spread kindness through their school and community.
Using Judgement Without Knowing By Emma Mayer STAFF CARTOONIST
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icroaggressions are quiet and often unintentional. They make a person feel underestimated and/or bad about his/her self. They can be very damaging and make the victim feel self-doubt about what they have experienced. This leads to feelings of isolation and poor self-image. Many people don’t recognize that they are fulfilling this ‘microaggressor’ role because society has become culturally trained to ignore them. Examples include assuming a girl has dated a lot because of how she looks, doing or saying something rude then playing it off as a joke, making malicious or inappropriate comments, staring at someone for just being themselves and singling someone out. Microaggressions are used on a daily basis, both intentionally and unintentionally as minor as they seem they leave a mark and lasting impact on the person affected. “People in the parking lot stare at me and my friends in the car like we’re crazy,” senior Alaina Cornett said. “I feel like people just do it without thinking and then they’re like, ‘Oh hey I just did that,’ then they don’t think about it. I don’t feel like a lot of other people realize that they’re using microaggression. I feel like they do it subconsciously.” As minor as the actions may seem to the person saying the words, what they are saying may not have much importance but they may not understand the power behind the words they are saying. Every individual handles microaggression in their own way, some better than others. “I just kinda ignore people I’m like ‘oh ok, good for you, you have an opinion,’” Cornett said. “I don’t appreciate it, but for
Indepth
5
Page Design By Connor Bulgrin
Volume 5 Issue 7
APRIL 2019
Sports
7
Annual Girl-Guy Dance
Spring Pep Rally Shenanigans By Colin Kitson STAFF WRITER
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s the dance team’s season came to an end, there was one last event they danced for: the spring pep rally. The spring pep rally is just like any other, but one thing is just a little different. It is the dance by the dance team and a few senior boys. It is always a sight to see and is something the dance team and senior boys look forward to. The dance is always a good memory for everyone involved. The practices are fun, and when the big show comes around, it is purely epic. “We have a lot of laughs during practice, and it is exciting to see everyone come together and learn the dance,” senior Skylar Conrad said. “The performance is so fun, and we make a lot of good memories in that short week.” For the dance team, perfecting the dance is not too difficult. They have been dancing for their entire life. However, the boys have three days to learn the dance, and it can be nerve-racking for them, but still an enjoyable time. “The dance was very fun to do in front of the whole school even though I was nervous before it,” senior Andrew Carter said. “I knew the point was to go out and
look stupid and have fun, so that is what I did.” The dance team was ready to watch the boys “try to” dance - because that is the laugh of it - they cannot. There are key parts to the dance that primarily focused on the guys and that was the purpose of the routine. “I like when they start to freak out before we go out and perform, my favorite part is by far watching the guys dance and seeing what moves they come up with,” senior Raigan Kocian said. “I look forward to the part when it is just the guys dancing, and they are all having fun.” The dance is all about having fun and attempting to dance. It also requires teamwork between a large amount of people. It was a great way to bring everyone together. “It was fun because we were able to hang out with each other and get to know the dance team more,” Carter said. “After I felt like we had just done something meaningful for the school and made some people happy, I thought it was a great idea and should keep being repeated every year.” All in the all, the girl-guy dance is something the whole school looks forward to at the spring pep rally every year. It is something that should keep being repeated, year after year, to give the school a good laugh and for the dancers to have fun.
Photo by Emily Parkinson
Misunderstanding Seniors Cassidy Svec and Colin Kitson start the dance off with the opening being shown. Confusion can arise in some of the boy’s heads as they dance as Kitson is shown with a look of question. However the girls are confident ledaers fot the boys.
Photo by Emily Parkinson
Enjoyment Seniors Andrew Carter and Skylar Conrad perform a turn in the dance. It is fun as you can see the smiles on their faces. “It is so fun to watch the guys dance because no one ever sees them do things like that, and they are so funny,” Conrad said.
Mother Nature Fights Spring Sports
Sports Affected by Weather By Regan Elhert STAFF WRITER
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pring sports schedules have been turned upside down. These activities include both girls and boys soccer, track, baseball, golf and tennis; however, teams have been working hard and practicing through weather obstacles. Senior Rachel Walters has eagerly awaited the day she can finally start racing outside on the track. “We have fought through the weather and challenges that came and still had the chance to work out and get ready for meets,” Walters said. “I’m looking forward to being outside all the time and running in outdoor meets in perfect weather.” Some of the spring sports have been affected mainly by having to practice indoors. With games and meets coming up, the coaches did everything they could in order to prepare their athletes. “We couldn’t practice outside,” girls tennis coach Mr. Curt Mace said. “When we practice inside, we mostly did conditioning and instructional videos. We created anything we can do.” The winter weather caused games, meets and tournaments to be canceled or postponed. This has pushed back a multiple teams’ schedules. “The weather hasn’t been helpful because it has limited us from playing outside,” girls head soccer coach Mr. Digger (Daniel) Hawkins said. “Since the season started, we have been able to go outside three to four times. This hasn’t been ideal, but it is something we cannot dictate.” The weather and scheduling obstacles have created a season that is nothing like previous years. Junior Reese Pichler plays soccer, and she is unhappy with the way the season has been like so far. “To be honest, the season has been boring so far,” Pichler said. “The whole point
of soccer is to be outside and be on grass. The gym just is not the same.” When the boys’ golf team train inside, they mostly hit golf balls into nets. On Mar 21, the golf team competed in their first meet after stepping onto a course once during tryouts. “This season has been stressful,” freshman Parker Jones said. “It’s hard because we are uncertain of what will happen and what scores people will get because of the limited practices.” However, teams have kept a positive attitude. To know that upcoming games, meets and tournaments are around the
corner help all the teams work hard. “Our team has been really positive throughout the whole weather dilemma,” senior Kinsli Auman said. “Everyone has been super positive and encouraging, and no one has really let the bad luck get us down.” Training indoors and having canceled events has not been ideal, but athletes have been forced to deal with it. In fact, a handful of athletes and coaches feel prepared to play their first game or run in their first meet. Sophomore Caden Boswell feels prepared to step up to bat on the baseball field. “I don’t feel unprepared because of the weather,” Boswell said. “I feel like the Photo By Hannah Fee
coaches have prepared us well enough with the time we have had inside to go out and do well.” Various events have been postponed or canceled and a few are in the process of being rescheduled. Auman looks forward to finally being outside again and playing her sport: tennis. “When the weather clears up, I’m insanely excited to just outside and hit on a court for the entirety of practice,” Auman said. “No walls, no ceilings and no crowded spaces. Just open courts and sunny weather.” With the weather clearing up, teams have a chance to finally practice outdoors and participate in games or meets. The athletes are gearing up, lacing their shoes, restringing their rackets and getting ready to have a late start to a normal spring season. Submitted Photo
Indoor Work The track and field team working out after school at one of their indoor practices. “We all encourage each other to keep working hard,” Rachel Walters (19) said. “We remind each other that what we are doing will pay off later when we have meets in the season.” The athletes train every day before or after school at GHS.
6 Sports
APRIL 2019
Page Designed By Regan Ehlert
Volume 5 Issue 7
FRESHMAN BREAKS TRACK RECORD Addison Webster Makes History at First Track Meet of Season By Connor Bulgrin PAGE EDITOR
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Record Breaker Webster (22) runs the 60-meter hurdles at Doane University. “I think I’ll get stronger and faster so I can break the 100 record,” Webster said. She went on to set the 60-meter hurdle record at 9.93 seconds. Photo by Cade Suing
egs churning, arms burning, more hurdles lay in front of the newcomer. With the race coming to a close, she only had so much energy left to give. Freshman Addison Webster broke a school record in the first high school track meet on Mar 15. On the Nebraska Wesleyan University indoor track, she ran the 55-meter hurdles in 9.29 seconds. The runner she passed on the alltime list had a time of 9.61 seconds, which was set in 2012. The 55-meter is not her only event. On an outdoor track, she runs the 100 and 300-meter hurdles. She also participates in the long jump. Depending on the size of the indoor track, she may also run the 60-meter hurdles.At the second meet of the season, the team had their first chance to run the 60-meter hurdles, she also holds the record in that event at 9.93 seconds at Doane University on Mar 22 at the teams second meet. “One-hundred hurdles are my favorite, I like them because they’re just fun to me, and it’s a short, competitive race,” Webster said. “I didn’t think I was going to break the record, I was really shocked because you
normally don’t break records at the first meet at as a freshman.” Webster has the full support of her hurdles coach Mr. Jim Oliver, who had the chance to work with Webster last year to prepare her for her first season. “I had Addison in class in 8th grade, so we did talk about hurdles and setting goals of improvement,” Coach Oliver said. “I knew from this that she loved doing hurdles and had joy for running this event, which is something that a lot of people do not like doing.” The two were able to work in the classroom and the field; additionally, Webster was also able to look towards her future track career. Mr. Oliver and Webster were able to set feasible goals for this season. “My goal I set last year as an eighth grader was to make it to state,” Webster said. “I think I might be able to make it, but there are several upperclassman that are better than me and have a lot more experience.” As the season goes on, she plans to improve exponentially and hopefully break the 100-meter hurdle record. Webster hopes to continue to get stronger and faster as her season and high school career continues.
HOME AWAY FROM HOME Hockey Players Live in Billet Families During Season By Jacey Hammer EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
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he Omaha Lancers hockey team is an outstanding team, and scouts are more likely to follow a team of this caliber, which raises an athlete’s chances of recruitment. Because of this, lifelong players travel across the country to play for the team, but their families cannot always move with them. The athletes live with other families in their home’s, which is called a ‘Billet Family’ around the Omaha-area. It becomes their home away from home; Living with these families is not free, and families pay monthly for this living experience. The hockey players are with their Gretna families throughout the school year until their season comes to an end. At GHS, there are seven players on the Omaha team and five that live in a Billet Family. “Omaha is a good hockey team, and it exposes us to lots of scouts,” junior James Snyder said. “Kids are more likely to get scouted in Omaha.” GHS and Douglas County West high school are the two most common choices for players. If they are unable to attend one of these schools, they enroll in online schooling. Juniors Dallas D’Amato, James Snyder, Gavin Baumhover, Bryce Battaglia and sophomore Stephen Maslikowski are members of Billet Families.
Sophomores Hayden Doggett and K.J. Hejlm are originally from Gretna, and they live with their real families. “Living in a Billet Family is pretty cool, but it’s kinda awkward,” Snyder said. “You feel like you’re intruding in their personal space.” Snyder is originally from Lincoln, NE; he came to GHS last fall. It is his first year living with a different family during the school year; however, he lived in Sioux Falls, SD during the summer. “I have only attended two different schools,” Snyder said. “Gretna is way more understanding about missing days for hockey than my previous school was. I’m really not sure where I am going to go to school for my senior year.” The boys have missed 23 days of school traveling the country every weekend and rarely see their own families, which can be difficult for both the player and family. “My family misses me a lot because they love me,” Snyder said. “They understand that I want to pursue my dream of playing professional hockey. I see my family whenever I have free time; I try to go see them often.” The feeling of living with another family is shared among the players; it is strange at first, but they eventually get adjusted. Billet families begin to feel normal after the adjustment is made. “Living with another family is a
little weird at first, but once you get to know them they feel like you’re a normal family,” D’Amato said. D’Amato is originally from Overland Park, Kansas. He has only moved once for hockey; however, he has attended two different schools. His previous school was less understanding of absences, and he is now at GHS. “My parents wish that I could live with them, but they don’t want to inhibit me from reaching my goals, so they let me,” D’amato said. “I usually see my family on every hockey weekend and then I drive home every other off weekend.” Junior Bryce Battaglia has housed hockey players. He even had someone from the Czech Republic living with him. It is helpful for the organization and a great way to understand the players. “I house kids that play on the U18 team,” Battaglia said. “One of my kids that lived with me was from the Czech Republic and he came here because of his advisor. He played for two other teams in North America where he went to different schools there as well. The billeting process is ultimately a fun experience, and we do it because we want to help the organization and want to help the kids out.” The Omaha Junior Lancers hockey team has exposed various athletes to scouts across the country. Without the help of Billet Families, these players dreams never would have come true.
pictured James Snyder (20) submitted photos
True Team Being on the Omaha team gives the players a variety of opportunities. “Omaha is a good hockey team, and it exposes us to lots of scouts,” James Snyder (20) said. “Kids are more likely to get scouted in Omaha.” Omaha exposes the kids to scouts. Submitted photo