SPLASH OF COLOR
IOWA CITY WEST HIGH SCHOOL | 2901 MELROSE AVE. | IOWA CITY, IA 5226 | INTRO.WSSPAPER.COM | VOLUME 1 ISSUE 1 | MAY 26, 2017
A UKRAINIAN SUMMER’S SERVICE
FEATURE PHOTO CHECK OUT THE REST OF THE PHOTOS AND OTHER CONTENT ON INTRO.WSSPAPER.COM A bunch of red and yellow tulips. These were growing near Aspen Leaf, a downtown Iowa City frozen yogurt shop, on Cinco de Mayo 2017.
PHOTO BY TING GAO DESIGN BY MELEAH CHANG
TABLE OF CONTENTS
FEATURE
04-05 OPEN DOORS, NEW DISCOVERIES
COVER STORY
07-09 A UKRAINE’S SUMMER SERVICE
ENTERTAINMENT 10-11 TAKE A SIP 12 WE ARE STILL HUMANZ 13 THE SUMMER PALETTE
OPINION
Design by Meleah Chang 14-15 THE MODEL MINORITY MYTH
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F E AT U R E
MAY 26, 2017
OPEN DOORS, NEW DISCOVERIES Some places are waiting to be uncovered in the hustle and bustle of Iowa City. If you’re looking to go on an adventure, here are five destinations ready for exploration.
BY LUKE REYNOLDS
Place #1-The Haunted Bookshop 219 N Gilbert St
When the door opens, the wood creaks. It may make the faint of heart run away, but for those who stick around, The Haunted Bookshop becomes a treasure chest holding everything imaginable. There are so many used books that need more love, and the effect is almost like a time capsule taking you back into the past. But don’t just stop at the old Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys titles. There’s even stuff for puppetry enthusiasts, with a wide selection ranging from dogs to birds to magical creatures. It just goes to show that this bookshop is everything but haunted. It’s really more charmed.
Recommended: Folkmanis Raven puppet
Place #2-Daydream Comics 21 S Dubuque St
A few stores to the left of popular indie bookstore Prairie Lights, Daydream Comics is the perfect place for a comic fan to geek out. With a wide array of issues both new and backlogged, containing everything from adaptations of My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic to classic Marvel superheroes; there’s something for everyone. There’s even an adorable kids’ section in the front if there’s a need to relive childhood nostalgia, complete with glossy new Calvin and Hobbes collections and Raina Telgemeier titles.
Recommended: Raina Telgemeier’s Ghosts, a slightly spooky but heartwarming graphic novel.
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Place #3-Record Collector
116 S Linn St Taking a step into this store brings a shopper into a hip new world. A vinyl record spins and plays from the speakers. There are tons of classic CDs to add to a music lover’s collection. But the highlight has to be the vinyl in the back, where no CDs are allowed and have to be placed on the counter. There’s a wide selection of everything you could ever dream of: classic Pat Benatar records, an indie pop group named Teen and even Adele. It’s a record collector’s dream.
Recommended: Adele’s 19 LP, containing “Chasing Pavements” and the strong first track “Daydreamer”
Place #4-Forbidden Planet 111 S Dubuque St
Welcome to a retro throwback! Forbidden Planet is the place to relive some of that funky 70s nostalgia. There are several pinball machines and other games that can be played with tokens, but the real treat can’t be complete without getting the chance to sit back, relax and eat some good food. Cheese sticks, a traditional Caesar salad and deep dish pizzas await those who love rich food. Coming to this forbidden planet will definitely make a weekend night that much more fun.
Recommended: Playing The Wizard of Oz pinball machine because it’s a classic and well-loved
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FEATURE PHOTO
Some rather pale lilacs that were planted in the downtown Iowa City ped mall. Lilacs generally bloom during late May, so enjoy them while they last!
PHOTOGRAPHY AND DESIGN BY TING GAO
A UKRAINIAN SUMMER’S SERVICE A team from Parkview Church has some big plans for the summer. BY TING GAO
W
many people get to go to Ukraine as a teenager?” His main
e are on the verge of summer, that marvelous, lazy
season where all most people want to do is nap and visit the beach. We’ve almost gotten out of school for the year and want to forget all those finals and all-nighters with some relaxation. After all, there’s just something about 90°F weather that saps all our will to go do any sort of work, especially outdoors. That’s understandable. However, this summer, a team of 27 people from Parkview Church here in Iowa City, IA have volunteered to spend two and a half weeks on a mission trip to Ukraine, doing all the heavy work for the rest of us. Volunteering to spend two and a half weeks in a foreign country and toil amongst strangers is no small task. And since the trip comes at Todd Cramer, the main leader and pastor for the trip.
a cost of $2,350 per person, each of the people going on the trip must have strong motives to take on this task. “Our
hope for our team is that we gain an understanding of a different culture and see how prayers are answered as we are on the trip,” said Todd Cramer, the main leader and pastor for the trip, as well as Parkview Church’s Pastor of Student Ministries. “For the people of Ukraine we want to help FCA Ukraine in building relationships with new schools and new coaches while being an encouragement to the FCA Ukraine team.” Meanwhile, Emma Oglesby ‘16, a West High alumnus, said she is choosing to go on the trip because “I had such a fun time the first time [I went on the trip] and made so many connections.” She will be serving with the Rivne portion of the team, working in the sports camp. When asked if she had any concerns about the trip, she replied, “I don’t have any concerns as of right now…” But then she added that “Maybe one concern is that because I had such a great time on the first trip, that I will put those expectations of the first trip into this trip, and not have an open mind to what God will teach me this time. ” Jonah Terwilleger ‘19, on the other hand, said he was going on the trip “Because it’s a very unique experience. How
concerns, he said, were his fear of heights, as well as the language barrier. “I’m not much of a plane person. And I don’t know how to communicate with them, I don’t know...their language,” he said. The team will spend their time in Ukraine in the cities of Rivne and Kiev, and work in sports and English day camps while they are there. Ukraine is still currently dealing with pro-Russian separatist rebels in the eastern part of the country, but both cities are nowhere near the conflict. While the Parkview team is in Ukraine, they will be working with a partner Christian group, FCA Ukraine. According to their website, FCA Ukraine “...desires to see the entire country of Ukraine impacted for Jesus Christ through the influence of athletes and coaches….We accomplish this goal through the 4 [four] C ministries: Coaches, Campus, Camp, and Community.” Why does Parkview partner with FCA Ukraine? “Parkview partners with them because the wife of the FCA Ukraine director is from Iowa City and grew up at Parkview,”said Cramer. “They are supported by Parkview for their work in Ukraine.” The team will be spending most of their time working in Ukraine, but that doesn’t mean that this trip will be all work and no play. In addition to doing some sightseeing in their free time, the team will head over to Krakow, Poland for the last portion of the trip. This visit to Krakow is for sightseeing and debriefing purposes, and may include a trip to Auschwitz, the infamous Nazi concentration camp, which happens to be under 100 km away from the city. This figures prominently in Cramer’s favorite story from a previous Ukraine trip. “We brought a team to Ukraine in 2015, shortly after Russia had invaded Ukraine,” Cramer said. “...At the end of that trip we... had an opportunity to visit Auschwitz, which was a moment I’ll never forget. So heartbreaking and powerful to see reminders of the evil that humans are capable of.”
Emma Oglesby ‘16, a West High alumnus and trip volunteer
INFOGRAHPIC COMPILED BY MELEAH CHANG
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E N T E R TA I N M E N T MAY 26, 2017
TAKE A SIP
Since the summer brings high humidity, lots of sweating and dry tongues, cooling off and getting hydrated becomes a priority. The next time you reach for a drink, maybe one of these fun and refreshing recipes can help you out. BY LUKE REYNOLDS
Recipe #1-Cucumber Lemonade
A unique twist on the classic summer favorite with an added kick of carbonation. Things You’ll Need: 1 cucumber, thinly sliced 1 12-ounce can frozen lemonade concentrate 1 2-liter bottle Mountain Dew or other lemon-lime flavored carbonated drink Cutting board Knife Stirring utensil Ice Pitcher Glasses
What to Do:
Place the cucumber on a cutting board and use a knife to cut it into thin slices. Put them into a pitcher. Pour the lemonade concentrate over the slices and let stand for 10 minutes. After that, pour in the lemon-lime soda. Stir until combined and let chill before serving over glasses with ice.
Recipe #2-Honey Limeade
A little touch of honey makes the tartness of this drink just right. Things You’ll Need: 1 cup lime juice 1 lime Lime squeezer (lemon squeezer could also work) 5 cups water 2/3 cup sugar 2 tablespoons honey Liquid measuring cup Stirring utensil Ice Pitcher Glasses
What to Do:
Squeeze a lime in the lime squeezer into a liquid measuring cup until you have 1 cup of lime juice. Put the lime juice, water, sugar, and honey into a pitcher and stir until the sugar has dissolved.
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Recipe #3-Mock Champagne
For all the people who want to feel sophisticated without breaking the law. Things You’ll Need: 1 2-liter bottle chilled ginger ale 1 46-fluid ounce can chilled pineapple juice 1 64-fluid ounce bottle chilled white grape juice Stirring utensil Pitcher Champagne glasses or flutes
What to Do:
Pour the bottle of ginger ale, the can of pineapple juice, and the bottle of white grape juice into a pitcher. Stir until combined and let chill before serving over champagne glasses or flutes.
Recipe #4-Horchata
A traditional Latin American drink with the perfect balance of sweet and spice. Things You’ll Need: 1 cup uncooked white long-grain rice 5 cups water ½ cup milk ½ tablespoon vanilla extract 2 sticks of cinnamon ⅔ cup white sugar Blender Strainer Stirring utensil Pitcher Ice Glasses
What to Do:
Pour the rice and water into a blender. Blend until the rice is beginning to break up, about 1 minute. Add the cinnamon sticks and let the mixture stand at room temperature for a minimum of 3 hours or overnight. Strain the rice water and cinnamon sticks into a pitcher and discard the rice. Stir in the milk, vanilla, and sugar until well incorporated. Let it chill and stir one last time before serving over cups with ice. All recipes adapted from Allrecipes.com
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E N T E R TA I N M E N T MAY 26, 2017
WE ARE STILL HUMANZ
It’s the end of the world as they know it, but Gorillaz isn’t going to let the human race die on their newest album. BY LUKE REYNOLDS Gorillaz has been somewhat of an enigma since their debut in 2000. That may be because the four band members aren’t real people; they’re characters created by artist Jamie Hewlett and singer Damon Albarn. What started as their protest against artificial substance found on MTV has become a pop culture phenomenon with several best-selling singles and albums. They’ve stuck around and are here to stay, and the lingering bass groove of “Feel Good Inc.” on radio and mall speakers is proof of that. After six years out of the spotlight, bandmates 2D, Murdoc, Russel and Noodle are back. Their chaotic world is ready for a fifth round on their latest record Humanz, featuring a slew of guest stars Albarn picked up thanks to his daughter’s music tastes. Guests include rapper Vince Staples, Jamaican artist Popcaan and the legendary Grace Jones, and they’re all part of the party spurred by an essential question: what would happen if Donald Trump became President of the United States? Trump was inaugurated as the leader of our country in January, but when this album was recorded, no one knew about the outcome. All the tracks are merely speculation, but the result is a fascinating journey into a celebratory story both terrifying and intoxicating. With brief narrative interludes by actor Ben Mendelsohn and comedian Steve Martin, Humanz relishes in the madness and destruction about to come while also being acutely aware of everything about to happen. It’s the moment when the sharp tang of alcohol begins to fade and the real fun begins. That’s what makes each listen so invigorating. Vince Staples immediately starts off on the right note with “Ascension,” viciously rapping his way through a bouncy and anti-governmental song that fuels the fire of the incoming apocalypse. The danceable tracks continue all throughout
the first part: Peven Everett’s soulful tenor pleading for dreaming on “Strobelite,” Popcaan’s reveling in success that seems darkly empty on “Saturnz Barz” and De La Soul’s raucous partying to live in the moment on “Momentz.” From there, the next five parts each have their own two songs, each with their own theme. “Submission” and “Charger” fight for a chance of self-expression. “Andromeda” and “Busted and Blue” reflect on sadness and regret when the opportunity never delivers. They’re also two of the only tracks where Damon Albarn really showcases his signature voice while playing the part of 2D on this record. “Carnival” and “Let Me Out” are last pleas to embrace fun and bring peace,
respectively. “Sex Murder Party” and “She’s My Collar” revel in debauchery and carelessness that’s starting to bubble up. Then there’s “Hallelujah Money” and “We Got the Power,” pulling in strength in protesting against what the world has come to while also embracing how people have changed in it. Some Gorillaz fans may be disappointed that Albarn/2D doesn’t provide more vocals, or the fact the style has evolved into something more darkly electronic and lacks instrumentation from guitars and drums. However, that’s what makes Humanz a riveting listen from start to finish. It makes a statement not only about what the world may be coming to, but what we need to do in order to live on. It may just be party music on the surface, but the messages will definitely stick the landing and be remembered after everyone’s been kicked out of the club.
BY THE NUMBERS
7 5
The amount of records, in millions, that the band’s first record sold worldwide.
The amount of times their second album went platinum in the United Kingdom. It went double platinum in the United States.
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The total amount of members in the group, counting actual humans, musicians and characters. Sources: Useless Daily, PPCorn
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THE SUMMER PALETTE
We look forward to summer for the school-free days and the endless amounts of sun, but there are also some beautiful colors in this season we know and love. These YA debuts represent them in surprising ways. BY LUKE REYNOLDS Although this book may look like sunshine, much of it is very serious. High school junior James Liddell is a gay teen living in a small town community that is constantly lit aflame by homophobia, something that prevents him from coming out. Instead, he writes letters that he never sends, letting out the feelings he can’t have and hoping they’ll be quelled. It’s sad, sure, but the moments of hope where James hangs out with his best friend, falls in love and lives life really make this an enjoyable read. This is perfect on those cloudy days where the rain keeps pouring down and there needs to be a little light shining from a good book.
Surreal pink plastic flamingos may be found sticking out of tropical lawns, and just like those ornaments, this strange and magical book will captivate and keep eyes glued to it. The struggles of Mercedes as she tries to regain her creativity and stay afloat over family conflict and the crush on her best friend are undeniably human. But there may be more to her artistic safe haven than meets the eye, and the way Karcz writes it all is poetic and gripping even if the plot is a blip in the distance. Watch out for this one when it hits shelves July 25.
Like the sunset dipping down beneath the horizon and exposing the city at night, this story about a girl spending the summer with her actress sister in LA is unapologetically dark. Anna’s voice as a protagonist is snarky and dry, yet it expertly balances the creepier element of the novel: teenage angst related to the Manson girls. As she traipses through television sets and the city, Anna begins to understand just exactly how there are similarities between the lost girls of the supposedly sunny California past and her. This title is especially recommended for the readers who have a little cynicism running through their blood.
The night brings about magical things, and this novel brings that to the forefront in a style reminiscent to the classic The Catcher in the Rye. It even shares some similarities to American Girls: a girl visits her older sister for the summer. But that’s where the comparisons end. Girls in the Moon is softer, more evocative and subtle, weaving a story of the magic in New York and the power of music and romance into two narratives. One follows 17-year-old Phoebe on that trip to see her rock star sister; the other follows her mom’s rise to fame in reverse. It’s a story about family and embracing the bonds they give, and it’s paired well with the wandering and aimless summer nights found when excitement needs to be discovered. Those who liked J. D. Salinger’s classic should pick this one up.
E N T E R TA I N M E N T
MAY 26, 2017
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OPINION
THE MODEL MINORITY MYTH
MAY 26, 2017
BY TING GAO
The supposed “success story” of Asians has been celebrated ever since the 1960s, when the influential article “Success story: Japanese American style” first appeared in the New York Times. The author, sociologist William Petersen, argued that Asians were a “model minority” that had risen above prejudice and racism to achieve success through hard work and the maintenance of strong family values. However, this “model minority myth” isn’t true in the slightest, as it ignores basic facts about both Asians and other POC groups. It also serves the purpose of upholding the current racial status quo and pitting Asians against other POC.
Asians aren’t all the same, as not all Asians are equally successful. The category of Asian/Asian-American is actually made up of myriad ethnic groups, each with their own unique culture, history, reasons for coming to the US and levels of success in various fields. When you smush these groups together under the label “Asian” or “AsianAmerican,” the differences between these groups is obscured and a false picture of widespread Asian success appears. This conceals the struggles of individual Asian ethnic groups, as well as that of individual Asians. If separated from each other and measured individually, a picture of greater Asian diversity in performance can be seen. This includes areas such as median household income, poverty levels, education levels, and English proficiency. Asian experiences with racism and prejudice also aren’t equivalent to that of other POC groups. Asians have definitely experienced racism and prejudice here in the US. For instance, the Chinese Exclusion Act, which banned all Chinese laborers from immigrating to the US, was undeniably a racist piece of legislation. After all, it was largely based on the common view at the time that the Chinese were a dangerous, barbarous people. There was also the famous Executive Order 9066 that forced all Japanese-Americans on the West Coast to abandon their homes and businesses and relocate to internment camps during WWII. This was also simply due to their ancestry, and not because of any wrongdoing on their part. However, these experiences are not equivalent to over 200 years of slavery, and yet another 100 years under Jim Crow laws for the black community, or to the experiences of other racial minorities. The model minority myth is also used to support the current racial status quo. Many people deny that racism still exists in the US. Being racist is bad, but how else can people explain the widespread poverty that exists among various POC groups and the like? This is where the model minority myth comes in. These people use it to explain that Asians demonstrate that everyone who works hard and maintains
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strong family values can succeed in the US, regardless of race. Thus, the other POC groups are failing to achieve the standard of living others enjoy because they are unmotivated and fail to maintain strong family support systems. These other POC groups have had different experiences than Asians, and so this is an unfair comparison to make. Comparing Asians to other POC groups also creates resentment, preventing POC solidarity on issues that affect all POC, such as lack of positive, accurate media representation and wage inequity. Unfortunately, too many Asians believe the model minority myth themselves. They sincerely believe that provided they work hard, a person can get anywhere they want in the US regardless of race. So when they see the statistics showing other POC groups underperforming in myriad areas, they refuse to believe systemic racism is at work. They choose to believe that other POC are failing to achieve success because they are lazy and unmotivated. They see the work of programs such as affirmative action, and this causes them to resent these other POC groups for seemingly getting further in life without working nearly as hard as some Asians do. Overall, the model minority myth serves only to distort history and the Asian experience and prevent POC solidarity. We have to stop using it to justify keeping the current cushy status quo, which allows us to comfortably ignore the reality of continued racism and prejudice in
Source: US Census Bureau
FEATURE PHOTO
Purple wild-sage, Lantana camara, as seen in downtown IC on May 12, 2017. Although often used as an ornamental plant, one must be careful with them, as they have a tendency to escape the garden and negatively impact local biodiversity. PHOTO BY TING GAO DESIGN BY LUKE REYNOLDS