GN TE THE F GHT

BY GRACE BARTLETT ART & DESIGN BY TAELIM YOON

On March 22, 2023, Kim Reynolds passed Senate File 482, a bill that bans trans youth from using the bathrooms or changing rooms that align with their gender identity. Bills like this one have been proposed in past years but failed to gain support in the Iowa Capital. But this year Republican lawmakers have focused on LGBTQ-related issues. Also banning gender-affirming care for minors effective immediately, giving transgender kids 6 months to taper off medication. Republicans in support of the bill claim it is needed to protect the privacy of students who might feel uncomfortable sharing facilities with transgender peers. Opposers of the bill argue there have been no issues with transgender students using bathrooms that align with their gender and that the bill is harmful and puts trans students at risk of bullying and harassment.

Many West students are already being affected by this bill, explaining that it has made them late to classes and uncomfortable using the restroom while at school.

“..and then walk all the way back. I mean, I used to do that and I was tardy every day. I couldn’t get to class on time. And I felt like that wasn’t fair.” says Rowan James ‘25. Both students and staff have already expressed concern for trans students and their access to safe bathrooms due to fear of harassment. “I remember being in high school and having a lot of people around me be nervous to use the bathroom at school. A lot of people would just avoid it altogether” Says Dulce Escorcia, an educator at West ``I had friends who did use the bathroom even if it was kind of dangerous for them, like they would get harassed at times. And I’m worried about that coming back. I’m just scared for students who might have to face those reactions.” Harassment of trans students is not a new issue for schools as 75.1% of Trans students report feeling unsafe in school because of their gender identity. Many opposers of Senate file 482 fear that this number may increase as trans students are forced to use different bathrooms.

Many Republican supporters of the bill feel the new law is needed to protect other students’ privacy, but many students worry the bill will only cause confusion and discomfort.

“...And I feel like every time I’m in there alone for whatever reason somebody looks at me kind of weird. Like you shouldn’t be in here. You’re a guy.” says Rowan James ‘25, a trans student at West High. Trans students across the country have spoken and protested against these kinds of bills, explaining that there is no ill will as some Republicans claim. “I wish that people understood that it’s not like trans students using the bathroom that aligns with their gender identity isn’t malicious at all, kids just want to pee.” explains Dulce Escorcia. With the rise of anti-trans and LGBTQ+ legislature, many are worried that harmful bills like Senate File 482 will become more common and more aggressive. In order to combat this, students and educators are pushing for more education in schools and access to more gender-neutral bathrooms to support trans students. On top of this, protests and petitions to enact change and protect trans youth are gaining more traction on social media. As for students at West, supporting our peers and continuing to fight for change has never been more important.

BY TIA RAHMATALLA DESIGN BY TAELIM YOON

Scooter’s Coffee, founded in Nebraska, 1998 by Don and Linda Eckles is a thriving Coffee chain that has recently spread its roots to the Coralville area, only 10 minutes away from our very own school. The menu extends from coffees to smoothies to waffle sandwiches and includes its very own secret menu. We decided to compare the range of food prices, tastes, and locations with many of our local coffee shops.

We started by comparing Java House’s Power Plant energy drinks to Scooter’s SCOOOT! EnergyTM. At Java, we tried one of the most popular drinks, the Infrared Power Plant, and compared it to Scooter’s SCOOOT! Raspberry energy drink. The infrared posed for more sour and sweet undertones, presumably from the passionfruit and açai within the ingredients. Contrastly, the raspberry drink felt sweeter, tasting less tart. Both hold powerful flavors and are highly recommendable. In comparison, the Infrared had a better aesthetic and overall look, with a beautiful bright red from the tart cherry. They had similar tastes, but the sweetness of the raspberry drink was overwhelming at times. While both were very delicious, if you’re into more of a sweet and sour taste, we would definitely recommend the Infrared. If you have more of a sweet tooth, the Raspberry energy drink is the way to go.

Our next review was Scooter’s signature drink, the Iced Caramelicious, their most featured menu item, and compared it to the Iced Caramel Macchiato from Starbucks. Scooter’s Iced Caramelicious had a very subtle coffee taste, the beans had a sort of burned-after taste. The caramel taste was also pretty subtle, but it was quite refreshing and had a sweet background. The Starbucks Iced Caramel Macchiato had a much sweeter and caramel taste. The coffee taste was slightly stronger and had a more natural flavor. They both overall possess sweet undertones and are both a very refreshing drink to enjoy.

Next, we compared pricing. Scooter’s SCOOOT! ENERGY INFUSIONS are $6.75 for a small, and Java’s infrared is $5.60. (INFLATION) While Java only has one size, for cheaper you get about the same amount of product as the Scooter’s energy drink. Scooter’s Caramelicious is $5.45 for a small iced version. This similarly compares to Starbucks’ Iced Caramel Macchiato, which is $3.65 for the tall size (small). The Caramel Macchiato holds less contents, but is a good amount cheaper. To compare, a Venti from Starbucks (24 oz) is $4.75, holding much more content and is cheaper than Scooter’s small drink.

Location tends to be a determining factor in where one goes to grab a drink or a pastry. Java and Starbucks are both conveniently located next to well known and populated school districts. Java is just a five minute walk from West High School. This makes it a very close and convenient place to grab lunch from, especially for younger students, or just students in general who can’t drive or don’t have a car. Starbucks is very conveniently stationed right next to Northwest, a middle school in Coralville, Iowa. This makes it a great place for students to go to after school. It is also next to the tennis courts and baseball field so if people feel the need to grab a drink then it’s very convenient and useful. While Scooter’s poses great items, its location is very inconvenient.

Overall, we have some final notes. A positive of Scooter’s was the wide variety of flavors available and their quick service. Some negative aspects would have to be the coffee’s more subtle flavor, location and pricing.