black& white the
25th Anniversary Edition
index
Special Edition pg. 2 cover | Bryce Schulte
Letterfrom
the editor
Dear Reader,
are a part of.
This school year marks the 25th an-
topics, which is sometimes hard to get stu-
niversary of the Black & White. To com-
dents to throughly enjoy reading. A lack of
memorate, we wanted to look back at our
diversity was written in 1993 and again last
old issues and pick some of our favorite
semester. Not only is it a well-written arti-
topics that have intrigued readers and put
cle, it is important for these stories to get
a spotlight on the student body.
exposure. These things affect us all.
Our other stories cover some heavier
For each of our stories, we kept the orig-
Thank you for sup-
inal stories and photos, but updated them
porting us, and en-
with modern designs and new students to
joy this special
add to the list. We wanted to compare cov-
edition of the
erage then and now.
Black & White.
The Redzone highlighted student athletes in a variety of sports. It shares their stories and why they love the sports they
b&w philosophy The Black & White is published solely by the Johnston Senior High School newspaper staff. Its goal is to inform, enlighten and entertain Johnston students. It is an open forum. In accordance with Iowa law and board policy, students assign and edit material and make all decisions of content. The paper is published nine times per school year. The paper will not publish material that is libelous, obscene or an invasion of privacy. The law does not require parental permission to use student quotes. Ethically, we believe students can speak for themselves. Staff editorials represent the opinion of a majority of the editorial board. Editorial and opinion pieces do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the advisor, school officials or the district. Letters to the editor must be signed. Like all material, letters may not be libelous, obscene or an invasion of privacy. To write a letter to the editor, writers an submit them in person in room 413 or email them to jhsblackandwhite@gmail.com The Black & White strives to report accurate and timely information. If you believe that an error has been published, please contact the editors at jhsblackandwhite@gmail.com. The Black & White is a member of CSPA, NSPA, Quill & Scroll and IHSPA. Recent issues of the paper earned these honors: Columbia Scholastic Press Association Silver Crown Award, National Scholastic Press Association First Class rating, Quill & Scroll Gallup Award, IHSPA state placings and sixth in the National Best of Show.
From, Bryce Schulte
STAFF Co-editor-in-chief Bryce Schulte
Staff writers Sam Farrell Nick Irwin Mason Lillegraven
IN THE ISSUE Sports The Redzone..............................3
Feature Painting a poor picture of minorities................................4/5
Opinion Religious diversity only makes us stronger.................6/7
sports
The REDZ
Special Edition pg. 3
NE
The Redzone was a sports page featuring athletes in the school. Including coverage of Bjork from 1993, we talked to Vander Zwaag for his story.
words | Eric Butterwick & Sam Farrell layout | Sam Farrell
Lori Bjork ‘05
Camden Vander Zwaag ‘18
Vitals
Vitals
Born: April 19, 1986 Des Moines, IA
Born: October 10, 1999 Des Moines, IA
Height: 5’10”
Height: 6’3”
Sport: varsity basketball
Sport: varsity basketball
D-1 Dreamin’
Starting Young
Her goals for the future are lofty, but they can afford to be when you’re as good as she is. In fact, she would like to make a career out of the sport if possible. “I’d like to get to the state tournament, play basketball at a division one college and someday, become a professional player,” she said.
Vanderzswaag
shoots
every
morning before school in the gym and after school lifts, finishing off his day with workouts at Kingdom Hoops. “I can really see the effects on this work and how my game is improving,” Vanderzwaag said. “But when we lost to Newton I started to question if it was all worth it or what would happen if I put in more work.”
Sleeping Giants Although
the
lady
Workin’ Hard Basketball has been a part of Vader-
Dragons currently re-
zswaag’s life from a young age. He was
side in the midle of the
the ball boy for the high school team as a
CIML conference, Bjork
child. “Watching them play made me fall
feels that the team could be
in love with the game,” he said. Vanderz-
very dangerous. “We can sur-
waag’s brother played varsity basketball
prise some of the good teams,” Bjork said.
and is partially responsible for his interest
Despite two big losses to conference rivals
in the game. “My dad used to always coach
Dowling and Urbandale earlier in the year,
my brother and I remember sitting on the
the girls will look to seek revenge when
bench and wanting to be just like him,”
districts roll around Feb. 14.
Vanderzwaag said.
Painting
feature
Special Edition pg. 4&5
layout | Bryce Schulte
A POOR PICTURE
s e i t i r o n i m
OF
Writer Jill Foley first covered the lack of diverse teachers in May 1993 Out of 673 students enrolled at the high
school, 25 are of a minority background.
The administration and school board
are presently working towards a solution.
Writer Nick Irwin continued the minority staff discussion in November 2016 Social studies teacher Alicia Rollison
mostly white teachers, but she still wishes
identifies as biracial. She thinks the lack of
they were more diverse. “It would be com-
diverse teachers is particular to Johnston’s
forting to have some minority teachers,”
location. “If people don’t see themselves
she said. “I’d like to be able to talk to an
in professions, it does hinder what profes-
adult that aren’t my parents about issues
sions people then aspire themselves to be,”
that white people cannot relate to in the
she said. “That can affect student’s focus in
same way.”
life, as well as what they think they can be.”
Lovelady shares the belief that the
Rollison believes that it is best to priori-
school does not make staff diversity a pri-
tize minority teachers over white teachers.
ority. “The school doesn’t seem to care
As a teenager, she did not think about
about a lot of things other than making
the lack diverse staff. She grew up in Johnston so she was used to the lack of diversity, but the issue has only recently caught her attention due to discussion about it. Rollison tries to implement learning opportunities about racial diversity into
“In those areas where we need them,
her classes. “I don’t think we do enough to
the ministration and the board are looking
talk about diversity with the students,” she
“We all develop into who we are based
at the variety of minority teachers as well
said. “I sometimes struggle to figure out
on all the role models in our lives,” princi-
as a variety of teachers of different gen-
how to incorporate it into the curriculum.”
pal of Crossroads Park Elementary School
ders,” principal Tom Downs said. “Are we
Gerry Page said. “It is real sad to think in
concerned? Yes, we are.”
It may also be important to have at least a proportional number of minority staff.
1990, if you showed a black child a picture
When asked why no action has been
of a black person they didn’t know, they
taken thus far, Downs responded, “We re-
would first think of negative thoughts.”
ceive over 100 applications for each posi-
“Our media, for example, paints a very
tion and out of those, only seven to 10 are
poor picture of people of color. My stu-
interviewed. The only way we can even tell
dents are getting the same message. When
that these candidates are minority is in the
I think of my 20 years working in West Des
interview, because it doesn’t show on the
Moines, some 4,000 students who have
application.
gone through the system may have me as
“I have been here for seven years and
their only experience with a black profes-
haven’t seen one minority candidate in
sional,” Page added. “That’s sad. There’s a
the interviewing process. If there were two
void there, for all students.”
equally talented candidates that met all
In the Johnston school district, less
qualifications and one was minority, one
than three percent of the students are mi-
was white, would I hire the minority? Yes,
nority. Page says this number should still
I would, because we have a great need for
be considered significant when one finds
minority staff now.”
However, Rollison thinks that incorporating diversity into schoolwork may backfire if it is not implemented correctly. “I always think that our minority students have pressure since they are usually one in
“” We can’t just wish for more minority applicants,
a class,” she said. “If a racial topic comes up, everyone looks at them and thinks they can speak for all of their race.”
“” I don’t think we do enough to talk about diversity,
sure we graduate,” she said. “The school’s interest in mental health skyrocketed after the district experienced issues because of
Multiracial
Black
Asian
Other
Hispanic
Diversity of JCSD staff
98% 0.6%
0% 0%
0.4% 0.8%
Diversity of DMPS staff
85.2% 3%
0.2% 3.1%
7.1% 4.2%
it. But we haven’t had issues because of a lack of colored teachers. No one’s going to say anything or do anything about it be-
Diversity of JCSD students
cause the majority of the students don’t look at it or see the impact.” She does not believe that, for all the comments the school makes about valuing diversity, it is a real priority. “The school doesn’t care,” Lovelady said. “All the school thinks about is what it looks like to the public. They care about the rich and powerful parents, not the minority students or educators.” Evan Erickson ‘18 is Native American and a member of the Bad River tribe.
After being one of the few non-white
Erickson has noticed the lack of diverse
teachers at the school for 15 years, Rollison
teachers, but does not consider it an issue.
does not believe diversity in staff is one of
Erickson thinks that the problem will
the school’s main concerns. “I don’t think
fix itself as time goes on, and there isn’t
the school prioritizes diversity,” she said.
much the school can do to help speed up
that there is zero percent minority staff to
LaMont Wilson ‘95 feels that many oth-
supply what he referred to as a healthy, di-
er minority students are intimidated by
verse environment for both minority and
this setting. “We need teachers who we can
non-minority students.
relate to. But I don’t think the school dis-
“If we want it to be reflective of the school
that process. “I think it kind of just comes
“I’m from Waterloo. We had a lot of
trict will ever have them. It would be like a
body, we have to be proactive. We can’t just
with time as Johnston keeps growing and
black teachers [and] black education class-
black sheep in the crowd of this tight com-
wish for more minority applicants.”
we get more staff,” he said. “I know I’m not
es there,” Michael Menton ‘95 said.
munity,” he said.
Jadyn Lovelady ‘17 is used to having
White
concerned with diversity in school.”
76.2% 7.2%
4.8% 0%
6.1% 5.6%
Diversity of DMPS students
42% 7.7%
6.4% 0.6%
18.3% 25%
opinion
Special Edition pg. 6&7
Religious diversity only makes us
classified with that race.” Gollapudi was shocked by the hateful comments. “It caught me off guard at first, but I got used to it; I didn’t want to, but I did,” she said. “I would be shocked at first
stronger
but then I just felt like crawling back into a little corner.” Prejudice against Muslims, seems like
2014 Religious Bias Hate Crimes
information from Federal Bureau of Intelligence (FBI)
Between 2014 and 2015, there was a 67 percent (154 in 2014 and 257 in 2015) increase in anti-Islamic hate crimes and a 5.8 percent increase compared to overall hate crimes.
Anti-Islamic
Anti-Catholic
need to continually educate, especially in
21%
mostly Caucasian suburbs like Johnston. Let’s look at some numbers. It is estimated that the Islamic State of Iraq and
Muslims number 1,599,950,000 billion.
Writer Jason Ranker encouraged a push towards a needed discussion on religion from November 1992 include a class dedicated to presenting
Other
That is .00003 percent, so it unlikely that
Religious Diversity in Adult Iowans information from Pew Research Center
the Muslim you may know is a terrorist.
21.7% 4.3%
6.1%
has between 30,000-50,000 members.
into the classrooms and into minds of JHS
Anti-Judaism
places. However, it happens here, too. We
Levant, more commonly known as ISIS,
The high school curriculum should
information from Federal Bureau of Intelligence (FBI)
something that only happens in other
layout | Mason Lillegraven & Bryce Schulte
We need to get religion into our school.,
2015 Religious Bias Hate Crimes
16.1%
56.8%
56.8%
21.9%
Our government sometimes seems to support this idea that most Muslims are
students. I’m not talking about compul-
the history, basic beliefs, and impact of
sory prayer, church services, or the rejo-
the world’s major religions. All major re-
bad. After the terrorist attacks Sept. 11,
ing of church and state. I’m talking about
ligions, including Christianity, should be
2001, people got scared and started to look
None. Female Iowa governors? None. So
typically think of this religion as a peaceful
covered and presented from an academic
at everyone more suspiciously, but espe-
yes, there are extremist nations who pass
one. We think of meditation and selfless-
4%
cially people with darker skin or women
extreme laws, but that does not represent
ness - not murder. However, in Myanmar,
who wore hijabs. It is understandable the
the rest of Muslim majority nations who
a country where 80 percent of the pop-
1%
United States had to respond to the 2,979
are just following the religion they were
ulation is Buddhist, a group of Buddhist
Americans who lost their lives that day.
born and raised to believe.
monks has murdered scores according to
bringing a new concept to JHS - the search for understanding of religious diversity.
standpoint.
How much do know about the life and
A class such as this could make a sig-
beliefs of Muslim, Hindu, or Buddhist?
nificant addition to our high school cur-
Ever wondered about the Jewish holidays
riculum and greatly benefit students. Ig-
like Yom Kippur or Hanukkah you see on
norance fosters misunderstanding and
the calender?
misunderstanding brings conflict.
My guess is that the average student at
16%
We could resolve conflict now by
77%
However, 1,690,903 Iraqi, 48,644 Af-
Some people think any country that
ghan and 35,000 Pakistani citizens have
incorporates the Islam teachings into its
lost their lives on the United States’ merci-
government
is corrupt or subject to suspicion. Most of
JHS knows very little about other religions,
broadening our knowledge of this diverse
less endeavor to destroy those responsible
probably due to the extremely homo-
world in which we live. Why is this subject
for the act.
geneous nature of our community. Our
shunned?
school has the responsibility to deal with
It seems that a topic so central to life
this problem and to fulfill its role as an in-
on earth should be discussed and explored
stitution of learning.
rather than ignored.
system
Yes, the people responsible for the at-
northern Africa and the Middle East would
Christian
Other
tacks needed to be punished, but why did
Muslim
Atheist
we have to kill so many unrelated people?
be considered a Mus-
Because we make assumptions.
lim state. But not all
Former editor-in-chief Carly Campbell brought religion back, challenging anti-Islamic views in December 2015
One assumption people believe is that women lack basic social rights such as holding political positions, going out alone
of them are extremist nations like Syria. Take Morocco for
“
the “The Washington Post” and has displaced thousands of others. Even
here
America,
People will call me a terrorist even though I try to be as nice as I can,
”
tians moted
in
Chris-
have
pro-
violence.
The Klu Klux Klan acted in the name of Christianity and killed 3,446 black people, but we never considered them
As Amra Smajlovic ‘18 got ready for
gan wearing the hijab again this year and
school one day last spring, she made a
feels people still judge her because of it.
Yes, this is certainly an issue in Muslims
there last year and never once felt unsafe
Christianity. What the KKK did was no dif-
decision that she never imagined mak-
“People will call me a terrorist even though
extremist nations, such as Iran or Saudi
or that the people were more violent. This
ferent than what ISIS is doing now. They
ing. After wearing a hijab, a headscarf that
I try to be as nice as I can,” Smajiovic said.
Arabia, but as usual, the rest of the daunt-
is a nation with Islam at the center of the
were terrorizing innocent people.
ingly large Muslim population is not being
government, similarly to Iraq or Iran, but
Calling Muslims like Smajlovic and
taken into consideration
Morocco is not a threat, unlike those other
Gollapudi terrorists is bigotry. Maybe we
two countries.
have a tendancy to do this because a lot
and driving.
example.
I
traveled
representative
of
some Muslim women wear, she choose to
Other students have had similar experi-
go to school without it. “There were many
ences. Simran Gollapudi ‘17 is from India
people coming up to me and threatening
and she is Hindu. In middle school, other
In countries such as Indonesia, Paki-
me if I didn’t take it off,” Smajiovic said. “I
students singled her out. “A lot of people
stan, Malaysia, Bangladesh and Turkey,
The root of the problem, like so much
of us have never really known a Muslim.
started wearing it to feel closer to God and
just assume if you’re not white then you’re
women are equal to men. Bangladesh has
in life, is we do not learn from history.
People tend to be afraid of the what they
when I took it off, it just felt different.”
do not know.
probably a terrorist of some sort,” she said.
had four female heads of state, Pakistan
There are several examples of violence in
Smajlovic is originally from Bosnia and
“Kids would call me that all the time and it
two and Turkey one.
every religion.
was raised in a Muslim household. She be-
really bothered me because I’m not even
How many have the United States had?
Look at Buddhism for an example. We
Most Muslims are not terrorists and therefore we should not treat them as so.
backpage
Special Edition pg. 8
Junker of the Month
Rusting all over and far older than the driver, these cars are (or were) shockingly still on the road.
words & layout | Nick Irwin
Shannon Hildreth ‘93
Unknown ‘91
Nickname: “Pride and Joy” Wrecks: three Gas mileage: 12-14 miles per gallon Cost: $50 Worth: $1 Rust: two inches Top speed: 65-70mph Favorite feature: rattling muffler
Nickname: “The Dragon Wagon” Wrecks: two - collision with field cultivator Gas mileage: N/A Cost: N/A Worth: N/A Rust: back half 0-60mph time: 5.2 seconds Number of miles: 41,000
Jason Kohles ‘00 Pros: Starts really well and runs really well Dirt blends with it Duct-taped stereo Cons: Only goes up to 70mph Radio does not work Oil light does not work
Kyle Burgess ‘17 Nickname: “The Yacht” Wrecks: two Gas mileage: 5 miles per gallon Cost: $2,000 Worth: $20 Rust: 10 square feet Top speed: 75mph 0-60mph time: 45 minutes