March 2012

& BW

Ankeny students sticky note cars Hollingsworth travels the globe How to identify a liar

five seven sixteen

the black and white

NEW THE

JOHNSTON

HIGH

SCHOOL page four

march 2012. volume 20 issue 7. 5152780449. 6501 NW 62nd ave. johnston. iowa

8/9

13

News

Double Truck

Sports

3

Photo essay

8/9

13

4

Student ideas for new high school Newsbriefs/Stuco updates

Editorial

5

Ankeny students support JHS Prom and After-Prom

7

Senior takes a shot at archery Student graduates early Teacher travels the world Student Graduates early

NCLB is poorly executed Letters to the editor

Opinion

Feature 6

10

Go clubbin’ at JHS

11

Assemblies need change Back to Besic / In Plain Sight

12

English lacks in writing Be aware of the world

March 2012

the black and white

in this issue...

5

Scanlan places third Limited track space

Review 14

Shoes fitted well Zombie burger

Health 15

What’s in our food?

Backpage 16

How to spot a liar

STAFF EDITORS

SUB-EDITORS

Zach Winjum

news

Ashley Enger

Zach Peterson

Paige Cramer

Kenzie Foldes

Anne Rogers

Kristine Hayes

Taylor Joens

Sarah Ross

Ryan McGrew

Monica Gagne

sports

Wes Monroe

Laura Scieszinski

Hannah Soyer

Ben Parsons

Zoe Wilson

editor-in-chief

Taylor Mithelman co-design

Evan Culbert co-design

Lauren Coffey managing

Ian Dunshee photo

Mirza Besic backpage opinion

Mallorie Goodale Sarah Margolin feature

Scott Syroka doubletruck

STAFF WRITERS

Charles Fiedler Ashley Shay

ILLUSTRATOR Lisa VanWiel

Cover by: Evan Culbert

Correction from the Feb. issue: We apologize for misspelling Joe Farrell’s name

PHILOSOPHY

The Black and White is published solely by the Johnston 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 avoid 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 adviser, 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. Bring letters to room 413 within one week after publication to be considered for the next issue.

The Black and White strives to report accurate and timely information. If you believe that an error has been printed, please contact the editors at jhsblackandwhite@gmail.com. The Black and White is a member of CSPA, NSPA, Quill & Scroll, and IHSPA. Recent issues of the paper earned these honors: Columbia Scholastic Press Association Gold Medalist, National Scholastic Press Association First Class rating, Quill & Scroll Gallup Award, IHSPA state placings and sixth in the National Best of Show.

news

the b&wp.3

march 2012

March In Photos Zoe Wilson/BW Zoe Wilson/BW

1 Charles Fiedler/BW

2 3 4

5 1

Junior Carly Crist performs a back walkover at the Johnston’s Big Give talent show on Feb. 27. Carly was dancing to the song “Turn up the Music” by Chris Brown. Her motivation came both from her role as a student leader and being signed up by Amelia Medici.

2 Charles Fiedler/BW

Zoe Wilson/BW

Zoe Wilson/BW

Students celebrate at Best Buddies Prom held on March 3 at Merle Hay Mall.

The buddies snacked on orderves, played games, sang, and danced.

3

The acappella group 12 Men Singing performs “Club Can’t Handle Me” at the show choir Spring Show on March 3.

The group consisted of five seniors, three juniors, and four sophmores. “The spring show was only our second performance together, but I think we all had a lot of fun,” senior Nolan Martz said.

4

Freshman Abby Gorsche dribbles the soccer ball on Tuesday’s practice on March 13. The girls soccer team meets on Tuesday and Friday 6 a.m. in the big gym to prepare for the season.

5

A radio controlled car driven by sophmore Matthew Rahm drives off of a platform. Rahm’s team placed second overall on March 5 at the Perry TSA competition.

His team competed against 13 other teams in three preliminary races (three minutes) and one final race (five minutes).

the b&w p.4

news

march 2012

Light bulb!

Ideas take shape for new JHS words & layout

As a part of the process of building the

Taylor Mithelman

Auditorium

kins + Will, provided large cardboard light

new high school, set to open in the fall

Junior Laura Smalley holds

bulbs that were given to students. Stu-

of 2015, school officials formed a vision

the light bulb as Innovation

dents then took pictures with these light

group that includes students Katie Marck-

Celebrates at South East Polk

bulbs next to an item or idea they would

mann, Connor Yocum, Scott Syroka, and

after winning the competition.

like to see in the new high school.

Jon Caracci. The vision group is to come

Syroka tweeted this picture

Innovation Show Choir members at-

up with ideas for the new JHS and also

at Perkins + Will Architects,

tended a competition at S.E. Polk High

includes many community members and

“Hoping to get an amazing au-

School on Feb. 25. When they had down

teachers. In addition to the vision group

ditorium at new JHS to keep

time during the day they would wander

there will be a focus groups consisting of

our reign as grand champions

the school looking for ideas. Pictures

a larger group of students who will also

in the future!” Syroka tweeted

have also been taken at Johnston facili-

brainstorm ideas.

several photos he has taken

ties.

Perkins + Will, the architects who are

at the architects as a major

Photos are shared with the architects

designing the new high school, have given

form of communication. He

through e-mail and twitter. Each picture

Marckmann, Yocum, Syroka, and Caracci

follows each picture with a

is accompanied by a short recommenda-

a unique way to catalogue their ideas. Per-

tion or explanation of the picture.

brief description of what they are hoping to achieve.

Scott Syroka/BW

Grand Entrance

Students

in

Student Work Displays

Innovation

Standing by the display cases

stand outside of South East

outside of the cafeteria, Junior

Polk high school. One idea

Katie Marckmann holds the

is to have one defined ma-

light bulb. The idea is for the

jor entrance to the new high

new school to include ample

school. “I think a grand en-

display areas in order to dis-

trance is a reflection of our community,

our

play student work from a va-

system,

riety of classes. Art teacher

and the focus we have to-

Daniel Weiss believes it would

wards education. Since it is

benefit teachers and students

a reflection of what we are

to see what each department is

trying to do, lets make it

grand.” Senior Alyssa Beck-

newsbriefs & stuco updates

NB

Scott Syroka/BW

words & layout Taylor Joens

Scott Syroka/BW

er said.

Green room initiative

The Environmental Club has pitched the idea

Early start date retained Student council updates In similarity to this years start date, the

school board voted to start school on Aug.

ated and believe is a ‘green’ classroom,” senior

no start date that would have pleased every-

and president of the Environment Club, Molly Thuente, said.

The club decided to try out the “green room”

idea first on elementary schools, but it is not certain when the High School will adopt the

program. “The purpose is to teach the kids all

about being green and having a greener school

district,” Thuente said. Any class that decides to participate will receive a poster designed by the Environmental Club that includes the list of all the tasks it takes to be a “green classroom.”

should be for every department in the school.”

of a “green room.” “Basically it’s a classroom that tries to do all the things from a list that we cre-

doing, “Those exhibition pieces

16 as the start date for next year. “There was one, but I felt Aug. 16 provided more pros and fewer cons than any of the other op-

tions available,” school board member Greg

Dockum said. The mid-week start date will again arrange for finals before winter break

upcoming events the details march 12 School board meeting

april 4 Community blood 8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. drive

and for second semester to be completed prior to Memorial Day. “My personal preference is to establish some consistency in our

start dates going forward in order to provide

scheduling stability for the families in our district,” Dockum said.

6 p.m. at the Administrative Resource Center.

9 School board meeting

in the gym foyer at JHS. Sign up in Beguhn’s room or www. bloodcenterofiowa. org.

6 p.m. at the Administrative Resource Center.

news

march 2012

the b&w p.5

Ankeny students support Johnston with messages words & layout

Laura Scieszinski

Junior Jake Atkinson walks to his car to

sticky notes on the mirrors of cars, the girls

yellow sticky note saying, “You are beau-

who they were from. When Dowling sticky-

go home Friday Feb. 24 and sees a little

realized that the sticky notes didn’t specify

tiful” stuck to his driver’s side mirror. “To

noted Ankeny, there was no way to tell

be honest, I thought I was special,” Jake

who or what school sticky-noted. The girls

Atkinson said, “I thought I was the only one

only learned by asking the school police

who got one.”

officers where the sticky-noters were from.

Atkinson later went home and looked

So quickly, with pencil, the girls wrote a

on Facebook to see about five people

heart symbol AHS on the back of each

with comments and posts about the sticky

of the sticky-notes. The girls have not re-

notes they found on their cars. Almost ev-

ceived feedback other than a few emails

ery car was stuck with a note.

from teachers, including Johnston Middle

During sixth period, seniors Kaylea

School principal, Brian Carico.

Carico, Chelsea Gerhardt, Erin Kaiser, and

The girls plan to create a Random Acts

freshman, Kourtni Carico, all from Ankeny

of Kindness Club, or RAK for short. The

putting the notes on the cars. They missed

noting cars, to not only schools but also

School District went around the parking lot

club would perform acts, such as sticky-

lunch and three periods of school. All of them were excused from class to do so.

Lisa Friesth/Dragon

middle and high school because of the re-

Ankeny High School senior Chelsea Gerhardt sticks a message on a car in the tennis court parking lot. Gerhardt and three others stuck the notes on Friday, Feb. 24.

and Spenser Nelson on Jan. 29. Cameron

schools were making banners,” Kaylea

looked up all these quotes and basically

Dowling Catholic High School had

we could do something that doesn’t have

kind of wrote them out,” Gerhardt said,

The group of girls chose Johnston’s

cent deaths of Cameron Carico on Jan. 28, Carico was Kaylea and Kourtni’s cousin.

anonymously sticky-noted one lot of the Ankeny High School parking lot after they lost Dyamond Ott, an Ankeny senior, on Dec. 11, 2011. “We were thinking we could

make a banner, but then we thought all the

Prom

Carico said, “We were just like well maybe

to do with it but more just like something to make people cheerful.”

Over three days during class about 700

sticky notes were given a phrase. There

were about 50 different phrases in all. “I

we started on one stack each and we just “We did them in our classes so people

would ask us and be like ‘oh, I wanna write some’ and we got all these different sayings.”

After-Prom

merly known as Veterans’ Auditorium. It was held at Hy-Vee Hall last year but the change

was made because “It’s really hard to book a venue that is the right size for us,” Prom

Committee sponsor Kyla Burns said. “Last

year was too big, this year will be the perfect fit for the students.”

In order to set up for prom, the prom com-

mittee has driven to the event center to take

pictures of the venue multiple times. Then

they use the pictures to decide on how to decorate the event.

As well as having prom at a different loca-

tion, the Coronation Ceremony will be held at the dance instead of during an assembly.

keny High School’s assistant principal, Lisa Hill, encourages this idea.

Hill, Brian Carico, and Brent Riessen

were contacted beforehand to give per-

mission. “All of the community support that has been given to our school, our students and especially our family has just absolutely been phenomenal,” Brian Carico

said. “The support has made a huge difference and allowed that healing process to happen. We need to heal and stuff like this helps that.”

Compiled by: Zach Winjum

Breakdown of the Prom ticket $1,800 goes to the photogra-

Prom will be held at the Community

Choice Credit Union Convention Center for-

Before getting out of the car to put the

places like grocery store parking lots. An-

• Will be held at the high school from 12-5 a.m.

• Games include “Minute to Win It,” casino, ping pong, an inflatable, money machine, Xbox Kinect tournament, and Karaoke • Sidney Storm, the hypnotist, will perform (different from last year) • Parent volunteers put everything together

pher Deena Byrd as part of her contract with the school.

$4,500 will cover the facilities

cost, tables, and lighting rental.

$700 is used for picture frames

for seniors when they leave the dance.

$700 will fund the DJ. $250 will cover the catering of

cookies and water. It will also cover the catering staff.

*The rest of the money is used for the class day ceremony

the b&w p.6

feature

march 2012

Trail takes on targets

Student headed to national archery competition

words Laura Scieszinski layout Evan Culbert Pulling back her right arm, senior Sammi Trail aims at

the target set-up in the back of their family-owned store,

Crown Trophy. Her black and orange custom arrow, to match with her custom bow, flies in the air to hit the target in a yellow ring. Ten points. Her personal archery coach

Spenser Bretsch watches and says, “Good. Do it again,” and Trail sets her bow up for another shot.

Trail received her first bow only three months ago. It

was a hunting bow, so she could shoot with her dad and

uncle. She heard about the archery team at school and

decided to try it out. “I wasn’t really in a sport,” Trail said, “It was just kind of something to pick up and it turned out I liked it enough to keep going.”

Trail decided she wanted to further her training when

Bretsch came by Crown Trophy and invited Trail to his Lost

Arrows Archery School. He also offered Trail free lessons,

which led to him making her custom bow and arrows. “If you wanted to start learning how to shoot archery you call me and I bring everything you need to shoot,” Bretsch said,

“You purchase nothing. Lessons are free. So you can decide if you like archery before you go and buy a bow and

Laura Scieszinski/BW

The archery team coach Dave Beason is happy that

Senior Sammi Trail aims her bow in a private shooting session while her trainer Spenser Bretsch and sister Sarah Trail watch. The sessions occur weekly in the family store Crown Trophy.

buy the arrows and spend all that money.”

Trail is going beyond the team for archery training. “I think

it’s great that she’s going out and seeking extra help that

She also placed second in the Nebraska State Indoor 3D

be welcome at Lost Arrows Archery School. “It’s a really

that’s good for us because she brings that knowledge back

claims to be nervous but she sure doesn’t show it,” Beason

if I do poorly. I’m still trying to get over that. When I don’t

way because I’m certainly no expert,” Beason said. “And to our club.”

Trail has caught attention in the past year as a new fe-

male shooter. She recently won the Midwest Sectionals in the adult female class and has eligibility to go to nationals.

Shoot in the adult female bowhunter freestyle class. “She said. “It wouldn’t surprise me if five years from now we hear Sammi Trail’s one of the top shooters in the state.”

Trail plans to continue archery throughout her entire life.

She can attend competitions at all ages and will always

Early graduation Johnston School Board approves senior student the opportunity to graduate early

words Kristine Hayes & Ashley Shay second semester senior classes. “It’s a lot A lot changed for graduate Ethan Meng,

all within a very short time. He went from

being a student in high school to a student in college, all in about two weeks. “It was super stressful to say the least, I only had like 16 days though, so I didn’t have time to decompress and get lazy,” Meng said.

The process began around this time last

year. After spring break Meng met with his

counselors and fixed his schedule to take

easier than you’d think,” Meng said. After that he wrote to the principal for permission.

“My letter was about a paragraph long

and basically said who I was and that I

wanted to graduate to go to UNI.” He then met with Hukee in person. “[Hukee] wanted to make sure I had a plan, that I wasn’t going to sit around and do nothing,” Meng

said. He graduated Dec. 22, 2011, and headed straight for UNI, where he had already been accepted earlier in the year. He

mental sport,” Trail said. “I realized I can’t beat myself up

do good I kind of get in my head like ‘oh, gosh I suck right

now.’ So then I shoot even worse. I’ve learned that I need to get over that. Shoot a bad arrow, get over it and shoot another arrow. “

Interested in graduating early?

1. Meet with your counselor (Junior year) to discuss and adjust schedule.

2. Write to the principal by Aug. 15, include reason.

3. Get school board approval.

4. Double up on English and PE, take government, and make sure to have enough credits. has currently been at UNI for a little over

early, Meng gives the advice to be 100 per-

“I never disliked high school but if I had to

thing is if you have any doubts,” Meng

two months and he doesn’t regret a thing. compare, I’d graduate early again, high

school and college are totally different atmospheres,” Meng said.

One thing he regrets was not having as

much fun junior year because he had to focus on all of the extra classes.

To anyone who is considering graduating

cent sure it’s the right choice. “The good said, “you can always stop everything and

not graduate early.” He will be back to walk across the stage with the class of 2012

during graduation so he does not miss the cap and gown opportunity. This is an option many early graduates take so they can still enjoy graduation.

feature

march 2012

the b&w p.7

Hollingsworth travels world words & layout

Many of us have dabbled in travel, either across the

ed, he will go off on random tangents.” Ellerman said. “(His

as Spanish teacher Gerald Hollingsworth. He has visited

Hollingsworth also has a natural knack for languages. “I

country or to other countries. Few have travelled as much

stories) are like a mini history lesson.”

36 different countries in the Americas, Europe, and North-

pick up languages quickly,” Hollingsworth said. “But I lose

there,” Hollingsworth said. “I enjoy the people, food, and

his travels, but he also finds himself learning from students,

ern Africa, for a multitude of reasons. “I travel because it’s drink of other countries.”

Hollingsworth uses his stories to connect with students

in his classes. Senior Kaitlyn Ellerman has Hollingsworth

for AP Spanish. “At the mention of any country he has visit-

it just as fast without practice.” Not only does he learn from when the opportunity presents itself. He is fluent in Spanish

and English, with a working knowledge of several others, including Bosnian and, the one he claims to speak best — “Wife.”

Vacationing in Croatia, Hollingsworth takes in the som-

man at his house, long after the war had ended. Fields

Hollingsworth is the people. He has met all sorts of people

land mines. “This long after the war, there is still a lot to be

ber sight of bombed out buildings. A big part of travelling for on his travels.

Just one example is a man from Croatia who had to

upon fields were still roped off, warning visitors of potential done,” Hollingsworth said.

Part of the experience of traveling for Hollingsworth is

leave everything behind when the war started there. The

being able to educate himself to the cultures of other coun-

he got a call from a friend in town, warning him to get out.

from,” Hollingsworth said. “It gives us something in com-

man had just returned and finished building his home when The war had begun in the main city, and was moving up

toward the man’s house. In 2010, Hollingsworth visited the

tries. “I try to travel to the countries that my students are mon. I’m willing to risk time and money to build a better rapport with my students.”

Plenty of people go to Mexico at some point in their

and understanding the extent of their intelligence has truly

past, he has taken students on trips to Mexico practically

to chart the movement of the plants and do complex math-

lives, but few go for the reasons Hollingsworth does. In the every year. Those have ended due to the drug violence

engulfing the country. Even so, his memories and trav-

humbled Hollingsworth. He marvels at the Mayan’s ability ematics without any of the technology available today.

Hollingsworth tries to be the best ambassador to the

els of the region are plentiful. He has visited the Aztecan

countries he visits as possible. He is curious to how the

“When you travel to (the ruins in Mexico),” Hollingsworth

time, he is conscious of the fact that they are very similar

and Mayan ruins in Mexico several times in his lifetime.

said, “you step back about 800 years.” Seeing the pyramids

people is these foreign countries view him. At the same to him in many ways, and that fact is one he won’t forget.

Meyer chooses military While many students spent Valentine’s Day exchanging

educated,” Emma said. “I was aware of things they don’t

being sworn into the army. On June 5, she will be starting

Besides this, Meyer also looks forward to the benefits,

carnations and candy, senior Emma Meyer spent the day

a lesser known aspect of being in the army. Financially,

training as an Integrated Family of Test Equipment Opera-

mom, Susan Meyer, agrees. “When I joined the guard, I

tor/Maintainer, putting her in charge of keeping her unit’s technology up and running.

There are many different jobs one can have once in the

army; Emma chose this one because it interested her the

most. “I like math and science, and usually it’s just guys,

didn’t join for the college benefits, I joined for community service. But once I got in, I realized what a great thing it

was,” Susan said. The army helped to pay for 75% of Susan’s schooling.

Emma Meyer and fellow military joinee, Jessie Reid, do pushups in Meyer’s yard.

only over a two month period. “People will probably say I

have to be willing to live with,” Susan said. “When Emma

so sure of myself I know I made the right decision, no mat-

asked her if she was sure, she said, ‘You know what, mom,

Many contributing factors helped Meyer decide to join.

should have thought about it longer,” Meyer said. “But I feel

saw what positive experiences they had. This also allowed

her to see the reality of army life. “Growing up, I was more

Provided/Emma Meyer

Meyer and her family feel like Meyer joining the army is

the right decision, even though the thought process was

Plenty of her family members have been involved, and she

Hannah Soyer

the army can help members afford an education. Meyer’s

so this way I won’t be stuck around a bunch of catty girls,” Emma said.

words & layout

just say on the commercials.”

her basic training in Fort Jackson, South Carolina. After ten weeks of this, she will travel to Virginia to complete her

Mirza Besic

ter what anyone says.”

“She is making an adult decision that she is going to

decided she was going to join, she called me and when I

sometimes you have to suck it up and take the bad with the good.’ Sometimes, you have to give to get.”

the b&w p.8&9

s b u Cl

uncovered

Whether you are starting your own club or involved in other clubs, check out all you need to know here. layout

Kenzie Foldes

Climbing towards a club words

clubs

march 2012

Lauren Coffey

Group of students try to turn a hobby into a school club Most clubs seem to have always been around, but they

Lacrosse

crosses over

Take a crack at words

Two students take on unique sport; hopes develop for club Sophomore Jack Kapustka arrives at his lacrosse practice

to see some of his teammates and closest friends. Kapustka

started playing lacrosse a year ago, after a friend told him about it. “I had watched the sport on T.V, and knew it was huge in the East Coast, so I decided to try it,” Kapustka said.

Kapustka is on the only boys traveling team in Iowa. The

high school boys, all from different schools, play for a league in Nebraska called the Nebraska High School Lacrosse

League. Kapustka’s team travels to Omaha almost every weekend, and sometimes teams from Minnesota and Kansas travel to Iowa and play against the boys.

Kapustka plays football along with lacrosse, but enjoys la-

crosse more. He says the two sports can be alike, but also very different. “Whenever I want to throw football around, all I have to do is call some guys over. When I want to play la-

crosse though, I have to have all my team get together. It’s just an unique sport,” Kapustka said.

Freshman Puja Sookram is also a lacrosse player. She

have not always been. A group of students is currently try-

plays for a club in Norwalk. She was introduced to the game

ich originally thought of starting the club because “I usually

ways watched the women lacrosse teams in England play,

Sevenich said. “I figure if I like this so much, why not ex-

time,” Sookram said.

ing to get a rock climbing club passed. Junior Claire Seven-

in fourth grade when she lived in Seattle, Washington. “I al-

climb with a bunch of older people and had a bunch of fun,”

and I thought it was a sport that I would love to play for a long

pose others to it?”

Because Sookram is only on a club lacrosse team, she

The group is made up of six members, with four of them

doesn’t get much competition from other teams. “It’s more of

Mirza Besic, junior Claire Sevenich, and sophomores Kate

tion,” Sookram said. “I love playing it for fun, but there are

league at Climb Iowa that has high school students from

tournaments,” Sookram said. Her wish may come true. This

working at Climb Iowa: seniors Ben Parsons, Luke Miles,

a personal sport that’s about having fun rather than competi-

Fjelstad and Kelsey Acheson. The club is also part of a

times when I wish we could play more games and compete in

Des Moines that compete.

summer, Sookram’s coach may sign the club up for a tourna-

Currently the club is trying to find a sponsor. They also

have to create rules to abide by, like a club constitution, which the girls are in the process of writing.

Eventually they hope to be passed and become a club.

“Getting started is the hard part,” Acheson said. “After that

ment in Kansas, where she played in high school.

Both Kapustka and Sookram agree Johnston should have

a lacrosse team. “I’ve actually thought about that, I definitely think that would be a great idea,” Kapustka said.

Sookram said it’s a great way to meet new people, as well

we just want people to join so it can continue.”

as expanding one’s horizons in athletics. “It’s a unique game,

it is easy to get involved with it. Each member goes at least

would make the game more popular, which would be really

Acheson said. “We (Fjelstad and I) try to go every day, but

popularity, it is an exciting sport.

Although rock climbing is not something that is common,

and it might encourage other schools to have a team. That

two-to-three times a week. “It’s really easy to get addicted,”

cool,” Sookram said. Although the game does not have much

we have really busy schedules.”

“It’s hard and challenging, but it’s a lot of fun.” Miles said.

The club hopes to get passed by the end of the school

year.

“I always tell people it’s football with a weapon,” Kapustka

said.

these clubs

Anne Rogers

How to start your own clubs

1

Wanna start your own club?

Here’s how!

Come up with an

idea that would be plausible as a club.

2

Meet with principal

Brent Riessen to discuss why you would like to start the club.

3

words

Sarah Ross

A look at some clubs that have not made their way to JHS, yet.

S.E. Polk Future Farmers of America

Ankeny High School Open Mic Night

S.E. Polk High School offers Future Farmers of Amer-

Open Mic Night started at Ankeny High School six

ica or FFA. FFA is a national youth organization with the

years ago. It gives students the chance to showcase

goal of making a difference in the lives of students by

their talent whether they range from solo musical acts

teaching leadership, and career paths in agriculture.

to dramatic skits.

FFA members meet every month along with being

“I have always been a big supporter of the fine arts

programs in the school,” club sponsor and Ankeny high school librarian Tom Honz said. “It started with a handful of guys and their friends sitting in the library with

guitars. We pulled up comfortable chairs and cheered them on. It has grown quite a bit with full bands performing now.”

Provided/Southeast Polk HS

S.E. Polk High School student Brooke Micheal gives iron shots to a pig under the supervision of Dr. Gene Hoy at the Iowa State Fair. The FFA chapter at S.E. Polk cares for a cow herd and takes it to the state fair where the cows give birth with the help of students.

The school holds four shows a year which take

place in the media center with 12-25 acts in each show.

Fill out a packet

containing: a summary

Valley High School Mime Club as “The Baker’s Dozen Mime Troupe.”

sible events that may

mores, juniors, and seniors who audition to be selected

of the club and pos-

4

5

proved.

cow herd (23 head) year-round and bringing them to the fair ready to give birth,” FFA adviser, Matthew Eddy said.

The FFA chapter at SEP started in 1964. The program

presently has over 250 members involved.

1967 when a group of kids saw mimes at Roosevelt and decided to start up a club here at Valley,” President and senior of the troupe, Maddy Baker said. “There were 13

of them who were interested in starting up a mime club,

and assign officer

and (hopefully!) get ap-

advanced animal science class is tasked with caring for a

into the troupe each year. “Our mime troupe began in

Find a sponsor,

the Board of Education,

ect at the Iowa State Fair is a year-round activity and my

The troupe includes 13 members made up of sopho-

take place.

Present the idea to

throughout the year. “Our Animal Learning Center proj-

Students in Valley High School’s Mime Club are know

of the club, the purpose

positions.

offered over 75 activities or contests to participate in

thus, the Baker’s Dozen.”

The mimes perform two shows per year, and also do

Provided/Valley HS

Valley seniors Maddy Baker and Jocey Coffman perform in “Closing” in the troupe’s Fall Nite show. The troupe meets up every Sunday night of the year to collaborate on ideas for future mime skits for the fall and spring show.

“roadshows” for elementary schools and festivals.

The two shows for the community are held in the fall

and the spring where the mimes start preparing about two weeks in advance. “Kids usually sit on the floor and

hoot and holler the whole time,” Baker said. “It’s fun to see how quickly the troupe puts together a show on stage in about a week.”

The next show is March 29 at 7:30 p.m in Valley High

School auditorium.

Provided/Valley HS

Valley High School senior Conner VandeVenter portrays the character of ‘Casper’ in the troupe’s “Fall Nite” show. The troupe also holds a show in the spring, both of which are very rigourous in preparation.

the b&w p.10

editorial

march 2012

NCLB: good concept, bad execution The No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) has been under

of schools, could be cut and teachers fired for not meet-

Obama administration has developed a waiver that would

no rubric, nothing to assist state governments in fixing the

scrutiny ever since it was signed into law. However, the modify the too stringent rules of the act. Eleven states have

already been granted the waiver and 26 states, plus Washington DC and including Iowa, have applied for the waiver.

The Obama administration saw a need to offer relief

when a majority of schools did not meet the standards in

ing the standards. NCLB offers guidelines, but no plan,

educational system. Because of that we have students in some states competing at an unbelievably high standards and other states that lowered what they consider proficient to be in order to maintain funding.

So, NCLB effectively pushed schools to lower their

the Act. NCLB says that each school should have a 95%

standards just in order to keep funding. Sure, they didn’t

that typically have lower test scores (special education,

ers are an excellent option.

proficiency rate amongst students, especially in subgroups

English language learners, low income persons, and those

mean to, but that’s what happened. Which is why the waivIowa did the right thing by applying for the waiver. It al-

of minority race/ethnicity). This is too strict. When a law

lows schools to focus on college readiness, design educa-

of a school be proficient it becomes unrealistic. Also the

and allows teachers and schools to make education more

mandating that 95 out of every 100 students in every area term “proficient” is unclear in the wording of the Act as to

what exactly the definition is. They placed a number on “proficiency rates” but left everything else up to the state and local governments.

If the educational system were made up of robots who

could be rewired for optimum proficiency and a 95% pro-

ficiency rate then this plan would have been perfect, how-

ever; it’s not. The education system is made up of real

tion programs based on the needs of their specific students,

individualized. This is helping fix the biggest problem with

the NCLB Act: it’s impossible to have individualized education based on standardized testing. The waiver allows

schools to use other measures to assess students beyond the ITBS or ITED scores. In order to have a mainstream par that everyone must meet would mean Congress writing the curriculum, which isn’t going to happen.

Kristine Hayes/BW

No matter how hard the government tries, it is impos-

teachers and real students. Not every single student on

sible to make every single person, or even 95% of peo-

percent gap isn’t enough. NCLB left a mess for states to fix

waiver is a temporary solution to a flawed law and poor

every level across the board can be proficient, and a five

and heightened the pressure by adding that federal funding

ple, proficient, especially by differing state standards. The execution of that law.

Junior Seth Daughhetee and seniors Alex Cordes and Ali Allison make a paper model of the length of the digestive system for Anatomy & Physiology. Every class, from the elementary level all the way through upper level high school has been affected by NCLB.

The editorial board votes on the opinion behind the editorial. A simple majority is needed to pass. This month’s vote was 7-1

In response to: Students support underage drinking bill

Letters to the Editor

In response to: Walgreens discriminates against students

For every tenth grader and up, I believe we have ex-

the bingeing is still going up. Again, it comes down to

Dear Editor:

mandated class, the government’s view of alcohol. We

exploited drug. To change this, I feel that looking for ex-

thoughtful article about Walgreens’ limits on the number of

For example, in France the minimum age for the pur-

ness, Zach declared that: “Racial discrimination is basically

perienced the schools and, since health is a government learned that drinking is bad forever. You will be nothing if you ever resort to drinking. Abstinence from it is the best

the attitude. Alcohol is turning from a casual drink to an amples in other countries will be beneficial.

In the February 2012 issue, Zach Winjum wrote a

students in its store. In his attempt to illustrate this unfair-

way and only way. On and on and on this went while we

chasing, not drinking, of alcohol has been 18. This may

In a certain sense, I think this attitude is exactly why

years of wine at the family table. Wine is an essential

assure Zach that he is wrong. Sadly, racial discrimination

sumed in a reasonable manner. Case and point? Many

rest of the country. I hear it from clients who are still sub-

dawdled around asking why we were taking this class.

we are taking such a class. After reading last months

article “Students Support Underage Drinking Bill” you can see the statistics involved with drinking, driving, and how it still is a very prominent problem with underage

persons. Going even further, half of all fatalities on the road is due to underage drinking.

seem a little irresponsible but what preceded this was part of French culture, so it was respected and con-

French start drinking young but don’t overdo it, treating it as any other drink in the idea that it should be respected, not chugged down to get drunk.

What can we take from the French model to change

So you have to ask, how do we fix it? I believe the

our own attitudes? I feel that our drinking laws are spot

many teenagers treat it as forbidden fruit, to them its

them. Restricting the purchase of alcohol to age twenty-

answer is changing the attitude of drinking. Currently, that allows them to skirt the rules and feel a little freer from parents, teachers and the world. I think this outlook

towards drinking creates an attitude that prompts use and abuse.

So what I think our system is doing well in terms of

attitude is bringing total alcohol consumption down, but

on as they are, we just need to change how we follow

dead.”

I am a civil rights attorney living in Johnston and I can

and harassment are alive and well throughout Iowa and the jected to the notorious “n word” in the workplace. I hear it

from my brother in law, a doctor who complains about Mexicans having so many babies. I hear it from my realtor, who

told me, “The only good [native of India is a dead Indian.” I know racism is alive and well because black students are suspended from school at twice the rate of white students.

Racism is generally more subtle than it used to be. Neg-

one instead of age eighteen prevents seniors buying

ative stereotypes about people of color are so pervasive in

harder. However, the fact that teenagers still can drink

types without even thinking twice.

alcohol for underclassman, making consumption alone with their parents creates an area where they can learn

how to respect the drink. It’s just parents have to take

advantage of this to actually change their teens attitude.

From: Issac Laffy

our society that we make decisions based on those stereoYours truly,

FIEDLER & TIMMER, P.L.L.C. Paige Fiedler

march 2012 opinion the b&w p.11 kcaB 2Besic Recognition needs reform words & layout

words & layout

Ian Dunshee

Who doesn’t like getting recognized? A

almost the entire school is gyrating with

games on skates, and other things to get

tem.

Droker said. Naturally, the recognition

pat on the back after a home run in little

frustration? Talk about an ineffective sys-

demic work, or just someone saying they

So what is there to do to keep the

league, winning an award for your acaappreciate you. You can pretend like you’re

entertainment going after the jazz band

(and I for one tend to do just that in those

assembly? Well at the moment there isn’t

old feels good. So when we assemble for

Athletic Director Gary Ross and

too good for it, like you didn’t do much,

stops playing five minutes into the

situations) but everyone knows it just plain

much to be honest.

the recognition of our fellow students, why

Principal Brent Riessen both agree that the

depraved annoyance?

students. Lets save the argument about

to be and are just too polite, but there are

necessary for another time and say for

dispersed throughout the crowd with

the school. So the real question becomes,

thing, depending on your perspective, is

New and fresh ideas would be warm-

kids to come,” Principal secretary Anne

of students plays a part, but Principal John Bacon emcees with gusto rivaling

that of our counselor Curt Larkin. “Two years ago, Mr. Bacon started, and the assemblies began getting better,” Droker said.

I’m not even saying that it is a matter of

is that mushy feel-good vibe replaced with

main point of assemblies is to recognize

a lack of personality at Johnston, because

Either you are one of them or you want

whether or not recognition of students is

it that you can look up videos on Youtube

always those students that are perfectly

now that recognition is in fact beneficial to

we know we have plenty of that. So how is of City High assemblies and feel the camaraderie through the screen when at

Johnston you can see the boredom on the

their wittiest insults at the ready. The sad

are we doing it in the right way?

that they end up taking the main stage.

ly accepted, but Ross has noted that

minutes, and occur every three months.

appreciate them because I do, and I’m

students, staff, or even among Student

and City High. It’s not the people, it’s not

doesn’t mind saying what they feel; its

in the area,” Ross said, “but they do

With teachers and students alike aware

Though it seems we have exhausted

I’m not going to pretend like I don’t really

no new ideas have been suggested by

truly glad that a part of the student body

Council. “We’ve talked to other schools

democracy at its best.

things similar to us.”

of the pointlessness of these assemblies,

all of our resources for inspiration,

When a ‘yes’ from a few higher ups gets

looking far enough. City High School in

one asked for, why is it that nothing has

had quite a few flying principals, Sumo

why is it that nothing has been done yet?

perhaps it is simply a question of not

new furniture for the commons that no

Iowa City seems to have it down. “We’ve

changed about these assemblies while

wrestlers,

bicycle

races,

basketball

faces of half of the student body?

Assemblies at City High last 50

That is the difference between Johnston the ideas, it’s not the funding; we simply don’t try hard enough. The fear of losing

class time due to assemblies is rampant, and it is stopping us from being able to

express ourselves as a student body.

Let’s hope this idea is heard loud and clear because I’m running out of witty things to yell.

Mirza Besic

The trouble with tanning

As another winter comes to a close,

thoughts drift towards the approaching spring

season. A glorious time where the sun is warm and the shorts and T-shirts come out of the

closet. Spring break is in sight, and almost everyone has some plans for it. If you are the type of person who goes somewhere cold for

spring break, maybe to enjoy one last week

of snowboarding or skiing, then this article

is not for you. However, if you are someone who heads somewhere hot, and have already started tanning to “get ready,” then read on.

What is the point of tanning before going

to a spring break resort? That is like eating a burger to get ready for dinner. If you are about

to head to Cancun, or Florida, or anywhere

hot, then you will probably be getting some

sun while you’re there. Your skin is not like an oven; it should not need to be pre-heated.

The fact is that tanning in a booth even

once makes your risk of skin cancer jump through the roof. The reason for that is tanning beds give off somewhere in the neighborhood

of five times the amount of ultra-violet A (UVA) rays that the sun lets off. That’s the one that

penetrates deep into your skin, versus UVB rays, which generally don’t get past your top

Paige Plaskitt/Dragon

few layers of skin. The worst part is that UVA rays don’t affect your tan very much; they just cause damage to nerves and blood vessels.

Copying other people’s ideas doesn’t make you creative, and using a hair dryer doesn’t make you talented.

“But Mirza, tanning gives me my vitamin D!

I need to tan to get my vitamins!” Good thing that milk, fish, and actual sunlight also have vitamin D. Unless you actually avoid the sun or

always wear long-sleeved clothing, you most likely don’t have a deficiency. If getting vitamin D is important to you, then take a multivitamin.

They have chewy ones now, so eating them is

way easier than tanning, and it doesn’t require a monthly membership.

A spray tan is not a good substitute. Most of

the results look less human and more Oompa Loompa, and it can wash off after three or so

showers. If it washes off in patches, then you

In Plain Sight Illustration Lisa Vanwiel

look that much worse.

Skip the tan. If you need to leather your skin

to feel pretty, then you probably have bigger

I saw this on Facebook, and I thought So I made one, and now I ‘m creit was pretty creative... ative, too!

Illustration/Lisa Vanwiel

issues than pale skin. Being the least orange

person on spring break will not be the end of your world. Melanoma, on the other hand, very well could be.

the b&w p.12

opinion

march 2012

English classes not making the grade words & layout Lauren Coffey As I make yet another poster for an Eng-

ture, only for their specific final test.

lish class, it seems more like the explorato-

Students also need to take on some of

ry classes we had to take at Summit and

the responsibility. If there is a paper to write

less like classes supposed to teach high

and there is the option to revise, revise it.

Please write a paper.

school students core writing skills. High school students, who in just a few months will have to be prepared to take college

Teachers can only help so much if certain students do not want to put the time and effort in.

I didn’t practice this.

English classes. As a soon-to-graduate senior, I personally don’t feel prepared at all

In college classes, not just in English

classes, you are expected to know how to

for what I have in store.

write a multitude of different essays. Every

Freshman and sophomore year do a

subject involves some kind of writing, so

good job actually teaching us how to write.

it’s impossible to just skate by with the little

Then we seem to skip straight to learn-

knowledge you have.

ing about more isolated things like how to

I’m not saying that all we need to do is

make movies or about different cultures.

write papers for classes. Students would

skills that were actually taught to us at one

would not want to grade them. “It’s a fal-

There is no time to practice these writing

get sick of writing them, and teachers

point in time.

The Iowa Department of Education

sets

standards for how much classes

are supposed to write. They say to “Write

routinely over extended time frames (time for research, reflection, and revision) and

shorter time frames (a single sitting or a

day or two) for a range of tasks, purposes, and audiences.” This is very broad, but

the way I interpret it is that classes need to write short assignments every few days

like a reflection of a class novel, as well as have bigger term papers for longer periods

of time. This is not being done with almost any of the classes.

lacy that people see reading as reading a The curriculum has gotten increasingly

making posters to showcase what we have

full book, or speaking as just giving a full

Nyberg graduated in 1998, “We did a fair

Posters are an entirely new problem as

“In class writing assignments are every bit

for art class. English is a mandatory class

While this is fine, I think there needs to

“learned.”

speech,” English teacher Ed Walker said.

amount of writing, we got into the philoso-

well. I’m all for being creative, but save it

as useful as essays.”

prepared for college.”

that needs to teach more than how to make

be a balance between writing papers non-

less writing-based over the years. Dr. Wes

phy of books,” Nyberg said. “I definitely felt I have taken a broad range of English

classes, hoping I find something that will

things look appealing.

While this is not an attack on the Eng-

stop and just discussing heroic men and women.

What needs to happen is students need

give me some sort of knowledge I can use

lish teachers (they personally do not get to

unless you are taking AP Lit or Power of

it is a questioning of our English curriculum.

teachers will simply tell students to write

classes like AP Lit, the classes do not seem

minutes we are allotted in English class to

in the future. What I have found out is that

Persuasion, formerly Advanced Comp,

students are stuck learning about an isolated topic usually by discussion circles or

choose what standards they need to meet)

to write more, end of story. While some

With the exception of a few college-prep

in their free time, why not just use the 45

concerned at all for preparing us for the fu-

do so?

Be a citizen, not just an individual words & layout

RJ McGrew

On Feb. 15, I found myself on the east side of Des

Lite. After they had established that I wasn’t a terrorist, It

I got in my car that I remembered that night was the night

was there was justified: kids aren’t usually interested in

Moines after having worked that night. But it wasn’t until that the Vice President of China, Xi Jinping, was landing in our fair city. I thought to myself, this was a man who in six

months was going to be the leader of over a billion people.

How many other opportunities would I have to see a for-

occurred to me that perhaps their confusion as to why I things like this.

Systematically, it seems that high school students be-

come more and more disinterested with things that won’t

Illustration/Lisa VanWiel

directly or immediately affect them in some obvious way.

and furthermore proud of the fact that the future leader of

Parked outside the private exit of Des Moines Interna-

interests and try to participate in as many activities as pos-

the only event of this nature.

spread about the airstrip. Just before he landed in the most

cupied for the majority of the time with practices, rehears-

provide our contributions as citizens. We should be jump-

informed.

going on around us, whether it’s happening in Des Moines

eign dignitary of such grandeur?

tional, I awaited his arrival. Law enforcement vehicles were

inconceivably massive airplane I had ever seen, some

Feds crossed the street and shined a flashlight in my face.

“What’re you doing, son?” The shorter one asked me.

“I just thought I’d watch,” I said while squinting at his Mag

However, high school is the time when we develop our

sible to become a well-rounded individual. We may be oc-

als, and clubs, leaving little time to become active and But our aim should not be that of a well-rounded individ-

ual, but rather a well-rounded citizen. We should be aware,

China is a fan of our agricultural advancements. This is not In general, we miss a variety of opportunities to publicly

ing at every chance we get to learn more about what is

or half way across the world. If there’s a small leak in the ship, eventually everyone sinks.

sports

march 2012

the b&w p.13

Scanlan places third at state words & layout Wes Monroe

“I broke the school career win record

Joe Scanlan has been at the top of the

right before my third place match during

finished his career by placing third at the

Scanlan said. “During my third place match

Scanlan’s passion for wrestling began

reer, I pinned the guy and broke the school

and I were little, we would wrestle around

Scanlan has been to state for three con-

wrestling scene for the past four years and

consolation semi-finals this year at state,”

state meet.

and the last match of my high school ca-

when he was in second grade. “When Jake

season pin record with 28.”

a lot,” Scanlan said. “Our parents decided

secutive years but this year it was person-

hurt each other or the house.”

year and last chance to win,” Scanlan said.

been fortunate to have a brother, sopho-

get third.”

that we needed some rules so we wouldn’t

al. “I was nervous because it was my last

Throughout high school, Scanlan has

“When I lost I knew I had to come back and

more Jake Scanlan, big into wrestling to

Over the years Scanlan has become a

practice and share the mat with. “It’s really cool having a brother close to my size who

wrestles, because I always have a workout partner,” Scanlan said.

He put in a lot of time and effort over

the years to get where he is today. “Joe is tough, works hard and is always willing to do the extra work,” Jake Scanlan said.

Along with all the time put in for wres-

tling, Scanlan has participated in tourna-

ments across the United States. “Tour-

naments are fun because you get to see

Provided/Katie Holcomb

Senior Joe Scanlan wrestles with Mt. Pleasant junior Colton Aplara during the state meet. Scanlan placed third in the 220 lb. weight class. people from other states who you don’t

and broken many records throughout his

Year round wrestling has also played

consistently and worked hard towards

usually wrestle,” Scanlan said.

a large role in immediate success. “Year

round wrestling gives me a chance to get two seasons worth of wrestling in the time everyone else gets one,” Scanlan said.

Scanlan has accomplished many things

role model for his peers. “He was a great

team leader and would never let you quit,”

Junior Sam Shade said. “He made the team and the wrestlers around him better.”

His coaches also had high praise for

four year career. “Joe came to practice

Scanlan. “He was a dedicated student ath-

his goals,” Varsity wrestling coach Aaron

last couple of seasons,” Tecklenburg said.

reer win record at 143, the career pin re-

level but has not made his decision yet. He

with 28.

Iowa State.

Tecklenburg said. Scanlan holds the cacord with 80 and the season pin record

lete and certainly the MVP of our team the Scanlan plans to wrestle at the college

has it narrowed down to Grand View and

Track crowding causes collisions words & layout Mallorie Goodale After warming up in the halls of the

Although most sports would not be able

school, all 70 girl and 135 boy athletes out

to share a mutual facility, with track it does

around the football field in order to com-

“Having the boys practice with us on

for track manage to squeeze onto the turf

not make a difference.

plete their workouts. With four grades of

the track doesn’t hurt or help,” junior Carly

lieve that it becomes difficult to practice.

years. “It’s interesting watching the guys do

clair said. “Sometimes the girls will be run-

We have to switch times hurdling so (track

the guys will also be running but the oppo-

coach so he can figure out the times we

boys and girls sharing the track, some be-

Crist said. Crist has ran hurdles for three

“It’s confusing,” sophomore Lydia Sin-

hurdles because they do them differently.

ning and trying to get our best times, but

coach) Beason will talk to the guys hurdle

site way and we will all just collide. It’s like

can run.”

a train wreck.”

“Usually there’s a few people who are

doing fast workouts or cooling down so we get out of each other’s way,” senior Alex

Peterson said. “I do distance so I get out of the sprinters ways and the sprinters get out of our way.”

With 12 meets in the season, it works

out to have 70 runners.

“We can still get a lot into the meets,”

girls’ coach Chris Siewart said. “When it

Mallorie Goodale/BW

After school, girls track runners lunge as a warm-up before practice.

This spring, there are 70 girls and 135 boys out for track.

Only three weeks in to the season,

Siewart has already noticed the good

gets to April, we have two meets a week

things going on.

the meets.”

ers with lifting in the fitness center and their

for three weeks. We stagger who goes into

“Our girls, 9th-12th are really hard work-

workouts and I know those are easy things for them to cut out,” Siewart said.

“The thing I look forward to is the per-

formance on our last three meets,” Siewart said. “Conference, District and State.”

the b&w p.14

feature

march 2012

If The Shoe Fits

words & layout Monica Gagne

Shoe stores use different tactics to find the right running shoe for the customer

Fitness Sports

1 2

When treating a customer at Fitness Sports, employees begin with

whether or not they are a beginner to running. If not, they will keep them

with their current shoe but if this is a new hobby then they will begin analyzing the type of shoe needed for the customer’s foot.

Next, the employee will have the customer walk barefoot in the store to assess three different things: whether or not they are flat footed or have high arches, whether they walk feet turned in, feet turned out, or in line with their knee, and whether they are “knock-kneed” or if they are slightly bowlegged. All of these help narrow down a shoe type for them.

3

After the assessment, the employee will give the customer two or three

different types of shoes from the seven brands carried. Each shoe is one of three types of shoe: cushioned shoe, stability, or motion control. While wearing a shoe, the customer will run in the back hallway to make sure that the shoe is correctly fitted. This also ensures that there is nothing

irritating to the customer in the shoe. For example, maybe the shoe rubs

4

up on the side of the foot.

After the customer has chosen their favorite of the shoes and made

sure that they are happy with the fit and feel of the shoe, they are advised to do a full workout/run in the shoes to make sure they continue to hold

Kyle’s Bikes The first step to purchasing running shoes in the new running depart-

ment at Kyle’s Bikes is running on a treadmill at a speed of five mph for

at least five seconds. Meanwhile, the employee is recording the customer’s feet with a video camera on a shelf directly behind the runner. The camera is hooked up to a laptop that saves the recording.

Next, the employee will watch the recording in slow motion going at

about half the speed the runner was actually going in order to decide how much the customer “pronates”, or the tendency of the weight of the foot to shift toward the inside of the foot.

Much like Fitness Sports, Kyle’s Bikes sells three main types of

shoes: neutral- for someone who does not pronate, stability- for moderate pronaters, and motion control- for severe pronaters, flatfooted or heavier

people. After finding how much you pronate and which group you fit into,

2 3

Kyle’s gives you four or five different brands or models of shoes to try

from that category. With each shoe you are advised to run on the tread-

mill again while they record to make sure it feels good on your foot and to check that it has cut your pronation.

With whichever shoe feels best, customers are advised to do a work-

out in the shoes to make sure they feel right, and if not, to come back and

Braiiinss...ahem, burgers up.

1

get checked out to make sure they can address the problems.

words

4

Ben Parsons

If there’s one thing to set Zombie

and an exquisite truffle mayonnaise. Al-

joint around, it’s the unique combination

I haven’t come face-to-mouth with a burg-

Burger apart from every other burger

though some of the options seem bizarre,

of atmosphere and catering that has

er I dislike.

endeared Zombie Burger to so many

Although it’s easy to become lost in

people. Music, food, right down to the

the tasting extravaganza, the art adorning

Offering both sit-down and take-

tion as well. Attempting to tell the story of

menus, Zombie Burger has it all.

Zombie Burger’s walls deserves atten-

out options, Zombie Burger is a great

the zombie apocalypse, the art is locally

choice even if one can’t afford to wait in

drawn and full of references to downtown

line (you will almost always be standing

Des Moines. It serves to more fully im-

for at least 10 or 15 minutes to get a

merse you in the concept behind Zombie

table). Either way, there will be getting

Burger.

sweet deliciousness involved.

If you opt for a sit-down booth, it

Paige Plaskitt/Dragon

People may decry the price, and this

The Walking Ched is one of the many unique burgers at Zombie Burger.

is understandable (a burger, drink, and

they offer will definitely give some en-

ter entirely. After a reasonable wait (usually

Dead Moines (Zombie Burger even injects

cially when comparing to the prices of

about the zombie apocalypse, the

of their 21 delightful burgers. Ranging from

into the names of their burgers). The Walk-

Zombie Burger establishes itself as a

everyone will find something to their liking.

Now, the food itself is another mat-

satisfying were the Walking Ched and the

won’t feel like a long wait. The menus tertainment. Featuring “news” stories

not more than 20 minutes), they’ll deliver one

menus are just another way in which

the classic to the downright exotic, almost

place that is truly unique.

Personally, the two I found to be the most

its unique brand of humor and personality ing Ched has all the traditional fixin’s of a

burger, but uses fried macaroni and cheese patties for buns. The more traditional Dead

Moines has prosciutto ham, gouda cheese,

fries can break $10 pretty easily), espeother burger places like B-bop’s and Mc-

Donald’s. But if you stop and think about

what’s being served, the price is more than reasonable. Zombie Burger is easily

Des Moines’ best place for a unique and satisfying burger-going experience.

health

march 2012 the b&w p.15

W

ith obesity rates at an all time high, businesses have taken steps to reverse the 13 percent increase in childhood obesity since 1980. A federal law, that will be finalized in later 2012, will require companies with more than 20 restaurants to clearly display the caloric content of food. Then, other nutritional facts would be made readily available upon request, for example: fat, cholesterol, sodium, sugars, and total protein would be available in print at the location but not necessarily on the menus. (www.fda.gov) The law, a part of the Health Care Reform Law of 2010, does not include companies that dedicate less than half of their floor space to food sales. This would include places such as movie theaters, bowling alleys and bars. While this law applies to businesses, it does not require schools to post food information and LaRae Doll, Director of Nutritional Services, said she knows of no school that does. But if it would help our students then it will be no problem. Already, the school posts the caloric content online.

at

Lunch

“There isn’t a healthy option everyday in the lunchroom. Basically it’s either salad or something really unhealthy.”

Catherine Erb ‘12

“I would read the nutrition labels [at lunch].

I’m a vegetarian and there’s not a lot of options at lunch.”

Sarah Thimmisch ‘13

CAN

“It personally doesn’t affect me, but I’m sure other people care.”

STOMACH THE

Johnny Walsh ‘14

TRUTH

Restaurants are following the trend, and law, to post nutritional facts on their menus.

Businesses such as Panera Bread have already taken action towards it, presenting the calorie count beside each menu item. Being the first company to make this change in March of 2010, other companies are beginning to do so as well.

Philly CheeseSteak Serving Size: 1 sandwich Calories: 505 Sodium: 1,131(mg) Protein: 26.8 (g) Carbs: 58.3 (g) Total Fat: 18.45 (g)

Healthier

Boe Stoebner

“ words & layout

Putting up nutritional labels is no big deal.

It would benefit the kids and would be very easy. The utensils that we use to serve the food are pre-portioned, unless kids grab whatever they want. This would help kids know how much a serving size is.

Ashley Enger & Zach Peterson

”

Ham Sandwich

Serving Size: 1 sandwich Calories: 190 Sodium: 587 (mg) Protein: 11.27 (g) Carbs: 26.2 (g) Total Fat: 2.75 (g)

the b&w p.16

march 2012

how to spot a

LIAR

People lie. From the time we are babies

to the day we die, humans deceive each

by Evan Culbert

a day-to-day basis.

Lying expert Pamela Meyer says people

other all the time. Babies will cry, pause to

get lied to their face anywhere from 10 to

for attention. At the age of one, humans

may be lies to protect peoples feelings, or

see who is coming, and begin crying again

learn concealment. Two-years-olds can

bluff and by age five have learned to downright lie and manipulate using cuteness and

flattery. At age nine we learn the cover up,

and the lying only continues from there. Col-

lege students lie to their mothers one out of every five interactions, and once we enter

the workforce, we are surrounded by lies on

backpage

200 times each day. While some of these

harmless white lies, many of them are not.

We get deceived more than we realize; people not trained in recognizing lies spot de-

ception only 54 percent of the time. Though impossible to prevent being lied to, there are ways to recognize when someone is ly-

ing. Keep in mind that these indicators are only red flags, not proof of deception.

facial cues

• When truthful, facial expressions will synch with gestures. If a person pounds his fist on the table, and then shows anger, he is most likely being deceptive.

• Micro-expressions, lasting 1/25th of a second reveal a person’s true emotions.

• Masking other emotions with a smile is common when lying. A genuine smile has involuntary wrinkles around the eyes.

• Liars make excessive eye-contact to compensate for the limited eye-contact myth.

speech cues • Repeating a question entirely is often used to buy time for people to come up with a lie to tell in response to the question.

• When in denial, liars avoid contractions (‘did not’ as opposed to didn’t), as well as confuse pronouns, causing speech to sound less natural.

• Liars use phrases like “honestly,” “I swear,” and “to tell you the truth” more often.

• When being truthful, people tend to become offensive when accused of something. Liars will become defensive and lower their voice.

• While telling a story, liars tend to overcomplicate and dwell on unimportant parts, when being truthful we skip to the more important parts.

body hot spots • The head has a tendency to contradict our speech when we lie. If someone says she did something, but her head is shaking, she probably didn’t do that thing.

• When under pressure, people tend to touch the face much more often, as well as the back of the neck. It may not mean they are lying, but it increases when lying.

• Contrary to popular belief, liars tend to remain awkwardly still and limit hand and arm movement when telling a lie.

• Barriers are a common way liars distance themselves when under pressure.

Whether a table or glass of water, try to remove any possible separators.

Information from liespotting.com