b&w
BLACK AND WHITE
PAGE 6
Minor in possession by Will Reiher & Kathryn Ikeda
b&w
november / december When Jay Rice ‘94 brainstormed the name of our paper in 1991, it was not because of the ink color. For the last 26 years, our mission has been to bring our audience stories from the school, community and nation, told clearly and without exaggeration--in black and white.
editorial board editor-in-chief kathryn ikeda online editor nick irwin print editor katelyn kempkes design editor will reiher photo editor andrew maresca sports editor jack lucas
staff writers
inside look NEWS
obsee abbajabal, kennady anderson, ada basic, jacob
04
chapline, kyle deutsch, brooklyn dilley, kara green,
Briefs
shabana gupta, maggie hapgood, molly hauser,
FEATURE
mara jendro, katelyn jurasek, taryn kauffman, jacob kim, joe kronberg, gretchen lagerblade, abby nichol, sarah nelson, evan newcomb, sloan meader,
06
sabrina romero, brandon spraggins, kennedy stone, taryn swaim, rachel vaughan, megan walker
fine print Black & White is published solely by the Johnston High School newspaper staff. It is an open fo-
18
Reliving a rollover accident
08 Hidden behind covers 10 Minor in possession 14 1/1600: Joanne Wu
OPINION
Do not dilute depression Courtesy towards custodians
16
rum. In accordance with Iowa law, students assign,
SPORTS
edit material and make all decisions of content. Editorials represent the opinion of a majority of the editorial board. Editorial and opinion pieces do
22
not necessarily reflect the opinions of the advisor,
20 Play by play Life beyond the lane
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, or report an error in the issue, please contact the editors at jhsblackandwhite@gmail.com.
say hello
twitter: @jhsnewspaper www.jhsblackandwhite.com
playlist
// NOVEMBER & DECEMBER 2017 //
compiled | Black & White staff
04 NOV/DEC 2017 NEWS
NEWS FLASH
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
BRIAN WOODLEY> Football coach Brian
Woodley was chosen as 4A Football Coach of the Year by the Iowa Football Coaches Association. “I am very humbled that my colleagues chose me as 4A coach of the year,” Woodley said in an email. “I am very blessed to have great assistants and great players at Johnston and this award is a reflection of their hard work.” The varsity team finished 8-1 this season and went to the semi-finals, losing to Dowling. PHOTO BY KYLE DEUTSCH
PHOTO BY ANDREW MARESCA
<NO SHAVE NOVEMBER No Shave November
run it this year. Oldham
took place during the
thinks
the
last week of November
could have had better
to raise money to fight
results
Leukemia. 21 teachers
hopes for next year. “It
took part in raising mon-
went okay,” he said. “We
ey for the cause.
raised about 800 dollars,
but
fundraiser has
high
Physics teacher John
because we didn’t get the
Chai offered to have his
word out enough and
facial hair shaved in the
only did it for one week.
shape of the batman logo
Next year, we will rec-
for 25 dollars the first day
tify that and raise three
and 25 multiplied by the
times as much.”
number of days squared for any additional days. Science teacher Dave Oldham
started
the
fundraiser and helped to
Oldham worked with Student Council to run the fundraiser.
MADRIGAL>
Madrigal is a medieval
was goofing around and
dinner with a skit put on
[I] had to just sit there and
by the choir department.
look professional at all
During the dinner, the
times.”
underclassmen serve the
Madrigal is put on to
guests and the royals, the
raise money for the choir
senior choir members.
department and is a way 18’
for the community to see
played the queen this year
Anelise
Gebard
the choir department per-
and despite the advantag-
form. The night is a com-
es to being royalty, it was
bination of a concert filled
still stressful. “This year
with Christmas songs and
there wasn’t a lot of lines
a skit throughout dinner.
I had in the script, so it
Madrigal took place
wasn’t as stressful, but [a
Nov. 29 and 30 and was
lot] of the focus is towards
sold out for both nights.
PHOTO BY JORDAN DEROOS
me and Mark (Nagel),” Gebard said. “Everybody
<STUDENTS 4 CHANGE Students 4 Change (Sources
of
Strength)
was hosted at the Goodwill
Training
Center
is compiled of 44 high in Johnston. The event school students and 16
was funded by Johnston
middle school students.
Schools, Cameron Car-
Student Well Being Co-
ico + 10 Foundation and
ordinator, Chris Wilson,
Unity Point Health.
assembled
Students
4
Change in order to address
mental
The
day
prepared
the students for future
health projects regarding men-
awareness in the school
tal health. “The Sourc-
and the community. The
es of Strength training
group participated in a
taught student leaders to
training session, lead by
bring hope, health and
Sources of Strength rep-
strength to the Johnston
resentative Emores Petty.
community,”
Wilson
participat-
said. “One of the most
ed in problem solving
amazing things I ob-
activities that provoked
served during the train-
Students
leadership
skills,
as ing was we had 60 peer
well as learning about leaders from grades 8-12 the
different
sources
of strength people exPHOTO PROVIDED BY CHRIS WILSON
perience. The training
who were completely engaged all day.”
06 NOV/DEC FEATURE
Reliving a
rollover accident
words | Evan Newcomb
layout | Kathryn Ikeda
photo illustrations | Andrew Maresca
W
HEN THE CAR STOPPED rolling, Ella Meyer ‘20 noticed how quiet it was. There
surgeon said that if we weren’t there was a
was no movement, no sound from the three
chance we could have died because we could
other sophomores in the car. “The first thing
have been ejected from the car,” Meyer said. Neither accident had fatalities. All ocOnly about percent of accidents cupants in 2the car Meyer was in are hadrolltheir
I said was, ‘is everyone okay’ and at first it was so quiet so I was scared that everyone was
overs, but 35 percent of accident fatalitiesthat in- I seat belts on. “I am super thankful volve rollovers. was wearing my seatbelt because the trauHEN THE CAR STOPPED Meyer has suffered psychological effects Oct. 14 around midnight, nine students ma surgeon said that if we weren’t there Meyer were involved in two rolling, separate Ella rollover acci- ‘20afterwas theaaccident andcould believes that riding in chance we have died because noticed how quiet it was.cars will never be the same for her. “I rememdents. we could have been ejected from the car,” was involving no movement, sound fromber that when I was in the ambulance on the TheThere accident Meyernooccurred Meyer said. the three other sophomores along Northwest Beaver Drive northinofthe thecar. “way toOnly the hospital I was about 2% of thinking accidents that are the rollThe first thing I said was, ‘is everyone okay’ Camp Dodge tanks. Meyer was riding in the ambulance was going to crash,” Meyer said. overs, but 35% of accident fatalities involve andwith at first it wasJohnston so quiet so I was scared backseat another student. A “I’mrollovers. still afraid to ride in cars. Sometimes that everyone was dead,” Meyer said. second Johnston student rode in the front when I’m in the car I can still feel the impact Meyer has suffered psychological efOct. 14 driver aroundattends midnight, nine passengerOn seat. The school in stu-and hear the sounds of the crash.” fects after the accident and riding in cars dents involved in two separate Ankeny. Onlywere Meyer felt comfortable talking roll- The counseling department offers a prowill never be the same for her. “I rememovercrash. accidents. about the gram helpwhen people whoin experience trauma. bertothat I was the ambulance on Thedriving accident involving Meyer We were around a curve andoccurred we “Wethe have a student assistance program that’s way to the hospital I was thinking that alongtoo Northwest Beaver Drive were going fast and the driver lost north con- ofopenthe to ambulance all studentswas in Johnston Community going to crash,” Meyer Camp Dodge tanks. Meyer was riding trol of the car,” she said. “He got freaked out inSchools and we would set up an appointment said. “ I’m still afraid to ride in cars. “Somethe backseat withwhich another and slammed the brakes isn’t Johnston what you stu-to meet therapist and they help you timesa when I’m in the car would I can still feel the dent. A second Johnston student rode are supposed to do and we drove through a indealimpact with your trauma based concerns,” counand hear the sounds of the crash. the front passenger seat. driver at-selor Susan Baker said. utility pole and that caused the carThe to flip.” The counseling department offers a tends school in Ankeny. Only Meyer Meyer remained conscious during the felt Meyer justto wants to beexperience safer on program helpeveryone people who comfortable talking about the crash. accident and does not remember it that well the road now“We so fewer hers haptrauma. have accidents a student like assistance prowere driving around a curve because itWe happened so quickly. She does and re- wepen.gram “I justthat’s want open everyone to be more to all students careful in Johnwere going fast hit andthe thecar. driver member when hertoo body “Inlost thecon-when theyCommunity are driving because were ston Schools we and we going would trolweofdidn’t the car,” she said. “He gotwere freakedso fast,” she said. “I’m just glad that we didn’t backseat have airbags so we set up an appointment to meet a therapist and slammed the brakesmy which hittingout everything and I remember head isn’thaveand alcohol involved I would’ve they would helpbecause you deal with your supposed to do and we drovebeen disappointed in myself,” Meyer said. hittingwhat the you glassare and my knee hitting the trauma based concerns,” counselor Susan a utility pole and that caused the ceilingthrough and that Baker said. to flip.” causedcar my knee Meyer just wants everyone to be safer remained conscious during the injury,” Meyer Meyer on the road now so fewer accidents like accident and does not remember it all that said. She tore her hers happen. “I just want everyone to be well because ACL, MCL and it happened so quickly. She more careful when they are driving bedoesas remember when her body hit the car. meniscus, well cause we were going so “In the backseat we didn’t have airbags so as cracking her fast,” she said. “I’m just glad that we patella.we were hitting everything and I rememdidn’t have alcohol involved because I ber my accihead hitting the glass and my knee Neither would’ve been disappointed in myself,” the ceiling and that caused my dent hitting had fataliMeyer said. injury,” Meyer said. She tore her ACL, ties. Allknee occupants and meniscus, as well as cracking her in the MCL car Meyer dead,” Meyer said.
W
was inpatella. had their seatbelts on. “I am super
thankful
that I was wearing my
seatbelt
be-
cause the trauma
08 NOV/DEC 2017 FEATURE
HIDDEN BEHIND COVERS
o
m
J
i
e
t
words & layout | Obsee Abbajabal
s
e
w
d
h
u
Spanish Terms to
W
HEN THEY WERE JUST
Studies in 2014, an estimated two-thirds of
nine years old, Student A,
immigrants that joined the undocumented
with a group of immigrants,
immigrant population were those who over-
walked across the sweltering desert heat to
“
stayed their visas.
reach the United States. It took them about
Student A is one of the estimated 11.3
a week to reach their destination: Iowa. At
million undocumented immigrants living
one point, they had to sleep on the desert floor knowing the risk of snakes, the significant drop in temperature, and many other factors. “I remember a lady who was pregnant and she was about to get bit by a snake,” Student
in the United States
“If [my parents] get deported, I would have to find a way to support my younger siblings.”
A said. “That was pretty scary.”
- Student B
according to Pew Research Center. With the recent changes the Trump administration has taken towards
immigration
policy, many undocumented immigrants nationwide and even here in Johnston fear
the looming risk of forceful evacuation.
During their walk, the group used cer-
The Johnston Community School Dis-
tain phrases such as “La Migra” and “La Per-
trict is not aware of any undocumented
ra” to indicate immigration officers.
students in the district. There isn’t any pol-
Although this student got here by cross-
icy regarding undocumented students in
ing the border, it is a common misconcep-
Johnston Schools. “We wouldn’t know who’s
tion how undocumented immigrants get to
documented and who’s undocumented be-
the United States. In fact, hundreds of thou-
cause we can’t ask, ‘are you here with doc-
sands of undocumented immigrants enter
umentation or not,’” Associate Superinten-
the country legally with valid visas each
dent Bruce Amendt said. “In the enrollment
year. According to the Center for Migration
process we ask for proof of residency, that
KNOW
m
m
l
u
o
It refers to immigration officers who “sniff” out people who cross the U.S.-Mexico border. ICE
The literal meaning is “immigration” but when people cross the border they use this term to refer to immigration officers such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers.
Chicanos
h
m
La Perra
La Migra
p
A term used to describe Mexican-Americans, people of Mexican heritage residing in the United States.
S
s
M
s
b
C
S
t
m
i
m
t
t
h
t
h
y
t
a
you have a house or apartment or your liv-
Neither of the two countries are welcom-
ing with someone in the Johnston school
ing towards undocumented immigrants or
district. We don’t ask for immigration pa-
“chicanos,” Mexican-Americans.
pers.”
In the high school and community, Stu-
Deportation hits home to Student B,
dent A has seen the changes in people’s be-
especially when their uncle was deported
havior. “Since Trump became president, al-
ten years ago. They worry for their parents’
most everybody is like really racist now and
safety and their family’s future. “If [my par-
they follow his footsteps,” Student A said. “I
ents] get deported, I would have to find a
hear a lot of Mexican jokes like ‘beaners go
way to support my younger siblings,” Stu-
back to your country’ and stuff like that. It
dent B said. “I don’t have any other
family
here since my uncle
got
de-
ported. I would have to give up my life to help my younger siblings.” Student
C’s
mother is a naturalized citizen
“
What is
DACA?
really pisses me off.” According
“There’s an [increased] risk of getting deported. [Trump] took away DACA and that affected me because I was going to get that.” - Student A
to
CNN, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) was enacted in 2012 by the Obama Administration using executive action in order to give undocumented immigrants a two year protection period from deportation.
of the United States, yet she still harbors
After its creation, critics of DACA argued
fears about traveling back to Mexico in or-
that the law was unconstitutional. Recently,
der to visit family she has not seen in years.
the Trump administration repealed this bill
“She’s scared that she won’t be able to enter
during Sept. 2017.
back into the U.S.,” Student C said.
With the transition into Trump’s first
Most undocumented immigrants, like
year as president, Student A has seen some
Student B’s father, keep track of sightings of
significant changes. “There’s an [increased]
the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforce-
risk of getting deported,” Student A said.
ment (ICE). “I was invited to a quinceanera
“[Trump] took away DACA and that affected
in Ames and he was kind of iffy on taking
me because I was going to get that.”
me there,” Student B said. “He was worried
Passed by the Obama administration, it protects undocumented immigrants from deportation, allowing them to get driver’s licenses, enroll in college, and legally secure jobs. Created in
2012
renewable, period of 2 year, protection from deportation Amount of people protected is about 724,000
Eligibility:
15
years or younger when entered the U.S.
Lived in the U.S. since
2007
or younger when 30 years the policy was enacted
Student B hopes that this administration
to go since he heard there was a lot of migra there, but the only precaution he can take is to be
Editorial Anonymity Statement will effectively change the immigration cautious
and
system and process. “Since there are more
try to drive as best as he can.”
Republican seats than Democrats [in Con-
Student A is reluctant to go back to their
gress], it’s said that Republicans can handle
home country. “Mexicans don’t like it if
it better because they are more organized,”
you’re too pale or if they know you’re from
Student B said. “They could actually give
the U.S.,” Student A said. “You get bullied
undocumented residents a chance to citizen-
and they call you [names].”
ship.”
Some sources that are interviewed about controversial and difficult topics choose to remain anonymous. The editorial board has made the decision to allow the anonymity of certain students in order to attain these unique perspectives. If you have any questions about this policy you can contact the editorial board at jhsblackandwhite@gmail.com.
10 NOV/DEC 2017 FEATURE
MINOR IN POSSESSION
words & layout | Kathryn Ikeda & Will Reiher
photos | Andrew Maresca
12 NOV/DEC FEATURE
S
TUDENT A WAS IN THE BASEMENT of a house party with around 70 other high school students. Through the com-
motion of the party, they heard somebody shout “cops” down the stairway. “We all freaked out, a crowd pushed up the stairs and some people ran out a window,” Student A said. “One of my friends ran up the stairs, opened the door, saw the cop, slammed the door, grabbed his shoes and jumped off the deck and over a fence.” While some were ran away or hid, Student B chose to stay. “[The cops] took us back downstairs, lined us up and breathalyzed each one of us,” they said. “I blew 0.0 (percent) and had to wait for my parents to come get me.” Student A choose to run. “I didn’t even know who was hosting the party,” they said. “I just remember someone yelling ‘cops’ down the stairs and everybody made for the back window. I knew there was no way I was getting out of that window and my shoes were upstairs. So I thought, if I get caught, I may as well get my shoes back.” They ran to get their shoes, saw the police entering through the front door, and ran out the back door. The police department is not necessarily concerned with students at parties unless there is illegal behavior like described above. “When the person(s) at the party start engaging in illegal behavior for their age or in general, we are required to address those societal concerns,” School Resource Officer James Slack said in an email. “Not only because they are violating a state law but also for the safety of the person involved in the illegal behavior.” The most common charge students face after being caught drinking alcohol is Minor in Possession of Alcohol, a simple misdemeanor. Depending on circumstances, they could also face Public Intoxication charges. Once a month, Student B attends parties at Val
“
WE ALL FREAKED OUT, A CROWD PUSHED UP THE STAIRS AND SOME PEOPLE RAN OUT A WINDOW. -Student A
Air Ballroom in West Des Moines. “Val Air parties
things where a few bad apples ruin it for the
have a DJ and a dance floor, everyone’s dancing
bunch,” Green said. “At the end of the day, when
and hanging out, but at a house party it’s more
you have 1,500 people, and you maybe have 10
chill and you’re like sitting on a couch hanging
that come in and can’t get in because they’re
with your friends,” they said. “Every single Val Air
drunk, that’s a very very small percentage.”
party I’ve been to the cops have shown up.”
Green believes that students are going to drink
Val Air Ballroom takes measures to have po-
no matter what. “They’re spending their Friday
lice at their events. For most events, there will be
night, Saturday night, coming to Val Air after
one security officer hired for every estimated 100
drinking or sitting on their friends couch in their
people, as well as off-duty West Des Moines po-
basement drinking,” he said.
lice officers. For a sold out show, they’ll hire four.
Green also manages 515 Alive, a music festival
“If it’s a hip hop show, or a show with a younger
mainly held in August. He attributes much of the
crowd who might show up who might have been
underage partying to music influences. “What I
“
drinking in the parking lot, we’ll increase security,” Counter Manager Dan Green said. Only one show at Val Air was recently shut down by police. Oct. 20, Sub Sonic Social held a Halloween party. Their eventbrite page advertises it as “Iowa’s WILDEST party,” with go-go dancers, a laser show, bubble machines and confetti cannons. Underage
really think is a problem is a lot of these artists and these big rappers
I WAS GOING BACK AND FORTH TO THE DOOR A LOT AND AT ANY GIVEN TIME THERE WAS ONE OR TWO KIDS WAITING FOR THEIR PARENTS
-Val Air Ballroom Counter Manager Dan Green
drinking
and electronic artists, are really promoting drug use,” he said. “It seems like just partying in general for younger kids is becoming a normal thing. I think the climate of music is just so different and the partying that comes with it is so different than it was when we were kids.” He believes that ev-
occurred backstage, causing the whole event to be
ery venue has the same problem, not just Val Air.
closed early. “They told them to stop, took all their
When he worked at Wooly’s in downtown Des
alcohol, and went back there and still saw the bot-
Moines, they had sometimes had attendees leave
tles,” Green said. “So, it’s one of those things where
in ambulances. “Wherever there’s shows, there’s
they kind of shot themselves in the foot with that
going to be those kind of instances,” Green said.
one. It was on them, they were warned, and then it got shut down.”
Consequences in school for drinking off school grounds or outside of school events are limited to
At a party Dec. 9, Val Air management empha-
athletes who signed the good conduct policy. “It’s
sized that no underage drinking would be tolerat-
really funny how that stuff works,” Associate Prin-
ed. At the door, they checked each person to see
cipal Randy Klein said. “The more you’re involved
if they were visibly intoxicated. “We try to take all
in, the more trouble you could potentially be in.
the proper precautions, we can’t stop everything
Which typically, the more you’re involved in, the
of course, unless you have one security guard for
less likely you are to go do that stuff.”
every person, which isn’t possible,” Green said.
If at a game, administrators will have the stu-
“So, I was going back and forth to the door a lot
dent pulled aside and checked. “Kids think they
and at any given time there was one or two kids
can cover it up, but they can’t,” Klein said. “You
waiting for their parents because they came in,
can’t cover up alcohol.”
they were noticeably drunk, and then they have to call their parents.”
If students are caught under the influence of alcohol at school or at a school event like a foot-
For the most part, however, people attend-
ball game, the student will be suspended and
ing the event were responsible. “It’s one of those
banned from future events. “I think the main thing is, we want to keep students safe,” Klein said.
14 NOV/DEC 2017 1/1600
1/1600 : JOANNE WU â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;20 FROM SOPHOMORE TO SENIOR, ONE STUDENT WAS RANDOMLY CHOSEN TO TELL THEIR STORY words | Mara Jendro
layout | Kathryn Ikeda
[Above] Joanne Wu at her art teacher’s studio drawing a scene from nature. Wu copied over from a picture her teacher, Mary Muller, chose for her. Using pastels, her favorite artistic tool, she shaded in and colored. [Side] These paintings are some of Joanne’s favorite pieces, a cityscape of Chicago and a leopard.
M
AKING MONEY AS A TEEN-
and a build team, and a design team and we
ager mostly consists of min-
have to each work on our part,” she said.
imum wage jobs. Joanne Wu
Wu is part of the design team.
‘20, however, has found a source of income
Core classes and strong education is val-
from her art. “I entered in the Iowa State
ued by Wu and her family. “My parents, ob-
Fair and got first in the youth division,” she
viously we’re Asian,” Wu said. “Asians aren’t
said. “[The paintings] were both for sale, I
really big on art and music, so they’re really
sold them for like $300, because the frames
focused on getting a good job and a well
themselves cost like $100 or so.” She entered
paid one. That’s first priority.”
paintings of a cityscape of Chicago and a bunch of irises. Many of Wu’s paintings focus on the out-
Her mother declined an interview, but mentioned that Joanne has always been interesting.
doors. “I’ve been working on a lot of land-
Joanne’s art teacher, Mary Muller, en-
scapes, so like mountains, trees, and water-
courages young people to go into art for a
falls and stuff like that,” she said. “And I’ve
career. “They have to work really hard at it.
also been drawing animals and nature. But
It’s hard to make money,” Muller said.
recently I’ve been getting back to rural type of painting.” Wu is involved with the Robotics team. The club is based off of region, kids are involved from many metro schools. They then compete against different regions.
Muller has been teaching Joanne for two to three years and Wu is one of many students. The classes and one-on-one lessons take place in Muller’s home. Muller has one thing for Wu and other artists to remember. “My daughter’s teacher
Wu uses her artistic eye for computer
told her that there are three kinds of artists,
building in an effort to connect creativity
those with talent, those with drive, and those
and mathematics by designing robots and
with both,” Muller said. “There are a lot with
using them to compete. “We have different
talent, there are some with drive and there
teams, so we have a programming team,
are few with both.”
16 NOV/DEC 2017 OPINION
DO NOT DILUTE DEPRESSION Learning the difference between sad and depressed may be more important than thought
W
words & layout | Andrew Maresca
3.9 percent of adults meet the criteria for a bipolar disorder in their lifetime
E OFTENTIMES FORGET
where sadness can quickly be replaced
the impact that our words
by another emotion easily. “Depression
can have on others. Espe-
is mental illness, where sadness is a basic
cially when these words are already in
everyday emotion,” Grace Doan ‘19 said.
our everyday vocabulary. However, that
“I feel like they’ve been dumbed down
does not mean we should just ignore
to mean the same thing and they’re real-
what we say. Words like ‘depressed’ and
ly not because depression is serious and
‘anxiety’ have become all too familiar
sadness is temporary.”
with our daily language.
By using the word depressed in re-
Mental health is a large problem in
place of sad, it takes away from the
the United States, especially when one
severity of depression and the results
out of four teenagers are affected by
it can have. “Pop culture has made it
6.7 percent
anxiety disorders. Using words like de-
acceptable to joke about things like
pressed and anxious does not help re-
hanging ourselves or killing ourselves,
duce this number. By including these
and then somebody actually does it,” JD
words in everyday vocabulary, it can
Norris ‘19 said.
of the U.S. adult population is effected by depression
make those suffering from mental ill-
Anxiety is another mental illness
ness seem as if their condition is invalid.
that falls victim to this. Many people
Depression and sadness are not the
feel anxious about large stresses in their
25.1 percent of teenagers are effected by anxiety disorders
6.8 percent of the U.S. population is affected by a social anxiety disorder
“
same thing, and should not be used inter-
lives. Yet, feeling anxious does not al-
changeably. Sadness is an emotion sim-
ways result in having anxiety. “Saying
ilar to happiness, anger and love. These are temporary
feelings
that may switch throughout
the
day. Depression is a mental illness where
chemical
imbalances in the
anxiety’ can be
Depression is a chemical imbalance in the brain, while sadness is a feeling that can change just like happiness can. -Amy Ziegenhorn
really
frustrat-
ing to somebody who is dealing with that problem,” Ally Andreasen 18’ said. “That test didn’t give you anxi-
brain affect the way you feel, act and
ety, it may have made you anxious, but
think. By using depression in replace of
there’s a difference in that.”
sadness, it creates the stigma that these are the same thing.
aada.org
‘that test gave me
Depression affects all parts of life,
As somebody that has Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Andreasen has dealt with this problem
“
firsthand. “I have ADHD and it really bugs me when somebody is feeling a little squirrelly and they say ‘I’m so ADD,’”
“Saying you have so much anxiety over a project due tomorrow is not the same as somebody who deals with anxiety everyday.”
Andreasen said. “I think it is the same situation for depression and anxiety.” Receiving validation for mental illness is already a problem people suffering with these illnesses face. They are often told that it is just a phase or they are just sad. Mental illness is not a phase and should not be compared to emotions that are always changing. The stigma behind mental health will never get better if people keep throwing these words around like they are nothing. These are big words with
-Grace Doan ‘19
big meanings, and should be used in correct context. With the immense amount of those who suffer from mental illness,
get out of bed.”
the student body and how people think
it is crucial to watch what you say, or
Organizations such as Students 4
about it and to recognize you don’t know
else that number will continue to go up.
Change (Sources of Strength) are poten-
what somebody is going through so you
A lack of knowledge is most com-
tial solutions to this problem. Awareness
shouldn’t just throw around words,” An-
monly why these words are used in the
is the best way to inform others about
dreasen said.
wrong context. “People will use the word
the severity of these mental illnesses. “I
The casual use of these words cre-
‘bipolar’ to express a shift in emotion,
think groups like Students 4 Change will
ate many negative effects, especially
where bipolar disorder is much more
help get rid of the stigma associated with
for those who suffer from these mental
complex than that,” therapist Amy Zie-
mental health,” guidance counselor Lisa
illnesses. This problem can be fixed as
genhorn said. “People with bipolar disor-
Boge said.
easily as using an alternative word, such
der will feel on top of the world for a few
Students are already making strides
as ‘nervous’ or ‘upset.’ If we want to im-
weeks and have incredible ideas and mo-
to bring more awareness to mental
prove the mental health of our school
tivation, and then have a very low point
health. “I do still think that it’s import-
and society, we have to look not only
for awhile where they struggle to even
ant and a change that needs to happen in
into our actions, but also our words.
Areas of emotional stimulation The difference between depression and sadness is mentally and physically noticable. Areas of blue represent the feeling of deactivated emotion. Areas of red represent the most stimulation felt. infographic | Andrew Maresca
Source: Huffington Post U.K.
Sadness
Depression
18 NOV/DEC 2017 EDITORIAL
COURTESY TOWARDS CUSTODIANS
E
VERY DAY STUDENTS
school clean.
leave heaps of trash in the
Tamara Andrews, French teacher
cafeteria following break-
and B lunch supervisor, is happy that
fast and lunch. Teachers, hall moni-
a lot of kids do what they’re supposed
tors, lunch ladies, custodians or other
to. “I’d say a majority of our students
support staff are the ones left with
pick up after themselves, throw away
cleaning up the mess. Part of their job
their stuff and are very good,” An-
descriptions may be to help keep this
drews said. “I would say 95 percent
school clean, but it wouldn’t be nec-
of our students do, which is the good
essary for them to do if we picked up
news.”
after ourselves. Students who leave their trash
However some students choose otherwise.
laying around the school are not
Andrews is frustrated with the stu-
only making our school something
dents that leave their stuff out and
not worthy of pride, but they are dis-
finds it very disrespectful. “There’s
respecting its support staff as well.
just a few bad apples who leave their
Students can do better to respect the
stuff out and don’t want to pick up
staff, especially custodians.
after themselves, and I want to say to
The majority of students at John-
them, ‘do you think that you’re better
ston do a good job with keeping the
than everyone else and that you don’t
[Left] Mark cleans one of the culinary classrooms so it will be ready for students to use the next day. Mark works the night shift from 3:30 p.m. until 11:30 p.m.
have to clean up after yourself?’” An-
the moves made during the summer
drews said.
to show appreciation for the great job
Damage to the property is common and frustrating. “[The student
that they had done in such a short amount of time.
council poster slots] are getting torn
As students, we are doing a fair job
off the wall and I had one down there
at keeping the school clean and show-
today that had chewing gum stuffed
ing appreciation towards our custo-
inside of it,” custodian Jim Callison
dians. Nonetheless, we can do better.
said. “I had several of them that had
Purposely trashing the bathrooms or
been pulled off the wall or broken.”
leaving garbage behind is not only
Gum is also found around the
disrespectful to this new building but
school in lots of places besides the
also places more of a burden on al-
trash, such as in the carpet.
ready busy staff.
Some damage to the property is
Taking one minute to clear your
accidental but a lot of it is not. Ter-
table after lunch can help staff. “The
ry Young is a custodian at the high
less of the stuff we have to do, the
school. “Sometimes we still have prob-
more of that extra stuff we can get
lems with toilets getting plugged with
done,” Young said. “There’s always
banana peels and now you know that’s
some kind of dusting to do, there’s
on purpose,” Young said.
always some windows getting over-
From the administrative side, John-
looked. Some areas don’t even get
ston finds ways to show their appreci-
touched because we don’t get to
ation towards its custodians through-
them.”
out the district. There was a party held for the custodians across the district following
Always try to say thanks to a custodian you run into. It makes all of the difference.
The editorial is an opinion held by the editorial board of the newspaper and is a collaboration of the board. It needs a simple majority to pass. This month’s vote was 6-0. To contact the editorial board, please email us at jhsblackandwhite.com or visit us in room 622.
[Above] Fatima Ikeljic disinfects tables in a classroom. Ikeljic would like less stuff to be damaged around the school. “The building is new and if we appreciate it, the students need to appreciate it too,” Ikejic said.
14.82
The national average hourly pay for custodians working at elementary and secondary schools
16.09
The hourly starting pay for custodians in the Urbandale Community School District The hourly starting pay for custodi-
17.39 ans in the Des Moines Community School District
19.22
The hourly starting pay for custodians working in the Johnston Community School District
20 NOV/DEC 2017 SPORTS
PLAY BY PLAY
AS WINTER ACTIVITIES BEGIN, THE BLACK & WHITE ASKED COACHES OF EACH SPORT FOR PLAYERS STANDING OUT IN PRACTICES OR GAMES words and layout | Jack Lucas & Kathryn Ikeda
WHAT THEIR TEAMMATE SAID
“
Jenna is so funny and she makes the game a
lot more fun and she’s always positive and a good leader.
-MAYA MCDERMOTT ‘20
JENNAH JOHNSON ‘18
BASKETBALL
94
points
through six games. PHOTO: KATHRYN IKEDA
CAMDEN VANDER ZWAAG ‘18
BASKETBALL
WHAT THEY SAID
Averages
19
“
Everyday in practice I try push everyone
else to try and improve their game and they are doing the same to me. Even though we are playing really well right now, we have so much
Points per game
through 5 games
more room for improvement and I feel like this team can do something special in these playoffs this year.
-CAMDEN VANDER ZWAAG ‘18
PHOTO: JACK LUCAS
WHAT THEIR COACH SAID
“
Zach has steadily improved each season. He
has demonstrated great senior leadership this past
WRESTLING
ZACH PRICE ‘18
Number of takedowns through week one
off season and has prepared well for his senior campaign. He has also committed to wrestle at the NCAA Division One Level next year, where he will attend Big 12 member South Dakota State. -AARON TECKLENBURG
For
45
Against 0 PHOTO: JORDAN DEROOS
BOWLING
JESSICA SNYDER ‘18
“
WHAT THEIR COACH SAID
247
Jessica has a great work ethic. She has worked
very hard on and off season for what she has earned bowling along side many other talented bowlers. She is a mentor to new comers to the team offering in-
pins
struction and assistance. As a coach, I see her high
highest game this season
school career as a small part of a life long passion to the sport of bowling.
-XAN TAYLOR
PHOTO PROVIDED BY JESSICA SNYDER
BOWLING
WHAT THEY SAID
“
Its going pretty good right now. It could go
better for me but it not.
-AIDAN COOLEY ‘18
AIDAN COOLEY ‘18
1787
total knocked down through 10 games
pins
SWIMMING
GRANT LAIR ‘18
PHOTO: KYLE DEUTSCH
WHAT THEIR TEAMMATE SAID
48.7
seconds
on the 100 yard Freestyle
“
Grant is a hard worker, and I think that is go-
ing to pay off for him at the end of the season.
PHOTO: KATHRYN IKEDA
DANCE TEAM
WHAT THEY SAID
“
Through dance team I’ve learned the impor-
tance of teamwork and commitment. In dance, every person is being watched and is therefore important, so you can’t get by with slacking off. You’re only as strong as your weakest team member.
-EMILY BATTANI ‘18
EMILY BATTANI ‘18
4
years
on the varsity dance team PHOTO: JACK LUCAS
-SCOTT LAIR ‘18
22 NOV/DEC 2017 SPORTS
LIFE BEYOND THE LANE
words & photos | Rachel Vaughan The team rests between sets at practice on the first day of Thanksgiving break. Both JV and Varsity defeated Valley at their last meet on December 12th.
layout | Will Reiher
A
T SEVEN O’CLOCK IN THE MORN-
on the team is bonding with the other swimmers.
ing on the first day of Thanksgiving
“We mess around with each other a lot,” Overton
break, most of the students and staff
said. “That’s the most fun thing about the team.”
of the high school are still sleeping soundly, but
According to Overton, the other swimmers
shouting and yelling echoed through the halls
like to push each other’s limits, but are careful
of Summit Middle School as members of the
not to cross any lines. He said that if it seems
men’s swim team thundered through, flailing
like a person does not seem to think that a joke is
their arms in the air and hollering like cavemen.
funny, then the other guys stop right away.
While half of the team swam in the pool, the
When Overton was a freshman, he wanted to
other half was running laps around the inside of
quit the team after the first week, but the friends
Summit Middle School. The workout turned into
he had made on the team are the reason he
a race.
stayed. Now in his third year on the team, he is
The second group of runners would yell and cheer for the members of the first group that
glad he made the decision to stay. “Workouts are hell, but the guys are fun,” Overton said.
they wanted to finish first. The enthusiasm car-
Dawson Craig ‘19 feels that being around the
ried over into the gym where the team moved to
team has nothing but benefits. “I think it’s be-
do conditioning exercises.
cause of the bond we have,” Craig said. “When
Many of the swimmers said that they enjoyed practicing over breaks more than they enjoy
I’m around the others, I just naturally get more energized and ready to go.”
practicing on school days. The jokes and the
A lot of the energizing comes from the lock-
time spent with their teammates is the best part
er room pep talks that the upperclassmen of the
about being on the team. However, breaks are
team give before each meet. For Garrett Karazija
when the best team bonding happens.
‘21, huddling up for a pep talk has made a big
Tyler Overton’s ‘19 favorite part about being
impression on him. “We just all get pumped and
(Left) Sam Farrell ‘18 , Luke Mullen ‘20 and Lucas Clayton’21 run during a dryland portion of their practice. The swimmers typically do out of the pool workouts during weekend and winterbreak practices.
“
(Right) Aaron Brown ‘18 squats with a medball while on a balancing ball as part of a circut workout. Because Summit does not have a weight room the team resorts to body weight and medball exercises.
It’s really important to us that they are not selfish, yet very focused on what the team can do. -Shari Walling
motivate each other,” Karazija said. “I don’t re- each other up.”
member ever doing that when I swam for Blaze.”
One of the main focuses for the team is swim-
Craig thinks the pep talks are weird, yet pro- ming for the team and not just themselves. Al-
vide fun and helpful motivation. He vividly re- though swimmers are placed within their race, members a pep talk from one of his first years on the score reflects the effort of the team as a the team. “One year, we were swimming against whole. “It’s really important to us that they are Dowling (Catholic), and I don’t know how, but not selfish yet very focused on what the team can they got ahold of a basketball t-shirt from Dow- do,” Walling said. ling, and the senior class of that year ripped it apart before we went out,” Craig said.
Another traditional activity of the swim team is a water-polo game that occurs every Christmas
The pre-meet huddles are all different, de- Eve. Instead of a normal practice, the team inpending on who the team is facing, but they al- vites back all of the alumni of the team, and they ways end by yelling and motivating each other.
play a large, intense game of water-polo followed
Shari Walling, the head coach, talks to the by a French-toast breakfast. team before each meet, but leaves to let the se-
The alumni, occasionally joined by the fresh-
niors take over after she finishes. “Before they man, play against the current swim team. “I swim, I go through how close the meet will be, think that breaks are the best time to be swimhow tough it will be,” Walling said. “I tell them ming,” Overton said. “You don’t want to miss the that we’ve got to race hard to get our points, and breaks because even though they are hard and then I leave and let the seniors talk. I’m not sure you’ve got to get up really early in the morning, what the seniors say, but they know how to fire it’s really fun and you’ll definitely enjoy it.”
HOLIDAY TREATS
COOKIES
- 1 cup of butter - 1 cup of powdered sugar - 1/4 cup of white sugar - 2 eggs well beaten - 1 cup of oil - 2 tsp. of vanilla - 1 tsp. cream of tarter - 1 tsp. of baking soda - 5 1/4 cups of flour
words & layout | Katelyn Jurasek
1. Mix liquid ingredients and sugars 2. Combine flour and baking soda 3. Slowly mix and add to first mixture 4. Refrigerate for several hours or overnight 5. Roll into balls, and then in sugar 6. Put on pan and press down 7. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes on an ungreased pan
TRUFFLES - 8 oz of cream cheese - 1 package of Oreos (any flavor) - 1 package of almond bark 1. Soften cream cheese 2. Crush Oreos 3. Mix together 4. Roll into balls and place onto a pan with wax paper 5. Put in fridge to set 6. Melt almond bark and dip 7. Put on wax paper to dry and put in fridge