October 4 by Kennedy Torch

John F. Kennedy High School

Volume 47, Issue 1

October 4, 2013

The Millennial Generation

We’re the most digitally advanced generation. People have more free time, but seem busier than ever. Torch explores: are we a generation of “busy” bees or “lazy” bees?

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the torch

Contents Editorial

Photo

Meet the Torch staff

Cedar Rapids Library opens

Grain fed vs. grass fed meat

A&E

Profile 09

Friday night feeling

Health

News 07

the

Kennedy greets new principal

17 Trending activities: longboarding

Feature

Sports

10 Millenial Generation

The final year

torch John F. Kennedy High School 4545 Wenig Rd. NE Cedar Rapids, IA 52402 47 Issue 81 Volume 46,

Mission Statement

The student staff and adviser are committed to producing top quality student publications, applying high standards of writing, editing, and production. These media seek to fairly serve the Kennedy High School faculty, students, and staff showing no favoritism to any particular interest, individual, or group. Final decisions about content are the responsibility of the individual editors, and the Editorial Board.

Non-Discrimination policy

It is the Torch policy not to illegally discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, disability, religion, creed, age (employment only), marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, and socioeconomic status (students/program only) in its educational programs and its employment practices.

Ownership

The Torch publication, website, official social media, and broadcasts serve as a public forum produced by the students in Journalism - Newspaper. Student editors make content decisions consistent with the Torch Editorial Policy, Iowa law and the ethics of journalism.

09 cover by Bailey Zaputil

Letter from the editor Greetings, loved ones. Though it’s been only three years since I first sat down in Journalism 101, my first high school class, it somewhat feels like three lifetimes ago. Unlike many of my predecessors, I had no siblings’ shadows to follow or legacy to overcome. While this let me free to make my own decisions, it often felt like I was going in blind. Actually, SIKE. I still have no idea what I’m doing. Did you guys not notice how I literally just put shapes and colors as the cover? Who put me in charge? My predecessors are probably weeping right now. Because I’m following one heck of a legacy, a special thank you to last years Editorial Board, led by Darcey Altschwager and our adviser, Stacy Haynes-Moore. Under their hard work, perseverance, and leadership, Torch is a proud recipient of the George H. Gallup Award, one of the highest awards in high school journalism. I’m excited and proud to help continue such excellence in my senior Torch, providing that “excellence” is me not running this joint into the ground. It’s only our third year as we continue in the newsmagazine style, which will be taking a more in-depth approach for our stories. For our most recent news stories and coverage of current events, our website, kennedytorch.org, and Twitter, @kennedytorch, are both updated daily for our readerships’ convenience and commentary. No, really, it’s great. And if you don’t like it, shove it. JUST KIDDING. Just get at us at kennedytorchmedia@ gmail.com. We hope that readers join us on this exciting year as we continue to work hard and strive for excellence in all media, from print to web. Let the journey begin, loved ones.

Staff editorial: class size and availability changes with district wide staff reductions With the start of eighth graders taking classes at Kennedy last year, district wide budget cuts, and a larger freshman class, everything seems a little tight at Kennedy. The eighth grade program allows students to take a science, math, or foreign language combination during the morning before returning to their respective middle schools. As a staff, we have noticed class availability decreasing because of the need for certain classes in the morning from this program. We have also seen classes grow with

the need for teachers to teach the classes the eighth graders are enrolled in. Another aspect that has made classes more full is the district wide budget cuts that took away four positions at all high schools, as well as cutting the general budget. This was to accommodate a district that isn’t growing, but there seems to be more students at Kennedy this year. We are directly seeing the effect of the budget cuts as we plan out the number and size of our issues for this year. All of these things make schedule chang-

es more difficult because there are limited spaces for each class. The counselors are stressed out because they can’t change students’ schedules, which adds even more frustration to the typical students’ life. It’s a good opportunity for eighth graders to take classes of a higher level, but not when the school is this crowded. The district should look towards putting teachers into the middle schools to allow more eighth graders to take these classes and interact more with their own peers.

Get to know this ye

Editorial

Ethan Divis, sr. Position: Web Editor Staff Crush: Rondo Celebrity Crush: Ricky Stanzi, Aaron White, Andrew Luck, Paul Goldschmidt, and Fran McCaffery

Alec (Rondo) Mobley, so. Position: Writer Staff Crush: Myself Crime I’m suspected of: Robbing a bank

Isabel Neff, sr. Position: Copy Editor Secret Talent: Amateur rapper Favorite Word: #Hashtag

Gabby Olejniczak, so. Position: Writer Biggest Phobia: Girls with white iPhones and Starbucks Crime I’m suspected of: Having too much $w@g

Maddy Crist, jr. Position: Sports Editor Biggest Phobia: Dirty hands Favorite Word: Swerve Celebrity Crush: Channing Tatum

Emma Kieckhaefer, so. Position: Writer Crime I’m suspected of: Have to talk to my lawyer before answering Favorite Word: Serendipity

Kendra Burmester, jr. Position: Writer Staff Crush: Emma Moss. She’s the bomb! Biggest Phobia: Spiders

Alli Nemecek, sr. Position: Managing Editor Hobbies: Picking on Norm and Amy Biggest Wish: Switching ACLs with someone

Lydia Martin, jr. Positon: Profile Editor Biggest Phobia: Ethan Divis Secret Talent: Making pencil mustaches

Elianna Novitch, so. Position: Writer Biggest Phobia: Paper cuts Favorite Word: Wanderlust

Xander Riley, so. Position: Health Editor Staff Crush: The health computer Celebrity Crush: Wiz Khalifa (whoever that is)

Melanie Northland, jr. Position: Writer Biggest Phobia: Squirrels Crime I’m suspected of: Disorderly conduct Favorite Word: Meander

ear’s Torch staff

Editorial

Hannah Bruns, jr. Position: Arts & Entertainment Editor Crime I’m suspected of: Animal hoarding Favorite word: Purrrr

Katie Wolfe, sr. Position: Writer Biggest Phobia: Misophonia, the fear of people eating loudly Crime I’m suspected of: embezzlement

Morgan Schwab, jr. Position: Arts & Entertainment Editor Biggest Phobia: Not being able to watch One Tree Hill Secret Talent: Wall twerking

Zayla Mackrell, so. Position: Writer Secret Talent: I’m Batman. Shhh! Celebrity Crush: Jeremy Shada

Amy Brause, sr. Position: Photo Editor Staff Crush: Nathan Crime I’m suspected of: Stealing small children

Abby Donovan, so. Position: Writer Biggest Phobia: Car wash Favorite Word: Okillem Crime I’m suspected of: Robbing a bank

Emma Moss, jr. Position: Sports Editor Staff Crush: Da Gabster Secret Talent: Telling jokes (especially cat jokes)

Terin Kane, jr. Position: Health Editor Staff Crush: Emma K Crime I’m suspected of: Murdering Xander

Norm Althoff, sr. Position: Business Manager Staff Crush: Amy Biggest Phobia: Darkness Do you fear the beard? Yes

Bailey Zaputil, sr. Position: Editor in Chief Quote: “I didn’t win, but at least I didn’t make any new friendships.”

Michael Abramson, jr. Position: News Editor Biggest Regret: Sam Nordstrom graduating Hobbies: Playing video games

Stacy Haynes-Moore, super sr. Position: Adviser Biggest Phobia: Dentist Favorite Word: Copacetic

Pages by alli nemecek

An early taste of college News

High school students take courses at Kirkwood Academy

photo by Bailey Zaputil Thanks to the New Kirkwood Academy, students can now get college credit for taking any of the 19 classes they offer to the students. These are free programs, paid for by the Cedar Rapids Community School District. The new Kirkwood program provides students opportunities to start learning about specific vocations. This program can give students a head start on college, as well as insight for their college careers. Christian Stroschein, sr., is currently enrolled in a threeclass course – criminal justice, criminal investigation and sociology. “It’s a really great opportunity. I get 15 credit hours and it will reduce the time spent on my major,” Stroschein said. Stroschein wants to go to University of Northern Iowa and double major in crimi-

nology and sociology. Taking college courses can be intimidating to some, but students are finding it doable so far. Maddie Tessmer, sr., said, “It’s about the same [difficulty] as an AP class.” She, too, is taking criminal justice, criminal investigation, and sociology. According to Tessmer, the classes are a lot more relaxed at Kirkwood. Tessmer thinks that everyone should take advantage of this opportunity for free college classes. “They are not as hard as you think and it is a good way to see what classes you’re interested in and where you want to go,” Tessmer said. Tessmer wants to major in business and minor in psychology. As of now, she wants to go to the University of Iowa but is still looking at other colleges. Kendall Countryman, sr., also wants to attend the University of Iowa. Planning to go into the medical field, Countryman is taking human anatomy

“It is a good way to see what classes you’re interested in and where you want to go,” -Maddie Tessmer, sr.

and physiology. “Since I want to go into the medical field, extra biology classes always help,” Countryman said. Countryman has classes three times per week. “On Tuesday and Thursday, we have lectures and then we do lab [work] on Friday.” Countryman said that the most fun she has had was when they dissected rats in class. Countryman likes many things about Kirkwood classes. “[I like] the way the teacher teaches, there is never any busy work or pointless quizzes, and I am responsible for myself,” Countryman said In order to be successful in your classes, Countryman said, “Be good at time management and be able to study on your own.” Gabby Olejniczak

Readers’ heaven

news

An in-depth look into Cedar Rapids’ new public library

Rebuilding from ruins Three years have passed since the Cedar Rapids Library was devastated by the 2008 flood. Five to six feet of water filled the library. Very little was saved from the destruction. Despite the devastation and challenges, every day since, the city has been rebuilding a better library. The new library is located just three blocks away from where the old one used to stand. The location provides picturesque scenery from Green Square Park that can be viewed from

all of the windows throughout the building. About three years of diligent planning and designing went into the creation of the new library. Bob Pasicznyuk, the director of the library, said, “With the design of this building they focused on three things, the first being young people, the second making it not only library, but a community center, and the third technology.”

Young people and the community Young people were incorporated into the design of the building. This is clear based on both the new technology as well as dedicated rooms for young people. The library has both a room dedicated to children and a room dedicated to teens. The children’s room is decorated with bright colors, furniture, and interactive entertainment. The teen room is more sophisticated, featuring a wide selection of books geared toward teenagers.

In order to further service its visitors, the library was built with a rooftop garden space, an auditorium, and a café. The library also has a lot of study spaces, group meeting rooms ,and computer spaces, all to providing valuable resources to the community. Lauren Meyer, jr., said that her favorite part about the new library is the roof top because it is a cool space to hangout. She also enjoys how fun, hip, and modern the new library is.

Energy conservation and new technology The new library is extremely environmentally friendly. The building features an abundance of windows, which drops electrical costs and minimizes waste of energy. The windows sense when the natural light is dimming. As the light outside begins to dim, the lights grow stronger inside. All of the appliances you will find in the library are Energy Star rated. The library is equipped with a lot of new technology. At the end of every aisle, there is a touch screen that

allows people to look up the book that they are looking for. The library has an extensive media section and a media box, where people can rent movies. In addition, there is an area with treadmills for readers who prefer to be active to run and read simultaneously. Grant Barton, jr., plans on visiting the library as often as he can. Barton said, “This library is going to be what Cedar Rapids is known for.” Katie Wolfe photos by Katie Wolfe

Pages By Michael Abramson

profile

Chip. Conner Koberg, jr., chips while playing in a school golf meet. Koberg is ranked fourth in the state.

photo provided by Julie Stewart

Eat, sleep, breathe, golf A look into the life of a golfer “There is a perfect round out there but no one knows if it’s achievable,” Conner Koberg, jr., said, “you can always get better and improve.” The Kennedy Men’s Golf team was the Class 4A state runner up last year. Koberg was apart of that team. Koberg is ranked fourth in the state this year. Koberg, along with Davis Sutton, jr., who is ranked third in the state, will be able to help lead the team to the state title this year. Koberg is a golfer for Kennedy but he does more than just play for the team. “Others look up to him, he leads by example,” Coach Mark Wilden, said. Seven days a week, all year round, he commits himself to the game of golf. Koberg is a member of Elmcrest Country Club in Cedar Rapids, and plays golf there all year round due to their indoor facility, he can use in the winter. Koberg also

plays golf in many different places. “I go all over the country for my individual golf tournaments but out of all the most interesting places I’ve been my favorite would have to be Whistling Straits in Wisconsin because it’s a course not like any other with all of the cool bunkering,” Koberg said. Being on the Kennedy Men’s Varsity Golf team, Koberg misses a lot of school for meets. “It’s tough to balance school and golf but its something you have to learn to do, usually I ask my teachers what I will miss and get the assignments in advance,” Koberg said. Koberg has hopes for himself and the rest of the Kennedy team through out the season. “My goals for golf this year is to win state as an individual and hopefully as a team too, I also just want to get better

everyday,” Koberg said. “Conner’s score has counted for every meet, what more can I ask for?,” Wilden said. For each team, there are six scores, and only four of the best scores count for each team. With all the golf that Koberg does and the good scores he produces, you would think he wouldn’t be so hard on himself. “I go and look at my swing on video and see where I can improve, but to really improve I work a lot on chipping and putting and do different drills either to work on technique or feel,” Koberg said. Koberg also has a goal to continue playing golf in college, “that will give me the best opportunity to go to the next level in golf,” Koberg said. But for now he is just looking for that perfect round, “you can always get better and improve.” Lydia Martin

Mr. Kline takes on Kennedy W hen Jason Kline was offered the job as the new Principal of Kennedy High School- a school that was states from their home in Charlotte, North Carolina- he told his wife that they needed to think about it. His wife’s reaction: “She said, ‘No, we don’t we need to move.” And then Kline, his wife and their three daughters packed up and made the journey to Iowa. This past year has been full of changes for Kennedy. After 38 years with CRCSD Principal Mary Wilcynski decided to retire. And the search for a new principal began. The position was open to applicants for several weeks, with a large group of applicants to sift through. This is how the process began. When Dr. Wilcynski made the decision to retire there was a lot of back and forth as to who should be hired to take her place. The pool was narrowed down to five candidates and then to just one, Jason Kline. Kline served as vice-principal at Myer’s Park High School in Charlotte, North Carolina for five years. With a little over 2,600 students Myer’s Park is almost 1,000 students stronger than Kennedy. The school sits on 62 acres and has 13 separate buildings. Kline also served as a classroom teacher for eight years before that. Kline is a strong advocate for Advanced Placement class but he also feels it is important for students to know they have other options. To make sure they don’t feel forced to take the AP route. Since Kline has begun the year at Kennedy he has tried his best to attend all of the sporting events and activities that Kennedy has to offer. He also dove head-first into the world of social media, by making a Twitter, Vine and creating a blog. Kline tweets about any school activities, vines the student section, and blogs weekly about things during the week at Kennedy. Although some of the student body

profile

Wild side. Mr. Kline leads the wave during the Kennedy vs. Prairie football game Sept. 6. Kline actively cheers on Cougar Nation. photo by Amy Brause has mixed feelings about the change in principal, it looks like Dr. Wilcynski and Kline are on the same page when it comes to what they feel is right for Kennedy. Both want Kennedy and all the students to be the best that they can be. Both, Dr. Wilcynski and Kline also want to keep Kennedy a “well-oiled machine” as Kline calls it. “What I really ask is that students be honest and open with me,” Kline said. Honesty and support within the school are common themes with both principals. When Kline decides to change anything he promises to get everyone’s input. He wants the opinions of staff, students and teachers before he makes a big decision. “If you don’t like some thing I’m doing tell me,” said Kline. “I might change it if you give me good reason too.” So who knows, what if a horse of a different color isn’t such a bad thing? Melanie Northland

Leading the way. New principal Mr. Kline helps direct hallway traffic during passing time. photo by Elianna Novitch

Linked In Twitter: @crkennedyhigh Vine: Jason Kline Blog- cr.kennedyhigh.wordpress.com

Pages by lydia martin

feature

What defines a generation?

Exploring perceptions on the Millenial Generation as they come of age

he Millennials. Every generation has had their own story; the Silent Generation survived World War II and the Great Depression; Baby Boomers experienced the Civil Rights movement, Vietnam, and Summer of Love; Generation X faced a recession and AIDS. But as the Millennials grows into adulthood in a technological age that is unprecedented, it is more and more important to understand this group of Facebook aficionados and social media natives as they take the helm into a globalized world. So who are “I would describe this the Millennials? generation as more lazy. A Essentially, it’s anyone lot of students slack off these born from the early days, me including. I would 80’s up to 2001. And according The U.S. believe it is because the Census Bureau, there technology we have today, as are about 80 million it can distract us from more Millennials in the U.S. important matters.” alone. They are the -Allie Goodell, fr. generation who have grown up in a world where news reaches from one end of the globe to the other in less than a minute. According to Pew Research Center, they are the most racially diverse generation, with the population being 17% African-American, 19% Hispanic, 5% Asian, and 61% Caucasian. They are the generation where over 75% has a social networking site and 83% sleeps next to their cell phone. Their generation has been defined by the digital age, allowing them access to information and social networking easier than ever. It is perhaps this close connection to technology that has sparked criticism from people of older generations. A common phrase teens may hear from parents or grandparents is “when I was your age, I didn’t have a phone or a computer”. Recent articles like Joel Stein’s “The Me Me Me Generation” has also sparked debate on the behavior of Millennials. Are they really as “lazy” and “entitled” as they are claimed to be? Some numbers could suggest “yes”. In 2012, Pew Research reported that only 63% of young adults ages 18-31 had jobs, down from 70% five years previous. Of this age group, 36% were also living with their parents. Demos, a non-partisan public policy research organization, published that about 15% of 18-24 year olds were unemployed, and Marketing Charts 14 found that they watch about 25-30 hours of television

a week. Sean Sailer, so., feels that technology has caused a decrease in work ethic. “As technology increases it makes things easier, so people have a better chance to slack off and make it up sometime else,” Sailer said. “But in some ways it helps people increase productivity because it makes things easier to do so people are more motivated to go and do that certain thing.” Still, other trends say “no”. The National Assessment of Educational Progress reported that the average high school student’s GPA went up from 2.68 to 3.00 from 1990-2009. Last year, over two million students took an AP Exam. With average state tuition being about $9,000+, according to the US Department of Education, many students now opt to stay at home with their family before making major economic choices, like buying a house or a car. And with more emphasis on volunteer hours, activities, and leadership, it’s a small wonder Millennials appreciate the speed of technology-any slower, they might “Sometimes they take on too miss something. Laurie Worden, who much, and that they’re over has been the Program committed and that they Coordinator at the don’t have time to sleep, and Workplace Learning dream, and have fun. And Connection for the those things concern me,” past 11, has worked -Laurie Worden, with many students in Program Coordinator at coordinating programs Workplace Learning from internships to Connection job shadows. Worden describes the people who take on her program as highly motivated, though expressed some concern for them. “Sometimes they take on too much, and that they’re over committed and that they don’t have time to sleep, and dream, and have fun. And those things concern me,” she said. Yet, some Millennials also share the sentiment laziness in their generation. In a sample survey, 76% of Kennedy students felt their generation was more “lazy” than “hardworking”. Common survey explanations were that there is too much reliance on technology for information and as a distraction. This carried along into how students perceive work ethic in their generation, with 62% saying that technology has decreased work ethic, about 26% describing an increase, while the rest saw both or were unsure.

feature feature

For example, Allie Goodell, fr., wrote, “I would describe this generation as more lazy. A lot of students slack off these days, me including. I would believe it is because the technology we have today, as it can distract us from more important matters.” Lastly, participants were asked whether or not there was too much encouragement to succeed or not enough. About 51% of students felt there was not enough encouragement, 17% said too much, while 17% there was equal, and about 6% felt unsure. Yet Syndy Richey, PACT Resource Teacher, reports that this year 636 students qualified for PACT, while 1540 were in an AP course. Many students also participate in various sports, clubs, activities, internships, volunteer programs, and have jobs. Finn Kolsrud, a sociology professor at Kirkwood, explains why so many students may feel this way about their generation. “My guess is that if you have a group of people, a generation of people being labelled a certain way, they’re going to start internalizing that label. So they may see images in the mass media or something like that of people their age, not working, not doing their homework, or something like that,” he said. “And they may resume that is the reality instead of investigating people around them and think about their sort of motivation.” The question, then, remains: are the Millennials are a generation of busy bees or lazy bees? As Worden said: “I think that in any group of people you’re going to have motivated people, very average people that do what the expectations they have for them and then you’re going to have people who fall below that line, that’s been true of every generation.”

76%

of Kennedy students feel their generation is more “lazy” than “hardworking”.

25-30

The number of hours Millenials spend watching TV, per week.

The number of students enrolled in an AP course at Kennedy.

51%

of students that feel that there is not enough encouragement to succeed

bailey zaputil

1540

PAGES

Million. The number of people in the Millenial Generation. Information from 121 surveys distributed to Kennedy students, Marketing Charts, and PACT counselor Syndy Richey. BY zaputil 15 PagesBailey and graphics done by Bailey Zaputil

Photo

That friday night feeling After slow starts the previous three seasons, the football team is 3-1 at the beginning of this season.

For full photo galleries of the football games and other activities head to Kennedytorch.org

Bonding moment (top left). Miles Moa, sr., and Jay Blank, jr., hold hands in the team huddle at the Sept. 19 game against Dubuque Senior. Roughhousing (top middle). The cougar defense attempts to stop Cedar Rapids Washingtonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s drive at the season opener on Aug. 30. Pump it up (top right). Madi Miller leads Cougar Nation in cheering on Kennedy to their third victory of the season. #CougarNation (middle left). Members of the student section brave the heat of the season opener to give the Cougar football team their first win. Finding an opening (left). Quarterback Derek Jacobus, sr., looks to pass as Jay Blank, jr., and Austin Holzer, sr., block Cedar Rapids Washingtonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s defense. photos by Amy Brause

page by Amy Brause

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PAGE BY norm althoff

Health

Moo. Beef can be healthier depending on whether the cow was fed grass or grain.

illustration by Bailey Borchert

exploring different diet Eating healthy:

ot everyone thinks very much about the food they eat or what its effect is on their health. However, there are also some people who devote a lot of thought to what they eat. For example, how many people think about what the cow ate that their hamburger’s made of? Did you know that the

lifestyles at Kennedy

healthiness of the beef you eat can be affected by whether the cow ate grass or grain? Or that it’s possible to extend your life span by not eating any meat at all? There are many pros and cons to both kinds of beef, as well as to vegetarianism and veganism.

Eating red: the difference between grain and grass fed meat

magine a big, juicy hamburger sitting on a plate in front of you. Suddenly your mind wanders to where the beef came from, and how that affects the hamburger you’re about to

favorite fry-filled burger basket. The hamburgers that students are fed are most likely a mix of both grain-fed and grass-fed beef like most lunch programs feed their students. eat. Mark Martin, owner of Nelson’s Meat “The government has so much to Two of the main types of beef are Market, explained the mix of types of grain-fed and grass-fed. The difference do with what we can buy. And as far beef doesn’t mean the meat is completely between the two is how the cow is fed as our preparation with it goes, it is unhealthy; it depends on how the beef is before it goes to the slaughterhouse. cooked. “They don’t have to be worried very low fat.” Both types of feed have different effects about the tenderness or cut of meat. It’s -Andi Kula, lunch lady on the beef students eat. Grass-fed beef not as critical with lunch programs,” is promoted to be the healthier choice The burgers at Kennedy are steamed, between the two, as it has a slightly higher level of omega-3 fatty rather than fried, to make them healthier and reduce grease. “The acids, and has less overall fat and calories compared to grain-fed government has so much to do with what we can buy, and as far beef. as our preparation with it goes, it is very low fat,” cafeteria worker Kennedy’s cafeteria is known for its burgers that come in the Andi Kula said. The burgers come pre-packaged and are cooked,

Health then served to students to eat during lunch. That doesn’t mean that grassfed beef is better than other types of food. Edgewood Road Hy-Vee Dietitian Christy Frese explains “While grass-fed beef does have more omega-3 fatty acids, it’s not enough to make a huge difference between the two. Fish, like salmon, have a lot more omega-3 in them, but beef is a rich nutrient food. I like people putting it in their diets.” It also means that grain-fed beef isn’t totally unhealthy for people compared to grass-fed beef. There are lean cuts of grain-fed beef that are just as healthy as grass-fed is. Another positive thing that beef eaters can all appreciate about grain-fed is its great flavor. Martin said grass-fed beef has more of a game taste to it compared to the sweeter taste that grain-fed beef has. “A vast majority of our customers prefer grain-fed,” Martin said. “It’s a personal preference really.” Martin said that along with the taste, grass-fed cooks and ages differently than grain-fed. Grass-fed beef becomes dry easily while aging and you have to be careful at what temperature you cook it at because that can also dry it out. Nelson’s Meat Market only sells grain-fed beef and their reason is the flavor of the beef and how well it ages and cooks. Grainfed beef is fattier and because of that, it has a fat covering that protects the beef when it ages. This allows for a delicious flavor and makes it better to cook with. Better cut steaks and meats will be grain-fed for this reason. “People are more curious than ever about what they’re eating,” Frese said. elianna novitch

a lean cut of meat to make it the healthiest,” Frese said. Still, Frese says that a vegetarian diet with a variety of healthy foods can reduce the risk of chronic diseases like heart disease and high blood pressure, as vegetarians eat more whole grains and vegetables. Psychology teacher Dana Melone also adheres to a meatfree diet. Unlike Krivit, though, Melone is completely vegan, meaning not only does she not eat meat, but she also does not eat any other animal produced product, such as milk and eggs. Still, Melone said that ever since making the switch she feels more energetic. “I get my protein from tofu, beans, and lentils. I typically eat a smoothie for breakfast; for lunch, a stir-fry bowl; and for dinner, Mexican food because you can use beans instead of meat, and it’s so easy to make.” However, Melone warns that simply eating vegetarian or vegan does not mean a diet is completely healthy. “You can still eat a vegan diet and eat unhealthy. You need to work to make sure you get all the nutrients you need,” Melone said. KENDRA BURMESTE

Eating green: vegetarians and vegans share lifestyle

he old Phrase “you are what you eat,” has been the motivation for Kennedy students and staff to get on the vegetarian bandwagon. Hanna Krivit, sr., has been a vegetarian for two years. “My sister started [a vegetarian diet] before me,” Krivit said. “She showed me some documentaries and I watched them and I started to think: maybe it’s better for me and my health.” Krivit’s family has a history of diabetes, which was another factor in her decision to switch. Since then, Krivit has been on a diet consisting of salads, bagels, eggs, and as a pescatarian, no meat other than fish. “I just want to be healthy, and I want a longer life,” Krivit said. That is not to say that meat is entirely unhealthy. Hy-Vee dietician, Christy Frese, said that red meat provides nutrients such as protein, zinc, B vitamins and iron. “We suggest getting

Top Left Photo: Andi Kula, lunch lady Bottom Right Photo: Hanna Krivit.

PAGES BY Terin kane and xander riley

health

Artificial sun. A lay down tanning bed, at Sun Tan City on Blairs Ferry Road.

photo by Morgan Schwab

Health Editorial: Are tans worth it?

Editor shares personal experience

bout four years ago, my mom noticed an abnormal spot on her shoulder. So, we went to a dermatologist and got it checked out. We found out soon after that she had basal cell skin cancer. My mom had tanned in a tanning bed all through high school, and even some as an adult. She is also fair skinned, and the rate of skin cancer is at its highest with fair skinned Caucasians, according to skincancer.org. “I honestly wasn’t surprised when I found out I had skin cancer because of how often I tanned throughout my life. In high school I did everything I could to be tan,” My mom, Andrea Wasson, told me. Lately, I have been doing a lot of research to further my knowledge on the subject, and was unpleasantly surprised to find out exactly how damaging tanning beds are. According to Deborah S. Sarnoff, MD

Senior Vice President for The Skin Cancer Foundation, skin cancer falls into two major categories, melanoma and nonmelanoma. The most common type of skin cancer is basal cell, which falls in the non-melanoma category. Basal cell is easily detected and almost always curable. It is also the slowest growing skin cancer, which gives people more time to get the spot cured. The other, less common kind of skin cancer is melanoma. Melanoma is a potentially aggressive, life threatening cancer if not treated right away. Sarnoff also stated that, alarmingly, those who begin tanning before age 35 increase their risk for skin cancer by almost 75%. I talked to a dermatologist specialist at the Dermatology Clinic of Iowa who did not want her name to be released, but said: “More adults come into our clinic because of tanning and skin damage than teenagers, but students are coming in now more than ever because tanning beds are becoming so popular.” I didn’t think this statement could get more accurate, tanning beds are a highly talked about subject among my friends. Being tan is a good thing, right? That may be true, looking tan now may matter, but what about 30 years

from now, will it still matter? Or will we be spending all of our money on wrinkle cream and sunscreen trying to reverse the damage that is already done. To help justify me sounding like a total hypocrite because yes, I have tanned in a tanning bed, I learned that going only sometimes for special occasions is not nearly as harmful as going regularly. From tanning I have noticed some white spots here and there from sun damage, and my freckles appear darker, and there are more of them on my body. As a result of my mom having skin cancer, she has to regularly see a dermatologist and is advised to completely stay out of the sun. Basal cell is highly unlikely to be life threatening but if it is not treated quickly, it can spread and the situation could get a lot worse. It is always advised for people who tan indoors to get checked out by a dermatologist every six months according to my mom’s dermatologist. “If I could go back in time knowing what I do now,” Wasson said, “I would not have tanned because of all the irreversible damage it caused to my skin.” Morgan Schwab

Arts and entertainment

The hottest trends Longboarding rises up in popularity

Sometimes confused as the forever-popular skateboard, a new board rolls along with the dreams of gaining popularity, the longboard. Evolving from surfboards in the 70’s, it was one of the main ways of transportation along the coasts of California. Made in a variety of shapes and sizes, they are sold along with skateboards in the shops; there are even sold in some shops in Cedar Rapids. They both look very similar, but don’t be confused; there are some key differences. As Landon Klophenstine, jr., puts it, “they are two very different things, long boarding is more for transportation and skateboarding is just more of for tricks.” It’s a good start for beginning boarders, because it

is easier to balance on. “I started longboarding when my neighbor showed me how to do it a couple years ago and then I got into it,” he said. Klophenstine predicts that it will become more popular here in Cedar Rapids since it’s big break in Iowa last spring. Since winter is around the corner, Klophenstine will start snowboarding again, as he does every year when it starts to snow and retire his longboard until summer returns. “It’s just fun to go out and board,” Klophenstine said enthusiastically. Emma Kieckhaefer Chill. Posing in front of Kennedy with his favorite accessory, Landon Klophenstine is an active longboarder. photo by Morgan Schwab

Movie Review: The Prisoners As I sat down for Prisoners, my expectations were high. Who wouldn’t be expecting some high quality with the entire good buzz that’s been circulating around this movie. To top it all off, Hugh Jackman is in it. So did it live up to its hype? It exceeded them. I got an incredible blend of suspense and a complex mystery that unfolded unpredictably. A good mystery is one that keeps you guessing until the last frame of the film, and that’s exactly what Prisoners does. There’s not one moment where your mind isn’t rushing to solve the mystery, and just when you think you’re close and know the conclusion, another curve ball is thrown and you’re left guessing once more. Another aspect that I was not expecting from this film was how it did not shy away from the brutal topics it faces. There’s

child abduction, torture, mental illness, and a crazy, disturbing plot twist that I guarantee nobody could see coming. I knew it wouldn’t be easy to watch, but this even pushes up to you questioning your morals. A good film makes you think, and this one will have you talking about it long after the credits. Prisoners is an incredibly dark thriller that stretches about two and a half hours but never feels long. You won’t want to get up to go to the bathroom. You won’t even want to get that refill of soda or popcorn because you’ll be glued to the screen, it’s that gripping. I can already see some of the Oscar nominations now. So be prepared, because when you sit down for Prisoners you’re in for quite the psychological thrill ride. Jason Grobstitch

pages by Hannah Bruns & Morgan Schwab

sports

Looking On. Drew Heitland sr. ( right) and Austin Holzer sr. (left) stand side by side at the football game against Prairie as they listen to advice from their coach. photo by Amy Brause

From sophomores to seniors

Two varsity players return to play their third and final season It is rare for a sophomore to be called up “I think only six sophomores before them to varsity, let alone two at the same time. got called up to varsity and actually startAustin Holzer and Drew Heitland did ex- ed. What a lot of people don’t see is their actly that two years ago, starting on the work ethic, they’re extremely nice kids off the field then they’re able to flip that offensive line for the Cougars. “There was a lot of pressure being a soph- switch.” Now they’re both seniors and have lead omore and being called up to varsity,” Holzer said. Holzer was third team all-state his Kennedy to a 3-1 start this year. Tonight sophomore year. “The whole team’s look- the Cougars will play against the Jefferson J-Hawks at Kingsing at you thinking you’re a sophomore. Once we got “Now that Austin and I are both ton Stadium at into the season there was seniors, it helps to be great 7:15. “It feels surreal no feeling of discontent.” leaders,” being a senior. It “The hardest part was -Drew Heitland, sr. feels like my sophjust learning the speed of omore year with the game,” Heitland said. “My favorite part was probably just play- the coaches yelling ‘seniors this is your year, this is all for you’ but now I’m that ing with my brother.” “We called them up during camp to see senior,” Holzer said. Kennedy hasn’t had a winning record afwhat they got, our freshmen coaches said a lot of good things about them,” Tim ter the first three weeks since 2008. “Seeing the team come together like this Lewis, head varsity football coach, said,

and we’re already 3-1. Now that Austin and I are both seniors it helps to be great leaders,” Heitland said. College is on the horizon for both of these players but they are both being recruited a little different. Holzer is of the Mormon faith and will go on a mission for two years after high school, where he won’t be able to play any football. “Me going on my mission for two years makes it a little more difficult for college recruiters to kind of reach out because they know you’re going to be gone for two years. In the end it will all work out,” Holzer said. For Heitland, making the switch from center to tight end has put his position for college at question. “Drew’s now kind of a tweener, he can play tight end or on the line,” Lewis said. “Personally I’d like to see him be reunited with his brother at Coe.” ETHAN DIVIS

Putting in the hours

sports

Students manage homework, school sports, and club sports Multi-sport student athletes have a lot going on. Students that participate in more than one sport could struggle to keep up with everything. The students have to know how to manage their time well so they have time to work on their studies. Nathan Waterhouse, sr., said that he can become very busy when keeping up with club soccer, cross-country, and getting good grades. On an average day for Waterhouse, he usually has cross-country after school and then goes to club soccer right after. “I don’t mess around a lot. I just get done what needs to be done,” Waterhouse said. Samantha Falck, so., is a very busy

person. She is competitive in gymnastics and is a part of the Kennedy Swimming and Diving Team. Falck spends a lot of her time in the pool or on the gym floor. She has diving practice almost every day and gymnastics up to four times a week. “I do homework when I have extra time in class so I don’t have to miss practice,” Falck said. Kennedy varsity football kicker, Mark Schulz, jr., is already busy enough with football, but he also participates in club soccer. Schulz gets up early for zero hour and, right after school ends, he is off to football, which lasts until 6 p.m. “Usually I

try to get as much homework done during school, then at night after football practice I do all the homework I don’t get done at school, because I don’t have much time after soccer,” Schulz said. Waterhouse, Falck, and Schulz all have busy schedules, but are able to keep up with their school work. ABBY DONOVAN

Quick Facts:

Name: Mark Schulz Grade: 11 Sports: School football and club soccer for CRSA. Positions: Kicker for football and forward for Soccer. Schedule: Wake up at 6:20 a.m. for 0 hour, football practice 3-6 p.m. and CRSA practice 8:30-10 p.m.

Name: Samantha Falck Grade: 10 Sports: Gymnastics and diving positions: 6 dives for swimming and compete in events for gymnastics Schedule: Diving on Mondays and Wednesdays from 3– 4:30 p.m. and Thursdays and Fridays from 6- 7 a.m., gymnastics on Mondays and Wednesdays from 4:30- 7:30 p.m., Thursdays from 5:30- 8:30 p.m., and Fridays 4:307:30 p.m.

Name: Nathan Waterhouse Grade: 12 Sports: Cross country and club soccer Positions: Varsity cross country and left defender/ mid-fielder for soccer Schedule: Cross country everyday after school plus Saturdays and Club soccer three times a week

photos by Emma Moss

PAGES BY MADDY CRIST & EMMA MOSS

John F. Kennedy High School 4545 Wenig Rd. NE Cedar Rapids, IA 52402

“The torch has been passed to a new generation.” - John F. Kennedy www.twitter.com/KennedyTorch www.facebook.com/KennedyTorch