Kennedy Torch, September 2012

When the apple falls away from the tree An in-depth look at the effects of adoption on the family trees of three Kennedy community members

page 15

the torch John F. Kennedy High School

Volume 46, Issue 1

September 21, 2012

CONTENTS Editorial 04

Meet the Torch staff

News 07 Photo provided by Steven Tolly

Eighth-graders at Kennedy

Profile 08 10

Foreign exchange students High school sweethearts get married

Photo 12

Pinterest vs. reality

14

Happy Homecomings

Feature 15 Photo by Hanna Krivit

Apples to apples

Arts & Entertainment 19

Sailing the seas of piracy

Health 22

Start TRI-ing

Sports 24 26 Photo by Mary Mathis

the

torch John F. Kennedy High School 4545 Wenig Rd. NE Cedar Rapids, IA 52402 Volume 46, Issue 1

Student section takes shape Cougars at state

Cover by Tara Mittelberg

mission The Torch staff and adviser are committed to producing a top quality student newspaper applying high standards of writing, editing, and production. The Torch seeks to fairly serve the Kennedy High School faculty, students, and staff, showing no favoritism to decisions about content are the responsibility of the individual editors and the Editorial Board.

Letter from the editor Entering my freshman year of high school, I was sick and tired of always living in the shadow of my older sister.

So I was compelled to take a different path in my high school career and ended up on the front door step of the Torch. Three years ago I would have never guessed that I would one day be taking over this nationally recognized news magazine.

First of all, I would like to thank our previous editorsin-chief, Rachel Gilman and Riley Galbraith as well as our adviser, Stacy Haynes-Moore, for their hard work, dedication, and leadership which as lead the Torch to be named a 2012 NSPA Pacemaker finalist. The Pacemaker is awarded to a select few publications across the nation which demonstrate overall excellence in writing, design, and photography.

Last year the Torch took on quite a few major changes and I am pleased to report that these changes will continue throughout the 2012-2013 school year. As you can see, we have chosen to continue with the newsmagazine design, which will be published nine times this year instead of six. Our website, Twitter, and Facebook pages are updated daily with important news pertaining to students and members of the community. And our newest member to our social media team is our Intsagram: kennedytorch.

This year will be an exciting year for the Torch. Our staff is continuously working to improve all aspects of our magazine and we hope that our readers enjoy these changes.

Staff editorial: government-regulated lunches limit options for teenagers With First Lady Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move!” campaign now in motion, cafeterias across the nation have been experiencing major changes in their lunch menus. Here at Kennedy, the portion sizes have shrunk, desserts hardly make an appearance, and mini cups of fruit overflow from the trash cans because students take them to avoid a $1.90 extra charge for their meal.

This campaign may be helpful to the elementary and middle schools

so they are encouraged to try new healthy foods. But we believe that high school students are perfectly capable of choosing what they want to eat on their own.

The most concerning trend with the new federal law change is the amount of uneaten fruit filling the garbage cans in all corners of the cafeteria.

The cafeteria staff has to prepare 400 extra servings of fruit per day just to be wasted seconds later after

students purchase their meal.

We appreciate all members of the cafeteria staff who have worked hard in order to follow this new federal law. Change is oftentimes hard to deal with, but we are required to follow this new menu plan even though it seems ineffective here. We appreciate the cafeteria staff and their effort to make the transition a smooth one.

Welcome to TorchMingle.com

Sam Nordstrom sr.

Occupation: A&E editor Body type: Large Interested in meeting: Strong mean women

Amy Brause jr.

Occupation: News editor Dislikes: Norm Althoff Interested in meeting:

Someone who wants to out number the Duggers

Tara Mittelberg sr.

Occupation: Feature editor Body type: I work out Looking for in partner:

Short, dark, and smart

Zack Goodall sr.

Occupation: Copy editor Body type: Bulldozer Likes: Ponies

Annie Feltes jr.

Occupation: Sports editor Body type: bootilicious Last serious relationship:

“I’m carrying Justin Biebers child.”

Norm Althoff jr.

Occupation: Sports editor Religion: Praise the Lord!

Mary Mathis jr.

Occupation: Photo editor Likes: Gingers Last serious relationship: Hair color: Wish it was Amy Brause ginger

Trevor Melsha sr.

Occupation: Podcast

Bailey Zaputil jr.

Occupation: Profile editor Looking for in a partner: Dislikes: Humanity Necessary vital organs Likes: Her little brother Last serious relationship: Tommy. “Happy 11th “My dog.” birthday bro!”

Graphic and pages by Darcey Altschwager

Emma Moss so.

Occupation: Writer Height: Tall enough Last serious relationship:

Justin timberlake

Isabel Neff jr.

Occupation: Online editor Hair color: Wheat brown

Occup Educa Last serious relationship: Relig

“I had a fish for over a year...he died.”

Jordan Lunsford jr.

Occupation: Podcast and graphic designer Likes: Mary Dislikes: Mary

Ethan Divis jr.

Occupation: Online editor Height: 6’

Alli Nemecek jr.

Occupation: News editor Dislikes: Anything with a face

Terin Kane so.

Occupation: Writer Likes: Chuck Norris Dislikes: Squash

Idea of a perfect date:

Our wedding

M

S

Occup

editor

Last serious relationship: Body

“Whats a relationship?”

charg

Likes

Occup Heigh Last s

Your s

Find Torch’s perfect match for you!

Michael Abramson so. editor Occupation: A&E editor own Education: Self taught nship: Religion: Atheist a

Spencer Grekoff sr. editor Occupation: Buisness editor nship: Body type: LARGE and in p?” charge Likes: stealing signs

Chuck Baxter sr.

Occupation: Copy editor Height: Too tall

Jason Grobstich

so.

Occupation: Writer Likes: Jennifer Lawrence Idea of a perfect date:

With Jennifer Lawrence

Grace King sr.

Occupation: Health editor Religion: Jesus freak Idea of the perfect date:

September 13

Hannah Bruns so.

Occupation: Writer Education: P.H.D in Last serious relationship: excesive freckles Your sister Religion: Belieber

Hanna Krivit jr.

Occupation: Photo editor Body type: Awkward Religon: Half Jew, half Christian...come at me

Mohammad Cheetany sr.

Occupation: Managing editor Education: Hogwarts

Darcey Altschwager sr.

Occupation: Editor-inchief Religion: Polygamy

Last serious relationship:

Looking for in a partner:

Madden 12

“Shawty wif da jew fro”

Steph Mercer jr.

Occupation: Profile Editor Likes: Muscles and pineapple

David Hynek sr.

Occupation: Podcast Dislikes: Being kidnapped

Sydney Oberfell so.

Occupation: Writer Education: Eighth grade

Last serious relationship:

Looking for in a partner:

Idea of a perfect date:

Canoeing in a hurricane

“He’s in jail now...”

“I’m perfect, so someone just like me.”

Lydia Martin so.

Occupation: writer Education: I hate school

Rachel Langholz sr.

Occupation: Health editor Religion: Tom Cruise

Summer Thompson jr.

Occupation: Writer Dislikes: Cucumbers

Interested in meeting:

“I hate people.”

Looking for in a partner:

T-Pain

Education:

Grade A genius

Photos by Hanna Krivit Cat provided by Tanner Boyle

News

Briefly

Brief stories of the latest news going on around Kennedy and Cedar Rapids.

New Political Party clubs at Kennedy: Mr. Evans is sponsering a Young Republicans club as well as a Young Democrats club.

Both clubs will meet weekly, Young Republicans on Tuesdays and Young Democrats on Thursdays.

Motivational Speaker Coming to Kennedy: On Thursday, September 27th, Lisa Nichols will be at Kennedy from 8-10 a.m. for her “Motivating the Teen Spirit” workshop. This will be presented to all freshman.

Torch Nominated for National Award: The Torch has been nominated as a finalist for the National Pacemaker Award.

Homecoming: The deadline to have a form in to be in the homecoming parade is September 24th by 2p.m. Forms are available in room 164.

Free Vaccines due to Pertussis Outbreak: Linn County Public Health is offering free vaccines to students above 10 years of age to prevent an increase of Whooping Cough, also known as pertussis, within the school system.

Kennedy Alum Speaks at DNC: Andrea Nemecek, class of 2010, spoke during Iowa’s roll call at the Democratic National Convention. Nemecek said, “I had a fantastic week at the Democratic National Convention. All of the energy at the convention was amazing and absolutely contagious. Now, I’m more fired up than ever before to help re-elect President Obama.”

6

Lining up. Students grab food as they go through the lunch line. The government made new policies for school lunches that were put into action this year.

Photo by Amy Brause

New government policy changes school lunches Students at Kennedy High School are adjusting to the new guidelines the government made for public school lunches. The guidelines are part of the Healthy, Hunger Free Kids Act which plays a role in the First Lady Michelle Obama’s “Lets Move!” campaign. The new guidelines went into effect on July 1, 2012.

“I think its good, because kids need to healthier diet, so they don’t become obese at a young age,” Rylee Steinke, so., said.

USDA guidelines include having fruits and vegetables available every day, only fat-free and low-fat milk, limiting calorie intake depending on the age of the student, and reducing amounts of saturated fats, trans fat and sodium.

Dr. Mary Wilcynski, principle of Kennedy High School, believes it is beneficial to a student to take a vegetable or fruit. In the main line, a meal costs $2.10 when purchased with a fruit or vegetable. However, if a student does not choose to take a fruit or vegetable, the meal is considered ala carte and costs $4.

The kitchen staff prepares more fruits and vegetables, now, than they have in previous years. “We went from having to make around 1,000 half-cup servings to around 1,400 servings a day,” Andi Kuli, school cafeteria worker, said.

“With changes comes frustration,” said Kuli, “ People don’t like change, I think you guys are old enough to make you’re own decisions on what you eat.”

Austen Winders, jr., does not like the new lunches. “They are taking down portion sizes and they are changing all of the lunches. There aren’t enough calories for people who work out a lot.” Winders said.

“I think we are transitioning nicely, when I came here around 15 years ago, the choices weren’t as healthy, but now it seems like the kids want to eat healthy,” Wilcynski said. “ I think we have the finest lunch staff around and the most wonderful students, and they should understand that its federal law and we just have to follow it.”

Emma Moss

News

Eighth-graders at Kennedy

Middle school students seek academic advantage by coming to high school for math, science and world language

Back from the big leagues. Eighth-graders in the Expanded Opportunities Program board the bus to go back to their middle school. They come to Kennedy for either two or three classes each day.

Photo by Amy Brause As of this year 55 eighthgrade students have joined the Kennedy population as part of the Expanded Opportunities Program to give students a head start on their high school classes. Twenty-four students are coming from Harding Middle School, 18 from Franklin, seven from Roosevelt, and six from Taft.

The students have the option to take either two or three classes while at Kennedy. They are given the options of a math, a science and a world language. This program has also been put into place at Washington and Jefferson High Schools. The students are placed in the high school that they will be attending in the coming year. Students became eligible by earning an average

national percentile rank of 90 or above on the Iowa Test of Basic Skills math and reading sections.

Ryan Moleski and Lydia Luton, eighth-graders at Franklin, enjoy coming to Kennedy every day because it gives them double credit for middle school and high school courses. They are both taking all three of the classes that are offered.

“They’re [the classes] more challenging but they aren’t hard,” Luton said. They said that one of the main differences between Franklin and Kennedy is that you have to push your way through the hall while at Kennedy.

“I think it’s good for them [the eighth-graders]; they’re going to get a new perspective on education and they are

challenging themselves,” Sheila Buschette, jr., said.

“I think it’s good for them; they’re going to get a new perspective on education,” -Sheila Buschette Schools outside of the Cedar Rapids district have offered their students the opportunity to learn a foreign language in middle school for many years.

“It was something that the Cedar Rapids Community School District wasn’t providing to students. I think ultimately what we were trying to do here is not only bring more people from the outside in, but also expand opportunities for the current residents of this dis-

trict so that their eighth-grade students could have the same amount of opportunities as maybe a Linn-Mar student would have,” Rachel Collins, Kennedy counselor, said.

One of the challenges with this has been overcrowding of classes. Because the 55 students are only at the high school for a few hours out of the day, they are technically still part of the middle school,.

Therefore, even though there are 55 extra students, the school cannot hire a new teacher to make up for this. The students are still part of the middle school, which means that the middle schools get the funding for the students. This makes it difficult for the counselors because the eighth graders fill up class spaces.

“When we are working with student’s schedules and we have no classes to offer them, and our first three hours are full because we have fifty-five more bodies, it can be kind of a scheduling nightmare,” Collins said.

“It’s been interesting and it will continue to be interesting,” Collins said. “We still don’t know how this will work out. Even ninth graders sometimes struggle with how different high school is from middle school, and we have yet to come across what will happen when an eighth-grader can’t handle the work. So there are just some things we are just waiting to see, we also don’t want them to fall apart.”

Amy Brause

Pages By Amy Brause & Alli Nemecek

7

FOREIGN EXCHANGE STUDENTS R U H ART

A K A Y A S

Arthur Piret, sr., comes from a small town in Belgium. While there are no sports at his school, Piret has already gotten involved in cross country here. He also has interests in theatre and music. Piret’s favorite foods here are steak and Mexican food. Even though understanding Enlgish is difficult for Piret, he is comfortable with speaking it. Overall, Piret really likes the people and Kennedy.

One of the bigger culture changes Sayaka Hirayama, 17, noticed from Japan to America was the school system. “School [here] is freer; in Japan we had more rules,” she said. In Japan they have school uniforms, girls can’t wear their hair down, and no accessories. In regards to fashion, Sayaka noticed that the clothes in America are very bright and more colorful than in Japan. She is looking forward to being in the Japanese Club here and teaching students about Japanese culture.

A Y I SE

Seiya Matsudo’s, 17, favorite part about American culture so far is the food. Some of his favorites include hamburgers and pizza. He also likes how sweet certain foods are but claims, “some snacks are just too sweet.” Seiya also noticed that people in America are more loud and friendly than those in Japan. In Japan, Seiya was involved with baseball and band. He wanted to play baseball, but because it’s out of season, he is looking forward to football.

8

JUDITH One of Judith Rubatschar’s, 17, favorite parts about Kennedy is that there are a lot of different school activities. “In Italy, there are no activities outside of school,” she said.

Judith is a member of the marching band playing the keyboard, and plans to play the piano for show choir. Judith also loves the people in America. “People here encourage you to be crazy and spontaneous. Europeans are much more closed off,” she said.

SUZUKA

Suzuka Onishi, jr., is here from Japan.

Upon her arrival, Onishi says understanding English was difficult at first, but she’s improving. Kennedy’s size is huge compared to her old school, but here she doesn’t have to wear uniforms. Onishi really enjoys her Japanese class and helping other students with the language, and also has interest in yoga club. Onishi noted that one major change in America is our history, which differs greatly from Japan’s.

Though she’s only been here for a few weeks, Onishi really likes it here.

LENA NELLI

Lena Kampen, jr., from Germany comes here from a town “smaller than this school.” Kampen has many plans for getting involved at Kennedy, including joining the swim team, the yearbook, and student government. At Kampen’s school, there are no sports or clubs. Even though the first week was difficult for Kampen, she loves this different life and enjoys meeting the new people here.

Nelli Makela, jr., is from Finland. Makela comes from a small school with about 400 students. Makela is interested in getting involved with some sort of art, showing an interest in drawing. Listening to and speaking English here is easy, but Makela says reading is the most difficult thing. Makela loves her host family, which is a major reason why she came. Makela’s sister, Elise, had the same host family here a year ago, and she’s excited to be here.

Stories by Isabel Neff and Jason Grobstich Photos by Bailey Zaputil and Steph Mercer

Pages By Steph Mercer & Bailey Zaputil 9

News

High school sweethearts get married

Commitments made and vows exchanged over summer Last summer, while most students were listening to the school bells signifying the end of the year, one Kennedy student was listening to the sound of her wedding bells.

Now a senior, Carley Koch (Robinson), 17, and Zachary Koch, 19, were married on June 1.

The small, family only ceremony took place in Pensacola, Florida.

Carley described her beach wedding with white sand and blue waters. They both experienced the ‘pre-wedding jitters’, but both were excited. “I was so happy!” Carley said. She said that her family was sad seeing her given away, but they were also happy for her and the life she has ahead of her.

As was Zachary’s family. “My family was very supportive, because they all loved Carley and thought I made the right choice because there are so many good qualities she has, and [my] friends were supportive,” he said.

The couple had decided to tell only a close few. They didn’t want any negative energy or drama, because they knew that people would have their own opinions on their decision. “I know what I want, he knows what he wants, and our families were supportive so I just figured, why do I need other people to be negative towards me?” Carley said.

They broke the news over Facebook Mr. and Mrs. Carley and Zachary Koch were married on by posting pictures of their wedJune 1 in Pensacola, FL. The 17 and 19 year old had been ding. together for about a year and a half.

Photo provided by Jessica Harris. Carley said that she faced criticism about her decision, for being so young. She tries to explain to people how Zachary is in the military, and how they want to live together before she is 18, which the military requires them to be married. “We’re just thinking of our future together.

I shouldn’t have to defend myself,

people should be like ‘oh, congratulations,’ but unfortunately, there a lot of people that are really judgmental.”

For the engagement, Zachary had asked Carley’s parents for permission. “He talked to his parents about it, because we’re so young— you kind of have to talk about it,” she said. Zachary proposed to her during a respite from boot camp in February, and she accepted. “We knew we wanted to [get married], because we had such a strong connection with each other, and we got along so well.” They had been together for about a year and a half.

The main difference in the relationship status of marriage and just dating, Zachary said, is: “In a marriage you must be able to communicate and work well as a team, because now your choices don’t just effect your future, but yours and your significant others’.”

Carley is graduating from Kennedy in November, and enrolling in the Certified Nursing Assistant program at Kirkwood. Zachary, who is in the Marine Corps. is currently schooling at Camp Pendleton in California, where he is training for the Tiltrotor Airframe Mechanics.

After Carley’s training at Kirkwood they will move to base in February.

Once moved in, Carley plans to enroll at community college to continue her training.

And lastly, the pregnancy that isn’t. “I want to add this,” Carley laughed. “A lot of people came up and asked me if I was pregnant after I got married, and I think it was just so funny that so many people asked me, ‘oh, are you pregnant and stuff?’ And no. We did this out of love.”

bailey zaputil

“I was so happy!”

Carley Koch

10 Page By Steph Mercer & Bailey Zaputil

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Photography

Pinterest Torch tests out some Pinterest ideas to see if they actually work.

VS

Right top: Cutie cakes. Using a cupcake, frost it by making lines to make it look like hair. Next, take half of an Oreo and put Junior Mints on them as eyes.

Lastly, use Reese’s Pieces for the nose to make an owl.

Left top: Marbleized. To marbleize your nails you put drops of nail polish, make it look like a bullseye, in a cup of water.

Make a design with a tooth pick, tape around your nail and insert your nail in the design.

Right middle: One for wallet.

Fold the TOMS flag into thirds leaving 3/4s of an inch of blue on the top. Draw a verticle line,with a pencil, right before the “T” and after the “S.” Cut one the lines.

Use one of the cut off pieces to make where the car goes. You might have to do some trimming. Sew around the egdes of the wallet to make it stay together.

Left bottom: Let’s get fringy.

With a black tank top, cut off the bottom and fringe. Then soak in bleach, keep your eye on the tank until it looks like the orange-ish color.

Right bottom: Colored tunes.

Using your headphones as a base, make a knot with friendship string at an end. You need to make a four by having the cord as the long side. After making the four pull the string under the cord and pull up. Repeat.

Photos provided by Pinterest

12

VS

Reality

Photography

Photo by Mary Mathis

Photo by Mary Mathis

Be diverse with your cupcakes!

Different colored frosting = different colored owles!

Make sure you remember to tape around your nail!

Photo by Hanna Krivit

Photo by Hanna Krivit

Bleach farther up on the shirt so not only the fringe is bleached!

Instagram Photo of the Month: User:

@jaayyy4

Jadyn Gilson jr.

“DIY shorts :)�

Photo by Hanna Krivit

Gilson made a pair of shorts with some studs and bleach.

Want to be the Instagram photo of the month? Use the hashtag #torchphoto.

Pages By Hanna Krivit 13

Photography

happy homecomings Kennedy students creatively ask others to the Homecoming dance.

Photo provided by Heather McKinnon Above: Heather McKinnon sr., arrived home to find two softballs from her Homecoming date, Austin Trotter, sr.

Left: Derek Jacobus, jr., surprised MacKenzie Crist,sr., with a large banner when she arrived home.

Below: While Hannah Gross, jr., was dancing during a football game Garrett Carlson, jr., held up signs.

Photo by Hanna Krivit

Photo by Hanna Krivit

Photo by Hanna Krivit

Photo provided by Carolyn Stone

Photo by Hanna Krivit

Photo provided by Maddie Gordon

14 Page By Hanna Krivit

Top left: Connor Gradoville, sr., asked Nichole Nunemaker, sr., during half-time of the Kennedy-Prairie football game.

Above Right: As Carolyn Stone, jr., finished her cross country race, David Pauls, jr., had a banner to ask her to the dance.

Above Middle: On Christine Hamilton’s, jr., birthday, Reid Botkn, jr., put a present in her car. It was multiple boxes asking her to the dance.

Left: Kyle Brewer, so., spray-painted his garage to ask Maddie Gordon, so.

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Stone

apples to apples There are 1.5 million adopted children living in the United States.

In this issue, the Torch compares the families of three Kennedy community members, examining the impact of adoption in their day-to-day lives.

15

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nnedy teach Family. Steven Tolly, Ke adopted son, James.

Most teachers will have countless students over their career. Some students will make an impact, many will go unremembered, but for one Kennedy teacher’s family, “just another kid” became a son.

One day Tara Tolly, wife of Steven Tolly, Kennedy language arts teacher, learned that one of her elementary students did not have a permanent home. James, age six at the time, was living at Four Oaks children’s center. He had been in foster care for three years.

Steven and Tara decided they wanted to do something. They discussed adopting a child in the past. It seemed that the timing was right.

“He was just another kid in her class and one day we found out he didn’t have a home,” Steven Tolly said. “When something smacks you in the face, you take advantage of it or you let it go.”

For several months, James spent weekends at the Tolly’s home until they were ready to move forward with the adoption process. “It got harder and harder to take him back every weekend and return him to the group home,” Steven Tolly said.

After a few months, they told James he would be living with their family for good. Steven Tolly said the adoption process was surprisingly timely because it was occurring in-state and they were not on a waiting list for adopting an infant.

Although James was ecstatic to learn he would be moving in with a permanent family, there were several difficult years following the adoption. “[James] struggled a lot with the social cues and understanding that we were his family and we weren’t going anywhere,” Steven Tolly said. “He tested us to no ends. He tried to push us away. He tried to make sure he didn’t like us – he didn’t want to fall in love with us if we weren’t going to keep him.”

16 graphics by Tara Mittelberg

Special Day. Six-year-old Ar Carter, jr., (left) has her adop official by a judge.

Photo Provided by A

After about two years, however, things began to get better.

Steven Tolly said that the past three years have been virtually problem-free. “You wouldn’t know to this day that he ever struggled with the things he struggled with,” Steven Tolly said. Today, James is 12 years old and a student at Prairie Point Middle School.

Although Tolly and his wife weren’t always planning to adopt, “We knew we could give it our best shot and hopefully in the end he turns out to be a good guy.”

former foster child “I remember sometimes I would pray that someone would adopt me.” These were the thoughts of Aria Polglaze-Carter, jr., after was placed in foster care when she was three years old.

Over the next three years she lived with a total of five different families and attended three different elementary schools. “I would celebrate my birthday with different people every year,” she said.

Although some foster parents were kind, many were hostile towards Polglaze-Carter and her foster siblings. “They didn’t really want them there, they just knew that they were getting paid to care for the kids for a certain amount of time,” Polglaze-Carter said.

For two years, she stayed with a Baptist family in Middle Amana. This family had traditional morals, which they instilled in their foster children. “We had to act a certain way and we had to say yes ma’am or yes sir and the girls had to wear dresses. I didn’t wear pants until I was seven,” PolglazeCarter said. After her guradieans were discovered using physical forms of punishment, Polglaze-Carter was placed with yet another foster family.

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lifelong wish: adoption. After staying with Pam and Barbara Polglaze-Carter for several months, they officially adopted her. She has one adopted sibling, Susan, who is twenty years old. “I’m bi-racial and then my parents are white and my sister is white and my parents are gay so it’s just really different compared to a lot of families,” Polglaze-Carter said.

She still occasionally contacts her biological mother and two sisters. Polglaze-Carter doesn’t seen her biological father; he was jailed for much of her childhood.

Despite early hardships, Polglaze-Carter likes that she’s adopted. “I wouldn’t change anything about it because I have a really good life now and I know that it wouldn’t be as good if I hadn’t been adopted.”

sister Madeline Craig, sr., wasn’t adopted. In fact, she was born to her biological parents in St. Luke’s Hospital. Her older siblings, however, come from a much different background.

Madeline’s parents, Jim and Debbie Craig, adopted her siblings Elise and Ethan Craig – both Kennedy graduates – when they were infants. To Madeline, her brother and sister are like any other siblings. “I know them like they’re my brother and sister. It’s not like, ‘Oh! They’re adopted,’” Madeline said.

Madeline’s parents adopted Elise, now 23, when she was around eight months old. According the orphanage nurses, she was found on the doorstep of a police station. At the time, she was malnourished and doctors speculated she would have mental disabilities. Craig’s parents adopted Elise for precisely this reason.

“My parents, especially my mom, wanted to make a difference in someone’s life,” Madeline said. “If [Elise] were in Korea she would be out in a rice field. She wouldn’t be able to get a good enough education to get a good job.”

Like Elise, Ethan, now 21, was adopted when he was eight months old. He was born with a severe cleft palette, and Madeline’s parents wanted him to have the opportunity to receive adequate medical attention. He arrived on Aug. 30, 1991 and had his first surgery the next month. After undergoing five major surgeries over the course of more than ten years, Ethan’s cleft palette was completely repaired.

For the Craigs, the international adoption process was complex and lengthy. “The process takes more time than you would think because of the mailing time back and forth to Korea,” Debbie Craig said.

However, it was worth the wait. “It is so exciting to see them for the first time and hold them,” Debbie said. “Once you get your arms around them, you feel like they are your child and you never want to let go.”

Today, Elise and Ethan have moved onto a higher education.

Elise holds a culinary degree from Kirkwood Community College and is a head cake decorator for the Hy-Vee bakery.

Ethan is studying biomedical engineering at Georgia Tech University. Someday he hopes to participate in Doctors Without Borders. “If I could ever contact [my parents], I would like to thank them for having the courage to give me up for adoption,” Ethan said. “I can only imagine how difficult it could be to give up your own child. I would want them to know that they made the right decision and that things worked out for the best.”

Living with adopted siblings has made Madeline feel more knowledgeable about diversity. “Most people don’t know much about their society or how it feels to live with someone who’s different,” she said. However, in the end she sees Elise and Ethan as she would any other sibling. “They’re my brother and sister. I love them no matter what.”

Tara Mittelberg

Pages By tara mittelberg 17

Arts & entertainment

Artist of the month: Father John Misty The facts: Artist: Father John Misty Genre: Indie rock Hometown:Baltimore, MD Members: Josh Tillman Hit Songs: “Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings” “Nancy From Now On” “Fun Times In Babylon” “I’m Writing a Novel” “Well,You Can Do It Without Me” “Only Son of the Ladiesman”

Upcoming Concerts Artist: Ingrid Michaelson Venue: The Englert Theatre Location & Time: Iowa City, IA, Saturday, Oct. 6, 8p.m.

Artists: Say Anything, Murder By Death, and The Sidekicks Venue: Wooly’s Location & Time: Des Moines, IA, Wednesday, Oct. 10, 7p.m.

Artist: Norah Jones Venue: Civic Center Location & Time: Des Moines, IA, Thursday, Oct. 11, 8p.m.

Artists: Hopsin, Dizzy Wright, Swizzz, and DJ Hoppa Venue: Blue Moose Tap House Location & Time: Iowa City, IA, Friday, Oct. 12, 7p.m.

Album cover of Father John Misty’s debut album, “Fear Fun”

Although the music of Josh Tillman have been in the works for years, his work as Father John Misty has given him a revamped style and is putting a fresh take on an already new sound.

Josh Tillman, a former member of indie band, Fleet Foxes, has recently made noise with his new solo project under the name of Father John Misty. Originally, Tillman had released albums under the name “J. Tillman” but until his last album “Fear Fun,” which was released on May 1 earlier this year, Tillman decided to use the name Father John Misty.

As the artist Father John Misty, Tillman uses a revamped indie folk sound that has been prominent in the indie folk world recently. One of the many features of Father John Misty, is the use of very little experimental instrumentals and are focused on mainly guitar and drums as their main way of instrumentals rather than experimenting with electro sounds that many indie bands are currently experimenting with.

Father John Misty also uses a lot

of lyricism that is either incredibly random or deep. Most of his lyrics pertain to previous relationships and current problems with relationships.

Father John Misty’s lyrics may have a bit of diversity, he still uses a sound that generally sounds aged.

Father John Misty released an album earlier this year, “Fear Fun,” which includes his single “Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings.”

“Fear Fun” critically got good review and is among one of the largest accomplishments of Tillmans’ career.

Currently Father John Misty is on tour in the United States and has stops in Chicago and Minneapolis in late October. Once Father John Misty finishes up his United States tour he’ll be on his way to his world tour.

Father John Misty is an upcoming prominent artist who has reverted to an original sound and recieved a good critical response out of his sound. Father John Misty has no upcoming projects as of now, but he is a prominently growing artist in the indie rock genre.

Mohammad Cheetany

18 Page by mohammad cheetany

Artists: Rockie Fresh and Mark Battles Venue: Blue Moose Tap House Location & Time: Iowa City, IA, Saturday, Oct. 13, 7p.m.

Artist: Yelawolf Venue: Blue Moose Tap House Location & Time: Iowa City, IA, Saturday, Oct. 20, 7p.m.

Artist: Wiz Khalifa Venue: Jacobson Center Location & Time: Des Moines, IA, Saturday, Oct. 27, 6p.m.

Artist: Journey Venue: Tyson Events Center/ Gateway Arena Location & Time: Sioux City, IA, Wednesday, Nov. 14, 7p.m.

Artists: Sleigh Bells and AraabMuzik Venue: Wooly’s Location & Time: Des Moines, IA, Saturday, Nov. 27, 8p.m.

Artists: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Venue: Blue Moose Tap House Location & Time: Iowa City, IA, Sunday, Dec. 2, 7p.m.

Artist: Carrie Underwood Venue: Wells Fargo Arena Location & Time: Des Moines, IA, Friday, Dec. 14, 7p.m.

Arts & entertainment

Sailing the seas of piracy

Students use piracy to illegally obtain media

Cyber-pirate in action. Student visits now shutdown media piracy website, MegaUpload. Most piracy websites are falling to same fate and are being shut down by the government.

Photo by Sam Nordstrom “Warning: All rights reserved. Unauthorized duplication, reproduction, hiring, lending, public performance, transmitting and/or broadcasting is prohibited and a violation of applicable laws.” There’s a good chance that you’ll find something like this somewhere on the CDs you’ve purchased, or in the Terms of Service of an online media store. It’s written there, but some people have decided to ignore it.

Over the past ten years, the internet has seen enormous growth as a communication medium, an entertainment device and data storage system. With all of this progress came online piracy, the illegal distribution of stolen works over the internet.

The main reason that piracy is seen as a problem is that when stolen works are distributed online, the creator loses the profit that they would have received if the works were distributed legitimately. The two largest opponents of piracy are the Motion Picture Association of America and the Recording Industry Association of

America. These two associations are trade organizations for the movie and music industries, respectively, and they are the two groups in charge of all financial aspects in their fields. This means that when artists or production companies lose money, they try to sort out the issues.

“It made me realize that, when you pirate, you’re morally wrong and that you’re taking from someone else.”

- Bryce Miller, so.

This is the case with multiple multimillion dollar lawsuits that have recently been issued against major file sharing websites such as Mega Upload, The Pirate Bay, and UseNet, for pirating intellectual property.

The amount of content shared through illegal means creates an estimated $12.5 billion yearly economic loss.

This loss has caused many companies to start cracking down on piracy with stricter

policies and increased security. “Mediacom sent me a letter saying that I need to stop downloading illegally,” Bryce Miller, so., said. Miller has downloaded music and games from The Pirate Bay and Bit torrent, but since receiving the letter has decided that it wasn’t worth the trouble. “It made me realize that, when you pirate, you’re morally wrong and that you’re taking from someone else,” Miller said.

However, with every argument against pirating, there is one for it. Many websites and internet users have shown full support for pirating and file sharing, under the claim that obstructing the act would be violating their internet freedoms. Another widely used argument is the claim that piracy actually boosts legitimate sales through exposing more content to people who normally wouldn’t have money to purchase it, which leads to word-of-mouth reviews to peers, who could buy the content legitimately.

Zack Goodall

Page By Sam nordstrom and mohammad cheetany 19

Arts & entertainment

Really raunchy reading:

A “Fifty Shades of Grey” review

Summary

“Fifty Shades of Grey,” a heated romance starring characters Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele, is a novel in which the couple battles differences and eventual acceptance. Anastasia, a college graduate, is persuaded into doing a favor for a friend which causes her to cross paths with a rich and glamorous business owner. Christian Grey, a working man with a sketchy past, is put into a world with a girl different than those whom were prior to her. The two are brought together by their awkwardness of being placed into situations they are uncomfortable with, but both secretly crave. The two are drawn together naturally, but struggle in their partnership between their needs and wants.

Written by author E. L. James, the novel portrays many erotic and sexually explicit scenes, some in which are too graphic for those under the age of 17. The book is meant to attract mainly females of different ages, and tries to connect to one’s senses. E. L. James brings together relationships and sex, and takes it to a whole new level.

Review

Whips and chains made this book flip from a romance, to a full on porn with words. Although strikingly entertaining, the novel is strictly for those who are mature enough to handle the not so PG-13 scenes.

Disregarding the inappropriate text, “Fifty Shades of Grey” happened to be a novel containing a very small and unsatisfying plot. It lacked at keeping this reader on her toes and her head in mystery. Although overfilled with lustrous scenes that kept readers like myself interested enough to keep going, it doesn’t have major turns and excitement that authors such as Sandra Brown and Stephanie Laurens have captured in their romances.

However, being new in the publishing industry, E. L. James does a fairly nice job creating a new format in which a reader can not only read, but inevitably place themselves in the characters’ shoes.

Rating: 2 ½ stars

Steph Mercer

graphic By Mohammad Cheetany

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Health

Start TRI-ing

Just keep swim-run-biking. Chandler Heisler, sr., practices swimming for the triathlon.

Photo by Darcey Altschwager

W a g n e r sure to carb-load before the enough to step in at the last then finished with the 10k race. “I tried to stay away from minute. “It was his first tri. It run.

“I didn’t run at top speed coffee. I had two pasta suppers was great,” Lindo said. because I didn’t want to.

Every before race day. I didn’t eat that Once Lindo started traintime I race, I have to have fun,” much that morning except for ing for her third triathlon, she she said. a little protein bar,” she said. was addicted. “Once you start, Wagner said that the triathChandler Heisler, sr., particiyou begin to crave it,” she said. lon was filled with encouraging pated in the Pigman Triathlon Lindo has raced in a triathracers.

She also contributed to in June this year. “I’ve done lon both by herself and with a the encouraging spirit by tellthree or four.”

Heisler’s triathteam. When racing by herself ing other runners “good job” as lon was a sprint triathlon with she wasn’t as fast as when she they ran along side her. a 500 meter swim, a 15.5 mile was racing with a team. “EveryW a g one should do it,” she said.

“I didn’t run at top speed be- b i k e ner hasn’t ride, A swimmer in college, Lindo cause I didn’t want to. Every a l w a y s and a always loved to be in the water. time I race, I have to have fun.” e n j o y e d three “I’m not a fan of lake swimr u n n i n g . m i l e -Jennifer Wagner ming, but “ W h e n run.

Graphic decided by Tara I Mittelberg running the mile in high school Heisler began training in had to get I would make myself sick with March.

“I just kind of do my over the lake s w i m m i n g worry,” she said. In order to own thing. Swimming I can thing,” she overcome her fear, Wagner kind of do myself because I said. Lindo went out for cross-country her know more about that,” Heisler swam the junior and senior year of high said. For him, running was the first leg of school. She began running hardest part of the race “bethe Olym- again in May of 2011, and has cause it’s at the end.”

“I’m just trying to push mypic triath- since then ran five races. “Just have fun, and prepare yourself, so I’m focused on doing lon with self,” she said. that,” Heisler said.

Wendler

Grace King In order to prepare for the picking triathlon, Wagner tried to stay Race to the finish. Left to right: Cheryl Lindo, Jacob up the 25 bike. hydrated by drinking plenty of Wendler, Jennifer Wagner meet up at the end of their mile water and Gatorade, and made race.

Photo provided by Jennifer Wagner Cheryl Lindo, language arts teacher, and Jennifer Wagner, special education teacher, found themselves participating in the Hy-Vee Olympic Relay Triathlon in Des Moines on Saturday, September 1.

An Olympic triathlon consists of a 0.9 mile swim, a 25 mile bike, and a 10k run. A few weeks before their race, Lindo and Wagner were still searching for a biker to ride the second leg of the race. Jacob Wendler, the son of Wendy Ziegler, librarian, was gracious

22

Graphics by Tara Mittelberg

Health

Fresh Perspective

Kennedy students experience outdoor classes Kennedy teachers provide an opportu- to have normal vitamin D levels. Accord- routine and it’s informative.”

Horton said that her classes have gone nity to study outdoors and experience a ing to Harvard Health, vitamin D levels help a person’s mood because people tend outside to study the native prairie plants unique setting for learning.

Spending time outside provides health to be more active outside, which releases in the planters to help students underendorphins. stand native and invasive species, benefits, through vitamin D, that range which is a unit that is studied in from having a better mood to being AP Environmental Science. Studyable to fight off conditions like caning the actual plants gives the stucer. Most people do not spend enough dents a better understanding of time outside to get all of the vitamin D what the plants look like then if necessary for our bodies, which is why they were to just look at pictures spending class time outside could proof the plants. vide health benefits.

Freeman said, “It’s a lot easier to Even though the purposes for AP Enlearn about things when we actuvironmental Science class activities are ally see it in person, as opposed to learn about the environment, the to just having a teacher explain students are still receiving the benefits it to you. Obviously learning the of sunlight. material from the teacher is benJennifer Horton, AP Environmental eficial, but to actually experience Science and Biology teacher, said, “The what’s being taught can solidify it classroom activities that I do outside as well.” are not designed for any health benefits, but for environmental science.”

Horton said that as the prairie Observations. Kahdijah Grant, sr., and Ryae Jones, sr., develops then more classes, espeRhea Bachman, jr., a student in Hor- study native prairie plants around Kennedy campus. ton’s AP Environmental Science class, Photo by Mary Mathis cially Biology and Field Biology, said, “I like outdoor classes because it’s Lauren Freeman, sr., a student in Hor- will be able to benefit from having actividifferent. I like how relaxing it is to be out- ton’s AP Environmental Science class, said, ties outside that would involve the prairie.

Alli nemecek side.”

“I think it’s important for classes to spend Spending 10 to 15 minutes outside a time outside once and awhile because it’s couple days per week can cause a person something different from the normal class

Torch’s Taste: Tara’s Panini Tara’s Three Cheese Panini Ingredients: 2 pieces of whole grain bread 2 slices of Provolone cheese 2 tablespoons shredded mozzarella cheese 2 tablespoons shredded cheddar cheese Butter One small tomato (sliced) Sliced chicken, turkey, or pork (leftovers work great!)

A pinch of garlic salt

1. Spread butter on one side of each slice of bread.

2. Place one piece of bread butter-side down on a warm skillet.

3. Put a piece of Provolone on the bread.

4. Sprinkle about one tablespoon of mozzarella and one tablespoon of cheddar cheese on the Provolone.

5. Add slices of tomatoes to cover the cheese.

6. Sprinkle a small pinch of garlic salt onto the meat and add to the sandwich.

7. Place the second piece of Provolone on top of the meat.

8. Place the second piece of bread butterside-up on top of the ingredients.

9. Smoosh the sandwich as much as you can to make it flat and more edible.

10. Cook one side on the stove until the bread is golden brown.

11. Flip it.

12. Cook until the other side is golden brown.

13. Enjoy!

Experiment with different combinations of vegetables. Try red peppers, mushrooms or avocados!

Tara Mittelberg

Pages by grace king & rachel langholz 23

sports

Student section takes shape Polls show views of freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors It’s something freshmen look forward to entering high school every fall. The acclaimed spot for football games awaits, but before entering Kingston Stadium every Friday night there may be a few things as a Kennedy student you’ll want to consider before joining in on the chants, rants and cheers of the student section.

Year after year the tradition has been passed down that each grade is seated at a designated spot. Seniors are in the front, juniors behind, then sophomores and so on. This tradition comes with high expectations and a full routine for everyone to follow.

“We expect everyone to cheer as loud as they can,” Landon Crippes, sr., said. Cheering is an important part of the student section and is another way to compete with the opponent schools. There is a cheer for every point in the game with most being led by the cheerleaders and other times, the seniors.

The game time wardrobe is more than what you think. The theme of the game is announced, ranging from black outs, to white, to green, to gold, and the list continues. The purpose

of the theme is to bring everyone together and to support the team, but at the same time compete with rival school’s student sections.

A Torch poll asked 30 students in each grade to see their thoughts on this 2012 football season. Each grade was asked their favorite themes, cheers, and what they’d rate this years student section on a scale of 1-10 with one being not very good and ten being the best.

With all the grades opinions combined, the final rate came out to 5.75.

Seniors looked to be the toughest critics when it came to the poll. They rated the overall section at a five compared to the freshmen, who rated it a seven. The seniors also had the most to say when it came to improvements. “I think it’s our job to keep things going and to make sure everyone participates. It shouldn’t just be juniors and seniors cheering,” Connor Gradoville, sr., said.

If you’re up for this pep challenge, no matter your grade, Kingston Stadium a long the 50-yard line starting in the front row, your seat awaits.

Hannah Bruns

“We expect everyone to cheer as loud as they can” -Landon Crippes, sr.

For a weekly sports update visit kennedytorch.org 24

Excitement. The student section poses as they get ready for the Aug

ady for the Aug. 24 game against Washington.

sports

What is your favorite cheer?

Seniors: “What’s that you say?”

Juniors: I believe Sophomores: Rock the boat Freshmen: JFK get up

What is your favorite theme?

Seniors: White out Juniors: Black out Sophomores: Black out Photo by Hanna Krivit

Freshmen: White out

How would you rate the student section so far?

Scale from 1 to 10.

Seniors: 5 Juniors: 5 Sophomores: 6 Freshmen: 7 survey conducted by Hannah Bruns graphic by Jordan Lunsford

Pages by norm althoff & annie feltes 25

Cougars at state sports

Girls’ soccer takes home the championship “If you have good goals, and achieve those, if you do that, anything can happen,” soccer coach Andrew McKnight said.

McKnight led the girl’s soccer team to the state title in his first season. The cougars completed the season with a record of 17-4.

“It feels good to win. There was a lot of really good work done before I got here though, a lot of it done by Homer Screws (a former coach).” McKnight said.

“I started talking about how we had 5 games left, so the players bought into the whole 5-4-3-2-1 countdown, this gave them the encouragement to mentally take it one game at a time, and cross it off as we won it, so that helped us keep focus.”

McKnight said.

Game number 3 was against number 3 ranked Iowa City West. The cougars pulled through and beat West 2-0 with goals from Kaela Dickerman and Hannah Palomo.

“We had a tremendous performance from ‘Hutch’ in goal...She was key to the teams success,” McKnight said.

Game number 2 was against number 2 ranked Bettendorf. Junior Kaela Dickerman scored Kennedy’s only goal this game. The cougars beat Bettendorf 1-0.

Game number 1 came along against number 1 ranked Ankeny. This would be the toughest game yet. The cougars were down 1-0 at half time.

In the second half of the

championship game, the cougars scored two goals within one minute and two seconds of each other.

“When Hannah Palomo scored the second goal against Ankeny it made everyone erupt,” Jess Wagner, so., said.

“Obviously winning state was achieved. I wanted to make sure players had a good time, and made sure everyone felt apart of it, which is difficult with 25 players. I feel like I met my objectives,” McKnight said, “I think it’s important for people to realize, successful teams are more then just good players,” McKnight said.

Lydia Martin

Push it. Hannah Polamo, ‘12, sprints after a soccer ball. Kennedy girls’ soccer beat Ankeny 2-1 to win the state championship.

Photo provided by Cathy Thompson

Baseball progresses to the semifinal round The cougar baseball team lost 4-2 to Fort Dodge in the semifinal game of the state tournament.

“Obviously, the outcome of the state tournament wasn’t what we were hoping for, making it to the semi-final game is a great accomplishment, but we would’ve liked to have had the chance to play top seeded Ankeny for the state championship,” Derek Jacobus, jr., said.

Jacobus scored one of the two runs of the semi-final.

“The tournament was very emotional,” Jacobus

Pitch. Nick Appleget, ‘12, helps the cougars progress to the semifinals of the state tournament.

Photo provided by Jessica Darland

26

said. “The highest moment would’ve been the dog pile we had after the Linn Mar game, and the lowest would be after the loss against Fort Dodge...Having to give my big brother a hug as teammates for the last time was hard. I’m really going to miss playing with him.”

“After the sting of the loss wore off a few days later, it was extremely satisfying to see the pride the players felt in continuing the tradition of terrific tournament play by another edition of cougar baseball players,” head coach

Brett Hoyer said.

“Coach really focuses on the mental part of the game and I think that helped us get ready for the state tournament,” Jacobus said.

The cougars will have a fresh start next year, with seven of the nine starters graduated.

“Our goals will be the same.

We plan on achieving them by winning the most important day of the season, today.” Hoyer said.

Lydia Martin

sports

Hitting the weight room Scheduling makes it easier for athletes to get their lift in

Strenuous. Nick Waterhouse, jr., prepares for hangcleans during his lifting hour. Lifting is now offered all hours of the day.

Photo by Steph Mercer

getting in and getting out,” boys’ Kennedy High School has cross country coach Brian Annis recently gone through some said. changes concerning athletics It also makes lifting much that could potentially have a big more convenient for athletes. impact on almost every sport “It’s nice to just get the class out that is offered at the school. of the way during the school Before this year if you wanted day. Most sports require you to to lift it was either zero hour, lift and this way you get credit sixth hour or seventh hour. If the sport was in season, athletes and an A on your transcript for it,” Ben Struss, sr., said. may lift with their team or they might have been able to lift after “The importance of lifting cannot be understated. It builds school. This year, all of that is a better and stronger athlete changing. After being talked and stronger athletes generally about for many years, Kennedy perform better. has finally “Most sports require you It should be decided to lift and this way you get common knowlto offer a lifting class credit and an A on your tran- edge that if you want to be the available to script for it” best athlete you students -Ben Struss, sr. can be you have all hours of to be involved in the day. a strength and conditioning pro Tim Lewis, who is the head gram.

Every sort of upper level varsity football coach, is also the program whether it be college, leading instructor for the new the pros, you name it; has some weight lifting classes offered during the school day. He’s been sort of strength or conditioning program,” Lewis said. involved with weightlifting for This year the program is on a years and now that he has a trial run but with success so far, chance to teach it for a living the future is looking bright for he believes it could have a very continuing the class. “Kids who positive impact on athletics at are in the weight lifting class are Kennedy. generally here every day, and it First of all, the class helps out coaches who would rather spend seems like they want to be here,” Lewis said. “They’re athletes their practice time practicing, and they want to lift and get instead of having to take time stronger. I think that’s one of to lift. “It’s a lot better having my athletes able to get their lifts the things that’s going to help this class thrive.” done during the day. We don’t spend time before or after pracDavid Hynek tice this year lifting, and we’re able to focus on just practice and

Pages by norm althoff & annie feltes 27

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