Lakota East Spark 2016-17 Issue 1 by Lakota East Spark

Spark opinion | letter to the editor

Lakota East High School lakotaeastsparkonline.com October 21, 2016 $5 Newsstand

FROM CAGES TO CONSERVATION Many American zoos have evolved from featuring showy animal displays to focusing on education and conservation.

2 lakotaeastsparkonline.com October 2016

CONTENTS October 2016 | Issue #171

NEWS 8 LEAF Club East's LEAF Club receives grant to plant more trees.

11 Champions for Change How teachers are adapting diversity in the classroom.

FEATURE 16 In-depth East student studies Arabic abroad.

19 Dart

East junior travels to Europe.

PACKAGE 24 Past to Present The changing mission of zoos.

28 Safety Procedures Zoos put in safety procedures to protect the public.

34 Animal Whisperer Cincinnati zookeeper's journey to Wildlife Canyon.

CULTURE 36 Reviews 38 Parisian Persuasion How Paris influences the fashion industry.

42 Localmotive

SPORTS 49 Boys Golf East's most decorated team wins three consecutive GMC titles.

52 Boosters

How East Booster members raise money for athletics

OPINION 64 Head to Head Are sports events appropriate environments for protest?

67 Editorial Cartoons

opinion | letter to the editor

Spark 2016-2017 STAFF

Editor-in-Chiefs Erinn Aulfinger Michelle Chu Emma Stiefel Lauren Wilson Design Coordinator Julia Sanders Business Director Sarah Mullins Business Collaborator Josie Cappel Public Relations Director Cara Satullo Public Relations Assistant Victoria Negron Photography Manager Maya Wells Photography Editor Richard Giang Webmaster Michelle Chu Broadcast Manager Emma Stiefel News Managing Editors Sophia Spivey Emma Stiefel News Editors Julianne Ford Lina Kaval Culture Managing Editor Lauren Wilson Culture Editors Noor Ghuniem Richard Giang Feature Managing Editor Alyssa Hetterich Feature Editors Dani Dudash Lexy Harrison Karmi White Package Managing Editors Erinn Aulfinger Cristina Francisco Package Editors Michelle Chu Sidney Li Sports Managing Editor Allie Church Sports Editor Dustin Horter Opinion Managing Editors Victoria Negron Cara Satullo Opinion Editors Vivian Kolks Charis Williams Art Managing Editor Sarah Aftab Art Editor Tyler Bonawitz Graphics Managing Editors Sophia Chryssovergis Cassia Chryssovergis Graphics Editor Michael Croy Advisor Dean Hume

2 lakotaeastsparkonline.com October 2016

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Dear Spark, As a sixth grader I’ve always wanted to write about sports. I’ve grown up watching football, baseball and basketball. Even though I’m still a kid and I still haven’t reached middle school I can’t wait for the day when I can walk into the Spark lab and know that I write for Spark. My dream is to be a sports commentator or writer one day and I know writing for Spark will help me since they’re known all over West Chester and Cincinnati. I’ve heard so many good things about the magazine from my next door neighbor who is a former editor for Spark and my sister, Vivian, who is one right now. I’ve always known that one day I will go to Lakota East and be a Thunderhawk. I even go to every Lakota East home basketball game I can. When I get to be a sophomore, Journalism I will be the very first class I sign up for and I already know what sections I want to write for. Sports, Broadcast and Opinion interest me the most but other activities that the Spark does, such as surveying every East student and fundraising in the school, seem fun as well. I like how they go to different businesses and travel all over Cincinnati to ask questions to get interesting stories. My favorite issue of Spark is probably the one where there are lot’s of stories about Islam and sports like rock climbing and rowing. I really like reading about all the different kinds of sports the most because I watch them on the television a lot. I also read the sports section of the Cincinnati Enquirer every morning, so seeing all the sports stories from the high school I want to go to is really great. Even though I’ve got a little ways to go, I can’t wait for the day that I can finally be a member of Spark. – George Kolks, Sixth grader at VanGorden Elementary

The Spark encourages letters to the editor. Letters can be sent to the publication at lakotaeastspark17@gmail.com or delivered to room 118 at the Lakota East High School main campus. Letters must be signed, and the staff reserves the right to edit the letters for length, grammar, invasion of privacy, obscenity or potential libel. The opinion editors will contact writers for confirmation.

SPONSORS & PATRONS Patrons Lori Aulfinger, Amy Stiefel, Robert Zelina Sponsors Carolyn Landers, Wendy Mayo, Sara Humphrey

Spark Lakota East High School lakotaeastsparkonline.com October 12, 2016 $5 Newsstand

ON THE COVER photography maya wells In this issue, Spark examines the subject of the transformation of American zoos and their mission to conservation and sustainability through public awareness, according to the Association of Zoos & Aquariums and the Zoological Association of America.

letter from the editor | opinion

SPARK ONLINE

Go to www.lakotaeastsparkonline.com to keep up with the latest school, district and community news, learn more about indepth topics covered by the Spark staff, and read reviews and fashion stories.

REDESIGNED WEBSITE We are pleased to announce the launch of our newly revamped website. After three months of dedication from our staff, we are excited to publish Spark Online. vOur goal with the new website is to streamline our content that is both appealing and informative. Our top menu allows readers to easily locate the sections they can find in our print publication while discovering new online-only departments. We will be regularly publishing stories to complement the magazine along with content that will be only found online. Follow @LakotaEastSpark on Twitter for updates on digital stories.

OLD UNION WALKTHROUGH

CINCINNATI COMIC EXPO

story and photography emma stiefel

story and photography austin black

Before its demolition, Old Union Elementary was opened for a final walkthrough on August 12. The West Chester/ Liberty Township Historical Society and Lakota Local School District welcomed... continued on lakotaeastsparkonline.com

The Sixth Annual Cincinnati Comic Expo opened its doors to cosplayers, guests and celebrities on Sept. 23 at the Duke Energy Center. The expo showcases collectables, props, costumes and... continued on lakotaeastsparkonline.com

VIDEO: LAKOTAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S SUMMER LUNCH PROGRAM

CINCINNATI TRUMP RALLY

video emma stiefel This summer Lakotaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Child Nutrition Department partnered with the Faith Alliance, Butler County Liaisons and Mission Possible Churches to provide meals paid for by the United... continued on lakotaeastsparkonline.com

story emma stiefel photography emma stiefel and garrison grasty A rally was held for presidential candidate Donald Trump at the US Bank Arena in downtown Cincinnati on Thursday, Oct. 13. Many people came in support of Trump, while others protested his candidacy outside... continued on lakotaeastsparkonline.com

Spark is a publication that is produced at Lakota East High School. The magazine is completely non-profit and student-generated through the efforts of the Journalism I, Journalism II and Journalism III-Honors classes. The publication material may not always reflect the views of the Lakota Local School District or the publication as a whole. Content is controlled and edited by the staff editors. The staff will publish only legally protected speech adhering to the legal definitions of libel, obscenity and invasions of privacy. The publication is produced every five weeks on recycled paper. Production costs are recovered through advertising, subscription sales and fundraisers. The purpose of Spark is to inform the students, faculty, and community members of news, information and issues that may influence or affect them.

opinion | chief column

THE MILLENNIAL’S GUIDE TO SPARK

MICHELLE CHU photography maya wells

t the beginning of summer 2016, I found myself back in school with my fellow editors, trying to finalize the applications for contest entries when we reached one category: multimedia content. We paused to silently contemplate our options as the mediocre website, which would have been the source of the entry, taunted our minds. Around that time, I had also been placed in a position that I had zero experience or direction in: transforming the Spark website. This wasn’t a math class, where we could go through examples and explanations before starting the homework or an essay in English with a rubric. I had essentially a blank website at my discretion and it utterly terrified me. According to a 2016 Pew Research Center survey, five percent of Americans between the ages of 18 to 29 get their news from newspapers while 50 percent of the same age group read their news online through social media or other applications and websites. And the downward trend for the number of people who read their news in print is complemented by the upward trend of reading news online. Which is exactly why I was terrified. For over two decades, the Lakota East Spark magazine has created and solidified its status as one of the best high school newsmagazines in the country, and we have walls of awards to prove it. But we do not have that for our website, and the statistics are why we, as a staff, have decided to move towards the direction of the digital platform. “The intent of the publication is to educate, inform, entertain and present issues in a professional manner,” our policy states. “In order to expose the student body and community members to accurately researched and thoroughly researched written articles, features, opinion pieces and public-interest pieces.” For a project at the Michigan Interscholastic Press Association’s Summer Journalism Workshop in 2015, I interviewed journalism students and professors concerning how they normally read the news. I found that to “educate, inform, entertain and present issues,” for the millennial generation, rarely is it to pick up a magazine or newspaper, but rather to see a headline on Twitter, Snapchat or Facebook. And our publication has to cater to the demographic’s needs and wants, which in this case is to add a digital platform to it. To begin this task, I researched other news sites to see the different styles of design and content. As every layout in the magazine is carefully crafted for a balance of content quality and aesthetically-pleasing design, I hoped the same would be discovered online. The website features the sections in our magazine: news, feature, package, culture, sports and opinion. However, we’ve added news briefs, a literature department with fictional pieces and books reviews, and are planning on multimedia coverage for larger issues or events such as the 2016 Election, which will also help ease the worry for when we submit contest entries next summer. As a new academic year commences, it is also the time for new changes to the tradition we call Spark. While we pride ourselves for the extensive coverage of issues, we had failed to be as cutting-edge as we had always thought. So true to our era, we are not afraid to dive into the new and we hope that the rest of the millennial generation will follow through.

act | news

EAST TO ADMINISTER STATE-FUNDED ACT This year East will be administering a state-funded ACT to all juniors, as mandated by the Ohio Department of Education. story noor ghuniem | art sarah aftab

CTs are administered year-round to students of all grades, but all juniors at Lakota East High School will find that their test taking dates match up in March of 2017. Public school districts in Ohio are now receiving a state funded ACT or SAT to administer to their students. This new mandate, issued on July 11, fulfills both the college necessity of taking at least one of the two assessments and the new graduation requirements for Ohio high schools. Lakota East has selected to distribute the ACT. “The ACT is part of the new graduation standards,” East guidance counselor Mark Rabold said. “It can be substituted for the usual end of course exams.” The ACT or SAT is now part of the Ohio Department of Education’s (ODE) three diploma options required to graduate, which include 18 points on Ohio’s end of course exams, 12 points on the industry and workforce readiness WorkKeys assessment or “remediation free” scores in language arts and mathematics on the ACT or SAT. According to the ACT standards, a remediation free score is a minimum of an 18 in English and 22 in Mathematics. If these requirements are not met, students must retake the assessment at their own expense, or they do not meet state requirement for graduation. “I’m honestly so happy that we are going to get this opportunity,” East junior Maryam Faroqui said. “I was planning on just retaking it over and over again until I could get a good score, but it’s pretty expensive to do that.” The basic ACT registration fee is $39.50 without the optional writing section and $56.50 with it. According to research conducted by Compass 360, about 15 percent of colleges are on record for requiring the writing section. The state administered test, however, does not include the optional writing section. “I do [recommend that students take the writing portion on the ACT],” Rabold said. “Even though it is not required by most colleges as far as admissions, it’s a good indicator of what your writing is like as you’re heading into college.” Although the ACT is now a state funded

assessment, some students face additional fees through the programs and books they utilize to study in for the test. “My mom bought me a bunch of books back at the beginning of summer, and I took my first ACT in June,” East junior James Cosgrove said. “The plan was to look at my scores and get a tutor for the sections I needed to work on the most.” ACT tutoring programs include the Learning Enrichment & Assistance Program ACT Essentials Prep, the Huntington 1:1 ACT Prep or the ACT website and the study guide, which includes lessons and practice tests. In addition, according to Rabold, who suggests that practice in any form can be beneficial, “there are apps like the ACT Question of the Day” and “in general [students can] just use Naviance or free online programs.” Preparation for the test is not limited to educational factors; it can also include test taking strategies. East Honors English 11 teacher Erin Schneider finds that “looking through the guidelines that the ACT provides” is good preparation “because it really becomes just beating the clock because the time constraint is pretty difficult.” Teachers additionally now spend a majority of their school year preparing students for the

ACT through their lesson plans. “We’re definitely paying more attention to it this year because it is now a state requirement and potentially something that is going to count for graduation requirements,” Schneider said. “So given that that’s new with the state of Ohio, that has kind of changed our focus a little bit to include more prep.” Many students don’t score as high as they can on the first test they take. Research conducted by the ACT and SAT organizations show that 57 percent of students increase their scores on their second attempt. “My first time taking the test was definitely not the score I wanted to keep. I’m going to try again for sure,” Faroqui said. “I think the last time I’ll be taking it though is when the school gives it to us.” Some colleges choose to review scores of all ACTs taken, whereas others allow students to superscore. In these cases, a student can choose to submit their highest score, or to superscore their results, in which case all their ACT scores can be averaged and rounded up. “It’s a very stressful process but it’s something we have to do,” Faroqui said. “I’m just so glad that the school is giving us one too. And the timing is perfect, like a conclusion to all our ACT taking.”

I’m honestly so happy that we are going to get this opportunity. I was planning on just retaking it over and over again until I could get a good score, but it’s pretty expensive to do that. – Maryam Faroqui, East junior

October 2016 lakotaeastsparkonline.com 5

news | google The error message students received when trying to access Google services on personal devices.

STUDENTS UNABLE TO ACCESS GOOGLE Students at East have been unable to access Google on personal devices but will now be able to by downloading a certificate. story lina kaval | photography cara satullo

tudents at Lakota East have not been able to access Google services, such as Google Drive and Google Search, using their personal devices since the beginning of this school year. According to East principal Suzanna Davis, technology specialists have found a solution. “Nobody knew [about the issue],” Davis said. “When I got the list of topics for [Spark’s] press conference, I contacted the technology department and they [were] in the process of developing a workaround.” Davis said that the filters are constantly being updated by an external vendor hired to manage them, which is common for schools and businesses. This is why teachers may have access to a site on one day and not have access on another. The reason Google has been inaccessible was not due to the partnership deal that was signed with Microsoft as some students thought, but rather a problem with certificates. According to Microsoft, digital certificates are electronic credentials that are used to certify the identities of individuals, computers, and other entities on a network.

Davis said that students can access Google services by downloading the certificate onto students’ personal devices. Students may be prompted to download the certificate when accessing Google. The certificate works on both laptops and mobile devices. East junior and Advanced Placement Computer Science student Wesley Reed says that he downloaded the certificate on the computer he uses in the Computer Science lab. “I use Google Chrome as my default browser and I lost the ability to search using Google,” Reed said. “I don’t like using Bing or Yahoo! because I never feel like I get as good of results.” East sophomore Abbie Urick also recalled being able to access Google and educational videos on YouTube using the Wi-Fi last year. But since she moved over to the Main Campus, she has needed to use cellular data. “I try not to [use the school Wi-Fi],” Urick said. “I’ve had to use more of my 4G-LTE, which I have a shared data plan with my family for, and if I go over [the data cap], we have to pay more [than the original price of the plan].” The bigger concern for Davis, other than

6 lakotaeastsparkonline.com October 2016

students not being able to access Google services, is that there is a communication rift between students and administrators. While faculty have a way of voicing technology concerns in the form of a ticket, students do not have a similar system. “I think there was a perception that something was blocked and it wasn’t,” Davis said. “Everybody understands that there are filters. But if someone has a legitimate concern, for something like Google Drive, there is an educational piece there. So what this highlights is that we, as a high school, need to define how students can voice these concerns.”

SPARK ONLINE: Go to www.lakotaeastsparkonline.com to learn how to download the certificate for accessing Google on personal devices.

student fees | news

JUNIOR HIGH STUDENT FEES DECREASE Lakota has been working to lower fees for families so that they only pay for what enhances their child’s experience in school. story caitlyn doherty infographic sophia chryssovergis art mckenna lewis

tudent fees at Lakota junior high schools have dropped from an average of $60 last year to $40 this year. The reduction was approved at the Lakota Board of Education meeting on Aug. 8. A few different financial strategies have been put in place in order to achieve lower expenses, according to the Lakota website, one of which is relying less on printed classroom materials. Despite the lower fees this school year, the junior high schools remain relatively unaffected. “We are looking for cost-saving measures and ways to be more efficient,” Liberty Junior principal Eric Bauman said. “I’ve not noticed any differences or issues due to lower fees.” In any case, some work has gone into the process and the junior highs have been particularly strategic with what they are asking families to spend. “We try to minimize all additional fees to just what we feel enhances their student’s experience,” Hopewell Junior principal Jeff Rouff said. “All four junior highs took a close look so that we are only asking for what we absolutely need within the classroom.”

These reductions can save the district a lot of money, according to Lakota Chief Operations Officer Christopher Passarge. “Administration is always looking at opportunities to improve operational efficiencies, especially those that result in increased savings to the district,” Passarge said. “When... [we can save], we [do] and this was the case with the reduction of fees.” “The district has saved a few million dollars recently through the refinancing of bonds to lower interest rates and by negotiating a zero percent increase on health care premiums for the district next year,” Passarge said. One particular department that could be affected is language arts, as fee changes in previous years have impacted the department greatly. Due to the fact that books are a necessity to the class, the number of them being handed out to students may be affected. Liberty Junior School eighth grade language arts teacher Angie Bellia also said that it hasn’t had a huge impact this year. “They cut fees quite a bit last year. We felt

it—a lot—and we’ve just adjusted,” Bellia said. “We found ways to work around it.” For example, the required reading books in Bellia’s classroom are class sets, because those “do not come from fee money” including Ray Bradbury’s “Fahrenheit 451.”There aren’t enough to give to each individual student, so Bellia had the students check out books to use. “We have to think carefully about what we do,” Bellia said. “How to spend the money and choose what to buy.” Hopewell Junior School eighth grade language arts teacher Tiffany Rexhausen agreed that the fee change hasn’t affected her classes very much. Rexhausen uses fees to purchase a scholastic magazine and class novels so that each student gets to take one home at the end of the school year. “If there is extra money when I am done, I purchase each student a novel,” Rexhausen said. “[Some years] I can do that and some years I can’t. Our money amount tends to fluctuate a little anyway, so I adjust accordingly and make it work.”

Student Fees Through the Years Student fees help cover the district’s costs for providing supplies that students will use during the school year. The student fees for the 2016-17 school year are the lowest yet because Lakota has been working to decrease the financial impact of fees on families.

Total: $18

$30

$3 $6

Writing and Coloring Supplies

$2.5

$7.5

Total:

Core Instruction/Subject Supplies

$20

$40

Art and Technology Supplies

$30 Student Planner

$5 Kindergarten - 1st Grade

Project and Classroom Supplies

2nd Grade - 6th Grade

Paper Supplies

7th Grade - 8th Grade

source lakotaonline.com

news | letter to the editor

LEAF CLUB PUTS DOWN ROOTS Environmental Advocates Forum (LEAF) club receives a grant to plant more trees around East. story vivian kolks | photography maya wells infographic cassia chryssovergis | art tyler bonawitz

he Lakota Environmental Advocates Forum (LEAF) club will put down roots at the Lakota East campus for the benefit of generations of students to come on Oct. 22 with the help of a $2,000 grant from the Taking Root foundation. The club, advised by Advanced Placement (AP) and College Preparatory (CP) Environmental Science teacher Mark Folta, will use the grant to plant trees around the football and baseball fields, and along the border of the property, next to Interstate-75. The grant, which was recommended to Folta by East principal Suzanna Davis, focuses on reforestation attempts in urban areas and the recreation of habitats in small spaces. Davis, who received the original information on the grant in an email, said that she has been aware of Folta’s activity in Environmental Science programs and the LEAF club at East. “It looked on the surface to be an opportunity to continue to beautify the school and to support the Environmental Science programs,” Davis said. The application process was “fairly easy,” according to Folta. The Taking Root foundation, which is a self described “regional campaign for reforestation” focused in the Greater Cincinnati area, grants the money to environmental awareness efforts. To receive the money, however, there were a few constraints. “It requires you to plant in the fall,” Folta said. “Which is the best planting time because the roots can

8 lakotaeastsparkonline.com October 2016

leaf club | news grow underground all winter.” Once the grant was received and the East Treasury Department approved the plan, it was time to decide what trees would make the cut to be planted around East. Folta finally decided on two types of trees that would grow moderately fast, provide a good wind block and be able to thrive in the clay filled, rocky soil of southwestern Ohio: the Norway Spruce and the Bald Cypress. The idea for this year’s planting effort came about after an AP Environmental Science Earth Day project last year to plant several trees in one of East’s courtyards was completed, which inspired Folta to apply for funding to continue the project outside of the school’s walls. The school has helped by setting aside an acre of land for the trees. According to Folta, who made the decision on where to plant the trees, those being planted by I-75 will be used as a noise barrier to block the sounds of the highway and to absorb excess carbon dioxide released by the cars. Trees being placed by the sports fields will be used as shade for spectators and a block to keep wind off the fields. But being used to keep off wind and provide shade is not all the trees will be good for. “There’s aesthetic value too,” Folta said. “We want it to look nice and attract wildlife, but we also want the community to see nature and be inspired to take care of the environment.”

Even a little bit is something. We want people to be aware of the effect they have on the environment.

– Karen Choi, East senior

The LEAF club, AP and CP Environmental Science students and any other students looking for volunteer hours will be able to move these trees to their final spots around the campus on Oct. 22. Among 153 East students surveyed, 65 percent were interested in helping to plant trees. According to East senior and LEAF club Vice President Karen Choi, any is appreciated. “Even a little bit is something,” Choi said. “We want people to be aware of the effect they

What LEAF Club is Leaving Behind

have on the environment.” East junior and LEAF club President Debi Kaur will also be helping to plant trees and wants people dedicated to making a difference to come and join her. “We want to spread the importance of nature to as many people as possible,” Kaur said. “It gives me a reason to go out and do something good. That means something.”

Type and Number of Trees

From its start in 2014, the LEAF Club has seen an increase in the amount of members and the amount of trees that are planted. This year the leaf club will plant 20-40 more trees on October 22nd. Tulip Tree

Gingko Tree

Bald Cypress Tree

Hawthorn Tree

Redbud Tree

Norway Spruce Tree

Maple Tree

Oak Tree

Number of Members

Membership Growing 20 15 10

1 large 30 small

2014

2015

2016

Year source mark folta, lakota east leaf club advisor

1 large 8 small

Paw Paw Tree

October 2016 lakotaeastsparkonline.com 9

letter from the editor | news

news | roundabout

The Butler County Engineer’s office has been constructing roundabouts in West Chester and Liberty Township. story julianne ford | infographic michael croy photography emma stiefel

ROUNDING UP ROUNDABOUTS

he Butler County Engineer’s office (BCEO) has been focusing on the construction of roundabouts in the county. In total, the BCEO had around 29 projects going on throughout 2016. To maintain the safety of citizens across the county, the BCEO has invested time and money into additions such as roundabouts. Approximately 84 percent of 159 East students surveyed said that their routes to school had been altered due to construction in the area. East junior Abby Grace Martin has had to alter her school and work route due to detours in the area. “Road construction sucks at first,” said Martin. “You have to find a new way to get to school and work, which usually involves more traffic and time.” During the construction of a roundabout, roads are closed and detours are put into place. Many citizens in the Butler County area have had to change their everyday routes. One such person is Ursuline junior Caroline Scheper, who lives directly off of Cincinnati-Dayton and Kyles Station roads where a roundabout was completed in late September, that was originally scheduled to be complete in November. “Losing the four way stop near my house as it undergoes the long process of becoming

a roundabout has made using Map Quest on my phone impossible,” Scheper said. “And the roundabout construction adds traffic to the roads that are open so it takes even longer to get to school.” The new roundabout will be Liberty Township’s fourth one since 2008. The Cincinnati-Dayton and Kyles Station roundabout has an approximate $900,000 budget. This sudden spring in new roundabouts is something that the area should be getting used to, according to BCEO Design Engineer Steve Miles. “We have been doing them a lot in Liberty Township,” Miles said. “Statistically, we found roundabouts result in a 75 percent reduction in overall accidents. Our statistics match the national average of roundabouts.” Roundabouts not only improve the flow of traffic but, according to the BCEO, are much safer than four way stops. Roundabouts provide a 90 percent reduction in fatal crashes, 75 percent reduction in injury crashes, 30 tp40 percent reduction in pedestrian crashes and a 10 percent reduction in bicycle crashes. BCEO Public Information supervisor Chris Petrocy knows firsthand the amount of money that it takes to conduct construction throughout the county.

“Our annual income at the engineer’s office is $12 million,” Petrocy said. “That’s not necessarily what we spend though, we do get a lot of grants that come in and help fund our projects around the county.” According to Petrocy, the BCEO receives grants from both the federal and state level, although the county does pay for many projects on their own and receives money from taxes on gas and licenses plate renewals. The average cost of a roundabout is $600,000 to $700,000. According to Petrocy, certain factors may change the budget and deadline including design costs, administration costs and construction costs. Roundabouts are typically on a tight schedule, according to the BCEO website. “Roundabouts are typically under construction for two to three months during the summer,” Miles said. “We try to not interrupt school during the construction process.” Although Liberty Township and West Chester now have detours due to the process of road improvements and the installations of roundabouts, according to Martin it will improve the overall function of the county. “In the end you are driving on a safer road,” Martin said. “It makes all the time and adjustments worth it to know you are safe.”

The BCEO has been trying to increase road safety by replacing regular intersections with roundabouts. Roundabouts have:

Original Design

vehicle to pedestrian crashes 24 vehicle to vehicle crashes 16

75%

90%

fewer injury crashes

fewer fatal crashes

40%

10%

fewer pedestrian crashes

10 lakotaeastsparkonline.com October 2016

fewer bicycle crashes

New Design

Vehicle to Pedestrian crashes 8 Vehicle to Vehicle crashes 4

sources www.bceo.org, learningcenter.statefarm.com

Driving Out Intersections

opinion | letter to the editor

letter from the editor | news

CHANGING SCHOOLS CHANGING PERSPECTIVES CHANGING LAKOTA This year Lakota is implementing its new Champions for Change cultural proficiency program, which is designed to help teachers adapt to increasingly diverse classrooms. story emma stiefel | infographic cassia chryssovergis photo illustration richard giang

welve years as a varsity football coach, and he only trained three African American student athletes. That’s how diverse Lakota was when Stu Eversole started working for the district in 1973. “Pretty much everyone was the same,” Eversole said. “It was a very homogeneous student body. Everybody was the same race and socioeconomic level. Kids weren’t exposed to a lot of diversity.” Since then, however, Lakota has been growing increasingly more diverse. In 2015, 26 percent of Lakota students were minorities, compared to 22 percent in 2010, according to Lakota’s Enrollment Center. The number of economically disadvantaged students increased from approximately 14 to 18 percent during that same time period. Though their schools have gotten more diverse, staff members may still be teaching and interacting with students in a way better suited to the Lakota of 40 years ago. To help them adapt, this year Lakota is implementing its new Champions for Change cultural proficiency staff training program, which will train one or two staff members as “champions” who will share what they learn about educating diverse students with their colleagues. “We will educate teachers on diversity and help them have those difficult conversations that people don’t usually have,” Lakota Teacher on Special Assignment for Diversity Aisha Moore, whose position was created specifically

2 lakotaeastsparkonline.com October 2016

news | champions for change for the program, said. “The teachers that we are teaching take it back to their peers.” Moore and Lakota Diversity Consultant Dr. Monique Johnson, who works on recruiting and retaining teachers for the district’s human resources department, will lead the program. This school year it will cost Lakota about $96,675, which includes Moore’s salary, compensation for the champions and training materials, according to the Lakota Executive Summary of the program. While most people associate diversity only with race, Champions for Change will focus on students in all of the subgroups tracked by Lakota’s Enrollment Center, including limited English proficient students, economically disadvantaged students and students with disabilities as well as races and ethnicities. “We’re making an effort to look at all of our different subgroups the way the district divides them up,” Johnson said. “Sometimes people automatically think black and white, but I don’t think we should limit it to that. We’re not experts in it, but we’re going to do our best to at least acknowledge that that is a subgroup that needs attention and if we can help in some way then we’ll do that.” The champions will meet once or twice a month, according to Johnson, to learn about subjects such as “What Makes Lakota Unique,” “Embracing Race and Ethnicity” and “Understanding Poverty.” The curriculum will be disseminated to the district’s entire staff using a “train the trainer” model, in which champions will educate their colleagues on what they learned in the sessions. East’s champions, counselor Angela Fisher and English teacher Michelle Wilkerson, for example, taught their colleagues about how to

Cultural Diversity at East Over the years, the percentage of White, Non-Hispanic students enrolling has steadily decreased while the percentage of other races, such as Asian, Black, NonHispanic, Hispanic, and Multiracial has steadily increased.

Asian

source reportcard.education.ohio.gov

White, Non-Hispanic

4.9

5.9

2.7

Black, Non-Hispanic Hispanic Multiracial

5.3 0.8

6.3

9.2

8.4

3.6

4.8

2005-2006

2010-2011

2015-2016

85.7%

78.1%

76.1%

pronounce students’ names on the first day of school and “how that could make them feel uncomfortable if you say it wrong.” “[We hope the program helps create] respect for each other’s culture and where they’re coming from to make them better prepared for when they walk out of here,” Fisher said. “[We should] be respectful of people from other backgrounds because every person has a story, and not just a single story.” Fisher and Wilkerson will both serve on East’s leadership team alongside the school’s department chairs and curriculum specialists. “What the champions bring to the table is a whole different perspective,” East Principal Suzanna Davis said. “We don’t have students on the building leadership team, so as far as

4.4

diversity in staff, students and the community, the champions have the ability to add that dynamic to the conversation.” This year, Champions for Change will focus on educating the champions and other staff members on diversity in Lakota and how to respond to it. Next year, according to Johnson, the champions will be expected to apply this training to “lead conversations around different topics [such as] concerns about engaging with parents, anything that they feel led to lead on.” Whatever Fisher and Wilkerson eventually decide to do at East will likely be different from the approach taken by champions at other schools because, according to Johnson, “our district is so large that each of our schools has a different culture.”

Ukraine Italy

Mexico Guatemala Honduras El Salvador

Students in East’s English as a Second Language (ESL) program come from almost 20 countries.

Dominican Republic

China

Iraq

Lebanon Saudi Arabia Yemen

India Pakistan

Democratic Republic of Congo

source east esl teacher jill schneider map of world with countries - multicolor by freevectormaps.com

12 lakotaeastsparkonline.com October 2016

Vietnam Philippines

[We hope the program helps create] respect for each other’s culture and where they’re coming from to make them better prepared for when they walk out of here. – Angela Fisher, East champion

Endeavor Elementary’s students are 50 percent white, for example, whereas VanGorden Elementary’s are 83 percent white, according to 2016 Ohio Department of Education (ODE) School Report Card data. At East, 76 percent of students are white, according to the 2016 School Report Card data, and students from 19 different countries participate in the school’s English as a Second Language program. “It’s not a one size fits all [approach],” Davis said. “It’s got to be appropriate for that culture, for that group of students, staff and parents. What works in one building or one set of buildings may not work in all of them. For them to take the time to truly delve into that has been much appreciated.” Whatever a specific school’s demographics are, Moore and Johnson hope that the program will make Lakota more welcoming to all families by educating teachers and encouraging them to start conversations about differences between themselves and their students. If teachers aren’t familiar with a student’s cultural background, they may inadvertently say or do something inappropriate. For example, according to Moore, a teacher that doesn’t know that one of their students is participating in a religious fast may try to make them get a lunch if the child is too young to explain why they aren’t eating or the teacher doesn’t know

Come see us at 7967 Cincinnati Dayton Rd West Chester, OH 45069 in the Lakota Plaza 513-759-0016

to ask them if they are celebrating a spiritual holiday. “Things are said that shouldn’t be said,” Johnson said. “Maybe we’ll be able to change people’s hearts and broaden their perspective on differences and situations. Instead of automatically assuming that parents don’t care, [for example], do a little more digging and you might realize that the parent has two jobs.” At East, 55 percent of 150 students surveyed think that the school is effective at supporting students from different demographic groups. “I don’t think we’re in a place of crisis,” Davis said. “I’m certain there are individuals who don’t feel comfortable here, and my hope would be that every single person that walks into this environment believes that they are respected and valued and appreciated and that we’re providing the best academic and socialemotional program for every child.” By improving relationships between staff, students and parents, Champions for Change could help create an open dialogue about diversity in Lakota. “Champions for Change is starting the discussion in the buildings,” Lakota parent Tina Cartwright said. “People can speak honestly about things that need to change for the better. I would like us to be able to talk about all diversity issues where people feel comfortable

enough to address the issue.” Cartwright is part of African Americans United for Lakota (AAUL), a group of Lakota parents dedicated to improving the experiences of all minority families in the district; Champions for Change was born out of conversations between the group and district officials. “The Champions for Change program is working on a piece of the process,” AAUL member Yasmen Jones said. “That’s probably the only way it’s going to get done, a little piece at a time. But this piece is going to help us understand the diversity of the district overall.” While it won’t immediately achieve all of the group’s goals, Champions for Change does, according to AAUL member Eric Thompson, “give [them] a platform to be able to deliver a consistent, powerful message.” “We want to be that community that’s not afraid of the conversation, that’s not afraid of doing the hard work so that our kids can go out in the real world and be better adults because of it,” Cartwright said. “We don’t want them to pretend that this is reality and that there’s not diversity in the real world. This was started out of love for our community and our kids because we want to be bold enough and be that example and help the district see that we can be even better than what we are.”

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opinion | letter to the editor

2 lakotaeastsparkonline.com October 2016

feature | letter to the editor

NEW

16 lakotaeastsparkonline.com October 2016

nick wade | feature

HORIZONS After earning the opportunity to study in Morocco, East senior Nick Wade has used the experience to fuel his passion for international affairs and cultures.

ith an average of a 15 percent acceptance rate, he anxiously waited for months, not knowing if he had been accepted into the selective program. He daydreamed of being amongst the divergent culture and people, hearing the Bendir drums and Hajhuj guitars played by the captivating Arabs of the foreign country. East senior Nick Wade was presented with the opportunity to experience an entirely different culture on another continent 4,000 miles away. The opportunity did not come easy but Wade was more than willing to go above and beyond to rise above the competition and have the chance of traveling to Morocco. Being Wade’s first time out of the country and on a plane, the traveling experience was foreign for him. Wade explains how strange he felt being overseas for the first time. He chuckled saying he wasn’t in Kansas anymore, or Ohio for that matter. “When I got there, I knew what to expect, so I didn’t really experience any culture shock when I was there,” says Wade. “However, when I returned, I definitely felt [reverse] culture shock because I was not ready to come back to America: I wanted to spend more time in Morocco.” In August of 2015, Wade sent in an application with multiple essays, questions, and recommendation letters to The National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y), a study abroad program for high school students in the United States. The program provides merit-based scholarships for freshmen to senior students everywhere in the country to travel internationally to countries that speak Arabic, Mandarin Chinese, Korean, Turkish, Hindi, Russian and Persian. Approximately 4,000 applications come in each year and about 600 of those individuals are accepted, showing the selectivity of the program, according to Kate Elci, Senior Program Officer for the administration. “We are always looking for individuals who are motivated to learn the language they are applying for and can demonstrate how they intend to use the language in the future,” says Elci. “We also look for maturity and students who demonstrate that they are prepared for the challenges of an overseas immersion experience.” Wade was inspired to learn Arabic because of his desire to work in foreign policy, as well as the challenging aspect of the language. He had

story lexy harrison photography maya wells and fair use considered Chinese and Persian, but had decided on Arabic since it’s spoken over a wide geographical region. He had taught himself the alphabet of the strenuous dialect along with basic phrases prior to being notified, because if he had been chosen for the program he would already have a base of the language and predicted that he would be able to learn it on his own. Wade later proved himself wrong and realized that Arabic was surprisingly difficult to learn without a teacher due to the complexity of the language and how different it is from English. According to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Arabic is a consonantic language, meaning vowels could theoretically be omitted when writing words. However, spoken Arabic has vowel sounds. They are indicated by diacritical marks placed above or below the letters. These vowel signs, or short vowels, differentiate between the several sounds and meanings that the same sequence of consonants can have. Diving into what was an unknown language to him, Wade said he knew it would be a challenge; however, he plans to pursue international relations, which includes speaking Arabic. In a university, he would need two years of a foreign language in order to go into this particular field. “Arabic is considered a critical language for the United States because not many Americans can speak that language,” says Wade. “The State Department and intelligence agencies are really trying to push young people to learn these languages, which is why the program I went on exists.” According to the 2006 Columbia Political Review the Modern Language Association estimated that 20,000 Americans were studying Arabic, with the numbers only growing since then. With a 127 percent increase from 2002, the study shows Arabic is one of the top ten most-studied languages in the United States. Going into this field of study would consist of traveling across the world, specifically in this case to an Arabic speaking country such as Morocco, Egypt, Israel or Sudan. For Wade to take part in this trip again in the upcoming year, he would only qualify for the year long program due to the policy that previous summer program participants can only engage in the year long trips if accepted again. “It was definitely hard with the six weeks; it was the slowest six weeks ever,” says Nick’s mother Kim Wade. “When he came home, the same day we picked him up from the airport, he talked about going back for a year. I was like hold up, let’s get home first and talk about what happened before you talk about going back.”

October 2016 lakotaeastsparkonline.com 17

Nick Wade discusses his month in Morocco and his studies of the Arabic language.

It’s definitely tough to do but young people have to grow up. That’s what they do and as parents, sometimes we might not like the decisions, but we have to let [them] grow up and become adults.

– Kim Wade, Nick's mother

She says Nick traveling for a year would be something she would have to talk with him about, as she would need to feel comfortable as a parent for him to be gone for a year. She was only able to speak with him twice over the six week course of the program, so she fears the uncertainty of when she would be able to communicate with her son over a year span. Although she definitely sees the benefits of him studying abroad for a year, it would be difficult to cope with being away from the family for so long. “On the other hand, if this is something he’s passionate about and he can see himself doing something like this for a long time career, as a parent I have to let go,” says Kim. “It’s definitely tough to do but young people have to grow up. That’s what they do and as parents, sometimes we might not like the decisions, but we have to let [them] become adults.” Nick’s dream job is to be the Secretary of State one day, but he says it is “pretty far fetched.” However, he still keeps the idea in the back of his mind. The perks of working in international relations would allow him to see the world, learn languages, and interact with people from different cultures, which are things he believes are very important for someone to expose themselves to. “The U.S. government is committed to promoting NSLI-Y and other study abroad opportunities because it makes our jobs easier,” says Nathan Arnold, Public Affairs Officer for the Department of State. “When students study abroad and learn a foreign language, they gain a global understanding which helps to build and sustain a more democratic, secure and prosperous world.” Arnold says someone with an education based on understanding foreign cultures and languages will be set apart from other students and be helped with challenges like college acceptance and future employment. He also states that the creation of networks and relationships will last a lifetime. “I studied Arabic, that was my purpose of being down there, but I also learned about the culture of Morocco,” says Nick. “Where’s the gap between Americans and Moroccan people?

We were [all] supposed to be cultural ambassadors, so that’s what we did. We participated in cultural activities [like] eating traditional food and we learned about Islam and the Middle East in general and the differences between the countries, because they’re not just some big group.” During his trip Nick saw the differences between American and Moroccan cultures. Every morning Nick took the bus or a taxi to his classes and sometimes the bus would show up at the designated time and sometimes it would not. He learned that this is a normality and that no one would get upset by the inconsistency of public transportation and other services. “Whereas in America, everything’s on time,” Nick says. “It’s just different in that way.” When he was not in class, Nick and other members of the program visited a restaurant and befriended a waitress almost immediately. The server had later invited them to her house where they met her grandmother and brother. The NSLI-Y participant also touches on the social difference in personal space and how it is not as big of an issue in Morocco. For example, when a person would greet someone, they will usually shake that person’s hand and kiss them on both cheeks, as long as the person you are greeting is of your gender or in your family. Nick also says that men holding hands with men is not portrayed as sexual or gay, but friendly, and the same goes for women. However, this tradition of lack of personal space tends to be moreso instilled in older Moroccans, while the younger people tend to act more like Europeans or Americans. Nick says the opportunity he was given to study abroad made him well educated about the different cultures, as well as the fact that he read 10 books during his trip during his down time. His understanding of the language improved greatly through the six week program and he plans to become fluent or close to it by the end of the year program if he applies again and is awarded another scholarship. “The program certainly dispelled a lot of misconceptions I had,” says Nick. “I always thought their lives were drastically different from ours and they aren’t. Kids go to school, parents go to work, and everyone gathers around the TV during dinner time. The culture is different yes, but at the core, people are people no matter where they’re from.”

dart | feature

BOYSCOUT ABROAD

East junior Jack MacNeel uses his love for traveling and history to better understand the world around him. story erinn aulfinger | photography used with permission by jack macneel

e was on top of the world. A boy looked upon the hustle of the sprawling cities below with appreciation. Every blink capturing snapshots. He didn’t need a camera to capture the memories, the voices raised in a symphony of languages, the town in a haze of morning light. His memory is camera enough. East junior Jack MacNeel doesn’t believe in capturing the memories of his travels with a camera. Instead, he tries to absorb the culture around him. “For me, absorbing [a country] is better than taking a picture,” says MacNeel. “With a picture, I’ll remember an image for a while, but when you absorb the country, you’ll [remember the atmosphere] of [it], even if you never go back.” During the MacNeels’ trip to Naples, Italy, they took an hour and a half bus ride to the top of Mount Vesuvius, the volcano that decimated the ancient Roman city of Pompeii. As the bus meandered up the volcano, MacNeel experienced the city of Naples spread out before him. He describes being able to turn around, with each 90 degree angle enabling him to experience another marvel: the bustling city, the ocean, the crater of buried Pompeii. MacNeel took his first trip to Europe in 2015 during his freshman year of high school. He says his fondness for Europe stems from the history that is represented in many aspects of their culture, and because many of the countries of Europe are “strikingly different” despite them being so close together. The historical impact of the places he travels are not lost on MacNeel. He finds it “fascinating” to see something that was painted, built or designed in the past. During his trip to Notre Dame in Paris, France, he says he could “feel” the history of the people who had died there, despite the church’s peaceful aura and lavish decorations. “When you go into Notre Dame [or] into Saint Paul’s Cathedral you step back in time,” says MacNeel. “You feel like you were there [because] the original intent of these building is very well preserved.” Travel has increased Jack’s awareness of historical and modern issues including world politics and U.S. politics, according to MacNeel’s father, David MacNeel. He says that Jack is able to connect his learning abroad and relate it to discussions in a setting. Currently, Jack is taking Advanced Placement

European History, and credits his traveling experience as elevating his knowledge, which makes him better prepared for the tests and classroom material. Jack’s increased awareness of the world has made him more observant of the tensions that exist globally, as well. Despite the recent instability in many parts of the world, Jack says he will not stop traveling. Amidst his trip to Paris in 2016, he saw soldiers walking down the streets with automatic weapons in response to the recent terror attacks in France. Jack indicates the strong military presence “made him feel safe if anything,” and says he plans to visit the Great Pyramids in Cairo, Egypt soon, despite two planes being shot down in 2015. He feels these worldly wonders are “begging” him to come visit, and is concerned for those suffering in the Parisian and Egyptian tourism industries. “For me, going to Cairo and seeing the great pyramids is worth a little risk,” says MacNeel. “It’s worth it in my mind to go to all of these places. I don’t think [the possibility of a threat] should deter you.” Jack’s interest in travel started young. After becoming a Boy Scout in first grade, Jack participated in many of the travel opportunities. His friend and fellow Eagle Scout Jack Powers says during their trips Jack is very prepared. Powers and Jack use their age and experience as Eagle Scouts to allow them to teach the younger scouts the skills necessary to advance in the program. When white water rafting in Idaho, the boys battled

three foot waves for hours before being able to return to the campsite. Powers says the experience “pushed [them] to [their] limits.” “[Jack is] a lot more open to trying new things because of how much he’s traveled and how much he’s experienced,” says Powers. “He’s a lot more related when traveling and is able to find [the] fun [in] going places instead of being afraid of [the] unfamiliar territory.” Jack’s father recalls Jack participating in Boy Scout traveling events such as canoeing in the Canadian boundary waters, living on a beach in the Florida Keys, and rafting in the Salmon river in Idaho. He believes those Boy Scout trips share commonality with their family travels to Europe, including spending quality time together away from the distractions of technology, building memories, and deepening their understanding of the world. “For us, travel is about living life to its fullest,” says David. “Scouting has given us the opportunity to travel to exotic and remote places.” Throughout his family trips and Boy Scout adventures in the United States, Canada, and Europe, Jack believes that the importance of traveling lies in the perspective a person can gain from the experience, which in turn helps them better understand their own lives. “Traveling is a chance to get away from the hustle and bustle of day-to-day life,” says Jack, “and [an opportunity to] see how others live from a third person perspective.”

feature | letter to the editor

LEARNING

IN NUMBERS T

here are 24 hours in a day, seven days in a week, three hundred and sixty five days in a year. Seven hours are spent at school, Monday through Friday. Hours are devoted to homework, work, and everything else that has to be crammed into a day. Variables keep multiplying in the math equation of life. One of those variables is deciding what the most important thing is and what can be put off until the last second — and if homework is one of those things that’s put off until the last second, students may need help. That’s what teachers are here for, one of them being East math teacher Lisa James. James has been teaching for 28 years, both in and out of a high school setting. She has been teaching math at East for the last 17 years. The one year she wasn’t at East, James was doing

East teacher Lisa James has dedicated herself to helping others learn the basics of math and the methods used to solve life’s problems. story dani dudash photography maya wells

long term subbing in the Lakota school district. James has taught Algebra 1, tenth grade math and is currently teaching Pre-Calculus. East teacher and head of the Math department, Michael Floyd has been working with Lisa James for six years and has seen how her personality contributes to her connection with her students. “Ms. James has strong content knowledge and is able to engage students due to being personable and caring,” says Floyd. “ [James] works well with all types of students. She is very valuable to the math department due to her flexibility and knowledge of teaching.” The welcoming nature James presents could be due to the fact that she enjoys helping students become the best person they can be. The other ten years when she wasn’t teaching

20 lakotaeastsparkonline.com October 2016

math in the classrooms at East, James was spending her time teaching in another field. “I was a radiation therapist for a little over ten years,” says James. “I taught radiation therapy students most of those 10 years when they would rotate through the hospital that I was working in.” When James was in the hospital she worked hand-in-hand with oncologists to set up and treat patients. Her job involved working with computerized treatment planning, she also worked on X-ray machines and high energy linear accelerators. James also “worked with radioactive materials when the doctors would implant them in patients,” James says that the coolest part of being a radiation therapist was when she got to see people get better and when they would come back for follow up visits.

opinion | letter to the editor

Lisa James works closely with student. James loved having the opportunity to help people every single day while she was a radiation therapist. However, because James was there to help patients through every part of their journey, sometimes the process was extremely difficult on the patient’s bodies and that was something that was unpleasant for her to watch. “Sometimes these people were very, very sick,” says James. “I got to see some (but not all) improve and live normal, healthy lives.” Seeing people’s health improve meant a lot

teacher | feature to James so when she left radiation therapy in pursuit of education, the feeling of seeing someone finally grasp a complex math concept was equally rewarding. She switched from teaching radiation therapy to teaching math because she liked the teaching aspect of her job and math was always her favorite subject in school. In addition to caring for students, James is also a big fan of the Internet and spends her time on Facebook and other sites. She also devotes her time to running, and taking care of her two pets, a puppy named Roger and a cat named Fran. “I am not a pet person, but I took on a one-week old kitten this year and a ten-week old puppy,” says James. “The puppy and kitten aren’t friends yet.” Aside from taking care of Roger and Fran, James runs in the Liberty Township and Mason communities. Each week she runs a total of 12 to14 miles. She prefers to run solo because she feels she runs too slowly to be comfortable running with someone else but enjoys the feeling of completing a personal goal. “The part that I like best about running is being done with a run,” says James. “It’s a great feeling. I’ve done three half marathons really, really slow [but] I was never the last one in. That’s my goal, not to be last.” James also spends her time volunteering on Chrysalis on the weekends doing jobs, such as lay director and helping the kitchen team. Chrysalis is a three day retreat for high schoolers held at a church to help their spiritual growth. Megan Norcom, a junior at the Butler Tech Natural service center who is studying to become a veterinarian, and a member of the East guard, attended Chrysalis in January 2016. “It was a really good experience and I learned a lot,” says Norcom. “I learned that God has a plan for everyone and that even if you don’t think so right now he will still come through for you.” Chrysalis is recommended for people looking to find ways to get more involved with God and are open to learning new things. “Everyone deserves to do it for themselves. It’s in individual thing,” says James. “Everybody gets something different and you can make it whatever you need it to be.”

According to Alisa Norcom, Megan Norcom’s mother, Chrysalis is a good opportunity for teens wanting to strengthen their connection with the church and delve into their individual spirituality. “I do think the Chrysalis program is good for teenagers to experience,” says Alisa. “It’s tough to be a teenager these days, and I think it is even tougher to be a teenager and to be open about your faith and beliefs.” According to the Megan, because James works with teenagers in a school setting, it aids her in communicating with the teens at Chrysalis and makes the retreat more relatable. East Senior Chontevia Lewis believes when it comes to James’ likable and welcoming personality, along with her knowledge of teaching, James’ students enjoy her jokes and her willingness to help them learn. “What I liked most about Ms. James was that she made math fun,” says Lewis. “She was really good at explaining things and she always made us laugh in and out of class.” If there was one word of advice that James could leave students with, she would want them to know that problem solving and thinking is going to get them farther in life than knowing how to factor an equation correctly. James believes that this is what math teaches in general and that knowing how to do these things (problem solving and thinking) will help them succeed in life. “Education is not about learning how to do number seven correctly,” says James. “It’s about learning how to think and problem solve.” Whether it is teaching Pre-Calculus, running around the streets of Liberty Township and Mason, or taking care of Fran and Roger, James encounters a magnitude of problems in her daily life. She know five plus three divided by two squared is a headache for most people but knowing how to solve this equation isn’t what’s important: it’s the thinking behind it that teaches valuable lessons like critical thinking and time management. “Thinking and problem solving is what math teaches in general,” says James. “It all works together and you can do stuff differently and get the same outcome. Knowing how to think and problem solve is going to get you farther in life than knowing how to factor something.”

Education is not about learning how to do number seven correctly, it’s about learning how to think and problem solve.

– Lisa James, East math teacher

feature | haley stevens

BROADWAY AND THEBEAUTY story karmiela white photography maya wells

Whether she’s entertaining a crowd as Tinkerbell or singing along side a Broadway star, East senior Haley Stevens shines in each role.

he stands on the stage, the lights beating down, thousands of people applauding her performance, as her idol, Kristen Chenoweth, stands beside to her. This is when Lakota East senior, Haley Stevens knew the musical theater was what she was going to pursue, despite having moments of doubt in the past. Going into the night of her 18th birthday, Stevens had no idea she would be on stage singing with a woman whom she had admired for as long as she can remember. “Kristen is the person I look to when I’m sad or happy or excited,” exclaims Stevens. “Her music makes me feel at home and I cannot begin to describe what that moment meant to me, she picked me to come up on stage with her to sing and that alone gave me enough happiness to last a lifetime.” Stevens has not always known she wanted to be involved with musical theater, in fact she was more drawn towards sports and schoolwork growing up. However, after her first performance in middle school, she traded in her cleats for the microphone and her life has never been the same. “I’ve always had a slight attraction to the musical world and everything that goes along with it,” says Stevens. “It just didn’t really click for me until I did my first production with Lakota West High School called ‘The Music Man’ and that’s when I got the musical theater bug.” Though the musical world is where her heart is, Stevens’ ultimate dream is to become a Disney princess. Although, she has not yet achieved that dream, she is practicing for the role alongside six of her closest friends in their own non-profit volunteer group called the ‘Eight Tiaras’ as Stevens plays Tinkerbell. “I love Disney,” laughs Stevens as she looks down at her Disney-themed shoes. “I just love the idea of being a princess and everything that comes along with it, I feel like it’s pretty much everyone’s childhood dream and I definitely want to make it my reality.” The idea for a princess group was sparked by Stevens’ close friend, Megan Ledford in 2013 and has taken off since then. Stevens and her friends volunteer at a variety of non-profit events such as the Ronald McDonald House, the Autism Walk, Special Olympics and Tim Tebow’s Special Needs Prom. The ‘Eight Tiaras’ believe that if they’ve made one person’s day,

they’ve completed what they set out to do. “The Tim Tebow’s Special Needs Prom was hands down one of my favorite events,” says Stevens. “[The members of Eight Tiaras] all piled into the car and once we got there, we stood there greeting for a while but then we went inside and actually started talking to people and it just made us all incredibly happy to spend time with all of the people and get to know them.” Stevens has made her presence known in the musical theater world not only at Lakota East but throughout her community, from “The Boyfriend” to “Mary Poppins,” adding to her expansive repertoire. It is participating in plays outside of school that gives Stevens the opportunity to connect with a variety of different people that have helped her discover new things about her musical ability. Stevens has performed with a variety of different organizations, including Acting Up, a non-profit organization based in Mason, Ohio. It gives youth an opportunity to experience the theater-arts world and perform for those in their community. Stevens has performed in “Children of Eden” with Acting Up and is currently rehearsing for the upcoming performance of “The Addams Family.” “Haley is a such a talented performer and she is someone that is willing to take risks to play all kinds of different roles,” says President of Acting Up, Lauren Peebles. “In this year alone, I have seen Haley in roles ranging from a mermaid to a teenage boy and that just shows so much about her personality.” Along with gaining experience with Acting Up, Stevens works alongside professional performers. With each show Stevens feels like she is learning more and more about not only theatrical arts, but herself as well. “I’ve met people in Acting Up that I still remain in contact with, I love performing with everyone there,” says Stevens. “I’ve met my best friend there as well as someone that might as well be my second mom: she played my real mom when I performed ‘Mary Poppins.’” When Stevens signed up to participate in Acting Up’s production of “Children of Eden,” she had no idea she would be meeting one of her closest friends, Gabe Hoyer, who has since watched her discover who she is on and off stage. Hoyer thinks of Steven as his “little sister” and has bonded with her immensely since

haley stevens | feature the production as they both share the same admiration for the musical theater world. “Theater is the only thing that I can think of that can make a person laugh, cry, and think all in one, two and a half hour setting.” says Hoyer. “I believe that there is something sacred in storytelling, in conveying human experiences.” The passion that Stevens has with musical theater can be seen by everyone surrounding her, including her best friend and East senior, Sondra Dietsch. Dietsch and Stevens have known each other for 10 years and they have both watched each other grow with their performances on stage. “The immense dedication she has put into all the plays she has done over the years never seizes to amaze me,” says Dietsch. “She is just so intense with everything she does and put so much passion into all with so much grace.” Dietsch has worked with Stevens in many plays but the most recent performance was East’s spring musical “The Boyfriend” in which Stevens played Polly Browne and Dietsch played Hortense. Dietsch recalls one specific moment when Stevens was preparing to sing a huge number where she had to cry and she remembers Stevens being intense every time before she had to perform that scene. “Haley is one of those people that will do anything for what she is passionate about and you can just see it in her,” says Dietsch. “Once she gets in her mojo there’s no stopping her.”

Haley is just one of those people that will do anything for what she is passionate about and you can just see it in her. Once she gets in her mojo there’s no stopping her. – Sondra Dietsch, East senior Stevens has performed in eight different plays with East, and whether it be cast or genre, each play differs from the last. East Theater teacher Kristen Statt explains that there is a long thought process that goes into deciding what the kids show, winter show, and spring musical will be for that year. “We look at it as a three-year cycle period. We want to give all of the students a variety of experiences in different plays,” says Statt. “It also helps them find out what they like best and if we find out that the students as a whole really like a certain genre, we will take that into consideration going into the following year.” In trying to improve her singing abilities, Stevens has been studying opera alongside her vocal instructor, Karl Resnik, for the last year and a half. Opera was born in Italy in the late 16th century and has grown into a learning tool for the musical theater world. Kristen Chenoweth, Eden Manziel, and Audra

McDonald are among some singers that have studied opera. “Opera is a very specific art form, you are telling a narrative while singing with full Orchestra and that is what makes it so astounding,” says Resnik. “The mores of the time, the way people dressed, and how the music is played are all things that you simply must know.” Stevens’ mom, Kelly Stevens, has been with Stevens every step of the way as she goes from play to play. Kelly has not missed a single beat when it comes to her daughter’s world of musical theater and princesses. “I’ve watched Haley grow into such a beautiful human being who has such a passion for musical theater,” says Kelly. “Whenever she puts on that green fairy dress, that when is when she smiles the brightest. Simply knowing that your daughter finds the most joy in making others happy, what more could you ask for?”

October 2016 lakotaeastsparkonline.com 23

FROM PAST

TO PRESENT The purpose of zoos has transformed from displaying animals for profit, to working toward conservationism and education. story morgan kile | photography maya wells | infographic sophia spivey

opinion | letter to the editor

he exhibits he cagesare areempty. empty.The zoo is eerily silent in The contrast zoo istoeerily the silent, usual in commotion contrast tothat the paints usual thecommotion night. Peoplethat walkpaints around thelooking night. People into thewalk exhibits around void looking of the usual into animals the exhibits that void ofin the reside theirusual habitats. animals that reside in their habitats. On May 15, 2015 the Columbus Zoo andOnAquarium May 15,celebrated 2015 the the Columbus 10th annual Zoo and Aquarium Endangered Species celebrated Day. They theshowcased 10th annual the EndangeredofSpecies importance animalDay extinction and showcased by having the importance of endangered animals animalinextinction the zoo “vanish” by havingfrom the endangered their exhibitsanimals to represent in thehow zooa“vanish” world without from their cages them wouldtoappear. represent These how cages a world were without kept them would empty until the appear. zoo visitors, These which cages were were ofkept all emptytook ages, untila the pledge zootovisitors, help save which wildlife. were of all ages, However, took a pledge zoos have to help notsave always wildlife. focused on animal However, conservation. zoos, such Theas evolution the Columbus of zoosZoo has and Aquarium, caused their purpose have not to change always dramatically. focused on animal conservation. According to Professor The evolution of Philosophy of zoos and has caused their purpose Environmental Policy to at Georgia change dramatically. Institute of According to Technology Bryan Professor Norton,ofzoos Philosophy have evolved and Environmental in three main ways Policy which at Georgia can include Institute moving of Technology toward conservationism, Bryon Nortan,acting zoos as have economic evolved in three and engines, maincreating ways including naturalisticmoving environments toward conservationism, for the animals. acting as economic engines, andAccording creating naturalistic to Norton, environments there has been for the an animals. evolution of zoos. He explains that uneven there According was an oldtotradition Nortan,ofthere menageries, has been which an uneven evolution continue on today of as roadside zoos. Hezoos. explains However, that there have they was annot oldevolved traditionand of menageries, continue towhich keep continueinon“dreadful animals today as conditions.” roadside zoos. Other However, zoos they have have progressed not evolved into hospitals and continue or retirement to keep animals taking homes, in “dreadful in animals conditions.” that are Other “no longer zoos have progressed valued for the purpose into that hospitals they were or retirement bred for.” homes, In thetaking past, in zoos animals displayed thatanimals are “notolonger make avalued profit,for says theNorton. purposeNow, that they zooswere havebred changed for.” their Inpurpose the past,tozoos become displayed more animals conservationally to make a profit, says focused by Nortan. accrediting Now,themselves zoos have changed through their purpose zoological trade to become organizations. more conservationally The voluntary focused includes process by accrediting self-review themselves to an institution’s through zoological trade adherence to the organizations. organization’s The standards, voluntary process includes submission of self-review accreditation, to an institution’s supporting adherence toan the documents, on-site organization’s visit, evaluation standards, and submission review. The oftrade accreditation, organizationssupporting include documents, the Association and an of on-site Zoos and visit, Aquariums evaluation and review. (AZA), founded The intrade 1924, organizations and the Zoological include the Association Association of America of Zoos (ZAA), and founded Aquariums in (AZA),Both 1990. founded of theinorganizations’ 1924, and the core Zoological missions Association involve protecting of America animal welfare. (ZAA), This founded is done in 1990. by creating Both ofsafety the organization’s’ regulations for corestaff, missions the involveand public protecting the animals. animal welfare by creating safety Norton regulations says during for staff, thethe 1970s, public, theand public the animals. took notice of the conditions and environment of Nortan animals says in roadside during zoos. the 1970s, This resulted the public in tookattendance less notice of the and conditions support. and They environment then kickof animals started the inmovement roadside zoos, for expecting resulting in higher less attendance animal careand standards support.and They developing then kickstarted various the movementmethods. conservation for expecting higher animal care standards and developing various conservation methods. cross the nation, 231 accredited zoos and aquariums Across theparticipate nation, 231 in helping accredited conserve zoos andendangered aquariums participate species according in helping conserve to the endangered AZA. Currently, species there according are 41,415 to species the AZA. on Currently, the International there are Union 41,415 for Conservation species on the of International Nature (IUCN)Union and the for Natural Conservation Resources Red of Nature List, a list (IUCN) which provides and Natural an understanding Resources Red of List, wildlife what a list which speciesprovides are in danger an understanding of extinction of what wildlife species are in danger of

2 lakotaeastsparkonline.com October 2016

reported byreported extinction AZA. by Association of Zoos andInAquariums. the past year, according to the program Endangered In the pastEarth, year, produced according by to the Endangered program Endangered Species journalist Earth, Craig produced Kasnoff,bytheEndangered number of Species journalist endangered species Craig on Kasnoff, the vergethe of number extinction of endangered has increasedspecies from on 39 the percent vergeinof2015 extinction to 40 has increased percent in 2016. from 39 percent in 2015 to 40 percent Library in 2016. Media Specialist for the Columbus ZooLibrary and Aquarium Media Specialist Sheila Campbell for the Columbus says that Zoo and their zoo Aquarium helps manySheila species Campbell and breeds saysfrom that their all over zoothe helps world, many currently specieshousing and breeds overfrom 700 all over and species the more world,than currently 10,000housing specimens. over 700 species The and Columbus more than Zoo10,000 and Aquarium specimens. opened in 1990 The Columbus with animals Zoo donated and Aquarium by a localopened family in 1990 who owned witha Columbus animals donated newspaper, by a but local is familyhome now who toowned 77 species a Columbus that appear newspaper, on the but is now Critically Threatened, home toEndangered, 77 species Endangered that appear on Vulnerable and the Threatened, Red List Critically of Endangered Endangered, Species. Endangered, From the US and Fish Vulnerable and WildlifeRed Endangered List of Endangered Species List the Species. Columbus FromZoo the and US Aquarium Fish and Wildlife34 houses Endangered species, and Species 17 species List the from Columbus the US Zoo and Fish and Wildlife Aquarium Threatened houses 34 Species species, Listand to 17 species help preservefrom them,the according US Fish to Campbell. and Wildlife Threatened “Our collection Species List consists to help of preserve a wide variety them, according of animals to Campbell. from those very common in captivity “Our to collection those that consists are very ofrare,” a wide Campbell variety of animals says. “In mostfrom casesthose larger very mammals common are part in captivity of cooperative to those management that are very programs rare,” Campbell and are says. “In from acquired mostother caseszoos larger where mammals they were are bred part of acooperative as result of very management specifically programs recommended and are acquired to pairings from ensure otherlong-term zoos whereviability they were of bred the as a result captive population.” of very specifically recommended pairings Cooperative to ensuremanagement long-term viability programs of the are captive population.” designed to help animals breed together and Cooperative create bettermanagement relationships programs with one are designed During another. to help the animals 1970-80s,breed Campbell together says and Columbus the create better Zoo relationships participated inwith the first one another. During zoological breeding the 1970-80s, of GiantCampbell Asian Pond says the Columbus Turtles, Gibba Turtles Zoo participated and Adanson’s in the Turtles. first zoological They also are breeding engagedof with Giant the Asian breeding Pond of Turtles, Gibba Critically Endangered Turtlesspecies and Adanson’s including Turtles. Painted They also are Terrapins, Rotiengaged Island with Snake-necked the breeding Turtles of Critically and Vietnam Endangered Pond Turtles. species including Painted Terrapins, At leastRoti 40 species Island Snake-necked of freshwater Turtles, turtles and Vietnam tortoises Pond bred Turtles. at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, There have naming been the zoo at least as the40largest species indoor of freshwatercollection breeding turtles and in thetortoises country have from 1988 been bred to 2005. at the Columbus Zoo, naming the zoo as the Thelargest Worldindoor Society breeding for thecollection Protection in the of country from Animals reported 1988that to 2005. only two percent of the world’s The threatened World Society or endangered for the Protection species are of Animals reported registered in breeding thatprograms. only two percent of the world’s According threatened to Norton, or endangered extensive species selective are registered in breeding could breeding create programs. birth defects and situations According in which to Norton, the population extensivewould selective be breedingoffcould “worse than itcreate wouldbirth have defects been” if and no situations had measures in which been taken. the population He sites the would Florida be “worse off Panther as anthan example it would where have highbeen” inbreeding if no preventive took place. measures This resulted had in been sterilization taken. Heand sites in the Florida some cases, having Panther oneas testicle. an example where highAside inbreeding from conservation, took place. This zoosresulted have also in sterilization evolved by and expanding in some aspects cases,ofhaving the local one testicle. Norton calls this addition "economic economy. developmental Aside from conservation, engines." He zoos references have also the evolved by expanding Chattanooga, Tennessee’s aspects downtown of the local area economy. which experienced Nortan calls anthis economic addition turnaround “economic evolved by expanding aspects of the local

package | evolution of zoos due to the development of the Tennessee aquarium. The downtown area has now become an “atmosphere of a sustainable city” in contrast to its previous empty streets and high crime rates. The area still continues to develop around the aquarium, and Norton says the same can be said for zoos. “Zoos have adopted a community service or community enrichment emphasis,” Norton says. “In all those ways the zoo is very different than the original menagerie. There was very little criticism of the negative ways in which the animals were presented but over time public criticism and taste have changed. Zoo’s had to change in order to remain viable.” Another way the public has impacted the evolution of zoos, according to Norton, is by creating naturalistic habitats for the animals. While the exhibit is not perfectly reflective of an animal’s natural habitat, many zookeepers

work to mimic it with trees and grass, among other features.

espite the efforts made by zoos, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) Youth Campaigns Coordinator Bridget Dillon believes zoos are not the best way to help endangered species. She says these animals should be left in the wild. “If wildlife as we know it is to survive, the primary focus must shift from collections of animals in zoos to habitat preservation in the wild. Keeping animals in cages—in zoos or any animal display—has no positive effect whatsoever on fostering respect for animals in the wild,” Dillon says. “They are still hunted, poached, captured for display, and otherwise decimated.” Although animals rights activists advocate to not have animals in enclosures, for now the

Endangered Species by the Numbers An endangered species is one whose numbers are so small that it is at risk of extinction. The number of endangered species has been increasing over the years. Top Three Endangered Animals

Nearly one third of species examined are threatened with extinction

attainable focus is on improving the habitats. Nigel Rothfels, the director of the Office of Undergraduate Research at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, also acknowledges there will never be a “perfect zoo.” “As technologies of exhibition evolve and as our ideas about which sorts of animals are ideal for exhibit change, zoos—at least the more ambitious ones—do improve over time,” Rothfels says. “There won’t, of course, ever be a perfect zoo. As soon as someone thinks they have designed one, someone else will come along with a bigger, better idea.” Rothfels also adds on that good zoo designs would ideally be made to “suit the needs of individual animals.” For this reason, a person may build what they perceive is a “perfect exhibit” but it may be suited for the animal of that species. While the idea of a “perfect zoo” may seem unattainable, AZA zoos, according to Campbell, continue to put in hard work to protect wildlife and their habitats in many ways. Campbell says the AZA’s Saving Animals From Extinction (SAFE) program, scientists and members are working toward identifying threats, developing action plans, raising resources and engaging the public to save species. “Every AZA zoo is working hard to protect wildlife and wild habitat for future generations to enjoy,” Campbell says. “The Columbus Zoo partners with other AZA-accredited zoos, whether saving species on the brink of extinction or ensuring species never reach such a precarious state.”

Florida Panther

41 percent of amphibian species are threatened Atlantic Bluefin Tuna

33 percent of reef building corals are threatened Loggerhead Sea Turtle

sources endangeredearth.com, livescience.com

26 lakotaeastsparkonline.com October 2016

ast senior Zoology student Mollie Black believes that a zoo’s mission is to help endangered species. During the 2015-16 school year, Black participated in a project on endangered species where she researched the African Penguin and planned a proposal to help save these animals. Black suggested there should be a wildlife preserve created in Mossel Bay, South Africa, in order to provide an educational experience while raising money for the conservation of this endangered species. “I think zoos and the people that work there One in four mammals genuinely care about conserving wildlife and (excluding humans) are educating the public on endangered species endangered and ways to help,” Black says. Norton points out that the public will always be “split between those people who see zoos as contributors to the community, as providing reasonable and healthy recreation and as contributors to conservation.” “There was a period where zoos were for enjoyment and very human oriented, but over the years they have evolved to paying a lot more attention to the animals. However, there will be continuing criticism which in some cases are quite justified,” Norton says. “They have become more [conservationists] and community-oriented and all those changes One in eight birds are have made zoos more viable for the future.” endangered

letter from the editor | package

opinion | letter to the editor

Evolution of Zoos

1000 B.C.

3500 B.C.

A huge collection of China’s animals is founded.

Earliest known zoo created near Hierakonpolis, Egypt.

For centuries the purpose of zoos has been to collect animals and use them for entertainment. In the 21st century, many zoos started trying to protect and conserve the animals.

1520 Spanish explorer discovers a huge collection of animals at Tenochtitlan

24th Century B.C.1st Century B.C. The purpose of zoos is to collect animals and observe them. Animals are also used for entertainment.

1828 London Zoo opens and sets template for modern zoos with taxonomic displays, wrought iron and barren cages.

1st-20th Century The purpose of zoos is for the entertainment of the people rather than focusing on the needs of the animals.

21st Century

1793 The first modern zoo, that still exists today, opens in Paris.

1752 Tiergarte Schonbrunn, the oldest zoo still in existence, opens.

1847 The first North American zoo opens in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

The use of technology is used to connect people with the animals in the zoos and spread the word about conservation.

1907 First zoo opens that combines naturalistic landscapes and mixed species.

1890 First American zoo opens in Philadelphia.

sources www.cbc.ca, www.spl.org 2 lakotaeastsparkonline.com October 2016

1906 Bronx Zoo controversy over unusual human exhibit.

1924 The Association of Zoos and Aquariums is founded. Now zoos must pass inspections.

1971 Seattle’s Woodland Park Zoo is reorganized around ethological and ecological themes. 2007 The Gondwana Game Reserve, the first reserve to offer access to Africa’s ‘Big Five; lions, leopards, rhinoceroses, elephants and water buffalo, opens in South Africa.

package | zoo safety

SAFETY BEYOND

BARRIERS Aside from installing barriers, zoos take other safety measures that protect the animals, staff and visitors.

story cristina francisco photography maya wells infographic taylor anderson

fter briefly spending time admiring the animals at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, East senior Blake Dodson quickly turns his attention to the sound of laughter and excitement in front of him. He proceeds to do a headcount of the small bodies as the children move around each other trying to get a better view of the elephants in front of them. After making sure that they were a safe distance from the enclosure and counting that all 10 children were present, he too enjoys the

visit to the elephant exhibit. It isn’t long before the children are back in line formation between the teacher and Dodson and onto the next visit to meet a new friend. For two weeks during the summer of 2015, Dodson volunteered as a teacher's aide for the educational summer camp hosted by the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden. As a teacher’s aide, Dodson says he and another aide were tasked with keeping a “watchful eye” on the 10 children in their group. Having aides to focus on a group of children is one of the ways the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden ensures safety to their visitors. The assurance of zoo safety is not only provided by extra help from volunteers, but is a task that is achieved through organizations, protocols, the staff and federal agencies. In Ohio, between the years of 1990 and 2016, in all Association of Zoos and Aquariums

28 lakotaeastsparkonline.com October 2016

The zoo has implemented safety precautions, such as this glass wall in order to protect its visitors.

(AZA) accredited zoos, there have been eight total incidents involving an escape or attack resulting in human injury, and 25 total incidents that resulted in animal death according to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). However, in these instances, zoos have protocols and guidelines to be followed that are set by the USDA.

n May of 2016, the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden had an incident occur where a 4-yearold fell into the enclosure of lowland gorillas and came into physical contact with one named Harambe. The death of Harambe was a result of zoo officials determining that the boy’s life was at serious risk. The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden declined to comment on the incident and on zoo safety. In a survey of 150 people, 90 percent of East students said they have never had any personal experiences where

zoo safety | package

A well planned, effectively managed security program protects the public, the zoo’s employees, the animals, and the facilities. It should be a prime objective of all zoos, safari parks and sanctuaries. – Alan Sironen, associate member of the AZA and professional member of the ZAA they were concerned about their safety at a zoo. However, concerns about zoo safety begin to arise as zoos are being looked at closely by the public, especially through social media.

espite these concerns, Alan Sironen, an associate member of the AZA and professional member of the Zoological Association of America (ZAA) continues to work on accrediting zoos and ensuring safety. He says a safe and secure zoo can be defined as providing protection for people and animals from physical harm and the protection of property against theft, damage and destruction. Although it is required for zoos to have a license with the USDA, zoos can voluntarily become accredited by zoological trade organizations such as the AZA and the ZAA. Zoological trade organizations set high regulation standards for zoos. They provide regulations to ensure the safety of the animals, staff and the public. “The best zoos want to be accredited by a zoological trade organization,” Sironen says. “It is critical that trade organizations enforce their standards. A park security program requires a partnership among the institution’s

management, employees, security personnel, visitors and local law enforcement agencies.” Sironen says accreditation includes “self review by the institution or program against the standard practices, submission of accreditation information and supporting documents, an onsite visit by an evaluation team of peer experts and a subsequent review and decision by the accrediting body about accredited status.”

or animals, zoo safety includes inspection of enclosures and the assurance that animals are being kept in safe conditions. An animal’s well being is examined and checked against the conditions of the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) created in 1966. AWA requires that “minimum standards of care and treatment be provided for certain animals bred for commercial sale, used in research, transported commercially, or exhibited to the public.” Within the USDA is the Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) tasked with enforcing the AWA. One requirement is for facilities such as zoos to enhance the environment of the primates in order to help promote psychological well-being. For primates, the facilities are required to

have a plan drawn up to address this which can then be inspected by the APHIS at their request at any given time. The plan has to include how the facility will address the social needs of non-human primates, promote environmental enrichment by providing “non injurious species-typical activities such as swings, variedfood items and “increased cage complexities,” and how the facility will address non-human primates who need “special attention.” Public affairs specialist for the APHIS Tanya Espinosa, adds on that people licensed under the AWA must provide animals with adequate housing, sanitation, nutrition, water and veterinary care. She says that they also must protect animals from extreme weather and temperatures. “In order for facilities to conduct regulated activities, such as exhibit, they are required to have a license with USDA,” Espinosa says. “The AWA ensures that the animals that are regulated are being properly taken care of. This is important not only to this agency, but also to the general public and our stakeholders. The regulations have [also] been updated as needed and vary depending on the type of animal.” To further ensure zoo safety, the AWA

Cincinnati Zoo Exhibit Dimensions The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden has over 65.4 acres of land and approximately 2,800 animals with exhibit dimensions ranging for each species. *Editor's note: The exhibits below are not to scale. Giraffe Gorilla Cheetah Tiger

1500ft x 15ft x 8ft

28ft x 24ft x 10ft

source cincinnati zoo & botanical garden

40ft x 20ft x 8ft

24ft x 15ft x 8ft

Penguin

9ft x 20ft x 4ft

package | zoo safety

A zoological park security program requires a partnership among the institution’s management, employees, security personnel, visitors and local law enforcement agencies. – Alan Sironen, associate member of the AZA and professional member of the ZAA also address the requirements for enclosures. It discusses the standards for ventilation, condition and the cleaning and sanitation of the enclosure. In addition, it has specific requirements for barriers which can include public barriers and perimeter fencing for both outdoor housing facilities and sheltered housing facilities. For primary enclosures as stated in the AWA, spacing is determined by “the typical weight of animals of its species, except for brachiating species and great apes.” By looking at the species weight, the AWA determines the enclosures floor space area and the height.

he safety of zoos aside from including animal regulations is also dependent upon inspections of the zoo itself. Inspections are conducted when an incident occurs or for regular check ups which varies on the organizations that zoos work with. Because all zoos are licensed by the USDA, inspections are done on average once a year. However, if a zoo works with a zoological trade organization, Sironen says that there are “different layers of examination” involved within each one. He explains that the AZA has only one inspection for accreditation. However, the ZAA has a double layer to accreditation. First, if the facilities want membership they are examined and then re-examined to become an accredited facility. “Both of the organizations examine their accredited facilities a minimum of every five years,” Sironen says. “They re-examine and send in inspection teams for examination prior to the five years if asked by the zoo’s governing body, if an

injury or death occurs, [or if] there is change in zoo leadership, and possibly adverse press or USDA Inspection reports.” Consequences for zoos not meeting the standards imposed the zoological trade organizations can include their membership being revoked or not being granted accreditation status. For the APHIS, if there is a violation against the AWA, the violation is documented on the inspection report and is discussed with the licensee. The facility will then be given time to correct the noncompliance; however, if the facility has “repeat noncompliances or a particularly grievous noncompliance,” the APHIS may decide to open up an investigation which will lead to enforcement action. “An investigation can lead to an Official Letter of Warning, which does not contain a monetary penalty, but lets the facility know that they are not in compliance with the AWA and need to come back into compliance,” Espinosa says. “It also lets the facility know that we’ll be keeping a closer eye on them and will take further action if necessary.” Investigations can also lead to a stipulation which does contain a monetary penalty and where the licensee agrees on the penalty or payment. Then it is able to “come back into compliance.” Another option is for the investigation to be sent up to the Administrative Law Judges, federal judges that can assess a penalty fine and suspend or revoke a license.

hile there are inspections done to check on the wellness of animals and inspections on the conditions of the zoo for the public, Sironen also emphasizes the importance of an employee knowledge on protocols to further ensure the safety of animals and the public. “There cannot be assurance of uniformity of response if a reference text or manual is not available to each employee and training cannot begin,” Sironen says. “Employees must be familiar with the procedures, their role, and mock drills must be scheduled regularly.” As a volunteer, Dodson’s training was different than an employee’s. “We didn’t receive intensive training, [it was

more like a] general briefing,” Dodson says. “If an animal escaped from its enclosure which was and is highly unlikely to happen, our job was to instruct guests and or camp groups to move inside the nearest building and allow zoo employees to handle the situation.”

lthough zoos are inspected regularly, people who advocate against zoos disagree with its effectiveness. Youth Campaigns Coordinator Bridget Dillon from the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) argues that there is no such thing as a “good” zoo. She says that “precious funds” often times are wasted on improvements for landscaping and gift shops rather than making conditions “more humane” for animals. As groups continue to advocate for more improved conditions for animals, zoo safety laws and regulations continue to be improved and updated. Sironen says that the ZAA reviews its accreditation standards and policies yearly, and makes changes as needed based on best practices. “Laws regulating zoos and safari parks are very effective,” Sironen says. “Laws combined with facility written emergency procedures are critical to safety and security of visitors, employees, and animals. A well planned, effectively managed security program protects the public, the zoo’s employees, the animals, and the facilities. It should be a prime objective of all zoos, safari parks and sanctuaries.” Despite the incident of the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, Dodson believes that all of the zoo’s safety rules and protocols are “very effective” and says that the zoo continues to be a safe place that he enjoys to visits. Dodson attributes this to proudly being able to say that during his volunteering time, the other aid, the teacher, the group of children and him never had any safety issue. “Most zoos, and especially the Cincinnati Zoo in particular, do an excellent job building safe and functional enclosures,” Dodson says. “Any zoo has to balance safety, viewing ability, and the comfort of the animals when building enclosures and the Cincinnati Zoo does an excellent job of that.”

HELPING

HANDS Through the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden’s Volunteen Program, East senior Ally Butterfield increases children’s awareness of animals and the zoos efforts toward sustainability. story alyssa hetterich photography maya wells

he remembers lazy summer days filled with late mornings, lounging by the pool, or Netflixing on the couch. Now her days with an early drive down I-75, a classroom of elementary-aged kids, and the noises and energy that come along with them. For East senior Ally Butterfield, every summer since her freshman year has been spent volunteering at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden as a part of their Volunteen program. Butterfield gets to help kids learn about animals, the zoo and the efforts the zoo is making towards sustainability. The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden first opened up volunteer opportunities in response to their belief in offering service opportunities to teens interested in the natural world says Mollie O’Neil Manager of Volunteer and Intern Programs. “[Volunteers] support and lead activities, crafts, songs, zoo hikes and other games all while improving their education and interpretive skills,” O’Neil says. “They are fellow staff members working with us to make things run smoothly.” The opportunity to volunteer at the zoo was brought to her by her mother, Sandy Butterfield, who knew of Ally’s love for animals. Ever since she was a child, Ally wished to become a veterinarian or a zoo vet. Knowing this, Sandy came to her with the idea of helping at the zoo in hopes that she would get to experience a little of her childhood dream and while also putting something good into her community. “It’s really exciting seeing her pursuing what she’s always wanted to do and discovering [new things] like working with the little kids and considering possibly a new career path,” Butterfield says. “Beyond that it’s great that she wants to volunteer her time helping others,

Ally Butterfield holds turtle in a science classroom. especially doing something she already likes.” In addition to spending time with the animals, Ally also found a new passion when working with little kids as a Volunteen in the Education Department. It was Ally’s job to assist the teacher, entertain the kids and help them to better understand wildlife and humans’ affect on the ecosystem. However, with kids ranging from kindergarten to eighth grade, her main priority was keeping things fun. Games and activities like these allow for the students to interactively engage in their learning. One way in which the students learned about ‘going-green,’ or living life in an environmentally conscious way, was by seeing how their lunches can affect the animals around them. Each week the kids’ lunches would be separated such that there would be pile of trash and a pile of recyclables. At the beginning, the trash pile far exceeded the recyclable pile but after learning about alternative methods of lunch utensils, the piles quickly evened out. “The first day it starts out and there’s a giant trash tray and a little tray of recycling. Then we say look at all this trash and think of ways we can reduce it.” Ally says. “Especially plastic bags, because turtles will eat them and think they’re jelly fish, so we’d go from like 24 plastic bag on Monday to see if we can reduce them to zero on Friday.” Fellow Volunteen and East senior Annabeth Dalton also volunteered during the summer of 2016 and has seen the ways in which the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden conducts its recycling programs. For example, each restaurant at the zoo has three waste receptacles;

one for trash, one for recyclables and one for compost. The compost is then taken to a large pile tucked away from the public where it can then decompose into soil enriching material. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, compost is organic material that can be added to soil to help plants grow. Dead twigs, branches, vegetable waste and fruit scraps are examples of things that can be composted. Of discarded materials, 20 to 30 percent comes from food scraps and yard waste that could instead be composted. Compost piles provide a place for waste to be taken that is not in the landfill where it will take up space and release greenhouse gases like methane. Seeing the ways in which composting can better the environment, Dalton has even attempted to implement techniques like composting in her own home. “We do a lot of recycling, we have composts, all of that. We really do focus on recyclable products and recycling everything you can. My family has always recycled and been environmentally conscious,” says Dalton. “[Because we] just moved to a larger property, I’m trying to convince my parents to start a compost pile.” The zoo’s overall determination to helping the public and future generations to better understand preservation of the Earth’s resources is the message that has not been ignored by Ally or her students. “They’re doing a lot with conservation, just zoos in general,” Ally says. “I feel like people usually have a bad rep of zoos, like they’re trapping the animals and they want to be free, but we treat the animals so well.”

October 2016 lakotaeastsparkonline.com 31

package | zoo funding

DONATIONS FOR FUNDING Zoo donors are essential to zoos as they help to cover costs for the animals needs and other aspects.

story sophia spivey | photography maya wells | infographic bryn mangold

he car coasts down the highway, dodging potholes and changing lanes. The radio hums a song over the chirps, growls and rustling coming from the backseat. Lizards, monkeys and other small animals travel to schools throughout the Cincinnati area in a donated 2013 Honda Odyssey from Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky Honda Dealers. Without this donation, the zoo would not be able to transport the animals to teach children how they live and educate them about zoos. Aside from spending six percent of their expenses on educational purposes, the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden disperses the remaining 94 percent among categories such as animal and plant care, facilities and external properties, park operations, events and group functions, administration, conservation and research, and fundraising. According to the 2014-15 Annual Report, the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden received $40,063,912 in revenue and paid $38,628,154 in expenses. The zoo receives $9,673,634, or 24 percent, of their revenue

from gifts, grants and donations. Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden Director of Major Gifts and Strategic Initiatives Russell Doyle says donors such as Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Frisch’s Restaurants Inc., Frito-Lay Inc., and The Kroger Co. help the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden accomplish many of their goals when it comes to constructing habitats. Contributions from these sources go into “one big pot,” unless the benefactor requests that their donation goes toward a specific usage. According to Doyle, every single animal has a different range of costs for items such as their food, housing, “a staff dedicated to their care and enrichment” and vet care. “Elephants would be in our top three animals to care for, as you can imagine, from the cost of food perspective, they are huge and they eat a lot,” Doyle says. “Cheetahs [on the other hand] are relatively less expensive to feed due to total dietary needs, but might cost more from a vet perspective.” Even though contributors see the many

Where Does the Zoo’s Money Go? The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden spends money on numerous things to keep the zoo running and bring in more revenue.

benefits of donating to zoos, others such as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), only see the downfalls. According to PETA Youth Campaigns Coordinator Bridget Dillon, PETA feels that even though zoos claim to help animals and raise awareness, they instead help themselves while profiting from animals in the process. “Zoos claim to educate people and preserve species, but they usually fall short on both counts,” Dillon says. “Most zoo enclosures are very small, and rather than promoting respect for or an understanding of animals, signs give only the most basic information. Animals’ normal behavior is rarely discussed, because their natural needs are rarely met.” Although animal rights activists groups advocate for better conditions for the enclosures of animals and do not always believe that donations have a direct effect on animal wellness, CEO Pat Martin of the St. Gregory Group marketing communications firm believes that it is important to continue donating funds to the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden. He says this is because without the support of sponsors the zoo would not be able to continue its work with animal conservation, public education and

37% Fundraising

3% $1,230,711

Cincinnati Zoo Expenses Research & Conservation 4% $1,488,685 2015 Fiscal Year Facilities14% Education $5,226,423 $38,628,154 6% $2,141,886 Park Operations Administration $5,184,789 13% 10% $4,052,498 Events & Functions $4,896,564 13%

Animal & Plant Care $14,406,598

source russell doyle, director of development at the cincinnati zoo

32 lakotaeastsparkonline.com October 2016

zoo funding | package family entertainment. Martin manages the, Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky Honda Dealers, as they have sponsored the zoo for the past six years, supporting the Pittsburgh National Corporation (PNC) Festival of Lights and Children’s Hospital Walk for Kids. Doyle says donations and sponsors such as CincinnatiNorthern Kentucky Honda Dealers keep the zoo running efficiently. “Being not for profit offers opportunity [for] organizations, sponsors and donors,” Doyle says. “[They] support good work and like being associated with supporting a popular destination for family experiences. They help us build new exhibits, maintain our 140-year-old campus, fund important research—essentially [touching] every part of our zoo’s operations.” According to Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden Development Associate Shannon Silk, one of the biggest fundraisers for the zoo is their annual Zoofari. It includes an auction and a band performing for approximately 25,000 people in attendance, the majority of whom are donors for the zoo. Although the current zoo has been thriving since 2007 according to Doyle, WLWT, a Cincinnati news station, stated that the reports “made things look better” than they truly were. In 2013, the zoo was predicted to go into a financial red zone by 2015, where they would

They help us build new exhibits, maintain our 140year-old campus, fund important research—essentially [touching] every part of our zoo’s operations. – Russell Doyle, Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden Director of Major Gifts and Strategic Initiatives be spending more money than they were predicted to make. Grisak and Associates Financial Advisor Bryan Grisak says that based on his 16 years experience, he’d advise zoos going through a financial red zone to look at different ways to cut expenses and raise prices. Grisak stated that he would recommend they look at all aspects of the zoo’s budget to find every small detail that could be of help. “I would look at their revenue versus expenses,” Grisak says. “The first rule [for being in a financial red zone] is that the revenue [has to be] either equal or less than expense. So if their expenses exceed revenue, then [they should] consider increasing revenue by charging more for ticket prices or annual memberships.

A balanced budget, as well as a healthy revenue stream, is crucial to their survival.” Although the zoo was predicted to go into a financial red zone by 2015, the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden continues to have several other strategies for fundraising. These strategies according to Doyle, can include foundation grants and general fundraising campaigns and donations. These campaigns raise money for education, animal care and crew, and also help support their research organization. “We apply for grants which support a particular function of the zoo,” Doyle says. “For example, [we host the] education program outreach to young people who might not have the resources to participate in something like summer camp.”

Chinese Alligators at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden rest in their enclosure.

2 lakotaeastsparkonline.com October 2016

One of the main activities of Krouskop’s day is cleaning the outdoor exhibits.

THE ANIMAL WHISPERER Ever since she was a child, Libby Krouskop has dreamed of working at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens. Decades later, Krouskop’s passion remains as she’s worked in multiple departments and is now at Wildlife Canyon. story michelle chu | photography permission from cincinnati zoo & botanical garden 34 lakotaeastsparkonline.com October 2016

very time she walks into a new exhibit, she calls out to the animal on display like an old friend. “Hey, Walt!” she says to the warthog snuffling around outside. “How are you, buddy?” Walter continues to sniff at the ground before turning to move in a different direction. “What, what did you hear, bud?” she asks as he begins to pad away. Zoo keeper Libby Krouskop has worked in the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden for 20 years. Her animated and motherly care towards all her animals has led her to a variety of departments before her current position as a Senior Keeper at Wildlife Canyon. Despite the extreme temperatures and physical tasks, Krouskop passion in working with the animals outweighs the hard work. At Wildlife Canyon, Krouskop takes cares of hoofstocks, also called Ungulates, which are animals with hooves. These include two Bactrian camels, a Przewalski’s horse, three Takins, three Visayan warty pigs, and a warthog. Emus, capybaras, red pandas, and crested screamers are added into the mix. Her journey to working at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden began during a sixth grade field trip. She realized she wanted to work as a zookeeper, and continued to study Zoology at Auburn University. After graduating in 1996, she took two internships at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, first in the Reptile House and Nocturnal House, then in the Primate Center and the Elephant House. She then transferred to the African Veldt and Wildlife Canyon and settled in Wildlife Canyon when the departments separated. “I remember my very first day,” Krouskop says. “At the time, [the elephant house] took care of the camels because they did camel rides. They had baby camels at the time and they came up to me and I was just scared to death [thinking], ‘oh no, I’m going to die.’” Despite the initial fear, Krouskop became comfortable around the animals. Wildlife Canyon Team Leader Paul Reinhart remembers a time he and his family saw her working at the elephant house when a new elephant calf was born in 1998. “The building was closed but some people were allowed to come in to see the baby,” Reinhart says. “Libby was climbing over the railings, working around mother Jati and this new calf. It seemed to me that Libby was oblivious to all this going on around her and just moving through doing her job. Very comfortable. I was impressed.” Although she has worked in different departments, Krouskop’s favorite animals to work with are the Bactrian camels. Behind the display exhibits at Wildlife Canyon are the offices and stalls for each animal, taking up the space of four buildings. In the back of the camel exhibit are roofed areas for the animals to cool down during extreme temperature days and this also allows the zookeeper to approach

animal whisperer | package

Libby has a way with our Bactrian camels that is kind of unique. She’s very comfortable around them and they are comfortable around her. — Paul Reinhart, Wildlife Canyon Team Leader

them. Reinhart says Krouskop has a close and a “true team player.” “I sometimes refer to Libby as our relationship with the two camels, Humphrey and Saarai, at the zoo now. department mom.” O’Connell says. “She’s “Libby has a way with our Bactrian camels a great listener and helps you work through that is kind of unique,” Reinhart says. “She’s things when you’re upset.” Still, Krouskop is quick to dissuade the very comfortable around them and they are comfortable around her.” belief that she spends all day playing with When Krouskop goes to see the camels, animals. While there are some, like the camels they appear as if they’re waiting for her and and red pandas that she can go into the exhibit walk closer, when she speaks to them. One with, others are too dangerous for anyone, looks curiously on, while the other stretches even an experienced zoo keeper, to personally out his neck to be scratched. She blows little interact with. According to Krouskop, most of puffs of air into his nostrils, something the her day is spent cleaning the exhibits and stalls. “Cleaning is 90 percent of our job,” camels like, she says. Still, Krouskop’s quick to add that she Krouskop says. “If you don’t like to clean, enjoys working with all the animals. Up until last One of the first October, she was one of the few zookeepers who worked animals Krouskop with the Sumatran rhinos in worked with are the United States. One of the camels, and she still most endangered species of works with them rhinos with only about 100 today. living in the wild, according to the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, the last Sumatran rhino living in the Western Hemisphere was Harapan who was transported back to the Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary in Indonesia. “Being a part of the Sumatran rhinos was probably one of the biggest highlights,” Krouskop says. “They’re such a rare animal, only a handful of people in the world have taken care of them and I was one of them.” Although Krouskop’s devotion is working with the animals, her peers praise that her personality also transfers to working with other keepers at Wildlife Canyon. Senior Keeper Ashley O’Connell calls Krouskop level leaded

you’re in the wrong business.” On busy days, starting with cleaning, training or a visit from the vet, Krouskop admits that there are times when she realizes she hasn’t seen the animals out in the exhibit because she’s been “behind the scenes” all day. When she has a moment to herself, she can’t believe that it has already been two decades since she began her career at the zoo. “The Cincinnati Zoo has a lot of longevity; people spend the majority of their careers here,” Krouskop says. “Whereas some other zoos, there are always positions open, people come and go, but here, this is the place people come if they want [a] career.”

culture | reviews

REVIEWS: MUSIC THROWBACK: THE DOORS ARTIST: THE DOORS RELEASE DATE: JAN. 4, 1967

On January 4, 1967 a band emerged from the midst of turbulent revolution and brought intellectualism into music like no one had before. Named after Aldous Huxley’s book “The Doors of Perception”, which discusses Huxley’s experience with psychedelics. The Doors selftitled debut album truly takes you on a strange and dark journey like no other. The album begins with the lively “Break On Through (To the Other Side)” and ends with, well, “The End,” Scattered between are nine other equally awe-inspiring songs that explore various genres of music. Securing a number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100 in July of 1967, Guitarist Robby Krieger’s “Light My Fire” launched the band into stardom with its punchy, Latin flare. Jim Morrison makes less of an appearance vocally in this song, but percussionist John Densmore and keyboardist Ray Manzarek keep the music alive with a fourminute instrumental solo that creates an engaging rhythm. Even though this album has a number of fast-paced songs, the band does an excellent job

22 A MILLION ARTIST: BON IVER Bon Iver’s cryptic release of their new album, 22 A Million, perfectly reflects the lyrics and composition of the album itself. After a 5 year disappearance, Bon Iver comes back with a new, radically “alternative” album that has stirred even die-hard Bon Iver fans. Much like the enigmatic artwork that is displayed on the album’s cover the songs themselves are titled with symbols. Among the song list is “715 CR∑∑KS”, “____45____”, and “33 ‘GOD’” which form a bit of code that isn’t meant to be deciphered but absorbed. Bon Iver intended the title of the songs to reflect the music and he succeeded. With sporadic instrumentals that somehow fit well together and mysterious vocals with voice alterations these songs leave the audience questioning if this album is Bon Iver’s at all. The mix of electronic-generated sounds with real, hardy instrumentals makes for a sound that can only be described as “alternative”. In “22 (OVER S∞∞N)” and others on the album, the sound is taken over completely by abstract noise for an extended period of time followed by a saxophone sound then normal vocals again which all add a sense of intriguing ambiguity to the album. In any other case this mix of odd lyrics, vocals and instrumentals would be looked down upon; however, in the case of 22, A Million, Bon Iver does it in a way of their own that makes all three ambiguous cases fit together to form a cohesive, enjoyable album. – Richard Giang 36 lakotaeastsparkonline.com October 2016

photography fair use

of balancing the mood with more ethereal tracks such as “End of the Night”. This album does not stop short of underlying references to drug usage. “The Crystal Ship” may seem like a hypnotic love song on the surface, but it encompasses a haunting goodbye to Morrison’s life before fame that hints LSD use. To conclude the album, The Doors prove their talent with that they are known for–mixing poetry and rock n’ roll. “The End” is an eleven minute trance-like rock anthem that delves into dark poetic nature, with Morrison’s voice adding a somber disposition as the song trails off to a dramatic finish. “The Doors” is undoubtedly the best album out of The Doors’ six studio albums before Morrison’s mysterious death in 1971. Their unparalleled musical style shows a strikingly different approach to music in the 60’s compared more uplifting songs by bands such as The Beatles and The Monkees. Even though The Doors are rapidly approaching their 50th anniversary, this album is without a doubt, timeless. – Maya Wells

IDINA. ARTIST: IDINA MENZEL Stepping out of the world of Broadway and winter themed Disney sing-alongs, Adele Dazeem, sorry, Idina Menzel has successfully synthesized her image as a powerhouse pop singer in her self titled new album, “idina.” ensuring that no one will ever forget her name on purpose ever again. The same distinct voice that allowed her to make headlines in productions like Rent and Disney’s Frozen serves her well in this album, which is one strong, catchy song after another. “I poured my heart out and used my music as a place to kind of figure some things out. It’s a really personal album,” Menzel said in an interview with Entertainment Weekly on her new album and it shows. Although the same theme of empowerment seems to follow every song, almost to the point of repetitiveness, the catchy beat in tracks like “Like Lightning” provide a fresh background for Menzel’s soulful vocals, which more than makes up for it. Songs like “Show Me” and “Queen of Swords” show off her stupendous voice even more, layering the modern sound from Menzel and her message of empowerment with a variety of moods, from apologetic, to angry, to relieved. The effect is a wonderful mix of vocals that creates a feel-good atmosphere, despite the varying subject content. It’s the perfect album for karaoke night with the girls, or even just blaring music in the car. In a few words, “idina” is exactly like the woman herself: strong, powerful and unashamedly unique. – Vivian Kolks

REVIEWS: MOVIES With Halloween frighteningly near, it’s the perfect time to cozy up to an old Tim Burton film. The 2007 release, “Sweeney Todd” is a sublime mix of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and High School Musical. Barber Benjamin Barker (Johnny Depp) is sent away by the evil Judge Turpin (Alan Rickman) who lusts after Barker’s wife, Lucy (Laura Michelle Kelly). Years later Barker returns to reclaim his wife and daughter Johanna (Jayne Wisener). He revisits his old shop on Fleet St. and meets Mrs. Lovett (Helena Bonham Carter) who is selling meat pies. She leads Barker to believe, who now goes by Sweeney Todd, that his wife is dead. Todd vows to stop at nothing to kill judge Turpin. When his initial plan fails, he becomes a serial killer slitting the throats of his clients who get a little more than “just a trim.” Unsure how to dispose of the bodies, Todd and Lovett bake them into meat pies. With the idea that all humans are terrible and deserve to die being the justification for cannibalism, Lovett and Todd’s symbiotic

reviews | culture

THROWBACK: SWEENEY TODD DIRECTOR: TIM BURTON RELEASE DATE: DEC 3, 2007

relationship is disgustingly delightful. Both characters build their relationship through witty duets. Singing about the difference of taste between a priest and a poet, the lightheartedness of the song juxtaposes the gore of eating your neighbors. The scenery, as typical of a Burton film, is dark and dreary; however, the constant splatter of gushing bright red blood lightens the screen quite often. That might be the one thing that was overdone, but others will argue there can never be too much blood. Overall the film is thought provoking and lively for a film focused on death, but a visit to the barber may be postponed for a while. – Lauren Wilson

MASTERMINDS DIRECTOR: JARED HESS The broadcasting of the 1997 Loomis Fargo Robbery should have remained a headline of the past- it definitely did not need any additional coverage from the Relativity Media movie company. Although various parts of the movie initiated subtle chuckles from the audience, this crime packed, slightly action-filled film did not fulfill its comical aspect whatsoever with hit or miss jokes and over-exaggerated humor. The story of a $17.3 million robbery would have made a much better documentary, over a comedy. David Ghantt (Zach Galifianakis), a Loomis Fargo Bank employee and Kelly Kampbell (Kristen Wiig), a former coworker develop a flirty friendship, until Kampbell gets fired. Soon after, Kelly’s friend Steve Chambers (Owen Wilson), discovers how they could undertake a $17 million bank heist of the Loomis Fargo bank. After loading a van full of cash the robbery is complete, and Ghantt makes his way to south of the border alone, carrying a fake love connection with Kampbell with him. Soon the FBI is hot on their tracks, and the team finds themselves in a pool of deception. Overall, the movie was packed with try hard jokes, as it was a rather try hard film. While the storyline could have substantially been used elsewhere, it was definitely not the comical Grammy worthy film producers may have believed it could have been. Consequently, one may find their Friday night would be better spent in front of a Netflix screen at home watching a crime filled episode of Sherlock. – Noor Ghuniem

THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN DIRECTOR: ANTOINE FUQUA The Magnificent Seven stars big actors such as Denzel Washington (Sam Chisolm) and Chris Pratt (Joshua Faraday) which is primarily why this movie received so much attention. Grossing over 35 million in its first weekend alone, it proved that Western’s aren’t exactly dead. The film begins with a bunch of gold-hungry capitalist-goons trying to buy the mines from a small town; when the town refuses they take them by force. Months later, Sam Chisolm is hired by one of the original residents of the town, Emma Cullen (Haley Bennett), to take out Bogue (Peters Sarsgaard), the leader of the goons. Chisolm rounds up six other magnificent western shooters and leads them into a suicide mission to help these defenseless people. All in all, a rather basic plot line. There’s a reason the rating is three stars and not one or two. That’s due to the fact that the producers mentioned earlier were right in what they did. The humor was inviolable, the audience in the theater laughed probably more than they should have. Furthermore, the characters were their lynch pin. The character development was brief but deep-setting to where that by the end of the movie no one cared if the town was saved or not, everyone was on the edge of the seat to see if their favorite character(s) were going to live. To sum up, this is a movie that should be reserved for a friend movie night. It’s a feel good movie to sit around and watch in a quiet environment. In other words, this movie didn’t quite make it on the list of movies to see in a movie theater, so save the money. – Richard Giang

culture | international influence

Devich models iconic Parisian style trench coat, creating a chic minimalistic look.

PARISIAN PERSUASION Living in such a global world makes it possible for French fashion to transcend overseas and into American clothing brands.

story and art lauren wilson | photography maya wells | model mckenna devich

hen referencing French attire it’s often noted that the Parisians have a certain “Je ne sais quoi.” Whether it’s the beret’s or ballet flats, French style comes off as effortlessly chic. Not many can buy a plane ticket and jet set to Paris for a shopping spree, but that doesn’t mean the Parisian’s classic style can’t be achieved here. Paris is one of the four major fashion capitals of the world, and for a good reason. Couture brands like Chanel, Lanvin, Yves Saint Laurent, Givenchy, Louis Vuitton and many more all started in Paris. These timeless couture house’s still produce runway fashion to this day for Paris Fashion week (September 27- October 5th). Creator of French fashion

blog, Et Voila, Cécile calls Paris the “Silicon Valley” of fashion. “French fashion has been part of French culture for a very long time, [since] the 17th century,” says Cecile. “That’s why our fashion brands have a strong DNA coming from their long story.” Although couture fashion is famous in Paris it’s not always practical to wear day in and day out. When a Parisian is not strutting down the sidewalk in a fabulous Givenchy dress, you may find her in a mariniere (striped shirt) paired with black trousers and a silk scarf. If it’s rainy she may throw on a trench coat as well. The French are experts at mastering minimalist style according to

38 lakotaeastsparkonline.com October 2016

Columbia College Chicago, Fashion Studies professor Katherine Schaefer. “In regards to one’s wardrobe, in America, the mentality has become ‘more is better’ whereas in Europe, they have fewer, higher quality items,” says Schaefer. “These items are staples that can be incorporated throughout their wardrobe as they expect to own them and wear them for years to come.” In France, putting together a outfit is an art form. Fashion icon, Coco Chanel, once said, “Before you leave the house, look in the mirror and take one thing off.” The key is simply to not over do it. That being said the French never leave the house looking under dressed. East Senior Erin Metz who took a

international influence | culture trip to Paris this past summer was amused by the cultural differences of fashion in France. “French fashion is different from American fashion,” says Metz. “The biggest difference is that French people won’t be caught dead wearing athletic clothes in public, unless they are actually exercising.” Currently athleisure and athletic wear is a major trend in America, but trends are constantly changing in the U.S. On the other hand, in France the timeless trend of sleek silhouettes never goes out of style. Former Lakota East foreign exchange student Victoire Retornaz pinpointed American and French fashion. “American Fashion is more casual, more relaxed and more diverse,” says Retornaz, “but French fashion is classic, it’s chic, and sophisticated.” In order to achieve a polished Parisian look, many minimalistic pieces can be found at H&M, Zara and Forever 21. These stores have locations in both the U.S. and France, so their clothes blend each country’s fashion trends. Retornaz also suggests looking to French fashion icons like Ines De La Fressange’s for style inspiration. Fashion icons have major influence over trends but the divide between French and American style is primarily due to the difference in each nation’s culture. American’s tend to have fast-paced lifestyles, taking the time to look fashionable is not always a priority. According to East French teacher Tiffany Ashley, it’s different for the French, getting dressed up is part of their daily routine. “I think because French culture is very nationalistic they pride themselves in their history, they pride themselves in their culture,” says Ashley. “And that’s part of their culture looking nice and appearing nice. You certainly would never see anyone out in their pajamas, which we often do in the United States.” The difference between American and French culture doesn’t indicate that fashion trends from Paris aren’t seen in the U.S.. Social media and the Internet makes it possible for trends to travel across the world instantly. This modern globalization allows for trends to evolve constantly. “We live in a world where global trends and fashion are accessible to anyone, anywhere in the world at any time,” says Schaefer. “People migrate to different cities and countries, observing different ways of life, purchasing apparel and accessories, and bringing these trends to the city in which they reside.” Above all else Fashion is unique to every country. It’s influenced by the geography, architecture, and the culture of each nation. Even though some trends transcend overseas, Parisian fashion is ingrained in France. “Globalization tends to make things more similar from one country to another,” says Cecile, “But, [the French fashion designers] pay attention to the DNA, the history, the codes of the brands. That’s why French fashion is still ‘French’.”

package | letter to the editor

103 of 150 students surveyed believe their eating habits affect their body weight.

113 of 150 students surveyed wish they ate healthier. 40 lakotaeastsparkonline.com October 2016

in-depth | culture

THE FRUITION OF NUTRITION As the pro-health movement gains traction, focus shifts towards teen health. story gabbie behrmann | photo illustration richard giang, lauren wilson

ast Junior Laura Daniels steps out of her car, and walks into Kroger with a skip in her step. Cascading through the doors, she heads right towards the fresh produce section. Her eyes are washed with the rainbow colors of all of the different types of fruits and vegetables, all of her ideal food choices. She snatches the grapefruit up quickly along with a variety of other greens and walks towards the register to check out with a big smile on her face, knowing that she is making healthy decisions that will help fuel her body properly. “I incorporate a healthy amount of fruits, vegetables, and complete proteins into my diet,” Daniels says. “I tend not to eat foods in a package because they contain a lot of preservatives that can really deteriorate your body, and obviously nobody wants that.” To start off her day Daniels eats 100 percent whole wheat flax and fiber bread with some peanut butter and a fruit for breakfast. Around mid-day she eats a protein bar to keep her energy up. By the time lunch rolls around, Daniels will have a turkey and Swiss cheese sandwich, a fruit, and some nuts. For dinner, she eats a protein, such as grilled chicken and steamed broccoli, to end her day on a healthy note. Daniels is even mindful of the snacks she eats, always looking for healthier options. “One of my favorite easy and healthy snacks are broccoli chips,” Daniels explains. “I just chop up some fresh broccoli, drizzle a little olive oil over it, and bake it in the oven. It’s a super easy, super healthy, and not to mention a super delicious, everyday snack.” When it comes to helping people feel their best and finding a balance in their lifestyles, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist McKel Hill, a Lakota East graduate, is equipped with the knowledge to talk on the subject. Last month, Hill released her first ever cookbook, Nutrition Stripped, which is what she calls “more than just the average cookbook.” Her mission was to strip away the confusion surrounding nutrition. “All the recipes I develop are high in antioxidants, nutrient dense, all from whole foods, gluten and dairy free, but can be made flexible to meet your lifestyle,” Hill claims. “People can add on what they like, such as animal proteins and cheese, as long as it fits the NS [Nutrition Stripped] lifestyle which is all about finding the best and highest quality options out there.” Hill realizes that the stress at school can make it tempting to eat all of the burgers and

fries offered in the cafeteria. When she was in high school she ate a mix of healthy and unhealthy foods. As she grew up she realized the importance of eating primarily healthy foods and nourishing her body. “Fast food is food made quick, it doesn’t contain nutrients like whole foods do, it often leaves you feeling tired afterwards, and eventually craving more and more,” Hill, says. “Start by adding in more vegetables, by adding in a big salad as your lunch with some protein, good fats, and fruit. Having veggies, fruit, nuts and seeds for snacks throughout the day is also a great way to add more nutrients that growing teen bodies need. Even though more people are realizing that eating whole, natural foods have health benefits, in the past 30 years, childhood obesity has more than doubled in children and quadrupled in adolescents. Adolescents ages 12-19 who were obese increased from five percent in 1980, to 21 percent in 2012, according to the Palo Alto Medical Foundation (PAMF).

Teach them how to read a label, not just the amount of calories, but the actual ingredients.

– Connie Garland, Liberty Junior Health Teacher

Obesity, and bad health habits are increasing in our own schools. Liberty Junior School health teacher Connie Garland, who has been teaching health in Lakota for 24 years, says teens today eat a ton of processed foods. By only eating these types of foods, filled with harmful chemicals, our bodies are not getting essential nutrients. “Students should track what they eat,” Garland says. “I think they would be shocked to see that a lot of these items in a package don’t have the vitamins and minerals that we need for our bodies.” Choosemyplate.gov shows teens daily nutrient levels coming from three to five servings of fresh vegetables, two to four servings of fruits, six servings of grains, with three of them being whole grains, and then protein sources. This is Garland’s motto for getting vitamins and minerals. She advises people to stay away from any foods labeled

as “partially hydrogenated,” or with “high fructose corn syrup.” “Teach them how to read a label, not just the amount of calories, but the actual ingredients,” Garland says. “There are so many processed carbs [sugars] and artificial colors they need to watch out for. Stick to whole snacks like apples or pears.” A study conducted by researchers from the CDC and Atlanta’s Emory University showed that the average teen consumes 28 teaspoons of added sugar a day, according to fooducate.com. That’s an extra 500 calories a day. Although eating too much added sugar and artificial chemicals can be devastating to one’s health, East Senior Griffin Noe is not concerned about the consequences. “I eat a lot of fast food and carryout, and I don’t do a much home cookin’,” Noe says. “I eat two times a day, occasionally three times if I eat school lunch. If I eat school lunch I’ll eat dinner around 7 p.m. or 8 p.m., and if I eat after school, I’ll eat at 11pm or midnight. Depending on how late I stay up I'll usually have a third meal at 3am, 4am, or 5am, which I guess you could call breakfast.” Many teens today don’t realize what their daily intake of healthy nutrients looks like. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, about 34 percent of all children and adolescents aged two to 19, consume fast food on a given day. These foods are often high in calories yet offer little, or no, nutritional value, and can result in dangerous effects such as, heart disease and diabetes. “Yesterday I ate Skyline, some crackers and cheese, and drank a lot of Mountain Dew,” Noe says. “That’s the healthier side of my diet spectrum. Even though I don’t care about healthy eating, I think other people should do what they want, and if that’s being healthy then so be it.” Choosing to be a healthy individual, early on has many positive benefits, including building healthy everyday habits that will become lifelong. Garland notes that the health decisions that kids tend to make, aren’t the best. Still, she believes with a little knowledge of a healthy lifestyle, they are set for life. “Get seven to nine hours of sleep a night, always eat breakfast, have snacks to a minimum and cut back on sugars,” Garland says “As the old saying goes, you are what you eat. Good energy in equals good energy out, so make the right choices to fuel your body properly.”

October 2016 lakotaeastsparkonline.com 41

LOCALMOTIVE the pop shop

Right: When designer Christos Kotsovos realized manufacturing was moving overseas, he moved down from New York to open Kotsovos Bridal Furs and Fine Apparel 40 years ago. He and his wife Victoria Kotsovos carry unique designer dresses for homecoming, prom and weddings in their store. “I love making someone feel special,” says Victoria. “[Girls] will come in their jeans and they’ll have a special event coming up, then we’ll put them in a dress and they’ll look absolutely fabulous. It’s all about getting that complete look and making them feel wonderful about themselves.”

kotsovo

Above: Unlike other popsicle shops, The Pop Shop takes a unique approach with their organic popsicles made from scratch at their stores. While the store sells common flavors like strawberry, there are others that customers can’t enjoy anywhere else, such as raspberry hazelnut and maple bourbon bacon. “Our customers enjoy this as they get to personalize the popsicles they want with the many toppings and flavors we have,” says employee Riza Quinones.“It’s really relaxing as it’s the place to go after school or work to chill.”

Right: The Vintage Marketplace is the perfect little chic boutique in Old Montgomery. From a wall of cozy scarves for fall to countless knick knacks like necklaces and notebooks, the store has something for everyone. Owner Karen Feldkamp displays her products on antique furniture giving the modern pieces a vintage appeal. “I love fashion and antiques,” says Feldkamp. “So I mixed antique furniture and trendy fashion in my store.”

Scrumbles cafe

the vintage

marketplace

Above: Since December 2015, Scrumbles Cafe has been serving up its house specialty dessert: two freshly baked cookies with a big scoop of gelato sandwiched in between. The cafe serves ice cream, baked goods, smoothies, coffee and lunch. Employee Helen Carter says her favorite thing about her job is the small town feel of the community that works hand-in-hand with the small store and, of course, Scrumbles’ sandwiches.

opinion | letter to the editor

The quaint town of Old Montgomery makes the perfect place for an impromptu day trip. Start at the spa, shop the boutiques, and finish the day with a personalized popsicle. story and art lauren wilson, sidney li, gabbie behrmann, sean mcgraw photography cara satullo

old

montgomery,

Right: Walker Bros. Ice Cream is a sweet place to stop for a sundae, ice cream sandwich or soft serve. Its most popular flavor is blue raspberry, but employee Grace Kent loves the vanilla and orange twist, which tastes like a creamsicle. When the family-owned walk-up ice cream joint opened up four years ago, it was a hit with the Montgomery locals. “I like seeing all the kids and families that come in and the regulars,” says Kent. “I try to remember what they order each time and it’s fun making kids’ days by giving them ice cream.”

Walker Bro’s Ice cre

woodhouse Day Spas Above: Customers looking for a relaxing retreat come to the day spa for a variety of services from massages to facials. “The spa offers hydra facials, which are usually offered by dermatology offices,” says employee Morgan Frieling. “During the facial, a brush sucks out all the dirt and impurities in your face, and it feels really great.”

Left: What started as a pharmacy in the sixties transformed into a local lunch hot spot. The European Cafe has been in business for nearly 30 years now, and is best known for its specialty gyros. “[The gyro] meat is a lamb and beef mix with seasoning and peppers,” says employee Melissa Long. “We cook it on a rotisserie then slice it up and put it on the grill. Then that goes on a pita with lettuce, tomato and homemade tzatziki sauce.” Even Bengals coach Marvin Lewis and offensive tackle Anthony Munoz have made a trip to the cafe to try the gyros.

delicio coal fired

the european

cafe

pizza

Above: Delicio Coal Fired Pizza recently opened in the beginning of summer with a modern take on traditional Italian dishes. By using a brick oven, its traditional and specialty pizzas, such as cheddar mac, are enhanced with a charred and smoky crust. “We are not just known for our handmade pizzas,” says server Jerry Thomas. “We are famous for our ‘brezels’ that are breadsticks in a pretzel shape that you can’t find anywhere else.”

culture | letter to the editor

Many teenagers are affected by acne, and some Lakota East students have gone to extreme lengths to get rid of their acne.

PIMPLES AND PILLS story sarah yanzsa | photography charis williams | infographic cassia chryssovergis

ake up. One pill. Go to sleep. One pill. Monthly Blood tests, pregnancy tests, and extensive questioning about abstinence follow. All this accompanied by six months of dry lips, cracked skin, weary muscles, weak lungs, blurry vision, swollen lymph nodes and endless chapstick. The end result? Acne-free skin. According to the American Academy of Dermatology acne is the most common skin condition in the United States, affecting 50 million American annually. “For about four years I’ve been having terrible acne,” says Curcio. “I had been going

to the dermatologist and we had been trying different medications, but none seemed to help with my acne. It seemed to keep coming back. “ Finally, after many failed attempts with numerous prescriptions, Curcio and her dermatologist decided to try the oral medication Isotretinoin, commonly referred to as Accutane although that brand has long been discontinued. Approximately six percent of 150 students surveyed by the Spark said they are on Accutane or have taken it in the past. “If [my acne] continued without any further treatment I would start to get scarring,” says Curcio. “[My dermatologist] recommended

I was determined to get rid of this acne so I persevered. I really wanted to jump to the highest [medication] that I could go and my mom agreed with me. – Eric Hatke, East senior 44 lakotaeastsparkonline.com October 2016

me to get Accutane.” Every month Curcio is on the treatment she is expected to answer extensive questions about abstinence on a website a part of the IPledge program. These questions are a part of the government-run program IPledge, approved by the FDA due to the high risks that are posed by Accutane as explained above in an effort to, “eliminate fetal exposure to isotretinoin,” according to the IPledge website. She also must go in monthly for numerous tests, among those being blood tests and pregnancy tests. “I believe it’s good for them to check, because there are other functions other than pregnancy [checked for in the blood tests],” says Curcio. “I understand that it’s for safety purposes because the medicine can also affect other parts of my body other than pregnancy. It’s just playing it safe.” Blood tests are administered to check for any side effects that might come along with being on Accutane. Curcio has noticed her lymph nodes have been very swollen and those results were explained with her blood

story page | culture test results. Additionally, she has experienced muscle pains that have lead to weaker lungs, blurred vision that is most prevalent at night, and severely dried skin and lips. Despite this, she still stands by her decision to take the medication regardless of the side effects. “There are several factors that go into whether or not Dermatologists recommend treatment with isotretinoin,” says Chief Resident of Dermatology at the University of Cincinnati Leah Lalor. “In general, the person must have severe acne resulting in scars that is not responding to other treatment options. Sometimes we decrease the dose based on severity of side effects.” East sophomore Eric Hatke also went on Accutane after numerous topical prescription creams failed, though Hatke admits he did not use the topicals as often as instructed. Hatke was on creams for his acne such as Clindamycin Phosphate, Benzoyl Peroxide gel at nights, and Tretinoin cream in the mornings.

“I was determined to get rid of this acne so I persevered,” says Hatke. “I really wanted to jump to the highest [medication] that I could go and my mom agreed with me.” Oral medications usually should not be used without being accompanied by a topical cream, but Isotretinoin is one of the few exceptions to this rule. With topical treatments, results should be seen 2-3 months into the treatment when used as instructed. “Acne treatment can be very frustrating but totally rewarding, “ says Lalor. “Successful treatment requires a serious commitment for the teenager, including application of medicines at least once daily, usually twice, and sometimes taking pills. With busy schedules, this can be a challenge.” This held especially true for East Senior Paige Bentley. At one point in time, Bentley was on three prescription creams and an oral antibiotic medication. Even on all these medications, Bentley was not entirely satisfied

Inflammatory Acne

Papules, pustules, nodules and cysts are inflammatory acne. This type is the same as non-inflammatory, however the body reacts by sending white blood cells to fight the infection.

Papule

Form when a pore filled with bacteria attracts white blood cells to fight the infection. They do not contain pus.

Pustule

Same as a papule, however pustules have a yellow or white pus-filled center.

Nodule and Cyst

Develop when bacteria in a pore spreads, infecting adjoining hair follicles. Fill first with blood, then with pus.

with her skin. “Once high school hit and sophomore year started to get super hard core I was going to bed super late I didn’t have time to put on the two creams,” says Bentley. “I was late to school most days in the morning I didn’t have time to put it on and it was just that and it wasn’t worth it if it wasn’t working.” In seventh grade, before she even started the prescription topicals, Bentley turned to over-the-counter medications and specifically looked to some with the ingredient benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid. “I used a lot of the salicylic acid ones and that just kind of dried my skin out it honestly didn’t help,” says Bentley. “Benzoyl peroxide did not help at all, it was very bad, it made [my acne] worse.” Clinical Associate Professor of Dermatology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine Marcia S. Driscoll recommends either salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide for mild acne, and specifically states that benzoyl peroxide helps with acne ranging from blackheads and whiteheads (comedonal infographic sophia chryssovergis acne) to red bumps (inflammatory acne). Driscoll also tells Spark Non-inflammatory Acne to not use an exfoliating Blackheads and whiteheads are scrub because those can non-inflammatory acne. All pimples be abrasive and irritating start as clogged pores, however this to the skin. type does not get red and painful “If over the counter because the body does not react to the counter products the infection with blood cells. are not effective, seek a dermatologist’s advice,” says Driscoll. “The earlier this is done, the better, because if acne worsens it can lead to scarring – early treatment can prevent this.” Curcio sought out the Whitehead help of her dermatologist An overproduction of oil clogs in search for the best a pore. They have a thin layer results for her acne. After of skin covering the pore, years of trying a range trapping the bacteria. Caused of different medications by moisturizers and makeup. her doctor recommended that she use Accutane, which has overall affected her life in a positive way, regardless of the few side effects she has experienced. “Being on Accutane has made me feel more Blackhead confident about my skin Caused when a pore clogged and more confident with dirt and bacteria is exposed around people in general,” to oxygen. They can be caused by makeup and face oils. says Curcio. “I love what it’s doing to my skin after sources proactive.com, acne.com, aad.org years and years of trying.”

Types of Acne in the Body

CHANGING SIGNS A NASA article has recently been getting a lot of attention from those who follow their horoscopes because it claims that there is a new 13th zodiac sign called Ophiuchus, which throws off the dates for the other 12 signs. story cara satullo | art sarah aftab | infographic michael croy

young girl sits down, listening intently as her grandma reads out of her astrology book explaining how the movements of celestial bodies affect human affairs. This was the first time that East senior Sarah Robinson learned about her star chart and pondered what it meant to be a Leo, the zodiac sign of those born between July 23 and Aug. 22. One identifying characteristic of Leos is their resistance to forced change; a characteristic that was brought to the forefront for Robinson after learning about the supposed 13th zodiac sign. This sign, called Ophiuchus, ranges from Nov. 29 to Dec. 17 and throws off the dates of the other 12 zodiac signs. “I’m a Leo, and everything I’ve ever read

about Leos has been dead on,” says Robinson. “[The addition of Ophiuchus] ruins the fact that I’m a Leo, so I don’t believe in it.” The buzz surrounding Ophiuchus stems from a NASA article titled “Constellations and the Calendar,” which explains how the wobbling of Earth on its axis has technically changed the zodiac. This piece was published on Jan. 13, 2016 but has only recently gained widespread attention through social media and other news platforms. In order to understand the nature of NASA’s claim, it’s important to understand the origins of astrology and how it has changed over the years. When it was first being developed it was closely related to astronomy. People were able

to make predictions by studying patterns in the stars and how they correlate with events on Earth, like animal migration times. “[People] got so good at [astronomy] that it helped predict the weather, it helped predict migration, and then they thought well maybe these stars can help predict your individual features,” says Cincinnati Observatory astronomer Dean Regas. “And that was the great leap from astronomy to astrology.” This idea was widely accepted during its development, and people dedicated their lives to studying astrology. Professionals would synthesize a large variety of information to make a horoscope, including birth date and time, specific latitude and longitude of where

someone was born, and the positions of celestial bodies at the time of these conditions. “I think one misconception that I had when I started doing research on astrology was that I thought it was a very simple thing,” says University of Cincinnati Classics professor Colin Shelton. “[However], in antiquity it was extremely technical. People did all kinds of advanced mathematics to make horoscopes.” The 12 recognized zodiac signs were based off of the sun’s path through the sky. This means if there were an invisible line drawn from the sun, through earth, and out into space, it would slowly pass through the 12 zodiac constellations during the earth’s orbit around the sun. At the time of a person’s birth, whichever constellation the sun aligned with became that person’s zodiac sign. “They started thinking that the universe works like what we would think of as a big clock,” says Shelton. “If all the pieces keep moving in the same way, maybe that means people who are born at particular arrangements of the universe will be the same as people who were born the last time the universe was arranged that way.” The issue is that since astrology’s

constellation, it’s just an area in the sky,” says Regas. “It’s not about the stars at all, [it’s about the charts].” The assertion that the zodiac has changed is often brought up to target astrology as a field. Since the development of astrology and astronomy, the two studies have grown farther apart in terms of their focus and public reception, so astronomers will often bring up Ophiuchus to make a point. “It’s partially a joke to say there are actually 13 signs, not 12, but it does kind of highlight that there’s such a big difference between [astrology and astronomy],” says Regas. “Astronomers like to be technical, and I think that actually shows the difference. We are very detail oriented with this.” Those who regard astrology as a serious matter don’t find this assertion funny. The field as a whole is frequently discredited due to advancements in modern science, which can make it difficult to study the subject without criticism from skeptics. “We are in an age where we have been brainwashed into the belief that only scientific examination is going to give us the truth,” says Kendig. “But they just ignore all of this

It’s partially a joke to say there are actually 13 signs, not 12, but it does kind of highlight that there’s such a big difference between [astrology and astronomy]. We are very detailoriented with this. – Dean Regas, astronomer

development, the earth has wobbled on its axis and now points to different areas of the sky during different times of the year. This shifting sky has technically introduced Ophiuchus into the mix. However, professional astrologers aren’t including this new sign in the zodiac. “Ophiuchus was never a zodiac sign, and [astronomers] are saying that because it’s in the circle of the zodiac [it should be considered one]. And it’s not true, it’s just plain not true,” says American Federation of Astrology certified astrologer Joan Kendig. “Every once in awhile there’s a war between astronomers and astrologers. They do it for publicity, for academic credit, for various reasons.” Astrology has evolved over the years, and professionals are aware that the locations of stars have moved. This realization didn’t come this year, it actually came around 150 AD when an astronomer named Claudius Ptolemy noticed the dates no longer aligned with the correct zodiac constellations. He decided that the signs weren’t physically fixed to the constellations, but rather based on the changing of the seasons. “He made this decision to say from now on when it comes to astrology it’s not the

invisible structure of the universe, and to them it’s not real.” People who have studied the topic more closely are often annoyed with astrology’s portrayal through online media, which typically offers a dumbed down version of the topic with vague horoscopes. This leads to misconceptions on how astrology is studied in modern times, which still uses intricate processes similar to those used in ancient times. “Don’t judge your horoscope via Twitter, because it’s not accurate,” says Robinson. “It’s so generalized, and if you really want to learn about it, go into a published book.” If the discussion surrounding Ophiuchus has accomplished anything, it’s highlighting the many different ways people relate to astrology. Some find it implausible, some use it for entertainment, and others regard it as a truth. “There’s something about looking at the night sky that’s awe-inspiring,” says Shelton. “You’re in a really dark place, you look at the stars, think about the planets, [and] it’s easy to feel like there’s something spooky or magical in that. It makes sense to us somehow that there could be something special about the stars, [and] maybe astrology is that.”

Aries March 21-April 19 Natural born leaders who are the first in line to get things going. Prefer to initiate tasks rather than complete them.

Taurus April 20-May 20 All about the reward and the love of the game. Very tactile and value physical contact.

Gemini

Cancer

May 21-June 20 Love to talk and find out more information about the world around them.

June 21- July 22 Very emotional and sensitive, but also deeply intuitive and sentimental.

Leo

Virgo

July 23-Aug. 22 Love life and live to have a good time. They take initiative in solving difficult problems.

Aug. 23-Sept. 22 They make sure nothing is left to chance. Are often very tender, also very careful.

Libra

Scorpio

Sept. 23-Oct. 22 Libras are peaceful and fair, but hate being alone. Partenership is highly valued among libras.

Oct. 23- Nov. 21 They are passionate and assertive. Will research to find the truth, often decisive and determined.

Sagitarius

Capricorn

Nov. 22-Dec 21 Curious and energetic. Their open minds and philisophical views motivate them to travel in search for meaning.

Dec. 22-Jan. 19 Very professional and practical, considered to be the most serious of all the zodiac signs.

Aquarius

Pisces

Jan. 20-Feb 18 Often shy and quiet. They also tend to be deep thinkers and highly intellectual.

Feb. 19-March 20 Their friendly personality often puts them in company of very diverse people.

Ophiuchus Spirited, clever, and flamboyant, but also jealous and power-hungry.

October 2016 lakotaeastsparkonline.com 47

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opinion | letter to the editor

boys golf | sports

TAKING A SWING East's boys golf team, led by brothers Will and Kyle Schmidt, is East's most decorated team in the Greater Miami Conference. story dustin horter | art sarah aftab photography used with permission of jeff combs

he green was trimmed at Glenview as the Lakota East golf team stepped out onto the course. Defending their two-time Greater Miami Conference (GMC) championship title, they confidently strutted around on the course that could make them the winner of the GMC three out of the last four years. A few hours later, this dream came true, and they extended their status as the most decorated East team in school history. The three-time GMC champion East golf team has seen some of its best days under the leadership and example of senior Will Schmidt, according to East golf head coach Jeff Combs. In previous years, Schmidt led by example for the team, becoming a GMC champion as a junior and has now become a vocal leader as well. Combs stated that Schmidt is as solid of a leader as the East golf program has ever seen. “His drive to be better, to practice hard and

do things right, is inspirational,” Combs says. “He is a vocal leader and a leader by example.” Teammate and brother Kyle Schmidt joined his brother on the golf team just a year ago and has seen the leadership of his older brother first-hand. Kyle stated that his brother not only motivates him to be better on the course, but also encourages him to be a better person off the course. “Will has played a big role in making me the golfer I am today,” Kyle says. “Off the course, Will has always been a great role model for my friends and I to look up to.” However, Kyle spent his sophomore golf season becoming a team leader himself. Kyle led the Hawks to their third straight GMC title by medaling at the event as well as becoming a GMC golfer of the year. Combs stated that Kyle’s upcoming leadership role will play a role in the future of the East golf team.

2 lakotaeastsparkonline.com October 2016

October 2016 lakotaeastsparkonline.com 49

sports | boys golf “Kyle is one of the most talented kids in the state as a sophomore,” Combs says. “He works extremely hard and is always focused on what he needs to do to get better.” Will recognizes his brother’s talent on the course as well and admitted that even though Kyle is younger, Kyle is the best player in every tournament they play in. “He is a stud,” Will says. “I root for him as hard as I root for myself. He pushes me every day, and I do my best to fire him up and motivate him to give it his all every day, too.” The Schmidt brothers have played a part in the Hawks success this year and have pushed each other through each tournament. Their first big victory came at the Westbrook Invitational in which Kyle shot a 74 and Will shot a 78. In the following LaSalle Invitational, Kyle got second overall shooting a 73, while Will shot a 77. Then the team won the Top 12 Event against the Comets in which Will showed his dominance, shooting a 37 and medaling, while Kyle place forth among the team. Moving on to the Kettering Invite, Kyle shot a school record tying 65 and medaled among 120 golfers, while Will shot a 72, propelling the Hawks to another tournament win. Kyle, despite all of his success, stated that his brother helped him believe in himself in times when it was hard for him to be confident throughout the season. “In a recent tournament, I was struggling on the first couple of holes,” Kyle says. “I saw Will and he believed in me no matter how bad I was playing. He knew I was good enough to shoot low and I shot -2 on the back nine. The team only ended up winning by a few shots. He believed in me when it was hard for me to believe in myself.” When GMC rolled around, Will and Kyle both contributed in crunch time to propel the East golf team to a three-peat GMC title. Will birdied an important eighteenth hole and on the same hole, Kyle eagled to seal the team title. The team overall set a new GMC record point total with 599, previously owned by the Sycamore Aviators with a total score of 602. Will was named Second-Team All GMC while Kyle was named First-Team All GMC. “Being one of the better golfers in the GMC has definitely showed me that hard work does pay off,” Kyle says. “However, since Will is right there with me, I know I need to keep working hard. He helps me stay focused and motivated to succeed.” Beyond all of the success the Schmidt brothers have had on the course, Combs stated that the Schmidt family is one of the best families he has had the pleasure of welcoming to the East Golf team, on and off the course. “The Schmidt family is such a solid family,” Combs says. “Their stability at home adds to our family atmosphere for East Golf. I’ve been coaching for twenty years, and the Schmidt’s are as good of a family, and young men that I

[Will] believed in me when it was hard for me to believe in myself. — Kyle Schmidt, East sophomore golfer

Some members of the boys golf team.

have had the privilege of coaching.” The East golf team itself put up seven of the top ten GMC boys golfers this year, and is also the most decorated East sport in history regarding the GMC tournament with seven GMC golf titles. The junior varsity team won the GMC title this year as well. According to senior golfer Hayden Hoogerhyde, keeping a positive mindset is important to the overall improvement of the team. “Our success over the past few years has come from a dedication to improve every single day,” Hoogerhyde says. “[Our coaches] do an excellent job of ingraining into our hearts and minds that we will go to the State tournament, and that we will win every time we step onto the course. I have no doubt that this year will be the year that we break through and make it to the State tournament.” With their current golfers and strong junior varsity prospects, Will says that he is confident in the future of this program to build upon their success, with the hopes of competing at the State level. “We represent our school, ourselves and our families,” Will says. “We work hard to leave no doubt that we’re the best team in every tournament we play in.”

50 lakotaeastsparkonline.com October 2016

STAT FOCUS LAKOTA EAST GOLF 7 1st 3 7 599

East golfers in the top 10 GMC

ranked in the city

consecutive GMC titles in the last three years

total GMC titles point total for record score in GMC

athletic trainer | sports

SAYING GOODBYE

Cory Jacobs, one of East's athletic trainers for 15 years, says goodbye as he changes jobs to Cincinnati Children's Hospital. story victoria negron | photography maya wells

have enjoyed my time here and appreciate the support and help you have provided to me during my tenure. I want you all to know that even though I am excited about the new career, I am sad to leave you all, who have supported me all the time when I needed your help. I had a wonderful experience working with this company and have learnt many new things which I am sure will help me in my next position. I wish that my new job also provides me with great friends and colleagues like you. Athletic trainer Corey Jacobs sent this email to East staff after his decision to take the next step in his career, leaving the Lakota district after 15 years. Working through Atrium Medical Center, Jacobs was able to work closely with several Lakota students. He now works through Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center’s Division of Sports Medicine at Cincinnati Christian School (CCS). Under Cincinnati Children’s, Jacobs got assigned to CCS, where most of his job treating patients will take place this year. According to Jacobs, he will be working out of the Liberty Campus, in West Chester, with a group of doctors and the physical therapy clinic. “Along with helping students, they want me to develop programs and come up with research ideas,” Jacobs says. “I’ve already begun looking into research on head injuries and how to help better the recovery of patients.” Jacobs hadn’t intended to become an athletic trainer. In college, he was attempting to go after a master’s degree in biology, but eventually decided that wasn’t the right career path to suit his interests. Jacobs had enough credits that he was able to switch his major in his senior year, and he ended up graduating with two degrees: one in pre-med biology and one in health science athletic training. All he needed was to find a place to go after college to begin his career. “Being a [recently graduated] college student you obviously have no money,” Jacobs says. “So I decided to come back home and the coaches that were there at the time all said, ‘Oh yeah, we want Cory, bring him back,’ and that’s how I ended up at East.” Over his many years as an athletic trainer, Jacobs was able to form lasting relationships with students, patients and colleagues. The most rewarding thing about being an athletic trainer, according to Jacobs, was being able to watch his patients develop. “I’ve had many patients and students over

the years and you get to watch them grow up and change the world, and you get to see the good they are doing,” Jacobs says. “There’s students that I still talk to even though I’m no longer at the school. You really get to know families and their stories through the years.” One such patient is CCS senior Rylee Tinker. Jacobs has known her since she was just a baby, and she says he has been able to help her injuries with a careful hand, while managing to make the process of healing enjoyable. “He knows my injuries,” Tinker says. “I’ve known him my whole life. When he’s helping me or anyone else, he makes the healing process fun for everyone.” During his time at East, Jacobs had the opportunity to work closely with students in the sports medicine classes. He would speak from his own experiences to teach students how to effectively handle athletic injuries, all while pushing students to achieve at high levels and form their own experiences. “It was a great learning experience working with [Cory],” Lakota East senior and sports medicine student Anna Fischesser says. “He did a great job teaching us but also challenging us to do our best while we were working with the athletes and their injuries. To most people he seems a little intimidating, but he was a giant teddy bear and he really cared about all of the students and wanted us to excel at everything we did.” Jacobs was able to help fellow trainers during his many years at East, including current athletic trainer Kevin Stokes, who was hired at East last school year. He says

Jacobs was there the whole way, helping him to adjust to working in a new district. “Cory was right here the whole time,” says Stokes. “He had been doing this for so many years and his experience helped make the transition to East so much easier last year. We quickly learned each other's strengths and weaknesses and we were able to fill in the gaps and help each other very effectively." Although he is happy to be furthering his career in athletic training, Jacobs says he will miss the East students and staff that he has grown so close to over the years. “I stayed [at East] for so long because I loved the students and the faculty and the administration,” Jacobs says. “They were very supportive. Everybody knew everybody’s strengths and weaknesses so we all just helped out wherever we could.”

culture| |athletic sports letter toboosters the editor

KEEPING THE HAWKS IN THE GAME The Lakota East Athletic Boosters, a non-profit organization that raises money for East athletic complexes and programs, explain their fundraising events as well as plans for this year and the future. story allie church | photography richard giang

ix people sit at the front of the room. A man with thin-framed glasses sits next to three women in athletic clothing. To the right of the three women sit two more men, one in professional attire and the other in East spirit wear. All have binders and notebooks overflowing with worn-out, well-used paper placed on the table in front of them. A team representative walks up to the row of people and hands each one a flier, lined with information. They read over the notes and statistics provided, ask questions and eventually set it to a vote. Through this process the Lakota East Athletic Boosters have reviewed dozens of proposals from individual athletic teams and the athletic department itself. The Boosters, a non-profit organization consisting of over 300 people, raise money through fundraising for the purpose of renovating and developing East’s athletic complexes and for the purchasing of athletic equipment or any other resources to support the success of individual teams.

At their monthly meetings, representatives from each team are allotted time to request money from the board for specific equipment or enhancements. According to Booster’s president Mike Goldman, the Boosters are a “democracy” in which each member votes on the approval or denial of the given proposal. If a majority approves, the plan goes into effect and money is provided to the team. If not, the opposite ensues. Through various fundraisers, the Boosters were able to give $80,000 back into East athletics during the 2015-2016 school year. According to treasurer Dave Emrick, the Boosters take pride in their humility and honest motivation of supporting student athletes and athletic programs. “[The Boosters] are doing it purely for the benefit of student athletes,” Emrick says. “Some people we’ve had on our board haven’t even had kids in high school, so they’re doing it obviously out of a genuine concern and a genuine appreciation for what they believe

52 lakotaeastsparkonline.com October 2016

high school athletics can do for young people. I’m very supportive of our coaches. They work very hard and do what they can with limited funds and it’s really the Boosters’ mission to give them more resources to do even greater things than they’re already doing.” Lakota provides funding for athletics, pulling from the district’s general fund. In 2011, the district provided athletics with $1.5 million. After budget cuts with the failure to pass levies in 2012, however, this funding was cut by 67 percent. In the following year, funding for athletics was lowered by another $73,000. From 2014 to 2016, this funding began to rebuild, and last year Lakota provided over $1.1 million for athletics. According to membership and communications board member Michelle McDonough, while the district is now providing nearly as much as it was before budget cuts, the Boosters have been instrumental in furthering even more the amount of money available to East Athletics.

From left to right: Cheryl Mathews, Michelle McDonough, Mike Goldman, Dave Emrick, Jeff Harper

“I think it’s important for our student athletes to have a group that care,” McDonough says. “With the financial times that we have within the economy and the school system, [it’s important that] we’re an avenue that can help fund those teams.” Part of the Booster’s ability to raise money from year to year lies within the enhancements and creation of new fundraising events. The focus this year is on the Boosters annual 5k Thunder Run. The 5k, which accounts for $4,000 of the Booster’s revenue, costs $35 for each participant. From this, $10 is allocated to individual groups that the participant associates with, and the rest goes towards the cost to run the 5k and to the Boosters. In the first three years that the Thunder Run was held, it was located at Lakota East towards the end of November. In 2015, there were between 200 and 220 participants. This year, however, the 5k is being hosted at the Liberty Center Mall-which previously sponsored the race-on Oct. 9 and is no longer being called the Thunder Run. According to 5k organizer Kristin Sellers, these changes, as well as the addition of a Facebook page and Twitter account, should connect with a wider audience, increasing the number of participants to at least 300 people. “The change to Liberty Center is exciting and I think it’s going to be a much bigger race [that will] raise a little bit more money,” Sellers says. “If we really focused on calling it the Thunder Run again, and not really opening it up

and broadening it, it would kind of shut some people out that might want to participate.” By changing the name and location, Sellers says the 5k concept will go from a Lakota East standpoint to more of a community standpoint, in which members of the community can raise money for their individual district’s schools and athletics. Each participant will receive a t-shirt and a bag filled with various items from Liberty Center’s tenants. Her goal is to create a familyfriendly atmosphere, including a DJ, booths for sponsors of $300 or more, kid’s crafts and games, and food, to gather the community in a fun environment. “There are a lot of people that go to the Liberty Center that are from Mason or Lakota West and really I think it’s a nice opportunity for us to kind of come together and have a fun time,” Sellers says. “Choosing a new and fresh place and making it different just kind of adds to it and makes people a little more interested.” The 5k isn’t the Booster’s only fundraising event being renovated. The Booster Bash, a yearly event which generates between $15,000 and $25,000, is also being relocated. According to Booster’s vice president Jeff Harper, changing locations to The Elks will promote more participation. “We want to have a location that serves the Bash better just from a standpoint of getting everyone involved and engaged; that’s one of the biggest changes,” Harper says. “It’s a really fun event first of all, and we get to meet with other people that support Lakota East and

the athletic program. It’s one of our biggest fundraisers, so we want to be as efficient as possible to have the most fun but still continue to support that cause of raising funds.” The Booster Bash consists of a live auction, silent auction, and celebration for East’s athletic programs, says Goldman. “[The Bash] is there to basically raise money for the Boosters but [it] also gives us a chance to celebrate a good year with the teams,” Goldman says. “Not only the coaches, but the parents put a lot of effort and time and emotions into this, so it’s a good time to celebrate.” Besides changes in fundraising events, the Boosters are also experiencing a change in membership. According to McDonough, typically 6-15 people join the Boosters each athletic season. This year however, 40 people have become members in the fall season alone. There are currently 270 lifetime members and over 40 one-year members, record numbers for the Boosters, says McDonough. “We did something different this year,” McDonough says. “We added membership as part of the Final Forms paperwork, and we asked people to state if they were a member, if they would like to become a member, or if they’re not interested. So we have that information that we can use to encourage membership.” McDonough attributes this addition of Booster information on Final Forms paperwork to the increase in Booster membership. She also says that encouraging coaches to promote

sports | athletic boosters membership has helped, as well. “We definitely have talked to the coaches about encouraging the memberships from their rosters because obviously the parents that care are the parents that have kids in sports,” McDonough says. “We’re hoping that if we [show] the coaches how important the Boosters is to them, then it will reciprocate for the coaches to talk to the parents.” In order to further promote joining the Boosters, each membership contributes towards individual team rosters. Once a team reaches 50 percent parent membership, the Boosters provide it with $500. The only team at this point to reach 100 percent parent participation this year is East’s girls soccer. For this effort, the Boosters rewarded the team with $750. According to girls soccer head coach Tom McEwan, cooperation among parents, coaches, and the Boosters is an important aspect of all sports in any high school program. “As a program we stress that in order for us to be successful we have to have the involvement and participation of everyone,” McEwan says. “This philosophy first and foremost applies on the playing field, but it extends well beyond. We actively encourage parents to become Booster members, primarily to support athletics at the high school. There has to be a culture of cooperative effort involving the school, the athletic staff, the Boosters, and the families for us to be successful.” Membership in itself also generates money for the Boosters. A one-year membership and lifetime membership cost $55 and $150, respectively, accounting for between $3,000 and $4,000. As a one-year member, which includes a one-time 20 percent discount in the Booster’s spirit shop, and as a life-time member, which includes a 10 percent discount for every purchase in the spirit shop, all can participate in board meetings. Like membership fees, the selling of spirit wear also contributes to the Booster’s yearly revenue and promotes East spirit, making $40,000 in revenue. According to spirit wear board member Cheryl Mathews, the Boosters aim to sell spirit wear that has its designs frequently updated and that is non-specific to particular sports. “The goal is to have most items gone before

The basketball scoreboard the Boosters funded.

the start of the next year so everything is fresh, and we try not to duplicate designs, that way there is always something new to show Eastside pride,” Mathews says. “We do not cater to any specific sport. Everything we sell is something you can wear to any football, volleyball, soccer, or any other sports event at East. My main purpose is selling spirit wear that will provide revenue back to all athletes at Lakota East.” Booster’s spirit wear is sold at many venues and during many events at East, including the permanent Spirit Shop within the school, booths at East’s annual craft show, orientation nights, Meet the Team nights and the Spirit Pod at athletic events. The variance of venues has enabled the Boosters to reach members of the community that they otherwise wouldn’t be able to connect with, says Mathews. “Being able to be at different venues is a definite plus for the Boosters,” Mathews says. “It lets us be out in the community for those who typically can’t get into the school during the lunch hours we are open. There are a lot of working families who just can’t make that time. It’s also nice for grandparents or other family members, alumni and community supporters to get some East spirit wear as they come to different events.” The Boosters order spirit wear the beginning of each school year, and again in November for the craft show, the Spirit Shop’s biggest revenue generator. The Spirit Shop sells

If you get involved, it’s just what you make out of it. It’s giving back, and I believe in giving back. — Mike Goldman, East Athletic Boosters President

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a variety of items, such as hoodies, t-shirts and sweatpants in adult and youth sizes, as well as their most sold item: stadium seats. According to Mathews, although the Spirit Shop produces a considerable profit, its main goal is to spread East spirit as much as possible. “Having East spirit is something you can’t describe until you come to school, and when the bell sounds, and the kids start filling the hallways, all you see are kids wearing their East spirit wear; it’s amazing,” Mathews says. “Seeing people walk around Cincinnati with an East shirt, shorts, or any type of East spirit wear is really cool to see, especially if it’s something the Booster’s Spirit Shop sold.” The Booster’s strongest revenue maker are concession stands run at every home sporting event, which accounts for $60,000 of the Booster’s proceeds. Each football game collects between $6,000 and $8,000. In order to provide enough volunteers for each game, representatives for every sport sign their teams up. For working the concessions at a large game, teams are provided with $450 by the Boosters. For working a smaller game, teams make $150. According to concession stands board member Mary Beth Gibbons, the menu and atmosphere of the concessions at East are catered to the students that attend school there, creating a welcoming environment for all. “The money [made by the concession stands] is the end result to help the teams, but by no means is it the top reason we do it,” Gibbons says. “It should be a place that the kids are welcome to come. The top priority of the Boosters is to provide for the needs of our Lakota East student athletics. Concessions allows us a way to make money to provide for those needs, but it goes beyond that as it gives us a chance to reach all students, their families, as well as the community. When we open concessions, it is like feeding our family. We take pride in what we serve and we always make sure if someone is hungry that they are fed.” The money made by the 5k, Booster Bash, membership, spirit wear and concessions combined allow the Boosters to reinvest that

athletic boosters | sports

in parents with younger students to step up as board members. “We’re really on the recruiting trail because my time is almost up, and [so is] most of this group’s,” Goldman says. “The key coming up is parent participation and support. It’s not all about the four or five people on a board. It’s about the group as a whole, the teams. We have to get people involved. Our biggest deal here is to get more of the younger classes’ parents involved. If you get involved, it’s just what you make out of it. It’s giving back, and I believe in

giving back.” For the board’s newest member, Harper, the lack of interest is a personal concern, in that his time on the board is only beginning. According to Harper, less participation will lead to less that the Boosters will be able to provide. “A lot of what we do comes from the funds that we raise, so if fewer people go to the Bash or if fewer people are involved whether it’s becoming a member of the Boosters or other things from that standpoint, we would have less funds to be able to support the requests that come from the athletic teams,” Harper says. “If you don’t have enough participation, sometimes the people that are doing it can spread too thin and aren’t able to do as many different things. It could limit what we’re able to do in the future to help support the programs.” Despite concern for the future of the board, Goldman says the Boosters continue to do all they can to raise all they can for East athletics. This passion, he says, is deeply-rooted in the Boosters as an organization, and will not stop. “Some people say that the reason you’re a Booster is so your son makes the team, but you don’t get any guarantees,” Goldman says. “That’s not why we do it. I don’t think any of us do it for anything more than for being involved and giving back to the school and I mean that for all the people who are involved today and in the past board. They just wanted to give back. That’s our job. That’s what we’re supposed to do.”

Allie Church: You had 239 rushing yards in

TV: The return was annoying because I knew

The Boosters provided funding for gym renovations.

money back into East’s athletic complexes and individual teams. Recently, the Booster organization has provided for the renovation of the gym, mats for wrestling and gymnastics, batting cages and backstops for baseball and softball, Pop-A-Shots for girls and boys basketball and scoreboards. Although the Boosters have been successful for years in supporting athletic programs at East, the future of the board is unclear, says Goldman. While membership numbers are reaching new highs, there isn’t much interest

Q&A

Football Tyler VanFossen interview allie church photography cara satullo

the first Greater Miami Conference game. Can you describe what that game was like, especially since it was the first game of the season? Tyler VanFossen: Having it be the first game of the season and being able to have a game like that was certainly something to remember and build upon. AC: During East’s game against Northmont, you got a concussion. How did it feel knowing you wouldn’t be able to play for at least a week? TV: Concussions aren’t the best thing to have, and it was just a miserable week for me not being able to play with my team. AC: How was your return?

I was ready to come back early but I couldn’t. I was just ready to come back on the field. AC: What is your mindset going into a game? TV: My mindset going into every game is to mainly run fast and hit hard. AC: How would you describe East’s football team as a group of athletes? TV: If I could describe East as a football team, I’d say it’s a band of brothers and everybody’s close. We’d all do anything for each other. AC: What do you see for your future with football? TV: What I see for my future with football is to walk onto a solid college team.

he takes a deep breath and tries to calm her nerves. She knows what she has to do—it’s simple—a ball through two posts. As the ball lands in the hands of the snapper, she notices the precarious situation of the laces, but it’s too late. The ball misses it’s target and her face can do nothing but drop—but she hasn’t missed since. Liberty Junior High School eighth grader Meghan Creech is a soccer player turned football kicker who joined the eighth grade team in 2016 making her the third female in the school’s history to be on the LJS football team. Creech was first approached by seventh grade football coach, Randy Hamilton, to join the eighth grade team based on his knowledge of her soccer skills. “I [was] approached because they knew I played soccer and I thought it was a joke at first,” Creech says. “But then they were being serious so at the end of the [school] year I went out with Coach Hamilton and started to kick field goals and did pretty good.” Knowing her daughter was a talented soccer player was one thing for Creech’s mother, Stephanie Creech, but finding out that she had the potential to be a successful football player was another. Being the sole girl on a football team composed of all boys was an added stressor. However, Meghan’s athletic ability and previous friendships with some of the players

KICKSTARTER Liberty Junior 8th grader Meghan Creech is the third female athletic in school history to play football, playing her part in the future of east athletics. story alyssa hetterich | photography fair use made acclimating to the team far easier. “The boys have absolutely 100 percent had her back,” Stephanie says. “[They’ve been] really, really supportive, which has been great.” Moreover, as the season progressed, the team started to look at her only as a member of the team, not as the odd woman out, says Liberty Junior head football coach Rico Hill. “She blends in. They’re protective of her, but they don’t see her as any different,” Hill says. “They look at her as a teammate and they’ve embraced and taken care of her.” Meghan’s presence on the team has been vital to pushing the team to their 4-1-1 record. When taking on an undefeated Middletown team, it was her nine points, two field goals and three extra points that helped the team to a 29-6 victory. Furthermore, Hill believes that in a recent matchup against Mason, it was Meghan’s kicks that were missed the most, as the game ended in a tie that could have possibly been won if Mason’s had goal posts that Meghan could have used. According to the Women’s Sports Foundation, over 700 females play football.

56 lakotaeastsparkonline.com October 2016

Meghan’s ability to adapt to the game of football and step out of the traditional box of supposed female sports is just one of the many things that sets her apart as a teammate and athlete. “It’s good to see kids diversify themselves. It let us know there’s an outlet for every kid; you don’t just have to be a boy to do this,” Hill says. “[Football is] an outlet for a lot of things and we continue to groundbreak. I’m just thankful she did it and stuck it out and [made] an impact.” This decision to keep playing as been questioned before but as the season progressed, Meghan gained confidence in her playing ability and in herself going from missing her very first shot to nailing a 45-yard field goal. These accomplishments are all due to her desire to succeed. “The first extra point I took, I missed but then I ended up making [the second one] so I got passed that,” Meghan says. “I wanted to keeping [playing] because people doubted me and I was like, I’m already doing it now, might as well not stop.”

BEST FOOT

scouting report | sports

FORWARD story sophia spivey | photography maya wells

he pressure was on. The gun shot blanks blasted into the air. She took deep breaths as she sprinted toward the finish line. Tears streamed down her sweat-soaked face and time froze the moment she realized that her team qualified for state. “It was so unreal. I remember going into the race not expecting to qualify and thinking that would be my last race,” Lakota East senior Abby Whayne says. “I was in shock when someone came up to my teammates and me and said that Lakota East had qualified [for] State. We all froze and ran to our coaches to see if it was true. Once they said it was real we all burst into tears. It was honestly the best moment of my life.” Whayne first started running as a hobby with her dad around her neighborhood. After realizing how much she enjoyed running, her dad decided to take the next step and sign Whayne up for a race. “He [my dad] signed me up for the Optimists Run at Voice of America. He said ‘just run it for fun, maybe you will get a ribbon,’” Whayne says. “I thought why not? I'll get to meet new people and run. After three years of doing it, I decided to join cross country in junior high.” She placed sixth in the Greater Miami Conference (GMC) in the 2015-2016 season with a time of 19 minutes and four seconds. This year Whayne, the seventh fastest female runner in school history, leads the East girls cross country team. According to East sophomore and fellow cross country runner Mariah Ragsdale, who is among the top 20 fastest runners in East’s history, Whayne is a positive and encouraging voice who always has her back and pushes her to her full potential, especially at meets. “She works hard and puts forth a lot of effort which makes others want to do the same,” Ragsdale says. “Abby is humble, but confident. In races, she has looked back and encouraged me to pass her, ‘Go, if you’re feeling good, go!’” Whayne embodies everything that a

true leader entails, such as endurance and experience, according to East varsity coach Adam Thomas. Thomas feels that Whayne learned a lot about work ethic and racing from mentoring she received from previous cross country members throughout her high school career. “Abby has always been a leader by example through her work ethic and toughness, and now she is a great vocal leader,” Thomas says. “When the pain sets in at the end of the race, I can almost guarantee that Abby will outlast anyone around her.” For Whayne, cross country requires devotion and constant training, as she takes only two weeks off before jumping into summer conditioning. When August first comes around, the team springs into action with practices from 3:45-5:30 p.m. MondayFriday, 7a.m. on Sundays and early morning cross country meets on Saturday. “Over the summer we meet as a team at 7:30 in the morning three times a week and we gradually run more days as the summer goes on,” Whayne says. “During the season the varsity girls and boys train seven days a week. It is a lot on the body and definitely gets me tired and worn out but I wouldn't have it any other way.” According to Whayne, the strong and close knit group of girls hope to qualify for state the second year in a row, while propelling themselves to set individual and team records. “Our team is very strong this year minus a few injuries here and there but we are coming back,” Whayne says. “In the future I see the team making it to state again. It'll be hard but definitely doable. It's all about who wants it and who doesn't and we want it.”

When the pain sets in at the end of the race, I can almost guarantee that Abby will outlast anyone around her.

– Adam Thomas, East cross country coach

sports | scouting report

HONORED

story julianne ford | photography maya wells

East senior Edie Brewer was selected as a junior volleyball association class of 2017 honoree, making her one of the top volleyball prospects in the country.

58 lakotaeastsparkonline.com October 2016

ineteen volleyball players from the class of 2017 were announced as Junior Volleyball Association (JVA) All-Americans this past July, including Lakota East senior Edie Brewer. Brewer, a two year varsity athlete and East’s setter and right side, was in complete shock when she found out she had been honored by the JVA. “I didn't even know it was a thing,” Brewer says. “I saw I got [it and thought] oh my gosh this is so cool! The JVA award was a nice recognition of the hard work I've put into playing the sport. It's nice to know that someone who isn't my mom thinks highly of me.” The JVA is a Midwest volleyball conference, which hosts tournaments throughout the United States. Brewer was honored during the JVA national tournament in Orlando, Florida, which she was unable to attend. To Brewer, being announced as an All-American assured her that all of her work since 3rd grade had paid off. “[Volleyball] is all I know in life,” Brewer said. “It's shaped me into who I am today and it’s cool that I am being recognized for my hard work.” Brewer is not only recognized nationally, but she also is recognized by her fellow teammates, friends, and families. This includes East junior and varsity player Ariel Swain. “Not everybody leaves Lakota East leaving a legacy behind then but I truly believe Edie will,” Swain says. “She has helped me and everybody else improve so much as a player and an individual.” Brewer says that her focus for this season is to improve the team's attitudes and relationships with each other. After the team’s seasonending loss to Mount Notre Dame (MND) last year in the regional semi finals, Brewer has been determined to improve constant communication between the players. Edie is currently ranked 5th in the GMC for assists, 7th for digs and is in the top 50 for attacks, serves and passing. Last year, she was 10th in the GMC for serving with 41 service aces, 7th for assists with a total of 396 and 4th for blocks. Nine senior volleyball players graduated last spring. Although Brewer says many people think the team will suffer because of this, she believes that this is the perfect opportunity to connect with the current team and prove those with doubt wrong. “We are pushing each other to be the best, when we train the best, we play the best,” Brewer says. “I focused on my attitude, I feel like our team could be just as good even stronger.” Jada Brewer, Edie’s little sister and fellow teammate, has always looked up to her sister and strides to be just like her. “On the court, she's taught me to stay strong and stay energized,” Jada says. “She always knows what to do in every scenario and it has taught me a lot. Off the court, she's made me just an all around person and a more confident person.” East’s volleyball head coach Grady Rogers sees Edie’s talent and her dedication to the team as a whole. “On the court Edie is a playmaker and someone that really can bring a lot of energy to the team by making amazing sets, digs, attacks and blocks,” Rogers says. “The team looks to Edie when we are struggling and her pep talks to the players are always a motivation for us to work harder. ” Edie is committed to play volleyball at North Carolina A&T in the fall of 2017. She is excited to start her collegiate career while studying computer science. “I plan on achieving my goals [in college and high school] by pushing others including myself,” Edie says. “I want to become a better player and do things they didn't think I could do.”

scouting report | sports

story erinn aulfinger | photography richard giang

e was in control. The muscle memory kicked in, his feet moving faster than his thoughts. The ball underneath him flashed before slamming into the back of the net. For East senior Ilias Boujlil, one of the last games of the 2015 Greater Miami Conference (GMC) soccer season against district rivals Lakota West was one he won’t forget as the crowd and team roared after their home victory. “It was one of those moments you can’t describe unless you were actually there,” Boujlil says. “I had players around me and we [were] all yelling, but I [couldn’t understand] what anyone [was saying].” During his junior year, Boujlil jumped up on one foot to kick the ball when a goalkeeper from the opposing team slid underneath him, crushing his foot and causing him to sit out for most of the season. The GMC game against Lakota West was his first time returning to the field after his injury. Boujlil says one of his biggest weaknesses as a player is his propensity for getting injured, which he accredits to his tendency to use dribbling and footwork, attracting defenders from the other team. East men’s varsity soccer head coach Jeremy Hilen says Boujlil’s injuries gave him the opportunity to learn how to adapt to challenges, claiming that his ability to play through the long recovery periods has molded him into a stronger, more confident player. He credits this growth as enabling Boujlil to achieve All

Conference honors and Second Team: Greater Miami Conference his junior year. Although Boujlil says the thought of quitting crossed his mind, he worked past his injuries with the help of his teammates. “I was pretty much out for the rest of the season, [but] what really stuck in my mind was how my teammates reacted. They all came up to me like ‘Ilias you’ll be fine, you’ll get through this.’ [That experience represented] the bond we have,” Boujlil says. Hilen says the team’s strong bond can be attributed to the familiarity of the players with one another, as well as the focus on team activities to strengthen their communication. This summer, the team participated in an Escape the Room challenge, a bonding activity that allows participants to solve riddles and puzzles to exit a locked room, and they also watched FC Cincinnati, a local league club, play a soccer match to further their relationship. “I think it’s just as important [to] get better on the field as getting closer [to each other] off the field,” Hilen says. “From our first [game] to the last game we played, there has been an improvement in the connection [among the players], proven in our body language.” Hilen expects the team to use their bond to be successful throughout the season, communicating daily to build the relationship between teammates, as well as between coach and player. The team currently has a .636

overall percentage with 11 games played and six games won. He foresees a “very strong team that can contend to win the conference and make a good run in the tournament,” due to the strong presence of experienced starting seniors. East senior and teammate Jack Harper says that the team’s experiences from last season build their ability to relate off the field, and their bond provides the team with the closeness to relax with one another between practices and games. In the 2015 season, the team won eight games, lost eight, and tied two resulting in a .481 percentage. “Having eleven seniors adds to the intensity and drive to win,” Harper says. “None of us want to remember our last high school game as a loss.” Despite a torn ligament in his ankle causing him to sit out eight of the sixteen games in the 2015 season, Boujlil scored three goals and three assists. During his junior year, Boujlil’s fast footwork resulted in him being recommended by his club coach to try out for the Futsal National Team, a type of indoor soccer played with five players on each team. To earn his spot on the team, Boujlil tried out for the regional team in Cleveland, Ohio and then competed in the national tryouts later that summer in Kansas. Boujlil says the tryout process for the national team was “one of the most intense camps of his life,” as the prospective players participated in three to four games daily. After a year long examination process, Boujlil was one of the 72 players selected to represent the United States in Costa Rica as a member of the 2015 United States Youth Futsal team from July 30 to August 30. He says that it “felt amazing” to represent the United States. Throughout the three game tournament, Boujlil scored one goal during the first game, four in the second, and one in the final. According to Hilen, Boujlil’s aptitude for futsal carries over to soccer. “Futsal is very related to soccer, and when you’re playing at the national level they complement each other,” Hilen says. “He’s a dynamic, fun player to watch when he’s got the ball at his feet [and he] gets that [ability] from his futsal experience.” Although he is not returning for another season on the Futsal national team to give his body a “break” between his club soccer and school soccer seasons, Boujlil wants to spend his senior year focusing on improving his consistency and speed. Currently, he has had four goals and one assist in 11 games. According to Harper, Boujlil is a “huge power on the field” and continues to improve on his athleticism and foot skills when determining if he wishes to continue at the collegiate level. “Soccer has been in my life for as long as I can remember,” Boujlil says. “I’m still deciding whether or not I want to play [in college], but if I don’t, I’ll be sure to join a small club at whatever college I attend and play.”

opinion | letter to the editor

2 lakotaeastsparkonline.com October 2016

opinion | column

TIME WASTED CARA SATULLO art julia sanders

fter arriving home from school I dump the contents of my backpack haphazardly on the foot of my bed. I stare at it for a few moments, reach for my phone, and end up on YouTube watching a funny video of a cat. I glance at my work then decide that one more won’t hurt. Next thing I know, it’s two in the morning and I’ve just read an article about how a snake sheds its skin. At this point, I panic. While frantically scribbling answers on my math worksheet, I promise to never procrastinate again. However, this is a promise I can never seem to keep. I don’t know why I do this, but apparently I’m not the only one. According to DePaul University psychology professor Joseph Ferrari, 20 percent of people identify themselves as chronic procrastinators. This problem is easy to laugh about because of the often comical situations it puts people in, but the reality is far from a joke. Self identified chronic procrastinator Tim Urban explains the issue during his Technology, Entertainment and Design (TED) talk, arguing that everyone is a procrastinator when it comes to things that don’t have deadlines. “It’s this long-term kind of procrastination that’s much less visible and much less talked about than the funnier, short-term deadlinebased kind,” says Urban. “It’s usually suffered quietly and privately. And it can be the source of a huge amount of long-term unhappiness, and regrets.” To put it in perspective, the average life expectancy of a person living in the United States is 80, according to the CIA World Factbook. This can vary depending on a person’s health, environment, and a number of other factors, but an average of 80 sounds like a pretty good deal. Elvis was only 42 when he died, and we basically get that times two. In order to fulfill these 80 years to their potential they need to be budgeted wisely, kind of like money. The only difference is that there’s a set amount and that’s it. There are

no refunds. Once it’s gone, it’s gone. So it’s important to know where exactly it’s going. The largest chunk of time is spent sleeping, and a poll done by the National Sleep foundation found that people get about seven hours of sleep every night. This takes up 23 years in an 80 year life, leaving 57 years of actual consciousness. On top of time spent sleeping, there is also time spent lying awake at night restlessly. Canadian health experts speculate that this takes up seven years of life, leaving 50 more. Showering is another daily activity for most Americans. A poll done by Mail Online found that the average person takes about nine minute showers, unless you’re like me who spends

With all these necessary routines out of the way, people will spend another chunk of time at work. A Gallup report calculated that the average American workweek is 47 hours. This takes up 12 years in an 80 year life, assuming the person starts working at age 22 and retires at 65. After adding in school, which takes up 1.5 years, and time spent on homework, which adds up to 0.4 years with 3 hours of homework every night, there are 26.1 years left of life, not including college. With only 26.1 years left to actually live, it seems that people would utilize this time more wisely. However that is typically not the case. The Bureau of Labor Statistics found that 2.8 hours a day are spent watching television,

I glance at my school work then decide that one more won’t hurt. Next thing I know, it’s two in the morning and I’ve just read an article about how a snake sheds its skin. 20 minutes just standing under the water contemplating life. But, assuming that most people take nine minutes, that would amount in a half a year in an 80 year life is spent in the shower. This leaves 49.5 years left to go. After showering people usually get ready for the day. A survey conducted by the Huffington Post and YouGov found that 52 percent of Americans will spend about 30 minutes getting ready, taking up 1.7 years in an 80 year life. This leaves 47.8 years left to live. All other household tasks such as laundry and dishes take about 2.35 hours a day, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which is a total of 7.8 years in an 80 year life. That’s almost 8 years of straight up chores, leaving only 40 years left over.

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which is 9.3 years in an 80 year life. In that amount of time a person could build a sailboat from scratch or backpack across Europe, but instead the average American chooses to watch other people do cool stuff on a screen. That leaves only 16.8 years left to actually live. Now that I’ve finished this column and used up a few hours of my 16.8 years, I should probably go do something worthwhile. Maybe I’ll write a novel or…Actually, I think I’m going to read this list of the best fast food chicken nuggets first. It should only take a few minutes.

column | opinion

MY-LLENNIAL VIVIAN KOLKS

art julia sanders

urprisingly, despite my opinionated nature, I usually try to avoid controversial topics at dinner. It’s for a variety of reasons, mostly because I really like spaghetti, and twirling noodles on your fork is hard when you’re shouting about refugee quotas or exactly which bathroom a person should be allowed to use. In presidential debates they wait until after dinner to let the candidates have their say, although that might be to avoid someone mistaking Trump’s hair for shredded carrots in the salad bowl. Arguing and home cooked meals just don’t mix. That’s why whenever my father gets a contemplative twinkle in his eye, I inhale my dinner in an awe-inspiring impression of a vacuum cleaner and lean forward in my seat. One of the most common debates that we have is based around his insistence that this is the twenty-first century, and children today are substandard compared to the children of “the good old days.” I don’t think I’ve ever felt that a participation medal is crucial to my health, nor have I felt like I’m the center of the universe—although I do enjoy humming along with Little Jackie’s admittedly catchy “The World Should Revolve Around Me.” Even with the increasing amount of technology I am lucky enough to be exposed to, I have never felt like I have had a life or death, beyond sanity reliance on my phone and, to be honest, none of my friends seem to be overly addicted either. Talking to my father has opened my eyes to the view that the world has of the current generation of teenagers and, despite any of my personal feelings on the matter, my birth certificate states that I was born in 2000, the dawn of the millennium, which henceforth makes me more susceptible to the disdain of older generations. Surprisingly, this trend of naming a whole twenty year span containing the births of millions of humans does not come from a Buzzfeed clickbait article, but rather a saint

of the Intellectual Movement, Gertrude Stein herself. “You are all a lost generation,” she states gloomily in an epigraph featured in Ernest Hemingway’s 1926 novel “The Sun Also Rises,” referring to those who were born before or around the same time as World War I. An example of a more prolific generation is the “Baby Boomers,” who between the years of 1945 and 1965 increased the world’s population by 76 million, or the following generation born from 1965 to 1985 who are self described as “Generation X.” A nickname that requires a bit more explaining is one often applied to millennials, the pet name “NOW! Generation,” which

Talking to my father has opened to my eyes to the view that the world has of the current generation of teenagers. is based on one single character trait that supposedly plagues the entire lot: their need for quick solutions. Thanks to a number of factors, millennials and the following generations have developed an affinity for expecting quick results. Children today experience classrooms that are filled with an unprecedented amount of technology. Schoolwork is completed with the help of computer programs and standardized testing is done mostly on computers. According to EducationWeek, US public schools now provide a computer for every five students. Comparatively, “true 90’s kids” scratched letters into dirt with sticks. And it doesn’t stop with school computers. According to the Pew Research Center, 71 percent of teenagers use more than just one social networking app. The result is a hybrid of communication, spawned from the nearly

75 percent of teenagers that have some kind of smartphone. Something that most people forget is that when teenagers spend time on these sites, they are doing more than staring at a screen. They are instead making connections in ways that were unheard of half a century ago. Friends can makes plans in seconds, information is spread quicker than ever before and this generation’s youngsters are right at the very heart of it, something that will translate over when they completely transition into the workforce. “They know technology front and back. They know how to multitask at a level we can’t imagine,” Senior Vice President of ManPowerGroup Kip Wright said in an interview with CNBC. “If you put them in a conference room when they are trying to solve a problem and let them use their laptops, they will be networking with their own networks and they will collectively come up with solutions that you may never have thought of.” With the skills millennials possess, they are the most qualified generation to take on the new level of communication that companies, magazines and organizations all over the world are starting to use. The trick to succeed in business today is to rely on those new, eager workers who grew up during the birth of the Digital Age instead of shunning them, and in the process allow the next generation’s workforce to start fresh, right now, so that they can have experience for the future. That future might seem far away to me. After all, I’m still arguing at my own dinner table. But as a millennial, and a proud one at that, by working today, I want to ensure my own spot in the workforce of tomorrow. And hopefully also learn how to multitask eating spaghetti and debating at the same time.

HEAD TO HEAD

am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color,” San Diego 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick said to NFL media when asked about his refusal to stand for the playing of the national anthem on Aug. 26 during a preseason game against the Green Bay Packers. Since then, other professional athletes have followed suit, kneeling or holding up fists in protest of what they perceive as racial oppression and police brutality. The protest has expanded even

past the NFL, with entire college and high school football and baseball teams joining in on the movement. There’s a specific time and place to express these ideas, but the national anthem of a professional sporting event simply isn’t one of them. The national anthem is the epitome of what this country stands for: freedom. Despite American’s numerous differences, the performance of the national anthem is arguably the most significant unification of us all. By law, they’re free to kneel. They’re free to protest. They’re free to have a voice. But this freedom is exactly what the national anthem represents. Protesting during the anthem is contradictory to their fight. Linking the anthem to perceived racial oppression has created a false correlation of two topics representing the same overall point, and has fostered a division in a symbol that represents the unification of the American people. Whether the protesting athletes believe African Americans are being oppressed or not, Americans are free, regardless of race. Refusing to stand for the anthem that honors those who have fought and are still fighting today for American rights should have no relation to protesting police brutality. If their mission is to shed light nationally on their perception of racial injustice, the protesters are doing their jobs. In 2015, 23.7 million people tuned in to Sunday Night Football on NBC every week. With the amount of news coverage and attention on social media this movement has gained, it is evident that these athletes have been successful in publicizing their views. But there is a difference between making opinions widespread and acting upon them. Actions speak significantly louder than words. If Colin Kaepernick and those kneeling with him truly believed in the basis of their protest, they would be taking dynamic action. They’d be actively participating in the community, speaking with police administrators, and joining organizations advocating their views. But instead, they're playing it safe, and by playing it safe, their emotions come across as feigned. They’ve gained the spotlight, but rather than using it for good, they’ve transcended the entire dynamic of football as a sport. Viewers around the entire country watch

ANTHEM PROTEST sports for entertainment. They provide a break from the frustrations of ongoing political arguments in almost all other platforms of informative media. By pulling politics in, Kaepernick and other protesters have disrupted this relief. They have consumed sports media’s attention and have shifted the focus of both viewers and players. Football is supposed to be a team sport. Yet instead of recording shots of the entire team during the playing of the national anthem, cameramen now keep their equipment focused directly on those protesting. After games are complete, athletes are asked about the protest of a few individuals before the game, not about the team as a whole. Those few protesting athletes are being paid millions of dollars to contribute to the success of their teams, and now they aren’t even participating as team members. They’ve downgraded the team-andnation-wide unification quality of the anthem into the exact opposite: a means to divide the American people in controversy. While they are justified—to an extent— in their acts of protest as American citizens, the continuation of their protest on the 15th anniversary of the terrorist attack on Sept. 11, 2001 crossed the line between justification and morally and ethically wrong. This year, over five professional football players kneeled or held up fists during the playing of the national anthem on Sept. 11. Whether it was intended or not, it was an act of disrespect by every athlete participating. On a day meant for remembrance and grief for the worst terrorist attack in American history, this protesting was unequivocally selfish and inhumane. Americans are blessed to express the freedoms they have, but they also have a responsibility to appropriately defend these rights. What some don’t realize is that this freedom doesn’t come at a cheap price, and defending it goes hand-in-hand with respecting it. Colin Kaepernick and others like him can defend their rights, but what they lack is respect. And what they lack as American citizens no number of touchdowns, yards or athletic awards can make up for.

They’re free to have a voice. But this freedom is exactly what the national anthem and the flag represent.

After Colin Kaepernick refused to stand for the national anthem at a football game in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement, similar protests have been held across the country. Whether or not this is disrespectful has been a topic of debate ever since. columns allie church, karmiela white art julia sanders

unday night football: a time for popcorn, screaming, cheering and recently, protesting. There have been multiple peaceful protests over the course of this football season, starting when San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick began kneeling during the national anthem at the start of each game. After taking criticism for his actions, he explained that he was showing his respect for the Black Lives Matter movement. The Black Lives Matter movement began after Trayvon Martin’s alleged murderer was found not guilty on July 13, 2013. The movement has spread all over the country through social media with the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter being tweeted over 41 million times, according to NPR. Celebrities like Kendrick Lamar, Lady GaGa and Ariana Grande have all expressed their allegiance with the movement whether it be through social media, fashion statements or songs. Not taking part in the national anthem during professional football games has been a recurring theme amongst some of the players involved in this sport. However, some of the viewers of the Miami Dolphins vs. the Seattle Seahawks game were shocked when players Arian Foster, Michael Thomas, Kenny Stills and Jelani Jenkins kneeled with their hands over their hearts during the national anthem to protest racial injustice. Since then, accusations have been made that by protesting they were showing disrespect towards their country. The athletes are given a large audience, with an average of 23 million people tuning in to a single football game almost Sunday night according to Variety magazine. Therefore, this is an effective platform to voice their opinions on in hopes that it will encourage people to take action against social injustice. It lets their voices be heard without them needing to say a word. The effect of their message has reached far, inspiring Michael Oppong, a junior quarterback at Doherty High School, to kneel during the national anthem and afterwards say he was “protesting for equality.”

The first amendment grants citizens the right to free expression, and athletes are not an exception.

The First Amendment grants citizens the right to free expression, and athletes are not an exception. This right has helped shape some of the most progressive movements such as the Black Lives Matter movement, gay rights movement, Green Revolution and women’s rights movement. When the players chose to kneel for the national anthem which fell on September 11, a day that holds an extremely special place in the hearts of many Americans, it was not an attempt to disrespect that moment but rather to broadcast what they stand for while millions of people watched. The Miami Police Union called for a boycott against their home football team as long as they continue to protest during the national anthem because, according to International Union of Police Associations Jeffery Bell, “you give up that right of your freedom of speech temporarily while you serve that job or while you play in an NFL game.” It is easy to see how some might take these actions as disrespectful. However, having a job that happens to include being in the public eye does not limit a person’s First Amendment rights. At the end of the day, a football game is just that: a football game. These athletes are taking that one minute and 27 seconds to shed light on something that is important to them. Arian Foster stands by his actions to kneel during the national anthem and has since had many supporters join him such as Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross who said “these guys are making a conversation of something that's a very important topic in this country, and I'm 100 percent supportive of them." Despite the backlash Foster has received since kneeling, he has taken every opportunity to explain why he did what he did. According to Foster, the idea of disrespecting others or his country was never his intention. "They say it's not the time to do this," Foster said. "When is the time? It's never the time in somebody else's eye, because they'll always feel like it's good enough. And some people don't. That's the beautiful thing about this country. If somebody feels it's

not good enough, they have that right. That's all we're doing, exercising that right." Taking a knee during the national anthem does not correlate with disrespect in any way, shape or form. There is no guide on how to show respect towards the country. However, there is law stating that every U.S. citizen has the right to peacefully protest, and that's exactly what Kaepernick and many others are doing. The Black Lives Matters movement is something that has affected a large amount of people in the country. With some public figures using their voice to talk about celebrity feud or the latest hand bag, it is almost a breath of fresh air to watch someone use their voice to bring light to something they are passionate about.

opinion | guest column

HORRIBLE HORROR MAISON PETERSON art

julia sanders

t was a cold, snowy day, and I couldn’t have been more than five years old. My mom brought me up the stairs, laid me down and wrapped me in a big blanket to keep me warm from the chilling movie we were about to endure. It was Stephen King’s “It,” the movie that ruined clowns and sewers for me. This was the film that set the standard for what a horror movie should be in my eyes: an artform of different stories and characters, but with similar formulas and a twist. This genre has intrigued me since then, but I can’t remember the last time I sat down to watch a scary movie and was actually tensed up on the edge of my seat. I thought maybe it was just me, until I went to see “Insidious 2” in theaters with my friends. There I was, sitting at AMC wondering if this would this be the movie that brought back the petrifying clown

catch up with the twisted minds of humans, and it’s funny how desensitized to violence recent generations have become. People are exposed to fear everywhere and the news leaves people numb to terror as technology gives more access to the evils in the world. We’ve slowly adapted to the horror going on around us. In order to keep up with this constant violence, horror directors keep trying to up the shock value. Eli Roth, one of the genre’s most brilliant directors, usually writes truly terrifying films; however, he sold out to Hollywood’s butchering block of creative ideas with the 2013 release of “Green Inferno.” His movies

from my childhood, but just an hour in I was laughing so hard my stomach hurt and both of my friends had actually fallen asleep. If you ask my dad what the scariest movie was when he was growing up, he’d say “Jaws,” a movie where the thing doing the killing is only on the screen for a total of four minutes. To this day my dad still won’t step foot in the ocean, but horror films don’t seem to have the same impact on recent generations. Teenagers look back on movies that terrified their parents and laugh at the cheesiness and bad effects, and they aren’t scared of current movies either. The horror genre has come a long way to

have become gut-wrenching gore with no plot to be found under the thick layer of blood, an unsettling trend that is increasingly popular. The horror industry is not only overdoing violence, but selling sex in excess. Sex scenes in these movies are an important attribute, but recently they’ve become tasteless and seem to be straight up pornography. The classic 80s slasher movie, “Friday the 13th,” followed the rules: kept it low on gore and had tasteful sex scenes. In 2009, a remake of the hit classic was released in theaters, but this time with more blood and gratuitous nudity. These unnecessary add-ins ruined a classic and many other movies

GUEST COLUMN

People are exposed to fear everywhere and the news leaves people numb to terror as technology gives more access to the evils in the world. We’ve slowly adapted to the horror going on around us.

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from the same generation. Horror trailers have followed suit, increasing the overtly shocking images and leaving no room for suspense. These trailers are promoted through social media, which is great for connecting with friends, sharing memories and staying updated on what’s going on in the world, but maybe too much information is being shared. Often times the plot of a movie is overly exposed, and the excitement of being blindsided is taken away. One movie where this was evident was “Unfriended,” a horror movie about social media that was ruined by social media. By the time it hit theaters it had practically already been released in its entirety, with almost nothing left to surprise audiences. The popular TV series, “American Horror Story,” is one of the few left in this genre that incorporates effective advertising. This show has a new plot and theme every year, and just days before season six premiered audiences still had no clue what the focus would be, despite the 24 short teasers that had been released. This subtle advertising kept audiences intrigued without revealing too much, showing that the way to scare this generation isn’t through plotless movies that hide behind poorly executed jumpscares and excessive gore. It seems that writers of the horror genre have challenged themselves on how many people they can offend or disgust, but people are not phased by this violent profanity. They might as well just show us where our food comes from; that’s much more terrifying than watching the mutilation of undeveloped and unloved characters. We want to be left haunted by what we have just seen, not endure an hour and a half of torture porn. Sincerely, all fans of horror.

editorial cartoons | opinion

EDITORIAL CARTOONS

“Laïcité: France’s Forced Assimilation” - Sarah Aftab

“Culture is Not a Costume” - Sarah Aftab

BOARD NOT BORED EMMA STIEFEL photography maya wells

akota Local School District Central Office, 5572 Princeton Road. That’s where anyone can find me approximately every other Monday at 7pm, with my phone in one hand and notebook and pen in another, ready to report on another Lakota Board of Education meeting. The board is made up of five elected members, and at these meetings they, along with the district’s superintendent and treasurer, discuss and vote on policy for the entire district. To an observer like myself board meetings have approximately six parts: the beginning, when the Pledge of Allegiance is recited and the board president, superintendent and treasurer make opening comments; the Student Spotlight, when students are recognized for their accomplishments; the Administrative Report, when district-related topics are discussed; the Public Comment portion, when community members address the board; the Board Reports and Treasurer’s and Superintendent Recommendations, when policies are voted on; and the Closing Comments, when every member can speak before the meeting is adjourned. If students ever go to a board meeting, it’s probably because they were being recognized during the Student Spotlight section, and they probably left as soon as they finished grabbing their certificate and having their picture taken. They probably missed all the good parts. I’ve been attending board meetings off and on as a Spark reporter for over two years now. The first one I went to happened to be one of the most interesting I’ve ever seen. During the Public Comment section, many parents angry about standardized testing got up to address the board, some of them on the verge of tears. Everyone there not only seemed to believe that what was going on at the meeting was important and relevant to their lives, but also showed an incredible willingness to speak out about their concern for their children’s welfare. This meeting was an exception; most are much more subdued and void of any public comment, let alone multiple passionate speeches about a national topic. Every single board meeting I’ve attended, however, from the most mundane to the most exceptional, has been important. It’s there that the community is able to learn about how the district spends money, trains teachers and responds to issues such as changing student demographics. Despite how board meetings affect their lives, many people never go to them, understandably preferring to work on homework or hang out with friends instead of observing at least 45 minutes of parliamentary procedure. But people still need an objective source of information about what is happening in the district so they can understand the process that led up to the changes they observe at school. That’s why Spark has put such an emphasis on covering them. Every meeting is attended by a reporter, and as a result almost all of our issues contain at least one story related to the board’s decisions. On top of this I’ve started live tweeting the meetings so people can get up to date on what’s happening in the district. We don’t cover board meetings to sell subscriptions or to increase our follower count. I know that a 1,000 plus word story on state school funding will never be read as much as movie reviews or sports briefs. However, when people decide to seek out an explanation for an issue that matters to them, we’ll be there with the information they need.

opinion | letter to the editor

2 lakotaeastsparkonline.com October 2016