Lakota East Spark 2017-18 Issue #5

Spark

DANCE FEVER

Ballet has brought injuries and strained East freshman Ellie Ford in the last 10 years.

Lakota East High School lakotaeastsparkonline.com April 30, 2018 $5 Newsstand

ROWING

Rowing has become a popular sport amongst East students in recent years.

#ORANGEFORCHANGE East students spent their Mar. 14 Extra Help period creating a banner that was sent to the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School students and survivors.

Contents April 2018 | Issue #181

put it in park The East Hack Club created a computer program to assign parking spots to staff and students.

bittersweet ballet East freshman Ellie Ford dances through the pain that comes with ballet.

marching madness

East junior Bryce Forren went to the Washington D.C. March for our Lives on Mar. 24

a weekend at the met After spending a day at the Met Museum, four Spark editors learned about the different cultures displayed at the exhibits.

collection of commits Six out of the twelve East Boys’ senior Varsity Lacrosse players will play at the collegiate level..

Gun regulation

Two Spark editors debate the controversial topic surrounding gun regulation.

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Spark 2017-2018 STAFF

Editor-in-Chiefs

Julianne Ford Lexy Harrison Vivian Kolks Sidney Li

Writing Mangers

Julianne Ford Lexy Harrison Sidney Li

Art Department Director Business Team Manager Marketing Coordinator Public Relations Director Subscription Coordinator

Michael Croy Vivian Kolks Rachel Vogelsang Landon Meador Leah Boehner

Design Coordinator

Richard Giang

Photography Editor

Meredith Niemann

Online Editors

Rebecca Holst Lina Kaval Katey Kruback

Broadcast Manager

Landon Meador

News Editors

Bea Amsalu Julianne Ford Stephen McKay

Culture Editors

Caroline Bumgarner Sidney Li

Feature Editors

Megan Finke Lexy Harrison

Package Editor

Sidney Li

Sports Editors

Julianne Ford Lauren Maier Jack Parr

Opinion Editors

Jessica Jones Vivian Kolks

Art Editors

Tyler Bonawitz McKenna Lewis

LETTER TO THE EDITOR Dear Spark,

Whilst living within the Liberty Township and West Chester Township for the past decade, I have experienced the ups and downs. With Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones at the head of the police department in our area, his pro-gun advocation has brought numerous discussions within community members.

I personally have guns hidden in all the rooms within my house as a safety precaution for my wife and children. The AK-47 in my wife’s shoe closet is locked in our safe and there is a shotgun under my daughter’s bed is empty. But the fact that those guns are there allows me to sleep peacefully.

I would not be able to have this easy access of guns if the United States (U.S.) restricted and regulated their guns. People have no idea how beneficial the current laws are pertaining to guns.

Well. I am not a full-blown Republican. I am not Caucasian. I am just an American immigrant who is thankful to live in the U.S. with equal rights and commitments to the approximately 300 million other U.S. citizens in our country.

The Second Amendment of the U.S. allows me to have a protected gun ownership as it is a rightful American tradition that I’m glad I have. When I was a refugee in the Vietnam War, I always dearly wished that I could have a gun in my possession. Having a gun was something necessary for survival back in my country. With robbers and armed militia, we, refugees, need guns to protect us and our possessions. It was just a matter of life.

American citizens don’t know how much of a luxury it is to own guns. Having gun control infringes and denies American citizens a sense of safety. Also, gun control laws will not prevent criminals from obtaining guns.

Criminals can still buy guns even if there are stricter laws. There is still the black market. I know this is just my opinion but with all these liberal and anti-gun comments floating around in the media as of late, I wanted my words to be heard. And I can do that as an American citizen and the First Amendment.

—community member, Shan Li The Spark encourages letters to the editor. Letters can be sent to the publication at lakotaeastspark18@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.

Spark

DANCE FEVER

Ballet has brought injuries and strained East freshman Ellie Ford in the last 10 years.

Lakota East High School lakotaeastsparkonline.com April 30, 2018 $5 Newsstand

NEW COACHES Different East sports have been through many new coaches over the years.

Graphics Editors Survey Coordinator

Advisor

Michael Croy Meredith Peters Sidney Li Dean Hume

#ORANGEFORCHANGE East students spent their Mar. 14 Extra Help period creating a banner that was sent to the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School students and survivors.

ON THE COVER

photo vivica heidenreich During the Mar. 14 Wednesday Extra Help, East students gathered in support for the Marjory Stoneman Douglas students. They created two banners with their handprints painted in orange, one that was sent to Parkland, Florida and another that is hung at East.

STAY SAFE AND SMART

JULIANNE FORD I photography sidney li

t was a Friday night and I was driving with my mom and sister to my youngest sister’s soccer game. My dad called and told us to drive to the Voice of America (VOA) Park with a route that was different than originally planned due to traffic.

We immediately continued to drive straight on Millikin instead of turning right onto Cincinnati-Dayton, at the time we didn’t know that this sudden change would impact us so greatly.

We were driving down Millikin only to see a white car off the road with glass everywhere and smoke in the air. Not knowing what had happened we immediately stopped and ran towards the car. The first thing I knew to do was call 911 yet I was freaking out as we approached the scene.

I saw the first girl, she was screaming, trying to get out of the car in her beautiful prom dress and we were separated from her by a huge, rotting fence. I wanted to jump over the fence so bad, but my mom screamed at me to stand there.

I remember the tears streaming down my face as I told the operator that they were on their way to prom. I had just been to prom the week before, these kids were supposed to have one of the best nights of their lives.

When she finally was able to get out of the car she ran over to me. I asked her what her name was, and it is a beautiful name that I will never forget. My mom and I tried comforting her and I told her how beautiful she looked and that everything was going to be okay, but she was freaking out, screaming looking at the scene around her. There were people were running all around trying to help the other two kids. There was a boy thrown across the field, and another boy entrapped in the car.

After a few moments of comforting her, I looked behind me, only to find another girl laying in the grass yards away. There was a fourth student in the car. I ran over to her and in that moment my life changed forever. Her dress was thrown off and she was exposed with, blood everywhere. I immediately covered her with my favorite cardigan, wanting her to feel more comfortable.

Yet I couldn’t comfort her or hold her hand, her neck was clearly broken. I am a certified lifeguard and I knew that if I moved her in any way she could start to get worst. So I did the worst thing in the world, I stood there watching her, making sure she was still breathing. I wanted more than anything to tell her how pretty she looked and how strong she was, but I knew she couldn’t hear me.

Finally after what felt like eternity, the ambulance showed up, I screamed that they needed to give her the attention first. When they ran over I had to back away, not knowing what would happen. My sister and I got back in our car, trying to comfort each other as my mom talked to the police. They finally said that we could go, but we couldn’t stand to go to the soccer game so we drove home, sitting in the car silently crying.

As the days passed, I continued to watch the story unfold on the news, praying that these kids were okay. But on that following Monday I received the worst news, the girl that I had watched over and covered had passed.

I was heartbroken, angry and confused. I wanted more than anything for them to be okay. They were average high schoolers, heading to college next year. Seeing this event firsthand was tragic. I have one simple request to all drivers, drive safe and smart. •

news | book mobile

BOOKIN’ IT Lakota Local schools elementary students now have a lot more options when it comes to picking out a book to read thanks to Midpointe Library’s Book Mobile. story jack mcfarland photography meredith niemann art leo rolfert

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akota Local school district has recently partnered with Midpointe Library’s mobile library program which stops at the Lakota elementary schools at least once a month and allows students to be able to have a totally different library experience. Matt Miller, Lakota’s Superintendent, believes this is a beneficial way for kids to investigate new reading material.

According to Miller, the partnership came about when Midpointe Library mentioned the startup of the program to community and parent engagement coordinator Angie Brown, who really liked the program because the mobile library will still be able to serve students throughout the summer even after the school district is closed. This will allow students to expand their reading.

Miller believes this program is “good, especially for younger kids to have access to reading materials that they both have and might not have on a regular rotating basis.”

“I’ve seen other districts do that,” Miller said. “I think this is something we could partner with some of our local businesses to have a STEAM lab on wheels for our younger kids.”

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he original purpose behind the book mobile is to bring community members the materials and services that a public library might offer to areas of the community that may not have a physical branch nearby. This would allow community members who may not be able to use a library through traditional means to be able to have the library experience.

The book mobile also offers a variety of other services which range from teacher collection services to deposit collections.

Library on wheels librarian Jenn Effinger.

Effinger creates a very fun environment for the students who come aboard the mobile library.

“We’re very punny around here,” Effinger said. “That’s what we do, that’s why I’m wearing a cat laser shirt.”

Effinger also believes this is a very beneficial program for the kids, “We have been able to reach 700 children or more per school.”

She also says this allows students to have

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direct access to the resources of a public library “[This allows students] to be able to advance their literacy,” Effinger said. “which is phenomenal. I have to remind [the students] that this is a library and not a bounce house because they come in so thrilled.”

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ffinger also says that this allows students to learn the proper library edicate when they are on board.

The mobile library has a circulation of over 1000 books a day. They have 1000 leaving and 1000 coming back on the truck at the same time. Effinger will taylor the displays on the bus

to the specific age groups of the kids so that way they dont accidentally pull the wrong book off the shelf which would be not age appropriate.

The library on wheels also allows students to access digital media in addition to the physical books they can access.

The mobile library is equipped with wifi in order to allow kids to be able to use internet research, just like you would find at one of their branches. Students are also able to sign up for the library card directly on the bus which they would be able to use at any Midpointe Library location. . . continue reading on lakotaeastsparkonline.com

Below: Library on Wheels librarian Jenn Effinger plays the ukulele for the students that come on “bookmobile.”

NEW BLOG ON LAKOTA

The new Lakota Learning Blog gives the community of the district voice. story megan finke photo illustration meredith niemann

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ith various opportunities to connect through the use of #LakotaEdChat and #WEareLakota, Lakota Local schools has developed a new platform in order to engage learning, student interaction and community participation.

Recently released to the community, the Lakota Learning Blog was brainstormed, developed and pursued in order to get a personal feel from the district’s central office in addition to a family oriented site were the community can come in and write articles to help others out.

Executive Director of Curriculum and Instruction Keith Koehne is one of the driving forces behind the creation of the new platform in which he says he aimed to get other people involved as soon as possible leading to the district wanting to be apart of the blog.

“It was sort of my brainstorming that came up with it. Also, trying to get different people’s perspectives in there,” Koehne said. “I’d like it to be something that a lot of people contribute to. So I’m trying to encourage people to put themselves out there and write for it.”

The process to bring the blog to life lead down a path of picking the perfect time to release it, having the right people involved as well as getting it approved by everyone it needed to be approved by.

“I came to Mr. Miller when I came on board and I said I would love to start a blog to get our personalities out there a little bit and he was very much on board but it took a little bit of time, Koehne said. “I wanted to make sure that it didn’t get out you know too early in everything else.”

As pieces of the blog such as release time and involvement were falling into place, the personal writing aspect quickly took the role as the main piece to the newest addition to Lakota’s community involvement puzzle.

“I want it to be pretty personal but I also want it to be a little bit more informal than sometimes we are in the world,” Koehne said.

Above: East community members can go onto Lakokta Online and find the link to the blog.

“So I wanted it to be very conversational so people can see all of these are real people who were thinking about things from a real kid centered and Family Centered perspective.”

With the want for personal experience playing a role in what kind of articles go onto the blog, academic coach Tiffany Rexhausen was asked to write and given a concept that could’ve been written in many ways.

“They asked if I would write a piece and they really gave me a very vague concept.

They just said unplugging with your children,” Rexhausen said. “I didn’t get a whole lot of collaboration, so then therefore sort of took my own route of talking about unplugging with them through connecting with your kids in what they’re doing electronically.”

When asked about what the blog will do not only for the Lakota district but also the community, guest writer, Rexhausen said, “I really think it’ll bring us together and it’ll sort of bring down walls and barriers that teachers in the community and parents have. I also think it allows the community to see some of us a little bit differently.”

Another recent blog that not only deals with connection but directed towards the parents with students in the testing season was written

by Director of Kindergarten through six (K-6) Curriculum Erin Owens.

“It was really about kinda taking pressure off and helping your child relieve anxiety because the testing season makes everyone a little bit anxious, Owens said. “From the schools, to the parents, to the students and we believe here in Lakota that tests are important but that’s not what we’re here for.”

With the future of the blog predicted to grow into a much larger voice for the community, for now their main goal is to reach to parents to expand their relationship to Lakota.

“Our hope is to reach parents in multiple ways and so it’s really to do a much better job communicating with parents about the things that go on in the district level.” Owens said.

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he creation of the Lakota Learning Blog is not only to further relationships or bring the community together in more ways than one, but also to develop a place for the district to express itself.

“I would love for it to be a place where people practice writing because it’s not just like you’re handing it in for a teacher or you’re handing into your boss for some kind of purpose, but you’re really putting yourself out there and saying you choose your words really clearly,” Koehne said. “You want to really drive home a point and you really care a lot about the writing that you’re putting out there.” • 2018 Apr lakotaeastsparkonline 2

news | greenhouse

BUMPER CROP East Environmental Advocates Forum (LEAF) Club built a greenhouse to grow organic food for the East cafeteria. story amy bohorfoush | photography meredith niemann art charis williams | infographic caroline bumgarner

Above: LEAF Club president Gold Bristow and advisor Mark Folta watering various plants and vegetables in the recently built greenhouse.

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he East courtyard was a flurry of activity.

One person shoveled compost, while two more tightened the screws on a myriad of metal rods. These rods would soon become the skeleton of the East Environmental Advocates Forum (LEAF) Club’s first bona fide greenhouse.

“Before this, we had a house, and it was green, but it wasn’t a greenhouse,” East senior Gold Bristow said. “This will be more legit.”

The project was paid for the the Lakota

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Fund. Lowe’s and Delhi Supplies offered the LEAF Club discounts for materials, and The Well Church provided the rain barrels. With the cost offset by these offerings, the main logistics for the greenhouse come from the construction and placement.

“There’s just so many pieces to this thing,” LEAF Club advisor and East environmental science teacher Mark Folta, said. “It looks like it’s going to be good and sturdy, though, which is what you want.”

The LEAF Club began to lay the groundwork for the structure on April 12.

When finished,the project will include not only the greenhouse, but raised garden beds, trellises for grapevines, and 3 more rain barrels.

“It’s the biggest project we’ve ever done,” said Folta. “We’re also planting wildflowers and more trees that we’ll eventually transplant to make a forest by the baseball fields.”

This is because the LEAF Club’s goals for the greenhouse go far beyond simply building

greenhouse | news

Long wavelengths radiated through the glass and into the atmosphere The sun releases short and long wavelength

Eggplants require at least 70 degree temperatures to germinate and grow.

75 o

Short waves get trapped in the greenhouse warming the air

sources hydroponics-simplified.com, homeguides.sfgate.com & finegardening.com

Blueberries need 500 to 1000 hours cooling period in under 40 degree weather before being put in a 70 degree greenhouse.

it. They plan to continue to work in the greenhouse once it’s finished, growing produce for the East cafeteria that they were not able to without the ideal growing conditions provided by a greenhouse.

East cafeteria worker Sharon Nogueras was struck by how much the LEAF Club “liked providing the food.”

Nogueras’ colleague in the cafeteria Chris Debevec has observed more of the impact the school-grown food has had on the students

who patronize the cafeteria.

“They thought it was interesting that the salad was made with lettuce produced here,” Debevec said. “You could see a difference and we put up a sign saying it was provided by the LEAF Club.”

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ith or without a greenhouse, the LEAF Club members apply their knowledge of plants and much thought in order to obtain the maximum harvest.

“We mostly try to focus on vegetables because they’re hardier than fruits,” Bristow said. “I’m mostly in charge of building raised gardens where we can control the soil and keep out the clay in the courtyard.”

Despite the challenges of the ambitious project, Bristow enjoys the feeling of working for the benefit of the school and planet Earth.

“It’s fun when you’re doing the planting,” Bristow said. “Because you’re doing something right for our environment” • 2018 Apr lakotaeastsparkonline 4

news | parking lot project

PUT IT IN PARK

East computer science students coded a program to help make the process of getting a parking pass more efficient.

story bea amsalu photography lina kaval infographic caroline bumgarner

Above: East seniors Elaine Suer, Hannah Wilson and Wes Reed presenting the “Parking Lot Project” at the University of Cincinnati IT expo.

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hen East senior Kyle Lierer came in to East teacher David McKain’s computer science classroom after school, he expected just to “bum around” and “talk to his friends.” Lierer instead was met by a messy stack of papers and Mr. McKain telling him that he had an idea for a coding project.

Initially, all Lierer saw was a bunch of scribbles, but it turned out, somewhere in all the papers was the way that every single parking spot at East was being assigned. Lierer knew something had to change.

The result is a program that will automate

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the process that is currently the way students and faculty apply for the passes that can be implemented by next school year. McKain came across the need for the project when he faced parking problems of his own.

“I was working through a parking pass problem because somebody kept parking in my spot so they gave me a new spot, then someone kept parking in that spot so then I got another spot and I kept thinking ‘you know, this shouldn’t be that hard to organize,’” McKain said. “Of course I’m thinking as a computer science person, so then I saw that the way they

were having to [assign spots] with was just pencil and lots of paper and I understood.”

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fter McKain proposed the idea to Lierer in September, Lierer talked to the Hack Club, a new club at East this past year whose mission is to use computer science to solve problems.

“The hope [for Hack Club] was that we were going to be able to have a number of different projects and things going on at the same time but it was difficult to get people to champion different projects,” McKain said. “So it just sort

ICATI

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Students must first fill out an application, photocopy their drivers license and turn in $10.

Step 2

Step 2

Mrs. Jones crosses out parking spots on a collection of eight pieces of paper.

Mrs. Jones inputs the student’s information and the computer selects a spot.

Step 3

Step 3

Parking Spot: 112

STUDENT

LAKOTA EAST

0112 She then inputs the student’s information into the computer.

The parking pass is made.

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hen the program is first opened, the user can upload a map of the school. They can then designate lots and parking spaces, and import information on drivers from the user’s own respective database like a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet, which can be edited at any time.

The program also has managerial functions, such as the search form that will allow searches by student first name, last name, and student ID number, as well as make, model, year, license plate number, and color of car. This versatility, according to Lierer, is so the program can be used not just at East, but for any school or business.

Hoover believes the search form can help people when reporting someone who is parked in their spot.

“Jones told us kids come in all the time saying ‘Someone parked in my spot.’ She’ll ask what the license plate is and they’ll say ‘Well,I don’t know but it was a black civic or something,’” Hoover said. “She can go in and do a condition check and make color equal to black and the model is equal to civic and everyone who meets that criteria and their spots will pop up so she knows exactly who it might be.”

With a functioning prototype of the program, the Hack Club presented the program in front of a panel of industry experts at the INTERalliance TechOlympics Showcase in February, the nation’s largest student-run tech conference in Cincinnati. They placed fourth at the conference. In April, the boys travelled to the University of Cincinnati for the school’s Information Technology (IT) Expo and presented in front of a panel of judges again and placed first.

East principal Suzanna Davis was at TechOlympics was able to watch the presentation she was impressed with what the Hack Club has achieved.

“Here are these students up there, solving a real world problem in ways that I didn’t even know were possible,” Davis said. “I walked out of the room thinking this is what the high school experience should be.

The high school experience should be finding real world solutions to real life problems utilizing academic skills as well as another set of skills that aren’t academic.”

User Interface programmer Reed knew the group had big plans and has faith they’ll execute them on time.

“What we wanted going in was to win [the] showcase at TechOlympics, but that didn’t happen, and also to have this software ready and functional by next year,” Reed said. “We’re still on track for that, there’s just a couple of things that have to be done before.”

Though the team still have a little ways to go before the program is piloted next school year, Jones is more than ready to see her job change for the better.

“My expectations when I reached out to [Mr. McKain] were more or less how can we make [the parking pass process] more efficient and have less room for error. Anything they could do to help that process was going to be better than this,” Jones, gesturing towards her stacks parking lot papers, said. “Everything that I have seen thus far, they have exceeded my expectations and I’m excited to see what [the program] can do and how easy or more efficient it does make the whole process.” •

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of settled on this one as being a big one that could really help the school.”

Before the Hack Club team of Lierer and fellow seniors Wesley Reed, Robby Hoover, Hannah Wilson and Elaine Suer could even begin on the project, they consulted with East main office secretary and parking pass coordinator, Khea Jones.

“In the beginning [the Hack Club] came to me and got pieces of information,” Jones said. “Like what I need when somebody is applying for a parking spot, what is my current process, what are the problems or issues that I’m running up against, and what would I like to see improve or what changes do I need.”

The group started by planning what software to use and what features to include in the program. They then split into two teams: user interface, who focused on what Jones would be seeing when she used the software, and database, who dealt with how information is stored and managed.

parking project | news

Step 1

Next, she files the application and photocopies licenses and puts them in a bin.

Step 5 STUDENT LAKOTA EAST

0112 The parking pass is made. source mrs. jones

2018 Apr lakotaeastsparkonline 6

news | hope squad

FINDING HOPE East introduces the suicide prevention program to provide comfort and support for teenagers.

story isis summerlin | photography meredith niemann infographic lucy hartmann | art leo rolfort

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he man helped the police officers move the body. It felt as if the boy and the grass of the public park were somehow magnetic. The boy was only fourteen. The man knew this because the boy was one of his students. After carefully securing the body, the man trudged to his car as if he still held the boy in his arms.

He convulsed and sobbed for the loss of a child who took his own life. He kept wondering why the boy did it.

At the time, he didn’t know why a teenager would end their own life, but sitting in his car that day he vowed to devote his life to finding out. Now Greg Hudnall is the Executive Director and Founder of Hope Squad, an organization that trains students to empower their peers in enhancing the atmosphere of the school.

East and West have recently decided to form its own Hope Squad over the course of the 2018-19 school year. On April 16, Hudnall spoke to Lakota parents in a meeting to inform them about the Hope Squad.

“The goal is to train all school personnel to recognize warning signs, identify someone who needs help, where to access help, and when to notify the family,” Hudnall said. “The schools also implement a peer to peer Hope Squad program where students are nominated to become trained in suicide prevention.”

During the meeting, Hudnall asked all of the parents to sit together so he could effectively communicate with everyone. He

“

played informational videos that gave insight on Hope Squads, responses from former members, and statistics about teenage mental health. Lakota parents had the opportunity to ask questions and comment on what was discussed so that the administration alleviate their concerns.

“There’s a lot of kids that are dealing with a lot of mental illness, a lot of rebelliousness, a lot of depression,” Lakota parent who came to the meeting Kara Curtis said. “So I really think the Hope Squad will have a big effect on that,” Beginning in the state of Utah, which according to Hundall has the fifth highest suicide rate in the nation, different mental health organizations came together to form the community model called Circles4HOPE. Some of these agencies included Wasatch Mental Health, Juvenile Justice, Brigham Young University, and many others.

Circles4HOPE formed the first Hope Squad in 2003-04, and today there are Hope Squads in 12 states. It is even expanding to other countries including Canada, Spain and Australia.

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ollowing the loss of Founder Diane Egbers’ son, Grant Us Hope formed a community model for suicide prevention in the Greater Cincinnati area. They are a non-profit organization that

[The Hope Squad] wants people to understand that a mental illness is no different than a broken leg or a sprained ankle.

-Greg Hudnall, -Hope Squad Executive Director

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The process of creating a Hope Squad requires a lot of time and discipline. The work of staff and students pays off when they can help someone in need.

Nominations: Students nominate each other based on who they believe is the most helpful using a QR code on their cell phones.

Student Training: The selected students are invited to attend a meeting every month.

Curriculum: The students are taught lessons on suicide prevention, intervention and anti-bullying. The Hope squad teams up with local mental illness recourses and health specialists.

Staff Involvement: 10-12 teachers and counselors nominated by students are trained to assist students on the Hope squad and the students in need.

Student Referrals: Once the students are trained, the Hope Squad students notice and reach out to other students with depression and or suicidal thoughts.

source hopesquad.com

Above: East and West Hope Squad Advisors that the students elected at the first meeting of the year. works to promote safety, wellness, and suicide prevention. The group later partnered with the Hope Squad. About twenty-two schools in Ohio have plans to form Hope Squads according to Hundall. These schools include Mason, Loveland, West Clermont, Kings, and Forest Hills.

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hrough Grant Us Hope, East principal Suzanna Davis and West principal Elgin Card traveled to Utah to participate in and observe the Hope Squad trainings. This trip led to partnering with the Hope Squad organization.

“What we’re beginning to see is peers have a good handle on what’s occurring in their culture,” Davis said. “I think that the power of Hope Squad is ultimately the members are the eyes and ears of the school and can really begin to help identify the students that are in need.”

The training sessions will occur once a month. Mental health professionals will teach students and advisors on how to help someone who is struggling with depression or thoughts of suicide. Hope Squad members will do training that consists of learning the warning signs and Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) training. This process happens over the course of a three-year period in order to “change the culture of the school.”

The goal of the program is to get students talking about it, students will start being less judgmental, more kind and more supportive.

In order for students to be comfortable with discussing their thoughts, potential Hope Squad members are nominated by other students. East

teachers were asked to direct students in taking an online survey to select students and faculty who they felt would be the most qualified to be a part of the Hope Squad based on their ability to listen, advise and provide support.

East sophomore Elizabeth Leisten, one of the Hope Squad nominees, is excited to continue training to become a Hope Squad member. She believes the Hope Squad will be a palpable method for bringing about a change that she said is hard to do in such a big world.

“It’s like what can I do to make a difference?”

Leisten said. “But this is something that can help in that area.”

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ccording to Hudnall, a major part in changing the nature of schools is changing the way people think and talk about mental health. Hudnall also believes it is important for the rest of the student body to be on board as well.

“We want people to understand that a mental illness is no different than a broken leg or a sprained ankle,” Hudnall said. “There’s a stigma with mental health and mental illness

is that ‘I’m crazy’. Well, no one is crazy. They’re just struggling, and every one of us will struggle with depression at some point in our lives.”

Hudnall said that seven out of every ten teenagers who are struggling with thoughts of suicide tell a friend, but most of those friends will not notify an adult. Because of this, instilling a Hope Squad in a school allows students to do what they are already doing-communicating with each other.

“It’s going to be a great method,” East Hope Squad advisor Kevin Keen said. “More than anything to get kids to form a better community in which they’re looking out for one another.”

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he Hope Squad advisors will be given curriculum binders full of substantiated procedures, Keen told Spark. These techniques will be taught to the Hope Squad students each month. As for the orchestration of these meetings, it is still being discussed with administrators and faculty.

As a result of the program being lead by members, Hope Squads diverge in the way they are executed from school to school. A former Hope Squad member, Michelle Ashcraft, graduated from Springville High School after participating in the program for two years. She relayed how her school’s Hope Squad brought awareness to the students and that she herself learned how to aid someone who is struggling.

“The most effective ways that I have noticed is to try first [to] just listen,” Ashcraft said.

“After that I will help my friends recognize all of the people that love and care about them.” • 2018 Apr lakotaeastsparkonline 8

news | gubernatorial race

THE BATTLE FOR BUCKEYE STATE The Ohio Gubernatorial candidates attended different events before the May 8 primary election. stories and infographics bryce forren | photography abby bammerlin and used with permission

DEMOCRATIC DEBATE Right: Four Democratic Candidates for Ohio Governor met on Apr. 10 for a debate at Miami University Regionals before the May 8 primary.

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n Apr. 10, Miami University Regionals’ Middletown Campus hosted four Democratic candidates in a debate a month before Ohio gubernatorial primary election on May 8. Any Ohio resident that will be 18 or older by Nov. 2018 will have the ability to vote for a gubernatorial nominee of either party.

The candidates present at the debate were Ohio Supreme Court Justice Bill O’Neill, former United States (U.S.) Representative Dennis Kucinich, Ohio State Senator Joe Schiavoni and former Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray.

The debate was moderated by WLWT news anchor Sheree Paolello and featured Justice and Community Studies Professor John Forren and Journal News Staff Writer Michael Pitman as panelists. Guns, infrastructure and Ohio’s opioid epidemic were among the key issues discussed throughout the hour, which was broadcasted live to WLWT.

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n the wake of frontrunner Cordray’s controversial “A” rating from the National Rifle Association (NRA), the candidates were immediately questioned on gun control and if they would support a ban on assault weapons.

While all candidates came out supporting some form of tightened gun laws, Schiavoni and fellow frontrunner Kucinich were the only two candidates who explicitly articulated support for the ban.

“We need to protect the future of our young people by banning these assault weapons in Ohio,” Kucinich said. “I’m with all of these kids that are marching for their lives.”

Kucinich has an “F” rating from the NRA. Later in the debate, the key issue of infrastructure and the issue of repairing the Brent Spence Bridge, which carries interstates 71 and 75 between Kentucky and Cincinnati.

While O’Neill announced in his response that he “did not know about your bridge,” the

9 lakotaeastsparkonline.com Apr 2018

other three candidates were all in agreement of the need for investment in the bridge, with Schiavoni offering various ideas on attaining the necessary money.

Campaign Contributions From funding a staff to running advertisements, a Gubernatorial campaign takes millions of dollars, which is often aided by campaign contributions through endorsements. source: followthemoney.org

Mike DeWine

Richard Cordray $2,011,654 Mary Taylor $1,213,157 Joe Schiavoni $1,084,987 Dennis Kucinich $0 Bill O’Neill

$0

$8,358,165

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chiavoni also attempted to distinguish himself from the other candidates on the opioid issue, offering the angle of investing in raised public awareness on the issue.

“We need to invest on educating kids [on opioid abuse],” Schiavoni said. “[We need to] give these kids second chances,” Alternatively, O’Neill cited his experience as a pediatric nurse in a discussion of reform for drug-related arrests.

“We can and must rebuild or mental health institutions,” O’Neill said. “We need more hospitals and less prisons.”

WLWT’s Courtis Fuller asked multiple audience questions during the debate, one of which raised the question on how any of the Democratic candidates would maintain a constructive relationship with the Trump administration if elected. Cordray, who was criticized throughout the night for his more right-leaning political tendencies, said that Ohio would be his first priority.

“We have to be partners with officials and stand up for Ohio,” Cordray said. “If that means opposing the Trump Administration, then we will oppose the Trump Administration.”

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hio Democratic Party Chairman David Pepper viewed the final showcase of the candidates as a success in the sense that it was able to happen in the first place, implying reference to Republican candidate Mike DeWine, who has infamously refused to debate.

“I’m proud that [the Democratic Party have candidates who are willing to stand in front of the voters and answer questions that are unscripted,” Pepper said. •

REPUBLICAN FORUM Above: Lieutenant Governor Mary Taylor and former U.S. Senator Mike DeWine met without press at Miami University Regionals Hamilton Campus for individual 30-minute interviews.

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n April 7, Ohio Gubernatorial candidates Lieutenant. Governor Mary Taylor and former United States (U.S.) Senator and Congressman Mike DeWine sat down for individual, half-hour interviews at Miami University’s Hamilton Campus.

The interviews were moderated by WLWT’s Sheree Paolello and were broadcasted on the channel on Apr. 11. Each candidate received questions from panelists Michael Pitman from the Journal News and Dr. John Forren, a Justice and Community Studies professor at Miami’s Hamilton campus.

Both candidates sought to appeal to gun rights’ enthusiasts in their comments about gun safety and public schools. Taylor, who has received an “A” grade from the National Rifle Association (NRA), explicitly ruled out new gun control measures, calling instead for increasing security in the schools, saying that having gun-free zones introduces “the opportunity for somebody to come in and commit a horrible tragedy.”

“We need to make sure we have properly trained individuals in those schools,” Taylor said. “[Individuals] that could take out a shooter if somebody were to get into the building.”

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eWine approached the issue with a different angle, focusing instead on the need to improve mental health services. The former Senator called for state-provided mental health professionals in every school to work with students, saying that having such a resource would “help identify a child who has a problem.”

“If you look back at the tragedy of these shootings,” DeWine said, “[They are] tragedies where you find many times that person gave a lot of indication they had a mental health problem and for some reason there was no intervention.’

Mental and physical health was also discussed through the topic of Ohio’s opioid epidemic and the candidate’s potential solutions for the issue. DeWine approached a solution that seeks to educate younger kids about the dangers of opioids through their educational curriculum.

“We might talk to [kindergarteners] about not picking up a pill,” DeWine said. “[We want to teach them in] wellness, health and good decision making.”

Taylor, however, has a personal connection to the issue, with her sons Joe and Michael

no

yes

90 of 370 East students surveyed have been following the Ohio Gubernatorial election.

recovering from opioid addiction. Taylor insists that the solutions provided by the government have not been effective, and the solution lies in governmental relationships with private institutions.

“What I’m proposing is a plan that will incentivize the private sector,” Taylor said.

“To build out the continuum of care they know is necessary in order for those living in addiction to restore their lives.”

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nfrastructure was also discussed during the forum, particularly the Brent Spence Bridge, which carries Interstates 71 and 75 between Ohio and Kentucky, and what action could be taken to get a project moving.

DeWine explained that funding for any projects regarding the bridge would not be acquirable without the use of tolls or other user fees.

“It would be nice to tell you that we’re going to build this without user fees,” DeWine said.

“But there’s no money to do that.”

Much like her plan to address the opioid epidemic, Taylor feels that reaching out to agencies outside of the government is what will provide the funding needed for the bridge’s infrastructure plan.

“We’ve got to come up with a sustainable model,” Taylor said. “[We need to] fund infrastructure and use public-private partnerships way more than they are used today.”

As the sole candidates in the gubernatorial race, one of them will be selected as the Republican nominee for Governor on the May 8 Primary Elections. • 2018 Apr lakotaeastsparkonline 10

Mary Taylor

Republicans

Democrats

Bill O’Neill

Notable Endorsement: No major endorsements Notable Endorsement: Sen. Ted Cruz

Statement: “Bill O’Neill has led a life of service that defines the word ‘variety.’”

Statement: “Strong conservative history of fighting for our principles.”

Notable Position: Ohio Supreme Court Justice

Dennis Kucinich Notable Position: Lieutenant Governor

Notable Endorsement: Our Revolution Organization Statement: “Dennis serves

only ‘we the people.’”

Notable Position: U.S. Representative

Joe Schiavoni

Mike DeWine

Notable Endorsement: Sheriff Richard K. Jones Statement: “For our state to succeed in the future, we have to take efforts to create and retain jobs in Ohio to the next level.”

Notable Endorsement: Democratic Progressives of Ohio Statement: “As Governor, Joe will bring jobs back to Ohio.”

Notable Position: Ohio State Senator

Richard Cordray Notable Position: Ohio Attorney General

Notable Endorsement: Sen. Elizabeth Warren Statement: “Too many Ohioans are ignored and left behind. That must change, and we need to work together to do it” Notable Position: Director of Consumer Financial Direction Bureau.

12/31/18

If you can

DREAM IT we can help

Your credit union with HEART since 1939.

7350 Liberty One Drive, Liberty Township, OH 45044 513.530.9351 • emeryfcu.org

SPREAD YOUR WINGS Krohn Conservatory in Cincinnati allows community members to be immersed in the jungle and to interact with immigrant butterflies. story and photography anna mullins

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hese performers were born to be stars and to take the Greater Cincinnati area by storm. They all started as young children with absent parents but they knew that someday they would get the recognition they deserved. They are going to be in for a long ride before they will be able to emerge and entertain the masses.

A Blue Morpho butterfly from South America makes the long trip across continents to reach Krohn Conservatory, to makes its debut as the star of the 23rd annual butterfly show. This migration will only last from Mar. 23 to June 17, 2018 as thousands of butterflies arrive in Eden Park.

“Since we receive five shipments of butterflies every week, we always have butterflies completing their metamorphosis and emerging as adults,” says Regina Edwards, one of the Entomologists at Krohn. “We will release approximately 16,000 butterflies throughout the show.”

A great place for viewing these immigrants is Krohn conservatory as they have endeavored to make the show a Cincinnati favorite says Andrea Schepmann the director of Krohn Conservatory. The theme of this year’s show is “The Butterflies of Madagascar.”

“We are still hoping and waiting for some possible really rare butterflies from Madagascar before the end of the show,” says Schepmann. “The Comet Moth should be exceptional if we can get some.”

The butterfly interaction is set up by having butterflies shipped from farms in Florida, Africa and Madagascar to butterfly exhibits all over North America.

Left: Julia Heliconian and Blue Morpho Butterfly at the Krohn Conservatory in Cincinnati.

“We purchase butterflies from five different suppliers. The United States (U.S.) native butterflies come from three different farmers in Florida” says Edwards. “The exotic butterflies come from two companies, [LPS] in Colorado and [Spineless Wonders] in Minnesota; after they receive shipments of butterflies from all over the world they distribute them to U.S. butterfly exhibits.”

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his up close opportunity proves to be a unique experience as the guests have contact with the exotic butterflies.

Children are given vanilla scented cards that attract the butterflies so you can see them up close.

“Holding the butterflies and seeing the kids hold the butterflies is my favorite part of the show,” says Krohn Conservatory guest Ashley Booze.

About 85 different species of butterflies are expected to be present at Krohn conservatory this year. The Blue Morpho butterfly seems to be a favorite due to their large size and bright colors attract the attention of their audiences.

At the show, the butterflies most devoted admirers can also be their most dangerous adversary. Most kids don’t realize how delicate the butterflies are and end up breaking their wings.

“My favorite part about working at Krohn conservatory is the kids when they get to enjoy the butterflies,” says Khron Conservatory employee Isabelle Farrell. “But my main job is protecting the butterflies from the kids so it’s an interesting balance.”

Schepmann has been working for Cincinnati Parks for 34 years. She has seen the butterfly show grow from its infancy to what it has evolved into now.

“Having been here from the very beginning,” says Schepmann, “I am thrilled to be an integral part of establishing this show as a Cincinnati tradition.”

Many people feel the same way about the show so they freely give their time through volunteering during the weeks the show is running. More than 600 volunteers are needed to work the show every year said Sarah Schmalz, volunteer coordinator at Krohn.

“Volunteers do many things during the show,” says Schmalz.

“Primarily, they are door guards, which let guests into the show and check people for butterfly hitchhikers as they exit. We have tricky little insects that like to attach to clothes and sneak out.”

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ot all will want to volunteer here; however, but they would like to visit the conservatory. Some advice for the show would include wearing bright clothing, arrive before the daily 11 a.m. butterfly release and to come on a day when it’s sunny and not rainy, according to Farrell.

Their time center stage is not be long lived; however, as they have an expected life span of only 111 days. Even so, more of these immigrants are on their way every week for the same dream of getting to spread their wings and fly.

“There’s no other place in Cincinnati where you can volunteer in a rain forest,” says Schmalz. “We have the most unique place in town, filled with flowers and tropical fruit, and even butterflies.

You wont get an experience like this anywhere else.” •

feature | student feature

picture perfect East senior Shamil Abdu has been involved in several clubs from his freshman to senior year and plans to continue to participate in extracurriculars in college. story rachel vogelsang | photo illustration sidney li

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alking into the freshman campus with a feeling of nerves and excitement, the school is overwhelming at first glance.

Most of the students do not know the other classmates, so he decided to make the large school seem a little smaller.

East senior Shamil Abdu has been involved in 10 different clubs throughout his high school career. They and some of the positions he has held have included Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA), treasurer of People of all Cultures Alliance, Prom and Homecoming committee member, Vice President of Muslim Student Association (MSA), Astronomy Club member, Vice President of the Business club, Mock Trial bailiff, Model United Nations member and Editor in Chief of the Yearbook Club.

As Editor in Chief of the Yearbook Club, it is Abdu’s responsibility to make sure that the entire yearbook has a unified design. This requires him to work with a big team of editors to finish different sections of the yearbook by the deadline.

“In Yearbook Club I take senior pictures, and I have to take those pictures home and check them pixel by pixel,” says Abdu. “Every year the yearbook club would have a meeting right after school until eight.”

Along with being the Chief of the Yearbook Club, Abdu is working in a HOSA team with East seniors Haseeb Bakali, James Cosgrove and Kamil Sacha, where they will be competing in medical innovation this year.

HOSA is a club where the members compete in many different competitions which include Medical Innovation, Forensic Medicine, Medical Reading and 53 others.

Last year, Abdu went to Orlando, Florida to compete in the International HOSA competition over the summer. He competed in Medical Innovation, where the goal of the competition is to analyze different types of technologies in health that relate to science, engineering, biotechnology, math and the delivery of health care.

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“For HOSA, if you qualify you get to go to internationals which is always a cool experience,” says Abdu. “Last year Haseeb and I won an award and had the opportunity to go on stage in front of thousands of people.”

Abdu is attending the University of Cincinnati and majoring in biomedical engineering on a pre-medical track. He hopes to also attend medical school where he can become a surgeon however no matter where he decided to further his education, he will continue to be involved in many clubs.

“When I joined multiple clubs, I got to meet people from different grade levels and learn communication skills,” says Abdu. “I also learned some important leadership skills.”

Skills that came in handy when Abdu formed the MSA with fellow student Haseeb Bakali, a club whose purpose is to promote awareness for the Muslim community and come up with fundraising ideas, the profits of which go to non-profit organizations.

“We presented the idea to Mrs. Davis, and it took a few months to get approved,” says Bakali. “The first teacher bailed on us because of the timing, but now Mrs. Foldy is our advisor.”

SA, Gay Straight Alliance, and Astronomy Club advisor and Advanced Placement Language and Composition, Honors English 11 and Honors Advanced Composition teacher Kathleen Foldy agreed to let the club members use her classroom for their bi-weekly meetings that promote and educate on the Islamic religion. The MSA also plans to do many community and service opportunities as well, like involvement in clean ups around the mosque and bake sales.

“I was asked to support this club,” says Foldy. “Of course I wanted to support diversity and I am excited that an active organization is educating the community on current issues.”

Foldy is not only Shamil’s advisor for the MSA club, but also is a former teacher of his.

“Shamil is a super hard worker,” says Foldy.

“He is active throughout the community and thoughtful.” •

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East senior Shamil Abdu taking pictures for Yearbook Club in East’s main gymnasium.

Ballet

bittersweet

East freshman Ellie Ford has overcome chronic injuries and other obstacles throughout her dancing career. story ruth elendu | photography sidney li

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he lights dim and blood roars within her head.

With the intensity of her heart pounding, all she can think about is what the next three minutes have in store before the adoring parents and intimidating judges. What feels like a mere second is the sum of a three minute routine, expressed through each limb of her body, proving all of her hard work and effort put into this performance.

Unbeknownst to the audience, East freshman Elizabeth “Ellie” Ford knows the amount of work that prepares her and dancers like herself to achieve success on the grand stage. Ford, who has been dancing for 11 years, has repeated the cycle of having back to back rehearsals to prepare for competitions countless times in various styles of dance such as ballet, pointe, lyrical, modern, jazz, tap and contemporary.

However, Ford has not always participated in dance. Before dancing at St. Romain Dance Academy (SDA) she was a gymnast when she started to experience severe back pain during class, and in the middle of the night.

At the age of three-years-old, Ford was diagnosed with histiocytosis, which is a type of cancer that can damage tissue or cause lesions to form in one or more places in the body, according to the National Cancer Institute. It was located on her vertebrae, very close to her spinal cord which did not allow her to participate in physical activities that involved flips, affecting her gymnastics career.

“I can’t imagine my life without dance. At the studio I feel at home and I feel safe there,” says Ford.

“I could be looking so ugly but I want to just dance everyday all day. I just don’t get bored of it. When I’m in the class I love it and I can’t get enough of it.”

Ford’s histiocytosis diagnosis is the first of many medical issues to occur in her dancing career. In the spring of 2017, Ford pulled her groin from overstretching which emitted her from practices in order to recover, an injury that still impacts her to this day.

Additionally, in Nov. 2017, an extra bone was found in her foot and she was also diagnosed with a split Achilles tendon, which she is also still recovering from.

“It’s been a stressful year because not only am I a freshman in high school [but] I am also trying to show everyone my passion for dance and I want to be an amazing person [which] I’ve been working so hard for but I feel like I am being pushed down by all of my injuries,” says Ford. “So coming back this time has been extremely hard because you use your feet for everything in dance and I’ve been having to stop myself at some points when I get too hard on myself and have to pick myself back up.”

One thing that has helped her recovery is her support system.

Two of the people she leans on are her mother Shannon Ford and dance teacher Mary St. Romain who has been teaching her for approximately 10 years.

“Ellie’s dedication to dance amazes me, I’ve never had to push her to go to classes. She plans her school work and her social life out while always considering her dance schedule,” says Shannon. “She manages to balance them all and excel in everything. I couldn’t be more proud.”

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that bonds them together as a family.”

With this group of dancers that is almost like a family, Ellie leans on the girls she works with whenever she is going through a difficult time. East freshman Carly Zawilla has been dancing with Ford since the two were in second grade, creating a sister-like bond.

“When she [becomes] stressed, she comes to us, tells us about it and we try and help her through it,” says Zawilla. “It goes both ways, it’s nice to know there’s someone there that you can lean on and they know they can lean on you.”

Although dancing can be extremely painful for her because of the extra bone in her foot pressing down on her Achilles tendon, Ellie’s attitude towards her dancing has allowed her to overcome the obstacles that have been thrown her way despite of her medical conditions.

“This year, especially, I’ve fallen a lot and it’s definitely because my ankles have been giving out. I just get up and I’m so red,” says Ellie. “But at the same time, at the end of the day, everybody falls and this will just make me stronger.”

Ellie’s dedication to dance amazes me, I’ve never had to push her to go to classes. She plans her school work and her social life out while always considering her dance schedule.

—Shannon Ford, Ellie’s mother

llie’s schedule has become busier and busier over the past few years and she has learned time management skills and how to lean on others when she needs help.

“Keeping things to myself makes me way more depressed than I need to be,” says Ellie. “[St. Romain] is like my second mom. Even though I get really scared in front of her, when I talk to her I feel way more loved and appreciated and like I have this power back in me.”

After spending numerous hours with the dancers in her studio for multiple days a week St. Romain has witnessed the ties that brings these girls closer than just friends.

“If you consider that they come here directly after school and they dance for three to four hours when they’re here and these girls are here six days a week, I probably see them more than their own mothers do,” says St. Romain. “The shared experiences of working hard and achieving something together,

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oth St. Romain and Zawilla believe that Ellie’s biggest strength is her work ethic.

Zawilla can recall a practice where Ford did a jeté, a split in the air, and landed on her ankle wrong. Zawilla and the rest of the dancers at the studio encouraged Ellie to do a smaller version of the same move so that she wouldn’t hurt herself further, but Ellie “pushed through it” and continued to the same move everyone else is doing.

“We all know her ankle hurts her but she doesn’t even mention it,” says Zawilla. “It gives me a reason [that] if something’s hurting me, I don’t need to express how much it hurts because [Ford] is going through something harder and it truly influences me to try my hardest.”

2018 Apr lakotaeastsparkonline 18

Ellie’s drive towards dance led her to become the lead role in SDA’s annual production of the Nutcracker, Clara, which she attributes as her proudest accomplishment. But such roles didn’t always come naturally, in sixth grade when Ford performed her first solo piece at a dance competition, she was more nervous than ever, however at the end of the night Ford placed first in her category and received a judge’s award.

“She has an incredible personality on stage,” says St. Romain. “And one of the things you look for is stage presence in a dancer or somebody who, when you we are watching a group of people, your eyes on and go right to them, Ellie has that.”

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ccording to St. Romain, Ford’s determination, drive and passion when it comes to dance is not something that she has learned throughout the years. Rather, it is a quality she has always possessed.

“I would say that [the ability to overcome her injuries] comes from a love of dance that’s so deep inside your soul that it doesn’t matter what happens to you,” says St. Romain. “You’re going to fight through it and you’re going to come out on the other side still dancing and that’s that’s something I can’t teach.”

Although her injuries have made it harder for Ellie to dance to her fullest ability, going to a physical therapist every week after finding an extra bone in her foot has opened up a new career option for her to consider in the future.

“I have been introduced to physical therapists and I’ve never had a physical therapist before and I really love the thought of being a physical therapist or a sports med doctor,” says Ellie. “I hope to continue in dance and balance those two out.”

Through everything Ellie has experienced from her dance career, Shannon believes it has inspired her to be who she is today and what she strives to be everyday.

“I’m a strong dancer and I feel like I could have been pushed down years ago by some of the things I’ve been told but I haven’t,” says Ellie. “I’ve kind of overcome it and I still love what I do. My love for dance shines through everything.” •

MOLDING CLAY East senior Clay Brown creates different forms of art based on the inspiration he feels from his loved ones. story and photography vivica heidenreich

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ketchbook in hand, he carefully traces the outline of a person whom he holds dearly to him. As he begins to observe every minute detail of the subject’s profile, a rush of emotion flows through the lead of the pencil, influencing every stroke and making the piece his own.

For East senior Clay Brown, this is an everyday occurance. Impromptu sketching throughout the day, one of his many forms of expression through art, allows his creativity to flow naturally.

“I find myself sketching things at school or in public when something evokes emotion, thoughts, or feelings that feel prominent to me,” says Brown. “Especially my loved ones. The feelings I feel for them are unlike any other.”

Brown, a recipient of four Regional Scholastic Art Gold Keys and two Silver Keys, has demonstrated his drawing skills in Drawing and Painting I-IV throughout his high school career. Along with this, he has studied different art forms in Metals I-III, Advanced Placement (AP) Studio Art and Ceramics I-III. Of these, Ceramics I-III has the most prominent and influential environment to Brown. Throughout the three ceramics courses, East ceramics and photography teacher Karen Saunders has seen Brown mature as an artist and has been overwhelmingly inspired by his capabilities.

“He takes an aesthetic throughout the entire piece,” says Saunders.

“He has a very clean, modern, driving force. I don’t think I’ve ever had a student who’s been so focused in ceramics on good design and it being useful afterwards.”

This is exactly what Brown’s future plans consist of. As a future University of Cincinnati student, he will be studying industrial and

Above: East senior Clay Brown surrounded by many of his art pieces, with some that were displayed at the East art show on April 27.

product design, which will allow him to design furniture in the future. “[Furniture] is a form of art that I really appreciate,” says Brown, “because so much time and care is put into it. I really enjoy creating anything with my hands, whether that’s building something I can use, something I think is pretty, or a gift for someone I love.”

This has always been true for Brown and signs of it showed throughout his childhood. Brown’s mother Patti Brown says that he would constantly built pieces out of scraps from around the house.

“Several years ago, he found cardboard and twine and made a lifesize electric guitar,” says Patti. “He would also create little things out of airhardening clay—tea cups and flowers for me, things like that. I loved watching him utilize stuff that was around and build something from nothing.”

Clay has carried this way of thinking with him throughout his ongoing artistic career. His girlfriend Julia Haug is especially able to witness the process of how he visualizes his art and surroundings. “[Clay has] taught me how to see everyday objects in a new, different way,” says Haug. “He’s put that idea in my head so that now, it’s happening all the time.”

Given Clay’s unique outlook on the world, his future looks just as bright as his past. With a completed high school portfolio; all of his time, thought and care that attentively crafted his works will now be directed toward his future.

“It’s exciting when you see your kids have a specific gift and they want to pursue a career that’s going to utilize it in a positive way,” says Patti.

“Wherever he plugs in, he’ll have a lot to offer with that kind of talent and ability.” • 2018 Apr lakotaeastsparkonline 20

East sophomore Melanie Muthoni talking to Spark about her life after moving to Ohio from Nairobi.

dancin’ queen East sophomore Melanie Muthoni began her stay in the United States this semester, but still embraces her Kenyan heritage in many ways such as dance.

story leo rolfert | photography meredith niemann art mckenna lewis

fternoons consist of typical after school activities such as grabbing a snack, finishing homework and adjusting to the contrasting style of American music compared to the fast paced Kenyan style music she is used to.

East sophomore Melanie Muthoni left her grandmother’s home from Nairobi, Kenya on Dec. 26 and arrived in Cincinnati late at night the next day to meet her mom and eight-year-old brother Nicky Muthoni after a year apart. Although Melanie has moved halfway across the globe, she has kept dancing close to heart.

“Dancing makes me feel so good,” says Melanie. “It gives me motivation. I started dancing when I was three-years-old, so it’s something that I enjoy doing.”

Despite Melanie only having been in the United States (U.S.) for a little under four months now, dancing has also helped her adapt to a brand new environment. Dancing has comforted her and gave her a sense of ease at home.

The beat of the quickly paced Kenyan music was something she could hold on to in the new country; however, it is not the only form of art that she has enjoyed. Fine Arts I teacher Linda Augutis has seen Melanie quickly adjust to life in the U.S. over the course of the semester. The secluded attitude Melanie was harboring her first day quickly passed

after Augutis saw Melanie talking to the other classmates only a few days after. Her conversations with Melanie became more friendly, according to Augutis.

“The first day [Melanie] was definitely apprehensive,” says Augutis. “[But] within a couple days she seemed just fine!”

English as a Second Language teacher Marci Jung has also noticed the change of confidence as Melanie has adjusted to America. “[Melanie] was definitely shy but now it’s great to see that she is definitely feeling more comfortable,” says Jung. “She has great answers and participates very often, she acclimated very quickly. I enjoy her so much in class.”

In Jung’s class, they have “Flipped Fridays” where the student teaches his or her class, including the teacher. Jung says that Fridays are where the students are able to talk about their countries and cultures. “[Melanie] talked about the weather and then the dance and music and there’s also a lot of turmoils in her country,” says Jung. “There’s a lot of fighting and that’s a big reason why she left.”

According to the non-profit organization The Water Project, Kenya’s society has struggled with stability in different areas for decades. With 36.6 million people populating the country and the growth rate at 2.6 percent poverty, water shortage and lack of sanitation continues to be

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problematic for the growing population. enya’s high temperatures have contributed to the lack of water.

Melanie noticed the temperature difference between Kenya and the U.S. as soon as she arrived this past winter with the change in climate being one of her biggest adjustments.

In Nairobi, Kenya, the average temperature is around 77 degrees fahrenheit all year long according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Cincinnati, Ohio’s winter alone on the other hand, has an average low temperature of 22 degrees Fahrenheit and an average high of 44 degrees Fahrenheit. This has caused a significant impact on Melanie’s body, and she has had to receive injections to combat the notable climate fluctuation.

Other than the temperature difference, American culture has been easily adjustable for Melanie. She has also seen a difference in the U.S. government and has found it “comforting” since the government in America is much more “settled and active” than her government back home, she says. According to Global Edge, Inc., the Republic of Kenya— including the executive, judicial and legislative branches—is led by President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Despite leaving Kenya, the cultural aspects of her country are still vital to Melanie. Dancing specifically, has had an extensive impact on Melanie’s family. Since Melanie’s mother Esther Muthoni has been dancing before her primary school days, Melanie says her love for dance originated from her mother.

“The first thing that comes to my mind when I start dancing is my mum,” says Melanie. “My mum dances and when I was three-yearsold… she made me think dancing was so enjoyable. So any time I dance it makes her very happy.”

Melanie’s dancing allows her to express herself. Depending on the style of music, each song’s style helps Melanie to reveal different emotions. In Kenya, dancing helped Melanie find happiness on her own, because in Kenya “you [often] support yourself.” Luckily, Esther has always supported Melanie and the two have grown closer since Melanie has moved to the U.S. Esther’s dancing was one connection Melanie has always had with her mom, even when they lived on different continents. Esther has lived in the U.S. since the end of 2016 and when Melanie moved into the apartment Esther shared with Melanie’s younger brother, Melanie says she was ecstatic to be with her mom after the year of being apart. Melanie finally would be able to dance with her mom again.

When Melanie was younger, Esther says she often found Melanie copying the moves that Esther would do. Later, Melanie spent most of her time dancing in front of a mirror, practicing. With no specific style, Melanie said she would just move to the music if there was a good beat. Watching hip-hop and Kenyan music videos with people dancing became her source of inspiration to learn new moves.

Nairobi, Kenya

Muthoni dancing to traditional Kenyan music.

“Any type of creativity helps fulfill one’s self,” says Augutis. “I think any of the creative fields help with self expression and confidence overall.

It [also] helps fill a need for any given spirit to be creative, to feel more satisfied in your brain.” n her 13 years of dancing, Melanie has been to multiple competitions, her first being in 2010 when she was eight-years-old, winning a medal in 2013, and her latest in September of 2016. “[Going to competitions] makes me feel so good about myself.

I’ve also had my school win in competitions of different schools,” says Melanie. “Our school was given one of the best awards for girls who like to dance. My mum is normally proud of me and I do that because it makes her proud.”

With very few lessons, Melanie has been teaching herself to dance ever since her three-year-old self danced with her mom. Her free time is spent dancing and teaching herself new moves so that she can show them to her family.

Dancing is Melanie’s go-to when she wants to feel happy so she enjoys teaching others as well. One person being her 14-year-old cousin who was curious on learning how to dance. Melanie also used to teach people in the boarding school Pioneer Girls she attended in Kenya from 2014 until the end of 2017. Melanie also has a nine-year-old cousin who has autism and dances for him for his entertainment.

“He will jump around and look at me and that makes me so happy,” says Melanie. “My mum tells me if dancing makes him happy, then anytime I come from school dance to let him laugh. Let him just be happy. And you can start to see him try to dance.” •

I

2018 Apr lakotaeastsparkonline 22

Six-year-old Sophia Lopez stares lovingly into the case of donuts in front of her.

MAKIN’ DOUGH New to the Streets of West Chester, Holtman’s Donuts offers a unique experience to the classic donut, provifing 50-70 different varieties each day. story katey kruback | photography abby bammerlin | art charis williams

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he bell jingles as the door is swung open, a small body with two hands on the handle heaving to get the door opened all by herself.

Once her mission is complete, she skips across the tiled floor and heads straight to the case filled with colorful confections. With her hands and nose pressed flat against the glass case, her eyes widen at the options and her tongue flicks out in anticipation.

Her aunt and uncle follow her inside the door, laughing at their nieces’ excitement. It doesn’t matter that they make a point to get donuts every Saturday morning at this family-owned store, seven-year-old Sophia

Maple Bacon 23 lakotaeastsparkonline.com Apr 2018

Lopez’s reaction is always the same, and it makes the trip worth it.

Lopez’s favorite donut is “the marshmallow one,” referring to the made-for-kids Lucky Charms donut that, according to her aunt Lin Meloche, is part of what makes Holtman’s so special.

“We love the variety, and what [the store offers is] pretty unique. I mean, they even have a bacon-flavored donut,” says Meloche. “But it’s the quality of the product we really love. It’s really fresh and not at a bad cost. If you’re going to spend money on something, especially every week like we do, [you] might as well spend it on something good.”

Lucky Charms

Pecan Red Velvet

“

business feature | feature

It’s just an enjoyable experience. There are always families in here and it just feels clean. Of course, looking through the window and watching the donuts being made is Lopez’s favorite part.

According to co-owner Katie Plazarin of the West Chester and Over the Rhine locations, Holtman’s carries 50-70 different varieties each day and jokes that “if you walk down [any] candy aisle and see something, we’ve probably put it on a donut.”

Plazarin says the quality of the products is of the utmost importance at Holtman’s. Not only is every part of the donut made from scratch and based off of an old German family recipe that is three generations old, but the staff makes donuts all day, with nothing frozen and is diligent about making sure the donuts stay fresh and aren’t sitting out for long in their display case.

“I’m not a baker, but about a year before we opened the Over the Rhine location, I quit my corporate job and started working at the Loveland shop, making donuts each morning,” says Plazarin who married into the family business. “Besides learning Human Resources and Health Department laws, I needed to know from start to finish how to make a donut.”

What sets Holtman’s apart from their competitors, besides the always fresh and fluffy dough, is their store hours. Unlike other donut shops that stay open only until they run out of stock, Holtman’s is open from 6 a.m. until 8 p.m., preparing donuts all day. Because, as Plazarin says, donuts aren’t just a breakfast food, but an any-time-of-day indulgence.

“People can come in for an afternoon snack or have a treat after dinner,” says Plazarin. “At the Loveland store, we used to be like any other donut place that sells out [and closes] early. But eventually it got to the point where we decided to start making donuts all day so we did.”

Co-owner Danny Plazarin may have opened his first store at 24-yearsold with his wife Katie; however, he’s been working and helping out around the store since he was a kid, and always knew he would one day own his own franchise of the family store.

“I could have gone to school and learned how to make donuts and pastries, but I got an even better experience learning every day from my family. The hands-on approach [is] something you can’t read in a book or learn in a lecture,” says Danny. “Everyday I get to work with my parents

Oreo

Coconut

—Line Meloche, regular Holtman’s Customer and my wife, and it’s rewarding knowing that we’re doing something together.”

A large part of the Holtman’s experience is understanding the history behind it. Danny’s grandfather, Charles Holtman, opened the store May 1960 with the help of his brother Roger Holtman. They opened the store to provide a job to their father Marvin Holtman, who lost his job as a milkman after grocery stores began selling milk.

“I remember watching [my dad] make donuts and just being so proud to call his donuts a Holtman’s Donut,” says Danny. “My parents bought the business from him in 1995 and from then on, my childhood was [spent] playing in the bakery, sleeping on flour sacks, and learning how to make donuts. It had always been my dream to carry on our family legacy.”

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onsidering their roots, it is very important to the Plazarin’s to maintain a family-friendly atmosphere in the shop. Everything from the candy-sprinkled donuts to the banana-peel-shaped wet floor signs to the window into the kitchen where kids can watch donuts being made, is designed for the enjoyment of the children.

“It’s just an enjoyable experience. There are always families in here and lots of little kids,” says Meloche. “And it’s clean. That’s always a good sign, when you walk in and it just feels clean. Of course, besides the marshmallow donuts, actually looking through the window and watching the donuts being made is [Lopez’s] favorite part.”

It’s easy to go through a drive-thru at a popular chain and get something good at a cheaper price. However, Holtman’s Donuts offers a quality and a tastefully clean, fresh and family-friendly atmosphere that is unmatched against the ordering speaker at a drive-thru.

“We make sure everything is the best that it can be, just like when Danny’s grandpa was running it. We may have some new funky toppings, but it’s still the same recipe it was in the sixties,” says Katie. “But for us, we want to make sure people leave with an experience. It’s not just about going to get a donut, but about spending time with family and friends.” •

Cotton Candy

Vanilla Cake Cream Cheese

feature | hawk spotlight

Audrey Williams Have you ever been impacted by cancer?

Yes, my aunt had a brain tumor.

9

How has this affected you individually?

Hawks On:

Every issue, the Spark asks one student fom each grade questions relating to feature stories in the issue.

It’s made me struggle with the concept of life and death.

How do you think having cancer affects younger students compared to adults?

Students don’t always have the resources to reach their goals when they have cancer.

Do you believe students with cancer have the same opportunities to succeed?

No. One of my friends [who had cancer] was pulled out [of school] and had to get personal tutors because she had to [go through] chemotherapy.

25 lakotaeastsparkonline.com Apr 2018

Ashley Swisshelm Have you ever been impacted by cancer? It can be either family or friends.

Yeah, a lot on my mom’s side mainly.

Then my dad had a [form] of cancer in his arm but the doctors were able to [get] rid of that so [he is] okay now.

10

Do you think the youth are affected differently than adults by cancer?

Yeah because it’s a different perspective because adults have lived more life and they know different things. Then kids if its just cancer that’s all they know about it.

Do you believe that students with cancer have the same opportunities to succeed academically?

Depending on how bad the cancer is, that can hold [someone] back.

Maybe having to go to treatment and not being able to [attend] school.

So I would hope that [the individual] would be able to, but with their circumstances I would understand that [having cancer is] something that could definitely hold them back.

hawk spotlight | feature

Grace Keith Have you ever been impacted by cancer?

Yes, my grandma had breast cancer and she died when I was in the seventh grade and recently, two of my friends moms both found out they had cancer.

11

Do you think students with cancer have the same opportunities to succeed academically?

I think they have the same opportunities but I think their ability to succeed is definitely impacted and there’s a huge obstacle when you’re fighting cancer, you’re not an average student.

How do you think we, as a generation, can be helping these students succeed or simply feel more at ease with their situation?

I feel like acknowledging that they are struggling and morally being there for them and supporting them. You aren’t going to understand what it’s like because you’ve never been through it, but sympathizing with them and helping them in any way that you can to better improve their life, I think.

cancer

interviews caroline bumgarner, anna mullins and charis williams photography meredith niemann

Colleen Flach Have you ever been impacted by cancer?

Yes, my grandma on my mom’s side had lung cancer and she died five years ago. She was the first one that really hit me hard that had cancer.

When my grandma died, that was when I started doing Relay For Life. She took me to Relays at her community in Springboro, where I got into Relay, and then it grew.

12

How has this affected you individually?

I mean just losing her and that struggle. [I had to] talk at her funeral and I was bawling my eyes out. It just showed me how much cancer can affect people and their families.

How do you think having cancer affects younger people such as students compared to adults?

I think that when you are an adult you know that this can happen and it’s like ‘this is reality,’ but if a kid has cancer it is more like ‘what’s cancer?’

2018 Apr lakotaeastsparkonline 26

THE Movement 1

As a result of the current movement in gun culture, protests, conventions, and talks of new policies have risen throughout society.

story sidney li | additional reporting bea amsalu photography bea amsalu, sidney li lauren maier, susanna merli and used with permission

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his is it. It’s the spring of 2018. The prolonged eight and a half hour drive to Washington D.C. was definitely worth this moment. This day was going down in history. With about one million spectators around her, the power of unity was evident.

The March for our Lives continued on. From noon to three on Mar. 24, 2018, East alumna and Wilmington College Journalism Major Karmi White continued to march in solidarity for the thousands of people who have lost their lives from shootings.

However, there were hundreds of other “sibling protests” that took place that same day in other major cities across the nation, such as New York City, Los Angeles, and Parkland, Florida, where the Feb. 14 Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting took place.

“Being in an environment with such a diverse group of people was such an overwhelming but exhilarating feeling that all came together for one cause: gun reform,” White says. “I’m glad that I took a significant amount of my time to go to D.C. and take part in such a historic event that I will be able to tell my children.”

According to a February 2018 USA Today and Suffolk poll, 61 percent of Americans are in favor of tightening gun-control laws and background checks in attempt to prevent more mass shootings in the United States (U.S.).

The March for our Lives was created by student survivors from the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting who are a part of Never Again MSD, a student-led gun control organization that has been advocating primarily through protests and social media platforms.

Despite having only attended six marches in the past two years, White knows she will attend more peaceful protests as it is a natural right for her and millions of other Americans across the nation.

“Being at any protest, especially thi one is absolutely surreal and makes you realize how fortunate we are to have the right to do this,” White tells Spark. “I’m glad that I can voice my opinion about gun control, especially since it’s such a detrimental issue nationwide.”

The March for our Lives protest was the most memorable for White. Due to the diverse age range of children to seniors from various cities across the country, White says that “I decided to

THE MOVEMENT PART I

protest because I decided it was something that had to be done as I wanted to go support all the other young adults that have been affected by gun violence.”

Drexel University Law Professor Adam Benforado has applied cognitive psychology to law and legal theory. He thinks that if people believe the current approach of guns is resolute then they haven’t paid attention to history.

“I think the biggest thing that people can do is be active and speak out. Laws and policies don’t change on their own—look at the history of the civil rights movement [and] gay marriage,” Benforado tells Spark.

“The public must put pressure on legislatures, courts, corporations, and other institutions. I love to see students actions on this front.”

In a recent Spark survey, 79 percent of East students believe the current gun laws and regulations in the U.S. are not enough of a protection for the society.

Currently, Ohio gun laws allow residents 21-years-old and older to obtain a concealed firearms permit. However, they must have also completed 8 hours of firearms training and meet other criteria to qualify.

John Hopkins Health Policy and Management Professor Stephen Teret knows that minors cannot easily purchase a gun because of federal

laws but this does not always stop them from obtaining it.

“Often, minors will have access to guns kept in their home, and when that happens, there can be tragic results, including school shootings. Technology exists today to personalize guns, so that they are operable by only the authorized users,” Teret says. “This technology, once it is adopted by gun manufacturers, will save lives, in part by making household guns inoperable by troubled youth.”

White doesn’t see a reason for Americans to use guns for any situations as it only provides harm for people. Yet, she won’t judge another person if they do own a gun as she knows it can provide protection in various situations.

“I currently don’t have any means of buying and owning a gun but I have family members that own not just one but multiple guns too,” White says. “I have taken enough self-defense classes that I think I would be prepared enough without using a gun.”

Harvard Epidemiology and Northeastern Health Sciences Professor Matthew Miller wrote a study on how one in five U.S. gun owners have obtained a firearm without a background check.

This study found that the gun owners who acquired firearms through private sale without background checks was significantly

package | the movement

22% of East students believe

that arming teachers with guns would be an effective method of protection within the school grounds. larger with 57 percent in states without laws regulating such purchases than in states with legislative regulations with 26 percent.

“Not many people know that the leniency of obtaining firearms is quite significant because so many people, who aren’t in the right mind, health and more, can easily buy one without a background check,” Miller says. “It’s definitely easier than buying alcohol at times too.”

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ccording to a 2016 Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence report, an average of 17,012 children and teens are injured by guns every year in the U.S. Of those 17,102 adolescents, about 2,737 will die from gun violence.

Director of the Begun Center for Violence Prevention Research and Education at Case Western Reserve University Daniel Flannery says that “most people who own guns will tell you that they own and carry for protection because it is their right under the Second

Amendment. It gives people a sense of power and authority too.”

“The U.S. has some of the most liberal policies on firearm ownership in the world which is reflected in our rates of injury and death from firearms,” Flannery tells Spark. “[This] exceeds the rates of any other country in the world by far.”

Alongside to this, 72 percent of East students surveyed believe in gun reform. With this, Young Activists Coalition founder Rasleen Krupp organized the Cincinnati March for our Lives on Mar. 24 about the change that is bound to happen within our generation.

“This terrible thing happened to [the Parkland students], but they were still on TV advocating and doing all this amazing stuff that hit me. They are still standing up for what they believed in,” Krupp, a junior at Wyoming High School says. “I wouldn’t wish that on anyone but they really took what they had been given and all changed for the better. Now they’re creating all this change across the nation.”

Even though Krupp is a strong activist for various issues, she has been met with criticism from her parents on her beliefs. As she is the only child, like White, Krupp knows they can’t disown her. However, Krupp’s mother is more supportive but they don’t want it to be her career.

“I’ll just say that they’re very anti-politics and anti-activism and we do not agree politically at all. They were not happy when I started

22% of 359 East students surveyed believe teachers should be able to carry guns in the classroom.

sources center for disease control and prevention, gun violence archive and usa carry 29 lakotaeastsparkonline.com Apr 2018

volunteering for Brian Garry, [who campaigned for Cincinnati city council],” Krupp says. “It was hard getting involved in the march, but it’s also comforting to know that a lot of different activists’ parents are not supportive at all.”

However, on Feb. 18, 2018, Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones tweeted that he was “going to offer free concealed and Carry class free 2 [sic] teachers in butler county. Limited number. Details coming soon on line [sic].

Also training on school shootings.”

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his arming teacher initiative was capped off at 300 teachers the following day.

The teachers who completed the 12hour training had to have at least two hours at a live firing range but they will not be able to start taking guns into their classrooms right after these classes.

“When I first heard about Sheriff Jones and his arming teacher initiative on Twitter, I honestly thought it was a joke,” White says.

“I can’t imagine any of my college professors or my former high school teacher handling a gun. It’s not that they aren’t competent of it, it’s because you never know how you’ll react when you’re in that endangered state.”

Then on Apr. 25, 2018, Madison Local School District voted unanimously on having a policy for their district faculty to carry weapons by participating in the Faculty/Administrator Safety Training and Emergency Response (FASTER) program.

of 314Ea% st Spark

10 llowers Twitter fo aken have part t one in at leas protest peaceful of in the U.S.

1.7 out five Ohioans own a gun.

students in the United States have lived through school shootings since Columbine.

As of 2016, the firearm death rate in Ohio is 12.9%

the movement | package involved with her social activism, her father Erich White believes that the passion that she has for journalism and her beliefs are unique and beneficial for her or any other person to have.

“That same drive and passion that Karmi has for protesting and speaking her opinion is incomparable,” Erich says. “Being involved with any type of social injustice is tough already but always repeatedly being a part of it is a whole other level of bravery that not many have.”

Kent State University Freshman Fashion Major Brandon Bell went with Karmi to the March for our Lives protest. Even though Bell was initially invited to the Women’s March in D.C., he “wanted to put all my energy and motivation into this [March for our Lives] march.”

“A lot of my peers are not into or don’t like politics,” Bell says. “It’s absolutely amazing that the youth and being apart of that youth is very empowering like seeing me and my friends create change in our country is phenomenal.”

Wilmington College freshman Journalism major and East alum Karmi White walked in the March for our Lives in Washington D.C. on Mar. 24.

Participants of FASTER have to undergo 26 hours of training in armed response, crisis management and emergency medical aid.

However, the completion and certification of FASTER can take months so it is uncertain if Madison faculty members will be able to own a gun in the classroom before the 2018-19 school year.

“Arming teachers is one of the most misguided efforts we could pursue. Highlytrained professionals don’t always react the way we want in a crisis, and persons highly trained with firearms aren’t always accurate in a stressful situation,” Flannery says. “Most teachers couldn’t get enough training [along with how] we ask them to be effective in an active shooter situation. Responding law enforcement wouldn’t know who is a shooter and who is a teacher responder.”

East Advanced Composition teacher Rich Schmaltz believes that arming teachers with guns might seem like a good idea at first; however, once gun owners, that could potentially be teachers, realize that it’s dangerous, they wouldn’t know what to do.

“In addition to what we already have to do, giving me a gun isn’t going to solve anything,” Schmaltz says. “I may know how to point a gun. I may know how to shoot a gun. I know some of the basics of gun safety but that’s not the same level needed in an active shooting situation, which is so much more stressful.”

Unlike a cop, who is bound to shoot

someone during their duties, Schmaltz says that teachers will be forced to be put in a situation where they could potentially shoot a student that they personally know—and putting other lives at risk due to the personal relationship.

In a recent Spark survey that was conducted, 22 percent of East students believe that arming teachers with guns would be an effective method of protection within the school grounds on a regular basis.

East principal Suzanna Davis says there are district policies that are in place and how school administrators can’t organize events with the student body unless they abide by Lakota Local School District’s guideline.

“Right now, there are policies about student protests and walkouts, which we, as an administrative team follow,” Davis says. “I never had any intention on organizing any event but it was all students, who are passionate and part of the School Safety Committee that organized the banners for the Marjory Stoneman Douglas students on Mar. 14.”

According to a 2012 Congressional Research Service report, Americans own about 48 percent of the estimated 650 million civilian-owned guns worldwide.

Despite protesting at various events, White also promotes on her social media accounts by posting about events and tips for her followers on how to help out and take initiative on political, social and economic issues.

Even though White has been actively

B

esides physically protesting and participating in marches, Bell is subscribed to petition website Change.

Org that has various petitions for gun reform, sexual abuse, domestic violence, immigration and more.

Change.Org has allowed Bell to sign up for petitions online through any electronic device for issues, such as, gun reform, that matter to him. He finds it cool and accessible to use as “you don’t have to leave your bedroom or anything to still make change.”

“One of the reasons that the gun lobby has been so successful is that they have framed the debate over guns solely in terms of gun owners.

The #NeverAgain movement has drawn the focus away from gun owners to the victim of guns,” Benforado says. “They’ve changed the key questions: Doesn’t a kid have a right to be safe in her school? When we privilege gun culture, what cost does that have for our young people?”

In a recent Spark survey, 86 percent of East students believe America should have more gun control. Even though Karmi knows it has been a struggle for Americans to see a change with the current gun culture, she believes, in time, gun reform will happen.

“Gun reform is needed. If the American

86%

of East students believe that the United States should have more gun control.

2018 Apr lakotaeastsparkonline 30

package | the movement public wants to see a change, then we, as U.S. citizens have the right to make and be the change if the people in office can’t,” White says.

“We should all take advantage of our freedom of speech and make gun reform happen.”

East Advanced Composition teacher Rich Schmaltz believes that arming teachers with guns might seem like a good idea at first; however, once gun owners, that could potentially be teachers, realize that it’s dangerous, they wouldn’t know what to do.

Despite protesting at various events, White also promotes on her social media accounts by posting about events and tips for her followers on how to help out and take initiative on political, social and economic issues.

Even though White has been actively involved with her social activism, her father Erich White believes that the passion that she has for journalism and her beliefs are unique and beneficial for her or any other person to have.

various petitions for gun reform, sexual abuse, domestic violence, immigration and more.

C

hange.Org has allowed Bell to sign up for petitions online through any electronic device for issues, such as, gun reform, that matter to him. He finds it cool and accessible to use as “you don’t have to leave your bedroom or anything to still make change.”

“One of the reasons that the gun lobby has

The gun lobby has framed the debate over guns solely in terms of gun owners.

The #NeverAgain movement has drawn the focus away from gun owners to the victim of guns. They’ve changed the key questions: doesn’t a kid have a right to be safe in her school? When we privilege gun culture, what cost does that have for our young people? —Adam Benforado, Drexel University Law Professor “In addition to what we already have to do, giving me a gun isn’t going to solve anything,” Schmaltz says. “I may know how to point a gun. I may know how to shoot a gun. I know some of the basics of gun safety but that’s not the same level needed in an active shooting situation, which is so much more stressful.”

U

nlike a cop, who is bound to shoot someone during their duties, Schmaltz says that teachers will be forced to be put in a situation where they could potentially shoot a student that they personally know—and putting other lives at risk due to the personal relationship.

In a recent Spark survey that was conducted, 22 percent of East students believe that arming teachers with guns would be an effective method of protection within the school grounds on a regular basis.

East principal Suzanna Davis says there are district policies that are in place and how school administrators can’t organize events with the student body unless they abide by Lakota Local School District’s guideline.

“Right now, there are policies about student protests and walkouts, which we, as an administrative team follow,” Davis says. “I never had any intention on organizing any event but it was all students, who are passionate and part of the School Safety Committee that organized the banners for the Marjory Stoneman Douglas students on Mar. 14.”

According to a 2012 Congressional Research Service report, Americans own about 48 percent of the estimated 650 million civilian-owned guns worldwide.

31 lakotaeastsparkonline.com Apr 2018

“That same drive and passion that Karmi has for protesting and speaking her opinion is incomparable,” Erich says. “Being involved with any type of social injustice is tough already but always repeatedly being a part of it is a whole other level of bravery that not many have.”

Kent State University Freshman Fashion Major Brandon Bell went with Karmi to the March for our Lives protest. Even though Bell was initially invited to the Women’s March in D.C., he “wanted to put all my energy and motivation into this [March for our Lives] march.”

“A lot of my peers are not into or don’t like politics,” Bell says. “It’s absolutely amazing that the youth and being apart of that youth is very empowering like seeing me and my friends create change in our country is phenomenal.”

Besides physically protesting and participating in marches, Bell is subscribed to petition website Change.Org that has

been so successful is that they have framed the debate over guns solely in terms of gun owners.

The #NeverAgain movement has drawn the focus away from gun owners to the victim of guns,” Benforado says. “They’ve changed the key questions: Doesn’t a kid have a right to be safe in her school? When we privilege gun culture, what cost does that have for our young people?”

In a recent Spark survey, 86 percent of East students believe America should have more gun control. Even though Karmi knows it has been a struggle for Americans to see a change with the current gun culture, she believes, in time, gun reform will happen.

“Gun reform is needed for the better of the country. If the American public wants to see a change, then we, as U.S. citizens have the right to make and be the change if the people in office can’t,” White says. “We should all take advantage of our freedom of speech and make gun reform happen.” •

IN THE NEXT ISSUE: THE MOVEMENT PART II photography lexy harrison Following the marches and aid for the Marjory Stoneman Douglas students and survivors, the local issues of arming teachers with guns, school safety and community outreach with gun culture will be discussed in the two-part gun culture package.

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Kumon Math and Reading Center of West Chester 8202 Highland Pointe Drive West West Chester, OH 45069 513-777-0888 • kumon.com/west-chester-oh

package | the movement

marching madness East junior Bryce Forren participated in the March for our Lives event in Washington D.C. on Mar. 24.

story and photography bryce forren

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mid the sounds of dishes, flashing cameras and light chatter, Human Rights Campaign (HRC) President Chad Griffin leaned into a podium microphone on the center of the stage.

“Everyone’s appropriately caffeinated by now, I hope,” he joked, largely in preparation for a day that would not only be broadcasted around the country but the world too.

On the morning of Mar. 24, HRC members met in Washington D.C. for their annual Spring Equality Convention prior to the March For Our Lives event brandishing countless flags and t-shirts that carried their blue and yellow equal sign logo.

This was the final day of their weekend conference and they were preparing to join the thousands of people who had gathered to fight for a change in United States gun legislation on a federal level. According to a Mar. 26, 2018 American Resistance report, approximately 800,000 people attended this national event of varying ages.

The outspoken students of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School that organized the march received funding from countless sources, including celebrities like Steven Spielberg and Oprah Winfrey, who each contributed $500,000 to the event. This laid the foundation for the march’s incredibly large scale, which ultimately led to the closure of

33 lakotaeastsparkonline.com Apr 2018

over 20 D.C. roads on the morning of Mar. 24, including Pennsylvania Avenue, where the White House resides in.

My family, as well as my friend West senior Gage Metz, had entered the event through connections to the HRC, who welcomed us to participate in the broadcasted event. Although Metz was initially very down-the-middle on the issue, he agreed to participate, saying that the event would be a good experience for him regardless.

Despite how this March for our Lives event

THE MOVEMENT PART I was the first march for Metz, he says “I think [the march will be alright. It’ll be a cool thing to witness.” According to a Mar. 28, 2018 Washington Post article, “12 percent of the people who were new to protesting reported that they were motivated to join the march because of the gun-control issue, compared with 60 percent of the participants with experience protesting.”

He endured the car ride with the rest of us, his head back and the volume of the outside world obscured by whatever played through his

headphones. Endless hours took us through cornfields and mountains before we could even think of where to park or if we would get to the event on time.

In a recent Spark survey that was conducted, 9 percent of the 358 East students said that they went to the March for our Lives event in Washington D.C. However, 25 percent of East students said that they protested in the “sister march” in Cincinnati, Ohio on Mar. 24.

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n that morning, Griffin carried on his speech as his audience settled into their respective seats, speaking on behalf of his nationallyrecognized organization on the positive influence of the march’s organizers.

“Today is a day unlike anything we’ve ever planned for the campaign,” Griffin says. “The students [of Marjory Stoneman Douglas] have captured our country’s imagination on a need for organized gun laws.”

The next to take the stage was Cable News Network political analyst Ana Navarro, who took very little time in her speech before delivering a direct call of action to her audience in the room.

“Even if you are going to be okay and you’re not at risk,” she says. “If any of our community is a target, we are all under attack. Fear is not an option. We must rise and we must act.”

800,000 protesters held signs while walking down Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington D.C.

Her words resonated throughout the rest of the event, as speakers connected to the HRC continued to announce their support for the student-organized march. The event was punctuated by a group of speakers that included Brandon Wolf. Wolf, a survivor of 2016’s Orlando nightclub shooting and former friend of one of the victims, Drew Leinonen, assigned a similar duty to everyone marching on behalf of the HRC. “It is our time to come together and say that we have had enough,” Wolfe says. “We want to feel safe. If change doesn’t come, we will change those in charge of making our decisions.”

Although Congress was on recess with these pointed words coming from every corner of D.C. and Capital Hill, the marchers’ ability to vote out the lawmakers they disapproved of was still firmly in place as the unofficial byline of the march.

In fact, the campaign’s officials passed out clipboards, papers and HRC flags to team leaders before setting out for the march, as the role that they would be playing would be encouraging teenagers to register to vote in time for the midterm elections. Anyone who turned 18-years-old before Dec. 31 would be able to register under their method “in under five minutes,” as the organizers repeatedly added to the ends of their sentences.

Metz had voluntarily found a sign that the HRC had provided for marchers that expressed its support for the march. As we searched for our group leader, I asked fervently what his response to the speakers was. His response embodied deep tones in modern philosophy and critical thinking.

“They were great.”

Still, he seemed to believe it.

Once the HRC had left the hotel in waves, the streets had already become packed with the sound of chants and the air was full of protest signs. Volunteer workers passed out water bottles to everyone passing by as police officers scanned the streets where the march’s speakers would soon address what everyone had come to hear. Those same water bottles were fortunately provided by other sponsors, volunteers and celebrities too.

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he ability to walk steadily decreased, even when we stood so far from the stage that we could only faintly hear the applause that broke out when the event celebrated its official beginning.

The crowd all turned to hear speakers, who were blocks away on the main stage. Marjory Stoneman Douglas students delivered their sharp messages on behalf of their school in between musical performances by artists like

Miley Cyrus and Demi Lovato.

Metz and I sat on a staircase so far away from the stage that we could only just make out its blue lights. Marjory Stoneman Douglas senior Emma Gonzalez proceeded to captivate the whole of her audience with her speech, which was punctuated with the final, and most powerful call to action of the day, encouraging students to fight for their lives “before it’s somebody else’s job.”

Gonzalez’s words have evidently reached Metz, who has decided to take his situation into his own hands by voting in November.

While media and various public figures raise the question of what would make the march worthwhile, Gage argues that because it exists in the first place, it has made an impact.

“I think just the fact that it’s happening,” Metz says, “and that all these people are coming together really makes [the march] successful.” •

9%

of East students participated in the March for our Lives event on Mar. 24 in Washington D.C. 2018 Apr lakotaeastsparkonline 34

the movement | package

Fundraising for A Change

East students conduct an interactive event in Extra Help on Mar. 14 in order to remember victims of school shootings, specifically the 17 Marjory Stoneman Douglas’ students. story and art charis williams photography vivica heidenreich and meredith niemann

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fter staying up until 11 p.m. with friends the night before Wednesday’s Extra Help Remembrance, East junior Grace Phair proudly watched as the bake sale that they prepared for sold out in less than thirty minutes.

Phair baked with East senior Madison Kessler and East freshman Audrey Williams on Mar. 13, 2018 in order to raise money for the victims and families of the Majory Stoneman Douglas shooting which happened on Feb. 14, 2018.

According to USA Today, as a result of threats against schools, there have been at least 33 schools closed and more than 15 other schools have shut down, such as the Central York High School in Pennsylvania, which was briefly closed after threats were called in against the school by a middle schooler.

Phair, Kessler, Williams, as well as 15 other East students who are part of the School Safety Committee (SSC), discussed the best ways to prompt remembrance for those who have lost their lives; a plan for a call for change was also incorporated in their extra help kick off for a 17 day fundraiser around the East main campus building.

“I really thought it was a good thing what we did,” East senior Maya Wells says. “We were able to raise money for the victims and families and I liked the idea of the banners.”

The SSC was created i n

response to student voicing their opinions for a way to protest and was formed following a large meeting of students and staff members that happened 14 days after the Parkland shooting.

Both students and staff members had concern about the importance of student response.

“If I’m going to teach and preach in class about understanding and knowing your rights, especially your civil rights, then I want students to actually see that,” East Advanced Placement and College Preparatory Government Tisha Menchofer-Grote says. “I want to see our students not necessarily protesting but using [their] voice.”

The SSC helped students voice their emotions in the form of two palm print

THE MOVEMENT PART I

East students dipped their hands in orange paint to create a banner that was sent to Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School students.

East junior Kyra Johnson participated in the “orange for change” banner that helped raised money for the victims and their families at Marjory Stoneman Douglas during extra helpW.

banners, which showed support for students through individual students’ painted hand-print. ne of the banners was sent to Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. The other was hung on East’s Main Street. Students were also invited to write letters to Ohio State Representatives that express any concerns the students’ had.

“Teachers need the attention of students to teach and when students are distracted by such high emotions, we can’t teach,” East American Sign Language teacher Sharon Coltrane says. “Schools need to be a safe environment.”

Lakota Local School District takes precautions in order to make the buildings safe, which include keeping doors locked at all time, safe and secure entry, camera systems and Alert-Lockdown-Inform-CounterEvacuate training and School Resource Officers (SRO).

“We’re very blessed to have an SRO in our building full time [because] a lot of schools

O

30% of East students

participated in the #OrangeForChange event during Extra Help on Mar. 14 for Marjory Stoneman Douglas victims.

37 lakotaeastsparkonline.com Apr 2018

don’t have that luxury,” East Principal Suzanna Davis says. “I believe there’s 10 SRO’s across our district [which is] a huge commitment to safety and security.”

Despite district security precautions, some students and staff members want to see a change. The extra help kick off event was one plan of action to show student voice and the power students have to make change.

“I really think that our school can do something big with this and it may take time, but we cannot keep waiting and sitting around,” Kessler says. “The only way you can make change is if you take action.”

In a recent Spark survey that was conducted, 30 percent of the 364 East students say that they participated in the #OrangeForChange event during Extra Help for the victims and their families at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

A

ccording to a 2016 study in Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis, following exposure to violent crimes such as school shootings, students show symptoms of PostTraumatic Stress Disorder and poor mental health, which diminishes academic achievement and increases absences. School shootings have long lasting effects on brain function, behavior and formation of relationships.

Broward Schools Superintendent Robert Runcie said the school building in which the Parkland shooting took place, building 12, would never be reopened and Florida State Senator Bill Galvano said that “to demolish

and replace the building could cost up to thirty million dollars,” according to a Feb. 18, 2018 article by American Broadcasting Company.

The SSC raised $629.15, which was sent to the Broward Education Foundation in order to benefit the victims and families of the Parkland shooting. However, some students believe this should only be the start of student activity.

Despite the call for more action, East SRO Deputy Doug Hale said there is a legal difference between protesting on school property and off. Davis also noted a clear difference between students protesting school shootings and remembering school shooting victims.

“There are district policies about handling student protest that [East] has to abide by. We used those as a guide. It was never my intention to organize an event and to use student voice to walk out of school,” Davis says. “Having protests on school grounds isn’t safe, which is our number one priority, so we can’t have that and every person who participated can hypothetically receive discipline.” •

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LOCALMOTIVE Right: Full of printing machinery and a large variety of paper, Digital Visuals offers an easy way to make any kind sign desired. The print shop was opened 15 years ago by Jim Edwards and his wife Debbie Edwards and is the only place in town to get large-print jobs done.

The business caters to many of the other shops in town. “We offer a local place to have this time of product manufactured,” says Jim.

IZZA

BLAST FURNACE P

Above: As he was formerly an employee at A.K. Steel, Blast Furnace Pizza owner Ben Terrill opened this pizzeria with the inspiration of the mill in mind. With love for Middletown, Blast Furnace Pizza wanted to pay homage to its people and the history surrounding the town. “I love Middletown so having this pizzeria inspired by the mill is touching to me,” says Terrill.

Lester’s rock and roll

Digital visuals Below: After experiencing its one year anniversary, Central Market and Deli Owner Peggy Carroll has been ecstatic and elated at the positive energy she’s been receiving from her customers. Carroll’s family has always been involved with the deli business so it was natural for her to have her own deli. “We are the only independent Boar’s Head deli in the area,” says Carroll. “[Central Market and Deli] actually delivers the deli meat and sandwiches to customers too.”

Left: Lester’s Rock and Roll has a variety of guitar, merchandise, such as Thrasher, vinyls and sound equipment. With the constant rock music playing, owner Chris Lester personally buys all the items in his store that will soon be sold later. “My favorite part about owning this business is meeting the people,” says Lester. “I also love playing the guitar and skateboarding so the fact that I can make a business out of it is the best of both worlds.”

eli

t and d e k r a m l a r t n e C

story jessica jones and sidney li photography sidney li, meredith niemann and leo rolfert | art caroline bumgarner and mckenna lewis

MIDDLETOWN, OH

Left: Due to the lack of plus-sized attire that was found in department stores, such as Kohl’s, Walmart and Target, Curves Plus Boutique owner Angela Holbrook created this clothing store for “women who are of the bigger size and want to feel beautiful in clothes that are made for them.”

Some of the most popular items that customers could buy are ripped jeans and tops, high-waisted jeans and off-the-shoulder tops.

SoulCraft: A

curves plus boutique

Fair Trade Sto r

e

Above: Being a fair trade store is something that Soul Craft owner Lauren Matus and her business prides on. Matus wanted to educate people on the types of crafts people could make plus the ethical advantages to buying handmade and fair trade items. “Every product has been made by respective people around the world and also in the United States,” says Matus.

“Everything is to promote a socially-conscious lifestyle.”

The gallery on

clinton

Above: Located in a large space filled with timeless antiques and memorable stories, The Gallery on Clinton is the spot for old, hidden gems. Co-owner Debbie Edwards opened the store with her husband Jim Edwards three years ago after they felt there was a need for an antiques shop in the town. “We have a wide variety of items and have a unique experience because of our older antiques,” says Debbie.

Right: Small and cozy, My Favorite Things Boutique gives their customers a unique and catered experience so they can find the perfect item. Co-owner Anne Potteiger, helps shop for the items in the store by going to different gift markets around the United States. She looks for small decorative items or clothing she thinks her customers would enjoy. “It’s the personal touch that we feel is important,” says Potteiger. “If we have a customer that is looking for a particular item, we will try to find it for them.”

utique

bo my favorite things

AMEN

ARTIST: RICH BRIAN GENRE: HIP-HOP RELEASE DATE: FEB. 2, 2018 art bryce forren

I NEED TO START A GARDEN

ARTIST: HAYLEY HEYNDERICKX GENRE: FOLK RELEASE DATE: MAR. 2, 2018

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ndonesian rapper Rich Brian (Brian Imanuel) follows up previous singles like “Dat $tick,” “Seventeen,” and “Crisis,” with his debut album “Amen”. While it has more of what fans want including more driving beats, and relatable, laid-back verses, the album lacks the essentials necessary to cement Imanuel as deep into the current rap scene as we had hoped.

While racks like “Cold,” and “Glow Like Dat,” incorporate intriguing drum patterns inspired by veteran rappers like Drake, the verses after don’t have enough wit to carry that energy. These patterns may fit the basslines and hooks of the song well, but the verses after don’t impress.

The amount of quotable verses in the album are abysmal. With lines like, “I don’t take drugs, I just take naps,” and “Find another girl to eat up like I hate snacks,” listeners are left feeling underwhelmed in comparison to previous singles from Imanuel.

Another glaring drawback to this formulaic composition is that so many of these tracks sound lackluster due to the fact that they all

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ortland singer-songwriter Haley Heynderickx first broadcasted her music to the world through NPR’s Tiny Desk Contest in 2015, submitting a video of herself performing one of her originals, “Drinking Song.”

Three years later, Heynderickx released her debut album “I Need to Start a Garden” on March 3, which featured that song as well as some others that she submitted for the contest.

In her own unique style, the mastered versions of the tracks manage to sound just as raw and emotionally stunning as the ones she filmed in her own home.

From the album’s opener, “No Face,” Heynderickx’s sweeping guitar playing and graceful, easy singing establish a heavy emotional punch that she never holds back on. The scathingly honest and confessional self-reflections that she explores in the album’s eight songs cover multiple ends of an emotional spectrum in only 30 minutes.

Fortunately, Heynderickx also possesses an

have the same progression. Because Imanuel is so used to dropping singles like he did during his SoundCloud days, the album itself lacks narrative and drive.

There are some good highlights on this album like “Glow Like Dat,” “Arizona,” “Introvert,” and “Attention.” Some of which include featured artists like Joji, NIKI, and AUGUST 08, who add so much with singing to contrast Imanuel’s rough and deep rapping voice. There’s even some star power on this album with Offset’s feature on “Attention”.

Despite these astounding features, they are drowned out by the sheer amount of formulaic and boring filler tracks. Songs like “Flight,” “Enemies,” and “Kitty,” should have been revised until they were worthy enough to make the cut for a full length album.

While “Amen” is a step up from most debut albums from former SoundCloud rappers, Imanuel needs a lot of improvement in order to establish himself in current contemporary rap.

—McKenna Lewis

uncanny ability to supply her songs with witty humor and unrivaled imagination that provides each song with a welcoming and relatable tone.

In the song “The Bug Collector,” Heynderickx sings over ghostly fingerpicking patterns about someone who believes that all of the bugs in their house are people from a past life. With her dreary delivery and the powerful use of harmonies, horns and strings, listening to the song is an absolutely immersive experience.

The music and vocals throughout “I Need to Start a Garden” are often littered with imperfections that only serve to strengthen the raw humanity and honesty that is established early on. Even when Heynderickx is backed by an array of instruments, such as in lead single “Oom Sha La La,” she remains the primary focus musically and lyrically. The warm and emotionally heavy context of each song on the album allows for a listener to become and remain entirely captivated with everything Heynderickx offers on the album.

— Bryce Forren

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his Korean gem, hidden in one of the many plazas behind VOA, serves a wide variety of traditional Korean and Japanese dishes.

As one of the limited Korean restaurants around, Korealistic strives to be the best and as a frequent Korean food eater, I can say they’re definitely it.

This restaurant is perfect for any amount of people but they particularly cater to larger groups. Korealistic has large booths fitting three people, comfortably to one side and multiple tables that can easily be put together to serve larger companies.

To start off my meal I ordered the Vegetable Korean Pancakes for $8.95; the dish comes as a single pancake split into 4 slices. There are various kinds of vegetables within the dish such as onions, carrots and red peppers. Although the dish was served slightly more cooked than I’m used to, it was delicious. The sweetness of the pancake itself complimented the vegetables perfectly.

The entree was my most favorite dish,

I

n an effort to satiate my desire to be become Jack Sparrow I decided to finally sit down and play “Sea of Thieves”. Was I satisfied with my game play? Kind of. “Sea of Thieves” has quite a bit going for it. Beginning with an extensive multiplayer, “Sea of Thieves” truly focuses on the cooperative gameplay aspect. A player has the ability to co-op with between two to four other players and together they crew a ship.

What players do after that is completely up to them. The crew may go about completing quests, exploring the map, or pileaging other ships.

The ultimate goal as a pirate is to gain enough reputation to get the title of Pirate Legend. That process however is a long and grindy one. To gain reputation players must complete quests for three separate factions that are in game. Each faction has its own goals and the quests will be based on those goals.

Here’s where the problems unfortunately

Beef Bulgogi for $17.95. This is a dish that is difficult to make and is one that my family has mastered, so I have become very critical when it comes to eating bulgogi.

Along with the Korean dish came five side dishes. Each dish added another element of flavors to the table, such as the broccoli and string bean dish. Along with that there was traditional Kimchi. Kimchi is spicy pickled cabbage that has been fermented. This has never been one of my favorite dishes but I tried it to compare it to the previous times I have had it and I must say that this was the best Kimchi I’ve ever had.

At the end of the meal there was no rush for the check and no waiting for one either, the staff quietly sets it on the table as you enjoy your meal. Korealistic prides on their customers’ comfort from the beginning to the end of the meal. Before leaving the restaurant I was bid farewell with a “thank you” and a “kam-sa-ham-ni-da” meaning thank you in Korean. —Rebecca Holst

arise. The quests tend to get repetitive. Sure the fights are slightly different but it all feels very formatted and cookie cutter. Once players do them once or twice they’ve done them all.

The results of grinding aren’t that impressive either. Upgrades consist only of stylistic elements that offer no actual benefits. While unfortunate, game developer Rare says that the choice for no perks for grinding comes from wanting new players to be on an even playing field. I believe that’s valid reasoning.

Taking everything into account, I still hold “Sea of Thieves” with an optimistic outlook. The game is new, and it’s working with an interesting style of multiplayer game play. The graphics are good looking considering the style chosen for the game and the controls seem pretty much ironed out and smooth. Considering this game is a constant work in progress I would keep it in my sight and consider buying it. — Michael Szczepkowski

SEA OF THIEVES

DEVELOPER: RARE GENERA: ACTION/ADVENTURE RELEASE DATE: MAR. 20, 2018 2018 Apr lakotaeastsparkonline 42

W NETFLIX ORIGIONAL SERIES: THE END OF THE F****** WORLD RELEASED: Jan. 5, 2018 8 episodes

ith all the new Netflix original series coming out, “The End of the F***ing World” is one to watch. The shocking start can be slightly off putting but is nothing new for Netflix as it had a similar start to one of it’s other popular series: “13 Reasons Why”.

The starting plot of the series is similar many coming of age shows: boy meets girl and they go on a journey leading to romance, rebellion, and self discovery. However, this one takes a dark turn as the main characters Alyssa (Jessica Barden) and James (Alex Lawther) get themselves into some unexpected trouble. The character development is quick as the series is eight episodes and around 20 minutes each.

While it is fast, it doesn’t feel rushed. The show is well done as we get an understanding of the characters by hearing their inside thoughts and

A CNN ORIGIONAL SERIES: AMERICAN DYNASTIES THE KENNEDYS RELEASED: Apr. 15, 2018 6 episodes

merica once again gets their dose of the Kennedys in Cable News Network’s (CNN) new show “American Dynasties the Kennedys”. This six-part series is an inside look into the Kennedy’s life. Some topics discussed in the show are the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Civil Rights movement. It also shows the lives of the many brothers and sisters within the Kennedy family. The show aired March 11 and ended on April 15. The show plays every Sunday and each episode is onehour long.

This new show points out many significant events in history, and many secret facts about the family. The first episode “The Legacy”, shows John F. Kennedy’s (JFK) oldest sister Rosemary’s difficult life. As a young adult she struggled with learning disabilities, her father made a very hard decision for her get a prefrontal lobotomy. The surgery made her unresponsive, and she was in a wheelchair most of her life. Therefore, this series is great, and gives an inside look of the household which has

some short flashbacks of the characters in the important parts of their lives.

As with many other Netflix series this one doesn’t just have an intriguing plot; the retro vibes of the series is refreshing and aesthetically pleasing with the camera angles along with the grungy colors included in the outfits and sets.

The music choices fit well with the throwback theme as many of the songs have the same vintage sound.

Something to note when getting ready to watch the series is the intense language and bad influences included in the series. This profane language is not suitable for people of a younger demographic.

If you are looking for a new series for a late-night binge, grab your popcorn and get comfy because this show will have you hooked.

—Maggie Macneel

never been done before.

Throughout the six episodes of “The American Dynasties the Kennedys”, viewers get to see a chronological order of the Kennedy’s lifes. Starting off with life before politics, and ending with the assassination of Robert Kennedy, the show includes every event that a history buff would enjoy.

This is not a typical documentary. It has interviews with some living family members of the Kennedys, authors of books about them and experts on the family. “American Dynasties the Kennedys” also includes family videos, tv interviews, phone calls and pictures which not only gave a historical feel, but it makes viewers feel like a part of the family.

All in all, this new series is wonderful, and gives many facts. Many scandals are brought up in the show. The show didn’t feel at all like a documentary, it felt like more like a movie.

After watching this I learned unknown facts, and things I never learned about in school.

—Anna Snider

If you loved “The Princess Bride” go to lakotaeastsparkonline.com to read a book review on “AS You Wish” by Cary Elwes 43 lakotaeastsparkonline.com Apr 2018

avengers: infinity war

review leslie hernandez | art selena chen and mckenna lewis | infographic issac lukosee Marvel Cinematic Universe Characters introduced in all three of Marvel’s “phases” appear in “Infinity War.”

PHASE 1

2008-2012

Iron Man The Hulk Thor Captain America Black Widow

PHASE 2

2013-2015

Star Lord Gamora Rocket Racoon Drax Groot Vision Scarlet Witch Nebula

PHASE 3

2016-2018

“A

vengers: Infinity War”, directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, is the movie that ties everything in the Marvel Cinematic Universe into a nice little organized bow. ”Infinity War” answers every single question the past 18 movies have planted in our heads, but leaves viewers with a gigantic question causing moviegoers to search for answers behind every scene. The first five minutes make something very clear though, viewers truly have no idea what they’re heading into. It takes all expectations and one ups them.

No matter how hard I tried to figure out what the movie seemed to be hiding, every time I thought I had cracked the code, the movie took a 180 turn on the opposite direction.

This movie truly does not disappoint. The main villain, Thanos (Josh Brolin), is portrayed magnificently and shows the superheroes that he will stop at nothing to get everything he desires. I am not exaggerating when I say he will stop at nothing, Thanos keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout the whole movie.

Thanos is not like the typical comic book movie villain, it takes only a few minutes into the movie to understand that.

The movie nicely balanced completely serious and terrifying scenes with humor and banter between characters. It eases the tension, but not to the point where you don’t feel the fear and anguish of the characters. It just shows how they are coping with the fact that the world is practically ending. The chemistry between characters is fantastic and gives the viewer some sort of safe space from all the mess Thanos is causing. The fight scenes are absolutely amazing, especially the ones that include team ups. The characters seem almost like dancers as they twirl across the screen with each other and beat some bad guys up.

It is a one of a kind film that everyone should experience at least once. It offers some closure to the first movies but not complete closure to the universe. On the contrary, it opens up more opportunities, especially with that end credit scene. •

Doctor Strange Mantis Spider-Man Black Panther

7%

5%

23%

12% 14% 17%

Opinions on which Marvel super hero is the best vary greatly at East.

22%

The Met A WEEKEND AT

The Metropolitan Museum of Art has diverse exhibits that encapsulate the world history from ancient times to present contemporary styles. review sidney li | photography richard giang | infographic alex fernholz

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love museums. It’s not because of how it’s an “artsy” place full of diverse art from various local and foreign artists but the free-spirited atmosphere that anyone from anywhere could relate to.

When my fellow editors and I went to New York for the annual Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CSPA) Convention, we managed to snag some free-time in between our classes.

Luckily, at the end of the day, we were near the Upper East Side and naturally, our curiosity took over.

We took an uber to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, otherwise known as the “Met Museum.” Yes, that same museum where former Vogue Magazine Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour holds her exclusively annual Met Gala with celebrities such as Beyoncé and Kim Kardashian West in the same room on a single night.

Once we pulled up to the museum, my eyes immediately widened at the sight of the famous steps where Hollywood movies and pictures took place. I could not believe it. Here I was, standing at the very steps that millions of other people have with that same eager feeling tugging in their stomachs before walking in.

As soon as our group walked in, the vast foyer was completely filled with so many people of different ethnicities. This wasn’t a shock to me as the Met Museum is known for its international collections, exhibitions and the tourist location.

After we paid for our tickets, we went into the Ancient Egyptian exhibit that showcased meticulously painted jewelry dipped in gold, statues of various sizes and shapes and royal portraits of pharaohs. However, that wasn’t the most exciting part. As we walked further into the museum, we found ourselves at the Temple of Dendur, which was excavated and modeled from Egypt after the museum’s 35 years of archaeological work.

The still water, ancient Egyptian architecture and floor-to-ceiling windows practically made us feel like we were walking around and exploring Egypt itself.

Soon enough, we walked through the French and Greek art that could be found at any American museums across the country.

I’ve had my fair share of these exhibitions but the Met Museum took it to a whole other level with their own rendition of fully decorated rooms from France.

The highly-detailed and baroque designs placed on the furniture was all minimal but with it all together, it truly made me feel like I was French royalty walking around in my palace.

Taking a few more steps around the museum, the Met had an African collection that I have never seen anywhere else. This varying exhibit may seem like a minor detail but the fact that the Met was able to display this alongside to the staple collections of European, Asian and American art was simply extraordinary.

Since I haven’t seen any African art myself, I was fascinated with the style that was laid in front of me with their own shapely statues and jewelry that contrasted from the detailed European art I usually see—this was complete culture shock. The African exhibit even made use of the ceiling and had art that hung above the approximately 7 million annual visitors’ heads, according to the Met Museum website.

This museum felt like its own world. Located right on the outskirts of Central Park, I highly recommend taking a visit to the Met Museum for anyone who has an interest in diverse art— as well as want to see the world with a small fee of $12, for students, of course. •

met review | culture The Met Museum had this room from the Palais Paar, Vienna. The paneling of the cyan walls came directly from the original Palais Paar that was designed by architect Isidor Canevale and sculptor Johann Leithner. When I walked into this room, the lighting seeping through the windows encapsulated the sun and full captured the effect of the baroque French.

In the Department of Egyptian Art, the Met Museum has over 26,000 “objects of artistic, historical, and cultural importance, dating from the Paleolithic to the Roman period,” according to the Met Museum website. The walls of the Egyptian hall were lined with hundreds of art pieces depicting royal pharaohs and their subjects in various sceneries and actions. There were also rooms dedicated to statues that stood over 10 feet and their heads hovered above visitors that stood at their feet.

Following the ancient Egyptian art hall, the Met Museum had both the Greek and Roman art that is comprised of over 17,000 pieces. Guests can dine in the café whilst sitting next to various statues in different positions—standing, laying and sitting. Despite the dominant art originating from Greece and Italy, the Met Museum art curators didn’t stop there and had art from regions in Asia Minor and more. This statue of Perseus grasping onto Medusa’s head is seen from any open area within the room as he is displayed proudly in the center.

This same room can also be rented out by guests who want to hold parties while admiring the staple art pieces.

How the Met Lines Up Comparing the number of works on display at museums around the world.

Left: A recreation of a Kwoma Ceiling from the Mariwai village in New Guinea.

Hermitage Museum (St. Petersburg)

652,000

380,000

The Lourve (Parise) Museum of Modern Art (New York City) National Gallery of Victoria (Melbourne) Art Institute of Chicago (Chicago) Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York City)

200,000

68,000 300,000 458,000 source qz.com 2018 Apr lakotaeastsparkonline 46

Power to the word East senior Brandon Williams is a part of the Uncensored Society, a bi-weekly open microphone event at Kidd Coffee in Mason, Ohio. story julianne ford | photography sidney li

H

e walks up to the microphone, he nervously looks at his phone and picks the poem he is going to read. He smells the aroma of coffee around him as he looks up and says “Alright, this is some new shit,” the crowd screams back “new shit,” as he starts his poem. This is a typical Thursday night for East senior Brandon Williams at Uncensored Society.

Uncensored Society is a bi-weekly open microphone event that is hosted by Drew Himes and East alumna Amanda Stoddard at Kidd Coffee in Mason, Ohio. The group started in Dec. 2014 and allows all kinds of performances but focus on poetry and spoken word. Then, Stoddard started going to Rhos Cafe in Clifton.

“The location was really good, it was in the Center of Lakota, Mason and Kings,” says Stoddard. “We wanted to reach out to high school kids.

We wanted to give them a place were they didn’t have to go out and go drinking. We wanted something were they could express themselves.”

Darby Dooley is a long time attendee of Uncensored Society. Dooley was excited when Uncensored Society started in Mason, Ohio as it was more convenient for people to attend on a regular basis.

“The first Mason reading was packed more than Rhos even was,” says Dooley. “The community was different, then. It felt like a misbehaved

LOCAL Legends classroom with no teacher or professor to shush the raucous behavior.”

Williams has been attending Uncensored Society for around one year now. In that time he has shared countless poems and made many friends through multiple cups of coffee in all months and the various themes relating to it.

“I love the community [Uncensored Society brings],” says Williams.

“I also love that it’s at a coffee house, that is the best way to do it, because coffee is for sure an amazing drink and can bring the community together.”

Williams says he has grown to love Uncensored Society for many reasons, but his favorite part is the fun, carefree community he is surrounded by. He recalls his what his first experience reading in front of the group was like. “[Uncensored Society] does this thing were they take your poem virginity,” says Williams. “If you up to the microphone for the first time they’ll bombard you with a ton of questions. So that’s what happened at my very first reading.”

When Stoddard and Himes started Uncensored Society, their goal was to build a solid community for those who attend it, whether it is their first or tenth time. This has lead Williams to see the power of the community firsthand.

“You see people come in here that come from completely different walks of life,” says Stoddard. “Then they come into Uncensored [Society] and they become friends with one another. I love the fact that we are one little family and everyone is super comfortable with each other.”

Over the past four years she has seen many interesting and emotional performances. Despite some of the happy and sad poems, Stoddard 47 lakotaeastsparkonline.com Apr 2018

East senior Brandon Williams read one of his poems at the Earth day themed meeting at Kidd Coffee in Mason, Ohio on Apr. 19, 2018.

is still proud of what Uncensored Society has accomplished with its attendees. “[A close friend of mine] read his poem, which was really cool,” says Stoddard. “After he concluded his poem he went to do the backflip, he fell completely on his ass. It was so funny.”

As for Williams, he plans on writing poetry and attending Uncensored Society for as long as he can while attending University of Cincinnati Blue Ash. The thing he enjoys most about Uncensored Society is how much emotion and empowerment he can portray through poems.

“There is so much you can say through words and that is just something that I have always loved,” says Williams. “[Poetry] a really good outlet for me. To see how you can evoke so much power through words.” •

ROWIN’ DOWN A RIVER East sophomore Alanna Schlaeger rows with the Great Miami Crew. story megan finke | photography and infografic joe phelan and lauren maier

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rabbing a boat and hulling it into the brisk waters of a nearby river, she utilized the help from fellow crew members. This rush of motivation, drive and excitement to overcome new obstacles allowed her to overcome the rushed water that her feet were soon in.

For East sophomore, Alanna Schlaeger the rush enacted from the touch of cold water is just a part of her everyday routine. Her willingness to drive to Hamilton everyday, push herself to the limit each day in the water symbolizes hard work, dedication and commitment.

Since Aug. 30, 2017, Schlaeger has been rowing with the Great Miami crew to which she was introduced to through the encouragement of others.

“I heard about rowing last year through my education director at my temple. I had been doing gymnastics for three years but realized I didn’t like it as much as I thought I did,” Schlaeger says. “I signed up for the rowing camps and instantly fell in love with the concept of being in a boat. The team was extremely welcoming and I knew this was a team I wanted to be apart of.”

Soon after joining the crew and set aside the warm welcome, Schlaeger discovered even more opportunities and benefits from this sport that did not just involve a workout.

“Rowing provides friendships that I never knew were even possible,” Schlaeger says.“It provides me with leadership skills and getting to see myself personally grow each and everyday really motivates me to continue to get faster with the pieces that come everyday.”

With skills obtained from a passion, Schlaeger has dreams of pursuing her sport in college with her largest win of second place finalist at Cincinnati Invitational on a novice women’s four and Grand finalist racers at Dogwood Regatta on a

Mason Freshman practices on the Great Miami River as he sits in the stroke seat.

U-17 4 under her belt.

Further information on the Great Miami Rowing Crew includes location in Hamilton, Ohio on the Ohio river with the usual varied price and practice Monday-Friday 4-6 and Saturday 8-10:30 a.m.

“I am a lightweight women’s rower which is 130 pounds or less, so one day I hope I can get recruited for a lightweight college team,” Schlaeger says. “I also love Indiana University so if I got the opportunity to row there I think that would fill all my dreams.”

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ightweight and Open weight are the two weight classes in rowing. Any size athlete can enter the open categories but the lightweight categories restricts its rowers to 130 pounds maximum for women and 160 pounds maximum for men, according to archive.usrowing.org.

Despite what team a crew member is placed for the Great Miami crew, coach Kyle Stanley has a relationship with each rower through the program. He got into rowing while he was in high school and didn’t know it would have an impact on his life, which then influenced him to become a coach.

“I kept with it because I saw how it was for me and the opportunities it provided me with throughout my life but I didn’t understand that I was going to be watching the kids fulfill their dreams,” Stanley says. “I [have] students who come through here and by the time they leave it’s a very transforming experience.”

Stanley explains how it took a few

days in training for Schlaeger to determine if this sport is something she would want to pursue, but once she did, she made a difference on the team she was placed on.

“Over the course of the fall, she figured out what she could do in the boat and the power in her body and through this past winter training and she had a pretty integral role in our novice squad,” Stanley says. “Right now there are a few eighth graders and freshmen on that squad so being a sophomore she brings a little bit more maturity to it.”

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s Schlaeger provides a leadership role to her squad, the connection within a team in order to succeed is crucial Stanley says. There are many factors that go into the demanding process of a team getting in sync.

“It is very demanding on the condition of the body but in the boat you need to have a lot more than just power and stamina,” Stanley says. “You need to be able to move that ore through the water and then get it out of the water together and then put it back into the water all at one point in time and that is what is most difficult about it.

[Knowing] how to work together to row as one crew is the test.”

Unlike many sports, rowing is a sport that takes up a lot of space especially when there are multiple boats on the water at once. Mason Freshman Drew Pence has been rowing for around 10 months when he was in middle school.

Pence says that rowing is different from other sports because you have to have to have boats and an area that will have a large enough body of water so the rowers will have enough room to row. •

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he individuality and the combination of teamwork is what makes rowing the ultimate challenge for those who participate. East Junior and new crew member to the Great Miami Rowing crew Joe Phelan shows how rowing is a diverse sport in which people partake in for reasons such as future dreams or current strength.

“I’m applying for a Naval Academy and then I’m going to that Naval Academy, which is their summer camp to give you a taste of the academy. I think being in the Navy in the future it is really crucial that you’re currently going to be playing a good sport.” Phelan says.

Aside from dreams and aspirations, for the short time Phelan has been apart of the crew, rowing is already something he can and has easily committed to. Not only because of his future but because of his current passion for it.

“I don’t have to have that gym commitment but instead you get an everyday fun thing to do and you get a go get in shape also become friends with a lot of people from other schools like a lot of people from different schools,” Phelan says. “So you’re gonna make a lot of connections. So I’d be like close friendships only been part of it for two and a half weeks.”

As connection becomes a predominant love for the sport, rowing not only challenges every part of a crew member self in order to better themselves in many ways that would not be expected.

“The best part of rowing is being faced with a different challenge to complete everyday,” Schlaeger says. “Seeing yourself pull numbers that you never thought was possible is the best feeling in the world because you realize how strong you truly are.”•

East Sophomore Alanna Schlaeger rows in the Great Miami River.

SWEEPING V. SCULLING quad 13.4m long

eight 19.9m long coxed four 13.7m long coxless four

double scull sweep oar 370-376 cm

pair 10.4m long

-Two oars, one in each hand -Three events

-The Single (one person)

-The Double (two people)

-The Quad (four people)

Unlike recreational boats, competitive rowing boats sit very shallow in the water.

sculling oar 284-290 cm

single scull 8.2m long

-One oar per person -May or may not have a coxswain

-Coxswain: member of the rowing crew who sits at the stern of the boat and is responsible for steering and coordinating and the rhythm of the rowers.

source usrowing.org

FRESH ATHLETES A number of freshmen athletes compete on the spring varsity teams at East.. story and photography lauren maier

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uffled cheers surround her. The finish line is in sight. Each stride grows longer and each breath gets shorter. With one last stride, she finishes the race that started her running career.

East freshman Kelsi Harris started running when she was in fifth grade and ran a 5K with one of her friends. She didn’t know this would be the race that would go on the change her life years later in high school.

“I was playing soccer and I had a friend that ran,” Harris says. “Her dad saw that I was super interested and asked me if I wanted to run. I paced off them and it was really fun.”

After Harris’s first race, she was hooked.

When she was in middle school, she ran track and cross country both years which lead her to run for the high school team. Each step in her running career, Harris has had influential coaches and people to help guide her.

“I’ve had really good coaches,” Harris says.

“I have my dad and he’s a really good runner and he’s helped me out a lot throughout the years. He really encouraged me to start running so that’s a big part of that.”

HARRIS’ PERSONAL RECORDS 800 m

2:25

1600 m

5:20

3200 m 11:34 5K

19:19 East Freshman Kelsi Harris finishes up a hard workout.

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istance Track Coach and Cross Country Coach Adam Thomas sees Harris grow as promising runner and expects to see some good up and coming runners next year when a new class arrives.

“The girls distance team has very exciting freshmen to watch right now in Kelsi Harris,” Thomas says. “We also have some freshmen coming in next year.”

Thomas’s training does not specify to each runner’s age or grade. Thomas says if the freshman can perform at a varsity level, they will run for the varsity team. But, with age also comes experience and maturity of the runner.

“The upperclassmen sometimes have an advantage,” Thomas says. “Due to experience and physical maturity it is not uncommon for a freshman to be on varsity.”

Despite the difference in physical fitness and age, the girls treat each other the same.

“If I was a sophomore or a junior it would be the same as if I was a freshman,” Harris says. “[The upperclassmen] treat us all so well.”

Being a freshman on a varsity team isn’t uncommon at East. The boys Lacrosse team has two freshmen on the varsity level, Will Edkins

and Justin Katona.

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racticing with the upperclassman isn’t too different because varsity and junior varsity practice at the same time, so Edkins and Katona can practice with other freshmen.

However, being a freshman can have it’s rewards. “[Being on the team] definitely feels special,” Edkins says. “The coach sees me as a better player because of my younger age.”

When evaluating players to determine varsity versus junior varsity, East Head Lacrosse Coach Matt Tassos looks more than physical ability.

“We evaluate each player for multiple factors,” Tassos says. “[We look at] their lacrosse skill, their school work, how in shape

they are via our yearly fitness test, their mental dedication.”

Collectively as a staff, they decide which players give the opportunity to win games and then enable those players to play.

Both Edkins and Katona have been playing together since third grade and haven’t left each other’s side since.

“Me and Will have been friends for a while,” Katona says. “We play lacrosse together so we have a good bond.”

Being a freshman on a varsity team is rare but, the team experience for all ages is the same.

“It’s really fun, the other girls are really nice and just really including of us,” Harris says. “I feel like they’re my older sisters and stuff. As a freshman it’s a good bonding experience being so young and it’s nice to have them.” • 2018 Apr lakotaeastsparkonline 52

sports | lacrosse

COLLECTION OF COMMITS East Lacrosse has six of it’s twelve senior boys signed to play lacrosse in college. story stone shields | photography julianne ford

S

ix out of twelve, a phenomenal ratio when it comes to seniors on the same team who will compete athletically at the collegiate level.

East Boys Lacrosse team will be sending 50 percent of their 2018 graduating class to college with lacrosse scholarships.

The first athlete is senior Midfielder Anthony Achille. Achille will be playing lacrosse at the University of Mount Union in 2019. Mount Union is located in northeast Ohio and has a total enrollment of around 2,200 students.

A big reason Achille made this choice was due to the exceptional pre-professional healthcare program offered at Mount Union.

He hopes this will help him reach his goal of becoming a physician’s assistant. As for his Senior lacrosse year Achille couldn’t be happier.

“What I love about lacrosse the most is the friendships it has allowed me to make,” Achille

says. “For me, there is nothing better than going out to battle on a lacrosse field with some of my best friends.”

Senior Defenseman Jaden Kaznowski will be playing at Capital University in 2019 and plans to major in Business Marketing. Capital is a private institution located near Columbus.

Kaznowski got nothing but positive vibes on his visits there.

“I liked the small size of the school because I knew it would allow me to connect to my teachers,” Kaznowski says. “I felt a real connection with the campus and all of the people I met there.”

One of his best friends and senior Attack Griffin Rich will also be joining him at Capital University. Rich just recently committed on April 25th and will be studying business.

“I’m super excited to play another four years

with Jaden,” Rich says. “We’ve played together since middle school and are close friends.”

Senior Attack Jack Cooney will continue his lacrosse career at Washington and Lee University in Lexington City, Virginia. This university is known for its prestigious academics, accepting less than 20 percent of applicants and requiring a minimum ACT score of 30.

H

is goal for the rest of his senior season was quite simple, “Beat West.”

Senior Nick Edkins will be attending Ohio Northern University (ONU) where he will study mechanical engineering. “I chose ONU because it was everything I wanted,” Edkins says. “A small school where I could study engineering and play lacrosse.”

If there is ever a player that has a true “love for the game” it is Edkins. “I love everything

Below: (Left) East senior Griffin Rich and (Right) East senior Jack Cooney playing against Springboro.

about lacrosse,” he says. “I love that everyone has their own style and flair and there is so much customization with your equipment and stick. There is nothing that I do not like about the sport.”

The last senior on the list is Goalie Ben Sabelhaus. He will be playing his collegiate lacrosse at Belmont Abbey College and major in Business Management. Belmont Abbey is an upper class Division II school located in Belmont, North Carolina. Sabelhaus prides himself on his positive attitude and easygoing nature. He had nothing but good things to say about his teammates.

“All of these guys are great friends,” Sabelhaus says. “I will always be there for them.”

S

abelhaus also touched on his excitement with lacrosse becoming an “official” sport.

“I am overly joyed that lacrosse is now a sanctioned sport,” he says. “Now kids will be able to learn more about the game and maybe even give it a try. Being a Senior I’m happy I got to be the first to see the sanction and I hope it helps expand the game in the future.”

Head coach Matt Tassos couldn’t be happier to have coached these six commits along with the rest of this years’ graduating class.

“When I was able to become the head coach of the program and put my staff together, these six guys were freshmen,” Tassos says.

“To see them grow and develop over the past four seasons has been special and this class will always have a special place in my coaching career, and the history of East lacrosse.” •

Above: (Right to Left) East seniors Nick Edkins and Jaden Kaznowksi (Middle) Ben Sabelhaus and (Bottom) Anthony Achille playing against Springboro.

2018 Apr lakotaeastsparkonline 54

East Varsity Baseball coach Ray Hamilton has won over 300 games while managing the Thunderhawks.

FOR THE WIN During his tenure at East, Varsity Baseball coach Ray Hamilton has led the team through many milestones.

story jack parr | photography richard giang | infographic meredith peters

E

ast High School Varsity Baseball coach Ray Hamilton has coached a wide variety of teams during his 18 years at the helm for the Thunderhawks, collecting 500 wins and winning a state championship in 2011.

The veteran coach is more excited than ever to be coaching this year’s group.

“There’s a lot of similarities between this team and the really good teams we’ve had in the past,” Hamilton says. “I think we throw it, hit it, and field it, well enough that we can keep playing for a long time.”

While the team has the pitching, hitting, and defense that is required to be a force in the tournament, what really sets them apart according to their coach is their chemistry and closeness, which can not be overlooked as a factor for any successful team.

“What sets teams apart, and teams that are able to play deep into tournaments are teams that have all those qualities yet really are a team,” Hamilton says. “With this group, at first I wasn’t sure, but the more you’re around them the more you realize just how close they really are.”

East senior catcher and offensive leader

57 lakotaeastsparkonline.com Apr 2018

Daniel Sewak also credited the selfless mentality of everyone on the team this season as a reason that the team has been winning and is currently second in the Greater Miami Conference (GMC) with a league record of 8-3.

“One thing I’ve learned is that you can’t worry about yourself,” Sewak says. “You can’t be caught up in your own statistics because that’s not going to help the team win.”

Sewak, who will be playing college baseball at Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids, Michigan, is excited to get the chance to help lead the team during his final season at East.

He has seen himself grow as a player and has become more comfortable on the field during his career as a Thunderhawk.

“It’s something I’ve been looking forward to since my freshman year,” Sewak says. “I’ve grown just by being comfortable and not getting anxious and worrying too much when im playing, just relaxing and having fun and playing how I know.”

Although Sewak is not focused on his own statistics, he has been building an impressive season at the plate, currently leading the conference with a batting average of .514

and knocking in 19 runs. On the mound, the Thunderhawks are lead by East sophomore and pitcher Nate Haberthier who is 4-0 with an ERA of 1.56 and 30 strikeouts on the season.

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he balance of the team between all three classes really stands out when breaking down the Varsity group this season. The team starts seven juniors from a wellrounded 2019 class, while also relying on senior leadership from experienced players like Sewak and getting key contributions from young talents like Haberthier, who defeated rival Mason earlier this season.

“It means a lot to be able to help the team win games as a sophomore,” Haberthier says.

“My role is just to throw the ball well and let the defense do the work.”

Hamilton says that the ability of anyone on the team to step up and provide key contributions helps the team be more balanced rather than having to rely on one or two senior stars, another aspect that sets the 2018 Thunderhawks apart from teams he has coached in the past. East Varsity senior pitcher Aidan Talarek believes this and thinks that everyone

baseball | sports has “their role and does their job.”

“If you go back and look at the team we had the last two years, it was all one class dominating,” Hamilton says. “So then you get to this year and while the majority of the guys are from that junior class, position wise, a lot of the pitching comes from the senior class.

And then you mix in a couple really talented sophomore guys into that. Now you have an equal distribution of contributions and then for us program wise it just makes us better after this group is gone for the next couple years.”

people that can step in and fill the void.”

That depth was tested early in the season when East junior pitcher Grayson Hamilton, son of Ray Hamilton, went down with a shoulder injury. Grayson was seen as a big part of the pitching rotation, but other pitchers were able to fill in and prevent the loss from becoming detrimental to the team.

“With Grayson getting hurt early on, other guys had to fill that void,” Ray says. “Nate has been one of those guys. He’s been really dependable for us when called upon.”

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A

hile it is always nice to have a star to carry the team, depth is something that certainly cannot be overlooked, especially if those key players were to suffer injuries or setbacks during the season, according to Sewak.

“It definitely helps us to have depth at different positions, especially pitcher.” Sewak says. “If anyone gets hurt we know we have

s the regular season winds down, the team is beginning to look ahead to the postseason tournament. While there is no way to predict how far East will make it when matched up against other hopefuls like Mason High School’s Varsity Baseball team, there is a general feeling of optimism that if they are able to continue playing like they have, this team could be very dangerous come playoff time.

“[Getting to State] is always a goal,” Haberthier says. “If we can continue playing clean baseball in the tournament, there’s no telling how far we can go.”

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or Ray, leading this group deep into the playoffs would add to his already impressive resume in the Thunderhawk dugout.

He is nearing 500 total wins including his time at Ross High School prior to coming to East. After recently earning his 300th win at East, he is grateful for the opportunities that he has had and still has a love for the game, which motivates him to continue coaching this group of players.

“You do it so you can see kids [succeed,] and then see what that success looks like personality wise. And just the absolute love of every aspect of the game, from the smell of the grass and the dirt to just playing,” Ray says. “I’ve had great players and great coaches, with great parents and great administrative support. •

East Varsity senior pitcher Aidan Talarek prepares to catch a pitch during a Greater Miami Conference game.

Curveball- pitch that has more movement than any other pitch. It is thrown slower and it is used to keep hitters off-balance.

Cutter- a version of the fastball, designed to move slightly away from the pitcher’s arm-side as it reaches home plate.

Changeup- one of the slowest pitches in baseball. A changeup is designed to have a batter swing well before the ball arrives.

Four-seam fastball- pitch that is fast and straight. It is also the most frequently used pitch.

Splitter- Pitch thrown like a fastball, with not as much velocity.

Slider- pitch that is thrown fast and usually not a lot of moment. Designed to keep Batter off-balance.

Two-seam fastball- generally one of a pitcher’s fastest pitches. Typically it has more movement than a four-seam fastball. source mlb.com

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but also give them tips here and there when they are stuck. From his time with the team, Burchfield realized that his own leadership is far from enough to unite and work this team as a collective unit.

“It’s not just one person who leads the team,” Burchfield says. “I like that about this team, we won a lot of matches as some days someone doesn’t play that well, but the others will pick it up.”

With five seniors on the team, they have all became the leading factors of the tennis team.

From Burchfield’s first day of coaching, he could tell that “the seniors are all close friends and genuinely like each other.” Having the makeup of mostly seniors on a team is not a typical varsity team makeup, but the Hawks have proved otherwise in their conference. As the team is rolling, the seniors are also training

No Man’s Land

Baseline

and preparing the underclassmen for next year.

The seniors’ leadership has put East junior Albert Cho on the right path for his future season.

“I feel really blessed like I can learn a lot [from the seniors],” says Cho. “I look up to the seniors, because those guys are my biggest role models. They help me to become prepared for next year.”

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he senior leadership indicates their tremendous commitments for the sport.

For East senior Cameron Hall, he says that he has been playing tennis with his teammates since seventh grade at Hopewell Junior High School. The leadership experience has not only impacted the underclassmen but also the seniors themselves.

“I’ve learned to just how to be a senior leader. I’m one of the co-captains on the team, and that’s something I’ve learned how to do, because I’ve never been in a leadership position before,” Hall says. “Being the co-captain has really taught me how to lead in my school, on the team and with my friends.”

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East Senior celebrates after scoring.

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ennis matches are supposed to be quiet. It’s the tradition. Well, it was the tradition.

More and more East parents and kids began to cheer behind the tall fences at away games. Up and down the courts, the “men in black” slowly take the lowering stances while concentrating on the other side of the nets.

They fiddle their rackets around again and again to adjust—ready for the best position to hit the incoming ball. The spectators gathered their sights at the players, waiting for the emphatic finish. Then, the East supporters excitedly yell their support in response, as the players turns around and smiles at their cheering parents.

The East Boys Varsity Tennis team, also known as the “men in black,” have five seniors out of the eight players. Most of the seniors began their tennis careers early in

Left Service Court

Right Service Court

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story and photography joe phelan

clickhowto.com

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Even though the East Boys Varsity Tennis team has five seniors, it doesn’t negatively impact the teamwork they have this year.

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MEN IN BLACK

their childhoods, and they had built the bond with one another throughout numerous seasons. Even though it is Jon Burchfield’s first year coaching the team, he says that all the seniors made him feel very welcomed.

Despite the new-coach challenges of this year, this varsity group still managed a 13-2. They are thinking that after the victory against Oak Hills, 5-0, not only continued their win streak, but also left them thinking about post-season.

Burchfield recognizes the team’s capabilities. He says that his biggest way of helping them is to stay out of their way

ext year, all five classmates are parting ways to attend their universities. Cho says that he loves and appreciates every one of the seniors, and it is definitely going be different after they leave next year. For the seniors, it is the same case.

“I know it’s going to suck so much next year when we all separate, but it has been a lot of fun this year,” Hall says. “I’m going to enjoy this while I still can.”

The “men in black” know they are improving as they defeated Loveland after early losses to major teams Sycamore and Mason. With this, the team trusts the relationship the seniors helped to build this year, and they are ready to compete for sectionals.

“I think we can go pretty far for the rest of the season. We have sectionals closing up, which is going to be tough,” Hall says. “We know we just have to play our game, and we will always be ready and up for the challenge.”•

column | opinion

TRANS BATHROOM BLUES LEO ROLFERT art mckenna lewis

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he bland tile floor. The walls in which thousands of people had run their fingers on out of boredom. The water fountain separating the two rooms where people go for privacy. Everything so simple and plain.

At least for some people it is. For others, just the thought of using a public bathroom is enough to erupt a volcano of terror within.

For some, this fear is because they are transgender, meaning that their gender identity does not match their gender assigned at birth.

For others, it is because they fear those who are transgender.

I should know. I am a transgender guy.

At school, my focus should be on learning new material, figuring out what homework to do first, or what time drama club ends today. But normally I’m thinking about which bathroom to use. Despite the inopportune location of the nurse’s office, the bathroom in the clinic is the one I end up choosing almost every time. It’s far away from most of my classes but it manages to alleviate a little bit of the mountains worth of anxiety I have.

In a world where even the simplicity of washing my hands in a particular bathroom can have me punished, the anxiety in me spikes.

There have been too many times where I have not felt safe in public; where I have not felt safe at school. This is all because my authentic self puts me in danger of those who are transphobic.

Transgender folk constantly live in fear of being harassed, beaten, denied basic human rights, or just mistreated in general. Some cisgender people (those whose gender identity correlates with the one assigned at birth) fear being assaulted by trans people in bathrooms.

According to the Williams Institute at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) School of Law, 78 percent of trans people have been harassed, 35 percent assaulted at school, and 41 percent have attempted suicide. The last

thing one would think they would be worrying about is which bathroom to use. Instead it’s one of the first things they worry about.

At least I’m not alone. According to a study done by the National Center for Biotechnology Information, 51.4 percent of transgender women and 48.3 percent of transgender men show depression related symptoms, with 40.4 percent of trans women and 47.5 percent of transgender men having anxiety.

But that’s the problem; it’s not just that depression and anxiety are so common among transgender people. Many of us also have what is called gender dysphoria, where the misalignment of a person’s gender identity and biological sex causes distress. This can lead to

human beings, especially with something as simple as using the bathroom.

Forcing us to use the bathroom that doesn’t correspond with our gender identity can result in not using the restroom at all. If anyone were to not use the bathroom during a sixand-a-half-hour school day for days upon days, physical health would be damaged.

Naturopathic doctor at the Toronto Naturopathic Health Clinic Dr. Chamandeep Bali said that the body may lose the ability to know when it’s time to go to the bathroom when kept from urinating.

“The longer you hold your urine, the bladder can become a breeding ground for bacteria to grow,” Dr. Bali said.

heightened anxiety and depression, and one thing that can help to relieve that distress is using the bathroom that matches our gender identity.

While many schools have been proposing gender-inclusive policies to protect their lesbian, gay, bi, and transgender (LGBT) students, there are a plentiful amount of them who won’t. Some schools have the excuse of wanting to protect their students from assault in the bathroom. The truth is that we go to restrooms with the intention of actually using the toilet, washing our hands, then leaving.

Okay, well some of us touch up our makeup or fix our hair, but that is about it.

This denial of our right to use the bathroom is detrimental to our mental health. It can make us feel more insecure than we already are, and causes us to assume that we should be isolated in society. We simply can feel invalidated as

The phrase “hold it” has been told to everyone at least once in their life, so we all know the uncomfortable feeling of squirminess it can cause.

Urinary tract infections can be a result of a long period of time without using the restroom, and if left untreated, this can cause over-stretching of the bladder and kidney failure from the pressure. Nobody would want to experience this, and it isn’t any different for transgender people.

This denial of our right to use the bathroom is detrimental to our mental health. It can make us feel more insecure than we already are, and causes us to assume that we should be isolated in society.

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chool districts, your trans students are subject to a dissipating healthy mental state and a possibility of kidney failure every day they go to school. Their rates of suicide and depression skyrocket when they don’t feel safe in a place they should be. This should be worth writing a few more words in the student handbook. • 2018 Apr lakotaeastsparkonline 58

opinion | column

FROM THE MOUTHS OF BABES AMY BOHORFOUSH art mckenna lewis

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’ve become disturbingly comfortable with walking outside in sub-40 degree temperatures wearing a T-shirt and shorts.

It’s just one of the changes that has occurred after I accepted a position as a lifeguard at the Lakota Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA). However, some of the changes I’ve experienced go deeper than just learning to turn the slide on, and will be applicable to anyone’s life. The most surprising aspect of the lessons I learned was the sources that I learned them from-the children I was hired to watch.

Vitalize your curiosity During one adult swim, a little boy sitting by my chair asked me how long it was until kids could swim again. I answered that adult swim would be over in five minutes. I thought that the conversation would be over at that point, but the child then asked, “How long is five minutes?” I stuttered for a moment, trying

the real event altogether. People used to accept that the world was flat, that tobacco was good for your health, and that bacon could only be used as a side for eggs at breakfast.

Many innovations and achievements made throughout history have happened because people were curious, and according to a 2012 Pew Research Center study, “Americans are only becoming more eager to learn.”

According to 2012 census data, for the first time ever, a third of U.S. 25-29-year-olds had completed at least a bachelor’s degree; another 30 percent had college experience just short of a bachelor’s, and nine in 10 had a high-school diploma.

You can still be kind for kindness sake I was watching the baby pool one night during lessons and swim team. Kids were everywhere, the noise was deafening, and the day had been

people are more likely to believe statements that are familiar to them than those that aren’t.

The media tends to provide hourly updates about local crimes and when it does that, and people have access to the media at all hours through their smart phones, statements about crime become familiar to people.

The Digest concluded that this combination resulted in perceptions that crime is increasing everywhere, and that nowhere is safe, and that the majority of the people living around them only wish them harm.

Yet this cynical outlook does not exactly match reality, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, whose semiannual report for 2017 indicated a decrease in most types of crimes across the United States.

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ust to be clear, though, I’m not saying that you should tell your parents to cancel their subscription to the online Cincinnati Enquirer, or that every human being is an

There are so many aspects of life that I don’t question, I just accept that they are the way they are. Yet now I realize what a dangerous line of thinking that can be. desperately to describe how long five minutes was in terms that could be understood. I’d managed to write several essays with somewhat questionable prompts, and here I was, completely thrown for a loop by an inquiry made by someone less than half my age.

There are so many aspects of life that I don’t question, I just accept that they are the way they are. Yet now I realize what a dangerous line of thinking that can be. When I simply accept the interesting nature of the world, I risk losing the opportunity to look deeper than the surface and gain a deeper understanding and fuller appreciation for them.

There is also the possibility that I’m missing 59 lakotaeastsparkonline.com Apr 2018

long. Out of the blue, one little girl chose that moment to stand up and wave from the pool, shouting “Hi!” I responded with a similar greeting, and then asked if she needed something.

“No,” the girl replied, “I just wanted to say hi!” This child fearlessly stood up to extend a loud, cheerful greeting to someone that she didn’t even know. Her innocent generosity left me to reflect on how many people like her lived in the world.

According to the International Policy Digest, psychologists have observed a “backfire effect” of the constant coverage of crime in the media. The effect is described as the way

absolute angel. It’s simply wise to know that while there are many atrocities being committed around the world, there are just as many, if not more, quiet, helpful works being set in motion.

I love working in a place where I can absorb younger, more optimistic perceptions. They fulfill my life better than the money I earn lifeguarding or doing any job. Each day, people both glean thoughts and impressions from others they interact with and create impressions for those others to glean. If they pay enough attention, their experiences and interactions can mold their perspective on anything, even if it’s the threshold of how cold it should be until one needs to wear a coat outside. •

guest column | opinion

THE INSIDE ISSUE KATE HARVEY art mckenna lewis East junior Kate Harvey shares her experience and perspective from attending the Ohio State Media Association convention at Kent State with the Spark staff.

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am not in Spark. I have never taken journalism.

However, after I was given the opportunity to travel with Spark to Kent State for the Ohio Scholastic Media Association (OSMA) convention, I requested to write.

We boarded the bus at 6 a.m. on a Friday morning. I showed up ten minutes early, which turned out to mean five minutes late. It makes sense for a group of people who are constantly running on deadlines. The chartered bus was packed. Some people were sleeping, others were talking, some were working on the paper.

This was a trip where students go and learn from college professors and news editors. Throughout the entire four-hour drive, people were putting effort into the paper. The dedication the students have stood out.

Once we had arrived at Kent State we huddled up for a pep talk. It was pretty much your standard school field trip, “don’t-doanything-stupid” talk except right at the end Mr. Hume said “uphold Spark’s reputation.”

This intrigued me.

At East, Spark has a big reputation. Some people think of it as a cult (probably because

GUEST COLUMN After lunch, classes began and most of the Spark staff left to compete in specific contest categories like video editing, interviewing, and photography. There were tons of class options in each block of the day. I tried to go to as many lectures as possible. Some of the things I learned included the history of muckraking, the current debacle surrounding “fake news”, and (my personal favorite) the future of digital media.

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he tenured professor told us about her research study that used eye-tracking glasses and software to monitor a reader’s gaze throughout long-form stories. It was quite remarkable to understand how differently the mind interprets text online versus print.

A friend and I were questioning the professor afterwards. When we told her we were from

The moment was so raw and personal I felt almost like I was intruding, like this was a family event and I wasn’t a part of it.

Yet still, it was a genuinely moving experience. of the aforementioned dedication to said paper), others love it and have subscriptions.

Some people have seen covers and heard stories but never actually bought a copy for themselves; others haven’t even heard of it.

My mom has a subscription so I’ll flip through the newsmagazine and read if I’m interested or know the one of the writers. So hearing Spark had a reputation at the statewide convention is interesting but not surprising.

Lakota East she told us that she had assumed so. According to her, Spark students sit front row, pay attention, ask good questions, and take great notes. So this was the reputation Mr. Hume was referring to. Every year Spark staffers pay the $150 to attend and journey the 239 miles (the furthest of any staff).

At the end of the night there is a buffet banquet and important sounding speakers.

They announced individual winners of smaller

categories and then the best newspapers and news magazines in Ohio. The last award is overall best news magazine, which is the Spark category. Spark won All-Ohio which is better than first place. We all went crazy when we heard it announced. Spark has a 24-year streak of being the last name called and the pressure to keep the streak was tangible.

Afterward, the staff headed to this large staircase. This was my favorite part. This is where Mr. Hume has the seniors line up on the top flight. He then goes through each of them, describing their best moments and memories.

It’s amazing to see a man humble himself so much to lift up the work of his pupils.

Every. Single. Senior. Each was given at least five minutes about how they personally improved Spark. There were so many tears and hugs, even I started crying halfway through and I didn’t know most of the people there.

He kept emphasizing that the paper was all them, all the students hard work, but everyone knows he’s put in more than his fair share of long nights and early mornings. The moment was so raw and personal I felt almost like I was intruding, like this was a family event and I wasn’t a part of it. Yet still, it was a genuinely moving experience.

To follow tradition, we went bowling afterwards. I strengthened some old friendships and made some new ones, all while being painfully awful at bowling. It was surreal to share this time with the people whom it clearly meant so much to.

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SMA really changed my perspective on not only Spark but also journalism as a whole.

On the importance of holding people and corporations accountable in the public eye.

I felt like I should share my experience for the people who might flip through this edition and stop to skim when they see someone they recognize. If I could do it all again, I would in a heartbeat; I would just bring more tissues. • 2018 Apr lakotaeastsparkonline 60

HEAD TO HEAD

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alking down a sunny Gatlinburg street over spring break, I faced a very real fear of mine when suddenly, a few yards away from me and my friends, a pair fake doors swung open with a bang, a bang that initially sounded sinister enough to be a gunshot. A female tourist screamed in playful response. Nothing serious, just some harmless fun.

But my heartbeat slowed and my breathing quickened and I grabbed the arm of my best friend. The terror was over almost as quickly as it began but the same terrified thought kept galloping through my mind.

“It’s a gunshot, it’s a gunshot, it’s a gunshot...”

Normally, I like to approach every topic I

editorialize with a lighthearted, devil-may-care tone. I try to make things funny and easy to understand so the severity of the things I write about is easier to handle. It’s something I’ve prided myself on ever since I wrote my first column when I was 15-years-old.

But I’m not gonna lie, I don’t want to make gun control a light-hearted topic when I walk by a mass shooting memorial on the school walls everytime I go to lunch. Not when faces barely a day older than I am are flashing over the news every few months.

According to the Center for Disease Control, 38,000 Americans died of gun-related wounds in 2016, 3,000 Americans more than 2015.

That means for every 100,000 people in the United States, 12 Americans have died because of gun-related causes.

Having an unregulated possession of a gun has drastic implications when it comes to school security, this has been established by the many tragic mass shootings that have defined our country’s sense of fear in the past two decades. But according to GVPedia, a comprehensive resource dedicated to documenting gun violence in the United States, it increases the lethality of domestic violence and the number of burglaries in areas with high gun ownership.

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here are concerns about taking away the unbridled use of guns within our country as a whole. The major arguments are that guns are used in self defense, in case of emergencies, but I, personally, have some issues with this argument.

In 1996, Australians suffered a tragedy that sounds remarkably familiar to the ones that the United States has had. A young, white male opened fire in a popular tourist spot and killed 35 people, injuring 18 others.

In response, Australia in mere months successfully pushed for the ban of semiautomatic weapons, including prohibiting the import of them. They

GUN REGULATION instituted a nation-wide program to buy back any military-style guns with a Medicare tax incentive included. Look closely and take notes America, because it actually worked.

Then, in 2002 when a student in Melbourne took six handguns into a university campus, Australian lawmakers passed a separate act for handguns and reduced their gun violence rate even more. There hasn’t been a single incident like those two last tragedies since. According to a researcher at Australian National University, it’s been estimated that the number of suicides committed by gun have dropped by 80 percent.

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ow let’s fly back over the Equator and land back in America, a country with 4.4 percent of the world’s population but 42 percent of the civilian owned guns according to an article by the Huffington Post.

If there’s even a chance that that kind of change can happen in the United States, I think that our legislators should take it. There’s an incredible amount of human lives at risk every moment that untrained civilians have access to military-grade weapons.

Another interesting point, it’s very unlikely that Ronald Reagan, Jimmy Carter, and Gerald Ford, all former presidents of the United States, would have anything in common.

However in 1994, all three men used their long standing heft in the Republican party and wrote a letter to the House of Representatives, pleading against the continuing legalization of assault weapons.

“While we recognize that assault weapon legislation will not stop all assault weapon crime, statistics prove that we can dry up the supply of these guns, making them less accessible to criminals,” the former presidents’ letter reads. “We urge you to listen to the American public and to the law enforcement community and support a ban on the further manufacture of these weapons.”

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’m graduating soon, I won’t be at school much longer. So maybe I won’t see enough change within the next few years to go to school without fear but hopefully one day my children can. After all, our children and their future should be our number one priority, that means a safe place to go to school, a safe community for them to grow up in, a safe world for them to inherit.

That trumps guns anyday. •

With guns becoming more of controversial topic with every passing day, how America should handle gun control has become a heated debate. columns caroline bumgarner and vivian kolks art mckenna lewis

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came home from school on Feb. 14 to my mom pacing back and forth across the kitchen. 17 staff and students were killed in a mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. My mom was worried about me, as any parent would be, but I was more worried about her. My mom is a teacher in a high school just like Stoneman Douglas and I want her to be protected.

After a school shooting emotions are flowing from the entire country. Emotions are hard to control and most citizens automatically suggest legislation as the solution. However, there are other methods to combat the rising mass shooting dilemma.

Gun regulation will only affect law abiding citizens. It is proven criminals will obtain what they need and go through with the plan anyways. Criminals don’t abide by the law and therefore any regulation the government creates will not affect them.

According to Mother Jones, who defines mass shootings as four or more fatalities, 823 people died in 99 mass shootings between 1982 and 2018. 26% of the shootings were done with illegally obtained guns. If the government makes it harder for citizens to obtain guns the only number that will change will be the percentage of mass shootings committed with illegally obtained guns, instead of the amount of victims.

For example, Russia has much stricter gun laws than the United States. According to National Public Radio (NPR), semi-automatic and automatic weapons are illegal. One would think they have a lower shooting rate than the United States because of this regulation but “the most recent homicide statistics for Russia show that there were 21,603 killings in 2009.

According to the FBI, the United States had 13,636 homicides in 2009 with a population that is more than twice as large” according to NPR. This is proof that limiting access to guns does not decrease the amount of shootings.

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he difference between Russia and the United States is that U.S. citizens are guaranteed the right to bear arms by the supreme law of the land. This Second Amendment right is one of the freedoms our country was founded on and it cannot be altered or taken away.

The one time in American history where politicians decided to amend the constitution and limit a right was the 18 Amendment, which

outlawed the production and sale of alcohol.

Speakeasies and bootleggers were the outcome and eventually the 21 Amendment was enacted repealing the 18. Legislators realized that rights cannot be taken away when they are something that has been a freedom from the beginning of the country.

After studying mass murders, specifically school shootings, researchers at Arizona State University found that each new mass shooting leads to copycat shootings. A certain number of mass shooters kill for the attention. After news breaks of a school shooting the first thing media tries to find out is the name of the shooter. By publicising the shooter, other potential shooters are aware that they too will get their claim to fame. If media refused to release the name of the shooter or pictures of him/her the attention aspect would be removed from the equation lessening the amount of shootings.

National Rifle Association (NRA) already has regulation in place but they need to enforce the existing restrictions in order to curb the epidemic of gun ownership. The NRA could mirror the Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act of 2005 in the way it regulates the sale of Sudafed. According to CNN, the federal act sets daily and monthly limits on the active drug.

Another proposition has been to post retired volunteer veterans at schools to deter shooters. As of now a school is a large area, with lots of vulnerable people and at most one armed policeman. If a shooter knows they are walking into a building with one or more guns they will be deterred. It may not be enough to take down the shooter before a casualty, it can make a difference in conjunction with the removal of fame to prevent the hesitant shooters. Sarasota County Sheriff Tom Knight brought the

recommendation to his county.

“My recommendation is for the school to consider implementing a quasi-school security program that puts retired law enforcement and military veterans on Sarasota County campuses,” Knight said in an issued statement.

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learly something needs to be changed. We can’t continue to allow mass shooting to ravage our country. Legislation, however, is not the fix. As evident in Russia the removal of guns does not lead to lower homicide rates.

A better solution is to remove the chance for public attention and deter potential shooters by making schools less defenseless. Maybe one day daughters like me won’t have to worry about the safety of their mothers and vice versa. •

opinion | editorial cartoon

“At the Movies� - Bryce Forren

63 lakotaeastsparkonline.com Apr 2018

editorial cartoon | opinion

“Simple Addition� - Selena Chen

EAST SPEAKS OUT Should the United States have more gun regulation? interviews alan frank | photography meredith niemann

YES I believe 100% in the second amendment, but I there should be more safety regulations and restrictions on who gets guns.

Susie Cole

NO

YES

YES

I think it is on the citizens for their own responsibilities.

If they choose to [act violently] then that is on them. The good people out there should have the privilege to defend themselves.

Consequences are beginning to outweigh the privilege of owning harmful types of guns. Just one gun has the power to end a life and change a life forever.

In certain aspects I think america needs more gun control because the way we buy guns online shouldnt be out there. Gun control acts should be more state laws than federal laws.

Robert Miller

Lillie Kusel

Zoe Miller

2018 Apr lakotaeastsparkonline 64

OUT-OF-STATE BLUES VIVIAN KOLKS photography meredith niemann

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h Butler County, Ohio. It’s been an interesting sixteen years ever since I moved from urban Price Hill all the way out to your splendid suburban townships, but now the sad truth is, it’s time to move on.

It’s not you, it’s me.

Yes, that’s right, I’ve decided to go out of state for school. Way out of state.

Eight hours by Greyhound Bus out-of-state or in another words, I have chosen the University of Missouri to pursue my higher education.

So that being said, I have a few last words for my beloved hometown. First, I would like to both apologize and thank the establishment Coffee Beans and Brew. I spent a lot of time hogging your squashy, green velvet couch and asking your baristas for water and buckeye muffins, but most of all, I did some spectacularly bad parking jobs in your parking lot. Like, crooked, half out of the space bad parking jobs. I apologize to the consumers that had to witness that.

I would like to give a hearty, “screw-you” to every single person I shared I-29 with in the mornings on my way to school. It’s not even a major highway guys, why did you have to make it so hard.

And finally, a few shoutouts to the humble residents of West Chester and Liberty Township.

Dear people at the Cin-Day Subway who gave me weird looks everytime I asked for a “double-provolone” sub, it’s an acquired taste.

To the same, overworked twenties something guy who works at the Beckett Ridge Krogers, you’re doing good work sir, thanks for showing me where the Free Friday Download was every weekend.

Hey sassy salesgirl at Bridgewater’s Ulta, thanks for letting me paint my hand with lipstick! My senior photos looked great because of it.

Now, a few sentimental moments to commemorate some of my favorite places in my hometown. Like the tiny, now closed authentic French restaurant where I had my first Spark interview in the middle of a decadent dining room-with all of the lights off.

Or the hidden nook in the Liberty Center Starbucks where me and my fellow editors spent so much time hunched over our laptops and annoying the clientele with our obnoxious laughter.

I could also never forget my beloved IHOP on Cox Road, where I had some late and great times stuffing pancakes in my face.

And finally, one of the places I will miss the most, Lakota East, you crazy weird, red building. I spent an insane amount of time within your walls, and I can proudly say that I’ve seen every hour of the day from your property.

I almost feel weird saying that I’m gonna miss high school, after all so many people are thrilled to be done. Don’t get me wrong, I’m so excited for what’s next but...I have some wonderfully fond things to look back on.

Thanks hometown, I’ll try not to be a stranger. •