October 2020 Issue

volume 39

LeJOURNAL Notre Dame de Sion High School | October 2020

FEATURE: PAGE 8

ON THE COVER: PAGE 14

A&E: PAGE 18

JUNIORS EMMA TITUS AND LIZZY HOFFMAN’S ENTREPRENEURIAL EFFORTS

SOCIAL MEDIA ALGORITHMS & THEIR AFFECTS ON ADOLESCENTS

KEEPING UP WITH THE KARDASHIANS COMES TO A CLOSE AFTER 19 SEASONS

what’s inside news and sports

04-05

Open House & Sion Step Up

14-17

New Freshman in STUCO

Social Media Algorithms

08-09

Musical Auditions

Lizzy Hoffman’s Depop Page

Emma Titus’s Etsy Shop

20-21

Fall & Winter Sports

Violet Tumlin’s Positivity

Spreading Good Vibes

24-25

Mo Browne & Her Clothes

Unique Fashion Taste

LeJOURNAL. 2020 // 2021 LE JOURNAL IS THE OFFICIAL STUDENT PUBLICATION OF NOTRE DAME DE SION HIGH SCHOOL - 10631 WORNALL ROAD - KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI 64114

MEMBER

Missouri Scholastic Press Association National Scholastic Press Association International Quill and Scroll Journalism Educators of Metropoliton Kansas City Missouri Journalism Education Association

LETTERS TO THE EDITORS

Le Journal accepts letters to the editors in response to published articles. Letters must be signed, verifie, and no longer than 200 words. Letters may be edited for length, grammar, spelling and content. Letters will not be printed if content is obscene, invasive, ecouraging disruption of school and/or is libelous.

PRINTER

Neal/Settle Printing, Grandview MO

02 // LeJournal

10-11

Staff Editorial: Social Media

Politics & Money

12-13

Creativity in Schools

Mental Illness & the Web

a&e

22-23

Mahomes Kingdom

& Their Effect on Gen Z

features

06-07

Alternative ACT date at Sion

opinions

cover story

PRINT CO-EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Madeline Hammett Avery Brundige

PRINT MANAGING EDITOR Morgan Herriot

NEWS & SPORTS EDITOR Lauren Shaw

WEBSITE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Maggie McKinney

video content editor Catherine Crayon

SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR Grace Hills

COPY EDITOR

EDITORIALS EDITOR

Kate McCarthy

A&E EDITOR

Brianna Legette Ava Albracht Liv Zender

Ella Rogge

Callie Cameron

FEATURES EDITOR

Sofia Aguayo

PHOTO EDITORS

Kate Conway & Keely Schieffer

REPORTERS

18-19

KUWTK Comes to an End

Monstober Reviews

26-27

What to do During Fall

Hikes, Bikes & More

Photo of Kram’s Communication

Teacher Paul Kramschuster and senior Brynna Dow show potential students and families around school during Open House on Oct. 4. “I thought open house went really well! Kram and I did a bunch of tours,” Dow said. “They are always so fun with him because he never fails to make anyone laugh. I just love volunteering at open houses because I get to tell perspective students and their families why Sion has helped me grow as a student and how it can help them too.” (Photo by Ella Rogge)

editors’ink

H

ey, Sion. How ya holdin’ up? Congratulations on making it through quarter one! Fall is here. Pour yourself a cup of tea and tuck your toes into your favorite pair of fuzzy socks because this issue is full of fall fun.

As we prepare ourselves for a full Moon Halloween, an election and an untraditional holiday season, it is important to remain optimistic about the future.

This issue is centered around the ever-evolving social media algorithms and their effects on our generation. Don’t worry, though - we have some more light-hearted content for you, too! Read about what lies beyond nine iconic seasons of Keeping Up With the Kardashians (pg. 18) or plan some lively fall festivities with help from our autumn activity guide (pg. 26-27).

One of our favorite things to write about is you, our readers.

Juniors Lizzy Hoffman and Emma Titus have each taken on

entrepreneurial rolls, from Depop vendor to Etsy artist (pg. 8-9).

Read about Senior Violet Tumlin, her and positive personality (p.

20-21). Last but not least, Mo Browne’s fashion efforts have not gone unnoticed - take a page from her book and step up your style (p. 24-25).

We are excited to present you with the second issue of Le Journal and we hope you enjoy it as much as we enjoyed creating it. Remember to give us your feedback, ideas, and opinions on the issue by emailing abrundige@ndsion.edu or madeline.hammett@ndsion.edu.

We look forward to hearing from you soon!

It’s getting to that time to hug your loved ones and count your blessings. Remember how loved every single one of you are as we approach this holiday season. See you soon! :)

Student Space Sustainable Fashion with Ellie Merideth This dress I have literally had for five years. It came in a set attached to a shirt, and a few years later after I stopped wearing it, I cut our the shirt and kept the dress. It is a staple in my wardrobe.

The top is actually a bandana from a boutique, also sustainable because you can use it for multiple different things. The skirt is also secondhand from Depop.

This dress my mom has had since she was in her early 20’s. I found it in our storage closet and I freaked out because it’s so pretty. All I had to do was adjust it to fit me perfectly.

I found this sweater at an estate sale and I cropped it myself. The jeans I am wearing are Levi’s.

Happy Quarter Two, Madeline & Avery

keep up with us; @lejournalsion

The Issue

Use camera to visit lejournallive.com!

October 2020 // 03

news

STEPPING UP Incoming freshmen are given an opportunity for high school credit.

STORY & DESIGN BY ELLA ROGGE EDITORIAL EDITOR

A

dministration offers the incoming class of 2025 an opportunity to take courses for high school credit beginning in Feb. With the impact of COVID-19 on many middle schools causing classes to seem pointless to current eighth graders, the Communications Department creates Sion Step Up allowing girls seeking a headstart into their high school career to take courses. Administration predicts these classes will commence on Feb. 2, 2021 both over zoom and in person. These courses will last through the semester, giving students an opportunity to receive credits contributing to graduation requirements.

“We wanted to give them an opportunity to feel like they’re a part of the high school community, even before they are.” Assistant Principal for Curriculum and Instruction Ellen Carmody said.

President Alicia Kotarba created Sion Step Up after hearing her niece, a current eighth grader, struggles to stay

SNEAK PEAK Future Sion girls get a sneak peek into courses.

STORY BY ELLA ROGGE EDITORIAL EDITOR

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motivated following the cancellation of all the traditions of her final year of middle school such as field trips and school dances. Kotarba and Vice President of Communications Molly White surveyed parents and the incoming class of 2025 on how this idea might be taken, and reviews led the administration to take advantage of this unique concept.

“Feedback from eighth graders showed us that they’re pretty bored and ready for the next step,” White said. “It’s getting them excited for highschool while also giving us an idea of who’s going to be in our freshmen class.”

This program allows incoming freshmen to take an algebra course taught by Mathematics Curriculum Coordinator Reynold Middleton and a theatre tech class taught by Visual and Performing Arts teacher Maggie Killian. These courses, which are unique to our community, give these girls an early opportunity to take charge of their education. Sion Step Up

iddle school girls visited classrooms throughout the school Oct. 15, getting an inside look into how the community functions.

Given the opportunity to pick three courses to get a “sneak peak,” the middle school girls visited classes such as science, physical education (P.E.), and drumline. During the science course, taught by Biology teacher Emilie Lai, the girls mixed cream and dry ice to make an ice cream. The girls had fun and got a little bit messy with dry ice overflow, but that just added to the fun, according to Lai. “I just wanted the girls to feel comfortable and excited about all that was in store for them,” Lai said. “I enjoyed seeing them light up about science, meet our amazing students and teachers and immerse themselves in the Sion community.”

The P.E. course took the girls outside to play a game of ultimate football, where Director of Athletics Kate Pilgreen and Coach Douglas McLagan worked to make the girls comfortable.

The game allowed for the middle school students to see the unique opportunities Sion has to offer, according to Pilgreen.

“It’s fun for them to get their bodies moving and laughing while outside,” Pilgreen said. “A lot of it is getting to know Coach McLagan and I and our goofy side.”

Music and Performing Arts Teacher Elizabeth

gives commits an experience that they can not get anywhere else.

“We have 30 middle schools in the freshman class, so (the saying) ‘I had algebra’ means 30 different things,” Middleton said. “What we’re trying to do with this program is to level the playing field and have a better idea of backgrounds and model the curriculum better.”

Sion Step Up aims to keep incoming freshmen engaged throughout the enrollment process, and their final year in middle school and give them a sneak peek into the community and its unique expectations and experience. The goal of this program is to dissolve the adjustment period and help students in their transition from middle school to highschool. “[The major goals are] to prepare them for highschool, get them engaged in the community, and provide them with a bridge of constant education during these weird COVID times.” Carmody said.

Mulkey and the drumline allowed girls to experience the chants and rhythm of music class. While in the gym, Mulkey taught future sion girls the chorus and when to stomp, allowing the girls to actually try out the instruments and make connections with the high school members. The majority of girls had fun learning how to play different instruments and already knew about music, according to Mulkey.

“I think everyone had a blast, it was really cool and most of the ones that came already read music and played another instrument,” Mulkey said. “It’s one thing to passively listen to music but another to actively make music.”

Over the course of the day the students were immersed in the community and courses offered at Sion. They completed activities with high school representatives, such as robotics and making ice cream. At the end of the day, the groups gathered in the gym and watched as cheer and drumline performed, teaching them chants used at games.

“The sneak peak day is a really unique and incredible opportunity. I would have loved the chance to to preview and imagine what each school would be like as I was going through that discerning process,” Lai said. “The planning and organization from Ms. Glatz and Ms. White was incredible. They were the ones that made this day even possible for our future Sion girls!”

news

ELECTED ADVOCATES The freshman class elects their first class leaders at Sion.

STORY BY KATE McCARTHY COPY EDITOR

PRESIDENT MORGAN LEWIS

TREASURER ELLIE HENSON

DRUMROLL PLEASE ELIE PATTERSON

Newly elected Freshman Class President Morgan Lewis won after a tight race. After a three-way tie and a recasting of votes, Lewis stood out from other candidates because of her unique campaign speech.

Lewis focused on pop artist Lizzo and her body positivity movement.

“I’ve struggled with learning to love myself,” Lewis said in her speech. “I know it’s something that so many others have struggled with as well.”

Freshman Ellie Henson was elected as treasurer for this school year. Henson had not previously taken leadership roles in her middle school, but said that Sion provided a leadership opportunity for her because of a leadership filled student body.

According to Henson, “I was going to go to a public school for highschool, so I would have never ran there, but here I feel like we have an open community so there was no pressure doing it.”

MOVE IT MOVE IT HAASINI GORREPATI

VICE PRESIDENT LUCY SHIVELY

SECRETARY GEORGIA McCABE

Freshman Class Vice President Lucy Shively ran for election in order to give students a voice. In Shively’s speech, she reflected on the inspiration of Oprah Winfrey and the impact she has on the world around her. “I know I can’t change something as big as the world at this moment, but I know I could help change some things to the grade.” Shively said.

Georgia McCabe is the new secretary for the freshman class. McCabe made the decision to run because she wanted to get to know her class better and become a more active member of the student body.

McCabe reflects that with leadership, “There are such strong voices and Sion allows them to be heard. I’m so excited to be a part of such an awesome team of girls.”

PEP PATROL ANNA GORDON

October 2020 // 05

news

an additional ACT A new ACT date offers students a chance to get another standardized test under their belts before college application season.

BY MORGAN HERRIOTT PRINT MANAGING EDITOR An ACT took place during the school day Tues. Oct. 6 in the South Six for seniors and some juniors who were unable to test due to test-date cancellations from COVID-19.

After numerous nationwide ACT test dates were canceled, Director of College Counseling Erin Stein sent out a poll to students regarding their feelings about standardized testing in early July. The poll evaluated students’ concern for the implications of standardized test disruptions on college admissions decisions. Stein and College Counselor Heather Henning decided to plan a Sion-administered ACT after student concerns arose.

“Of the responders, 37% said they were concerned about standardized testing as it pertains to admissions,” Stein said. “Of the 97 seniors in the Class of 2021, 60 signed up to take the school day ACT at Sion.”

The test served as a relief and opportunity for seniors to raise their ACT scores before they apply to college over the next few months. Senior Mia Legato’s tests were canceled over the summer.

The Sion test date was a great solution for students in her same situation, according to Legato.

“I decided to take the ACT at Sion because all of my other tests had gotten canceled,” Legato said. “I also took the one in September, but was so glad that they decided to offer a new test date so I would have another opportunity to bring up my scores before I start sending them into colleges.”

While this was the second or third time many seniors were taking the ACT, some were taking it for the first time. Without the extra test date, there would have been a lot more stress and pressure going into college application season, according to senior Anna McQueeny.

“My June ACT got canceled which made things super stressful because I thought I would have to apply to some of my colleges without my scores,” McQueeny said. “I think Sion administering an ACT was such a good idea because I know there were a lot of us that were in the same boat and were worried they wouldn’t get to take the ACT at all.”

As college applications begin to put extra pressure on seniors with standardized tests, resumes, essays and more, the extra ACT date guaranteed that students would have the opportunity to have at least one test under their belts. Seniors can now hopefully be more confident in regards to their college admissions decisions, according to Stein.

“Fortunately, in response to COVID-19 and limited access to standardized tesing, there has been a tsunami-sized shift towards test-optional policies,” Stein said. “I think that while it’s quite a stressful time to be applying to college, in actuality, there are even more possibilities and flexibility available to the Class of 2021.”

1. TEST-DAY JITTERS

Senior Mattie Mills gets her temperature taken before the ACT Oct. 6. “I’m glad Sion offered an ACT because mine were canceled over the summer due to COVID-19 and I was worried that I wouldn’t get to take it before some of my earlier college deadlines,” Mills said.

2. IT’S TEST TIME

Director of College Couseling Erin Stein greets seniors as they arrive for the ACT Oct. 6. “I think it will provide some relief to the seniors

to be able to take at least one standardized test before their college application deadlines roll around,” Stein said.

3. TEST-DAY TEMPERATURE CHECK

Assistant Principal for Curriculum and Instruction Ellen Carmody takes senior Abby DeLong’s temperature before the ACT Oct. 6. “I was glad Sion offered an ACT during the week because it was a lot more convenient, especially since we got to go home afterwards,” DeLong said.

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2

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(Photos by Madeline Hammett)

news

1

Alternative Auditions Auditions were held Oct. 20 to 21 for this year’s musical “The Theory of Relativity.”

BY BRIANNA LEGETTE REPORTER

Music and Performing Arts Director Elizabeth Mulkey held auditions Oct. 20 to 21 from 3:45 to 4:45 for the musical “The Theory of Relativity” in the music room.

Junior Tess Tappan, who has been in all the musicals since she freshman year, auditioned for “The Theory of Relativity”.

“I think it’ll definitely be weird to have to stay away from people because we’re all such good friends, “ Tappan said. “Singing with masks is not always my favorite.”

Usually, musical auditions consist of students reciting a piece they’ve prepared onstage while the rest of the auditionees wait their turn in the audience. Instead, this year’s participants will be socially distanced and wearing masks while singing their pieces. Generally, when Tappan auditions, her monologue and song match the tone of the musical that is going to be performed. This year’s musical conveys

the idea that people are connected, Tappan’s audition reflected that connection with a contemporary piece.

“Regarding monologues, it’s probably just a monologue that goes with the character that I want to portray,” sophomore Ellie Meredith said. “I’m really trying to channel my character through the monologue or song.”

Meredith, a first-time Sion musical auditionee, looks at the musical that is being performed that year, and bases her audition off of that. Meredith expressed that since it is weeks before the audition, she hasn’t done much research about what monologue or song she will do, but she believes the musical will be canceled because of COVID-19.

“It’s a concert style musical, which means we don’t really move around,” senior Mattie Mills said. “We’re six feet apart anyway. I think it will allow us to practice more with the pandemic.”

Mills, auditioning for her last musical, is nervous, but she loves performing.

Mills will perform “Don’t Cry For Me, Argentina” from the musical, Evita. Due to restrictions such as limited time slots,

monologues will not be required.

“I’m limiting the people at an audition at a time. I have ten people at an audition at a time. I’m only going to have five people at a time this year,” Mulkey said.

Another change Mulkey made was the musical choice. “The Theory of Relativity” has a small cast so a large ensemble will not be present. The small cast is helpful because of the 16 person capacity of the music room and the limited amount of people on stage at a time.

“The musical this year is about how we are all connected to others, even when we don’t know each other,” Mulkey said.

“It’s about our similarities and differences; we’re all trying to get through life.”

Mulkey described the musical as the invisible connections between us. Mills described “The Theory of Relativity” as a way to promote social distancing. The musical this year will be live streamed, assuming no will be permitted. This was paid for by special licensing.

“Hopefully we’ll be able to continue production even if COVID-19 is still a problem,” Tappan said, “Hopefully, we’ll be able to go on with the show.”

1. MUSICAL MAKINGS

Freshman Noelle Bertrand performed “Somewhere That’s Green” from the musical Little Shops of Horrors for her audition.

2. PIANOS AND PRACTICE

Sophomore Addie Hiestand practiced for her musical audition, where she sang “We’re Not Done” from the musical Bring it On.

3. MOMENTS BEFORE (Photos by Brianna Legette)

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3

Freshman Caroline Hammett practiced for her musical audition, where she sang “There Are Worse Things I Could Do” from the musical Grease.

October 2020 // 07

Feature

ALL ABOUT

STORY & DESIGN BY: KATE CONWAY CO PHOTO EDITOR

Junior Lizzy Hoffman runs a shop on the app Depop where she sells upcycled clothes and accessories she has thrifted.

What is your business?

I have a shop on Depop, a buying and reselling app, where I will thrift clothes from places around KC and sell them on my shop.

Why did you start your business?

I started my business because I wanted a way to make money while incorporating my love for shopping and clothes.

What has been the most rewarding aspect of it?

The most rewarding aspect of my business is the fact that since I’m reselling clothes that would’ve been otherwise eventually thrown away at thrift stores, I’m giving life to these amazing pieces while simultaneously trying to play my part in going green and staying away from the fast fashion industry.

Where do you find your inspiration?

I find a lot of inspiration from the many of the other sellers on Depop who make a living from their own businesses and are extremely successful.

Do you hope to pursue something similar to this later in life?

Having my own business at this age is definitely encouraging me to do something like this when I get older, whether it be my own business for other products or to simply continue thrifting as it’s so exciting to know all the pieces I find and wear are unique and true to me.

WHERE TO SHOP Depop @lizzyhoffman

DEPOPPIN’ OFF Hoffman models her clothes posted to her Depop account “Lizzle fo Rizzle.” The clothes featured on her account have a 2000’s or a vintage like feel. (Photos submitted by Lizzy Hoffman)

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Feature

THE HUSTLE Junior Emma Titus makes custom collages out of paper scraps and sells them on her Etsy shop, DrawsByEmma.

What is your business?

I have an Etsy shop where I do different collages with cut outs of painted paper. Mostly I do custom commissions of collages of people’s homes with the same style.

When did you start your business?

I began my business in the summer of 2019.

What has been the most rewarding aspect of it?

The most rewarding aspect is seeing how much people love the collages of their own houses. I feel like it’s a more personal art piece for their homes rather than just something that doesn’t represent them at all.

Where do you find your inspiration?

I get the majority of my inspiration from collage artists that have similar styles to mine.

What is your favorite thing you’ve created?

I like them all but there are a few houses I’ve done with lots of detail and colorful landscaping that are my favorite. Those definitely take me the longest.

Do you hope to pursue something similar to this later in life?

I’m planning to be an architect so yes, I feel like what I’m doing right now sort of points me in that direction.

WHERE TO SHOP

Etsy @drawsbyemma

COLLAGE COLLECTION Titus displays her works on her Etsy shop, each piece is custom made and take an extensive amount of time. The most expensive piece is the house but the smaller ones are inexpensive. (Photos submitted by Emma Titus)

October 2020 // 09

Opinion

.. .

+

Following

SOCIAL MEDIA takeover

Social media infiltrates people’s lives and corrupts their right to privacy.

Tweets

Tweets & Replies

Social media defines the world as people know it today. It is the means by which we stay connected, by which we interact with one another. It is the modern way of keeping up to date with the goings-on of other people. It is where people get news, share ideas and keep in touch. It is an essential part of daily life in the 21st century. But it shouldn’t be. Social media is much too invasive in everyday life, and it allows for others to have access to information that would otherwise be kept private.

Social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram were birthed at the beginning of the digital age we live in now. What were once novel ways to pass time are now almost compulsory to participate in society. While older generations dominate platforms like Facebook, Generation Z has made a home in platforms like SnapChat and TikTok. Younger people are more likely to embrace technology and social media platforms than older generations because they grew up in a digital age. But that leads to a higher risk of social media reliance, as well as a higher risk of information theft.

Social media sites like Facebook are notorious for saving large amounts of private user information. It asks the standard questions, such as location, full name and address, but also questions like where the user goes to school, where they work and even hobbies. Facebook has also had its share of massive data leaks, most recently in 2019, when the data, including passwords and phone numbers, of 419 million users was breached. It is dangerous to trust social media networks with so much information, especially since they require so much personal information.

The digital age has allowed for more private information to be public than ever. Sites like Snapchat and Instagram have

10 // LeJournal

Media

Likes

options to see other people’s locations, with Snapchat having a feature called Snap Maps that show your friends’ locations in real time. Sites like Twitter encourages users to post about their every thought and action, which can be dangerous depending on the situation. The Department of Justice Stalking Division reported that approximately one in four stalking victims reported some form of cyber-stalking in 2009. Giving stalkers and abusers potential access to private information such as whereabouts can create potentially harmful situations Not only does the public know private information because of social media, but the federal government tracks it as well.

Through the Patriot Act, which was signed into law following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the government expanded the abilities of law enforcement to surveil, including by tapping domestic and international phones. With the government monitoring what people post online and even what they look at, the privacy of Americans is virtually nonexistent if they use social media. Even if the user is not committing any crimes or wrong-doings, the right to privacy is a value that Americans have always held dear, and that right should be upheld in regards to what they do on their phones.

Social media is a powerful presence in today’s society. It is an inescapable force that people are almost forced to interact with everyday. But there is no place for it to take over their lives. Social media is much too invasive, and having that much information about private citizens is a major potential threat to civil liberties and privacy.

This editorial reflects the views of the Le Journal Staff.

Sixteen out of sixteen members voted in favor of this editorial.

Opinion

Buying the Bureaucracy Money runs America’s Political System, and it seems as if there is no way to escape it.

STORY & DESIGN BY MADELINE HAMMETT PRINT CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

A

merica’s political system is geared towards people with money down to the very roots: Washington D.C. Looking specifically at presidential candidates, it is seldom that a working class or middle-lower class American is seen running for office.

The working class “consists of individuals and households with low educational attainment, low status occupations, and below average yearly incomes,” according to Boundless Sociology. This class makes up around 35 percent of the population.

The lower-middle class are “those with some education and comfortable salaries, but with socioeconomic statuses below the upper-middle class,” according to Boundless Sociology. This class also makes up about 35 percent of the population. With these two classes making up 70 percent of the population, there should be many people from these two classes running for political office.

There are two main reasons why working class Americans hardly ever run for public office, according to The Guardian. The first one is that campaigning demands a lot of time and energy which causes a burden on the average worker who doesn’t have extra time or energy to spare amidst a 44+ hour work week, which is the average, according to the Bureau of Labour Statistics. The second reason is Interest group and party leaders are much less likely to put their money and support in the pocket of someone who is not a whitecollar worker. Specifically Political Action Committees (PAC) are very unlikely to

help anyone socioeconomically below a white-collar worker launch their political career, according to The Guardian.

This is where the money comes into play. A candidate should be able to run from any socioeconomic background because they should not have to rely on the support form PAC’s and other interest groups to advertise. In fact, they shouldn’t be required to spend millions of dollars advertising at all. Unfortunately, in the United States, achieving a spot in political office is nearly impossible without billions of dollars going into advertising alone.

Mitt Romney, for example, relied on big donors who had to give most of their money to the Rebublican National Convention (RNC) and super PACs, according to the New York Times. The big donor funds have to go through these organizations in order for Romney to be funded and have the advertisements necessary to run for president. Both the Obama and Romney campaigns in 2012 both spent over one billion dollars, the most money spent on a presidential election in history, according to the Washington Post.

The issue with PACs isn’t the organization itself, but rather the money within them. Sometimes the money is “dirty” when it goes through a PAC - it isn’t trackable, which can sometimes backfire on the candidate rather than the PAC leading the public to think something illegal is happening when in reality nothing sketchy is happening other than the fact that millions of dollars are being given to advertising alone.

Because these big dollars are coming

from people with deep wallets, sometimes candidates have to adjust their running statements to fit whatever donors want in order to keep the money coming in.

Candidates have to conform to what PACs want in order to have money spent toward their campaign, for anyone to be able to have a fighting chance. They need the ads from the PACs and they need to reflect aligning opinions, even if the candidate doesn’t necessarily agree with them, to get those ads.

Citizens see the flaws in this system and have for years, unfortunately, the Supreme Court has a long history of getting rid of rules against big money protections. Americans must continue to push for the presidential race to prove that “the strength of our voices doesn’t depend upon the size of our wallets,” according to Demos.

A government catering only to white-collar workers isn’t the result of how voters vote, nor is it dependent on something the workers are doing wrong.

The reality is, white-collar government exists because campaigning requires taking time off work and getting help from the elites in politics - two things workingclass Americans simply can’t do. The answer to this classist problem: change the impact of advertising on politics, and do it fast. Before our very eyes, America is becoming a country in which the views of only the wealthy elite are reflected in office, extreme right and extreme left views are not those of the majority of citizens. The only solution is to get the 70 percent in office, and to to change the impact of advertising.

October 2020 // 11

Opinion

the creativity drought The importance of encouraging and fostering creativity in education today.

BY AVERY BRUNDIGE PRINT CO EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

A

merica is in the midst of a creativity drought. The supply met by elementary, middle and high school systems does not meet the demands of employers who seek out inventive minds.

Divergent thinking has been under fire for decades; core curriculums force students into a box and then demand that they “think outside of it.”

Sit still. Pay attention. Read directions thoroughly. Stay inside the lines. These phrases are all too familiar to anyone who has stepped foot in an elementary school. But, as the world begins to face and respond to more complex dilemmas, sitting still and paying attention simply does not cut it anymore. The world is evolving and it’s leaving standard methods of education in its dust.

Students learn from a young age that if their learning needs are anything but uniform, they are invalid and abnormal.

12 // LeJournal

Open-ended assignments are hard to come by, but when presented with them, students noticeably flourish; any opportunity to reflect personality or take risks in schoolwork serve to combat the otherwise bland gold-standard of education. In 2018, freshman biology teacher Erin Paterson instructed her class to do a project over stem cells. She encouraged students to go crazy, to take risks. What sprouted from this was amazing: music videos about cloning sheep, clay sculptures of genetically altered animals, illustrated picture books about stem cell transplants.

Fostering curiosity and risk taking is the key to innovation. Education is not only about memorising answers. It’s about providing students with the tools to ask their own questions.

One of the most watched TED Talks of all time is a lecture by Sir Ken Robinson entitled “Do schools kill creativity?”. The name says it all. During the talk, Robinson mentions Gillian Lynne. Lynne was an antsy, energetic child, which led her teachers to suggest she be tested for a learning disability. But, where some doctors might medicate her or diagnose her with a neurological disorder, Lynne’s prescribed

dance classes. Lynne is now a successful choreographer and actress. Creativity is untapped schools because it’s difficult to recognize and measure, according to A Recent Research on Creativity and Education by psychologists Aubra Shepard and Mark Runco in 2016.

It would be ignorant to say that Lynne’s case is the standard; many students need much more than a creative outlet to be able to process information and problem solve. However, encouraging ingenuity and imagination in schools has a great impact on overall openness to new experiences and ideas, according to Creativity, divergent thinking, and openness to experience by psychologist Robert R. McCrae in 1987.

Miami University’s recent recruitment postcard reads “Miamians don’t just make history, they use it to inform innovation and creative thinking today.” Google opened entire labs dedicated to the cultivation of creativity and curiosity. It seems that the very system that squanders creativity early in life suddenly demands it as we grow. The real test of a successful creator is their ability to resist the standardization of thoughts they endure during schooling.

Opinion

who are you crying who crying to? to?

Social media’s claims to “normalize” anxiety and depression is harmful to those who struggle from mental illness.

STORY BY SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR GRACE HILLS; DESIGN BY PRINT CO EDITOR-IN-CHIEF AVERY BRUNDIGE

E

verybody is happy, right? Oh, wait, no. Everybody is sad.

But don’t worry, it’s a good thing. Everybody has mascara streaming down their face and those rosy post-cry cheeks.

And don’t forget about the pastel pink apparel with “anxiety queen” or “sad girl” across them. The Instagram and Twitter accounts full of “sad” content, where the self-deprecating comments and posts that facilitate the decline of happiness never seem to end. Never mind the record high rates of suicide or teenage mental illness, being sad is pretty.

Malleable minds spend so much time staring at these curated “sad” posts that mental illness has become an aesthetic. Sharing and creating these posts has become a daily task - but at what point does this become destructive? Many of these posts claim they’re “normalizing” mental illness and attempting to tear down the social stigma associated with it.

But the issue is that these posts aren’t “normal.” They glorify the sadness associated with depression, but not the actual depression itself. They cherry pick the aspects of the illness, leaving the crippling effects ignored. The images are filtered and fine-tuned, creating this illusion that the word depression means just a little more than sad. After thousands of likes, this falsity counteracts the intended effect of normalization, leaving mental illness seen as something to strive for.

The destructiveness has reached past the scope of the internet. Not only has this fake definition become a trend on social media, but it’s become a key selling point for companies.

Businesses are taking advantage of the aesthetic, designing “anxiety queen” shirts or “sad girl” pins. Haphazardly slinging around such heavy words has redefined young mind’s definitions of mental illness making it seem like something to

diagnose after a quick WebMD search. Though mental illness is something that must be discussed, this is projecting in all the wrong ways. Sporting one of these items almost seems like an overshare. It moves past a mental illness and into a personality trait - one projected on to others. Stating the fact that one is an “anxiety queen” on their shirt puts others in an odd situation should they help? Do they ignore it and move on? It’s a cry for help, but a cry to the wrong people. Or is it crying wolf?

Social media isn’t normalizing mental health, it’s normalizing crying wolf. Snowballing into chaos, the endless posts desensitize the severity of the illness. The posts amplify attention, and cause a craving for it. Since posts on a feed are curated by the content one creates, people who post “sad” things create an endless cycle of sadness. The worst part is that they offer no way out. It seems like depression, anxiety, eating disorders and OCD never end. The illness shouldn’t be normalized- getting help should be.

Then there’s the issue of social clout. Since these posts gain traction fast, people are going to emulate that. Even if it’s disingenuous. It begins to become a competition, to see which tears get more likes. Which only intensifies the issue. Seeing thousands of shares on a video of a “mental break down” leaves viewers feeling invalidated by the weight of their own sadness.

Which leads to the question: are these content creators seeking validation?

It all depends. If somebody is trying to reach a population and explain their story, there should be a resolution. Not a classic happy ending, but some sort of resolution in which the reader can find a solution. That means admitting a bigger issue and explaining that they need, want or are going to get help.

If depression and anxiety were truly being normalized, suicide rates wouldn’t be increasing. And with an overarching concept of miserableness and life-altering sadness, mental illness should never be normal. Mental illness should be seen as part of life- but something that needs to be fixed. In order to truly normalize an illness, every aspect needs to be included, especially recovery. Even if it doesn’t fit the aesthetic.

:’( October 2020 // 13

Cover Story

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mind

Cover Story

O V E R

media Social media’s algorithms and design techniques causes adolescents to constantly be connected by spending extensive amounts of time stimulated by screens.

STORY & DESIGN BY REPORTER LIV ZENDER & FEATURES EDITOR SOFIA AGUAYO Swipe left. Swipe right. Click here. Like. Comment. Scroll.

This series of actions subconsciously runs through our minds countless times per day. Is scrolling for hours on “mental health breaks” actually healthy for people’s minds? Is wasting several hours everyday on technology what people were meant to do with extra time?

The release of the Netflix original documentary “The Social Dilemma” on Jan. 26 has opened the eyes of millions to how our lives are being controlled by social media and the algorithms that have been developed in order to keep our attention. It discusses the dangers of these algorithms and warns that these dangers can go far beyond what people might think - causing political/social uproar, brainwashing, and controlling users’ exposure to the world.

Big social media companies are masters of persuasive technology and use it to keep people on the apps. Persuasive technology is a design technique that takes what psychologists know about persuading people and turns it into technology by incorporating the use of computers to try to change or manipulate the emotions and behavior of the user. Big companies such as Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and Snapchat use methods of making people feel good while on sites so that users will start to associate the feeling of instant gratification with the specific site. This turns into a situation that psychologists call positive intermittent reinforcement.

The key part of this design technique is that the users never know if there will be something on their screen to satisfy the gratification they are looking for. It begins to resemble the slot machines in Vegas - you never know what will be waiting for you, or even if there is anything waiting for you, which then causes our minds to form a habit of regularly checking our phones to see if anything has happened in the time since it was last picked up, as described in the documentary.

“There really are forces behind our screen that are designed to keep our attention, to keep us engaged, to make us want to come back for more ins,” co-producer of ‘The Social Dilemma’ Daniel Wright said. “To play that slot machine machine and see what we’re gonna get when we open up the app.”

3 Steps of Maintaining Attention The first step in the algorithm is to engage the user. This is done by personalizing the user’s feed by keeping excessive tabs on exactly what types of things the user looks at, precisely how long they spend looking at it, and seeing their reaction to it through likes, comments, retweets etc. Once the user is engaged with the content, the algorithm can move on to the next step: growth. The next job the companies program their algorithms

October 2020 // 15

Cover Story

to do is growing the company by reaching out to people in as many ways as possible. From being encouraged to send invites to friends to being able to tag friends in posts, everything social media companies do is in an effort to grow platforms and attract new users.

After the first two steps are complete, the company has reached the most crucial and important step because the third step is where most of the income and profit comes from. Outside companies pay millions of dollars to social media platforms to be featured in advertisements.

Advertisers are the customers of the huge platforms and everyday people, the users and viewers of the ads, are the product being sold. These advertisers are buying the time and attention of humanity worldwide. Humans are selling little bits and portions of other humans’ lives in order to make a profit.

Social Media’s Effects on Gen Z Scrolling through TikTok, answering Snapchats and checking Instagram is second nature for most teenagers on social media. This way of life has proven to be extremely detrimental to adolescents due to issues concerning mental health, addiction, ability to focus and more.

Adding social media to the already prevalent pressures has made a difference larger than any creator could have guessed. As stated in “The Social Dilemma,” features such as the like button and the ability to comment on posts were created with positive intentions. This concept just goes to show how easily something created by people but run by algorithms set forth with a single purpose can take something with good potential, and run with it in the opposite direction, according to an article by the New York Times, “Our Brains Are Not Match For Technology.”

“I think there is some risk that when you have that much access to technology that it could over control your life,” Children’s Mercy Pediatrician Ross Newman, said,

“it would be easy to be addicted to and have too much screen time and not enough time in real life.”

Social media also has an addicting effect on people, especially impressionable teenagers. Spending hours upon hours scrolling through one’s feed, liking and commenting on others’ pictures, and the stress put into creating posts for one’s own accounts is exhausting and not the way people are meant to go about their lives.

The human brain is not wired to handle the algorithms that run the platforms. The entire situation is unnatural and unlike any technological advancement experienced in the past. This is an entirely new beast.

“It’s a consumer where you get on and the next thing you know hours have gone by and you’ve done nothing,” Director of Social and Emotional Learning Jennifer Brown-Howerton said. “It’s addictive.”

Another surprising effect of social media and the expansiveness of the internet in general has been the loss of the ability to focus, especially among adolescents. The constantly updating feed of social media has led to the expectation of constant action and new entertainment.

The loss of attention span has been especially obvious in schools. Teachers, such as Counselor Lara King, have noticed that if there is a lull in class, even just for a couple sec or min, students will pull out their phones and start tapping away. Instead of entertaining themselves by conversing or even just waiting patiently, students constantly feel this insatiable need to be stimulated by brainless activities.

“I have noticed a change in attention span for sure.

When I worked here a long time ago cell phones weren’t allowed in the classroom,” King said. “Whereas now, if I take a minute to review my notes while I’m talking to students, I will turn around and their phones are out, they are already on to something else.”

Most Used Social Media Out of 153 students polled

8+ HRS. 6-7 HRS. 4-5 HRS.

17%

5% 3% 36% 35%

Hours of Screentime Per DAY

Out of 153 students polled

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2%

40%

39%

2-3 HRS. 0-1 HRS.

5%

18%

SNAPCHAT

tiktok PINTEREST

INSTAGRAM OTHER

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Are You Addicted to Social Media?

Out of 153 students polled

36%

No

34%

Yes

30%

Maybe

Political Damage Social media has been extremely damaging to teenagers’ mental health, however on top of this, it has also entered into the unpredictable world of politics.

Never in history has the world experienced the constant influx of information, news, and drama at the rate that it does today. News is constantly changing, updating, and oftentimes news is not even trustworthy. News updates a person receives through Google, the Apple News app, or even just social media feed is biased to fit the opinions of that particular person. It is no longer likely that a person with certain opinions will see the same news updates as a person with the opposite opinions.

Internet browsers such as Google are constantly paying attention to search history, viewed websites, online purchases and more. It is off these observations that the algorithm makes an educated guess of your political opinion, and thus begins a cycle of only receiving news biased towards a single viewpoint.

“These problems with social media are really underlying other problems in society,” co-producer of the Social Dilemma, Stacey Piculell said, “And as they divide us further and polarize us more, it becomes harder to compromise, and talk to people who disagree with us, and come to consensus about how to solve the really big problems that face us.”

The consequences of people not being exposed to multiple different viewpoints could be catastrophic in more ways than one. For example, social media has completely intensified the division between political parties. But beyond broken friendships or relationships, even the ability to be civil in certain situations has become impossible. Social media has caused a political frenzy on an international scale, according to an article by Wired, “Free Speech Is Not The Same as Free Reach.”

“I’m realizing how these problems with social media are really underlying other problems in society,” Piculell said. “And as they divide us further and polarize us more, it becomes harder to compromise, talk to people who disagree with us and come to consensus about how to

solve the big problems that face us.”

The spread of fake news and conspiracies has contributed to or worsened violent situations, such as the shooting of Marjory Stoneman Douglas Highschool in Florida, as explained in an article by Wired, “How Liberals Amped Up a Parkland Shooting Conspiracy.” This shooting happened on Valentine’s day in 2018, a deadly ordeal that led to the death of 17 students, and the injuries of another 17 students.

This event led to many conspiracies and fake news reports that distracted from the scale of the shooting itself. Many small and illegitimate news sources wrote and spread stories via Twitter that spread the idea that a student who was interviewed after the shooting was given lines to answer the questions with. The lines were given to him from his dad and coach who was apparently undercover for the FBI. The theory that the shooting happened all with the idea of making President Donald Trump look bad, according to the small news sources, spread like wildfire throughout Twitter, getting several well known people involved, such as Hillary Clinton’s daughter, Chelsea Clinton.

“We’ve never had it at such a scale,” Producer of ‘The Social Dilemma’ Larissa Rhodes said. “And so quickly and micro targeted in a way that I’m picking the information that will work best on you to get you to share this lie, versus what might work best on that person to share that lie.”

Situations like this, where fake news and algorithms alter important political events, should not be taken lightly and left to turn into historical events. With technology advancing every single day, this is only the beginning of intensified situations caused by fake news and a lack of exposure to diverse opinions.

Moving Forward Although the effects social media have had on mental health, politics, and fake news have already been huge in the short time it has been mainstream, the effects can still be reversed. No matter how dire the current world situation may seem, change is still possible, necessary really, if each and every person makes an effort to make the change that the future needs.

October 2020 // 17

A&E

Keeping Up With The Kardashians Comes to a Klose The Kardashian-Jenners split from their E! reality series.

BY KEELY SCHIEFFER CO PHOTO EDITOR

A

case for the FBI: the KardashiansJenners will kiss goodbye their E! reality series “Keeping Up With the Kardashians” in 2021.

The iconic moments of Kim’s ugly crying face, the hardcore handbag fight, Kris Jenner’s disastrous allergic reaction and her proud “You’re doing amazing sweetie” “momager” moment will all be wrapped up with a final season which will be released in early 2021.

The Kardashains jumped to launch their first season in Oct. 2007 shortly after entertainer Kim Kardashian gained her fame. The series aired for 14 years, producing 20 seasons of binge-worthy entertainment that usually ends with the Kardashian-Jenners in petty tears.

In an Instagram post, Kim Kardashian first announced the end of her popular series on behalf of her family who are depicted in their original, cheetah filled KUWTK clickbait from the first season of their show. Kim Kardashian addresses her

gratitude and appreciation for all her obsessed KUWTK fans that live for a missing diamond earring fananza. She also thanks the producers of the show that loyally captured all of the selfies on the way to jail as Kim bailed out her sister.

During the duration of the show, the Kardashians gained more than just fame.

Kylie Kardashian started her own makeup company, Kylie Cosmetics, which has achieved a networth of 900 million dollar.

Kim Kardashian founded her own business KKW Beauty which sells makeup products and perfumes. Khloe Kardashian created her own jean brand Good American in 2016.

After the closure of the show, the Kardashians are parting from their family business in order to flourish and expand their individual brands and families. In addition to developing her brand, Khloe Kardashian is also hopping on the body positivity movement.

“Without Keeping Up with The Kardashians, I wouldn’t be where I am today,” Kim Kardashian said. “This show made us who we are and I will be forever in debt to everyone who played a role in shaping our careers and changing our lives forever,” according to Kim Kardashian’s Instagram post.

Best of KUWTK The Iconic Word: BIBLE In KUWTK, the sisters create the well known phrase “bible” that they add at the end of their conversations to testify to their truth.

(Photo by Wikimedia Commons)

“You’re Doing Amazing Sweetie” Kris Jenner’s iconic “momager” moment sticks with her throughout the series as she hypes Kim up during a photo shoot. (Photo by Wikimedia Commons)

Kim K’s Ugly Crying Face Kim’s ugly crying face is a monumental portion of KUWTK. It is a trademark of their brand that is seen everywhere. (Photo by Wikimedia Commons)

Photo by Wikimedia Commons

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T O N B S O ER M

A&E

MOV I E S

As spooky season arrives here are some Disney Halloween classics that need to be watched.

STORY & DESIGN BY KATE MCCARTHY

Halloween town Halloween town, a well known movie, stars a magical family who goes on the first of their many adventures. Though this movie is well known, after watching it a second time it does not live up to the stigma around this classic.

In the movie, Marnie (Kimberly Brown), Dylan (Joey Zimmerman) and Sophie (Emily Roeske) realize that they are witches and their grandma, Aggie (Debbie Reynolds) live in a mystical place: Halloween town. The different aspects of this world, such as a different version of time that is longer, were very well thought out and had unique ideas. Though this movie is a childhood staple, watching it again now, it is not as entertaining as I remember it to be. The story line was slightly confusing because of predictable aspects paired with bad acting. The cheesy acting ruined the dramatics, while the graphics show the film’s age. Overall, I give this movie three out of five stars because it is such a classic and they have unique ideas, but the plot and acting was sub-par.

GIRL VS. Monster Girl vs. Monster, one of my favorite childhood movies, centers around a family of monster hunters. This movie very much lived up to my memory of it. The main character of the show Skylar (Olivia Holt) has never experienced the emotion of fear. With the help of her two best friends Sadie (Kerris Dorsey) and Henry (Brendan Meyer), they attempt to defeat monsters within their town attempting to take over. This movie still remains one of my favorite disney classics years later. The plot line is complex and entertaining and it is so fun to watch. Even simple things, such as graphics, are very intricate and well done for the time this film was made. I loved this movie so much and the only critique I would have would be that the acting was a tad bit cheesy. Overall, the movie was not cliche and had various twists and turns that no one would expect which is what makes movies so entertaining. It was so entertaining to watch this movie yet again now that I am older so I would give this movie a five out of five.

Twitches Twitches, an underrated movie, revolves around the lives of two twin girls who represent the sun and the moon. This movie was decent, but not my favorite Disney movie. Camryn Barnes (Tamera Mowry) and Alex Fielding (Tia Mowry) reunite at the age of 21 after being separated at birth to stop the evil being who has taken over their home dimension, coventry. I had not seen this movie when I was younger, but I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it. The acting was very good and the special effects were fantastic. I loved the story line because even though it was cliche, it was entertaining to watch. My favorite aspect was the incorporation of humor throughout the film to ease the intensity. My only critique is that I did not enjoy the fact that the girls acted much younger than they were. The fact that they acted so immature confused me because they were supposed to be 21 living in the real world, but instead they still lived at home and relied heavily on their parents. Overall, since it is not as much of a classic and was a little bit confusing, I would rate it four out of five stars.

October 2020 // 19

PIECES of Positivity

Feature

PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY VIOLET TUMLIN

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Feature

Morning prayer leader and positivity post spokeswoman senior Violet Tumblin reveals how she remains positive.

BY CALLIE CAMERON A&E EDITOR

O

n a lazy morning, the sun refuses to shine and the unproductive rain falls outside. The lack of sun and drizzling rain doesn’t help her lack of motivation and exhaustion. Forcing her aching muscles to move, she opens her Spotify playlist of 2000’s hits to lift herself out of bed. After listening to a couple songs by Justin Bieber and the occasional Disney throwback, senior Violet Tumlin feels prepared to take on the day with a positive attitude and good mood. She looks at a bible verse from the app on her phone, and unlike the typical teenage girl, she doesn’t start the day with checking social media or the news. Just like her Wednesday positivity posts on the Sion campus ministry instagram page, Tumlin continues to provide a helpful conscience as a morning prayer leader.

“I just really like the feeling that my prayers can make a difference in someone’s day,” Tumlin said, “and prepare them to be in a more positive mood.”

In middle school, Tumlin’s best friend had a scary situation with suicide and inspired Tumlin to educated others in suicide prevention. Now a founder of the Suicide Prevention Club, Tumlin works other school to inform students on how to recognize when someone displays signs and how to prevent it. She wants to continue her endeavors in college and help those struggling with mental health.

“I had Violet in class last year and I noticed even when she’s tired, or frustrated she remains positive,” theology teacher Stephine PinoDressmen said. “She seems to find the silver lining in everything. She’s connected with a positive energy around her. I figured if she can share that in a post on the campus ministry instagram account as a 17-year-old, she’ll have a better reach to the students.”

When Tumlin’s friends are down, she goes out of her way to make little gifts, bake delicious food or send a nice note to people going through hard times. Always aware of what people are going through and trying to bring a little sunshine to their day in the midst of their clouds, she radiates positivity according to her mom, Annie Tumlin.

“I feel like she knows who she is and she isn’t bothered or swayed by the changes I’m seeing in our society,” Annie said, “and how her generation is being told to think or act. I think her strength comes from being grounded in the love of God and her family and friends, and it has given her an awesome moral compass. She is fiercely loyal. I’ve witnessed her standing up for the people she loves and I can’t tell you the pride and joy it gives to my heart.”

Tumlin looks up to her mom as an example of a positive Christian woman and through whatever ups and downs she always maintains a happy attitude and tries to instill in her kids that positivity is more effective than negativity. Even though her senior year has some bumps in the road due to an odd year with COVID-19, she still has a light that comes from within her that’s hard to miss and relies on God to work through her and lay her path in life, according to Annie.

“I try to always look at people or strangers with an unbiased attitude,” Tumlin said. “I always try to be non judgmental and really open to whatever. I think that when people meet me, I’m a pretty positive person, and I hope that a smile or a compliment can help them throughout their day.”

Tumlin’s Truths:

October 2020 // 21

Sports

Mahomes Kingdom

Photo by

MCT CAM

22 // LeJournal

PUS

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes has completely enraptured the attention of the city.

BY CATHERINE CRAYON VIDEO CONTENT EDITOR 65,000 fans flooded into Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens for Super Bowl LIV, all eyes drifted towards 24-year-old Patrick Mahomes. The 2019-2020 Kansas City Chiefs entered the stadium for their first Super Bowl since 1970. Now, the first round pick has his picture and name plastering the streets of Kansas City. From sandwiches to murals, Mahomes continues to leave his mark on the heart of America.

“My favorite trait of Mahomes is his loyalty to Kansas City,” senior Cirese Mendolia said. “It’s cool that he’s part of the community and not just an egotistical celebrity.”

The Mahomes Sandwich at The Well in Waldo is a prime example of this city’s admiration to this professional football player. The tower of fried mac ‘n’ cheese patty, ribeye, tater tots, onion rings and cheese curds exemplifies the appetite of an athletic football player like Mahomes.

With the country wrapped around his finger, Mahomes tweeted on Nov. 16, 2018 in regard to the hamburger chain Whataburger, “I just want a store in Kansas City!” Two years later in August 2020, Whataburger announces their expansion into the city.

“He has his own cereal at Hy-Vee, Mahomes Magic Crunch,” sophomore Katherine Pineda said. “I tried it and it was pretty good.”

Mahomes started the “15 and Mahomies” Foundation in 2019 which focuses on children’s health and wellness in Kansas City. He also visited Children’s Mercy Hospital on May 21 with gifts in hand for the patients.

“He’s really inspiring,” freshman Penelope Guezuraga said.

“He’s been working a lot with Children’s Mercy Hospital and my mom works there.”

Murals of Mahomes have painted various buildings in Kansas City. The most notable of them are at Westport Ale House and the Skelly Building off of 47th Street.

“My family and I usually get together and have a barbeque,” Pineda said. “We gather around the T.V. to watch the game and we play a huge game of Uno.” With 28 wins under his belt, the Texas native is on track to become the best NFL quarterback of all time. Mahomes and the rest of the team currently are 4-1 this season.

“He has an incredible work ethic,” Guezuraga said. “He plays great and he encourages his teammates along the way.”

Mahomes signed a $450 million contract in July that extends Mahomes’s stay until 2031. This is the largest contract in NFL history, gaining $45 million a year and around $137,000 a day.

With this new advance, Kansas City’s love for Patrick Mahomes will continue to grow.

Sports

BACK TO BACK BASKETBALL BASKETBALL

STORY & DESIGN BY AVA ALBRACHT

The basketball team has been practicing and participating in a fall league in order to get ready for their winter season.

The basketball team works tirelessly in hopes of success during the winter season. The fall basketball league allows players to get in shape, play teams they don’t play normally, build team chemistry and try out new plays. The coach of the fall basketball league, Chad Lynn, explains why it makes such a big impact on players and the upcoming season.

“Each year you start the season with new players on a team. The work we do in the fall is a great way for them to meet the coach, understand the new philosophy, meet the players and parents, and begin to build on-the-court chemistry,” Lynn said. “It also allows them to connect off the court.”

One of the best parts of basketball for junior Olivia Angles is the team aspect because it allows her to get close to people she otherwise would not be able to connect with. Angles appreciates that the fall season allows her to prepare for the winter season and meet her new teammates.

“My favorite part of the fall basketball season is hanging out with all of my basketball friends and getting to do fun stuff with them,” Angles said.

Due to fall sports, it can be more difficult for players and coaches to make time for the fall basketball league. This is why they have a different schedule from the winter season.

“Because most of our athletes play fall sports, we do our stuff on the weekend. This allows them to focus during the week on their school and inseason sport,” Lynn said. “So on Sunday we have open gym/skills at Sion in the early afternoon.”

Sophomore Claire Coates plays on the basketball team and is a part of this year’s fall league.

In Coates’s opinion, this extracurricular activity allows her to get back into the game mindset so that she doesn’t skip a beat during tryouts. Coates is looking forward to the winter season, but in the meantime enjoys the extra practice.

“I’m looking forward to getting to play games (Photos by Madeline again and be in that environment. It’s so fun,” Hammett) Coates said.

Blocking out the Owls

Junior Anna Sheedy bounds into her position after racing down the court to block another player on Oct. 18 at Blue Valley North. “During a game, I am constantly thinking about my next play and how to make a difference on the court whether that is with a basket or a defensive stop,” Sheedy said.

(Photo by Madeline Hammett)

WINTER SPORTS SNEAK PEAK The 2020 to 2021 basketball season is set to begin on Monday, Nov. 2. Coach Chad Lynn encourages all who are considering playing to try out. “Once [players] get past the initial fear of ‘tryouts’ they can really focus on the game and have some fun with a great group of girls,” Lynn said. All you will need to bring to tryouts are tennis shoes and a good attitude! (Photo by Ava Stoltz)

Tryouts for swim and dive begin Nov. 9 at the Red Bridge YMCA. Dive captain Lindsey Dougherty encourages anyone to try out “I love dive because it’s such a unique sport and pushes me mentally and physically to try new dives,” Dougherty said. “I also love dive because of my team and my coach, Hannah Bortnick.” The logistics of how swim and dive will work in the midst of COVID-19 have not yet been determined. Swim captain Emma Grojean said, “I am really looking forward to the season and really hope the season works out.” (Photo

by Kate Vankeirsbilck)

October 2020 // 23

Feature

Fashion Forward Sophomore Mo Browne creates a statement with her unique style.

STORY & DESIGN BY LAUREN SHAW NEWS & SPORTS EDITOR Walking in and out of aisles, sophomore Mo Browne looks through racks of bright garments at a quiet Shopgirls Boutique tucked away in downtown Brookside.

After a few minutes of browsing, her eyes catch a dusty blue cropped tank top. Admiring the ribbed fabric and recounting her money, she approaches the cashier to checkout. Leaving the store, Browne envisions the top on her and which occasion she will wear it to. It was the perfect addition to her closet, which was far from lacking in space and colors.

One might say Browne has a distinctive sense of style, from her ruby argyle shirt to her white jeans with tan cutouts, she always looks for what to wear next.

Inspired by influencers such as Tyler the Creator, Emmy Hartman and a few Pinterest boards, her iconic style began to develop around Dec. 2019. During quarantine last spring, she found herself becoming more passionate about fashion, so she made her hobby a lifestyle.

“I’ve always had an interest in style,” Browne said. “I think it has developed a lot since last winter when I really started to build on it.”

A few retailers Browne likes to buy from are Urban Outfitters, American Eagle and occasionally Amazon for accessories. She also voices her desire for thrifting as well as supporting smaller clothing retailers.

“I go to thrift stores a lot,” Browne said. “I think it’s best to support smaller businesses especially during these times.”

Thrifting has become increasingly more popular

within the last couple years. Browne chooses to thrift in an effort to combat companies such as Forever 21 and H&M that are cheaply made to only last so long.

Their merchandise ends up in landfills where they take tens of years to decompose, according to News24. Not only are they made to rot in landfills, but they are also detrimental to the planet’s health while being made.

The fashion industry makes up for 10 percent of all total carbon emissions, according to Business Insider. With fashion industries leaving a huge environmental footprint by producing tons of clothes daily, thrifting is a cheap and environmentally conscious alternative.

Browne’s style has become such a part of her identity, that she even has her own fan account. Made by her friend sophomore Addie Heistand, she approached the account in a humorous light.

“We have always talked about it as a joke, because there are a lot of fan accounts for Charli D’Amelio,” Heistand explained. “One day during study hall I just decided to make it.”

Browne has always had an eye for what to wear. Her mother, Julie Walker Browne, recollected her daughter as young as two years old dressing up in unusual attire and beginning to find her interests.

“She usually shunned my choices of clothing for her even at three or four, she had opinions,” Walker Browne said. “I have in general always appreciated her style, because it’s Mo and I love her.”

Mo’s Palette “I’ve noticed I do wear a lot of black, but I also like a lot of shades of red, too.

I tend to wear a lot of blue because it makes my eyes pop.”

-Mo Browne

Poised Posing Browne models her various looks that she has posted online. She also expressed her interest of potentially selling clothes on the app ‘Depop’ in the future. “I would really like to make jeweley and sell clothes on Depop.

Other sellers make their shop so cute and fancy but I’m not sure I have the time to do that right now,” Browne said.

(Photos submitted by Mo Browne)

24 // LeJournal

Feature

Buy the Look Top : ShopGirl Price Unknown

Sweater : Cielo Approx. $10 On poshmark

Pants : Urban Outfitters $35

Rings : amazon 1 pack- $15

October 2020 // 25

Opinion

TAKE A

HIKE

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As the weather cools down, the days of enjoyable weather are slowly disappearing. Take advantage of these last few weeks by getting in the fall spirit with these activities.

BY SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR GRACE HILLS

GET OUTDOORSY Though Kansas City isn’t necessarily known for its gorgeous hikes, there are still tons of opportunities to get outdoors. From Shawnee Mission to Loose Park, the city has hundreds of miles of trails and biking paths. Break out a childhood bike and experience the joy of racing as fast as possible, or stop and notice the leaves on a little hike. If there’s not that childhood bike laying around in the garage, there’s about five local bike stores that offer fairly inexpensive rentals.

26 // LeJournal

PICK YOUR PUMPKIN As classic as it may be, a trip to the pumpkin patch never disappoints. With locations all across the city, the patch is accessible for everyone. With price points all across the board, there really is something for everyone. There’s thousands of pumpkins with thousands of possible jack-o-lantern designs for them. There’s also tons of kid friendly areas, like playgrounds and jumping pads. Since the patches are majorly outdoors, social distancing is easier but masks are still needed.

YOU’VE BEEN BOOED! A fun little COVID-19 friendly way to interact with your neighbors is by “booing” them. Purchase their favorite candy and other halloween items and leave it on their front stoop with a “you’ve been booed” sign that can be found on Pinterest. Also leave an instructions paper, requesting that they “boo” two or three more neighbors until the whole block has been booed. It’s a cute activity that little kids always find enticing, making the halloween feeling last longer than a day.

GET THRIFTY There’s so many hidden gems in thrift stores that are perfect for every halloween costume. Slow down on the fast fashion and find one at a local thrift store. Since the costume will only be worn for one night, why not help the earth a little bit? Not to mention the multitude of early 2000s clothes would be perfect for a Hannah Montana, Cheetah Girls or Mean Girls inspired outfit. It’s an inexpensive, fun experience and the costumes can’t be found anywhere else.

Opinion

STEPPIN’ OUT Senior Betty Christianson utilizes the fall weather by going for a hike. (Photo by Grace Hills) October 2020 // 27

Volleyball & Softball

Senior Nights 1.Flower Power Seniors Olivia Valles and Olivia Shively receive flowers and take a photo at Softball Senior Night on Oct. 2 (Photo by Avery Brundige).

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2.Family Affair Senior Mary Elizabeth Amiri smiles for photos with her family at Volleyball Senior Night on Oct. 2 (Photo by Avery Brundige).

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3.Laughing Lillies Senior Brynna Dow receives flowers and laughs with her family while taking photos at Volleyball Senior Night on Oct. 2 (Photo by Avery Brundige).

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4.PICTURE PERFECT The seniors on the volleyball team take a group photo with their families and their flowers at Volleyball Senior Night on Oct. 2 (Photo by Madeline Hammett).

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