April Issue 2021

the the april april issue issue

mixed mixed media media diversifies diversifies lhs lhs art art olivia brost olivia brost p. 4 p. 4

FEATURES

BY

T

he depths of the LHS halls hold a collection of rooms that come off as nothing extraordinary to daily bypassers, but beyond these doors are the most creative souls and their magnificent minds that create beautifully unique art.

The term “mixed media” is used to describe different mediums of artwork composed of a combination of many materials, ranging from simple water and acrylic paints to the most obscure collages made up of anything imaginable.

Inspiration can strike at any time and come in many forms.

As for a process, there is no particular one for LHS junior Maia Morrison.

“I do a lot of watercolors and charcoal; my process is just kinda like glue stuff together until it works,” said Morrison.

“I actually didn’t start to take art that seriously until sophomore year. I find a lot of my inspiration from myself and forms of flowers like dried ones, so I feel like I take a lot of inspiration from nature.”

The key to mixed media art is the use of different mediums and materials, so for LHS senior Tori

OLIVIA BROST

Raveling, art holds a different meaning as she has a different way of creating.

“I like to use colored pencils and I also like using Procreate on my iPad,” said Raveling. “I always drew when I was a kid and would always doodle on my paper. It was only once I started high school when I realized I should try and improve. Since then it’s always been a fun thing to do and spend my time.”

This passion for art flows beyond the walls of LHS. When not creating for a grade, many artists can partake in city wide events or non-school sponsored classes, but most commonly - artists create for their own enjoyment. Morrison did not start taking art seriously until sophomore year, and since then has used it as another creative outlet to help express the heavy thoughts.

“Outside of school, I do art all the time. Just doodling and drawing. I’m thinking about going into art in the future, and I’m interested in being a tattoo artist so I’m just constantly drawing,” said Morrison. “It is just another way to have a creative outlet. My grandpa is a

professional artist so I take a lot of my inspiration from him. It is also just a good way to get a lot of my thoughts out of my head.”

Similar to Morrison, Raveling also turns to creating art as an ideal escape from the world around her, and a way to build skills that are not school-based.

But when it comes down to the fine details of a piece, that is when her favorite part begins.

“I do it because it’s fun and another way to be creative. It’s something to hone your skills on and look at and reflect and improve,” said Raveling. “My favorite part of the process is highlights and the parts at the end when you add in all the finishing touches and light spaces and it just makes the piece come together.”

Without art, the world we live in would be dull, colorless and despairing. The little details that fill our lives with joy would simply not exist. Art, and mixed media in particular, helps to express feelings that viewers can connect with, creating a deeper connection, that can be shared with anyone and everyone.

OLIVIA BROST MAIA MORRISON

DESIGN BY PHOTO PROVIDED BY

4 APRIL STATESMAN

LHSSTATESMAN.COM

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by Jada Sandvall

imitational swords, also known as sabres, that are only used when competing in winter guard. Throughout the months leading up to their fall marching band season, they will compete in various competitions against some of Scan this QR code to see a video of the LHS America’s best color guards. Although, since winter color there is still a global guard performing. pandemic happening, all in-person guard competitions have been put on pause for the time or the first time being. in LHS history, students Usually, the big have been offered the crowds and high-energy opportunity to continue competition days would their color guard add some stress and experience by competing nerves onto the students, at a national level in especially considering winter guard. it is their first season.

For years, the LHS However, with the marching band has altered circumstances, traveled from coast to students have been able coast performing at to take winter guard some of America’s most step by step and focus on prestigious marching what they can control. band competitions.

“Competitions were Aside from the intricate online this year so the melodies of the pressure and nerves of instruments, viewers performing in front of are mesmerized by the an audience were taken huge, colorful flags and out of the picture,” said large rifles twirled in junior Emma Vasa. “It the air, better known as created a far less stressful the talented LHS color environment, and I felt guard. that it definitely helped Although no longer us cool off in a sense.” backed by the band, Despite the lifted winter guard brings pressure of a crowd various unique elements and competition days, to the table. The majority winter guard brings a of the winter is spent new level of focus for learning a routine full of the team. Compared to complex choreography the fall season, there are with props such as only 19 students on the

winter team, meaning that there is almost no room for mistakes.

When competing, the routine must be spot on in terms of choreography and the use of props because a mistake could be detrimental to the whole performance.

“It is a lot easier to make a mistake and have it go unnoticed

during a marching band show, but in winter guard there is literally no place to hide,” said junior Corissa Marlette. “You have to pay so much more attention to detail.”

In life, every student seeks to succeed and empower their peers to be the best version of

themselves. Marlette and Vasa have devoted countless hours to having the best seasons possible since their freshman year. Being seniors next year entails a lot of responsibility; therefore, winter guard is the perfect opportunity for the upperclassmen to not only further their skills but their roles as leaders on the team.

“In general, guard has taught me so much about leadership.

Winter guard has really given me the chance to continue practicing those skills,” said Marlette. “I want to better myself while bettering my teammates and encouraging them to do the best they can.”

While looking forward to their fall season, the team has recognized how much potential they have to become the most confident team in the state. Normally, students

set down their flags for months before tryouts; however, with the new opportunity to continue practicing their skills over the winter, they will have a new sense of confidence going into the spring and fall. This continuous dedication to guard will empower them to work together and majorly succeed in the fall.

“Being able to have specific members continuing to practice all year helps to perfect skills and work on new ones to enhance future

performances,” said Vasa.

“It is going to help create a stronger, clearer and more united guard.”

Despite the first-year jitters, the coaching staff, such as assistant coach Ashley McKoewn, have gone back to the basics of guard, putting on a good routine where students can pridefully show off their skills. And that is exactly what they have been doing, with the LHS guard team showing their hard work and dedication, making their first season as memorable as possible.

“Putting together a really good show on the floor and showing students what performing in winter guard is like was really important for us [as a coaching staff],” said McKoewn. “We just want to put our best foot forward so we have a good showing our first year and work hard in general.”

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6 aPRIl statesman

LhS CoLorguard Sara Croghan & Jada SandvaLL

photo provided by deSign by

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Berhanie BY

LHS is home to many students who express themselves and their ideas in unique ways, whether it be through their dress or their extracurricular involvement. Few students, however, have had such a passion for their beliefs and desire to act that they created a club to discuss those beliefs.

One such student, Surafel Berhanie, is very devoted to the causes of racial justice and social equality. These devotions and the events of this past summer (particularly the killing of George Floyd) were the impetus that drove Berhanie to establish The Bigger Picture, a club at LHS that seeks to provide a safe place for members to discuss social issues, synthesize experiences or beliefs and grow together.

Berhanie wants the club to continue indefinitely, as, in his mind, one is never done learning and synthesizing, particularly when it comes to achieving equality.

“I hope that 40 or 50 years down the line I’ll come back to Lincoln as an old man and say, ‘50 years ago I started this group and it’s still going on today,’” said Berhanie.

Berhanie’s life outlook, the spark that ignited his desire to create The Bigger Picture, was heavily shaped by his time living in Ethiopia for the first nine years of his life.

“I always had to… stay humble and work hard for everything I got,” said Berhanie. “Nothing was given to you in Ethiopia. You didn’t know if you were going to see tomorrow.”

When Berhanie moved to Sioux Falls, he struggled to adapt to the myriad differences between the two areas, whether it be the snow or the language difference. However, to this day, Berhanie maintains an exceptionally positive attitude.

“I’m still learning English,” said Berhanie. “So, when people make fun of me for that I just can’t take it to the head; I just try to keep moving on and just keep working hard.”

Although Berhanie initially endured many challenges due to the shift in culture, climate and more, he found

8 APRIL STATESMAN

comfort and a getaway in basketball; it is for this reason that he joined and currently plays on the LHS Basketball team.

“For anything negative that would happen in my life, basketball was… my happy place where I could go forget about everything,” said Berhanie.

In addition to providing basketball opportunities, the

FeatURes

DANIEL BETHKE

Boys and Girls Club of the Sioux Empire also gave Berhanie an outlet for selfexpression and a departure from certain struggles of the day. For instance, the Club offered basketball, and the workers helped with homework or general questions about life. For Berhanie, the Boys and Girls Club truly was a boon that helped him a decade ago and that continues to help him to this day.

“I didn’t have to be anybody else to fit in. I could just be myself,” said Berhanie. “They really taught me life lessons.”

Berhanie’s time at the Boys and Girls Club led to his winning of the Sioux Empire Club’s Youth of the Year award, the top honor thereof.

The award goes to one Sioux Empire Club member and high school senior who plans on attending college the next year. To qualify, the student must be of good character, hardworking, dedicated to serving their community and in need of financial assistance for college. Recipients are granted a $1,000 scholarship. This award holds special importance for Berhanie, who will be the first person in his family to attend college.

“I think I’m dedicated, I’m hardworking and I know I will go to college and might need help paying for it,” said Berhanie. “I think I deserve it.”

In high school, Berhanie has consistently demonstrated endurance, determination and a passion nearly unrivaled by his peers. Thanks in part to the accolade, he will continue his academic and athletic career at one of the many colleges he is considering, in which he will surely continue to excel and make positive change.

AN OPTIMISTIC OUTLOOK DESIGN BY

CARLY WHEELER & DANIEL BETHKE SURAFEL BERHANIE

PHOTO PROVIDED BY

lhsstatesman.com

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FEATURES

PHOTOS

Miller wants the Greenhouse to be an open space that kids can be vulnerable in. Providing this also allows Miller to practice activities she enjoys, as she is planning to study zoology in the following semester.

“I love getting to see the end result and getting to interact with that and seeing my result payoff,” said Miller.

It is about the sense of accomplishment for Miller. She enjoys the aspect of looking at her work and admiring the time and effort the club puts into the greenhouse. The team building aspect is what keeps the LHS Greenhouse valued.

& PHOTOS BY ELLA GRIMM

10 APRIL STATESMAN

Within the walls of LHS lies a greenhouse. A space, designed for students to learn about the growth of plants and other organisms.

A warm environment filled with flourishing greens but also a place to study environmental science. While appreciating the work that goes into keeping our greenhouse running, some may ponder: who puts in all the hard work?

The Environmental Ingenuity club here at LHS, is a welcoming place for students with a passion to explore the ways our environment works but more importantly, to connect with other students with similar interests.

These students strive to keep our greenhouse clean, up and running in order to continue to allow other students to thrive.

The president and leader of the Environmental Ingenuity club, Paige Miller, values keeping the LHS greenhouse a place to grow as an individual but also challenging people to invest in themselves. Spending time in the greenhouse not only helps students learn, but gives a valuable opportunity to indulge in a pressure free work zone.

“It’s about creating a space for kids to relax in and building a place where there are no academic pressures,” said Miller.

Miller notices the way the greenhouse relieves expectations from students, or way for students to disconnect from the realities of the average school day. “[The greenhouse] is my favorite

way to stay involved because it’s quite enjoyable, and research shows that spending time in areas with excessive greenery and vegetation helps lower your blood pressure and decreases anxiety,” said Miller.

Miller notices how spending time in the greenhouse helps her mental state, so she wants others to experience the same benefits. Putting others before herself is something Miller does best.

DESIGN

& DESIGN BY ELLA GRIMM

by Ella Grimm

LHSSTATESMAN.COM

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BY CALEB HIATT BYThe CALEB IATT chessH club has always BYThe CALEB IATT chessH club has always

ARTWORK ARTWORK ARTWORK

BY CBY ARLY CBYARLY W CARLY HEELER WHEELER WHEELER

& PHOTOS & PHOTOS & PHOTOS

BY CBY ALEB CBYALEB H CIATT ALEB HIATT HIATT DESIGN DESIGN DESIGN

seen consistent attendance from chess club has seen consistent attendance its The loyal members, but always it hasfrom seen consistent attendance its loyal members, but it hasfrom never experienced the attention its loyal members, but it months. has never experienced the attention it has received in recent never experienced the attention it has received in recent months.

In early February, the chess it has received in recent Ingained early February, themonths. chess club more attention than early February, the chess club more than everIngained before, mostlyattention because club gained more attention ever before, mostly because of the efforts of LHS seniorthan ever before, mostly because of the efforts of LHS senior Ethan Yu, who invited fellow of thecountry efforts LHS senior Ethan Yu, whoof invited fellow cross runners to start Ethancountry Yu,the who invited fellow cross runners learning game thatto hestart grew cross runners start learning thethe game thatto heEven grew to lovecountry over summer. learning thethe game thatnew heEven grew to love over though many of summer. these to love over the Even though many of summer. these new members started out with little though many of these newlittle members started out to no experience, theywith have members started out little to no experience, theywith have come to love it thanks to the to no experience, they have come to love it thanks to the game’s mental exercise and the come toofmental love it exercise thanks thethe game’s and group people at the to club. game’s and group ofmental people at the club.

Yu has been exercise familiar withthe group of for people at the has been familiar with theYu game years, but club. he only Yu has been familiar with the game for years, but he only recently developed a love for thethis game for years, only recently developed abut love for it summer when hehe heard recently developed a love for it this online summer when he heard about chess competition it this online summer when he heard about chess competition opportunities. about online chess competition opportunities.

“I learned how to play opportunities.

“I learned how but to play when I was eight I started “I learned how to play when Iintensely was eight but I started really training this when Iintensely was eight but I started really training this summer,” said Yu. “There was a really intensely training summer,” said Yu. “Therethis was a huge online chess tournament summer,” said Yu. “There huge online chess tournament that was really popular andwas I a huge online chess tournament that was really popular and I was watching amateur chess that was reallyand popular and II was watching amateur chess tournaments with that, was watching amateur chessI tournaments and withmyself that, wanted to play chess tournaments and with that, wanted to play chess myself so I started going online andI wanted to play chess myself so I started going online and practicing.” so ISoon started online and practicing.” aftergoing this passion practicing.”

Soon after this passion sparked, Yu decided to share it Soon after this passion sparked, Yuofdecided to share it with some his cross country sparked, YuofIt decided to long share it with some his country teammates. wascross not with some of his cross country teammates.

It was not long before most of the boys’ team teammates. was before mosttoItofgo the boys’ team was dying tonot the long chess before mosttoofgo the team was to boys’ the chess club dying meetings after their season. was dying to go to the chess club meetings after their season. club meetings after their season.

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“We were all playing “We were playing online… and all then we said ‘ok “We were all playing online… and then we we should join this onesaid day,‘ok let’s online… and we said we itshould join thisall one day,‘ok let’s do when wethen are done with we join this one day, let’s do itshould when said we are done running,’” Yu.all “And so,with over do it when we are all done with running,’” said Yu. “And so, over the winter before track practice, running,’” said “Andpractice, so, over the winter before we said ‘let’s goYu. totrack chess club the winter before we said ‘let’s go totrack chesspractice, club every week.’

Ever since then we saidweek.’ ‘let’sgoing go toto chess club every Ever since then we’ve been chess club every week.’

Ever since then we’ve been going to chess on Tuesdays and it’s been aclub lot we’ve been going to chess on Tuesdays and it’s been aclub lot of fun.” on Tuesdaysafternoon and it’s been a lot of Tuesday fun.” chess club of fun.”

Tuesday chess club is not how itafternoon has always been; Tuesday club is not how itafternoon has always been; club administrator andchess LHS is notadministrator how it hasShawn always been; club and LHS biology teacher Ferry club administrator and LHS biology teacher Ferry decided to adjustShawn the schedule biology teacher Shawn Ferry decided to adjust the schedule in order to make the chess club decided to adjust the schedule in order to make the chess club more accessible to those with in order to maketothe chess club more accessible those with busier schedules.

This change more accessible toThis those with busier schedules. change also accounted for the drastic busier schedules. change also accounted forThis the drastic member and attendance increase also accounted for the drastic member and attendance increase from what was previously only member and attendance increase frommembers. what was previously only five from what were was previously five“There members. a bunch of only guys five members. were a bunch of that guys on “There the cross country team “There were a bunch of on the cross country team that wanted to play,” said Ferry. guys “So, on the cross country team that wanted to play,” Ferry.

“So, we switched the said day to fit with wanted to play,” said Ferry.

“So, we switched the daythat to fit with their schedule and probably we switched the day to fit with their schedule and that probably took the numbers to 20 to 22 their schedule that probably took the numbers to 20chess to 22on kids that were and playing took the numbers to 20 toeight 22on kids that werewe playing chess Tuesday and also had kids were playing chess Tuesday also had eight to 10that kidsand thatwe would come inon Tuesday and we also had eight to 10 kids that would come in on other days because they just to kids that would in on 10 other they just wanted todays playbecause chess.”come on othertodays wanted play chess.” they Among the because runners whojust wanted chess.”

Among the runners who joined astoa play result of Yu’s Among the runners joined as a result of Yu’s initiative is junior Peterwho joined as who aisresult Yu’s initiative junior Binstock tookofPeter the initiative is junior Peter Binstock who the opportunity totook rediscover an Binstock opportunity totook rediscover an old hobbywho from his the elementary opportunity to rediscover an old hobby from his elementary school days. old hobby his elementary school days.

“A lot offrom the cross country school days.

“A started lot of the cross boys going to country chess club “A lot of about the cross country boys started going chess club and I heard ittothrough boys goingittothrough chess club and Istarted heard about and I heard about it through

Peter Binstock (11) Peter Binstock (11) Peter Binstock (11)

and I heard about it through and I heard about it through Ethan Yu, who brought us,” said and I heard about Ethan Yu, who brought us,” Binstock. “I playeditathrough little bitsaid in Ethan Yu,“Iwho brought us,” Binstock. played little bitsaid in elementary but it’s abeen quite Binstock. played abeen little bit but it’s quite aelementary few years“Iand I picked it up in elementary butwith it’s been quite aagain few years and I picked it up recently the chess aagain few years and I picked it up recently with the chess club.” again recently with the chess club.”

These new members, such club.”

These newhave members, as Binstock, enjoyedsuch the These new members, such as Binstock, enjoyed the company of have the club as well as Binstock, have enjoyed the company of the club as well as the mental exercise which company ofthem the club aswhich wellan as the mental exercise has helped to develop as mental whichan hasthe helped them develop enjoyment forexercise thetogame. has helped them to develop an enjoyment for the game.

“I like the group of people enjoyment forgroup the game.

“Iare likeatthe ofclub people that the chess and like people that“Iaare atthe thegroup chessofclub andI’d it’s high-intellectual game that are at the chess club andthat it’s a high-intellectual game I’d say,” said Binstock. “I’m not it’s a high-intellectual game say,” said Binstock.

“I’m not that good at that part of it but it’sI’d say,” Binstock. notit’s that goodtosaid attry that of “I’m it but fun to part figure out what good attry that part of out it but fun tonext to figure what your move should be.”it’s fun tonext try to figure out what your move should be.”

Such a common board game your next move should be.”

Such a common board game seems like it would get boring Such a common board game seems it would get boring but thelike endless possibilities seems it would get boring but the endless possibilities keep itlike entertaining, which is but endless possibilities keep it entertaining, which is whythe the grandmasters (players keep it entertaining, which is why the grandmasters (players with a rating of 2500 or more) why grandmasters with the a rating of 2500 or(players more) continue to play. with a rating of you 2500play or more) continue togame play.

“Every is continue to play.

“Every game you play going to be different,” saidis Yu. “Every you play going toare begame different,” saidis Yu. “There more possible chess going bemore different,” saidchess Yu. “Thereto are games than therepossible are stars in “There are more possible chess games than there are stars in the observable universe, which games than there are stars in the observable universe, which is crazy to think about.” the observable which is crazy to thinkuniverse, about.”

This seemingly infinite is crazy to about.”

This seemingly infinite number of think possibilities makes This seemingly infinite number of possibilities makes it so that every game will work number of possibilities makes it so that every game will work players’ brains and challenge it so they thatbrains every game will work players’ challenge how think,and especially players’ and challenge hownovice theybrains think, especially for players that have how they think, especially for novice players that have catching-up to do. for novice players that catching-up to do.

“There is a strategyhave and do. and even “There process is to a strategy and acatching-up thought “There process is a strategy and are a thought and even problem-solving skills that aproblem-solving thought processskills and even that are problem-solving skills that are

at play in chess,” said Ferry. at play inalso chess,” said Ferry.

“There’s a learning curve at play in chess,” Ferry.

“There’s also a learning curve that goes with it. said When you’re also learning curve that goesplayer witha it.

Whena you’re a“There’s novice there’s lot you that goesplayer with it.

When a novice there’s a you’re lot you can learn, there’s a lot of hidden acan novice there’s a lot you learn,player there’s a lot of hidden strategies or secret moves that can learn, there’s a lot of hidden strategies or secret moves that force you to become a multi-step strategies orbecome secret moves that force youWhen to a playing multi-step thinker. you’re force youWhen to become multi-step thinker. you’reawhat’s playing checkers it’s literally thinker. playing checkers it’s literally right in When front ofyou’re you, what’s that’s all checkers it’s literally what’s right in front of you, that’s you can do. With chess, you all right in be front of you, that’s you can do.moves With chess, you all have to ahead because you do.moves With chess, someone you havecan totrying be ahead because you’re to induce have to be moves ahead because you’re trying to induce someone to go where you want them.” you’re trying to sounds induce someone to go where you want them.”

If all of this to go where you want them.”

If all of this intimidating, justsounds remember all of this sounds intimidating, just remember thatIf everyone has to start intimidating, just remember that everyone has to starthelps somewhere, and nothing that everyone hasnothing tolike start somewhere, and helps with improvement practice. somewhere, nothing helps with like practice.

“Ifimprovement you’reand afraid you’re with improvement like practice.

“If you’re afraid you’re gonna be really bad at it, don’t you’re gonna be really bad you’re at it,“I’m don’t be “If at all,” saidafraid Binstock. gonna be really it,“I’m don’t be at all,” said really bad and Binstock.

I bad can at even beat be at all,” said really bad and Binstock.

I can Chess.com even“I’m beat people occasionally. really bad and to I can even beat people occasionally.

Chess.com is a great way practice.

You people Chess.com is way tocomputers practice.

You cana great playoccasionally. against and is waypeople tocomputers practice. cana great playother against and against if youYou find can play against computers and against other people if you their code.

You can play easyfind against other people if you find their code.

You can play easy bots and hard bots.” their code. can play easy bots bots.”

If and thathard isYou not enough to ease bots hard bots.”

If and that is not enough to into ease one’s nerves about getting If that is not enough to into ease one’s nerves about getting chess, Yu also shared some one’s nerves about getting into chess, Yu also shared some advice for newcomers. chess, Yu also shared some advice for newcomers.

“Try playing a chess game advice newcomers.

“Tryfor playing a chess game against an even opponent and playing ait,” chess against even and see“Try howan you likeopponent saidgame Yu. against an even opponent and see how you like it,” said Yu. “Bring a friend and see who is see how likeand it,”superior. saidwho Yu.isIf “Bring a you friend see more intellectually “Bring a friend andand seehaving who isIf more intellectually superior. you’re struggling more intellectually superior. you’re struggling and having trouble, do puzzles. They areIf you’re struggling having trouble, do way puzzles.

They area the fastest to and becoming trouble, do way puzzles.

They area the fastest to becoming decent chess player.” the fastest way to becoming a decent chess player.” decent chess player.”

Jaykob Knutson (11) and Kadin Groen (11) Jaykob Knutson (11) and Kadin Groen (11) Jaykob Knutson (11) and Kadin Groen (11)

lhsstatesman.com

13

by

Emma ForstEr

W

Carson Gramm

hether it be painted nails, rings perpetually donning their hands or collared shirts peeking out from under their sweater vests, the 2020-21 school year has marked an increase in students sporting gender-neutral fashion in the halls of LHS. According to The Atlantic, the late 20th century marked a turning point for fashion in many ways, with the normalization of unisex clothing, a corrective to the harsh gender stereotypes of the 1950s. But, as the 21st century emerged, this widespread freedom in expression seemed to subside. As sweatpants and t-shirts became the standard for high-school fashion, the adversity facing those standing out grew exponentially.

It seems that the fashion cycle has turned once again, with sweater vests, jewelry, painted nails and skirts all trending in men’s fashion. LHS is no exception to these trends, with a rising number of students expressing themselves through clothing and disregarding preconceived notions about gender roles.

“I definitely used to dress like your average high-schooler and [now] I have gotten a lot more experimental,” said Ashton Winter, an LHS junior.

Outside influences have played a big role in spreading unisex fashion trends and breaking down gender constructs surrounding men’s fashion.

“There was definitely a lot of influence from the media and just social media in general, said Winter. “I’d see men wearing more gender-neutral clothes and I thought it looked good.”

The inspiration found in others sharing his style is not exclusive to Winter, however.

“I was inspired to wear more ‘out-there’ clothing by seeing other people doing it,” said Carson Gramm, an LHS sophomore.

Both Winter and Gramm’s perception of clothing as a whole has changed substantially in recent years, and that their current sense of style was a drastic change.

“I would have never [believed you] if you had told me a few years ago that I would be painting my nails, wearing rings, all that type of stuff,” said Winter. “It’s definitely become easier for guys [to dress expressively].”

“Even a year ago, I would never have been able to see myself dressing the way I do,” said Gramm. “I probably would have thought that dressing more feminine was a negative thing, which it absolutely isn’t.”

14 april statesman

Ashton Winter

entertainment

For Winter, changing up his style over the past few years has been a relatively smooth transition, and there have been no real adverse effects.

“I would say I get a mostly positive response,” said Winter. “Just being surrounded by supportive people makes it easier to dress however you want.”

But this feeling of comfort and support is not felt by everyone walking the LHS halls in a less conventional outfit. Fear of being judged and the harsh gender constructs surrounding fashion have made it hard for Gramm to dress how he wants to.

“I do get mostly positive responses from my clothing choices, but at the same time there have been instances when I’ve been called the f-slur because of my style, which isn’t fair,” said Gramm. “The clothing someone decides to wear shouldn’t be seen as something that dictates sexuality.”

While Winter has never felt this judgement personally, he agrees that a more accepting environment surrounding clothing, especially for men, should be normalized at not only LHS but in society in general.

“There’s a lot of stigma around [gender-neutral fashion], especially from homophobic people who think that painting your nails is something only gay people do,” said Winter. “There’s definitely toxic masculinity and a lot of things that influence guys to not try new things.”

The sentiment surrounding androgynous fashion and the effects it has on those whose clothing does not fit into stereotypical gender roles can teach many lessons about the world and acceptance as a whole.

“If people were more open-minded, a lot of things would be better than they are now,” said Winter. “Trying new things is a good way for people to expand what they would wear, or even think.”

Gramm and Winter are just two of the many students at LHS expressing themselves more freely through fashion. While their painted nails and rings may seem insignificant in passing, their freedom and candor is a step forward for LHS.

photos by Jada dEsign by

sandvall Emma ForstEr

lhsstatesman.com

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ENTERTAINMENT

The airy, fried pastry, blanketed in a sugary adhesive for the large array of toppings, has been a first-pick dessert displayed in bakeries and coffee shops for years. Donut makers have molded to the ever-expanding pastry industry and 100+ different styles of donuts have been brought to life. Donuts claim most of their adoration for being one of the most versatile desserts. Breakfast, lunch and dinner: donuts can do it all. However, the noble taste has no assistance in camouflaging the absurd calorie intake that just one donut contains. A single donut rakes up nearly ¼ of the average recommended calorie intake. Despite the avalanche of unnatural sugars, I set out to try the A-team of donut producers in South Dakota.

BY

Hy-Vee This local grocery store was an unexpected pleasure.

Hy-Vee’s donuts found the perfect equilibrium between fried donut and sugared glaze. Each bite took on the form of a sugary breeze wafting over the warm hearth of a kitchen on Sunday morning.

Mr. Donut Mr. Donut was a recent addition to the Sioux Falls donut destinations. The small shop, located off of Minnesota Ave. offers inside seating and a drive-through, making donut purchasing more efficient and easier. The bakery offers a standard selection of donuts with the typical topping lineup of cereals, Oreos, coconut and even maple bacon. Despite their price and level of convenience, the donuts offered were limp in comparison to the other listed bakeries. Still, the shop’s wide range of Long John fillings could make me a returning customer.

ADYSON SAND

Flyboy This Sioux Falls gem, located in every pocket of the town, stomachs early mornings and late nights in order to shovel out nearly 1,500 donuts a day. Flyboy’s donut selection has erupted into an array of ingenious pastries and acts as a trailblazer for neighboring donut shops. The Texas donut, measuring 6-8 inches, the premium topped Long Johns and the Honeymooners all disaffiliate the shop from the other runof-the-mill bakeries in town. Flyboy ensures the freshest donuts and never leaves their customers dissatisfied, promoting them to one of the most attractive donut shops in Sioux Falls.

ARTWORK

& DESIGN BY ADYSON SAND

16 APRIL STATESMAN

Casey’s These gas station donuts are both convenient and nearly as delicious as the costly donut bakeries.

Although the selection at Casey’s is limited and lacking much personalization, their 99 cent donuts suffice for a much cheaper alternative. The cake donut is one of the gas station’s most sought-after, and rightfully so. This denser style of donut is coated in a variety of creamy frostings ranging from maple to classic vanilla. The thick donut is best paired with a cold glass of milk to wash it all down.

Royal Bake Shop The Royal Bake Shop located in Centerville, SD welcomed a handful of loyal customers after word of their trademarked “Zebra Donut” touched down. The small bakery, located 40 minutes away from Sioux Falls, separates itself from rivalry bakeries with their typical donut recipe infused with chocolate batter. This hybrid donut is sealed in chocolate frosting to fully secure this donut with the South Dakotan stamp of approval. Many devoted donut connoisseurs migrate to Centerville before sunrise in order to get their hands on one of these unmatchable donuts.

LHSSTATESMAN.COM

17

entertainment

M N Q R U V Y Z MURPHY. Our fearless mascot.

QUIZLET.

by

Chloe houwman

A

A-WING.

One can only be so lucky to have all of their classes in A wing. The amount of back and forth between the two wings of the school can be exhausting. If you can, arrange your schedule so you can get your classes next to each other.

E

B F

As people grow up, their interests change, and with that, their friends. Do not take it personally if your friends change; use it as an opportunity to meet new people.

I

A majority of our lives are consumed by our phones and the apps we have on them. Live in the moment and spend quality time with your friends and family. Disconnect to reconnect.

C D G H CRAZIES.

DIVERSITY.

LHS has an No one is too abundance cool to be a true High school of students CRAZIE and can seem very from different scream in the intimidating due to the heavy workload and large stands. Show your school spirit backgrounds; remember that student body at LHS, but have and support your fellow Patriots there is a story for every personality. all the time. confidence in yourself.

ELEMENTARY FRIENDS.

iPHONES.

BELIEVE IN YOURSLEF.

FORMAL.

It is nothing like the movies. Do not stress out about it; go with a group of friends, and plan an outfit based on what you already have. I would not recommend missing out on the opportunity to see your classmates bust down on the dance floor.

J

JUST DO NOT BE ONE OF THOSE KIDS IN THE HALLWAY.

I do not mean to be rude, but if you walk in a single file line in the hallways with your friends, are extremely slow or cut people off, you will most likely be yelled at or tackled. I know this because I will be the person to do it.

GRADES.

HOMECOMING.

Yes, they do The best week of matter. Apply the school year. Take yourself the time to dress up because getting and take part in all good grades will help you of the activities put on by the in the future when you are student council. The week starts applying to colleges and for with movie night and ends with a scholarships. football game and party!

K

KAHOOT.

The best game ever! LHS students take this game way too seriously, and you should too. It is a great way to learn more information.

Definitely do not use your real name (unless the teacher requires it). Jazz it up, but keep it PG.

L

LOVE.

High school romance is not something that needs to be a priority. Focus on yourself and finding out what kind of person you want to be.

The best way to study. You can create digital flashcards and study sets. The free website has a variety of activities that can ensure you are ready for tests.

UGLY OUTFITS.

There is no such thing; wear what makes you happy (as long as it follows the dress code).

YEARBOOK.

Be sure to purchase a yearbook; it is a great way to look back at your high school years.

NEW STUDENTS.

O

ONLINE SCHOOL.

P

PARKING.

Arcadia is the way to go. You Everyone was a With COVID-19 might have to new student at being a reality walk a little bit one point. Allow right now, the yourself time to adjust. virtual academy is an option for father, but you will save those who need to stay at home. time after school. Parking REMEMBER However, do not use this as an is not as tight, so your car opportunity to slack off and not will be more protected.

THAT. take your school work seriously.

This time of TESTS. your life will fly A majority of one’s STUDENT by. Be grateful grade is based GROUPS. for this time of experimentation on their test and In addition to and the ability to grow as an quiz scores. So, many sports and individual. performing well arts organizations, on tests can be an easy way to LHS has an VICTORY. boost your grade, and studying abundance of clubs ranging Two words: is the easiest way to prepare from bird club to Yoga Club.

KELO CUP. yourself.

LHS has won the WIN KELO CUP for (SOLVE FOR) seven consecutive TIME. X. years now. We have a plethora What’s Math is something of sports associations one can Important that is going to be choose from, each with a strong Now: do not in your life forever. program. use this time Apply yourself, to mess around in the hallways and you will learn that math ZZZ. or play games on your phone; can be fun.

High school is this is a great opportunity to hard. Make sure get some homework done and you are caught can help free up time after up on your sleep. school.

WIN time is not nap time, so going to bed at 10 p.m. and waking up at 7 a.m. will give you plenty of time to rest yourself.

S

T

W X

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18 april statesman

design hloe ouwman designbybyCC hloehh ouwman

lhsstatesman.com

19

FEATURES A dog named Dempsey, a yellow labrador retriever, came to the shelter as a stray and no one claimed him. The kennel staff at the SFAHS recognized a distinct drive in Dempsey, so they contacted the South Dakota Canine Center, an organization that trains and evaluates dogs to be a USAR (Urban Search & Rescue), detection or service dog.

“He was one of the ‘Wild Child’ dogs, meaning that he was very hyper and a little boisterous. Dogs like that have a high drive and need something to keep their minds busy,” said Peterson-Konzem.

“Dogs like Dempsey need to have a job to do, or they can get into trouble.”

Currently, Dempsey is partnered with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and is moving right along in his training to become a national disaster search dog. The SFAHS receives frequent updates about Dempsey’s progress.

BY

CHLOE HARTJE

W

CHLOE HARTJE SFAHS

SHELTER ANIMALS ��� �� �r���� ���m�l�

hen looking for a new pet, many people prefer to shop at pet stores and breeders, usually spending hundreds to thousands of dollars. What these people do not know is that their animals often come from puppy mills that churn out puppies for profit, with no regards to the needs of the animals.

Shelter animals are unfortunately overlooked as they are deemed “broken,” but it is time to end this stigma. This is not to say that all breeders have bad intentions and people who buy from breeders should be shamed, although rescues should be given a chance at a forever home, too.

There are numerous advantages that come with adopting a pet from a shelter instead of shopping at pet stores. Many animals live in shelters for months and even years of their lives, which can be detrimental to their mental and physical health. Their days mostly consist of sitting in their kennels, patiently waiting for someone to choose them. Although rescue animals, particularly dogs, are often mixed breeds, that does not mean they are less worthy than dogs that come from a breeder. Actually, one in four dogs that enter shelters are purebreds. Many

20 APRIL STATESMAN

DESIGN BY

PHOTO PROVIDED BY THE

rescues are already trained and socialized, plus, they are far less expensive to adopt.

The most common reasons that animals end up in shelters are because of allergies, financial hardship, death in the family or if the family was moving.

Sometimes police will take animals away because of neglect, and others are found as strays and no one claims them.

“There are some reasons a family may choose to go with a breeder, such as looking for an allergy-friendly animal, but shelters also get a wide variety of animals, and if a family is patient, the right fit for them will come along,” said Dana Peterson-Konzem, the volunteer coordinator with the Sioux Falls Area Humane Society (SFAHS). “If a family chooses to buy from a breeder, they need to make sure that the breeder is being responsible.”

At the SFAHS, located in Northern Sioux Falls on Benson Rd, they provide a description of each available animal that details their personality, needs and animal friendliness. Each animal is neutered or fixed, vaccinated and groomed before going up for adoption. The adoption fees are also low, ranging from almost nothing to a maximum of $200, depending on species, age and adult size.

For over 100 years, the SFAHS has

provided a safe haven and human voice to thousands of animals, from dogs to cats to smaller species like rabbits, birds and even domestic rats. The shelter has no kill and no breed restriction policies, thanks to the high percentage of adoptions and donations. The SFAHS also provides services to the community such as public low-cost microchipping, a community pet food bank and a reference library for pet tips.

Some LHS students and teachers have adopted pets from the SFAHS, and they believe it was a positive experience that they would recommend. LHS junior Emma Dahm has adopted three animals from the shelter, including a one-year-old long-hair orange cat and two dogs, a sixmonth-old greyhound mix and a threeyear old greyhound Irish wolfhound mix.

LHS special education teacher, Tanya Bjerke adopted a short-hair cat back in 2010, and she is now 13. LHS sophomore Jay Loss also adopted an orange and white kitten named “Cheeto” two years ago from the shelter.

“Shelter animals show a level of love and appreciation that I have yet to see in a puppy that grew up with a family,” said Peterson-Konzem. “With shelter pets, trust is earned, and that is an extraordinary bond.”

LHSSTATESMAN.COM

21

BY

LYDIA SARBACKER

.....................................................

BY

LYDIA SARBACKER

At LHS, the student body is known for both academic excellence as well as an overwhelming amount of talented athletes. Freshman, Rocky McKenzie, has been a star member of the LHS Tennis team since he was in the seventh grade and is looking to push boundaries even further in the upcoming spring season for boys tennis.

With an overall record of 57-21, McKenzie seems to be following on the track to major success in his tennis career while having the most positive mindset concerning his abundance of accomplishments.

“I have been playing tennis for seven years now and my favorite part about playing is the non-pressure environment where the outcome of your match is completely reliant on yourself rather than other people in addition to yourself,” said McKenzie.

From McKenzie’s years of experience playing tennis, he looks forward to the

future with high hopes, passing advice down to those interested in starting to play.

“I would love to play tennis in college but education is of course my number one priority for new players,” said McKenzie.

I would just recommend getting involved anyway that you can; the tennis community is very accessible and friendly to all.

The fact that McKenzie, being ranked so high and playing so competitively at such a young age, can be seen as a blessing in disguise.

Although most would infer that his ranking as just a freshman would put detrimental amounts of stress on one, McKenzie’s intensity and hard work has allowed him to reach the best of the best and remain at the top.

“I wouldn’t say that my status as a player has challenged me, but it was definitely a challenge to get to this point in and of itself, so I suppose the work that I’ve put in up

to this point is one of the only challenges that I have come by,” said McKenzie.

Although the LHS tennis team has suffered because of the pandemic, creating more difficulty for McKenzie and his teammates in their upcoming season, this circumstance gives the LHS tennis team even more reason to be pumped for their season.

“I’m mostly excited to have a season in the first place, it is a really great opportunity for us considering everything that COVID-19 has shut down for us and our team,” said McKenzie.

COVID-19, like in most situations, put some strain on the boys’ tennis team, but McKenzie is hopeful this season will be one of the best yet with his team. They have high hopes regarding their approaching season and plan to stay positive supporting their school and teammates through the game they all love.

“Most of the challenges of this season have stemmed from the shutdowns of COVID-19, things like team meals and banquets that really brought our team and players together, so we will be making sure to encourage school spirit throughout the season,” said McKenzie.

McKenzie reflects on the years he has played as well as the many components in his sports career that have led him to be the prospect he is today.

Although McKenzie, as a mere freshman, has reached high ranks it is evident he stays very humble about his great success. His achievements and triumphs on the court are all due to his modest and hard-working mindset leading him to find greatness in mass proportions.

“I don’t like to think of myself as a prospect or better than anyone else,” said McKenzie. “The only pressure that I feel as a player is to get on the court and try the absolute hardest that I possibly can.”

& PHOTO BY ANNA ENGELS

............................

22 APRIL STATESMAN

DESIGN

The new high school gym opening in the fall of 2021 will be in the middle of a 200 meter track .

CAVALIERS’ NEW COMPETITORS by

GaGe Gohl

LHS athletes prepare for the transformation to JHS athletes.

With Jefferson High School coming to Sioux Falls next year, school boundaries have been shuffling around town nonstop, causing several students with inconvenient locations a ticket to a new future. Multiple students, athletes and coaches all around the Sioux Falls School District are being forced to leave their school from the past years to start a new population at JHS. Whether you are involved in the sports world competitively or casually, sports always provide people with several memories other than just winning and losing. For many athletes and coaches, being able to compete for LHS provides students with far more than just simply playing their sport. For certain athletes who will be attending JHS next fall, LHS athletics gifted values athletes will never forget.

“I’m going to miss how everyone played for each other and how it wasn’t just a one person game,” said sophomore basketball and football London Kolb. “Everyone had a lot of fight in them and it was just fun to go to battle with them.”

With JHS moving athletes across town to compete, some see the move as a chance to be a part of something great. Some even

find themselves thankful for the opportunity for a switch.

“I think it will be a good opportunity for me to have a new coach and play with new people,” said sophomore basketball player Malorie Nelson.

While athletes are oftentimes the focus of the new athletic programs coming to new schools, having coaches that are grateful for the chance to be a part of something new is also a huge asset for these new schools.

“Coaching is a passion of mine. The opportunity doesn’t come open very often to be a Head Coach in Sioux Falls. I feel fortunate,” said current wrestling coach Todd Wells, and future head coach of the JHS wrestling team.

Some of people’s worst fears when moving to a new school often prove to be making friendships like the ones they had in their previous schools. For some it may be easier than others to attempt making a connection with new teammates.

“I really like basketball a lot. It should be easy for me to just fit in and mesh with people,” said Nelson.

High school athletics often prove to be some of the most memorable times in athletes’ lives. Some athletes find the bonds that they build with their teammates as the greatest part of their experience.

“My favorite memory is probably the bus rides, like when we went to Rapid, it was just a good bonding experience with my teammates,” said Nelson.

While building a connection with teammates is one of the most important aspects to sports, oftentimes the memories that athletes remember the most come from the heat of the battle in competition.

“The playoff game against Washington when we got that huge Hail Mary to go to the second round, or when Elliott [Whitney] hit a game winner against Roosevelt, just a bunch of crazy close games that ended in our favor that I will never forget,” said Kolb.

While schools continue to cycle students and athletes in and out year after year, there always seems to be a pretty consistent coaching staff despite the constant changes on the rosters. For coaches,

sPoRts

arguably one of the best parts of their

experience is watching players grow and evolve after multiple seasons of coaching. “[I loved] seeing the development and accomplishments of the wrestlers,” said Wells.

One of the aspects that makes athletics so enjoyable at all levels are rivalries. With a new school being around to compete with the others, the image of competing against LHS is an interesting concept to think about.

“I have thought about it a lot, and I am not excited for it. It’s gonna be very different coming into the gym and playing the guys that I came [to high school] with and love playing with so it’s going to be very hard,” said Kolb.

Although rivalries are oftentimes against those you dislike the most in sports, some find that even amongst cross town rivals friends can still be made along the way.

“I am actually looking forward to it.

I have a lot of good friends on a lot of different teams, and when I compete against them it’s always funny and jokes when you match up against them, so I can already picture how that’s gonna go with a few of my teammates here,” said Nelson.

Whether everyone is ready or not, the Patriots and Cavaliers are going to be one of the most exciting matchups to look forward to in years to come.

“It will be a fun rivalry!” said Wells. photos by desiGn by

GreGG Gohl GaGe Gohl & hannah Cisar

The JHS basketball court will be a full NBA size court, one of only two full size courts in South Dakota. lhsstatesman.com

23

perspectiVes

NOPLACELIKE‘NOMADLAND’ by

Thompson Wakefield

For the first time in what feels like forever, South Dakota has been in the news for a positive reason: being the filming location for the award-winning film “Nomadland.”

Winning Best Motion Picture Drama and Best Director at the 78th Golden Globe Awards, “Nomadland” follows the story of an older woman named Fern in her tiring yet rewarding journey across the United States. After the death of her husband and the destruction of her town, Fern makes the decision to leave her old life behind and purchases a van to live and travel in. From getting a job at Amazon and joining a campground with other nomads to living and working in our very own Wall, South Dakota, Fern constantly comes face-to-face with new people and experiences in her life of uncertainty. Although the film is far from exciting, “Nomadland” is able to keep the viewers hooked by teaching them the same life lessons Fern learns in her seemingly infinite trek.

Additionally, this urge to escape that penetrates the mind of most viewers makes “Nomadland” entirely relatable, even if the viewer has never experienced the nomadic lifestyle. Freedom, independence, excitement, the unknown and above all else, actually living, are some of the most desirable traits known to man, as well as core components of these travelers’ lives. One does not have to be “houseless” to relate to Fern and the rest of the nomads, rather, they only need a feeling of dissatisfaction with their current lives.

To many South Dakotans, the representation of our state in “Nomadland” came as a welcome surprise, but also raised the question of why? Why did the creators decide to include Wall Drug and Badlands National Park in Fern’s grand expedition?

phoTos by design by

My oWn exPerience Upon asking myself this question, I decided it was necessary to make my own trip up to Wall and figure out what made this place such an important representation of the nomadic lifestyle.

The oftentimes boring and unattractive drive from Eastern South Dakota to Western South Dakota was only made entertaining by the countless billboards advertising Wall Drug, a staple of the world-famous tourist trap. To really embrace the nomadic lifestyle, I stopped at a few locations along the way, one of which being the town of Mitchell.

Unlike Fern, however, I did not meet any new friends as the people of Mitchell seemingly forgot that you are supposed to wear masks in public.

After arriving at Wall, I checked into a kitschy and somewhat unnerving motel, a sign for what the rest of my trip would look like. The following morning, I entered Wall Drug with little expectations, and after spending hours in the outlandish “drug store,” left feeling giddy and wildly confused. Bill Hustead, the internally praised founder of Wall Drug, took one of the most boring types of businesses imaginable and turned it into a one-of-a-kind family attraction.

A ginormous Jackelope, a miniature church for travelers, disturbing animatronics and mannequins, thousanddollar art pieces and the smell of cigarette smoke and fresh donuts are only a few of the many things to behold at Wall Drug.

Although it is obvious that Hustead’s goal was just to make a quick buck off the tourism industry, he also completely went against normality and created something one can only describe as bizarre.

Similarly, throughout the entirety of Nomadland, Fern is viewed as an oddity by most of her friends and family. She takes her boring and depressing life and does something most people would never even consider, and manages to create something wonderful.

In addition to Wall Drug, Fern also lands a job at a campsite in Badlands National Park, a quick drive from Wall.

Although Wall Drug was interesting, it paled in comparison to the beauty of these ancient formations. As far as the eye

can see, tall and deep erosions swallowed the land in an otherwise dull part of the country. The freedom one feels standing atop the Badlands is unmatched in the lives of an average American, being almost indescribable.

This clear connection between Fern’s life, the uniqueness of Wall Drug and the freedom of the Badlands makes Southwestern South Dakota perfect for Nomadland. Not only do I highly recommend watching “Nomadland,” but I equally as much recommend visiting Wall Drug and the Badlands afterward.

This one-day viewing and adventure is an excellent way to understand a nomad.

Thompson Wakefield sara Croghan

24 april statesman

lhsstatesman.com

25

w

LET’S S

ince LHS first opened its doors, student media has risen to be one of the most impactful sources of students’ voices. Many students have been granted the opportunity to write within the school newspaper or yearbook and represent the opinions of the student body.

Students’ opinions were often displayed throughout many older issues of the Statesman that included entire columns dedicated to students “speaking up,” including qualities of the school that affected them. They discussed their viewpoints concerning all types of topics: prayer in school, blue passes, mandatory drills and many more.

In an opinion piece from 1994 titled “Discipline needs to be fair,” LHS student Emily Babcock stresses the importance of fair rule enforcement, mentioning that “schools have turned into an environment where the amount of time spent on enforcing the rules often surpasses the amount of time spent on actual learning.”

In many instances, the Statesman staff even inserted a column urging student opinion, reminding LHS that “opinions pro and con are always welcomed by the staff and are greatly appreciated,” and that the “Statesman is published for the interests and enjoyment of the student body.”

As LHS grew in size and student population, so did the expansion of student media. Today, we are granted incredible tools to produce professional stories and layouts; however, we often lack a complete survey of the student body and all the possible opinions.

Many students’ opinions can be heard throughout the hallways, during their lunch conversations or even in their extracurriculars. But when it comes

DESIGN BY

26 APRIL STATESMAN

LILLI EPPINGA

BY

PERSPECTIVES

LILLI EPPINGA

to discussing them in classrooms or publishing them to a broader audience, there is a great lack of expression.

Adults are aware of the unpredictability and the unpleasant aspects of the world outside of education, and many students are too, but harsh topics are often avoided in the classroom.

Even though we are young, many of us are on the verge of becoming adults and on our path to the real world, but it doesn’t feel like we are treated as such, nor does it seem like school properly prepares us for the real world.

There are certain aspects of our education that support this idea: students are told to rely on agendas to use the restroom across the hall, a parent to call them in if absent and teachers decide when and where they get to be or a doctor’s note to count a student’s absence fully excused.

If a student is late to class, they are “swept,” and sent to the lunchroom to stay the whole period, even if it’s just a few minutes. Truthfully, missing 55 minutes of a class with useful information shouldn’t be prioritized over missing a few after a rough morning.

While there are countless exceptions to these few examples and most likely incidents in the past to cause them, it does imply that the students who are actively striving to grow in their independent and intellectual abilities are somewhat stunted on their path to maturity.

The education system has always been decided on behalf of the adults and authority figures in which we are taught to abide by each regulation with no retaliation. But if education is truly for us, shouldn’t we have a say in the system? I want to have a voice in our education, not just a voice that plans the prom, but a voice where we as students can take our futures into our own hands.

Sam Larsen, 11th

“Include better topics or make the Statesman a little more fun and step away from the more serious type. Just get out of the element that it’s serious and create fun dialog, but of course, if there’s a serious matter that’s occurring then make it serious.”

Allison Weeden, 12th

“The bathrooms need renovating. They probably haven’t been renovated since, when? the 70’s? The tiles are chipped, the air dryers don’t work, the sinks don’t work half of the time, the stalls are full of graffiti, and there are not enough stalls.

If the school doesn’t have enough funds, start a fundraiser.

Simple. Just get those ugly pink tiles out of here and replace it with something more modern and hygienic!”

Oscar Mata-Vasquez, 10th

“I “I think think not not much much is is done done to to make make sure sure that that students students get get along along well well with with each each other.” other.”

Johana Brower, 12th

“There are not enough parking spaces for the amount of students we have. Either build a bigger parking lot or give less passes to the underclassman.”

Hannah Lias, 11th

“It “It goes goes over over your your nose, nose, for for the the love love of of God, God, it it goes goes over over your your nose.” nose.”

Amelia Poulos, 11th

TALK...

“It seems as if grades are more important than a student’s mental well-being.”

LHSSTATESMAN.COM

27

perspectiVes

A

Margaret Ann

s teenagers, Gen Z is all about keeping up with trends. One of the trends I follow is wearing what I want.

If you haven’t been living under a rock for the past year or so, you know that Gen Z has taken it upon themselves to move the fashion industry away from skinny jeans and typical millennial trends by viciously attacking millennials on platforms like Twitter and TikTok. However, only recently has the generation above clapped back with ruthlessness.

I am a proud baggy jean fanatic and see nothing wrong — and everything right — about wearing the comfortable denim. They flatter my big figure skater thighs and allow me to breathe without worrying about stretching the fabric out or getting a muffin top. I haven’t received many rude comments from people my age regarding my choice of pants, but recently the comments from adults nearly twice my age have stacked up almost as tall as my 6 foot self. My boss at a graphic design boutique, someone that I assumed would know and love new trends, called my fashion choice out one day and told me that she thought my jeans were ugly. Since then, my teachers and adult family have made fun of my Madewells because “we had those back in the day” and “they’re so funny, trying to be trendy.”

Well you know what millennials? I’m not going to stop wearing what I want. I may be wearing the same jeans you wore in the 90s, but I love them. My style is me, not just a trend. Regardless of denim fit choice, everyone should love the jeans they’re in.

The

Skinny by

carly Wheeler & design by Margaret ann Mickelberg

photos by artWork

28 april statesman

Margaret ann Mickelberg & katie kroeze

Kroeze M

ost adults come to realize that they do not have to conform to society’s ideas of fashion.

But for me, I’ve been holding on to thinking I’m cool longer than what is probably acceptable.

This realization has been formed recently after GenZ’ers decided to cancel skinny jeans, side parts and the laughing emoji. All of which I partake in. As I read about this news on Facebook, (yes, I still use Facebook) I surprisingly and embarrassingly took it personally. I still try to look good when I leave my home, and I feel like I do a remotely good job of keeping up with the newest trends.

But now I am getting judged by a bunch of kids who don’t even know the ending to “Friends” based on my jean choices?

Listen GenZ. You may believe you know what’s cool, but all the “new” fashion trends that exist now are just repurposed fashion trends that went away for a reason. Crop tops went away because too many people who couldn’t pull them off ruined it. Flair jeans were defeated because they would get wet the second you stepped out the door. And mom jeans...well those have never been a thing. I know this because I lived through these trends. There’s a reason they went away. The millennials are the ones who tried very hard to remove these trends for future generations. Like Niki Minaj tweeted, “Gen Z is just mad the millennials are the BLUEPRINT. GenZ is playing the playground that millennials CREATED.” This current trend of bashing millennials on their style made me realize how much fashion influences others. Fashion helps people feel empowered and individualized; it’s what makes a person who they are. GenZ’ers not only have attacked millennials’ sense of fashion, but they have also attacked our sense of being. I am not ashamed to hold a coffee and say, “I can’t function without my coffee!” or “Adulting is hard!” or quote any “Mean Girls” line. I am also not ashamed that I tried to part my hair down the middle this morning and then decided, “That’s not me” and immediately went back to the comfortability of my side part. This is me. I am not going to change it because someone told me it makes me old.

Although I know that this argument is not a big deal, I choose to engage in it because I find it humorous. I am sure my generation created some awful fashion trend that the generation before me hated. They moved on, and millennials will too. Millennials now just need to be confident and comfortable in their own skin, even if they are covered by skinny jeans, wedge booties and a Team Gryffindor t-shirt.

lhsstatesman.com

29

PERSPECTIVES

The Road Already Traveled BY

AUTUMN TOWE

I

magine driving in a strange place that is dark and unknown. The fog is dense and your headlights only seem to reflect off the low hanging clouds, further blinding you from your path. All you are trying to do is return home. This journey would be nearly impossible.

Trying to reach our “home,” our ultimate destination, is one of the biggest challenges we face in life. We are all on our own path trying to reach the pinnacle of success and fulfillment. If we do not know where we are and where we came from, how can we ever expect ourselves to reach our fullest potential? The world existed before you entered it. Before you were born, the circumstances of your life were formed by the actions of those before you. A specific series of events that were completely out of your control led to your life being what it is right now. Sometimes these events are blamed for one’s

misfortune, like a family curse.

Sometimes, gratitude stems from the sacrifices made to bring you the life you live. But more than looking back, knowing your past is what propels you forward; it’s what gives you the faith to keep going, even if your vision is not perfectly clear. If the choices of those that came before you have put you in a challenging spot, then you have the opportunity to make a change. If they had not made those choices, what would make you yearn for a better life? If those before have given up so much, all attributing to the life you have, why throw that away when you could honor those sacrifices and live a life worth dying for or worth living for? No matter what happened, all history—your history—has value.

It cannot be forgotten or ignored; it holds the key to the success of an individual and a nation. Without the past, how would we ever reach the future?

It was in Lithuania during June of 1941. My great-greatuncle, Dr. Rajz, was a Jewish surgeon in Vilna. He did quality work and was very talented. After the start of World War II, when the Nazis invaded and established the Vilna ghetto, they feared their life would be ripped away from them. One of the Nazi generals told him that if he would be a surgeon for the Nazi regime, he and his family would be spared. Knowing many friends and family had been taken and their lives destroyed by this group’s horrible acts, he quickly refused, willing to face the consequences. They were put on a train, heading towards an extermination camp where they were ordered to be gassed. They were put on the ‘wrong’ train and were instead sent to a concentration camp where they stayed until the end of the war. After the war, my greatgreat-uncle and his family came to America and built a new life from the ground up in southern California. Their sacrifices and their strength to make the more difficult, yet morally correct choice rather than taking the easy way out inspires me each day to live a better life and to not take their chance of survival for granted.

- AUTUMN TOWE

“I was very fortunate to grow up in a family that valued history in different ways. My mother was really into genealogy. She saw history through a personal lens, whereas my father took a broader approach. More politically active, he saw the connections between history and current events more clearly. An important lesson I learned from him is how events from the past shape our current world.”

- MS. HARTE

“My grandfather was a general in the Pakistan military. After the war in Iran, Kuwait was covered in minefields. The Pakistan army and six other armies were called to clear the fields. My grandfather led the effort to clear some of the fields. His operation was the most successful with the least amount of casualties and at the least cost. His confidence and bravery to take on a task that would require determination and courage gives me the strength to face any difficulty knowing no obstacle is too big.”

- AREEJ NAZIR

DESIGN

30 APRIL STATESMAN

& PHOTOTS BY AUTUMN TOWE

PHOTO PROVIDED BY

AREEJ NAZIR

LHSSTATESMAN.COM

31

FeatURes

BY

Red, blue, white, grey and camo print most people would never bash Husser’s are just a few of the many pairs of Crocs style, there are a few inevitable haters. that belong to avid Croc collector and “People call it ugly; they have called me LHS junior Ethan Husser. You might have heard of him, or you might have seen him; every day (no matter the weather), you can find Husser wearing shorts, a t-shirt and Crocs with socks.

“Honestly, I’ve been wearing Crocs since I was two,” said Husser. “It wasn’t really until about eighth grade when I started really collecting them. The problem I had was that Crocs were the only shoe I ever wore, so I needed more options that I could wear to school.”

Husser currently owns 15 pairs of Crocs in the same standard “Clog” style and in many different colors.

“I don’t really ever pay for them,” said Husser. “Usually, they are a gift from my parents or family for my birthday, Christmas or just because they know it’s the only shoe I ever wear.”

The weather and other unfortunate circumstances are never deciding factors for Husser’s iconic fits. “[I wear Crocs] everywhere except work. They told me I couldn’t do that,” said Husser.

“But other than that, I wear shorts, a t-shirt and Crocs... and socks, you can’t forget about the socks. The only time you can ever find me without socks on is when I’m at the pool or on a beach.”

Husser’s eccentric style is definitely noticeable at LHS, especially with all the bright colors he wears and his tendency to mix and match. Although PHOTOS BY

HENRY HAFT KATIE KROEZE

32 APRIL STATESMAN DESIGN BY

HENRY HAFT

weird, but I don’t know man, it’s just rude,” said Husser. “Screw the haters bro, Crocs are life changing. If you don’t own a pair, I would definitely recommend it. They are super comfortable, very ‘airy’ if you have hot feet and they are just the perfect shoe. They also aren’t very expensive like Jordans or those other $200 or $300 pairs of shoes.”

Besides Croc collecting, Husser is involved in LHS wrestling, martial arts and works at Look’s Meat Market outside of school. Although Husser’s style is unique from other classmates, he has proven to be brazen by not caring what people think about him or his style. Every day, new fashion trends arrive, and many high school students move directly on to whatever is cool and new. Perhaps LHS, and society as a whole, need more people like Husser; people who are brave enough to do what they want without caring what others will think.

English writer and philosopher Alexander Kinglake said that everyone should live by these simple words: “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never break me.” Unknowingly, these are the words that Husser lives by, and everyone should try and do a better job of being themselves.

lhsstatesman.com

33

you are now entering THE ONION RING....

to picture what my life would be like if I hadn’t taken the leap into journalism when I did.

That’s right, I simply can’t even imagine it.

BY CARLY WHEELER, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Especially in the last year, when news ing build this ike a lot of seniors in outlets were practically the only string gling strug right now, I’ve been connecting our individual, digital lives to the an in I’m s. week al the past sever rest of the world, journalism has proved to my of most for d perio ng odd waiti be an essential aspect of our society. There’s p arshi schol in ning drow I’m something about sharing your voice with college decisions, a with up wake I day each and others via written words — it’s different s application s, from solely speaking our thoughts. Writing is little less motivation to show up to my classe as far permanent; it has the power to leave an impact let alone to get my homework done. As for loss on generations to come.

Statesman goes, I’m admittedly at a of midst the For this reason, I’ve found myself altering story and design ideas; I’m in of d instea So .” the classic social justice exclamation “Speak up my yearly, mid-March “funk last one with up come for others” to “Write up for others.” Writing pressuring myself to final my for idea story ive is an outlet for all — those who don’t want outstandingly creat to ed decid I hief, r-in-C Edito as to speak, those who can’t speak and those monthly issue best. do I what It’s . write and who want to speak but also want their voices down just sit I transcribed. In the last year more than any I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how . place other time in history, journalism has become ended up on the Statesman in the first I ish an effective avenue to social advocacy. With What started as a plea from an Engl I, se becau alism one simple scroll through the Apple News app teacher to sign up for journ omed bloss has g,” writin — or even through the Snapchat explore page “had good voice in my high in ity ident my — we see people writing out their opinions into what is essentially for others to read. Whether it be a teenager school. sharing their unfiltered thoughts about an In theory, it sounds relatively simple: I enjoy r injustice in their community or an esteemed crafting stories for people to read. The flutte spark columnist at the New York Times publishing of my heart when I write articles, the it’s ts, an opinion article in support of the Black Lives in my eyes when I design page layou for live I all it’s Matter movement, we all practice journalism indescribable. I could tell you — alism journ he in one way or another. Journalism at its core is — that I eat, sleep and breat . truth e whol the simply shedding light on truth and advocating but that wouldn’t be a is alism journ : truth e for widespread communication.

Here is the whol nsely imme grow me d helpe I guess if you take one thing from this “ode has passion that to journalism” it should be that writing is as a person. Outside of our hour-long antly invaluable. Each and every person’s thoughts Statesman class period, I find myself const gh throu and opinions deserve to be preserved and employing the skills I have learned back ng learned from. Write on. writing. I have recently tried looki that girl us anxio on my freshman self — an thought she wasn’t bold or passionate enough to be on the Statesman — and have struggled

L

34 APRIL STATESMAN

CARLY WHEELER

where things aren’t QUITE as they seem

DESIGN BY

ONION RING

welcome to THE ONION RING

How to bag an economy boy- Mara Fendrich Dear COVID-19- anna engels The senior shtick- eMMa Johnson F is for family- sara croghan Blacklisted by LHS Gallon Gang: my survivor story- Kate Mccartney Meet the Varsity- Kaden FossuM & charley locKwood-Powell Words of wisdom- Paige gordon You have bigger things to worry about- sarah BoMhoFF Today in news- avery BlacKMan

The Onion Ring is a rendition of The Onion, which uses satire to entertain audiences on current events. Please do not take offense to these stories, as they are purely for entertainment purposes.

The Statesman

37 38 40 41 42 44 45 46 47

Has it been too long since you’ve experienced some classic, tasteful misogyny from a male suitor? Are you just a Grimes looking for her Elon Musk? Look no further ladies, because after spending years mastering the craft of attracting boys with a concerning emotional attachment to the economy, I have finally devised a foolproof method.

I know what you’re thinking: Why would I choose to pursue an economy boy when there are so many appealing genres of potential boyfriends, such as 5-in-1 shampoo boys or ‘devil’s advocate’ boys? Well, if you couldn’t tell by the ‘entrepreneur’ title in their business-set Instagram profiles, these boys are the men of tomorrow, looking towards a bright future in an income bracket they will never reach. Or, if you’re lucky enough, you could land one who bought GameStop stock. Before you begin your quest, though, you need to understand that economy boys are a diverse group. There are many subgenres with vast differences between them, so acquaint yourself with the basics: you have your Billy McFarland aspirers, ‘socially liberal but fiscally conservative’ types, ‘Smithfield needed to stay open’ types and so on. Note that this categorization is vastly different if you’re seeking women, and it would be like finding Elizabeth Holmes in a crowd of girl bossed capitalists.

Once you’ve completed your research, it’s time for your first step: fill up your schedule with the most pretentious sounding AP classes. Most of them will work for your purposes, but your best bet for finding love is in AP Macroeconomics. This is the breeding ground for all men who sound like Ben Shapiro, regardless of political affiliation, to throw hypotheticals at each other for 50 minutes at a time. If you play your cards right, potential suitors will be dying to take you under their wing. Select a target.

Onto step two: lie. It may seem strange, but seeing as your typical economy boy is somewhat fond

of this pastime, it will actually make you feel closer to him. Just like he pretends Bill Gates worked hard enough to rightfully earn his net worth, you’re going to pretend you didn’t know what AP Macroeconomics was when you signed up for it. Every once in a while, look around as if you don’t know where you are.

Step three: create your backstory. Of course, he can’t know that you’re a fully functioning person with a normal life story, because it could lead to him feeling threatened, so you’ll have to continue step two throughout the rest of the process. Get emotional enough about supply and demand curves to stir up some tears, then reach into a pocket or bra and wipe your face with a hundred dollar bill. You will need to carry enough cash on your person to alarm him. Don’t worry, counterfeit bills will also work if need be. When he asks where all of your bra money came from, explain that since your parents chose to raise you off-grid, your lack of social security number prevents you from opening a bank account, but that you make money by manifesting it. This will spark a condescending speech from him about spirituality and astrology in which he’ll end up revealing his birthday, which will tell you essential information about his abilities as a partner.

Unless he’s a pisces, in which case you should seek shelter immediately, you’ll be ready to move on to step four: push his buttons. Again, the key is to be oblivious. Whenever he uses a word with over two syllables, adoringly ask him what it means. He will find this cute at first, but it will get old fast. In the midst of his frustration, he will mistake his emotions for romantic passion. Eventually, you may find that conversing with you wears him out so much that he’ll stop trying to make you understand what he’s talking about. Personally, I prefer to leave men in this hollowed out state, but you can choose to place healing crystals on him to revive his spirit. When he’s recovered, he will be a new man ready to lean on you and model your guys’ marital agreements after MacKenzie and Jeff Bezos. I wish you luck, ladies. Go hustle.

HOW TO BAG AN ECONOMY BOY BY

MARA FENDRICH

DESIGN BY

MARA FENDRICH ARTWORK BY

CARLY WHEELER

LHSSTATESMAN.COM

37

onIon RInG

H

by

AnnA EngEls

appy one-year anniversary to the love of my life, COVID-19.

Although we have had our ups and downs, you made this past year of my life appalling.

Sorry, I meant appealing.

One year of your presence consumed me with more emotion than I had ever experienced in my monotonous life; one year of nothing but pure happiness.

“Time flies with those you love” doesn’t apply to our nonetheless, uneasy relationship. You single-handedly made this one year feel like five by allowing me to forcibly mature under your watch. You not only made the concept of time slow nearly to a halt, but gave me nothing to replenish this gap of plentiful space with.

You blessed me with a congested house, yet an empty void of numerous hours waiting to be filled. You influenced me in a way that I can never verbally complain about boredom again, so thank you.

That’s all I can say. Thank you.

Thank you for teaching me that family is valuable by depriving me of their hugs for months. Thank you for making depression so widespread it became the norm, just so those struggling wouldn’t feel like outliers. Thank you for taking the time to humble the “prime-time” of my life. Thank you for changing the way people view the world and giving our children another chapter in their history classes (they will be sure to thank you for that as well). Thank you for taking away jobs and ultimately robbing our economy.

I’m in sheer disbelief that you found me, and even more in awe that you decided to dwell on the circumstances in order to strictly benefit my well-being. Have I thanked you for that yet? I applaud your selfish actions towards me, my life and the ones lucky enough to experience it furthermore.

Sorry, I meant selfless.

I remember the first time someone mentioned your name. At that moment you were nothing more than a mysterious phantom plaguing people’s minds; in mine, you weren’t real. No one thought you would reach us, but within months you swept our country with fervent confusion and passionate hysteria. Little did I know, you would etch imperishable memories throughout my brain, and lead me to believe that I couldn’t live without you.

With me wrapped densely around your finger, I voluntarily gave up my social life to abide by your generous love; not thinking twice about putting you before myself.

Your bountiful gifts, since I have met you, are incomparable to anything I have ever encountered before. Your arbitrary acts of generosity began momentarily after I recognized your allure. They started off simple, and briskly deepened into a massacre of my thoughts and feelings. Your gift of silence was the first to arrive, tied neatly in a bow. You left me, and everyone surrounding me, astounded when your appearance became more than a hoax, and a wave of tranquility shattered the world. Next, came a present I never

thought I would acquire: relief. Relief of withdrawing the new fad, masks, also granted by you, after a prolonged day of maddening suffocation. This was a concept, unvalued until you made it a desire. The gifts kept coming, and they kept getting more extravagant.

A lifetime is hardly long enough to cram in all the plans I have for us and our erratic future. I feel as though I know everything about you, but at the same time, I know nothing about you. I want to know why you chose to annihilate a portion of the human population. Or how you managed to monopolize nearly every conversation at family dinner tables.

Only inhumane people could get close to admiring your work, yet you are utterly fascinating in your ambiguity. You are the most notoriously hated occurrence possibly ever in human existence, and I can’t comprehend how you managed to do it. Our future seemed to have no end because no one could appear to tame you.

It took all but 365 days to find a cure for your contagious love, after spreading it from town to town, house to house.

Although the cure isn’t unrolling as fast as your captivating influence on me, it is healing many open wounds you violently imposed upon people around the world.

It has been one notable year, but you won’t be staying for a second. Thank you for all that you have done for me and every other grieving family. You will not be missed.

Sorry, I meant will be.

photo by dEsign by

38 38aPRIl aPRIl statesman statesman

ChloE houwmAn AnnA EngEls

lhsstatesman.com

39

A

hh, senior year. The idea of skipping school and going to wild parties lingers in the air.

The chance to finally be at the top of not just LHS, but the entire K-12 hierarchy, is a deceiving power-hungry mindset. The hype starts when you leave middle school and lasts until you finish junior year. If only the underclassmen knew that senior year is not all it is cracked up to be.

Social media has spurred the popular hashtag #SPS (senior ‘pic’ Sunday). Timelines are flooded with seniors boasting about their long-awaited “glow-ups.” Every time I sign into Instagram, I feel like I see the same photos over and over. Rusty urban stairs are paired with a guy in a plaid flannel jacket. His smile is forced, wishing he was in shorts instead of the jeans that his mom forced him to wear so that his grad party cards will impress her PTA friends. A girl grasping the end of her long, cotton pastel dress as she wanders mindlessly through a field. With a giddy grin plastered on her face, she doesn’t care that ticks are clinging to the stalks of wheat, ready to jump for her ankles. If you want to know what taking senior photos is like, plaster a fake smile on your face for hours and think about wearing sweats and watching Netflix instead. Sound appealing now?

Senioritis: the one thing you can try to outrun, but just can’t escape. Seniors might not know that there are several strains of this infectious disease. Often, symptoms start showing up the minute you pull into the parking lot on the first day of school. These symptoms include procrastination, 24/7 sleepiness, not wanting to return after open lunch, yearning for half-days and lack of motivation. Means of subduing senioritis include attending every possible sports game, consuming as much caffeine as possible and lengthy group chat discussions over anything but homework.

The only known cure for senioritis is a signed diploma on graduation day. Bracing yourself for a long road of suffering is crucial.

40 APRIL STATESMAN

A couple of weeks into the first semester, seniors develop a certain “vibe” that they tend to embody for the rest of the year. This is NOT to be confused with senioritis. The “vibes” involve prioritizing trivial situations while knowing in the back of your head that there are more important subjects you should be tending to. For example, one should attend their seventh-hour study hall, but instead, they leave to get Starbucks and take a nap. Senior year is stressful and mental health days are crucial to keep us on track to receive our diplomas.

If you are a senior, these three questions most likely hit close to home: Should I be doing this? Probably not. Is this going to damage me more mentally? Probably. Am I going to go through with it? Absolutely.

While seniors wander throughout the hallways, we fully understand why our predecessors disliked us. These 14 and 15 year-olds have some truly embarrassing stories that make us question what happens in their mysterious minds. Freshmen are new to the school, but they should be able to pick up on social cues by the third week of school. Blurting out a string of profanities while a teacher is present will not score you extra credit in English for your extensive vocabulary: you will end up in trouble. Why do underclassmen feel the need to yell in the hallways? I know that there are 2,000-ish students.

I know that you need to get your friends’ attention, but since my grandma can outwalk you in the hallway, why don’t you text them instead? Nobody needs to hear your drama. It might seem significant at the moment, but none of the upperclassmen will care and neither will you in a couple of years, so stop emphasizing your conversations as we walk to our classes.

It takes blood, sweat and many tears (seriously, so many school-related breakdowns) to achieve senior status in the school. It is a bittersweet year that is full of memories but also one full of victorious triumphs.

Besides, jokes on you, underclassmen. We get to leave, and you are stuck here for a few more years!

20 21 DESIGN BY

ARTWORK BY CARLY WHEELER CARLY WHEELER & EMMA JOHNSON

“F”is for Family A wkward M unicipal I mployees L of Lincoln Y

BY

ONION RING

SOMEONE WHO DOES NOT WANT

TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS CONTENT

Here at the Statesman we believe in family. So we decided to make one... t o g e t h e r. . . with these teachers...on a couch.

DESIGN

& PHOTOS BY SARA CROGHAN

LHSSTATESMAN.COM

41

OniOn rinG he left with his gallon in hand, paying no attention to my exasperating note.

The fourth step in my diabolical five-point plan came to fruition on Feb. 10, 2021. I took all of my Gallon Gang knowledge to fill out an admission application to the best of my ability… aiming to get every answer incorrect. The application is a locked Google quiz that is only accessible on k12 chromebooks. I said my name was “Cameron Rhode” and answered questions with the mindset of enraging the Gallon Gang. The form is scored out of 856,776 points, and unfortunately I still managed to score 1,380 points — which is far higher than I would have hoped.

After returning from Presidents’ Day break on Feb. 17, 2021, I noticed Rhode did not have his beloved gallon. I blatantly called him out for setting a horrible example for his fellow gang members and asked him why he was not toting his gallon around. He explained that he had left his gallon in his car and because of the negative temperatures it had blown up, spurting water all over his car. He also claimed that I had no place to criticize him because “I do not know anything about Gallon Gang.” Little does he know, I’m practically an expert. I have a question for the Gallon Gang members, is this the kind of leader you want to respect? Someone who leaves their gallon out to die in the cold and fails to buy another one over the four-day weekend? On Feb. 18, 2021 Rhode did not have his gallon again. He protested he “left it in his first period class” and when I told him I would report him to the Gallon Gang board, he exclaimed, “So, you’re going to report me to me?!” He was becoming so exasperated that he was almost over the edge. It was time for phase five.

Feb. 19, 2021 while Rhode was out of the room, I drew a huge “x” in sharpie on his brand new gallon.

He was officially infuriated. I was beginning to feel the tiniest bit of remorse for Rhode because he genuinely seemed sad, but I had come too far to back down now. I told him that it was me who defaced his gallon and finally, Rhode had no choice but to make me the honorary 17th member of the Gallon Gang blacklist.

BLACKLISTED by lhs gallon gang

“my survivor story” by

Kate Mccartney

T

he 2020-21 school year has been unconventional in many ways, but one of the most unique phenomenons to arise at LHS is the Gallon

Gang.

If you are unfamiliar with the plethora of students trucking gallon-sized water jugs around the halls, let me catch you up. The LHS Gallon Gang is a very serious institution made up of approximately 44 “jug members,” who are each required to tote a gallon water jug around every Tuesday. The group is founded by cross country runner and one of the five Statesman Editors-in-Chief, Cameron Rhode. For more background information on the gang, check out online Editor-in-Chief Madeleine Kemper’s story “The thirst for inclusion,” which can be found on lhsstatesman.com.

I have never been one to live a life of crime and have always wondered what it would feel like to be on the Gallon Gang’s “blacklist.” I came up with a fivepoint plan that was sure to get me blacklisted with the severity of an 11 (on a one to ten scale). First, I would start by sneakily making conversation to Rhode regarding his gallon, involving some roasts and slightly hurtful commentary. During phase two, I would openly

42 april statesman

taunt his gallon in front of our Statesman class, adding an element of embarrassment. Third, I would take physical action by stealing his gallon. For phase four, I would fill out a gallon gang application belittling him to gain the attention of the rest of the gang. Finally, during phase five I would vandalize his gallon and denounce the gang once and for all.

After fulfilling phases one and two through verbal aggression, on Feb. 9, 2021, I decided it was time for more drastic measures to be taken; welcome to phase three. Rhode had left his gallon unattended in the J-Lab and was talking with Mrs. Kroeze in her classroom.

I made the split-second decision to hide his gallon under a desk, and it went off without a hitch. However, after a good 20 minutes had gone by, Rhode still had not noticed the absence of his gallon. I needed him to know my wrath. Fellow editors Madeleine Kemper and Carly Wheeler (along with Kroeze) called Rhode into the classroom once again to discuss “layout.” I put the gallon back in its original place and added a sticky note to it that read: “Beware dork. I can take this gallon whenever.” I thought for sure this would get him riled up, but no. HE DID NOT REACT. Once the bell rang,

carLy WHeeLer Kate Mccartbney

artWOrK by DeSIGn by

first first name Kate

last name

title

fake McCartney news journalist

severity of crime (1-11)

crime description

11

propaganda, taunting and full on opposition to the grand regime

cleansing status

filthy lHsstatesman.COm

43

BY

ONION RING

KADEN FOSSUM & CHARLEY LOCKWOOD-POWELL

BOYS TENNIS James Yousef (11)

Anthony Volland (11)

Good Luck Charm: “I use the same shock absorb on my tennis racket every time.”

Pre-Game Ritual: “Get in a good stretch or eat a Cliff Bar.” Guilty Pleasure: “I check out my butt in the mirror to make sure

Good Luck Charm: “I don’t even go to your school.”

Pre-Game Ritual: “Please leave me alone.”

Guilty Pleasure: “Who even let you guys in here.”

BASEBALL Ty Schafer (12)

Scott Amundson

Good Luck Charm: “I eat a jar of pickles before each game.”

Pre-Game Ritual: “Blowing a kiss to Jackson Geerts’ mom.”

Guilty Pleasure: “When I lather up my glove, I also cover my body with

Good Luck Charm: “My Tiger Woods golf ball.”

Pre-Game Ritual: “Riding the bus to the games.”

Guilty Pleasure: “Drinking a nice unsweetened iced tea.”

the oil.”

Trey Naasz

Good Luck Charm: “My butterfly tattoo.”

Pre-Game Ritual: “I eat a full bag of barf flavored jelly beans.”

Guilty Pleasure: “What is COVID-19?”

GIRLS TRACK Good Luck Charm: “My Lincoln Patriot face mask.”

Pre-Game Ritual: “Holding a plank for 15 minutes straight, and if I

Good Luck Charm: “My shoes that I have had since eighth grade.”

Pre-Game Ritual: “Eating an orange or some meat.”

Guilty Pleasure: “I still watch Veggie Tales.”

Here, we have two quotes that are the epitome of teenage rebellion. The phrases “be cool and skip school” and “be a thug and sell drugs'' speak to me on a deep level. These simplistic rhymes seem to light the spark of my more defiant side. In a way, these quotes capture the essence of high school and represent the angst of young adulthood.

Behind the smudged ink, these words convey frustration with the system that is LHS. Is it frustration with the district? Is it directed towards the teachers and their way of educating us? Or is it the student body to which this individual holds great contempt? Regardless of who this artist’s words are targeting, you feel their anger through their prose. I can feel their anger and emphasize with their struggle. And unfortunately, I do not believe I can change their mind.

& PHOTOS BY PAIGE GORDON

AT TENTION LHS TEACHERS

don’t get it, I start over.”

Jackson Geerts (11)

Good Luck Charm: “I comment on a Kobe Bryant post saying how he was overrated.”

Pre-Game Ritual: “I eat two apples.”

Guilty Pleasure: “I think Charlie Mickelson is mad cute.”

DESIGN & PHOTOS BY KADEN FOSSUM & CHARLEY LOCKWOOD-POWELL

AVERY BLACKMAN

Guilty Pleasure: “Drinking a two liter Mountain Dew straight.”

GIRLS GOLF

44 APRIL STATESMAN

When the world is beating me down, I look to the wise words of others to lift my spirits. And so often, I find inspiration written on the bathroom walls. Most frown upon these bathroom poets and scoff at their work, seeing it as nothing more than immature scrawls. Some may call it vandalism, but I call it art.

DESIGN

Kaaren Huber

Lauren Merkley (11)

Good Luck Charm: “My pony tail.”

Pre-Game Ritual: “Blasting sad music in my car.”

Guilty Pleasure: “Wiping my driver with a napkin.”

PAIGE GORDON

BOYS TRACK

Good Luck Charm: “My secret necklace made of Sydni Wietfeld’s baby teeth.”

Pre-Game Ritual: “I cover myself with butter and baby oil to make myself faster.”

Guilty Pleasure: “Smelling my track spikes after each race.”

Camille Scott (10)

BY

DESIGN BY

Gavin Fischer (12)

I am looking good for my match.”

This quote makes me contemplate humanity's flaws. We truly are all fools. Humans are simple creatures attempting to disguise themselves as a “superior species.” The harsh reality is, humans are dopey half wits blissfully unaware of their ignorance. No matter what we do, we will always be frail mortals. And when we die, nothing we ever did will have an impact. Surely, those little red words will haunt me to the grave.

LHSSTATESMAN.COM

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ONION RING

DESIGN BY

BY

AVERY BLACKMAN

DESIGN BY

SARAH BOMHOFF

SARAH BOMHOFF

DESIGN BY

46 APRIL STATESMAN

AVERY BLACKMAN

LHSSTATESMAN.COM

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