F EBRUARY 2019
V OL . 53, N O . 5
TABLE
OF CONTENTS ENTERTAINMENT
ON THE COVER 8-9 ZANE ROSS
18-19
ARTWORK BY VINCE HOFER, INSPIRED BY “SCOTT PILGRIM VS THE WORLD”
21
PERSPECTIVES 37
35
DIVORCE
46-47
UP & COMING PATRIOTS
6-7
FYRE FESTIVAL
11
TRE MINISTRIES
12-13
WELCOME TO PERSPECTIVES
29
4-5
MIME CLUB
22-23 BLIND DATE
38 WORK THIS OUT 39
EDUCATING ACROSS THE NATION
FEATURE
THE EGG
VINCE- I HATE YOU
URBAN DICTIONARY: TEACHER EDITION
14-15
SEEING DOUBLE
16-17
MR. UTHE
THE CHALLENGES OF 2020
SPORTS
IN EVERY ISSUE 30-31
STATESBUDS
42-43
40-41
THE PALINDROME
44-45 REDEFINED
26-27JANSEN’S MARCH MADNESS
ENGAGE
32-33 TREYWAY TIME
S t a t e s m a n The Statesman’s purpose is to inform and entertain with an honest and accurate approach. The opinions of students, staff members and faculty are expressed in a tasteful manner. The Statesman is a member of the National Scholastic Press Association, the Columbia Scholastic Press Association and is a winner of the George H. Gallup award for “…distinctive achievements in scholastic journalism.” The Statesman was awarded a Pacemaker in 2007 and was nominated for the 2012-2013 year. The editors and adviser take responsibility for the content of the Statesman. Editors- in-Chief: Gage Gramlick and Hannah Hansen
OP/ED Editor: Katie Osmundson
Photographers: Riley Rasmussen and Jaida Sorensen
Feature Editor: Taylor Ericson
Meet the Varsity: Chloe Crissman and Somer Luitjens
Sports Editor: Somer Luitjens
Design Editor: Taylor Ericson
Entertainment Editor: Timothy Stolp
Staff Writers: Aaron Condron, Georgia Conlin, Kate Fehrs, Chloe Harbaugh, Parker Hibbard, Vince Hofer, Morgan McDonnel, Margaret Meierhenry, Brooke O’Connor, Easton Plourde, Brita Quello, Maryam Rauuf, Chloe Robinson, Nicole Schmitz, Emily Shank, Kathryn Sweeter, Nyah Thaemert, Carly Wheeler Business Manager: Cameron Rhode Adviser: Katie Kroeze
Up and comi patriots Q&A BY NYAH THAEMERT & MORGAN MCDONNEL
LHS consistently brings in new teachers and students that uphold the high standards that have been set over the years. This year, we have many outstanding students that exemplify talents in various ways, along with the new faculty members that have already made a positive impact on LHS.
Mr. Stacey
Caleb Hiatt, 9
Q A Q A Q A 4
What sports do you play here at LHS?
“I play basketball, football and tennis.” Do you feel a lot of pressure playing JV? “Not really. The first game kind of, but after that, not really.” Who is your role model for older players? “Probably my older brother, because I have played with him a lot of times, and I just really like playing with and against him.”
Q A Q A Q A Q A
What has been your favorite part of LHS so far? “I think just getting to know the students and trying to create relationships outside of just math and also, getting to know the awesome staff.” Was it hard to settle in here? “No, it wasn’t hard at all. Everyone was very nice; students were nice, teachers were nice, principals were nice.”
Why did you choose to teach algebra? “I think it was just a mixture of some of my favorite teachers were math teachers. My favorite subject is math, and I think that I am good at math.” Do you have any goals or hopes for your future at LHS?
“To make as many kids as possible have a different appreciation for math.”
ing
Mr. Naasz
Dani Koang, 11
A
Ayush Patel, 9
Q A Q A
Q A
Q A What is your schedule? “EVA, Spanish 2, Acc English, AP Human Geo, Acc Chemistry, Acc Algebra 2.” What do you want to be when you grow up? “I want to go into Wall Street and become a stock broker and then invest my money into the hotel business and other industries. Also, if possible, make my own company that has something to do with software engineering or start a brokerage firm. My back up plan for the future is to be a doctor.”
What college do you want to attend? “My dream college would have to be Stanford.”
Q
Q A Q A
What has been your favorite production that you have been a part of at LHS? “My favorite production that I’ve been a part of so far is definitely “The Plot Like Gravy Thickens.” It was so much fun to be a part of, and I became so much closer with a lot of theatre people because of the time we spent together during that show.”
Q A
Do you prefer plays or talent shows? “I prefer the plays; they’re so much fun, and it gives me more of an opportunity to meet different people and to be a part of something bigger.” Do you plan to pursue singing or acting in the future after high school? “Music and theatre will always be a part of my life. I would love to think that I can go to school for teaching and possibly be a theatre teacher one day.”
Q A
Is it weird teaching at the same place you attended high school? “Not really, I always thought about going into education because of the teachers and coaches that I had. They made an impact on my life and they kind of got me here. So, it is kind of cool that I could come back to LHS and do the same thing for some kids here.” Why did you choose to teach gym? “I chose physical education because sports have always been a part of my life. I did not want to be in a cubicle, and I did not want to be up in front in a classroom feeling like this is the only space that I had. So, like I said, coaching and sports have always been a huge push for me, so being able to do the same thing is just really why I chose it.” What has been your favorite part of LHS so far? “Obviously, coaching. I think the biggest thing for me is building relationships with kids. I think that that is what it’s all about. I kind of learned it from coach Jaws, because he was my coach and teacher. If I could build a relationship with a kid before I actually teach them something, I think that that is more beneficial than anything. Just being a friend and being someone for the kid to talk to has been a real joy.”
PHOTOS BY RILEY RASMUSSEN
5
6
The “Fyre” Project Did Not Bring The Heat BY JAIDA SORENSEN “Fyre” is a documentary on Netflix that shows the idea and creation behind the Fyre Music Festival, to the unexpected ending. It gives a clear look into what the creators, Billy McFarland and Ja Rule, wanted: a very exclusive music festival on a private island in the Bahamas promoting the Fyre music booking app. McFarland had promised a three-day party with full VIP access and partying on white sand beaches. He had also claimed there would be luxury tents, gourmet food, yachts and jet skis which could be used during the weekend. Instead, the camp had hurricane relief tents and mattresses piled up on the side of the road. The festival was scheduled to take place over two weekends: April 28-31 and May 5-7, 2017. Earlier in the year McFarland and Ja Rule had close to 60 people in the Bahamas to shoot pictures and promo videos to upload to the Internet to advertise the festival. It showed models partying on beaches and yachts along with swimming with pigs; however, none of that was available during the actual event. The most famous models that
had promoted the Fyre Festival by posting pictures on jet skis and on yachts were Bella Hadid and Emily Ratajkowski. Even Kendall Jenner had also posted on her Instagram promoting the festival. They are potentially going to face demands to return the sizable amounts of money that they had received to promote the festival. As for McFarland,
THE GREATEST PARTY THAT NEVER HAPPENED
he was sentenced to six years in jail for his actions. However, after being out on bail he continued to try and cheat victims from the Fyre festival to buy fake tickets to music and sporting events. It is also known that McFarland has profited off the documentary that reveals his scam, which speaks volumes about his character. As for Ja Rule, he has moved on and tweeted that he was not responsible for the “fiasco.” I enjoyed how the documentary
gave clear insight into the greatest party that never happened, since the people interviewed were the ones who worked closest with McFarland and Ja Rule. It showed how much talent and work should be put into making something small to huge and glamorous. Although, many parts of the documentary did drag on because most of the beginning was just shots of the promoted videos and models partying on the yachts. As I watched all the drama unfold on my screen, I realized how many lies the documentary exposed and how they had caught up with the “Fyre” members in the end to ruin everything. The audience can learn that it is important to own up to your mistakes instead of trying to blame them on someone else. I would recommend “Fyre” to anyone who wants to laugh or mock someone who thinks they have everything under control. Everyone and anyone would enjoy this film because it captures the funny, disturbing and sometimes sad moments within the 2017 scam. All in all, this film did an excellent job of showing the facts behind this depressing event.
7
Z
BY BROOKE O’CONNOR
Fifth grade is the time when students finally get to start learning how to play all different types of instruments in the school band. For LHS senior Zane Ross, this was just the beginning of his love for music, and the spark that would later grow into his future. From singing to playing the bass, Ross has done it all. It all started in the fifth grade when he decided to learn to play the saxophone; since then, he has become a betterrounded musician by learning how to play the guitar, bass and the drums. Having a father who has always been involved in the music in Sioux Falls, Ross decided to follow in his footsteps and join the music industry as well.
ane Ross “My dad is heavily involved in the music scene here in Sioux Falls,” said Ross. “I was always a big music nerd because he was.” In town, Ross’ father is part of a record label called Different Folk. From here Ross has been introduced to different musical influencers in town. He took his step into the music industry when he decided to take part in an internship at White Wall Sessions. At this production studio, Ross learned to work behind the camera and ultimately became the camera man. The internship was an amazing experience for Ross and has helped him develop both as a musician and as a student. Ross can quickly catch onto new techniques and skills, which helped him learn how to play the drums in a span of three hours. Originally in fifth grade, Ross saw himself as a percussionist, but just recently he has started playing the guitar. After messing around with a drum set for a few hours, he was able to put together a song as well as shoot a music video with Sydney Eichinger. The love these two share for music
has guided them into a new world where they are able to share their talent over social media. Not only does Ross share his passion for music over social media, but also on stage at the LHS variety show. As he has grown older, he has also gone through different interests in music genres. “It started off with a lot of dad rock, because that is what my dad listened to. It then branched off to more indie. I even went through a Hip Hop and Rap phase,” said Ross. “Recently I interned at White Wall Sessions who brought in a lot of singers/songwriters like bluegrass.” Throughout high school, Ross has surrounded himself with people who share the same passion for music as he does, whether that is his father or some of his close friends. With all this support he has decided to continue his career in music by going to school to major in music business.
PHOTOS BY RILEY RASMUSSEN
TRE LOUNGE TRE MINISTRIES transforms to
BY KATHRYN SWEETER
PHOTOS BY KATHRYN SWEETER
On Nov. 1, 2018, the formerly known restaurant, Tre Lounge, reopened its doors with a new name and a new purpose. Tre Ministries was created with the purpose of unlocking the potential of youth and young adults spiritually, socially, physically and academically. The organization runs off of three values: Jesus, togetherness and gratitude. Tre was started by Sandy Berven, who is also the high school youth and young adult coordinator at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church. Berven was inspired to create this space after noticing a need for a welcoming atmosphere in Sioux Falls. Her generosity and compassion for others has led her to establish an area where everyone feels accepted. “I have been visiting with college and high school students for years and understand they need a place to feel accepted and encouraged,” said Berven. “Tre creates a welcoming experience many students refer to as home.” The space is hospitable to everyone, but was designed specifically for high school students, college students and young adults. Berven met her goal of creating an inviting atmosphere that offers many activities to partake in. “We offer plenty of space to study, play games and just be,” said Berven. “We also create events that are focused
on building relationships, connecting people with the community, churches, colleges and businesses that make up our community.” Many high school and college students in Sioux Falls use Tre Ministries as a place to study and do homework. LHS senior, Morgan Pederson, has benefited from Tre in several ways. “I go to Tre every week for Collision meetings and a few other times [a week] if I need a quiet place to study,” said Pederson. “I love the setup with comfy chairs and tables, and it is easy to gather there with friends.” Along with plentiful, comfortable seating, Tre has a unique coffee bar that serves coffee drinks from Coffea, pastries and other treats. “I love the hot chocolate at Tre. It is so yummy and has a big layer of whipped cream,” said Pederson. Tre Ministries is open Tuesday-Friday from 6:30 a.m.-10 p.m. and Saturday-Sunday from 12 p.m.-6 p.m. Stop by Tre Ministries to experience the inclusive environment that is valued by many. “I recommend Tre because it has a very welcoming atmosphere and is a great place to gather with people,” said Pederson.
11
URBAN DICTIONARY TEACHER’S EDITION ARTWORK BY VINCE HOFER
BY NICOLE SCHMITZ & SOMER LUITJENS
Language changes almost every year, maybe even faster than that. We interviewed several different teachers to see what they thought of these colloquial teenage terms.
JAMES “JAWS” JAROVSKI BOONK GANG- “A pack of wild animals.” Actual Defintion- To steal stuff from people. WOKE- “I got excited.” Actual Definition- An incorrect tense of awake, a reference to how people should be aware in current affairs.
MONICA CONOVER SPILL THE TEA- “I love black tea. I spill my tea on my desk.” Actual Defintion- When someone tells an especially juicy bit of gossip. NO CAP- “This is when you have a bottle with no cap.” Actual Definition- Usually means no lie. Someone usually uses this after saying an unbelievable statement or asking a serious question.
TREY NAASZ CLAPPED- “Beat.” Actual Defintion- The act of getting completely and utterly obliterated during times of combat. SPILL THE TEA- “Money.” Actual Definition- When someone tells an especially juicy bit of gossip.
JARED JANSEN CLOUT- “Like strength.” Actual Defintion- Clout is being famous and having influence. CLAPPED- “Like you clap back at someone.” Actual Definition- The act of getting completely and utterly obliterated during times of combat. 12
PHOTOS BY SOMER LUITJENS & NICOLE SCHMITZ
CHRIS ERNSTER
CLOUT- “That’s a nasty lookin’ clout. A storm’s a brewin’.” Actual Defintion- Clout is being famous and having influence. SNACK- “A tiny person.” Actual Definition- Someone who looks good at the moment.
BOB GRIMM
NO CAP- “You’re not allowed to wear a hat in the building.” Actual Defintion- Usually means no lie. Someone usually uses this after saying an unbelievable statement or asking a serious question. SKRT- “Get away with.” Actual Definition- Used when needed to get out of an awkward situation.
ERIC RICE
WOKE- “Stay lit’.” Actual Defintion- An incorrect tense of awake, a reference to how people should be aware in current affairs. SNACK- “You mean what I look like every day?” Actual Definition- Someone who looks good at the moment.
TRAVIS AUKERMAN
BOONK GANG- “An explanation of joy.” Actual Defintion- To steal stuff from people. SKRT- “Welcome.” Actual Definition- Used when needed to get out of an awkward situation.
STEVE BLANKENSHIP DRIP- “When I’m dripping swag, my style is on point.” Actual Defintion- Adjective to describe your outfit; similar to swag. SPILL THE TEA- “Flippant with money.” Actual Definition-When someone tells an especially juicy bit of gossip.
KEN DOYLE
DRIP- “It’s so hot that you’re sweating.” Actual Defintion- Adjective to describe your outfit; similar to swag. NO CAP- “No filter.” Actual Definition- Usually means no lie. Someone usually uses this after saying an unbelievable statement or asking a serious question.
AMY ECKART BOONK GANG- “Your buddies.” Actual Defintion- To steal stuff from people. CLAPPED- “They got handled.” Actual Definition-The act of getting completely and utterly obliterated during times of combat.
BY CHLOE ROBINSON & EASTON PLOURDE
ABBIE KLATT Do you like being a twin? Yes, but we get almost no alone time. How often do you guys get mixed up? All the time. The other day at Starbucks someone called me Annie, and I just went with it. Is it true that you guys always know what the other one is thinking? Sometimes, because that’s how our brains work but it’s not telepathic communication.
MAX DEVOS How often do people get you two mixed up? All the time in middle school but now we have different haircuts. Do you guys have the same interests and ideas? Yeah basically, we like the same food and classes. Have you guys ever tried to pass as one another? We’ve thought about it but we haven’t.
ANNIE KLATT Do you like being twin? Yes, because we can mess with people a lot and it’s hard to tell us apart. Do you guys have the same interests/ideas? No, we’re completely different. We may look alike but we’re not even close to the same person. What are the differences between your appearance? Abby has longer hair and a dent in her nose.
COLE DEVOS Do you like being a twin? Yes, because it’s unique, and I always have a friend. Do you guys have the same interests/ideas? Most of the time except he plays saxophone and I play trumpet. What are the differences between your appearance? The only difference is our hair.
14 PHOTOS BY JAIDA SORENSEN & CHLOE HARBAUGH
KARIMA MOHAMMED How has being a twin affected you? You get to go through ays, everything together (birthdays, first days of school, etc.) Do you guys have the samee interests and ideas? es No, I like to read, and he likes to watch movies, and he likes es action movies, and I like lovee movies. But we both like music. How do people react when n they find out you are twins? s? They ask if we are identical even though we are differentt genders.
ELIZABETH TRYGSTAD How has being a twin affected you? It changed my whole life when Jess was born one hour and 15 minutes after me. It was the best hour and 15 minutes of my life. Do you guys have the same interests and ideas? Somewhat, but we are really different people. How do people react when they find out you are twins? “Can we read each other’s minds?” No. We cannot. We are twins, not telepathic.
JAMAL MOHAMMED How h has being a twin affected you? affecte Nothing bothers me. Nothin Do you guys have the same interes interests and ideas? No, not at all.
How d do people react when they fin find out you are twins? They ar are surprised.
JESSICA TRYGSTAD H How has being a twin affected you? yo W Well, it’s like people telling you, “this person is exactly like you.” “t But I’m an individual despite Bu having an identical twin. It’s hard ha to be your own person when there’s somebody who looks th exactly like you. ex D you guys have the same Do interests/ideas? in Y Yes, I’d say we do. But we also have our own style and ideas. ha How do people react when they H find out you are twins? Pe People are often surprised. One of the questions I’m commonly asked is, “Hey, do you have a as 15 sister?” or, “Are you guys related?” si
Los beneficios de ser bilingüe BY TAYLOR ERICSON
Hola, ¿Como estás? This simple Spanish greeting is one that virtually all English speakers understand, but the comprehension of Spanish or any second language for that matter often ceases to exist beyond simple phrases such as this one. Spanish I and II teacher Trent Uthe is helping to spread his knowledge on this beautiful language to his students, so they, too, can have access to opportunities and friendships that he possesses. Uthe’s interest in Spanish first began when he was in high school, where he took Spanish for four years. His study of the language did not stop there, as he majored in Spanish in college at the University of Montana. Although Uthe has always been intrigued by Spanish, the idea of teaching the language was not one that he always had in mind. “I taught English as a second language down in Chile for two and a half years,” said Uthe. “I
specifically decided to become a Spanish teacher about two years ago, because I got really fluent after living abroad for a few years.” Although teaching Spanish was not what Uthe initially had planned for his career, he does not regret his decision by any means. This is Uthe’s first year teaching Spanish in the United States, and he has nothing but positive things to say about his first semester. “This year has gone very well,” said Uthe. “My favorite part of teaching is my students. The energy and excitement that most of them bring every day makes those late nights of lesson planning worth it in the end.” For Uthe, Spanish is a much more logical language than English in terms of grammar
and spelling. Because of the simplicity of the language, he does not solely speak it while in the classroom, but prefers to use this language in other aspects of his life as well. “I just love the way Spanish sounds,” said Uthe. “It is a fun language to speak and it is the language that I speak at home, with both my wife and my cat and the language that I will eventually speak with my children.” The benefits of being bilingual in today’s society are endless, whether it be in the workforce or walking down the street. The ability to understand
Hola, ¿Cómo estás? Este saludo sencillo de español es uno que casi todos los anglohablantes entienden, pero la comprensión de español o cualquier otro idioma a menudo siguen existiendo frases sencillas como esta, sin que entienda el idioma completamente. Trent Uthe, el nuevo maestro de Español l y ll, está ayudando a transmitir su aprendizaje de este hermoso idioma a sus estudiantes, así que ellos, también, puedan tener oportunidades y amistades como las de Uthe. El idioma espanol le empezó a interesar cuando estaba en la escuela secundaria en donde él estudió español
a different language can give you the key to success, so be sure to unlock the door when you are given the option. “If you speak Spanish, especially in this country, you are going to get a job over somebody who isn’t bilingual; that’s just the way it is,” said Uthe. “It opens so many doors. The way that you understand
por cuatro años y continuó con sus estudios en la universidad, especializándose en espanol. Aunque espanol siempre le había interesado, la idea de enseñar español no siempre le llamó la intención. «Enseñé inglés como segundo idioma en Chile por dos años y medio,» dijo Uthe. «Decidí enseñar español hace casi dos años porque mis habilidades mejoraron significativamente después de vivir en el extranjero por unos años.» Aunque enseñar a jóvenes tal vez no fuera lo que inicialmente había intentado dedicarse, él no lamenta su decisión de dar clases en la escuela secundaria. Este es su primer año enseñando español en E.E.U.U., y él solamente tiene más que buenas frases para decir
the world and yourself multiplies after learning Spanish. You have the cultural benefits as well as the large amounts of people that you are able to meet because you speak a different language.”
acerca de su primer semestre. «Este año ha sido muy bueno,» dijo Uthe. «Es un idioma que es divertido al hablar y es el que hablo en casa con mi esposa, mi gato y el que hablaré eventualmente con mis hijos.» Los beneficios de ser bilingüe hoy en la sociedad son inagotables, ya sean en el trabajo o simplemente caminando por la calle. La habilidad de comprender un diferente idioma te puede dar la llave al éxito, así que asegúrate de abrir la puerta cuando te han dado la opción. «Si tú hablas español, especialmente en este país, vas a tener la oportunidad de adquirir un trabajo que otra persona que no pueda hacer la misma cosa, como hablar espanol. Así es como funciona,» dijo Uthe. «El hablar de otro idioma abre muchas puertas. La manera en que comprendes el mundo y a ti mismo multiplica después de aprender español. Tienes los beneficios culturales además que puedes conocer a mucha gente debido a la habilidad de hablar otro idioma.»
EDUCATING ACROSS THE GLOBE by Carly Wheeler
Xavier Pastrano: Norway- one semester (5 months) Favorite memories from teaching in Norway? Teaching Intro to Film, going to Frogner Park and traveling by ship to Copenhagen with some friends. Most rewarding experience from teaching abroad? It solidified my desire to be a teacher and, in a weird twist, it ultimately led me to my wife.
Meghan Anderson-Finch: Salzburg, Austria- 1 year Abbie Wilke: San Jose Succotz, Belize- 2 weeks Craziest memory from teaching in Belize? How polite the students were. Challenges of teaching abroad? Coming up with lesson plans as there was no technology and not a lot of resources, which is something many U.S. teachers bank on. 18
Craziest memory from teaching in Austria? Having my wallet stolen in Rome and meeting the guy who wrote “Macbook for Dummies.” How was the school you taught at different from Lincoln? 200 students from more than 30 countries; Americans and English speakers were in the minority. I taught at a boarding school and lived in the building with the kids. It was hard to draw the line between being a houseparent and being a teacher.
Michelle Ortmeier: Germany- 3 years Craziest memory from teaching in Germany? Almost having our passports taken by humongous, Polish speaking meatheads on a bus in Poland. Challenges of teaching abroad? Being far away from friends and family. My kids were in Germany with me, and it was really hard as a parent to see them struggling without their friends.
Charnelle Wooledge: Guam- 3 years Craziest memory from teaching in Guam? The year typhoon Omar hit at the beginning of the school year and school didn’t start on time. We were without water and electricity for six weeks. Most rewarding experience from teaching abroad? Teaching in an area where you are the minority. The island people and students were always helpful and very respectful.
Emily Koo: South Korea- 1 year Craziest memory from teaching in South Korea? Staying out late and being very independent. I traveled alone a lot throughout Asia (in a time WAY before smartphones). My parents, at least, thought I was crazy. Most rewarding experience from teaching abroad? Working with kids who really wanted to learn; the majority of my students were interested in attending universities in the U.S. or Canada.
19 PHOTOS PROVIDED BY LHS TEACHERS
LHS M
T
by Margaret Meierhenery
Pictures and quotes from Marshall Fines 1979 article in Argus Leader
In a very immersive world, LHS fell silent; born, the LHS mime troupe. 40 years ago bustling in the halls people waited eagerly to find out the results of who got into the group and who did not. Over 50 tried out and only twelve made it. The LHS mime group traveled around the country and was nationally recognized as an outpour of talent and culture. 'The walls are coming in," she warned them. "They're closing in from the sides. The ceiling is pushing down on you. You've got to keep pushing out. As the students stood on the stage of the LHS auditorium, each was enclosed in his own shrinking cubicle, encapsulating them in their own dramatised imagination. “Push, push- energy, energy!" Ms. Jorgensin pleaded. Her students collapsed, their enclosures disappearing at the conclusion of the mime routine they had been practicing. The only walls had been in their imaginations The LHS mime troupe was a pationate part of people lives, Sabrina Siebert when journaling about the mime troupe wrote. “I was often asked the question 'What is Mime?’ At first, I was almost crushed to think that some people actually didn't even know what the art of mime was. After all, I deemed it so worthy an activity as to spend about 400 hours at it in the first year. I realized fairly quickly though that there are many areas in which my knowledge is unintentionally limited too, so I should not be insulted by the world's ignorance. “ said Siebert (1979) Although the LHS mime troupe does not continue to this day, many still hold the troupe in fond memory looking back. “(My) favorite part was going to the malls and performing in the food court... We always had a good time and it smeled like cold cream as we had to put alot of that on under the thick make up. I can still smell It!” said Lisa Barlow Kutter The passion for the art is still held within LHS allumni, maybe one day the mime troupe will be able to ride again.
A date to remember by Chloe Crissman Going into the new year, I made a resolution to do something that scared me, so when brainstorming new story ideas for this issue I thought about going on a blind date and just said #yolo. I turned to my partner-in-crime Kate “Katarina” “Kathy” Fehrs and asked her if she would do this with me. Kate and I are the perfect duo for an adventure like this. She evens out my outgoing, fearless side with a hint of awkwardness, so I knew this would be a night to remember. The weeks leading up to this blind date were filled with restless nights, thinking about our mystery men. Weeks turned to days, days turned to hours, hours turned to minutes and then, suddenly, at approximately 6:28
p.m., Kate and I pulled into Grille 26 for our date. The February night was blistery cold, but would this night take a heartwarming turn? I think it is safe to say that we both breathed out a sigh of relief when we saw LHS junior Dewaun Nesheim step out of his car. He told us that the other mystery man was his fellow LHS junior Maxwell Burchill. We all sat down and, thanks to Kate’s recommendation, ordered strawberry lemonades. A few minutes later, Max showed up looking fresher than A$AP Rocky ever could *insert heart eyes*. My legs began to shake as Max took his seat next to me. It didn’t take long for us to get the conversations rolling thanks to my quick Google
PHOTOS BY CHLOE CRISSMAN & KATE FEHRS
search of conversation starters and Dewaun’s bubbly personality. Soon we found ourselves chatting about summer jobs, ski lifts, swimming with sharks and Dewaun’s obsession with BBQ sauce and honey mustard. Kate and I told them what Statesman was like and we all discussed our plans for Spinsters and the future. Any apprehensions I had going into this date were wiped away by the two amazing men. They really were true gentlemen, especially Dewaun for showing us how to correctly do the “Bust Down Thotiana” dance. Did we end this night with a kiss for our dates? I don’t like to kiss and tell, but no. No, we did not. Regardless, it truly was a date to remember.
by Kate Fehrs If you know me, you know I am a very awkward person and on top of that me not knowing who my date is calls for a recipe of disaster. But with Chloe calling some sense into me, I made it to Grille 26 prepared for this blind date. We arrived at the same time as Dewaun Nesheim with Max Burchill arriving fashionably late. As the night went on, we bounced from topic to topic,
Kate: Chloe:
from what we did last summer, to the excitement Chloe and I have for college next year. As the conservation went on, we all discovered that Dewaun, in fact, does not know what a ski lift is and that he will not eat his food without one of his most desired sauces: honey mustard, barbecue sauce or sriracha. I was laughing the whole night but that’s not too big of a surprise considering the fact that I will laugh at just about anything.
The date ended the best possible way with my handsome date doing the “Bust Down Thotiana” as we were heading out the doors. It was quite the sight to see. As a whole, the date was indeed “crazy.” If you know, you know. Overall, I had a fantastic time with these two boys and made up my mind I would not want to go on a double date with anyone other than Chloe Grace Crissman.
Rate the date
Dewaun: Max:
SENIOR
GLOW
UPS
The term “glow up” has gained tremendous popularity as millennials discovered how puberty can change the way they look. In our very own LHS halls, we can find many who “glew up” beyond expectations.
by Maryam Rauff & Parker Hibbard
ADAM SCHRADER PAYTON BERRY
JOSH SCHMIDT
PHOTOS PROVIDED BY LHS STUDENTS
SAMUEL RECTOR
AVRY RICE
PETER CHRISTOPHERSON
SKYLA RUMPZA
Jansen’s BY CAMERON RHODE March Madness is a large basketball tournament in which 72 college teams duke it out until there is only one winner. Many people all across the world fill out brackets of their own, and some even bet money on it. This is often very risky because one can never know how a game will end. However, LHS math teacher Jared Jansen has a money-free way to make all his students participate in a no-risk March Madness bracket. He has them fill out a bracket right before the tournament starts and awards extra credit points to the top kids. “I’ve always loved brackets. I’m a big basketball fan. March Madness is my favorite month of the year, and I thought it would be a fun way to engage my students,” said Jansen. “Even if [my students] don’t like basketball, they can still participate in my March Madness bracket.” Students in Jansen’s classes have to get their brackets to him before the games begin in order to receive the extra credit points. “The top three [students] from each
PHOTOS PROVIDED BY TONYTHETIGER CC BY SA4.0 26 SPORTS
class period get extra credit points,” said Jansen. “The overall winner will then get extra extra credit points.” Due to Jansen’s March Madness brackets, he gets far more students engaged with March Madness. When you put extra credit points on the line, students will try harder. “I would say, in my classes, the views by students of March Madness are increased by about 20 percent,” said Jansen. For any of his students or future madness enthusiasts, Jansen has a few tips to better their bracket. He is willing to give his final four teams to help any bracket improve. “[My Final Four bracket would include]: Number one: Michigan for sure; they are the best team in the country,” said Jansen. “Number two: Tennessee. Number three: Duke. Number four: Gonzaga. Those would be my Final Four. Going chalk.” If that does not help students enough, Jansen has one last tip. “If all else fails, just pick the team with the better mascot,” said Jansen.
Madness
Derrick Walton Jr. from the Michigan Wolverines
SPORTS 27
BY TIMOTHY STOLP
WHICH CAME F I R S T:
THE C A M PA I G N OR THE VIRAL EGG?
What I think can be appreciated most about the World Record Egg phenomenon was the way it flipped the script. In its first “spoken” introduction to the world, the Egg brought a positive message about addressing mental health. The predictable, classical Internet result would have been some Pandora’s Box of ancient monsters lurking on the web. Instead, the Egg cracked open a discussion about the pressures that we all face in a reality dominated by the virtual. Perhaps the conversation is overdone, old news, but the way I see it is if we think like that, despite our current state of mental health, we can never make progress. I never though thought I would say something like this in my life, but here it goes: Thank you, to an Egg. Though, I suppose not “just any egg”—the World Record Eg Egg.
“HI, I’M THE WORLD_RECORD_EGG (YOU MAY HAVE HEARD OF ME). RECENTLY I’VE STARTED TO CRACK. THE PRESSURE OF SOCIAL MEDIA IS STARTING TO GET TO ME. IF YOU’RE STRUGGLING TOO, TALK TO SOMEONE. WE GOT THIS. MENTALHEALTHAMERICA.NET. #TALKINGEGG” PHOTO PROVIDED BY @WORLD_RECORD_EGG
If you had not already heard (or gotten in on the action yourself), the most liked photo on Instagram is an egg. Just an egg. Surpassing the previous record holder, the first photo of Kylie Jenner’s baby, Stormi, the post on @world_record_egg currently has 52.2 million likes at the time of this publication. The viral zygote truly took the Internet by storm only four days into the new year and quickly achieved its goal. The virtual world went ablaze
with discussion about who was behind the wizardry and joked that Kylie Jenner was behind the media blitz. (One theory was that Jerry Media, the “company” behind Fyre Festival (pages 6-7), was behind it all.) Thus, when the account began posting more egg photos, each with growing cracks, both the speculation and memeing multiplied. The over 10 million followers, constituting the #EggGang, as the account calls its base, may have been shocked to read the caption
of the post made two days prior to Super Bowl LIII. “The wait is over,” the post read. “All will be revealed this Sunday following the Super Bowl. Watch it first, only on @Hulu.” If it was possible, the Egg grew in popularity. The questions on minds around the nation were: Who is behind this? Was Hulu in it from the start, or have they made some sort of deal? What will come out of the Egg, because clearly the Egg was dying to hatch? Why
does an Egg matter all that much? Oddly, with the brand attached to it, the Egg, to many, instantly switched to feel like some superficial marketing campaign. For others, with excitement peaked, this seemed an opportunity for a wildlydated cultural story to tell the grandkids. Luckily on both ends, the outcome was resoundingly pleasant. A small, 30 second clip of the Egg appeared on Hulu, making its rounds on the Internet. 29
Statesbuds: SMOOTHIE EDITION
BY GEORGIA CONLIN
THE DAILY
SMOOTHIE: WORKOUT WARRIOR PRICE: $6.50
If you get a smoothie from the Daily, you know you’re not putting anything bad into your body. This newly-opened, clean food and drink restaurant has smoothies for an acquired taste. With ginger being one of the popular ingredients in their smoothies, it creates a strong taste that’s not for everyone. However, they do have a few other options like “Workout Warrior” and “Energizer Monkey” that have tamer and more enjoyable flavors.
NATURE’S WAY
SMOOTHIE: PEANUT BUTTER BANANA PRICE: $5
Nature’s Way Juice Bar was once hyped up for their acai bowls, but no one ever mentioned their smoothies. I, however, got the opportunity to try one. After hearing reviews on their acai bowls I was pretty nervous, but I was pleasantly surprised by their smoothies. They were very flavorful but seemed like they had a little more sugar than the other two options. Their peanut butter banana smoothie was similar to a peanut butter power from Scooters. Overall, though, Nature’s Way is a great, not as well known, place to grab a smoothie.
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POMEGRANATE MARKET SMOOTHIE: GREEN GLOW PRICE: $5
You can never go wrong with a smoothie from Pomegranate Market. If open, you can get it freshly made within minutes, but they also have many pre-made smoothies if you are in a hurry. Pomegranate Market is known for being very healthy, and although their smoothies don’t have a lot of added sugar, they still taste amazing. With a great variety to choose from, each flavor is unique and uses different ingredients. Some of the favorites at Pomegranate Market include “Green Glow” and “Java Monkey.”
LASTLY, TRY MAKING YOUR OWN! Making your own smoothie can seem like a hassle, but in the end it’s cheaper and tastes just as good. Look on-line to find and replicate your favorite smoothie recipes. Pictured to the side is a smoothie similar to a Green Glow from Pomegranate Market. It tasted almost exactly the same, and I didn’t have to leave my house!
PHOTOS BY GEORGIA CONLIN
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by Chloe Harbaugh
“Wrestling is a way life , n just a spo you pa icipate in . Braedon exempli es what it means to be a Patri Wrestler,” said Coach Ernster. tli is a lifestyle. You change restling restlin the fo the food you eat, how much you work wo rko o and how you think about workout things. ing in g W Wrestling is three months off straight t i devotion,” said LHS senior Braedon Treadway. Treadway has been wrestling for four years. He started his freshman year on varsity. During his freshman year, he had 10 wins and 27 losses. His record only got better. At the end of his sophomore year, he had 27 wins and 24 losses. Treadway made it to the regional tournament but lost his last match, dwindling future possibilities of wrestling in the state tournament. By Treadway’s junior year, he bumped his wins up to 34 and he only had 21 loses. He made it past the regional tournament but got knocked out of State after two matches. This year, his senior year, Treadway only had a dual match and a tournament under his belt when he found out that he had a very serious health issue. “Wrestling is an individual sport, but you also have a team with you. The moment when I was told that I had blood clots, I wasn’t
thinking about how I would not be able to wrestle at State; I was thinking about what my team would think when they found out. I didn’t want to let down my team,” said Treadway. Two years ago (his sophomore year) Treadway got hit in a football game. Ever since then he had been having pain in his left leg. He had thought it was just an unhealed pulled muscle, but later found out that it was a large blood clot, from above his knee cap all the way down to his mid-calf. The blood clot in his leg began to break up into small individual blood clots that soon spread to his lungs, making it hard for him to breathe. Treadway is now on blood thinners and cannot wrestle, but still works out and runs every day. He has not yet given up on his wrestling career. “Mentality is everything,” said Treadway. “The outlook you have on situations determines the outcome. Everybody gave up on me ever being able to wrestle again. I did not, and I created a path for me to maybe wrestle at the state tournament.”
“Braedon is a pillar our team,” said LHS’s head wrestling Coach Mark Ernster. “He is a leader in everything that he is involved in .”
“Braedon had always been my practice pa ner,” said senior Jacob Murphy. “ It has always been nice to have him around because he always pushes me and the rest the team along with him. It sucks n having him in the room anymore because his work ethic led on everyone else .” PHOTO BY JAIDA SORENSEN
BY VINCE HOFER
SIOUX FALLS
STEM CIRCLE Dr. George Loginov
mathematical economics
Extra credit in STEM classes Augustana’s Froiland Science Complex
March 5 7 to 8 p.m.
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elcome to Perspectives, a new way to share ideas. The Statesman believes “that you can set your own ideas against ideas you dislike. That you should be free to argue, explain, clarify, debate, offend, insult, rage, … sing, dramatize and deny.” The goal of Perspectives is to start and add to conversations through persuasion, thought provoking ideas, research or some combination thereof. Each Perspective is written by a Statesman staff writer, and does not necessarily reflect the views of the staff in its entirety. We write because ideas “are invisible, and they linger, and, sometimes, they are even true.”
Our Credo, inspired by Neil Gaiman
WORK TH I S OUT
BY BRITA QUELLO
Imagine that one commits to a highintensity sport and spends an insane amount of time on it, and then that school expects them to take another gym class to get a “physical education.” In September and October of 2017, I was unable to attend school for a total of around 16 days due to tennis; in September and October of 2018, I was unable to attend school for eight days. This does not include the matches that we had right after school. If we did not have any matches that day, which was an extremely rare case, we would have a twohour practice, and this continued for a twoand-a-half-month period. Not to mention, the tennis season is only a two-month period, compared to the five-month-long, grueling volleyball season. Furthermore, when we are done with the season, we just start practicing again for the off-season. According to Mayo Clinic, you need at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity a week, or a combination of moderate and vigorous activity. During the season, we participate in 14 to 21 hours of physical activity each week. This is about 1,110 minutes over the moderate aerobic activity suggestion. After all this time that we spend in the gym and on the court, the athletes of LHS are expected to
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take a gym class. As a student athlete, one learns how to use his/her time wisely, and another “physical education class” is not a good use of time, especially while you are struggling to meet your school goals as well. “If you are already committing so much of your time to a sport for the school, why would you still have to get a physical education if you are already very physically active?” said LHS junior Spencer Wasmund. “It is hard to balance everything.” Dealing with school and athletics can be hard to manage while also keeping up with your personal life. In today’s society, teenagers are already bombarded with the expectation to live up to their full potential and to build a “successful future” for themselves, and that is not even including the responsibilities of their academic, athletic and personal life. Students that participate in a sport at the varsity level should not be required to take a gym class. I understand that there are gym teachers at LHS that rely on the students to take a gym class, so their job is secure, but there are over 2,000 students at LHS and not many students participate in high-intensity sports at the varsity level. Along with that, the student athletes are still welcome to enroll in gym classes, but the credit requirement should be fulfilled if one is fully committed to another school sport. Student athletes that are extremely committed to their sport should receive a credit for their participation.
Divorce. by Emily Shank Wilkinson and Finkbeiner family law attorneys say that around 41 percent of all first marriages end in divorce. Divorce: the word that tears apart families. The word that brings up so many unpleasant memories. The word that reminds me of the thousands of miles my brother and I have driven so that my parents can both see us. The word that makes every family gathering uncomfortable for the rest of your life because someone will always be “missing” or another family member will ask, “How’s your father?” or, “Did your mother just get remarried?” The word that makes you lose trust. The word that makes you scared to love. The word that makes you lie in bed every night crying because your parents are making you pick one over the other. The word that will leave you with many restless nights. The word that proves you can build a family with someone, and they can still leave. The word that
reminds me of the countless arguments and fights I’ve witnessed. According to McKinley Irvin Family Law, three out of every four people get remarried. Getting remarried can conjoin two families into one, bringing people together. When two people get remarried, it brings many new opportunities, as well as makes you realize there are second chances. As you sit around the dinner table with your “new” family, you’ll realize that that’s what was supposed to happen: a second chance. Sometimes things don’t always happen at the right time, but love will always find a way to work things out in the end. Marriage doesn’t always work out for everyone the first time. Divorce can affect people in various ways, but it can bring happiness to a family, leading to remarriage and bringing families together.
PERSPECTIVES 39
THE
BY HANNAH HANSEN, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
There’s a knock at the door. One, two, three knocks until I lift myself from the chair I call home: the same chair I’ve been seated in since I was first formally introduced to this great world. That was a wonderful day. I remember it perfectly. I’m close to the door. With one extension of the arm, I am able to twist the handle so far as to see the culprit of the ternary knocking, now increasing to a symphonic begging behind the steel curtain. My hand grips the door handle tightly; I’ve never opened it before. I can feel my heart pulsating out of my chest, reaching for the unknown shadow cast by the Owner of the
Knock. “It’s finally happening,” I tell myself. “It’s all coming true.” It was all coming true… until it no longer was. My hand caressed the handle until the feeling of numbness blanketed its power of touch. The knocking persisted until its knocks no longer spoke in a manner of burning desire. And the brief moment of blistering appetite was suspended before me, hinting at the beauty of awareness… until it no longer was. I was too late. The phone rings near the back entrance. I’ve never been back there before. My hand, now
awake from its dreams of stillness, gains consciousness in the wake of a single ring. (It scares far too easily.) I reluctantly walk away from the enigmatic silenced knock and find myself nearing the incessant sound, now far louder than its first greeting. I’ve never answered to such an indignant, incompetent ring before. I’ve never even been this close to one. But now, just a mere stride away from the luminous glow of its exotic request, I feel the ringing sound reaching toward me, demanding a voice, my voice, to calm itself down. “I can’t believe it,” I say
to myself. “I’m so close.” But the fleeting feeling of lust was abducted from my reach. In a matter of timeless seconds, as fast as its first introduction, the ringing stopped, and my feet could no longer move. The time I spent questioning whose audacity had the courage to force me into this situation jeopardized my inclination to answer to The Owner of the Ring. I was too late. Too careless. My legs gain their momentum back and I rush toward where I first heard the knock, but I fall onto the hardwood floor, dressed in a blanket of paint. The paint can has spilled, and it’s
everywhere. The red coloring teases the wall as it drips, drop by drop, slowly cascading down as it surrenders to the laws of gravity. The old me, chained to a chair by invulnerable ties to modern ideas of triumph, would have disposed of the paint in an efficient and timely attempt at ridding myself of its burden. But not now. Not today. “Now, I’ll get it right,” I say. “I’m not afraid anymore.” I walk to the basement closet. I’ve never been down there before. The cement is cold, and its
bite, face-to-face with the soles of my feet, is harsh. The closet presents itself as uniform; it’s neatly organized, as if it’s been waiting for the right person to open its door and see beyond the chipped, painted wood that greets The Opener. Inside lies a row of paint cans, each with its own stain of artistry. But the stains are merely there for emphasis, to show The Opener that the cans have been used before, in a past, more welcoming life. I carry the paint back up the staircase and into the previously-abandoned
debris of previouslydetermined “mess.” I can tell the paint is old, but that isn’t going to stop me now. I’m already too far deep in the waters of rebellion. I don’t bother to scrounge for a paintbrush. It’s unnecessary at this point. I find my hands, once numb at the touch of the handle, feeling the paint wrap around my fingers as it smiles at the thought of a new project. I remove my hand, now deep in the ocean of art, and pull back from its shallow waters. A new can introduces itself and
swallows my entire arm this time. I look up, fully aware of where I am, and begin painting with the hand that once fell numb to the idea of secrecy. Of fear. Of transparency. The walls are now welcomed with the abstraction of color. “This is just the beginning,” I say to myself. “This is just the beginning.” When opportunity knocks, you answer the door. When the phone rings, you don’t hesitate to answer it. The paint can may have spilled, but it was already on the floor.
The purpose of The Palindrome is to expose the ambiguous angles of life: the angles of which are sheltered from the common eye. There are different ways to interpret life, several directions to look at it from and diverse concepts to challenge because of it. A palindrome involves looking at a word from a different angle of interpretation; life requires you to separate what you see adjacent to the common eye and shift your vision toward the uncommon eye: the foreign, irresistible unknown.
The paint can has spilled: What now?
OUROBO It’s a Greek-flag of a day. White light from a blue sky dazzles blinding white snow. It is melting. And it smells like spring. And they are happy. But they don’t know that they are happy, because that it is what young love is. Ungrateful, existing without realizing the significance of its existence. The purple of her shoes matches the purple of his action figure’s cape. A song, they run through the woods, plastic cape soaring against the sun, their feet faithful percussionists keeping time. Tree chasing tree, the forest is a snake eating its own tail, a self-contained infinity. They run so long and so far that their mouths taste like metal and their lungs forget themselves. At last the clearing consents to be found and opens to the children. It is bright and familiar. They play there. For hours, it is their home. Day after day, the boy and girl return to their secret universe. A perfect universe because there is an apple tree whose red delicious apples never seem to rot, and there is a stream
whose water never trickles, but flows blue, true and cold. Flowers reach for the sky. And nothing ever dies. Until it does. Time replaces purple shoes with violet hair and heroes with heartbreak. Now teens, they visit the clearing less often, but they still visit. In the fiery hand of summer between freshman and sophomore year, the young man and young woman decide to make a pilgrimage to their old home. They walk quickly through the warm, humid woods, cicadas humming them on. Once again, the clearing opens itself instinctually, in the way a mother says she loves her children. Splashing, the boy and girl find refuge in the stream. They fall in love that day. Real love. Under the apple tree, her hair spills across the grass like wine. It smells like lilac. And he kisses her as the sun kisses the dark purple sky for the last time until morning. Lightning glows, rain falling from a now pitch black sky. They run back through the woods, drenched, giggling with the thunder.
Slowly, though, they grow up. Married now, the man and woman build a life from the blueprints left by those before them. A kid or two, jobs, church, maybe. Something’s different, though. They don’t know when or where, but at some point their love rusted into greed. Life is about gaining, now. Barons, they eat the land; digest the rich, black earth and expel rotting death. They burn their children’s future for the sake of their children’s future, a Janus fuel source. To keep warm. In fall, the sun is a spilled jar of honey that slowly traps the forest in amber. Black is the color of death. But yellow: rotting leaves, old teeth and nails, fading eyes, is the color of dying. Everything moves slower because it is dying. The man and woman have not returned to their secret universe for years. Today, though, they walk through the woods, cool air biting their faces, as they plan their next project. For the last time, the clearing appears. The cold has hardened the ground into a white Aegean marble,
EGAGNE
ENGAGE
ROS ancient trees now pillars holding up a white-grey, clouded sky. It is a forgotten and holy place. The stream trickles, and yellow apples fall, lifeless, to the ground. She pokes the softest flesh she can find with a stake. To remember. Where to bring the rigs. Deep below the surface, a starless lake waits to be burned. It is priceless, but not costless. The boy and girl scrape away the earth like wrapping paper; iron executioners, they slash trees that chase trees to the ground. They gut the forest, burn the discarded carcass and bathe in the black blood of their mother. ... It’s a Greek-flag of a day. Swallowed by darkness, white snowflakes are whispered into visibility by the blue light from his phone. It is winter, but it smells like smoke. And they are lost, because that is what young love is. Forgotten rubble paved over for a promise of a better tomorrow that never comes.
By Gage Gramlick, Editor-in-Chief
You and I have something in common: a similarity one may look over more than they should.In fact, it is something that almost every human being has in common: an obsession that consumes people across the world, no matter where they’re from, their occupation, gender or interests. We’re all stuck in our heads.
control it
As William James once put it, “A great many people think they are thinking, when they are merely rearranging their prejudices.” You can say what you want, but it’s unlikely you’ll be able to refute it. Whether it’s worrying, daydreaming, stressing, having a mental breakdown or even the most basic-level thinking, our minds are full. Author Darius Foroux focuses on the idea of a preoccupied mind in his book “THINK STRAIGHT:” “99 percent of your thoughts are useless. Pragmatism believes that the mind is a tool. Your mind should work for you, not against you.
People who don’t master their mind don’t believe it’s possible.” Pragmatism in its most basic form is the idea that you should think in a practical way. To think pragmatically is to be rational, logical and realistic while still taking realities into consideration, such as feelings. It is recognizing that every thought needs a purpose, and that each person has the power to decide what thoughts should be allowed to manifest. Thoughts that serve a positive purpose, that make you feel happier, give you a positive self-image and view of the world and allow you to think critically, are important.
Differentiating those thoughts from the ones that bring you down and serve no purpose can help you control your thoughts. You may be thinking that this sounds impossible. How can you control your thoughts? Practice and repetition. Every thought that comes into your mind needs to be labeled. Is it providing a benefit to me? If it is, label it and continue on the train of thought. Is it harming me or changing the way I view myself or other people in a negative way? If so, shut it down. Recognize that it isn’t beneficial and focus your mind on something positive. List the reasons why you appreciate your
life or find one object that you can see from where you’re at that brings you joy. Continually doing this will help train your mind to focus on the good. Now this isn’t to say that all bad thoughts will end, as sometimes sad or angry thoughts serve a purpose. But it can help you focus on what matters in life. Because at the end of the day, your mind is yours, shouldn’t you control it?
redefined BY KATIE OSMUNDSON
INCOMING by Aaron Condron With the 2020 presidential election only a year away, Democrats vying for the Democratic nomination have already begun to announce campaigns. Although, many voices in the political sphere think Trump will serve eight years, a few brave politicians have stepped forward to try to limit his term. Cory Booker: Though Booker, the former mayor of Newark, N.J., has been reticent in publicly announcing his opinions, On the Issues says that he is pro-choice, supporting public and affordable birth control, abortion and Planned Parenthood. Booker officiated nine same-sex weddings starting one minute after midnight on Monday, Oct. 21, 2013, the first day that gay marriage was legal in NJ. Economically, Booker does not support lowering citizen taxes, saying that, “being asked to pay your fair share isn’t class warfare it’s patriotism.” Instead, he wants to use lowering corporate tax as leverage to support civil rights. Pete Buttigieg: Being a mayor of South Bend, Indiana, a Harvard graduate, a veteran and a gay millennial, it is hard to imagine a candidate who would better appeal to the young and growing left than Buttigieg. According to Jessica Yarvin for PBS, Buttigieg’s experience as a naval officer while deployed in Afghanistan made him think that the troops should be brought home, but he thinks
Trump’s plan to withdraw from Syria needs improvement. He is also a supporter of LGBTQ rights, pushing an amendment giving nondiscrimination rights to LGBTQ individuals and a bill which would allow gender reassignment surgery for transgender prisoners. Julián Castro: As the mayor of San Antonio, Castro pushed for a stronger education system, establishing universal prekindergarten education throughout the city, and he hopes to do the same nationwide. He also supports free higher education for two years, among other costly but helpful opinions, such as medicare for all and universal gun background checks. To pay for these, in parallel to many other Democrats, he supports raising taxes on corporations and the most wealthy Americans. Bernie Sanders: As one of very few openly socialist politicians, Sanders is outspoken on very controversial (and very expensive) opinions, such as $15 minimum wage, universal free healthcare and completely free public college. Though he lost the democratic primary in 2016, according to Katie Benner and Sydney Ember for the New York Times, he has made reforms, especially for women, that he hopes will help him win in 2020. Above all, Sanders wishes to take a stand against the broad group of “the billionaires,” a group that he says is rigging the economy against the working class.
Kamala Harris: It does not take an especially astute eye to see that the 2020 race will be very diverse, but Harris shows this better than anyone, as if she wins, she will be only the second AfricanAmerican president and the first female president. Unlike most Democrats, who support creating programs despite rising taxes, she has unveiled a plan to reshape the middle class’ tax structure, raising taxes on the rich and lowering them on the poor and working Americans. According to the New York Times, Harris also has name recognition that few other candidates can hope to match, and this has driven results, giving her 15 percent of Democratic support, second only to Joe Biden who has not confirmed a national bid. Elizabeth Warren: As one of the first Democrats to announce a candidacy, Warren has driven popularity among voters, with a Politico poll saying she holds 10 percent of Democratic support. Warren, above all, is opposed to income inequality, saying, according to On the Issues, that trickle-down economics is a lie perpetuated by the rich and saying that to support economic growth, priority needs to be placed in the middle class, not in the financial sector. As a senator (D-Mass.), she also said that “I-got-mine [solely self-concerned] policy-making has failed.”
THE CHALLENGES OF THE 2020 PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN
INCUMBENT BY KATIE OSMUNDSON As close or far away as 2020 may seem, the important year is just around the corner and politicians are making it known as they begin their campaigns. The 2020 election cycle is one that is much different than 2016, and one where it is likely we will see many historic firsts. Unlike in 2016, where the end of Obama’s term set the stage for a battle between parties, the 2020 election pits incumbency against newcomers. So while Democrats are coming out strong in challenges against President Trump, they have a steep uphill battle to fight. The incumbent president has many tools that money just can’t buy. But if there’s anything that money can buy, it’s likely he can get that too. Incumbents are likely to be more successful in fundraising and building a strong base. “Incumbents have the following advantages,” says Allan Lichtman, a presidential historian at American University. “Name recognition; national attention, fundraising and campaign bases; control over the instruments of government;
successful campaign experience; a presumption of success; and voters’ inertia and risk-aversion.” (NPR) They also have the advantage of party protection, which is something that is already starting to happen in the beginning plays of this election cycle. As Democrats already have several candidates announcing their campaigns, Republicans only have one. Party leaders understand and recognize that Trump has advantages, and though they may not always get along, during the election banding together and putting aside differences is what is best for the party overall. They also recognize the mistake that they made in the 2016 election, where their party had so many candidates in the primaries that when Trump was chosen, there was strong division and resentment in the party that he had an even greater feat in front of him to unite the party, a feat that many are still unsure was successful. According to a Gallup poll from January 2019, Trump has an 89 percent approval rating among Republican voters, making any serious challengers from the Republican Party extremely
unlikely. Democrats seem to have a steep hill to climb to win this election, but nothing is set in stone yet. Their party has a plethora of strong candidates who may be able to overcome Trump’s advantage. And changes in voter patterns are likely to also factor into the end result. The turnout for the 2020 election is likely to be higher than ever before, following the trend from the 2018 midterms combined with the precedent that presidential elections result in higher voter turnout. And as millennials have, for the first time ever, overtaken baby boomers in their voting size and power, the 2020 election remains somewhat unpredictable. That being said, the best way to make the 2020 election a successful continuation of our democracy is to vote. No election is a lost cause, and supporting candidates that fight for issues that matter to you is how your voice is heard in our government today. If you want change, make it.
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