Marian Network Newspaper - October 2021

The

THE BUZZ

VOLUME SIXTY-SIX • ISSUE THREE • OCTOBER 2021 MARIAN HIGH SCHOOL • 7400 MILITARY AVENUE OMAHA, NE 68134 • WWW.MARIANDIGITALNETWORK.COM

IMMERSIVE

EDUC ATION

Immersive learning outside of the classroom gives students real-life experiences that cannot be replaced. These activities excite students about topics, allowing them to form meaningful connections between the material taught in school and life.

Giving students the ability to engage in exciting and educational field trips will diversify their experiences and expand their perspectives about the world.

STAFF EDITORIAL ON PAGE 10

Senior field trip to the Tri-Faith Initiative on Oct. 13.

Photo by MaddieAdam

MORE INSIDE...

BREAST CANCER AWARENESS PAGE 2

GOLF AND SOFTBALL PAGE 12

GHOST STORIES PAGE 14

02 News

It started with a mammogram: Community battles cancer

0ctober 2021

KathrynStec

O

ne in eight women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. It is the second most common cancer in women worldwide, after skin cancer.

According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, there are more than 3.8 million survivors in the US, but many women, and men too, lose their fight. This aggressive form of cancer can start as a single lump, but can metastasize to other areas in the body, causing further problems.

Breast cancer can be very damaging not just to a woman’s health, but to her femininity. In some cases, in order to completely eradicate the cancer, a mastectomy (surgery that removes the entire breast) is necessary. While a woman’s body does not define her, losing a piece of it can affect her identity or self esteem.

Breast Cancer Awareness month is celebrated in many countries around the world to bring awareness and support. Many sports teams, businesses, and organizations host special events to raise money and awareness for the cause. Usually teams have pink jerseys or dedicate games to survivors, as well as those who have passed.

The quarterback on the Kansas State football team, Skylar Thompson, sells apparel for breast cancer awareness month and donates all proceeds to

the K-State Johnson Cancer Research Center in honor of his mom, Teresa Lynn Thompson, who lost her battle.

About 77% of 142 surveyed Marian girls know someone who has or has had breast cancer. Senior Maggie Rosenlof’s aunt, Elizabeth, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2011. Rosenlof explains the struggle of realizing how sick loved ones can get and how it can be scary at a young age when you don’t understand what is happening. Her aunt has become a role model for Rosenlof, “Now that I am older and realize how brutal cancer treatment is, I admire how courageous and brave she was while going through it. She is one of the strongest people I know.” Many friends and family of Elizabeth gathered together to create 1,000 folded paper cranes that were made into a big art display at the Kent Bellows Gallery during her treatment. It was a shocking surprise for Elizabeth and became a big symbol of hope and support for her. She beat breast cancer and two years later ran a marathon to celebrate.

Junior Lauren Mendlick’s mom, Dr. Katie Mendlick is a breast radiologist at CHI Lakeside. She was inspired after her grandmother passed away from breast cancer to go into a field where she could really make a difference. Mendlick says, “it’s unlikely to

November club activities AshleyJohanek

Coffee Club

It’s finally here!

The beloved coffee club will be hosting it’s first meeting on Nov. 23. It will be a big introduction with a lot of coffee and fun.

“We are really excited…We want to have a speaker from a big coffee shop to come talk with us. We might partner with some other clubs throughout the year.”

— sophomore Allison White

Math Club

Although still deciding on a date, the math club will be sending an email with more information soon.

“Ms. Han and the moderators really do make the club fun. I would say join if you have some free time! It’s low commitment, and it can help with actual math classes.

I’m looking forward to more math competitions with my friends.”

— sophomore Kenadie Rudloff

Yoga Club

Yoga Club will meet twice in November. There will be one meeting on Nov. 1 and another meeting on Nov. 22.

“Between now and the end of the semester, we plan on having Tucker join us at a meeting for some dog therapy meditation time. I’m feeling good about the yoga club this year. I’m looking forward to our themed meetings (such as yoga to help with period cramps, or possibly bring back acai bowl day).”

— senior Megan Hollis

Vegetarian Club

Still deciding on a date, Veggie club will be serving vegetarian food at shelters in November.

“In December, we are having a potluck. Our goal is to have everyone bring their favorite vegetarian dish and share the recipe. Then [sophomore] Bridget McGill and I will put them all together so anyone can make them... I am super excited for our events this year.”

— sophomore Maggie McGill

Culinary Club

Keep your emails open for definitive dates for upcoming events and meetings.

“November is the plan for a cooking session. I am very excited to be part of the club frankly because I cannot cook to save my life and am excited to learn more. I am happy to be in the leadership of the club to get the word out and grow it throughout the school.”

— sophomore Abi Howard

develop breast cancer in high school, but it’s important to be self aware.

It’s never too early to do monthly self breast exams.”

Many alumni have also had their own experiences with breast cancer.

Kellyn Daly ’16 was diagnosed with secretory carcinoma in 2019. She was 22 at the time and had to make the tough choice to put her collegiate softball career on hold because of it. Daly says, “The main difference I see in my life from before to after my diagnosis is my refocus on what’s truly important in my life. I’ve learned to pursue what makes me happy and it’s given me a chance to refocus on the important relationships in my life.” Her diagnosis pushed her to pursue her passion of social work and helped her realize that she needs to go after what makes her happy in life even if others believe it’s “not the smart decision for my future.”

This year for Breast Cancer Awareness month Daly is attending a retreat for young breast cancer survivors to connect over shared experiences and get to know other young women who have been through similar challenges.

Daly gives a word of advice to students, “Always take the time to appreciate the people around you. Marian is such an amazing community to be a part of and it will provide you support

in ways you can’t even imagine. Also always do your monthly self exams!”

It’s important to catch the cancer early for a better chance of survival.

Going to a regular check up every year and performing self-breast exams can be beneficial in prevention. If you think you or anyone in your family is showing signs, make an appointment with a specialist to get checked out.

Death rates are declining due to an increase in improved screening, awareness, and advanced treatment options.

Getting checked could save your life or the life of someone you love.

ShannonMonahan any grade schools celebrate Columbus Day by having students learn the history of Christopher Columbus and how he sailed on the Santa Maria and discovered America.

But, on Oct.11, President Joe Biden officially recognized Indigenous Peoples’ Day in place of Columbus Day. Despite 17 states previously observing this day, this was the first time it has been nationally recognized. Indigenous Peoples’ Day helps people to recognize that Columbus was not the first person to step foot in America.

Historians like Laurence Bergreen have discovered that Columbus and his crew did many hurtful actions while he “discovered the new world,” including his selling native girls into sexual slavery. In addition, about 50,000 Native Americans commited mass suicide rather then complying with Columbus’ crew. Columbus encountered a population of Indigenous people called the Taino. “They do not carry arms or know them…..They should be good servants,’’ Columbus wrote in his diary. He punished these people with brutal treatment and exposed the Taino people to numerous diseases, causing their population to die.

Most people do not know of this until they do their own research.

Senior Bridget McGill says that she learned the reality of the Thanksgiving holiday in about sixth grade. She goes on to explain the importance of learning about whitewashing in our history textbooks. “Whitewashing history is a very big issue in our country.

History classes across the board have whitewashed their curriculum, which causes damage to what we know about Indigenous people. They do not get credit for all their accomplishments as well as the struggles they go through and have gone through centuries being erased by the American education system,” McGill said.

On this day, “our nation celebrates the invaluable contributions and resilience of Indigenous Peoples, recognizing their inherent sovereignty, and commits to honoring the federal governments trust and treaty obligations to Tribal Nations,” President Biden said on Oct. 11. This change did not happen overnight, this has been a fight for many to change the way society views Columbus Day. Activists have been protesting across the country to remove Columbus Day for years.

Some people think that this is not enough, and want to be nationally recognized and apologized for the country’s mistreatment to Indigenous people.

For the first time, Nebraska celebrated Indigenous Peoples’ Day. Tribal leaders of Nebraska’s Omaha, Ponca, Santee Sioux, and Winnebago went to the state capital in Lincoln for the day.

The flags of the four tribes now hang in the state capital chamber by the American flag for permanent display.

“I believe it is an important conversation because in order for us to make progress, people need to become educated on the different issues and struggles Indigenous people go through,” McGill said.

Kellyn Daly ’16 stands on the softball field after graduating from the Univeristy of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Photo courtesy of Kellyn Daly ’16

Indigenous Peoples’ Day recognized nationally

M

October 2021

News 03

Bring home missing Indigenous women, children #nomorestolensisters

ChiomaAloziem

M

ore than 710 Indigenous girls went missing from 2011 to 2020 in Wyoming, the same state where Gabby Petito was found. The large majority, 85%, were kids, and 57% were female according to a September 2021 article by Insider. Studies show that 21% of missing Indigenous people remain missing for 30 days or longer while only 11% of white people remain missing for that long.

According to a Sept. 22 New York Times article by Katie Robertson, the disappearance of people of color doesn’t create the same media attention as white women, despite people of color disappearing at a much quicker rate.

One of the few indigenous cases that reached nationwide coverage was Roylyn Ride Horse, a 28-yearold mother of six and member of the Crow Tribe. On April 17, 2016, the night of the incident, she went to a bar with her husband. After an argument between the two, her husband left her at the bar. She soon caught a ride with Angelica Jo Whiteman, Dimarzio Swade Sanchez and his half-brother Frank. While she was in the vehicle, an argument ensued with Whiteman.

The car then stopped near the Crow sive,” Executive Director for MonReservation border, and the argument tana Native Women’s Coalition, Jean escalated into a physical fight. Found Bearcrance, said. by a rancher 14 hours later, she was Roylyn Ride Horse and Gabby badly beaten, frostbitten, and severely Petito’s deaths were tragedies that burned. Ride Horse died two months no family should ever have to deal later in the burn with. Both lives were unit of Salt Lake taken from them at a City, Utah. young age. Petito’s Whiteman case has captured was senthe heart of tenced to the country.

40 years When you in prison, search her Dimarzio name, more Swade Santhan 340 chez was million sentenced results pop to life and up with Frank was countless sentenced stories, to 9 years.

Instagram “The thing about Illustration by ElleianaGreen posts, and this story is that the clues about her death. On media only covered it because it was TikTok, the hashtag “#gabbypetito” really brutal. In my opinion, it’s not has received more than 1.4 billion something that law enforcement will views. However, when you search get involved in but for the sake of the for Tribal members like Mary Johnmedia’s attention. When family and son, who has been missing for over friends get media attention it forces 10 months, around 6,000 results pop law enforcement to be more responup according to a Sept. 27 article by

Naomi Ishisaka in the Seattle Times.

Gabby Petito’s case has received more attention than Mary Johnson.

When she disappeared she had around 1000 followers. Currently, since the outbreak of her disappearance, she has more than 1 million followers on Instagram. Many credit this to “missing white woman syndrome.” The syndrome refers to unequal media coverage for missing white females compared to minorities who disappear. In addition, studies have shown that white women and girls do receive more coverage and more repeated coverage. According to Robertson, “White women were typically depicted as good people, while women of color were often characterized as risk-takers or somehow complicit in their own disappearances.”

How can you help bring home the missing Indigenous people? Organizations like the Montana Native Women’s Coalition invite you to educate yourself and learn about the movement. Next, you can use things like social media and rallies to spread awareness and support the cause.

The ultimate message: bring missing Indigenous people home.

Gerrymandering influences 2021 Nebraska political redistricting ElizabethMonzu

N

o, really? Who is Gerry and why is he mandering?

Gerrymandering, a tale as old as the United States, started when Patrick Henry tried to take his rival James Madison’s seat away in Virginia’s first congressional election by making an irregular district for voting.

However, according to Britannica, the real term came in 1812 when Governor Elbridge Gerry of Massachusetts “defined new state senatorial districts,” giving unequal representation to the Democratic-Republicans. The Boston Gazette newspaper made a cartoon on the situation in which the highly irregular district looked like a salamander and so the term gerrymandering was born.

Gerrymandering has gotten more partisan and more complex over the years, but it is still the same idea of redrawing the electoral districts of states in which it gives one party an unfair advantage over the other. For example, Nebraska has 3 districts and every 10 years after the census, the lines are redrawn to account for population. Even though gerrymandering is a problem, redistricting is necessary because people move and places change, so they have to make sure each district is represented properly and equally on account of population.

According to the Brennan Center, redistricting is being corrupted and the people aren’t having their say. The people are supposed to choose the representatives, but politicians are instead

choosing who they want to vote for them.

Senior Malerie Birkel learned more about gerrymandering in her government class and had some thoughts. “It ensures that some voices are louder than others and leads to voter efficacy and alienation. It tells people that their vote doesn’t count and can lead to a lower voter turnout rate.” This is a partisan issue, both parties gerrymander.

“Although partisan gerrymandering is legal, there are some major rules,” Mrs. Jillian Roger, government and politics teacher, said. “Each district needs to be nearly the same in population, and they need to be compact and continuous. What this means is you can’t have Omaha and add another bubble for Lincoln. The districts have to be connected to each other.”

Because partisan gerrymandering is legal, there are many states that have very irregular districts. They go neighborhood by neighborhood, carving people out based on how they registered for voting.

Pr

ev

io

us

“To have the districts be nonpartisan, they would either have to be drawn by a nonpartisan judicial committee, like in Iowa, or drawn by a computer,” Roger said. “If computers drew the districts in this country, they would look a lot different.”

As said before, Nebraska has 3 districts that are redrawn every 10 years. Each state has different rules about how their redistricting is done, and Nebraska’s are redrawn by state legislators.

Nebraska’s lines were redrawn this year because of the 2020 census. The Nebraska State Legislature approved the new map on Sept. 30, but it won’t take effect until 2022 for the midterm elections.

The redistricting was a bit different this year and tensions were high. Nebraska’s state legislature is controlled

by Republicans, and in the 2020 presidential election Nebraska’s second district “went blue,” and to president elect Joe Biden. Nebraska and Maine are the only two states who split up their electoral votes by district.

De

m

lin

es

oc

ra

tp

ro

po

Infographic by ElizabethMonzu

sa

l

Because of this, in the redistricting, Republicans had a proposal on how to split up the districts so the second district wouldn’t go blue again. According to WOWT, they cut Douglas County in half and added Saunders and Sarpy counties, which are Republican strongholds, while leaving much of Democratic North Omaha out. The Republican’s proposal was blatant gerrymandering, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Nebraska said, but they weren’t the only ones to do it.

The Democrats also had a proposal, one in which that would benefit the second district in turning blue once again. Their plan was to decrease Douglas County a little and add Offutt and Bellevue. Bellevue is highly Democratic because they have a large Latinx community that historically votes blue.

Both of these propositions sought to help their own party, but ultimately both parties decided on a compromise.

They kept Douglas County whole, to benefit the Democrats, and they added Re Saunders and part of Sarpy pu counties, to benefit the bl ica Republicans. “It was n pr good to see that both op parties were eventuos al ally able to come to a compromise that seems as fair as it can realistically be,” Birkel said.

This compromise illustrates that not everything has to be on party lines and that there are other alternatives to gerrymandering.

04 Opinion

Gerrymandering Editorial Cartoon by ElleianaGreen

Repu

blican

s

ts cra mo De I wonder what Gerry’s up to today...

Probably just mandering per usual.

Have an opinion?

Send a letter to the editors!

Email us at netpaper@omahamarian.org See online exclusives at mariandigitalnetwork.com

Ha ha, I don’t get it...

October 2021

Being sad is okay: A story about mental health Opinion by ShannonMonahan ental health has been making headlines. While I’m glad as a society we are starting to prioritize mental health, we are making depression seem like a horrible thing.

A lot of people struggle with depression. People with depression often deal with depressive episodes and panic attacks, but what about every other day that they live with depression? The depression doesn’t go away, it is there to stay.

Depression should not be romanticized. As a very serious topic that can be very triggering for some people. If more people talk about it, we can learn, improve, and help each other.

Being sad is okay.

We shouldn’t expect ourselves to be this happy, energetic person every day. Sadness is an emotion that we all feel. As a society, depression and sadness is seen as unhealthy and wrong, but some people are wired this way or are just having a bad day and need to express their sadness. With the pressure to put on a mask every day and pretend to be happy, when we finally decide to take off this mask, everything falls apart and we can feel worse.

The phrase “fake it until you make it” is said a lot when you are having a bad day. This phrase is so wrong though; you should not shy away from the emotions that you experience. The journey

M

to your goal is more important than the final destination — so shouldn’t we be happy while we are on this journey? Our mind and bodies are connected — and if one is off, the other is too. We have to prioritize protecting our mental health and bodies.

Depression is thrown around a lot when a minor inconvenience happens. It is wrong to downplay the side effects of depression, self-diagnose and joke about a serious issue that affects millions every day. Saying this stuff out loud might be triggering to some people and, in my case, all of those feelings come rushing back.

We avoid sadness and pain to make ourselves seem strong. Being strong means showing your true emotions dealing with them head on, not pushing them away.

If you feel the need to cry — then cry. If you feel the need to scream — then scream.

We should try to make the most of our day and know that feeling down and not being yourself does not make you a bad person. I am not going to lie, I have bad days sometimes when I cannot stay awake and all I want to do is lay in my bed. It is important to prioritize your mental health, but also push through and do the best you can because doing the best you can is the most important thing. If you really try at school and work, then you should be proud of yourself no

matter the outcome.

I prioritize my feelings by listening to music to block out the sound or reaching out to my friends and family to talk about what I am going through. It is therapeutic to have someone listen to you. Therapy is another option that can be used to help.

As a society therapy isn’t taboo anymore. I know so many people that are not afraid to tell someone they are in therapy. Of course, it is not okay to flaunt this and glamorize mental health struggles. But, from personal experience, I know so many people who go to therapy and are not ashamed of it.

Your emotions are valid and important. You should do whatever you need to feel better. It might not get rid of all the sadness, but having a smile on your face or feeling calm is worth it for a second. Sometimes we have bad days, and that’s okay. It doesn’t make you a bad person if you do not have the energy to wave hello to your friend in the hallways or take that nap in between the activities you do.

We need to learn to see the color in the world rather than focus on the darkness of it. Yes, some days may be hard, but you’ve got the strength in you. I’m not trying to sound cheesy but it’s true.

Remember, we all have bad days and should not beat ourselves up.

Afterall, it’s okay to be sad.

How late night gets away with twisted, inappropriate comedy

Opinion by GigiSalerno

“L

ive from New York, it’s Saturday Night.” You run downstairs, taking your usual spot on the couch. Your mom passes you the popcorn as the whole family gets ready to watch Saturday Night Live (SNL), your favorite show. Your dad turns up the TV as a new sketch comes on, a smile still on your face from the opening monologue. But the new sketch doesn’t make you laugh.

You look around the room to see that the smiles on your parents and siblings faces have also disappeared. Your stomach sinks as the cast members pass off offensive one-liners as comedy. Instead of the boundary-pushing comedy that you’re used to, this sketch fully crosses the line. SNL continually airs offensive content, yet is let off the hook because it’s “a joke.”

Now, for a brief history of offensive SNL jokes. I’m sure that you could write an MLA8 20-page paper about the offensive skits on SNL. That list would be different for just about everyone, too, as “offensive content” means different things to different people and as SNL has made its name from controversial material.

This list, however, is objectively not funny, even from a self-proclaimed lover of dark humor and a person who laughs at the most inopportune times.

• 1975 Chevy Chase says racial slurs in a skit.

• 1990 Skit body shaming Chris “As funny as that sketch was ... it’s Farley. one of the things that killed him.” In • 2000 Jimmy Fallon does blackface.

2000, Fallon did an impersonation of • 2015 Louis C.K. performs an openformer SNL co-star Chris Rock, coming monologue about child molestaplete with blackface. In 2015, controtion. versial comedian and host Louis C.K. • 2018 Pete Davidson makes fun performed his opening monologue of veteran for touching on child a wound molestation, obtained making light of during time the subject. In in service.

2018, Pete DaWow, vidson made fun what a of congressional lineup. The candidate Dan 1975 skit, Crenshaw for a “Word Asphysical disabilsociation,” ity caused from is literally his time serving nothing in Afghanistan, more than ending the joke an exchange with “I’m sorry, of racial I know he lost slurs during his eye in war or a job interwhatever.” view. The 1990s In terms of Illustration of opening monologue skit was actually comedy, nothing is

by GigiSalerno praised by Rolling off limits, but that Stone as one of the best SNL skits of doesn’t mean that you can go about all time. It follows a competition for making jokes in just any way. Humor a job between 80s heartthrob Patrick should be smart and hold underlying Swayze and Chris Farley. “I always truths — something that none of the hated it ... The joke of it is, basically, sketches above did. The writers took ‘We can’t hire you because you’re the easy way out and made obvious fat.’ There’s no comic twist to it. It’s and degrading jokes that, frankly, just ... mean. Chris wanted so much aren’t funny. to be liked,” Chris Rock said in 2008, SNL has been able to get away

with these sketches because they leave viewers thinking, “It’s a joke. They don’t really mean anything by it, it’s just funny.”

I’m not saying that SNL should back down from making controversial statements, I just think that the way they do it needs to change. The best way for writers to make a cutting-edge joke is to joke about something personal to them.

A perfect example of this is the queen herself, Kim Kardashian, who recently hosted SNL. In her opening monologue, Kardashian poked fun at herself, her family members, and her connection to OJ Simpson. To joke about that, if done incorrectly, could be deemed wildly offensive. Her jokes were solely hers to make, which was part of the genius. While there was backlash to her monologue, her jokes were creative and witty.

I’m not opposed to SNL making content that some may take issue with. Part of what makes the late night show so popular is that the writers are willing to touch on heavier subjects from a new perspective. Comedy is subjective. Jokes aren’t meant to please everyone, and everyone has a different sense of humor. Comedy should, however, come from personal experience or be creative, instead of just making obvious, offensive jokes with nothing more to them than a bad punchline.

October 2021

Opinion 05

Give the marbles back: A plea to the British Museum

A

Opinion by MelinaPiperis rtwork is more than decoration.

It represents a nation’s identity.

When an American gazes upon the Lincoln Memorial, they see a symbol of the challenges their nation has faced, and feel hope that their nation will prevail. But what would they feel if their nation’s most important monuments were stolen?

Imagine the Statue of Liberty standing without her torch, raising an empty hand. Picture Mount Rushmore without President Washington’s face, because someone sawed it off.

It is difficult to even envision this, yet peoples around the world have seen their monuments pillaged. They have watched conquerors desecrate their treasures, and feel the void left behind.

The British Museum in London

is filled with countless treasures, abducted throughout centuries of colonization. While the British claim that the artwork filling their walls are part of a “global cultural heritage,” they hide that these works were often stolen. Among the most prominent are Egypt’s Rosetta Stone, Easter Island’s thousand-year-old sculpture, and India’s statue of the Hindu god, Śiva. These treasures attract an annual revenue of almost $6 million, yet none of them are British. Nations who have lost their treasures to the British Museum passionately demand the return of their masterpieces, yet the British coldly refuse.

The crown jewel of the British Museum is the Parthenon Marbles.

The Marbles consist of 250 feet of the Parthenon’s frieze, the pediment that wraps around the top of one of the most sacred temples in Greece.

In 1801, while the Ottoman Empire repressively occupied Greece, the Turkish Sultan granted the Scottish Lord Elgin permission to hack off half of the frieze. In his greed, Elgin looted the masterpieces to decorate his home, only to go bankrupt and desperately sell them to the British crown. Ever since, the Marbles have sat impris-

oned in England, enduring damage from irresponsible caretakers.

The tragedy of the Parthenon Marbles’ residence in Britain is unfortunately a common occurrence. The Rosetta Stone, which is considered one of the most valuable artifacts in the world, was discovered by a Frenchman who gave it to the British after France surrendered Egypt in the early 19th century. Written on this stone are three ancient scripts that reveal ancient languages and hieroglyphics.

Countless nations have lost their historic treasures to The British Museum and continue to fight for the return of their masterpieces. Still, little artwork has been restored and returned to their rightful homes.

For decades, Greek statesmen, led by Greek feminist hero Melina Mercouri, have been fighting to return the Marbles to Greece. They built the Acropolis Museum, which displays replicas of the stolen marbles, to show how much the British stole. They demand the reunification of the Marbles with the Parthenon. They long to see the Marbles atop the Parthenon again, overlooking the city of Athens, their birthplace and where they belong.

Why should you care about the

Photo of the Parthenon Marbles from creativecommons.org Parthenon Marbles? Because no one should be allowed to plunder a nation’s monuments. No one should be allowed to loot a people’s sacred sites.

As long as the Parthenon Marbles are held captive in the British Museum, anyone who stands against cultural appropriation should be enraged.

Me(lina)thinks

Defaulting to simple stories hides important truths

Opinion by ElizaTurco

I

looked at the jagged walls of red rock towering over the road, and I tested my heart for familiarity. The teal waters, beating sun, and groves of oranges were out of stories I’d been told my whole life. My great-nanu worked in those Sicilian fields. He played in this city square. I scavenged for a part of me to hold up — a bit of magnetism to something, anything to let me know that this place belonged to me.

I was expecting an involuntary connection to something that seemed woven into my personality; a connection to the land my ancestors had walked, the people that looked like me, that ate like I did at home, and understood the tight-knit family I had grown up in. But all I could think of was how the deep green soybeans stems flex in the Nebraska wind, reflecting white panes of light, and waving like the tide — a reality that made me feel like a country bumpkin in a whole new way.

I had created a version of Sicily

everything and the kitchen sink

The Network Marian High School 7400 Military Ave. Omaha, NE 68134 netpaper@omahamarian.org

mhspub

MHSbeat

mhspub

in my mind that overlooked reality in order to fulfill my narrative. Sicily was supposed to be traditional, simple and outdated. It turns out even Sicilians eat McDonald’s and don’t call their parents as often as they should. A LensCrafters shoved in an ancient, cracked-stone building is still a LensCrafters. My Sicily didn’t exist, and while not displeased with the truth, I gave up years of selfunderstanding by avoiding reality.

There are numerous narratives we each accept every day. This could be because we don’t pause to think, or more likely because they are taught to us.

Before going to the Dominican Republic with my family, I had very little built up in my mind. I thought it would be hot and rural. Even these small expectations had conflicts.

I ate sushi at the Mall, visited a rural campo, took a trip to Price Smart (basically Costco), drove up to the cool mountains, and saw the stunning beaches of Punta Cana and the windy ex-pat community of Cabarete. I felt disco music pounding through speakers all night and, in the quiet, heard mangos hit the tin roof of my room.

I had seriously under-estimated the intricacy of spaces, celebrations, and people the D.R. had to offer.

I began to be acquainted with how the Dominican Republic was per-

The Network is

ceived inside and out. The D.R. has one of the fastest-growing economies in Latin America and the Caribbean, according to the World Bank, and pulls millions of long-term visitors yearly, says the Caribbean Journal.

In U.S. newspapers, it mainly receives coverage for rare tourist accidents. Its developing economy status (or more outdatedly called “third world” or “developing country”) is chiefly portrayed in a negative light, and overcasts the incredible achievements of the country. This is not to suggest that neglecting a country’s issues is a superior course of action, but that countries are complex and cannot be pinned down to one story.

I’d like to think that even if I hadn’t been connected through family, my younger self wouldn’t have copied and pasted a generalization on the D.R., but there’s nothing promising that.

When we believe simple stories, we neglect the abundance of beauty and complexity that is real and true.

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie in her frequently assigned-for-homework TED talk, “The Danger of a Single Story” put it best, “Stories matter.

Many stories matter. Stories have been used to dispossess and to malign, but stories can also be used to empower and to humanize. Stories can break the dignity of a people, but stories can

Paloma, a stray dog, lounges around near an outdoor fish fry restaurant.

The beach of Playa Grande houses several restaurants, shops and park areas for locals to enjoy. also repair that broken dignity.”

I do not think that it takes unmet expectations in Sicily, or a visit to the Dominican Republic to learn this. I’ve had the same thought while driving to Nebraska City, Colorado and Marian — outside my window, people are living unique lives, with varieties of personal experiences, different favorite ice cream flavors and different objects they hold dear.

Take first appearances with a grain of salt, no matter if it’s a whole country or the girl who sits across from you with intense eyeliner. Dig deeper.

Skip the perfect story or under-estimation and seek the confronting, labyrinthine, beautiful truth.

Managing Editors: ElleianaGreen & AnnaRasgorshek Copy Editor: ElizaTurco a monthly publication of the journalism students at Marian High School, NebrasPhoto Editor: ClareDegan ka’s only Class A Catholic, AdvancED accredited college preparatory school for Graphics Editor: LivBirnstihl girls. The Network is a member of the N.H.S.P.A and the N.S.P.A. It is our goal Online Editor: GigiSalerno to provide an accurate and informative news source for the student community.

News Editors: Students, faculty and friends are invited to voice their opinion in Letters to the MaddieAdam, Editors. Letters must be typed, signed, and sent to the address at left. Or call us at MakDarrow & ElizabethMonzu Feature Editors: 402-571-2618 x1134. An electronic version of this paper and exclusive content can CarliAhsan, ChiomaAloziem, be found at mariandigitalnetwork.com Adviser: Mrs.MarshaKalkowski FionaGautschi & BaileyKollasch

Opinion Editors: AveryKinnison, MelinaPiperis Indepth Editor: JordanMoser Sports Editors: AshleyJohanek & KathrynStec Entertainment Editors: ShannonMonahan & EliseMoulton Photo Essay Editor: ClareDegan Reporter & Photographer: SydneySchroeder

06 Feature

October 2021

Domestic Violence Awareness: Learn the signs

CarliAhsan early 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States. This statistic is shocking. Domestic violence is not uncommon in the U.S. It is extremely important, especially for women, to be aware of what domestic violence is and how to escape it if necessary.

According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV), “Domestic violence is the willful intimidation, physical assault, battery, sexual assault, and/ or other abusive behavior as part of a systematic pattern of power and control perpetrated by one intimate partner against another. It includes physical violence, sexual violence, psychological violence, and emotional abuse.” Domestic violence can happen to anyone, but women between the ages of 18 to 24 are the most common victims. The NCADV reports that 1 in 3 women have experienced some form of domestic violence by an intimate partner at some point in their lives.

Domestic violence often starts with the abuser using fear, threats, or any other intimidation tactic to gain control over the victim. According to the NCADV, common signs of this starting are controlling or possessive behaviors or acts of jealousy. Many abusers show these signs in the early stages of the relationship, so it can be very hard to recognize. The more serious the relationship gets, the more serious the abuse can get. The abuse can be anything from telling the victim they can’t do anything right to physically abusing the victim. Domestic violence is not just physical abuse. It can take the form of the abuser embarrassing their partner with put-downs,

N

dictating what the victim wears or who they see, stalking the victim, preventing the victim from attending school, pressuring the victim to do drugs or have sex, or any other threatening or controlling behaviors.

Many abusers have similar traits

Domestic violence causes more injuries to women than car accidents and reported muggings combined.

Health, these children will have a bigger chance of being in violent relationships when they are older, either as abusers or victims.

When there are teenagers in the household it is com-

Women between the ages of 18-24 are at the greatest risk of being victims of domestic violence.

Domestic violence survivors are more likely to develop depression, anxiety and PTSD.

Fast facts on domestic violence.

Sources: Ncadv.org & Safehorizons.com Infographic by MakDarrow

that can make them easier to identify and be aware of. Some characteristics include the abuser objectifying the victim, the abuser having low self-esteem or feeling powerless in the world, the abuser blaming their behavior on circumstances such as stress or having a bad day, and the abuser acting extremely nice and charming between periods of violence. Warning signs of an abuser are unpredictability, a bad temper, cruelty to animals, verbal abuse, financial control, and many more.

Domestic violence impacts not only the victim but also the people close to them, especially any children living in the same household as the abuser and victim. When children grow up seeing abuse in their house, they tend to see it as a normal lifestyle. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office on Women’s

family. Many victims want the abuse to end, but not the relationship. Many still love their abuser and will feel ashamed or guilty for leaving them.

They may try to distance themselves from their family and friends because they are embarrassed about their situation. It is crucial for victims to know that it is not their fault.

If you or anyone you know is being affected by domestic abuse or you see signs of it starting, there are many places that can help you find safety. “My initial thought would be for people to be aware of the resources available to those who are involved in domestic violence/abuse relationships. At Heartland Family Service, our Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault program offers resources such as shelter; which is available to survivors and their children. The shelter provides assistance with case management in finding housing, jobs, state and local assistance along with other resources,” Jane Prine of Heartland Family Service in Omaha said.

“Our Outreach program offers survivor’s therapy and counseling, a support group, legal assistance with protection orders, child custody and separation or divorce. All of our programs are at low or no cost to the survivors,” Prine said.

Heartland Family Service also offers a crisis hotline that can be reached at 402-292-5888 or 800-523-3666.

Heartland Family Service, like many other organizations, believes it is essential to the safety of yourself and others, to look for signs of domestic abuse.

mon for them to begin patterns of drug and alcohol abuse, unsafe behavior, and even begin to develop depression.

Victims are often put in the most danger when trying to leave or when they have finally escaped the situation. The abuser tends to feel a loss of control and will do anything to get that back. They may continue to threaten, harass, or attempt to control the victim again. In fact, one-fifth of homicide victims with restraining orders are harmed within two days of obtaining the order according to the NCADV. One of the biggest challenges that come with domestic abuse is safely escaping.

Domestic violence does not end after the victim leaves the abuser. The victim is left with long-lasting effects.

Victims can end up with depression, PTSD, and permanent effects on their relationships with their friends and

Cold brew, bikes make positive change in community AnnaRasgorshek he flying saucer perched on the corner of 19th and Dodge Street is hard to miss. But the building’s peculiar shape is not the only unique thing about the store. The Bike Union opened in 2015, with a mission of providing jobs for those aging out of the foster care system.

“I think if you look at the stats, there’s so many negative outcomes.

And I think it’s a super overlooked demographic like nobody seems to care about kids aging out of foster care. It’s so bad that I can say, ‘We serve kids who are impacted by the foster care system’ and I don’t have to give any explanation at all, everyone just fills in the blanks. There’s a huge unemployment rate, but that was the big thing for us... We can find a way to take care of that,” owner Miah Sommer said.

The Bike Union is a social enterprise: a business that works to promote positive social change. The store is a full-service bike shop, selling

T

like true relationships bikes and doing repairs, and also a coffee for the young adults because that’s shop. Sommer kind of what was inspired they’re to open the missing store after his own in their lives,” experiSomences mer with said. the Somfoster mer care works system, and closeknowing ly with he could many organizations inhelp. cluding Mentor While the G t Bike Union helps raph Nebraska, Project ec ic s roj Everlast, Rise Prison our P to employ those g ce: B ike Union MentorinProgram, Wisdom House aging out, they also prioriCollaborative, and Youth Emergency tize building relationships with their employees as well. “We want to make Services. The collaboration within sure that we’re providing relationships the community helps Sommer and the

Bike Union to make lasting change.

Locally, consumers can help make a change as well.

“I think everybody wants to think about how they spend their money, right? Obviously, there’s a big push for people to spend politically because that makes sense. Obviously, you’re supporting local business, you’re supporting the local economy. But I think if you can buy a bike, or you can buy a coffee from a local place and have that money go to community programs, I think are so much better,” Sommer said.

“If you care about where your money goes, then I think that’s the place.

If you’re at all social justice-minded, if you’re at all community-minded — I would try to find ways to make those dollars go as far as they can,” Sommer said.

The Bike Union continues to help make a positive change in the world, one coffee (or one bike) at a time.

October 2021

Feature 07

ADHD: Energetic, lethargic, and everything in between

S

Sen i

or

Gr ac e y

the ADHD community. The managed method is the most popular. Stimulants are not the only type of medication prescribed, and each person reacts to it differently. Like most things, medication requires an adjustment period in order to find the right match and dose.

The perfect fit can do wonders for the person’s self esteem. They no longer have to run an uphill-battle to complete tasks, for the medication levels the playing field. They no longer self-identify as incapable of doing what others consider average.

After searching for the medication to suit her needs, Manley eventually turned to the unmanaged method. Her middle school teachers questioned her parents’ reasoning during the annual meetings Manley had to attend before the school year because of her ADHD. “I know her teachers had good intentions, but I felt somewhat attacked by allowing my child to tell us how she was feeling. I explained that Grace was down to 86 pounds. She doesn’t have an appetite. So yes, Grace is self advocating and being very honest about how the meds are controlling her. I said, ‘Look at her! You can see her bones,’” Manley’s mother, Jamie Manley said. “ I respected the teacher’s suggestions, but I was not willing to sacrifice my daughter’s happiness and health for an A+.”

The path she chose is especially difficult for someone with ADHD, but Manley is resilient, only taking medication for extremely important occasions. “It’s gotten better as I’ve gotten older because I’m just more aware of [my ADHD], and I’m more aware of

le an

and hyperactivity-impulsivity ADHD. “People were just like, ‘oh, she’s hyper,’ ‘she talks a lot,’ and ‘that’s just Grace,’” Manley explained. “My entire life I’ve been known to talk a lot, and people just saw that as who I was — nothing really big or anything like that.”

Associating the neurological disorder as a vital component to one’s identity, leaves them vulnerable in terms of how they perceive themselves.

It is no secret that those with ADHD usually struggle academically. But by basing their worth on their grades, their self esteem and mental health can be damaged. “I would say that I’m pretty smart,” Manley said. “It’s just, with the ADHD, I’ve never really been able to apply myself as much as I should because my brain doesn’t work in that kind of way.”

Her diagnosis was a relief. “It felt really good to know that there was something that was going to help me. I always felt like I had to work ten times as hard as anyone else in my class just to do average or just as good as them,” Manley said.

ADHD can be addressed in two methods: managed (with medication) or unmanaged (without medication).

When Manley began on the managed route in middle school, she did not like it. The stimulant medication she was taking to help her focus and work had abolished her appetite. Breakfast and lunch would be skipped, the former out of habit and the latter from the side effects. Manley’s appetite loss caught up with her, and 25 pounds gave way to an appearance of skin and bones.

“I’ve never gotten along with the medication,” Manley said. “I feel like it takes a piece of me away that, if I were to take it every single day, I could never get back. I feel like a cookie-cutter house like there’s nothing different about me.”

Manley’s choice is not common in

M

BaileyKollasch olely lacking the motivation to complete school work is not the same as having Attention-Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and should not be joked as such. Individuals can only begin to be diagnosed with ADHD if they have displayed signs of inattention, disorganization, and/ or hyperactivity-impulsivity that have proved to be abnormal for their age as well as be present in multiple settings (school, home, etc.).

Unlike the typical procrastinator, a person with ADHD won’t even have the motivation to start on a project for their favorite class. “I would never focus in school. My motivation to do homework was at zero. It physically hurt my body to try and think about doing homework,” senior Grace Manley said. “It’s a struggle, and isn’t something that should be taken lightly or joked about because every day there is a new struggle.”

The most common cause of ADHD is by inheriting it genetically. Not a lot is known about the neurological disorder, but pediatric nurse Jenny Mullen, LPN, said it is just like any other diagnosis in mental health.

Without a biological marker, abnormal brain features — such as a smaller total brain volume — are possible signs of ADHD but are not entirely reliable for a diagnosis. Fidgeting becomes more difficult to identify as a child grows up as well. For example, Manley doesn’t fidget with her hands as much as she did when she was younger. She instead found new, less obvious outlets for her inner chaos: moving her feet, biting her cheek, etc.

ADHD is rooted in who a person is, which explains how easy it can be to chalk up the symptoms as a person’s personality. When Manley was in fifth grade, her friends and family had believed her energetic personality to be just that — her personality. She was diagnosed a year later with inattention

habits. I know what works for me with studying,”Manley said.

Generally, males are more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD which usually leads to forgetfulness that females can have it, too. ADHD is not limited to the class clown, who just so happens to be a boy.

It’s the girl whose mind is constantly somewhere else, exploring every possibility but the one they’re currently in. It’s the girl who forgets what she’s going to say half of the time. And one can’t forget the girl who charges into situations without allowing herself time to process what just happened.

“ADHD affects me in every single part of my life… not just schoolwork. It affects a lot with motivation, mental health, and the way I perceive myself,” Manley said. Just as a student’s behavior isn’t confined to the classroom, a person’s ADHD isn’t limited to schoolwork.

Student favorites: Local coffee shops provide productive study spots FionaGautschi

ee. off C n en t Z oulto a i a ch seM nd y Eli a ne o b Sco Phot

Hardy

Stories

Hardy Coffee has three locations, one in the Benson area on 60th and Maple Street, one on North 30th St, and one downtown on 10th and Jones. They currently have an extensive menu of fall drinks, including the famous pumpkin spice latte. Hardy is spacious and has single tables if you want to do work on your own, as well as areas for group seating if you want to study with friends.

Stories is a popular study spot for Marian girls. Located off of 114th and Davenport Street, Stories has a large space with couches and tables that are perfect for studying. Stories is also open until 9 p.m. during the week and 10 p.m. on the weekends, if you are looking to do some late night homework. At Stories, each hot latte comes with handcrafted latte art.

Zen

Zen Coffee is just as relaxing as it sounds. Zen offers a cozy atmosphere, and delicious food and drinks. It has two locations, one downtown on 25th and Farnam and one in West Omaha on 132nd and Center. Zen has a peaceful atmosphere that is perfect for doing homework while enjoying a cup of coffee.

While school can be stressful, studying at a cozy coffee shop can help students destress and get their work done. “There are less distractions in a coffee shop and it is more fun than studying at home. For me it’s an environment that sets me up for productivity,” sophomore Macaire Harr said.

Sen lat ior E Ph te ar mma oto t at S Hen by Em torie ness ma s C ey’s He offe nn ess e. ey

Dundee Double Shot

Dundee Double Shot located off of 50th and Dodge has been a staple in the Dundee community since 2014.

They have a small indoor seating area, but a lot of tables on the outdoor patio.

It is a perfect spot for studying and enjoying nice weather. They offer a wide variety of coffee options, as well as Red Bull infusions and matcha.

08 indepth

octobe

HOME IS Van Dyke family recounts stories ElizaTurco

T

he house is quieter now with only one kid at home, senior Audrey Van Dyke. Still, dinner continues to be a uniting factor, bringing the family together nightly and welcoming in visits from her four older siblings, now moved out and building futures. Mrs. Karen Van Dyke and Mr. Greg Van Dyke hosted us for dinner, giving us an inside look at their family’s nightly tradition.

The Van Dykes make a point of sitting down to dinner every night. “I like talking with everyone about their days, and catching up, especially when my siblings are home,” Audrey said. The more the merrier aspect carried through even with COVID, when four siblings were back under the same roof, “We had four of the five kids home and so multiple times during the week we would have big meals and lots of fun... end up playing some games after which is always nice,” Mrs. Van Dyke said.

Audrey and the family feel lucky to have favorite meals like meatloaf, chili and BBQ ribs on the table to share regularly. Like all of us though, there are a few meals better left uncooked. “Once during lent my mom made tuna casserole. We were little, and I was the only one that would eat it. Still, my siblings had to have some, and while I kept eating they left most of theirs.

The doorbell rang and my mom got up and all my siblings piled their tuna casserole onto my plate and told me I had to finish it all before Mom came back.” For Audrey, that dinner was a recipe for disaster. Though she can honestly say, “I’ve never fed my food to the dog.”

Dinner is a starting place for recounting warm and hilarious stories. From the tale of Nigel McDreamy Van Dyke, a hamster the Van Dyke siblings managed to sneak around the house for a month under their parents radar, to Audrey’s historic 10-minute performance of “Man or Muppet,” the family bonds over time spent around the table.

It’s not that this family doesn’t have busy schedules either, Mrs. Van Dyke leads the non-profit Educate Uganda, Mr. Van Dyke works at Tenaska energy, and Audrey participates in cross country, Ultimate Hype Squad Club, Yearbook and more. Even better is when everyone’s schedules align, “We love it when all the kids are home. We all sit around for longer, and talk, ” Mr. Van Dyke said.

Whether your family sits down to eat every night, or treasures weekend dinners only, the kitchen is the heart of the home.

There are countless benefits to Articles on the importance have b WebMD to the Washington Post. It b longer, and enhances the health of yo and time passes by family dinners We visited two families to get the in home looked

Corrigan Home Van Dyke Home

Map of Omaha z where many Mar Graphic by Jorda

Senior Audrey Van Dyke and her parents, Karen and Greg Van Dyke.

Photo by ElizaTurco

More than just homework help, teachers share kitchen tips for cul ElizaTurco

“When it comes to spices, just go by instinct and not measure.”

Mr. Kory Delkamiller Theology

“Do your prep work on Saturdays or Sundays.”

Mr. Eric Thompson Math

“Use an Instant Pot for 20 minutes to defrost fast.”

Ms. Amy Bauman English

er 2021

Indepth 09

WHERE...

sitting down for a family meal. been published by everyone from builds relationships, makes you live our diet. But, as schedules get busier s fall out of style and convenience. nside look on what time together at like for them.

Corrigans spend meaningful time together

T

LivBirnstihl he Corrigan family is no stranger to bending the rules at the dinner table. I took the opportunity to put myself in the shoes of senior Niamh Corrigan and junior Nora Corrigan to see how they experience the idea of family dinner.

Before I even asked for an invite, I was more than excited to experience a Corrigan dinner. I am no stranger to some of their delicious traditional Irish recipes, so I was eager to see what a regular meal for them would look like.

To my surprise, Corrigan family dinners aren’t exactly conventional. While talking to Niamh, she said that “It’s rare [they] eat as a family more than once a week.

Everyone’s schedule is way too different and all over the place to be able to sit down and enjoy a meal that frequently.”

The night that I was able to experience a meal with them was one of those all over the place nights.

Nora explained to me that her parents were at their jobs and her brother Sean was at baseball, so that left her and Niamh to make the most of their time together and cook a meal for me.

“We’re all too busy during the week to be able to eat together,” Niamh said. “We will generally try to eat together on Sunday nights if we all can.”

Niamh decided that she was going to cook a family recipe for a meal called crescent chicken squares. While the title was unfamiliar to me, I had no doubts that the Corrigan sisters would exceed my expectations.

Let me just say, I was not disappointed.

The recipe they used highlighted how easily a good meal could come together. The Corrigans paused very shortly to cook chicken squares — a reminder of the fast paced lifestyle the Corrigans live.

“I don’t know the difference between cooking dinner as a family every night or ‘fending for yourself,’ as my mom likes to say,” Nora said while assisting Niamh in cleaning dishes. “By making my own meals I not only get to eat what I want, but also when I want. If I know I’m going to have a busy night with homework or other commitments, then I can make food around my schedule. Whereas, if we ate dinner together every night as a family, I would have to carve a separate, finite amount of time to eat dinner. Also, by not eating as a family conventionally each night, my parents have given us the opportunity to be a part of more sports or activities or even allow more time for us to focus on our academics.”

As Niamh collected the leftovers, she acknowledged the pros of her family’s dinner dynamic.

“My parents have sacrificed their time to make sure we have every opportunity to succeed and if that means we don’t eat dinner together every night, I’m okay with that.”

Between witty banter and random notes about their day, it’s obvious that the Corrigans value any time they can spend together no matter the circumstance. Though their family dinner plans aren’t exactly the one you envision, it’s clear that there is still a strong connection that goes deeper than a meal.

zip codes — rian families gather to eat. anMoser

linary success

“Don’t cook things too high.

Be patient.”

Ms. Kris Hennings Administration

Recipe from senior NiamhCorrigan Photo above of Nora and Niamh Corrigan by LivBirnstihl

10 Feature

October 2021

What happened to school field trips? It’s complicated

StaffEditorial

L

et’s face it — school can be boring.

The 40-hour week schedule is not for everyone. Students’ lives are mechanical. Stuck in the day-to-day hustle of high school, learning turns into memorization and objectively loses its meaning.

What did you learn in economics class last week? The truth is you probably don’t remember because students constantly miss out on a crucial step — application.

When we were in grade school, field trips were no novelty. Every year, students were bussed off to explore the real world and learn something outside of the classroom. Field trips gave us the opportunity to change up our routines and socialize with our friends. Not only this, but field trips remain some of our favorite memories from our elementary years. Field trips allow for the application of material learned inside the classroom. They help us to form connections and see how our education impacts everyday life. So where did they go?

Among our 21 staff members, only 4 students have been on a mandatory field trip with their entire class during the school day at Marian. Of our four staff members, two of them participated in the same field trip. While COVID protocols have impacted the availability of field trips, this number is still alarming. For high schoolers, field trips are a rare opportunity avail-

able to those who participate in smaller sized classes and electives. As coursework intensifies, the need for tactile learning becomes more evident.

Tactile learning, a hands-on approach, allows for students to regain independence and places the responsibility of learning in their hands.

In turn, this leads to well-rounded individuals with a variety of resources to excel in the real world. Navigating the real world while applying knowledge allows students to diversify their interests and discover new perspectives.

Field trips offer a nontraditional

way of learning that forces students to make connections themselves. Not only this, but field trips encourage excitement about new information.

Instead of wondering why anything they’re learning in class will benefit them in the rest of their lives, they can finally see the bigger picture. When field trips are provided to all students, students who otherwise wouldn’t have had the opportunity, will have the same access as their peers. On top of this, schedules of students outside of the classroom are constantly conflicting.

Students have jobs, sports commitments, volunteer opportunities, and family responsibilities.

Junior Eileen Jacinto Lopez engages with Spanish speakers at LSI staffing for AP Spanish V field trip on Oct. 20. LSI recruits staffers for different job opportunities in the Omaha metro area.

Photo by ElleianaGreen

Seniors visit the Tri-Faith Center on Oct. 13 to immerse themselves in their world religion studies. Students listened to imam Jamal in the mosque at the American Muslim Institute.

Photo by MaddieAdam fostered. At the bare minimum, we ask that all students go on a field trip at least once a semester. In doing so, the daily monotony is broken up, students are inspired by the world around them and they finally feel that their work has a purpose.

The time spent in high school is finite. Every lecture, every class, every extracurricular activity, every field trip, plays a major role in shaping who we become in this world. Take advantage of this opportunity to maximize your education in and outside of the classroom.

Providing field trips during the school day is key. Most importantly, this learning experience is shared among students and will create deeper relationships outside of the classroom.

When enrolled in government courses, instead of sitting through lectures, why not take advantage of local courts? In Spanish classes, why don’t we engage with the Spanish speaking communities in Omaha? The truth is, it’s not that simple.

Coordinating and organizing a field trip for a class of more than 20 students is no easy task. Assigning rides, funding the excursion, and reducing risks are just some of the factors that teachers and administration have to take into account before planning a trip. Yet, this period of our lives is priceless; the extra work done will be well worth it in the end. These fleeting moments of our high school careers will influence the rest of our lives. We should spend time doing something we will actually remember.

Similar to how there are different ways of learning, education is not only derived from the four walls of a classroom. It is unfair to limit students to this standard. When students are doing things they’re passionate about, their levels of engagement increase and deeper connections to material are

d Trip Participatio Fiel n 11.7% have been on an in-class field trip

88.3% have not been on a field trip during their time at Marian 128 Marian students surveyed by Network, October 2021

Illustrations of “Magic School Bus” characters by ElleianaGreen

October 2021

Cultural appropriation is the scariest costume Commentary by MakDarrow

W

hen it comes to choosing a Halloween costume there are many different options and genres.

Yet many continue to appropriate cultures, devalue societal issues and disregard past trauma as well. It is important to note the difference between appreciation versus appropriation to create and contribute to a more welcoming and inclusive society.

Dressing as Princess Tiana, Moana, and Black Panther are all commonly debated costumes when discussing the disparities amidst appropriation and appreciation due to their racial backgrounds and rich culture. Miss Devin Owens, the Director of Diversity and Inclusion, defines appropriation as “taking one aspect of a culture that is not your own and using it for your own personal interest.” One of the most common cases of appropriation is changing one’s skin color or racial appearance. Most commonly used practices of this racist act are brownface and blackface.

First used by white performers to mock people of color (POC) on minstrel shows, the act of painting one’s face to depict a different race was an issue when it was first used 200 years ago and still is now.

Not only does blackface dehumanize and characterize POC, but by using it one is reinforcing its degrading and long standing racist legacy.

Further examples of appropriation are copying cultural tattoos or markings, and wearing culturally significant clothing or accessories without understanding the meaning or significance in that culture. In contrast, “appreciation is when someone seeks to understand and learn about another culture in an effort to broad-

en their perspective and connect with others cross-culturally,” Owens said.

Appreciation can also be interacting with active members in said culture to achieve a better insight. While the difference among appreciation and appropriation has a small gray area, it is crucial to recognizing why certain “costumes” are wrong.

So, what are these “costumes’’ that are frequently being abused for the benefit of others? As previously stated, dressing as any racial or cultural group such as Egyptian, any Indigenous tribe, African, Indian, Mexican, Hispanic, Asian and so on, not only makes a character of human beings but also devalues their history

every Halloween store. This costume makes a joke out of the long history of sexual abuse against Native Americans in the U.S., while ignoring the fact that Indigenous women and girls are still among the most vulnerable members of society. This issue not only lies with “sexy native costumes” but all costumes that claim to portray Native Americans. It is wrong, whether it’s culturally significant headdresses, facial paint, braids, leather skirts, or whatever else.

Another commonly abused costume are those surrounding Dia de los Muertos, a holiday celebrated mostly across Latin America to celebrate life and death, and costumes

Graphic by MakDarrow

and cultural significance. “Many costumes that fall under the appropriation category depict cultures as a monolith — erasing the diversity and vibrancy of individuals who belong to that particular culture. It can also uphold harmful stereotypes or biases that people may have about the respective culture,” Owens said.

For example, the “sexy native” costume. Consisting of feathers, small portions of clothing that depict animal hide, and tribal beading, this costume can be found at nearly

based on exaggerated versions of Mexican stereotypes. Ponchos, maracas, fake mustaches, and sombreros are not an appropriate depiction of the Mexican community. “What you’re wearing has meaning to it and our culture isn’t a costume. Being Mexican isn’t a costume,” senior Alyson Tule Martinez said. Enforcing racial pigeonholes, unfairly thinking of or describing someone or something as belonging to a particular group, is offensive. “Cultures come with a huge history and background

Features 11

and it took a lot for Hispanics/Latinos to get where they are now,” Tule Martinez said. It is for this reason that it is also inappropriate to dress in a costume that depicts stereotyped Egyptian persons, geishas, and “bollywood” with Bindi costumes that attempt to represent Hindu culture and women. A final representation of cultural appropriation in costumes, is the “hula dancer” costume. This costume that mimics Polynesian performers, omits the value of their culture and overlooks that it was once illegal for the Polynesian community to practice anything associated with their culture.

Not every costume that is inappropriate is deemed so due to its cultural significance. For instance, dressing as any depiction of a mental institution patient is highly insensitive. With nearly 1 in 5 American adults having a mental illness, this “costume” pushes false agendas about those with mental illnesses. It not only dehumanizes them but also disregards the struggles that are faced daily — much like “hobo” costumes that aim to depict unhoused people.

Another costume that is a definite no go, is a “fat suit.” “Fat suits” invalidate plus size individuals for their image and turn their appearance into a joke. The topic of others’ weight is a subject used in comedy all too often and by “dressing up” as plus size individuals one further pushes these shaming tactics.

This Halloween, like any other, it is important to really think about costumes before choosing to dress up.

While Halloween is full of spooks and scares, it is ignorance that is truly the most horrifying.

‘Squid Game’ overcomes English-Korean language barrier LivBirnstihl ince Netflix’s “Squid Game” came out on Sept. 17, it has taken the world by storm not only because of the nostalgia-inducing sets, but the critiques of current issues presented through the lens of traditional Korean games.

“Squid Game” is rated TV-MA due to extreme violence. Because of the show’s elaborate plot, it received wide acclaim, but the entirety of “Squid Game” is in Korean. This raises the question of whether the entertainment industry is dependent on language and if that barrier has been broken.

With the release of “Squid Game” came a worldwide conversation about the spread of Korean culture and its impact on modern entertainment. In 2019, the film “Parasite” made history as the first Korean and foreign film to win Best Picture at the Oscars. While this didn’t completely change the world’s opinion on foreign films and television, it sparked the interest of many to try to broaden their scope of entertainment. The director of “Parasite,” Bong Joon Ho, expressed that exact philosophy by saying that “Once you overcome the 1-inch tall barrier of

S

subtitles, you will be introduced to Korean translations. so many more amazing films.”

In an attempt to “clean up” the Like “Parasite,” “Squid Game” more taboo topics brought up in the came with some critiques show, the English translation pertaining to translaloses the authenticity and tion, oddly enough, deeper meaning of the from people who dialogue. don’t even speak Instead of highlightKorean. Across ing the concept that various social being educated doesn’t media platforms, always equal intelviewers of the seligence in a society ries noticed some where education is significant plot so highly valued, the details that were English version makes warped by the Han Mi-nyeo out to English-dubbed be dumber than she acversion of the tually is. But, why?

Illustration by LivBirnstihl show.

The main reason that One of the most talked about these translations need to be “Amerinstances is when a character named icanized” is because Korean teleHan Mi-nyeo mentions the connecvision will express direct critiques tion between her education level and of the country’s history and current her intelligence. In the English vereconomic statuses — American telesion, her line is presented as “I am vision tends to be more subtle. But, not a genius, but I still got it worked this didn’t stop English-speaking out.” In the direct Korean translation, viewers from enjoying the show to she says “I am very smart, I just its fullest, and more specifically, how never got a chance to study.” While it was meant to be watched. these lines may appear as basic Freshman Layla Wilke-Conant rewording, they speak volumes about agrees that there is no reason subthe differences in English versus titles should be an issue. “I didn’t

watch all of “Squid Game” with subtitles on, but I usually put them on for the shows I watch anyways.

I don’t see why having to read them could be an issue when watching a TV show or movie.”

This emphasizes the idea that a line of subtitles shouldn’t limit the amount of media we consume.

People watch English shows with subtitles, so the idea that a foreign language could prevent people from watching a wide array of entertainment only emphasizes the close-minded translations created for American audiences to begin with.

While the debate over the translation and interpretation between Korean and English can appear to be disheartening for cultural connections, it is important to note that the attention being brought forward is a step in the right direction for international entertainment.

The pure fact that “Squid Game” has become the most successful Netflix launch with 111 million viewers in the first month emphasized that it’s not about the words at the bottom of the screen; it’s about the cultural connections created through the power of television.

12 Sports

October 2021

Golf team leads with integrity, leaves an impression at state tournament AshleyJohanek n Oct. 11-12, the golf team led Junior Brielle Abboud was playby team captains seniors Jeslynn ing a good round until she noticed Baumgart, Sophie Morehouse, and a mistake on her scorecard. “Brielle Ellie Niemann made their way to Nor- shot an 83 on the first day, but she folk, Nebraska to compete in the state made a mistake on her scorecard and golf tournament. put down an 82 ... She was the one On day one, freshman Madison who discovered the error and brought Murnan shot one of the best scores it to my attention ... We took it to that any Marian golfer had shot at the tournament director and her first state since 2018. round was disqualified as a “Nobody has really result of that. We couldn’t matched that score count the score of 83. We since then so it was had to count it as a 98 inpretty amazing for stead ... We went from fifth a freshman to do to eighth place because that,” head coach of that. But, what Brielle Robert Davis said. did in just the honesty, For the two-day integrity and character Golf Coach tournament, both she showed by finding the Robert Davis Baumgart and mistake and reporting it Murnan golfed a is something that a lot of 165 and won medals for the top 15 golfers wouldn’t do ... She knew it individual golfers. When the tournawas going to affect her scores and ment came to an end, Marian finished affect our team’s score, but she did seventh out of 12 teams. “We had a the right thing. One of our core values goal to be top five, but we didn’t quite on the team is integrity, and she really make that. But, we played some pretty exemplified that by what she did ... good golf,” Davis said.

Although it set us back in terms of our

O

“It was one of the best moments of the year.”

scoring and our place at state, I think it was one of the best moments of the year for her and for our program,” Davis said. After this moment, many coaches from other schools came to congratulate Abboud and Davis on the golf program and what they stand for.

“We have had a senior curse at state over the last few years where our seniors don’t play as Freshman Madison Murnan and senior Jeslynn well ... That affects their Baumgart placed in the top 15 for individuals at NSAA focus a little bit, and they State Golf. Both girls shot a 165. Photo by LucyDrexel don’t play as well as they had during the regular seain my seven years of coaching in son. But this year, we broke the senior terms of the scores they posted at the curse because both of our seniors who various tournaments,” Davis said. He were at state, Jeslynn Baumgart and said he is looking forward to the curSophie Morehouse, both played some rent members becoming leaders and really good golf and scored really improving their game and is excited well. They helped us to a great finish,” for new members to join and become Davis said. a part of the golf team.

“It was our best scoring golf team

Softball concludes season with district games, hope for future MaddieAdam he softball team concluded their season with districts on Oct. 6-7.

After a successful season, the team finished ranked eighth in the state, despite not making it to the state tournament. The first day of districts concluded with an 11-1 win against Omaha Northwest. Seniors Alyssa Cathcart and Dani Schlader contributed to this big win with home runs.

On Oct. 7, the Crusaders won 10-1 against Norfolk. Juniors Maddia and Rylinn Groff, along with Cathcart and Schlader, hit home runs. The last two games were lost against Norfolk 4-3 and 13-2, respectively.

During the season, four players

T

announced their commitments to play college softball. The Groff sisters both committed to Southern Illinois University, Schlader committed to Washburn University in Kansas, and Cathcart committed to Buena Vista University in Iowa.

“Overall it was a good season, and obviously it didn’t end how we wanted it to, but we had fun and that’s what made the season so special. We faced a lot of challenges, so it was exciting to see how far we came and how much better of a team we had gotten,” Schlader said.

The team finished with 24-7 and looks forward to next season.

Sophomore Reagan Dreibelbis swings at a pitch. Photo by MakDarrow

Senior Dani Schlader swings at a pitch. Photo by MakDarrow

Student team managers complete behind-the-scenes work of the team SydneySchroeder ou can find them on the courts shagging balls, on the field running alongside you, or on the sideline holding a timer. So who holds this under the radar yet important role in high school sports? The backbone

Y

of high school sports are the student team managers helping the team to victory. Student team managers carry the team in terms of hyping everyone up for games or meets and overall in being a leader to look up to.

“I was in charge of getting the team ready for the games, setting the tees, playing catch, and playing music. It was a very good experience and the softball team is one of the most family-like teams here,” senior softball manager, Lany Gregor said.

Being involved with a sports team as a manager involves a lot of behind the scenes work and time to ensure the team makes its mark.

Team managers are invaluable. Serving as a personal hype woman Senior volleyball team managers Audrey Daubendiek and at all times and a built Scout Latka pose together. Photo by SydneyWitkowski in mom, team managers have the ability to

direct the team to victory.

Freshman cross country manager, Ellie Brabec experienced a positive welcome from the team as a freshman.

“Being the team manager for XC was impactful to me because I made friends that I would not have made if I wasn’t a team manager. I also made so many memories with these girls from seeing them everyday and I am grateful for all of them,” Brabec said.

Senior volleyball manager Scout Latka also had a positive welcome to the team. “I liked getting closer with the team,” Latka said. The team especially enjoyed Latka and senior Audrey Daubendiek’s company as team managers. “I love having Audrey and Scout as team managers because they help us so much behind the scenes.

They’ve become such good friends with everyone on the team and we all love them,” senior volleyball player Ivy Isenberg said.

Establishing lasting relationships with players on teams, team managers also alleviate stress making practices easier. The behind the scenes work that they do is impactful because it serves as a boost to an athletes game.

A team manager gives players less to think about so they can focus more on their game. “The team managers definitely made practices run more smoothly and quickly. Especially when it came to timing. It was nice to have so many people able to take down time, especially because I frequently forget my time,” junior cross country member, Matilda Lang, said.

Ball girl, personal hype woman, DJ, or built in mom are all appropriate translations for a student team manager. Student athletes have so much love and appreciation to give to these girls. The managers are there to help the athletes’ mental game by pushing them out of a rut, or to shag a ball when something might be out of bounds. “I want to thank Lany for all her time and effort to help the softball team throughout the season. I think we should have a team manager every year because it was very helpful to have her at games and practices,” senior softball player Alyssa Cathcart said. Athletes greatly appreciate the work their team managers have done for them and the bond managers make with the team is invaluable.

October 2021

Girls lacrosse co-op opportunity sparks interest among students

AshleyJohanek

O

nce upon a time, Marian was going to have a lacrosse team.

“About five years ago, a few girls approached me about a lacrosse team at Marian. We held a meeting for girls interested and only four girls showed up. A full team requires about 15 players including subs. It also requires a coach and an available field. The four girls were set up to co-op with Westside at the time to play lacrosse.

Since then, many smaller schools such as Mercy, Duchesne, and Marian have co-opted in order to have enough for a team,” Athletic Director Ms. Rochelle Rohlfs said.

Starting in her sophomore year, Anna Methe ’20 played for Westside

lacrosse, along with Emily Atamov ’20. Both girls practiced every day after school during the winter of their sophomore year until the season began in the spring. They both made varsity their first year out. Eventually, Methe became captain her senior year. “No one’s expecting me to be amazing, they just want me to try,” Methe said when she first started.

Methe said how important community is. She and Atamov would always drive to Westside together every day after school to practice. The time they spent together made her realize how nice it would have been for Marian to have a team of their own, especially when it came to the drive to attend

practice.

Having committed to Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa for lacrosse, Methe encourages many friends to try the sport. She wants people to grab a stick and start running. At Cornell, she is the starting midfielder. She was recruited by a friend who committed the year before.

Her friend slipped a good word to the coach. Later, Methe found herself committing to Cornell.

Though lacrosse is not an NSAA sport in Nebraska, there are many programs Marian girls can join to get a feel for the sport. Duchesne, Westside and Papillion are the main programs girls go out for, but no matter your

Sports 13

experience with the sport, athleticism and being able to run for a while is all that is needed to try. Senior Chioma Aloziem currently plays for Duchesne lacrosse. If you are interested in trying the sport, there are many used sport stores around the metro that sell cheap lacrosse sticks.

“The main thing is that a lot of people don’t know that lacrosse kind of is a thing in the Midwest. I’ve noticed it a lot with girls at college or even just girls at the high school who saw Emily and I practicing after school. They would ask about it and ask if they could try,” Methe said. “I think if they had the opportunity and resources, I think it could be of a lot of interest.”

Joint student section brings more voices to the crowd ElizabethMonzu

T

tumes, and dances of the student canes, hair rollers and more. The here was cheering upon cheering section. creativity of the fans coupled with at the last home game of the regThe theme was “senior citizens” the chants and cheers played into the ular season. The student section was for senior night and many people overall energy and excitement in the in full force at the Oct. 12 volleyball game against Bellevue West. The Cru- came dressed in the theme with robes, gym. saders won the game in three sets to one. While a big win isn’t uncommon for the team, having Creighton Prep students in the student section was.

Invited by Student Board, Prep boys were outnumbered by Marian students, but there was a row of Prep students also cheering on the Crusaders. However, Creighton Prep senior, Peter Hoover, said it was definitely worth it to come.

“Count me in, any day, any sport, any time,” Hoover said. With the different voices cheering on the team, the crowd could not be discouraged after Bellevue West succeeded in one set.

Both Prep and Marian students cheer loud for the volleyball team during their senior “The creativity is off the charts,” night game against Bellevue West on Oct. 12.

Hoover said about the cheers, cosPhoto by ElizabethMonzu

“I have been surprised by how energetic and powerful this student section has been,” Hoover said.

This was also the volleyball players’ first time playing with a merged section of fans. Senior Meg Raabe loved the energy. “The student section has been really large and energetic this year, which is great,” Raabe said. “It was really cool having boys there, and so many people showed up. People went all out with the senior citizen theme.”

Prep senior Matthew Slattery pointed out this wasn’t the only sporting event he was going to. “My sister plays softball, so I have to come out and support her in that, too,” Slattery said. Slattery emphasizes that it is good to come to many different sports and have a joint student section at lots of games.

“I think the student section helped.

We won,” Raabe said. “The fans really brought the positive atmosphere.”

Marian makes history with its first-ever wrestling team EliseMoulton

T

his year, Marian established their first-ever wrestling team. “The Nebraska Schools Activities Association has a multi-tier process in place to sanction a new high school sport,” Athletic director Ms. Rochelle Rohlfs said. For several years, girls from schools across the state have been competing with and against boys. A proposal was submitted from a few of those schools with girl wrestlers.

For the sport to become sanctioned, schools in the state vote. Followed by this is the NSAA board approval. As of last April, girls wrestling was given the final approval to become a sanctioned sport.

This August, Rohlfs sent out a form to find out how many girls were interested in joining a wrestling team.

“There were 21 girls who responded with interest. I met with Lauren Barefoot, our strength coach, to see if she wanted to coach wrestling at Marian and she was on board,” Rohlfs said.

Barefoot approached juniors Audrey Arthur and Percy Prochaska early this summer to pitch the idea, but it wasn’t until this August that they discovered that the team was going to become a reality. “Coach invited a few of us to a beginner’s clinic at Skutt

High School, and all of us immediately fell in love with the sport,” Arthur said.

The team now consists of 15 to 20 hard-working, determined girls who share a passion for wrestling.

“The girls are looking amazing! Their passion and hunger to learn as much as they can about a completely new sport to them is absolutely incredible to watch,” Barefoot said.

Coach Barefoot has had a passion for wrestling since her senior year of high school. “Back then there wasn’t an opportunity for girls to wrestle, so most of my background comes from learning the sport through mixed martial arts,” Barefoot said. She would regularly attend practices in a martial arts gym with mostly men. “Being a part of young women finally being able to wrestle as a sanctioned sport in Nebraska is truly a blessing,” Barefoot said.

Pre-season practices are in full swing. Since August, the team has been lifting weights twice a week and they have recently started training in small groups on the mats. A typical practice begins with conditioning.

“We do a lot of strength in the weight room, then for cardio we generally

will either sprint the stairs for 2 minutes and take 30 second rests because that mirrors our matches, or we will run the soccer field goal to goal a couple of times,” Prochaska said. After conditioning, the team starts practicing on the mats to prepare for the upcoming season. Tryouts for the team are Nov. 15 and the official wrestling season will begin Nov. 16.

Beginning Dec. 2, the team will compete in duals and tournaments every weekend at various schools around Omaha. “We will compete against any other Class A schools that have a women’s wrestling team. We won’t have to compete against any guys, thankfully, since the NSAA made rules against it,” Arthur said.

The weight classes range from 100 pounds to 235 pounds with 12 classes total. At Marian, the wrestling team can enter two girls per class. “We have to manage our weight. We get weighed in before every dual and match because that decides who we compete against,” Prochaska said.

The team has been forming strong connections and encouraging each other no matter the circumstance.

“The environment is amazing! I love that we all support each other. We

cheer each other on even for the little things,” Prochaska said. The team members are looking forward to their upcoming season as they continue to improve.

The team’s biggest motto is “Family, fight, finish.” “This means we all stick together. You always try your hardest, and you always fight to go through to the end whether it’s training with the team or competing in a match. Coach reminds us of these values every practice, especially when we are having a hard time and need some encouragement,” Arthur said.

Junior Percy Prochaska and senior Jada Williams practice during open mats. They have been training since August.

Photo by EliseMoulton

October 2021

14 Entertainment

Haunted tales and paranormal experiences of spooked students AveryKinnison

B

oo! Fall is here, and with it comes the long-awaited spooky season. What makes Halloween so great? Well, the season is filled with haunting activities and terrifying tales to leave you shivering with fear. It’s the time of year when ghosts roam the earth and ghouls hide under beds. With this terrifying time, comes the many stories of people’s experiences with ghosts. Are these stories true? That’s up to you.

“I had this little doll, and it was a really old toy. I used to sleep with it next to me at night. I remember when I would wake up it would be in random spots around my room. I don’t sleep-walk or anything but I was too young to be creeped out by it. I don’t remember much of this, but my brother has told me this story throughout the years. His room was down the hall from mine, and he said he would hear me talking to someone in my room almost every night. He also would say he would see the doll in the hallway when he would get up to use the bathroom,” junior Nina McMullen said.

very Kin n rA

iso

n

Se n i

n

o

lle

J un i

Nina McM r u o

“I came to believe in the presence of spirits at the age of 10. My family and I had just moved into our house in an older neighborhood. There had been many owners before us, giving the place a personality we were excited to add to.

After living there for a few months, I started to notice some strange things. Doors would open and close on their own, I could hear footsteps when I was alone, and the worst of all was the knocking. It started one night when I woke up around 2 a.m. I laid down, trying to fall back asleep, when I heard a small knock just outside of my room. At first I thought it was just the sound of someone in my family turning in bed, or just a noise made by the house settling. But then I heard another knock a few minutes later. Then another, and another. The knocking did not stop until I fell asleep. This occurrence of my waking up and hearing knocking outside of my room continued for several months. I’m not sure how or why it finally stopped, but I will never forget the terrifying sound of those knocks,” senior Avery Kinnison said.

Students at local high schools share haunted happenings FionaGautschi

W

ith many Omaha area high schools being older, questions are raised about if any of these institutions are haunted. Lights flickering in the hallways, ghost sightings and tales passed down have all occurred at Omaha area schools.

Senior Niamh Corrigan had an experience with a possible ghost in the third floor bathroom, “I was at a FIAT meeting after school, and I went into the third floor bathroom by Mrs. Roger’s room. While I was using the restroom, I heard the door open and someone else walked in. Except, when I went to wash my hands, no one else was in the bathroom besides me,” Corrigan said. Corrigan’s story was one of the few at Marian, and many girls believe other schools in Omaha to be more haunted.

Senior Julia Nubel at Duchesne Academy said, “We used to have nuns living on the fourth floor, and now, no one can go up there. We sometimes sneak up there, though, to find possible ghosts.” There hasn’t been an official sighting that Nubel knows of, but she and many other Duchesne girls definitely think it’s haunted.

Central High School in downtown Omaha opened in 1889, causing many people to think that it’s possibly haunted. Junior Heaven Newson said, “I haven’t had any haunted experiences, but the school is really old, and I definitely would not walk around there when it’s dark.”

Mount Michael resides on the outskirts of Elkhorn around empty fields, which may lead people to believe that there could be paranormal activity on

haunted high school in Omaha is Duchesne because I’ve heard ghost stories about the fourth floor. When I shadowed, we went up there, and it was super creepy,” senior Ryan Sully said.

campus. Senior Connor Size at Mount Michael said one time he saw a toilet continually flushing for five minutes straight, leading some to believe that it could’ve been a ghost.

Whether these stories contain actual paranormal activity or not, many Omaha high school students believe that their school or other schools are haunted. “I think the most

Illustration of Central High School by ElleianaGreen

How well you with know your teachers?

How well do you know your teachers?

Test do yourself this crossword JordanMoser & MelinaPiperis

1

Down Across 2. This teacher spent a summer living in 1. This Harry Potter philosopher is a stamp collector a van and following a band across the country 3. This sophomore English teacher’s 5. This counselor could take the role of real name is Bridget both a Spanish and journalism teacher 4. This theology teacher’s daughter was born in the car on the way to the 6. This science teacher was invited to hospital the Olympic trials for field hockey 7. This math teacher claims he hasn’t read a book for years 9. This Servant of Mary will always root for Tom Brady even though she’s a Detroit Lions fan

2

4 5

6

6. This English teacher photobombed former SNL cast member Molly Shannon when she was at the Pantheon 7

8. This social studies teacher’s name isn’t Jordano anymore

10. This world language teacher became an aunt when she was in kindergarten

9. This freshman English teacher hangs out with her foster son every day in her free time 9

11. This math teacher is also a photographer

Hint: Answers are all last names

8

10

Enjoy this fun fall Spotify playlist!

11

Curated by ElizaTurco

3

For answers, visit mariandigitalnetwork.com or

October 2021

Harry Styles’ ‘Love on Tour’ concert is so ‘Golden’ in Minnesota

ClareDegan he talented fruit-loving Harry Styles is currently touring the United States through Nov. 20. He began “Love on Tour” in Las Vegas on Sept. 4, and since then, this tour has been one to remember. After waiting about a year and a half, I attended the concert in St. Paul, Minn. on Sept. 22.

With the colorful lights, sunflowers being tossed on stage and Styles’ groovy moves, the concert was everything I hoped it would be. My eyes were glued to the stage as I saw Harry singing and dancing on a runway-like stage that spread across most of the Xcel Energy Center. This arrangement helped each person see Styles in every direction no matter where they were seated. The sold out arena had more than 20,000 screaming fans.

Styles stayed true to his last name by entering the stage wearing light blue pants, a monochrome light blue shirt, suspenders and red shoes.

Walking into the arena was a moment I will never forget. Everyone was dressed to the nines, similar to the way Harry dresses. Fans were wearing colorful suit jackets, flared pants, floral patterns, and suspenders. Some even pulled out their old One Direction gear! All of these fans had one major thing in common — a shared love for Mr. Styles.

The anticipation in the arena filled the room as we waited for the show to begin. Before the show started, “Olivia” by One Direction began playing

T

and the entire room began singing. the fan saying “If there are any sort The lights turned off and the openof games involved, TRASH, TRASH, ing to “Golden” began playing. I can TRASH.” Towards the end of the conconfirm that I began levitating during cert, he spotted a fan wearing a banana this moment. Since “Golden” is my costume, and changed the lyrics to favorite song from the album, I was “Watermelon Sugar” by singing “she’s completely engrossed in the music, dressed as a banana” instead of lyrics lights and energy “watermelon throughout the sugar high.” room. Everyone This perforwas dancing and mance was one jumping in their of my favorite seats. parts of the With an night because undeniable it shows how connection much he loves between every to perform and person in the entertain. audience, I finally Driving understood why five and a the tour was half hours to named “Love on see him in Tour.” After the St. Paul was postponement for definitely a more than a year, Harry Styles performs to the crowd on Sept. journey itself. everyone was 22 in Minnesota. Photo by ClareDegan By the time ecstatic to finally my family and be present at the concert. It felt like I reached Ames, Iowa on the way to home. the concert, we realized we forgot our Throughout this tour, Styles has had ID’s to check in our hotel, and had to many moments of interacting with the backtrack about an hour and a half, audience. These interactions include which added an extra three long hours. reading signs, singing “Happy BirthThe drive was definitely worth the day” to audience members, and even chaos, but I wish he could have added doing a gender reveal on stage. At the more shows in the Midwest for all of St. Paul show, he gave someone dating his fans in those states. It is important advice when she held a sign that said for artists to go to more than just the “Should I text him.” He responded to well-known capitals when touring

From nothing-to-wear to the perfect Halloween costume

Entertainment 15

in order for more fans to attend the shows. Both Omaha and Kansas City have a bigger population than St. Paul, yet there was not a show listed for either city.

When the tour was announced, the ticket price was anywhere between $100-$250 per ticket in the lower bowl in each arena. Once concert tickets were sold out on the original market, Ticketmaster, tickets were only available at second and third party websites for double the price at minimum. Fans were extremely disappointed with how expensive they were. People were upset with companies that would buy tickets in large amounts to sell them for double and triple the original cost in order to make a larger profit.

St. Paul’s “Love on Tour” show was absolutely incredible. The concert was definitely worth the long wait, and I am so thankful for the amazing experience. As a huge fan of Harry Styles, I was blown away by his energy during the performance. He was dancing all around the stage, and I was extremely impressed by the way his band perfectly meshed with his stage presence.

You can tell they love to perform by the constant smiles on their faces.

His show on Oct. 30 at Madison Square Garden in New York City was a Halloween-themed show: “Harryween.”

I would recommend any concert-loving person to see Harry Styles, whether they are a fan or not.

Comic by BaileyKollasch

Halloween Night

A typical night

Homegurl said: “Party at my house in 30. Wear ur best costume :)”

*gasp*

“I have nothing to wear!” Several minutes later...

“Perfect! I’m Rapunzel!”

Student, teacher share the same favorite book: ‘Where the Crawdads Sing’ BaileyKollasch

r Maddie Mu nio l le Se n

What did you like about the writing style?

French teacher Mrs. Janet Tuttle: I liked that it was a story that began as Kya was young and followed her throughout her life. I enjoyed the descriptions of nature and wildlife, which was surprising to me, as this is not usually something I enjoy in a book.

What did you like about the writing style?

Senior Maddie Mullen: It’s definitely the kind of book that makes you want to go out into the world and live. I actually read it during the middle of the pandemic. While reading it, I just wanted to go live in a cabin in a forest by myself.

Who is your favorite character?

Mullen: The reason I like Jumpin’ and Mabel more than Kya is because of their compassion. Jumpin’ and Mabel, like Kya, are rejected from mainstream white society so they understand Kya’s loneliness.

Who is your favorite character?

Tuttle: Kya was my favorite character because even though she was faced with what looked like insurmountable difficulties, she had grit and determination and made a life for herself. The fact that Kya just kept pushing through all of the obstacles she faced, and how she carved a life for herself makes her heroic in my eyes.

Who is your least favorite character?

Mullen: I think the book didn’t really focus that much on the family. It was mostly on the murder mystery aspect. I didn’t like how her family treated her, but the main character’s boyfriend was selfish.

Who is your least favorite character?

Tuttle: There are several characters that are pretty hard to like.

I would say either Kya’s mom or dad. They both did awful things to her, so I guess it’s a decision between passive and active neglect.

Would you recommend this book to others and to whom?

Tuttle: I recommend it to everyone! I think it is appropriate for high school and older. I think anyone who likes a story that follows a family over a period of time and looks at different perspectives will like it.

Would you recommend this book to others and to whom?

Mullen: This book is definitely good for people who want to get into reading but have no idea where to start. It’s fast-paced, and can easily be finished in a weekend.

Ma t le dame Janet Tut

Challenge: Ask your teachers what they are reading for fun, and then tell them what you’re reading, especially if there could be some common ground.

16 Photo Essay

October 2021

October Clubs Photos by seniors KenzAnderson, ClareDegan & BaileyKollasch

Readers Advisory Book Club sophomores Ada Dyer, Magdalena Merkle and Korinna Liekhus, discuss their thoughts on books they are reading. They meet 1-2 times per month in the collab room with moderator, librarian Mrs. Molly Raabe.

Step Club poses in their starting position before they begin their step.

They practice every Tuesday in Room 107 with moderator Ms. Devin Owens.

Yoga Club members pose in the Bow position. Members meet every other week in the PAC dance studio with moderator Mrs. Steph Dickes.

Vegetarian Club member, sophomore Lily Biggs paints pumpkins before school in Room 307. This new club meets 1-2 times per month with moderator Ms. Halli Tripe.

Culinary Club members, freshmen Charlotte Sengstock and Jasmine Sanchez make caramel apples after school in the cafeteria on Oct. 19. This new club meets 1-2 times per month with Mrs. Jessica Goodman.

Recruitment Team member, sophomore Rory Brennan applies face paint on an Fandom Club members junior Hillary Adolvo, freshman Coventry Thompson, sophomore Oliv8th grader who attended Mini Surprise Night on Oct. 9. Members participated ia Hicks and freshman Heidi Hans play Disney trivia. They meet once a month in the in running the event with moderator Mrs. Molly Woodman. collab room with moderator, librarian Mrs. Molly Raabe.