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Adviser: Jennifer Dryden Table of Contents
Design: M. Bohall
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North High Oracle
SENIORS DON’T FORGET Turn in your yearbook senior quotes ASAP to Ms. Dryden in 1515 Silver or email her at jennifer.dryden@dmschools.org.
Home vs. DM Hoover Dec. 8 Home vs. DM Lincoln Dec. 15 Home vs. Ankeny Dec. 19 Home vs. Ottumwa Jan. 26 Away at Roosevelt Jan. 5 Away at DM Hoover Jan. 9 Away at WDM Valley Jan. 16 Away at Ottumwa Jan. 26 Away at Mason City Jan. 30
GIIRLS BASKETBALL
Away - Saydel Invitational Dec. 8 Away - Indianola Invitational Dec. 15 Home - Invitational Jan. 6 Away - Jefferson Invitational Jan.13 Away - WDM Valley Invitational Jan. 27
JV WRESTLING
Home vs. Hoover Dec. 8 Away vs. Johnston Dec. 12 Home vs. Lincoln Dec. 15 Home vs. Ankeny Dec. 19 Home vs. Ottumwa Jan. 2 Away vs. Roosevelt Jan. 5 Away vs. DM Hoover Jan. 9 Away vs. DM East Jan. 12 Away vs. WDM Valley Jan. 16 Away vs. DM Lincoln Jan. 19 Home vs. Sioux City West Jan. 20 Away vs. Ottumwa Jan. 26 Away vs. Mason City Jan. 30
BOYS BASKETBALL
BOWLING
WRESTLING
Away - Saydel Invita- Home at Merle Hay Dec. 27 tional Home at Merle Hay Dec. 9 Away vs. Ottumwa Dec. 11 Dec. 14 Home at Merle Hay Away vs. DM East Jan. 4 Home at Merle Hay Dec. 19 Jan. 8 Home vs. DM Lincoln Jan. 4 Away at Plaza Lanes Away vs. DM Roosevelt Jan. 11 Jan. 11 Away at Plaza Lanes Jan. 18 Away - Perry Commu- nity Invitational Away at Champion Bowl Jan. 13 Away - Colfax-Mingo Jan. 25 Tournament Home at Merle Hay Jan. 29 Jan. 20 Away - Southeast Polk Invitational Jan. 26
Buy your yearbook by January 30 in Room 1515 Silver with Ms. Dryden or pay the bookkeeper in the main office. Yearbooks are $40.
Design: M. Alexander
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Gay Pride The attraction to the same sex
Red = Life Orange = Healing Yellow = Sunlight
What Do t Flags Re p Below are pie percentages that quiz to see they
Green = Nature Blue = Serenity Purple = Spirit
Gay Pride Gay Pride: 93.6% Bisexual Pride: 4.3% Pansexual Pride: 2.1%
Polyamorous Pride The state of being romantically involved with more than one person at a time
π
Polyamorous Pride Blue = representing the openness and honesty among all partners Red = representing love and passion The symbol's Gold = represents the value that we place on the emotional attachment to others Black = solidarity
AsexualPride: 8.5% Gay Pride: 6.4% Polyamorous Pride: 85.1%
Transgender Pride Asexual Pride: 17% Bisexual Pride: 23.4% Transexual Pride: 59.6% *Gender queer flag was not included in survey unintentionally
Transgender Pride Light Blue = the traditional color for baby boys White = intersex, transitioning or having a undefined gender Pink = the traditional color for baby girls LGBTQ+
Somebody who’s personal identity does not correspond with their gender assigned at birth
Purple = Androgyny (“Queerness“) White = Agender (Genderless) Green = All identities without reference to the binary, (Male/Female)
ch 48 w kn
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Asexual Pride Someone not attracted to any gender or sex Black = Asexuality Grey = Asexuality and Demisexuality White = Non-asexual partners and allies Purple = Community
Asexual Pride Asexual Pride: 76.6% Gay Pride: 4.3% Transexual Pride: 19.1%
Bisexual Pride Gay Pride: 4.3% Bisexual Pride: 70.2% Transexual Pride: 25.5%
Pink = Sexual attraction to same sex only Purple = Sexual attration to both sexes
Bisexual Pride Someone with sexual attraction to both sexes
Blue = Sexual attraction to opposite sex only
Pansexual Pride Pansexual Pride: 73.9% Transexual Pride: 15.2% Polyamorous Pride: 10.9%
Gender Queer Pride Someone who neither identifies as male or female
Pansexual Pride Someone not limited in sexual choice with regards to biological sex, gender, or gender identity
Pink = those who identify within the female spectrum Yellow = non-binary attraction Blue = those who identify within the male spectrum
Design: K. Schnathorst
“Honestly, we are just like you” “Honestly, we are just like you” “Honestly, we are just like you” “Honestly, we are just like you”
“Honestly, we are just like you” “Honestly, we are just like you”
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LGBTQ+
Mya Alexander, Editor The definition of transgender is “denoting or relating to a person whose sense of personal identity does not correspond with the gender assigned to them at birth”, and that is how freshman Sam Meade identifies. He knew this around seventh grade. “I just felt more comfortable as a male because when I was little I would always be girly and like dresses… Once I realized what society does against girls I just realized I’m more comfortable as a male,” Meade said. Coming out for some people is harder than others, but for Meade, it meant dealing with his church too. When he came out to his friends and family, they all accepted him with open arms, then his grandmother gave him a piece of advice. “My grandma told me not to tell my church so I wouldn’t get crap for it,” Meade said. At church it was to be a secret that he was transgender. Along
Les Kile is a sophomore at North High School and is just like you and me, but with only one difference, he, along with other individuals identify as gay. Some people may think this means so much more than it does. “The only difference is us boys like boys and that’s it,” Kile said. Being gay comes with many
with keeping the secret from his church, it’s almost like a secret has to be kept from members of the LGBT community about going to church too. “A lot of people think you’re a part of LGBT community so you don’t believe in God or you’re an atheist. I believe in God, but I’m also part of the LGBT community, therefore it’s hard because I get crap from both sides,” Meade said. Being atheist isn’t the only thing assumed about transgender people. There is also the assumption that they don’t like the sex they are changing from, like a male changing to a female is assumed to dislike males. “Yes, I like females, but
I’m not comfortable being one,” Meade said. There is also the idea that once someone transitions, they are going to start dressing differently or have a sudden makeover, Meade wants to assure that that is not true for all people, he explains how people may like whatever clothes they choose. “Most people like guy stuff or like girl stuff and that’s okay because that’s their opinion and if you act on it that’s on you,” Meade said.
stereotypes, one of the main ones being “all boys think we’re after them and, honestly, we’re not,” he said. Kile experienced this from both his peers and strangers around him. He explained how there was the assumption that once males found out he was gay, they automatically went to “oh, so you have a crush on me”. But Kile wants to make it clear that that is absolutely not what he wants. “Stay chill with me. Don’t take me the wrong way. Honestly, we are just like you,” Kile said,
speaking to anyone who believed in that stereotype. If you aren’t a student at North, then it may seem like a very accepting school; while it is, there are still underlying issues like the stereotypes mentioned above. However, over the last year things have been getting better for Kile. “My first year here everybody was a little weird about me… now that I got on the dance team and all this stuff I feel like they’re growing to it,” Kile said. At North, the students and faculty are all growing more diverse and culturally aware. He hopes his story will help North get a little closer to becoming fully accepting.
In most stories about a person of the LGBT community, their “coming out story” is usually a vague gap of time; but for sophomore Natalie Huber it was one exact moment. In-between third and fourth grade, they started watching their first anime. Little did they know it would lead to their discovering something about them self. “I’d definitely say it was pretty weird because the other girl I was watching it with had a crush on one of the boys while I started to have a crush on one of the girls,” Huber said. Since then they have come out as bisexual and non-binary,
meaning they are attracted to both genders and prefers they/them/ their pronouns. During fourth grade, Huber went to a Catholic school where being a part of the LGBT community was frowned upon. Even though they were only about nine at the time, they knew something was different. “I was confused, of course. I was in fourth grade, I was like, ‘why does who you love matter?’” Huber said. As they grew up and the world changed around them, people were growing more accustomed to the LGBT community. But, it is far from perfect when it comes to stereotypes and assumptions about
4 in 10 youth say the community in which they live in is not accepting of LGBT people
Statistic information courtesy hrc.org
bisexual individuals. There is an assumption that people who identify as bisexual are doing it just for attention or it’s just a way to feel special. Huber disagrees. “I don’t personally feel being non-binary makes me any different than anyone else, it’s just a thing.” They say “sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me,” but sometimes words can hurt quite a bit. For someone who may be reading this and afraid of coming out in fear of what people will say, Huber has a message for you. “Don’t listen to family and friends who are saying you’re wrong for what you are because honestly, there’s nothing you can do about it; just as long as you’re happy and no one’s getting hurt, have fun... just do what makes you happy.”
“Why does who you love matter?” - Huber
64% of youth are out to their classmates
L les·bi·an A lesbian is a homosexual woman: a woman who experiences romantic love or sexual attraction to other women. The term lesbian is also used to express sexual identity or sexual behavior regardless of sexual orientation, or as an adjective to characterize or associate nouns with female homosexuality or same-sex attraction
Gay is a term that primarily refers to a homosexual person or the trait of being homosexual. The term was originally used to mean “carefree”, “happy”, or “bright and showy”.
Bi s e x uality is romantic attraction, sexual attraction, or sexual behavior to-
ward both males and females, or romantic or sexual attraction to people of any sex or gender identity.
Transgender people have a gender identity or gender expression that differs from their assigned sex. Being transgender is independent of sexual orientation
Design/Photo Credit: M. Alexander
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ADVICE: Sophmore Skylar Wilson, and his story of transitioning
Skyler Wilson, sophomore, identifies as transgender. Photo Credit: Maluhkai Van de Boe
Maluhkai Van De Boe, Reporter Feeling not fit for the body you were given isn’t uncommon in this era. Starting from a young age Skyler Wilson knew he was different. “When I was about five, we were at a public pool, and the other boys were swimming with their shirts off. I asked my mom, you know, ‘why can’t I swim with my shirt off? I’m a boy,’” Wilson said. “I’ve always felt like I belonged in the male group.” When asked how the transition started, Wilson said, “It started with me cutting my hair before sixth grade. The first day of school, I came with my hair shaved. I started to dress as a male at about age 10 and stopped wearing female clothing, so we threw out all of my female clothes and started fresh with ‘boy clothes’.” Start simple and move up until you can become who you want to be, he said.
LGBTQ+
“We went to an endocrinologist, [a hormone doctor] who recommended ways to start hormone treatment. I was excited to start hormone blockers and a year later, I started taking testosterone. Testosterone causes hair to grow, like facial hair, leg hair, etc, and my voice has gotten deeper. The only risks I know of that come along with taking testosterone would be weight gain and some heart issues.” So as this treatment is available, it’s not for everyone. Being transgender can affect you both physically and emotionally though. Relationships, he said, are pretty straight forward as to what everyone could assume about heterosexual relationships. “I’d like to think of my relationship as a straight relationship; I’m male and she is female, it has become normal for us,” Wilson said of his girlfriend. Being in a relationship has the same ups and downs of a relationship of two CISgender people, those who take the gender role of the sex assigned at birth. People in government can also affect your life. “When Trump took office, his changes on insurance plans made it so my insurance stopped covering and paying for my hormones and testosterone. We had to completely switch insurance plans so that my shots were covered,” Wilson said. Plans can change and nothing is guarenteed, but the public are moving forward in how accepting people are of people who are differ-
“Coming out is scary, but there are gonna be a lot of people who will stand and support you. As long as you’re comfortable being yourself, then that is all that should matter. People fear what they don’t understand.”
ent. “The transgender bathroom laws are different; there are trans bathrooms in some schools and places, but a lot of people are against these things taking place and that makes it dangerous for trans people, makes them feel unsafe,. Someone could rob or hurt someone just for using their preferred bathroom,” he said. Wilson has his surgery in the upcoming future. July 23, 2018, Wilson will begin the transitioning process. “I’m terrified. My entire transition is terrifying” Wilson said. “I am scared of being knocked out because of fear that it would be the last time I ever saw my family.’’ Being scared of big events in one’s life is normal, but everyday life can be just as scary. “In middle school, I tried playing basketball with the boys after I cut my hair and they knew I was trans, they threw the ball at my stomach and rocks at me,” Wilson said. Not everyone is the same as you are, but if you’re persistant with your dreams and fight for your beliefs, you can be whomever you want to be.
Design: M. Van De Boe
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Vanessa Vorasith, Editor What is cultural appropriation? Now, if you were to look up the definition it would be “the adoption of the elements of one culture by members of another culture.” But with that definition, many might not understand it. So, let me break it down for you. Cultural appropriation is taking traditional knowledge, or cultural expressions from another culture and making it something it’s not. We also have to understand that cultural appropriation is sometimes portrayed as harmful. If you don’t understand how cultural appropriation is harmful, let’s imagine if you were to work on a project and got an F and then someone else copies you and gets an A and credit. Halloween plays a big role in cultural appropriation. Culture is not a costume. Many seem to not understand that cultural appropriation is NOT enjoying food from another culture, learning about the culture or learning the language. Cultural appropriation IS using another culture as a costume, disrespecting religious or cultural practices, or even using a race as a mascot.
Reneja Gross, Junior
“I see different races getting box braids lately and they have become popular. When I see those getting box braids I find it very disrespectful and would consider that cultural appropriating. African Americans get judged sometimes for wearing it because it ‘is not our real hair’, but I noticed that when another person of race wears it, they get called ‘cool’ or ‘unique and edgy’. I believe people should take major notice in today’s time and realize what cultural appropriation is because it does come off disrespectful and harmful.”
Race/Ethnicity
Jimmy Nguyen, Junior
“My definition of cultural appropriation is the derogatory means of adapting to one’s culture in a negative light or using that culture for propaganda, personal benefits, and more. Cultural appropriation is real and I think it’s definitely prominent in social life, but I also think there’s a difference between cultural appropriation and adapting to one’s culture out of respect and diligence with honor. I believe it becomes disrespect when you start flaunting and using negative aspects that are associated with that costume as a means of putting down that character.”
Angelica Vorasith, Junior
“With culture, there are social norms for a group of people and it’s things those people go by. When one person from a different culture tries to take something from another culture and do it themselves or try to change it, I would consider it cultural appropriation. It can be seen disrespectful especially in today’s time because one culture can do something and will get judged for it, but when another culture takes that and turns it into something different, society thinks it’s okay and that’s why it’s such a big issue.”
Design: V. Vorasith
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Sarahi Peralta, Reporter & Abbie Primrose, Editor Ethnicity and race have been a big topic lately, but nobody wants to talk about it. It needs to be addressed. Race and ethnicity are two completely different subjects, but are seen as one or even less than one because people have no idea what they are. Race is what society has been focusing on, which is what someone looks like, i.e. color of their skin. What needs to be focused on is someone’s identity and ethnicity, celebrating being together as one, and being part of a community that can become bigger and better if we just stopped focusing on what someone looks like, and start focusing on how people grow up, where they came from and what their background is. Race does not define someone. Race is nothingmore than something that was established in order to separate certain people. According to the article “Origin of the Idea of
Race” written by Audrey Smedley, “race was institutionalized beginning in the 18th Century as a world view, a set of culturally created attitudes and beliefs about human differences.” Race, or, in other words, how we look, should not be what society focuses on, but rather where people come from and that’s what makes people unique. This is called a person’s ethnicity or cul-
Rojan Dahal — Nepal, senior Q: What is something you do to celebrate your culture? A: “Every year we have a celebration like Christmas called Dashain, where my family gets together and instead of gifts, we exchange money.” Q: What is something you wish people knew about your culture? A: “That we are not Chinese or Indian, just Napali.”
Bahari Afare — Eritrea, Africa, junior Q: What is something you do to celebrate your culture? A: “On special occassions, my mom makes a traditional drink called Ifa.” Q: What do you wish more people knew about your culture? A: “No one really knows about us, because we come from a small country. I wish people knew that not everyone is from a well-known African country.”
“Ethnicity is what makes someone who they are.”
ture Ethnicity is what makes someone who they are. A person could have a certain color of skin and be diverse in their genes. Ethnicity has nothing to do with the way you look or the color of your skin. It’s history. If society focused on ethnicity and took the time to understand each individual’s story, and background, we could make North High and society a more educated place. The subject of the matter is we can’t separate peo-
“What we need to start focusing on is someone’s identity and celebrate being together as one.”
Race/Ethnicity
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ple based on skin color. We shouldn’t be separating anybody in the first place. We should be celebrating all of these cultures coming together to make a difference and living together to be a part of something bigger and better, and as a society stop focusing on how “bad” a person is, or assuming that a person can naturally be a horrible human being based solely alone on their skin color. Everybody is their own person. They have lived their own life, grew up in their own way, made their own choices, experienced life, and most imporantly, acted differently than everyone else because that is who they are. You can’t judge somebody because of the way they look or how they act. Everyone has their own emotions, and feelings. Everyone should be able to speak their voice and say how they feel without getting a racial comment in return. Society and America has the ability and right to speak their voice and everyone should be heard. After all, that’s truly what makes America great.
Mu Paw — Myanmar, senior Q: What is something you do to celebrate your culture? A: “We dance for New Years and for celebrations, we make a lot of rice amd noodles.” Q: What do you wish more people knew about your culture? A: “That Karen and Korean are completely different and that not every Asian is Chinese.”
Design: A. Primrose & S. Peralta
Woah! That L
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There are all different types of cultures that are here at North. Different cultures have so many recipes
Mackenzie Thorn
Chicken Porridge from Thailand Recipe by: Say K’mue Ingrediants:
Sophomore(serves 6)
2 cups of rice 10 cups of water 2 bone-in chicken breasts (skin removed) salt and pepper to taste 1 inch of ginger 3 green onions sesame oil soy sauce
Instructions
In a large pot, rinse rice until water runs clear (about 3-4 minutes). Add 10 cups of water to the rice and set it on stove to boil. When water comes to a boil, remove lid and add chicken breasts. As soon as water comes back to a boil, add salt and pepper and reduce heat to simmer for about 30 minutes. If porridge gets too thick at any point, stir in ½ cup of water to dilute. Remove chicken breasts from pot. Shred the chicken breasts and return the shredded meat to the pot. Add ginger and one to two teaspoons of sesame oil to the porridge. Turn off heat. Serve immediately with a sprinkling of green onions, pepper, and soy sauce. Add a few drops of sesame oil if desired.
Lasagna from Italy Recipe by: Anastasia Billington, Sophomore Ingrediants:
(serves 8)
1 pound of hamburger 1 pound of graziano sausage 2 jars of prego italian sausage and garlic sauce 44 oz. 2 packs of mozzarella cheese 8 oz. parmesan cheese 1 pack of lasagna noodles 6 oz. cottage cheese
Instructions
Mix cooked hamburger and sausage into the sauce. Spread a little layer of meat sauce on the bottom then a layer of noodles. Put more meat sauce, cottage cheese, parmesan cheese, and mozzarella onto the layer of noodles. Then put another layer of noodles and repeat until pan is full. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Cook for 45 minutes with aluminum foil over, then 15 minutes without foil. Let cool for 30 minutes to an hour then serve.
Race/Ethnicity
t Looks Good!
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ipes that you might not think of trying. Here are four recipes that you can try at home and enjoy.
Thornton, Reporter
Pupusas from El Salvador Recipe by: Hilario Callejas, Senior (serves 5)
Ingrediants:
Optional Filling:
1 pound pork shoulder
1/2 cup refried beans
1/4 cup chopped onion
optional 1 cup grated quesillo (Salvadoran cheese), or substitute queso fresco
1/4 cup chopped bell pepper 1/4 cup chopped tomato Pupusa Dough:
mozzarella or farmer’s cheese Vegetable oil or rendered pork fat, for browning
3 cups maseca 1 1/2 cups warm water 1/2 teaspoon salt
Instructions:
Mix the water with the maseca until it’s soft, it should feel like play doh, so not too much water but not too little water. Then put the chitcharron which
is basically pork mixed in with onions. But there’s also my favorite, which is bean pupusas which basically is just put cheese and beans instead of pork, so flat out the maseca and then put some of beans with cheese or pork inside the middle. Then roll it into a ball, try not to let it fall out. Next flatten it out again and try not to let the inside fall out and then cook it on a flat cooking pan. Finally cook both sides until the maseca is sustained and is almost a yellow-ish color.
Cassava Leaf from Africa Recipe by: Florance Tuyishime, Senior Ingrediants: 3 pounds of frozen cassava leaves 1 pound of beef cut in bite size pieces 1/2 pound smoked chicken, turkey and fish
Optional: 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper (optional) 1/2-1 pound shrimp (optional)
(serves 5)
1 medium onion chopped 1/2-1 cup palm oil (used in picture was, 1/2 palm oil and 1/2 canola oil 1/2 cup groumd cray fish dried shrimp 4-5 tbsp of ground groundnuts peanut butter puree 1 tbsp chicken bouillon or maggie powder 1 scotch bonnet pepper
Instructions:
In a large saucepan, season meat with salt, maggie, onions and boil until it’s tneder depending on the choice of meat. You should have at least 1-2 cups of stock. Remove the meat and beef stock, reserve heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat, add onions and crayfish. I saute until fragrant about 1-2 minutes. Add beef and/or smoked meat. Stir in peanut butter or groundnut paste, then add stock about a cup cook for another five minutes. Throw in the drained cassava leaves, continue cooking for about five more minutes. Adjust seasonings (maggie, salt, soup consistency with water and oil) to taste. Serve while it’s warm over rice. (We also add chopped spinach.)
Design: M. Thornton/L. Christensen
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Jasmine Inthabounh, Editor-in-Chief tims of rape and sexual assault are female, and nine percent are male. Society chooses to not acknowledge the trends, for example blaming the victim in an environment prevalent with rape. Blaming the victim in the situation of rape can consist of attacking their choice of clothing and how in any way that what they were wearing is a possible factor in why someone would want to take advantage of them. This idea is often bounced through the minds of people about women who may wear revealing clothing. Often victims are also blamed for being under the influence, whether it was their choice or it was forced. There are common accusations like, “How much were you drinking?” Or, “You should’ve known, going to a party...” Blaming the victim of how they may have lured in a rapist instead of the rape itself is a major factor of rape culture and why rape cases often don’t get solved if they are even reported. Rape is the most under-reported crime; 63
“Wh at w ere you wea ring ?”
The first solution to dealing with a problem is acknowledging that problem, not ignoring it. Whether that’s admitting you have an addiction, or that you can’t read or that you have low self-esteem. Like rape culture, these large and small problems can easily be brushed under the rug. Society can choose to tackle these problems or let them continue to eat us alive. Even if you think it doesn’t affect you, it does. Rape culture exists because of the ignorant attitudes developed by a society that believes it is okay to normalize sexual abuse. It exists because we choose to believe it isn’t happening. The ideal sprouted from the roots of feminism, as an advocate to speak about how rape culture is perpetuated by using objective and downgrading languages specifically targeting women. But rape culture is not to say that men don’t play a role or that men do not get raped, it just captivates the attitudes and behavior characteristics of a certain group and in this case, how society chooses to view rape . According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC), 91 percent of vic-
percent of sexual assaults are not reported to the police, according to NSVRC. There is often this idea along with rape that assumes women as being submissive versus men being sexually aggressive. This idea contributes the stereotype or assumption that men don’t get raped or that if they did, it somehow subtracts their amount of masculinity and disconnects women from any way of being in power. Rape culture is a tough topic to talk about with many factors, just like police brutality or white privilege, but that doesn’t excuse society from acknowledging these problems because they aren’t going to fix themselves. When social media outlets jump so far into the deep end for retweets and likes for the wrong reasons, it contributes to why rape culture has dwindled down to nothing. Rape culture is still prevalent and if not taken seriously, the numbers will only grow larger and more people will be oblivious. Talk about tough topics and educate others.
RAPE CULTURE ”
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EXIBIT A. This is only one example of many where people are oblivious to the culture of rape because they think they know about what they have never even experierenced and continue to still objectify women based on their actions.
POTUS. Even public figures like our very own President Donald Trump falls into the trap of questioning cases of rape.
Violence/Opinion
Design: J. Inthabounh
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Caleb Slater, Editor
Above is the exact text of the Second Amendment of the United States Constitution. While many might believe in a literal and very strict interpretation of this particular section, others debate it furiously and believe it can be interpreted in many different ways. However, to understand what the amendment means, you have to take a look at the context of when this was written. The Second Amendment was adopted on December 15, 1791. This was eight years after the ending of the American revolution, in which most fighting was done with muskets and weapons that only fired a single bullet at a time. The point of the Second Amendment in that day and age was to allow for revolution, should the actions of a tyrannical government call for it as it had before. It was to allow colonists to arm themselves so they could protect themselves from an overreach by a government that was newly formed and shrouded in uncertainty for the future. However, our situation nowadays is much different. Our guns have numerous more capabilities than they did then; we can fire many more bullets per minute than the colonists could have even imagined. Not only is this the case, but the portion of the Second Amendment referring to a well-regulated militia no longer applies. America’s military is one of the largest in the world, and any militia that
Violence/Opinion
would attempt to stand against it, no matter how regulated and well-structured, would surely not succeed in any revolution. The other half of this passage in the constitution has to do with owning guns, and how the right to do so cannot be taken away under the amendment. However, the constitution can be changed if congress and the states see it fit to do so. Other countries have seen it fit to ban guns for far less than what happens in America. Australia, for example, passed the National Firearms Agreement after the Port Arthur massacre in 1996 in which 35 people died. This banned all automatic and semi-automatic firearms while also creating a registry for anyone in possession of the guns that were still legal. The government
also bought back and destroyed over 600,000 guns that were owned by citizens, according to The Atlantic, a news website. Britain also has similar gun laws, with a registry on all gun owners and a ban on certain types of firearms including guns with semi-automatic capabilities. Between the time the Australian legislation was overhauled in 1996, and 2016, there were only two notable mass shootings - in which there were three or more casualties - in Australia. The number in the United States in that same time period is 64, according to a database posted to Mother Jones, another news website, and shared by the New York Times. Many pro-Second Amendment advocates, more specifically the National Rifle Association, make
Photo Illustration: Caleb Slater
an argument based around the idea that the only way to stop a ‘bad guy’ with a gun, is a ‘good guy’ with a gun. The NRA sells shirts sporting this saying. However, they, themselves, have advocated specific regulations on the Second Amendment: most recently on ‘bump stocks’, a device that essentially increases the possible rate of fire on a weapon. This device was used by the man who committed the Las Vegas shooting, in which 58 concert-goers were killed. The call for regulations by the NRA and similar pro-gun groups destroys their argument about ‘good guys’ with guns stopping ‘bad guys’ - as one could apply similar logic to bump stocks, or any sort of regulation on guns. “The only way to stop a bad guy with a bump stock is a good guy with a bump stock,” one could argue. With the overall intention of the Second Amendment being to protect the right of the average citizen to keep and bear arms, which compared to other countries, hurts us rather than helps us, our only solution is to repeal the Second Amendment and enact a similar piece of legislation to the ones passed in Australia and Britain. The reaction would be a mixture of anger and accomplishment between the two ends of the political spectrum, but it can be best guessed that, much like the results of our friends in Europe and Australia, the country would be a safer place to live.
Design: C. Slater
Jasmine Inthabounh, Editor-in-Chief Gun shots have become too familiar to the ear drums of Des Moines residents. In the heat of the moment, a heart rate drops to nothing from a high in seconds. Homicide rates in Des Moines are rising. In 2016, there were 21 homicides, the most since the nineties, according to the Des Moines Register. As of September 2017, that number increases to 24 lives lost by the cock of a gun. Violence trails the streets of Des Moines. These numbers were lives lived and cannot continue to increase. On October 6, a dream team takes on the violence by protesting on 6th Avenue while rain poured down. The event was called “Speak Up Against Violence.” North High School and Harding Middle School join with musical artist Will Keeps to make students more aware that although the
Violence
24 Homicides in DSM
as of September 2017 OUR TARGETED COMMUNITY. Here is a visual of the amount of homicides in the year of 2017. The points are scattered but these deaths all hit vicitms’ families and friends close to home.
problem is much bigger than them, that they can do something about it. Keeps performed a song for the students called, “Droppin’” about how the violence is affecting teens’ lives and how this cycle needs to be broken. “I think the purpose of Will Keeps’ song and his message is when we know about stuff, we have to speak up,” said North Principal Ben Graeber. In an urban community where violence is prominent, it can take a toll on people, especially teens. Graeber talks about scenarios where a student might carry a weapon to school careless of the consequences because of the violence they’ve been exposed to. “So, if when we speak to the student and their family about the why, everyone understands. But I think the fact that there is violence in the community might lead some people to feel the need to make a decision that they know isn’t proper or a part of the rules,” Graeber said. Keeps says, “It seems like it’s starting a chain reaction. Where one kid feels like he can get away with it and another one is like ‘I got guns too, let me do what I gotta do, I can get away with it too’.” The spark of this violence spreads like wildfire due to many things young people are easily exposed to like guns and gangs. As someone who has been in that position, Keeps strives to strip the negativity from the streets to keep young people from going six feet under. Moving from Chicago to change his life, he wanted to show teens that someone like himself can get passed this chaos in the community and not only escape it, but help it. From experience, he advises, “Sometimes you just gotta be strong within your heart, strong within yourself and say ‘I’m gonna do it. But you need support.’” Violence will never be nonexistent, but to not speak about what is happening will only cost more lives. Like the “Speak Up Against Violence” march, Keeps continues a movement called, “Starts Right Here” that makes a statement about starting over from a place that isn’t positive. The movement is to spark in young minds that there is more out there for them than what the streets can offer. As the end of the year creeps up, a New Year’s resolution for many should be to help a crumbling community by speaking up about things that could start a different chain reaction.
Design: J. Inthabounh
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Melanie Carmenatte, Reporter they were cut, it would hurt 80% Birth Control has been a topic of many political issues in the world. Within the walls of North High, Heather Rosewall Sevedge, a parenting teacher, gives out helpful advice to many students who are dealing with issues of birth control. Rosewall helps the students by giving out resources and recommendations for the access of birth control. She has pointed many of them to Title X clinics, which according to Planned Parenthood’s website is a family planning program that has helped millions of low-income people afford much needed health care. They have faced the threat of federal budget cuts, with the clinics desperate need to stay up, they have stated if
of their patients who live below 150% of the federal poverty line. “The attack on Title X clinics, such as Planned Parenthood, is really sad. The lack of education on what Planned Parenthood really does is going to affect our community immensely,” said Rosewall. With Trump’s new policy on birth control it makes it really hard for women to get the birth control they are looking for. From feeling trapped in the 50’s to not being respected at all, Trump has not giving women the choice to their bodies or their basic human rights. Rosewall has stated that we need to fight back for there are many different reasons why Trump shouldn’t handle women’s
rights. “Trump has no empathy for women. I hope this is a wakeup call for many women. We need to stand up and push back,” said Rosewall. Women have been accepted to have children and be the stay at home mothers. While some women don’t take birth control for pregnancy reasons, it’s also used for women who struggle with heavy or irregular periods. “I hope it does change,” she said. “Women have made huge strides in being able to vote, work, own property, education, and to have some what equal pay. It’s important that we vote and make sure men like Trump are not in the office. Women need to stop shaming each other and stick up for each other.”
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Women’s Rights
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Megan Bohall, Editor-In-Chief ers and insurers can now claim Birth control has been used by many women, of many ages, for many years. Birth controls main use is to protect against getting pregnant. There are many other uses for birth control such as making periods lighter or more regular, help with acne, ease menstrual migraines, and many more benefits with the use of birth control. According to guttermarcher. org, over 37 million women of reproductive age (15-44) are currently using a method of birth control in the United States. Many of those women’s insurances are covering the cost of birth control through the Affordable Care Act. Trump’s administration is working to repeal the Affordable Care Act, this puts those who rely on it to pay for birth control, at risk of losing their birth control all together. As of Oct. 6, 2017, employ-
moral and religious objections to birth control which allows them to deny their employees access to birth control in their insurance plans. This has caused major back lash towards Trump’s administration. Trump’s administration has stated that this mandate is a step towards religious freedom, while others believe it isn’t the right of one’s boss to withhold insurance coverage on birth control. This mandate has sparked huge protests and some threats of bringing this mandate to court. In the past, employers were required by the Affordable Care Act to cover one of the 18 FDA-approved methods of birth control. Over nine million women use the pill method as their source of birth control. The pill method is the most common and well known female birth control. Many women, and men, have
taken a stand and used their freedom of speech and freedom to protest to show their many thoughts on the controversial topic. Whether that’s physical protests or a 140-character tweet with the hashtag HandsOffMyBC. Many women are left wondering if they should rush to get an implant or an IUD, which is a method of birth control inserted into the uterus to prevent pregnancy, so their birth control is taken care of for the next few years. According to npr.org, while it is important to stay informed on the issue, it is not necessary to rush right away and get an IUD. This issue could affect many teens and young adult currently using birth control under the Affordable Care Act. Make sure to stay informed and if you want to make your voice heard just go to twitter and search the #HandsOffMYBC.
Design & Graphics: M. Bohall
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Women aren’t Woman aren’t as good as drivers as men Woman aren’t as intelligent as men Woman aren’t as good at being involved in authority as men
Women’s Rights
Laura Christensen, Managing Editor Ever heard of the phrase “You do that like a girl” or the line, “You play ball like a girl” from the movie The Sandlot? Everyone at one point in their life has probably heard that phrase or experienced that in their life, more so if they’re a girl. The phrase “like a girl” was commonly noticed when the new Always ad came out, showing different gender stereotypes in 2015. During the commercial different age groups of girls were told to perform tasks “like a girl” and then boys were told the same thing. The point of the commercial was to prove that girls can do anything boys can do and if girls have the confidence to prove it they can change the way the world thinks one step at a time. The stereotypes for women can be anything from people putting them in groups that say they aren’t as intelligent, to assuming they aren’t a part of authority because they can’t handle all the stress, and they’re more sensitive than men. Isabel Camacho a junior at North, said “At the moment people haven’t voted for a woman as a president and some say that’s because they think they’d have mood swings or do something related to ‘acting like a girl’. “ Women empowerment has been a very controversial topic since 1920, when women were given the right to vote. To this day, there are different factors being decided if they
should have as much power as men and if they should be given the same opportunities that men have. If females are being stereotyped at a young age and grow up always being put in categories, it can damage their self-esteem. It can also cause a lack in confidence as they grow into their teen years when they are truly developing. But it would make a big difference if people would change society and make it so women are more equally associated with men. Camacho said, “I think it’s important to break the stereotype because when we’re labeled with this stereotype, it limits us and makes girls growing up think that they can’t do something like play football because it’s not girly or for a girl. It would change society in a manner that people would change their way of thinking and change the way they treat women.” Another topic that comes up with men vs. women is; Who is the better driver, male or female? According to crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov, which is a website that had taken a study in 1996-2006 showing the comparison of crash fatalities by their sex and age group, proved women actually get in less car crashes than men. The males’ accidents were higher in all age groups compared to women but age groups with the most male accidents were 1620, 21-25 and over 65 years of age. While many believe that women are worse drivers than men, some also believe men are higher educated, according to statistics they would be wrong. Recently proven in 2015 women are now more likely to have a college degree than men according to time.com, which is a website with statistics showing women earning more college degrees nationally. Statistics have changed over the past few years and women are changing the way society is stereotyping women. “Young women are driving the change. In the 25-34 age group, 37.5% of women have a bachelor’s degree or higher, while only 29.5% of men do. (Rates of college attainment for men and women in this age group are increasing roughly equally.) But for the over-65 crowd, only 20.3% of women have such degrees, compared to 30.6% of men” says time.com As society begins to evolve and develop the stereotypes begin to dwindle. People are using their voices to empower those who are affected by these stereotypes. This change in society is helping to better our world by opening minds.
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What does it mean to do something “like a girl”? Women are often stereotyped just because they’re a girl. Do you think it’s important to break this stereotype and why? Kayden Schnathorst, Freshman:
I feel when people tell each other they do anything “like a girl” it’s always offensive and supposed to be a mocking of “weak” or “pathetic”. It doesn’t personally offend me but it’s meant to be derogatory. Women are often stereotyped to be “whores” if they dress a certain way, or called dykes because their hair is short (I speak from personal experience) and I feel that’s ridiculous. I believe all form of stereotypes and mockery should be broken.
Nicole Masteller, Senior: Yes, because
women have proved that they are just as equal men, they can physically and mentally do just as much as they can and they have done this over history, time and time again. I believe we as humans should all be treated with the same opportunity and respect if they work for it.
Valeria Guerra-Ceron, Senior: For
me, to do something “like a girl” means to do something with power and confidence, because women are strong. This phrase is often used to bring women down because we’re seen as the weaker gender, or we can’t do the same thing a man can do, but I don’t see it that way. It’s very important to break this stereotype because women shouldn’t be treated differently just because of our gender, we can definitely do everything a man can do.
Rosemary Galdamez, Senior:
The phrase “like a girl” is something I don’t feel offended by being told that, but it bothers me that it’s used as an offense. The phrase is often used as a way to say you do something poorly or weak. It is very important to break that stereotype because as girls grow up they are faced with the stereotype that they are weak and that they are expected to behave not like a girl which can impact the way they view themselves and their self-esteem.
Design: L.Christensen/Photo Credit: M. Bohall
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Jenna Post, Reporter Photo Credit: Nyamal Gatluak
Jasmine Inthabounh, Class President Q: How did you feel winning the school election knowing it’s been awhile since there was a female president? A: I feel like winning was a big accomplishment for me, because I’ve wanted to be president ever since I started high school. It was one of my goals. I figured out there hasn’t been a female president in a long time, so when I won it made everything more worthwhile for me, because I can be an advocate for girls who feel smaller in the school. Q: Why do you feel it’s important for there to be a female president? A: I think it’s important because I feel like there should be equal representation, because males have had a bigger role in our school, so I think it’s important for a female to have that role too. Q: What do you think of leaders being predominantly male? A: I think it’s become a norm, and it’s hard to break something that’s been happening for so many years, but I think it’s starting to change. I think women are evolving, and they’re putting themselves out there and becoming leaders in society. Q: What do you think of the stereotype when people say you’re too emotional to be a president? A: I think you need to be a little emotional. People are looking up to you, and you need to have compassion towards those people who are looking up to you. I don’t think you can be a good leader if you don’t have empathy.
Women’s Rights
Photo Credit: DMPS
Riawna Hunter, Track Team Member Q: What are your accomplishments in track? A: In 9th grade I was 6th in the state for the 400 meter dash. Q: What do you think of the phrase “you run like a girl”? A: It’s dumb because it’s a way to put girls down or make them seem not as great as boys. There’s no specific way all girls run. It’s the same with boys. Some run fast while others... not so much. Q: Do you feel people think girls aren’t as good as boys when it comes to athletics? A: Yeah. That’s why people like to watch boys sports more than girls. Q: Do you think it’s important for women to prove that stereotype wrong? A: Yes. It’s 2017 and women are way more involved and can do a lot of things boys can do.
Photo Credit: Jennifer Dryden
Emily West, Robotics Team Member
Q: Why did you join robotics? A: My older sister started the team, and my brother joined it, so it felt like a family tradition. Q: What do you think about the fact that the majority of people in robotics are male? A: I feel like girls aren’t introduced to that type of stuff because people think guys are more interested in that which isn’t true. Q: Do you think it’s important for more females to join robotics programs? A: Yes, because most people only think that guys do those things, but it’s important for women who love science to join, because most people think that it’s for guys, which isn’t true because girls can do it too.
Design: J. Post
My body My choice End Rape Culture Repeal the 2nd Amendment