The View Issue 4 Vol 18 by Park Hill South View

DECEMB TABLE OF CONTENTS

SPORTS

NEW RAGE CAGE CHANTS|COLLEGE BASKETBALL|BASKETBALL

FEATURES ADOPTION|POLICE BRUTALITY|WINTER DRIVING

ENT/OPIN

CHRISTMAS CONTROVERSY|HOLIDAY PARTY|LAST MINUTE GIFTS

NEWS

POWER OF FOOTBALL|COLLEGE RACISM|BIG CAT

BER LETTER

from the

EDITOR

It’s that time of year where the countdowns begin. Countdowns to the last day of the semester, Christmas, and to the end of 2015. December brings excitement for many reasons. Excitement for holidays, winter break, snow days, winter sports, and much more. This month marks the end of first semester, and for some the end of high school. Read about students graduating at semester and the pros and cons of this decision (pg 4). The semester may be coming to an end, but winter sports are just getting started. Read a preview of the girls’ and boys’ basketball teams (pg 8) and the new rage cage chants you need to know at the games (pg 9). You can find controversy these days over just about anything, even Christmas. Read about starbucks cups and the difference between saying ‘Happy Holidays’ and ‘Merry Christmas’ (pg 16-17). So whatever it is that you are looking forward to or counting down to in December, get excited, it’s finally here. And of course, take advantage of your last few days at South in 2015. The countdowns will show the number zero before you know it.

Alex Rothers Editor-In-Chief

THE VIEW STAFF

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ALEX ROTHERS DIGITAL MEDIA EDITOR NICK CLAASSEN ART DIRECTOR VIVIAN BROCKMAN SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTOR ALLIE HICKEY REPORTERS JACK BEUERLEIN KEEP UP WITH THE LATEST NEWS IN BETWEEN ISSUES ON OUR WEBSITE

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COLIN BROCKERT BAYLEE BROWN CARSON WELLS GENA COCKRELL BRANDON CRABTREE

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PHS NEWS The View is published eight times during the regular school year as the student news publication of Park Hill South High School. Opinions expressed here are thaat of the student journalists and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Park Hill School District. For editorial policies or to submit a letter to the editor, visit our website at PHSVIEW.COM. The View is a member of NSPA and the Missouri Interscholastic Press Association and is printed by Osage Graphics in Olathe, Kan.

ADVISER

HAILEY DEEDS SPENCER DENNEY EMILY DITTO ADAM FRAZIER DANIEL GEARY MORGAN GREER OLIVIA KINSEY JACOB KLINE SYDNEY LOWE IZZY PIEPER RYAN POWERS ANNA PREUSS CHASE PUTNAM BRADY SMITH JAKE SPRINGER JESSE STAMPER HALLIE VANDEVEN BRET VANICE RYAN WELTY BROOKE YAGER MEGAN PALMER

4|NEWS Let’s face it, America is a football country, whether you like it or not. If we had a national sport above all others, it would be football. A game so sacred to our country that most people know the fall season by the basic three days; Friday night lights aka high school football, Saturday college football game day, and of course Sunday NFL football. We know how much football means to this nation, but until recently we really did not know the true power football has. A recent controversy at Mizzou in which the football players pledged not to play until a issue was resolved, ended in the players getting two school officials fired and getting exactly what they wanted. Some people are trying to look way too deep into this issue at Mizzou. Let's get one thing straight: the only reason this became National news is because of football. The moment that the players said they were not going to play until they got what they wanted was the moment the whole thing started, and also the moment the whole thing ended. Football is way too important to the university, the students, and the fans to even skip one game. Especially for power football conferences like the SEC and the Big 10, football is the money maker. They just make too much money for the school that they cannot afford to skip games; that is how they make revenue and that is how they get people to apply to their schools because of their sports teams success. Not to mention cancelling their game would have cost Mizzou $1 million. I do not believe what the football players did was right at all by getting two hardworking

men fired, but by doing so they proved that football rules over all. These players forced the president of the whole freaking university to resign, we know now who is really in charge of the school and universities all over the nation now. It does not stop with football though; men’s college basketball is also a powerhouse money maker at big universities. This issue opened a new door for all college athletes basically saying that they can get anything they want by just saying they are not going to play. This will not work for all colleges though, as only those who extremely rely on their big name D1 sports teams, and also only for the very popular sports like college basketball and football. The thing is, these players need to think about the consequences before they all start doing this, it could hurt them and their university majorly. Teams could decide to pull those players scholarships for not playing and it also could set the program back years because it makes players and students not want to go to that school. This is an effect I think will come back and bite Mizzou, as the whole thing brought a bad rep on the school. The team was trying to do the right thing and help out a cause, I get that, but forcing two men to resign is not the way to go about it. How can one president be responsible for what a few idiots did out of the thousands of students at the university? In the end, the Mizzou football team proved the real power of big universities is their sports teams and paved the way for other teams to claim their dominance over their university, whether it is for the good or the bad. That is what happens when we put so much of our lives and money into something like the game of football. One thing is for sure: football rules over all, and it is only getting more powerful.

THE POWER OF FOOTBALL by NICK CLAASSEN

STAR WARS FINAL WISH When longtime Star Wars fan 32-year-old Daniel Fleetwood was diagnosed with an aggressive form of lung cancer which had spread to 90 percent of his lungs, and found out that he would have at most two months to live, his last wish was to see the latest Star Wars film before he passed away. Fleetwoods’s wife took to Twitter starting the hashtag

NEWS BRIEFS

#forcefordaniel, in hopes to get enough attention that the producers of the movie would have to let him see an early screening of the film before its release. Sure enough it became a worldwide trending topic on Twitter, and eventually director J.J. Abrams caught notice of #forcefordaniel, and given the circumstances, allowed Fleetwood to receive his wish and see the movie.

by COLIN BROCKERT

“It’s good they let him see the movie before he died, since it was his last wish,” said Isaiah Holley, junior. On Tuesday, Nov. 10, Fleetwood passed away peacefully in his sleep and he will forever remain in the hearts and minds of everyone he affected in his short but happy life.

NEWS|5

Racism Close to Home

What exactly happened in Columbia?

by CARSON CAVITT-WELLS

hile the Black Lives Matter movement continues to grow larger and larger, the protests continue to grow in numbers as well. These protests are becoming more common on college campuses, especially ones close to the South community. The University of Missouri experienced the latest protest, which was led by the black activists group “Concerned Student 1950.” One of the leaders of these protests was Jonathan Butler, a 25-year-old Mizzou student. Butler said that until Mizzou’s president, Tim Wolfe, resigned, he would go on a hunger strike. This strike was in response to numerous racist events that took place on the campus of Mizzou in the last decade. Along with the school’s president resigning, the chancellor followed in his footsteps as well. Chancellor R. Bowen Loftin, who had only been chancellor at Mizzou for two short years stepped down. Perhaps the most notorious group to demonstrate was the Missouri Tigers football team. The team threatened to go on “strike” and not play their home game on Nov. 5 against Mississippi State. “I’m glad they’re trying their best to take a stand. I really do think enough is enough. Racism

NOVEMBER

Grad Student Jonathan Butler launches hunger strike in response to “inaction” of President Wolfe

NOVEMBER

A student boycott in support of Butler begins

isn’t a light subject. I think African-American students are done taking the type of treatment we receive,” said Darius Dedmon, senior. However, Kaleb Cote, senior, has a different view. “(Butler) has a lot of money, so he really could’ve gone anywhere he wanted, why not just transfer to a different school?” While some Americans agree with these protests taking place around the country, there is always an opposing side.Those who don’t agree, think that much of the Mizzou demonstrations have all been stirred by lies, and false accusations. Brady Osborne, senior, says, “I don’t really agree with everything taking place at Mizzou. First off, there’s no proof that the vandalism was provoked by race, I just think that the whole thing is a big joke.” No matter which way you view the turmoil at Mizzou, what’s done is done. President Tim Wolfe has resigned, and many professors have had to resign due to the events. Mizzou is definitely looking toward the future for brighter days ahead, as is the rest of the United States.

NOVEMBER

HOW IT ALL WENT DOWN

President Wolfe issues “apology” statement to Concerned Student 1950

NOVEMBER

African-American football players announce they will not practice/ play until Wolfe resigns

NOVEMBER

President Wolfe announces resignation

SHAMU SHOWS CEASE After years of controversy and negative publicity, the San Diego SeaWorld’s CEO said that they will be switching to a different type of whale exhibit featuring whales acting natural rather than being trained to do tricks and stunts for visitors. SeaWorld has been under a lot of controversy since “Blackfish,” a documentary that criticized the park’s treatment of orcas, was released in 2013, and attendance has gone down drastically since its release.

In October, the California Coastal Commission banned the breeding of killer whales living in captivity, which SeaWorld viewed as something the commission didn’t have authority to do. They sent the ban along with an approval for SeaWorld to expand its whale tanks. “I didn’t think the whale shows were that cool anyway,” said George Templin, junior. On Feb, 23, 2010, Dawn Brancheau, a whale trainer at the SeaWorld in Orlando, reportedly slipped and fell into the whale tank

and was fatally injured by one of the whales. If SeaWorld didn’t get enough attention already, this fatal incident caused many to really question whether or not the whales should be kept in captivity. SeaWorld’s CEO, Joel Manby, announced their plans to expand the whale tank and stop holding shows featuring the whales doing tricks or stunts and instead how the whales act in their natural state.

6|NEWS

Unpredictable Trying to guess how Kansas City weather will pan out this winter is an impossible task for students and meteorologists When it comes to Missouri, weather can be pretty unpredictable. One day it will be sunny and 65 degrees out, but the next it could be snowing. It is a rarity here in Missouri to have the same weather for a long period of time. This winter, Missourians will either be bundling up and driving slow in the snow or will be in spring clothes before even thinking about putting snow tires on. People around South are getting the idea that it is going to be a mild winter considering it was 70 degrees Nov. 18. Cydney Wuebben, junior, said, “I have a feeling there will be a rough patch but our winter will be short lived this year since so far we have had better weather than normal.” The Weather Channel is saying that in the month of December, Missouri will be much warmer

by HALLIE VANDEVEN

than we are used to. That means snow storms may be far and few between. Despite that forecast, some students have other predictions. ”I think our winter will be colder than last winter with more snow.” said Max Ghasemi, sophomore. To some people, the only perk to getting snow is getting a snow day. Saying that this winter won’t be the worst in Missouri history, chances of a lot of snow days is slim. People are thinking up to two to four days off for South so hopes are not high. “I don’t think it is going to be cold at all, I’m expecting little snow and one or two snow days.” said Madison Murphy, sophomore. For some who love snow this is bad news but those of you who are just looking to make it to spring, get excited.

“I have a feeling there will be a rough patch but our winter will be short lived this year since so far we have had better weather than normal.”

NEWS|7

the

who’s BIGCAT at

SOUTH? by BAYLEE BROWN

During the month of December, senior students compete to be the “Big Cat” at South Every year, senior boys try out to be named the “Big Cat” of Park Hill South. Big Cat is a comedy talent show for seniors. On Nov. 19 was tryouts and Dec. 10 was the show. This year, Brianna Huffman tried out and made it. Huffman is the first girl to try out and said that she hopes more girls try out in the future. “There's a lot of really funny girls at our school, I mean, there's a lot of amazing people at our school, and I think Big Cat is a really fun thing that I think girls could do really well just nobody has done it before, for whatever reason,” said Huffman. The boys and Huffman participated in three skits. To represent their club there’s Club Costumes which represent a sport or club they are involved in. Then there's a Talent section which can be something humorous or an actual talent. Finally, there is Hobbies and Pastimes, which is what the contestants like to do for fun.

Out of the many who try out for Big Cat, only five people are picked. Each participant has to come up with their own skits and find people who are willing to be in their skits. “Based on tryouts, how well they’re prepared, and how well they have their skits lined out (is how the judges chose who competes in Big Cat)” said Grace Dunker, senior, director of Big Cat. On Nov. 19 the boys and Huffman found out if they were in Big Cat or not, as the judges called those who made it that night. Jake Saylor, Senior has tried out and said that he already won Big Cat. “I'm just gonna win it” said Saylor. The people who try out and get into Big Cat must think of something to do that'd make the judges and crowd laugh. All five contestants work for the weeks in between auditions and performance to perfect their skits and see who can make the audience laugh most. After all, there can only be one Big Cat.

COLE RESER Represented: STUCO

JAKE SAYLOR Represented: Football

COLE FORD Represented: Broadcast

TATE SUMMA Represented: Golf

“I’ve been on the committee for Big Cat since freshman year.”

“I saw it sophomore year becuase one of my neghbors did it and it looked fun to do.”

“I just like entertaning people. I love making people smile.”

“It’s another experience I can say I did in high school.

BRIANNA HUFFMAN Represented: Debate and Forensics “It looked like something that would be really fun to do.”

8|SPORTS

Fresh

by BRETT VANICE

High school basketball gets people hyped on Friday nights. The Rage Cage is chanting and screaming at the top of their lungs. South’s high school basketball games are at a whole other level. Last year, the South Basketball team made it all the way to the Missouri Class 5A State Championship, knocking off Chaminade and the number two recruit in the nation, After losing last year’s Jayson Tatum. South lost multiple seniors for the 2015-2016 seniors, the boys’ season, and there are now big shoes to fill. The incoming freshmen basketball players are hoping to fill those shoes. basketball team looks to “I would like to go undefeated this season and go to State freshmen to fill the roles and win that,” said Lamel Robinson, freshman, a transfer student from Arizona. “My favorite thing about playing basketball at South is the coaching staff. They are good coaches, and getting to know the players,” said Robinson. The head coach of South’s varsity basketball team is Daniel Parra. After leading the team to a State Final appearance at South in his first year, Parra said he hopes to have the same success he had one year ago. S PO RTS FAN S “This is probably the best freshmen class I’ve seen. We have eight to ten kids M UST HAVES who could probably play varsity someday --some sooner than others,” said Parra. Another freshman with varsity capabilities is Desi Williams. Williams, a Check the Rage Cage transfer from North Kansas City School District, said he hopes to get better as a twitter account for the player this season and help the team get back to state in whatever way he can. game’s clothing theme @GoPanthers15 If Robinson or Williams were to play in a game at one point this season, it would be the first time a freshman has played Varsity at South under Parra. Fat Heads/ Signs/ It would not be unique to his overall coaching career, however. Parra said he Foam fingers coached a young man by the name of Benny Parker, who started for him as a freshman, and is now the starting point guard at the University of Nebraska. Money for concessions Williams said, “Yes [I will play varsity] because I feel like I’m one of the best (It gets hot in there-you’ll want a drink) playmakers.” Though Robinson and Williams have their differences, they both agree that Ready to GET LOUD their favorite part about playing basketball at South is the coaching staff. and support your Williams said, “I like how the coaches push us. They want the best out of us.” team no matter the The best is what is expected by the coaching staff, and needed to win outcome districts, win conference, and ultimately the State championship.

Talent

by BROOKE YAGER

photos taken by SYDNEY LOWE

SPORTS|9

What is your favorite part about being in the Rage Cage? NEW CHANT

“The wigalo gets me hyped. Everyone gets loud and it’s awesome. Basketball season is my favorite because the environment is better than football. I’m excited to see my buddy, Ryan Welty, ball out.”

HEY SOUTH HOW DO YOU FEEL? Students:

WE FEEL GOOD OH WE FEEL SO GOOD HEY *clap to Mary Had a Little Lamb*

Kaleb Cote

by BROOKE YAGER

Starting

Small

Girls basketball is back with a younger team and a lot to prove.

Shooting

It’s winter time at Park Hill South and that means it’s time for winter sports. This year you should expect a lot of changes from our Lady Panthers. Alicia Westbrook, freshman, will be playing on varsity. “Jumping from middle school play to high school is definitely a whole new atmosphere with faster play and a lot more competitive, but I think club ball has got me ready for it,” Westbrook explained. Players have high hopes for the season, having already placed 3rd in the Winnetonka tournament earlier this month. Raquel Reid, sophomore, and a returning varsity player, said, “We’re going to be a lot quicker team this year. We have two new girls that bring a lot of energy to the team; we’ve also added height this year because

Ta l l

of Alecia.” Being a younger team, Coach Jenny Orlowski still has high standards. “One of our biggest problems from last year was ball handling. We didn’t have one specific point guard.,” said Orlowski. With having six days of practice a week, improvement is bound to happen. “I expect us to win more games because we’ll be able to move around up and down the court better than last year, and think we have a good shot in Districts,” said Orlowski. The Lady Panthers are excited to show that they aren’t just a young team, but dedicated for a successful season.

by IZZY PIEPER

10|SPORTS

predictions Alabama

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Team PLAYOFFS revenue 200

10 votes

Ohio State 9 votes

GO N

Clemson

OR E

7 votes

Notre Dame XA TE M

Iowa 3 votes

Stanford

BA M A

4 votes

3 votes

AN G I

H IC

L.S.U. Big 12

AL A

Baylor

150

6 votes

Big 10

125

Pac 12 SEC

3 votes

Oklahoma State 3 votes

Florida 1 vote

ACC

TATE FLORIDA S

Conferences

100 Revenue

U.S. Dollars (in Millions)

175

SPORTS|11 All around the country, teams are geared up and ready for the 2015-2016 season. With winning on their minds, it should be exciting to watch the teams grind it out all season long. Mizzou finished pretty poorly in the 2014-2015 season, 9-23. However this year they look to bounce back after adding in two freshman guards to go along with freshman forward Kevin Puryear. This season’s schedule is not extremely difficult, only facing three teams that are picked in the AP Preseason Top 25, but one of those is the ever dangerous Kentucky Wildcats sitting on their #2 rank. “I’m expecting a SEC title from Mizzou this year and everyone should look out for Kevin Puryear,” said Darius Dedmon, senior. The Kansas Jayhawks have high preseason rank of #4 and #3 in the Big 12. This year’s Jayhawks have

COLLEGE BASKETBALL R ZN S by JACOB KLINE

C A I E S

a sort of different setup than previous teams. They do not have that one superstar like Andrew Wiggins or Joel Embiid, but they have a great mix of veteran players and young talent. This should be one of their main keys to success. ”Frank Mason will be the most dominant for us because he’s consistent and gets the team fired up.” said Connor Lee, junior. Returning for KU is the dominant backcourt of Frank Mason III and Wayne Selden Jr., who last season combined for nearly 21 points per game. The man in the middle, Perry Ellis, will look to go out with bang his senior year, and opponents should expect nothing less after previously averaging 14 points and 7 rebounds per game. The last factor that is sure to help them succeed is Coach Bill Favorite Self. Self has multiple conference team? championships, two national championships and a handful of coach of the year awards. Self clearly has an impressive resume Sean Frost, and knows what it takes to win, so Freshman the Jayhawks will be fun to watch all season long. There are lots of teams to look out for this year. Talent at the Malik Division I level seems to rise year Stevenson, after year. The first team to look Sophomore out for is obviously the preseason #1 ranked North Carolina Tar Heels. The Tar Heels have had Turner Hall, repeated appearances to the Junior March Madness tournament and look to repeat in the 2015-2016 season. Led by Marcus Paige, senior guard who averaged 14.1 Colin points per game, he will be a Farrow, threat indeed in the ACC. Senior “I think North Carolina has a lot to prove since they’ve never

really been a highlight type of team,” said Spear Hakim, junior. There are teams that will always be deadly no matter what. These teams consist of Duke, Kentucky, Virginia and Wisconsin. Each of these teams always leave a big impact in the March Madness tournament and have a handful of titles amongst themselves. According to ESPN statistics a team to really look out for this season is Maryland. They have extremely tough backcourt, Melo Trimble and Dez Wells, along with forward Jake Layman, each of these players averaged double figures last season and will surely look to repeat this season. When college basketball rolls around everyone gets excited, and the caliber of play from each and every team this year should surely be something special to watch.

Player of the Year?

Marcus Paige Melo Trimble Wes Clark Melo Trimble

National HypedChamp? up?

Most anticipated game to watch?

BIG

CATS DECISIONS

BIG

12|SPORTS

Can South’s best athletes survive recruitment?

by OLIVIA KINSEY

icture yourself waking up at 5:30 a.m. for morning forever. workouts. After that you go to a couple classes, “When looking for a college you want to play for grab a quick bite to eat, and you make your way really focus first on what you want to do with your over to practice which lasts about three hours. Don’t life and focus on what you want to get a degree in. forget you have tutoring sessions scheduled for after Education first. Sports second,” said senior Ryan practice. After that's all said and done you only have Callahan who is committed to play baseball at Quincy time for dinner and next thing you know it’s time for University. bed. Imagine if this was your everyday routine. You also have to keep in mind that you’ll be living For those who aspire to become college athletes, this there for at least four years so you need to pay attention is their daily life. to things like weather and how far away you would be For some athletes making it to the college level is the from home. ultimate goal, but it doesn’t come easy. The first thing Senior Anna Riekof, who has committed to you need is to impress college coaches with your talent. Pepperdine University for swim, said, ” I liked how it's Having talent isn't something you get overnight, it takes close to the beach along with having my brother there, hard work, dedication, and many hours, but talent isn’t and then the swim team.” everything. The best way to get recruited is through going to Coaches also look for the kids who “When looking for a collegecamps and unofficial visits. Going to get the grades. If two kids have the camps or unofficial visits gives you a same skill level the college coach will you want to play for, reallycomplete inside look to the facilities and a always go for the one with the better focus first on what you wantchance to get to know the coaches. GPA. Lastly they look for character; Kate Kobayashi, freshman, said, to do with your life and “Camps will you be a team player? They want are very important to get to the to see how you bounce back after the focus on what you want to next level of your sport.” worst game of your life. Attitude is Kobayashi is planning on going to get a degree in.” everything. Missouri State, Tulsa, and Lake Land Senior Erika Lutgen, who recently University for camps this winter. Her goal signed to Missouri Southern State University for softball, is to play softball in college some day. said, “The first thing that college coaches look at is how After you’ve made an impression on college coaches you act around other people. This is how they determine all that’s left to do is wait for an offer. You can’t get over if you would be a good fit for their team.” anxious waiting for an offer though. Coaches have to After you get the attention of some colleges it's time split up the scholarship money they receive each year, for you to reach out. Email them your schedules, give but remember that each sport gets a different number of them a call, go to their camps. Anything and everything scholarships. you can to get them to notice you as much as possible, For example NCAA D1 softball programs get 12 and as early as possible. Scholarship money goes fast. scholarships while NCAA D1 football programs get 85 “I feel like the typical D1 player starts getting full scholarships. Your odds of getting more scholarship recruited around their sophomore year.” said Dillon money depnds on what sport you are pursuing. Thomas. “Of course you have some freak athletes who So regardless to how long you process takes, how have been looked at as early as eighth grade year. But much money you end up with, or where you go with it's usually once you get a varsity season under your belt is about the big picture. You’ve worked hard your whole when it takes off.” life for this and the fact that you get an opportunity that If you’re planning on going somewhere to play a many will never even get to try and experience is what college sport you have to remember the big picture. it’s all about. Your hardwork will pay off eventually. You’re only going to spend four years of your life there to play a sport, but you keep your major or minor

What is your dream school and why? “I want to go to Maryland because I used to live there and they have a really good soccer team.” - TURNER HALL

“I want to go to Alabama because it is a dynasty.” - BEN BECKER

“My dream school is the University of Missouri because my parents both went there.” - ALISON SADLER

SPORTS|13

Powerful Progression

With the addition of a powerlifting team and new designed by JACK BEUERLEIN workouts, athletes at South have all the opportunities to improve There is a new breed of athletes at South. Everything has been intensified in the weight room and on the field. With new and improved weight instructors and coaches, the athletes at South have to be more committed than ever. A big contributor to the recent success in the weight room and the addition of a powerlifting team is football and weights coach Kent Cramer. Cramer joined the South staff two years ago after having success at Blue Springs High School. Cramer played football in college and now he helps athletes reach their full potential. “Coach Cramer has definitely made weights more intense and he’s brought a new attitude towards South by getting you to try as hard as you can and demanding you give everything you have,” said Christian Holferty, sophomore. A junior transfer from Blue Springs, Emmanuel Butler, started running back last year on the football team, and he thinks very highly of Coach Cramer. “Coach Cramer has impacted our athletic program a lot. He pushes us to be better athletes and he also pushes us to work hard. He brings that intensity every day and he doesn’t let us slack off, he is a great coach!”

he said. A few months ago a new team at South was created. The powerlifting team will consist of athletes all around South that are looking to be challenged in weightlifting. The definition of powerlifting is, a form of competitive weightlifting in which contestants attempt three types of lifts in a set sequence. “I like the idea of a powerlifting team. I know it is going to be hard but you gotta do what you've gotta do to get better,” says Holferty. Although the team has just been created, Holferty already has some goals for this season. “My goal is for all of us to get stronger and be able to compete with other schools.” Offseason workouts have already started for the football boys and the season just ended. It is pretty safe to say that this is a dramatic change from last season and the whole team is in it to win it. Butlersaid,“Ifeellikewithworkoutsstartingthisearlyitisputting usinawinningmindset.Weareworkinghardeverydayandpushing our bodies to limits we thought we couldn’t reach.” With the hard work in the weightroom each and every day, it is all lined up for South athletes to keep improving.

“My goal is for all of us to get stronger and be able to compete with other schools.”

FITNESS FACTS

YOUR HEART IS THE STRONGEST MUSCLE OF YOUR BODY AND BEATS ABOUT 100,000 TIMES IN ONE DAY, IN AN AVERAGE ADULT.

IF ALL 600 MUSCLES IN YOUR BODY PULLED IN ONE DIRECTION, YOU COULD LIFT 25 TONS. MUSCLE IS THREE TIMES MORE EFFICIENT AT BURNING CALORIES THAN FAT.

According to FitnessHealthZone.com

14|FEATURES

W W W

With winter fast approaching, it is safe to assume that some snowy days and extreme weather are on the horizon. Bad weather is a common thing in the midwest, and in the winter days it only seems to get worse. Driving becomes one of the biggest hassles during these times. Slippery roads and poor visibility are among the rough conditions drivers have to be paying attention to when they are in cold and wet weather. Some South students have unfortunately been in bad weather crashes before. Last month Asa Banks, junior, got into a car crash that ended up being quite the pile up. Tips to help drivers “In between the 64th street exit and the Riverside exit on I-29 there was a big car crash. steer clear of crashes in The car in front of me got on their brakes. I hit my poor driving conditions brakes as fast as I could and tried to stop but I still rearended the car in front of me,” said Banks. By BRANDON CRABTREE Tehya Eno, senior, was a passenger in a crash that possible,” Banks said. was a “really scary experience”. In America there are roughly 1.5 million accidents a “Someone rear ended us and we slid off the road year, according to Autoinsurance.org, that total more really fast,” said Eno. than 670 thousand injuries and more than “I hit my brakes seven thousand deaths each year. Sometimes the driver can’t control everything, but there are many things they Eno said, “Whenever the weather is bad, as fast as I could I am can do to protect themselves when driving definitely more careful and aware in bad weather. AAA Auto Insurance of how I’m driving because there are a and tried to says some of the best things you can do to lot of accidents in the winter. The most stop but I still surprising thing for me when I drove in help prevent crashes include giving more space between you and the car in front, rear-ended the bad weather was realizing how easy it brake slowly, drive slower than usual, was to slide around on the road. That is car in front of definitely something to be careful of if it is and give yourself more time to get to your destination. your first time driving. me.” Banks said he didn’t think there was No matter what, always make sure to much he could’ve done to avoid the crash. drive safely and try to stay away from accidents. “I don’t feel like I could’ve done much more, I was already going ten under and reacted as quick as Photo provided by Brett Palmer

Photo provided by Ryan Powers

INTER’S ORST EATHER

FEATURES|15

O O T T A T Point of View by ANNA PREUSS

Tattoos. Some use them as a way to express and inspire themselves, while others find them horrendous. Students at South are no exception. With age restrictions on this body modification, these choices must be approved by parents. Whatever the reason may be, the choice to alter one’s body through a tattoo is a very individual decision that can impact someone for a lifetime. Whether it is to honor the death of a loved one, to inspire oneself or to represent a family bond, the tattoos at South show that getting ink isn't just another mistake that one will regret.

Sarah Pettey, senior, has a very important meaning behind her tattoo. “My tattoo is four inter-linked hearts. It is to symbolize my two sisters, my dad and I, and the bond that we share,” she said. Pettey was 18 when she got her tattoo and believes that the special meaning behind it will cause her to never regret getting the ink. “My parents are divorced so it’s really just been my dad, my sisters and I. We have a really strong bond and decided to all get the same tattoo together. We always have each other’s backs. Since a tattoo is forever, it is suppose to show that our family bond will be forever,” Pettey said. Pettey says that she will never regret her tattoo because of the special meaning behind it. “It’s not like I got a tattoo of a bird just because I like birds, I got it to symbolize a bond within my family,” Pettey said.

Cole Van Tassel, senior, got his tattoo when he was 17. “I got my tattoo for Christmas actually, it means a lot to me. The meaning behind it is changing your mentality and your beliefs to become a better person. It’s a self inspiring tattoo. My parents agreed to let me get my tattoo because it has a very positive meaning behind it,” Van Tassel said. He was inspired to get his tattoo by the TV show “What Would You Do?” “In the show there was a man with a popped tire and no one would help him, finally when someone did help him it was this very kind man. He has the tattoo that I have now. The guy explained the meaning behind the tattoo and it inspired me to get the same one,” Van Tassel said.

“When I am older I will not regret my tattoo. I think when I am old and look back at it, it will remind me of how I used to be when I was younger,” senior Jaylen Randle said. Randle was 18 when he got his tattoo. It has a special meaning to him, and his mother even went with him to get it. “I don’t think having a tattoo will restrict me from jobs. I want to eventually become a rapper. I got my tattoo to honor my grandpa after he passed away.” Randal said. Randal’s ink is a tattoo of his grandfather’s birthday. “When my grandpa was getting sick I promised him that I would get a tattoo for him and he really liked the idea. I got the tattoo on his birthday after he passed away, which is Oct. 19,” Randle said.

16|EDITORIAL

hese past couple years the media has been more cultural friendly with the holiday season. The most recent blow up is the scandal with the Starbuck cups. Starbucks decided to make their cups solid red this year instead of Christmas designs. This made people infuriated, and some claimed that Starbucks is “anti-Christmas” and “anti-God.” However, Starbucks has never had a Christian based holiday cup. The most Christmassy cup they have had only featured circular shaped ornaments. Also, it is known as a Holiday cup, not a Christmas cup. By Starbucks changing their cups, they didn’t criticize Christmas but made it more accepting for all religious holidays. It is still a red, festive cup. There are more important things to freak out about. The media portrays Christianity in a poor light already and by so many people freaking out about a coffee cup, it doesn’t reflect well on the religion. We are all sensitive to how people go about the holiday season. This has lead our country to go into what is known as the “Christmas Controversy.” When is it appropriate to say Happy Holidays vs. Merry Christmas? Has the media started taking God out of Christmas? Is it offensive to celebrate Christmas culturally? I personally believe that there is a time and place for both phrases. When you are referring to the holiday season, you should say Happy Holidays due to Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and New Years all being in the general time frame. Only saying Merry Christmas eliminates the other religions during the season. However, when you are referring to the specific day of December 25, nothing should be holding people back from saying Merry Christmas. When holidays like Kwanzaa or Hanukkah come around, Jewish and African Heritage people can openly say “Happy Hanukkah/Kwanzaa” without other people getting offended. I personally would not be offended if someone made a remark like this to me because it is their religion. They can have a day to celebrate and no one should take that away from them or tell them they can’t. However, when Christmas rolls in, people freak out about the phrase, “Merry Christmas.” The media takes Christmas away because it more publicized in the nation. The truth is, in this day in age, Christmas is way more than a Christian holiday. The amount of Christians in the United States have dropped over 5 million since 2007. According to Washington Times, 96 percent of Americans still celebrate Christmas. What is interesting is that 80

by BRADY SMITH percent of non-Christians in the United States celebrate Christmas. Most Americans celebrate it even if they don’t believe in the birth of Jesus. In today’s time, when you say, “Merry Christmas,” people don’t think that you are praising God. It isn’t known as a phrase that means, “Our Savior is born!” anymore. It now means more of, “Have a good day with family and friends. Be glad.” Another important factor going into the “Christmas Controversy,” is how the media portrays the Christian faith. The media thinks that Christians are closed minded people that discriminate towards anyone that isn’t like them. To start off, the whole goal of Christianity is to be accepting and loving towards others. I personally don’t care that people celebrate Christmas and aren’t religious. If anything, it is great because it still gives them a tie and a gateway to the Christian faith. Ira Glass is an atheist that runs his own radio show called The American Life. Glass started to notice the offensive marks the media makes on Christianity. “The way that Christians are portrayed on movies and television is as these hot headed, crazy people. Whereas in my life, they are all wonderful and thoughtful people. They are generous hearted and open to all sort of people in their lives,” says Glass. Tiffany Doggett in Orange is the New Black, Amanda Bynes in Easy A, Ned Flanders from the Simpsons and Kenneth from 30 Rock are only a few of the typical crazy, Christian characters. Even though I believe in all of these ideals, I still think people can be more aware and courteous of others. We can also work on not being so sensitive. If you know someone is strongly against Christmas, address them with Happy Holidays. However, I don’t think that people should read so much into the phrase, “Merry Christmas.” 9/10 times that person will have meant it in a cultural, friendly way and not to discriminate against others. In the media, we have taken saying “Happy Holidays,” to an extreme. They have started to make it a negative term versus a phrase that represents everything the holiday season stands for. As a whole, both sides can be a little more courteous towards one another. If someone wants to celebrate their religious holiday, allow them to do so. If someone wants to celebrate a holiday without religious aspects, allow them to do so. We can all celebrate the holidays together through joy and compassion and in our own way. There is nothing wrong with someone celebrating the holidays a little differently than you.

EDITORIAL|17

Starbucks realeses red cups

Hanukkah ends

Christmas Day

Hanukkah begins

Winter Solstice

First day of Kwanzaa

Bodhi Day (Buddhist Holiday)

Christmas Eve

New Years Eve

In a @phsview student poll on twitter it was found that... students celebrate Christmas for religious purposes

of students celebrate Christmas

of students do not

students celebrate Christmas for other reasons

“The holiday of Christmas has become so removed from Christianity... Personally I am Christian, but I want everyone to be able to enjoy the holiday of Christmas so I don’t feel any need to directly connect the symbols and the shopping and all that with my faith. I can have that without needing it to be on my Starbucks cup.” - Megan Carson, Art.

Starbucksreleasesanewholidaycupeveryyearto bringtheseasontolife.However,thisyeartheirholiday cupshavebeenputinthespotlight.Theydecidedtodo asolidredcupinsteadoftheChristmasdecor.Despite thefactthatStarbucksoffersotherChristmasproducts, butsomeclaimthatthishassparkedawaronChristmas.

18|FEATURES

AnOther AdOption Three individuals celebrate the month that celebrates them all

ational Adoption Month takes the world by storm in December as over 1.5 million children in the United States celebrate the diversity of their own family

tree. Cameron Hay, sophomore, Anna Hermelink, sophomore, and Grace Anne Willey, freshman, are a few of those special individuals here at South. “I am very fortunate! I don’t think about it much, but my family is awesome. I am very lucky to have a great home and siblings,” Hermelink said. Hermelink was born in China and was given the Chinese name JingRui. At age one, Hermelink was put into an orphanage where her adoptive parents proudly traveled 7,116 miles to make her an additional member to their family. “People think that because it’s not blood, it’s a different dynamic or type of family, but that’s not it at all. It is a family. It’s not blood, it’s love. I am a Hermelink,” Hermelink said. In 2002, Hay was adopted from Bucharest, Romania with his twin brother, Caleb. At the time the Romanian government would only allow one twin to travel back with the Hay family to the United States. After much persuasion, the twins were not separated and were able to meet their new family together. “Adoption means a lot to the kid being adopted. It shows a kid he/she knows they’re loved. It’s definitely something special,” Hay said. Many adoptions remove children from dangerous situations not suitable for a family environment. It gives children a chance to live fuller lives they would benefit

“Adoption

by HAILEY DEEDS

more from. However, according to MentalHelp.net, adoption can also cause abandoned child syndrome, anxiety, flashbacks, and even depression. This can be caused due to loss of a parent, family member, or sexual abuse and can be shown physically or emotionally. “I am in a much better situation. Everyone is different on how they deal with it. Some people have harder time talking about than others,” Willey said. Adoption does not just impact the child that’s being adopted, but also the adoptive family as well. In most cases, it’s a family decision to adopt. The family of Nathan Jurries, junior, fostered their now 10-year-old daughter KK before making the decision as a family to adopting her. “It’s not only a blessing for her, but it’s a blessing for us. She brings us so much joy. If we didn’t love KK, we wouldn’t have adopted her. I had to sleep with my older sister in the same bed for a couple of years, we didn’t have enough space in our house, but we all agreed we needed her,” Jurries said. No matter where Hermelink, Hay, and Willey were adopted, how they were adopted, and the different challenges they’ve faced to get where they are now, they all have one thing in common: they belong to a family that loves them. “You get to grow up with these people and they ARE my parents. I care for them and I would never want to be separated from them,” Hermelink said. “Adoption is love.”

“ LOVE

FEATURES|19 WHY ARE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE SUPPOSED TO PROTECT US HURTING US FOR NO REASON? by ADAM FRAZIER

Recently the deaths of Eric Garner, Michael Brown, and Jeremy Mardis (all at the hands of police) and how the aftermath of their deaths was handled has revealed a new problem in the United States. Police Brutality is defined by thelawdictionary.org as the use of excessive or unnecessary force by police when dealing with civilians. Police Brutality has been brought to light recently due to the increased usage/ availability of video recording equipment. Civilians videotape the police with cell phones and the police use body cameras and dashboard cameras to film their activities. Officer Matt Westrich of the Riverside Police Department believes that some of these videos do not always show the whole situation. “The media gets ahold of a police video that does not always tell the whole story,” said Westrich. “People are only getting part of the story and assume the police are doing wrong.” However not all South students are concerned about the police after watching these videos. “I’m not really fearful,” said Isaac Henn, Freshman. “I don’t think the chances of that happening to me are that big.” Westrich is not denying however that the police do make mistakes and some officers are not cut for the job. “Some officers shouldn’t be doing the job,” said Westrich. “The officers who don’t act appropriately are punished.” Officers involved in police brutality incidents may be punished but are they punished enough? For example, the officer that choked Eric Garner to death

after Garner was selling loose cigarettes was not indicted in court. “The consequences are not the same for the police,” said Nylo Clarke, Junior. “The families of people who died haven’t gotten their justice.” Whether or not police get proper punishment for their mistakes is not entirely clear. Both police and civilians can work to prevent incidents of police brutality. “The Police need more training on how to deal with people and how to descalate situations,” said Westrich. “In Riverside, we were trained on how to protect ourselves in a manner that does not appear too invasive.” While additional training may be the key for the police, individuals need to cooperate with law enforcement. “We do not decide who is guilty and who is innocent, that is up to the courts. We just make arrests based on facts,” said Westrich, “People are encouraged to cooperate with us.” Due to recent incidents of police brutality, many civilians have been left fearful around police. Westrich maintains there is no reason to be scared. “A very small percentage of officers have skewed our image and people will always remember that,” said Westrich. “Civilians shouldn’t be scared of us.” Even though a very small percentage of police are bad, according to the Huffington Post, 22 percent of Americans are scared of the police. This number will likely increase if the number of police brutality incidents increases. Training and acceptance of the police is the only way to stop police brutality.

PROTECTING

OR HARMING?

POLICE BRUTALITY STATISTICS 1081

Americans killed by the police this year

Every 8 hours a cop kills an American citizen

Cops are indicted in less than of killings, the citizen rate of indictment is 90%

41 27

teens 14 years old or younger killed by police 1980-2012 Were black & Only 8 were white source: copcrisis.com

Police Misconduct Accusations, By Type

Out of 6,613 officers accused of misconduct in 2010 Excessive force Sexual misconduct Fraud/theft False arrest Accountability Drugs Color of Law Domestic Violence Raids/searches source: national police Assault misconduct reporting project

20|FEATURES

Secret Santa A look at the best Santa you’ve never heard of by RYAN POWERS As most students at South should know, Santa is not real. Well, at least the childhood phenomenon santa is not real. (If you didn’t know that, sorry to burst your bubble.) Random acts of kindness are in the swing of things this holiday season in KC. The jolly, kind-hearted soul of Secret Santa runs rampant through our society. A common denotation of Secret Santa is a single man that created a hierarchy of approximately 20 others santas that go around our city, Kansas City, giving out gifts such as $100 in cash all the way up to thousands of dollars. There have been personal encounters at Zona Rosa during Black Friday, as he has also given out toys to little children to keep them occupied in the lengthy, monotonous lines. Amelia Raspberry, freshman, was asked if she had an encounter with a Secret Santa before. She responded, “I have never seen the person before, but my aunt was actually given $200 by a man with a scruffy beard and a red coat with “SECRET SANTA” in big letters on the back.” Secret Santa and his prodigies set out to spread some extra holiday cheer this year. They teamed up with the KCPD and had them take advantage of their already expected duties. Santa had the officers pull people over that looked as if they were in need of some extra cash. If their car had a missing piece or a broken windshield, the officer would pull them over. After they stopped questioning why they got pulled over, the officer would pull some cash out of his pocket and hand it to the citizen. There were many different reactions from the victims, but all centered around love and joy towards the officers.

HOT CHOCOLATE STAND SHOVEL NEIGHBORS’ DRIVEWAYS WATCH PETS

HOW TO: MAKE MONEY

OVER THE

WINTER by RYAN WELTY

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS

FEATURES|21

‘Tis the season for military homecomings and happy families by JESSE STAMPER

It's the empty spot at the dinner table, it's the unopened presents, and it’s the unsaid “Merry Christmas,” that military families experience when it comes to the holidays. Christmas is often known as the “Happiest time of the year,” a holiday with gift exchange, comfort food, and most importantly having family all together. Most students at South don't think twice about being able to spend the holidays with their family members. Meanwhile, some are missing someone overseas. Junior, Sarah Komar’s dad is a Brigadier general in the Army and has been serving for 28 years. Komar explained that she has actually been lucky compared to other families. “There’s only been one time in my life when he wasn’t home for Christmas. My seventh grade year he was deployed in Afghanistan,” said Komar. “He wasn’t there to watch us open presents and the table felt really empty at Christmas dinner... It was pretty sad and unfortunately there's a lot of military kids who have to have most Christmases like that.” Whether soldiers are fighting for America and freedom, on base halfway across the world, or just could not get leave to come home for the holidays their families have a heavy heart and empty feeling. Brandan Fitzgerald, senior, has a brother who is a captain in the army who has been serving in the military for nine years.

The longest Fitzgerald has gone without seeing his brother is one year, when he was stationed in Iraq. “It was kind of a scary time but luckily we were able to skype with him,” said Fitzgerald. Komar and Fitzgerald both felt that students without military families took certain things for granted. Komar described, “Kids take for granted having their parents’ home and safe.” Imagine only ever being able to see your family member every few months, thinking that it could possibly be the last time. “You never know when your loved one could be sent off to duty in a dangerous area, to have them in a war environment thousands of miles overseas… if they aren't home at a certain time then there is no room for hope,” said Fitzgerald. Being in a military family could not only affect your emotional security, but it could also define your childhood and how you grow up. “People who aren’t military take for granted the ability to grow up in one place and go to school, church, etc. with the same people your whole childhood… having to make new friends and going to a new school is really hard on a kid,” said Komar. This Christmas, thank a military member or be grateful for the privilege of being able to spend Christmas with all of your loved ones.

“KIDS TAKE FOR GRANTED HAVING THEIR PARENTS HOME AND SAFE.”

22|OPINION

FLIPSIDE EDISPILF ‘Tis the season for gift giving

One of the major downfalls of having a relationship in high school is having to buy presents for your boyfriend or girlfriend, who you don’t even know if you’re going to be with a week after Christmas. But yet, it’s something all of you in relationships have to do at some point or another. Some main things you have to know before buying anybody a present is how much you spend on each other. Nobody wants to show up with a pair of $3 socks while the other person dropped 60 bucks on some name brand shirt. So the best way to avoid this is to have the incredibly awkward, but necessary conversation of setting a price limit. A common mistake that girls make when a guy asks them what they want for Christmas is saying nothing, when you both know it’s a lie. When the day comes to exchange gifts and he actually didn’t get you anything, you don’t have a right to be angry considering it’s your own fault. Then there are girls who are the complete opposite of that and expect way too much. These are the type of girls who get their hopes up because of some tweet from @ couples_goals that got them thinking it would be normal for them to expect a $200, or more, Tiffany & co. necklace from their boyfriend/ girlfriend. Just remember that they may “make bank” at whatever minimum wage job they have, but it doesn’t mean they want to spend a whole paycheck on their girlfriend of two months. So don’t set your expectations too high. Part of getting presents is giving them in return, and shopping for someone else can be tricky. When buying presents in a relationship, you want it to be sentimental and something they can use. Instead of taking the easy way and getting them something they already have, pay attention to their likes and dislikes and give them something that’s out of the box. But if you are at a complete loss, there is no shame in just asking him what he wants. So the moral of the story when it comes to gift giving with your boyfriend or girlfriend is to be thankful for whatever you receive. Because someone going out of their way to buy something for you is a gift in itself.

by EMILY DITTO

Christmas is coming up and that means it’s decision time. I want every guy reading this to ask themselves if she’s even worth an expensive gift. I’m sure your girlfriend matters to you, but does she matter enough to spend 80 bucks? If you answered no, more power to you. I wish I was bold enough to make the same move you get to make. Now for the rest of us who are going to bite the bullet and drop the dough for our girl, you’ll need to make sure you make the right purchase. Here’s the deal. When it comes to gift giving, you need to make sure you know what you’re doing. The last thing you need is to be attacked because your present wasn’t good enough. A specialty of girls is making the guy feel bad for a simple mistake, and if there’s any way you can avoid that type of situation, do it. An easy way to keep yourself out of trouble with gift exchange is to have good communication. If you set some ground rules on what price range you both want to stay in you can avoid lots of issues. Don’t let her be the one to decide what to spend either, be prepared to stand your ground on what kind of money you are willing to throw. Now, keep in mind your girlfriend will want some overly expensive, trendy, designer something-or-another so be prepared to pay decent money. If you aren’t rolling around in piles of cash, you will want to budget for the gift. Your girl knows exactly what you spend your money on, so if your excuse for not having a gift is “I didn’t have enough money” be prepared for her to say something along the lines of “So you will go spend all your money on other things but don’t care enough to get me one simple gift?” That’s one conversation no guy needs to have. The one positive to having to buy something for your girl is that she has to buy something for you. Don’t be shy and say you don’t want anything special, because we all know that’s a lie. We all love receiving a great present, so make her go through the struggle (just like you’re having to) to find the perfect gift. Now it’s time to make your move. Whether you are going to buy her a gift or not, you still need to prepare yourself. The guys not buying anything at all should be ready for some sort of negative reaction from their girl. The rest of us need to start thinking about what we are going to get her, and how much we want to spend. Either way, good luck (you’ll probably need it).

by SPENCER DENNEY

Don’t Settle For a

boring break

by SYDNEY LOWE

stay

COZY BY THE FIRE Try out new recipes

check pinterest for interesting or easy recipes, test out some holiday desserts.

DIY your Christmas presents

make a tie blanket, picture collage/scrapbook, or some other type of craft. The best gifts are handmade and they’re pretty cheap too.

Movie Marathon

watch all the holiday movies you can find, or start a new series on Netflix or Hulu, lots of good, new shows started this fall.

Throw a winter party

have a bonfire or keep the party indoors, you can even make it holiday themed-your new dessert recipes will come in handy.

FEATURES|23

Huffington Post just named Kansas City one of the coolest cities in America, so before you go complaining about how there is nothing to do in KC over break, check out these possibilities.

things to DO

places to

Om Prana Yoga

BREAKFAST First Watch NKC

Downtown Parkville Stay fit over the break by trying out new workout classes.

Dare to Dabble

NKC If you aren’t artsy enough to make your gifts at home, try an art studio.

Crown Center Ice Terrace

Ice skate while admiring the holiday decor.

EAT

LUNCH Beer Kitchen Westport

DINNER Pizzabella Crossroads, Port Fonda Westport

DESSERT Cookie Dough Cafe Overland Park

Get some DEALS Stores will be having major sales before and after the holidays. Brave the cold at Zona Rosa, the Legends, or the Plaza, OR stay warm at Oak Park Mall. Check page 20 for ways to make money over break.

24|OPINION

5 1

THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND WHEN BUYING GIFTS

places to shop 5 BELOW price range: below $5 open: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. carries:assortmentofeverything,fromclothestofood to toys

BATH AND BODY WORKS

price range: $6-$22 per open: 10 am to 9 pm carries: candles, lotion, perfume, soap, bath gel

HOBBY LOBBY

prices range:5$-30$ open: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. carries: supplies for many Do It Yourself projects

TARGET

prices range: 1$-200$ open: 8 am to 10 pm carries:food,toys,clothing,cosmeticsandelectronics

by Allie Hickey

Keep an appropriate price range in mind. Depending on how well you know the personspend a good amount of money.

Think about who you’re buying for. Think about their likes and dislikes.

Give the gift at an appropriate time, Not too early,and definitely not too late.

Make the gift meaningful. Don’t get lazy and give them something you know they’ll never use.

DIY man gift snow

by Brady Smith

steps: 1. ingredients: fill mason jars fabric for hat, scarf, and nose

mints

googly eyes and buttons

with mints, marshmallows, and cocoa

3 short masen jars

cocoa

marshmallow

attach accessories to make it unique!

photos by IZZY PIEPER & MORGAN GREER

Don’t regift OR give someone a gift you know they already have. Make it unique.

People will love their hot cocoa snowman!

hot glue each jar together

OPINION|25

GAMES

Pigs in a blanket wreath

CARDS AGAINST HUMANITY

-A party game for horrible people. Unlike most of the party games you’ve played before, Cards Against Humanity is as despicable and awkward as you and your friends. The game is simple.

Tradtional American weenies wrapped in dough, shaped into a wreath to cook in the oven and mold into a nice Holiday decoration.

HIDE THE PICKLE IN THE TREE

-A decoration in the shape of a pickle is hidden on a Christmas tree, with the finder receiving either a reward or good fortune for the following year.

Grinch poppers

RECIPIES

CARD GAMES

-Card games are always a good way to bring people together and a good way to pass by time.

GIFT EXCHANGE

All you need for these

cute little snacks are grapes, strawberries, a cut up banana, and small marshmallows... along with a tooth pick and you are all set to go!

White Elephant a possession that is

Melted snowmen cookies

useless or troublesome, especially one that is expensivie to maintan or difficult to expose of. And then you have a gift exchange to get rid of these items.

Secret SantA A tradition in which

Make a sugar cookie, than all you need is white icing and other colors to make your melted snowman come to life! Don’t forget the marshmallow as the head.

members of a group or community are randomly assigned a person to whom they anonymously gift.

T Y P

OW TO: OLIDAY PARTY

C A L

“Someone fights and people leave early,” said Chandler Hedrick, Junior.

by MORGAN GREER

“My grandpa and I will normally make his famous cheesecake, not just any cheesecake but all sorts; butterfinger, pineapple, etc. We do this every holiday together. Since in my family, holidays are all about tradtions,” said Madison Guerra, Junior.

E N V E

“Everybody is a lot happier and more cheerful than usual, so we get along better than normal,” said Justin Thompson, Junior.

T S

26|INDEPTH

indepth a special six-page multimedia section created by the fall intro to journalism class

SINGLE BELL ROCK

JUST DANCE

STUDENTS VS. SLEEP

PURRFECT PETS

SANTA SPIRIT

A look into relationships, or a lack thereof, and the benefits of being single this time of year.

Students comment on the biggest dance moves of 2015, plus how they got to be so popular.

School, work, homework and outside activities battle with time for sleep for so many students.

From dogs and cats to snakes and birds, pets provide comfort, friendship and laughter to their owners.

A long-lasting faith in Santa lives on in students, even after they have learned the truth.â&#x20AC;?

SINGLE bell

INDEPTH|27

By: Julia Ponko

rock

by JULIA PONKO Savannah Beck, Senior, and Ian Cassity, Junior, get cozy in a restuarant leaving their friend Colin to take on the single booth. photo by KELLY BARR

t’s getting to that time of the year again. That time Being single also gives you time to soak up the where pictures of couples ice-skating or going on beautiful city with your friends. coffee dates are flooding Instagram, boys in pressed “I have the time to explore the city and go on shirts are kissing girls adorned in glittering dresses adventures without worrying about someone else being under the mistletoe, and your family keeps asking why mad that they are not there,” said Kyle Sims, senior. you’re single. Lastly, some people don’t want to deal with the The perks of being single can get easily heartbreak of eventually leaving each other. overshadowed by the Dominika Specht, a foreign SINGLE OR IN A RELATIONSHIP? glamorization of relationships. exchange student, said that she So kiss your dog under the is happy that she is single so she by KAMEA mistletoe and treat yourself wouldn’t have miss him while in SAN AGUSTIN to coffee with friends because the United States this year. Others singleness is a gift that you agree with Specht. SINGLE RELATIONSHIP should cherish while you’re “I’m going off the college in young. a few months and I don’t want There are many benefits of to spend my last couple months 45% Prefer to be single 55% Prefer to be in a relationship being single. Some people prefer here in a relationship, because to be single so you don’t feel we’re probably going to end pressured to spend your time up breaking up anyways,” said with only one person. Christianson. “I love being single,” said With all of these benefits Kelsey Christianson, senior. “If of being single, there are still you’re single you don’t have to benefits of being in a relationship. worry about hanging out with “You will always have the same person all the time. I’m someone to talk your feelings not saying that’s a bad thing, out with and the affection is nice but I like hanging out with every once in awhile,” said Weir. BENEFITS OF BEING SINGLE BENEFITS OF BEING IN A RELATIONSHIP groups of my friends and some Being in a relationship You get time to build a better you guys want to be alone with you provides another person who You don’t become the third wheel You can do what you want, when you all the time,” should always be there for you, Cuddles want There can also be stress no matter how crazy your life is. You don’t have to worry about anyone He/She buys your food that comes along with the “You always have someone cheating on you management of time. There is a to rely on and support you and You can change your status to ‘‘In A RelaYou don’t have to spend money on tionship’’ on Facebook fine balance of spending time go on adventures with and have someone else with your significant other, and someone who you can be 100 Cute photos can be taken You’re able to flirt around blowing off your friends. percent comfortable around,” said “Sometimes it’s hard to Savannah Beck, senior. manage your time equally with your friends and the Whether you decide to be in a relationship or single other person. It can become stressful from time to time during this holiday season, there is value in both and when friends have plans made and your boyfriend / that is a decision that only you should make. girlfriend has other plans in mind for the night,” said “Being in a relationship is alright, but I’d much Anna Weir, senior. rather be single,” said Sims. “Life is so much more fun Another benefit of being single is having the ability for me.” to spend time doing other things that are sometimes more important and will benefit you in the long run. SCAN HERE TO: “Being single gives me the opportunity to focus more Read Emilia Fernandez’s story on my studies,” said Bryann Carrillo, freshman. For others, they have time to do things that are a “First, Deal with Yourself” & luxury. Watch Anne Price’s video “I have time to play Fallout 4,” said Caleb Seymour, senior. “How to Swerve”

Just2015 Dance: EDITION

28|INDEPTH

f you’re one who enjoys getting down and groovy, then this story is a must read. For those who have any form of social media, you’ve most likely seen the trending dance moves that fill timelines for weeks on end. It seems like a new song and complimentary dance come out every other week. There are almost too many to keep track of. Like any other social media subject, there’s controversy. Some people agree with the trends. “Me and my team, PVO Gang, I mean we’re very good at dancing, all of us. We do [trending dance moves] very frequently and I don’t see any problem with it,” said Adam Frazier, Junior. While Frazier and PVO Gang may like these dances, people like Spencer Denney, junior, have something else to say. “I just think in general they should

all go away. They’re overused and get very annoying on social media. Even for the people who can do the moves pretty well, I’d just rather they not. People who can’t do it should probably just stick to not doing it,” said Denney. One trending dance was “Hit the Quan”. It’s actually named after the song

ones. Which is better because it’s not just one move and done,” said Kaitlyn Roos, Junior. Another dance is the Whip/NaeNae. This originated from the song “Watch Me” by Silentò. Whipping involves throwing your arm down from your shoulder. In the song, Silentò repeatedly says “watch me Whip, watch me NaeNae”. “I like the whip because people can really get into it, and they hit it really intensely. It’s so simple whereas the Quan is just too complicated,” said Denney. The final dance is the the recent “Dab”. This comes from the song “Pipe It Up” by Migos. The dance includes putting your face into your arm and raising the the other arm in the air. In the song Migos repeatedly says Dab in the background of the chorus. “The ‘Dab’ is definitely my favorite but it’s so easy and can be done at a moment’s notice without feeling awkward,” said Frazier. Although there are other dances, such as “Flick of The Wrist” and “Break you Legs”, this article would never end if it covered all the dance moves. Whether or not you participate in these trending dance moves, they’re not going to stop popping up your timeline.

I like the whip because people can really get into it “Hit the Quan” by ILoveMemphis. The dance involves getting low and rotating your arm slowly. The song and song lyrics are actually preaching about “hitting The Quan,”. “Hit the Quan is my favorite because Grace Cunningham does it really good. And because you can really get into it. It’s really long compared to the other

WHAT DANCE DO YOU PREFER?

Dominick Scudiero hits the “dab” to the song Jumpman. The “dab” is a recent dance move that’s taken the world by storm. “The only reason I do it is because it’s popular,” said Scudiero.

Scan here to read web story and watch video News Story by ZACH NAY Web Story by JOSEE GENTRY Photos by RAQUEL REID Video by BEN BECKER Infographic by TRIPP PARSONS

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t’s no surprise that students are constantly complaining about how school does not give them enough sleep. Homework, combined with early wake up time. But what about sleep makes them upset? What are the effects of not getting enough sleep on students, and what do the students feel about sleep? First it needs to be clear what sleep does to the body. Sleep Foundation states in a study that sleep is needed of repairing muscles, tissue , and other things. It also is a time that memories are sorted, helping us think better. So what happens if you don’t get enough sleep? First, according to Cleveland Clinic, Teenagers 14-17 need 8-10 hours of sleep. Some short term problems of not getting enough sleep is lack of alertness, bad memory, becoming moody, less likelihood to do less daily tasks, and a higher likelihood of getting in car crashes. Students at South shared their thoughts on how they feel when they wake up after a night of sleep. Caleb Seymour (senior) said that he does not feel he does not get enough sleep, due to being to busy, sometimes due to homework. He stated that he feels “exhausted on weekdays, but pretty well rested on weekends” Trey Toirer (Sophomore) said that in the morning on a weekday he needs one thing to help him wake up. He said, “I feel pretty tired, after a coffee I’m fine.” He said that during a school day he feels fine,

different then Seymour. While during a weekend day he feels “pretty happy and energetic.” So weekends and sleep could increase good mood. Lastly Kevin Nevins, a freshman stated, “Yes, I do get enough sleep, because I go to bed on time.” He said that during a week day still, he feels tired at school. On the weekend he feels “tired a little bit” due to staying up, but energized and awake during the day. Sleep somewhat affects the students moods, and is needed for basic functions, and is needed for performance in school. Students also stated that it affects their mood as well, just like the studies have found. So if you think you get enough sleep or not it’s no surprise that students have the right to complain how they feel about sleep.

“I am exhausted on weekdays, but pretty well rested on weekends.”

65 percent of students don’t get enough sleep on a regular basis

Students vs. Sleep School, work and outside activities compete with time for sleep

Scan here to read a story by ALEX RODRIGUEZ and watch a video by NOAH BRIZENDINE

NoahBrizendinesleepspeacefullyafteraroughdayofschoolwork.“Ialwaysliketo study before bed, It makes me tired so I can fall sleep easier,” he said.

Story by DUKE MADDOX Photos by JOE LELUGA Infographic by NOAH BRIZENDINE

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Pretty

PurrfectPets

Pets provide comfort, laughter and friendship to their owners

air all over their clothes, an infinite number of pictures of their “lil’ cutie” on their phone and a huge love for animals; all signs indicate they are a pet owner. Pets are the perfect best friend: they don’t judge, always provide entertainment and can be the most loyal friend an owner can have. Natalie Masters, sophomore, has a Shih Tzu named Holly. Masters said, “She’s always like greeting me when I get home. She always seems happy and she’s really cute.” Although pets can be extremely cute, they can also cause some problems for their owners. Mckenzi Huff, sophomore, is the owner of Boxador named Lucy. Huff said that Lucy recently ate her phone charger and has caused a lot of fights in her house about “who let Lucy eat that.” Lauren Bryant, junior, is the owner of six dogs, two guinea pigs and a snake. Bryant said, “They shed everywhere! I don’t like that at all, I can’t wear any black clothes.” Even with all the trouble they can cause, most owners think having a pet is worth it. Bryant said when she was younger she lived on a farm and had nine dogs, then went through a time when she didn’t have any pets. “I felt like a part of me was missing,” said Bryant. Without pets, many people miss the comfort and

“I felt like a part of me was missing,” said Bryant.

Morgan Greenfield, junior, and her pets, Lillie, Selvester and Charlie pose for a family pic after struggling to get everyone to stay put. Greenfield wants to be veterinarian when she is older.

entertainment pets can give. Masters said that sometimes she “makes it rain” on her dog, Holly, by throwing money in the air above her. Masters said, “It looks really funny and I think she likes it.” No matter how big or small they are, pets play an important part in people’s lives and can be one of their best friends.

WHAT KIND OF PETS DO YOU HAVE? 85

Dog

Cat

Rodents

Reptiles

Fish

Others

No Pets

22 = 10

WANT MORE PETS? Go to phsview.com to check out our article and video on more pet related topics.

Georgia Clarke, freshman, picked up her dog Harley when she got too excited after seeing leaves for the first time. Harley had been running around in circles chasing leaves.

Suzanne Brown, junior, plays with her poodle with the unique name of D’Artagnan. “He’s a French Poodle so my parents thought the name seemed very fitting,” said Brown.

page by DELANEY BARNICLE ,EMMA BEUERLEIN, LEXI FRIEDERS, NICOLE GARDNER and JULIA VAP

Santa

Spirit

A Faith in Santa lives on in students no matter age

Dark rooms but bright lights illuminate Alex Korther’s living room, even though it’s early people are stil showing their Christmas Spirit photo by ALEX KARTHER

Favorite Christmas Movie

Elf: 88

Home Alone: 65

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ith Christmas around the corner, people are pulling out their ornaments and stockings, buying eggnog and Christmas trees, and turning on their Christmas music to get into the holiday spirit. Though most have stopped believing in Santa, a majority still have faith in him, because to a lot people, he is what Christmas is all about, coming down the chimney and delivering presents. So if people still have faith in him, what does he mean to them? “I kind of like him,” said Jaelyn Grigsby, freshman. Grigsby believes that Santa is a big, happy guy who comes to his house every year. Though he doesn’t know what he wants for Christmas, he would like to meet one day a Royals player. To him, you have to earn the privilege to meet Santa. Meg Fausz, freshman, said she thinks that Santa was created so people of all religions would have something to believe in and celebrate, no matter what religion you are with. To her, he represents a childhood figure. “He’s just a big person full of joy... a really big person filled with a lot of joy,” said Fausz. According to Eli Guzman, sophomore, Santa represents “all the joy and good things”, because he is the symbol of Christmas. “I think it’s like a hope for chiwldren and like to have them believe in magic, and that anything is possible,” said Julia Stephens, freshman. To Guzman, if Santa was/is real, he would be happy, jolly, and would be spending all his time making other people happy. Aidan Espinosa, freshman, used to dress up as Santa and go to his baby sister’s gym to visit the little kids. “It’s a dude who’s so nice that he goes around and gives good children presents,” said Espinosa Espinosa believed that St. Nick was the symbol of childhood happiness, and that if he was weird, he would be like “that creepy weird uncle who’s super nice, and just a little awkward.” “It was fun because they’re, you know, tiny kids, and you know, their eyes light up, and some of them.. are real scared of you… especially with the fake beard,” said Espinosa. Mr. Barber, a substitute in the Park Hill School District, also works as a local mall Santa during the holidays, and he takes his job very seriously. When he catches a student being good, he gives them a card with him dressed as Santa that says, “You Have Been Caught Being Good”. “I would think for kids it would mean you know, no matter how bad you messed up, you can always have a do over, and you can always be forgiven for stuff that you’ve done,” said Barber. To him, Santa is understanding, jolly, and wouldn’t hold a grudge. He is the innocence of childhood, and the fact that he gets to dress up every year to make their day, makes Barber happy. “Oh excellent, it’s just a wonderful feeling, it’s wonderful, kids just love it, and I love it, too,” said Barber. So as people are decorating their trees, drinking their egg nog and putting up their stockings, they all keep their

uplifted faith in their old childhood friend.

by NOELLE ALVIZ-GRANSEE The Grinch: 32

by EMMETT COUTS

Christmas Vacation: 42

Rudolph: 14

*Out of 241 votes total

Scan here to view Josh Khan’s web article and Tate Summa’s Christmas video

holiday

mad libs

The object of the game is to produce something that sounds totally ridiculous, so don’t give yourself a headache searching for hidden truths. Ask a friend for a word that fills in each of the blank spaces using the description below each blank. Think yours is great? Bring it to C200 before 4th block today and check Twitter @phsview for the top 3 by 3 p.m. Winners will get a surprise Holiday Gift!

‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the _________ place Not a ___________ was stirring, not even a ___________. creature animal The ____________ were hung by the ____________ with care, place in hopes that ___________ soon would be there. famous person

The ____________ were nestled all snug in their __________, group of people noun While visions of ____________ dances in their __________. food item place And ________ in his/her kerchief and I in my ___________, person clothing item Had just settled __________ for a long winter’s nap. direction

The _________ on the breast of the new-fallen _________ noun noun Gave a lustre of _________ to objects below. time of day When, what to my wondering _______ should appear, body part but a miniature _________ and eight tiny reindeer. vehicle

“Now _______! Now __________! Now _________ and _________! name name name name On _________ On __________ on __________ and ___________! name name name name To the top of the _________! To the top of the _________! name Now dash away, dash away, dash away all!” He was dressed in all ________, from his ______ to his _______, color body part body part And his clothes were all tarnished with ________ and ______. noun noun A bundle of _________ he had flung on his back, noun And he looked like a __________ just opening his pack. creature

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his ________ noun And filled all the _________, then turned with a _________. noun verb And laying his ________ on the side of his _______, noun body part and giving a nod, up the __________ he rose! noun

He sprang to his ________, to his team gave a whistle, body part And away they all flew like the down of a _________. noun But I heard him ______, ‘ere he drove out of sight, verb “Happy Christmas to all and to all a ______ night!” adjective

Name ________________ Twitter ________________ Grade _________________