Lance Issue 1 by The Lance

NEW YEAR; NEW DIRECTION Check out the Lance’s coverage of all things new at Westside.

lance FRIDAy chants THE

8701 Pacific St. Omaha, NE 68114

Volume 58 Issue 1

Senior’s enthusiasm drives new show of spirit

By Emma johanningsmeier EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

build up and celebrate the excitement for various

Senior Amir Khan spends mod 6/7 every Friday leaves Personal Finance and heads to the Landing.

students either participating

‘‘

While students in AP U.S. History large group in the nearby lecture hall

‘‘

lead the Landing in a cheer. Not an isolated cheer

Why do I do it? Because I want to show people how my enthusiasm goes everywhere. plus, I love to give out spirit. Amir Khan friday chant leader

most school spirit.

him to be front and center in front of everybody in the part of the everyday school. and it gets everybody excited everything.” Khan traces the idea to and some of his friends came into the landing

turned out to be really good at leading chants. continued on page 2

Senior Amir Khan chants in the courtyard after mod 6/7 on Friday, Aug. 30. Khan leads weekly chants to encourage school spirit among students. Photo by Ally Stark

COURAGE Westside victory follows vandalism of memorial rock By AREN RENDELL EDITOR-IN-CHIEF for motivation in practice and during the game.

administration has not found the perpetrators. graduate from high school.” routine before a game.

The administration is still hopeful the culprit

Senior Brady Novak prepares for the first quarter at the Prep vs. Westside game on Friday, Sept 6. Warriors won 14-7, making their record for this season 2-0. Photo by Sarah Lemke

continued on page 2

2 Sept. 13, 2013

News

MINORITY STAFF

Westside High School staff lacking in diversity BY KELLIE WASIKOWSKI DESIGN EDITOR

The

FACTS

‘‘

We want the best teachers that we can get at westside high school. If you’re going to increase learning, engage students, set high expectations, that Is what’s important to us. PRincipal Maryanne Ricketts

68%

15%

47% -

The “Courage” rock looks as good as new Tuesday, Sept. 10 after it had been cleaned by the custodial staff. The rock is in honor of Liz Karnes Photo by Ally

CHANTS: Khan leads weekly event continued from page 1

The

FACTS VANDALISM: Prep players bring donation for Liz’s Legacy continued from page 1

the Lance -

Sept. 13, 2013 3

news

Zegelis

New journalism adviser brings energy, enthusiasm By ALLIE LAING DESIGN EDITOR To his students, Jerred Zegelis is known as Mr. Z, or simply Z. This unique moniker hardly communicates his actual demeanor. This is a new journalism teacher who keeps a Nintendo Wii at his desk, has comic book posters layered on his ofthe aisle. Jessica Hash graduated from Benson High School in 2006. In 2002, Z was her photography class. Hash joined high school newspaper and yearbook publications. “Mr. Zegelis was always really outgoing and in such a great mood,” Hash said. “He was willing to help everyone and wanted people to be successful. If you needed any help, you could go to him for anything. Compared to everyone else, you could tell he cared a lot.” relationships with his students, students began looking at him as a friend, as well as an instructor. Hash formed a great relationship with Z, and, when it came time for her to get married, she asked him to walk her down the aisle. bat we got along. My senior year I went through through it all, which is why I asked him to be the one to walk me down the aisle.” with the students he teaches in journalism. By doing so, he is supportive of their goals. “I just want to get to know everyone, and help them out in their lives as much as I can,” Z said. “If they want to be a journalist, I want to help them accomplish that goal. If they want to be a race car to help them succeed.” Students who have gotten to know Z through the journalism program here at Westside say he brings a positive and exciting attitude and outlook to journalism at our school. Sophomore Jaylee Johnson, who is enrolled in Mass Communications, a prerequisite class for

any journalism publication other than WTV and Westside Wired, had good things to say about Z. “I think Mr. Z is an awesome addition to our school,” Johnson said. “He always has such a great attitude, and is an excellent teacher that always makes the class interesting.” Even though the students are all excited to have Z as their new journalism adviser, taking over for Nebraska journalism icon Rod Howe will be intimidating. Howe, who is going to receive the nalism convention in Boston, was the journalism adviser at Westside for 23 years, and left his mark around the state and country. After years of experience, Howe was excited to pass the job down to Z. “I knew Mr. Zegelis would be able to maintain the program we have worked hard to achieve,” Howe said. “He had such great energy and enthusiasm. He has such a connection to students, and I was immediately impressed by how well he tors and curriculum people, and they said he is the hardest worker out of the faculty.” Throughout the interview process, Z met with the assistant superintendent for a one-on-one meeting. He then met with Principal Maryanne and Athletic Director Tom Kerkman. They asked him questions about his previous experiences. Z had to teach them a lesson plan, and decided to present his forte, photography. Howe was instrumental in the process. “I played an advisory role and helped with the interview questions,” Howe said. “The decision was ultimately up to Mrs. Ricketts, but I knew he

relationships formed with my students. He actually started tearing up, which made me tear up, so that shows what kind of guy Rod is. He wins all these awards, but yet his primary concern was the lives of his students. So him putting out such a

Journalism adviser Jerred Zegelis poses in the journalism office. Photo by Ally Stark

own individual strengths.”

and I would feel more than comfortable with him taking over the program.” proval, Zegelis knew the standard he had to maintain in taking over for Howe. “Mr. Howe is awesome,” Zegelis said. “He was part of my interview process, so I think he played a role in my hiring. He was positive from the mo-

ished, producing Journalism State Championship winning publications. Zegelis has plans to take the journalism department to the next level, and to help the program receive the recognition it strives for. “My ultimate goal is to get more convergence with all the publications,” Zegelis said. “I no longer want it to be newspaper, magazine, WTV, and Wired. I want Westside journalism to move forward as a whole and work under one umbrella, rather than separate publications. Right now, almost every single professional journalist needs to know how to do it all, write, design, take pictures, or record audio. Today holds a new mold of jour-

step of the way. The cool thing about Mr. Howe

major change that will come with time.”

Olivia Beier and Laurel Oetken

Roses are red, Violets are blue, Will you go to homecoming with us?

love,

Aren Rendell and Connor Flairty

4 Sept. 13, 2013

News

Parking lottery, despite rumors, seems objective BY EMMA JOHANNINGSMEIER EDITOR-IN-chiEf

So this year, the Lance

there’s no trend in who was most likely to win a

lottery late in September if there are any extra

Secretary Linda Stroud and Dean Aaron Bredenkamp draw the winners of the annual junior parking lottery Friday, Aug 30. The 55 students drawn have the opportunity to get parking passes for $25 if they turn in required forms and pay for past parking tickets, Photo by Estella Fox

the friend told him to talk to one of the football

GLITCH IN THE PLAN

First week disrupted by laptop issues, but tech support catches up By CONNOR FLAIRTY NEWS EDITOR

For the first two weeks of school, students were not able to log into their laptop accounts at home. They were required to log in to a new account, called “student,” at home. Tech support eventually fixed the issue. Photo by Sarah Lemke

Sept. 13, 2013 5

feature

POTTERY

Westside students and alum start business BY GRACE FOGLAND FEATURE EDITOR Their business started June of this year after they were inspired by the classes they took at ing 1, as a junior and found that he wanted to be an entrepreneur. It was his idea to start the company

a woodworking shop, so it was really dusty and dirty. We spent a lot of time cleaning it up before To start their business, the three bought two pottery kilns, a wheel, a sand-glassing cabinet, it up equally.

Thariani, to be a part of the business. “I saw the artistic potential in Samir and Miin their class, and I saw it as an opportunity to

what color the customer wants or what is popular. Then the piece is put online through Etsy to display, and then taken to the art shows where people

chael, it was Pottery I in freshman year that congrade after a teacher recommended it, and he became a prodigy. iani said. “As a kid, I liked the idea that I could

They usually meet together as a company once

space to set up a table. Michael said. “Some of the money we make from art fairs helps pay for clay, but right now, we’re

While Thariani and Michael are the artists of and maintains social media.

Twisting Tree Pottery sells items that are functional. This includes spoon rests, pitchers and plates. The artists usually make two pieces a day, each piece taking about one-and-a-half to two

like stepping into the leadership position, and I’m learning as much as I can about the industry

“I get my inspiration from online and other art-

While starting a company with a sibling might

someday make their business into a pottery shop where they can rent out studio space, teach lessons and sell pottery. ing on getting a website up, but it’s hard because

Twisting Tree Pottery has helped all of them company also needed a workshop which came in

chael said. “Because we are brothers through, we

ness, while Michael and Thariani want to continue creating pottery after college. “Pottery is a dying form, but I will always want

Top: Twisting tree pottery is displayed in the company’s workshop. Bottom: Westside graduate Michael Livingston and Senior Samir Thariani pose for a photo with some of the pottery they have created. Since their businesses’ creation in June, they have shown artwork at many local art fairs. Photos courtesy of Randy Edwards Photography

“After my grandpa died, we wanted to make a

2013 GRADUATES: Where are they now? By Tom Schueneman MANAGING EDITOR As with most new school years, returning students will notice a whole host of changes from previous years. Though for many students, particularly upperclassman, the novelty of a few new teachers and some new carpet pales in comparison to the conspicuous absence of last year’s seniors. Classmates are arguably life, and certainly those who have been at Westside the longest would seem among the most permanent. The yearly arrival of new freshman and departure of old seniors is without doubt the the changing of the calendar, and are particularly jarring for those students directly involved in it. Younger readers would do well to take a look at this issues opinion section, but what of last year’s seniors? The dissonance between high school and college or adult life must be at least as wide as that between middle school and high school, and it’s this dissonance that The Lance

strictions on how they could communicate with other groups Fletcher’s former classmate Maddie Ryan, currently a more unique curriculum, which she has designed herself. community.

How are last years seniors adapting to their new surroundcollege, it’s going quite well. While the jump between high school and college is no doubt a tire education preparing for. Westside graduate and UNO freshman Zane Fletcher has found that the format of many of his college classes is reminiscent of his Westside curriculum. “My astronomy lab is just like a large group. There’s really no Graduate Zane Fletcher shows off his dorm room at UNO’s new Mavrick Village Sept. 10. Fletcher is currently enrolled in six classes including Astronmy and Debate. Photo by Sarah Lemke

to designed to teach abstract concepts. Fletcher described Argumentation and Debate as his “most

same building. with three roommates, though, Fletcher has found, that he is far more independent now than he was in high school. unseen tendencies such as cleanliness and less procrastinarience. College freshman may be continuing in the familiar world of academics, but they are still stepping into the alien world of adulthood.

6 Sept. 13, 2013 the

OPINION

lance

The Lance is a schoolsponsored publication of Westside High School, Westside Community Schools, 8701

The paper is distributed every month to all students, Subscription rates to others printed by White Wolf Web, in Advertising rates are availright to edit all ads for clarity not to publish any ads that are libelous or that contain nonalso reserves the right to nullify contracts at any time without also refuses ads that promote activities illegal to a majority of Reader response is welcomed in the form of letters to the author and sent to room editors will decide whether to reserves the right to edit letters for clarity and grammatical reserves the right to not publish any letters that are libelous or that contain non-factual The Lance is a member

photo illustration by lia hagen

VANDALISM

Press Association and the Quill

Sports can bring out worst, best in fans

nizes that the administration of Westside Community Schools controls the curriculum and, thus, sets the parameters of the production process of school

matter how the popularity of the sport changes however, one thing that can

Press Association, the Columbia Scholastic Press Associa-

this situation would have been that much worse, and had Westside lost the

also recognizes its own responsibilities to inform, enlighten and entertain its readers in a

students felt the day of the game, but had students wanted to act on their

of journalism, morals and hanningsmeier, Aren Rendell;

Tom Schueneman; Business Manager Tom Huerter; Design -

of individuals, and yet it has dominated conversation at two schools for the sports that can inspire the sort of passion that borders at times on the crimiinfuriated by the incident or wondered why it was such a big deal, it captured

What excites you

I’m always excited to get to know my students. Amanda Freitag teacher

about the new school year?

I’m excited to see what I’m excited for the home- I’m excited to try all my all the seniors do with work. Gotta love it! new classes. their lives after high Sky Ricceri Sam Frankel school. junior sophomore Eden Ginsberg senior

Sept. 13, 2013 7

Opinion SLUT SHAMING: sexist bullying contaminates Westside’s halls, society Walking through certain kind of presshe feels others’ eyes. silently criticizing; leering glances from boys subconsciously LIA HAGEN deciding whether or not they would hit COPY Editor that. Bouncers prowl the hallways to ensure her skirt isn’t that crucial millimeter shorter than everyone else’s. now open for judgment in whatever way they That’s when the names start. have heard it. As much as we might wish oth-

graphic by lia hagen

SURVIVAL GUIDE: freshmen, listen up Do I sit with my friends from middle school? I’m lost. Where do I go to hang out or eat lunch? What the heck am I doing here? These are just a few questions on the minds of freshmen and new students on the

classroom. Then if you walk downstairs to the English rooms the English IMC is on the right. The English IMC is where all of the freshmen like to hang out. It is important to know where the IMC’s are located so you can meet with teachers and friends. If you do have open mods (which you probably do) you need late work too. If you use your time wisely then you will get done

women for what they choose to do with their women are judged for things their male counterparts never are.

have thought I was having a mental breakdown in the middle of school. rive earlier than anyone else. I was lost because I didn’t know anyone.

ELISE TUCKER Opinion Editor

‘‘

to have one on one time with your teachers. If you don’t under-

ers than ever. This is the time of underhanded mental stares for many girls at Westside who dare to dress for the weather.

many freshmen are confused about the Wednesday schedule and where the gym classes are. If you are one of the people

what?” It’s unlikely you’ve ever actually chal-

ing.” There are a lot of secret passages

and what it means to be one.

by my comments.

studies IMC and the journalism hallway.

is more likely than a congratulations. nasty habit of thinking of women’s bodies as public property. If a woman’s shorts are too

home. I would recommend not roaming the hallway with your friends because teachers will make you go into an IMC or the Activity gym. You don’t want to be pressured into doing some-

‘‘

slut shaming.

YOU NEED TO MAKE A MAD DASH FOR A chair in the cafeteria.

rooms will change your life. I like to take the back stairwells when I get the chance. I feel a little safer because I know that a tall senior won’t push me. Your schedule will probably be packed. Getting from one

are assigned to spend your open mods Teachers come inside the classroom when they are open and help you get caught up in the subject. If you are lucky you might even get out of the study session because you have done get assigned one. dash for a chair in the cafeteria. If you

steal one with a backpack on it. A backpack on a chair means

Wrong. Women have the right to do whatever they want with themselves. If that means

you. Modular scheduling can be tough to understand too. Ev-

chairs and use them. When I see that happen I feel really bad

okay. If that means going to the grocery store

frame per class. You should always check your schedule during the day to make sure you’re not supposed to be in class when

wait until half mod or you will need to share a chair with a

The consequences of slut shaming are greater than you’d think. Slut shaming feeds rape lence to the attitudes in our society. -

I tried going to homeroom one day and it was not fun walking

pencils. I ended up with one pencil at the end of the year beteens. We don’t give things back. If someone asks you for a your backpack. You will regret your decision.

you will see the Social Studies IMC at the end of the Media IMC. The Math IMC is upstairs to the left of the Senior Project nothing to do with the way you’re dressed or how you act. One study on violent crimes reported that only four percent of rapes involve

PowerGrade

the victim never deserves to be raped. condone it. So where do we go from there? Obviously we can’t stop everyone from calling girls names. There will always be that jerk who insists on demeaning women.

A+

To the Westside varsity football team. After all the pregame hype and vandalism, the Warriors stayed focused and showed all that mattered was what ended up on the scoreboard. The Warriors beat Prep 14-7.

C+

To Jump with Jill. The idea is decent, but the performance in the Landing was not well suited to our age group. Or any age group. That said, we applaud the program for bringing in tons of free food. What better way to get people to eat healthy?

To the weather for the past month. We know it is summer, but come on — 90 degrees and above for the beginning of September is excessive. The weather has left atheletes and non-athletes alike heading for water.

our vocabulary. All it takes is a bit of censoring ourselves. could mean everything.

me: these will change the way you look at Westside.

8 Sept. 13, 2013

CENTER SPREAD

Kevin Ryan

Aaron Bre Pamela Hoover

Macala Mennen

Erin Strasel-Larsen

Deanna Bahl

Brad Metzler

Derek Fey

Maria Olvera

NEW TEACHER C

Twenty-three new teachers jo

Following a year in which nine Westside High School teachers retired to acce By AbbY Coen-Taylor staff writer Derek Fey is a teacher that has a very busy life. Being a Social Studies teacher, head boys cross country coach and assistant track coach and an ultra-marathoner. Fey previously taught social studies and school. “My most memorable moment as a teacher was when my middle school students were tracking me while I was running in the Boston Marathon,” Fey said. “I knew they would be tracking me during the race. It was really cool to think about my students in Omaha keeping tabs.” Other than running marathons, Fey and two other men ran 81 miles in California together for the cure and awareness of testicular cancer. One of Fey’s previous team members was diagnosed with testicular cancer. fore the run. “I’ll carry him, but we were going to make it up to the mountain.” Fey also enjoys joking around with the other social studies teachers. “My favorite thing about teaching in the Social Studies department is that we have a lot of humor amongst the group,” Fey said. “Nobody takes themselves too seriously.”

It’s not always that you have a t match their job. Originally from M her teaching career. In her Spanis this may confuse some of her stude “My favorite thing about teachin said. “When the students really wa motivation for me to teach them.” Olvera has been speaking Span from Guanajato, Mexico about 20

getting the students to branch out a She decided when she was a littl “When I was little, my favorite g teacher,” Olvera said. “If I wasn’t th I’m living my dream.” Olvera’s goal is to make Spanish ject for students. She wants to brin you really were living in another co “I hope I have impacted my stu their minds about really using the just thinking of it as something else “I want them to be able to see the la and something that they can use ev

Sept. 13, 2013 9

CENTER SPREAD

Lacey Batt

Karl Fick

edenkamp Megan Welch

Jerred Zegelis

David Bywater

Andrew Easton

Katie Claus Katie Claus

CROSSING

oin Westside’s 2013-2014 staff

ess the district’s payout policy, which is now gone, 23 new staff joined the high school faculty. Here are a few of them.

teacher with true backgrounds that Mexico, Maria Olvera is in love with sh classes, she speaks only Spanish, ents. ng Spanish is the language,” Olvera ant to learn the language, it’s good

nish her whole life. She moved here years ago. Olvera enjoyed living in

and discover other cultures. le girl she wanted to do be a teacher. game to play was ‘school’ if I was the he teacher, I wouldn’t play. So really,

h class more than just another subng it into everyday life, almost as if ountry. udents. I hope that I have changed e language to communicate and not e that they need to do,” Olvera said. anguage as an asset in their own life veryday.”

Have you ever wished to travel to another country, to breathe in but she’s not new to Westside. She was a guidance counselor at the middle school for ten years, and she taught math there for 12. In her 22 years of working at the middle school, she made a huge impact on many of her students. said. “If they have any questions or problems, I will be here to listen. I may not be able to solve them all, but I will listen and be their support and their advocate.” and Facebook. “She needed someone to help her, so her mother sent her to me.” er worked with her as much as she could until she felt strong enough to be herself again. “At the end of the year, she wrote me a thank-you note and let me know she wouldn’t have made it through eighth grade year without my -

learning a lot about the Spanish culture in particular, talk to Katie Claus. Claus and the rest of the Spanish 1 team plan to focus on Spanish culture this year. “I think having the ability to expose students to the culture is super important,” Claus said. Claus studied abroad in Spain and Salamanca. She was housed by a host family and exposed to real Spanish culture. “We learned a lot of conversation skills and a lot about the Spanish culture,” Claus said. “We were able to travel to other cities [Barcelona, Madrid and Seville].” Claus is a strong Spanish speaker and she believes she has gained this ability from living with her host family in Salamanca. “My favorite thing about going to Salamanca was living with my host family,” Claus said. “Conversationally, I think I grew a lot just livwas Spanish, which is great. I knew I was only going to better my Spanish if that’s all I could speak.”

10 Sept. 13, 2013

COURTYARD

Center Spread

Students offered new road to healthy lunches By owen rush staff writer

What’s new in the courtyard this year is one of the questions on upper class-men's minds. Sharon Schaefer, the head chef at Westside High School, is promoting a health kick in foods.

The reason for the move towards preparing meals from -

fer said. “She invited a lot of chef’s from around the country to come to the front yard of the White House and she made an announcement. She said ‘I need you guys to come into schools systems and help teach people how to cook foods you have Above: The new Buffalo Chicken sandwiches added to this years WHS lunch menu. Right: Chicken strips and garlic bread can be purchased at the grill in the courtyard. Photos by Ally Stark food. so keep your eyes open for new recipes.

Sept. 13, 2013 11

feature

SUMMER JOURNEY

Student takes pilgrimage to Middle East By Nata Ward FEature editor She followed the crowds of pilgrims into the courtyard and through the doors into Al-Masjid called an abaya, the same fevered excitement written on her face as the others. She was told the moment the Kaaba came into view, she was to stop. That was the moment she was closest to God. faces started to play. She prayed that she and her parents would live good lives. Names of friends want Mahin to be a doctor,” Kedwaii thought. “I want my brother to be happy.” her side, her father burst into tears. The other pilgrims didn’t pause as they pressed towards the monument in the center of the courtyard. They jostled Kedwaii from every side as she “Just push,” her father said. There was a mass of people, and then she had “[I touched the Kaaba for] ten seconds. It felt like a long time. It felt like ten minutes,” Kedwaii said. “As a kid, you only hear stories about [the touching this. This is in my sight.’” Kedwaii is a Muslim, and the beginning of her trip was part of a pilgrimage that landed her family in the airport of Jaddeh, Saudi Arabia a week into June. From there, she headed straight to the Muslim holy city of Mecca. “When you are going to perform something like [Umrah], you have to be in the state of Ihram, which is when I wore my black thing, which is called an abaya and a scarf,” Kedwaii said. “When I’m in that state, I can’t have any hair fall out so I can’t brush my hair. I can’t clip my nails and hard.” Once in the state of Ihram, Kedwaii began Tawaf, where a pilgrim walks around the Kaaba

seven times to show their complete faith in their God. The other parts of the pilgrimage included drinking Zamzam water, a Muslim holy water, and completing Sa’y. Sa’y involves walking from one base of the mountain to the other seven times God. “There are two mountains: Safa and Marwah,” Kedwaii said. “Part of Safa is still there, but Marwah isn’t even there anymore. It’s just uphill, and ished], it was about 4 a.m. so we went home.” After Mecca, her family took a bus to Medina. They stayed with her cousin, Eesha Ansari, who had come from her home in Dammam, Saudi Arabia to join them. Ansari came along when the family visited the grave of Prophet Muhammad at Al-Masjid al-Nabawi mosque. “The whole mosque is carpeted red, and there mad] is buried that is carpeted green,” Kedwaii said. “Supposedly that is a piece of heaven, and if you pray there, it’s like you are praying in heaven.” Kedwaii had the opportunity to do a special prayer there, although according to Ansari, who had visited before, it was more crowded that time around. “[The mosque] was the most congested thing ever,” Kedwaii said. “Literally, I didn’t even have to walk. I was pushed. It’s a decent amount of space [in the mosque], but not nearly enough for the amount of people going into it.” Most of the places Kedwaii visited were crowded and sweltering in the heat that seemed to be in every corner of the land. The heat was a constant try their luck in mountain climbing. “I didn’t know we were going to climb a moundidn’t know what the plan was. We were just going to go out sightseeing, and we ended up at the bottom of this mountain. We’re like, ‘Let’s climb it’, so we did.” They climbed upwards for about two hours and downwards for about an hour-and-a-half. They got three-fourths of the way up the mountain

before heading back down. They didn’t reach the summit or the cave where Prophet Muhammad is believed to have stayed on his way to Medina. “While climbing, I was really tired and wanted to continue,” Ansari said. “We were unprepared, The weather was extremely hot, but overall it was great. It’s an unforgettable memory.” The family returned to Mecca, and from there they travelled to Pakistan. The last stop was in a city called Muscat in Oman, where her mother’s aunt lived. The trip lasted a month-and-a-half, with a 30-hour journey back home to Omaha. “When we were saying goodbye, I was hoping for the trip to last longer,” Ansari said. “I think the best part of the trip was when we would stay up late to watch YouTube videos and TV shows even though there was a ban on YouTube.” “I was really upset to be leaving [my cousin], because, well, they’re family and I love them,” Kedwaii said. “And it’s kind of hard because of what goes on in the Middle East all the time. As

Sophomore Hadiah Kedwaii and her cousin Eesha Ansari pose at the base of Hijr Soor. The girls trekked up the mountainside in 105 degree weather during their stay in Saudi Arabia. Photo courtesy of Ambreen Kedwaii

trip.”

Volunteens

Westside students help keep hospitals running BY TOMMY HUERTER Business MANAGER Considering the satisfaction many teen volunteers receive from working with the sick and eldery, it’s not surprising that many Westside students choose volunteering in hospitals to get their 80 hours. The normal duties of these teenage volunteers range from delivering newspapers to working gift shops. pital. “We make comfort care carts for people who are dying, we restock the nurses cabinets and we clean charts.” Peculiar jobs always pop up here and there. Above: Sophmores Krissy Hosman and McKenzie Meradith put stickers on the free Omaha World Herolds offered to patients and their families at Methodist Sept 9. Right: Juniors Delaney Michaels and Katy Hossman prepare to deliver newspapers to all of the paitent floors. Other volunteer jobs include restocking medical supplies and filing papers. Photos by Sarah Lemke

“I actually enjoy volunteering because of the people I meet and patients I get to interact with,” said Inoyatova. While many enjoy volunteering in hospitals, some admit it isn’t all fun. “Sometimes it can be interesting, and then other days it just drags on,” sophomore and volMost volunteers do enjoy their work, but some don’t only volunteer in hospitals out of enjoyment. “I do it because I know it looks good on college resumés,” sophomore Sophie Cosimano said. “But it can also be fun sometimes to see how a hospital works.” With all the teen volunteers in Omaha hospitals, it is hard to determine how necessary they are. Are hospitals truly in need of their services, or is it just busywork for people to receive credit

the hospital because they thought I spoke Spanish,” said senior Dilnoza Inoyatova, a volunteer statement claims volunteers are “a vital part of speak Spanish, and they sent me with a Spanish dictionary. She happened to be picked up by her brother two hours before!” Delivering newspapers is a main job for teenage volunteers, or “volunteens” as they are called, had an awkward experience. “I tried to give a newspaper to a blind person,” joys her volunteering job. “I like meeting new people, and it is kind of Fellow volunteen, junior Delaney Micheels, agrees. “I like volunteering, it can be a lot of fun.” tova like it just as much as the volunteens.

range of meaningful service positions are available to anyone interested.” The mission statement also includes the Methgram. It’s been active since 1949 — clearly a testament to the necessity of volunteers. While hospitals claim they are important, what Inoyatova said from her perspective the volunpital. From delivering newspapers to working gift shops, volunteers across Omaha are working hard every day after school for the hospitals. Whatever their reason for volunteering, teen volunteers have been getting the job done and keeping hospitals running smoothly for decades.

12 Sept. 13, 2013

Sports Photos by Estella Fox and Sarah Lemke

FALL

SPORTS

Volleyball

Football

Girls Golf

Cross-Country

nament.

Boys tennis -

Softball

Sports editors James Buckley and Tim Graves contributed to these articles.

SPORTS

THREE RUF YEARS

Sept. 13, 2013 13

Westside graduate finds success in MLB By JACK COHEN STAff writer It’s a hot night in Philadelphia. Citizens Bank Park is packed with 43,647 fans ready to watch the Phillies play the Braves. First baseman Darin Ruf steps up to the plate for his second at-bat of the night. Staring down the pitcher, heart beating fast, Ruf is living the dream. Ruf, a 2005 Westside graduate, has made it to the majors, not long ago, he was a student athlete at Westside, starting for the football, basketball and baseball teams. “I never really stood out in one sport,” Ruf said. “I just tried to play well in all three.” By the end of his senior year, schools such as Creighton were recruiting Ruf for football and baseball. The decision wasn’t an easy one. “Creighton called me and said they needed me to make a decision now, and that they could use the scholarship for other people,” Ruf said. “It forced me to really think about what I wanted to do.” When Ruf started college play for Creighton, baseball took up a lot more time in his life. “The competition gets better,” Ruf said. “The workload is a little bit more from high school to college, even though Bob Greco does a great job of getting the best out of his players. Once you get to college, you’re immediately thrown into fall baseball and winter conditioning, then your season.” three years of his career Ruf played in the minors. During that time he was named MVP of his league and hit 38 home runs and 104 RBIs. Ruf was

brought up to the majors during September call ups. In 2013he was called up for the injured Ryan Howard, and has now found a permanent role on the Phillies roster. Once again, the workload increased. “When you get to pro ball, it’s your career,” Ruf said. “Obviously, you train year round for it. If you want to make something out of yourself, you don’t In the majors, Ruf is currently batting .250, with 13 home runs, and 23 RBIs. Having been with the Phillies for about a year now, Ruf has found the initial awe of playing in the MLB is “You grow up watching those guys. Once you get drafted, you’re all in the same organization, but your still miles apart from each other. You think, ‘Maybe one day I’ll get there.’ When you get in that locker room and the guys you idolized—Chase guys that have had so much success over the years — now you’re there with them.” Westside baseball coach Bob Greco thinks it’s Ruf’s attitude, more than his abilities that have him joining the ranks of the greats. “It takes a lot of resilience to do what he has done,” said Greco. “It is a long ladder to get there, so it really shows his character.” Ruf knows he has become an idol for players at Westside, and gave a few pieces of advice for them. “Listen to your coaches — they know what they’re talking about,” Rud said. “Take their advice, but ultimately you are in control of your own destiny.”

Above: Darin Ruf’s high school jersey displayed in the hallway by the Main Gym. Photo by Jack Cohen Left: Ruf batting for the Philadelphia Phillies at a game vs. the Washington Nationals during the 2013 season. Photo courtesy of Darin Ruf

Training to be victors

Cross-country coaches prepare for Omaha marathon By Phoebe Placzek Staff writer Feet are pounding on the cement, heavy breathing is spreading, sweat is dripping. The race pace is set, with a herd of people striding past the start line. Leaves crunch with every step the runners take. The sidelines are crowded with supporters. People swarm around the stadium and the downtown streets to catch a glimpse of the runners. The pained look on their faces shows their motivation and determination. Some runners are slower and are participating for fun, but a few runners are set on taking home the race. This is the Omaha Marathon. Derek Fey, the boys’ crosscountry coach, and Theresa Gosnell, the girls’ coach are preparing intensely for it. “My goal is to get under two hours and 30 minutes,” Fey said. Fey is in excellent shape, and wakes up at 5 a.m. every morning to run. Since June 1, he has been training seven days a week. He runs workouts on Tuesdays and Thursdays and 20 miles on Sundays. He runs at Zorinsky Lake Park, as well as Burke and Westside. Gosnell runs with Fey once in a while. She runs at 4:30 a.m. before school, and her long runs are on Saturdays. Gos“It’s a challenge to get all those miles in,” Gosnell said. Gosnell also runs with the cross-country team at West-

side. She likes running with people to distract her from the pain. She hopes her time will be around three hours. Fey has a strict method of preparing for the race. Four days before the race, his routine is to run 12 miles without any carbs, eating only protein. This is called a glycogen depletion run. Gosnell prepares her own way. She doesn’t change anything in her diet beforehand, but during the race she eats Goo gel. “I really dislike the feeling while running a marathon,” Fey said. Since Fey has run over 80 miles in 24 hours, running 26 miles is Gosnell likes when people cheer for her while she feels the pain. “We are both in the kind of shape that we would win,” Fey said. Gosnell has no expectations of what her placing will be. She only knows how it will feel afterwards. “I can’t function a couple days after the marathon; every step is shocking,” Fey said. He usually gets a massage a week afterwards because his muscles are in distress. Fey doesn’t run for at least two weeks after a marathon. afterwards so she takes a cold bath to soothe them. She also recovers by eating a lot. thons in her life.

Photo by Estella Fox and Kellie Wasikowski

seven marathons. He placed second at Lincoln in 2004, third in the Jacksonville marathon in 2002 and 77th out of 25,000 at the Boston Marathon. “This will be my last marathon,” Fey said. Fey wants to focus on running ultramarathons, which are over 80 miles, and half-marathons from now on. His goal is to run across Nebraska. Gosnell said he wants to continue running, as does Fey. “My coach is 68 and still runs, so I don’t see myself stopping,” Fey said.

14 Sept. 13, 2013

sports

Passing the flag

Running role handed down to junior for first time By Tim graves Sports editor a cut and scores an 11-yard touchdown. As Yates celebrates in the end zone, passed down from senior to senior every year. This year there was a change

games. this year.”

a good start.” -

Junior Tom Seline waves the flag as the football team charges onto the field Sept. 6. Westside beat Creighton Prep 14-7. Photo by Clair Selby

RISING STAR

Westside soccer player competes in England By Aren rendell editor-in-chief United States. -

The reason for the trip was to decide who goes -

said. of two-a-days. The team’s training sessions were -

gift. Michelle Xiao poses with one of her USA teammates at Villa Park. The team was able to go on the pitch during an Aston Villa vs. Liverpool game. Photo courtesy of Michelle Xiao

Sept. 13, 2013 15

ARTS & eNTERTAINMENT

Kanye West – Yeezus

BEST ALBUMS

Yes, Kanye West pushed boundaries once again. Were his fans expecting anything less? After his groundbreaking album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, West had to release something thrilling and polished that would leave his audience astounded. West’s most recent album, Yeezus, was released in June of 2013, and buzz has not stopped since then. It’s really a ‘love-it-orhate-it’ kind of album, but it has no doubt left a large cultural impact on hip-hop. West embraces the new industrial sound of rap while still keeping his instrumentals minimal. He lessens the density of

OF THE SUMMER BY ESTELLA FOX

MANAGING EDITOR

album hard to dismiss. Although this album pushed limits aesthetically, Yeezus bums, West addresses heavier topics, but in Yeezus, he uses his egotistical attitude as a selling point. However, there are exceptions such as “New Slaves,” a single that addresses current racism in the media and goes against a lot of the consumerism West publicly endorsed. The lyrics stay in the listener’s mind throughout the whole album. Yeezus reaches far outside the comfort zone of current rap music. The fact that it is still being talked about three months after its release shows that Kanye has successfully completed his goal: to make a mark on rap and hip-hop culture. Song to listen to: “New Slaves”

Grap

Vampire Weekend – Modern Vampires of the City hic b

y Est

ella Fox

and Lia Hagen

The National – Trouble Will Find Me The late Bob Marley once said, “One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain.” In this case, he could not be more wrong. The National’s Trouble Will Find Me is packed with the most beautiful, tear-jerking lyrics. They cover topics like depression and heartbreak, which leaves the listener speechless. “I have only two emotions: careful fear and dead devotion,” says singer Matt Berninger in “Don’t Swallow the Cap,” the third song on the album. “I can’t get the balance right.” Sorrow is not only apparent in the lyrics but permeates every part of the album, including the vocals and the tempo. The sound of Trouble Will Find Me than the bands previous albums. Berninger has consistently sung in an apathetic, drearythe soft, pulsating rhythm guitar, bass and drums. These can be heard in The National’s previous album, High Violet albums in that it focuses on the immense power of the somber lead singing, which has become richer and more full. Trouble Will Find Me Song to listen to: “Don’t Swallow the Cap”

Vampire Weekend is widely regarded as a pop indie artist and is sometimes quickly dismissed because of it. Modern Vampires of the City surprised listeners with much more adult themed topics while still having gorgeous vocal melodies and lyrics that make this record captivating. The main themes, death and questionable faith, are covered in an elegant way. “Nobody knows what the future holds, and it’s bad enough just getting old,” screams Ezra Koenig, the lead singer in “Diane Young,” “Live my life in self-defense, you know I live the past, ‘cause I hate suspense. If Diane Young won’t change your mind, baby, baby, baby, baby, right on time.” While hearing the lively instrumentals and the electrifying, manipulated vocals, this song dances over the frightening topic of death and even uses the phrase “Diane Young” to sound less morbid. “I had this feeling that the world doesn’t want a song called ‘Dying Young,’ “ Koenig said in an interview with Pitchfork. “It just sounded so heavy and self-serious, whereas ‘Diane Young’ sounded like a nice person’s name.” The rest of the album leaves few disappointed. Modern Vampires of the City varies from hauntingly beautiful to fun and catchy. Vampire Weekend has taken its winning formula in a new direction: sophisticated songwriting and emotional lyrics. Not only is this album one of the best of the summer, but it is easily in the running for the best album of 2013. Song to listen to: “Diane Young”

DRACULA

Director throws out traditional gore in favor of new scrim, special effects Junior Connor O’Doherty (left) and sophomore Dominick Wardian (right) practice the introductory scene for the upcoming play Count Dracula. Dracula opens Sept. 19. Photo by Sarah Lemke

By JACE Wieseler A&E Editor actors stand completely still and silent, waiting. The light is bright on the pale faces below. The Dracula, “Listen to them, the children of the night!” is belted and the audience listens intently. These are the type of moments the 14 actors in the play, Count Dracula, love. Especially junior Jessica Hrbek, who is playing the role of Lucy, Dracula’s love. “Lucy is possessed by Dracula,” Hrbek said. “It’s really interesting to get into that state.” It takes 33 people to put the production to-

The

FACTS

Jeremy Stoll as director. “It’s a lot of fun to work with everyone in the cast,” Hrbek said. “Everyone’s unique in their own way. Mr. Stoll is a great director. It’s a good atmosphere to be in.” Stoll said he enjoys directing because it’s a different kind of working relationship with the students: he doesn’t have to stand up in front of them and lecture. “[Teaching drama] is more creative,” Stoll said. During rehearsals, Stoll and all the cast members make it fun. “At one rehearsal, it was our stage manager Audrey’s birthday,” Hrbek said. “We all didn’t show up to practice on time and hid from her. She was looking everywhere, wondering where everyone was, and we screamed at her from the balcony, ‘Happy Birthday!’ It freaked her out, but I’m sure she enjoyed it.” Stoll has never directed a play of this genre. “For this play, we’re going very horror,” Stoll said. “After this play, horror might just be my favorite genre to direct.”

The number of people involved in the production of Dracula, includ-

A scrim is something new that has been added to the theater program. This is essentially a big Hrbek describes Dracula as a serious show with hardly any comedy. little creepy. We’re planning on having a lot of fog machines with creepy costumes and creepy makeup. It’s going to be more dark and scary as in that way.” might think. “We’re throwing out every stereotype about Dracula,” Stoll said. “There’s no cape, there is no gore. It’s very stylized.”

scrim, the audience can only see what’s in front of it, and when the lights are on behind it, the audience can only see what’s behind the screen. “We’ve never really done something like this before,” Hrbek said. “It’ll be interesting to see how it all comes together. And hopefully the audience will like it.” Dracula opens Sept. 19 and runs through the 21st, in Westside’s auditorium. Tickets will be $8 “Come out and watch the play,” said Hrbek. “It’s going to be good.”

14 cast members, and one director

1897 The year the book Dracula was written by Bram Stoker

1996 The year the book was play, 99 years after its original publication

16 Sept. 13, 2013

ARTS & entertainment

HOMECOMING PREPARATION

FOR MORE, SEE WESTSIDEWIRED.ORG

STORY AND GRAPHIC BY LIA HAGEN