Lance Issue 4

December 13, 2013

AIMING FOR THE TOP Two Westside students tried out for reality singing competitions — and one may be headed to Hollywood. See page 16.

lance JOURNEY TO STATE THE

8701 Pacific St. Omaha, NE 68114

Volume 58 Issue 4 December 13, 2013

Past football players reflect on championship runs

BY AREN RENDELL EDITOR-IN-Chief

In 2006, the Westside football team came into the state championship game with a record of 11-1.

It was led by quarterback Colt Anderson, who had thrown for over 2,000 yards on the season. Its opponent, Kearney, was also 11-1.

Tuesday, Nov. 26, this year’s Westside football team entered the state championship game 11-1.

This time it was led by quarterback senior Christian Hagan, who had accumulated over 2,000 yards passing on the season. It also faced an 11-1 team, Omaha North, for the title.

The similarities continue. For the 2006 team, an early match-up with Creighton Prep helped people gauge the team’s potential for success.

“We knew [we had a special team] after we played the Prep game,” said Westside hall supervisor Trent Goodman, who was on the 2006 team. “[That game] would help us with our playoff run because we had some adversity that game. We were down 23-7 at halftime, and then we came back and won the game, obviously.”

Goodman, who is now an assistant football coach, saw the possibility for greatness early with this year’s team as well, and noticed the traits shared with the 2006 squad following Westside’s 14-7 victory over the Junior Jays this year.

“I get along with the kids pretty well and being a younger coach, I kind of talk with them, and I kind of knew after the second or third game that this was a special group,” Goodman said. “I kind of [saw] the same similarities that we had as a

group and that this team had.”

Both teams lost in the state championship game. In 2006, Westside fell 41-21 to the Kearney Bearcats. This past season, the Warriors fell 23-21 to the North Vikings.

Goodman, who was a junior during the 2006 season, still reminisces on that year with former teammates.

“Any time I’m with my friends and we played football together … it always comes back to that season,” Goodman said. “My senior year we got knocked out first round, and that season [2006] was always what we come back and talk [about].

All the time just ‘Remember that, remember that.’”

For Goodman, there are no huge mistakes he remembers either the team or himself making, but he knows there were errors.

“Looking back … from a coaching standpoint now, I’m like, ‘Gosh, that was dumb. Why did I do that?’” Goodman said. “But you’re in high school.

You don’t always want to listen to coaches, and sometimes we’d go away from our keys and stuff, and that would ultimately cost us.”

Goodman’s message to this season’s group is to put the season into perspective. Reaching the state championship is a feat in itself.

“Just cherish it,” Goodman said. “It’s a huge honor to get to the state championship. There’s two teams that get there. Not very many teams can say it. I mean, we’ve been there what, two times since 1982 when we won it back-to-back?”

William Jordan, a member of the 1981 and continued on page 4 of pullout section

Senior Lane Yates pumps up the football team before the state championship game against Omaha North Tuesday, Nov. 26. See more photos of the event in the Lance’s center spread and on westsidewired.org. Photo by Clair Selby

PARKING LOT vandalism Car parts stolen from school lots; car stolen from hill

By Connor Flairty News Editor

Vice Principal Trudi Nolin looks through video footage covering the south lot Dec. 9. Nolin said about half of the car vandalism cases reported are solved from the surveillance footage. Photo by Sarah Lemke

Most adults remember the day they first got their driver’s license. Many also have fond memories of how being able to drive added newfound independence in their lives.

Driving simply becomes fun. Whether it’s to a friend’s house or just to school, driving with your newfound freedom becomes way cooler then having to be latched in the family minivan.

In many cases, new drivers are very cautious of their new possession. Locked doors, steering wheel locks and putting the car alarm on are just a few precautions many teens take protect their cars they worked hard for or were entrusted with.

No one ever expects to have their car stolen.

But junior John Neubaum was one of these teens when his car was stolen from the hill next to the school lot late in the first semester last year.

“I walked out to where I usually park my car, and it was just not there,” Neubaum said. “I was stunned. I had always heard about people getting their cars stolen. I just never thought it would be me.”

While Neubaum’s situation was extreme, other students have also reported incidents of car vandalism in the lots. Senior Hanco Germi-

shuys even reported parts stolen off his truck.

“They sawed my catalytic converters off,” Germishuys said. “I was very disappointed, not only in the fact that my converters were gone but the fact that it happened at school.”

For Neubaum and Germishuys, the damages cost both of their families over $1,000 each to repair. In both cases the school couldn’t do anything, as the cars were out of the viewing angle of school security cameras.

“I asked to see security footage, and they only had footage for the actual parking lot rather than the hill where I was parked,” Neubaum said. “All we could do was file a police report.”

In these situations, the school administration generally leaves the responsibility to the police.

“We have disciplinary authority inside the school,” said dean and parking coordinator Aaron Bredenkamp. “If it regards personal property, such as a car, it’s simply best to get the police involved.”

Though parking at school is risky, many students don’t really have a choice.

“After my car was stolen, it worries me even more,” Neubaum said. “It stresses me out all the time.”

Some student drivers believe the outside surveillance should be increased to protect student’s continued on page 2

)) News

2 Dec. 13, 2013

VANDALISM:

students find level of security troubling

continued from page 1

property, especially those who have paid for a parking pass. Though part of the parking pass money goes to lot security, problems persist.

“I believe there should be more camera footage so we can catch whoever is doing this,” Neubaum said. “Not just one camera per lot, but at different angles and on the hill where most break-ins happen.”

Others think the intensity of basic patrollers should be increased as well.

“They could increase security by having a guard in each parking lot,” Germishuys said.

“I would feel that my truck would be a lot safer that way.”

Whether the security will be increased or not, students believe there is a definite need for action.

“I can think of a lot of instances where there has been vandalism with cars just this year,” Neubaum said. “Whether it’s on the hill or in the parking lot, it’s happening way too much, and we need to do something about it.”

Bredenkamp said adding security is adding cost, and as of now the security is sufficient.

“I think we do have a safe and secure building and a safe and secure parking lot to a degree that is satisfactory and provides safety for the majority of students,” Bredenkamp said.

BRIEFLY

Changes to calendar planned for next year

On Monday, Nov. 4, the Westside school board announced students will be released before Memorial Day starting next year. The district will also change six half days to full days. Winter break will be two weeks long and Spring Break will still be one week long. The number of attendance days will drop from 183 to 179. These calendar changes will result in a net decrease of 1.5 days of school for the 2014-2015 school year.

Enid Schonewise, Westside’s Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources said early dismissal days are inconvenient for parents and do not give enough useful class time, due to the shortened class schedules. That was part of the decision to change.

During intersession, students will have conferences on Wednesday and Thursday afternoon, and the following Friday and Monday off.

Teachers will have meeting time during these days off and will report for training on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and President’s Day.

Journalism publications place nationally

The Journalism Education Association’s National High School Journalism Convention took place Nov. 14-17 in Boston. Over 5,400 students attended the fall convention.

Five out of Westside’s six publications won awards at the convention.

The 2012-13 Lance won a Pacemaker for its work last year.

The Pacemaker is the highest

award given out by the National Scholastic Press Association. This award recognizes the quality of writing and reporting, content and coverage, design, art and graphics, indepth reporting, and management.

The Best of Show competition at the convention ranks publications that students submit from around the nation. In those categories, an issue of WTV placed ninth, an issue of Craze magazine placed second, an issue of Xanadu placed fifth, an issue of the Lance placed ninth and the Shield placed fourth.

Students plan dinner concert as senior project

On Sunday, Dec. 15, at 6 p.m., a women’s chamber choir, mixed chamber choir, jazz combo and chamber orchestra from Westside’s music program will perform at a dinner concert called called “Music Speaks.” The dinner will serve pasta, salad, breadsticks and desserts.

The purpose of this event is to raise awareness about the music programs at Westside and raise money for the band, orchestra and choir. The money will be divided equally among these three programs.

Seniors Christine Burlingham and Danielle Nelson planned the concert as their senior project. They said they are advertising this week in the morning announcements, selling tickets and tshirts in the Warrior Walkway, and sending out e-mails to the band and orchestra parents. Tickets are $8 each. Burlingham and Nelson hope to raise $3,000.

Briefs by Phoebe Placzek.

Don’t forget to buy your

yearbook!

Order The SHIELD for $65, the lowesT price of the year, until December 20!

Just come to room 251 or go to http://bit.ly/1kxNYFu.

F.P.S. club reminds you not to text and drive

future problem solving club

DEC. 13, 2013 3

News

A SPARKLE AND SHINE

Cheerleaders perform at Special Olympic fundraiser

By Nata Ward Feature EDITOR

The man at the podium talked about abuse.

About how his parents had mistreated him. About how as a child he was forced he was forced to drink bleach.

He talked about being abandoned on the side of the road, in just a diaper. And then eventually being adopted, and the hardships he faced to become a Special Olympic athlete.

His tale had a sad beginning, and the rest was hard-won.

The four Westside Sparkle cheerleaders standing by the door told a similar story of rising above obstacles. Dressed in black t-shirts that read “Special Olympics Nebraska,” they welcomed athletes as they came in.

If the man at the podium’s message was “Only you can carry yourself over the finish line,” the girls cheering at the doorway said something gentler. Something like “We are here for you even if you fail.”

The cheerleaders were senior Jamie Burns, sophomore Samantha Droz, freshmen Tiffany Leonard and Kayla Shanahan. Oct. 22 brought them and 292 athletes and their families to Happy Hollow for a fundraiser for the Special Olympics.

The girls had been chosen specifically for their group’s positive personality and ability to lift the spirits of the crowd.

“We wanted the atmosphere to be very positive and fun,” said Erin Stoll, the organizer for the Champions Together Luncheon. “We knew that having a great group of cheerleaders welcoming our guests as they arrived would set the tone for the day. Our guests loved being welcomed by the Sparkles.”

Assisting the Sparkle cheerleaders were five varsity cheerleaders: juniors Skylar Ricceri, Jessica Hrbek, Sydney Hawekotte, Hannah Smith and Juliann Hellman.

“The Sparkle cheerleaders loved it,” said Ricceri, who is the student in charge of running the Sparkle program. “To see their faces and them shaking their pom-poms in other peoples’ faces just made us all happy.”

The Sparkle cheerleader program started three years ago when Westside graduate Kaylee Siebert heard about other schools starting programs like it. The goal was to give girls in the Special Education Program the opportunity to cheer.

For freshman Tiffany Leonard, a Sparkle cheerleader, cheering at football games is the best part of being in the program. Putting on the uni-

form makes her feel like part of the team. “[While performing, I hope] people are thinking about me and how cute I am,” Leonard said.

The Sparkle program is not only a way to get students more involved in school events, but also a way for students to form friendships. Senior Caroline Luther, a varsity cheerleader involved with the program, describes a former Sparkle member who attributed her positive school experience to being a Sparkle cheerleader.

“She was so happy they had [Sparkles] at Westside because at her old school, whenever she went

into a class, they would make fun of her disability,” Luther said. “And it just made her feel like she wasn’t as involved. But at Westside, she could walk around the hallway, and she would always get smiles.”

Others who have helped with the program share similar stories. From feeling more popular to simply having a good time, the program has benefited its members in many ways.

“Everyone deserves to have the opportunity to support one another, and Sparkles provides that opportunity,” Luther said.

Sparkle and varsity cheerleaders pose for a photo at the Champions Together Luncheon Tuesday, Oct. 22. The Sparkle cheerleader program started three years ago. Photo courtesy of Jeremy Stoll

Holiday Adoptions to benefit 140 families this year

By Elise Tucker Staff Writer

Children’s toys are displayed on journalism adviser Matt Rasgorshek’s desk.

These toys have been collected by his homeroom, which is participating in Holiday Adoptions for children who are less fortunate. Photo by Estella Fox

When many people think of the holidays, they think of presents, family, and food. However, some people don’t have opportunities to celebrate because they can’t afford it.

Every year, the Westside High School Key Club, a nationally acclaimed in the Westside district service learning club, helps families who can’t give presents to their kids. This event is called Holiday Adoptions.

“The way the Holiday Adoptions work is that every homeroom can adopt a kid from the district,” said sophomore Amy Conaway, co-president of Key Club. “The kids request three things that they need and three things that they want.”

Then each homeroom does its best to get the gifts the child wanted or needed. The homeroom students buy the gifts, then give them to a guidance counselor, who gives them to the child.

“After all the homerooms have gotten the gifts, we wrap them and send them to the child so they have presents for the holidays,” Conaway said.

Sophomore Melissa Loney, co-president of Key Club, said her experience with the Holiday Adoptions has made her think about the world in a new way.

“It gives you a really good sense of community within Westside,” Loney said. “It’s really nice to see everyone come together and help each other.”

Loney mentioned homerooms like to adopt a child because someone in the homeroom went to the same school or because they might know the

child on the adoption list. Students also like to participate in the wrapping of the presents.

“It’s really nice to see people help kids that went to their elementary school,” Loney said.

Sometimes it can be hard to donate desired items because of their price. It can also be hard if the child wants a pricer present on their wish list.

“Some people don’t have the opportunity to help out their community,” Conaway said. ”With the Holiday Adoptions, homerooms can experience giving people gifts. It’s fun to see all the homerooms come together to support a cause.”

Key Club adviser Vicki Londer has been helping with this project for nine years. She loves how students like to help those in need.

“This is about giving back to people in their direct school community. It is about understanding that there are kids in our district that are in need,” Londer said. “It shows compassion to those less fortunate and shows families that we are a community and we care about each other.”

Londer said her perspective on the communityhas changed. Westside students have gotten more involved in extra curricular activites.

“Perspective has only changed in the aspect that when we first started doing this, we only had 29 students sign up to be adopted,” said Londer.

“Every year the number has increased. Today we had 140 families participate. It just shows that in our community, more and more families are in need.”

Now, when the holidays come around, it’s not all about the gifts with the Key Club, it’s about bringing people together for a good cause.

4 DEC. 13, 2013 the

lance

The Lance is a schoolsponsored publication of Westside High School, Westside Community Schools, 8701 Pacific St., Omaha, NE 68144.

The Lance office is located in room 251. Phone: (402) 3432650. The Lance is an in-house publication.

The paper is distributed every month to all students, except in vacation periods.

Subscription rates to others are $25 prepaid. The Lance is printed by White Wolf Web, in Sheldon, IA. Advertising rates are available upon request. The Lance editorial staff reserves the right to edit all ads for clarity and grammatical errors. The editorial staff reserves the right not to publish any ads that are libelous or that contain nonfactual information.

The Lance editorial staff also reserves the right to nullify contracts at any time without prior notification. The Lance also refuses ads that promote activities illegal to a majority of the student readership.

Reader response is welcomed in the form of letters to the editor. Letters should be less than 300 words, signed by the author and sent to room 251. Names may be withheld upon special request. Lance editors will decide whether to honor such requests.

The Lance editorial staff reserves the right to edit letters for clarity and grammatical errors. The editorial staff also reserves the right to not publish any letters that are libelous or that contain non-factual information.

The Lance is a member of the Nebraska High School Press Association, the Columbia Scholastic Press Association, the National Scholastic Press Association and the Quill & Scroll Society.

The Lance staff recognizes that the administration of Westside Community Schools controls the curriculum and, thus, sets the parameters of the production process of school publications. The Lance staff also recognizes its own responsibilities to inform, enlighten and entertain its readers in a way that reflects high standards of journalism, morals and ethics.

Editors-in-Chief Emma Johanningsmeier, Aren Rendell; Managing Editors Estella Fox, Tom Schueneman, Kellie Wasikowski; Design Editor Allie Laing; News Editors Connor Flairty, Phoebe Placzek; Feature Editors Grace Fogland, Nata Ward; Sports Editor Tim Graves; Arts & Entertainment Editor Jace Wieseler; Copy Editor Lia Hagen; Staff Writers Abby Coen-Taylor, Tom Huerter, Owen Rush, Elise Tucker; Sports Writers James Buckley, Jack Cohen; Photo Editors Sarah Lemke, Ally Stark; Photo Staff Camile Messerley, Jakob Phillips; Adviser Jerred Zegelis.

OPINION

Illustration by Doug Flakes

Editorial

NSAA has good intentions, but misses the point From the lack of powder being tossed in the air following an “I believe” chant to junior Tom Seline not enthusiastically waving the flag on the field after touchdowns, among other things, Westside students may have noticed a few things missing during the state championship football game Tuesday, Nov. 26.

These traditions were absent due to rules from the Nebraska School Activities Association (NSAA), which sets the regulations for all sanctioned sports, as well as activities such as journalism, debate and music. Given the importance of the state championship, the NSAA attempted to strictly enforce many of the rules which may have gone unenforced in earlier rounds of the playoffs and the regular season. This crackdown on rules was met with an overall negative response from Westside students, including the Lance staff.

The state championship seemed like it would be the most fun night of cheering of the season. When we talked to students, however, one junior told us he thought students didn’t get “into the game” because of the regulations.

While the NSAA appears to be a big, bad bully, that is not its goal.

“All these things are put into place to protect our fans, spectators, and to create a safe environment for all of our events,” said NSAA assistant director Nate Neuhaus, who oversees football.

The ban on baby and talcum powder, for instance, is in place for safety.

Neuhaus said it is because there are people who have allergies to baby and talcum powder. According to MedlinePlus, a service of the National Institutes of Health, talcum powder can cause talcum powder poisoning, which brings serious symptoms, as well.

In the case of Seline’s sideline flag bearing, which he was allowed to do during both the regular season and playoffs, an NSAA staff member cited equity as the main reason he was prohibited from being on the field area.

“It’s just letting one student go out there with a flag doesn’t really sound like a big deal, but once you open that door, it could transition into something else,” said Sarah Sasse-Kildow, an NSAA assistant director who is in charge of media relations and credentials. “Part of the decision is, when one school does something specific and makes a special request, if we don’t allow that same opportunity and give that opportunity and make it equitable for all of the schools, then it’s not something that we generally allow, especially at the state championship.”

At first glance, this appears to be a valid reason. At the same time, though, it illustrates that the NSAA is out of touch with students, and may in fact be the big, bad bully after all.

Treating Seline’s flag-carrying on the field as a special request is hurtful to

Westside students and Seline. To students and players, Seline is practically part of the team. He should have been granted the right to be on the field.

Seline did not take being on the field lightly. “[I wanted to be on the field] because running out with the team in front of one of college football’s most prized stadiums would have been a blessing,” Seline said. “It would have been something else. It would have been amazing. It would have been the last great mark on my flag-running for this year.”

Fans were deprived of the school spirit of Seline unreasonably. There is no logic in keeping a school from doing what it ordinarily does for games, and Seline’s flag-waving is an ordinary part of Westside football. No school is going to try to get students who have no business being on the field on the field.

Also, how far is the NSAA willing to go for equity? In the event that no fans showed up for a team’s game, should the NSAA not allow the opposing team to have fans? And if one school doesn’t have cheerleaders, are the opposing school’s cheerleaders banned from the game? The NSAA should see that any tradition going on throughout a season should be acceptable for the state game.

The NSAA also showed that it is out of touch by allowing only two student journalists on the field for reporting. Again, the NSAA cited reasons that are reasonable on the surface, and even added that it is trying to give free access to games to student journalists.

“In reality articles can be written from a variety of places, and a lot of the media that does cover from a journalistic perspective doesn’t necessarily need to be on the field at that time,” Sasse-Kildow said. “We definitely want our student media to be able to get those photos and images and one or two people with good cameras, that definitely allows that opportunity.”

As we said before, it is not the intention of the NSAA to be malicious.

Here, however, it misses the point again.

The NSAA is in place for safety and to promote sportsmanship, but it is forgetting a major aspect of high school journalism. Part of its goal should be to enhance the student experience and learning. By limiting the number of Westside journalists on the field because two are supposedly enough to get the photos needed, the NSAA overlooked the students missing out on the opportunity for learning.

The Seline example shows that the NSAA has forgotten what makes high school sports special. High school sports are about fans and spirit. This is unfortunate because the NSAA’s goals and most of what it does are wellintentioned. It is a shame the state championship was less fun because the NSAA is out of touch with an important part of high school.

What was the best

part of 2013?

Going to Washington D.C. I had a blast.

I got my license after my 16th birthday.

Mumin Hussein

I had my daughter, Mia, on March 18.

Camren Strecker

Dannijo Johnston

Senior

freshman

Junior

Diana Schergin

I got a job at Walmart.

Instructor

DEC. 13, 2013 5

OPINION TEEN ANGST

Teens need to take themselves seriously

Junior Jacob Smith reads comics in the library Nov. 21. “I have to keep my mind going,” Smith said. Photo by Jakob Phillips

IMC INSPECTION

A review of the best/worst IMCs

I hear the bell for half mod ring during lunch and I realize, Oh man, I forgot to study for my lit test next mod! I grab my things and rush from the Courtyard to the Landing.

As I stand in the Landing, I evaluate my options. Which IMC should I go to?

The first thing that catches my eyes when going down the stairs ABBY COEN-TAYLOR is the English IMC. Then I realize this is one of the last places I STAFF WRITER want to study. The English IMC is pretty large, and so it attracts a lot of people, mostly freshmen. That many high school students in one room means too much noise. Also, it’s hard to find a seat. Tons of students are in there to meet with their teachers, so I should have gotten here a lot earlier. This is mostly seen as the “quiet and strict” IMC, but I have had nothing but bad encounters here. I don’t want to sit awkwardly with a group of freshman girls and listen to, “OMG! Did you see what Stephanie was wearing today? Ew!” I’m going somewhere else.

I head down the 100 hallway and arrive at the ET IMC. Hmm, this might work, I think to myself. Then the smell of something burnt hits me. It’s not hair. Maybe it’s the popcorn machine or metal. Either way, something smells pretty bad. The piercing smell of burning is too overpowering for me to study here. But there’s candy in here! Ugh, the inner turmoil. Forget the candy, I need to go somewhere else.

I make a turn around the corner, head towards the stairs that lead to the second floor and arrive at the entrance to the

Social Studies IMC. Suddenly, it hits me: this is no place for an underclassman. I mean, sure, it’s a calm place to study and relax, but I don’t want to feel like the only sophomore in there.

All right, moving on.

I decide to check out the third floor and arrive at the Math IMC. This IMC is okay, but the location is terrible. It’s in the middle of the third-floor hallway, which means I have only one easy way to get to class after this: the Landing. I would have to fight a herd of hormonal teenagers just to get to class. I’m generally pretty early to class, and I don’t want to have to use the “There was a dead cat in the hallway” excuse I heard almost every day from the same guy in class last year.

“Okay, this is getting ridiculous,” I whisper under my voice.

“Where am I going to go?” Then I realize I probably look pretty weird talking to myself as I walk past the Courtyard. I don’t even have to step in there to know that’s a terrible idea. As I stand approximately 100 feet away, I can already hear my peers yelling and hollering like they’re zoo animals. I already finished lunch, so I have no business being in there.

I glance at my phone and see that I now have 7 minutes left in the mod. I make a mad dash to the only place left, in the direct middle of the school: the library. Approaching the glass doors with a light sweat, I pull a relieved smile. I see a study room with the door open and the lights off, and I claim it. With a large sigh of relief, I sit down. Finally, I can sit and study. I open my book and let my eyes run down the pages. I try to absorb all the information on the page and prepare for my test.

For a full 2 minutes.

My study session is interrupted when the bell rings, declaring the end of the mod. Time for my next class.

‘‘

‘‘

The episode “Wizard Angst” from the YouTube series Potter Puppet Pals begins with our occasionally charming hero, Harry, alone on stage. The curtain has been swept open, the catchy theme Lia hagen music stops and the silence rings in the air copy editor for a moment before Harry makes his declaration.

“I feel cranky and pubescent today,” he says.

“And I don’t know why.”

Many of us remember this particular YouTube series, a parody of the bestselling Harry Potter books acted out by goofy-looking puppets of the characters themselves. In this episode, young Harry takes out his “cranky and pubescent” feelings in a number of ways, including bashing his head against a wall and fighting with his friends.

It’s true that the episode is funny, but what is particularly interesting to me is the message. The name “Wizard Angst,” of course, sticks out as a reference to the popular phrase “teen angst.” The term is often used to describe feelings teenagers have that are considered to be unfounded, such as distress over a breakup or not looking attractive at school.

However, the term isn’t necessarily used correctly in the video. While a few of Harry’s problems seem to be silly (not having a girlfriend, for example), they are, as a whole, legitimate things to be upset about. Still, they’re written off as unfounded simply because of Harry’s age.

This happens to teens all the time. Hormones are the greatest derailer known to mankind.

According to just about everyone around us, everything we’re feeling is merely a temporary effect of our young-adult biology. If it isn’t that, it’s inexperience.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying that all of teenagers’ emotions are rational or respectable. In fact, we can be some of the world’s most inappropriately emotional people. I’m just saying that they’re our emotions. Regardless of how silly or stupid they are, they’re things we’re feeling in our reality, and we have just as much of a right to react to the world around us as adults do.

Not to mention the fact that adults aren’t perfect either. On Black Friday this year, grown men and women fought with each other over the best deals on electronics. Every day, they flood dating websites and do their best imitations of besotted teenagers. Adults can and often do experience every irrational emotion teenagers do, and yet their generation is never written off because of it.

We don’t necessarily need the “back in my day” lectures or the friendly advice from our neighborhood adults to end. We just need the adults in our lives to take a second to listen to what we’re saying and to consider its legitimacy for even one minute.

More than that, however, we need to realize that it’s not just the adults in our lives who refuse to believe in us. We do it to ourselves too. In every corner of Westside High School, students are measuring the credibility of the emotions around them.

We tell young couples their feelings for each other don’t count because there will be others or because they’re young. We insist that people experiencing extreme emotions are just overreacting. Any sort of emotion that doesn’t fit into a neat category can be written off as teen angst.

It’s time for us teenagers to start taking ourselves seriously. We can’t insult our peers’ opinions and feelings and expect adults to respect ours in the same breath. More than that, we can’t be expected to achieve without first believing we have something worth putting out there.

If we continue to write each other off as overly emotional or undereducated, we’ll never be able to “grow up” like people keep insisting we need to. We’ll just remain in a childish state of uncertainty, forever refusing to stand for fear of falling down. Instead, we should combine the struggle to become independent adults with love and respect for who we are now, and then we should extend that courtesy to our peers.

After all, even if we are cranky and pubescent, we deserve a chance to experience what’s real for us. If we can’t respect that, no one else will.

i don’t want to sit awkwardly with a group of freshman girls and listen to, “omg! did you see what stephanie was wearing? ew!”

PowerGrade A+

To Westside football players and the student body as a whole. The reaction to the state championship loss showed tremendous sportsmanship and exemplified what the Westside community strives to be.

B

To the Café Express and Courtyard for getting Naked. The recent addition of the juice adds a delicious, healthy option to the already excellent selection. Unfortunately, its hefty price tag of $2 makes it more expensive than most students can afford for a tiny bottle.

F

To ourselves. In the previous issue of the Lance, we wrote a story about junior Madonna Attia. We apologize to Attia for incorrectly labeling her a freshman. We hope that did not tarnish the story, and will strive to eliminate errors like this in the future.

6 DEC. 13, 2013

OPINION

CALLED OUT System forces tough choices on students

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NIGHT OWLS

Who said late-night study sessions were bad?

When I stayed up until 5:50 a.m. to write the editorial for last month’s issue of the Lance the night before it was due, I thought to myself, “This is getting out of hand.”

I mean, really — two years ago, as a sophomore, I was staying up until 1 a.m. once per quarter to finish a lit essay and thinking that was late. What happened?

I think I know. Like so many EMMA JOHANNINGSMEIER of my peers, I got busy. I became Editor-IN-CHIEF more involved in journalism, added sports to my already busy schedule, and worked my way up to five AP classes. Now, I’m trying to get college applications done too.

I’ve spent the past three and a half years hearing about how using open mods productively cuts down on stress and how starting assignments early is the responsible thing to do, but to be perfectly honest, I don’t think either of those things is a practical solution to the complex problem of high school students having too many commitments. I have pretty good study habits, but I find that often, there just isn’t enough time in the day to get everything done. That, of course, leaves the night.

I know I’m not alone in my nightowl habits. I frequently hear my fellow students, especially upperclassmen, talking about staying up to ungodly hours. Sometimes they’re staying up late tweeting and watching Breaking Bad, but more often, they’re staying up to fulfill the requirements of their various academic and extracurricular activities.

Like me, they aren’t getting the mythical nine hours of sleep – and we’ve been hearing for ages about how important those nine hours are.

I remember learning about sleep in Healthy Living. More recently, I read about a Berkeley study that found teens who go to bed past 11:30 on school days are more likely to have emotional problems and lower GPAs than teens with “normal” bedtimes.

And I get that. I get that it’s healthy to sleep more, and that teenagers need lots of sleep.

But here’s the thing that makes me laugh about that study.

The author says, “The good news is that sleep behavior is highly modifiable with the right support.” The “support” she

means is a program at Berkeley that can “reset the biological clocks” of teenagers who “have trouble going to sleep and waking up.”

Really? Would resetting my biological clock help me get more sleep? Since it wouldn’t eliminate any of my extracurricular workload or AP classes, I’m going to go out on a limb and say it wouldn’t help at all.

With that in mind, I wonder: Do late nights spent working on school stuff have to be such a bad thing?

Personally, I have to admit I’ve come to like them.

At 1 a.m. and 2 a.m. and 3 a.m., my house is quiet. I can hear myself think. I can devote my full attention to doing a writing assignment or studying for a test. Finally, after a busy day filled with classes, after-school activities, and family meals and commitments, I can focus.

For all the supposed GPA drops and emotional problems associated with staying up late, focus is the thing that gets assignments done, promotes learning, and builds study habits.

Teachers know that. Kids know that. And think of it: when else, besides late at night, do most teenagers have the time to focus for four hours straight?

If for whatever reason, you can go to bed early, thank your lucky stars. I wouldn’t wish a night-owl lifestyle on anyone.

But for those of us who can’t help having such a lifestyle . . . I think it’s time for a change in perspective.

The silence, focus and productiveness of late work nights can be empowering and healthy — but only if we see them as such.

Why should I and so many of my fellow students continue to stress out over those late nights and dread them, if they’re inevitable? Why not instead find ways to deal with them? Personally, I find that a short nap when I get home sets me up for a successful evening. I’ve also found an ally in Pepsi Max, the high-caffeine version of Pepsi that can be found in the Warrior Hut and the Westside vending machines.

As I see it, what the whole issue comes down to is this: Is it good to feel sorry for ourselves, complain about teachers supposedly giving too much homework, and feel and act exhausted and overextended — even if we are overextended?

Or is it better to acknowledge that late-night work sessions are inevitable, embrace them for what they’re worth, and find ways to adapt to them?

Choose for yourself.

But as for me . . . I’m starting to kind of like the taste of Pepsi Max.

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In general, there isn’t a lot of truth to the old cliché of quarreling students and teachers.

At Westside however, and indeed in modern schools, the two parties generally share friendly, or at the very least cordial relationships.

Still this relationship is not entirely void of animosity, and students TOM SCHUENEMAN skipping tests can creMANAGING EDITOR ate a point of tension in the otherwise generally tranquil relationship.

It makes sense that teachers would be upset with this. It’s impossible to grade assignments that haven’t been completed. What’s more, it can come across as disrespectful to disregard what teachers may see as an integral part of the classes they pour so much effort into.

This is almost never the intent, however.

Students who skip tests don’t so out of spite, but rather out of desperation. It’s not that they don’t respect the significance of testing. On the contrary students have, if anything, an inflated opinion of its importance. The threat of doing poorly on a test far outweighs whatever consequence might befall a student for skipping a class. This isn’t to say the punishment for missing class is inadequate, simply that the importance of testing far outweighs it to any academically inclined student.

While the common perception of modern American education tends to be overwhelmingly negative, that has more to do with the inequity of the system than with the quality of education available at the best of public schools, like Westside. That doesn’t make every practice of the nation’s best public schools beyond questioning, and there is enough merit to the criticism leveled at the importance of testing to the system that it’s worth looking at with a critical eye. Criticism of testing goes back decades, but it hasn’t amounted to anything of significance. At this point the importance of testing students is difficult to effectively dispute, but it’s still important to look at the effects of this system on students. Among the most profound of these effects is the tendency of students to skip important tests they don’t feel properly prepared for.

It creates perfectionists. Students won’t do something unless they’re confident in their ability to do it well. However this can be a double-edged sword. The benefits of teaching students the importance of doing things well are obvious, but in life there are many situations in which this simply isn’t reasonable.

Some might argue that quality and timeliness aren’t mutually exclusive, and that students should be able to do well on tests regardless of when they take them. This is a nice ideal, and in many situations it’s very attainable. This isn’t always the case, however, leaving students with a familiar dilemma, for which many only see one real solution.

It’s true, the adult world might not look as kindly on these decisions—you can’t come in after school the next day to pay your taxes. It also makes sense that teachers wouldn’t be happy about kids skipping their tests, but the students are not to blame for this, the system they’re a part of is.

The various benefits and drawbacks of that system are another debate entirely, one that must be had at a much higher level than over the water cooler of the teachers lounge, or even over the conference tables of a school board meeting.

What’s not worth debating is the logic to students’ response to that system. Obviously it will upset teachers and administrators, simply because it involves manipulating a carefully laid out system.

That’s more the fault of the system, though, than it is the fault of those constrained by it.

That’s not to say that skipping classes on test days should be encouraged. Obviously the ideal scenario is that everyone should be able to take the test on time and do well on it, but students shouldn’t be blamed for making the logical decision when forced between a rock and a hard place.

If teachers are upset with kids skipping their tests, their first concern should be trying to avoid putting their students in these situations.

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THE SILENCE, focus and productiveness of late work nights can be empowering and healthy — but only if we see them as such.

DEC. 13, 2013 7

FEATURE

AN UPHILL BATTLE

Student endured homophobia before finding home at Westside

By GRACE FOGLAND FEATURE EDITOR

“Mom, I like boys.”

Immediately after 8-year-old Chris Garcia uttered those words, his mom’s lips turned up into a smile. “That’s cute, honey,” she said, as she turned back to her work. The third grader was confused but accepted his mom’s response without question.

“Mom, I’m gay.”

Four years later and senior Chris Garcia came out to his mom a second time. This time, however, his mom’s lips turned down, and her eyes were angry.

“The first time I came out to her, I was very young and didn’t understand what being gay meant,” Garcia said. “I only knew that I liked the same sex because I wasn’t attracted to girls, but my mom thought it was just a phase. When I came out to her the second time, she was shocked.”

Garcia’s mom believed it was a sin to be homosexual.

She told Garcia she would pray for him.

“It was really tough to know that she didn’t support me,” Garcia said. “It took her until my junior year to finally accept who I was and realize that she couldn’t change me. She told me, ‘We both like the same things, so I can’t stop you from loving anyone, and you can’t stop me from loving anyone.’”

Along with the hardships of coming out to his mom, Garcia faced ostracism at the middle school he attended in Iowa. Around the same time he came out to his mom, he also came out to his friends. They all stopped liking him after they heard his secret.

“It was so hard because nobody talked to me 7 after I told them,” Garcia said. “They would2call me names and ignore me the rest of the time.” 28 J Garcia was also In addition to verbal bullying, H

subject to physical assault. He was punched, and his clothes were ripped, resulting in him pretending to be sick to avoid going to school.

“I had terrible attendance,” Garcia said. “My grades dropped low because I didn’t want to go to school. My mom worked at that time, so she wouldn’t know if I went or not. I was afraid to go.

I was afraid of dying.”

One of the worst tormentors in middle school was Garcia’s gym teacher. He did not approve of homosexuality, and he found out Garcia was gay after kids told him. The gym teacher forbade Garcia from getting a locker in the boys’ locker room and didn’t allow him to pair up with another boy during partner activities. If Garcia couldn’t kick the ball, the teacher called him a “fag” and told him that boys could kick and “fags” couldn’t.

“I ignored him at first because it was just like any other comment I got from other people,” Garcia moved to Omaha because he wanted to start fresh Senior Chris Garcia said. “But as the year pro- at a new school that wouldn’t bully him because laughs with his friend gressed, my gym teacher of his sexuality. At Westside, he took his former junior Chloe Fulbright got meaner and meaner. choir teacher’s advice and joined GSA. Westside after school Tuesday, He believed I would sexu- graduate Jordan Brown helped Garcia with his Dec. 10. His favorite ally abuse a boy just be- struggles by providing a space for him and other place in school is the cause I was gay. It got to LGBT students to feel safe and welcome. band room, where Jhe H the point where I would “I told him that there’s nothing wrong with be- goes after G school every D leave in the opposite direc- ing who you are and who you love,” Brown said. day F to socialize.CPhoto BFox J tion if I ever saw him in the “I think the club helped him realize that he is who 66 by Estella A H halls.” he is, and he loves who he loves, and nobody can 67 G D D F C That was when Garcia deny him of that.”

C B 8 J finally told his mom. Even Garcia realized that B being gay was J nothing to 6 A H A H G D though she didn’t accept the fact that he was gay be ashamed of, and that there were other people 69 G D F C 53through at the time, she went to the school and made a who were going F the same C thing.

B 0 J 7 Bme break Jout of my A H scene to get the gym teacher fired. Even with him J “[Joining GSA} 54 helped A H 71 F G C D gone, though, Garcia was relentlessly bullied. shell and it built5 my self-confidence back up,” H G D 5 G D F He would find some solace in his choir teacher’s Garcia said. “If it weren’t for GSA, ICwouldn’t have 72 A B H J F C B JI found 56or band. classroom. She allowed him4to color guard J 0 eat in herB room joined A Both places H 73 F G C D A H accepting people who G friends.”D and stay in there. my 57 became 1 G D F C 4 “She didn’t D know I was being bullied 74 A B Garcia’s personality F so badly,”C B more positive 8 has become J 5 C B 2 J A and he’sHmade lifeGarcia 4 I wasAhaving a Hsince he has come to Westside, 75 B said. “She J just knew that 9 F G D long D friendships with5people.

Avery difficult H time with everything.”

3 G C 4 the G D of eighth grade, F choir C “I’ve learned to accept last day Band not care J 60 myself F On the C B what anyone J A H 44 A AlliteacherBsuggested JGarcia join Gay-Straight says about me,” Garcia said.

“No one H 1 F G D A (GSA) club H in high school. That4summer, 5 G can change ance he D who I am.” 6 C

‘‘

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I told him that there’s nothing wrong with being who you are and who you love.

JOrdan Brown Westside graduate

F C 29 F G C D 62 A B H J G D B 6 J 4 F C B 0 J A H 3 63 F G C D A H 14 A B H J 7 F G D 4 1 G D C 3 64 A B F C 15 F G C D B 8 J 4 B D B 2 J A H 3 5 A C 6 B 6 J A H 1 9 G D 4 J A H 51 F G F C 33 F G C D H 7 G D 1 B 0 J E 5 D F C 52 A A H 34 A B H J D C 18 A B H J 1 G C K 5 J 53 F F 35 F G C D B J H 9 G D 1 2 A H E 5 D F C 54 A 36 A B H J 1 F G D C 4 B 0 J 2 C K B J A H 55 F E 37 F G C D B 2 J H 4 1 G D 2 D A H E G D F C 56 C K 38 A B 3 F G D C 4 B 2 J 2 B J C K B J A H 57 A H E 39 B 4 J H 4 3 G D 2 1 G D A H E 3 G D F C 58 F C K 5 F G D C 4 B 4 J E 2 B 2 J C K 3 B J A H 59 D A H E A H 46 A B H J E C K 25 F G 3 G D 3 G D 6 B J F C K F C 47 F G C D K A H E 26 B 4 J 3 B J A H E 21 F G C D K A H 48 A B H J 5 F G D 3 G D E B 2 J C K 2 F C 49 F G D A H E B 6 J 3 B 2 C K 3 G D A H E 2 A 50 B J F C K 37 F G C D K A H E 13 B 4 J 2 A H E 11 F G C D K 38 A B H J 5 F G D 2 D E B 2 J C K 1 9 F G C 3 D A H E B 6 J 2 B J C K A H E 13 F G C D K 0 A H 4 B J 7 G D 2 A H E 29 F G C D F C K 14 A B H J E 1 F G D B 8 J 2 C K 30 A B H J A H 15 F G C D K J B 2 J 9 G H 2 A H E 31 F G C D F 16 A B H J E G D 3 F G D 0 F C 3 C K 32 A B H J 17 F G C D K 22 A B H J B 4 J A H E 33 F G C D 18 A B H J 23 F G C D 5 F G D D C K 34 A B C 19 F G 24 A B H J B 6 J B J A H E 35 A H 20 5 F G D 2 7 F G D 5 G D C 1 C K F C 26 A B H J B 8 J 16 A B H J A H J C 27 F G 9 F G H 17 F G C D B G D A 28 F C 10 18 A B H J 29 F G B 8 J A H 19 F G C D 30 A B 9 G D J D F C B 0 H 2 C 31 F G A 10 A B H J G D B J 1 F C 2 A H 32 A B 11 F G C D 22 A B H J 1 F G D C 33 F 12 A B H J 23 F G C D B 2 J D A H 34 A C 13 F G 24 A B H J 3 F G D B J C 35 A H 14 5 F G D 2 B 4 J 5 G D C 1 A H F C 26 A B H J 5 F G D J 16 A B C J

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8 DEC. 13, 2013

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

feature

Many students choose not to recite with peers

By Tommy Huerter staff Writer

Seniors, juniors and sophomores may remember a time when there was nothing recited over the intercom during the first five minutes of homeroom. For years, the Pledge of Allegiance was not recited at Westside High School.

Then, in April of last year, the Nebraska Board of Education made it mandatory for all Nebraska public schools to set aside time for the Pledge of Allegiance. Schools who do not set time aside for the Pledge risk losing their accreditation, resulting in the loss of state funds, the Sioux City Journal reports.

Ever since this policy has been put into place, there has been controversy surrounding it. However, students or staff cannot be required to say the pledge and have the option to stand or sit quietly as the Pledge is being said.

Here at Westside, there are people strongly supporting both sides of the argument.

One major supporter of the policy is Westside sophomore Justin Garvey¬-Lease.

Garvey-Lease stands up and says the Pledge every morning, and he does it for a reason.

“Every time I stand up for the Pledge of Allegiance, I think about the men and women who served our country who can’t stand to say it because of the sacrifice they have made,” GarveyLease said.

Garvey-Lease may be passionate about the Pledge, but his homeroom is not. Garvey-Lease claims only two or three people in his homeroom actually recite the Pledge.

Since the policy has gone into affect, GarveyLease has called people out for not saying the Pledge.

“There is a girl in my homeroom that usually doesn’t stand up or say it or anything, and I ask her why she doesn’t say it,” Garvey-Lease said.

While Garvey-Lease is a prime example of someone who is passionate about saying the Pledge, Westside senior Sarah Snyder is just the opposite.

“I don’t think the Pledge is bad at all,” Snyder said. “I just don’t think it is necessary to say it everyday. I just kind of sit there. I know we are not allowed to be on technology and stuff, so I just end up reading one of my books or something.”

However, Snyder does have some criticism of the Pledge.

“I think it is kind of conflicting how schools try to foster free thinking and then they try to impose the pledge on us every morning, but I understand it is for monetary reasons to have it said every day,” Snyder said.

Snyder may choose to not say the Pledge, but she does feel the pressure of her fellow classmates.

“There is a lot of people that are really rude about it to people who don’t say it,” Snyder said. “I have heard about people posting Twitter pictures like, ‘Oh, you hate this country, and a picture of them sitting down during the Pledge.”

Pat Jones, the principal of Alliance High School in western Nebraska attempted to stop the Pledge during the government shutdown in October as an act of defiance, according to the Associated Press.

However, the school began reciting the Pledge again due to parent, student and staff complaints.

When contacted, Jones declined to comment.

Controversy over saying the Pledge in public schools will continue to be prevalent. The defiant few will always be present, but the Pledge will continue to be said on a daily basis in Nebraska public schools for the foreseeable future.

HAVE ENOUGH FOR THE HAMBURGER?

Sophomore Calvin Graeve respectfully chooses to not participate in the Pledge of Allegiance Dec. 10, as senior Nate Kocmick participates. “We are asked to pledge ourselves to this country, no matter what. That means to love this country, even if the government does something that we don’t like,” Graeve explains.

Photo by Sarah Lemke

Proud to support Westside High School.

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in-depth

DEC. 13, 2013

The path to

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in-depth

SCHOOL SPIRIT

Decorations and first pep rally in years pump Wes

By Emma JohAnningsmeier Editor-in-chief

Immediately after the Westside football team won its semifinal game against Millard West, the varsity cheerleaders started texting each other.

It was time to start making signs.

The cheerleaders make “Take State” signs for every sport that goes to state, but they knew the sign-making for football was going to be an extra large operation.

For the whole next week, in addition to spending time before and after school making signs, they spent any open mods when they didn’t have homework in the cheer room working. They made huge signs for the Landing and many other smaller ones for around the school, but that was only the beginning. They also made individual signs for each of the approximately 40 senior football players; each one just said “Take State” and had the player’s last name on it.

The day before the Tuesday state football game, all the freshman, JV and varsity cheerleaders met by the cheer room after school. Their first task was to divide up, drive to all the senior football players’ houses, and hang up the individual signs on the outside of each house.

“They really love it,” said senior Laura Salisbury, one of the varsity cheerleading captains.

“It was a surprise for the guys because they saw it when they got home from practice.”

After the cheerleaders got back from hanging up the individual signs, it was dinnertime.

The cheerleaders had pizza, then practiced for the pep rally. Then, after 6, they teamed up with the dance team and really got to work.

There were the huge signs to hang up in the landing and smaller ones to hang up in other parts of the school, but the decorations went far beyond just signs.

In fact, varsity cheerleading coach Amy Studts said the decoration was such a large-scale operation that she had to get the administration’s approval to decorate the school that much.

In addition to hanging up signs, the cheerleaders wrapped streamers in Westside colors around columns in the halls and IMCs, and put balloons in different parts of the school.

There were many other decorations, too. One of the most visible was the sets of streamers that extended from the Math IMC balcony to the interior Social Studies IMC windows, and from the Math IMC to the social studies hallway.

To do that, the cheerleaders had one person hold one end of a roll of streamers in the Math IMC, then drop the roll down to the media center. From there, it was unraveled as someone walked the rest of each roll over to the destinations. Studts said the creative use of streamers was the girls’ idea.

in-depth

DEC. 13, 2013

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Photos by Clair Selby and Estella Fox

stside up for game “The coaches — they supervised,” Salisbury said. “They kind of let us run loose and decorate the school however we wanted. It was kind of like Homecoming all over again.”

With all the 43 cheerleaders, plus the dance team members, working together, the decoration took about an hour and a half. Salisbury said in the end, she and the other cheerleaders were satisfied with how the decorations came out. “[The decorations] all just kind of came together,” Salisbury said. “It was difficult to plan because we didn’t know if the streamer idea was going to work, but it did and we were really happy with that.”

The only disappointment was that even though the cheerleaders and dance team members waited for most of the basketball players to leave because they wanted the decorations to be a surprise, some still came to the Landing and took pictures they posted online that night.

“That was kind of disappointing. Nobody else knew beside cheerleaders and dance team that it was happening,” Salisbury said.

Still, not everyone had already seen the decorations before they came to school the next day. For most, the decorations still had their “wow” factor on Tuesday.

“We got a lot of positive feedback from students and teachers saying this school has got spirit, and they were excited and pumped for the game that night,” Studts said.

Studts said she felt like the energy in the school the day of the game was “great.” It wasn’t just the decorations or the natural anticipation that did it, though.

For many years, Westside has never had a pep rally during school; Studts said a colleague told her it had been 13 years. Last time Westside went to state, in 2006, there was no rally.

This year, Studts organized the 20-minute pep rally that was held the day of the game during homeroom. She and Assistant Principal Trudi Nolin got together the lineup for the rally, which included cheers by the cheerleaders, a performance by the dance team, music by the pep band, short speeches by head football coach Brett Froendt and the three senior football captains, and chants led by senior Amir Khan. The gym was packed.

“It felt like, ‘Wow, this is a high school like any other school,’” Studts said. “Sometimes I don’t necessarily feel that way. Teaching at other schools, I’ve noticed more school spirit or support, so I’m glad the administration allowed us to do [the pep rally.]”

Despite the amount of work involved in making the posters and doing the decorations, and the fact that Westside ended up losing the state game, Salisbury said she thought making the school festive was worthwhile.

“It’s a pain to have to get up at 6 in the morning and come to school and make posters,” Salisbury said. “But when you see the finished product and everyone’s looking at your decorations and signs, it makes it all worth it.”

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DEC. 13, 2013

Students brave cold to experience state game

By Tim Graves sports EDITOR

The excitement could be felt in the air as the Westside Warrior football team played in its first state championship game since 2006. After all of the hype and attention it got, the game did not disappoint.

The day started with a pep rally in the main gym.

After a long day of school, much of the student body then made the trek to Lincoln to see the Warriors play.

“I was impressed by the turnout because you have to drive an hour to Lincoln,” said senior Joe Dahir, a Red Shield leader. “You could sense the passion in the student section.”

The student section took up almost an entire section and a half at Memorial Stadium. Some students even showed up as early as 5 p.m. for a student tailgate.

When the game started the student section was cheering loudly, even without some of the things usually present at Westside games, like the “I believe” chant, baby powder, and junior Tom Seline running the flag.

The students were accompanied by parents, alumni and fans from the community.

Overall, 6,785 total fans showed up to support either Westside or Omaha North. The fans braved the 20-degree temperature and 11-miles-per-hour wind to show up and cheer on their team.

“I couldn’t feel my toes,” senior Mitch Bruckner said. “[I] couldn’t feel my fingers. But you could feel the school spirit in the air.”

Unfortunately, the Warriors couldn’t manage a victory. A deflected pass set up a Viking victory.

Even without the victory, the Westside fans showed their devotion. Many alumni and fans from the community went to the game along with students.

Many Westside teachers also attended the game.

The entire business team was at the game. Business instructor Sarah Schau said she enjoyed the game even with the loss “[The atmosphere was] awesome,” Schau said. “My favorite part was seeing all the alumni there. I saw kids that I taught in my first year teaching.”

in-depth

State Twitter Feed 74%

Home @reese_ES_piecez Westside... You’re in it, might as well win it! #TAKESTATE 11/15/13

@BROtherCK #underconstruction no more. #TAKESTATE

STATE: Past players proud of 2013 team continued from page 1 1982 state-championship winning teams and current chairman of the Touchdown Club, which focuses on supporting the football program, sees commonalities with the football team and another part of Westside: the community and its people.

“I think that the football team really personifies the persona that Westside, our community wants to exemplify,” Jordan said. “I think that that’s a great thing.

We’re hard-working, tough nosed people that strive to succeed, and I think that that comes through in our football players. Our football players really live that.”

For non-student fans like Jordan — the father of football players sophomores Grant and Spencer Jordan and Westside alum and current Nebraska Cornhusker Harrison Jordan — there is delight in the state run.

“There’s a lot of invested energy that parents, the fans, the community, businesses all put forth in helping the football team succeed,” Jordan said. “And when they do succeed, I think that that’s a point of pride for everybody. Everybody can say, ‘Hey, that’s my team.’”

Jordan was thrilled to be a part of supporting the team and its coaches, who he thinks help build the Westside Community.

“I’m very proud of our boys,” Jordan said. “I think that coach Froendt and his coaching staff are probably the best, if not the best, high school coaching staff that any high school has. I think that they are a huge reason as to why the team is successful. They teach and indoctrine and get these boys to come together as a team, and I’m humbled by the fact that I get to do my part as chairman of the Touchdown Club to help the program in any way I can.”

11/15/13

@Nikki_Wagner14 Tomorrow at this time we’ll be screaming our heads off in 25 degree weather #rollside 11/25/13

@Harrison_J45 Proud to call myself a Westside Warrior. Keep your heads up. Hell of a season. #rollside 11/26/13

@westsidewired TOUCHDOWN WARRIORS! Hagan hits Conway-Smith for a 28 yard score! PAT is good! Warriors LEAD 21-17, 41 seconds left 3W. #rollside 11/26/13

@TeflonDob To the coaches that have built one hell of a program and to my teammates who I would take a bullet for, love and respect. #OfficiallyRetired 11/26/13

@fresh_AF_ Regardless of tonight, couldn’t be more proud of my dad and the Westside coaching staff. They’ve made an impact that will last forever 11/26/13

@MotorM0 THANK YOU SENIORS 11/26/13

@_Flair_Bear_ for full recap oF state game, visit westsidewired.org

Sorry to all the fans we may have disapointed, but we didn’t lack heart, every one of my brothers on the field played like a warrior tonight 11/26/13

DEC. 13, 2013 9

Feature

ADVENTURE AND MISSION

2013 graduate pursues unique opportunity before college

By Kellie Wasikowski MANAGING EDITOR While many of last year’s high school seniors were filling out college applications in the fall, 2013 Westside graduate Grace Arant was filling out a different application form. She was applying to take a gap year through the Christian organization Adventures in Mission. The program she applied for is called Passport: Immersion.

Accepted applicants travel to three continents in nine months. They visit one country in Central America, on in Asia, and one in Africa.

“I didn’t want to get caught up in life so quickly that I wouldn’t have time for this later,” Arant said. “So I realized there was no better time than now.”

The gap year application process is similar to applying for college: an applicant begins applying in the fall for a program of choice, and gets notification of admittance either in the winter or spring. Arant received a notification of admittance in March. But initially her unconventional choice for her first year out of high school was not an easy one for others to grasp.

Although Arant was confident in her decision to take the gap year, she first had to discuss it with her family and friends, who were not as enthusiastic about her decision as she was.

“Most people discouraged me from this idea I had, in the beginning,” Arant said. “A lot of them told me to get a degree first, then go and do missions — that way I could do more specialized work. [But] once I was more confident [in] my decision, others were more confident [in] me. Now I have my church’s support, so many friends excited about this opportunity and, more importantly, my family’s encouragement.”

With her family’s support and the encouragement of the church community, Arant began preparing for her gap year in the spring. Her preparations included traveling to Georgia for training, and fundraising $13,000.

“Training camp was an intense week,” Arant said. “We met other participants of the trip, [and] camped out in a soggy field which turned into the pond from all the rain. We were fed very little to give us an idea of what living off of $4 a day looks like.”

During training, the group also participated in a mock market to simulate what life may be like while living in the destination countries.

“The staff acted as vendors where we had to bargain for our dinner,” Arant said. “They drove their cars up and down the street honking their horns, yelling at us in foreign languages to move, hanging out their windows, blasting music [and] playing instruments in their trunks.”

After training, the magnitude of the mission trip dawned on Arant. When she departed, she was able to take two backpacks and a camera bag for the entirety of her nine-month journey. She left from Georgia Sept. 10 to fly to Honduras, her first destination. She describes her everyday activities as things that will help to increase the overall well-being of the community.

“We make a lot of house visits, hospital visits and nursing home visits,” Arant said. “For a few weeks I taught a preschool class, then a sixth

grade class. We also do manual labor if the weather holds up. For one week we put a roof on a building, and also built a wall. No day ever looks the same.”

However, due to administrative changes, the program moved to Guatemala for the last month of their stay in Latin America.

On Nov. 25, Arant began her journey to the Phillippines for the second country destination.

The program’s initial plan for mission work in the Philippines was to collaborate with an organization that works to end sex trafficking, but with the recent typhoon disaster, there is much humanitarian work to do.

The third destination is a country in Africa, though the specific country is still being determined. Arant will be traveling there in late February, and she is looking forward to the future and finding out where her last port of call will be.

“I love surprises,” Arant said. “We sometimes get the opportunity to venture off to other countries, and most of us are trying to get as many stamps in our passports as possible.”

Grace’s sister, senior Caroline Arant, said her sister’s decision to take a gap year was initially tough to accept, because unlike college, which has breaks for students to visit home, Grace’s gap year is nine consistent months of traveling and not being able to visit home.

“Grace initially told me [about the gap year] in March of this year, and I thought, ‘Wow, that’s really crazy,’ but I wanted to listen to her ideas,” Caroline said. “It’s a scary concept to think that we don’t know where she’s going to be exactly or what she’s going to be doing, and even she doesn’t know all the time. But at the same time, that’s part of the fun and adventure of the experience.”

Senior Olivia Beier is also planning on taking a gap year before attending college. Beier wanted to take a gap year to connect more with her adopted brothers’ cultures.

“My brothers were adopted from Korea and

Thailand,” Beier said. “So to understand the culture that’s in my family, I wanted to go and visit the orphanages from which they were adopted, and hopefully help out there for a few months.”

Beier has also found senior project to be helpful in researching gap years.

“Fortunately, my Senior Project is about gap years,” Beier said. “So while completing my senior project, I was also able to research things and learn new ideas about how to get it done and talk to people who have done it as well.”

Grace said her favorite aspect of the trip so far has been the unpredictability of the future, which she believes makes every day more exciting.

“My favorite part of the trip is not knowing,” Grace said. “Not knowing what’s for dinner, not knowing where you are in the world and not knowing what the day is going to bring. We have learned to not have expectations, how to adapt and have teamwork skills, but we’re still learning.

It’s a process.”

Above: Grace Arant stands in front of a volcano located in Honduras. The program moved to Guatamala for the last month of their mission in Central America. Below: 18 hammocks hang up in Arant’s sleeping quarters in Honduras. Arant was able to take 50 pounds of personal belongings with her for her nine month trip. Photos courtesy of Grace Arant

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10 DEC. 13, 2013

Sports

Opinion

CONNOR FLAIRTY, SPORTS GOD: Invest today!

Photo by Ally Stark

By Connor Flairty News Editor

The

Stats 5.4 Connor Flairty’s 40 yard dash time

500 How much Flairty thinks he can bench

215 Flairty’s Actual bench weight

0 Number of bears Flairty has wrestled to the ground

Opinion

As you may have noticed in recent sports news over the past month there has been a great deal of news concerning the interesting opportunity to invest in professional football players. As though stocks in general weren’t risky enough, a new way to invest created by Fantex Incorporated ups the stocks game by letting you invest in a living, breathing human being.

With a typical stock, you can invest in the company and as profit is earned by the business, money is returned to you, the stockholder. Although a small share of the money goes to Fantex, the vast majority goes to the individual player who supposedly uses it to become a better football player.

This isn’t a typical stock, though. In fact, the Fantex website states that the money being invested is extremely real while there is no assurance of a profit gain; actually the chances are slim to non existent. This is due to Fantex and the player having the option to pay you. But if any payment is made it is a sort of gift, so the money shouldn’t be expected even if the player does well. Yet people still seem to be interested in the strange business.

“Why do people buy stock in the Green Bay Packers?” said District 66 Technology Coordinator and former economics Instructor Matthew Lee. “You don’t receive any voting rights, but it’s sort of a symbolic act to be able to own a stock in a player.”

Investing in the Green Bay Packers, a nearly century-old football program though, seems a little more symbolic than investing into Arian Foster, a running back who, while talented, lacks even a single Super Bowl ring. Fantex doesn’t even offer a paper certificate for the stock like the famous Green Bay stock certificates.

Lee believes Fantex is aiming to take advantage of a new type of football fan, one that would invest in a single player.

“They’re trying to capitalize on the Fantasy Football craze,” Lee said. “Fans really take ownership in these players.”

The new stock has gotten some investors for players such as Arian Foster. And to that I say, why not invest earlier in the player’s career? Many players, just like businesses, simply need a jump-start to get to the top. Protein shakes and football cleats

tend to get expensive, and that holds back some players from excellence.

Why not invest as early as high school? I know I have the potential to succeed and I love money, so why not invest in me?

Clocking in at 6’3” and 225 pounds, I have the natural size to be a successful offensive lineman. Though an average NFL lineman weighs 310 pounds and is 6’5”, I’m still pretty close. In all honesty, what’s gaining 75 pounds and growing two inches in the grand scheme of things?

Besides, what I lack in size I make up for in tenacity and athleticism. I’m so tenacious that I have picked up the nickname “the Punisher,” although I just made up that name and no one has ever actually called me that per se. I am convinced though, that it will catch on quite quickly. Also, my athletic ability is not that of the everyday lineman.

Ask anyone on the Warrior O-Line. I am flowing with natural athleticism. Though they may say I have as much coordination as a one-legged horse, deep down they are simply jealous of my ridiculous athletic ability.

Speed is also one of my talents. In the right conditions with the wind at my back I run a solid 5.4 second 40-yard dash. Quite fast.

What I lack in weight I make up in strength.

Many are very impressed by my Hulk-like ability. I’m not going to share my weights because it would possibly blow your mind. I believe my strength is a result of my lifting face and grunting technique, which helps me get the extra pounds.

Another key ability for professional football players is dashing good looks. Have you ever seen an ugly man in the NFL? Besides Clay Matthews, the NFL is filled with stellar-looking gentlemen.

I am dashing, with a solid chin, thick curly hair and slight beard stubble. I’ve been told that I look like a more muscular Seth Rogen, and obviously that look is perfect for a fierce athlete. Who wouldn’t want that as the image of their program?

A soft comfortable face that plows people into the ground each play seems like a great image for a vicious football team.

Finally, just like all football players currently being invested in, I love money. Of course I need it to get better and more talented, and to buy a new sports car, too. So if you’re willing to invest into something as unpredictable as an NFL player, why not step up the risk and invest in an athlete you can trust to succeed: me, Connor Flairty. I will be accepting money next week.

Should coaches help players outside of the lines?

It’s hard to be a coach. Coaches have to be the smartest people on the field, court, or other athletic venue. They have to know plays, coverages, sets, personnel, and so forth. But does a coach’s responsibility extend off the field?

I know from experience it’s hard to be a football coach. Even as a sixth-grade flag football coach, I had a lot to think about. I had to remember plays, defenses and when to play certain players.

However, coaching a flag football team is much Tim GRAVES different than coaching a high school team. My SPORTS Editor biggest problem was getting sixth graders to pay attention during practice; a high school coach might have to deal with kids who face big challenges away from the playing field.

Take Calvin Strong, the star running back for Omaha North, for example.

Strong has seen several of his friends killed on the streets of North Omaha and almost joined the gangs that rule there, according to the Omaha WorldHerald. Strong found football as way to stay away from the gang life in North Omaha.

Other coaches and players across the country have helped keep their players off the streets as well. An article in the Omaha World-Herald mentions this, but do coaches have a responsibility to take care of players off the field?

My response to this question is a definitive yes.

Taking care of players on and off the field is easier said than done. Coaches are busy people. Most high school coaches are teachers as well. They have to create lesson plans, teach class, et cetera. Coaches also have personal lives.

They need time for their families as well.

Some players may think other players are receiving more attention than they are. In some cases they’re probably right, but sometimes that’s okay if someone needs extra help off the field. It may not seem fair, but extra attention could help an underprivileged player succeed.

If coaches do not help players outside of the lines, things can go bad in a hurry. I can think of many college and pro athletes who had talent enough to play, but issues away from the sport that led to their downfall. Imagine if a player such as Darryl Strawberry, a former MLB player whose career was cut short due to drug use, had been given counseling or help outside of the lines.

Strawberry had all the talent in the world, but made poor choices, and was never able to reach his full potential.

I think the best way high school coaches can help players is to stay on the players about their grades. An education opens up possibilities if a player does not succeed as an athlete. Most athletes do not play pro sports, which makes an education vital.

Other players have had careers that could have been lengthened by basic financial help. An example is Latrell Sprewell, who refused a three-year $27 million contract because he needed to “feed his family.” If Sprewell had a basic knowledge of personal finance, he might still be in the NBA. Sometimes, even though coaches try to help their players, it doesn’t work out. Calvin Strong’s case isn’t as perfect as it might seem. He still has to get good enough grades and an ACT score to be eligible for college.

It seems to me, North’s coach, Larry Martin, has done a great job, even with the academic challenges. Martin has been able to get to Strong. He has put in countless hours finding Strong help on and off the field.

Illustration by Doug Flakes

Dec. 13, 2013 11

Sports Photo illustration by Sarah Lemke, Allie Laing and James Buckley

New and improved restrooms will be more spacious.

Red field? Probably not, according to Kerkman.

The Warrior logo could be updated to the new one.

CHANGE IS COMING

The concession stands will be more spacious and have electricity.

The endzones could be all red or all black.

The numbers on the field could be red or black.

Phelps field to be renovated over summer

By James Buckley Sports writer Although the turf on Phelps field has seen numerous victories in football and soccer, even a state championship in boys soccer, its time has come to an end. Starting next year, Phelps Field will have brand new turf, as well as new concessions stands and bathrooms.

The current turf has been on the field for ten years, but the age isn’t the only reason for replacement.

“The turf has not passed the G-max test in some spots, so it’s time to get replaced,” Athletic Director Tom Kerkman said.

The G-max test is a standard test for all turf fields. A trained tester will come out with a hammer and drop it from two feet in the air to simulate a person’s head hitting the ground. The hammer attached has to see how fast it decelerates when it hits the ground.

If, when the hammer hits the ground, it decelerates slowly, then it means the field has passed the test. If the hammer stops slower, it means that the

turf will have more cushion, and create less of a chance for injuries to players.

When the turf was tested about two years ago, the white fibers on the yard lines were beginning to wear down, as well as seams ripping. Since then, initiatives have come into play to improve the field.

“It’s been a project going on with a committee,” Kerkman said. “We’ve had a committee of people from the ABC building, our CFO, Bob Zagozda; Rick Avard Director of Buildings, Grounds and Transportation; Tim Cox head of Westside Maintenance, and Varsity Football coach Brett Froendt” The committee has been working on the project since the poor results from the G-max test. At this xime, however, nothing is set in stone for the field.

“We have a lot of possibilities: different colored numbers, a new logo on the field or even a red field like Eastern Washington,” Kerkman said.

As for the concessions stands and bathrooms, Cox has an idea for the designs.

“Larger restrooms and a ticket booth area,” Cox said. “We’re still in the preliminaries on that. It’ll have electrical to support hot dog machines, hot chocolate machines, stuff like that. It’ll be larger

than the ones we have now.”

The cost of placing the new painted turf down is lower than expected, as well as the new concessions and bathrooms.

“The Westside Community School Foundations project, they’re raising money for that [the new turf], and they were looking at hopefully $200,000,” Kerkman said. “[For the concessions], the number the Foundation wants to spend is about $250,000.”

The foundation is funding this project through donations from alumni, businesses and other outlets.

The great thing about new turf is teams can practice right away.

“It could take four weeks to take the turf out and install the new turf,” Cox said. “Once that turf’s in, we’ll be able to play on it right away.”

Once all the money is raised, the project will begin over the summer, and will be ready for the start of fall sports next year.

With the turf put in, the renovations will be complete. The field will have changed, but the history made on it will always remain.

The

FACTS 4 weeks it will take for the new turf to be placed.

$200 cost, in thousands, of putting in new turf

12 DEC. 13, 2013

Sports

A LEVEL ABOVE

Seniors compete against nation’s best

By JACK COHEN SPORTS WRITER The national stage is where athletes show off their talents against the best competition. At the high school level, this is at AAU Basketball tournaments around the country, where athletes have the chance to compare themselves with the entire nation.

This summer, Westside varsity basketball forward senior Mike Kiger and point guard senior Kevin Metoyer tried out for the Omaha Sports Academy Crusaders national basketball team.

Both made the national team.

The OSA basketball team is a member of the Amateur Athletic Union. The AAU is a collection of basketball teams around the country that feature the highest-level high school talent, playing in select club leagues and teams.

At the high school level, OSA offers three teams: Regional 1, Regional 2 and National. The regional teams play in cities around the Midwest including Kearney and Kansas City. The National team plays on a much larger scale.

“Me and Kevin [Metoyer] were the only two Westside guys on the team,” Kiger said. “We had tournaments in Kansas City, St. Louis, a tournament here in Omaha and the biggest one in Las Vegas.”

At these tournaments, Metoyer and Kiger were competing against some of the best talent in the nation. Facing players of that caliber was beneficial for both of them.

“It made me more competitive, knowing that I could play with some of the top guys in the country,” Metoyer said.

Kiger thinks that playing with athletes of that level will help him outside of OSA.

“I think the experience will help a lot because the players have so much talent,” Kiger said. “We played against some of the top kids in the country. That competition will help us back here at the Metro.”

At the Las Vegas tournament, the team and Kiger had their most success.

“During the Las Vegas tournament I hadn’t played very well, but in the championship game against some team from California I had 26 points,” Kiger said. “We won the game and won the tournament.”

Winning the tournament was big, but it was not the most important thing Kiger took away from his time on the National team.

The most important lesson Kiger and Metoyer learned was the ability to form a team with new players in a short period of time. With Westside adding transfer Michael Herrmann, this will be important for not just Kiger and Metoyer but also for the varsity boys basketball team.

“Playing with new guys during the summer will help us learn to play with the new two transfers to Westside this year,” Kiger said. “If we can bond as a team, we really think the new guys can contribute a lot.”

After a difficult season last year in which Westside had a losing record of 11-12 and did not make the state playoffs, Kiger is confident the down year will be just that: one year. He thinks Westside will have a stronger season and be back into state title contention this season.

“Last year was a rebuilding season,” Kiger said.

“We had a lot of guys transfer [away from Westside]. It really made it a tough season for us. This year we have a lot of guys back. With the new guys and after a year of playing together, we feel that we have a real shot to make a run for and win state.”

‘‘

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IT made me more competitive, knowing that I could play with some of the top guys in the country.

Kevin Metoyer Westside Senior

Seniors Kevin Metoyer and Michael Kiger watch as their teammates shoot in warm-ups. Varsity and junior varsity practice is held in the main gym from 3:306 p.m. most days. Photo by Jakob Phillips

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Dec. 13, 201 13

Arts & Entertainment

THE DO’S AND DON’TS OF finals

Graphic by Estella Fox

NETFLIX

By Jace Wieseler A&E EDITOR Look around. It’s pretty obvious what time of year it is.

The IMC’s are packed full of kids.

Teachers are cranking out study guide after study guide, preparing for the time of year every high schooler dreads.

That kid next to you in large group is dozing off from last night’s studying.

The feeling in the air of Westside has slowly turned stressed.

It’s finals week.

Although the idea of packing five months of material into one test and actually having to study for it might seem impossible, it happens twice a year, every year, whether you like it or not.

While studying the night before doesn’t seem ideal to most people, this is what a lot of students, including senior Katy Kerby ,have done for the past three years.

“I usually cram the night before, but it depends on the class,” Kerby said.

So, if your studying habits are like Kerby, here are some helpful tips on how to study for finals: 1. Take breaks. Allowing yourself to take a 10-minute break every hour makes you work harder during the other 50 minutes. And if you’re one to put off studying until the last minute, this would be the time to get close with a cup of coffee or an energy drink. John Baylor, the CEO of John Baylor Test Prep, gave some tips on how to study more efficently for finals.

“Cramming for finals will create amnesia,” Baylor said.

“15-20 minutes of target review makes you more likely to be on demand. I also suggest you memorize things in shorthand, not in sentences, because you are most likely to remember things.”

2. Turn your phone off or put it out of sight. Turning your phone off will decrease distractions, and allow you to work harder at the task at hand. Hiding it will stop you from thinking about it or even wanting to turn it on. Instead of scrolling through Twitter or answering a text message every five minutes, you’ll be able to focus better on what you need to be doing.

3. Study in groups. This isn’t for everyone, but it does help with understanding concepts more thoroughly. By working together, you can get your work done faster and have others encouraging you to work harder. That is, if you study with the right people that don’t distract you or always get off task.

4. Prioritize. Studying on Wednesday night for a final that isn’t until Friday is probably not the best idea. Wait until the next night to do so. Think about which classes you’re struggling with the most and spend the most time on those.

But for some students studying a full semester’s worth of material for each of their classes isn’t their first priority.

“I don’t study for finals because it only counts for 10% of my final grade,” sophomore Ryan Sweeney said. “I just go home and go to bed.”

Here are some fun things to do if you’re like Sweeney and don’t like to study for finals.

1. Watch Netflix. Netflix has a wide variety of shows and movies, including some for the upcoming holidays. So, even if you do fail all your finals, you will still be able to say you finished a whole season of Gossip Girl in one night.

2. Go online. While you scroll through your Twitter feed, everyone else’s complaing will make you feel better about not studying. At the end of the day, you’ll be able to laugh and think, “Everyone’s going to fail anyway. Why study?”

3. Sleep. Although everyone else is up until the wee hours of the morning saying, “I can sleep when finals are over,” thinking they are going to ace the final, they are most likely wrong. According to the National Institutes of Health, sleep-deprived students have lower GPAs because of impacted memory and concentration. So while everyone is downing their coffee and energy drinks, you’ll be getting your full eight hours of sleep, fully prepared for the next day’s exams. Well, sort of.

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

TWINTUITION

Potash brothers explore New York jazz scene

By Grace fogland Feature editor

When Westside graduates Ezra Potash and his twin brother, Adeev Potash, listened to the cool trumpet sounds of jazz legend Wynton Marsalis for the first time on the radio when they were in 6th grade, they had no idea that they would one day be taught and mentored by the icon.

“In our sophomore year, my brother and I snuck backstage at Wynton’s concert in Lincoln at the Lied Center,” Ezra said. “He asked us if we had our horns with us. We did, and he gave us a minilesson on our instruments before he gave us his phone number and told us to contact him.”

Along with studying with Marsalis, the Potash twins have also studied with other big names in jazz, such as the trombone player for the Rolling Stones, David Taylor, trumpet player Jon Faddis, trumpeter Chris Botti, and trumpeter Wayne Bergeron.

“It’s been an unbelievable experience to study under such amazing jazz legends,” Adeev said. “I try and take the best things from each teacher, and put them all together in my playing. I also admire their personalities, stage presence, and leadership skills.”

Marsalis, who has been an inspiration and role model for the Potash twins ever since they first met, proved to be a valuable connection for both, as he has helped open many doors for them. He read their college essays, and helped them choose the colleges they would attend. Adeev goes to Purchase College in New York, and Ezra attends the Manhattan School of Music in New York.

“My favorite part of New York is the exposure to all different types of art forms,” Adeev said.

“We’ve formed close connections to some of the biggest names in jazz and entertainment by living close to the action.”

While Ezra also loves living in the big city, he finds it difficult to balance his schoolwork with his well.” career.

After they graduated from high school, Ezra “It’s hard because I’m on a full-ride scholarship so I have to work really hard in school,” Ezra said. and Adeev were invited to play at Love’s Arts and Jazz Center in Omaha.

“But I also want to do as much as I can career-wise. I’m very MY FAVORITE PART OF NEW YORK A year later, they were invited to be the Artistic busy all the time.”

IS THE EXPOSURE TO ALL DIFFERDirectors, an opportunity Adeev, who plays trumthey quickly took. They pet, and Ezra, who plays bass ENT TYPES OF ART FORMS. WE’ve have been the directors trombone and sousaphone, for about four months, perform daily around New formed close connections to and hope to bring famous York City at various clubs, some of the biggest names in jazz musicians from parties, and sometimes on the around the country to street. Over half of the music jazz and entertainment. perform at the club. The they play is their own compotwins return to Omaha sition. The twins released their about once or twice each first album, Twintuition, in month to perform at the 2012 after finishing the full alJazz Center. bum within two weeks.

“We want to bring mu“We play off of each other a lot,” Ezra said. “We usually don’t have to prepare sic and great jazz to people,” Adeev said. “Omaha anything too formal because we make it up on the needs more jazz.”

Adeev and Ezra also provide an education outspot. It works for us since we know each other so

‘‘

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Above: Adeev and Ezra Potash pose for a photo shoot in a street in New York City. The Potash twins met one of their idols, jazz musician Wynton Marsalis, backstage at the Lincoln Center in Lincoln when they were sophomores at Westside. Photo courtesy of Adeev Potash

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The Potash Twins have played at the Jazz Lincoln Center on occasion, and were invited to play at the annual music festival South by Southwest in Austin, Texas. They have also performed at the Berkshire Hathaway Shareholders Meeting for the past six years, since they were 14 years old.

“It’s kind of funny, when you think about it,” Adeev said. “One of the richest men in the world hired two 14-year olds to perform for him after we asked him. We promised we wouldn’t disappoint.”

The brothers attribute some of their success to the fact that they’re twins. They both have the same goal of making it big and trying to spread jazz throughout American culture again.

“Adeev and I are best friends,” Ezra said. “We do everything as a team and just have fun with it.

We don’t argue about anything because we’re too busy playing.”

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DEc 13, 2013 15

CLOSE TO HOME

New film hits hard for Midwestern audiences

By Tom Schueneman MANAGING EDITOR

David and Woody Grant, characters in Nebraska played by Will Forte and Bruce Dern, stand against a stark Midwestern background. Photo courtesy of Paramount Vintage

At first it seems only fitting that a film like Alexander Payne’s Nebraska would be released locally at a place like Film Streams. It makes sense that a well-regarded local director would choose it as the venue for the his new film about his home state. The small theater is known for showing independent, foreign or otherwise artistic films, and this film is certainly two of those three.

But at some point during the movie, it becomes apparent that there’s a certain irony to viewing a movie about the backside of Nebraska while surrounded by the genteel sort of moviegoers you’re likely to find at a place like Film Streams. It can feel a bit disingenuous at times.

Nebraska’s depiction of the Western edge of the Great Planes is a very austere one, and while it’s not technically inaccurate, some might have expected a more all-encompassing look at Nebraska from a movie named after the state. Still, while it can hit a little too close to home for a Midwestern audience, this same austerity has endeared it to critics, and it’s not hard to see why. Although viewing it from the perspective of a Midwesterner casts a slightly different light on the film, it still strikes an expert balance between realism and absurdity, humor and sincerity.

The film is centered on the 800 mile journey of a senile old man, Woody Grant (Bruce Dern) and his son Dave (Will Forte) from Billings, MO, to Lincoln, by way of the small, fictional western Nebraska town of Hawthorne, in which Woody spent most of his adult life in. The journey is motivated by a mailing Woody receives as part of a marketing scam, promising a million dollars to a lucky winner. While both his wife and his two adult sons try to explain that it’s a scam, Woody, who has always been gullible, insists that he wants his million dollars, and David, in need of a break from the dreary monotony of his life in Billings,

finally agrees to drive him to Lincoln.

Along the way, they are delayed in Hawthorne, and are eventually met by David’s brother Ross (Bob Odenkirk), and his mother Kate (June Squibb), and the four will spend the weekend with family still living there. A good portion of the movie is spent detailing the often interactions between the Grants’ immediate family, their extended family and old acquaintances, many of whom want some of Woody’s newfound “fortune.”

These interactions, whether they be sincere congratulations or pathetic attempts to get a piece of the money everyone seems to be convinced exists, have a certain quaintness to them that can be endearing, but also disheartening. Most of Hawthorn’s residents are of an advanced age, and consequently most of their conversations involve reflecting on the past. While these reflections are often entertaining, it’s also readily apparent that the current hardships of Hawthorn’s residents are not new. Hawthorne is in the western part of the state, closer to the Rockies than to the Missouri, where farming is much more difficult, but no less common.

The film paints a picture of a very tough, almost joyless way of life, leaving viewers with some interesting existential questions. But while these questions may have been purely hypothetical to the judges at the Cannes Film Festival, they’re a bit more pressing to anyone familiar with the setting and both physical and cultural. Even viewers from softer, more exciting parts of the region — like Omaha — will likely be almost uncomfortably familiar with the setting. But while it might not be as easy to watch under such circumstances, the film carries a lot more philosophical weight to anyone familiar with it, as they’ll be questioning not only the characters existence, but their own.

It’s the sort of film that demands to be thought about, and anyone willing to address its themes should make a point to see it.

16 DEC. 13, 2013

ARts & Entertainment

MAKING THE CUT

In hopes of beginning music careers, Westside students participate in national singing competitions

BECCA ERDMAN: THE VOICE

By Jace WiesEler A&E EDITOR Thousands of people lined the streets of St. Louis, waiting for the chance for their voices to be heard.

Nerves and excitement ran throughout the crowds of people. They all know what chances they had, and knew this was their one shot.

Among the thousands was junior Rebecca Erdman, waiting for her time to shine.

In order to try out for The Voice, NBC’s popular singing contest show, Erdman had to go through a lengthy audition.

“You waited outside for like two hours,” Erdman said. “Then they filed you into this big arena, and you checked in. They take you in groups of 10 to go audition in front of a co-producer, and if they like you, they tell you they want you back for another round.”

Her mind was racing. She made sure she was focused on performing with her facial expressions, and that everything was going smoothly, as she performed the Nina Simone song “Feeling Good.”

Unfortunately, Erdman didn’t make it to another round, nor did the majority of people.

“I never saw anyone get through to another round and I really didn’t expect to get to another round,” Erdman said. “I didn’t go in there thinking that this was going to make anything of me.”

Rebecca’s mom, Jill Erdman, played a part in her daughter’s auditions.

“I was able to watch her whole audition,” Jill said. “She did great. I was so excited. She was very confident.”

Although Erdman didn’t make it far, she did learn a few pointers for the next time she will try out.

“I gained a lot of tips on auditioning,” Erdman said. “I learned what the process is like, so next time I am able to go in knowing what it’s going to be like.”

In order to reach her expectations for the next show’s auditions, it takes hours of preparation.

“I practice for like three hours a week,” Erdman said. “I just go over the song and look up tips online on what I can do to improve not only my vocals but also my performance.”

Erdman is planning on trying out for The Voice again in Chicago this February, because the experience brought memories she won’t forget.

“When we were in the auditorium full of thousands of people, before they took anyone back to audition, everyone broke out in song,” Erdman said. “A lot of it was soul music since we were in St. Louis, and I didn’t know most of it, but one song was “Cups” from Pitch Perfect. It was like a movie. It was so cool experiencing so much talent in one group.”

Erdman is also open-minded about trying out for other shows.

“I’ve been thinking about auditioning for The Winner Is and The X Factor,” Erdman said. “I’m just going wherever it takes me.”

Although Erdman is not attached to any one show, she and her mom both agree on not trying out for American Idol.

“I like The Voice better than American Idol just because I think they’re a little more impartial,” Jill said.

For her next audition, Erdman is planning to sing “If I Were A Boy” by Beyoncé.

“It’s a song that I think my voice can perform well with,” Erdman said. “It really shows off my range.”

Erdman wants to do better on the next audition, and wants to improve her voice so she can get further on in the show.

“I don’t know if she will make a living in performing because I think that’s kind of hard to break into,” Jill said. “But I know she’ll do something with her music. She will always be singing in one way or another.”

However, Erdman is preparing to turn her passion into a full-time career by pursuing music therapy and music performance degrees in college.

“I’ve always been into singing,” Erdman said.

“Once we found the opportunity for me to do something bigger with my voice, we took it. It has always been a passion of mine, and it’s something that I’ve been blessed to do.”

Photos by Camile Messerley

The

FACTS 10

the number, in millions, of viewers of The Voice

5 the number of seasons of The Voice

15 the minimum age to audition for The Voice

NIKIA MCBRIDE: AMERICAN IDOL

By Nata Ward Feature EDITOR No matter where senior Nikia McBride looked, there was a camera, recording all the pacing, all the mumbling under her breath and all the other pre-show jitters that performing brought.

McBride was dressed in a pink patterned crop-top and a long black maxi skirt, with her hair curled and the number 26572 pinned to her clothes.

Jennifer Lopez was sitting just a few yards away at the judging table, and next to her, Keith Urban and Harry Connick, Jr., all waiting for the next contestant: McBride.

McBride tried not to think too much about how in a few months, her face was going to be broadcast on almost 30 million TV screens worldwide.

Instead she focused on the words repeating in her head: she was going to get that ticket to Hollywood if it was the last thing she did.

It had been a Saturday in August when McBride’s mother pointed out that American Idol was in town. Barely a day later, McBride found herself outside the CenturyLink Center with her mom and friend, junior Sam Colvin, wondering what her chances were of passing the first round.

There hadn’t been months of preparation or long hours in a studio rehearsing her audition song. She’d had only a day’s warning, the lyrics she could pull up on her iPhone, and a talent she’d been honing since she could walk.

Over 6,000 contestants were seated in the CenturyLink arena, waiting to be called down to the main floor to audition. For the first round, the judges told them to have three songs prepared.

For McBride that was “Unfaithful” by Rihanna, “Before He Cheats” by Carrie Underwood and “Right to Be Wrong” by Joss Stone. Unlike the other contestants in her group, McBride was told

to sing all three of her songs.

After a short time, the news came: McBride had become one of the 400 to make it to the second round.

“After I passed the first round, the next morning for no reason at all, my body was just so nervous that I woke up, and I started throwing up,” McBride said. “And my mom was like, ‘You just started the competition, you can’t start doing this already.’”

McBride didn’t have anything to worry about, though. The message from the judges was the same in the second round: we love you, your personality is great and you made it through to audition for the celebrity judges.

The celebrity judge round was the third and final cut before Hollywood. It is the round you will see on TV. Time after time, the judges told her she had the unique ability to make any song her own. Nobody had any doubts about her talent. McBride was determined to give it her all.

She sang.

McBride couldn’t see her mother once she was on stage, or Colvin. There were the judges and a few cameramen, all silent as McBride’s voice filled the room.

When she had finished, she knew she had done her best. Now it was up to the judges.

“Harry Connick, Jr., he was like, ‘You have an amazing voice, but you are 17, we don’t know if this is exactly what you want,’” McBride said. “He goes, ‘Come back next year. You can bypass the other rounds. You don’t have to do it. We’ll give you the ticket, and you’ll go straight to Hollywood.’”

In spite of not advancing her to the next round this year, the judges had nothing but compliments. McBride had the personality, she had the voice, and she was “drop-dead gorgeous.”

In addition, when she walked outside of the audition room, American Idol’s producer approached her. If the celebrity judges didn’t want her, then he did. He was going to fly her down to his studio and work with her there. So, although she wasn’t going to go any further in Season 13 of American Idol, in a few months she will be working with a professional in the music industry.

Although she didn’t make it to Hollywood this year, she will make an appearance on TV, created a support system from all the great people she had met, and learned more about the music industry.

“This year the only thing was to get my name out there,” McBride said. “Got it. Check. Done.

Then next year come this time, I’ll try out for The Voice and Idol again.”

Senior Nikia McBride poses in front of the American Idol logo during auditions. Omaha auditions started Aug. 11 at the CenturyLink Center. Photo courtesy of Nikia McBride