sleepless in stoughton the sleep issue
the norse star september 2015
stoughton high school
table of contents in this month’s issue
in this month’s issue
4 7 10 17 24
news
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The Norse Star staff explores lucid dreaming, the recent anniversary of the Stoughton tornado, and the lack of sleep students recieve at SHS. (Cover by Julia Olson, Ethan Genter, and Jon Klingenberg) TOC by: TJ Fedikovich, Graphics Editor
The energetic ‘80s sensation “Footloose” will be coming to the SHS theater department Oct. 16 and 17 at 7:00 p.m. and Oct. 18 at 2:00 p.m. Isaac Eugster, 12, discusses his lead role as Ren MacCormack in the show.
staff-ed
In this month’s Staff Ed, see our opinion on why it’s okay for women to reveal their most feminine piece of apparel.
in-depth Imagine your brain controlling your actions when you aren’t fully conscious. Welcome to the world of sleepwalking.
entertainment Trends and classics, love at first hanger. In this article you’ll hear why trends and classics are the perfect match and how to make your mornings less stressful.
sports Being underpaid as a professional athlete is problematic, but when the federation doesn’t even support its players, then whose job is it to compromise? Read more about the Australian Women’s National Team going on strike on page 24.
Editorial Policy: The Norse Star strives to present the news in a fair and unbiased manner. Any column, editorial, or letter to the editor expresses the opinion of the author and not necessarily the entire staff. The staff editorial does not necessarily reflect the views of the entire staff. The Norse Star is a public forum written and produced by the students of Stoughton High School, and they are solely responsible for its content. Students, staff, faculty, and members of the community are welcome to submit letters to the editor of 300 words or less. Letters may be edited due to space limitation, obscenities, or libel concerns. Norse Star will verify the authenticity of any letters sent on the behalf of school organizations or groups. All letters must be signed and placed in the Norse Star mailbox in the high school offices, mailed to The Norse Star, 600 Lincoln Ave, Stoughton WI, 53589, or emailed to Laura.Streyle@stoughtonk12.wi.us. The Norse Star Staff: Editor-in-Chief: Jon Klingenberg Assistant Editor: Ethan Genter Graphics Editor: TJ Fedikovich
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Head Artists: Seren Pellett, Joshua Bausch Opinions Editor: Rachel DelPizzo In-Depth Editor: Meredith Melland News Editor: Brandon Lamberty
Entertainment Editor: Connor Roisum Features Editor: Mallory Giesen Sports Editor: Julia Olson Business Manager: Gunnar Goetz
Staff Writers: Raya Castronovo, Kira Fields, Mikayla Frick, Bergen Gardner, Isabelle Genter, Garrett Kluever, Mya Lonnebotn, Neiya Brown
the norse star, september 2015
cut loose with footloose By Meredith Melland In-Depth Editor
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he Stoughton High School theater department will be performing the musical “Footloose” Oct. 16, 17, and 18 in the SHS auditorium. The musical is based on the 1984 hit movie “Footloose.” The show follows the story of Ren MacCormack, a teenager who has just moved from Chicago to the very small, conservative town of Bomont where dancing is banned. Though initially received as an outsider and trouble-maker, Ren shows the kids of Bomont how to cut loose, and with the help of some friends, works to lift the town’s ban on dancing for the good of all.
“He’s just trying to change the minds of everyone in the town and let everyone have a good time.” said senior Isaac Eugster, who stars as bold, charming outsider Ren MacCormack in the show. Other lead cast members include junior Bergen Gardner as the rebellious preacher’s daughter, Ariel, Connor Roisum as Reverend Shaw Moore, Julia Olson as Vi Moore, Gabe Ross as Ren’s best friend Willard, and Bailey Jerrick as Ariel’s goofy best friend Rusty. Eugster, who has been seen in SHS theater productions like “Harvey,” “The Drowsy Chaperone,” and “Shrek” consistently since 2013, mainly has excitement for the upcoming show. “It is my first major lead role, so that scares me, but still, I’m not worried. We got this, and this is going to be a really fun show.” Eugster said. The show, directed by DeeDee Bouzek, also has a team of students on stage crew and in pit orchestra. The show
has about 60 students in the cast and about another 20 who work behind the scenes. Last year’s musical, “Shrek,” was nominated for 14 TOMMY awards, and the cast and crew hope that “Footloose” will follow in its footsteps. The show will be at 7:00 p.m. on Oct. 16 and 17, and at 2:00 p.m. on Oct. 18. “I just want to give a huge shoutout to the cast for doing their best and all that stuff, and I’m proud of them, and I can’t
news wait for this show to happen because it’s awesome and it’s so much fun! And if anyone is ever interested in joining a show or trying out, don’t be afraid; it’s so much fun and the theater group or casts are so welcoming,” Eugster said. Tickets for the show will be available online at www. showtix4u.com. Adult tickets are $12, student tickets are $8, and every night there will be a student section in the back for only $5.
photo by meredith melland
Principal Dunbar (Broderick McCloskey, 10) yells at Ren MacCormack (Isaac Eugster, 12) while the student body looks on.
new teacher compensation plan introduced
By Seren Pellett Staff Writer ou may have noticed a surprising amount of new faces around the school this past month, and I’m not referring to the freshmen. It seems like everywhere you look there are unfamiliar teachers. In fact, we have lost around 20 of our staff this year. Many of the teachers who have stepped down have done so because of a new compensation plan, created over the summer. A necessary reference point to consider is that teachers leave our district every year, and we receive new staff every year. The difference this year is that we are not losing the very young, who often move on to a new district for the majority of their career, or the very old, who would be retiring. The majority of teacher resignations this past year have been teachers with years of experience at the height of their careers. Some believe that teachers feel devalued and disrespected by the new
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the norse star, september 2015
compensation plan, which, according to the Stoughton Courier Hub and commented on by Superintendent Tim Onsager, “divides educators into four color-coded levels: Green is the Initial Educator Level for people in the first few years of their career. Purple is the next one – and perhaps the category that most frustrated some educators, as it can include educators with anywhere from five to 20 or more years of experience.” This is difficult for teachers to accept because those who have more experience tend to be considered more valuable than those just beginning their careers, and as that is not the case, these educators are feeling rather slighted. “Purple are those who focus on the classroom, Blue is those who focus on the entire building and Orange is for ‘those who influence the system, ’Onsager explained.” Arguments against this plan include that teachers
are placed not on their pedagogical classroom skills, but on their involvement district wide, which some onlookers have claimed has nothing to do with teaching. Therefore, some teachers were put into a category that they felt did not match their teaching qualifications. These color-coded levels are also salary grades, with green being the lowest paying and orange the highest, so teachers cannot be expected to take their categorization lightly. However, the entire reason that the new plan was implemented was because our district could no longer afford to maintain the old compensation plan. In terms of funds and according to the theory of the planning committee, our options are somewhat limited. This is not to say we have no other choices, but starting from scratch at this point is not necessarily the most productive decision. The new plan isn’t all bad news, because it is
supposed to be affordable for the district. Another positive component is that no teacher will receive a decrease in pay with the new plan. In fact, some teachers received significant raises. Teachers also have a chance to self-evaluate, and about 70 percent were placed in the same category or higher than where they placed themselves, though some of these were after meeting to defend their positions. All in all there are positives and negatives to the new plan. Some would like to completely start over and many think we can build on it to create the best teacher compensation plan yet. Though it is widely agreed upon that the new plan needs improvement, scrapping the plan all together may not necessarily be the answer. Improvements and changes have been discussed for next year, and the conversation between the school board, administration and the staff is 3
news
kettle park west prepared for development
of 2014, and now work has commenced on developing Kettle Park West. The city borrowed money to help support the development of this district and expects it to increase the amount of tax revenue gathered from the area. “There is some difference in agreement as to what kind of city Stoughton should look like,” said Boersma. Some opponents
By Gunnar Goetz and Jon Klingenberg Business Manager and Editor-in-Chief having been elected in the ettle Park West is scheduled April prior. for development and could The first development agreebe seeing implementation of ment was signed in January business infrastructure for new businesses like Wal-Mart, McFarland State Bank, and Kwik Trip within the next year. “The first stage is probably 30-something acres that’s being developed with four stores . . . The second stage of development is going to be for commercial and retail. The third stage is where they’re going to start with the residential, and that’s on the back photo by gunnar goetz part of the property,” said Sid Boersma. Boersma is currently serving as a Stoughton City The beginning of the development in Kettle Park West. Council alderperson repre- Bulldozers and other machinery have already started to level the senting District 1 and has been surface in preparation of the construction of buildings. in office since June of 2014,
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of the development consider Stoughton to be a small quaint town and believe it should stay that way. Proponents wish for Stoughton to expand, similar to other previously smaller towns in our vicinity like Verona. Many of the intricate, underlying reasons for the development of this area have created controversy between the positives and negatives. The development of Kettle Park West will positively affect the city by increasing its tax revenue in the future, expand the retail options in Stoughton, and promote economic growth for Stoughton as a whole. On the other hand, the negatives are that large companies like Wal-Mart will create of competition against other businesses in Stoughton. Also, development is continuing to move west in Madison, but nothing is being developed on the east side. Kettle Park West has begun its transformation into a newly developed retail and housing district and will quickly house new businesses within 2016. The development has also allocated additional room for three more businesses in the area, although they have not yet been claimed.
super walmart pros and cons By Garrett Kluever
Pros
Satff Writer
$3.02 is the average amount of money a Stoughton resident will save on gas round trip by going to a Super Walmart in Stoughton rather than driving to the the closest one in Monona.
$3.02
The city estimates that 1,252 jobs would be created in the construction and running of the SuperCenter. This is a great opportunity for people who are searching for local employment, due to the current scarcity of Stoughton jobs.
20.3% 4
1252 Jobs
A study done by Lon Hatamiya of Davis, California showed that after a Super Walmart was implemented into communities, total taxable retail sales soared up by 20.3 percent.
Cons
art by connor roisum and josh bausch
$5.1 Million
A portion of the funding for the site will come from a $5.1 million dollar TIF (Tax Increment Financing) that the city of Stoughton has included in its budget. Through a poll done by the city, a majority of residents are upset that this large amount of money is not being spent on the aging infrastructure of the downtown.
25%
400
At any time, there are approximately 400 abandoned Walmart Local supermarkets are usually stores in the world. Most of hit the hardest with some com- these stay vacant for a long time munities having sales declines of because Walmart still owes lease independent grocery stores in the payments on these properties. reaching upwards of 25 percent. the norse star, september 2015
editor’s column
morbid humor distracted by the laughter By Jon Klingenberg Editor-in-Chief
ids these days have a twisted sense of humor. Death, disease, racism, sexism, and downright criminality are the themes of modern humor, and nobody seems to care. Should we be worried, or is it harmless when it’s in the form of a rib-tickler? I don’t know what to think. I mean, if a joke about a black guy walking into a bar isn’t meant with a sincere attitude of disparity, and nobody gets overtly affected by the joke, then is it a problem? Or is there a budding domino effect about to take place? One morbid joke maybe isn’t bad, but will we one day reach the point where we’ve taken it too far? One could argue that today’s generation is becoming desensitized to serious real world problems, but on the other hand, it can be said that this “humor” is keeping these topics alive and well known while simultaneously making
the norse star, september 2015
people laugh and have a good time. Could this new breed of dark comedy be a bizarre form of education for today’s problems, or are we too distracted by the
art by se ren pe lle tt
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intend this column to be more of a thoughtprovoker. So on that note, what do you think, dear reader? Do you find joy in jokes about AIDS? How about rape? Do you feel guilty when you laugh at one of the classic “go make me a sandwich, woman,” gut-busters? Or do you think it’s harmless? I mean, you aren’t
laughter to address the plagues of contemporary society? I myself don’t yet have a solid grasp on my own opinion for this situation. I
actually hurting anyone, which is true in many cases, so why should you feel bad? I want to feel bad if I, myself, crack a racist joke or two, but if I ask myself “why?” I can’t get a straight answer. I don’t think I harmed any of my friends. In fact, I made some of them laugh. I brought joy by cracking jokes about others’ misfortune, but it brought joy, so it has to be good, right? I don’t mean to be sarcastic
at all. This topic is not one that is to be addressed very often, at least not in my dayto-day environment. It’s one of those concepts that seems like it has an easy answer.
Are we too distracted by the laughter to address the plagues of contemporary society? You’d think we could all just say “oh of course it’s bad, because these are serious topics, not jokes!” But here’s the thing: if that were true, would we still be joking? I guess if I had to find a solution to this “problem,” I’d say that we aren’t considering morbid humor a problem because we aren’t talking about it on Twitter, yet. To put it simply, playing with matches isn’t harmful until you burn down the forest. Again I ask you, dear reader, how should we address morbid humor? Should we combat this concept, or should we keep it alive? Pros: keeps people up to date on what our problems are as society, brings joy to one’s peers. Cons: Makes fun of people who actually suffer from these problems, renders these problems as nothing more serious than a figurative heart attack. Is this “problem” even a problem? Or was this column a waste of space? Have you been living with a skewed opinion on the topic, or did you not have one until now? Like I said before, this is a thoughtprovoker. I didn’t write this to give you answers; I wrote this to look for some. 5
opinions
hipsters need to let loose By Mallory Giesen Features Editor
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don’t think it’s crazy of me to believe that you have to try really hard to only like extremely obscure indie and alternative bands. Does anyone else feel the strange pressure to avoid music by artists like Taylor Swift or bands like 5 Seconds of Summer? Do any of you also feel uncommonly cool when you listen to Arctic Monkeys, or do you like your music ‘cooler’ than that? I’m sure there are many of us who would be at least a little embarrassed to have someone find out that we have the whole Twilight soundtrack on our phone. Everyone is feeling inclined to be less mainstream in some way; that’s no secret to many of us. The hipster subculture is no
why we matter; the youth vote By Brandon Lamberty News Editor
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or most of us, we’ve lived our lives knowing only about politics through our parents. But if it’s our future, why do we let our parents lead our lives? Sometimes we don’t realize our opinion matters, but it does. And if you go to the primary on April 5 with no information other than what your parents have said, then you’re saying you don’t matter. But we do, WE MATTER!! We only have a few short months until we are able to participate 6
longer a subculture; it is alive pleasures are making us feel and thriving, and it’s making even more guilty than ever. No some of us afraid, and even one should feel bad for loving ashamed, to do certain One Direction, and things, even when no one no one should feel can see us. lucky for having We have all been organic food as a infected by someguilty pleasure if it’s only thing that’s called for the sake of being a “true mainstream-phobia. hipster.” Eat organic food I actually just made because you like it or that term up, but that don’t eat it because you doesn’t mean it’s not a real hate it. It’s that simple. thing. Today, everybody Maybe the whole wants to wear something concept of a hipster-weird or listen to someor the act of ignoring thing obscure, whether it’s the concept altogether something no one has heard so that you can be before, or something that the a hipster-- is all a true hipsters out there listen part of our generato, whoever they are. art by joshua bausch tion growing up. True hipsters are people When people look who really do have a neutral back on the 2010s, they will and carefree outlook on many remember hipsters and the way aspects of their own life. They we all became one to a certain just do what feels right, which extent, which is similar to the is indeed a very modern way way people look back on the of living, and that’s probably 1970s and think of all the radiwhy so many people began to cals, extremists, and all the new idolize them in the first place. ideas that changed the country. However, idolizing and So now that being a hipster trying to be more like a “true is built into our culture after hipster” is very degrading to these past several years, we’re our actual personalities. Guilty all transformed into our own
kind of hipster, which makes the idea of being a hipster really hard to grasp. We’ve all been living--brewing--in this hipster society. Our young minds and personalities have been altered and we don’t even know it. This is the point where I, personally, have given up. What even is “hipster?” I don’t think anyone knows for sure. But we do know that a big part of being hipster means being original, and we all possess originality just by being people, so what’s all the fuss about? Everyone has their own idea of who would pass as a hipster, and many people hate the idea of a hipster altogether. Wouldn’t that, in turn, make those people hipsters? Through the haze of my own confusion, the bit of advice I would give to you all is to stop trying to be hipster. My first reason for that piece of advice is that trying to be a hipster is exhausting. It’s just not worth it. My second reason is that you’re probably already a hipster; you just don’t know it. Does that make anyone take an internal sigh-of-relief?
in our democracy and truly be just middle aged people. treated as adults for once. Senior Samantha White When the 26th amendment said, “I think the biggest reason was added to the constitution, that young people don’t vote voter turnout for the youth vote is because they don’t think it was at nearly 50 percent. Today matters and that they aren’t it’s at 38 percent. That’s 12 per- informed about candidates.” cent of a growing demographic While White and I were disthat decided they don’t want to cussing this issue, I realized choose who runs that many young their country. “I think the biggest people just don’t Alongside that, understand govmany people reason that young ernment and would agree don’t know most of those people don’t vote is enough to vote. people that don’t Even though we vote are the ones because they don’t take at minimum that complain one semester how poor our think it matters of government, country and polmany students itics are, yet don’t and that they aren’t don’t absorb the bother to try knowledge and and change anyinformed about are still left conthing. According fused for their to CIRCLE, in lives. When I candidates.” Wisconsin, a asked White so-called swing -Samantha White what she thought state, the youth could be done vote is the second highest of to get more people to vote, she any state at 58 percent for the stated “I think more youth will 2012 presidential election. This vote if they are informed. I is a promising statistic because don’t think schools push voting it means our state vote properly enough. Government is only a reflects all age groups and not one semester required class, and
most kids don’t take it seriously.” While looking at statistics and demographic relations, I realized one thing is clear: if we don’t learn to vote now, we will never do it. Twenty years down the road we will end up with 10 percent voter turnout instead of the 61.2 percent it is now. Another reason why this is so important to our futures is that, according to CIVIC, “46 million young people ages 18-29 years old are eligible to vote, while 39 million seniors are eligible to vote.” There are more of us than them. We can change the future now. We don’t have to wait until we are 40 years old to run our democracy. We can change the future now. the norse star, september 2015
opinions - staff editorial
the booby trap B
oobs. A typical part of the feminine physique and the female body. A part of the body they can’t help that they have. The majority of people with breasts clothe them accordingly. They do so by wearing a bra. Now for some reason, a bra, which should only only send immature, prepubescent boys running in the opposite direction, also causes adults (some of whom have breasts of their own), to turn away in discomfort. Why is this? What part of a natural female body and the clothing that covers it is so ridiculously inappropriate? Women wear bras everyday, so that shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone. We all know what’s under a girl’s shirt. So why are we making it such a big deal? Women wear bras, and it should be acceptable for their bras to show. In today’s world a bra is an everyday essential piece of attire. It is a simple yet effective piece of clothing. Bras serve the purpose of providing comfort for the wearer and keeping everything in place. They offer lift and support and have been designed so that there are many options for shape and wear. Bras also create a sense of confidence for women and positive body image is always a plus. Bras can also be accessories. They have been making a bigger fashion statement more and more lately and matching your bra to your outfit is very in. Bras can add color and detail to outfits, especially since they come in many different patterns and materials.
Bras are cute, pretty, and fun articles of clothing. Bras are now being seen through shirts, across the backs of low cut shirts, and on the sides of more low hanging tank tops. To some people, the way they dress and fashion is their form of art. They take their bodies and their clothes and make it a beautiful masterpiece. By letting their bra show, women can embrace their body type and can continue to express themselves. So when their bras show, whether unintentionally or on purpose as a part of their outfit, no one has any right
“Honestly, I believe you should wear what you want and no one should tell you that it’s not okay.” -Nadia Dedie to make anyone cover up what is already covered and make them feel ashamed for the clothing they choose to wear. People have no right to shame and sexualize a piece of clothing and make women feel contrite about their body parts and their apparel. Doing so just creates a degrading and demeaning sense of worth (or lack thereof ) for women everywhere. It’s sexist and exasperating in the fact that women are treated as lesser, sexual beings and that men as well as women have any right to tell them how to dress, or express themselves
with their clothing. Dress codes and societal viewpoints that deter bras as a garment that needs to be covered for the sake of other’s potential offense, only creates a stigma that bras are completely sexual and should only be seen as inapt in everyday use. When women choose what they wear and how to display it, it only empowers them and their bodies and it defies the judgmental opinions of others. We spoke to two female students about their views on clothing choices involving bras. “I think that what people choose to wear is their own choice and it doesn’t really make any difference to me. It’s not really any of my business.” said SHS junior, Olivia Nortwen. Her nonchalant opinion on the matter is a great example of how clothing choice is your own and not really something other people have any say in. Sophomore Nadia Dedie shared her thoughts on the matter too expressing, “What’s the big deal with bras showing? A guy can get away with his underwear showing and no one makes a big deal of it, but God forbid a bra strap shows and suddenly it’s the end of the world.” It’s true that we have all lived through the saggy pants era and even though not everyone appreciated seeing their peer’s smiley face and American Eagle boxers, boys never had to deal with a restricting dress code that forbade the ‘fashion statement’ and no one
made too big of a deal out of it, letting boys do as they please. After all it’s their choice not to wear a belt. “Honestly, I believe you should wear what you want and no one should tell you that it’s not okay.” Dedie added. And that is the mantra that all women should live by. No one has any right to tell you how to dress, express, or present yourself. No one should have to restrict themselves through clothing. Reprimanding anyone for their apparel just teaches the wearer that their body and way of dressing is not acceptable and the people perceiving them that’s how they should be treated. There are so many issues in today’s society that involve sexism, feminism, and women’s issues as a whole. Society can never fully accept and appreciate a woman’s body. So the issue of a bra showing should not be an issue at all. There are larger problems at stake. If any woman chooses to have her bra show, it is ultimately her own decision, and no one has any right to to tell her otherwise. A woman’s bra can show if she wants it to. And society should accept that. So let women wave their lacy bras in pride.
art by seren pellett
the norse star, september 2015
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opinions
hate, not heritage why the confederate flag should be taken down across america By Isabelle Genter Staff Writer
veryone who has taken a E basic American history class will most likely know what
the Confederacy is, and hopefully, they will know what it stands for. For those of you who don’t know, or for those who just need some refreshing, the Confederacy was a southern alliance that consisted of the governments of 11 states who seceded from the Union following the election of President Abraham Lincoln in November of 1860. President Lincoln was opposed to slavery, both morally and politically. This made the people of the South feel as though their “way of life” was threatened. Hence, the Confederacy was formed with the goal of preserving the institution of slavery. Now, you would think that after the Confederacy was defeated, any symbols or emblems that had anything to do with it would have died, along with it. But that is not at all the case. The Confederate flag and racism as a whole are still very much alive.
“The Confederate government was built on ‘the great truth that the Negro is not equal to the white man.’ ” -Alexander H. Stephens Many Americans that are white like to believe that slavery, racism, and anything associated with either of those two things are a thing of the past, just a bump in the road on the long path of history. However, some of you might be surprised to 8
learn that such outdated ideas are still extremely prevalent to people of today. Whether we choose to acknowledge it or not, the Confederate flag, historically a flagrant symbol of hatred, racism, and white supremacy,
“It would be like having the swastika flag flying on your next-door neighbor.” -Whoopi Goldberg still flies all over America. Recently, I visited Alabama and I saw the Confederate flag in countless public places, including Wal-marts, gas stations, and many other places. I was amazed as to how this was allowed, so I decided to look into it a bit more. I discovered that the flag still flies in Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, Tennessee, Florida, and South Carolina. It is also used on license plates in Alabama, Georgia, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. Thinking that there had to be some sensible reason as to why such a racist symbol still existed, I did some research so as maybe to enlighten myself on some of the arguments supporting the Confederate flag. The primary reason supporting the flying of the Confederate flag says that it is a symbol of proud heritage and historical legacy. Granted, the flag does have some historical value and it should not be erased totally from history, but I do not believe that it is anything to be proud of. The Confederacy was built on the institution of slavery and racism. In fact, in 1861, the Vice President of
the Confederacy, Alexander H. Stephens, said that the Confederate government was built on “the great truth that the Negro is not equal to the white man.” Furthermore, the Confederate flag only began to fly alongside some Southern state flags in the ‘50s and ‘60s as a way to show resistance to racial desegregation, school integration, and civil rights. So it is obviously not meant to solely symbolize pride and heritage; it is just yet another reminder of our terribly dark past. As Whoopi Goldberg put it, “It would be like having the swastika flag flying on your next-door neighbor. That is a part of
history in Germany that they are struggling desperately to get away from.” And by the way, the Nazi swastika is illegal throughout most of Europe. So one would think that the Confederate flag (practically an equivalent to the swastika in American culture) would be illegal here. Instead however, it is seemingly embraced by Southerners, white supremacists, racist hate groups, and various other groups of the like. In addition, it is ignored by many people, which is just as unacceptable as endorsing it. By taking the Confederate flag down across America, I am not saying that we should forget about that time in history altogether. If we pretend like it never happened, that would be dishonoring the memories of everyone who fought and died so that all people (specifically people that are black) might have a brighter future. However, we can at least have the decency to not go waving around an inherently racist symbol in people’s faces and simply claiming it to be “pride” in our heritage. The sheer fact that we are having such a difficult time getting the Confederate flag to cease to be an ordinary phenomenon just goes to show how awfully far we are from true racial equality. If we cannot get rid of a mere symbol of racism, how can we expect to even begin to tackle the larger, art by seren pellett much more complex issue of real racism? the norse star, september 2015
clear eyes; sleepy eyes By Jon Klingenberg Editor-in-Chief
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eenagers like to be interested in weird things, especially things that alter their perception of reality. Since LSD is illegal and expensive, most opt for the alternative, safer, cheaper, and legaler method of tripping: lucid dreaming. I’m only mostly joking; the phenomenon of lucid dreaming was not born as an alternative to the hallucinogenic drug known as LSD, rather, it was born as the concept of being able to recognize that one is dreaming, while they are in the dream. In many cases of lucid dreaming, the dreamer can control the many aspects of their dream reality (but that is not necessarily guaranteed.)
How Lucid Dreaming Works Mrs. Toni Fischer, psychology teacher at Stoughton High School, says that lucid dreaming can be attained by anybody, but that dream control is more common amongst children due to their vast creativity. Fischer explained that lucid dreaming only happens when your brain is in a certain mode, and that mode is when your brain is producing alpha waves. Alpha waves are a form of brain activity that is very similar to what we have we’re one is awake. So to put it simply, lucid dreaming occurs when your body is asleep, but your brain believes it is awake. There are multiple stages during our normal sleep cycle where our brain is in the alpha wave mode, lucid dreaming is just a matter of realizing you are dreaming. “When you’re sitting in a class and maybe daydreaming about something and you can kind of be like ‘Oh I wish this would happen instead of that [in my dream,]’ that is the exact same thing as when you’re sleeping the norse star, september 2015
and having a lucid dream,” Fischer analogized about lucid dreaming, comparing it to when one is daydreaming, and consciously altering the events of their dream. In other words, pretending that one thing would happen instead of another, in a hypothetical scenario. Fischer explained that the biological aspect of lucid dreaming isn’t all that different from being awake. According to SHS’s psychology teacher, lucid dreams typically start out as normal dreams, but they become lucid when the dreamer notices any sort of inconsistency with reality. This could be the numbers on a clock are wrong, or people could be floating. Basically, finding anything that couldn’t happen in real life is your key to entering a lucid dream. Once one realizes these inconsistencies, logic takes dictation, and the dreamer knows they
in-depth are dreaming, because those strange occurrences wouldn’t happen in the real world.
The Benefits of Lucid Dreaming The ability to dream with lucidity is used by many as a tool for overcoming mental blockades. Anything from simple writer’s block to unsettled grief following the death of a loved one can be alleviated with a lucid dream. No guarantees, of course, Fischer for example recalls many of her own lucid dreams being nightmarish and unpleasant. Scientists and other professionals studying lucid dreaming believe that most people should learn this skill in order to improve their problem-solving ability. The ability to dream lucidly gives dreamers an opportunity to essentially “test out” different situations that could happen in the real world. Of course, not everybody can pick the situation they dream about, but for those who can encounter a lucid dream with dream control, the dream world becomes their oyster.
How to Lucid Dream “It takes some work, but it’s actually not impossible,” Fischer said in response to
art by joshua bausch
being asked how one achieves lucidity in their dreams. Fischer believes lucid dreaming is a skill that takes considerable practice, and it’s similar to meditation in that it might not work the first time. “Anyone that sleeps can do it,” said Fischer. “It’s just a matter of how much effort you want to, in the long run, put into it.” Fischer emphasized a common misbelief amongst interested students, and that is the belief that lucid dreaming works like the movie “Inception.” Fischer explained that even if one is lucid dreaming, they can’t control everything in the dream; not all lucid dreams are controllable. Some lucid dreams, Fischer explained, are nothing more than simply knowing you’re dreaming, but without the ability to do anything about it.
The Future of Lucid Dreaming Lucid dreaming is a topic of research popular amongst today’s psychological and neurological professionals. The topic of lucid dreaming has opened the door to more complex dream subjects, such as shared dreaming and false awakenings. Shared dreaming is exactly as it sounds, it’s the concept of two or more people sharing the same dream. False awakening is the concept that one wakes up from one dream, only to find themselves to still be dreaming. Both of these are topics toyed with in the movie “Inception,” and while the methods of doing so were not exactly scientifically accurate in the film, efforts are being made to learn more about these phenomena. Stephen LaBerge, a renowned leader in the study of lucid dreaming, has brought up the possibility that the dream world created by mutual dreaming may seem just as real as the physical world. This in itself creates the idea of a dream world, which in this case is created by two people sharing a dream, but obviously not everyone shares the same dream, so in theory, there are an infinite number of dream worlds, all built by our consciouses. However, research on this is still underway, so that’s a thought for another day. 9
we’re we’reyoung young. . . .
in-depth
By Neiya Brown and Meredith Melland By Neiya Brown and Meredith Melland Staff Writer and In-Depth Editor Staff Writer and In-Depth Editor :30 a.m. and Tommy’s Inotcontemplating whether or to hit the snooze button t’s 6
one more time. The night before, after play rehearsals and studying for the upcoming history test, Tommy went to bed at around 12:15 a.m. Waking up, he feels like he had just shut his eyes minutes ago and now it’s morning. Unfortunately, we are all a little like Tommy. A little tired, a little stressed, a little tempted to sleep in until 7:30 a.m., but that’s high school for you. As students we are burdened with the strenuous task of balancing grades, extracurriculars, and social lives. Although this is a stressful time, it is a precursor to higher education, and it’s a necessary step to gain the tools needed to construct a life for ourselves. With tight schedules and everyday stress, getting a good night’s rest is a must . . . but are we getting enough of it? In short, no. As said by Ms. Toni Fischer, Psychology teacher at Stoughton High School, the teenager’s biological clock is not in sync with a traditional school’s schedule. Our bodies do not wake up fully until 9:00 or 10:00 a.m. - around third hour. However, this fact is ignored and school starts two to three hours before most teenagers are biologically ready. Fischer says she’s been seeing sleep deprivation in students more and more over the years, and that while it doesn’t always affect grades, more often than not, it does. “Research,” adds Fischer, “shows that the lack of sleep is a big cause for depression in adoEst a to s blish ca ync a sl to b dian s hroni eep sc hed ed ys ze sam and wtem- t your c ule e ti ake ry to irme eve up at go ryd the ay. 10
lescents and can initiate ADHD-like symptoms. In the first 24 hours of sleep deprivation, you don’t see a lot of symptoms. It usually goes unnoticed because we compensate for it with coffee and other caffeinated beverages; as the days go on, however, memory begins to falter and it takes longer to do homework. In a survey sent out to Stoughton eching t l s u from o fal ing t away y y r a t t S hile gy w p nolo aslee High psych students, we found that about 73 percent of students experience drowsiness during school and fall asleep during class- 44 percent during first hour. Many students commented that they stay up late due to school work, jobs, and sometimes are just not able to fall asleep. Over multiple years, insomnia can have long-term effects on the everyday person. Samantha Sargee, a senior at SHS, has dealt with sleeping trouble for over five years. “Seventh grade was when I started sleeping somewhat irregularly . . . I couldn’t get to sleep and I couldn’t stay asleep.” Sargee’s sleeping problems weren’t originally caused because of a busy schedule. She suffered from insomnia. Even if she would go to bed early, she couldn’t fall asleep. “I’d wake up a lot throughout the night, and I’d check the clock,” Sargee said. In high school, she began to have severe headaches, which worsened her sleeping habits. Her body, though tired all of the time, adjusted to the lack of sleep. “Sophomore year, I would get four hours [of sleep] at most. I learned to function on
four hours pretty well,” Sargee said. That year, after chronic headaches and being
involved in activities like theater and Forensics, Sargee had her worst period of sleeping. She puts some of it down to the
Prac ti ritu ce relax als t i o ca ng bed befo l m re you time read you go dow to ing n teni , listen bed, lik ng t i e o ca ng or l islm m usic .
art by seren pellett
the norse star, september 2015
and andwe’re we’rerestless restless irregularity of her bed normal full-night’s sleep. time. Currently, Sargee works However, she believes that at Culver’s as a supervisor, and electronics are very prevalent enjoys her routine. “I close, I among teens at night, and that eat dinner, I shower, I do home- the amount of sleep teenagers work, and I’m usually in bed by are expected to get is unrealistic. 1:00 a.m. or 1:30 a.m. . . when “I know some people who I had sleeping problems, I’d be will wake up periodically in bed before that, but I would through the night solely to just stare at the ceiling. For check their phone,” Sargee hours,” Sargee commented. commented. Her sleeping problems have We know the problem, we improved, but they haven’t know the facts, we know the gone away completely. She stats, but what do we do about still experiences drowsiness it? While we can’t push back the during the day, and has caffein- time school starts, there ated Monster drinks when she are small things wants to get a boost of energy we can do to aid and feel more awake. in falling asleep. f a , About 95 perc Sargee does e v a . cent of the not subscribe t to 4h:00 p.m o 0 Stoughton n 0 : y to the idea Tr er 8 fter of sleep debt; feine a ise aft High rc p.m. e x the theory that School e r hours of sleep o students deprivation can that took our sleep only be made up survey said that they use if one sleeps them their cellphones or computers in addition to a right before bed. However,
in-depth
The lon t arily gest ti cutting off me stay a hou technology is rs! Th ed awa nyone a sure-fire vo k e Gar e re cord was fo lundne way to getr slee r 26 p-d , was p holder ting to bed 4 e a , p r R t e r i a nce ivat on time. c n i p d a y ion fair This pro ting in in 1 j a e 9 c 6 t means 5, d alm idn for a ost no funny cat 11 d ’t sleep scivideos or late night ays! for texts to Bae. Turn it off and keep it off to eradicate distractions. When dozing off during class, it helps to simply get a button, but pass for the bathroom or to get at the end of the a drink, just to get up and walk day, a goodnight’s sleep around a little. This extra burst is in the hands of the sleeper. of energy will wake you up and If you want to get more sleep, give you a little time to clear try to make sleep a priority your head before getting back and budget your time around to class. Another helpful tip is it. Do what you need to do to to not consume caffeine or arti- be successful. Schedules will get ficial sugars after 4 p.m. And if tighter and deadlines will be you really want to be a stickler, sooner, we need to be able to don’t exercise after 8 p.m. adapt to hectic lives and meet High school has made one our essential goals so that we phrase abundantly clear to busy can put our best foot forward. teenagers: life stops for no one. We are young, but we don’t Sure, we can hit the snooze have to be restless.
Results of SHS Student Sleep Survey What Time Students Go to Bed
Hours of Sleep Students Get per Night
Percentage of Students that Fall Asleep in Class
the norse star, september 2015
11
in-depth
no cure for the walkers By Mya Lonnebotn and Kira Fields Staff Writers
A
young boy, clearly underdressed for the weather, staggers unconsciously through a residential neighborhood at approximately 12:30 a.m. He is alone and wearing nothing but a thin cotton t-shirt and a pair of athletic shorts. His bare feet are saturated with cold dirty rain water, and he shivers without realizing it. It is a chilly spring night, and Aidan McGee is slowly moving further away from his home. He is in third grade and the year is 2008. Little does he know, his mind has involuntarily arisen him from his bed, and taken him down a flight of stairs, unlocked his front door, and sent him for a walk around the block. His parents are asleep soundly in their bed, unaware that their nine-year-old son is sleepwalking into what could be a dangerous situation. His eyes are open, yet they do not register their surroundings as he wanders to a large white house with a wraparound porch. Despite the late hour, soft yellow light can be seen escaping the windows. This boy, Aidan McGee, stumbles up the front steps and enters the home. Luckily, McGee had only ventured to a family friend’s house about a block away. He was safely brought home and doesn’t remember much about the incident today. Yet McGee’s parents didn’t forget so easily. His mother, Heather McGee said, “I actually slept in his room for months after that. And we put chairs in front of the doors for a while.” Heather said she wondered about what the outcome would have been if he had wandered somewhere else. “Luckily, he walked to the best house possible.” “My parents put a lock on the door higher than I could reach so it wouldn’t happen again,” recalled McGee. He said that prior to the incident, he had only slept walked to the couch occasionally, and after the neighborhood
incident, he was “creeped out.” Eventually, McGee said, “It just went away.”
Kira and I reached out to Dr. Doug Kratz, a chiropractor at Kratz Family Chiropractic in Stoughton. Kratz, a graduate of Palmer College of Chiropractic, has extensively studied the wcentral nervous system and discovered its connection to sleepwalking. He says that during sleepwalking, “the entire brain does not surrender to sleep, just part of it does.” When we questioned him about treatment for sleepwalkers he said that “[doctors] don’t try to do anything to cure it . . . they work to manage it.” Without a cure, families have to take it upon themselves to protect their sleepwalker. When trying to prevent an injury to the sleepwalker, Dr. Kratz recommended to “start locking the house up. You have to get sharp objects out of the room; you can set alarms up if a person starts walking . . . you have to clear the room like you would do for a small child.” Identifying a sleepwalker may at first seem like something out of a horror movie, because a sleepwalker’s eyes are open. Dr. Kratz commented, “basically what they’re doing is they’re trying to process their environment. So, sometimes their eyes are open but they’re not necessarily remembering or registering.” Therefore, after identifying a sleepwalker, the best solution is to just lead them back to bed. While waking them up may seem tempting, it can put the sleepwalker in a defensive state, as they are
trying to process what has happened to them. Now you may be thinking, “I’ve never slept walked,” but actually it’s likely that that’s not true. Most of the time, sleepwalkers have no idea that they’ve slept walked. According to Dr. Kratz, “Generally, it happens to everyone, to some degree. It might be as simple as a person getting up, getting out of bed, and then they wake up.” Sleepwalking can happen as a one time experience, but for Taylor Boegel, a 2015 SHS graduate, it would be a common occurrence in her life. Boegel was only in elementary school when her mother told her that she had been sleepwalking. Her mother claims that she [Boegel] walked into her parents’ bedroom during the night, then proceeded to spout nonsense. “When she [mom] told me about it the next day, being that I was just a kid, I thought it was the funniest thing. Sleepwalking was something that I thought only happened in movies.” Boegel said. From then on, Boegel’s sleepwalking experiences only got more complex. She stated that she has done everything from opening doors, having miscellaneous conversations, and even climbing down from her own dorm room bed.
Boegel sleepwalks frequently, especially during stressful times. According to clevelandclinic. org, stress is one key factor that causes sleepwalking. Boegel says that she has not seen a doctor about her sleepwalking episodes. After speaking with Dr. Kratz, it appears that even if she were to reach out to a health care provider, she would discover that there is no direct cure for it. Although sleepwalking has no cure, there are alternative methods of treatment besides medication. According to Mayoclinic.org, getting more sleep, establishing a regular bedtime routine, or identifying stress can help reduce sleepwalking. Sleepwalking is yet another example of how powerful the human brain and body can be. The process of sleepwalking is like a form of hypnosis, but controlled by the self. To McGee’s neighbors, at 12:30 a.m. on a spring morning, the house appears to be abandoned. The front door has been left wide open by a young sleepwalker. Inside the dim door frame is darkness and the unknown, an unknown that mirrors the vast mystery of sleepwalking.
art by seren pellett
12
the norse star, september 2015
features
looking through the eye of 2005 By Mikayla Frick Staff Writer
O
n Aug. 18 2005 the city of Stoughton was stirred by a ruinous F3 tornado. The winding storm has left unforgettable debris in the minds of its victims. Not only did the catastrophe cause major damage to the residences and neighborhoods of Stoughton, $42.53 million in total, but it also left families and individuals griefstricken. For many, memories may have come swirling back this past summer. Aug. 18 2015 marked one decade since the storm that devastated our town. And while our community suffered major loss, we came together to rebuild our town even stronger than before. The recovery process was challenging because of the ruthlessness of this storm. The Stoughton tornado ranked a three on the Fujita scale (a scale for rating tornado intensity from 0-5). It created winds up to 200 mph and hail in the surrounding region. The cyclone left a path of destruction stretching 10 miles long and a half mile wide. The most affected areas were rural subdivisions, farms and neighborhoods like Alice Circle. As many as 45 different homes were struck by the tornado. Fifteen of these homes were completely destroyed, leveled to the ground. This calamitous tornado was one of many within what reporters called a ‘tornado outbreak.’ It lasted eight hours and 40 minutes. Within that time 28 different
tornadoes were confirmed in southern Wisconsin. This is the largest number of tornadoes ever confirmed in a state within one day. The forceful tornado affected many. One of its victims, SHS student Megan Fisher and her family suffered a great loss from the 2005 tornado. When asked what she recalled from the haunting day, she responded with the terrifying details.. “It was around 6:30 p.m. I remember, dad was watching the weather. He told us all to go down into the basement. I was eight, the oldest, so I had to take my younger siblings downstairs.” Fisher’s house was one of the 15 that was completely leveled. “Then the power went out and it sounded like an A/C was coming on. Then it started to sound like a jet flying over. I saw the puke green sky above me; there was no ceiling anymore.” The Fisher family’s home was now nothing but the foundation. “We were all in shock.” This was only the beginning of the disaster the family and surrounding neighborhood were about to endure. “Dad went to go help the neighbor, but he didn’t get there in time. The one man who died was our neighbor.” Despite the traumatic evening, Megan said that there were people willing to start helping others. A neighbor had welcomed Megan and her
photos courtesy of fisher family
Fisher’s home after the tornado.
the norse star, september 2015
Fisher’s home before the wreckage.
“Then the power went out and it sounded like an A/C was coming on. Then it started to sound like a jet flying over. I saw the puke green sky above me; there was no ceiling anymore.” -Megan Fisher, 12 family into their home for a place to stay, “but we had to leave because of the possibility of a gas explosion. Then we had to stay at the Red Cross for a while. Then we got a rental house.” As the clean-up process followed, the true level of destruction was beginning to be discovered. “Everything was gone. Dad’s bills and letters were found blown to places like Waunakee.” Thankfully, help was on its way. “So many people we didn’t know came to help us pick up, invited us to stay at their houses. We got lots of donations, things like blankets and meals.” Megan and her family were very thankful for all of the care and assistance they received. They did as much as they could to help others, in
need as well. It seemed that no matter where you looked, there was somebody willing to help. Those who suffered were not left to do so alone. The Stoughton community united and assisted with jobs, from clean-up to fundraiser organization. Neighborhoods, family, and friends formed hardworking clean-up groups. All of the loss was soon redeemed by those who had support and time to dedicate to our recovery. A Stoughton Area Tornado Relief Fund was created. All of our efforts showed that in this setback, our small town proved capable of vast changes. When asked about the tornado’s 10 year anniversary this summer, Megan said a lot of feelings came back. “We built again in the same spot. It was weird thinking that 10 years ago today we had no house.” Her neighborhood had a get together, somewhat of a celebration of how far they have come since August of 2005. Today we still wear the scars of a destructive day 10 years ago, including the memories and homes lost, as well as life the tornado took. We have come a long way since then. Homes are rebuilt and families are cherishing the lives that have been spared, while also keeping the man who lost his life in their thoughts. The first moments after the disaster may have seemed like a battle we had lost, but in the end, Stoughton reclaimed its former closeknit, strong, and hard working reputation. 13
features - look of the lot
They are the disgraced, but the proud. We sneer at them, and call them crude names such as lemon, junker, and heap. They are the eyesores of Stoughton High School. We’re talking about cars, and more specifically, the most beat-up, part-missing, rusted-out, scratched-up heaps in the parking lot. Sound like your car? Have you been hit by a staff member? You might just be driving the next...
heap of the month
By Rachel DelPizzo Opinions Editor
“Death Trap”
photos by rachel delpizzo
Beebe leans against the crippled door of her Civic.
“Death Trap” by the numbers
Q
: What is the model of your car?
A: “Honda Civic 1997” Q: What’s the top speed you’ve gone in your car? A: “That’s a good question. I go pretty slow. . . out of fear of failure.” Q: What is your average mpg? A: “Probably like 35.” Q: How many feet of duct tape would you estimate are on your car? A: “Estimated? Two.” Q: What is your most memorable moment in the car? A: *chuckles*. . . “Every day is a memorable day with it. . . every day is a new adventure.” Q: Have you ever been pulled over? A: “No.” Q: What is the most unique feature of your car? 14
•funtional windows: 1.5
•hubcaps: 0
•mpg: 35
•wheels: 4
•funtional doors: 1
•estimated feet of duct tape: 2
A: “Well, you’ve got the dent, the window doesn’t open, and if you open it, it gets stuck, and they’re crank windows. . .it sings. Um, the roof is dented. . .” Q: Oh, how did that happen? A: “. . . climbing.” Q: Is that all? A: *laughs, and looks pointedly at me.* Q: So, what does your car
have? A: “It has. . . seats, it has working windshield wipers, the air conditioning works, but it does not have a radio. It has lots of stickers, it has bumper stickers, the leaky tire, and the leaky seat.” Q: How does your seat leak? A: “Well, it’s the passenger seat, and the door doesn’t close all the way.”
Q: What about the leaky tire? A: “I have a frequently leaking tire on the front left.” Q: It sings, can you tell me about that? A: “It squeaks and whistles, depending on what it feels like doing. . . oh and it’s got the names Deathtrap, Beast, and Dreamcatcher, because it catches your dreams, then eats them.” Q: Has your car ever died? A: “No. Yes! The ‘security system’ once locked me out. It also revs in park. You’ve also got the Hungarian bumper sticker. . .some guy chased me through the entire parking lot of Pick ‘N Save and Walmart, he was sweating and panting, and he was like, “I haven’t seen another Hungarian in Stoughton for 22 years”. . . I’m not even Hungarian.” the norse star, september 2015
features
the two slice tabacle By Ethan Genter Assistant Editor
art by joshua bausch
F
or the city of Stoughton, Tuesdays are a sacred day equivalent to that of Shabbat in the Jewish faith, or something of a weekly Christmas to Christians. This is, of course, because every Tuesday, Stoughton High School students and people from the all over the community will be itching for one thing and one thing only, lunchtime. Come Tuesday, there’s no parade, no big celebration, or even a piñata, but the rejoicing that comes with that hallowed mid-day break is unmatched by any other day of the week...because it’s TWO SLICE! The question as of late though has not been whether or not people will be racing to Yeti’s, Spinner’s, or Pizza Pit, but rather which cherished pizza joint they’ll be racing to. To help you find your perfect pie place and spot who’s on top, we’ve reviewed the crème de la crème of Stoughton’s hand-tossed.
Yeti’s Famous Pizza $4.00 (Ranch-25¢, To-Go Box-25¢) Two slices of pizza One 20 oz. fountain drink
Pizza Pit $4.50
Two slices of pizza One 16 oz. bottled drink One large breadstick
Spinner’s Pizza $5.00
The Pizza: Crust: The not-a-thin-crust thin-crust that offers the classic cracker bite at the end of each slice. It’s not strong enough to support the entire pizza though, so you may find yourself using two hands or folding each slice in half. Sauce: Yeti’s signature sauce is sweet with a spicy edge that mixes well with other ingredients and sets it apart from other pizza joints. Cheese: Extra fresh cheese that melts nicely across the entire pizza. You’ll be sure to enjoy this glistening, artisan curd and also be thankful for it when it comes to containing the sometimes sloppy slices. Overall: The sheer size of this famous pizza is not the only thing that’ll get your mouth drooling, Yeti’s has an unmatched taste that, pizza-wise, seems to put it head and shoulders above the competition.
The Pizza: Crust: Thick, soft, and buttery, with lots of room to hold. Sauce: Typical tomato sauce, generously added to match the thick crust, but no Yeti’s. Cheese: Nice and gooey, but lacking style. Overall: The Pit offers two nice sized pieces of a carb-lover’s pizza with a filling taste that’s sure to please.
The Pizza: Crust: A squishy crust that will go well with your breadstick sauce after you’ve run out of breadsticks. Sauce: A fresh sauce that’s sure to get your mouth tingling, although sometimes in excess. Cheese: A hearty and comforting cheese that’ll stretch to the limit to prove it. Overall: A time-honored pizza with a timehonored taste that could make you think twice before you follow the crowd to Yeti’s.
“Yeti’s is just the best, and it’s tradition. Also I heard that Spinner’s chickens aren’t even free-range,“ -Spencer Weeden. Everything Else: Every third day of the week, countless traffic laws are broken in an effort to avoid the outthe-door line you’ll find yourself standing in, waiting for that sweet embrace of a hot plate or box in your anxious hands that has become a tradition. Of course this can lead to quite a limited seating situation in the restaurant, but if you are lucky enough to snag a spot, then you’ll find yourself in quite an alluring and exciting buzz of pizza activity. And if the chewing ever gets too monotonous then just look around the room, because the rustic, yeti-themed decor will keep you engrossed in more than the pizza during your visit.
“Pizza Pit has great sauce, and the best dough. Yeti’s crust is disgusting and Spinner’s cheese tastes like rubber,” -Jessica Diebold and Savannah Heisig.
Everything Else: Pizza Pit is really small, as in, there’s a counter and a bench--not too many places to sit--but that’s okay because they make up for it in proximity. Located in the strip mall across from Dollar General, Pizza Pit is a couple minute walk down Lincoln Ave. for any hungry students without a car. Already boxed and ready to go, Pizza Pit makes it as easy as picking out a drink, paying, and going in a minute or less because they almost never have a line! While they are the only two slice pizza place without refillable drinks, Pizza Pit remedies less drink volume with the most drink options, and just check out that big breadstick!
Two slices of pizza Two small breadsticks with sauce One 20 oz. fountain drink
Everything Else: Can you say, “U.S.A.?” If you can’t then get ready for Spinner’s Pizza, because this pizza joint will have you seeing red, white, and blue from the second you walk in, until your tummy-filled departure. Heck, even the sauce is red! Even if you’re no Uncle Sam, Spinners still has a few exclusive things you can’t find anywhere else. From free wi-fi, to television, to a nice carpeted wall at the counter for your hand’s pleasure (just in case you get a little nervous in anticipation of ordering), you’re sure to feel comfortable on the other side of 51. Plus, unlike Yeti’s and Pizza Pit, finding a spot to sit is never a problem. “Spinner’s is the best, it’s all about the breadsticks and they’ve got some amazing breadsticks. They’re better than Pizza Pit’s one breadstick, and Yeti’s doesn’t have any,” -Lexie Fitzsimmons. photos by ethan genter
The Verdict: While it’s tough to tell who has the best pizza, I’d say that Yeti’s is nothing short of famous in taste. But if you’ve got the time to sit down and eat you might want to venture over to Spinner’s where you’ll never have trouble finding a spot. If you don’t have a car, a ride, an hour lunch, or plan on running to lunch, then it only makes sense to head next door to Pizza Pit. In the end, all three pizza joints offer a great deal every Tuesday, but if I was to pick one, it’d have to be...Di Giorno. the norse star, september 2015
15
features - artist of the month
throwing his passion By Brandon Lamberty News Editor
R
egistering for classes freshman year is a daunting task. You are told what classes to take for most of your day, and for the rest you have guidelines you have to follow. Many kids end up in basic art 3-D, but few find their passion through a window during that class. For senior Malik Mitchell, it was that exact situation that led him to one of his passions today. By creating beautiful works of arts with his hands, some clay (and a throwing table of course), Mitchell
discovered a new and exciting part of his life. The intriguing thing many people say about Mitchell is that when you first meet him, you would never guess he enjoys making pottery and is so talented at it. He seems like your average high schooler, hanging out with friends and playing basketball at lunch, but he always finds time for ceramics. The windows in room 504 that separate the art and ceramic areas became a gateway for Mitchell to find his future. Since Mitchell first tried ceramics freshman year, he has started teaching a workshop at the Stoughton Youth Center for anyone in fifth-12th grades who wants to learn how to throw a pot. Being able to teach and
introduce one of his interests to young people is something very special to him. If you’re interested in learning, he runs the free class on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the youth center from 4p.m. until 5p.m. He is always looking for more people that want to share his passion but aren’t able to take the class through the high school.
“The windows in room 504 that separate the art and ceramic areas became a gateway for Mitchell to find his future.” While some people would say throwing the clay is their favorite part, Mitchell enjoys seeing the finished project over anything. One of his favorite pieces that he can create would be lamps. “Making lamps is definitely my favorite,” stated Mitchell. He not only makes the base, but actually adds in the wires to create a working lamp. For most high school students, the
most in-depth they get is creating pots and occasionally a sculpture, but almost never a working lamp. His friends are also very supportive of his passion, even going so far as to learn from him at the youth center. Senior Jimmy Edgington is a self-proclaimed “student” of Mitchell, watching Mitchell nearly every day during lunch to try and learn something new, and senior Austin Debroux said that Mitchell “has shown me a lot of stuff.” Debroux was able to learn how to do a few new pots and a more effective way to glaze. Being able to share a somewhat unlikely hobby with some of his closest friends makes ceramics even more enjoyable. During lunch, they are all smiles and laughs while doing the pottery, and always very supportive of each other. If you ever get the chance, you should talk to Mitchell about ceramics and look into taking even just one class. It’s definitely worth it. And if you can’t, go take a look at some of his work. It’s outstanding. You can find some of his best pieces in room 504 and often find him carrying a new piece around school.
photos by brandon lamberty
The first step in the process is to throw the clay on the table and make the pottery. Senior Malik Mitchell has become nearly an expert with ceramics. 16
Once it’s made and settled, it gets cooked once in the kiln. Allowing the pot to harden without becoming brittle is the key to ceramics.
After it’s cooked and hardened, the pot is glazed with special ceramic glaze. At this point, the pot is fired again and then it will be considered finished. the norse star, september 2015
entertainment
trends and classics: love at first hanger By Bergen Gardner Staff Writer
I
art by seren pellett and joshua bausch
f you’re anything like me, you’re probably constantly thinking you have nothing to wear. In reality though, I’m just overwhelmed by how much I actually have to wear. My closet is overflowing with possibilities, and in the 30 minutes I have to get ready for school, trying to plan a runway-worthy look isn’t easy. I splurge on the classic pieces, save on the trends, put outfits together as I go, and most importantly, I choose the clothes that make me feel most beautiful. Here are a few ways I created my dream closet. Everyone wants to be told why they look nice or asked, “Where’d you get those?” But you don’t need to constantly be dressing “on trend” to get this response. Instead, you need to mix your crop tops and Doc Martens with some classic items, also known as staples which will last forever and always be an important piece of your wardrobe. There are a few items I consider classic pieces:
jeans, pencil skirts, button downs, a go-to jacket, a little black dress, and sweaters. For a bangin’ fall and winter closet, these six staples are must-haves because when you walk down the hall in your favorite style of sweater, you will feel beautiful, and people will recognize that beauty as who you are. As far as addition’s go, you will want to splurge on classics. And by splurge, I mean spend the extra cash to get the best quality. When it comes to the pieces you want to last forever, quality over quantity is the way to go. The arrival of a new trend is just what you need when you are feeling bored with your wardrobe. Not everyone is fashion savvy, and maybe you don’t know where to even begin looking for what is on trend. In that case, look all around you. What is “everyone” wearing? Right now, Birkenstocks are the hottest trend at Stoughton, and even on the runways. Anything can be a trend. Trendiest fruit? Pineapple. Trendiest animal? Elephant. So, if just wearing classics is tiring you, look for
the trends. Tired grab a hanger from my closet of wearing the and put the outfit on saves me same old riding 10-20 minutes every morning, boots? Think just enough time to get some about an over- real coffee. the-knee pair. But I used to choose clothes let’s be careful here. Pairing based on what’s popular and over-the-knee boots with a long what hopefully would make me pleated skirt and a romantic feel happy. But this just led to victorian blouse would look chaotic rushing and worry that ridiculous because I wasn’t going too many trends to get out of the at once will disAlways wear house on time. tract from what I made my life is importantwhat makes you less hectic by -you. Remember, adding some trends and classics feel beautiful, classic pieces are a match made to the trends in heaven. So not what people and put them don’t totally give together on into the trends the hanger will that will only before shoving last a heartbeat. compliment the them into my Instead, pair your closet. You can, old, classic jeans too! Classics most. with a new trend, and trends are like totally walletsuch a match friendly boots, and you have a because by putting them “most fashionable” in the year- together, I create an outfit that book-worthy outfit. screams “me”. I always tell When you shop, don’t just myself that my outfit needs a buy random things. Each pur- bit of edge before it is complete chase needs to have a purpose. because that edge is me. Always To keep things easy in the wear what makes you feel beaumorning, hang up and pur- tiful, not what people will chase outfits as a whole. Every compliment the most. Because, top has a bottom. Every plain honestly, you should love what piece has a bit of edge to go you’re wearing so much that with it. And of course, shoes you don’t have to wait for a have free reign over every outfit. compliment from someone. I know that being able to just You can compliment yourself.
the norse star, september 2015
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entertainment
By Connor Roisum Entertainment Editor
art by connor roisum
O
h my god. What have I done!?” I said aloud to myself as I entered the land of Lordran, a realm populated by giant, poisonous “ rats, undead soldiers with the intent only to kill, humans who managed to stay alive in this age of fire who are straight-up annoying, and Black Knights who are sure to tear you a new one. But where am I? What could this desolate world possibly be? Oh, that’s right. It’s DARK SOULS, the game that has its own special section in my mind. It’s a thought world that I’d like to ignore once in awhile, but it keeps calling back to me, begging to be played again and again like an addiction. Most times, temptation takes over and I’ll play in this rotting world for hours, even though I have a pile of homework to finish. And, after 123 hours as I enter NG+2 (New Game plus, third playthrough), I often find myself wondering if I could have gotten to this playthrough sooner if I had only a vague idea of what this world had in store for me. I’m not talking about a walkthrough per say, but tips to help me thrive in this virtual Hell. And as a game that has landed on lists of the world’s hardest games, I’m sure there are other poor souls who wished they had this knowledge, as well. So, here it is, a list of the most useful tips in DARK SOULS that is guaranteed to reduce controller-throwing, wall-punching rage as you play through this game that only Satan could have created.
OTHER PLAYERS CAN, AND WILL INVADE YOUR GAME FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THINGS HOLY, ANOR LONDO, THE CITY OF GODS, IS wish I could have known MEANT FOR GODS DONT CONFRONT A BLACK KNIGHT what the first tolerable human
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hen I first started my game, I was like a little kid starting Kindergarten. I was nervous about the world around me, the people in it, and didn’t know anything about the road ahead. My first painful lesson I learned from DARK SOULS was being ransacked by a Black Knight. Probably the coolest but most terrifying enemy in DARK SOULS is the first Black Knight you encounter which has a starting HP (Health Points) of 497. A regular, undead soldier has an HP bar of only 102, which can still be a daunting task. Consider this as you start your game, and also that you can only deal out very little damage, and it takes multiple hits to kill. So, as you take that into account, you can imagine how many hits you have to land on a Black Knight, all the while it is trying to disembowel you like it ain’t no thing. And, as I said before, that is only the first of twelve Black Knights that you face throughout your travels through the land of Lordran.
characters and title inspired by from software
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hroughout the game, you learn that the undead character you are playing as, is tasked with a quest that almost every undead has hoped to complete. And as you prove your worth throughout the game, you will make it to Anor Londo, The City of Gods. In this city there are Sentinels, Silver knights with ridiculously large bows that will send you flying and hurtling off a bridge, and two enemies you had faced before as bosses. But the real thorn, or in this case lightning spear, in your side is the boss duo Ornstein and Smough. This boss fight is by far one of the most rage inducing fights I’ve ever had, and I’ve beaten this game twice now. Both times, this dynamic duo has been as hard to hit as hitting a Blue Angel jet and a tank with a flyswatter. My suggestion with these guys is to take them on one at a time. Kill one of them because the surviving one will absorb his fallen ally, Smough will gain lighting abilities, and Ornstein becomes a giant while keeping his incredible speed. Additionally, all HP you have taken away from them will be recovered. In this fight, there is no easy way to beat these guys; all you can really do is dodge, and dodge like there is no tomorrow.
DYING IS THE ONLY WAY TO LEARN
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I met, Solaire of Astora, had meant when he first told me, “We are amidst strange beings, in a strange land. The flow of time itself is convoluted; with heroes centuries old phasing in and out. The very fabric wavers, and relations shift and obscure.” Put very simply, the game was telling me Player vs. Player is a feature in this game. I had not realized this, which is why I was freaking out when a black textbox at the bottom flashed, “Dark spirit ‘1NS3R+_N4M3_ H3R3’ has invaded!” I tried to run to the nearest bonfire, only to be stabbed in the back and ultimately killed by another player who had way more hours of gameplay logged on their profile than me. By doing this, he stole my souls, humanity, and worst of all, my innocence. This murder caused me to undergo a metamorphosis, from a once innocent man, to a player killer who will do unto others that which had been done unto myself, showing no mercy and gaining a nice sum of souls.
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ARK SOULS is not a game that rewards players for being clever. Right off the bat the game shows how much of a lowly being you are. You are a human who is inflicted with the curse of the undead, doomed to be reborn after each death and to one day go insane and become hollow. You get no special treatment. Ever. So in order to traverse any dungeon, you must die in order to learn the artificial intelligence of certain enemies (here’s to you, mushroom men on steroids!), you must learn that certain obstacles will most definitely harm you (I’m talking about you Lost Izalith), and even learn that there is a boss fight that is programed to make you lose in order to progress through the story (why, Seath The Scaleless, why?). But, if you learn anything, it’s that this game takes patience and you should trust almost no one in the SOULS series. So, as you sit there helplessly exclaiming about confusion, I hope these tips will make your experience with DARK SOULS a lot less stressful. I don’t doubt for a second though that you won’t enjoy this game, just be patient with it and try not to punch a hole in your TV. So be careful out there; neither of us want to see you go hollow.
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the norse star, september 2015
entertainment
word in the halls what’s your weirdest dream? by Joshua Bausch Staff Writer
“Being chased by a rogue ferris wheel. It’s terrifying.” -Andrew Beszhak, 12
“I went to this school to play volleyball, and weeks later I was at that school.” -Rebecca Hammond, 11
“I was riding around on a unicorn being chased by a robot.” -Parker Stolen, 9
“All the students in the school took care of their trays and took them back to the lunch room.” -Mr. Ashmore
“Captain Hook chased me through my house and tried to kill me.” -Arianna Standard, 12
nickelodeon studios
“I was at a friend’s house and a King Kong-sized Blue’s Clues killed us.” -Sam McHone, 10
“This guy came to my house and captured me. I jumped out of his car and hit a sign.” -David Tessier, 9
“I’m killed a lot... so is my family.” -Kiley Lynch, 11
walt disney pictures
“Me and Pooh Bear escaped a city.” -Hannah Hobson, 12
“I met Sharkboy and Lavagirl.” -Emma Gunsolus, 10
“My whole family was ninjas, and my mom was the head ninja. It was weird ‘cause she’s short.” -Ailis Montgomery, 10
“I was in my church and there was this bathtub with my dad in it, but he was a duck.” -Tyler Stormont, 12
“I can’t even say that one...” -Gracia Nauman, 12
“Eating all the food in the pantry, then waking up with food in my bed.” -Savannah Stewart, 9
“There was a sleepover at school, and this big bird kept biting me.” -Haley Nordstrom, 10
“I was rolling down a hill in a garbage can, and then I rolled off my bed in real life.” -Colette Vitiritti, 10
“I got flushed down a toilet.” Chase McMillan, 10 art by joshua bausch
the norse star, september 2015
19
entertainment
lovable lianne By Meredith Melland In-Depth Editor
ianne la Havas’ voice is a L freshly-baked, homemade chocolate chip cookie; warm,
melting, and bringing joy to whomever gets a taste. You’re not familiar with the songstress? The British songwriter has been abuzz in the music world since the release of her debut album “Is Your Love Big Enough?” in 2012, and now she’s back and ready to charm the world once more with her rich, calming, and intricate sophomore record “Blood.” Lianne’s style is hard to define; I guess I would describe it as a soulful, Sunday morning kind of indie pop, reminiscent of Noisettes, Jill Scott and early Alicia Keys. “Blood” is bold, soothing, visceral, and pure,
tell your friends By TJ Fedikovich Graphics Editor
republic records
ot off the trails of 50 Shades H of Grey, The Weeknd has been firing on all cylinders
recently with his new album release, Beauty Behind The Madness on Aug. 28th. This album features several mainstream artists including Lana Del Rey, Labrinth, and Ed Sheeran. All of which do a phenomenal job on the record. Being a fan of The Weeknd before he really blew up, I was looking forward to another
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and it will delight fans both new and old. I first fell in love with Lianne when I listened to the haunting yet comforting vocals of her first album, specifically her single “No Room for Doubt,” and I realized that she had the warmest voice I’d ever heard. That album had a natural acoustic feel that showcased la Havas’ voice. “Blood” was inspired by Lianne diving back into her Greek and Jamaican roots. It contrasts nicely as a stronger, more neo-soul release. The album’s first single, “Unstoppable,” is like a wave of pure bliss. It reminds me of slowly waking up in the sunlight after a deep sleep, where part of your brain is still in a happy, foggy dreamscape. It makes you simultaneously want to relax and do something impossible. “Green and Gold” somehow manages to be an acoustic funk jam that conjures up nostalgia of being a child. “What You Don’t Do” is the most energetic song on classic album that I could recognize and really vibe to.The album begins with “Real Life,” a track that instantly perked my ears up and pushed me to keep listening. The song, soothing yet refreshing, automatically gives you a taste of which direction the album leans towards. Another track that really stands out to me is “Dark Times,” featuring Ed Sheeran. The combination of their voices on this is truly unbelievable. The gloomy undertone draws you in right away, leaving you wanting more. The chorus to me felt addicting, as if I just wanted to listen to it on repeat. This was definitely one of the songs from the album that I could not get out of my head. Furthermore, the obvious singles off the album that have destroyed the radio recently includes “Often,” “The Hills,” “Earned It,” and “Can’t Feel My Face.” All of which have a unique sound to them that differs one from the other but still offers a bit of intrigue. Overall, I am heavily satisfied with this new album and I’d have to put it in my top five. As a fan of The Weeknd before he became mainstream, I was afraid that this album wouldn’t live up to all of the classics he has released before. I definitely was not let down.
the album, and it’s an ode to every couple that doesn’t need grand gestures to prove affection. “Tokyo” sounds distant and and embodies the feeling of being alone in a foreign city. There’s an old-school R&B vibe to “Midnight,” which features a base of plunky keyboards, backup vocals, and horns. “Never Get Enough” has a strong rock chorus that provides a nice change of pace. However, the song that surprised me the most on this album is “Ghost.” It consists of just Lianne, her guitar, and some background echoes. The gorgeous song is alternately sublime and full of regret. “Grow” is the only track on the album that I haven’t enjoyed. It’s very passionate and dramatic, but the production of the track takes away from the beauty of Lianne’s voice. Hopefully, it’ll grow on me. I love this album. Lianne la Havas creates tangible, inspiring lyrics that mesh well with her tracks of layering, plucked guitar, and unique
warner bros.
vocal texture. This album takes on more than the quaint, seaside tunes and heart-wrenching ballads of the debut; it shows a maturing artist with emotions that are more complex and relatable than ever. Musically, this album has something for everyone: laid-back jams, R&B funk, acoustic goodness, dance tunes, and emotional ballads. Lianne la Havas is flourishing like a flower as an artist, and she deserves to be universally loved like a chocolate chip cookie.
little by little, you’ll love it By Rachel DelPizzo Opinions Editor you are looking for a serious Ipower, album chock full of purpose, and principles, you have f
come to the wrong place. Jon Fratelli is a poppy, sloppy, fun fellow who, with his band, leads listeners on a catchy journey. This is especially true in The Fratellis’ fourth studio album Eyes Wide, Tongue Tied. Put out by this band of Scottsmen, the album has a very easy going and somewhat catchy vibe. If you’re looking to hear a few fun tracks without having to listen to a full album, I’d recommend “Imposters (little by little),” this track is a classic example of what the band is about. If you’re
cooking vinyl
familiar with The Fratellis and their vibe, it’s likely that you will immediately recognize this track as the Fratelli brothers doing what they do best: rock out. Other fun tracks include “Baby Don’t You Lie To Me!” and/or “Medusa In Chains.” The aforementioned track, “Medusa In Chains” is somewhat of a slower anthem. While it’s a bonus track, it’s still pretty key to the album. And it was the lyrics of this particular track that inspired the title of the album. The song itself is simple, short and musically appealing to the mind and ear, not unlike the album from which it comes. the norse star, september 2015
take me to the pilots By Jon Klingenberg Editor-in-Chief
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t was insane, the Marcus Amphitheater was packed with UW-Milwaukee freshmen (although all students, faculty, and alumni were welcome) celebrating the completion of their first week of classes at the ninth annual Pantherfest, a school-funded celebration. Performing that warm Friday night, on September 4th, was independent hip-hop/rap artist Hoodie Allen, who was followed by the increasingly popular musical duo hailing from Columbus, Ohio, Twenty One Pilots. Hoodie’s portion was intense. The alternative rap star sprinted across the stage for almost three hours straight.
phillips rocks madison By Mya Lonnebotn Staff Writer
M
y heart felt like it flipped as Phillip Phillips shouted his first words into the microphone.“Wasssuppppp!” I glanced to my right and saw the pink and orange sunset glowing over Lake Mendota, as a light summer breeze swept through the air. I was surrounded by about 1,000 people who had fallen in love with a guy they had never met. It was Aug. 27, and 7:30 p.m. at the outdoor patio on the Memorial Union Terrace. I soaked in the summer sweetness and looked straight ahead, ready to listen to the voice I had only heard on the radio come alive. My best friend, Lexie Fitzsimmons, and I had
the norse star, september 2015
Fans rejoiced in his forgiving mix of hits and some of the lesser known songs. A fanfavorite amongst the audience was “No Faith in Brooklyn,” which showcased some of Hoodie’s considerable vocal talent (as in, singing.) Also impressive was “Nolan Ryan,” a fine exhibit of Allen’s ability to rap really fast and with great diction. The student body went nuts when Allen donned a modified Milwaukee Bucks jersey (belonging to Ray Allen, who shares Hoodie’s stage surname.) Allen left the stage with a thoroughly satisfied audience, who was adequately warmed up for the act that followed. After a short intermission provided sufficient time to hydrate and get some Wendy’s (although, they were out of fries at this point in the evening, which left many concert-goers disgruntled and ravenous.) The headliners entered the stage with large LED (or LED-like) light boards displaying kaleidoscopic images behind them. Josh, the drummer, went to town on his kit, which was mounted on a
small raised platform. Then Tyler came out. Both musicians started off wearing ski masks, a staple of Twenty One Pilots concerts. The drums hit, and Tyler sang his skinny little heart out just before they unveiled their faces and things got crazy. Some amazing feats were performed at this show. During their song “Holding On To You,” Josh left the drumset briefly to do a backflip off of Tyler’s piano. But it didn’t stop there. They had a second drumset nailed to a large wooden board, making it possible for Josh to play the drums whilst crowd surfing. Musically speaking, their concert was very diverse in terms of selection. They played tracks from every major
ferociously shimmied through the thick crowd until we were standing 10 feet away from Phillips. A crowd of rowdy college boys stood behind us, randomly yelling out, “we love you, PP!” To the left of us stood an older married couple in their 60’s--clearly Phillips had made an impact on people of all ages. The only thing ahead of us was the vibrantly-lit stage. A massive set of speakers towered next to us, and we decided that having hearing loss for a day would be worth it. The concert was only an hour long with no opening band, so Phillips started right away on his selection of songs. The deep sound of not only his voice, but also of pure instrumentals thumped in my chest. Phillips’s voice was like honey-smooth, light and sweet. His contagious energy seemed to penetrate every member of the audience as yellow wristbands bobbed excitedly in the air. Phillips could turn on a dime from sweet and sincere, to insane and electrified. Even when he sang he was smiling. It
was that sincere grin and the thrill that it held that connected him to his fans. Some of the many songs he sang included: ,“ G o n e , G o n e , Gone,” “Get Up G e t D o w n ,” “Lead o n ,” “Raging F i r e ,” a n d “Home.” At one point, Phillips pointed to the general area where Lexie and I were standing, along with a bunch of college students and said, “I see you guys over there,” to reassure us that he had seen our ridiculous dancing and our overall excitement. We were filled with absolute joy. Phillips was such a genuine, kind, and passionate
entertainment
photo courtesy of seth charleston
release they’ve had so far. Of course, they played mostly from “Blurryface,” their most recent studio release. The concert was memorable for sure, especially the encore, which featured Tyler running through the crowd up to a ladder in the middle of the amphitheater where he finished the track he started on stage, the poetic ballad that is “Car Radio.”
photo by mya lonnebotn
person. After the concert I was skipping through the streets of Madison with his voice playing over and over again in my head. He was everything I had hoped for and more. 21
sports
september sports briefs By Julia Olson Sports Editor
girls’ golf
What makes this team different from the teams in years past?
football
photos by julia olson
Junior Genevieve Stout chips the ball onto the green during a match against Milton at Coachman’s Golf Course on Sept. 15.
Senior Adam Krumholz gets tackled with the fooball by Fort Atkinson on Sept. 11.
“We’ve gotten closer as a team instead of separate JV
“We’re a better team because we’ve been practicing
and Varsity. It’s the team, it’s girls’ golf. We now work
specific drills since the summer and that’s helped
harder with each other and push each other more
and our line is getting better. This year I think we
than in years past.” - Genevieve Stout, 11
just want to stick it to the other teams who think
Record: 5-4
boys’ xc
Juniors Tristan Jenny, Collin Maloney, and Malachi Alvarez finish up with a run at practice on Sept.16.
they can underestimate us.” - Adam Krumholz, 12
Record: 3-3
volleyball
“A lot of the guys are pushing themselves this year
Junior Corinne Olson serves up the ball during a match against Edgewood on Sept. 3.
to step up to fill the leadership roles. I can tell that
“We have a lot of chemistry off of the court instead
these guys are trying to get better and push each
of just on, and it has definitely helped us play more
other.” - Collin Maloney, 10
Record: Beaten 35 teams Best Time: Garrett Model, 17:03 22
together on the court.” - Corinne Olson, 11
Record: 10-6 the norse star, september 2015
sports
boys’ soccer
girls’ xc
photos by julia olson
Senior Erik Hansen sets up to restart the game with a goal kick against Sauk Prairie on Sept. 1.
“I think this year’s team has more of a feeling of togetherness than in other years; all of us are friends and it really shows on the field. There isn’t a big gap on the field during practice or games with different friend groups, it’s just one big group of friends playing soccer.” - Erik Hansen, 12
Record: 4-5-1
Sophomores Anna Hope Castronovo and Ailis Montgomery and juniors Clea Roe and Augustyna Brestar finish up a run during practice on Sept. 16.
“We have three different types of athletes this year, ones that run for the competition, ones that run just for fun, and ones that run to get in shape for winter sports, and even though we’re all different, we’re competing as one big family.” - Augustyna Brestar, 11
Record: Beaten 34 teams Best Time: Abby Kittleson, 20:17
girls’ tennis
girls’ swim
Sophomore Aubrey Schleppenbach swims the backstroke in a relay during a meet on Sept. 1.
“I feel like this year our mindset is very different and we want to collectively work harder as a team. We’re having really hard sets and we’re doing more dif-
Junior Anna Nelson returns a serve during a match against Monona Grove on Sept. 3.
“We’re a much younger team, so there’s a lot of fresh faces which helps because other teams don’t know what they’re going up against. We’re also very
ficult things that we weren’t doing before, so we’re
strong all-around in our lineup; all of our doubles
becoming better.” - Aubrey Schleppenbach, 10
teams have had the most wins out of everybody --
Record: 0-5 the norse star, september 2015
we’re all doing really well this year.” - Anna Nelson, 11
Record: 13-1
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sports - column
matildas go on strike By Julia Olson
Sports Editor
represent their country against he disparity between the pay- the world’s best teams. These ment of women’s and men’s are players who dedicate themplayers in professional sports selves to creating a better future comes as no surprise to anyone for young footballers. These who is aware of the gender women are at the top of their wage gap, but it’s finally time game, and yet they are still that a women’s team did some- being disrespected by their fedthing about it. The Australian eration. To top that off, the Women’s National Soccer Team women don’t even have yearly announced on Sept. 8 that they contracts, they have measly sixwould be officially boycotting month contracts, which has led any international or club level to the women’s team not being play for Australia over Collective paid for the last two months Bargaining Agreement nego- of this year. Leading up to the tiations. The organization that Women’s World Cup in the has spearheaded this boycott summer of 2015, the Matildas is the PFA or the Professional worked 154 days in six months, Footballers Australia, whose which quickly led them into the goal is to increase the salary underpaid category. cap for all A-League clubs and the Matildas (The Women’s National Team). They also seek “This is about the to increase payment for interfuture of Australian national matches and increase spending on wages, air travel, football. We want to accommodations and benefits for the Matildas, who made establish football as it to the quarterfinals at the 2015 World Cup. If you follow the sport of choice Australian soccer, their quarterfinals appearance marked the first for Australian women, time that an Australian men’s or women’s team won a knockout and we want to be one stage match at a World Cup. Now, you might be wondering of the best nations just how much they’re making currently if they’re demanding in the world.”- Lydia a pay raise, and the number might be a lot smaller than Williams, Matildas’ you would think. Australian Women’s National Team players Goalkeeper make about 21,000 Australian dollars, which equates to about $14,475 here in the U.S, and that’s per year. Imagine dedicating yourself to your country and your team, spending the majority of your time throughout the year travelling, in inadequate conditions nonetheless, and training relentlessly, only to be paid less than $15,000, which is well below what you would need to live comfortably. These are professional female athletes. These footballers
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The women on the Matildas aren’t even putting much emphasis on the salary end of the deal, but more on the raising of the standards for basic necessities that professional athletes shouldn’t have to think about. The women are fighting for “minimum standards,” they’re not fighting for special privileges or the rights to do more than anyone else; they are fighting solely so they can be treated as equals in the eyes of the FFA (Football Federation Australia). Australia goalkeeper Lydia Williams was quoted saying, “This is about the future of Australian football. We want to establish football as the sport of choice for Australian women, and we want to be one of the best nations in the world.” This disrespect shown by refusal to make a simple deal with the Matildas from the FFA isn’t just affecting the play time of the Women’s National Team as a whole in international friendly matches, but also on the club level. Many Australian women are going overseas to places like the United States and countries in Europe to play their professional football, because that’s where the money is. These women don’t want to play for a club where they will receive inadequate pay and a blatant degree of disrespect by the national football federation, and this leads to Australian clubs losing extremely high quality
players, and in turn, the club system as a whole is suffering. This turn of events has led to a worldwide ripple, echoed largely through Twitter, to the United States Women’s National Team, which has also faced gender discrimination in the women’s game surrounding the decision to use turf for the Women’s World Cup last summer. The Matildas were scheduled to play the USWNT in two international friendlies on Sept. 17 in Detroit, Michigan, and on September 20 in Birmingham, Alabama, but have since withdrawn from these two games in compliance with the current strike. The demands that these players are making aren’t outrageous; they aren’t requests that are going to make or break the Football Federation Australia in any sense of the word. These are demands to be put on the same level as everyone else. “This is about the future of Australian football. We want to establish football as the sport of choice for Australian women, and we want to be one of the best nations in the world,” said Australian goalkeeper Lydia Williams in a statement released by the PFA. These footballers are putting everything on the line, putting their faith into each other and their team, putting their hope into a federation that as of late, doesn’t pay them much, mind you. This courageous act of defiance is a monumental moment in the history of women’s sports, and if the FFA doesn’t end up changing their stance on making a decision and a final compromise, then the outcome could very well end up in a years long hiatus from the Australian women playing club and international level soccer. These women should be commended for fighting for what they believe in and their federation should be standing behind them for it, instead of fighting photos courtesy of FIFA.com them at every corner. the norse star, september 2015