Tomatalk 2014 15 issue 6 by Laurie Bender

VOLUME 39• ISSUE 6•FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2015• KAMIAKIN HIGH SCHOOL • 600 N. ARTHUR ST. • KENNEWICK, WA 99336

Around the Campfire NEWS & FEATURE

FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2015 The Tomatalk • Kamiakin High School

Running from the scene By SPENCER HOLLE STAFF REPORTER

e’ve all heard it once before, whether it was on the news, the big-screen, or just out of conversation: somebody hit someone else with their car and ran away. As a result, communities and families related to the victim can be seen at the forefront of the damage dealt. Recently, the Tri-Cities has experienced its share of this heinous crime on Feb. 22 as Michael Robinson was struck and killed. Robinson was walking back home from the Holy Spirit Catholic Church when, at the corner of 5th and Columbia Center, he was hit and suffered a fatal blow to the head. Robinson was found unconscious by a passerby on the side of the road. He was pronounced dead by the EMTs once the ambulance came. In many of these cases, the driver runs away as part of their fight or flight instincts. These are even common among the witnesses to a crime, as witnesses’ statements will often be inconsistent with the actual facts.

In an effort to identify the vehicle which hit Robinson, police reviewed security footage taken just before the accident. As a result, the authorities are looking for a white Toyota or Dodge pickup, most likely damaged by the impact of the accident. One truck from Hansen Park (not far from the collision) has already been seized after a court-ordered warrant was issued for further investigation. After a short inspection, detectives found that the damage on the car did not belong to the incident including Robinson. The truck was soon returned to its owner. A second vehicle was also taken by police, where it is currently under a thorough investigation. Contents of the truck were sent to a state crime lab, where the items will be analyzed and the investigation will later begin to show some results. The Robinson family wishes for anyone with any kind of information on the colli- In Washington state, there were 438 vehicular deaths in 2013. Courtesy of sion to provide evidence into who hit Mi- Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Institute. Photo by Spencer Holle chael Robinson so that they can find the person who did this.

FCCLA making a difference in the lives of the elderly By SIERRA REAMS STAFF REPORTER

On Friday the 13th, the club FCCLA, Family, Career and Community Leaders of America, went to the Royal Columbia nursing home by the Court Club. This is the second Friday the 13th that FCCLA has gone there this year. FCCLA goes there and hangs out with the people during the time that they have parties, which is actually a way they get to socialize. They have a different theme every day for the different holidays and events that go on in the community. This day happened to be a “superstition” event. This meant that all of the games and activities that groups played that day had to do with society’s superstitions, superstitions like it’s bad luck to walk under a ladder or if a black cat crosses one’s path. All the decorations also were themed around those superstitions. One game the club members played with the elderly people is that they had to list as many superstitions as they could reThe FCCLA club in front of Royal Columbia. The FCCLA club played games with the people who lived in the member. The one who finished Royal Columbian. They also talked with the people there. Photo by Linda Willingham first received bragging rights. The club members played oth-

er games, as well, like Sorry or Mexican Train. The special treats that everyone got were some raspberry cheese cake and some sugar free cookies. One of the ladies, named Melberna Hathaway tried to give each girl a “handshake,” or so they thought. As she gave the girls a handshake, she took something and secretly put it in the girls’ hands. When the girls looked to see what Hathaway put into their hands, they found a piece of Dove Milk Chocolate. Sophomore Julienne Aniceto said, ”I liked Melberna because she gave us a lot of candy that day.” Then the girls had to open it and read their fortunes out loud so that it would come true. After the girls left Royal Columbia, they went to Dairy Queen for dinner. Julienne also said her favorite part was making the people happy and getting to see their smiles as FCCLA walked into the room. It was a pretty good day for the people who live at Royal Columbia and also for the FCCLA group.

FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2015 The Tomatalk Kamiakin High School

Around theNEWS Campfire & FEATURE

Cavalcade of Authors: a day of books, tips, and unique opportunities By CHLOE GRUNDMEIER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

avalcade of Authors is the one day every year in which 20 well-known authors from around the world meet up to share their expertise with middle and high school students who wish to become authors themselves. “I’ve been to Cavalcade every year since sixth grade, and I’ve enjoyed it each year. It’s such a unique opportunity,” sophomore Alex Veysey said. This year, on March 13, 17 authors – including Allen Zadoff, Ellen Hopkins, and Kim Derting – led workshops ranging from tips for writing graphic novels to writing with humor to writing a good action scene. “I love Lish McBride’s workshop about humor in writing because she was super funny and got her ideas across really well,” junior Raella Green said. Many of the Kamiakin attendees agreed their favorite author at Cavalcade was Allen Zadoff. “I love his books because they’re so easy to just fall right into and it’s incredibly hard to put them down,” Green said. Veysey agreed that Zadoff was his favorite author to attend Cavalcade. “His books are great and

his workshop was amazing. He taught us how to write good action scenes and even gave us time to write our own action scenes and share them with the rest of the class.” All of the authors love to attend Cavalcade just as much as the students. A few of the authors – such as Alexander Gordon Smith – have come back a few times. A girl who attended Cavalcade mentioned that she’d attended his class a few years ago at a previous Cavalcade and shared a story of how because of him she came up with an idea for a short story which ended up winning a contest. Smith was very excited to hear this, as he was to hear all the ideas the students had during his workshop. Overall, the meet-up was successful – as it always is. All of the students loved it and many promise to return. “I enjoyed it a lot. It was great to meet up with some really cool authors who actually held one on one conversations with the students. This was my first year attending, and I’d probably go again if I was given the chance,” sophomore Hayley Dixon said.

Freshman Tabitha Ewing talks with Allen Zadoff as he’s signing a book for her after standing in the hot and crowded room as she waited to have her book signed. It was a happy moment when she was able to speak to the beloved author. Photo by Chloe Grundmeier

The Story behind Saint Patrick’s Day By KATELYN NEAL STAFF REPORTER

The Shamrock is a symbol of Saint Patrick’s Day. Photo by Kateyln Neal

Saint Patrick’s Day, or the Feast of Saint Patrick, is a cultural and religious celebration occurring on the 17th of March, the anniversary of the death of the most commonly recognized patron saint of Ireland, Saint Patrick. Much of what is known about Saint Patrick comes from ‘The Declaration,’ which was allegedly written by him. It is believed that when he was 16, he was kidnapped by Irish raiders and taken as a slave to Gaelic Ireland. Some traditions that come with Saint Patrick’s Day include wearing green. It is customary to wear shamrocks or green clothing or accessories. Since the 19th century, green has been Ireland’s national color which is why on Saint Patrick’s Day, green is the main color. Even though green started being the national color

in the 19th century, before that the main color was blue. Some celebrations of Saint Patrick’s Day include a national festival that ranks amongst the greatest celebrations in the world. Celebrations surrounding the day create energy and excitement throughout the world. The day also provides the opportunity to celebrate for those of Irish decent. One way we see it observed here in the U.S. is that many cities have a parade. Some symbols of this holiday include wearing green, the Celtic cross, shamrocks, leprechauns, rainbows, and pots of gold. It is said that Saint Patrick used the shamrock, a three leaf plant, to explain the Holy Trinity to the pagan Irish. Leprechauns are also known as “luchorpan” meaning wee one. Legend claimed that if someone captured a lepre-

chaun and kept his eye on him, he couldn’t vanish. As ransom for the leprechaun’s escape, he would reveal the location of his pot of gold perhaps by saying it’s at the end of the rainbow. Even though there are so many legends about Saint Patrick’s Day, one of the biggest questions still remains. Why do people pinch others for not wearing green on Saint Patrick’s Day? It’s thought that the pinching started in the early 1700s, about the time of the awareness of Saint Patrick’s Day as a holiday came to the fore, in the Massachusetts colony. They thought if people wore green, it made them invisible to the leprechauns, which was good because they would pinch anyone they could see. So the pinching is to warn and remind the people about the leprechauns.

ADVERTISEMENTS

FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2015 The Tomatalk • Kamiakin High School

Tribal Talk

OPINION & EDITORIAL

What we think... If you would like to comment, write a letter to the editor, or submit a guest article, contact us at: The Tomatalk: Kamiakin High School, 600 North Arthur, Kennewick, WA, 99336, (509) 222-7015, email tomatalk@ksd.org, or go online at www.tomatalk.com and comment there or take a poll.

Staff:

Adviser: Laurie Bender Editor-in-Chiefs: Natalie Downard and Chloe Grundmeier News Feature Editor: Natalie Downard Sports Editor: John Mantanona In-Depth Editor: Chloe Grundmeier Opinion Editor: Emily Aardahl Entertainment Editor: Andy Ha Online E-I-C: Andy Ha

Staff Reporters:

Alejandro Andrade, Alberto Anguiano, Emily Baer, Jordan Carreras, Noah Erhart, Spencer Holle, Daniel Hutchins, Luke Mauth, Katelyn Neal, Samuel Perrins, Parker Pruneda, Sierra Reams, Noah Rhea, Rhiannon Rogers, Ethan Sessions, Staci Trivett MISSION STATEMENT:

The purpose of the Tomatalk to to inform, entertain, and further educate the students at Kamiakin High School and the surrounding community.

PUBLICATION POLICY:

Content is determined by the staff. Students are protected and bound by the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States and other protections and limitations afforded by the Constitution and the various court decisions relative to student publications. The Tomatalk has been established as a forum for student expression and as a voice in the free and open discussion of issues. The staff of the Tomatalk is expected to be professional, objective, truthful and accurate. The staff will adhere to Washington State Law (WAC 180-40-215) which prohibits the following material to be published: 1. Potentially libelous material 2. Malicious attacks on an individual’s character 3. Material which is excessively vulgar or obscene 4. Material which encourages illegal activity

EDITORIAL POLICY:

Editorials are the opinions of the individual members of the Tomatalk staff and are not intended to express the opinions of the administration, staff, students of Kamiakin High School, nor the advertisers in this newspaper. As a forum for student expression, the Tomatalk will publish letters to the editor. All letters are due one week before the next publication date. The staff reserves the right to edit or omit submissions as necessary. All letters must be signed by the student submitting them, However, if a student prefers his/her name not appear in the publication, his/her name may be withheld. All letters to the editor must be 300 words or less. In cases involving political or controversial issues, staff members are encouraged to solicit all points of view.

Meninism: men’s rights activists who want more rights than they already have

t’s a well-known fact that women are paid less than men for the same jobs. It’s a well-known fact that countless men treat women like property. It’s a well-known fact that feminism is important and necessary for the equality of the genders. But according to many ignorant boys who refuse to educate themselves, feminism is not the movement to achieve equality between the genders. According to these ignorant boys, the feminist movement is a bunch of man-hating lesbians who think they’re better than men. These boys have decided to start their own movement: meninism. Meninism started when a twitter account (@ MeninistTweet) started making comments that were supposed to be calling out feminists for “being unfair to men.” Most of the tweets just expressed this boy’s hatred toward women. A

few of the tweets read “I have Siri set to be a guy voice because I don’t like getting directions from women” and “If you watch Cinderella backwards, it’s a refreshing film about a woman who learns her place.” The boy running the twitter account claims he was just trying to be sarcastic, but many boys took the tweets literally and thus meninism reared its ugly head and grew into a monster. These boys were angry at the film ‘Magic Mike’ for showing an unrealistic depiction of what men really look like. What they don’t seem to realize is that women are forced to see photos all over the internet and in magazines of what they’re ‘supposed’ to look like – thin models with big butts, tiny waists, and a large chest. These boys complain about how “we shouldn’t have to pay for a woman on a date! I want to be paid for too sometimes!”

but don’t seem to realize that women are only paid 78 percent of what men are paid for the same jobs. The boys running the meninist movement demand equal rights without realizing the struggles that women go through in today’s society. Women are paid less, women are discriminated against more, and women are the victims of more domestic abuse. But in reality, meninists realize the struggles women go through – it’s hard to fight against the facts. They realize women are paid less. They realize domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to women between the ages of 15 and 44 in the United States. They realize that they have more rights than women. Yet they still insist on belittling feminists who want equality for the genders.

Perfectly neutral opinions make for perfectly useless “progress” EMILY AARDAHL By OP-ED EDITOR

Ask any high school student about societal conditions in the United States today versus the conditions in the United States centuries--or even decades--ago, and they can say that there’s definitely been a vast improvement. Much of the policies in place today concerning working conditions, women’s rights, and the quality of food and medicine were formed in the Progressive Era, a period of reform that took place from the late 1800s to the early 1900s. Actions by muckrakers (reporters drawing attention to controversy) and public officials were what drove most of the reform movements, but none of it would have been possible unless enough of the public felt strongly enough about the issues to back them up. Without enough people to join movements and take

action, any reform would have stagnated, and life today would not be the same. They say that history repeats itself, and history time and time again has proved that there has to be a large following of a movement for any drastic change to be made to society. But on the flipside of change, there is always a contingent that wants the general way of life to stay the same. Those who want sameness and those who want change clash, and then there are national news-worthy events like the Ferguson protests, the death of Tamir Rice, and the Pasco shooting. Some are stuck in the middle of these issues, trying to keep a neutral opinion, and this only serves to add to the problem. On the topic of neutrality, junior Raella Green said, “It depends on what the topic is. With less important issues, neutral standpoints don’t

matter as much, but bigger issues like racial discrimination and sexism are things you need to pick a side on.” It’s easy to sit on the sidelines of an issue and watch the proceedings go by, deciding to become spectator to the problems at hand. But the reason that most English classes include debates and Socratic seminars is so that students can engage in gathering evidence and forming an opinion on an issue. Students practice these skills so that they can become opinionated and informed adults. The saying goes that “if you stand for nothing, you’ll fall for anything.” By absorbing information, the students of today--the adults of the future-can form their own opinions and pick a cause to stand for. Says Green, “People are being hurt every day because of this, so you need to pick a side.”

Tribal Talk

FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2015 The Tomatalk • Kamiakin High School

6 Are body alterations a smart choice?

OPINION & EDITORIAL

By STACI TRIVETT STAFF REPORTER

hroughout the centuries, body modifications have been a way for people to express creativity and the things that are important to them. Within the last decade, tattoos and piercings have started to become more and more popular with 45 million Americans having at least one tattoo. Tattoos are a permanent but creative way for people to express themselves on the one thing that will always be guaranteed to be with them—their body. Tattoos can be quite a controversial topic. Some people prefer to remain conservative and never even think about getting a tattoo in their lives. Although there can be some downsides to getting a tattoo, including that

some workplaces may not allow any visible tattoos, that they may be bad quality, and that tattoo removal is expensive, painful, and can cause scarring, these worries can usually be reduced with some research. With tattoos becoming more popular, a lot of workplaces have become more lenient with them as long as they are small, tasteful, and in a place that can be easily covered. Going to an experienced and well-known tattoo artist can greatly reduce the chance of getting a bad tattoo. Piercings have also been an age old trend among people from all over the world, some earrings being found dating back to 2500 BC. The most common form of piercing among Americans is ear lobe piercing with 83 percent of

Con Mycobacterial (NTM) skin infections are resistant to many antibiotics, but two that work are clarithromycin and rifamycin. However, antibioticresistant strains have emerged. Photo courtesy of Janice Haney Carr/CDC

people having them. Other piercings that are becoming more popular are piercings on the nose, ear (other than the lobe), lips, tongue, eyebrow, and navel. While tattoos are permanent, piercings are a great way to express creativity with less commitment than a tattoo. In some cultures, body piercings are a part of heritage. In Asian cultures, during the transition to adulthood for young women, they receive a nose piercing as a rite of passage. Tattoos and piercings are often received just for the aesthetic attraction. Body modifications are a form of art and are meant to be admired. Commemorative piercings and tattoos are a great way for people to mark an occasion that means something to them. These may be a memorial,

By SAMUEL PERRINS STAFF REPORTER

ody art is something that has been around for a while now and seems to be growing more and more popular every day. A study conducted in 2004 including 500 people between the ages of 18 to 50 showed that 24 percent have at least one tattoo and 14 percent have a body piercing in a location other than the ear lobe. Body alterations may seem like a good idea, but it can be very harmful to an individual’s health. In 2012, New York health officials were informed that 14 people who had been tattooed with prediluted gray ink had Mycobacterial (known as NTM) skin infections. When one goes to see a tattoo artist to get inked,

reminder, or even just a mark of distinction to help people to remember where they were emotionally at a certain point in their lives. Body modification has become a huge part of popular culture, with this generation of young adults often being referred to as the ‘modification generation.’ In a recent survey, it was discovered that 32 percent of young adults between 18-yearsold and 25-years-old have both tattoos and piercings. It is becoming a very common way for people to express themselves in a way that only they or the whole world can see, depending on placement. People’s bodies belong to them and should be used however they want it to be used. Tattoos are a form of art, using the body as the canvas to show creativity.

the artist may take all the steps to make sure the procedure is as healthy and safe as possible. The fact that the artist cannot get around nor save the recipient of the tattoo from is that the ink going into the skin can be dangerous. Tattoo ink manufacturers make their products from things that would seem ludicrous to inject into your body, such as drawing ink, calligraphy ink, and printer ink. Body piercings also cause some health issues. The American Academy of Dermatology says that common reactions to piercing include infection and metal allergies. And according to Northwestern University, about a fourth of the people with body piercings reported complications,

Pro

The popularity of piercings has increased since World War II, and sites other than the ears gained increasing ground through the 1970s up until they hit the mainstream in the 1990s. Photo courtesy of: stylecaster.com

the majority of the reports being minor skin infections. The complications lasted generally around three weeks. Those with tongue, lip, cheek or other oral piercings are in danger of breaking their teeth, as well. The allergic reaction rate of the metallic piercings doubled to 25 percent among those with only soft ear lobe piercings, and was raised to above 40 percent for those with soft ear lobe and body piercings. Another health concern arises with tattoo removal. According to Bernadine Healy, M.D., former Health Editor for U.S. News and World Report, around 50 percent of people who get tattoos regret the decision. To remove the unwanted

tattoo, the subject can choose two different ways to get rid of it, but both of them are slow and painful and have long term effects. The first way is through surgery or deep scraping of the skin, which causes scarring. The second way, the way that tattoo recipients like better, is through many months of laser treatments that cause the tattoo to fade away. The tattoo may fade away, but the remaining skin that’s left is definitely not as healthy as the skin before getting the tattoo. Altering the body, whether it’s to make a statement, to stand out, or to improve one’s looks, can be understood to a certain extent. Health issues arise, however, and seem to show that these modifications are not the best route to take.

FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2015 The Tomatalk • Kamiakin High School

Chief Legends In Depth

Stop gendering activities: girls are just as tough as boys By SIERRA REAMS STAFF REPORTER

Danica Patrick and her drag racing car. She has been known to race many different types of cars in the years she has been racing. Photo courtesy of internetautoguide.com

he belief that girls are able to do what boys can do has been around forever, but many people don’t think this is true. Anything from fishing to riding motorcycles is normally considered a guy’s sport, but that has changed over time. In today’s society, girls can do anything guys can do. NASCAR has been around since Feb. 21, 1948 and started with men racing. Back then, only the men could race. Danica Patrick had something to do with the end of that. At a young age, she would race and was the first woman to compete in the Indy 500. From there her racing career started to rise, although in 2008 she had a crash that also contained another driver and seriously wrecked her sus-

pension. Thinking that the other driver was at fault, she tried to go after him but got fined and put on probation, as well as the other driver. In 2011 she had the best and highest record for a girl in NASCAR history, finishing in fourth place. In sports softball and baseball, there are a lot of similarities, but also many differences. One difference is that the softball field is smaller than a baseball field, but also that the game of softball is a game about speed and not endurance. A pitcher can throw speeds exceeding 60 miles per hour in the short span of just over 35 feet. This means that the softball pitch will reach the home plate at just over .35 of a second from the time the ball leaves the pitcher’s hand. This is also saying that it takes a shorter amount of time for a softball pitch to reach home plate

than a baseball pitch going 100 miles per hour. With this said, a guy playing a softball game could potentially lose based on statistics. Sophomore Maya Medrano is a thrower for the Kamiakin track and field team. She believes that men aren’t the only ones who can do the heavy lifting. “I think sometimes people underestimate a girl’s strength just because guys are seen as the ‘stronger’ gender,” says Medrano. “We may be built differently, but with enough work, we can lift just as much as the boys. Throughout history, women have shown that they are capable of accomplishing just as much as the men can. The world needs to learn to accept this reality and stop assuming that women can’t be equally athletic as men.

Don’t judge a book by its tattoos By NOAH ERHART STAFF REPORTER

hirty-six percent of people aged 18 to 25 have at least one tattoo in the U.S. according to the Pew Research Center in 2013. There are all sorts of reasons that individuals choose to get tattoos. However, getting a tattoo comes with the risk of being stereotyped. One reason why individuals might choose to get a tattoo is that it’s a way to express themselves. Senior Miquette Orren said, “I like that you can incorporate a piece of you onto your body. You can show who you really are through art.” Another side of why some choose to get a tattoo is due to the meaning behind it. Many have tattoos to remember a loved one who has since passed away. Others get something that shows who they are or what they stand for. Orren said, “My tattoo says ‘Run with endurance.’ It is my favorite Bible verse, and it has to do with running which I love to do. It also reminds me to persevere through every hard time that I face.” While some like the idea of putting art on their bodies, others disagree with the concept. Freshman Benson Smith said, “I don’t really support tattoos. It is difficult to think about because you have to

figure out what you want on your body forever. It’s also a hard choice to do, and it’s not really worth the risk of something that you want to put on your body if you’re not going to want to keep it there forever.” However, those who have gotten tattoos feel that it’s worth the risk. Orren said, “I do not regret getting it. I love my tattoo.” Tattoos come with the possibility that one could be judged. Some of the most common stereotypes made about individuals include: ‘Tattoos look gross when you’re old,’ ‘Tattoos are unprofessional’, or ‘Why would you put something permanent onto your body?’ Teacher Laura Pearson said, “Some stereotypes are that tattoos are irresponsible, or that the person is uneducated, and that it is immoral to tattoo one’s body.” Benson also said, “Some people might think that if you have tattoos, you look tougher or like a rougher person.” People have a tendency to make judgments and stereotypes about others even if it happens subconsciously. Smith also said, “I definitely try to treat people the way they act, not how they dress or what they put on their body, whether they have tattoos or earrings.”

Senior Miquette Orren showing off her tattoo on her left foot. Her tattoo depicts her love for running and is also her favorite Bible verse. The tattoo reminds her to persevere through every hard time she faces. Photo by Noah Erhart

Chief IN-DEPTH Legends

Taylor Swift makes a guest appearance on ‘Valentine’s Day’ as the blonde Felicia.

FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2015 The Tomatalk • Kamiakin High School

stereo

Marilyn Monroe played Lorelei Lee in one of her starting roles in ‘Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.’

Blonde stereotypes: lighter hair doesn’t lead to stupidity By EMILY BAER STAFF REPORTER

londe stereotypes are widespread throughout the world. People are judged because they have blonde hair, but the question is why? Just because someone’s hair color is popularly associated with stupidity does not mean that they have a lower competency than the average person. So why are so many people seen as “dumb” because they have this particular hair color? Blonde hair is the result of low pigmentation, and only two percent of the world’s population are naturally blonde. Despite what people may believe, blonde stereotypes have been around for centuries. During the Middle Ages, blonde women were held in suspicion, and in Greece, the hair color was associated with prostitution. Hollywood has also greatly supported the stereotype with several movies featuring dumb blondes who are often seen as “ditzy”. Although the stereotype is very widespread, that doesn’t mean it is necessarily true. New research has shown that hair color is completely unrelated to one’s personality and intelligence. Switching a single letter of DNA would switch brunettes to blondes with no effect on the brain, showing that one’s hair color does not influence one’s intelligence. So the reason blondes are regularly associated with idiocy is because

of popular culture’s portrayal of the average blonde. Often times in movies there is that one blonde character who is severely unintelligent, or in other words, is a “dumb” blonde. So naturally people responded to this portrayal of blondes, and that is how the stereotype grew in popularity. Now there are several jokes and movies that are degrading towards people with blonde hair. Teenagers tease other blonde peers with dumb

blonde jokes, which many take offense to because of the degradation of their intelligence. It is insulting for one person to assume another is stupid just because of their hair color. So before judging another based solely on the pigmentation of their hair, stop and consider that this person being judged is an intelligent human being who doesn’t deserve to be told that they are stupid because of their hair color.

Amanda Seyfried plays Karen Smith in ‘Mean Girls.’ This dumb blonde character entertains the watchers as she says, in all seriousness, “I can tell when it’s raining! It’s like I have ESPN or something!”

Alicia Silverstone plays her role as the dumb blonde, Cher, in the movie ‘Clueless.’ The character fails her driving test multiple times and – while she acts like a dumb blonde – she’s has more street-smarts than most.

FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2015 The Tomatalk • Kamiakin High School

otypes

Chief Legends In Depth

9 Gay stereotyping: not everyone is checking you out By SPENCER HOLLE STAFF REPORTER

The race of an individual does not signify their intelligence: stop stereotyping Asians By ANDY HA ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

sians have been associated as the perfect and smartest race, being role models to other races. They are often type cast and portrayed as geniuses and prodigies when it comes to schooling. A lot of Asians are looked at as F.O.B or fresh off the boat when they do excel in school. That term means that Asians are new immigrants arriving to the U.S. from their home countries. Despite some of these stereotypes being true to a number of Asians, it’s not true for all Asians. Statistics do show that lots of Asians excel when it comes to intelligence. According to data provided by the CIA, Japan has a 99 percent literacy rate. Taiwan and South Korea have a 98 percent literacy rate, Singapore, Philippines, and China a 95 percent literacy rate. Then Vietnam and Thailand have a 94 percent literacy rate. This is all an estimate from a statistics done in 2010. Those countries have some of the highest literacy rates in the

world, but also at the same time, the CIA cites that the lowest literacy rates are mainly in south and west Asia along with subSaharan Africa. Going back to the supposed high intelligence of all Asians, Asian culture and traditions are really determined and focused on studies and school. As many Asians come to America, many come with very little, and to make up for it, they work hard and excel in school. They use the traditional learning method of doing it a thousand times until the person can understand and know what it is they are learning inside and out. That method helps them score brilliantly, and makes them stand out more compared to students who learn using the western traditional learning methods. So the often stated stereotype that Asians are geniuses and prodigies isn’t really true. As there are many Asians who exceed academically, there are just as many who fail. So there is no fact to prove that Asians are the perfect or the smartest race compared to other races.

here’s a certain image that people paint in their heads when they hear the word gay. To some it would be pretty darned fabulous, but to some it doesn’t look too pretty. Universally, the LGBT (Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender) community is seen caked in rainbows, glitter, and Broadway. This is mostly done to create an antagonistic image of the gay community. It wasn’t until the very late 1960s when a real gay rights movement was started- with little to no avail. In retaliation, the homophobic straight community broadcasted anti-gay propaganda mostly by using imagery of girly and squeamish men to portray the entire LGBT community. As a result, we as Americans have embraced a gay culture born from the ashes of the sexual revolution and to this day, gay pride has widely been portrayed as being an exclusively sexual phenomenon. For gay men, this image most heavily affects the way they introduce themselves to other people. First of all, having to

come out to every single person they meet, so as not to give the wrong impression, is an absolute pain. Contrary to what blood banks think, no, we don’t all inherently have AIDS. “But you don’t look gay,” is also a phrase sure to follow. Girls insist on instantly being gay men’s best friends, and guys automatically feel uncomfortable around them. Don’t even mention guys’ locker-rooms. Although lesbians aren’t thought to be nearly as stereotyped, they are completely fed up. Not only are they considered “one of the guys”, but they too have to explain that they don’t have to act like a lumberjack to be gay. It’s quite offensive when people assume that they are a lesbian because they have short hair and a rockin’ flannel. Just stop. Even the gay community does its fair share of stereotyping, namely towards bisexuals and their supposed non-existence. Bisexuals are commonly subjected to the assumption that they say that they like both genders because they are too afraid to say that they are gay. Not only this, but others tend to assume that they are unable

to participate in a monogamous relationship. Transgender individuals receive the worst treatment of all of the LGBT community and receive the brunt of the discrimination. People will often avoid transgender people, or talk badly about them behind their backs. Because of this, 41 percent of American transgender people will attempt or succeed at taking their own lives. Misconceptions of the transgender community include being sexual deviants, and that they only do it for the money. The truth is, transgender people simply want to express themselves, and the fact that others believe they put themselves through public ridicule to prove a simple fashion statement is absurd and quite infuriating. Finally, on behalf of the LGBT community. NOBODY IS CHECKING ANYONE OUT BECAUSE THEY’RE SUPER GAY. Stop kicking them out of school dances, locker-rooms, national sports, and the Boy Scouts just because nobody wants to feel lower on the food chain. It’s rude and offensive, and it needs to stop.

Chief Legends IN-DEPTH

FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2015 The Tomatalk · Kamiakin High School

“Only skinny people can be models” By RHIANNON ROGERS STAFF REPORTER

n the fashion world, people are critiqued by their height and weight. Being a size 8 would be considered plus-size, although the average American woman wears a size 14. The average size for a “regular” model is a size 2, with a minimum height of 5-foot-8 and a weight of 110 pounds. In the 2015 swimsuit issue of Sports Illustrated, Robyn Lawley (size 12) is debuted as a “rookie” for being one of the seven plussized models. Sports Illustrated has teamed up with these seven models to give the swimsuit edition more curves. Lawley has refused to let beauty expectations get in her way, along with many other larger than size 2 models. Another rising plus-sized model is one that is size 22 and stands at a height of 5-foot-5. Her name is Tess (Holliday) Munster. She became the first plus-sized model to sign on with a major modeling agency called MiLK Model

Management. She describes herself as a “body positive activist.” Munster made an Instagram account named #effyourbeautystandards in 2013 to inspire women to accept their bodies and embrace their uniqueness. With a little over 70,000 followers, one can imagine all the support… and all the negative comments. But Munster keeps a positive attitude and ignores them. In the same year, Munster was named by Vogue Italia as one of the top six plus-sized models in the world. She was also named one of the world’s top plus-sized models by Refinery29 and the Huffington Post. Senior Shania Wilson said, “It’s not fair to stereotype only skinny people. There are a lot of healthy people out there, but they’re told they aren’t skinny. It’s also very degrading as well as hurtful. Even the Grammy nominated singer and role model to young women, Meghan Trainor, says in her song “All about That Bass:” “I see the

magazine, workin’ that Photoshop. We know that s*** ain’t real, C’mon now make it stop.” Trainor’s story was heartbreaking to her fans and to other people. This inspirational song was inspired by the guy whom she was crushing on who told her he'd take her on a date... but only if she lost 10 pounds. Trainor knows only too well having been teased about her size as a teenager. The song encourages girls to love their bodies- no matter what their shape. Even Marilyn Monroe, a central icon for women in the 1950s, wasn’t a size 2. She was actually a size 16. Monroe’s measurements were 5-foot-5.5 inches tall; 35-inch bust; 22-inch waist (approximately 2-3 inches less than the average American woman in the 1950s and 12 inches less than average today); and 35-inch hips, with a bra size of 36D. Not even Marilyn Monroe was the perfect model…so whose idea was it to have such unrealistic standards?

Australian model Robyn Lawley posing in a white one piece swimsuit. Photo courtesy of www.washingtonflyfishing.com

The world needs wannabes: white people can rap By SAMUEL PERRINS STAFF REPORTER

Sophomore Logan Foster AKA Kidd Fooster has written many raps and dreams of turning those lyrics on the paper to actual songs for people to listen to and enjoy. Photo by Samuel Perrins

Rap music has become a major part of today’s pop culture. This genre of music is enjoyed by people around the world. Rap music, culturally, was created around the 1980s by African American artists, and black rappers continued to keep the hip-hop movement rolling forward. Today, we see that many white artists have become popular in rap music. Things that extend past their origins cause people to question whether the original or the current product is better. Does the inclusion of white rap artists diminish the quality of the music? “Definitely not, because if they have that musical talent, and if they express themselves the way anybody would, color has nothing to do with it. If they make good music that reaches people, then why not?” says senior Noah Hammon. "Everybody should have the opportunity to make whatever type of music they want.”

How long does it take for the new kid on the block to get recognized as a legitimate part of the movement? As early as 15 years ago, white people who even enjoyed rap music were considered “wannabes”. Has the number of successful white rappers since that time changed people’s perception? It all seems to fall into the hands of the individual listening to the music. Their own perceptions are based on whichever side of the fence they’re on. The side that has white artists on their playlists will accept their legitimacy more readily than the side that prefers listening to black rappers. Since you can’t really account for personal taste, the question should be answered by the individual. "Personally, one of my favorite rappers is white, Sage Francis. He is paid to motivationally speak to universities all around the country… he actually talks about important stuff happening in the world. He doesn’t talk about

the mainstream type of attitude that rap seems to have now. He graduated from the University of Missouri in 2006 and majored in journalism and minored in human psychology, which are two completely different things… he’s a rapper, he’s also a motivational speaker and a journalist. This shows that it doesn’t really matter what your skin color is, you can impact everybody in a different way,” said Hammon. "When I hear music, I don’t think color. If the guy sounds white, I’m not going to think 'Oh, I’m not going to listen to this wonderful song just because he’s white.' I don’t know anybody that would do that,” says Hammon. Our generation has reached a point where all musical artists, no matter their race, can be respected and appreciated for writing good music. If we remain colorblind while listening to music, we will continue to enjoy an ever-expanding roster of rappers.

FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2015 The Tomatalk • Kamiakin High School

Tribal Games SPORTS

Junior Brandon Searls gets a hit against Kennewick High School during their pre-season jamboree. Photo By: John Mantanona

Baseball season brings new life to Kamiakin S By JOHN MANTANONA SPORTS EDITOR

pring has made its brisk arrival to Kamiakin, and it has brought the baseball season with it. This season seems to be shaping up to be a good one as the team has great senior leadership and juniors who have varsity experience. The team is looking to build off a season last year where they had many struggles, but because of the adversity last year, the team has gained a lot of experience and poise. Last season the baseball team had five wins and 14 losses. The team had many struggles coming together as a team in the middle of the season, but later on, the Braves worked it out. “Success is never final. Failure is never fatal.” This is one of Coach Carter’s favorite quotes. Last season, the baseball team had their highs and lows, but this is a new season for them, and they are ready to go. This offseason, the baseball team has worked extremely hard to get bigger, faster, and stronger by being in the weight room on Mondays and Thursdays and working hard. They have been working on the fundamentals, and

they have been going to countless lessons as well. “I worked on my catching with Ian McMullen on Sundays. I took hitting lessons from Marvin Bernard on Wednesdays and Dave Wensveen on Mondays,” said junior Brandon Searls when asked about how he has prepared for the season. The team also rented out The Batter’s Box on Wednesday nights and have been working to improve their swing and get better. There were 76 kids who tried out this season and there are only three teams with an 18 player maximum. The amount of kids who tried out is a testament to how much the baseball program has grown and how people are excited to be a part of it. The team participated in a jamboree at Richland High School on March 15 and performed very well in their first showing of the season. Their first game was on March 18 and the boys performed admirably. The boys went into the bottom of the sixth inning losing, but with some key hits, they took the lead go-

ing into the seventh inning. The team won with a score of 12-4, making them 1-0 so far in the season. The season should be a good one for the Braves as there are many returning players, and the team is deep with talent. Look for a great season and a deep playoff run for our baseball team this season.

Individually, the Braves had one individual state title by then junior Alexis Lawrence who won the all-around competition. Danielle Brandon, then a senior on the team, received fifth in the all-around team title and qualified to compete in three individual events. Kelsey Jaquish, who also was a senior, received seventh overall in the all-around competition and competed in four individual finals. Last season set the bar high for the gymnastics team, and with many seniors graduating and losing a lot of the talent from last year, the team had a difficult road to state. “The team is a lot more well-rounded this season. We don’t have those one or two people who could carry us. It was more of a total team effort.” sophomore Kelsey Dearing said when

asked about what is different about the team this season. The team became close as the season wore on, and they knew that when it came down to times of pressure, their team would come through for them. The state tournament was one of those pressure packed moments as the Lady Braves eked out a two point win over Enumclaw High School. It came down to the last events of the day and the Gymnastics team was tired, but willing to do anything to come out on top. Enumclaw gave the Braves a scare in the end, but the gymnastics team still came out victorious! Now the team is looking to build on their back-to-back state titles and go for the three-peat next season!

Junior Kaden Enriquez looks for the sign during their jamboree game against Richland. Photo by John Mantanona

Gymnastics team wins back-to-back state titles

By JOHN MANTANONA SPORTS EDITOR

Back to Back. That is the feat the gymnastics team has achieved this season. The girls won the all-around team state title. The Lady Braves competed in the Tacoma Dome on Feb. 20-21. The girls beat out Enumclaw High School by two points to win the title. The road to another state title though wasn’t always easy. Last season, the gymnastics team was deep with senior leadership and talent. They had a team identity and a goal set from day one, and they went out and achieved it. The score that they received in state was the highest team score ever recorded in Washington’s State Gymnastics history, 181.7. They beat out Enumclaw High School for the overall team title.

Tribal Reviews ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2015 The Tomatalk • Kamiakin High School

Reviews

Adidas Yeezy 750 Boost has finally arrived By PARKER PRUNEDA STAFF REPORTER

he Adidas Yeezy 750 boost, the most anticipated shoe of the year, released Feb. 14. Rapper Kanye West was originally signed with Nike, but in the last year the rap icon inked a deal with Adidas. Adidas has been considered second to Nike by many sneaker heads over the years. Adidas has been making very popular shoes as of late and West could be the answer to the star power they needed to sell more products. Multiple shoe fanatics were skeptical on how Adidas would work with West, but when the first clear photos were released, the shoes instantly became popular.

The third Kanye West shoe was very different compared to the first two. The Yeezy 750 Boost has a high top build and a strap across the front of the shoe. The 750 Boost also has a solid wolf gray color way and the sole is made of Pure Boost cushioning. Everyone has been in a Kanye West frenzy and has tried their hardest to get the third Yeezy shoe. The shoes were originally released to New York exclusively, and West even surprised some unsuspecting customers by hand delivering their shoes. This is the first Kanye West and Adidas collaboration since West’s signing with the company after

leaving Nike. Adidas is obviously very happy to have him after the success he had with the Nike Yeezy 1s and 2s. There were rumors that Kanye West wanted the shoes to be available for everyone, but Adidas declined and made the shoes exclusive. Apparently in the end, West and Adidas compromised because Adidas is releasing the low top version of the Yeezy 750 boost to retailers. The price is still unannounced, but they will most likely be around the $200 range. Kanye West’s shoes are definitely leaving their mark as one of the best signature shoes of Caption: The Yeezy Fever shoe. Photo credit to all time.

Adidas

The rise of an ‘Empire’

By ANDY HA ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

TV’s Hottest new show

Television has changed a lot in the last 10 to 15 years. A lot of TV shows nowadays struggle to get a couple of million viewers and get renewed for a second season. While others struggled, the TV phenomenon called ‘Empire’ did not. The musical drama was created by critically acclaimed director Lee Daniels. It had the highest ratings debut for a series premiere in three years and became the first show in 23 years to continuously gain viewers each week for the first five episodes, and it still continues to gain viewers. The show revolves around a fictional music company, Empire Enterprise, which was founded by a rapper named Lucious Lyons who has ALS, and has to decide which of his three sons will take over the company before he dies. His ex-wife, Cookie Lyons, just got released from jail after 17 years for drug dealing and is on a mission to get half the company that she started. The three sons are Andre, Jamal, and Hakeem Lyons. Andre, the oldest, is the CFO of the company and has bipolar disorder. He struggles with trying to win the company. Jamal, the middle son, is a gay singersongwriter who deals with coming out to the public, with a homophobic father, and tries to be whom he wants to be as an artist in the industry. The youngest, Hakeem, is a conceited fame-obsessed rapper. His story-

line revolves around his love life and rising career. The show’s actors give spectacular performances. Academy award winning actor Terrence Howard and Oscar nominated actress Taraji P. Henson are amazing as Lucious and Cookie Lyon. Their roles should earn them Emmy nominations, especially Henson. Besides the great main cast, the amazing recurring and guest stars attract the most attention. Naomi Campbell, Courtney Love, Gabourey Sidibe, Raven Symone, Mary J. Blige, and Jennifer Hudson are just a few of them. Besides the amazing actors, the music is another reason why the show is so great. Timbaland, known for producing hits for Justin Timberlake and Aaliyah, is the music producer for the show. That means that there is a soundtrack full of hits just waiting to be heard. The show’s music could easily be played on radio stations. It really makes the show. With all of that added together, it makes sense as to why the show was renewed for a second season only a few days after the second episode aired. This TV show is exactly what television needs right now: a show with an incredible storyline, outstanding performances by the actors, and spectacular music.

FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2015 The Tomatalk • Kamiakin High School

Tribal Reviews ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Between the Lines; A Storybook Romance

By SIERRA REAMS STAFF REPORTER

story of love, laughter, and life: ‘Between the Lines’ is a novel written by best-selling author Jodi Picoult and her daughter, Samantha Van Leer. It tells the story of Delilah, a 16-year-old in high school, who has been a loner since she could remember. The only thing that keeps Delilah going is a book in her school’s library, a fairytale to be exact. The book Delilah read is a story about love, a prince, a villain, and magic. But what she doesn’t know is that when the book is closed, the characters magically come to life. When the book opens, the people in the book are whisked away to the pages they are supposed to be on. Nobody knows that the characters are able to walk and move as they please when the book is shut. ‘Between the Lines’ has three different people telling the story. But unlike other books that have the dif-

ferent points of views in different font types, ‘Between the Lines’ has different colors for each chapter of the book that is a different character. For example, when the book is in the point of view of Delilah, the font color is purple/pink. When the prince in the fairytale is telling his side of the story, the color is green. When the fairytale is being told to the reader, the font color is black. One day, Delilah notices something different in the book. She sees the characters moving. The prince and Delilah start talking to one another. As the book goes on, you start seeing the feelings being developed between Delilah and the prince. This book is very interesting. It shows that the people who are closest in a relationship can feel like they are million miles apart.

“Happy B-Day”: A Braves debut in the music world By ALEJANDRO ANDRADE STAFF REPORTER

Music has been a big part of our society, whether it is country music, rock music, rap music, or even popular music. Creating that smooth melody and flow is difficult, but sophomores Sam Perrins and Parker Pruneda have teamed up to make lyrical magic. The team works together on a variety of projects, and music is just one of their many endeavors. This month, they released their debut single, “Happy B-Day.” It turns out to be a catchy, fun tune that students will want to check out. Sam Perrins, the song writer, released “Happy B-Day” on a very special day— his 16th birthday. It can be heard by going to Soundcloud. His channel name is “The Hype Up” and on the channel, his song and other things, can be found. The title of the song is self-explanatory; it

follows Perrins’ life journey from birth until now; it’s also a song dedicated to the people who have been there for him. A message one can glean from the song is that people come and go, but one should learn to keep those who are going to be there in the long run. This song overall is good. A few people can pull something like this off. The beat is a very fast paced and in order for it to come together, the lyrics must also be said at the same pace. The content of the song makes sense, and one can picture what is being said. The hook is humorous, drawing the listener into the song: “Everybody panic like a high school girl when the WiFi’s down.” Go to www.tomatalk.com to see the music video.