Tomatalk 2014 15 issue 7 by Laurie Bender

VOLUME 39• ISSUE 7•FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015• KAMIAKIN HIGH SCHOOL • 600 N. ARTHUR ST. • KENNEWICK, WA 99336

Around the Campfire NEWS & FEATURE

FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015 The Tomatalk • Kamiakin High School

Dance the night away at Prom By JOHN MANTANONA SPORTS EDITOR

P A sign created by Sophomore Logan Foster asking someone to Prom.

rom is coming up on May 9 and it has brought an exciting atmosphere to the upperclassmen around campus. Students are looking for the perfect date for the biggest dance of the year. The theme for this year’s prom is “Carnival of Dreams.” Once a person finds that special someone that they want to ask to the dance, the excitement builds as to how they will ask them. The whole process of “asking” the person to the big dance is important. There are many cute, creative and funny ways to do it. Just check out the internet for some ideas. “This year I got my whole driveway lit up with candles with a path leading to a poster that said ‘It would light up my night if you were my prom date!’” senior Sarah Burns said when asked about the cutest way she has been asked to a dance. Prom is one of the biggest nights of the year for students around campus, and many students are helping to make the night the best it can be. Helpers show up

to the complex earlier in the day and put in long hours to make the night a successful one. Each individual is willing to help the school put out the best dance that it possibly can. Prom night is the night where many memories can be made for students and persons who put the dance on. It is a night of fun, dance and being with friends. “It was a lot of fun! Prom is a strictly upperclassmen event so it makes you realize that you don’t have too much time left in high school,” senior Jared Deatherage said when asked about his prom experience. The dance will take place at the Southridge Complex and for the first time, the carousel next door will also be open for use. Tickets are priced at $20 per ticket with ASB and $25 without ASB. The ticket prices are unchanging, making it easier for more students to get tickets even if they have waited until the last moment. The dance lasts from 7-11 p.m., and the music will be going the entire time.

The Texting and Driving Campaign By SIERRA REAMS STAFF REPORTER

On average there are a total of 1.3 million crashes a year involving cell phones, according to a study done in 2011. That’s about 23 percent of the entire auto collisions in 2011. The school is doing a campaign to get the students involved in not texting and driving. Senior Miquette Orren when asked about why we should involve the school in the texting campaign responded, “A lot of teens are known for texting and driving, so we thought it was a good idea to raise awareness about teens texting and driving.” Partners in the campaign are

Trios Health, PayneWest Insurance, and Dutch Bros. Coffee who have gotten together to bring awareness in this month-long campaign. The students are given certain colored thumb bands that give them a dollar off of any size Dutch Bros. drink they want. Sophomore Shailey Rhoads thinks that the rings are a great idea to get people to not text and drive. She also thinks that it’s a great idea that Dutch Bros. will give you a dollar off drinks. On April 14, Dutch Bros. gave the students a punch card that they took back to school and put in a bin, saying they are taking a pledge to not text and drive.

Once all the punch cards are in from that day, the amount of punch cards turned in will be the amount of money given to the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Benton and Franklin Counties. The campaign ends at the end of April. PayneWest said they will cover all the pledges up to a total of $2,500. The Kennewick, Pasco, and Richland school districts are all participating in this campaign. When asked if she texts while driving, Rhoads says that she does not text while driving. She only picks up her phone when changing the song on her Pandora station. Five seconds is the minimal time your eyes are off the road when texting. At 55 mph, that’s the length of a football field. Photo by Sierra Reams

FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015 The Tomatalk Kamiakin High School

Around theNEWS Campfire & FEATURE

Popular math teacher set to retire in June By ALEJANDRO ANDRADE STAFF REPORTER

eing able to master the use of numbers can be a challenge to some people, but teacher Robin Metzger can help with that. He cares about students by allowing them to get extra help at lunch and after school. He gives them an opportunity to grow and learn the material better. All they have to do is show up and ask for the help. Mr. Metzger’s last month is approaching faster than wildfire. He feels it’s time. “I’ve been teaching for almost 40 years. By the time I retire, it’ll be 40 years,” he said. Metzger also is involved in other activities. He is the coach for the Knowledge Bowl. “I’ve always been a Knowledge Bowl coach, and in this school I had to wait a long time for the other coach to retire. The previous coach was Mr. Kleinknecht. Mr.Kleinknecht was a social studies teacher.” Mr. Metzger has taught in many other countries. “I’ve been teaching 33 years in Washington and seven in other places.”

“Being able to go to different places and see different students and see different cultures,” that is one of the reasons that Metzger likes his job. Many other cool things come with this job like getting to know students and how they learn more effectively. School can be fun at times, but Mr. Metzger has had the opportunity to take fun to a whole new level. “We took a week-long field trip in Australia with the ninth grade students, and they were quite amazing. We went surfing, mountain hiking and went to museums,” he said. Retirement should be a time to sit back and relax. Mr. Metzger still wants to be active. “First thing I have to do is get used to not being around teenagers my whole life. I’ll be up at the farm taking care of my garden getting plants,” he said. Mr. Metzger has contributed 40 years of his life to teach and inspire students, and students will miss his expertise. Teacher Robin Metzger. Photo by Alejandro Andrade

Kinessa Johnson’s fight to end poaching By RHIANNON ROGERS STAFF REPORTER

One person CAN make a difference. Proof of this is embodied in a U.S. Army veteran from Western Washington who is helping the ongoing fight against poaching in East Africa. Kinessa Johnson is a four year Army veteran and worked as a mechanic and weapons instructor. Johnson also served a tour in Afghanistan. In November 2014, she decided to join Veterans Empowered to Protect African Wildlife (VETPAW) as an anti-poaching advisor to train women park rangers. She applied when she heard that VETPAW was in the search for a female park ranger. Johnson applied and got the job. Johnson joined VETPAW solely because of her love for animals and to protect endangered animals such as elephants and rhinos. Africa has the largest population of both, but they are also the top targets for poaching. Her first priority is to enforce the law against poaching and educate the locals on how to protect their natural resources. Photo courtesy of Kinessa Johnson

VETPAW has the goal to help end the African poaching crisis and preserve endangered species such as elephants and rhinos. Last year, about 36,000 elephants were executed and over 1,200 rhinos were robbed of their lives and their futures. The western black rhino was declared extinct by the IUCN in 2011. VETPAW uses the skills and experience of post 9/11 U.S veterans to train park rangers and support their communities. Johnson and her team of associated veterans arrived in Tanzania on March 26 and activated their work on their goal. When she and her team got there, they saw an instant decrease in poaching activity near the area where the team is stationed because the poachers knew they were there. The organization was co-founded by Ryan Tate who is the president of Veterans Empowered to Protect African Wildlife (VETPAW). Tate grew up in Tampa with a family who loved animals. He then enlisted in the Marines while a teenager. Tate served a tour in Iraq, but after that he started to question his

future. He was then inspired by a TV documentary about the slaughtering of elephants and rhinos in Africa. There was a long process and a lot of obstacles in order to gain permission to proceed with his revelation of VETPAW. Although the process is really slow, the goal of VETPAW is to protect the lives of the rangers who are faced with the everyday battle of poachers, and of course the lives of elephants and rhinos. A photo of Johnson holding a massive weapon has been circulating around on the Internet and on social media. That brings both admirers and “haters,” but she just redirects it to be part of her mission. Johnson has 157k followers on Facebook and 100k followers on Instagram. It’s overwhelming to see men and women stand up to the plate and take matters into their own hands such as Kinessa Johnson, her team and the founder of VETPAW himself, Ryan Tate. It shows that if people feel strongly enough about an issue, they can do something about it.

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FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015 The Tomatalk • Kamiakin High School

Tribal Talk

OPINION & EDITORIAL

Christians vs. Anti-Christians: the spirit of tolerance By SAMUEL PERRINS STAFF REPORTER

he tension between the Christian churches and antiChristians has been apparent for some time now. With recent events, such as the Arlene Flower’s case and the Colorado bakery case, it’s obvious that the feud isn’t dying down. Each side isn’t going to back off until the other side is extinct. There’s only one problem. This fight will never end. Or if it does, the country will fall apart, along with everything it stands for. “Keep in mind that if you erode the liberty of one part of the population, then you erode everyone’s liberty,” said pastoral counselor Robert Olson in a recent Facebook post. “The outcome will become mob rule or worse, tyrannical government that has the power of the sword to compel anyone to do anything regardless of conscience.” It states in the Constitution that “congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion”, meaning that religions will not be prohibited from exercising their beliefs. So the law cannot force a person to change their beliefs to accept people who have same-sex attraction. However, in the Declaration of Independence, it is written “we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal,” which pretty much restricts anyone from discriminating against someone because of their race, religion, or in this case, their sexuality. It appears that the two sides, religious freedom and the anti-Christian movement, have come to a stalemate. There is no rule or law that can be established to satisfy both sides because of the documents that the United States hold sacred. What needs to happen is we as citizens of the land of the free must establish in our hearts a spirit of tolerance. Religions who are against same-sex marriage have done a decent job of tolerating gay rights activists. In January, The Church of Jesus Christ Latter-Day Saints pledged to support anti-discrimination laws for gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender people, as long as the laws put in place would also protect the rights of religious groups. Elder Dallin Oaks, a member of the LDS church’s Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, said, “When religious people are publicly intimidated, retaliated against, forced from employment or made to suffer personal loss because they have raised their voice in the public square, donated to a cause or participated in an election, our democracy is the loser.” The Arlene’s Flower case that happened in Richland has been a very controversial case and has caused a lot of chaos in Indiana. If the spirit of tolerance had been present,

this incident that happened in the floral shop wouldn’t be considered a “case.” For example, the representatives of Arlene’s Flowers have the right to exercise their beliefs, so politely declining the gay couple flowers for their wedding was in no way wrong. Had the gay couple stepped into that shop with a spirit of tolerance, they could have simply said, “I can respect that,” walked out, and found a different store for services, and the Washington State Attorney General’s office could have participated in the spirit of tolerance and

not brought their own lawsuit against Arlene’s Flowers. Taking into account the fact that there are many extremists in every belief, lifestyle, and religion, the tolerance policy may not seem attractive. But in these crazy days, this is the only way for there to be peace between religious people and non-religious people. After all, as singer-songwriter Janis Ian posted on Facebook, “we don’t have to agree on anything to be kind to one another.”

Hours of tests: SBAC testing proves to be a waste of time By CHLOE GRUNDMEIER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

The week of SBAC testing was one of joy for all but the juniors. Instead of the luxury of sleeping in, the juniors sat in rooms with scant few people to take a test that – ultimately – meant nothing to them. Many of the juniors who were originally required to take the test were given the opportunity to waive it and sleep in with the rest of the freshmen, sophomores, and seniors. Only about 100 of the 422 juniors actually took the test. Essentially, over 75 percent of the junior class decided to take half a day off. The actual test itself was a complete joke. Nine hours of

the week were taken and given to the few students taking the test. Many of the students completed the test within 90 minutes and spent the rest of the time reading or texting. The 44 question reading segment took some students less than an hour, giving them another two to fill their time to their own devices. The content of the test wasn’t taken seriously, either. None of the articles that were “written by students” sounded even remotely as if someone under the age of 50 wrote them. The articles were full of huge completely unnecessary synonyms for words. The “students” who wrote articles didn’t seem to like a large range of simple and understandable words, so they abused Microsoft

Word’s synonym tool and chose the largest word. Many paragraphs were full of far too many adjectives as well. “The 41-year-old, speckled haired, daydreaming Janet heard the piercingly loud ding from her astonishingly quiet dishwasher and remembered she was to take her 8-yearold, rambunctious, red haired daughter Jessica to her exhausting dance practice” would not be an exaggerated sentence one may find in this test. Overall, the test was a complete and utter joke and a waste of time. These nine hours could’ve been put toward something so much more productive like actual class time.

Tribal Talk

OPINION & EDITORIAL

FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015 The Tomatalk • Kamiakin High School

What we think...

Racism will never be obsolete 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: Chloe Grundmeier News Feature Editor: Sam Perrins Sports Editor: John Mantanona In-Depth Editor: Chloe Grundmeier Opinion Editor: Emily Aardahl Entertainment Editor: Andy Ha Online E-I-C: Andy Ha and Staci Trivett Photo Editor: Noah Erhart Business Manager: Staci Trivett

Staff Reporters:

Alejandro Andrade, Emily Baer, Noah Erhart, Spencer Holle, Lindsay Lepper, Luke Mauth, Katelyn Neal, Samuel Perrins, Parker Pruneda, Sierra Reams, Rhiannon Rogers, 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.

“R

acism died with slavery!” they say. “Racism died when black people could vote!” they proclaim. “Racism died when the Civil Rights Act was passed in 1964!” they insist. These people forget how alive racism is in today’s society. They forget how many black people are killed every day just for being in the wrong place at the wrong time; they forget that the KKK is still alive and active; they forget why black people get upset when they use the n word. Thirty-one percent of all Americans killed by the police are black, even though blacks only make up 13 percent of the U.S. population. Forty-two percent of all Americans who weren’t attacking when they were killed were black. Police were 21 times more likely to kill black teens rather than white teens between 2010 and 2012. According to the American Psychological Association, the police see black boys as older and more mature than white boys. This racism could’ve been a key reason as to why 12-year-old Tamir Rice was shot while playing with a toy gun. These members of society who believe the KKK and other white supremacists have been completely demolished would be completely incorrect as well. The KKK still hold yearly conferences in which they fight for white power. Besides the KKK, America is full of these white supremacist groups who focus on the belief that whites are superior to those of other racial backgrounds and should therefore rule all non-

whites politically, economically, and socially. There are dozens of these white supremacist groups all over the world such as the Neo-Nazis, the United Klans of America, and the White Power Skinheads. These groups base all of their beliefs on this unadulterated racism. Black people have reclaimed the n word as their own so they could try to change the horrible connotation that used to come with that word. White people don’t understand that when they say it, it brings back the negative connotation from the times of slavery. White people used the n word to call black people their property, and now if white people use it, that same intent is brought back. White people generally believe that all doors are open to them all the time. That generally tends to be the case when it comes to racialized spaces because of white privilege. These white people who rely so much on their privilege get angry when they’re not allowed to do or say something because they are white, and they don’t seem to understand how utterly racist this is. Racism will not be dead until the police stop killing black people for just being black; racism will not be dead until all white supremacist groups like the KKK are completely demolished; racism will not be dead until white people stop asking why they can’t use the n word altogether. At the pace America is going now, there’s a long way to go until racism will truly be dead, and that’s a sobering thought.

Choosing one’s education shouldn’t be illegal By SPENCER HOLLE STAFF REPORTER

“The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character - that is the goal of true education,” Martin Luther King Jr. once said. For the majority of Americans, this idea proves to be true, but what should become of a situation in which a student does not believe the same values apply to them? In a theoretical situation, a farmer’s son enjoys working for his father and doesn’t feel comfortable with leaving for school, especially when the crops need tending to. Should he be required to go to school, even though he finds an education pointless for a farmhand? The other kids are starting to complain now, since their teacher has to hold the class to the standards of the farmer’s son as the boy neglects to listen to instructions. Why must their education be hindered for someone who doesn’t even want to be there? The mandate for children to attend elementary schooling started nationwide in 1918, and it later was required that students remain in school until high school (K-8). This was after the Supreme Court decision of Wisconsin vs. Yoder, in which an Amish couple refused to let their son to attend high school on the basis of their religious beliefs. If the quality of America’s education is going

to decline because of the students who don’t feel their education is important, then it would make the most sense to allow them to go home and let the rest of the school get the education they want. “Forcing people (youth in this case) to live their lives a certain way 180 days a year for up to 13 years with no recourse to due process or representation is in my thinking a form of tyranny. We would never dare subject adults to this same kind of compulsory attendance,” a writer from website Lefty Parent pointed out. A common complaint among teachers is that students who just waste away their time twiddling their thumbs are just making classes bigger and filling up seats. Not only are they taking up space, but they are soaking up education tax dollars like a sponge would water. What should be proposed is a public education in which attendance is free, though not mandatory. This way, schools would have more funds to focus on a more devoted student body, students would feel more unified, and we gain a large and valuable labor force from those who don’t desire a normal education. America was founded on the idea that we have the right to choose what we do in our own lives, and it’s high time that we have the choice of our own education. When it comes down to schooling, it’s either quantity or quality: pick one.

Tribal Talk

FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015 The Tomatalk • Kamiakin High School

7 Is standardized testing beneficial to learning? By EMILY AARDAHL OP-ED EDITOR

esting season means groans of discontent among students and, in some extreme cases, entire classes ditching out on the testing days. While the anger of students is often well-founded, there is also the fact that these tests have been selected by school authorities as critical to a student’s academic career. While there are dangers to teaching to the test, having a baseline curriculum over a large area assures that students within the area will all be taught the same material. A new generation stepping forward into the future with the same relative knowledge is, logically, more likely to succeed than one with a high disparity between the high and low ends of the curve. Every test has a core structure—a set of skills necessary to master to succeed. These may focus on skills such as comprehension, writing

ability, and math knowledge. With teachers focusing on teaching this learn set, students are more likely to succeed and grow as a unit rather than individually. Additionally, so-called senioritis can take hold early, as this year’s junior class is beginning to find, and render students lethargic and prone to procrastination. But with standardized tests looming over their heads, students are forced to pull through and continue studying despite the temptation of procrastination. According to a series of articles published in the ‘Washington Monthly,’ SAT scores have been going down dramatically every year. This trend is partly due to the test’s construction, which banks on half of the test takers getting a passing grade (1500 or above) and half of them failing, but it also indicates that students are not getting an adequate education. They are simply not prepared by their schooling to advance in life and go on to college.

OPINION & EDITORIAL

It’s not only students who have to stretch themselves. Teachers also have a sizable gap to leap over. When Michelle Rhee, exChancellor of Washington D.C. Public Schools, passed laws in mid-2007 that cracked down on test scores, teachers were either rewarded handsomely when their students succeeded, or struck down when their students failed. Hundreds of teachers were fired and 23 schools in the D.C. area were closed. Laws such as these ensure that teachers as well as students are held accountable. Students with incompetent teachers can’t exactly accomplish the goals that will allow them to succeed in the various standardized tests, so holding professional days (where only the teachers come to school), where teachers learn new methods to teach their students, benefits both student and teacher.

Con

Students from low-income, minority backgrounds are more likely to be unneccessarily put into a class that will only hinder their education by repeatedly drilling multiple choice tests. Photo courtesy of teachingexperiment.com

Pro

A study at the University of California found that if the university didn’t require SAT scores from applying students, the GPA required to get accepted would have to be raised astronomically to balance out the admissions. Photo courtesy of greatschools.org

By CHLOE GRUNDMEIER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

very year, each class is forced to mess up their carefully constructed schedules to either take a huge standardized test or to just sit in the cafeteria as others take these huge tests all around them. Everyone has gone through standardized testing, and almost anyone asked will explain how horrible these tests are. “Testing shouldn’t be standardized. The standards that they’re based on are what should be standardized,” junior Noah Nilson said. Nine hours were wasted during the week of SBAC testing so just 25 percent of the juniors could take the test. The rest of the juniors decided to waive the pilot of the test as many teachers had suggested because of the stress load. The first two days of the testing were three hour blocks

of time for the reading and writing sessions. Many students finished early and were forced to spend the next two hours keeping themselves quiet. The final day was the day many students were told not to attend because it was just the day to finish up. “Literally anything could have been a better use of this time. It was such a waste,” junior Ivan Harry - who took the test - said. Another problem with standardized testing is the amount of money the state puts toward these tests. In 2002, after the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), the annual state budget spent on standardized testing rose from $423 million to almost $1.1 billion. This money could easily be put toward new textbooks or hiring more teachers rather than something that hasn’t even been proven to improve student achievement. “If someone is studying for the exact test, rather than

the general knowledge of the topic, the information will be completely useless. They’ll just forget what they’ve learned seeing as they won’t need it anymore,” Harry said. These tests measure only a small amount of what makes education meaningful. These tests do not measure qualities such as creativity, motivation, curiosity, and leadership. Standardized testing needs to be abolished. There are far better ways of testing a student’s knowledge; there are far easier ways that are much less stressful; there are far less expensive ways that could do a much better job at what these tests are trying, and failing, to do.

Chief IN-DEPTH Legends

Upholder Tendency

FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015 The Tomatalk • Kamiakin High School

-I feel uncomfortable if I’m with someone who’s breaking a rule—using a cell phone when a sign reads “No cell phones”—even if that person isn’t going to get in trouble and isn’t bothering anyone else. -I can meet a self-imposed deadline, even one that’s set somewhat arbitrarily. -I’ve made New Year’s resolutions in the past, and I usually have good success in keeping them. (Note: this question is specifically about New Year’s resolutions.)

Questioner Tendency

Obliger Tendency

-If I want to make a change in my life, I’ll make it right away. I won’t make a New Year’s resolution, because January 1 is a meaningless date.

-People often turn to me for help—to edit a report, to take over a carpool run, to speak at a conference at the last minute—because they know I’ll pitch in, even when I’m swamped myself.

-It’s very important for me to make well-reasoned decisions; in fact, other people sometimes become frustrated by my demand for information and sound reasons.

-I’ve given up making New Year’s resolutions, because I never keep them.

-It really bothers me when I’m asked to do something for what seems to be an arbitrary reason.

-I’ll do something to be a good role model for someone else, even if it’s not something that I’d do for myself: practice piano, eat vegetables, quit smoking.

-I like to hear from experts, but I decide for myself what course to follow. Even if I’m given a very specific instruction (say, with an exercise routine), I’ll tweak it according to my own judgment.

-I get frustrated by the fact that I make time for other people’s priorities, but struggle to make time for my own.

B A D

H A B I How can personality types contribute to bad habits? T P S -I can start a new habit without much effort, if it’s something that makes sense for my aims. Otherwise, I won’t do it. -I question the validity of the Four Tendencies framework.

-In my life, I’ve adopted some good habits, but I often struggle without success to form others.

Infographic and tendencies courtesy of Parade Magazine 2015.

Rebel Tendency

-Other people sometimes become frustrated because I won’t do what they want me to do.

-If I’m expected to do something—even something fun, like a woodworking class—I have the urge to resist; the expectation takes the fun out of an activity that I enjoy. -Other people sometimes become frustrated because I won’t do what they want me to do. -I enjoy a challenge as long as I choose to accept it and can tackle it in my own way.

By KATELYN NEAL STAFF REPORTER

eople struggle with all kinds of bad habits. Some people who struggle with addictions don’t struggle with other habits, and some people who struggle with procrastination and laziness don’t struggle with issues like addiction. So why is this? Personality type is one factor. Four personality types that can contribute to bad habits are the rebel, the upholder, the questioner, and the obliger. The upholder feels uncomfortable around people who break the rules. They can meet a self-imposed deadline and they have success in keeping a New Year’s resolution. Some bad habits of the upholder personality is that sometimes others feel annoyed with how much the upholder follows the rules. They can

be rigid and judge those who don’t have their gift of organization. Questioners want to know the logic behind things before they become a part of them. If an action makes sense, they can justify doing it. If it doesn’t make sense, they have no problem breaking the rules. Some bad habits can be that questioners are paralyzed if they see both sides of an issue. Sometimes they simply do nothing. Another problem is that these people can be stubborn if they don’t understand expectations. These may be students who don’t do their work because they don’t see the reasoning behind the assignment. Questioners though are the first to throw themselves into something if they understand why. Then they put everything they have into whatever it is. Obligers want to please others. They are not good self-starters. However, they are motivated by re-

wards and accountability. These people may give in too easily to peer pressure and form habits as a result. However, they also do all they can do to please their coaches, their teachers, their parents. Usually obligers are social. They they do well in groups and with other people Rebels do what they want to do, and they refuse to help out. In other words, the rebel resists outer and inner expectations. Because of their resistance to rules, bad habits that rebels give into may be associated with illegal drugs, alcohol, and other things associated with rebellion. If they contain their rebellion and make their personalities work for them though, they are the risk-takers, the daring ones who get things done and go where others are afraid to go. So which personality type are you? Take the test above, and see.

FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015 The Tomatalk • Kamiakin High School

Chief Legends In Depth

B Cracking down on finger cracking AM D By RHIANNON ROGERS STAFF REPORTER

any people insist that “popping” or “cracking” knuckles may cause arthritis soon in the future. There have been many arguments about whether or not popping knuckles can not only cause arthritis but possible loose cartilage or injured ligaments. There are many theories, but the exact cause is not known. Its common sense to think that cracking knuckles for long term and the repetitive action of a person’s joints is potentially harmful although knuckle cracking has not been shown to be harmful or beneficial. This seems to indicate that the action does not necessarily cause arthritis.

Popping one’s knuckles can ultimately result to a negative pressure, pulling the nitrogen gas temporarily into the joint, hence the “cracking” sound. It’s just that nitrogen bubble popping. The sound can also be caused by tendons snapping over the tissues because of the adjustment in their gliding path. Joints can make an array of sounds, playing a symphony of popping, cracking, grinding and snapping. Joints that “crack” most often are the back, neck, knees, ankles, and knuckles. For some people, popping knuckles is a sign of nervousness, and when popped it causes a sensation of relief. For others, it is a habitual act. The interphalangeal and the metacarpophalangeal joints in the finger are the most commonly popped and the easiest to pop. It usually takes 25-30 minutes

to be able to crack knuckles again after cracking. Movement from a joint with worn cartilage can make the grinding sound which is called crepitus. Between 25 percent and 54 percent of people do it, although men are more likely to do it than women. The types of joint vary from pivot joint, hinge joint, ball-and-socket joint, gliding joint, saddle joint, and the condyloid joint, each with a different function in the finger. People tend to pop their knuckles one of three ways-backward or forward, side to side, or pulling on the joints. To study about whether or not arthritis was a result of this habit, some studies were done comparing the arthritic hands of both those who cracked knuckles and those who didn’t. The conclusion was that there is no relation between knuckle cracking and arthritis.

Watch your @#%$& language: stop swearing H

A B I T S

By SAMUEL PERRINS STAFF REPORTER

hroughout history, mankind has designated a list of words to be considered vulgar. Over the centuries, the words may have changed, but the negative connotation they hold stays the same. According to Time magazine, about 0.7 percent of the words the average person uses in the course of a day are swear words. This may seem small, but the average person says around 16,000 words a day, according to ABC News. That means the average person says 112 swear words a day. Melissa Mohr, author of ‘Holy Sh*t: A Brief History of Swearing’ said, “By the

age of two, most children know at least one swear word.” If you are around foul language enough and tolerate it, you are more likely to find it acceptable or even use it yourself. Thanks to today’s media, cursing in the home is viewed as all right. This couldn’t be more wrong. “Swearing damages the feelings of love that exists between family members,” said mother Tammy Pattillo. “It brings contentious feelings, and the peace in the relationship ceases.” The home is not the only place where this is a problem. It seems one can walk across a school campus and hear a mouthful of profanity. In the student handbook, one of the

According to Chicago Tribune, men swear more often than women. However, men curse much less when women are present. Photo of sophomore Zachary Hubbard. Photo by Sam Perrins

expectations of students is that “a student shall not use or exhibit obscene or vulgar behavior through language, writing, pictures, signs, or acts.” Even with this rule in place, in a few classes, profanity is still a major concern. However, in most classes this isn’t a problem. “By the time they reach high school, students know what’s expected and what isn’t,” said science teacher Jennifer Tillenburg. Students who believe that swearing isn’t a problem and use explicit words constantly can disrupt other students and make it appear acceptable to swear in the classroom. Keeping this bad habit could have

negative effects on your future. “When you go out into the work force, people won’t respect you as much. A lot of the times when you use foul language, people don’t think as highly of you,” said Tillenburg. “So when you’re trying to get a job or you’re trying to go to college, if that’s part of your regular vocabulary, it could negatively impact your opportunities.” Bad language makes people sound less educated, too. Some people have been exposed to cursing their whole lives, but there’s also some who cringe when they hear explicit language, so it’s best to be mindful of the people around you and keep your language clean.

Some of today’s popular swear words have been around for a long time, according to Time Magazine. Photo of sophomore Alyson Lindholm. Photo by Sam Perrins

Chief Legends IN-DEPTH

FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015 The Tomatalk · Kamiakin High School

Tardiness: a common trend that needs to end By PARKER PRUNEDA STAFF REPORTER

Being late to school seems like it is becoming a bad habit in high schools. According to ABC News, up to 15 percent of American children are chronically absent from school, missing at least one day in 10. Whether it’s sleeping in, doing homework, or taking too long in the shower, students somehow find a way to be tardy. In all of the ways that students can be late, most of the reasons can be solved with a

simple action, such as getting more sleep or setting more alarms. The best way to always be on time is starting a routine and sticking with that routine every day. “I wake up at 6:20 every day, whether I’m giving someone a ride or not. I shower as fast as I can and wake my brother up, and we try to leave by 7 a.m.,” said sophomore Kyler Pappas. It’s important for students to get to school on time because they need to know what they are doing in class in order to pass. If students

are not in class, they aren’t learning and their grades will suffer. There are many benefits to being on time, and there are no benefits to being late. “You should actually be early, not just on time. You actually don’t feel rushed. You will have everything set in a row ready to go and it’s a good habit to get into,” said art teacher Anna Haines. “We’re training students for jobs in the future, and if you are late for a job, you’re going to get fired.” In a job, there is not much lenien-

cy on being late to work. Whether students eventually work at McDonalds or in an office, bosses will not be happy if their workers show up late. ABC News reports that some schools have an average of more than 90 percent daily attendance, masking the fact that 40 percent of tardies go unmarked. Something needs to happen to end this terrible habit. Unemployment rates will only skyrocket if this generation can’t be on time to anything.

Speeding is responsible for one-third of fatal accidents By NOAH ERHART STAFF REPORTER

riving over the speed limit is quite common these days, especially with so many people running on tight schedules with places to be. Is it worth risking a hefty speeding ticket for going over the speed limit just to get to work or school on time? Five miles per hour over the speed limit is fairly common and police officers tend to be lenient about it. However, it’s not always the case. Officer Chris Buroker said, “I follow the revised code of Washington of one mile per hour over to be speeding.” According to National Highway Traffic

Safety Administration (NHTSA), close to half of all drivers surveyed said speeding is a problem on the roads. They also found that one in five drivers surveyed admitted to speeding. How fast is too fast? Junior Josh Sheridan said, “On regular roads, I consider five over to be speeding, and on the highway I would say 10 over.” Often times, people speed simply to get to their destinations a little sooner without fully being aware of the risks involved with speeding. Each year in the United States, speeding accounts for nearly onethird of fatal crashes according to NHTSA. Drivers who speed are more likely to be involved in a fatal car accident, further supporting the saying “Better late than

never.” Buroker said, “Your reaction time is affected, and your stopping distance is going to be a lot further.” Distracted driving may play a role in speeding. When one is driving, focus should be on the road and the surroundings, but as soon as there is a distraction such as a spilled drink, all of the driver’s attention is shifted from the road to the mess. Not only is the driver not aware of the surrounding environment, but is also more likely to speed or even slow down without realizing it and put others at risk. Senior Stephen Shepard said, “Distracted driving does seem to play a role in speeding. Usually I see people texting.”

Driving over the speed limit can result in a longer stopping distance and less time to react. Many accidents are caused when drivers are not ready to stop and end up moving farther than anticipated. Photo by Noah Erhart

Another factor to speeding is age of the driver. In the study done by NHTSA, it was found that 11 percent of drivers aged 16-20 years-old reported a minimum of one speeding-related accident within the past five years. This just goes to show that the younger age groups tend to take more risks when behind the wheel. Sheridan said, “I believe that there is a maturity factor when teens are speeding.” Breaking bad habits can be tough and when it comes to speeding, one might have to pay the price. Buroker said, “Sometimes a citation, paying money, or going through the court system makes people realize they need to start paying attention when driving.”

The posted speed is for ideal road conditions. When roads become wet and slippery, speeding can become very dangerous. Photo by Noah Erhart

FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015 The Tomatalk • Kamiakin High School

Tribal Games SPORTS

Junior Lindsey Lowe and Senior Emily Moon running the mile race at Hanford High School. Photo By: John Mantanona

Track season starting off strong By JOHN MANTANONA SPORTS EDITOR

he track season has started off with a bang as both the boys and girls track teams are among the top in the division. The boys team has been working to pick up where they left off last season and then to keep improving. The girls are trying to defend their crown atop the 3A Track and Field in Washington. Last season the girls track team continued their dominance of the 3A division by winning their third consecutive Class 3A team state title. The team was laden with upperclassman talent, but the underclassmen shone for the team as well. The team lost many seniors last year, but the girls are deep with talent as they have continued to do well each meet of the season. The boys got a lot less attention last year, but they still had a strong season. Replacing the graduated seniors is always difficult, but the boys have a swath of underclassman talent and they are becoming better and better as the season wears on.

The off-season was full of hard work for the track team. Many of the athletes who do track are multiple sport athletes, and as they train for that sport, they also are training for track. An off-season speed camp was put on by Coach Keith Duncan. “The sprinters worked with Coach Duncan by sprinting with him this winter, and the long distance runners ran some indoor meets to prepare for the season,” junior Phillip Fishburn said when asked about how the team has prepared for the season. The team has done very well in their meets so far, getting second place overall in their first and second meets of the season. The fast start really helped the team develop the mindset of expecting to win each meet and that is exactly what happened in their third and fourth meets of the season. The Braves had strong performances overall, and their scores were an accurate reflection of how hard they have worked in the off-season. The team has faced some tough

competition in their most recent two meets, getting third place in both. The track team recently participated in the Pasco Invite, and they performed at top form. The team got the overall team title, and the girls team also placed first in the 3A division for the fourth time in a row. They are the first team in a long time to accomplish this feat. “It let us have a chance to get some good competiton and see some of the athletes we’lll be competing with later on this season at regionals and state,” junior Lindsey Lowe said. As the season wears on, the track team has consistently gotten better. They have been willing to put their own personal goals aside for the betterment of the team, and it has shown in their placing in meets. As the season continues, look for the track team to continue to impress and become the best they can be.

Junior Brandon Searls catching during the pre-season jamboree at Kennewick High School. Photo by: John Mantanona

Baseball season improving By LUKE MAUTH STAFF REPORTER

The Kamiakin baseball season has started out strong. With a record of 7-8 overall and 4-6 in conference, it’s a much better start than they had last year. “Our season has started out well,” said junior Kaden Enriquez. “Pitching has been lights out with Easton [Heinke] and Cory Schouviller. We just need to get our bats going, and we will be hard to beat.” The boys have been practicing hard every day to prepare for this season which will challenge their skill and ability to work as a team in every way. The team this year has strong senior leadership which helps keep the team on track. The varsity team consists of four seniors, 15 juniors, and one sophomore. An average day of practice is two to two and a half hours

over at LaPierre field where the team works on all aspects of the sport. They take on-field batting practice to get a feel of how they are hitting and what tendencies they are having so they can fix them in the cages later. Infielders and outfielders work on situations on the field, while pitchers and catchers work together on improving pitches and location. Beating good teams early in the season like Ellensburg in pre-season, who was the 2A state champion last year, and Pasco High was a great way to get the team going from last year’s struggles. The team has also overcome some tough teams like Walla Walla. The first game was a 0-10 loss but then in the second game, the team rallied and beat the Blue Devils 5-3.

Junior Logan Smith said, “We have been playing pretty well. There’s room for improvement. We didn’t win some games that we should have and lost to some good teams, but overall, we are doing well.” Southridge and Hanford have been the only teams to be able to sweep us this year. Hanford was only able to beat us with the second game ending in a 2-3 loss. Southridge just had our number though as they managed to beat us 0-7 and 3-15 on Friday the 17th. On Friday the 24th the Braves split with the River Hawks. The upcoming series should be interesting to see because they are against their inner city rival, the Richland Bombers.

Tribal Reviews ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015 The Tomatalk • Kamiakin High School

Reviews

Rosy’s Ice Cream & Diner: Golden Throwback By ANDY HA ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

et’s just take a moment and think about all the classic teen movies where the cast sits in booth at a retro diner with checkered tiled floors and 1950s music playing throughout the diner. The kids sit in the diner having fun and eating great food. Lots of people have always wanted to have moments like that in real life. Well, now they can with Rosy’s Ice Cream & Diner! Anyone can go to Rosy’s Ice Cream & Diner and enjoy the place. A group of teens can go hang out there and enjoy some delicious ice cream, or a family can go to this fine diner for an amazing all American meal. It’s the perfect place for everyone. The food is amazing there. The burgers are huge and can fulfill anyone’s appetite. The fries are also large and taste great. It’s probably some of the best fries here in the Tri-Cities. Their drinks are awesome as well. They have spectacular lemonade and milkshakes there. They also serve malts and ice tea along with standard sodas. Along with the meals and drinks, the desserts are another part of the diner that make the place great. They have a variety of delicious ice cream flavors to choose

from. Some that are not common here in the Tri-Cities can be found at Rosy’s. For example, they have green tea ice cream, caramel caribou (ice cream with caramel and chunks that taste like Rolos), and bear in a tub (sour apple flavor ice cream). Sundaes are also served and come in a variety of flavors that can please anyone. They have a challenge there called the Mount Everest Challenge where if the customer eats 15 scoops of ice cream in 40 minutes, the ice cream is free and their name is put on the wall of fame. If they fail, they have pay $28 and have their name put on the wall of shame. Besides all the amazing foods that they have there, the service is also superb. The waitresses are kind and easy to talk to. They always give great service with a smile which makes the already great atmosphere even better. Customers can play board games or card games while waiting for food, which makes the environment more friendly and warm. Rosy’s Ice Cream & Diner is the perfect place to go for a meal or even dessert. It’s a great place to just hang out. The customer will always leave happy and satisfied with the food and service.

Home: A hit to the heart

By CHLOE GRUNDMEIER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Almost every movie DreamWorks Animation has released is a masterpiece. Everyone loved ‘How to Train Your Dragon,’ ‘Shrek’ was loved enough to have sequel upon sequel, and ‘Rise of the Guardians’ had its watchers in tears. ‘Home’ is another one of these great movies DreamWorks has produced. Rihanna voices the main character, Gratuity “Tip” Tucci, and she could not have been cast better. While Rihanna is more known for her music career rather than one in voice acting a children’s movie, the part was perfect for her. She made the character relatable and even had the perfect accent – since Rihanna and Tip both were born in Barbados. The movie was very relatable, even with the purple aliens and flying cars. The characters were quite believable and realistic. Anyone who has moved to a different school understands how Tip feels when she mentions moving from Barbados to New York. The movie goers also related to – and had much empathy for – the second main character, Oh. Voiced by Jim Parsons, this character relates to the audience by being disliked and picked on for be-

ing different. Throughout the movie, he remains happy and upbeat even though he realizes when his “friends” are saying “Oh” they’re not saying it in a pleased manner. Throughout the film, the relationship between Tip and Oh blossoms from hatred and fear to best friends. They worry about each other, they fight for each other, and make sacrifices that one would only make for a best friend. The platonic love between these two characters is enough to bring a tear to anyone’s eye. The animation was beautiful as well. Tip’s natural curls bounced and blew in a breeze and looked completely realistic. All of the other people of color had realistically curly and kinky hair as well. Not only were the characters relatable and the storyline interesting, but the music was fantastic as well. The soundtrack was full of songs by Rihanna and Jennifer Lopez (who voiced Tip’s mom, Lucy Tucci, in the film) as well as a few techno songs to remind the listener of the alien battles in the movie. Overall, DreamWorks did another great job with the great characters, great plot, and great music.

‘Second Chance Summer’, learning to deal with the unthinkable

With the summer fast approaching, Taylor Edwards is going back to her lake house in the Pocono Mountains that she and her family haven’t been to in many years. Situations arise that didn’t seem to be a problem before. But why, after many years, are Taylor and her family returning? Taylor’s dad ended up getting devastating news about his health that could change their family forever, and he wants to spend one last summer with his family at their lake house where they’ve spent many summers before. ‘Second Chance Summer’ by Morgan Matson tells the story of Taylor Edwards going back to her lake house. This may seem like it’s not that big of a deal to go to a lake house one hasn’t been to in a few years, but for Taylor, it brings up a lot of old emotions and new ones about the people she used to be close to. This book has romance and happiness, but also a dark twist dealing with tragedy and depression. Also the family in this book can be very relatable. The book shows the dif-

By SIERRA REAMS STAFF REPORTER

ferent ways people deal with the news of a family member getting sick and the shock of seeing old friends. The family is dealing with a lot of emotions at the lake. The people they left, including Taylor’s first boyfriend and her oldest best friend, and the news of their family’s health issues rock the whole lake. Everyone used to be so close. They all used to get together to enjoy each other’s company at the barbeques the whole lake community went to. ‘Second Chance Summer’ is a good book if someone is into romance books but doesn’t want all the sappiness that comes along with it. It has the sense of the romance but also has a sad and deeper meaning to what is going on.

FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015 The Tomatalk • Kamiakin High School

Tribal Reviews ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Cinderella: A classic tale reborn By EMILY BAER STAFF REPORTER

he movie ‘Cinderella’ was released on March 13. Thousands have flocked to the theater to see this film full of magic and romance, a classic tale reborn through this adaptation directed by Kenneth Branagh. The film has an original twist that reminds all, young and old, that dreams do come true. Most people know the story of Cinderella. Her mother dies when she is young, and in this adaptation, her mother’s last words to her were “have courage, and be kind.” These words are repeated several times throughout the film, and they help Cinderella during the hard times of her life. Later, after her father remarries another woman, he dies suddenly and without warning. Cinderella is then left in the protection of her stepmother, who is jealous of Cinderella, therefore trying her best to make Cinderella’s life miserable for years. She is treated as a servant, and with the words “have courage, and be kind,” Cinderella makes the most of her days by trying her best to be optimistic. However, Cinderella’s life takes a turn for the better when she meets a prince in disguise as an appren-

tice. The two bond quickly and hope to see each other again. When it is announced that the royal family will be holding a ball open to the public, Cinderella is excited to attend and hopes to find her apprentice friend there. Her hopes are crushed, however, after her stepmother bans her from going. Then comes the fairy godmother who will grant Cinderella’s wishes, but they will only last until midnight. Good and evil battle in this unique telling of a classic tale. Hopes are raised and crushed, wishes are granted, and true love is found. Not only does this adaptation have a nice mixture of love and magic, it teaches a lesson to all who see it. If one has courage and is kind, then fears and trials are just a stepping stone on the path of life. Perfect for a date night or a night out for the family, this film succeeded in the retelling of a legendary story.

Jordan 1 Hares: Tribute to ‘Space Jam’ By PARKER PRUNEDA STAFF REPORTER

Both Looney Tunes and sports fans were excited about the filming of ‘Space Jam.’ ‘Space Jam’ has been one of many gateways to 90s nostalgia, and Jordan Brand refuses to let you forget it. In the movie, star basketball player Michael Jordan has been recruited by the Looney Tunes to save the world from invading aliens. Unfortunately for the Looney Tunes, Jordan has retired from the NBA to play baseball. Jordan wears one of his signature shoes, the Air Jordan 11, in the movie, and the color quickly became one of the favorites of the 11. On April 4 Jordan Brand released the Air Jordan 1 Hare. The shoe, however, is different from other Jordan 1s. The tongue of the shoe has a colorful geometric pattern and instead of having the Nike Air logo on the tongue tag, a Jumpman Bugs Bunny

stands in its place. A Jordan 1 Lola Bunny was also released for the women, and an Air Jordan 7 Lola Bunny also hit shelves on April 18. Whether Jordan Brand wants to use nostalgic memories to make a major profit or they simply want to appeal to fans of the movie, the sneakers are very quality. The shoe has a silver and white premium leather upper hinting to the hare. The shoe also has the Nike wings logo on the collar in red, and “Hare” is placed onto the heel. The shoes were well designed, and a great color scheme was chosen making them very wearable to suit most outfits. It’s a great shoe to wear around because of the comfort and the fit of the shoe. It’s not a very bulky model and can be very versatile for active or casual wear. It could be possible that more themed shoes will surface in Jordan Brand’s list of ideas. This nostalgia provoking sneaker is sold at the price of $120.

‘Insurgent’: Didn’t live up to the expectations By ANDY HA ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

‘Insurgent’, the sequel to ‘Divergent’, continues the storyline of the main character, Tris, struggling with being Divergent in a dystopian society where a person can only be put in one faction out of the five that are given. The five factions are Abnegation (the selfless), Amity (the peaceful), Candor (the honest), Dauntless (the brave), and Erudite (the intelligent). With Tris being Divergent, she shared traits of multiple factions and was deemed a threat to the society. After this discovery, the leader of Erudite, Jeanine, put a warrant out for her and all Divergent people so they could help Erudite take over the society and be destroyed. A few new characters were introduced, but they weren’t important. The two new characters introduced were Johana Reyes, representative of Amity, and Evelyn Eaton, leader of the Factionless. Reyes was portrayed by Octavia Spencer, who did a spectacular job portraying the calm and nurturing Amity representative. Ea-

ton was played by Naomi Watts and she also did a terrific job. The returning main cast, Shailene Woodley, Theo James, Ansel Elgort, and Kate Winslet gave exceptional performances as they did in the first film. A main standout in the film was another returning actor. Miles Teller, who plays Peter Hayes. He is a scene stealer throughout the film. He gives an outstanding performance as the evil conceited idiot character. The film had a major difference from the book it is adapted from. In the film, Erudite is searching for Divergents to open a box that bears the symbols of all factions, whereas in the book, Erudites induce the people with a new serum to capture all Divergents. Other than that, there was nothing really special with this film. The special effects were better in this film than in the first film in the series. There were also more action scenes in this film as well. All of that was entertaining, but that’s where it ends. It sometimes became kind of repetitive and boring. It was too much like the first film. It was a good film, but didn’t live up to the hype.