2017 18 issue 1

TOMATALK HE

OCTOBER

Representation on campus VOLUME 42• ISSUE 1•Oct. 6, 2017• KAMIAKIN HIGH SCHOOL • 600 N. ARTHUR ST. • KENNEWICK, WA 99336

Sp tlights 2 Madison Kutschkau: balancing Young Life and sports Around the Campfire NEWS & FEATURE

Friday, Oct. 6, 2017 The Tomatalk Kamiakin High School

By CLARA HILLYER STAFF REPORTER

M

adison Kutschkau, also known as Maddie, a freshman this year, has loved high school.

Kutschkau’s favorite part of high school is “having a fridge for lunch and a microwave.”

Kutshckau mom is a math teacher here, so Kutshckau has the privilege of having a pantry in her mom’s

room.

One thing Kutshckau sometimes does not like about high school is the “seniority.” “The seniority can sometimes bother me as a freshman,” she said.

Kutshckau has been playing on the JV soccer team and a swing on varsity. “I have loved having the opportunity of playing different positions and strengthening relationships and starting new ones.” Kutshckau said.

Kutshckau also hopes to play Basketball in the winter and either run track and field or play club soccer in the spring.

Kutshckau is also highly involved in a youth group called Young Life. Kutshckau has loved getting to know new people and getting to know Jesus more through Young Life. “I trust that group so much and I’m so close with everyone. There’s so much honesty in Young Life. All you need to be is you. My relationships with people and Jesus have never been stronger and continue to grow every day,” she said.

Kutshckau hopes to stay highly involved in high school. “I’m hoping to have an amazing four years at such an amazing school with so much spirit,” she said. “Run Kano is amazing and it feels like we are all “one tribe,” Kutshckau said.

Courtesy of Madison Kutschkau Freshman Madison Kutschkau playing basketball for Desert Hills Middle School.

Zach Vollmer: excited for the next four years as a Brave

BY CLARA HILLYER STAFF REPORTER

Z

achary Vollmer, known as Zach, is one of many freshmen on campus this year. So far, Vollmer has said he’s liked being in high school.

“My favorite part about high school is definitely how we have more freedom than we did in middle school. For example, how we’re allowed to leave campus for lunch, have longer breaks, use our phones more often and bring food to class,” said Vollmer.

Vollmer said he is glad he is spending his high school years at Kamiakin.

“I love Kamiakan and all the school spirit. I hope to stay highly involved the next four years,” he said.

This year Vollmer runs cross country for the school and hopes to play basketball in the winter and run track and field in the spring. He loves playing sports for Kamiakin, which he says is such a committed school that cares deeply about their athletes.

Young Life has also had a huge impact on Vollmer’s life.

“Young Life has really brought me closer to a lot of my friends and created new friendships for me, but also helped me grow closer to God and learn about him,” Vollmer said.

His family has been going to Young Life camps for as long as he could remember, but “it was different going with friends,” Vollmer said.

According to Vollmer, camp has been the best week of his life every year he attended.

“The people I went with feel like family,” he said.

Vollmer hopes to have a great high school experience and hopes to love every minute at Kamiakin.

Courtesy of Zach Vollmer Freshman Zach Vollmer preparing for a cross-country meet.

Friday, Oct. 6, 2017 The Tomatalk Kamiakin High School

Around theNEWS Campfire & FEATURE

Run Kano: 3

a look back in time

By HUNTER ROBBINS-BILOW STAFF REPORTER

R

un Kano. When most people hear that, they can only imagine the students that lead the chants during football or basketball games, but Run Kano is much more than that. Run Kano is a representation of every student and staff member who goes to Kamiakin. This year, the group is led by seven seniors.

When Run Kano first began, it wasn’t called Run Kano. It was just Kano. Kano is the initials for Kamiakin (KaHS) in Greek. When it was just Kano, the organization was a fraternity, but when Run DMC came out, they added the Run part and made it what it is today. Run Kano.

“

When most schools see all the students with Run Kano, they strive to be like them because we have one of the best school communities in the country.

”

Principal Chris Chelin

Run Kano didn’t become an actual club at Kamiakin until a year or two ago when they were having some issues with the school because of how the seniors was were using the money from the spirt wear that they were selling. The school didn’t want to get rid of Run Kano, so they made them become a club at the school. Teacher Tim Bisson was put in charge of the club and making sure that the club didn’t get into any more trouble.

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 St., Kennewick, WA, 99336, 509-222-7015, email tomatalkstaff@gmail.com, or go online at tomatalk.com and comment there.

Staff Adviser: Laurie Bender Editors-in-Chief: Madison Morgan and Taylor Hunzeker News Feature Editor: Taylor Hunzeker Sports Editor: Bri Barnes In-Depth Editor: Madison Morgan Opinion Editor: Rucy Questad Entertainment Editor: Roberto Cortes Cover photo by: Timber Hunt Staff Reporters:

Bri Barnes, Hunter Robbins-Bilow, Jordan Blum, Maddie Briggs, Roberto Cortes, Brittney Cox, Brittney Sieffert-Empson, Clara Hillyer, Taylor Hunzeker, Madison Morgan, Lauren Parks, Kierstin Thorn, Rucy Questad, Emily Reynolds, Emmaleena Wood, Jonathan Ziegenfuss.

MISSION STATEMENT:

The purpose of the Tomatalk is 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

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Jonathan Ziegenfuss The student section at the Sept. 29 Varsity football game against Hanford.

Some things that Run Kano does is they show the school’s spirit. “When most schools see all the students with Run Kano, they strive to be like them because we have one of the best school communities in the country,” said principal Chris Chelin.

Chelin also said that the school’s spirit shows the best when the players are down and they can look up at the student section and see all of Run Kano cheering them on.

Another activity that Run Kano is involved in is community service, such as the canned food drive miracle minute during Pink Week. Run Kano also helps the school’s ASB and other clubs with school activities.

Around the Campfire NEWS & FEATURE

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Friday, Oct. 6, 2017 The Tomatalk Kamiakin High School

Showing support for Freeman Students support devastated Spokane school

By TAYLOR HUNZEKER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

I

n the town Spokane County town of Rockford, a sophomore open fired at Freeman High School. His first weapon was jammed, and he moved on to his second weapon. Witnesses say that one student approached the shooter and was shot in the head first. His name was Sam Strahan. He was pronounced dead later that day. The shooter continued to injure three others who did survive. He stopped shooting once a janitor came up to him and demanded he surrender. Police came in and arrested him.

Witnesses and friends of the shooter describe him as someone who is cool, friendly, and wasn’t bullied, but he did have an obsession with past school shootings and loved the show ‘Breaking Bad.’ At the beginning of the school year, he wrote notes saying he was going to do something stupid and might be jailed for it. Students that knew this did alert their counselors, but it is unclear how the problem was solved.

The school isn’t big, housing only 331 students. Some parents couldn’t believe it when they heard what was happening at the school and were told to wait outside the campus grounds as the police handled the situation.

Those waiting would be alerted and would hear from the police as soon as they could fix and help the stressful scene.

At the football game against Chiawana Sept. 15, both student sections showed their support for Freeman by wearing the colors blue and making large signs that were on display at the front of the stands.

Senior Allie Castañeda lived in Spokane for most of her childhood, for about seven years. She moved to the Tri-Cities during eighth grade. When asked what her thoughts were on the school shooting she said, “I think it’s really heartbreaking to see it happen. It’s crazy to think that this could happen to anyone, anywhere. My friends in Spokane were in a lockdown during the day because of it.”

When school shootings happen, especially close to us, it really affects students. “It hits pretty close to home,” Castaneda said. “This could’ve been my friends in harm. I remember being on lockdowns because of crime and

Noelle Haggart Seniors Brittney Cox and Naomi Heuer supporting Freeman Strong High School by wearing blue at the Sept. 15 football game against Chiawana.

threats of violence to [and] from kids at school. It’s been awesome to see all the schools support Freeman.”

Castaneda also explained her thoughts on the student’s death. “I think he will be remembered as someone truly loving. He was trying to stop someone he knew with genuine care. He shows that we shouldn’t be afraid to stop violence and care for the well-being of others,” she said.

With this tragedy, schools in Washington have been able to show their respect and support Freeman students.

Aubrey Wood The varsity football players running through a #Kano is Freeman banner at the Sept. 15 football game against Chiawana.

Friday, Oct. 6, 2017 The Tomatalk Kamiakin High School

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No reason to be bored: fall activities

By CLARA HILLYER STAFF REPORTER

T

ri-Cities has a plethora of activities available during the fall. Some of them are in the surrounding area, like in the Yakima Valley, but they provide a variety of entertainment opportunities for people to be part of. These are just a few students can try: “Trick or Treat on the Trail”- The walk starts at 10 a.m. Oct 29. Trailhead Park at the base of Badger Mt. 541 Queensgate Dr, Richland

Harvest Parties, corn mazes and fall festivals - 9 a.m. till dusk. Oct 31. 232 Crestlock Road, off Highway 395 Scaregrounds-Wednesdays and Thursdays: 7 p.m.-10 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays, and Halloween: 7 p.m.-11.p.m. 1500 Oak Street (Benton Franklin Fairgrounds) Kennewick, Wash.

Trunk or Treating - 5 to 7 p.m. Oct 30. In the parking lot at the Law and Justice Center in downtown Sunnyside. Free Historic Downtown Prosser Trick or Treating - 3 to 6 p.m. Oct 31. Historic Downtown Prosser Ranch and Home’s Safe T Street Trick or Treat - 4 to 7 p.m. Oct. 31. At the Red Lion Hotel next to Columbia Center Mall in Kennewick Walla Walla Corn Maze - 6 to 10 p.m. Thursday: from 6 to 11 p.m. Friday: from 2 to 11 p.m. Saturday and from 4 to 9 p.m. Sundays. Oct. 31. 853 Five Mile Road in Walla Walla.

The Apple and Pumpkin Festival at Bill’s Berry Farm - 10 to 5 p.m. Oct. 4 - Oct. 28. 3674 N. Country Line Road, Grandview Fall Carnival - 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Oct. 28. Richland Community Center. Admission is $2 for Richland residents and $2.50 for nonresidents Battle of the Bands Halloween- 6 p.m. Oct. 28. At the Rock Reactor, 117 W. Kennewick Ave. Admission is $10 The Haunted Forest at Sacajawea Park - 7 to 11 p.m. Oct 21-22, 28-29 and 31. Sacajawea Park, Pasco. Admission $9 The 3 Rivers Road Runners ‘Howl’ n Scream scram - Race starts at 10 a.m. Oct 22. Badger Mountain Park, 350 Keene Road, Richland. Admission $18

Taylor Hunzeker A decoration for the upcoming holiday.

Tribal SPORTS Games

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Friday, Oct.6, 6,2017 2017 FRIDAY, OCT. The Tomatalk Kamiakin High School The Tomatalk • Kamiakin High School

Swimming: natural outlet for senior Naomi Heuer

By EMMALEENA STAFF REPORTER

S

WOOD

enior Naomi Heuer is captain of the 2017 Kamiakin swim team. To start off her story, she was living in Hawaii. “I started swimming when I was seven, but I took a three year break

when I moved to Washington in 2011,” she said.

“I basically grew up in the water, so it was kinda like … why wouldn’t I swim ? I was always swimming in the ocean and pools, so I figured why don’t I just go competitive with this?”

As one of the captains, Heuer has the responsibility of sweatshirts and t-shirts for the district girls.

They pick out the swimsuits and collect the money for it. They are also in charge of dryland workouts which are workouts that are not in the water.

Dryland is meant to Courtesy of Naomi Heuer make you a

stronger swimmer. ”As captains, we represent the older sisters of the team,” said Heuer.

Swim Team is one of the most positive sports out there with each swimmer supporting each other in the races. Heuer motivates herself. ”If I ever have any doubts, the other side of me says, ‘No, you can do this.’” she said.

A swimmer’s pool is 25 meters, and swimming a 100 is exactly four laps. Swimming can be gruesome sometimes, depending on the four choices of strokes you do. There is breastroke, freestyle, backstroke, and butterfly, each one involving a certain skill set and different muscles that strengthen the swimmer.

Heuer pushes herself to be a better swimmer as well as a better person and friend towards her teammates. She said she wanted to be remembered as a “great captain, a great friend, and a great swimmer.” She also said that she wanted to be remembered by the good things. One example of how she does this is that with the newer swimmers, she calms them down by talking to them and helping them visualize the race.

“I let them know that I’m there for them, and it’s no different than practice,” she said.

Heuer stays determined and hopes for the best for her team this season.

Senior Naomi Heuer preparing to dive at the swim and dive districts in Moses Lake in 2015.

Fall sports recap: football, volleyball and soccer

By BRI BARNES SPORTS EDITOR

Football (varsity) 9/1/17 home vs. Eastmont High School.

Win 35-6.

9/8/17 home vs. Lewis & Clark High School.

Win 49-13.

9/15/17 home vs. Chiawana High School.

Win 26-20.

9/22/17 home vs. Pasco High School.

Win 59-0.

9/29/17 home vs. Hanford High School.

Win 30-0

Soccer (girls’ varsity) 9/2/17 home vs. Gonzaga prep.

Win 3-2.

9/9/17 home vs. Pasco High School.

Win 9-1.

9/12/17 home vs. Kennewick High School.

Win 11-1.

9/14/17 home vs. Chiawana High School.

Win 4-0.

9/19/17 home vs Richland High School.

Win 6-1.

9/12/17 home vs. Walla Walla High School.

Win 4-0.

9/26/17 home vs. Southridge High School.

Win 3-0.

9/28/17 home vs. Pasco High School.

Win 4-0.

Volleyball (varsity) 9/5/17 home vs. Pasco High School.

Win 3-0.

9/7/17 home vs. Hanford High School.

Win 3-1.

9/12/17 home vs. Kennewick High School Loss 3-2.

9/14/17 home vs. Chiawana High School.

Loss 3-0.

9/19/17 home vs. Richland High School.

Loss 3-0.

9/21/17 home vs. Walla Walla High School.

Loss 3-0.

9/26/17 home vs. Southridge High School.

Loss 3-1.

Courtesy of Kamiakin Athletics 9/28/17 home vs. Pasco High School.

The student section at the Sept. 8 Varsity football game vs. Lewis & Clark High School.

Win 3-0.

Friday, Oct. 6, 2017 The Tomatalk Kamiakin High School

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Chief Legends In Depth

Benson Smith: more than just an athlete

By RUCY QUESTAD OPINION EDITOR

P

eople know Benson Smith as a jock because of his position as a wide receiver and defensive back on the varsity football team, but like most people, he has another side to his personality. Active in his church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, he accompanied a group to Belize this summer, a life-changing experience for him.

Where did you go? How long were you gone?

I went to the country of Belize on a mission trip to help build a school classroom for the kids in Belize. I was gone for two and a half weeks.

What did that experience do for you? Did it change you?

Totally. I think going to Belize and seeing all the poverty there and seeing how people live and seeing the huge contrast in the way I live my life and in the way that they live their life, I think it humbles me a lot. It helps me have a bigger or better view on life and towards people.

What is the difference between your life and their life?

Just the houses-a lot of the houses were pretty much handmade, made by the people who live there, while today where we live, we have people make our houses. Their houses aren’t structurally sound. The stuff they ate was a lot different. There was a lot less of a variety than what we have.

What was the most memorable experience you had?

It’s a hard question just because there was a lot of stuff that was memorable there. I think something that was cool was while we were building the school, we were able to hang out with the kids who were going to the school.

I think that playing with them and just seeing how happy they were about how little they had was something that I will never forget, and it’s something that has changed me.

Why do you think people might not know about this side of you?

I don’t know. Maybe because they haven’t totally gotten to know me.

Courtesy of Benson Smith Left: Smith with a child from Belize. Right: Senior Benson Smith with volunteers building houses for the less fortunate in Belize. Above right: Smith digging a hole with a fellow volunteer.

Chief In Depth Legends

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Friday, Oct.6, 6,2017 2017 FRIDAY, OCT. The Tomatalk Kamiakin High School The Tomatalk • Kamiakin High School

Different sid

Dianosted with dislexa, senror learns to cope *Headline written as Ziegenfuss would write it.

By JONATHAN ZIEGENFUSS STAFF REPORTER

Dyslexia can be devastating. If people let it, it can provide real roadblocks to their education. But those unfamiliar with the term may wonder what it is. It is the difficulty in learning or interpreting words, letters, and other symbols, but it does not affect general intelligence. Dyslexia is one of those things where you find out that you have it sooner or later. I was one of those people who found out later in life.

“

Tech, where it is more hands on. But when it comes to other classes, like English, I think, “How many times will I mess up today?” or something along those lines.

Almost every day it is like that, but what helps me is working with cars. That is the one thing I can understand. Earlier on, I was always that kid in class that when it was time to read out loud, I didn’t want to or when I had to, it would be that slow reader. Also, when it would come to spelling tests, I would bomb

What helps me is working with cars. That is the one thing I can understand.

Senior Jonathan Ziegenfuss

So here is what I experience on a typical day with dyslexia. I look forward to some classes, like Tri-

”

them even though I would study the words.

Until about the seventh grade, my

family and I didn’t know that I had dyslexia. That year I was put into an extra reading/ English class. Don’t get me wrong. I didn’t want to be in that kind of class, but the classes help, a lot.

In the next couple of years, reading and spelling became easier. The key to that for me was reading audio books.

Reading the books while listening to the audio not just helped me understand the word better. It helped me know how to spell them. In my eighth year, I read about eight to ten books with the help of audio. If it weren’t for the audio, it would have taken me about two to two and a half months to read all Courtesy of Timber Hunt of them, maybe longer. To Senior Jonathan Ziegenfuss was diagnosed with dyslexia this day, I still have trouble in middle school. spelling. If it was not for autocorrect, this article would *This article was written in the font Arial, a dyslexia probably be hard to read. friendly font.

Student teaches abroad in Taiwan

By MADISON MORGAN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

F

or senior Crystal Le, volunteering is much more than a hobby. It’s a passion.

Le is the president of the school’s Key Club, a volunteer at the Grace Clinic, and an aid to disabled children through the Strides program.

But that’s only a fraction of the volunteer work she does.

She decided to take her love of volunteering one step further and spent one month this summer in rural Taiwan, teaching English to children in poverty.

“I went to a small village in Taiwan. Kids in Taiwan are required to learn English to go to college, and they need to learn it to get into good high schools. The government does this program where students from outside of Taiwan who are fluent in English can come to Taiwan and teach English,” Le said.

Le taught at Jiàn zhōngguó xiao, an elementary school in the city of Sanyi.

“I taught a class of 17 kids from first grade to about fifth grade. [I was] at the school for over two weeks, but was in Taiwan for a month,” she

said. stuff we have here because we definitely didn’t But it wasn’t Le’s first time in Taiwan. To her, it have that back in Taiwan,” she said. “I’m going was almost like coming home because when she back next year to visit my kids and to hang out was younger, she briefly attended kindergarten with some of the people that I met there.” there.

“I went to kindergarten in Taiwan for six months when I was 3 years-old. I grew up in Taipei, and so after the program I spent two weeks there. I did all the things I did when I was little. All those memories,” she said.

“When I came back, I was really homesick for Taiwan.”

Le was so humbled by the experience that she has decided to volunteer again next year after she graduates.

“I learned a lot more about the importance of education and how we’re really lucky Courtesy of Crystal Le to have the supplies and Senior Crystal Le taught English to Taiwanese students in poverty this summer.

Friday, Oct. 6, 2017 FRIDAY, OCT. 6, 2017 The Tomatalk Kamiakin High School

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The Tomatalk • Kamiakin High School

des of people

Chief Legends In Depth

Full time athlete, full time disability Disabilities don’t have to hold students back.

By BRI BARNES SPORTS EDITOR

I

Courtesy of Bri Barnes Barnes playing softball for her 16U softball teamin 2016.

t’s bottom of the sixth inning. I’m up to bat with two outs and a runner on third. My team is down by two and they are depending on me. I get the green light from my coach and I set myself up in the box. I do my little routine, I take a big breath, then get ready for my pitch.

Ball one goes by. It was too outside. Ball two goes by, too high. The next pitch I was blessed with a perfectly set up inside low ball. I loaded up and unleashed all my power and sent the ball to the fence. I started to run to first base, took one step out of the box and fell flat on my face.

At first glance you wouldn’t be able to tell that I have a genetic disorder. It affects my skeletal muscles, causing them to tense up and preventing them from relaxing normally. An “episode” only lasts for about a few seconds. That’s if I keep up with my medication.

Even though I battle day to day with my disability, I don’t let it hold me back. When it comes to sports, I often get really frustrated with my body/muscles when they are unable to perform like a normal person’s does. It’s not just sports either. It’s also stairs, exercise, driving, getting up from sitting, eating, talking, and basically anything that involves the movement and contraction of muscles.

Courtesy of Timber Hunt My disorder is called Myotonia Congenita, Senior Bri Barnes. Barnes suffers from Myotonia Congenita, which affects or as other people know it, “the fainting goat her skeletal muscles. “Even though I struggle with my disability, I don’t let syndrome.” it hold me back,” she said.

I get the disorder from my dad’s side of the family. I was first diagnosed on my 11th birthday.

My parents first started noticing the symptoms when I began playing softball. After I’d hit the ball I’d try to run to first base, but my leg muscles would lock up and I’d fall on my face. I’ve fallen on my butt in volleyball games, fumbled up stairs, and held on too long during a handshake. There would be people laughing at me and giving me weird looks, but I understand because they just think I’m a klutz.

I remember going on a cruise to the Bahamas with my family before I was diagnosed. We stopped at an island and went to the local museums. I had 70 to 80-year-old women passing me up the stairs because I was having an “episode” and was unable to walk up the stairs.

I’m a member of M.D.A., or the Muscular Dystrophy Association. You know when those firefighters are out on the street during a parade or some other special event holding boots for an organization? They are raising money for the M.D.A. to raise awareness of the many types of muscular disorders that affect adults, teens, and children.

I drive to Spokane every three months to see a specialist associated with the M.D.A. to check on my progress and to see about other options of “treatment” to try and make my life easier. I’ve done physical therapy, but that’s never worked. Now I take medication, the same one my dad takes now, too. If I take it when I’m supposed to, I’ll have no flare ups. But I have noticed as I get older, the disorder gets worse and so I have to up my dose of the medication.

So even though I struggle with my disability, I don’t let it hold me back.

I may have fallen on my face at that game, but I got right back up and ran as fast as I could to first base. I was called safe, and my team ended up winning that game.

Tribal OPINION &Talk EDITORIAL

Friday, Oct. 6, 2017 FRIDAY, OCT. 6, 2017 The Tomatalk Kamiakin High School

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The Tomatalk • Kamiakin High School

Confederate symbols

Pro: don’t erase the past behind the symbols

By RUCY QUESTAD

W

OPINION EDITOR

hy should we keep the confederate monuments?

There are good reasons to keep them, but it is also understandable for people to want those monuments removed because they represent a bad time in American history. Nevertheless, the government should not remove this part of history just because they are ashamed.

The monuments are a part of history. People cannot erase history because they are offended by it. America needs to remember what our forefathers did and the outcomes of their actions so that we don›t keep making the same mistakes. George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, while praised for their strong leadership during the American Revolution, are the most commonly known presidents who owned slaves.

Back then, people believed it was right to own other people. Yet you do not hear people saying that the government should take down their faces from Mount Rushmore. But how long until even that happens?

The biggest argument for those who want the monuments removed is that it represents slavery and that they give honor to the people who wanted to keep slavery.

So if people want things that represent racism taken down and disposed of,, does that mean the government should take down the railroad systems? The railroads were made by Chinese, black, and white work laborers.

Chinese laborers were not paid as much as the whites and they worked in the worst conditions. The Chinese

suffered racial discrimination at every level of society.

The way the Chinese were treated offends some people, but not to the extent of protesting the railroads.

People do not want them to de destroyed or put in museums because the railroads are useful to them.

If the supporters for the removal of the Confederate symbols cannot stand the monuments, then they should also argue for the removal of the railroads.

Germany, like the U.S., did not get rid of all the evidence of their dark past. The country did not get rid of all the evidence of the Holocaust. They still have the concentration camps as part of history. How long until America forgets slavery? How long until it›s just a footnote in a history book?

Lawrence A. Kuznar, a professor of anthropology at Indiana University said, “I detest our confederate monuments. But they should remain. People effectively act as though destruction of a monument exercises its power and removal banishes the power from their midst. But these pieces of metal and stone only have the meaning we assign to them, and that meaning can take any form we like. They can be revered or reviled; honored or ridiculed; or co-opted for a new purpose,” said Kuznar.

And Roberta Godsey, a licensed professional counselor, does not believe in taking the statues down either.

“I do not see how taking down statues will erase the ugly past of racism any more than taking down the 10 commandments erases the belief in God. These statues serve as a reminder of where we once were in comparison to where we are now. Are we

going to continue this type of behavior until our history is demolished? I thought we lived in a country that clearly sees the need for our history to be out there, be it good or be it bad. It serves as a reminder of who we once were in comparison to who we want to be. Like it or not, the confederacy is a part of the history of our country. I also do not understand why all of a sudden, these statues are an issue when most have been standing before many of us were even alive. It seems to me to be just another means of trying to say that most of America are racists when that simply is not true. Most of us care equally about our fellow Americans no matter what race they are. What’s next,” said Godsey.

If the government agrees to take down all the Confederate monuments, how far are they willing to go? After five years, will they also take down all the reminders of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson just because they owned slaves?

Con: the symbols represent a racist America

By ROBERTO CORTES

ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

L

ately in the news there has been a debate about whether or not confederate symbols have a historical place in our society. People on both sides feel strongly about the issue. With the country’s grim history, those symbols serve as a painful reminder of America’s dark past.

The symbols, which glorify confederate leaders, were put up around the late 1800s in the reconstruction era. They were meant to give off an aspect of fear to people at the time.

“If the south was truly proud of those heroes that had fought for them during the Civil War, it would have made sense to put the statues up almost as quickly as possible,” said history teacher Dan Price.

The symbols promote and give ‘fame’ to the idea of slavery, a practice seen as inhumane in modern America.

“That’s [the confederate leaders’] claim to fame right now,” said history teacher Richard Rockefeller. “They led the confederacy and they fought for an institution of slavery.”

The confederates ceded from the Union in the beginning of the Civil War because of many reasons but a major one was that they wanted to keep slavery legal to maintain the South’s economy. “[It’s] honoring the sacrifice that people fought and died for in the confederacy, but you are not still promoting that racism that is involved,” Rockefeller said.

Confederate symbols must be removed from American society because they no longer repre-

Courtesy of theadvocate.com Removal of General Robert E. Lee statue

sent the ideals that the U.S. stands for. The idea of taking down the confederate symbols will help the U.S. move on from its past as a country that used to value slavery.

Friday, Oct. 6, 2017

FRIDAY, OCT.Kamiakin 6, 2017 High School The Tomatalk The Tomatalk • Kamiakin High School

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Tribal Talk

OPINION & EDITORIAL

KaHS Editorial Board

Taylor Hunzeker, News and Feature Rucy Questad, Opinion Madison Morgan, In-Depth Brianna Barnes, Sports Roberto Cortes, Entertainment *contributions by Emmaleena Wood

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.

What we think...

I

Many school sports and clubs aren’t recognized like they should be

n 2016, The Kamiakin varsity football achieved the title of 3A state champs. At Kamiakin, we pride ourselves as “one tribe”, but we only focus on the well-known sports.

Did you know that last year our swim and dive team won districts? That gymnastics got second place in state and second place in districts? Or that the softball team was one game away from state and never got the recognition for their hard work because they didn’t earn a “banner?”

How about the fact that the dance team placed first in hip-hop and second in pom at districts? Even JV teams don’t get any support because people only pay attention to “Varsity Level.” That’s grand and all, but JV teams put in hard work, and so do freshman teams/C teams. So why don’t we support them?

Why do we ignore our Tribe?

Run Kano, the student section and symbol of Kamiakin Spirit, is meant to cheer on any sport no matter how small but very rarely does.

“We are constantly saying come to the gymnastics meet, but nobody tweets about us. We have to do it all ourselves,” said gymnast and senior Ryanne Rogers.

Part of being in “one tribe” means we are all one.

“Personally, yes I believe tennis is very unrepresented at Kamiakin. Many people really don’t pay attention to tennis unless they’re playing it. Not many people really watch our matches,” said sophomore and varsity tennis player Lisa Chung. “Last year our varsity girls team were undefeated in the whole MCC season. We are 3-time league champs, 3A girls regional champs and district champs [and] had our no. 1 boys singles player make it to state.”

Are we really all one when we don’t treat each sport equally? Where are these student sections at?

“I feel like we deserve more recognition. [Swim team]...all put in a lot of hard work to earn that districts title [last year],” said junior Hannah Qunell.

“Very rarely do students show up at our meets.”

But no one knows more about inequality than last year’s softball team.

“No one cares about softball because they only care about the boys’ sports,” said sophomore Makenna Morgan. “In the spring sports assembly [last year] every other sport was talked about but softball, and that made everyone [on the team] quite upset.”

How fair is that when you ignore a sport because they don’t win something? Don’t they deserve to have their hard work recognized?

Clubs are arguably treated even worse. In fact, most of us don’t even know some of the clubs at Kamiakin.

“We could have way more representation,” said Knowledge Bowl president and senior Connor Gaspar.

Just because you don’t play a sport doesn’t mean you should be forgotten.

“Last year we weren’t even represented in the club section [of the yearbook] as a club, even though we were. We won a regional title for one of our competitions, and we weren’t even recognized in the yearbook,” said math club president and senior Delaney Wilde.

Every club and sport should be praised in the same way. They deserve recognition for the accomplishments they have achieved.

Achievements should not be a one time thing. They should be the talk of the school.

“Not a lot of people know who we are and what we do,” said senior and Key Club president Crystal Le. “A lot of people said that they would have joined the club earlier if they had been aware of what it was and that we existed. And they don’t know.”

“I’m rather disappointed. The students in these shows [drama] spend hours upon hours working on it [plays]. We build all the sets you see. We memorize all the words you hear. We put so much thought into every facial expression and reaction and in the delivery of every line. To not have a lot of support from our fellow Braves is disappointing,” said sophomore Emma Sorensen.

Kamiakin has so many students that all want equal support. We are constantly raising the standards by becoming more obsessed with what’s popular. Every time this happens, a group of students becomes less and less valuable to the school.

“The Tomatalk prints about 1500 newspapers per issue,” said senior and newspaper club president Madison Morgan. “But in my opinion, it feels like only a handful of people actually read the paper. To me it feels like a waste.

A waste of money, a waste of paper, and a waste of effort. We make the Tomatalk for the students, but it feels like the students don’t even care.”

To be successful at Kamiakin, recognition is in demand. Every student dedicated in what club they are in or what sport they are playing has practiced and planned for the future. It’s time we start supporting each individual at our school.

Tribal OPINION &Talk EDITORIAL

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Friday, Oct.6, 6,2017 2017 FRIDAY, OCT. The Tomatalk Kamiakin High School The Tomatalk • Kamiakin High School

Run Kano: in the past representing only a portion of the student population In light of feelings of misrepresentation, Run Kano promises to fix club’s image of favoritism towards specific groups and work harder to embody the student population.

By MADISON MORGAN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

W

hat represents the student body?

Is it academics? Fine arts? Clubs?

Equal gender representation?

According to Run Kano, none of the above.

Run Kano, meant to embody the school’s student body, puts a huge emphasis on sports and athletes, and as a result, represents only a fraction of students at Kamiakin. And the group leaders, nominated by the previous year’s leader, are all men. So where’s female representation?

“I believe that since Run Kano [leaders are] picked by the people who were originally in it, it’s definitely going to be kind of biased towards [a certain] group,” said senior Mikaela Matkowski.

Matkowski expressed her frustration at the group’s lack of female representation, but said not only does the group not represent her gender-wise, but personality-wise.

“It doesn’t surprise me that there’s not a lot of girls in [Run Kano]. But I think that since Run Kano is a club that represents the school, it should represent women to the best of its abilities,” she said. “I don’t feel represented as a woman, but to be honest, I don’t feel represented [personally] because the group of guys that are in that club are just kind of all the same group. They’re kind...of the popular sporty guys who are loud, [and] maybe not so much about academics as they are about their sports, [like] the football games.”

Former Run Kano leader and graduate Parker Rabe said that while girls’ names were mentioned for Run Kano leader nominations, no girls were picked as leaders because in the past students reacted differently to them than male leaders.

“A few years ago girls were leaders and it was kinda weird. They weren’t bad leaders.

It was just different and people reacted differently to them,” said Rabe. “And for that reason I think it was mostly boys’ names [mentioned during leader nominations].”

Trevyn Vrieling, another former Run Kano leader and graduate, also said that girls were ultimately not selected as leaders because of the club’s prior experience with female leaders in the 2014-15 school year.

“The year before us we had...[girl leaders] and they never did anything. Not to say the girls in [the current senior class] wouldn’t

WOMEN ARE

Madison Morgan Senior Mikaela Matkowski wearing a Run Kano t-shirt in support of a female Run Kano leader.

RUN KANO TOO

have done anything but the amount of money that year brought in was an all time low and we just didn’t want to take that risk again,” said Vrieling.

Swim team captain and senior Naomi Heuer said that she feels that Run Kano also doesn’t accurately represent women, as well as lesser known sports. Heuer said that in her four years on the swim team, a Run Kano member attended a swim meet only once, per the request of the swim team.

“A few years ago...it was one of our really big meets and we needed the support. So halfway through the meet, [Run Kano] was supposed to be there and they weren’t, so we tweeted them, someone tweeted them, and they came for like the last 15 minutes of it and just sat on the bleachers,” she said.

“They didn’t cheer, but they just kind of sat there and watched us.”

Heuer was also disappointed with the lack of female representation, citing the previous year’s fears of girl leaders as unjustified.

“It’s just an excuse, a flimsy excuse,” she said. “I personally believe that the girls might even have more spirit than some of the guys. I know a lot of girls who have way more spirit than all those...guys have together. And I don’t think it’s a matter of gender. It’s just a matter of the person themself. So they shouldn’t discriminate that.”

Current Run Kano leader and senior Carson Foltz said that even though the club has been known in the past to favor a select group of students, it’s making an effort this year to be more inclusive.

“We’ve been doing our best to try and represent everyone,” he said. “That’s a shame [it doesn’t seem that way], and hopefully we can try to change that because that’s not what we want to try and do, even though that’s what we might portray.”

This year’s Run Kano will have to work hard to do what other years failed to do: be inclusive. The student body is more than sports. Representation is more than just seven male leaders.

Next year, nominate at least one female leader. Nominate at least one person who isn’t considered popular, who isn’t a jock.

Nominate someone who cares about this school more than anyone else. The student body isn’t asking for the impossible. They just want to be heard.

Friday, Oct. 6, 2017 FRIDAY, OCT. 6, 2017 The Tomatalk Kamiakin High School The Tomatalk • Kamiakin High School

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Tribal Reviews

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

‘Wonder Woman’: the movie of the year empowers women ByBRITTNEY COX STAFF REPORTER

T

he ‘Wonder Woman’ movie took to theaters June 2, and not only did the film tell the heroic tale of Wonder Woman to a tee, it showed the world and all who watched it how powerful and determined women can be.

‘Wonder Woman’ was played by Israeli actress Gal Gadot, who was the perfect fit for such a hero. Gadot served in the Israel Defense Forces for two years, making her a hero in her own right, and that much more perfect to play the character.

Patty Jenkins, the director of ‘Wonder Woman,’ also broke a large challenge for filmmakers. In an industry plagued and diluted by sexism, Jenkins succeeded as the first woman to direct a big-budget superhero film.

“I don’t think about ‘Wonder Woman’ as a female film. She’s a major superhero,” Jenkins said.

In a Washington Post article, Jenkins mentioned that she grew up a fan, getting her first taste of Wonder Woman’s female empowerment during the 1970s television series starring actress Lynda Carter.

Jenkins showed the world just how powerful Wonder Woman really is.

The DC Comics film franchises have been flopping recently with their failure to portray characters’ comic book origins stories as well as neglecting to develop their backstories and personalities.

Wonder Woman was such a success because it developed lead character Diana into someone the audience could relate to. Male counterpart Steve Tyler, played by Chris Pine, brought in humor to a serious environment, creating a comic relief that DC has failed to capture in their films.

Diana was vulnerable and strong and showed the audience that she could do anything and withstand every obstacle that came her way. She feels the pain and she feels love, but it never stops her.

Wonder Woman showed girls everywhere that women are strong and brave and can kick butt just as good as the boys.

The movie also portrayed her as something other than weak. Wonder Woman always led the attack and never needed saving and was the driving force behind the movie’s war and the movie itself.

Jenkins showed the film industry, just as Wonder Woman showed everyone, that it matters not if you are a female or male. If you have integrity and passion in your heart, then no one can rise above you. You are unstoppable.

‘Wonder Woman’ tells the tale of a spirited and determined character of a woman directed by a woman.

Look out boys, because women are done being underestimated.

Gal Gadot as the titular character Wonder Woman.

Courtesy of Deviantart

Movie theater offers special events

By TAYLOR HUNZEKER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

I

t all started on July 20 when Queensgate Fairchild Cinemas advertised on their Facebook that they would be showing a special screening of ‘Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone’ in celebration of Harry Potter’s birthday on July 31. Over a thousand people responded and became interested in the special showing.

Along with the film, Butterbeer, free shots of Pumpkin Juice, Chocolate Frogs, Licorice Wands and even Hagrid’s ‘Happee Birthdae’ cookies were served at the concession stands. All seven movie posters were on display on the lobby walls, and people came dressed up in wizard hats and in wizard robes that showed their favorite Hogwarts Houses. On two ‘War of the Planet of the Apes’ posters the words, “The Chamber of Secrets had been opened. Enemies of the heir beware” was written in red. This referenced to the second film, ‘Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.’

The cinema got such a good review that they decided to celebrate another famous film character’s birthday, but this time for two people: Bilbo and Frodo Baggins from the ‘Lord of the Rings’ trilogy. On Aug 13, the cinema advertised the screen-

ing of the first film ‘Lord of the Rings: the Fellowship of the Ring’ on Sept 18. This time there wasn’t as big of a response, but over 400 people were interested on the Facebook post.

It came as a surprise for some watchers that the cinema would be showing the extended version of the film which added up to three hours 48 minutes in a dark theater room on recliners. There was a five minute intermission between. Along with the film, Elven Lembas bread was served at the concession stands. There were also a couple of people who dressed up in hobbit themed costumes for the show.

What will Fairchild Cinemas show next? ‘Indian Jones’, the first ‘Star Wars’, or even ‘Hunger Games’ could all be contending movies.

Tribal Reviews ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

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Friday, Oct. 6, 2017 The Tomatalk • Kamiakin High School

Linkin Park’s tribute to Chester Bennington #RIPCHESTER

By TAYLOR HUNZEKER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

T

he ‘Linkin Park’ fans became heartbroken on July 20 when lead singer Chester Bennington committed suicide at his home, the Palos Verdes Estates in California. Tears fell from those around the world who have listened to Linkin Park’s music ever since they became a band in 1996. Well-known celebrities also shared their love and support to Linkin Park and to the Bennington family.

News stations and social medias blew up the day that the news came out. At 7 a.m. on July 24, the band members of Linkin Park sent out a “Dear Chester” message on their official website. They said, “Our hearts are broken. The shockwaves of grief and denial are still sweeping through our family as we come to grips with what has happened. You touched so many lives, maybe even more than you realized. In the past few days, we’ve seen an outpouring of love and support, both public and private, from around the world.” The letter continues to thank Bennington for his memories that the band members could appreciate and be in-

volved it. They also write “...the family will never be whole without you.”

The letter ends with a goodbye full of love that said, “Our love for making and performing music is inextinguishable. While we don’t know what path our future may take, we know that each of our lives was made better by you. Thank you for that gift. We love you, and miss you so much.”

The band signs off the letter by saying, “Until we see you again, LP.” In remembrance of Bennington, the band members made a website called #RIPCHESTER, where fans can come together to grieve over his death and to also remember the singer and what he has done. At the top of the web page, there is in bold white letters the suicide prevention lifeline and the Crisis Text Line.

Those involved with Bennington’s life and his band years have come together and even though what has happened is very sad, the fans and band members have learned to look at Bennington’s memories instead of his tragic death.

Courtesy of Wikipedia Commons The lead singer of Linkin Park, Chester Bennington who died in July

‘Some Like It Hot’: a Marilyn Monroe comedy classic

By ALISON FELLMAN STAFF REPORTER

T

he 1959 movie ‘Some Like It Hot’ is directed by Billy Wilder and stars Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon, and the captivating Marilyn Monroe. It is a classic, one of my favorite films of all time, and my favorite comedy of all time. It’s about two musicians, Joe and Jerry, who, after witnessing crimes by mafia gangsters, escape out of town by dressing up in women’s clothing and hitching a ride with an all-female band heading to Miami.

Joe ‘Josephine’ and Jerry ‘Daphne’ meet Sugar, a ukulele player and the band’s singer. They both become infatuated with her and try to spend more time with her while keeping up their disguises.

This movie has a special place in my heart. One reason is that it never fails to make me laugh.

The perfect comedic performances of Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon are some of my favorites, and I often compare similar performances to them. Probably my favorite thing about this film, though, is that it’s actually quite progressive for its time. When it first came out in theaters in 1959, the suffering Motion Picture Production Code was still in existence, which set the moral guidelines that a motion picture had to follow in order for it to be approved. ‘Some Like It Hot,’ however, because it featured cross dressing and blurred the lines of sexuality and gender, had to be produced without the approval of the MPPC. The film turned out to be a big hit, and was listed this year as the number one comedy in film history by a BBC international survey.

‘Some Like It Hot’ can be caught on Turner Classic Movies, if you’re lucky.

Courtesy Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

Friday, Oct. 6, 2017 FRIDAY, OCT. 6, 2017 The Tomatalk Kamiakin High School The Tomatalk • Kamiakin High School

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