2018-19 Tomatalk Issue 4 by Laurie Bender

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Prom Issue VOLUME 43• ISSUE 4•APRIL 19, 2019• KAMIAKIN HIGH SCHOOL • 600 N. ARTHUR ST. • KENNEWICK, WA 99336

Around the Campfire NEWS & FEATURE

FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2019 The Tomatalk • Kamiakin High School

Sp tlights

Art teacher Anna Haines teaches her passion to students By MADDIE BRIGGS S P O R T S E D I T OR

rt teacher Anna Haines views painting as a passion of hers, practicing it herself during her free time at home. Not very many people get to do what they love every day of the year as part of their career. That is one thing Haines loves about teaching. She has taught at Kamiakin for 18 years and finds great joy in anything that is related to painting. Having been teaching for a while, she has brought home many art pieces from her students from past classes. One of Haines’ favorite memories from teaching is a trip that she and her students took to New York one year. “One of the girls after visiting the Metropolitan museum of Art came out saying she wanted to know why I never taught her about Gustof Klindt. He was amazing.” When Haines has free time, she works on one of her two books she is currently writing, and she is proud to say that she’s the llustrator. One of the books will be an alphabet book for 3-year-olds. The other one will feature funny stories about school. She is having fun illustrating the two books, but she is not sure about aa publisher yet. To be a good artist, Haines says that you have to be inspired to make an art piece that will stick out and show your skills which is why all artists have an artist they can look to for inspiration for their next piece. Haines said that her favorite artist is

Pablo Picasso. Haines also produces her own art pieces and does lots of art workshops. She also goes to galleries. She even makes pieces with other art teachers from other schools. She finds that what are now techniques are newer to students that she teaches, and she still finds art her favorite subject to this day. Not all moments are serious in Haines’ art classes. They have a lot of fun sometimes, too. “I had a student shaking a large jar of paint and the lid came off and green paint splashed all over us and the wall,” said Haines. Haines didn’t always want to be an art teacher. She first wanted to be an attorney and instead went into something she loves, painting. So instead of going further into the law, she pursued an art degree from Central Washington University and Eastern Washington University. When summer time rolls around, Haines loves to travel, swim, and will stop at yard sales if she passes by. She also loves the days where everyone is pleasant to each other. Haines also believes family is important and keeps in close contact with them. “I have three grand kids, five kids and their spouses, three brothers and their families, so we spend a lot of time together: Camping, swimming, 4-wheeling

Photo courtesy of Maddie Briggs

and playing games,” she said. Haines has helped influence students and has kept the creative juice flowing. She is more than a teacher. She is a friend.

Historic snowfall throws a wrench in school work and activities By GRISELDA RIVERA STAFF REPORTER

Photo courtesy of Dakota Stevens

his year we have had the most snowfall since 1916. We have seen up to 24 inches of snow, breaking the record of 16.5 in 1916. Also we broke records this year with freezing temperatures. Kennewick broke the previous record of 10 degrees set in 1955. Now it is 9 degrees. Pasco went as low as a 0 degrees, and Richland was down to 5 degrees, breaking the 6 degree record set in 1955. All this snow has caused five delays and seven school closures in the Kennewick School District. This has affected sports, teaching and learning for the students. According to the Kennewick School District, the school board has made changes due to the weather. Seniors will not have Saturday school. There will be no Wednesday early release or early release for report card prep., and the last day of school has been moved to Friday, June 14 and will be a full day. These changes have been made to meet the state’s instructional time requirement, which is 1,027 hours per school year.

With so many days off, it’s been difficult for teachers to keep up or stay on track with their teaching. “Teachers do a fabulous job planning out instruction and there is a scope and sequence that they follow. They work closely with one another to teach the same content area,” said assistant principal Mary Isley. With delays and days off, teachers might get off track and not be able to teach the same thing because of the snow days. “Because there are so many days that kids have off, like we had a week off, so if you are really working on some content and you want your kids to try to maintain and remember what they learn, and when you take five days off, it’s hard to remember what you have been taught in the past,” said Isley. Spring is how here and the snow has melted away. No more school cancellations or delays. Students now have time to learn and study the curriculum they have missed during those days. Students also now have time to study for state testing.

FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2019 The Tomatalk • Kamiakin High School

Around theNEWS Campfire & FEATURE

3 The Pledge of Allegiance:

Has saying the pledge lost its meaning for this generation? By THOMAS METCALF E D I T OR I N C H I E F

n teacher Laurie Bender’s first period class, about half of her students do not stand for the pledge of allegiance. She asked them why. Here are their views on standing or not standing. Freshman Dean Chilton said, “My dad’s dad was in the army, so I do it out of respect.” In fact, Mrs. Bender found that out of the students in her class who gave reasons for standing, this was a common reason. A couple of other students said they stand for similar reasons. Another freshman who requested anonymity said, “I stand because my dad’s friend died in the marines. I stand out of respect for that.” Mrs. Bender asked if the reason students stand is because of personal knowledge of someone’s sacrifice more than out of general respect for our country. Most students who stand nodded in the affirmative. Mrs. Bender said, “I find that interesting because I stand out of respect for our country and the freedom it stands for. We live in a democracy where we have freedom. We should never take that for granted.” When asked why they do not stand, most students had no answer. Only one of the students volunteered that he doesn’t stand out of laziness. “It’s morning, and I’m tired,” he said. Teacher’s Assistant Randy Olivares said, “I stand out of respect for the flag and its representation of the 13 original colonies. For me, it stands for unity against the oppression of liberty and civil rights. So even when we find oppression occurring in our country, our flag stands against that, and therefore I stand.” Mrs. Bender has taught at Kamiakin for almost 16 years. She said that she has seen a decrease in how many students stand for the flag over the years. She is not sure if the pledge has lost its meaning for students, if the current state of our country has something to do with it or why there is such a decrease in the willingness to say the pledge. How about you? Go online to www.tomatalk.com and vote in our poll. Do you think standing for the pledge of allegiance is important?

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 Editor-in-Chief: Thomas Metcalf News Feature Editor: Jonathan Ziegenfuss Sports Editor: Maddie Briggs In-Depth Editor: Thomas Metcalf Opinion Editor: Rucy Questad Entertainment Editor: Alison Fellman Cover made by: Louis Barrett Staff Reporters:

Louis Barrett, Jeremai Hernandez, Jorge Munguia, Taya Questad, Griselda Rivera Madrigal, Meriah Rodriguez, Imogen Santoyo, Anna Solis-Garza, Dakota Stevens and Vazgen Yedoyan

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

Photo courtesy of Thomas Metcalf

FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2019 The Tomatalk • Kamiakin High School

Seniors give their input on prom By RUCY QUESTAD STAFF REPORTER

“I did go to prom last year and it was pretty boring. I mean I did make friends with the DJ because half the stuff I didn’t know and I wasn’t expecting too much from it. If you ask some of my friends they actually have videos of me sitting in the corner eating goldfish because of how bored I was at the dance. It wasn’t really interesting for me but this year, I hope there are more things like more diverse music and all that stuff because last year it was one set taste, so it was kind of weird so there wasn’t enough for me to dance to so I just sat out. I hope it’s more diverse this year. For decorating I am expecting a lot of fairy lights, kind of magical fairy lights. Fairy lights are really cool because If you were to take a picture and add effects to it, it would look like stars in the background. Lots of blue ‘cause the poster is blue. If it was outside, it wouldn’t be really cool ‘cause it wouldn’t be a regulated temperature. I hope this year’s prom goes great.”

Senior Jadehn Johnson

“Prom last year was really fun. I think that this upcoming prom is going to be even better just because of the theme. Last year I wasn’t the biggest fan of the theme and I think the room was way too small for the amount of students that were attending. This year I am a complete fan of the theme. I am so excited to see what ASB has planned out like the decorations and music. I hope the music is great and fun to dance with. I am going to prom with a date of course. He is from a different school. He hasn’t asked me to prom officially yet, but he asked me just to make sure no one else was going to ask me first. He is going to ask me with a prom proposal soon. I am so nervous and excited for that.” Senior Araceli Lozano

“Prom last year was really crowded. It got really hot and the teachers brought fans in, so I basically hung out by the fans. It was fun. The music was really good. The guy has video screens, so that was cool. It was in the uptown theater and there was a lot of people and they ran out of water because it was so hot. I haven't really given a lot of thought about prom this year, but I hope there are pictures of the galaxy around.”

Senior Micah Paulsen

“Last year prom was all right. We just went there. I liked the location. That was a good spot. I do plan on going to prom this year. I expect better food, better drinks and maybe some actual activity. Anything besides just dancing ‘cause that's pretty boring. The theme sounds cool. I hope it will be fun. Also, JENAE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO T PROM WITH ME?”

Senior Gavin Conatser

“Prom last year kind of sucked because it was boring. I am going to this year’s prom. I don't know what to expect for this year because I haven't gone to the Reach for prom before. The date is May 4. The theme should have been Star Wars.” Senior Jacob Olson

FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2019 The Tomatalk â&#x20AC;˘ Kamiakin High School

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Tribal Reviews ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2019 The Tomatalk • Kamiakin High School

‘We Are Displaced’ illuminates the stories of girl refugees By ALISON FELLMAN E N T E R TAI M E N T E D I T O R

Malala Yousafzai, the young activist who developed world-wide recognition after surviving an attack by the Taliban in 2012, has written a follow-up to her memoir, ‘I Am Malala’ of 2013, named ‘We Are Displaced: My Journey and Stories from Refugee Girls Around the World,’ released in late 2018. In detailed first-person narratives, 11 displaced young women and girls describe their experience leaving behind their homes, families, and people in order to escape from countries like Yemen, Uganda, Syria, Guatemala, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Yousafzai begins by telling her own story of escaping her war torn country of Pakistan and continuing her fight for girls’ education and peace after surviving a severe attack from the Taliban, a radical political movement that originated in Afghanistan. She describes how it feels to be displaced and leave her home behind and her plans to resume her activism in countries like her own in the future. Yousafzai states that her goal with ‘We Are Displaced’ is to put names and faces to the 68.5 million people living as refugees or displaced persons, the majority of whom are young women and children. In part two of ‘We Are Displaced,’ Yousafzai writes the introduction for the stories of the

11 refugee girls, girls she met while traveling the world and speaking with people who’ve had similar experiences as her. She discusses how though she is not a refugee, she understands the grief, uncertainty, and several other indescribable feelings that go along with fleeing a home that has been overcome by violence and turmoil. Addressing misconceptions about life as a refugee, Yousafzai writes, “Many people think refugees should feel only two things: gratitude toward the countries that granted them asylum and relief to be safe.” ‘We Are Displaced’ is well-written and emotional work of unique stories, and all the proceeds go towards the Malala Fund’s work in aiding girls’ education in countries of conflict.

‘Paper Girl’ is a heartwarming story involving two troubled teens By IMOGEN SANTOYO S TAF F R E PO R T E R

‘Paper Girl’ is about a young teen named Zoe who suffers from social anxiety. She started experiencing social anxiety when her father began featuring her and her sister in his car commercials. Her sister Mae always loved being the center of attention, but for Zoe, the extra attention just caused her stress. In fact, her reaction was that she became a recluse who would not venture outside. In order to help her face the trauma of the outside world, Zoe’s therapist, Gina, encouraged her to take small steps, like checking the mail. This way she could accomplish her goal of attending Mae’s graduation. The two main characters are Jackson and Zoe. Jackson is a senior and comes from a tough background. He’s homeless. He lost his mother, and his father is a drug user and an alcoholic. Jackson and his father made a deal. He keeps getting mail at the house, but Jackson will stay as far away from the house and his father as he possibly can. So to make his mother proud, Jackson didn’t let him being homeless stop him from graduating and attending college in the fall. But Zoe is completely different. She’s a junior. She loves playing online chess and reading comic books and has been homeschooled her whole junior year. If she’s not helping her mom with her YouTube channel, then she is making a paper solar system in her free time. She hasn’t been outside for over a year and because of that, her family is pushing her to live a normal teenage life. In order to help her, they hire an algebra and physics tutor, Jackson. He tries to help her with her social anxiety and also tries to hide that he and Zoe have been playing online chess with each other for over a year. ‘Paper Girl’ is about facing fears, true love, and overcoming obstacles. This novel will make you laugh, cry, and much more. It shows you that there’s someone for everyone, even people who are terrified of going outside. I recommend this novel for anyone who is a hopeless romantic and for those who struggle with anxiety.

FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2019 The Tomatalk • Kamiakin High School

Tribal ARTS & Reviews ENTERTAINMENT

Looking back at cult classic video games By LOUIS BARRETT SHENANIGANS EDITOR

With stunning graphics, soundtracks, and gameplay, our modern day selection of video games allows us to forget about the revolutionary classics. Ranging from the 1990s to the 2010s, there’s a subgenre of video games considered cult classics. The criteria for cult classics is typically media that gains a passionate cult following, despite being detached from the mainstream. Nowadays, some of these games can be heavily criticized for their timeworn appearances and glitches. Despite their flaws, they hold up well either for their plot or engaging gameplay. To this day, many cult classics still have passionate fans hoping for a sequel, wringing the game of its content while also making their own. As the gaming industry becomes aware of these cult followings, they bring hope to these fans with the possibility of new content or a sequel. Nearly 14 years ago, the world was graced with the revolutionary game ‘Psychonauts.’ A comedic and adventurous 3D platformer, ‘Psychonauts’ takes you to Whispering Rocks Summer Camp as young psychic Raz. Critically acclaimed for its rich story and creative level design, the game is considered a gaming legend. Double Fine Productions, responsible for other classics such as ‘Grim Fandango’ and ‘Brutal Legend,’announced an upcoming ‘Psychonauts 2’ in late 2015 after being funded through a Kickstarter campaign. During our wait for its eventual 2019 release, a virtual reality spin off for the franchise was released in February 2017 titled ‘Psychonauts in the Rhombus of Ruin.’ The Fallout franchise is a well-known one, with the modern day publicity for ‘Fallout 76’ and ‘Fallout 4.’ Ironically enough, there’s an outcast in the franchise that has amassed a cult following—‘Fallout: New Vegas.’ Released in 2010 and developed by Obsidian Entertainment rather than Bethesda Softworks, the typical Fallout developers, the game is praised for many reasons:

its storytelling, freedom of choice, and complexity. Sadly, despite being considered one of the best Fallout games, there is no current word that Obsidian Entertainment will ever be making a new game for the franchise. Luckily, Obsidian Entertainment is due to release their upcoming game, ‘The Outer Worlds,’ sometime in 2019. The game seems to have similar RPG and storytelling aspects, making it a game ‘Fallout: New Vegas’ fans can be hyped for. Creative developers throughout the years brought their innovative storytelling and gameplay concepts to life, influencing later generations of game creators. Without the inspiration to continue the legacy of cult classics, games may not be as developed as they are today. Behind the polished appearances and high frame rates lie the cult classics that influenced the best in video games.

‘Super Smash Bros’ returns on the Nintendo Switch By THOMAS METCALF EDITOR IN CHIEF

One of Nintendo’s most popular game series returns on the Nintendo Switch after four years. “Super Smash Bros.” is a unique fighting game which involves characters from many different Nintendo titles. In the more recent installments, characters from different series have joined the battle. “Super Smash Bros. Ultimate” is the fifth title in the “Super Smash Bros.” series. This title can be seen as the definitive version of the series as it contains the most content ever in a “Super Smash Bros.” game. The first title released in 1999 on the Nintendo 64 and included only 12 characters from multiple of Nintendo’s most popular games, like Mario from “Super Mario Bros.” and Link from “The Legend of Zelda.” Since then, there’s been over a dozen series represented, some of which aren’t made by Nintendo. “Super Smash Bros. Ultimate” has 74 total characters. It includes every

character previously showcased in the series and more. Some of these include Cloud from “Final Fantasy,” Isabelle from “Animal Crossing,” and Snake from “Metal Gear” who returns to the battle after 10 years. As for gameplay, “Super Smash Bros.” doesn’t disappoint. The action is at a much higher pace when compared to the last two titles. The main gameplay includes two to up to eight players fighting on a stage that’s based around the included games. Every character has their own moveset and playstyle that works best for them. A single-player mode is also available. In the previous installment on the Wii U, there was only multiplayer. There wasn’t a single-player story like the “Subspace Emissary” from “Super Smash Bros. Brawl” on the Wii. The story mode is called the “World of Light” and consists of a world with multiple stages and challenges based on smaller side characters in the games represented in Smash Bros. These can range from easy to very challenging depending on what characters and upgrades the player has. This game is very different from any other fighting game. Whether it be the sheer amount of characters or the ways the game plays out, it does a lot of things right. With downloadable content coming in the future featuring characters and stages yet to be announced, there are a lot of reasons to start playing this game.

Chief IN-DEPTH Legends

FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2019 The Tomatalk • Kamiakin High School

Views of K

The thoughts and op

What do students think? An analysi By THOMAS METCALF EDITOR IN CHIEF

Over the past few weeks, a poll was taken on 10 percent of the sch and viewpoints. These were the results. Pie charts courtesy of Thomas Metcalf

his question gives us a good view on where the school tends to be politically. From the results, it is apparent that many students don’t care about politics or are uncomfortable with it. Though a majority of the answers for this were from freshmen, which is expected, it was the most common answer in each age group. 58 percent of freshmen answered this way, as well as 56 percent of sophomores, 48 percent of juniors, and 32 percent of seniors. The most conservative class was the juniors at 33 percent, and the most liberal class was the seniors at only 16 percent. Seniors were the most spread out in the answers, all ranging between the low of 16 percent and the high at 32 percent.

his question had the most definite results. 77 percent of all students believe in a god or a higher power. The class with the most no answers was the sophomores with only 22 percent not believing in any higher power. Overall, a majority of Kamiakin is religious and there’s no questioning that. The junior class had the most believers in a higher power with a massive 80 percent of respondents.

ooking at the other results, there ar about the answers to this question. towards traditional marriage comp correct prediction. The juniors had the mo turns out that 43 percent of the responden a man and a woman. The freshman class highest percentage of supporters of homo mores were the same way with 44 percen even with 32 percent for equal rights and

FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2019 The Tomatalk â&#x20AC;˘ Kamiakin High School

Kamiakin

Chief Legends IN-DEPTH

pinions of Kamiakin

is of answers to a poll at Kamiakin

hoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s population. This poll consisted of a few questions relating to politics, beliefs,

re a few predictions that could be made Conservatives tend to lean more pared to liberals. This was a partially ost conservative-related answer, which nts said that marriage should be between had the opposite results and had the osexual rights, with 49 percent. Sophont, and seniors were more spread out and d traditional marriage.

resident Trump is, according to Gallup polls, one of the least popular American presidents, with a current 39 percent approval rate. But here, surprisingly, a majority of the students asked said that they had no opinion on Trump at 32 percent. The juniors were the most involved in this question, as none of the asked students preferred not to answer. Going along with the political views results, the juniors support Trump the most with 38 percent saying that he is a great president. Only the freshman class had a majority of Trump haters than Trump supporters, which was only 25 percent to 20 percent.

his has been a heated topic over the past few years. And with students, the results seem pretty one-sided. Except for the juniors, who are much more heated than any of the other class. They have the highest percentage of yes and no answers, with 53 percent and 33 percent respectively. For all the classes, the percentage of students saying yes are greater than no. However, there is a generous amount of students with no opinion. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the second most common answer in all the classes except the junior class.

Chief IN-DEPTH Legends

FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2019 The Tomatalk • Kamiakin High School

Values, views, and levels of respect evolve as each generation comes of age By ALISON FELLMAN STAFF REPORTER

he disconnection between younger and older adults is increasingly noticeable, whether it is socially, culturally, politically, or morally. The feelings different generations of young people have towards their elders can be similar, like the feeling of not being understood by their parents, but the behaviors younger and older generations show towards each other are becoming more affected by their wider range of views and experiences. One of the most stark differences between younger and older adults is their notions about respect. While respect is a value across all age groups, its meaning takes on different forms. Generations that preceded Millennials and Gen Z-ers were taught that respect is given to anyone older and anyone who holds a position of authority. Younger age groups see respect as something that goes both ways, earned through behaviors and the way power is utilized. This can cause problems in environments like school or the workplace, affecting the power dynamics between student and teacher, or worker and employer. “I do think that teens today get away with a lot Photo courtesy of www.commons.wikimedia.org

more back talk than [what] was permitted years ago,” said junior Kierstin Thorn, discussing the changing perception of respect among young people. “In some cases that’s a bad thing, like when someone calls their mother a nasty name and then is able to go hang out with friends half an hour later-that’s rewarding bad behavior. As with adults and authority figures such as bosses and teachers, students are becoming less and less respectful, and in no way is this appropriate. It shows a lack of respect in the younger generation. Even if there is a disagreement, there shouldn’t be blatant disrespect.” Though the behaviors young people show towards their elders and authority figures is lacking in terms of respect, their more relaxed behaviors can possibly benefit other relationships. “In some cases I think it’s good,” says Thorn, “because parents and their children are more able to develop close relationships, and more able to bond and understand each other.” More general factors that contribute to how younger and older adults see each other include the influence of technology and the amount of responsibility they face at a young age. When comparing the earlier groups of students he taught at Kamiakin with the students he teaches now, band and orchestra teacher Keith Russell said, “Students nowadays are much more distracted by many more activities, [and] so much

information that they struggle sometimes knowing how to deal with all the information-it’s like too much. Whereas with [my earlier classes] their pool of information was much more limited, and so they were able to focus a bit better, or a little more quickly on [the] things that were probably most important.” Russell also acknowledges that students are facing more pressure to achieve at higher levels, which will likely impact the way they will act as leaders in the future. On the topic, Russell said, “Kids [today] are better informed, so they are able to make better decisions. The only problem is helping them sift through the all the information and [differentiate between] the stuff that is not really important and what is important. But I’m confident that when I leave this world that it’ll be in good hands.”

Students share their views about the harmful potential of social media By IMOGEN SANTOYO STAFF REPORTER

hrough the years, many things have changed such as vehicles, clothing trends, makeup looks, hair products, and technology which has changed the most. For example, what we all use today is social media; it has Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, and Twitter. All of these are used as platforms to express ourselves without worrying about how others might react or treat us. But is there such a think as expressing yourself too much? Social Media can be viewed as addicting. But why? Many people who have been with technology for a while have become accustomed to them gaining followers, views, and subscribers. What you don’t learn on the internet is do people use too much expression to target others when they want to express themselves in a negative way? Then there are those who use their accounts as platforms to influence others in order to make themselves popular on social media. Some people take this opportunity and use it in a positive way to motivate and encourage, but unfortunately, some people use their platform to bully and harm others. The people who use their accounts for their negative actions are usually people with low self-esteem, so they want to make others feel bad about themselves. There has always been a saying for the longest time; “There’s good attention; then there is bad attention.”

Cyberbullies want nothing but negative attention, and since technology usage has increased, cyberbullying has increased as well. Cyberbullies don’t care about who they hurt, what they say, or what they share. To get others’ perspectives on cyberbullies and individual social media platforms, individuals respond to some questions: Have you ever been cyberbullied? “I personally have not been cyberbullied, but I know people close to me have.” Senior Anna Lagonegro

Does having a platform make those more of a target? “I believe that anyone can be a target, however those who do have a platform on social media can get more negativity than they might in person.”

Does technology encourage cyberbullies?

Senior Ashelyn Lockard

“I think it does. It’s easier to bully when there’s no consequences.”

Photos courtesy of Imogen Santoyo.

Junior Buffy Burton

FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2019 The Tomatalk • Kamiakin High School

Tribal Games SPORTS

The long winter forced spring sports to make unusual adjustments

By VAZGEN YEDOYAN STAFF REPORTER

he cold winter this year went really long. This year Tri-Cities broke their 100-plus year cold record twice, and because of that, schools had several snow days, school delays, and after- school activities canceled. This affected the school life a lot. Schools had to change their calendars and planned events. The hardest hit was on the school athletics. Schools athletic directors are still dealing with it. Athletic director Casey Gant said the athletics issues were a tough task to solve because some parts of the solution he could not control. In total about 20 different athletic events were canceled or postponed. He said that because of the weather, four soccer matches were completely canceled because there were no clean fields, and for several other sports like golf, he had to find other tournaments that were going to take place later so the team would be able to play. He said that was very frustrating. He had to find different solutions. The baseball team was sent to Portland for a week because there were available fields. The events were not the only problem. Practices were the other issue. “Normally in a school year, we practice inside once or twice. This year we had 18. That was a very rough thing to organize the practices. And our coaches and kids were great because I was hearing from other schools about coaches and players complaining, and we didn’t have that problem,” Gant said. Finally the season was able to take off, but we have had a rainier and colder April than usual, so even now spring sports have to deal with issues

The Kamiakin boys soccer team is kicking with a slow start. . Photo courtesy of Jorge Munguia.

they normally don’t have to worry about.

Austin Almaguer can boast of successful high school career By JORGE MUNGUIA STAFF REPORTER

Senior Ausin Almaguer at the state championships. Photo courtesy of Pete Almaguer.

restling has been a big part of Austin Almaguer’s life, starting at the age of 4. Almaguer has wrestled four years for Kamiakin and has left his footprint winning almost 150 matches and losing only 17. Most athletes just play the sport, but Almaguer lives, eats and breathes for the sport. “Well after school practice, then I would do a second practice or go to the gym to lose weight,” said Almaguer about his time on the mat. Almaguer finished third at the state tournament during his freshman and sophomore years. He had not yet won a state title, and that would all change during his junior year. Only losing five times and winning 28 of his matches, Almaguer rolled through the state tournament and won his first ever state title. The following year he would go on to win the state championships again and now become a two time state champion. “It’s his work ethic. He will get a morning workout in at 6 o’clock when most other athletes are sleeping. His work ethic is unmatched,” said Coach Anderson when asked about which quality he thinks Almaguer has that will take him far. A lot has changed over the course of his high school career, but what hasn’t is his dedication to the part and to his academics. Although he spends countless hours after school to train, he still finds time for his homework and maintains good grades. When asked about how Almaguer has grown as a

wrestler Anderson said, “It’s not necessarily in his wrestling ability, but it’s in his leadership skills. Coming in as a freshman at 106 pounds, he couldn’t necessarily lead a lot of people, but as he’s grown as a wrestler, he’s become a phenomenal leader.” Almaguer would also go on to win the junior GrecoRoman national championship at a 126.

“It’s his work ethic. He will get a morning workout in at 6 o’clock when most other athletes are sleeping. His work ethic is unmatched.”

Tribal Talk

OPINION & EDITORIAL

FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2019 The Tomatalk • Kamiakin High School

PRO: Senior skip day a harmless tradition that should not be penalized ByTAYA QUESTAD STAFF REPORTERS

enior skip day is a great opportunity for the seniors to express themselves about leaving school. They get together to discuss the day they leave in secret. It spreads around through texting, snapchat, Instagram messages and many more social media apps. Senior skip day is a traditional day here at Kamiakin. With this tradition, it helps the seniors come together and have a day to hang out outside of school before they all go their separate ways. Traditions should stay traditions. Without traditions, we wouldn’t be the school we are today. Seniors should be allowed to do senior skip day to keep traditions going. Traditions are important, so we should allow seniors to keep it. It’s no different than themes at a football game and ASB doing spirit weeks. “Well I think

it’s a cool tradition, and I think it’s pretty stupid when teachers give big assignments when they know that the seniors aren’t going to be at school,” said senior Kobe Claybrook. The fact that teachers want to give tests to force seniors to go to the class is beyond me. It only makes seniors want to go to school less. Seniors do senior skip day to express the fact that they are becoming adults and are capable of making their own choices. If they don’t get to choose, then it doesn’t help them down the road. “I would do it if I don’t have a test that day,” said senior Lydia Crumpler. Senior skip day should be seen for what it is: one harmless day where seniors come together to have fun before they graduate. One day of missing class should not be a big deal

to teachers and administrators, and it should not penalize seniors right before their well-deserved and rigorously earned graduation.

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Well I think it’s a cool tradition, and I think it’s pretty stupid when teachers give big assignments when they know that the seniors aren’t going to be at school.

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CON: Senior skip day not an activity worth participating in By GRISELDA RIVERA STAFF REPORTERS

or the class of 2019, there is less than two months until graduation. Every year, seniors come up with a day where they plan to skip and get together as a class and enjoy a day of fun and games. What is it that is really wrong with that day? Students are skipping class, and missing work. Attendance really does matter. Teachers might give a test on senior skip day and if you miss school, teachers will know it was a truancy and you most likely will not be able to make up that test. This is the teacher’s prerogative, a way to encourage students to not miss school. But why? Are they just

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cruel and not understanding students and our struggles? No, not necessarily, Teachers have regulations they must follow and certain requirements they must teach in the course of a year. We view

Students eager to voice their opinions on this issue

It doesn’t accomplish anything but disrespect to the school.

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school through the eyes of a student. It’s more of an obligation for us, while for teachers it’s a job. While teachers will fight for their students, they are also employees with certain perspectives and

Photo by Griselda Rivera

ideals they should push, such as going to school and striving for college. “It doesn’t accomplish anything but disrespect to the school,” said athletic secretary Connie Dearing. Skipping school shows disrespect to the school, and it is also unfair to the other students who show up to class. Students need to see school as their job. They can’t skip their job whenever they feel like it or just for fun. Otherwise, they could be fired or face a penalty. School is the same way. So seniors, if you decide to skip on senior skip day, just be ready to a face the consequences, and ask yourself if it’s worth a hit to your grade right before you graduate. It may not be worth it.

FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2019 The Tomatalk • Kamiakin High School

Tribal Talk

OPINION & EDITORIAL

KaHS Editorial Board Jonathan Ziegenfuss, News and Feature Thomas Metcalf, In-Depth Alison Fellman, Entertainment

Rucy Questad, Opinion Maddie Briggs, Sports

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...

The scary truth of student opinions

tudents at Kamiakin have a severe lack of opinions. This tends to be even truer when politics are involved. Sure, the students may not be educated enough to know what politics is and where they are on the political spectrum, but the students are the future of this country and should be paying attention to the current problems in America. “I think that it’s really important for students to know what’s happening in the world, especially considering the fact that we are going to be voting very soon, especially in high school in the next four years at a max. So, being fluent in the political world would be beneficial, “said senior Tia Coyle. There is a surprisingly large amount of students lacking opinions. Of course, for freshmen and sophomores, this can be expected. But for juniors and seniors who will both most likely be voting in the next election, it’s scary to see such lack of

opinions. “I think that we don’t get educated enough on it until right about senior year. We don’t get to know the political preferences of each party, what that stands for, what that means. A lot of that you have to go out and research on your own, “said Coyle. In today’s society, politics can be seen as something taboo or something that shouldn’t be discussed. While yes, there is the concern of massive heated arguments, especially with the massive divide between Democrats and Republicans, something anonymous like an election or a poll allows everyone to express their views. “I think that you grow up in an environment where you just see so much arguing and fighting and politics, and it’s toxic to be around, so you just kind of separate yourself from it and attempt to avoid conflict,“ said Coyle.

Students used to obtain their opinions from those with higher powers, for example parents. But nowadays, the students have much more of a disconnect from parents. “I feel like most opinions that we have nowadays come from what we’re told by our parents. A lot of what we believe to be true is just simple opinions that are passed down through generations,” said Coyle. In conclusion, students need to learn to speak out on issues that they see happening in their world. If there is a political idea that they firmly believe in, then they should actively pursue the actions that it takes for it to happen. Voting is the most basic version of support and it’s part of us having an effective democracy. So Kamiakin. Please grow an opinion and express it.

Perhaps the U.S. should rethink its party system ByVAZGEN YEDOYAN STAFF REPORTER

n the Congress of the United States, there are two main parties which are the dominant parties and the candidates can be from one of those two parties. Unfortunately, this two-party system is not working well. They fight and bicker a lot, and when one party is in control, half of the country doesn’t receive what they want in politics. Maybe it’s time for the U.S. to try what most other countries do: a multi-party system. For a lot of people, the more choices they have, the easier it is for them to choose. A big list of different options allows them to choose the one that they really like. I believe the same concept is useful for politics too, and it would be easy for people to choose the candidate or party that they really like and the idea that works for other countries is the multi-party system.

The other point of a multi-party system is that the percentage of votes the party gets will be the percentage of their people in parliament. I really like that idea because in parliament or congress there would be no fights between two parties which will affect the country’s life. In this way, the rights of every group of people will be truly protected. In some countries like Great Britain where the parliamentary system is used, people don’t even choose their prime minister, who is the main figure in the country. They use parties that are going to be in parliament, and in the parliament voting, they will choose the prime minister. My opinion is that in the U.S., the two-party system is not working because right now, people, and even states, are divided in two “camps” which are opposing each other just because they want to. I believe that government shut downs

would never happen with the multiple party system. If one party suggested an idea and other party opposed it, they would just vote in the parliament to decide what to do. That is the main advantage of having a multiple-party system. Also, then more people’s voices are heard instead of there being a stand-still in the government. Here is how my idea would work. During elections, people would have a list of the parties and their candidates. People would choose the party and candidate that they want. Each party would get a certain percentage of the votes. That would determine the number of people in Congress. In Congress, they would vote, too, and out of the most popular candidates of parties, the president would be chosen. This would be much better than the current system in the United States.

Tribal Talk

OPINION & EDITORIAL

FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2019 The Tomatalk • Kamiakin High School

Communism, executed correctly, could be a viable political option ByMERIAH RODRIGUEZ STAFF REPORTERS

any people view communism in a negative light. This is in part due to the poor execution of and false perception in which nations such as the former Soviet Union or Vietnam have created. Before having an ignorant view point, one should better understand communism, and to do so, one must go to its roots. The Communist Manifesto is a 1848 document by the German philosophers Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. It presents an analytical approach to the struggles and conflicts of the classes, (lower, middle, upper), within a capitalist economy rather than communism’s potential forms. The Communist Manifesto’s purpose was to publicize the official views, aims, and tendencies of the Communists, explaining what communism is theoretically, as well as a political movement. One of the numerous faults of capitalism listed was the exploitation of one class by another, the force behind many historical revolutions. The development of the self- destructing classes killing the other is deemed inevitable. As one class obtains power and control over the

other, there is no completion in its growth until the succession of a total subservient body is constructed. This is caused by human nature itself, that being self-interest and greed. “It creates a world after its own image” as capitalism stretches far beyond the United States, and has created a cosmopolitan, where it is seemingly impossible to be otherwise without war or conflict. As one is to the other, the states, the people, the economy, the government, all depends on the classes. With Capitalism being inherently unstable, communism promotes this revolution and any parties and associations which will bring history towards this natural conclusion. This revolution, however, is required as reforms in government cannot eliminate social classes. “Economic growth was dependent on this workforce, yet the majority of workers lived in abject poverty in contrast with the relative wealth of their employers” (The Communist Manifesto). Throughout history, there is the oppressor and the oppressed, with only a revolution to bring about

change. And with capitalism servpeople who are meant to unite and ing only the wealthy, a revolution is lead them. When bodies work as a necessary. unit, there is function and ability For example, during the Industrial throughout the parts: this is ComRevolution of the 18th and 19th munism. centuries, the middle class of the United States lived in poverty, were underpaid, overworked, under terrible working conditions and with little political representation, while aristocrats with hereditary titles and offices sat on their high horses playing golf and perusing the stock market. A solution through communism, where each person works and is paid according to their abilities and needs, restores the ethical construct of getting what one has paid for. It also eliminates the ineffective, insufficient, outdated and poorly structured federalist government which does not represent the United States but rather is divided by the roots of class and political parties, who again, only have self-interest. When two bodies are divided and unequal, competition is present, as is the nature of mankind. Any American citizen can vouch for the tension and division brought forth by the very Photo Courtesy of Wikipedia

Unfair, unjust standards hit some students harder than others By LOUIS BARRETT SHENANIGANS EDITOR

tudents throughout America are universally faced with a challenge, one that may hinder their entire life if they don’t succeed. Throughout one’s high school career, grades play a huge role on their success. The importance of grades are heavily stressed to teenagers, leading to multiple outcomes in students. On one side of the coin, you receive the workaholic student, constantly pushing themselves and panicking when they don’t have the highest GPA. In return, there are also students who aren’t mentally prepared for the pressure of high school, resulting in poor grades. A strong belief in one’s future can drive a student to aim for a 4.0, whereas a student who feels incapable may completely give up. In comparison, it’s almost as if elementary and middle school are mere tutorials, a time to build healthy habits before it truly matters. There are multiple factors that’ll make or break a student’s work habit. For example, they may face economic struggles or tragedies within their

life. Students may also be poorly influenced by distracting technology, lack of proper work habits or mental health. If a student can receive passing test scores but lacks passing grades, there’s clearly another factor present besides the individual’s capability. In an educational resource by Boston University, they list multiple activities that individuals with psychiatric disabilities struggle with: blocking out interfering sounds or sights, maintaining stamina, handling time pressured tasks and interacting with others. Compared to neurotypical students, they are put at an unfair advantage. A report by the Psychiatry and Behavioral Health Learning Network states, “Older teens struggling with depression are more than twice as likely to drop out of high school as peers without that mental illness or those who recovered from a bout of depression earlier in life.” While these students attempt to overcome their inner turmoil, they are expected to live up to the same expectations as their peers—resulting in multiple consequences.

Students are also at risk by the events outside of their school life, faltering in school whenever a family issue arises. Those who face abuse at home or struggle to thrive due to economic reasons have more to stress about than their grades. Much like in Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, people need to fulfill their basic (food, water, shelter and safety) needs before all else. Even those with the will to perfect their GPA are ultimately damaged by their perfectionist mindset. Neglecting their own needs to meet a deadline or make work they can be proud of, a perfection complex can scar these students. The effects of mental health will creep up on them and induce symptoms of anxiety and toxic stress. While the impact of our grades still have yet to strike us, we are constantly reminded of its pressure looming over us. There’s an unfair bar set for achievement within schools, usually unaccounting for students with personal struggles or those negligent of them.

FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2019 The Tomatalk â&#x20AC;¢ Kamiakin High School