The Rock - March 2020

ROCK

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The Student Voice of Rock Bridge Since 1973 . Vol. 47 Issue 5 . March 17, 2020

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IN-DEPTHS . . . . .11

SPORTS. . . . . . . . 18

Students reflect on their experiences in quitting their habits or practices that no longer bring them joy.

RBHS girls’ basketball season cut short because of COVID-19 concerns around the state.

CAMRYN DEVORE/THE ROCK

CAMRYN DEVORE/THE ROCK

CPS suspends school on COVID-19 concerns

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ANNA XU olumbia Public Schools (CPS) won’t be in session tomorrow and won’t reopen until April 13; however, this 26-day cancellation may change depending on future events relating to the coronavirus (COVID-19), CPS Superintendent Dr. Peter Stiepleman said in an email to faculty and staff members yesterday.

Hours following Dr. Stiepleman’s direction, RBHS Principal Jacob Sirna sent an email to all RBHS staff, parents and students saying that academic content should resume through web-based platforms, predominantly Schoology, a virtual learning environment for primary and secondary education.

Stiepleman also said buildings will only be accessible to “essential personnel,” and teacher compensation will continue without change as educators are “expected to work remotely.” Still, he also said “alterna-

tive methods of instruction will not be expected during spring break.”

Additionally, Sirna said CPS is working on a plan to continue feeding those who rely on the district’s provision of three meals per day.

The purpose of this course of action is to limit the proliferation of COVID-19, what the World Health Organization deemed as a pandemic March 11.

President Donald Trump issued a national emergency March 13 and said yesterday, in a news conference, to restrict any nonessential meetings and gatherings of over 10 people.

As of yesterday, there were 85 U.S. deaths and 4,556 confirmed U.S. cases, though NPR reports said this number is likely much higher.

Currently, the Washington Post said U.S. cases are growing exponentially, and the goal should be to flatten the curve of cases.

In an effort to quickly minimize infection, the University of Missou-

ri — Columbia moved to online education for the rest of the semester March 13, and all St. Louis and Kansas City schools cancelled March 14, prompting students to tweet Dr. Stiepleman about CPS cancellation. Not only have schools closed, the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) cancelled all activities, including the Class 4 and 5 basketball state tournament, of which the RBHS girls’ team was competing.

Additionally, all spring sports practices and games are suspended until school resumes, Dr. Stiepleman said. Junior Chloe Cain said she is devastated her soccer season will be cut short.

“I am very unhappy that sports were suspended,” Cain said. “We will be missing nine games when we have around 20 in a season. So just like that, our season is cut in half. I feel bad for the seniors because this is their last year playing soccer, and

As of now, Dr. Stiepleman hasn’t commented about whether or not these events will be cancelled.

“We had to postpone our wrestling banquet, and if it’s pushed back more, we may not even have it. I don’t even know if I should buy a prom dress because I don’t know if I’ll get the chance to wear it,” Hensley said. “I’m leaving for college so this [is] the last semester with my friends, so it sucks having it end this way.”

Dr. Stiepleman said he hopes the CPS community can strongly endure these unexpected events and work diligently to communicate effectively through means of technology.

“The values of our school district are trust, integrity, collaboration, transparency, empathy and grace,” Dr. Stieplman said. “I want to thank each of you for living these values each and every day, and especially now during this unprecedented moment in history.”

Youth vote, media comprehension impacts Mo. Primary

Individuals who use social media as primary news source

47.8%

their season is shortened.”

Still, Cain said she agrees with the district’s decision to shut down schools because “it was essential in keeping everyone safe.”

She said while teenagers like her may not be affected much, it’s everyone’s duty to protect those most vulnerable, such as the elderly and groups with a much higher rate of death, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

COVID-19 is highly contagious, according to the CDC, and usually spreads when someone is exhibiting symptoms but can be transmitted when a person isn’t.

Senior Paige Hensley, however, said she’s unsure if the national reaction is completely warranted and was overwhelmed and concerned about the sudden actions. She said she is afraid she’ll miss out on the traditional senior activities such as prom, graduation and senior parties.

Survey of 203 students, about 10% of the student population.

ANNA XU ith the Democratic candidate pool narrowed, the Missouri Primary Elections were March 10 and former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders debated March 15. Counseling secretary Jennifer Sonnenberg said roughly 290 RBHS students met the voting age of 18.

Biden carried the state with a dominating lead for the Democratic primary, winning in every county including Boone County, which favored Sanders in 2016.

While Biden received more than 60% of the popular vote in Missouri, 18-29 year olds favored Sanders significantly. An exit poll by CNN showed 70% preferred Sanders while only 25% chose Biden; however, the 18-29 year old voting block only accounted for 14% of the total vote.

University of Missouri — Columbia (MU) American Politics Professor Dr. James Endersby said he encourages his students to vote, but he said election turnout for young adults is consistently very low.

An analysis by Tufts University found only five to 19% of those 18-29 years old voted in Super Tuesday or March 3 election states.

A different analysis by Tufts University also said increased participation from young voters can significantly influence election outcomes. In 2018, there was a 188% spike in Senate midterm election participation from voters ages 18-29, the highest in more than 25 years. This impressive turnout was a determining factor in swing states that elected Democrats into the House, as 67% of young adults chose the Democratic candidate compared to 32% who selected the Republican member, the largest disparity between parties in the last 25 years. In the end, 10 Democrats knocked out incumbent Republican representatives.

Dr. Endersby said, however, the 2018 election was an anomaly of turnout, and the current democratic primary election hasn’t seen the same historical de-

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of RBHS students

36%

of 18-29 year olds

16%

of 30-49 year olds

9% of 60-64 year olds

4%

of those 65+ years old

[SOURCE: WWW.PEWRESEARCH.ORG, ANNA XU / THE ROCK] SARAH MOSTELLER / THE ROCK

viation. While young adults consistently favor Sen. Bernie Sanders over former Vice President Joe Biden, according to CNN exit polls, Sanders himself admits the struggle of motivating new voters to show up. At a press conference after Super Tuesday, Sanders said, “Have we been as successful as I would hope in bringing in young people in? And the answer is ‘No.’” “I think student participation in elections and other forms of political activities are lower because young adults don’t have the same stake in the system as older adults do,” Dr. Endersby said. “When you have a home or a job, when you have a stake in the political system as it exists for you, [you care more], and when you’re young, you aren’t quite there.”

Not only do younger citizens have different voting habits than older voters, whether that’s turnout or preferred candidate, the nonpartisan American think tank Pew Research Center in 2018 found those aged 18-29 also consume news media in an unprecedented manner; the poll showed social media was the most common platform for the age group to gather information compared to traditional platforms such as TV, radio, print and news sites.

In a poll collected by The Rock sampling 203 students, or roughly 10% of the population, the trend is consistent. Approximately 47.8% said social media is their primary source of information compared to any other outlet.

Biology and Contemporary Issues teacher Dr. Andrew Kinslow said social media can help at times and more convenient than traditional news outlets.

When he was a graduate student at MU, for example, it was Twitter, not the administration, that notified him when students lost their health care system in 2015. Still, Dr. Kinslow said there are numerous downsides to relying on social media for coverage as it can be infested with misinformation.

“Now, we’ve turned into this information glut,” YOUTH VOTING CONT. P3

CPS to commission new road out of North lot AMIRA MCKEE olumbia Public Schools (CPS) is considering commissioning an additional exit from the North Parking Lot to Peachtree Drive, an idea that began in 2014.

CPS Public Relations Director Michelle Baumstark estimated the project would cost $300,000-$400,000 and construction would begin in about a year. The project is awaiting approval from the Columbia Board of Education as details such as the timeline and budget are still unclear. The road would meet a roundabout in the middle of Peachtree Drive.

CPS Chief Operations Officer Randy Gooch said the roundabout is part of a previous venture by the City of Columbia to improve traffic in the Peachtree area, and the city will build the roundabout regardless of whether or not the Board of Education approves the new road.

“From the district standpoint, the [new road] is part [of a] much bigger project. The majority of [the Peachtree Drive development] is between the

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builder and the city,” Gooch said.

“While the [roundabout] construction is going on, but before it finishes, we’ll [build] our access road.”

The North parking lot houses almost all student parking with the exception of 50-55 spots in the South lot.

Baumstark said the coinciding roundabout construction could make building more efficient and thus, provide a unique opportunity to alleviate some of the heavy RBHS traffic.

“The developer and the city had an agreement to make a better traffic situation when they develop that commercial area [on Peachtree Drive],” Baumstark said. “So, they are completing their roundabout in that area, and that allows us, the school, to add an additional exit out of that Rock Bridge Career Center area.”

Junior Adrienne Smith, who drives herself to school nearly every day, said the traffic out of the North parking lot is a significant inconvenience to her.

She said she believes the new exit could help expedite her travel to and from school.

“Typically [traffic out of the North parking lot at 4:05 p.m.] is 10 minutes, and it’s really scary because some high schoolers aren’t very smart on the road,” Smith said. “If you have to be somewhere right after school you definitely won’t get there in time.”

Baumstark said if the CPS Board of Education approves the new road, a process that would begin with an Engineering Services agreement in the next few months, students will have access to three exits: the primary North parking lot exit, the Career Center Exit and an additional exit onto Peachtree Drive. Hoping for construction approval, Gooch said the road could be a useful tool in bettering student life at RBHS. “It’s something that we’ve been talking about for quite some time,” Gooch said. “This isn’t the first time it’s been talked about it, and it’s something that we feel would really be great to help with congestion around the school for arrival and dismissal, and CAMRYN DEVORE / THE ROCK, PHOTO ILLUSTRATION: RACHEL STEVENS / THE ROCK when there are large activities occurLOOKING AHEAD: Proposed road to connect RBHS North parking lot ring in the building.” to Peachtree Dr. Construction begins next year.

INDEX . . NEWS 1 . . EDITORIALS 5 . . COMMENTARIES 8. . IN-DEPTH 11 . . FEATURES 15 . . A&E 17. . SPORTS 18

2 |NEWS

THE ROCK | RBHS.BEARINGNEWS.ORG | MARCH 17, 2020

Gone viral

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RACHEL STEVENS, MADDIE ORR / THE ROCK

AUDREY NOVINGER he number of national coronavirus (COVID-19) cases rose to 4,663 as of Monday, and states including Missouri are taking action against the outbreak. Missouri Gov. Mike Parson said the state should be able to conduct thousands of COVID-19 tests each day by or close to April 1, according to an article from News Tribune.

Although washing hands and avoiding sick people can reduce the spread of COVID-19, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), an article from the news platform CNN said racism toward Asians is advancing faster in the U.S. than the COVID-19.

Face masks are flying off shelves, and sales in Corona beer, which is not related to the virus, have dropped according to Forbes. People of Asian descent have also experienced violence on public transit along with verbal harassment.

While senior Jerry Hou said he hasn’t experienced racism associated with COVID-19, he said he heard about a case involving subway violence in New York.

On Feb. 2, a witness said she saw a man hit a woman wearing a face mask in a New York subway station after calling her called her a “diseased b****,” according to CNN. The witness recorded the woman, who appeared Asian, chasing the man after he hit her. The man turned and attacked the woman.

In another case, an enraged man singled out a woman on an L.A. subway saying all diseases come from China. The woman, who was Thai-American, recorded the man as he continued to blame Chinese people for causing diseases and called them “putrid” and “disgusting.”

In response to these recent examples of racism, Hou said illnesses are not valid evidence to condemn a country or political structure.

“I think a big part of this is the biased perspectives of the media. Never really once has a disease been branded as being from a certain region or country. Things like Ebola originated from places in the world but they are never branded by it,” Hou said. “I think it’s really important for everyone to embrace a supportive atmosphere together instead of criticizing people who are suffering from it.”

Junior Charlotte Chen said she has seen examples of racist comments on the social networking service TikTok. She said com-

ments include asking Asians who are coughing if they have coronavirus and inaccurate assumptions that all Asians are predisposed to the disease. Chen’s experience with racism extends beyond the screen, though. Aside from encountering rude comments on TikTok, Chen said a friend made a distasteful joke about the disease.

“I was talking to a friend, and I was grabbing her glasses for her, and I accidentally touched her nose, and she was like ‘Ew, don’t touch me.

I don’t want corona,’” Chen said. “And that [made] me a little uncomfortable.”

Chen said she gets upset when someone uses stereotypical or inaccurate information about Asians and the coronavirus or assumes she has COVID-19 simply because of her race or because of her face mask. When her friends make jokes about the disease, despite knowing she hasn’t recently been to Asia, Chen said she feels uneasy.

Another time Chen directly faced exclusionist attitudes was in an airport. Chen said she was wearing a face mask because she was worried about contracting the coronavirus. She said she was coughing because of her dry throat, and people started avoiding her. Even so, she said she understands why some people may have concerns regarding the virus.

“I’m not very angry about it because I understand that if you’re Asian, it’s more likely that you’ve been to that area and have any connection to that area,” Chen said. “I understand why [people] avoid you, but they shouldn’t do it to the level that makes people feel uncomfortable.”

Experts such as Dr. Will Roland, Infectious Diseases specialist at the University of Missouri — Columbia and Truman Veterans’ Hospitals, confirmed that the public’s concern is legitimate, but not necessarily proportionate to the problem. He said because the disease has resulted in deaths and continues to spread from person to person it proves worrisome. Dr. Roland said another reason for concerns surrounding COVID-19 is poor understanding of the disease, and how illnesses range from mild to severe.

“It’s unclear how the situation will unfold, but risk is dependent on exposure. At this time, some people will have an increased risk of infection,” Dr. Roland said. “For example, healthcare workers caring for patients with

IF TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID-19 People may experience: Runny nose Sore throat Cough Fever Difficulty breathing

[SOURCE: WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION]

The impacts of racism surrounding coronavirus

[SOURCE: JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY] SARAH KUHLMANN / THE ROCK

COVID-19 and other close contacts of patients with COVID-19.”

Hou said no one in his family who lives in China has contracted the disease and said they take precautions such as staying indoors and wearing face masks. Throughout different parts of the world, including Asia, schools have transitioned to online classes to slow the spread of COVID-19, according to news platform The Guardian. While school in China is still happening online, Hou said his family is past the point of panic and what’s left is caution.

Chen, on the other hand, said her family in Taiwan has been nervous about COVID-19.

Her dad is a doctor and works at a smaller hospital with many other people. Chen said her family’s primary concerns are undocumented cases of the disease from people without visible symptoms. COVID-19, she said, also impacts students studying for Advanced Placement tests at schools such as Taipei American School because of missed class time and online lessons.

Still, Chen said racism surrounding COVID-19 is unacceptable and unnecessary.

“Racism is never appropriate; [coronavirus] just gives people an excuse to take action to their racist thoughts,” Chen said. “Racism would never be able to be completely eradicated, it’s just whether an individual chooses to harm others with it or not.”

Fear is an expected human response to poorly understood threats, but as COVID-19 data increases, so does knowledge about the disease, according to an article from WHO. Compared

to the flu, Dr. Roland said COVID-19 does not transmit as effectively because most patients have symptoms, meaning their bodies recognize it as a threat. Global communities, however, have built up immunities to the flu and have vaccines for it, while none exist for COVID-19.

The coronavirus is more deadly than the flu, and the WHO said shortages in masks and other medical supplies may compromise global communities’ abilities to respond.

Nevertheless, the WHO said COVID-19 can be contained with a global collaboration to protect doctors and prevent the disease’s spread.

Meanwhile, countries such as the U.S. are securing their borders, closing schools and taking precautions.

The White House suspended all travel from Europe, and there are 13 screening locations for returning Americans.

The White House is also asking returning American travelers to self-quarantine for 14 days to reduce risk of spreading the disease. As far as preventing the spread of racism surrounding COVID-19, Dr. Roland said fact-based education from a trusted source is the best way to combat misinformation and avoid biased media sources.

Dr. Roland said fear, prejudice and ignorance combined with inaccuracy in the media lead to racist assumptions that all Asians have COVID-19. Even so, he said some peoples’ beliefs are too pervasive to remedy.

“Stupidity,” Dr. Roland said, “is a hard thing to cure.”

FIRST Robotics competitions canceled over COVID-19 health, safety concerns BAILEY STOVER

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rmy Ants is a FIRST robotics team, where students work to construct a robot that can effectively compete in that year’s respective tournament. The first tournament for the Army Ants was the St. Louis regional competition, which was supposed to take place starting March 12. The competition is now suspended, along with the entire season.

“Based on guidance from the World Health Organization, Centers for Disease Control [and Prevention] and state and local health officials as well as the declared states of emergency across many states/countries, the ever-expanding travel restrictions for schools and in light of developments over the past 24 hours,” FIRST president Larry Cohen announced the cancellation of events March 12.

Before the news, the St. Louis regional competition was running like usual, and the 3792 Army Ants, Columbia’s FIRST Robotic Competition (FRC) team, were 15 minutes away from the drive team meeting when Cohen sent out an update that simultaneously canceled all week three regionals.

The night before the Army Ant’s competition, the team had set up its pit in the arena, which was an hourand-a-half exercise.

Mere moments away from getting inspected, members of the drive team and pit crew were working to make last-second repairs to their robot when Dr. Andy Winslow, the team’s Co-

“The event needed to be canceled, but waiting Chief Mentor, notified present members of the update via instant message saying, “FIRST HAS JUST until 50 teams had arrived, some international, there CANCELED ALL EVENTS STARTING RIGHT was unnecessary confusion and chaos,” McNamee NOW.” The information also came over the Public said. “Cancellation of the entire season was drastic, Announcement system instructing all teams to be- and a delay would have given students something to gin tearing down their pits, packing up and heading look forward to, especially seniors that won’t have home. Dr. Winslow estimated all this took place in another season.”

All in all, Dr. Winslow estimated the team’s core the span of about 60 seconds.

Students, mentors and parents alike were astound- group of people — mechanical leads, drive team, ed and frozen upon hearing the news, unsure if the programing leads and awards — spent in the “neighborhood of 400 hours each” designing and building announcement was correct and hoping it wasn’t.

“When I heard it was canceled, I was absolutely this year’s robot. He said competitions are far more devastated. It felt like my heart just dropped. I didn’t than merely the matches. want to believe it,” freshman Caroline Ma said. “I “This is such a sad way to end all of that wonderwanted to cry, but I was so shocked the only thing I ful effort. I can’t say I’m not a bit heartbroken mycould do was to sit and try to proself,” Dr. Winslow said. “These young cess it.” engineers deserve so much reward for what they’ve accomplished, and they On their way back to Columbia, they heard the news: Cohen I wanted to cry, but are coming away without even the joy had sent out another announceI was so shocked the of getting to compete.”

As a potential alternative to regular ment canceling the rest of the 2020 only thing I could do season competition, Dr. Winslow said Championship events for the entire was to sit and try to he has heard “rumors of possible comseason. Dr. Winslow said FIRST process it.” petitions over the summer or fall.” postponed “all remaining regional Nevertheless, Dr. Winslow also acand district qualifying events” and — Caroline Ma, knowledged if such a contingency plan outright canceled the Houston, Tx. and Detroit, Mich. championships freshman does happen, seniors who have graduated and have gone away to college would because of concerns surrounding not be able to participate in the fall.

COVID-19.

Even with the “sad end for ‘Infinite Recharge,’” “The team had spent so much time preparing for this [season] after school every day and on the week- Dr. Winslow said he is proud of what the Army Ants ends,” Ma said. “To prepare we had gone to different have achieved. Once normalcy returns, he said to be cities just to work on the drive, spending countless ready for the Army Ants to compete again. As for hours to fix every little thing so it would be ready for Ma, although this season is likely at its close, she still the competition. Some people even stayed up until has three more years to look forward to.

“Despite working so hard for these competitions, [midnight] to finish parts of the robot.”

Dr. Winslow said this year’s game, “Infinite Re- I do think this was the right call to make. It is better charge,” had a Star Wars theme and required students to not help spread the virus. It feels pretty disappointto “design and build a robot to protect FIRST City ing,” Ma said. “However, I don’t regret this season from an impending asteroid shower.” Junior Connor at all. I gained many friendships and helpful skills McNamee, who is the drive team’s second driver, along the way. In my opinion, it was still a productive said he was confused about whether or not the pro- season and a wonderful experience.”

Additional reporting by Sophia Eaton gram would continue.

NEWS 3

THE ROCK RBHS.BEARINGNEWS.ORG MARCH 17, 2020

Confirmed COVID-19 cases

Information based on reports from March 16.

[SOURCE: WORLDOMETER.INFO]

ANNA XU / THE ROCK

[SOURCE: CNN.COM] [INFOGRAPHIC BY ANNA XU/IMAGES FAIR USE

Politics strike conversation PARKING CONT. A1

RILEY KERNS / THE ROCK

Research drives local reaction to COVID-19 A

called bioinformatics, is often used for the development of pharmaceuticals. n emergent strain of a virus, formally named severe acute respira- He said in bioinformatics he must analyze the biological sequences and pretory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) by the International dict which proteins the virus will interact with. The coronavirus, Dr. Xu said, Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses, causes the coronavirus disease, matches with some proteins such as one called ACE2, which plays a crucial role named COVID-19 by the World Health Organization (WHO). The in the entry of the virus into the cell.

“This protein is not the only receptor,” Dr. Xu said. “So, we are predicting family of coronaviruses causes illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as COVID-19, which originated in Wuhan, China and has additional receptors. We’ve made some good predictions, [and] it looks very reasonable.” infected more than 181,000 people globally and killed more than 7,000.

Even though China is still receiving new patients every day, the virus is The Chinese government closed off the city of Wuhan, with a population of more than 11 million people, by canceling planes and trains leaving the city as mostly under control, Dr. Xu said. Research groups such as Moderna Inc. and well as suspending buses, subways and ferries within it to prevent the spread Inovio Pharmaceuticals Inc. are trying to have their vaccines ready for testof the COVID-19 disease. Sophomore Kyle Chen’s grandparents, part of an ing on people in just 16 weeks after reviewing the diseases’s genetic sequence.

Historically, however, vaccines haven’t been finished in age group at increased risk for severe illness, live in time to help during outbreaks of this caliber. Shots played Wuhan and have stayed in their apartment building limited roles in slowing down the 2016 Zika epidemic in for over a month and have not gone outside.

Most cases are mild and require Latin America and the 2014-2016 West African Ebola ep“Before Wuhan shutdown, my grandparents had little to no medical intervention, idemic because it can take months, if not years, to develop already bought a lot of food online,” Chen said. coronavirus can be fatal for the them.

“Their close friends bring them food and take out elderly and those with underlyThe seasonal influenza vaccine, for example, takes at their trash. Once, someone in their apartment building disease or conditions." least six months to produce in large quantities. A COVID ing was suspected of having the coronavirus, and the vaccine could take months to develop. entire apartment was quarantined for a few days.”

— The Washington Post Vaccinations have to pass many stages before they are Chen said his family may push back their annual released to the public. Firstly, labs must go through an summer vacation plans to visit his grandparents beexploratory stage where they identify natural or synthetic antigens that might cause of the coronavirus.

He said his parents instruct him to wash his hands more often, like the Cen- help prevent or treat a disease, according to the College of Physicians of Philaters for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends. They also rec- delphia. Secondly, pre-clinical studies use tissue-culture or cell-culture systems ommend “everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory and animal testing to assess the safety of the candidate vaccine and its ability to diseases,” such as covering coughs and sneezes with tissues and disinfecting provoke an immune response. Thirdly, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has to approve the vaccine in order to move on to clinical trialing. After frequently touched objects.

Columbia Public Schools (CPS) Superintendent Dr. Peter Stiepleman said it is proven to be successful in human testing, the FDA can then license it.

Even if the vaccinations can’t help immediately, they can in the future in in an email to CPS faculty and staff members and parents on March 16, “March 17 will be the last day [CPS] school buildings will be open to students. At the case of another outbreak, according to CNN. When another Ebola outbreak moment of closing, all athletics and activities will be suspended. At this time, began in 2018, two treatments scientists developed from the first outbreak we plan to reopen on Monday, April 13. We will continue to monitor the situ- were offered to all patients in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

But sometimes, viruses become “burnt out.” In the case of the 2003 SARSation and adjust our plans as necessary.”

In addition to CPS, the University of Missouri — Columbia prohibited CoV which infected more than 8,000 people, it was brought to an end in study abroad travel to China, South Korea and Italy for spring, spring break May of that same year because of the hot weather change. That doesn’t mean and summer 2020. The CDC issued a Level 3 Warning for these countries, COVID-19 would be gone for good if it burnt out, though; the H1N1 flu strain recommending people avoid all nonessential travel to them, which the Univer- caused a pandemic in 2009, and now it has become a seasonally occurring visity follows. The University even recommends people reconsider independent rus. There isn’t enough information to predict whether or not the coronavirus will burn out or reoccur, but labs such as Dr. Xu’s can develop drugs in the travel to countries with a CDC Warning Level 3.

Further measures to minimize coronavirus involve research to develop meantime, as cures are much faster to make than immunizations.

“We will [put work] in for several months to get some really good results,” cures, such as that of Dr. Dong Xu’s lab. Dr. Xu is a professor in the Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Department at the University of Missouri Dr. Xu said. “And this disease, however, lasts for several months, so we really need to work on it for some time. And ultimately these may come back in the — Columbia.

“We do basic medical research to develop fundamental methods, but we future. So it's not just for now; we need to solve some problems and hopefully also want to solve real world problems [to] make an impact,” Dr. Xu said. “So we'll also help in the future.” we’ll do some fundamental studies and try to understand this virus, how it works and how this disease started and evolves.”

Dr. Xu called his lab a “tool [for] computational studies,” where he designs drugs which other labs will synthesize, and he creates models of protein receptors. This method of using software tools for understanding biological data, SARAH DING

LORELEI DOHM/THE ROCK

“Where we are bombarded with massive amounts of information, some of which is literally weaponized in order to create some kind of reaction or emotional response.”

Not only can social media be biased, Sinan Aral of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology wrote in 2018 in the Science Magazine Journal, but on Twitter “fake news” or untrue statements reach more users than accurate claims, and misinformation was 70% more likely to be retweeted.

Dr. Endersby said he makes students take fake news quizzes to show news literacy.

“I think you need to see a variety of viewpoints,” Dr. Endersby said.

“I think that it’s better for every individual person, and that it’s better for society, that we consider the views of others before deciding all the decisions.”

Both Drs. Endersby and Kinslow said the classroom is a great place to combat the divisions of the current political environment. Dr. Endersby said the goal of his American Politics class is to provide a better civic education and dive deeper to the “complicated, below the surface” system of government.

Dr. Kinslow also said he hopes to give his students in-depth learning and to foster a healthy skepticism of information.

“I feel like it’s really, really important that a part of science education is to have good science literacy around the information,” Dr. Kinslow said. “We have a ‘Know Your Sources’ tool that we’ll roll out in the beginning of the year. It borrows from a bunch of different ideas. There’s basically a dozen or so different ways on how to interpret your information. Looking to see who’s behind this, author and the [intended] audience. Is this playing on your emotional cues?

What’s the validity of the science?

What more do we need to know?”

Senior Anna Kirby voted in the Democratic primary March 10 and said she experienced particular difficulty deciding which candidate to vote for, especially with contrasting information from news outlets, social media or otherwise.

“My parents forced me to watch [the Democratic Debates], but I’m glad they did because if you read online, you don’t really get to hear them talking,” Kirby said. “ I was planning on voting for Mayor Pete [Buttigieg], but he dropped out, so [I had] to start over and figure out who I [was] going to vote for again.”

While Kirby said she didn’t particularly like any of the remaining candidates, she said it was still her duty to vote. Dr. Endersby said it’s important for citizens to become involved in politics at a young age because it increases their likelihood to stay in touch with the affairs of the state.

“I think it’s important for all citizens to be active participants in politics and elections,” Dr. Endersby said. “Where we learn our habits to be active citizen participants in politics is when we’re young. So, one thing you see in a lot of research, as well as what I see from personal experience, is that those that are active in high school and young adults remain active throughout their lives in elections and other forms of political behavior. Because if you read online, you don’t really get to hear them talking.”

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Also keep our subscription box in mind for a regularly shipped book to your house with some extra goodies included.

Thank you, Joe and Kelsey

EDITORIALS 5

THE ROCK RBHS.BEARINGNEWS.ORG MARCH 17, 2020 No more debate tournament.

Have you seen the news?

My choir competition got canceled.

State chess tourney is off.

Coronavirus cancellations I guess I don't need this tab anymore.

Sorry, Sport, we can't go on a spring break vacation.

DEVIN HALL/ THE ROCK

CPS coronavirus plan necessary, but too rushed

C

olumbia Public Schools (CPS) superintendent Dr. Peter Stiepleman announced yesterday all CPS public schools will close March 18 through April 12 in an email to CPS staff and parents. The measure aims to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Although a meaningful step toward protecting the safety and health of CPS students, teachers and families, the limited notice and delayed action that accompanied the closure will make it more difficult for staff and students to adapt to the change and will minimize its effectiveness.

Preceding the announcement, several other school districts in Missouri closed in accordance with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines of social distancing amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Stiepleman, however, alluded to the inevitability of CPS closure via his Twitter account this weekend without providing any details as to when the closure would happen.

The delay was likely because the decision was undoubtedly an arduous and deliberate

process to address an unprecedented state of emergency, but in an attempt to ensure all interests were considered, the district ended up leaving its students and staff in the dark.

CPS should have been far more transparent about its plans and the options they were discussing, to provide students and staff with more than mere speculation on which to base their schedules. While CPS did a good job of informing faculty and parents of the plan once it was decided, the lack of insight on the decision-making process still left the announcement feeling abrupt.

The short notice of closure forces teachers to scramble to change testing and lesson schedules. Moreover, this puts CPS parents, especially those with elementary age children or children who require special services, in a difficult position to find care for their child if necessary.

On a smaller scale, CPS should have implemented efforts such as disinfecting hard surfaces and ensuring there was soap in all available bathrooms. Even before COVID-19 was a

concern in Missouri, these efforts could have For instance, Global Village is an enjoyable helped minimize health issues exacerbated by tradition for students, but it provided ample the limited available boys’ bathrooms at RBHS. opportunity for the disease to spread. Instead, Social distancing, a strategy of preventing RBHS should have canceled the event in order the spread of disease by limiting human interac- to ensure the close proximity of students and tion, is largely to blame for the event and school food sharing did not put students or their famicancellations across Missouri and the nation. lies in danger.

Although some may argue Although it social distancing puts unneccan result in essary strain on students who disappointCPS should have been far more might be able to recover quickment for transparent about its plans and ly from COVID-19, CPS has students and the options they were discussing, staff, RBHS the responsibility to consider should have the well-being of families or to provide students and staff with staff who could suffer severe implementmore than mere speculation on reactions to the virus. ed social which to base their schedules."

Still, CPS did impose social distancing distancing, so now we must all much soontake responsibility to isolate er than they did. While all CPS events and extracurricular ourselves as much as possible because when the activities should have been put on hold imme- lives of elderly or immunocompromised Amerdiately to slow COVID-19, many hotspots for icans are at risk, CPS deserves commendation for working to develop a response. illness went on as planned.

To teach students healthy practices, CPS must have mental health elective ANNA XU

“New research suggests that nearly everyone will develop a psychological disorder at some point in their life,” according to Scientific American, the longest running science magazine in the U.S. While the severity of illness varies, there will be times of mental struggle for practically everyone.

The burden falls on Columbia Public Schools (CPS) to offer a mental health course because it should be every educational institution’s goal to teach students to live fulfilling lives and prepare them for the challenges they will face.

Mental health courses aren’t only necessary but also extremely popular. Dr. Laurie Santos teaches Psychology and the Good Life, the most popular class at Yale University, which helps students understand which actions and perspectives on events are important and which are deeply counterproductive toward the mind.

Her course’s central claim is that one’s thoughts are often wrong on how to achieve happiness, which has caused more people than in generations past to be chronically unsatisfied with their lives.

Santos elaborates on how the real world can set us up to be disappointed, such as the unexpected misery of lottery winners, the perils of unbridled positive thinking and the exhaustion of too many choices. A plethora of empirical evidence including the General Social Survey, one of the longest-running public research projects in the U.S. supports the growing sense of unhappiness among Americans. The survey found a 50% increase in unhappy people in 2018 compared to 1990.

Clearly, societal pressures have influenced individual well-being, necessitating education to provide us solutions, particularly considering teenagers are the most vulnerable demographic to suicide and mental health issues, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information.

Chris Peterson, a pioneer of positive psychology, the study of happiness, said if one wants to im-

The Rock Rock Bridge High School 4303 S. Providence Rd., Columbia, Mo. 65203 Vol. 47, Issue 5 Mar. 17, 2020 Population: 2,067 Students, 148 Faculty Circulation: 1,500 Contact information: Phone: (573) 214-3141 Website: rbhs.bearingnews.org

prove their mental health they should practice joy and learn from existing psychology.

The Harvard Study of Adult Development is the world’s longest study of adult life and found the happiest people are not the smartest or wealthiest but rather those who retained strong human connections and had particular characteristics, such as forgiveness or a willingness to get involved. Finally, HuffPost, a news and opinion website, also writes in 2013 that positive psychology has roots in “emotion research, moral psychology, humanism, cognitive behavioral therapy and the humanities, especially philosophy,” which could all be useful units in a mental health course.

While CPS urges students to push academic boundaries and brags about college acceptances, it neglects to teach us how to live a content life, which should be the ultimate goal of the district.

The Boone County Mental Health surveys, while beneficial, don’t teach students how to improve their situation, and counselors, with more than 200 students each, are often spread far too thin. Additionally, these measures are largely reactive and unhelpful to students who might develop a mental health issue later. CPS is irresponsible to continue to put Band-Aids on the crisis of adolescent mental health.

The easiest, most accessible solution would be an elective that would encourage students to try out wellness exercises — such as meditating — they otherwise wouldn’t. The class could also incorporate studies on happiness to provide more academic merit.

While some may scoff at the “happiness homework” Santos gives, like buying a friend a coffee, there are more than 225,000 students already taking the online class. Just like studying math, history or science, students will most likely take the lessons and practices seriously if there is structured curriculum and clear guidance. Society needs to change, and it starts with teaching.

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EDITORIALS 7

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potrayals in movies and TV RACHEL STEVENS/ THE ROCK

"Dickson Experimental Sound Film" (1894)

"Grey's Anatomy" (2008)

"The Silence of the Lambs" (1991)

“Dickson Experimental Sound Film" is widely considered the earliest representation of a gay couple in cinema history.

Callie Torres, played by Sara Ramirez, became the longest-running queer series regular in TV history.

In "The Silence of the Lambs" serial killer Buffalo Bill mocks an experience transwomen go through to portray the epitome of horror.

"All in the Family" (1971)

"Crazy Ex-Girlfriend" (2015)

"Ace Ventura: Pet Detective" (1994)

Character Darryl Whitefeather came out as bisexual in a song, combatting stereotypes as one of the few bisexual male characters on TV.

In "Ace Ventura: Pet Detective," Jim Carrey’s titular character swallows toothpaste and burns his clothes after learning he accidentally kissed a transgender woman.

"Will and Grace" (1998)

"Call Me by Your Name" (2017)

"Orange is the New Black" (2013)

"The L Word" featured TV's first ensemble cast depicting gay and bisexual women.

“Will and Grace" has two main characters who are gay. It premiered at a time when gay characters were barely represented on TV.

Set in 1980s Italy, Oscar-winner "Call Me by Your Name" follows a 17-year-old student and his father's research assistant falling in love.

Laverne Cox became the first openly transgender person to be nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award in any acting category.

"Glee" (2009-2015)

"Moonlight" (2016)

"Brooklyn Nine-Nine" (2017)

"The Danish Girl" (2015)

In season 5, Rosa Diaz comes out as bisexual, with the show recieving aclaim at the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation Awards.

“The Danish Girl," an Oscar-winning biopic of Lili Elbe, one of the earliest recipients of sex reassignment surgery, has been criticized for historical innaccuracy.

"Friends" (1996)

“Friends" was the first primetime TV series to feature a lesbian wedding.

"Ellen" (1997)

In its fourth season, "Ellen" became the first show to feature an openly lesbian actress playing an openly lesbian character.

"The L Word" (2004)

"Glee" was ranked the most inclusive show on television by GLAAD in 2013.

[SOURCES: WWW.HORNET.COM, WWW.VOX.COM, WWW.LATIMES.COM]

“All in the Family" was the first sitcom with an openly gay character .

"Moonlight" became the first LGBT movie to win best picture.

[SOURCES: WWW.NBCNEWS.COM, WWW.ESSENTIAL-FILMS. CO.UK, WWW.VOX.COM, WWW.VULTURE.COM]

[SOURCES: WWW.GLAAD.ORG, WWW.IMDB.COM, WWW.VOX.COM]

[SOURCES: WWW.OUT.COM, WWW.WESTWORD.COM, WWW. CHEATSHEET.COM, WWW.THESOCIOLOGICALCINEMA.COM]

Media stereotypes of queer characters set misleading standard, isolate LGBT viewers T SARAH MOSTELLER

he American sitcom, “The Middle,” follows a lower-middle class family, featuring the middle child Sue, living in Indiana through their daily struggles with a comical yet relatable family dynamic.

In the first season, Sue had a boyfriend named Brad, a theater nerd, tap dancer and fashion lover with a peppy personality, but their relationship didn’t last long. In the seventh season Brad finally broke the news … he’s gay. His coming out didn’t surprise anyone as his mannerisms made it easy for the audience to assume his sexuality early on in the show.

The actor who plays Brad, Brock Ciarlelli, is gay in real life but is very different from his character on the show. In a 2017 interview with Afterbuzz TV, Ciarlelli’s voice is notably more natural in tone and the outfits that populate his Instagram are far less vibrant.

“The Middle” gave Brad a stereotypical personality for the sake of comic relief, but this creates a false definition of what it means to be gay. While men similar to Brad certainly exist, the media often portray this trope of a flamboyant, theater-loving character as the only possibility for this identity, failing to showcase the wide spectrum of lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) personalities that exist and leaving many unrepresented.

Shows and movies like “Modern Family,” “Mean Girls,” “Faking it” and “Schitt’s Creek” feature stereotypical LGBT characters. When writers only characterize gay men as having exuberant personalities, it puts pressure on LGBT people, especially a younger audience, which is typically more susceptible to the influence of TV and movies to conform to these images.

With teens already ruminating on their identity, the typecasting of LGBT roles only serves to isolate them further.

Similarly, with lesbians, a notion exists that they must have a masculine appearance to be accepted for their sexuality. Within the lesbian community there are labels, such as butch, femme, stud, stem, emo, chapstick and even

more. A butch lesbian is more masculine and in women’s clothing and swayed to music in his tough; a femme dresses more feminine; an emo home. The actions of putting on a wig, applying wears dark clothes and has dyed hair, and all the makeup and dressing in feminine clothing is a other labels fall somewhere in between. Despite process that a lot of trans women are familiar the various identities that exist, on TV we only with, but this film presented that experience as the epitome of horror. see butch or emo lesbians.

This stereotyping paints trans people, a Not all stereotypes about LGBT members can be physically displayed, some are situa- group already heavily discriminated against by society, as evil tional. For social outcasts. example, Even when studios some comtypecast LGBT mon misWhen writers only characterize gay men as characters in a concephaving exuberant personalities, it puts pressure less negative light, tions about on LGBT Americans, especially a younger audithey still put a box bisexuals ence which is typically more susceptible to the around people who are that influence of TV and movies to conform to these identify with this they cheat, community and put they prefer images. With many LGBT teens already rumipressure on them open relanating their identity, the typecasting of LGBT to meet society’s tionships roles only serves to isolate them further." standards of how or even they should look that they and act. can choose In the 2004 movie, “Mean Girls,” a teenage their preference toward men or women. The TV show “Good Trouble” supports the idea of classic that follows the new girl at school, Cady bisexuals preferring open relationships with its Heron, and her relationship with the popular characters Gael and Bryan who are in a non- clique “the plastics,” Cady immediately beexclusive relationship where they’re free to see friends two social outcasts, Janis Ian and Damian. Both are examples of stereotypical LGBT other people.

The transgender community is also mis- characters: Damian wears colorful shirts and represented, according to a 2019 report by the enjoys being on stage while Janis is emo and Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation wears dark, masculine clothes and frames her (GLAAD), an American non-governmental eyes with thick eyeliner and dark eyeshadow.

While some LGBT people do fit the labels media monitoring organization. Of the characters expected to appear on broadcast scripted attached to them and deserve to see people like primetime programming that season, only 4.3% themselves on screen, so do the queer people who don’t fit the vast majority of media porof 879 characters were transgender.

Another article by GLAAD shows since trayals.

Journalist for iNews, Amelia Abraham 2002, 40% of transgender characters play the role of a victim and at least 21% are villains or wrote in a 2019 commentary, “I met gay men from the Middle East who wanted to express a killers.

One of the most famous scenes of a trans more camp side of their character but couldn’t woman used solely to scare the audience is out of fear for their safety, alongside gay men from the 1991 movie “The Silence of the from the U.S. ... who felt ‘trapped’ by the idea Lambs.” The serial killer put on a wig made that they might need to be flamboyant in order from the scalp of one of his victims, got dressed to somehow fit in as gay.”

Although the trend is certainly to type-cast, not all shows with queer characters are stereotypical and many can serve as a model for nuanced and more realistic portrayals.

The 2018 film “Love, Simon,” focuses on a seemingly average high school boy and follows him through his coming out story. Although everyone’s journey is different, this movie does a good job portraying the struggles of acceptance from friends and family.

Other exceptional gay characters include Oscar from “The Office” and Raymond Holt from “Brooklyn Nine-Nine.” Both characters are people of color, and they dress in average, everyday clothing and don’t have peppy personalities. A good example of femme lesbian representation is Santana from “Glee” because she’s a feminine cheerleader with a high status.

LGBT representation in TV has come a long way, according to a 2019 report by GLAAD. Of the 879 regular characters expected to appear on screen in 2020, 10.2% were identified as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and/or queer. This is the highest percentage GLAAD has found in their 15 years of research. Considering that early depictions of homosexuals were mostly child molesters, victims of violence or drag queens, the media has made substantial progress by including more LGBT characters, but far more change is needed.

Today’s LGBT representation still sets an unrealistic standard for society of how queer people should look and behave. Only showcasing a small portion of the queer community sets an irrational precedent of which LGBT personalities are acceptable for viewers at home.

Before assuming sexuality based on personality traits, remember queer people can present themselves in all the same ways a straight person can and should be written in TV and movies as such. Calling out stereotypical or derogatory portrayals as unacceptable and boycotting shows or movies would force companies to recognize the error of their ways and trend toward more complete and positive depictions of LGBT characters to avoid backlash.

8 | COMMENTARIES

MADDIE ORR

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hen I hear or see something that moves my heart and uproots my perspective, my body shakes. The hair on my arms stands on end; chills reverberate from the top of my head to my toes, and I’m intensely aware of the monumental change happening around me.

I’ve felt this way a few times in my life: walking down the 18th fairway knowing I could win my first golf tournament, watching inspiring films detailing the intricate lives of my heroes — Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez — and swaying, palms out, singing praise to my God. When I was in Colorado last summer with my church, The Crossing, I listened to a sermon at the Cottonwood Pass at the peak of a long hike, surrounded by melting snow and the vastness of the world around me. Although the enormity that was the Rocky Mountains threatened to swallow me up and make me feel small and insignificant, the beauty of God’s creation lifted me up instead. If He can create something as magnificent as the infinite presence of warmth and light, the luscious greens and deep browns that surrounded my friends and me, then my presence in the world must matter, too.

I carried this steadfast love of God into life in Columbia, but it was always so much harder to feel my faith when I walked through the halls of high school carrying out mind-numbing day-to-day tasks.

In the mountains, my head was clear and each day was committed to exploring my faith. 94,780 feet below that altitude, distractions like school and friends consume my days, keeping me out of touch from the habits I developed in a place 13 hours from home, like ending the day in worship and finding God in every activity.

The “camp high,” as our church leaders called it, seemed to die out no matter how hard I tried to keep my reliance on God alive. High school drained the life out of me. I still went to church when I could, attended small groups and prayed whenever life got messy, but that didn’t fill the emptiness that hollowed out inside of me once I left Colorado. The absence felt as though a part of me was missing, a part I tried to fill with even more brokenness.

Drama is the downfall of my dedication to my faith. The toxicity that surrounds negative people, terrible decisions and the absolute crushing weight of broken relationships allowed me to lose sight of who I am. Being away from blue skies and crisp Colorado air willed me to forget I am loved, even if I didn’t feel it all the time. I made academics my idol and the relationships I built with my friends and others became my source of purpose when in my soul I knew they would fail me. And they did. Horribly. All of the disappointment illuminated the need for me to put God, not other people or experiences, at the center of my heart. Only He could provide the eternal happiness and the true self-worth I lacked.

I stumbled. I fell, and I cried as a result of rejecting God’s love in my daily life. When my friendships fell apart, it hurt. When I failed in school and failed to reach my goals, I blamed God. I didn’t have much faith anymore, and I told myself I couldn’t be loved.

I asked myself: Who am I? Where do I fit in? What is it about being a teenager that makes life seem so hard?

I think a lot of my loneliness and confusion has to do with the constant pressure of popularity. My peers and I have known each other for so long and each of us wants to be liked. Although God promises everyone immeasurable love and affection, Instagram likes and surpluses of Snapchat notifications bring immediate and short-lasting joy in our material world. If we don’t receive constant attention, validation and approval, then we feel ostracized and abandoned. This notion is amplified in high school as we see each other every day; our childish personalities lead us to believe our superficial connections are more important than trusting in God. It’s so hard to stay on the right path and be knowledgeable about what really matters. I’m constantly checking social media to make sure I’m happy, to affirm people don’t forget about me. In reality, popularity really doesn’t matter. The most important thing is not how many people commented on my latest post, but whether or not I’m a good person through and through. A lot of the people I’ve interacted with in high school do not love the people around them, do not treat them like equals or help others when they need to be picked up. Although these people may be popular, they aren’t acting out what it means to be loved by God. Every day I break this promise by indulging in my sins — gossiping, judging and comparing myself to others — but I’m trying. I want to give back to my community and those who need me. I work hard to respect my peers and superiors. I do fail, but that’s what makes me human, and that is the way God made me to be.

When I find myself in a whirlwind of self-doubt, I remember the Almighty Creator made me to mirror the Rocky Mountains, the spectacular sunsets over the Pacific Ocean and the stars in the sky. He has a plan, and navigating the toxicity of high school life will make me a stronger person by His hand.

Popularity in this time of my life is not my purpose; it isn’t anyone’s true purpose. We are created for a bigger reason and are promised a better life no matter our struggle. My favorite verse in the Bible, the 19 words I picked out in sixth grade, are forever etched in my brain through seasons of hardship: “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”

(Romans 8:18) This verse will guide me through the ups and downs of life as I know there is a better reward waiting for me on the other side.

The Wasian complication rate from the rest of the group.

The customs from each respective culture hroughout my entire adolescent clashed with each other, leaving me unsure life, I’ve felt left out. Especial- as to how I should act at events. For example, ly during elementary and middle at a recent family reunion to a lakehouse on school, it seemed like I never fit my father’s side, my relatives were confused in with social groups. From my olive-col- when I didn’t put on sunscreen, neglecting to ored skin to my thick, curly hair, I envied my acknowledge the fact that I don’t sunburn. friends’ physical features; I always wished I I didn’t know whether I should put on sunhad blue eyes or blonde hair. screen to fit in, or if I should explain that my I felt a perpetual sense of “otherness,” as Filipino genes protected me from harmful if every person I passed somehow knew I sun rays. was hiding a part of myself. I felt ashamed of Outside of family events, I still felt out of how my parents and I looked, but I struggled place. Throughout elementary school, I had a to place the source of my discomfort. variety of social problems. As a shy kinderWhen I was younger, I attributed my dif- gartener, it was a strain to make any friends ferences in skin and hair to the color of my because there weren’t any Wasians in my mother’s brown tone. I felt like I had two grade; it would’ve been great to know other white parents: a white father, and a slightly Wasian kids to play with at recess. darker, but still white, mom.

Even at assemblies or gatherings, I felt Race was a difficult concept to grasp. My uncomfortable because my mother was there. white-passing privilege granted me the lux- My friends’ moms toted large handbags and ury of not experiencing overt racism, but I formed cliques with other white mothers. couldn’t understand the social implication of But my ina is brown. being a biracial American. In a school that When I saw her sitting alone at assemwas empirically white, it was easy for me blies, I tried to disassociate with her. I would to fit in with the rest of the white crowd and stay with my friends, avoid hugging her and completely neglect my Filipino side. refuse to hold her hand. I tried to act indeFilipino and white culture are polarized, pendent. My mom’s thick, curly, black hair, and it makes being somewhere in between a trait I shared, varied greatly from other confusing. Wasian culture, characterized by moms. My mother called me anak rather than being a half-Asian, half-white teenager, is son. Instead of bedtime stories, she read versprominent on social media platforms like es out of her Bible until I fell asleep.

TikTok; although there is a Wasian commuShe didn’t like to attend baseball or footnity online, Columbia is not known for its ball games, but she diversity. loved Manny PacAs a Wasian, quio’s boxing matchI lack a sense of es. She would smile Race was a difficult concept to cultural identity. and wave at my grasp. My white-passing privilege While white and friends, and when granted me the luxury of not expeAsian people find they asked who the riencing overt racism, but I couldn’t assurance in their brown lady was, I emunderstand the social implication of race since they barrassingly told them being a biracial American.” are able to soshe was my mother cialize with other before quickly startwhites or Asians ing another conversation, only furthering my easily, forming groups of only their respec- sensitivity on the subject of my race. tive race, I face the opposite. There’s no club In middle school, when teachers or classfor us like the South Asian Student Union or mates questioned my race, I wouldn’t reWasian appreciation month, making it dif- spond with “Filipino” or “biracial.” I said ficult to meet others like me. I felt left out “white.” If someone asked why I looked a of both cultures. I’m too Asian for the white little dark, it would only be then when I told crowd but too white for the Asian crowd. them I was half-Asian.

I also couldn’t relate to either side of my What began as questions from others family, which was especially hard at family evolved into a problem of introspection. I gatherings. I can recall countless times when didn’t know if I should “act like” or try to be I walked into a Filipino relative’s house and white or Asian. When a snotty person said, my tiyas and titos showered me with com- “No way” or “You don’t even look Asian,” I pliments, which usually preceded a line of wondered if I should apologize for my facial people waiting to get into the kitchen, eager features or feel offended by the rude remark. to eat food. Shortly after a meal, we would I blamed myself for being different. all sing karaoke and eat halo halo while my I was satisfied living with the dilemma of relatives played cards a few feet away. not knowing my own race, but about halfway On my father’s side, however, I learned through my junior year, I ironically downall the colloquial manners a young white man loaded TikTok to further satisfy my perpetual should learn: no elbows on the table, only procrastination. My preconceived TikTok asspeak when I was spoken to, ask to be ex- sumptions consisted of kids doing bad dances cused from the dinner table. My cousins and to radio pop music, but I was shocked to see I would sit at the kids’ table, away from the there was an entire community of others like grown-ups. Even after dinner, while families me on the app. For weeks after I first got Tikwere socializing amongst themselves, I tend- Tok, I remember scrolling through the “For ed to stick with my brother and sister, sepa- You Page,” a personally catered page of viral ISAAC YONTZ

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videos, watching biracial Asian-American teenagers show off rice cookers and Asian food while Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline” played in the background.

Along with boosting multiracial appreciation, this surge of Wasian culture introduced virtually an entire generation of TikTok users to the realities of the identity crisis I faced as a child. It was weird watching half-white, half-Asian kids portrayed so frequently and positively on social media. For the first time, I was proud to be Wasian. I felt a sense of community, like entering a warm home, even if it was with a few kids who went viral on social media. After seeing how many other people like me exist, I finally realized I don’t have to “act” white or Asian to fit in. I can express myself authentically, and find solace in being different, hoping others do the same.

Although I am grateful to have found a community through niche apps like TikTok, other multiracial people have difficulties accepting their identity, too. There aren’t enough people for me to create a group to relate with, making it difficult for biracial or multiracial people to find a community. They are stuck in an awkward state of not being “enough” for either group.

I’ve lived my life without knowing a sense of community in my own race, but in hindsight, I’m beginning to understand how great it is to be diverse. After years of ignoring my own ethnicity, it’s extremely surprising, while at the same time perfectly apt, that a sound, informally labeled “Wasian check,” on TikTok helped me take the first step on my journey of self-appreciation and acceptance.

I’m proud to tell the world I’m biracial because it tears down the awkward race conversations I dreaded to have in the past.

Hopefully, people see me for more than a Wasian kid — there is much more to me than my hair or eyes or skin color — and take the time to get to know me. I realize people are much more complex than just their race, and narrowing down my entire personality to a snap judgement or stereotype about the color of my skin is degrading to the rest of my personality.

Those of multiracial backgrounds have diverse and unique stories to tell. It’s fascinating to meet others who are more than a single race — to learn how their parents met, to converse about if they experienced the same problems I did as a kid. Only by hearing others’ stories did I accept my own.

I regret disenfranchising my ethnicity. The color of my skin is not a defining personality trait. Being biracial should not be the quality someone notices me for. I shouldn’t base my friend group, the clothes I wear or my likes and dislikes on my race. It’s gratifying to know there are people who have felt like me — left out by friend groups and out of touch with their own sense of self and belonging — who may now share the sense of community I currently feel.

Looking forward, I will look at people through a more accepting lens. There is so much more to people than the color of their skin or facial features, and it’s unfair to base a first impression solely on those factors.

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Faith moves mountains

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Too often people think

“I QUIT!”

re-evaluating life choices and dropping activities are a sign of weakness, but six RBHS students

have accepted the challenge and now say,

“I started dance when I was six just because my older sister did it,

so, like, I kinda — my parents were like, ‘Yay. You guys can go together.’ We did tap. I loved tap; tap was my favorite.

And then we did ballet and stuff, which was my least favorite.

It was really fun. I enjoyed my younger years of doing it, and then when I got older it just got to, like, I didn’t really want to put as much effort into it, and I wanted to, like, focus on playing music because I started the flute the same year that I quit.

[My favorite part was] dancing with my sister and all my friends and stuff and just being able to, like, express myself in another form, and then when I started to play my flute, that’s the way that I, like, expressed myself.

[I started to think about quitting] kind of whenever my sister [did] — she had quit to do full-time gymnastics — and then I continued to do it. And then I was, like, not having as much fun because my sister wasn’t there, and, like, some of my friends quit, too. And then it was just to the point where I was like, ‘You know, I kind of want to play my flute. Like, I want to start an instrument.’ And so that’s when I quit.

My parents were completely fine with it because they were like, ‘Oh, you want to start playing an instrument. Like, that’s cool.’ So both my parents were, like, really supportive, and the majority of my friends who still did it were going to quit, like, soon anyways, so it was just like, yeah.

If you feel like you’re going to go on and do something that, like, you feel like Mikayla Nelson, you want to do more, then definitely do it, but if you still feel like a part of you, like, 10, dance wants to continue doing it, then don’t quit.”

“I played basketball.

INTERVIEWS BY BAILEY STOVER

Desirae Manning,

I started in seventh grade. I played at Gentry [Middle School], 11, basketball and I started to play at Rock Bridge.

My favorite part of playing — I’m very competitive, and so it was really fun competing and fighting and trying to win.

Well, my freshman year I had two asthma attacks, and so I couldn’t — they didn’t pass my physical. And then I felt like I just got behind.

I felt like it was going to be hard to catch up as a sophomore playing high school basketball and missing out on the first year, so I kind of gave it up and started working.

It was a really hard decision to make. I had to think about it for a while before I actually made the decision after the whole season of freshman year.

My friends, they were kind of sad. My mom was OK with it because she understood, but most of my friends were sad that I wasn’t playing with them anymore. It made me feel, like, a little guilty, but I had to do what was best for me.

As I look back now, I really miss it. I went to a basketball game recently, and as I see all the mistakes and stuff like that, I was like, ‘Man. I really wish I didn’t give it up. I really wish I could come back.’ It made me feel a little down because, like I said, I wish I’d never gave it up. But I can always do it again. … You know, I can always get back into that if I really wanted to.

[For people who are considering quitting a sport], put yourself first. Think about yourself and how [quitting] is going to benefit you, and think about yourself.

Don’t really listen [to others] because most people are gonna try to talk you out of not doing it, especially if you are really good at it or you have been doing it for a long time, they’re gonna try to talk you out of doing it, so just think about yourself.”

10 | IN-DEPTH Lola Gingerich, 11, vaping

THE ROCK | RBHS.BEARINGNEWS.ORG | MARCH 17, 2020

“[Starting to vape]

was kind of a spontaneous thing.

I was just with a friend, and I thought, ‘Why not go and buy one?’ and it just kind of progressed from there. I didn’t think that I would get hooked, but I did. I didn’t really feel any pressure. It wasn’t like, ‘Everyone’s doing it, so I’m going to do it.’ It was just kind of like, ‘Why not?’

I don’t want to condone it, but at first it was pretty good because obviously at first when you’re not used to it, the effects are much larger. When I first started it was kind of a euphoric dizziness. But after a while the effects obviously wear off, and you don’t get that buzz anymore. I wouldn’t say there’s much of a best part. I would say the best part was something to occupy myself. And then the worst part was obviously the loss of money and just, yeah.

So what it tastes like — I mean, it kind of depends on the flavor, I guess — but it’s really hard to describe. It’s very unique, and once you do it you know how the base of nicotine [tastes].

PHOTO ILLUSTRATIONS BY MOND, ANA MANZANO/ THE ROCK

CAMRYN DEVORE, TURNER DEAR

And then how it feels, like again it’s kind of a light headed, euphoric, like ‘I’m on top of the world’ buzz type feeling. I mean, it doesn’t last very long, and again once you get used to it you don’t get that same effect anymore. But when you first start, that could be about the feeling.

My parents never found out, but as for my friends it was kind of like a disappointment, but it was kind of also like, ‘It’s just normal.’ They were surprised but also so many high schoolers do it; it wasn’t really abnormal for me to start.

Nothing really influenced me [to quit], especially not the ads they run. I thought it was just time because I kept spending money, and I saw my money going down the drain. And I don’t have a very addictive personality, so I can quit things cold turkey and be OK. So that’s what I did.

Because the ads really are condescending and unconvincing because if you think of — this sounds kind of cliché, but if you think of the teenage mindset, running a couple of ads telling you not to do something is not going to stop them, and it might want you — like, it might just want to make you do it more. Because, also, the ads just weren’t very convincing in general. Like, coming from someone with mental health issues, when I saw ads

that talked about how it caused anxiety and depression, I already deal with those things, so I kind of just shrugged it off.

I don’t think there was an exact moment where I said, like, ‘I’m going to quit.’ I think at one point it was my last pod or something and I just said, ‘I’m going to quit.’ But it wasn’t like this moment of clarity drastic thing. It was like I had been thinking about quitting for a week, and I had like a little stuff left, so I was going to use that and then stop.

Thankfully I wasn’t vaping for very long. It was only a month or two, but in the long-run, I’m hoping that it won’t affect me very much. Like, obviously I know the damage is done, but it just kind of is what it is. Like, I’ve accepted that that was a bad decision for me to make, and I’ve kind of accepted the impact it has had, although seemingly minimal.

I wasn’t too concerned about [the health ramifications of starting] because I didn't plan on getting addicted and I was like, ‘Oh, oh well.’ And after, I mean when I first quit I noticed a little that it was hard to run and do stuff like that, but I didn’t notice that throughout the experience because I wasn’t very active. So I wasn’t necessarily on top of the ramifications of it, but I — after quitting I know that there are inevitably some.”

INTERVIEWS BY BAILEY STOVER

In 19 states, including Missouri, one must be 21 years of age to buy nicotine products.

[SOURCE: TRUTHINITIATIVE.ORG]

IN-DEPTH | 11

THE ROCK | RBHS.BEARINGNEWS.ORG | MARCH 17, 2020

“I don’t think people think about what their experience [using social media] is. It’s kind of

just like breathing almost at this point. So, just scroll through when you’re bored and look at people you admire and learn something new maybe, but yeah. That’s kind of why I quit is I realized, like, ‘Oh, I’m not really getting much from this.’ I think I quit towards the start of school this year, and I’d had it since like middle school, so [I’d been using it for] probably like five years or something.

I used Instagram and Snapchat. [They] were the two big ones, of course. I never had, like, a Facebook or Twitter. I mean, I had a Facebook, but I just used it to log into games and stuff. But yeah, that’s about it. It’s kind of every teenager has it pretty much, so just to keep up with what’s going on. It was fun. I still have accounts on them, I just don’t use them. So, in college or something, if I need to do networking, or if I come into a situation where I need them, they’re there for me to come back to but just for fun. No, I don’t see myself coming back to them.

I was just scrolling, and I’m like, ‘I’ll just delete it right now and see if I can go without redownloading it.’ So I just held it, exed out, and did that to both of them. I just sat there, and I was like, ‘OK, let’s see what happens.’ It went pretty well I think.

Well, cross country was starting up, and homework was going, and I would just sit at home and scroll. And, I don’t know, it’s hard to answer [why I quit] without sounding really

philosophical, but, like, I don’t know. It wasn’t very fulfilling. It was kind of — I was just comparing me to other people, and I wasn’t really connected with anyone because I was just on there. So I was like, ‘You know what, I’ll give it a try. I’ll see how hard it is to just drop it and if life would be harder without it.’ And it turned out it kind of wasn’t.

To be honest, I kind of expected myself to come back for a week, like a week later just be like, ‘Well, I guess I’ll just redownload it now since it really doesn’t make a difference.’ But then I realized it kind of does make a difference.

And then I got busy with other stuff, and I was like, ‘You know what? This was actually an easier transition than I thought.’ So that’s what happened I guess.

[My friends’ reaction] was the most surprising part. I thought they’d be like, ‘Aw, man.

Where are you anymore?’ But no. They were kind of like almost — they understood and almost admired that you could do that almost. So that was actually more encouraging once I did quit was that it really — [social media] doesn’t really [affect] your life at all except for in a negative way. Like, you can easily live without it, so that was encouraging.

I’d just say, like, just delete it for a day and see if you can keep the ball rolling maybe. Keep yourself busy doing something [else]. I’d say, just delete it, and let yourself know, ‘It’s there if I need to come back to it, but let’s see what else I can do other than that, maybe.’ That’s what happened with me, at least, so that’s what I do.

Surprisingly, I think there are some merits behind the value of mental health and social

media. Like, I don’t think social media’s that good for mental health, and when I quit it was like right at the beginning of when they had studies coming out. Like, Instagram designs their app to addict you, so your likes will only come in in a certain increment of time to keep you coming back to it and stuff. So I was like, ‘That’s kind of messed up.’

So once I quit, I think you start to appreciate the smaller things. I think that might have been the biggest part because instead of comparing yourself to the biggest and best of what’s on Instagram, you’re like — well, you just don’t care about that anymore, to put it simply. It’s hard to explain. You kind of just got to do it.

I think it can be beneficial for some people.

Like, I know businesses do wonders with it and stuff, but especially for teenagers where we’re trying to figure out what we want to do with ourselves, and when we hop on our phone and see, like, ‘Aw, LeBron James is hanging out with whoever’ and ‘Aw, he has a girlfriend now’ and ‘Aw, she’s in Europe for vacation,’ you start to almost get depressed. You’re like, ‘My life kind of sucks, actually,’ but in reality it doesn’t.

You just kind of need to figure it out on your own.”

Approximately three weeks after the initial interview, Spellman redownloaded Instagram.

Isaiah Spellman, 12, social media “It’s crazy I’m even saying this, but the whole coronavirus situation kinda drove me to re-download Instagram to stay more up to date.

It feels weird to be back on it, but, then again, everything seems kinda weird right now.

It’s just been slowly escalating the past week, and before I’d only been going online on the [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] website and such; however, they take a while to update their info. When everything started to cancel, I redownloaded Instagram to stay more updated on real time info. I have Anna Xu in multiple classes, and I’m close friends with Jared Geyer, so I knew how good a job you guys were doing at covering it [on Bearing News] for school and [Missouri State High School Activities Association] events. You could say I followed the [Bearing News] Instagram page pretty quickly. [I] still plan on deleting it again as soon as this all blows over (hopefully soon).

[How I’m using social media now is] the antithesis of how it used to be actually. I’m still hardly ever on my phone, thankfully. No more endless scrolling for hours a day. I just go in, get the info I’m looking for and get out. I’m in pretty close and frequent contact with my grandparents, so pages like [Bearing News], ABC17 and the major news sites help keep my mind at ease that I’ll know when I need to start acting safely around the local community here in [Columbia].”

9/10 13-17 year olds use at least one media platform.

[SOURCE: ACTFORYOUTH.NET]

“So, I’ve quit two jobs actually, one at [a

quitting [the general store] because it was right before the summer, and I had two summer jobs already kind of lined up, so I was going to have to pick between, like, restaurant] and one at [a general store] just right down the street. So, [the basically pick one to throw out because I couldn’t do three. restaurant] I quit because — my parents are divorced, so I would have to go So, basically we were stocking shelves — and it was the first time I’d ever done to my dad’s every other weekend, and so they had a really hard time getting a it, like, I guess they have a system or whatever, so one of the girls was trying to teach hold of that and putting that on the schedule, and they would schedule me every me the system — and so I had a piece of trash in my hand or something, so I went weekend. So that was, like, frustrating when I would have to skip my dad’s to to throw it away. And my manager and then one of the other employees walked off, work since I’d, like, made another commitment. So that was really annoying. So I and they went to go do something else, and the manager asked, ‘Where’s Chloe?’ just eventually kind of quit because I just couldn’t take it anymore, and I wanted and the employee was like, ‘Oh, she’s just throwing something away.’ And he was to spend time with my family. like — what did he say? — I mean, he just insinuated I was a dumb blonde, basically, I didn’t love [working at the restaurant]. There’s, like, a lot of different and that I couldn’t do anything. And I was like, ‘Did you just people that come in [to the restaurant]. There’s all call me a dumb blonde?’ and he was like, ‘Um, well, if that’s kinds of different people, and they can be in a wide the first thing you thought of, then you’re probably used to range of moods, you know? Like, some of them I feel like I have a really hard hearing that a lot,’ like that’s what he said back to me. And I can be really, really mad a lot or just grouchy with was like, ‘OK,’ and then, like, just [a] bad taste in my mouth. you, and, like, that would be kind of a daily thing, time, one, saying ‘no,’ and I felt like I was new, and I was learning, and it just kind which I didn’t love. And then, I mean, other than of made me feel like it wasn’t OK to be, like, learning, or it that I just kind of hosted, so I would take people to two, disappointing people.” wasn’t OK to ask questions, which I feel is never an envitheir tables, and I would clean tables off once people ronment that, as a manager, you would want to create in a were done. One thing we had to do that people think is — Chloe James, workplace. Like, that should never be — if it were my store really funny is we had to take the lobsters out of the tank senior — that’s never something I would want any of my employat the front of the restaurant. ees to feel. So, you know, just, like, being so frustrated that I think [my parents] were kind of happy [when I quit] you’re new, and you don’t know anything, and they haven’t to be honest because they’d known it was stressing me out, and a couple weekends really taken the time to walk you through very much, but they still want to say that before I quit I was trying to get rid of a shift because I had asked for that weekend you’re dumb for not knowing how to do it. It’s just frustrating. off, and they gave me a shift anyways. And I emailed them, and I was like, ‘Listen, So, basically I had a greenhouse job over the summer and a teaching job. So, I asked for this off, and I respectfully ask — I really don’t want to come in. Is there teaching was full-time, like seven hours a day, like summer school, so I was a teachany way that someone else could take it?’ And they were like, ‘Absolutely not. er’s assistance, basically, for that. And then I had a greenhouse job at the Career If you don’t come in, like, it’s gonna be a problem.’ And it made me so upset, Center. And then that, [the general store], was kind of like the third pick, and I knew and I think after that they kind of realized they were taking advantage of a for sure that I didn’t want to be there surrounded by that. student kind of, almost.

I mean, I just feel like [a] high school job is — you know, it’s entry level work. It’s So, like, when I sat down with him I — It made me a little mad with never gonna be that much fun, but if you’re really to the point where you absolutely some of the things that he said kind of because it kind of seemed to act dread going to work, and there’s a valid reason [to quit] — I feel like a lot of times like it wasn’t their fault, almost. So I sat down, and I told them the reaemployers will kind of take advantage of high school employees because, you know, son why, and I told them that I was going to quit, and I kind of already they’re new. They don’t really know what’s fair and what’s not in the workplace. had [the general store] lined up, so I was — so I told him I was going And so I think, just if you feel like something’s really unfair, like, I think that’s a sign to quit, and he told me that I needed to, like, work on my time managesomething’s wrong, and you should kind of, I don’t know, take those signs, I guess. ment and make sure I was communicating to him days off, even though [The hardest part of quitting was] just kind of the courage to do it. I feel like I they were the ones scheduling me, like, on the days off. So that was a little have a really hard time, one, saying ‘no,’ and two, disappointing people. Like, it frustrating; I was a little frustrated, but I felt so relieved because I did not makes me feel absolutely awful when I disappoint someone, especially because a job like that job. I was not happy, and I was excited to do something different is a commitment, and I’ve always been taught you need to follow through with your because I was not a fan. commitments. And so I feel like, you know, I spent a lot of time thinking about it and [The transition between jobs was] pretty easy. I mean, yeah, it was how it would disappoint this person and this person and this person, so it was just, fairly easy. So mainly I stood up at the cash register the whole time, like, it was just hard to work up the courage to do it because I didn’t want to say ‘no,’ and it was kind of nice for me because I’m an ag kid, so that’s kind and I didn’t want to disappoint anyone. of, like, what I like to do, all that stuff. And so we had, you know, I think it’s taught me that, like, I’m a good worker. I have experience, you know. we had the chicks — at that time it was like springtime, so we had And I don't want it to be like, you know, ‘Everybody in a job is out to get you’ bethe chicks — and so we got to take care of the chicks and all of cause that’s absolutely not how it is. Like, not everybody’s out to get you. But just that fun stuff. So it was something that I enjoyed a lot more knowing, like, that you do have the ability to do everything that everybody else in because it related back to me a lot more. But it was basically that workplace is doing, whether you’re new or you’ve been there for a long time, being a cashier and just, like, stocking shelves occasionalso I feel I want to take that into any jobs that I have and just, like, do the best that ly, but that was about it.

I can. And if I feel like [if] something’s unfair, just have the courage to at least say I actually ended up Chloe James, 12, something. Maybe not quit, but at least say something.”

two jobs

20-33% of children bite their nails.

[SOURCE: NATIONAL CENTER FOR BIOTECHNOLOGY INFORMATION]

was [exposed]. It was bad. Like, it just hurt, but I literally could not stop biting my nails. That was probably because I was so bored in school and stuff, and I would just be sitting there like, ‘What am I doing here?’

It is just such a hard habit to break because you don’t think about it.

Like, you’re just doing it. You don’t even realize that you are because I’ve been doing it for like 10 years, and so you don’t even realize that you’re doing it until your nails are gone.

[I first realized I needed to quit] probably sophomore year. I tried to break it a couple other times just ’cause I was like, ‘This is ridiculous,’ ’cause I’d bite them, and I’d bite the skin, too. And I used to bite it ‘till it bleed. Like, it would really hurt. I stopped doing that a really long time ago, but just like last year, I really started to want to quit. And then over the summer I was like, ‘I really don’t want to bite my nails in college.’ So

Mary Kate Grossmann, 12, nail biting

“[It started in] first

grade because I hated [my classes], and I was really bored. I just remember the first time I bit them my mom — like, I tried to tell my mom that she had cut them, and she was like, ‘No, you bit your nails.’ And then we tried doing the — like, they have gross tasting nail polish that you can put on, and I would just bite right through it.

[It was worst] probably [in] late elementary school, early middle school ’cause I was so bored. When I’m not bored in school, it’s easier for me to not bite my nails, but during that period I was so bored. Like, I would literally bite them until it hurt to press on my fingers [with the pads together] because I would be pushing my real nail into [the] nail bed that

that was my motivation to stop.

[The hardest part] was, like, finding a new way to stop. Like, everyone says, ‘Oh, there’s this really gross tasting nail polish’ or just, ‘Don’t do it anymore,’ or some people have the rubber band on their wrist that they snap, that’s kind of a common thing. But just researching and figuring out what worked for me because I tried things that obviously didn’t work ’cause I’ve had this habit for 10 years, so figuring out what works for me instead of what works for the most amount of people really helped.

I did a lot of researching on different ways that other people quit because I knew that the nail polish didn’t work for me. Painting my nails worked for a while because if I had my nails done it would stop me, but I would pick it off, ’cause that’s another thing for me is, like, chipped nails bug me a lot, so I’d pick it off, then I’d bite the nails. So that was great.

But a lot of it is thinking about how

45% of teenagers are nail biters.

[SOURCE: NATIONAL CENTER FOR BIOTECHNOLOGY INFORMATION]

many germs and stuff are on there, and another thing was reading these horror stories of people who bite the skin — ’cause I still bite the skin even though I don’t make it bleed anymore — and them getting, like it getting infected and them losing their fingers. So, like, thinking about that. I would like to have all my fingers. So that kind of worked.

I don’t think my friends really cared that much ’cause I don’t think it annoys them. My parents would always tell me — like, my aunt, her finger got infected one time because she used to bite her nails, and she almost lost her finger, so my dad would always be like, ‘Well, you know your aunt almost lost her finger,’ so he would always joke with me about that and try to get me to stop. And so when I finally stopped they were like — It was more for me, personally, I think. I don’t think it was for anyone else, so I don’t think anyone else really cared.

Sometimes, like when they get really long naturally I’m happy because I’m like, ‘Yes. I didn’t bite my nails.’ But then when I cut them short again, if they’re uneven I’m still really tempted to bite them. Like, it’s not like I don’t think about it anymore.

So, like, kind of a sign. Like, ‘Ooh, I really grew them out. Like, it’s time to cut my nails.’ Like, that’s when I’m really proud of myself, I guess, ’cause I would just bite them instead of cutting them. So that, probably.

Still, if I cut them and they’re uneven and I want to bite them off, I put on fake nails or [acrylics].

It used to be that I would think about how gross it is, like how many germs are on your hands, like what have they been touching, how your phone has more germs than a toilet and I was just on my phone, stuff like that. And now I’m like, ‘Do I really want to be biting my nails in college?’ Like, no, so that’s kind of what I think about now. That’s my motivation now is that I don’t want to be a nail biter in college.”

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COMMENTARIES | 13

THE ROCK | RBHS.BEARINGNEWS.ORG | MARCH 17, 2020

Questionable ideologies turn into damaging mindsets S SARAH MOSTELLER

itting at my open front desk located near the middle of the classroom in third grade, I guided my pencil across my worksheet, tracing each letter of the alphabet in cursive. As I worked, I felt a repetitive thud against my ankle every couple of seconds.

I ignored the nuisance at first, but when I finally turned around, I saw the boy behind me swinging his leg toward my foot and grinning down at his paper in a poor attempt to act as if he wasn’t aware of what he was doing.

I told him to stop, then returned my attention to my cursive practice. In less than a minute, I felt his shoe hit me again. Frustrated, I let out a soft groan walked up to my teacher’s desk and told her what was going on. She looked up at the boy and back to me and said, “He’s probably just doing it because he likes you.” I was unsure whether I should feel flattered or irritated.

A similar incident occurred in fourth grade. I often played four square with my friends during recess, and even though I wasn’t very good at the game, I still considered it one of my favorites. After a few rounds, I worked my way up to the first square; I was pretty proud of myself.

Just after I served the ball, a boy who wasn’t involved in our game darted into my square and intercepted it.

He snatched the big green ball mid-air and ran with it clutched tightly in his hands around the gravel track, stirring up dust behind him, hoping he’d lose us. Three of my friends and I chased him and yelled at him to return it, but he outran us. Since we couldn’t solve the issue ourselves, we resorted to tattling. I told the playground supervisor about the mischievous boy, and he grumbled, “He’s just teasing; that probably means he likes you.”

I didn’t understand why teachers excused boys’ bad behavior as flirting while girls didn’t receive the same treatment and faced consequences for their actions. Throughout elementary school, I believed when boys pestered me it meant they had a crush on me. That mindset didn’t put me at risk at a young age, but in middle and high school where flirting is more common, those beliefs make me more susceptible to abusive, manipulative or violent relationships

DEVIN HALL / THE ROCK

“He’s mean to me because he likes me.” than girls who were taught consent.

Boys being mischevious in elementary school took the form of a continual kick at my ankle and a disrupted game of four square, but as I grew older, those bad behaviors became more devious. I saw boys snapping bra straps of girls in middle school and making unwanted comments about their bodies.

An annoying thump on my ankle was nothing to go home and cry about, but allowing boys to get away with minor offenses in elementary school can lead to them dodging repercussions of bigger conflicts in the future. An article by empoweringparents.com reinforces that idea and said, “Many parents either don’t hold their kids accountable or don’t follow through on the consequences once they set them, which in turn just promotes more irresponsibility.”

When adults teach inaccurate definitions of flirting, they support harmful ideologies that could make girls vulnerable to dating violence or abuse — when one member of the relationship shows a pattern of controlling, abusive and/or aggressive behaviors — in the future.

Womankind Worldwide is a global women’s rights organization that supports the idea of replacing old beliefs that support violence with more progressive ideologies. An article on their website states, “Ultimately the key to ending violence against women and girls is in transforming traditional gender roles and power relations, changing the attitudes and beliefs which allow violence to continue.”

Instead of dismissing boys’ bad behavior,

adults in positions of authority should hold misbehaving boys responsible for their actions and teach them respectful ways of getting attention from a crush, such as inviting them to join a game or offering assistance. Teens need training to identify and approach red flags of dating violence like verbal or physical abuse, controlling tendencies, threats and more. Teaching and enforcing accountability and consent early on is crucial to combatting dating violence.

At family gatherings, it’s a common practice for relatives to greet one another with hugs or kisses. When I was younger, I wasn’t comfortable with the idea of hugging people I hardly knew. Older men and women with unfamiliar faces smiled down at me with their arms wide open, anticipating a hug. Intimidated, I stared at the floor and slowly drifted behind my parents to hide myself. Oftentimes there were a few family members I didn’t know as well, so I was reluctant to greet them. Rejecting their hugs felt rude, so I forced myself to comply.

I formerly believed refusing to show physical affection to someone was an impolite gesture, even if I didn’t know the person well. I never voiced how I felt about forced family hugs because I thought of them as a responsibility: not something I wanted to do, but I still had to. An adult saying no to affection is something I’ve never really seen before. It’s important for adults to be role models of consent by being conscious of their touches and treating “no” as an acceptable answer so kids understand affection is given, not owed.

Children must also acknowledge consent goes both ways. At a family reunion a few years ago, my aunt and uncle showed up with their children. I bent down and opened my arms to greet a few of my younger cousins, but they shied away and hid behind their parents. At first, it bothered me that they didn’t want to hug me and I felt slightly hurt, but then I remembered the discomfort I felt earlier with some of my older relatives.

Experiences like family gatherings and classroom conflicts are perfect opportunities for adults to enforce accountability and teach kids about consent.

In an attempt to prevent incidents with dating violence, unhealthy relationships and nonconsensual interactions, it’s a necessity for education on these topics to start at a young age. Today’s youth need adults to emphasize respect, regardless of gender, and to be active examples of healthy relationships by displaying mutual consent and respect in romantic and platonic relationships alike. With comprehensive education about consent and healthy relationships starting as early as kindergarten, authority figures can begin addressing consent in the classroom so it’s applied in daily life down the line.

One in three adolescents in the U.S. is a victim of physical, sexual, emotional or verbal abuse from a dating partner, according to Womankind Worldwide. The first step to prevention is education and accountability. I don’t want to add to the statistic.

Discovering passions are essential for well-being SARAH DING ll throughout elementary school, my older sister, my mother and I made frequent trips to arts and crafts stores.

We picked up Apple Barrel acrylic paints in all the possible colors and brought home creamy white canvases by the dozen. These outings replenished the art table in our basement, now ready for my sister and me to create our next masterpieces, which, if we were lucky, our mom would hang up around the house. Our basement accumulated stacks and stacks of finished pieces, at one point my new favorite creations, but I forgot them over time.

Eventually, the stack stopped growing as fast and later became stagnant during middle school. I looked at my sister’s work, proudly presented on our walls, perfectly realistic and representative of the skill she accumulated from her Advanced Placement art classes. When my friends came over, my sister’s carefully penciled-in self-portraits and surrealist oil pastel pieces stared down at them. Those who hadn’t yet been to my house looked at her artwork in awe, wide-eyed and open-mouthed as soft “whoas” escaped their mouths. My other friends, used to this reaction, nodded knowingly and said, “Her sister’s really good at art.”

I wished what I created impressed people as much. I wondered why I spent so many hours and so much effort on mediocre pieces that would never evoke the same reactions. I wasn’t planning on making art my profession, after all. I hoped I would eventually match my sister’s level, but a big part of me worried I never would.

Painting could no longer be on my list of hobbies. The acrylics dried up, and the basement art table remained untouched.

My mom frequently told me to draw like I used to instead of spending countless hours watching YouTube tutorials of other artists, but I told her, “I don’t like doing art anymore.”

As virtually all teenagers have learned to expect, adults started asking me what I wanted to do when I grew up. My career choice had changed so many times — and still is changing — and having to choose a somewhat solid path scared me.

Events from career day to counselor meetings

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hammered in my head the idea that my hobbies reflect my future they be monetized in order to be deemed worthy of one’s time.

Amid grueling finals and blackened snow last winter, I recareer.

I remember the quizzes all middle school students took that alized I didn’t have many hobbies. I spent my time going to told us what career pathway best suited us. Do you like being school, doing homework, and hanging out with friends, but I around people? Go into a helping profession. Do you like gar- couldn’t think of anything I did by myself purely for enjoyment. dening? Go down the nature path. Basically, we translated our The lack of pastimes among teenagers and children is a common hobbies into our future jobs. I nearly always got the creative path trend; an article from the National Review by radio talk-show because the activities I really enjoyed doing involved creation, host Dennis Prager stated modern technology such as streaming services and social media make people feel as if life is fulfilling even if I had stopped following through with them.

But I didn’t want to be an artist or a singer or an actor — and without actually being active by doing and creating.

The article urges parents to encourif the only interests I had or were good age their children to find passions rathat were creative, didn’t that mean I was er than telling them to spend all their required to go down that path?

I want to be focused on reaching time on homework.

I didn’t know it at the time, but I my goals and doing well in school; “If the most important passion you had rejected my artistic side to fit my however, being hard-working isn’t cultivate in your child is getting good expectations of the type of person I grades,” Prager stated, “What will your was going to be. When I found interest the antithesis of exploring non-acchild’s most important passion be after in topics like psychology and biology, ademic or career-related interests.” leaving school — in other words, for I decided to pursue medicine in the futhe next 70 years of his or her life?” ture, and “science people” didn’t waste I want to be focused on reaching my time taking art classes. I dropped art class twice during my freshman and sophomore years because, goals and doing well in school; however, being hard-working although I needed a fine arts credit, I had more “important” isn’t the antithesis of exploring non-academic or career-related classes I wanted to take, the ones that would propel me toward interests. The creative spirit I hadn’t acknowledged in years was itching to come back. I spent one night during that winter watchmy career choice and make colleges everywhere want me.

The younger me would have been so disappointed to know an ing oil painting videos, learning the technique and admiring the art class was now just a way skill of the artists as they smoothly dragged their brushes, loaded to earn a required credit. She with pigment, on the creamy white canvas.

Although what they created was strikingly different from would have been ashamed that I shoved aside my what I did in elementary school, an incredible feeling of noshobbies just because they talgia swept over me. It felt good to learn something new again. weren’t what I wanted to I wanted nothing more than to pick up a brush and live out the videos in real life. do professionally.

The following weekend, my mother drove me to the craft The years where I decided I wasn’t go- store, and I picked out a set of five tubes of Winsor & Newton oil ing to be an “art per- paint that the videos told me were essential colors for beginners, son” were the years along with a palette knife and some linseed oil. My first work when I suppressed featured a Bob Ross-inspired royal purple mountain in front of a huge part of my- a warm sunset. The colors of the sunset are poorly blended and self. Too often, the edges of the mountain are fuzzy, with the purple smearing people portray and swirling with the background. I was proud of it, not because t h e m s e l v e s the craftsmanship was impeccable, but because I finally created as complete- art again.

I kept watching tutorials and filling up more canvases to ly boxed-in, focused indi- continue this renewed feeling of inspiration. When I feel creviduals when ative, I am both calm and energized. I can paint to take a break they could from homework or to challenge myself and try to improve. Over branch out months and months of learning techniques such as how to outand diversi- line with an underpainting, how to establish shadow and light fy their in- with colors other than black and white, how to make flesh look terests. Not real and raw, I understand, now, the value of taking the time to every hob- grow my passions and continuing to try to better my skill.

Next year, I’m going to take my first art class. I know I’m not by must be the basis of the best, but I’m only excited to keep learning and see my art one’s per- become more experienced. I don’t want to be a professional arts o n a l i t y, ist when I grow up, but I now know I can be an artist alongside nor must anything I do in the future.

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CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE Modern-day suffragettes continue historical legacy

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MADDIE ORR

n July of 1848, more than 300 women and men from across the country organized in Seneca Falls, New York to discuss the fight for the social, civil and religious rights of all women. Five rebellious women launched the women’s suffrage movement in those two days.

These five revolutionaries also played critical roles in the abolitionist movement. Elizabeth Cady Stanton, a leading women’s rights advocate and driving organizer of the convention, said the assembly was “to declare our right to be free as man is free” and “to be represented in the government which we are taxed to support.”

In the subsequent 50 years, suffragettes protested, organized and grew in numbers across the country. In 1851, Susan Brownwell Anthony met Stanton, and the pair began working together with other women’s rights pioneers to secure women the right to vote.

Nearly 72 years after the Seneca Falls Convention, Congress ratified the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution on Aug. 18, 1920. The article granted all American women the right to vote in the short statement, “The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.”

In the years that followed, women began showing up at the polls. Dr. Pam Paxton, a professor at the University of Texas at Austin and Department Chair of Sociology and Government, said she tends to take a global approach on women’s suffrage. She recognized the U.S. is not, by any means, the last country where women obtained suffrage. For instance, women did not gain the right to vote in Switzerland until 1971. She said although American women wish suffrage had been granted earlier, the U.S. was still one of the first, with European countries to follow in its footsteps.

Voting is just one of many ways women can make their voices heard. Dr. Paxton said women should get more involved in politics, especially in an ever changing political climate. As the U.S. celebrates its 100th year of women’s suffrage, she said there has yet to be equal representation in positions of power.

“There are some political philosophers who argue that we need descriptive representation. Descriptive representation says that our political leaders should look like the people they represent. So, if we have 50% of a population being women, it would be nice if there was something like 50% of our legislators who are women,” Dr. Paxton said. “We know demonstrably that women have different policy preferences than men. So, for those reasons, there are arguments that it’s good when women participate in politics at higher levels.”

Dr. Paxton said young women are inspired by prominent women in politics and, in some cases, become inspired to take part in the field. Their ambition, she said, comes from seeing women like Hillary Clinton, the first female nominee of a major U.S. political party and Sandra Day O’Connor, the first woman to serve on the Supreme Court. Dr. Paxton said she thinks the growing representation of women in politics is positively changing in the future.

Junior Cassie Gray turns 18 Nov. 27. Although narrowly missing the voting age for the 2020 Presidential Election Tuesday on Nov. 3, she said she is excited to continue voicing her opinions on different issues as well as educating herself on potential representatives.

“I think it’s important for women to have a voice because oftentimes we’re overlooked and reduced to an after[Being an empowered thought, or our issues are deemed not imwoman] allows you to portant,” Gray said. “More women in polbring awareness to various itics will hopefully lead to changes and issues while being a strong, new policies that can help women across the country.” independent individual.”

Dr. Paxton likewise finds it critical — Cassie Gray, for “everybody to vote if they want their Junior voice heard.” There are plenty of issues, she said, that may matter more to women and young women in particular than male leadership that should motivate female representation at the polls. Civics Studies and Advanced Placement Government teacher Debra Perry said voting was never really essential to her until she was in her 20s. She said she was aware of voting being fundamental but not momentous until later in life.

“I actually have pictures of when my daughter turned 18. We went to vote at the church, and I took a picture of her going in. And so we would have that because it’s so important to me that women vote and that their voices are heard,” Perry said. “If I rank my priorities, women having the right to vote — having a voice in issues that are important to women — is number one.”

As a mentor of young adults, Perry said she teaches her students to be empowered to act rather than to turn a blind eye to injustice. She said she’s constantly reminded of her responsibilities as a teacher by a Thomas Jefferson quote, “If the people don’t understand, then it’s up to us to teach them.” Furthermore, she said she takes responsibility for informing others on how to make a difference in society and government.

“When you protest, when you join any kind of civil group, that puts their idea and their message out there and they try to be heard, these are all ways that we make our democracy better, but one of the important ways is voting from the very beginning,” Perry said. “I think there’s a great debt here that people have gone through to ensure that all voices have an opportunity to be heard, and this democracy is founded on inclusion.

For this democracy to work, we have to be informed, then take that information and act. And voting is one way that can be done. I think we should expand voting. … We need to make it as inclusive as possible for

SOPHIA EA TON, LOR ELE I DO

people to be able to vote.”

73% of American women reported voting in 2016, compared to 63% of men, according to the Center for American Women and Politics.

In terms of women’s representation in national legislatures, the U.S. currently ranks 103rd in the world, according to the World Economic Forum (WEF). Only 19.3% of members of the House of Representatives are female and 23% are women in the Senate. Some countries, such as Rwanda and France, have adopted a quota or reserved seats for women to ensure adequate representation. The WEF article “How do we get more women in politics?” said there are 49 other countries with similar policies.

“If you take a pool of men and women that are equally qualified for political office … and you ask them, ‘Would they consider running for office?’ a higher percentage of men will say they’re willing to consider running for office than women. If you ask women why, they’ll sometimes say, ‘Well, I don’t feel I’m qualified.’ So, what’s interesting, of course, is you started with a group of equally qualified men and women, right? So, one of the things to do is to have women ask themselves, ‘Why do I think I’m not qualified?’” Dr. Paxton said. “I think we need to help women learn to develop a thick skin.”

In terms of a necessity for tougher female politicians, Dr. Paxton highlighted the violence against women in politics; she said women are verbally attacked more than men in the public sphere, a fact she believes drives women away from an interest in public office. Gray said in order to overcome the doubts and apprehension of females in positions of power, it’s imperative to be an empowered woman. “[Being an empowered woman] allows you to bring awareness to various issues while being a strong, independent individual,” Gray said.

In 1872, Anthony voted illegally in the presidential election. Arrested for the crime, she unsuccessfully fought the charges and received a fine of $100. She never paid. 14 years after Anthony’s death, her efforts as a vocal suffragette triumphed. Women at last had a voice in politics.

In every presidential election since 1980 the proportion of eligible female adults who voted has exceeded the proportion of eligible male adults who voted. This stronger voter turnout in women relative to men in the U.S., according to Status of Women in the States, “reflects an ongoing worldwide struggle to increase women’s political participation.”

The women of today have not squandered the work of Anthony and other female activists, instead using their rights to improve American society.

“Being an empowered woman, I make my husband better. I make my children better. I make my work colleagues better because I can speak up without worrying about not having a job. You have all these chances that can only happen when you have a voice, and I think that makes everybody better, not just as a democracy, but on a personal level,” Perry said. “Men are better. Children are better. Other women are better because women are empowered.”

Susan B. Anthony (1820-1906)

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Biased research proves fatal RN S/ THE ROCK

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higher levels of specific hormones than necessary to prevent pregnancy.

It took scientists more than a decade to recognize the risks of the high hormone levels.

One woman died of congestive heart failure, and another developed pulmonary tuberculosis after a trial. Gregory Pincus, one of the researchers who pioneered the pill, ignored the problems and the gravity they held.

“These side-effects are largely psychogenic. Most of them happen because women expect them,” Pincus told the New York Times years after the trials, according to Harvard University’s newspaper publication, The Harvard Crimson.

“I think that if it were a men’s product, testing would’ve been done to ensure that it was safe, but because of the gender bias, the same standards didn’t apply for women,” Farmer said. “The gender bias is much better than it used to be, but it still continues into today.”

Even with diseases such as AIDS that affect one sex more than the other, researchers must still study both sexes in order to maintain safe treatment. Dr. Michelle Teti, an associate professor in the Department of Health Sciences in the School of Health Professions at the University of Missouri — Columbia, conducts HIV and sexual health research.

Approximately 23% of people living with HIV in the U.S. are women, according to amfAR, a nonprofit AIDS research organization.

“Just because women make up a smaller proportion of cases of HIV does not mean they are not important to understand,” Dr. Teti said. “As a public health researcher, I also look at trends in illnesses. It’s important, for example, that the cases of HIV among women have grown over time, and that certain groups of women, like young women, increasingly become infected

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at differing times, this helps to make sure the he male and female physiologies are controls and treatments are performed on the different down to the cellular level⁠. same estrous day. Not all labs, however, take Women have two X chromosomes the same steps as Thakkar.

“One of the most prominently believed rabut no Y chromosomes while men have one of each. Men have a 36% tionales for male bias in research is that the esgreater skeletal muscle mass than women. Tes- trous cycle significantly complicates the study tosterone is the main sex hormone for males of physiology in females,” a 2016 article by the while estrogen maintains females’ mentrual Medical College of Wisconsin stated. Because and reproductive systems. Physiological differ- of this, the varying hormone levels could make ences between genders such as these and others experimentation in female organisms more difare essential for understanding and developing ficult, leading labs to only research males.

Although experimenting with female subtreatments for diseases and conditions.

For one, alcohol impairs women more jects involves the extra step of monitoring the strongly than men, according to Harvard Med- estrous cycle, choosing to only research male ical School. Female bodies contain proportion- subjects contributes to what the article calls ately less water and more fat than male bodies. “overwhelming male bias in pre-clinical scienWater dilutes alcohol, and fat retains it, so fe- tific research.” For example, the ratio of male male organs are exposed to higher concentra- to female animal subjects in pharmacological tions of alcohol for longer periods of time. As a research was almost 6:1 in 2016, which limits result, one drink for a woman is roughly equiv- the potential of scientific discovery for women more than men, according to the article. Withalent to two drinks for a man.

Dr. Mahesh Thakkar, University of Missouri⁠ out equal representation of both sexes while — Columbia School of Medicine’s Department conducting research, there cannot be equal opof Neurology Director of Research, examines portunity for healthcare advancement.

Senior Meredith Farmer, who wants to work the role of alcohol addiction in sleep disorders in a medical microbiology lab in the future, in his experiments. His lab is focused on undersaid she believes gender bias in research must standing the pathophysiology of sleep disorders be addressed. She said in humans and animal RILEY KERNS/ THE ROCK she wants to work with subjects. vaccinations and medi17% of women who experimented “Stress-induced sleep cations that have global with the orginal birth control pill changes in females are had significant side effects. and practical effects on more robust as compared human lives. to males, and that is de“Studying both genpendent on [the] estrous ders is incredibly importcycle,” Dr. Thakkar said. ant because, in the past, The estrous cycle, the only the male health period in the sexual cycle problems have been adof female mammals (exdressed,” Farmer said. cluding higher primates “When the birth control such as humans, who [SOURCE: PLANNED PARENTHOOD] pill [was first available], have menstrual cycles it had negative effects on women due to the exinstead), is just one of many differences betremely high doses of hormones. The pill was tween the male and female bodies. The varying estrogen and other circulating hormones mean advertised, but … the long term effects were Dr. Thakkar must monitor the estrous cycle of unknown.”

When birth control pills reached the market his subjects while experimenting on animals.

Because the subjects all have cycles that occur in 1960, the original brand, Enovid, had much SARAH DING

w i t h HIV.” For much of the American scientific landscape, researchers considered the male body to be the “norm” study population. In conditions such as coronary heart disease, which is the leading cause of death for both genders, according to Harvard Medical School, research funding is far greater for men than women. The lack of funding means less scientific advancement and less healthcare advancement for women.

“When we only understand the experiences of one gender and an illness, we fail to understand what people who identify as women need when they are sick, and even how they get sick,” Dr. Teti said. “We wind up knowing less about medicine and dosages, but also about people’s psychological and social needs.”

No profanity, no problem Swearing seen as unprofessional in school setting, aids pain tolerance

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conomics and business teacher Susan Lidholm said for her Investments 101 class she was previewing the movie “The Wizard of Lies,” a biopic about former investment advisor Bernie Madoff who is currently in jail for running a Ponzi scheme which defrauded $64.8 billion.

The movie received a TV Mature rating, in part for extreme profanity, with more than 40 uses of the f-word. Lidholm described the plot of the movie as “perfect,” for her class, but said she can’t “feel comfortable hearing [profanity] every five seconds.”

Overall, swearing in media has increased drastically, with one 2017 study finding the f-word was 168 times more frequent in contemporary literature than 60 years prior.

The rise in swearing is not limited to media; children are cursing more often, and at an earlier age than in past decades, according to research from Timothy Jay, a psychology professor at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts.

Lidholm said she has seen the overall negative perception of profanity decrease, as students begin to curse more not only in classes but also in the hallway.

"When I first started teaching, [swearing] was never acceptable, and we would actually write it up as a delinquent behavior. Now, if we were writing it up, I would constantly be writing it up,” Lidholm said. “I think that [swearing] is more of a society norm, which makes me tremendously sad that that's OK. I also think that it shows

society’s ignorance that we cannot form our language ... better than using inappropriate language.”

Not all cursing proves harmful, however.

Profane words come in five categories, according to cognitive psychologist Steven Pinker.

The first is an abusive swear, which the speaker intends to belittle a person or a group.

The second is a dysphemistic swear, which evokes negative feelings in someone else but is not derogatory.

Third is the idiomatic swear, meant in common conversations to indicate comfort or familiarity with the person one is talking to. Fourth is the emphatic swear, which one inserts in conversations to stress certain accompanying words. Finally, there is the cathartic swear, which one uses to help diffuse discomfort.

Cathartic cursing can be particularly useful in its ability to spike adrenaline. A 2009 study from Keele University’s School of Psychology found that because swearing causes a “fight or flight” response, it can increase pain tolerance.

Additionally, in a 2018 study from the journal Psychology of Sport and Exercise, subjects exerted greater physical strength when using taboo words than when they did not while exercising.

In school settings, swearing occurs more for idiomatic or emphatic uses rather than cathartic. Lidholm said she tries to model professional language in her instruction to students to discourage swearing. If she notices a student using profanity excessively, in her class or in the hallway, Lid-

SOPHIE FROESE / THE ROCK

holm said she would take the individual aside rather than passing judgment. “[When I became a teacher], the issue of privately to encourage him or her to use differcussing came about, and I remember, in this ent words.

“Most of the time the kids are very respectful classroom 14 years ago, I had a student in that if you bring [their swearing] to their atten- the middle of a Socratic seminar jump up and tion — and maybe they don’t even know that yell at another student ‘You’re an effing Uncle they're doing it — then most of our students Tom,’” Irwin said. “In the process of dealing [stop] at that time,” Lidholm said. “You’ve got with everything that went down, I had to figure to remember I’m teaching a business course, out, ‘What is this student trying to do and comand that’s never acceptable in a business atmo- municate?’”

In class and outside of school, sophomore sphere.”

Studies teacher Greg Irwin said if a student Nina Schneider said she chooses not to swear were to use a profane word to demean another because of her faith. Although Schneider does not use curse words, person or were conshe said she doesn’t sistently swearing in class then he would Sometimes, the best way of com- judge people who do.

“Nowadays, [sweartalk to the student municating is by using a taboo word ing] is unfortunately outside. Irwin said he thinks cursing usually ... It’s a way to break social norms to very much [a] part of represents anger, so communicate, ‘I’m feeling strongly.’” the culture, especially in high school. So, he would check if the — Greg Irwin, of course, I hear it evstudent was alright Studies teacher and ask why they were erywhere,” Schneider choosing to use those said. “And, while it is words. less than appreciated, I “As I’ve gotten older, some of my mentor have certainly learned to tolerate it and, in some teachers and some of my professors in college ways, understand the reason some people may would swear from time to time, and the first choose to speak the way they do. Whether it is time it happened, it was off-putting to me,” Ir- the desire to fit in and speak the way others do win said. “And then, as I thought more about or not knowing how else to express themselves, sociology, it’s people just expressing anger or I empathize. And then there are probably peofrustration. And so in my classroom, as long as ple who do it for fun and have no deep reason it's not directed at a person ... then most of the for their choice, and I guess that’s fine too.” time I let it go.”

Beyond the idiomatic swearing Schneider A 2013 paper from the Department of Med- mentioned hearing around school, cursing can ical and Clinical Psychology at Tilburg Univer- also indicate a wider knowledge of the English sity explains that swearing can both positively language. and negatively affect a speaker’s persuasiveness A 2014 study from Jay gave participants the dependent on the situation. In the appropriate Controlled Word Association Test, a popular context, cursing can raise a speaker’s credibili- measure of verbal fluency. The researches folty “because it is an expression of emotions and lowed this with a similar test presented to subfor that reason seems more genuine and honest jects that measured knowledge of curse words. to other people,” author Professor of Clinical Results found fluency in taboo words was posPsychology Ad Vingerhoets writes. itively correlated with overall linguistic skill, Irwin said he thinks profanity can prove meaning those who knew more profane words useful in conversations to adequately represent generally scored better on their knowledge of one’s emotions.

English.

“Sometimes, the best way of communicating Although swearing can provide benefits, is by using a taboo word,” Irwin said. “That’s Lidholm said she thinks students should not what cuss words are; there’s [a] taboo; there’s curse excessively in school or the halls beseven to 10 words students can't say. So, why cause, in her opinion, that represents the student do people say them? It's a way to break social body negatively. While she personally does not norms to communicate, ‘I’m feeling strongly.’” choose to use profanity, others might depending As he noticed students using taboo words, on their friend groups or a situation’s context.

Irwin said he developed a philosophy on the “[Swearing is] a reflection upon you,” Lidissue which largely comes from teaching so- holm said. “If I’m going to be a communicaciology at RBHS. He pointed out the school tor, and I choose to use those words, first off, of thought of functionalism, which Irwin said why am I choosing to use those words? Or, am taught him to realize that “everything serves I using those words to be accepted by a certain some sort of purpose,” so his job is to identify group of peers? And is that really what I want to the reason behind a student using a curse word be a reflection of me?”

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Rethinking media Art flourishes through innovative mediums

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ISAAC YONTZ

she received a degree in Communication De- tional art after high school, usually employs sign. Now, she works full-time for Tremen- mixed media techniques in her art by using dousness, an art agency that helps companies a combination of traditional art, such as oil bring their ideas to life. The company aims paints, on non-traditional mediums, such as to organize important and complex informa- cardboard or reused paper. In her class astion into engaging and impactful visual story signments, projects must creatively collage forms. different designs to enhance a theme or mesCochran said he hopes to prepare his stu- sage . Along with teaching, Gorsage is writdents for real world application. He said his ing and illustrating a children’s book, “The students engage in “project-based learning,” Folklore Friends Food Truck Fest.” She said which utilizes student creativity to create while she doesn’t wield an Apple Pencil or different types of multimedia from magazine some other digital art stylist, she does impledesign to movie trailers. ment mixed media in her book.

“Our advanced students have the oppor“I feel like there is a huge shift towards tunity to work with professional clients who digital art for children’s illustration. I feel come to our classes to ‘pitch’ their idea,” Co- like there is something cool and special about chran said. “Many times students compete to using traditional mediums,” Gorsage said. “I win prizes or gift cards from the client or like quirkiness in my art, so I’m exploring contest.” illustrations made through embroidery and Students are able to win contests by taklayed cloth.” ing Digital Media and Graphic Design.

Gorsage said “The Mueller said she was forFolklore Friends Food tunate enough to apply Truck Fest” is an alphadigital art through her bet book for older readers high school activities, where each letter is a folkI like quirkiness such as various art conlore character that serves in my art, so I’m tests. She said her expebizarre foods from a moexploring illusrience as the Art Editor bile food cart or vehicle. trations made of RBHS’s journalism “The foods start with through embroiwebsite, “Bearing News,” the same letter,” she said, dery and layed and newspaper, “The Rock,” “so it becomes a silly cloth.” where artists illustrate differbook of alliteration. It - Abigail Gorsage, ent featured images, comics all really started with a Teacher and infographics, mirrored linocut print I made of her college art experience a yeti serving frozen “way closer” than Studio Art yak yogurt, and thus the and Advanced Placement idea was born. I’m not a (AP) Art. classically trained illustrator. My “But, keep in mind, I went art experience is all over the map due to the to college to learn a commercial art [illustra- nature of my art education background. You tion], which is usually about communicating have to be able to teach a variety of mediother people’s ideas,” Mueller said. “I think ums.” my answer would be different if I had gone Gorsage said this project is near and to school for studio art instead.” dear to her heart, even if her kids aren’t old While RBHS journalism artists complete enough to completely understand the book. their assignments digitally, specifically in Because Gorsage wants to protect her mesrecent years, art teacher Abigail Gorsage fo- sage of artistic uniqueness and have absolute cuses on teaching a different type of media artistic license, she said she plans to publish to her students. Through the use of oil paints, independently. acrylics, markers and more, Gorsage applies “I’m a mom of two, so we read a lot of traditional art media to guide the curriculum books, and I’ve always been drawn to chilof her Art Studio 1, Art Studio 2 and AP Art dren’s books for the fantasy and imagination Studio 2 classes. Gorsage said the courses they provide to readers, but also to the creattempt to help students achieve art literacy, ators,” Gorsage said. “That was why I chose a general understanding of how to view art. to go in this direction as opposed to another Gorsage isn’t alone, however, a State of literary form.”

Art Education Survey concluded, “52.2% of Gorsage said her book is in the early stagart teachers want to learn more about teach- es of development, but she has developed ing digital art effectively.” the core ideas. In the end, Mueller, Cochran “The art curriculum has changed to incor- and Gorsage all said digital and traditional porate more of an understanding of visual art carry their own merits. While digital art literacy and communication,” Gorsage said. is a growing industry — and Mueller said “Even if our students have no plans to pur- “the consensus is that you have to know digsue art beyond our class, we hope they leave ital art if you’re a professional these days” with a better understanding of how imagery — there is no harm in mixing media, even works in our society and its complexities.” between digital and traditional. Mueller said Senior Reece Furkin, who is enrolled the purpose of art is to tell a story, whether in AP Art 2, said she prefers traditional art it’s a quirky children’s book or a sleek infobecause of its wider variety of applications graphic, and said the power of art to convey compared to digital art. Furkin said she gen- meaning is what interested her in the first erally prefers studio art and hopes to cham- place. pion various art forms, whether traditional “I think one should be well-versed in both or not, through the FOLIO magazine, where traditional and digital media because levelshe serves as an editor. ing up in one area automatically levels you “I think the problem with digital art class- up in the other,” Mueller said. “We would es at RBHS is that they focus a lot on the benefit from learning more traditional advertisement industry,” Furkin said, “which skills. I don’t think one method is in[is a reason] why I never took Digital Media herently better or worse than the at the Career Center.” other, but they’re both importThe RBHS fine art department offers no ant to learn.” classes to further students’ skill in digital art.

Furkin, who plans to go into tradi-

ILLUST

RATED

BY SN OW LI/ THE RO

CK

he Institute for the Future and Dell Technologies conducted a study that concluded 85% of the jobs that will exist in 2030 haven’t been created yet. The fast-paced, evolving technology of the modern century has changed the process and application of various disciplines — everything from journalism to engineering.

The digital age has impacted art expression, as well. Dennis Gyst, vice president of OWDT, a web design company, said digital art began in the 1980s “tentatively” when the personal computer appeared in the market in the United States. Now, when Forbes reported the average human spends most of his or her waking hours behind a screen, Gyst said there is a digital art revolution.

“Digital art, more specifically, is contemporary art that uses the methods of mass production using digital media,” Gyst said in 2017 in his podcast series “The Digital Art Revolution.”

The Columbia Area Career Center embraced digital art in the early 1990s in order to teach students literacy in computer applications. Classes like Multimedia and Electronic Publishing aimed to help students navigate applications such as Microsoft Word and Microsoft Paint. Digital Media teacher Jeffery Cochran said he originally did not plan to teach a digital art class, but his job field adapted to include graphic design.

“I began my career teaching business education classes, which included computer applications and some basic Desktop Publishing,” Cochran said. “My original interest didn’t focus on the art and design side, but through experience and earning a master’s degree in Educational Technology, I’ve grown much in my design and digital media-type skills.”

Digital Media teaches students applications such as Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom.

RBHS alumna Maddie Mueller, who graduated in 2015, is a freelance illustrator and designer. She said she developed an interest in digital art from around age 11 and has now practiced art more than half of her life. In the beginning she said she utilized a mouse to create rough sketches, but her skills developed to a higher level when she began using a tablet.

“I started drawing digitally because, at the time, I was really into a couple of websites like “Neopets” and “DeviantArt.” [All my friends] did digital art, so that’s why I started doing it, too,” Mueller said. “I didn’t previously have much of an art background other than generally enjoying drawing.”

Twelve years later and in this past summer, Mueller graduated from Washington University in St. Louis, where

DID YOU KNOW ?

The World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology International Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences suggests the use of digital tools in art education increases artistic development and creativity.

[SOURCE: WWW.THEARTOFEDUCATION.EDU]

18 SPORTS

THE ROCK RBHS.BEARINGNEWS.ORG MARCH 17 , 2020

Archery club targets more involvement

E

RYAN CHOE very Thursday from 6-8 p.m., the Gentry Middle School (GMS) basketball gym is packed with students, ranging from sprightly sixth graders to spirited sophomores, for weekly archery club practice. While the crowds of archers wait for the coaches’ plans, a sea of smiles and laughs fill the practice space as they converse about their school days, favorite TV shows and how many bullseyes they’re going to hit.

As soon as a beeping noise rings across the gym, the archers disperse and prepare to shoot.

They shuffle over to a rack to select their Genesis bows — a type of compound bow — and walk to their designated shooting areas, which stretch the length of the court. When they pick up their arrows and draw them back, a brief silence consumes the gym, and the collective focus of each student creates a suspenseful tension.

Once the first arrow flies, dozens more follow immediately. During the next five minutes, the practice area transforms into a scene from a medieval movie, and arrows rain across the gym, impaling the short targets. After the last arrow loosens and strikes the target, another high-pitched beeping noise signals the retrieving period. The archers walk toward the targets in relative silence, analyzing how accurate their shots were before returning the arrows to the shooting line. The process repeats for the next two hours, with the occasional rest period that allows students to stretch out their shoulder, rest and converse.

The archery club began at GMS four years ago after Angie Roberds — one of the four coaches — introduced the idea when she transferred her teaching post from Battle High School to GMS. Students from both GMS and RBHS practice together in the same space. While there are

five RBHS students competing individually in to hit myself in my arm a lot, so I had to learn tournaments, they have yet to form a sanctioned to bend my arm a little. I think a lot of people team because of the 12 member bar. One of the have that problem, too, but every practice is a requirements for the club to exist is to include chance for you to learn something new about yourself that you could improve on,” Sofie Mcarchery in the school curriculum.

As a physical education teacher at GMS, Murray said. “[During practice] we also learn Roberds incorporated archery into her P.E. class more about our shooting spots, so we can get and became the teacher sponsor and formed the the score we want. We find a certain spot on club. A year after the establishment of the club, the target, and we try to aim for it every single time.”

Bree McMurray — anWeekly practices other coach — joined eventually cumulate in when her daughter detournaments, another cided to get involved as Every practice is a chance aspect Sofie McMura seventh grader. Bree for you to learn something ray particularly enjoys.

McMurray had learned new about yourself that you Tournaments predomiabout the sport from a nantly take place on Satfriend whose kids comcould improve on. We also urdays and are split into peted in archery tournalearn more about our shootthree levels: elementary, ments and soon became ing spots, so we can get the middle and high school. an avid fan after watchscore we want. We find a Participants compete ing some of their tourcertain spot on the target, based on flights, or spenaments. cific starting times for “A lot of the kids and we try to aim for it every the archers, and will that do archery don’t do single time.” shoot 10 meters and other sports. There’s no 15 meters. At each disball involved, no grap— Sofie McMurray, tance, an archer has one pling or touching others freshman practice round of five and no running. So, it’s shots. There are then a unique sport,” Bree three subsequent scored McMurray said. “When rounds, with five shots I found out there was a club here at Gentry, I asked my daughter if in each round. A bullseye is worth 10 points, so she’d like to try [because] it was something I the maximum amount of points at each distance was already familiar with. She decided she’d is 150, and the maximum total points possible is 300. give it a go, and she loved it.”

Bree McMurray said during tournaments Bree McMurray’s daughter, freshman Sofie McMurray, said one of the reasons she joined there are also state qualifying scores, which are and stuck with the sport was for the challenge different for the three levels. She said most of and competition. Sofie McMurray said the the participants are “trying to hit 270 to 275,” sport, along with the fun environment, has which means the archers are “only missing 20 or 30 points out of that whole round of arrows,” taught her grit.

“One of my biggest [issues] was that I used which McMurray said is an impressive accom-

AUDREY SNYDER/THE ROCK

ZEROING IN: Freshman Ariana Eckerson focuses on a shot during practice Thursday, Feb. 20 at Gentry Middle School. Eckerson started archery in seventh grade and qualified for the Missouri State Tournament of the National Archery in the Schools Program last month.

plishment.

One of the archers who qualified for state this year is freshman Ariana Eckerson. At the Helias High School State tournament Feb. 1, Eckerson got a total score of 287, her personal best, and finished fourth among 134 middle and high school girls. Eckerson referred to multiple points in her technique that were essential to her success.

“Form is really important [whether it’s] standing up straight or [knowing] how you hold your bow. I’ve personally always looked at where my feet are,” Eckerson said. “If I get a 10 at where my feet are, I’ll remember where they are, and I don’t move them.”

Eckerson’s fellow high school teammate and friend, sophomore Leo Miller, agreed with her about the keys for establishing good technique for a tournament. Additionally, Miller said eliminating distractions and focusing on the target is essential for tournament success.

“Before and during [tournaments], I really try to settle myself because shooting really takes focus and concentration. If your mind is going in different ways when you’re [trying to] think about different things, it can distract you and affect [your performance],” Miller said.

“I’ll try to just focus on the target and kind of push everything aside and you know just like try to shoot my best. These practices are chances to [practice] focusing and to get better.”

Although the members have a passion for competition, the larger benefit for students and coaches is the formation of a welcoming community. More than 700 schools participate in the Missouri region of the National Archery in the Schools Program.

“I like the club because I’ve [gotten to] know five people from Rock Bridge,” Eckerson said. “I’ve also met a lot of friends who are in middle school and [will] eventually come to Rock Bridge, so that’s [exciting].”

Sofie McMurray said she is also excited for when the current middle schoolers come to RBHS since she and all of her peers have a family-like relationship. She said she appreciates the moments when everyone celebrates someone else’s victory, whether that be a personal best or a podium placement.

“What’s positive to me is how a lot of people joke [and say], ‘I did better than you; I got a higher score than you,’ but there’s a lot of encouraging others, too,” Sofie McMurray said.

“It’s really the atmosphere that [ties] everything [together]. Once [the other kids] get to a tournament, they’re serious and focused, but as soon as they step off, like as soon as they step out of the gym, they’re talking and being loud and hugging again.”

Ultimately, Bree McMurray said the goal of the club is to create friendships and offer something new for all participants. She said the age around middle school and high school offers a new world of opportunities for kids to explore their interests and find fun.

“At the middle school level [there is] encouragement for a lot of kids to try different clubs, a different language, a musical instrument, etc.

It’s all part of that ‘give it a try’ attitude. In high school, kids kind of know what they like,” Bree McMurray said. “But you introduce archery, and it’s like a new [and unique] thing. We’re not looking to recruit this big elite team. We want kids to have a different experience, something that they wouldn’t get elsewhere. [Our kids] all seem to have a good time, so we’ll try to [keep] making it fun.”

COVID-19 halts multiple sports seasons RYAN CHOE n the wake of the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), which the World Health Organization declared a pandemic six days ago, the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) cancelled the Class 4 and 5 basketball state tournament, known as the “Show Me Showdown,” earlier yesterday afternoon. The original schedule had the semifinal and championship games scheduled for this weekend; however, MSHSAA tweeted the tournament will no longer take place.

Missouri was the last state to officially cancel the remainder of the high school basketball season. Columbia Public Schools (CPS) superintendent Peter Stiepleman also announced yesterday that today will be the last school day until at least April 13.

With drastic pushes to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, high school basketball games had already limited audience members. Additionally, President Donald Trump, at a news conference yesterday, advised the nation to avoid gatherings of more than 10 people. Acting Athletic Director Michael McGinty said he understands why a national emergency should take precedence, although he knows the team has worked extremely hard throughout the season.

“Although we are incredibly disappointed about the decision to cancel the state tournament, I think it’s difficult for me to criticize the timing of the decision or the decision itself,” McGinty said. “MSHSAA officials worked incredibly hard to satisfy the requirements of the [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] and the Green County Health Department with regard to managing the spread of COVID-19. Ultimately, because of the unique nature of the situation, they felt they simply had no safe alternative.”

Junior forward Nina Maddox said while the girls’ basketball team was aware it needed to be careful, she, along with her team members, thought the news was unexpected. She said the team was amping up to compete this weekend and take home the championship trophy.

“I was surprised because we were sitting in activities and just talking about, like, what they were gonna do because they were

I

just gonna take everybody’s temperature and make sure nobody had a high temperature,” Maddox said. “[When we heard about the cancellation], everybody was just pretty sad. And [March 16] after school, we’re gonna meet up again, so I would assume that’s gonna be a lot of crying and sadness.”

The Lady Bruins defeated Republic High School Saturday, March 14, to make it to the semifinal round. The team has had an exceptionally successful season, going 22-5, and is currently ranked second in the state by MaxPreps, which is a primary information source for high school sports.

“I have complete confidence that we could have won [the whole tournament],” Maddox said. “I mean, it’s a really good group of girls and everybody’s chemistry [is] really together, and they [have] really good skill sets.”

Maddox’s teammate, senior guard Samantha Mackley, said the uncertainty of the situation made MSHSAA’s decision to cancel the tournament appropriate. While disappointed the season will end prematurely, Mackley understands the ruling and is grateful for experiences from her final season.

“Everybody’s just trying to do the best that they can with the situation that no one knows how to handle. Obviously we didn’t want them to cancel it any time, but I’m sure [MSHSAA] had to think about all of the school districts involved,” Mackley said.

“It was kind of a Cinderella idea that our senior year could be so perfect ... knowing that chance isn’t coming again is hard to swallow. I’m just thankful for the opportunities we had and for my teammates.”

McGinty said spring sport practices and games will resume when school is back in session April 13. He said he empathizes with students mourning their season; however, he also said “there are no easy answers when dealing with a pandemic.”

“Rock Bridge students and staff feel terrible for our players and coaches who have invested so much of their passion and energy this season,” McGinty said. “We are heartbroken for them, but we also recognize what a successful run it was [that resulted in] another Final Four. That’s quite an accomplishment.”

Additional reporting by Anna Xu, Ana Manzano

CAMRYN DEVORE/THE ROCK

A BITTERSWEET END: Sophomore guard Averi Kroenke dribbles the ball during the sectional game against Ozark High School. The Bruins won 49-38 and went on to reach the Final Four. The team’s season comes to an end, however, because of concerns stemming from the coronavirus pandemic.

SPORTS 19

THE ROCK RBHS.BEARINGNEWS.ORG MARCH 17, 2020

Boys' tennis faces new challenge Fresh faces mark new era for program

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ryan choe

n the last decade, the boys’ tennis program has achieved a top three title every year at the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) state championship. In seven of those 10 years, the team finished first, and currently they are defending their four-peat stretch. Head coach Ben Loeb became an inductee to the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 2015 to honor his 35-year coaching career.

The turn of the decade presents a new challenge to the Bruins, not only in terms of championship aspirations, but also with growing pains. Five of the six players from last year’s state championship team graduated, and the lone returning member — sophomore Max Litton — elected not to play this season for personal reasons. Loeb said the team comes into the season with a “completely new roster.”

“We need to reset goals. I think a big thing is trying to stay within the things we can control [like] having a good attitude, working hard [and being] accountable to each other,” Loeb said. “We’ve won the district title every year since 2002, so [winning] that would be a great accomplishment in itself.”

Although the returning roster will be fresh, there will still be familiar faces. Senior Nate Herting will return for his fourth straight year on the team. Loeb said Herting will be a player he leans on throughout the season.

“This year our confidence level is lower since we lost so many good players, and expectations are high.

The former tennis players that graduated were a blast to be around and always knew how to work hard,” Herting said. “They showed us how to lead a team and were always role models to the [underclassmen].

[During the season], we’ll want to improve our team spirit and cheer on everyone, not just [our] closest buddy.”

Senior Eric Kwon will return to the team after taking a year hiatus. Kwon said intense academics and extracurricular activities influenced his decision to not participate during last year’s season. Entering his final year of eligibility, Kwon wanted to provide a veteran presence to a less experienced squad.

“My first year on the tennis team as a freshman was one of the best years. As an eighth grader, I practiced almost every day during the summer to improve my tennis skills and prepare for my first season of high school tennis, and it paid off. [Although] I barely made it in the team, I was proud of my hard work,” Kwon said. “I look forward to continuing my journey towards improving my tennis skills. During this season, I would love to improve my leadership skills and knowledge about how to lead a team.”

While he said he would miss the team, junior Garret Roach will not return to play this year. He cited the same reasons as Kwon for why he chose not to return to the team this year:

the heavy academic demand of junior year and involvement in school clubs. Roach is a member of multiple school clubs — Young Republicans, Young Moderates, Student Council and Mu Alpha Theta among them — and has an internship as an instructor at Mathnasium, a local math tutoring service.

“Coach [Loeb] really wants 100% commitment to the team, and that’s what makes [the program] so successful. Obviously there are exceptions, but he really wants each kid there every single day at every single event to [support] the team,” Roach said.

“Coach [Loeb] and I talked about making [my schedule] work out, but I really didn’t even want to do that because in order to foster a good team culture, you really need every kid there every single day.”

Roach said he has no doubt that the program will succeed without him, particularly because he knows how hard Loeb will challenge the team. Roach said Loeb “isn’t in the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame for no reason” and believes the boys will find a way to accomplish whatever their goals are. Kwon also said the Bruins will need to overcome the low expectations from other schools in order to defend the state title. He said Loeb helps with this by instructing the team to focus on the journey, not the end result.

“Although we don’t expect the pure dominance on the courts we had for several years, I expect us to strive for the best results and find a way to the state tournament,” Kwon said. “With a tenacious and unwavering mentality, I believe we can win it all again.”

Herting also said another important job for all the players on the team is to support each other. After practicing his game during the offseason, Herting said he looks forward to the season. Pouring in hours to perfect their craft will be critical in preparation for competitive competition.

“I think we have pretty good potential. If we put in the work and keep fighting, I think we could make it to the top four again,” Herting said. “We plan to do this by putting in more time than other teams and helping everyone around you to reach their full potential.”

No matter the end result, Loeb said the ultimate goal for the players is to become better people through tennis. He said he has had no regrets as far as choosing his career path and thinks the biggest reward of his career is developing relationships with kids that want to “strive together to achieve personal and collective excellence.” He said on-court victories and off-court improvements are not mutually exclusive.

“Sure, we want to have a lot of success on the court, and I think the group we had last year was very committed to it and committed to each other.

That’s something we’re going to miss some of that this year, evidently with the team being a little bit less experienced,” Loeb said. “But I think [the journey] starts with commitment and respect. The [players] that throw themselves into [the work will] learn more about themselves.”

HITTING BACK: Senior Jake Monsees hits a backhand volley during practice Tuesday, March 10. Monsees has played for the team since his freshman year and will continue to this season. With spring sports currently suspended there is no set date for when the team will play next.

ANA MANZAN

O/THE ROCK

SNOWY LI/ THE ROCK

Did you know?

Title IX states:

"No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subThe number of female high jected to discrimination under school athletes has increased any education program or activfrom 295,000 in 1972 to more ity receiving Federal financial asthan 2.6 million as of 2019. sistance."

[SOURCE: WWW.HISTORY.COM]

Colleges across the country spent more than $100 million to comply with Title IX's sexual harassment rules between 2011 and 2015.

[SOURCE: WWW.NATIONALAFFAIRS.COM]

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