Lance Issue 2: The Body Image Issue

E TH NC

LA E E U S GE IS

A M I Y D O B E

TH Nov. 11, 2019

Westside High School

Volume 64, Issue 2

02 info

graphic by sage wein design by abby schreiber cover by angela li

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Staff WritersWil Christiansen, Izzy Dodge, Brooklyn James, Ella Kirkpatrick, Auguste Kuehne, Charlotte Mil er, Katie Palais Editors-In-Chief Maryam Akramova,Malia Battafarano, Guest Contributors Drew Cota, Julia Steiner, Isabella Tyler Hannah-Kate Kinney, Joshua Siegel, Managing EditorsVirginia Jansen, Angelina Pattavina Cassandra Shea, Taylor Weis Design EditorAbby Schreiber Follow us on Page 04 News Copy EditorReese Pike Instagram, Page 08 Opinion Graphics EditorAngela Li Twi t ter & Photo EditorLydia Kasem Page 09 Edi t ori a l Facebook at Business ManagerAlex Vandenberg WestsideWired Page 10 In-Depth News Editor Luke Steiner Opinion EditorFaith Rice Subscribe Page 17 Feature In-Depth EditorEleanor Dodge to Warrior Feature EditorEmma Mil er Page 19 Sports Tel e vsi o n on A&E EditorJane Knudsen Page 21 A&E Youtube Graphic Artists Parker LeFebvre, Sage Wein

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04 news

graphic by sage wein

TWO HOUR LATE STARTS

New district policy creates late start option for inclement weather days by angelina pattavina

W

ith the winter months coming up soon, the possibility of snow days is now in the near future. On Sept. 25, an email was sent to the parents of students in the Westside Community Schools district that said two hour late starts will be added to the winter season options for the 20192020 school year.

This does not necessarily mean snow days are being replaced by a two-hour delay. It just means the district has another option for those days that are in between the “snow” or “go” days. A “go day” is when the school day proceeds as normal.

Westside’s superintendent, Mike Lucas, joined the process of adding in two-hour delays once it was nearly over.

All the districts in Omaha had already been meeting and talking about the possibility of adding in two-hour delays, and after Lucas became Westside’s new superintendent, he took over for Blane McCann. Lucas said he supported the delay as it gave him more options to choose from when deciding what the district will do in snowy weather.

“You get through Monday, and no streets have been cleared at all, but Tuesday’s going to be 40 degrees and sunny,” Lucas said. “In the old way, Tuesday would have had to have been a ... full day. Now, this gives us a chance to announce on Monday that we need a little more time for snow removal.”

Another reason to add the two-hour delay option is how snow days can affect kids’ health. Lucas said a lot of pressure is put on superintendents to make sure everything is considered and all children are accounted for.

Lucas said that between the ten elementary schools, middle school and high school, one-third of the students are on free and reduced lunch. This means that many students’ families can’t afford the meals and that, sometimes, the school lunch is the only meal the student will get during the day. So, if a snow day is called on a Friday, they may not have a full meal for three days.

“I factor in that we know our schools are going to be safe and warm,” Lucas said. “A lot of our students don’t have the luxury of being at home in a wonderful environment with

tons of food and a fireplace and puzzles and hot chocolate.

I grew up in a situation where I didn’t have those things, so school was the best place to be.”

According to Lucas, for the past 20 to 40 years, larger districts in Omaha have not had a two hour option for their extreme weather protocol. The two options were either a snow day or a “go day.”

Lucas said that travel conditions are also a big factor in calling off school, because the majority of student drivers are 16- or 17-year-olds who are just learning to drive and don’t have much experience in bad weather conditions.

“There were a couple times for me where they didn’t call it, like that one day in November,” junior Portia Lenczowski said. “There was a freak storm at night, and they didn’t call it. I was at my grandma’s, which is ten minutes away [from school].

It still took me two hours to get here, and I was still a new driver. I hadn’t even been driving a month, and it was a nightmare.”

For days when administration does call a snow day, the teachers have planned in extra days into their schedules just in case, so they will have time to prepare a backup lesson.

Adding the twohour delay was a way for students

to go to school with the hope of having less work to make up for the day they would have missed, according to Lucas.

This means classes at the high school will be cut down from 40 minutes to 25 minutes, nearly half the class time. The middle school will have a similar decrease in time, but the elementary schools won’t be impacted as much.

Math instructor Linda Rau, who has had multiple run-ins with snow days dis rupting her

news 05

design by julia steiner normal schedule, said she thinks the delay may still bring similar problems.

“It’s probably more flexible for the middle school and elementary schools and most of the other high schools in the city,” Rau said. “Due to [Westside’s] modular scheduling and every day being different, it’s very difficult to have your classes shortened on the fly as a teacher and as a student.”

According to Lucas, teachers will decide what they do on these two-hour delay days or snow days.

“I expect my students to learn even when they don’t have school,” Rau said. “I would probably send out a video or send out notes, and they would have to do the work at home on their own. With a two-hour late start, I would probably

send them the notes anyway, because I couldn’t get through the lesson in 25 minutes.”

Lucas said he wants to be able to include the students of Westside in his announcements of what the final decision comes out to be in extreme weather weather situations. An example of this is going to one of the schools and recording a video of students reacting to the decision of a snow day being announced for the following day, and then posting the students’ reactions on Twitter. This post will make the decision about the community instead of just one person.

In the end, Rau and Lucas both said that it’s a parent’s choice whether or not to send their child to school with a possible late start. They both agreed that it’s understandable that a parent won’t be able to go in late to work or find a

ONE BOOK, ONE SCHOOL, I

ONE COMMUNITY

n 2018, Hillside Elementary School implemented a new school-wide program in an effort to build a stronger community through reading. The program is named “One School, One Book.” It gives every family and staff member at the school the same copy of a children’s novel to read and engage with.

The literacy team, lead by the school reading coordinator, Kelly Kenny, and librarian Melissa Reeves, brought the program to the school’s attention in 2017. “[The literacy team] proposed it because I think we needed to kind of draw a community in and promote literacy in the school,” Reeves said. “We were trying to brainstorm ideas, and that was one that came out of it, so we started last year.”

The program costs $2,400 for a school as big as Hillside and, according to Principal Cynthia Bailey, was mainly funded through Title I funds (federally-funded money given to public schools), Community Club funds and possibly grants in the future.

ride for their children. “[Parents] will tell you that you’re putting their child’s life at risk and so on,” Lucas said. “At the top and bottom of the information we sent home, we even underlined it twice, we said if we ever make a decision that a family disagrees with, the family is their child’s number one decisionmaker.”

With all the factors that go into the decision, Lucas said he understands that there will always be some backlash, no matter the choice he makes.

“At the end of the day, we want to make the best decision we can with the information we have at the time,” Lucas said.

Hillside implements new reading program to connect families and staff members by luke steiner

According to Reeves, the program is worth the money because of all the program has to offer. The expenses from the program are mainly from the books themselves but come from other places as well.

“The books are the biggest expense,” Reeves said. “We can do the literacy night with Community Club’s help by pooling our resources. The books are the biggest expense.

They’re nice brand-new paperbacks [that each family gets to keep].”

The program is set up by the company Read to Them, whose mission is to “create a culture of literacy in every home,” according to their website. They work on accomplishing this mission through “One School, One Book.” The program offers a wide variety of titles to try to ensure that the book and reading appeals to everyone.

“It’s really tricky to pick a book because it has to appeal to a wide audience,” Bailey said. “Young children have to be able to understand it. Older kids have to be able to read it.

Families have to be on board as well, but we’ve been pretty

lucky with [our book selection].”

Last year, students and staff at Hillside read the book “Flora and Ulysses” by Kate DiCamillo and this year the school read the children’s novel “The One and Only Ivan”

by K. A. Applegate.

The company that sets up the program offers many different titles which schools can utilize as many times during the year as they would like. Due to funding, Hillside participates once a year in the program and all of its activities.

“This year we did it in October, and we took a few weeks to read the book,” Bailey said. “Then, at the end of the book, we celebrate with a literacy night, with a theme that [is] around elements of the book, and we have it here at Hillside. We had a lot of families, hundreds of people come.

[This year] we had a lot of activities.”

The literacy night is a night to celebrate the book with many different types of free activities for families to enjoy.

The program runs for two hours, and families can go to and

Continued on page 6

06 news

design by isabella tyler _ photo provided by hillside elementary school

Hillside students participate in an art activity for the “One School, One Book” program.

continuation of one school, one book, one community from the different stations relating to the books. “[At] the big literacy event, we usually try to do ten different stations for kids to visit,” Kenny said. “This year we had a STEAM challenge where [students] had to build a cage. We had one room. They made [six] tie blankets to donate to the Humane Society. We always do one station based on the author so they can learn about other books the author has written. The obstacle course is a big thing. We have two teachers that plan it out, and this year they did a really good job of tying in the story.”

Students also participated in many programs and activities put on by both the company and Kenny. These activities are things students can do both in and out of the classroom.

“Kelly Kenny also creates a lot of things to go along with the books, but in general it’s done very nicely by that company,” Bailey said. “In the classrooms, [discussions] sort of look different for everybody.

There’s a school-wide website that Kelly Kenny created that has activities and fun things to do and quizzes that everybody can participate in, so everybody participates in the same kinds of things.”

Bailey said she thinks the program is working well and has seen lots of participation from both families and staff members. “[The feedback] has been overwhelmingly positive,” Bailey said. “I’d say the families that participate, who really participate and really dig in, that gives them something in common with everybody. So, you’re reading that book, that kid that’s friends with your child is reading that book. People could meet up at Literacy Night and talk about the book. It creates a community of readers … I think we seem like a very connected society, and yet I think we’re not as connected as we’d like to be.”

According to Reeves, there are also activities like Kahoots and morning announcements that draw students into the book. She said the program has grown in just the first two years, and she feels she is having better conversations about the books.

Hillside has gone above and beyond with classroom activities like adopting a gorilla to represent the one in the novel they read, with funding from Student Council.

Kenny was also able to contact the author of “The One and Only Ivan” when she tagged her in a Twitter post.

The school offers the opportunity for children to have the book read to them if they were unable to read the assigned portion the night before, which takes place in the library. According to Kenny, there are also students who read the book the night before but want to hear it again. This year, the total participation number reached 80 students.

“Every morning [the students] can come inside and we have guest readers come and read,” Kenny said. “We have [Superintendent of Westside] Dr. Lucas come and read, school board members and classroom teachers.”

Bailey said reading aloud helps ensure that every student who wants to read and participate can. This, along with class activities, helps ensure that all students have something to do with the book.

Bailey said she hopes to continue the program for as long as she can, and the only reason they wouldn’t be able to continue would be because of funding issues.

“I know we will do everything we can to continue doing the program,” Bailey said. “It’s difficult because our Community Club does not have that kind of funding.

They fund other things for us, wonderful things, but it’s a big chunk of change. I have faith that we will continue to have innovation funds and Title I funds, and I have faith that we will find the funding to continue.”

Bailey said she sees the importance of the program and the kind of connections and community it can build for her school.

“I would just reiterate that parents feel this is something they can connect to the school with,” Bailey said. “So, we are using a tool, we are using literacy, to connect with families. Maybe big brother who’s in middle school, maybe little brother who is in preschool, they are also reading and participating in the book. Our staff, their kids are also reading the book and participating in the activities, so it really draws us together. We have many staff members who bring their young children because they read [or] heard ‘The One and Only Ivan.’ So, if you really want to unite your school, try reading.”

Not only does she feel it forms a bond between the school, but Kenny said she thinks “One School, One Book” has become something that defines Hillside.

“I think even though it’s only the second year, it has become a staple of what we do here at Hillside,” Kenny said. “People expect it. Even the parents ask about it.”

There have also been programs that have sprouted from “One School One Book.” These are activities like Fiction Fridays, where students can be read books in the mornings or birthday books. According to Kenny, it has allowed literacy to be a core piece of the community at Hillside.

“It’s a ton of work, but I’ll do it every year I can,” Reeves said. “Nobody can take this job from me. I just like seeing it from the planning stages until next October where we can celebrate having read it together.

As reading-oriented people, [the program] does exactly what [the literacy team] wants it to do: getting everybody talking and excited about reading.”

design by isabella tyler - photos by amy studts

SIMULATING CIVICS

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Government classes stage mock elections by auguste kuehne

E

very semester, government students take part in a government election simulation. Through this course, government instructor Jonathan Preister said he hopes to educate students on the U.S. election process. Preister is the head of the mock election and has been doing mock elections for over seven years.

“We have the AP and regular government students run an election cycle, complete with a presidential campaign and senate races in the AP sections and house races [in] the regular gov sections,” Preister said.

Senior Eddie Schweikert was one of the presidential candidates running for office this semester. “[Ever] since I was young, I wanted to be president,” Schweikert said. “I think it’s very important for every student to learn about the government, especially seniors. The 2020 election’s just over a year away, arguably one of the most important elections.

In order to make [an] educated decision, you have to learn the inner workings too.”

Government instructors agreed that one of their hopes with this course is to educate students on the importance of knowledge about U.S. government. Preister said he also believes this will carry over to voter participation.

“The youth voter turnout is very low, and our hope in doing [the mock election] is that they are exposed to the actual real process,” Preister said.

Students are put through specific activities to help them better develop an understanding of the actions within the U.S. government. Through this process, students must uncover helpful skills that will translate over to their campaign. Senior Jacob Vincentini, another presidential candidate, said he believes the mock election process has given him useful skills for real life.

“I’ve learned, first off, [about] public speaking and how to speak in front of a large group,” Vincentini said. “I’ve

“

also had to learn to relate to people.”

Some activities students participate in consist of debates, primaries, conventions and rallies.

Although many students said they enjoy the simulation, students must accept the rough result of running for their position as well.

“There are problems every single semester,” Preister said. “Harsh words are exchanged.”

Preister said he tries to set boundaries on the negativity but, unfortunately, feelings often get bruised.

Since government teachers treat this simulation like a real election, students are allowed to run attack ads, as well as throw negative comments during public debates. “[Students] have to understand that they are going to get attacked,” Preister said.

The propaganda can get bad, according to Preister, and students may end up losing some friends.

Despite the bumpy conflicts that arise during the election, the students said they enjoy the end result.

“There’s been some Twitter beef that’s broken out,” Vincentini said. “I’ve thrown a few [words] back and forth with Jacob Lang, but none of that’s personal.”

Preister said he also enjoys bringing in real politicians to Westside to give students an in-depth look at the responsibilities of a politician.

“Every semester, or at least once a year, we try to bring in [whoever] represents this district in the U.S. House [of Representatives] so the students can hear [them talk],” Preister said.

Although this simulation only lasts one semester, Preister said he believes students are learning skills that will hopefully last them a lifetime.

Senior and Republican National Party Chair Ethan Fisher speaks at the Republican convention.

IN ORDER TO MAKE [AN] EDUCATED DECISION, YOU HAVE TO LEARN THE INNER WORKINGS. Senior Eddie Schweikert

Senior and Vice Presidential Candidate Carter Mike speaks at the vice presidential debate.

08 opinion

A NEW ACT

design by isabella tyler _ graphic by katie palais

ACT to change format in upcoming years by maryam akramova

I

n October, the ACT announced three new changes with their testing format: section retesting, superscoring and online testing. These will be implemented in September 2020. There’s a lot to unpack with these changes. They will impact how students at Westside and around the country test and could cause people to take the test many times over.

Each of the new options are somewhat related to each other. It’s best to start by understanding what the online testing option entails. The ACT will now allow students to choose between paper and online testing. Online testing comes with a lot of benefits. Those who take the test online will be able to receive their multiple choice section score as soon as two days after the test, according to ACT. Previously, it could take anywhere from two to six weeks to receive scores. The catch with the new testing options?

The test can only be taken at designated online testing centers. The closest one to Omaha is in Des Moines.

Also, with the new changes, the ACT will now allow students to send in their superscore directly to colleges.

The superscore combines the best scores for each section into one new score. ACT encourages colleges to have a superscore policy when it comes to admissions.

Finally, the ACT will allow students to take section tests individually instead of having to take the full test.

What does that mean for students? Well, if someone is bad at one section, like math, they can just go in and take the math portion of the test and then add that score to the superscore.

Students won’t have to study for each section anymore. They can just take the ones that are lowering their score.

The changes make sense for the ACT, and these new rules are now game-changers for students around the globe, but they come with inherent problems that will further the divide between students.

The new testing policies will hurt disadvantaged students who don’t have the money to take the ACT. The ACT is expensive. It costs $46 without writing and $62.50 with writing, along with a $29.50 late fee if someone doesn’t sign up in time.

“I think ACT is trying to help level the playing field,” said counselor Vicki Londer. “I think it’s a great moneymaker for the ACT. I think that it will [increase] the achievement gap between the ‘have’ and the ‘have-nots’ in the community.”

For those who want to take the test by subject only, they would be forced to travel to Des Moines and possibly have a parent willing to do that on a Saturday morning. In the end, it’s those who have the resources and the support system that will excel and improve their scores. They will be the ones who get the benefits ACT is offering. Those who the ACT might be trying to benefit by leveling out the playing field will just be left further behind.

ACT, Inc. makes $23 million in revenue, according to Americans for Testing Education Reform (AETR). While ACT is making a huge profit, it falls behind the College Board, both in revenue and the amount of people who take the ACT vs. the SAT. According to USA News, the corporation isn’t enacting these new rules to compete with the SAT. It’s about the students.

However, the changes will definitely benefit the ACT, especially in terms of the amount of money they are going to make from rich, scared parents. It’s worrying that the corporation that’s a nonprofit is continuing to profit from students’ and parents’ fears about the future and that they are willing to leave behind students who don’t have enough money, time or resources to get to a testing center.

Along with these new changes, colleges that use standardized tests like the ACT will have to reexamine the way they conduct admissions. “[Colleges] are going to have to up their minimum requirements for admissions, for scholarships and things like that,” Londer said.

“If ACT is automatically going to superscore, colleges will all have to accept a superscore, or they’re going to have to figure out a way to mitigate more and more students getting higher scores.”

The best solution to the whole standardized test debacle, as it gets more and more divisive, is for colleges to go test-optional.

Test-optional means that students can choose whether to send their scores in or not, but the college will not require it. This helps eliminate inherent problems with the ACT, such as being hard to access for certain groups of students, because they have the option to allow other aspects of their application to shine through.

Many highly-ranked universities are starting to go test-optional, such as Wake Forest University, University of Chicago and Bowdoin College.

The new ACT rules will bring about changes in the way standardized testing will happen in Westside and around the country. In the end, the most important thing is to remember that students are not a number and are worth more than what a standardized test score says.

editorial 09

design by malia battafarano graphic by parker lefebvre The Lance is a school-sponsored publication of Westside High School, Westside Community Schools, 8701 Pacific St., Omaha, NE 68144. The Lance office is located in room 251.

Phone: (402) 343-2650. The Lance is an in-house publication.

The paper is distributed every month to all students, except in vacation periods. Subscription rates to others are $30 prepaid. The Lance is printed by White Wolf Web, in Sheldon, IA. Advertising rates are available upon request. The Lance editorial staff reserves the right to edit all ads for clarity and grammatical errors. The editorial staff reserves the right not to publish any ads that are libelous or that contain non-factual information.

The Lance editorial staff also reserves the right to nullify contracts at any time without prior notification.

The Lance also refuses ads that promote activities illegal to a majority of the student readership.

Reader response is welcomed in the form of letters to the editor. Letters should be less than 300 words, signed by the author and sent to room 251.

Names may be withheld upon special request. Lance editors will decide whether to honor such requests.

The Lance editorial staff reserves the right to edit letters for clarity and grammatical errors. The editorial staff also reserves the right to not publish any letters that are libelous or that contain non-factual information.

The Lance is a member of the Nebraska High School Press Association, the Columbia Scholastic Press Association, the National Scholastic Press Association and the Quill & Scroll Society.

The Lance staff recognizes that the administration of Westside Community Schools controls the curriculum and, thus, sets the parameters of the production process of school publications.

The Lance staff also recognizes its own responsibilities to inform, enlighten and entertain its readers in a way that reflects high standards of journalism, morals and ethics.

Editors-in-Chief Maryam Akramova, Malia Battafarano, Julia Steiner, Isabella Tyler; Managing Editors Virginia, Angelina Pattavina; Design Editor Abby Schreiber; Photo Editor Lydia Kasem; Graphics Editor Angela Li; Copy Editor-in-Chief Reese Pike; News Editor Luke Steiner; Opinion Editor Faith Rice; In-depth Editor Eleanor Dodge; Feature Editor Emma Miller; Arts and Entertainment Editor Jane Knudsen; Business Manager Alex Vandenberg; Staff Writers Will Christiansen, Izzy Dodge, Brooklyn James, Ella Kirkpatrick, Auguste Kuehne, Charlotte Miller, Katie Palais; Graphic Artists Parker LeFebvre, Sage Wein; Advisers Timothy Kaldahl, Jerred Zegelis.

EDITORIAL: E

Health classes need more open discussions about body image

very eighth grade student is required to take Westside’s health class, which teaches them about substance abuse, sexual education and their changing bodies. Eating disorders and body image are some of the most important concepts covered in class, and while it’s good that these topics are incorporated, there could be a more personal approach. A discussion-based curriculum with students and knowledgeable outside speakers would be beneficial.

One part of the eighth grade body image curriculum is the videos shown in health class. Some class periods featured a ‘90s Lifetime movie about a young woman struggling with anorexia called “For The Love of Nancy.” Others filled periods with outdated shows like “Degrassi Junior High.” While the videos themselves can be interesting, they tend to be dramatized and taken as a joke in class.

It’s hard to find movies that can provide students with updated and realistic information that finds a way to be relatable.

In our ninth grade health class, discussions are present.

However, the current discussions that students have now can be shallow and forced because the students are required to speak for a grade. These discussions can also lack depth and thought-out responses. Instead of being a safe place for students to talk through body image struggles, students have to talk about body image for a grade.

According to the National Eating Disorders Association, teachers and administrators should encourage students to have open conversations about eating disorders and how to support students who are affected. Hearing about personal experiences can make the topic of eating disorders feel more real. When students are taught about serious subjects through videos and notes, they’re unable to see the personal effects. Learning through lectures takes away the human side to the story. The way body image affects everyone individually can’t be portrayed because not everyone is affected by it the way it’s shown in a video.

When using the videos fails, hearing about personal experiences could greatly benefit the students. If students are able to hear about stories similar to their own, they can see the way topics they are taught about happen in real life.

It’s good that health class is attempting to educate the students about eating disorders. However, another way to help build upon the curriculum would be to have open discussions with the students in the class. After the movies, teachers could discuss with the class what they found out-of-date or relatable. This extra layer could incorporate the students into the class more and help them to hear how their classmates feel when it comes to body image. These discussions could add comfort to students who need to know they are not alone, and that body image struggles are happening more often than they think.

HEALTH

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10 in depth

design and graphic by julia steiner O

ur physical appearance is just one of the many things that factor into the way we view ourselves and what choices we make. For this issue of The Lance, our staff decided to focus our in-depth on body image. We explored the ways in which body image can affect us and how it has changed throughout the years. Below are some helpful definitions regarding body image. DISCLAIMER: Not all eating disorders are listed in the definitions.

Definitions to know:

a n L c e on: e h T

BODY IMAGE

thoughts, perceptions and attitudes about their Body Image: One’s physical appearance. How do you see yourself and feel about your body (e.g., height, shape and weight) when you look in the mirror?

health disorder in Body Dysmorphic Disorder : Awhichmental you can’t stop thinking about one or more perceived defects or flaws in your appearance. These flaws typically appear minor or can’t be seen by others, but you may feel so embarrassed, ashamed or anxious that you may avoid many social situations.

disorder characterized by weight loss, difficulties Anorexia Nervosa : Amaintaining an appropriate body weight for

height, age, and stature and, in many individuals, distorted body image. People with anorexia generally restrict the number of calories and the types of foods they eat. eating disorder characterized by a cycle of Bulimia Nervosa : An bingeing and compensatory behaviors such as self-induced vomiting designed to undo or compensate for the effects of binge eating.

Binge Eating Disorder:

An eating disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of eating large quantities of food; a feeling of a loss of control during the binge; experiencing shame or distress afterwards; and not regularly using unhealthy compensatory measures (e.g., purging) to counter the binge eating.

The definition for body dysmorphic disorder was found on the Mayo Clinic’s website, and the others were paraphrased from the National Eating Disorders Association’s website.

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People are defined by their body image, but they should be defined by the kind of person that they are. Everybody is different, and that’s what makes this world beautiful. If we were all the same, it would be so boring . . I think we need to embrace our diffferences and the fact that we do look different from everybody else. Being beautiful on the inside means a lot more.

Head of Physical Education Department Sally Shepherd National Eating Disorders Helpline: 1-(800)-931-2237 National Alliance on Mental Ilness: 1-(800)-950-6264

Trigger Warning: This in-depth contains material that may be sensitive for some readers.

design by angela li photo by lindsey carraher

CRISSCROSS A

in depth 11

Senior shares intense daily workout by theo jansen regimen

“I used to run a lot,” Michelle t 5 a.m. on an average school day, most high schoolers can Wilmers said. “My knees got kind be found either sound asleep or frantically trying to finish of sore with all of my running, so I homework. For senior Annika Wilmers, this is not the case. decided to try something different.”

Every morning, she goes to CrossFit Elkhorn and participates Michelle Wilmers said that in their morning group training sessions. Wilmers said CrossFit is a great bonding these workouts help her feel ready for the school day. activity for parents to “It’s a really nice way to start my day,” Wilmers said. “It do with their children. really wakes me up, so instead of coming to school really “We have a blast groggy, even if I’m tired from the workout, I’m pretty awake.” together,” Michelle Wilmers Wilmers is a competitive swimmer, but she said. “It is so much fun to see said that CrossFit training is extremely different her … be super competitive and than the training she does for swimming. grow and get better obviously, “I used to think that I really didn’t have any the more practice that she coordination outside of the water,” Wilmers said. “The puts in.” water has definitely not babied me, but I’ve taken advantage of it because I’m really supported in the water. I don’t have to rely on muscles to stabilize me. When I first started [CrossFit], I was really awful at running, and I really had no coordination.”

CrossFit has been about more than just exercise for Wilmers. She said it has also sparked a lifestyle change.

“I’ve really stepped up my nutrition, which has changed a lot,” Wilmers said. “It fuels your body a lot more when you think about what you’re eating.”

Co-owner of CrossFit Elkhorn Trevor Baxter is one of Wilmer’s trainers and started the CrossFit program in 2014.

He said that the classes include a wide range of exercises.

“We are a strength and conditioning program that focuses on a variety of different movements,” Baxter said. “[These] movements include gymnastics, barbell movements, dumbbell movements [and] aerobic movements such as rowing, biking and running. We try to have a bunch of variety with those movements.”

Wilmers said that the CrossFit classes have led to more success in swimming. All of the hard work and early mornings have paid off in the pool.

“I definitely feel like I’m a lot stronger,” Wilmers said. “I’m able to use a lot of muscles that I didn’t know I’m not using, like muscles I didn’t know I had. [I noticed] muscles that, when we first started doing some of the workouts, I’d be like, ‘Okay, this has never hurt before, but I know if I use that in the water it’s going to benefit me in the future.’”

Wilmers said that despite all of the benefits she has seen, she hasn’t been able to convince other high school students to try CrossFit with her.

“It’s probably because when I talk about it, I’m like, ‘Oh yeah, I go at 5:00 in the morning,’” Wilmers said.

“Waking up that early is really hard for a lot of kids our age.”

Even though no high school students will join her, Wilmers said that she still has a reliable training partner: her mother, Michelle Wilmers.

Michelle Wilmers, who said she has been taking part in CrossFit classes for a little over a year, goes almost every morning with her daughter.

Baxter said that after all of those tough workouts, there are multiple ways for participants to see their personal growth from participating in the program.

“We will retest workouts, so we test and retest the same workouts throughout the year,” Baxter said. “We also do body fat measuring testing.”

Annika Wilmers said that taking CrossFit classes and seeing personal growth is an easy way to improve one’s personal body image.

“When you first walk in, you see so many different people,” Annika Wilmers said. “You see the super-duper ripped people, but then you definitely see some people that are trying to lose weight. No matter who you are, when you walk in, you can feel like you relate to somebody there. Even if you’re not trying to lose weight, but you’re trying to have a better lifestyle or gain more muscle, you can still find those types of people.

As you go on, you can see your progress super easily … It doesn’t take very long. It kind of hits you hard.”

Michelle Wilmers said she has also seen a lot of personal growth through CrossFit training.

“I feel much stronger for sure,” Michelle Wilmers said.

“I’m older, so, for me, it’s more about mobility. Obviously the older you get, it’s kind of hard to do a lot of things you did when you were younger, so I feel a big difference there.”

CrossFit has a well-established base in the United States, but Baxter said it is growing in popularity around the world. He said that although everyone can enjoy the classes, there is a specific group of people who would benefit greatly from participating.

“Anybody that is interested in changing their current fitness routine [or] anybody that’s interested in finding this old sport feel [would be interested],” Baxter said. “So, let’s say you were a former athlete in high school or college, and you graduated from those, and you miss having that camaraderie or environment. Those are typically the kind of people who end up trying out CrossFit.” Annika Wilmers said she would recommend CrossFit to those who are looking to improve their body image.

“When you’re surrounded by a lot of people who have really positive body images of themselves, it really rubs off on other people,” Annika Wilmers said. “We’re all in there to motivate and encourage each other … Everybody in there is there to motivate you and tell you, ‘You’re looking great. You’re looking so much better. You’re doing so much better.’ You can tell you’re getting stronger. I would highly recommend it just because it focuses not just on strength. You’re not just going to build up a bunch of muscle mass, you’re also going to learn how to move your body in ways that you never thought you were going to.”

12 in depth

design by eleanor dodge photos by cassandra shea

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STARVING FOR A SENSE OF CONTROL Freshman Ella Kirkpatrick reflects on her battle with anorexia

by ella kirkpatrick

I

t’s a daily battle, one I might be fighting for the rest of my life. That’s the scary part of a recovery story though: never knowing if yours will have a happy ending.

Around two years ago, I found myself shuffling through the doors of a Children’s Hospital building. Each step I took led me closer to the inevitable diagnosis I knew was coming.

After just a few meetings with therapists, nutritionists and dieticians, I knew my diagnosis would be anorexia nervosa.

Every aspect of myself had become my illness, yet putting the label on what had become my life still came as a shock to me.

The development of my anorexia turned my mind into a complex cocktail of chemical imbalances and bottled emotions. It was the biggest roadblock I’ve ever had put in front of me. In the time before my illness came to fruition, I never dealt with my emotions, whether they surrounded my parents’ divorce or a disappointing test score. Regardless of their source, the emotions I tried so hard to bury ended up eating me alive. I figured that maybe if I talked about any ugliness in my heart, from anger to shame, it just might make those feelings more impactful than if I kept them to myself. I thought if I never told anyone I was hurting, then I wasn’t hurting in the first place. If I never said I hated myself, then maybe I wouldn’t.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve struggled with debilitating Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). So, I also never knew how to be okay with something not being the way I saw it in my head. Because of a lack of healthy emotional coping partnered with mental illness, it wasn’t an unlikely possibility that these would combine and start working against me more. They were also targeting how I viewed my worth and my body.

After a few years, I started to restrict how much I ate in an effort to heal my emotions and my view of myself and my body. These restrictions started taking over my life when I eliminated sweets and desserts from my diet. I realized I could cut the foods I perceived as “bad” or “evil” from my diet, and I couldn’t stop.

Next, I moved to restricting snacks to eliminate excess calories. This process of blaming food for how I perceived my body did nothing but continue to break me down until

“

I had nutrition labels and my caloric totals written behind my eyelids. my calories never exceeded 600 a day. Twenty-three grams of carbs was an anxiety attack in a granola bar package, and a teaspoon of peanut butter just looked like a half hour on the Stairmaster.

I saw complex carbohydrates and calories in every crumb of my half-eaten slice of toast. I had nutrition labels and my caloric totals written behind my eyelids. It felt as though every last anatomical area of my brain was so chained down by my disorder that I couldn’t think of anything else.

Being told I looked healthy translated to someone saying I looked fat. My family saying I looked like a skeleton was a compliment. Starving was a success; dinner was a failure. I never saw that every day I was engulfed in anorexia was just another day of commiting a slow suicide. I didn’t care if I couldn’t go up a flight of stairs at the middle school without my heart trying to escape through the indents of my rib cage because I had skipped my lunch.

I didn’t pay attention to the obvious stares in the health class lessons on eating disorders, because I always believed if they thought I was anorexic, then deep down they might admire it. One morning, I pried myself from my shower, Head and Shoulders shampoo still dripping from my hair, unable to finish simply bathing because I couldn’t breathe.

I couldn’t stand. I couldn’t see anything but fuzzy static.

That morning, I looked death in the eye, and it never even mattered because she had a 25 inch waist.

I never believed that my actions and thought processes were normal. I knew celery wasn’t a meal and that a bite of a Bratwurst wouldn’t make me obese, but it wasn’t something I could stop. It was never that simple. My friends and family

design by eleanor dodge photos by cassandra shea

tried everything they could think of to get me to eat. My mom would beg me to have a handful of pistachios, but I couldn’t help but hide them in my pockets to discard later. I’d bring a granola bar to school as my “breakfast” and pretend I’d eaten it to keep my friends and family off my back. Then it was just added to the bags of uneaten food I’d have to take back to school with me and throw out in the morning.

This way, there was no proof that I was starving myself. It’s funny to think that I didn’t know nearly everybody could already tell I wasn’t eating. All they had to do was glance in my direction.

I wanted to eat, but something in me couldn’t do it. It physically hurt me to think about possibly gaining half a pound, letting myself have a dinner roll or getting ice cream with the rest of the family without walking as fast as my legs would take me to the bathroom to purge in a matter of five minutes.

Anorexia is an eating disorder, but like the majority of these illnesses, it’s about so much more than just the food.

Sure, my illness started with an aspect mainly focused on my body and weight, but I could see that it wasn’t completely about my body. In reality, it was an addiction and an emotional escape. It was never a choice. If anything, it was my mind trying to protect me from my emotions by killing me. It was a way I could control the parts of my life I had never healed from: the things that still throw me off to this day. But after months after being in recovery, I realized that it’s not a way to control your life. It’s the disorder controlling you. That’s a hell of a fight, and if I stayed in it I would not have recovered to where I am now.

My anorexia was never what I was taught in a health

“

in depth 13 -

or psychology class. As accurate as the portrayal of clinical symptoms is, the emotional side of eating disorders is barely shown. I was never taught how eating disorders can break apart families, ruin friendships and completely stop an individual’s life. Now I know that these experiences are too personal and detailed to explain in a two hour lecture.

So often, the reality of eating disorders can be brushed aside because we never want to confront the pain they cause. Although, telling this story doesn’t hurt now because these words are so twisted by diagnoses and definitions.

They are such a desensitized part of my life that I never truly want to relive. Hearing my grandfather tell me that maybe I wouldn’t bite my nails if I just ate something, or my brother marching in on me making blueberry scones for the family just to tell me, “That shirt makes you look anorexic,” are memories I will never unhear. These words will forever reverberate through my body, just to blur the image I see on my scale. They’ll try to convince me that the number will determine my worth or my beauty.

No matter how long ago these things were said, or how many months I spent in a recovery center just days after hearing them, I will never stop feeling the sting they left. In the end, I know I will never be able to push every memory of my disorder out of my head, but I don’t want to. Now I can look back and thank myself for being a survivor rather than a statistic. I know that anorexia is the worst, yet best thing that has ever happened to me. Any eating disorder is no fun ride in the slightest, and if anything, it is absolute hell. But, without facing anorexia head on, I wouldn’t be half the fighter that I am today.

Anorexia is an eating disorder, but like the majority of these il nesses, it’s about so much more than just the food.

Freshman Ella Kirkpatricks’ body is covered in words that symbolize her experiences with anorexia as she poses for photos taken by her mom ,Cassandra Shea

14 in depth

comic and design by jane knudsen

comic and design by jane knudsen

in depth 15

16 in depth The Renaissance The Renaissance ideal was a preference for softer and chubbier women. A higher weight was a sign of wealth at the time, as the rich had more access to food.

Larger bodies were also seen as more fertile. Past eras, like ancient Greece, had similar ideals.

infographic by abby schreiber The Victorian Era While obesity was a sign of wealth at the beginning of the Victorian Era, overconsumption became a symptom of moral failings by the 1890s. At the same time, there was an increased fear of female sexuality, resulting in a small hourglass figure being the ideal.

Signs of beauty aligned with signs of illnesses like tuberculosis, including pale skin, weakness, frailty and thinness in order to keep women less sexually appealing.

Clothing in this era consisted of wide skirts with more petticoats, hoop supports and corsets to emphasize the hourglass figure, making it difficult for women to move properly.

The Gibson Girl

The 1920s

The turn of the century continued the trend towards a thinner female body. The Gibson Girl, portrayed by the illustrations of Charles Dana Gibson, was similar to the Victorian ideal but idealized a healthier and fitter figure. Evelyn Nesbit (1884 - 1967), seen as the world’s first supermodel, was the epitome of this ideal: she was slender and tall, but with a large bust and wide hips. Dresses were cut tighter to show a woman’s real figure, rather than Victorian dresses, which greatly exaggerated a woman’s hips and waist.

The flapper look, which consisted of a boyish figure and a generally androgynous look, is a staple for this decade. The ideal woman lacked hips, breasts or a defined waist, similar to a prepubescent figure. The notion that women should have this impossibly small body led to a larger number of modern women being conscious of their image.

BEHINDTHEPERFECTBODY The Golden Age of Hollywood Marilyn Monroe, the golden girl of Hollywood, was the center of 1950s beauty ideals. Women were expected to have a voluptuous hourglass figure and a large emphasis was placed on the bust.

Although this is seen as a time where larger bodies were more beloved, celebrities were still significantly smaller than the average American woman. Stars of the 1950s still atestrict diets to keep a low weight, as Marilyn Monroe showed in her 1952 interview with Pageant Magazine where she shared that she would only eat two eggs, broiled steak, carrots and a hot fudge sundae in a typical day.

A timeline of female beauty ideals throughout history by abby schreiber

Twiggy

The Supermodel Era

The 21st Century Ideal

The 1960s brought back flapper trends, with women chasing after the small chest, boyish frame and overall a more prepubescent look.

Dame Lesley Lawson, known by her nickname Twiggy, was the face of this dangerously small ideal. High expectations for a low Body Mass Index (BMI) led to an extreme rise in crash diets and diet pills. The Twiggy look continued for many decades, reflected by the “heroin chic” look from the 1990s, where women sought to be very thin and somewhat sickly. This still represents the modern supermodel ideal.

The 1980s turned away from the popular frail figure from the previous decades and put a higher emphasis on fitness. Women were encouraged to keep their weight low through exercises like aerobic workout videos, not just dieting.

This resulted in an expectation that women should be toned but not overly muscular. After the death of Karen Carpenter in 1983 due to eating disorder-related complications, anorexia nervosa and awareness of the disease rose in the media.

In 2019, women aim for the “slim-thick” figure seen in celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Beyoncé. This ideal alludes to women from the 1910s and 1950s and includes a small waist with large hips and breasts. The pressure for women to have a “perfect” figure these days has resulted in the use of laxative teas, waist trainers, Facetune and even plastic surgery. While expectations are still strict, the last few years have shown an increase in body positivity on social media and in campaigns from brands like Aerie, Dove, Savage X Fenty and many more.

Sources: HuffPost - Ushistory.org - Time - Library of Congress - Cultura Colectiva - BBC

photos by brooklyn james design and graphic by julia steiner

HUMANS of WESTSIDE Thanksgiving Edition

feature

17

What are you thankful for?

Kensie TeKrony Freshman “I’m thankful for sports because they keep me busy, and I have met a lot of my friends through them.

Growing up playing sports has taught me a lot and helped me develop into the person I am today.”

Jack Moseman Junior “I’m thankful for my family and my teachers and their support in my high school career. ”

Yoana (Lily) Gutierrez

Sophomore

“I’m thankful for being able to live in this country. Not a lot of people are able to, and a lot of people get sent back to their country, but I’m here and I’m from León Mexico. I’m able to have a really good education too.”

Eden Jensen Junior “I’m thankful for my car, because I can get around places without having a parent, and I can do what I want when I want. I’m lucky to have gottten the car I wanted, although I didn’t really deserve it.”

by brooklyn james

Brittany Hernandez Senior “I’m thankful for my family, my education and basically my life in general. I enjoy that my family is really close together and we do a lot of things together.”

Holly Jensen English Instructor “I’m thankful for my husband, my dog, my friends, my family and my opportunity to teach all of the wonderful and kind students at Westside.”

Bob Mulligan Hallway Supervisor “I’m thankful for my family because we’ve been through a lot of hard times and been through a lot of stuff. I think, without them, I definitely wouldn’t be the kind and hardworking person I am now.”

18 feature

design by eleanor dodge graphic by angela li

BEHIND THE SCENES by izzy dodge

M

ost people in the Westside community have probably heard of Westside High School’s varsity show choir, the Amazing Technicolor Show Choir (ATSC), and their band, Amazing Technicolor Show Band (ATSB), but there is a lesser known force pulling everything together behind the scenes. This group is a stage crew made up of all dads, known as the Dad Crew or ATSD. “[ATSD] is Amazing Technicolor Show Dads, which is a shameless rip-off of the Amazing Technicolor Show Choir and the Amazing Technicolor Show Band,” ATSD member Terry Kroeger said.

It all started when Doran Johnson, the director of A T S C , decided the students of the show choir needed some extra help when setting up equipment for competitions. He called upon Marty Barnhart and Troy Upton, parents of show choir students Emma Barnhart and Brett and Aidan Upton, to assemble a team of dads to help them do so.

“Other schools have been doing it for a long time,” Johnson said. “We haven’t needed [extra help] because we didn’t have anything really complex. So, last year, when we added the extra platforms, we ran out of humans to get everything on stage where it needed to be. So, it kind of arose out of necessity last year.

Their job is to set up all the extra platforms and band risers and that kind of stuff.”

The group has grown since last year, with many more dads willing to participate, according to Johnson. With the show choir season starting up, ATSC rehearses almost every day to prepare their show for the stage. They aren’t the only ones rehearsing. Johnson and the dads on Dad Crew last year, such as Kroeger and Upton, said they believe ATSD will be much more prepared for this year’s competition season. They have held practices for the Dad Crew, which involved going over each position, important

equipment and timing. They even have their own version of the ATSC t-shirts, with a twist distinguishing them as the Dad Crew.

“

[ATSD] is Amazing Technicolor Show Dads, which is a shameless rip-off of the Amazing Technicolor Show Choir and the Amazing Technicolor Show Band.

ATSD member Terry Kroeger

ATSD

changes the game

“Last year it was a little bit different,” Upton said.

“The [group] got thrown together right before the first competition, and [we] didn’t have any practice. We went on to do it for the first time, and it was kind of a hectic, bad time. We didn’t know that there was a time limit and got points docked from the group, which we were not too thrilled about. This year, we decided we were going to meet and go through the movements on stage, what’s going to be required of us, what each adult needs to do and trying to get our timing down. So, we have had some practice time already to ensure it is a lot more organized than last year.”

ATSD is not just about getting the stage set up for the show. It’s about parents getting involved in show choir and being able to see the work and effort their kids put into the group. Parents also get to see some of what goes on behind the scenes during competition season. Senior Chad Fey, a member of ATSC, said his dad is in ATSD, and he thinks the group is a great way for his dad and others to see how they prepare for the season.

“I think it is important for families to get involved because it gives them perspective,” Fey said. “You can see it through the students’ eyes of how things happen, or you get a better idea of what’s going on behind the scenes.

It’s just another opportunity to connect with your students, their friends, their parents and create a big network and a big community of people that put on a show, product or whatever it is they are working on.”

ATSD gives the dads a chance to meet new families whose kids have similar interests.

They now have created a bond through their newfound involvement in the show choir world. Many of the dads have said that ATSD has given them a new group of friends.

“Truth be told, it’s a great bunch of guys, and we love to see them,” Kroeger said. “Just the guys, just the people. The whole show choir community, if you will, is really just filled with people we like to be around, so it’s just a fun thing in that way. It’s a great camaraderie, and I just really like this group of guys.”

design by malia battafarano photo by taylor weis

SPILLING THE TEE How two time state golf champion Kaitlyn Hanna has paved her path to success

See page 20.

Sophomore Kaitlyn Hanna shoots her chip shot to the green in a golf tournament last fall.

sports 19

20 sports

design by malia battafarano

Sophomore Kaitlyn Hanna shares her journey to excellence by josh siegel

O

n a chilly day in mid-October, sophomore golfer Kaitlyn Hanna took out her putter for what might have been her last shot of the season. And, like nearly every round that came before, Hanna was ahead of the pack.

“At that point, the wind was going right into our face[s],” Hanna said. “I didn’t know at the time that I was in the place to be the state champ, so I just had to keep my mind cool and just finish off the round.”

Finishing off the round is exactly what she did. As she knocked in her final putt, Hanna achieved the title many high school golfers can only dream of. But this wasn’t the first time Hanna was in this position. In 2018, as a freshman, Hanna became the first girls golfer from Westside to win a state championship. Now, she is the first to do it twice.

Hanna’s dad, Terry Hanna, used to run the Cox Classic Golf Tournament at Champions Club in the early 2000s.

Kaitlyn Hanna first found her love for the sport at these tournaments. Terry Hanna said that she knew what to do from the moment she teed off for the first time. “[Kaitlyn] showed interest in golf when she was three years old,” Terry Hanna said. “She had a natural swing right away. She always had a great mindset, good temperament and was athletic. And, if you have those three things, you’re going to be a good golfer.”

From there, Kaitlyn Hanna said she became obsessed with the game. As she grew older, her golfing skills only got better. By the time she was seven, Hanna was competing in tournaments around the metro against kids three to four years older than her. She said that these competitions were unique experiences she shared with her father.

“It’s really brought us closer on the course, because we travel a lot over the summer,” Kaitlyn Hanna said. “He’s with me if I am struggling throughout the round, so he helps me there, and sometimes I even help him too.”

Barry Glanzer, a P.E. teacher at Prairie Lane Elementary, first met Kaitlyn Hanna as one of his students. He said the two used to talk about golf back when Kaitlyn Hanna was a fifth grader. Now, Glanzer is the coach of the girls golf team and was given the task of improving Hanna’s game.

“The biggest thing we have been focusing on is making her feel comfortable on her club selection,” Glanzer said.

“You always want, when golfing, to feel real comfortable with the shot. She’s so motivated, that whatever we do,

she focuses on. You never have to tell her to stay focused.

She goes above and beyond.”

Glanzer, a former “Mr. Basketball” in South Dakota and member of the University of South Dakota Sports Hall of Fame for the same sport, has been coaching the golf team for 23 years. Kaitlyn Hanna said the advice from an experienced coach is really beneficial.

“He is a great coach, especially for high school,” Kaitlyn Hanna said. “He really knows the game, as he plays in a lot of tournaments as well. Just to get the feedback from him is really helpful.”

However, Kaitlyn Hanna said she knows that just doing

“

[Kaitlyn Hanna’s] work ethic in golf is inspiring. She knew that she had to put the time in because other girls in the state were doing the same thing, and they wanted to knock her off the podium.

Kaitlyn Hanna’s father, Terry Hanna

what she does in practice isn’t good enough to achieve high goals such as a state title. She said she spends a great portion of her time outside of school playing the game she loves.

“Every day after school, I usually go and practice for two hours or so,” Kaitlyn Hanna said. “I’ll go play a few rounds or a few holes. Mostly, I like to go to the practice range and hit a few shots, along with putting and chipping.

It really helped me perfect my game, especially out of season when I am playing those bigger tournaments.”

Both Terry Hanna and Glanzer said they are pleased by the work ethic shown by the young golfer.

“Her work ethic in golf is inspiring,” Terry Hanna said. “She knew that she had to put the time in because

other girls in the state were doing the same thing, and they wanted to knock her off the podium.”

One of the unique things about high school golf is that each school competes with a team of golfers. Glanzer said that while Hanna may be more skilled than her teammates, she does a lot to help them without even knowing it.

“You have to have respect for her, because you know she won two state championships,” Glanzer said. “She’s very kind with all of the girls, and it makes them better.

They see her and go, ‘Wow, I have a long way to go,’ and we have since seen improvement in all of the kids.”

Terry Hanna added to this, saying that he knows his daughter never wants to be the center of attention.

“She really enjoys the team,” Terry Hanna said. “I know that is really important to her, and she is really cautious that she doesn’t want to take attention away from the team. [Kaitlyn] would rather not get called up to something. She wants to let her golf do the talking.”

In the offseason, Kaitlyn Hanna stays busy by competing in various golf tournaments and playing varsity basketball. This summer, she is planning to compete in some national golf tournaments with the hope of collegiate exposure and improving her skills.

“It’s good for her to play those tournaments, and I am excited to see how she competes,” Terry Hanna said.

“Nothing surprises me anymore. But these girls play yearround and travel around the country. I would be happy as heck if she could finish in the top half.”

As far as what makes Kaitlyn Hanna so good besides pure talent, Terry Hanna said that his daughter has the perfect mental game for a golfer.

“As she’s been growing in this game, there have been a lot of expectations [from others], even before high school,” Terry Hanna said. “She’s handled it extremely well. [She’s] always calm, cool and collected.”

Glanzer agreed with Terry Hanna, saying that Kaitlyn Hanna exhibited these attributes in her recent title run.

“If she has a bad hole, she doesn’t let it get her down,” Glanzer said. “She realizes that it is one shot at a time, and she can rebound if she has a bad hole. In the state tournament, for example, she had a couple of bad holes, but then she bounced back.”

With two state championships in her back pocket, Kaitlyn Hanna said she knows the expectations for the coming years are high. But to her, simplicity is the key to her success.

“I don’t really think a lot when I am playing,” Kaitlyn Hanna said. “So, I just go out there and have fun, keeping in mind that I have been doing this for a long time.”

arts and entertainment 21

design and graphics by julia steiner

THANKSGIVING MOVIES A

through the

G E S

Recommendations for this holiday season M

any families enjoy gathering around the TV and relaxing on the couch during the holidays. In case you are stuck on what to watch on this holiday break, here are some Thanksgiving movie recommendations to watch together.

by katie palais

“A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” (1973) PG In this cartoon classic, Charlie Brown and his crew learn about the story of Thanksgiving. Peppermint Patty arranges for everyone to have Thanksgiving dinner at Charlie’s house. At the meal, the group consumes a feast made of mostly junk food, like popcorn and jelly beans. When Peppermint Patty is outraged about the dinner, Linus tells the gang the story of the first Thanksgiving. This classic movie is great for the kids and the rest of the family to enjoy.

“Addams Family Values” (1993) PG-13 In this comedy, the Addams family celebrates the Thanksgiving holiday with the new addition to the family, a baby boy. The Addams family’s nanny, Debbie Jelinsky, (Joan Cusack) takes care of siblings Wednesday (Christina Ricci) and Pugsley (Jimmy Workman), who are not too keen on their new brother. The children hatch a plan to get rid of this baby by any means possible during the holiday celebration. This movie is witty and a nice watch for the holiday because of the dark humor.

“National Lampoon’s Holiday Reunion” (2003) PG-13 In this comedy, Mitch Snider (Judge Reinhold) and his family spend the upcoming Thanksgiving weekend visiting his longlost relative living in Idaho. The group finds trouble when Mitch and his cousin Woodrow (Bryan Cranston) argue tooth and nail. To add to the awkward situation, the turkey for the holiday meal won’t die. This witty comedy is an enjoyable watch because of the light-hearted humor.

“Planes, Trains and Automobiles” (1987) R In this comedy, family man and oddball Neal Page (Steve Martin) is trying to get home to Chicago to spend Thanksgiving with his wife (Laila Robins) and kids. His flight is rerouted to Kansas because of a snowstorm. His day gets worse when he is forced to bunk up with talkative Del Griffith (John Candy), whom he finds extremely annoying. Together, they must overcome the insanity of holiday travel to get home.

This comedy is a great for a laugh with your relatives.

“Home for the Holidays” (1995) PG-13 In this comedy/drama, Claudia Larson (Holly Hunter) travels back to her childhood home for a Thanksgiving dinner with her crazy and dysfunctional family. Claudia is irritated by her family, but the holiday gets interesting when she develops romantic feelings for her brother’s friend Leo Fish (Dylan McDermott). This comedy is funny and entertaining for the family during the holiday.

“Free Birds” (2015) PG In this animated adventure movie, a turkey (Owen Wilson) named Reggie is living the good life after being pardoned by the president from ever becoming a meal. Reggie’s friend, a turkey named Jake (Woody Harrelson), needs his help. They travel back in time to 1621, just before the first Thanksgiving. The plan is to prevent turkeys from ever becoming Thanksgiving feasts. Unfortunately, the two birds meet colonist Myles Standish (Colm Meaney) who was out hunting for all the hungry pilgrims. This creates a detour in their plan to save the turkey race. The movie is great for families with younger children.

IT’S TOO EARLY! Christmas festivities should not begin until after Thanksgiving by will christiansen

T

here is nothing quite like driving through downtown Omaha and seeing the holiday lights in the trees illuminating the Old Market while listening to Frank Sinatra’s version of “Let it Snow.” Each holiday deserves its own time in the limelight, but when is the right time to get in the holiday spirit? Each year, holiday lights and decor are put up in people’s front yards far too early. Winter holidays get hyped up by the media and companies trying to sell their products, and it seems people forget about Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is a phenomenal holiday that is underrated. Nothing beats playing touch football with your cousins at your grandparents’ house or watching “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” and then having an amazing turkey feast. But, every year, it’s always overshadowed by the anticipation of other holidays, and a factor that plays into the anticipation is decor.

I can understand why some people put their outdoor decor out early if there is bad weather expected in late November, like the Midwest has had in the past.

Putting up lights in the snow can be dangerous, and it can be especially dangerous for the elderly, which is why some might put lights up before Thanksgiving.

Math instructor Steven Emmerich said he feels strongly that holiday lights should not be put up too early. Otherwise, they encroaches into other holidays.

“Personally, I believe after Thanksgiving is the right time,” Emmerich said. “I would prefer a little into December, but we should do one holiday at a time.”

Then there’s the issue of people leaving their decor up for too long after the holidays. Emmerich said that when he moved into his new home, he saw holiday decor up in his neighborhood all the way into February.

This isn’t as big of an issue as putting lights up too early because, at that point, the weather would make it very difficult to take them down. The months of January and February can be a little dreary, so having lights up in these months is not a bad thing. I think an appropriate time to have lights down by is Valentine’s Day. Valentine’s Day is 51 days after the holidays, and all the hype from Christmas has died down by then.

Another thing is the issue of holiday music. Holiday music is a great part of the season, but I think it should follow similar guidelines to holiday decor. I think once Thanksgiving is finished, radio stations should start running seasonal channels. It seems like the most logical time. However, some radio channels, such as Sirius XM, start their music on Nov. 1. This is a great example of businesses trying to shove the holidays in your face so consumers will buy more. People are just getting done with Halloween, and then they send you straight into the holiday season! There’s no time for Thanksgiving.

I think all of the winter holidays deserve all the credit and praise they get, but I think they should be separate from the other holidays, specifically Thanksgiving.

It’s unfair that these “super holidays” can overshadow a smaller holiday like Thanksgiving.

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design and graphic by isabella tyler

PREMIUM PIES Finding the best pumpkin pie in Omaha

W

hen I think of classic fall foods, I immediately think of all things pumpkin, but especially pumpkin pie. Every Thanksgiving, my Nana makes her beloved pumpkin pie, but I can’t enjoy that pie throughout all of October and November. So, I went on a mission to find the best pumpkin pie you can purchase in the Westside district. The contenders for this competition were places in which you can order the pie from the bakery but also eat it sitting down. I based these rankings on four categories: buying experience, pie appearance, crust and filling. Each of the categories is scored out of five and based on my personal pie opinions.

HyVee

by virginia jansen

For Hy-Vee, I just went in and bought the pie, but there were no problems or waits: 5 The appearance was sleek and looked delicious: 5 The crust fell off when cut and was doughy and wet on the bottom, but it had a great flavor: 3 The taste of the filling was a little candle-like, but not horribly so. There is a great texture to it, and the spices come through really well: 4

TOTAL SCORE: 17

Farmhouse The environment of Farmhouse was very welcoming. I walked in looking confused, but I was helped right away, both quickly and kindly: 5 The appearance is very similar to other pies, but there is a very odd film on top that is cracked and a bit displeasing: 3.5 The crust is flaky and there is just the right amount in proportion to the filling. It’s a good-tasting crust with the perfect hint of sweetness: 5 The filling is very heavily spiced with an aggressive pumpkin flavor. I think it could use a bit more sugar to offset the other strong flavors: 4

TOTAL SCORE: 17.5

Village Inn Village Inn’s environment was not very welcoming. It took a while for me to be helped, and the workers seemed indifferent: 3 The pie looked very basic in most ways, but there were some odd bumps and discolorations on top. The crust was very uneven and crumbly: 3 The crust was very bland, and it just fell off of the pie, making the pie hard to eat: 2 The filling didn’t taste very good. It didn’t taste like pumpkin but more like a Bath and Body Works fall candle, and it was very displeasing to eat: 2

TOTAL SCORE: 10

Wheatf ields The service was very kind, but it was just a little bit confusing as to where to go, so it took a bit of time: 4 The appearance of the pie was delightful with a shiny top and neat crust: 5 The crust was nice and flaky with a hint of sweetness. It balanced the filling in terms of flavor and proportion: 5 The filling was a delicious balance of sweet and spicy with a great pumpkin flavor: 5

TOTAL SCORE: 19

design by jane knudsen graphics by luke steiner

BLACK FRIDAY he term “Black Friday” was first used to describe the crash of the U.S. stock market in 1869. Two financers named Jay Gould and Jim Fisk worked to buy all of America’s gold in hopes of selling it for an enormous profit, but their plan was foiled and many went bankrupt. Later, police in Philadelphia used the term in the 1950s to describe the disorder in the city the day after Thanksgiving, before an annual football game on Saturday. Police had to work long shifts because of the increase in traffic, crowds and shoplifters.

Today, most people affiliate the Black Friday tradition with retailers.

According to the History Channel, retailers reinvented Black Friday in the late 1980s so that they would have a way to profit from it. A common myth is that after being in the red, or losing profits, stores would earn a profit, or go into the black, the day after Thanksgiving.

This is due to customers spending money on reduced prices of items.

The negativity of Black Friday was quickly forgotten, and it’s turned into the day it is now.

Currently, Black Friday is known as the day after Thanksgiving during which businesses and retailers offer reduced prices and special sales. This year, Nov. 29 is Black Friday and Dec. 2 is Cyber Monday. Black Friday has become a part of many Thanksgiving traditions and informally marks the beginning of the holiday shopping season for many people.

Cyber Monday is the Monday after Thanksgiving, which retailers promote as a day for sales and bargains for online shoppers.This combination of days allows for lots of sales, savings and chaos.

Local store Nebraska Furniture Mart, spends a lot of time preparing for Black Friday.

“We have strategic meetings throughout the year, [starting] where we discuss things that went well and anything that didn’t go well,” Andy Shefsky, a manager at Nebraska Furniture Mart, said. “Almost everyone in the company is involved in Black Friday.”

According to Shefsky, the Black Friday experience is enjoyable for staff and consumers.

“Black Friday is exciting at Nebraska Furniture Mart,” Shefsky said. “For employees, lots of people that work at Nebraska Furniture Mart don’t usually get to help customers, but on Black Friday, they do. Black Friday requires a great deal of teamwork and is fun for the employees.”

Shefsky said he believes that customers also share similar experiences during Black Friday.

“For some shoppers, Black Friday is an annual tradition,” Shefsky said. “Some even sleep outside the door the night before. The Black Friday experience can

T

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A consumer holiday by charlotte miller

be unique for each person, but we want it to be a fun experience for everyone.”

Shefsky said he has a few tips and tricks for shoppers participating in Black Friday.

“Make sure you go to the correct entrance that the certain item you’re looking for is at,” Shefsky said. “Since we have multiple buildings, you don’t want to come into the furniture section looking for a TV. We’re starting a new messaging system you can sign up for. It allows people to view a map of the store before it opens. If people are shopping as a team, have one person grab a shopping cart right away. Those are the first to go. You can also look for people leaving to snag a cart.”

Westside students have different opinions about Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

“Everything’s on sale,” junior Sebastian Goermar said. “So, I guess it’s good if you want to get something you’ve been wanting for a while.”

Others think Black Friday is pointless.

“Black Friday is a bit unnecessary,” freshman Ryann Taylor said. “It’s too crazy, but it really shouldn’t be, people are wack during Black Friday.”

Some enjoy the idea of Black Friday but not the actual shopping.

“I don’t like to shop that early,” staff member Gina Dukes said. “I love the sales, but I’m just not willing to go and fight the crowds.”

Participating in Black Friday and Cyber Monday has become a tradition for many consumers and many retailers, but make sure to strategize your purchases beforehand, so on Black Friday, you can focus on shopping and battling other shoppers for the best discounted goods.

However, the most important thing about Black Friday isn’t the deals.

“The most important thing is everyone’s safety,” Shefsky said. “People should remember that not everyone is going to get the item that they want.”

39% of students participate in Cyber Monday

These statistics are based on a nonscientific survey conducted

by The Lance with 294 responses

24 arts and entertainment

design by angela li photos by hannah kate kinney -

FRIENDSGIVING WHAT IS FRIENDSGIVING? “Friendsgiving” is an idea that has become popular around Thanksgiving time after being featured in a 2011 Bailey’s Irish Cream Thanksgiving ice cream ad. Friendsgiving is a cheerful event for everyone involved, both a reason to spend time with friends and indulge in food. Even though traditional Thanksgiving food has a reputation of being an arduous task to prepare, it doesn’t have to be that way.

With some simple recipes, Friendsgiving can be spent with friends rather than spent preparing the food itself!

roasted potatoes These potatoes only take about five minutes to prepare, making them an extremely simple side dish to complement your Friendsgiving meal. h t t p s : / / w w w. p i l l s b u r y. c o m / r e c i p e s / easy-oven-roasted-potatoes/fbd350189c25-4b44-a11a-16b31c21333c

peanut butter

“acorn” cookies These three-ingredient cookies will provide a perfectly sweet ending to the night. They are the perfect combination of cuteness and flavor.

What more could you want in a dessert? https://www.throughherlookingglass. com/peanut-butter-chocolate-acorns/

mac & cheese bites

thanksgiving recipes to share

by emma miller and hannah - kate kinney

These mac and cheese bites will make the perfect appetizer and be the star of the show.

Since they’re made in muffin tins, they are already split into personal serving sizes, ready to feed whomever might be attending your dinner party. https://www.tasteofhome.com/ recipes/mini-mac-cheese-bites/

roasted chicken Friendsgiving doesn’t have to be traditional. Turkey can be difficult to cook, and chicken is a much easier protein substitute. This roasted chicken and vegetable recipe only contains five ingredients, making it the perfect entrée to prepare with friends. It may take a little longer since it is a main dish option, so set aside some extra time. h t t p s : / / w w w. c o o k i n g f o r k e e p s . c o m / f i v e - i n gredient-sage-butter-faux-roasted-chicken/

Friendsgiving is a great way to spend time with friends while enjoying great food that doesn’t have to be time-consuming or difficult to prepare. To view the preparation and final products for some of these recipes, scan the following QR code to watch a WTV video!