Issue 2

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8701 Pacific St. Omaha, NE 68114 Volume 61 Issue 2

October 21, 2016

* FEATURE Check out the election indepth on pages 5-13

THE AFTERmath

Employees reflect upon effects of budget cuts 2 2

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LIBBY S E L I N E Additionally, the schedule is easier to adjust to. for the student body.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Former Spanish teacher Susie Sloup didn’t want to donate her old materials. It hurt too much.

The district announced at the end of the 20152016 school year that the K-6 Spanish curriculum would be cut in order to save money. Sloup was devastated.

She’d miss the team of Spanish teachers she had developed relationships with.

The silly songs she had used to begin class for over a decade.

Her kids from different elementary schools.

And she’d miss teaching the content that she loved.

At the end of the school year, if her students asked her about the budget cuts, sometimes she couldn’t help but cry.

“It’s different if you choose to move rather than if you’re forced to move, and we didn’t have a choice,” Sloup said. “The rug was pulled out from underneath us, and we [Spanish teachers] needed time to sift through our feelings but teaching didn’t end.”

Sloup now works for the district as an ELL teacher at Loveland Elementary. She’s glad she’s still able to follow her passion for language and cultures by interacting with students everyday.

Her new job is a challenge but she loves it.

“I really love teaching ELL because I love learning about language and culture,” Sloup said. “[Adjusting to not teaching Spanish] is a process I’m still going through. I thought I’d be okay in the summer when I thought about it and had time

BLANE McCANN SUPERINTENDENT

“It’s one thing to build a budget, but then you have to administer a budget,” McCann said. “Administering the budget always a little bit trickier than building one.”

At the high school, McCann works with new school principal Jay Opperman to make sure the budget is being implemented in the most effective way. However, some budget cut proposals that were meant to be implemented were not implemented. There was a supposed to be a cut in special education teachers, but the district discovered that there was an increasing need for those teachers so they did not make that cut.

“Between the time we built the budget and the time that school opened, our needs in Special Ed increased quite a bit,” McCann said. “We have to meet the needs of our kids.”

Even though Special Ed faculty members were not cut, McCann and his financial team claim that all budget cuts are “on target” implying that they are currently achieving the reductions. McCann and a financial team have been monitoring the budget to make sure they are on track through meetings and budget reports and monitor the revenue generated by the district.

Regardless of the current state of the budget, McCann wholeheartedly believes the needs of the students come first.

“It’s one thing to build a budget, but then you have to administer a budget...” to process it, and then the beginning of the school year was really hard again.”

Superintendent Blane McCann has noticed some struggles that the cuts have caused. In particular, elementary library services have been affected because those teachers have been put on rotation. Additionally, he is concerned about classes becoming too big. However, he tries to make cuts that will not cause multiple problems

Graphic by Sam Cohen

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A moving experience

NEWS

Haunted house relocates to new, permanent site

CYNT H IA F RA N C E STAFF WRITER

Chainsaws and screams are not good for business…with a few exceptions. One of those exceptions is usually right in front of Mang e l s e n ’s on 84th Street, but not this year. That missing exception is The Shadow’s Edge.

To many of the haunted attraction’s fans’ surprise, there will be no screams, no chainsaws, not even a haunted house. This year, the empty space between Mangelsen’s and its parking lot will stay empty, and it seems it will stay that way forever.

For the past 13 years, the haunted house has been entertaining its customers with a devilish array of horrific images, earning the recognition of hundereds of thousands of fans, which, according to Matt Mangelsen, the owner of Mangelsen’s, has been increasing in number since its debut.

The Shadow’s Edge started when a group of Mangelsen’s employees branched off and decided to start a haunted house. Ever since their debut in 2003, The Shadow’s Edge has made a yearly

appearance in the parking lot of Mangelsen’s, setting up in late September and operating until Halloween is over.

Since opening, thousands of Westside families have been subjected to the haunted attraction’s horror. Some Westside students have participated in the horror show as volunteer sfor The Shadow’s Edge as well.

“I thought [The Shadow’s Edge] was fun and a nice thing for people to do during the fall time,” said Danny Reinhardt, junior and a Shadow’s Edge volunteer. “I liked getting to scare people.” “[Upon hearing the news that Shadow’s Edge wouldn’t be operating this year], I was a little sad,” Reinhardt said. “I liked volunteering there and had a lot of fun doing it.”

The Shadow’s Edge has decided not to operate this year because they are working on a larger project.

The Shadow’s Edge is continuing on with an expansion plan and that will, after 13 years, be located at a permanent site. They are currently working on the construction of a brand new haunted house.

“I can’t give you any details,” Mangelsen said.

“The only thing I can tell you is that it’s going to

MATT MANGELSEN OWNER OF MANGELSEN’S

“I can’t give you any details. The only thing I can tell you is that it’s going to be twice the size of the original”

RAISE YOUR SCORE

be twice the size of the original.”

Although the scheduled reopening for The Shadow’s Edge is sometime in 2017, the exact date is unknown.

At this time of the year, there are still many unknowns about the new haunted house. However, one thing is definite.

“Because [The Shadow’s Edge] is permanent, it will be operational all year long.” Mangelsen said.

Graphic by Bella Radler

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NEWS

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The LANCE 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 $25 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.

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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 Celena Shepherd, Libby Seline; Managing Editors Jim Schueneman, Sam Cohen; Media Coordinator Madigan Brodsky; Design Editor Bella Radler; Copy Editor Emma Korengel; News Editor Steven Simon; Opionion Editor Alex Bergin; Sports Editors Trevor Mumford, Nolan Tracy; Arts and Entertainment Editor April Van Unen; Staff Writers Ryan Adkins, Maryam Akramova, Malia Battafarano, Cindy France, Destinry Howard, Theo Jansen, Sophie Knight, Tristan Newman, Aaron Norton, Nicole Petersen, Reese Pike, Julia Steiner, Nick Vincentini, Georgia Wimmer; Photographers Taylor Baca, Lili Fogland; Advisers Timothy Kaldahl, Jerred Zegelis.

Graphic by Emma Korengel

Editorial

Citizens should focus on congressional election In this election, we see time and time again people saying, “I’m with her because Trump can never be president,” or “Crooked Hillary will run us into a disaster; I have to vote for Trump.”

People are starting to vote against people instead of for others. We are so afraid of what one candidate or another is saying their vision for our country is that we forget their vision is not reality.

In the United States of America, we have three branches of government: legislative, executive and judicial. Within those branches is a system of checks and balances. What this means for us is that there is no one person or group of people in absolute control — not even our president. For example, in the nomination process for the Supreme Court of the United States, our president has the honor of choosing a person to be the judge, but Congress has the honor of approving this nomination. The Congress “checks the power” of the president to balance out the power.

Any potential policies need to have substantial support from multiple people in order to be passed and put into action. In this system, the president cannot just make laws and enact them.

They can pitch ideas, help write laws, support certain ideas or acts, but they alone cannot make the laws concrete. This is Congress’s job, and

since Congress is made up of leaders on both ends of the liberal and conservative scale and everywhere in between, nothing radical is ever likely to pass.

Even if our president gets a bill on his or her desk that he or she vetos, the bill goes back into Congress, and if people from across the nation — well, at least those elected into congress — believe it is right for the people, the bill can still pass. Our president cannot block things forever; he or she can only prevent them from passing his or her desk once. If the bill goes back into Congress and a two thirds majority passes it, it doesn’t matter what the president says.

Many people seem to believe that the president is going to define the future. Of course, the president is essentially one of the most powerful people in the world. However, there’s a whole group of people behind them that also make decisions, and we tend to almost ignore those people around election time. In this election especially, we can’t ignore them.

Let’s face it, neither presidential candidate is a perfect choice. Whether it’s corruption, racism, foreign policy or social policy, we can all find a few things in the candidates that we as Americans are a little ashamed of. The thing is, our choices don’t end there.

We all get to vote for our congressional rep-

Warrior Voice

resentatives. These are the people that challenge the president. They are the road to improving your communities, so if we don’t like the candidates that’s fine. We can challenge them by electing congressional leaders we do like. In 2014, according to the United States Census website, about 41.9 percent of us voted in congressional elections. That’s less than half of our country speaking for the whole. Do not fear our new president, as we can elect people that represent us without them in the picture.

One of the more obvious reasons we need not be scared of our next president, whomever that may be, is that they are only there for four or eight years. As humans, we look at time relatively and perceive years as long amounts of time, yet every era has to end. Four or eight years is not much time to do anything completely disastrous with the way our government is set up. Sure, they will have impact on the world around us for that time, but if we stay adamant in what the people want, we will find that no power-crazed person is completely taking over America. We have more faith in the American people than that.

This election isn’t over, and clearly we have a nasty fight ahead of us, but remember that no matter what side you are on, the next president is not the end of America.

How do you think the outcome of this election will affect our future?

George Flott, Freshman

““Things probably won’t change too much in the first term for either candidate. Maybe in the second term.”

Mily Loo, sophomore

Griffin Anderson, senior

“Hillary and Donald are “Either way the econoboth old and disliked by my is really going to be a large number of people. screwed.”

We need to see what the vice president candidates say most in this election to know what is coming.”

Mary Fast, Custodian “All we hear is Donald and Hillary name call each other. It’s time to get down to the nitty gritty rather than talking about past issues. Money talks BS walks.”

4

OPINION

PROTESTING THE PLEDGE PRO.....

D ESTINY H OWA R D everything that it stands for. It forces people to STAFF WRITER

In public schools across America the Pledge of Allegiance is said every morning before classes start. But when it comes to actually reciting the Pledge many students have chosen to sit in silence. There is a reason why choosing to sit is the best option for some. This country is supposed to value and be based on freedom and rights and that isn’t really the case for everyone living here. This makes it difficult to hold a high level of respect for the country itself. As a result, you have many who are unhappy and choose to use their voice and speak up about it.

The ethical reasoning behind sitting for the Pledge is that the “liberty and justice for all” phrase isn’t true for everyone in America. We live in a country where slavery, Jim Crow laws, segregation and racist criminal justice system were all once very prevalent issues. No one should be forced to stand and salute a country that has a history of systematic oppression and institutional racism.

Not only does racism factor into sitting down for the Pledge but also religion. The Pledge contains the phrase “One nation, under God.” But what about the students who don’t actually believe in God? Freedom of religion is something that everyone is entitled to, and individuals should not be judged because they refuse to say things that would go against their beliefs.

Sitting during the Pledge is about protesting

think about what they’re seeing and ask questions to gain a better understanding on why some are choosing to take this action. It shows people on the outside looking in that there are flaws within this country that simply can’t go ignored.

Anyone who chooses to exercise their first amendment right should be able to do so, no matter how controversial. Students shouldn’t be scrutinized for how they feel. If the United States doesn’t stand up and protect the rights of some of its citizens then why would these people stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.

In America, if you want to protest something it’s always expected to be peaceful.

So, why does sitting silently and respectful during the playing of the national anthem or the reciting of the pledge, label you as unpatriotic or disrespectful to the country and our troops?

The answer is that it shouldn’t. You can show pride in the country and honor the troops fighting for our freedom in more ways than the pledge or national anthem. Patriotism shouldn’t be questioned because of a refusal to do those things.

Society always tells you what is and is not acceptable when it comes to being respectful to our country. At what point do we realize that we are society and we all create the norms. So, why can’t protesting for the things we believe become the new one? After all, no one can really judge your patriotism except you.

“Sitting for the pledge is about protesting everything it stands for.”

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liberties, and many die while doing it.

So when it comes time to honor them stand up. The Bill of Rights, gives everyone equal opportunity for protest.

So if you see it fit to disrespect our flag, soldiers, and veterans then go ahead and stay sitting during the pledge. ‘Merica.

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In America, one of the greatest qualities our country possesses is the Constitution, specifically the Bill of Rights, which consists of the first ten amendments to the Constitution. The general characteristic among these ten amendments is freedom. Things like freedom of speech, the right to bear arms, the right to protest and many others.

Recently, people have not been standing for our Pledge of Allegiance and National Anthem. These protesters have their own reasons to not support our nation’s flag when honored. Some examples of things that people aim to protest by not standing include general inequalities, specifically racism.

It’s obvious that in the last few years we have seen a major increase in police brutality, specifically on black males.

Some protesters in groups such as Black Lives Matter, feel the need to act out and use violence to make their arguments heard. They destroy and riot in their own communities, which is what they consider to be protesting. There are many ways to protest nonviolently, but not standing

you look at what it truly defines.

What the flag represents are things American citizens are truly blessed to be privileged with. But these freedoms did and still do not come easily.

Everyday, American soldiers fight overseas to protect us and our freedoms and

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SPORTS EDITOR

to honor our country’s flag is not one of those ways.

If you want to fight for what you believe, be respectful of everybody, especially those who have no impact on what you’re protesting against. Do things like peaceful marches, silent protests, and petitions to get your point across in a more civill and respectful way.

The biggest thing I don’t understand about not standing, is what are they trying to say by not honoring our flag?

Our country’s flag is not a representation of police forces, media, or anything like that. The fact of the matter is, our flag simply represents the basic principles our country was founded upon: freedom, justice, and equality for all.

Every American citizen is legally entitled to these things. When acts of hate are committed on certain groups of people, some believe that means they don’t receive the same equality as everybody else. The thing is, you cannot judge the actions of one person to form your opinions on a country as a whole.

This being said, it truly does not make sense for people to display actions of disrespect towards the flag, especially when

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IN-DEPTH

5

THE2016

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The Merriam-Webster Dictionary does not have a current definion for “The 2016 Election,” but if it did, the entry would not likely be a reassuring one.

With headlines beaming “Welcome to the Election from Hell” and comedians like John Oliver referring to the past 15 months as “the electoral equivalent of seeing someone puking so you start puking and then someone else is puking and pretty soon everyone is puking 2016,” the outcome can hardly be anything but unsatisfactory.

This issue, Westside Journalism takes a look at the arguably most appalling, exhausting and controversial election our country has ever seen, with one message in mind: This November, vote wisely.

IN-DEPTH

6

Gun Control

On the Hillary clinton

According to Clinton’s campaign website, she believes background checks need to be expanded and strengthened so there are no “loopholes” when purchasing a gun. It is also important that gun salesmen have their license revoked if they break the law. Additionally, Clinton promises to support laws that keep weapons from people who could commit dangerous acts. This would include making a law prohibiting people from buying guns for someone who could not purchase a gun.

Education

Clinton is passionate about modernizing education and making sure schools have the resources to accomplish their goals. She plans to do this through the Build America Bonds program, which she believes will help provides schools with proper resources. Her campaign website claims she wants to put funding towards states and schools so they can accomplish this goal. Additionally, Clinton is interested in having K-12 schools adapt a computer science curriculum so students have the ability to run computer programs. She also values teachers and is in support of giving teachers a higher pay. As students move on to higher education, Clinton hopes to create debtfree college for everyone. Additionally, Clinton wants all community colleges to provide free tuition.

Abortion

Clinton supports women’s reproductive rights and is pro-choice. She believes women have the right to a safe and legal abortion. Clinton’s campaign website says she has been endorsed by Planned Parenthood and plans on defending the organization.

Immigration

According to Clinton’s campaign website, Clinton believes we need a comprehensive immigration reform with a pathway to full and equal citizenship. She believes our immigration system in broken and is in need of repair. She wants to do everything we can to protect families and wants to make sure the immigration laws are being enforced humanely. She also wants to expand affordable healthcare to all families in this country.

Foreign Policy

According to Clinton’s campaign website, she wants to strengthen relationships with current allies and possibly add more allies. She also believes we need to be firm with our rivals, which includes standing up to Vladimir Putin in Russia and holding China accountable for their actions and to the rules including on human trade, currency, trade and on the internet.

Civil Rights

Clinton is passionate about fighting for LGBT Americans. This will include protecting transgender rights and by proAccording to Clinton, it’s important that viding funding for safe shelters for LGBT youth. Additionally, Clinton plans to fix taxes on the wealthy are raised so they the criminal justice system by supporting are never paying a lower tax rate than laws to end racial profiling and creating the middle class.

2 She wants to make sure “corporations, the wealthy and Wall strong bonds between the community 2 2 Street pay their fair share,”2which she be- and police. Clinton acknowledges the 2 lieves will prevent the United States from bias in society and wants to unite so it 2 2 growing more in debt. Additionally, she can be tackled.

2 2 2 wants to cut taxes for small businesses.

According to her campaign website, she 2 2 According to the Washington Post, also aspires to put policies into action Clinton believes that offshore drilling that will help American families. This includes fighting for equal pay and lower should be banned. Although she believes fracking should not be banned, she bechildcare and housing costs. lieves there should be regulations placed on existing sites and there should be Clinton has communicated her support no more drilling in the future. She also opposes the resumption of the building for legalizing medical marijuana acof the Keystone XL pipeline. cording to the MPP. She also wants to

Economics

Natural Resources

Drug Legalization

conduct more research into the medical benefits of marijuana.

Environment

According to the Washington Post, Clinton does believe in climate change. She also believes the United States should stay in Paris Climate Accord. On her campaign website, she has created a plan of action to protect animals and wildlife. She believes that the way we treat animals reflects on our humanity as a society.

TIM KAINE Governor of Virginia Gun Control

Senator Kaine supports gun control measures. As governor during the 2007 massacre at Virginia Tech, Kaine decided to close any loopholes in the Virginia Law that would allow people to purchase a gun after failing a background check, states Senator Kaine’s website.

abortion

As a Catholic, Kaine is personally against abortions, but the New York Times confirms he has legally supported the right to an abortion. He has also tried to reduce the amount of abortions by supporting educational programs advocating for abstinence and adoption.

Education

As governor, Mr. Kaine helped expand Virginia’s preschool program to disadvantaged children. He also supported an act that which belittles importance of standardized testing, according to the New York Times.

foreign policy

Like his opponent, Mr. Kaine supported the war in Iraq. He currently sits on the Senate’s Foreign Relations and Armed Services committees, stated The New York Times.

Economics

Senator Kaine would like to close tax loopholes for wealthy citizens, according to the New York TImes. When he was governor of Virginia, the unemployment rate more than doubled, and left office with less revenue than he began with, confirmed by factcheck.org.

Civil Rights

Kaine originally disapproved of gay marriage. However like his running mate Hillary Clinton, he has changed his stance as gay marriage became more accepted. According to Senator Kaine’s website, one of his first actions as governor was to ban discrimination in the workplace.

immigration

Mr. Kaine backs an immigration overhaul that would allow undocumented immigrants to gain their documents and assume legal residency if they pay taxes and a fine, stated on Senator Kaine’s website.

IN-DEPTH

issues donald trump

7

Information compiled by Libby Seline, Sophie Knight and Delaney Schutller, Graphics by Bella Radler and Sam Cohen

Environment

According to the Washington Post, Trump does not believe in climate change. On his twitter, he has called it a “hoax” that created by the Chinese. He also believes the United States should not stay in Paris Climate Accord. The Paris Climate Accord is dealing with greenhouse gases emissions mitigation and finance starting in the year 2020.

Mike pence Governor of indiana Gun Control

Pence has voted to protect gun industry in the past, and has a pro-gun voting record. The New York Times notes the National Rifle Association financially supported Governor Pence’s campaigns for House or Representatives and for Governor.

abortion

Governor Pence is Pro-Life, and has approved regulations that limit access to abortions. He has also recently approved a bill that does not allows an abortion based on gender, race, disability or diagnosis and potential diagnosis, says the New York Times.

Education

In congress, he voted against the “No Child Left Behind” policy, and has increased educational opportunity by signing preschool state funding laws. As Governor, Pence is also committed to opening oppurtunities to disadvantaged children.

foreign policy

Governor Pence was for the war in Iraq. He believes that the policy crafted by Clinton and Obama has made America less safe than it was before President Obama entered office.

Economics

As governor, Pence has made the largest tax cut in Indiana history, lowering the business personal property tax and corporate income tax. Each year Pence was governor, taxes were cut and an overall 150,000 new jobs were created, as confirmed on in.gov.

Civil Rights

Hesitant and vague on his stance, Pence states he is a “Christian, a Conservative and a Republican, in that order.”

Pence is not pro-LGBT but understands desires of the community. He has signed an amendment intended to protect the LGBT community, stated by ontheissues.com.

immigration

Governor Pence is against granting amnesty to illegal immigrants. He supports increasing border security to further our country’s safety. Pence supports the enforcement of laws prohibiting undocumented immigrants from working in the United States and also supports government run guest-worker programs.

Abortion

The Washington Post has cited different incidents throughout the course of Trump’s career when he has gone back and forth on this issue. Most recently, Trump has claimed that he is officially pro-life. According to CBS, Trump has said in a debate that he does appreciate Planned Parenthood, but he would defund it because he does not support abortion.

Immigration

According to Trump’s campaign website, he believes we need to keep immigration levels within historical norms. He also believes that our immigration system should benefit the American people first.

He wants to put a selective immigration plan in place, and would base these selections on the likelihood that the immigrant would be financially successful in the United States. He has established a 10-part plan to “Put America First” and the first step is to build a wall at the U.S.Mexican border, that he says Mexico will pay for.

Foreign Policy

According to Trump’s campaign website, he says that “peace through strength” will be at the center of his foreign policy. Trump wants to rebuild our military and improve our cyber capabilities and our intelligence program . He wants to end the current tactic of nation-building and regime change. Nation-building is constructing or structuring a national identity using the power of the state.

Civil Rights

According to On The Issues, Trump believes people should not be fired for their sexual orientation. Additionally, according to MSNBC, Trump wants to improve race relations in this country by encouraging companies to move into minority and poor communities.

Drug Legalization

Trump’s stance on drug legalization has changed throughout the years. According to the Marijuana Policy Project, in 1990, he supported drug legalization for all drugs but more recently he has expressed that he opposes both regulating and legalizing marijuana.

Gun Control

Trump believes it is important to protect the second amendment, which is the “right of the people to keep and bear arms.” According to Trump’s campaign website, he wants to help gun owners be able to protect themselves and not have the government ban certain firearms.

Additionally, he believes that it should be legal to carry guns in the United States.

However, he believes the background check system to buy a gun needs fixing, not expanding, which includes the “broken” mental health system.

Education

According to EdChoice, School Choice is action of the government giving parents back their education tax dollars to go towards their child’s education expenses.

Trump wants to immediately add $20 billion towards School Choice by rearranging current federal expenses. Trump plans to allow states to determine how they will manage this money, which will help states that favor private school choice, magnet schools or charter laws.

He also wants to set the goal of giving School Choice to children living in poverty so they can pay for their education. Additionally, according to Trump’s campaign website, he wants to work with congress to make sure schools are lowering the cost of college and also make it easier for people to attend and pay for a two-year or four-year college education.

Economics

Trump has developed the “Trump Plan” in order to accomplish his goal of creating 25 million new jobs over the next decade. This plan involves multiple cuts 2 in taxes for all income groups. According to his campaign website, the wealthy 2 2 2 will be taxed2their “fair share” but not an amount that could lead to damages in 2 2 our economy.

Additionally, Trump will 2 2 2 reduce business tax and get rid of regulations believed to reduce the amount 2 2 of jobs available. Families will also be allowed to deduct the average cost of childcare from their taxes.

Natural Resources

According to the Washington Post, Trump believes that offshore drilling and fracking should not be banned. He also believes the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline should start again.

8

IN-DEPTH

A third choice Jill Stein

Green Party Candidate

By Aaron Norton

Gary Johnson libertarian Party Candidate

By Malia Battafarano

At 66 years old, Jill Stein is the Green Party representative in the 2016 Presidential election. Jill was born in Chicago, Illinois and raised in Highland Park, Illinois, and graduated from Harvard University and Harvard Medical School as a physician. After nearly 25 years of practicing as a doctor, Stein retired and entered the world of politics in 2005 as a member of the Green Party.

In 1998, Stein made the switch from the Democratic Party to the Green Party, after she helped campaign for the Clean Elections Law in Massachusetts, which was later repealed by a Democratic-majority legislature. This is her second time running for president, her first time being in 2012, in which she obtained the most votes ever received by a woman candidate running for president.

The party that Stein now represents, The Green Party, is a formally organized political party based on the principles of “green” politics, such as social justice, environmentalism and nonviolence. Members believe that these issues are inherently related to one another as a foundation for world peace.

Stein’s goal of her “Power to the People Plan” is to “end unemployment and poverty; avert climate catastrophe; build a sustainable, just economy; and recognize the dignity and human rights of everyone in our society and our world.”

Stein is also working to tackle other issues which include working for racial equality and justice and the expansion and protection of women’s rights and LGBTQIA+ rights.

Many Americans have found that neither of the two most popular candidates in the election, businessman Donald Trump and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, have the qualities they want in a president. However, Stein offers a different perspective that citizens may want to consider.

Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson is 63-years-old and a Lutheran. He was born in North Dakota, and grew up there as well as New Mexico. In 1975, he graduated from the University of New Mexico with a Bachelors of Science. After college, he found his way into the business world, where he successfully created one of New Mexico’s largest construction companies. Eventually, Johnson left business for politics. A republican, he was elected Governor of New Mexico in 1994, which was a considered a great feat since the state’s citizens are known for their democratic views. He served for two terms, developing more libertarian views. In 2012, he ran as a Libertarian for president, and polled at one percent.

Johnson does not support Donald Trump or his slogan, and believes that life in America has never been better. On the other hand, Clinton’s large government ideals aren’t his cup of tea either. His plans for government would look very different. If elected, he intends to abolish the Department of Education, the Department of Commerce, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Free trade and little government regulation in general are also a part of his plan, which follow Libertarian ideals. His most memorable proposal is to legalize marijuana (according to NBC News, he has even confessed to using it himself) which has caused many to jump on the bandwagon.

Although he is doing considerably better than when he ran in 2012, according to CNN, Johnson is only polling at seven percent. His recent blunder on MSNBC, when he asked what Aleppo (the city in Syria from which their civil war primarily stems) was, has caused many to question his ability to handle foreign policy situations. In a race between two rather disliked candidates, however, many may find that Johnson is just the third option they have been looking for.

Jill STein’s stance on:

gary johnson’s stance on:

abortion

abortion

Gun Control

Gun Control

Pro-choice

No assault-weapons, background checks on firearms

Foreign Policy

Re-establish foreign policy on basis of international law

immigration

Pro-choice

Restrictions for mentally ill and potential terrorists; few other restrictions

Foreign Policy

Stay in the U.N., but make no foreign interventions

immigration

Deportation of vulnerable refugees is morally abhorrent, Provide a legal path to citizenship for immigrant residents, End the war on immigrants; end “secure communities” cruelty

No random deportations; wants to keep out terrorists and criminals, but supports other immigration; thinks more border control will be ineffective

Taxation

Taxation

Wealthy should pay 55-60 percent taxes, not 15 percent or 35 percent of the total tax revenue, 50 percent tax cuts on lower incomes

Abolish income and corporate taxes, instead have one Federal Consumption tax

Adopt the Precautionary Principle, stand up to the aggressive abuse of eminent domain; create local, sustainable, organic, plant-based food system

Believes in climate change; thinks that eventually we will have to inhabit other planets

climate Change

climate Change

IN-DEPTH

9

An Outside Perspective Immigrants at Westside share their views on the election GEOR GI A W I M M E R , REES E P I K E STAFF WRITERS

This year’s presidential election has been one like no other. From derogatory comments to promises to build a wall between Mexico and the United States, immigration and immigrants have been a large focus in the election. Students at Westside are feeling the effects of the election both at school and at home. Sophomore Neha Khalid, a second-generation Pakistani-American, believes that Donald Trump is negatively influencing the public’s view of immigrants.

“I think there’s a lot of hate going around, and both candidates haven’t been entirely truthful, but especially in Donald Trump’s case, he’s collecting his votes by making people fear something they shouldn’t fear. I think he’s taking the whole unstable environment of ISIS and terrorists and all that fear and he’s directing it towards one group of people. Having someone to use as a scapegoat makes people feel better about their situation,” Khalid said. “He’s marking [minorities] as animals and not as humans.”

Freshman Sudha Paudel, who immigrated from Nepal to America after her parents won the diversity visa lottery (a lottery that grants visas to come to other countries), also doesn’t have a very high opinion of Trump. If voting at her age were possible, Paudel would vote for Clinton.

“If I had to choose between one of the presidential candidates, I would say Hillary, because America would finally get a woman as a president,” Paudel said. “Also, she’s not going to send the illegal immigrants away like Donald Trump is. Everyone comes to America with hope. In my country, some people believe that coming to America is going to secure their future, even though it might mean hiding and working or being in jail for a while. That’s going to get some

people to lose hope if Donald Trump wins.”

Freshman Fabrice Bokovi has a similar opinion to Paudel on the election, choosing to support Clinton over Trump. Bokovi and his family lived on a small island called Cape Verde. His father moved to America when he was five years old and he and his mother moved to Togo at the same time. Five years later in 2011, he and his mother came to America as well. Bokovi’s parents have strong feelings against Trump.

“At first [my parents] were all about Bernie and supported him but when he dropped out of the race, they switched their focus to Hillary.

They think that Trump is a horrible choice for the presidency and that he would totally destroy the United States and [relationships with] allies,” Bokovi said. “They totally back Hillary and I guess I kind of do too.”

However, not everyone agrees that Clinton is the better choice. “[I would not vote], because no matter which candidate you choose, none of them is going to be able to solve all problems,” said a student, also from Togo, who wishes to remain anonymous.

In recent history, there have been many acts of hatred against minorities, immigrants, and members of different religions, such as vandalizing homes and religious sanctuaries. Fortunately, most students haven’t felt any of this hostility, but they still feel targeted by Trump’s words.

“As a person I do feel targeted because [Trump] makes me feel like I don’t have a right to be in America when I should, because I was born here,” Khalid said. “I have friends everywhere, and I know where stuff is, and I grew up here, but he doesn’t treat me as an American when I should be.”

With more boisterous comments likely to be made by Trump in these last few weeks of the

election, there is no doubt the issue of immigration will be on the mind of these students and many others. Immigration will continue to be the focus of many elections to come, but the direction our country will head on this issue will ultimately be determined in November.

Graphic by Sam Cohen

Politics in the Classroom

Students and staff on politics place at school J U L I A S T E I N E R , E MI LY K U T L E R otherwise.

STAFF WRITERS

Westside staff received an email calling attention to the Westside Community Schools policy regarding politics on Sept. 27. Employees were reminded that “Under Nebraska law, you cannot use (or authorize someone else to use) any school district property or resources or funds to take a position or campaign for or against a candidate or an issue appearing on a ballot.” Staff members are, however, permitted to express their opinion.

This year, students and teachers alike have seemed to be particularly vocal on their political stances.

“Discussing politics and the political process is one of the ways that we learn how our country functions,” principal Jay Opperman said.

Opperman also believes politics should be addressed in the classroom so students are able to learn how to navigate the subject correctly.

Despite the educational benefits, these types of conversations can have negative impacts. If people take a stance on a candidate or policy, it can challenge others’ positions. This can create tension, but Opperman said he would rather have the conflict occur in the controlled environment of a classroom, under the eye of an instructor.

That way, “teachers can talk about the process and what ethical politics look like.” “[Teachers] have the right to give [their] opinion as an individual,” Opperman said. “However, it’s not our job to influence any one direction from a teacher perspective or a school perspective.”

According to a school survey of more than 400 students, 65 percent of students believed that teachers influence students’ political views. Some 35 percent of students think

This political season, students and teachers have also felt tension and uneasiness in the classrooms. Social studies teacher Amy Studts notes how politics can be personal. In order to not influence her students with her personal beliefs, Studts does not mention her opinions. However, teaching students about politics is something that she said she believes is applicable to the real world and part of her role as a teacher.

“I think it makes students more aware of what’s going

JON PREISTER SOCIAL STUDIES INSTRUCTOR

“We don’t need teachers that are afraid to show their political feelings and their positions because of fear of consequencess.” on in the real world,” Studts said. “The role of president is a huge responsibility so the more informed kids are, the greater it will be for the future.”

Social studies teacher Jonathan Preister is passionate about the effects politics in the classroom can have on his students. Preister doesn’t hide his political affiliation but approaches politics in a way that he feels does not intimidate students. He said he values engaging in a dialogue with students, over preaching political beliefs. To him, telling students that their opinions are wrong crosses the line.

He strives to be welcoming to others’ opinions while also showing students that they can do the same.

“I am a very strong advocate for teachers, in a school setting, showing students how you can have a healthy dialogue, how you can discuss politics, and look at other people’s perspectives,” Preister said. “We don’t need teachers that are afraid to show their political feelings and their positions because of fear of consequences that they will have, but they should want to show students that they are role models in the ways that they approach these things and the dialogues they engage in.”

When it comes to what crosses the line, several students we interviewed seemed to believe that teachers picking a side and showing bias was taking it too far.

“Expressing what side you’re on kinda crosses the line,” senior Lauren Mott said.

In reality, teachers are allowed to express their views. According to the email mentioned earlier, the staff members are permitted to “express [their] personal opinion.” Although there’s no actual rule preventing teachers talking about what they believe in, doing so can create an uncomfortable environment for their students.

“I think if a teacher says something opposite of your view, then it just makes you dislike a teacher more,” senior Tyler Clark said. “But if they say something the same as your view maybe they can reinforce it.”

Opperman said he worries a bit during the election season.

“As a building administrative, this is a time that always makes you a little uneasy,” Opperman said. “Because it is a time where it’s more likely that [an adult or student] would vocalize their opinion, so [we’re] always hopeful that people do it in a respectful manner.”

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IN-DEPTH

THE ELECTION Statistics from survey of 450 Westside students Infographic by Jim Schueneman

NONE 37.6%

DONALD TRUMP 20.4%

HILLARY CLINTON 34%

OTHER 8.0%

Why? Not the other...

Policy positions Likeable New/Different Republican

66.9% 27.2% 13.2% 25.8% 32.5%

81.2% 22.9% 16.1% 42.2% 25.1%

Not the other...

Policy positions Likeable Experience Democrat

Warrior Voice

What’s the first thing you would do as president?

Emanuel Aguilar, FRESHMAN

“[I would] get people more jobs and make sure the United States spends less money on unimportant things because I feel that we are in so much debt...”

Jill Stark, Freshman

“I would bring down the wall between United States and Mexico... this is the land of the free and everyone should be able to come.”

Jason Han, Sophomore

“[I would] remove people out of the electoral college because it takes away actual democracy from the people. You either give power or you don’t.”

Jazmyne Mattan-Littrell, Sophomore

“[I’d] let only certain people have guns and not let everyone have [them]because of all the shootings and people dying.”

IN-DEPTH

11

DO YOU IDENTIFY WITH A MAJOR POLITICAL PARTY? YES (51.2%) NO (48.8%) WHICH POLITICAL AFFILIATION DESCRIBES YOU BEST? UNDECIDED 35.7%

THIRD PARTY 7.5%

REPUBLICAN 23.3%

Marissa Winchester, junior

“I would make school start later than eight o’clock because I feel like we would be more motivated at school...

Also, I would make college free for everyone...”

Mikey Langford, Junior

DEMOCRAT 33.5%

Taryn Meyers, Senior

“I would pull our troops “I would legalize mariout and bring them juana and tax the hell home because it’s right.” out of it because it would bring in more money for the United States.”

Joseph Hayes, Senior

“I would abolish private prisons because it’s wrong to imprison people for money.”

12

IN-DEPTH

VOTE your future

Citizens should participate in this year’s election M AL IA BAT TA FA RA N O turned out in the 18- to 24-year-old range. As much as you may love your grandparLANCE STAFF WRITER

What do you care about? It’s the question posed by the Vote Your Future campaign, a celebrity group urging people to vote. So far, they’ve released 86 videos featuring individual celebrities providing their varied insights on why they’re going to vote. UNO political science professor Randall Adkins agrees with their message. In fact, he said that voting is essential to our democracy.

“In a republic, you pick the people who are going to make the decisions for you, and it’s really important for voters to pick those people,” Adkins said. “It’s the way representative democracy works.”

We’re busy people. You have homework, sports, clubs and work.

Taking time out of your day to vote doesn’t sound appealing because of our busy schedules. What Adkins is saying, however, is that voting is built into the foundation of our country. Our Founding Fathers came to America to get away from the monarchy and make their own choices about their leaders. Yet according to Statistic Brain in the 2012 presidential election, only 57.5 percent of eligible voters turned out at the polls. We’re taking for granted the opportunity we are so fortunate to have. Our ancestors would be disappointed.

Adkins said that older voters, who have more time on their hands, typically have the highest turnout. In 2012, according to Statistic Brain, 78.1 percent of eligible voters between the ages of 65 and 74 turned out to vote. About 20 percent less

ents, they probably have a pretty different perspective on the world than you do. Yet without your younger voices, they will ultimately decide the outcome of the election.

Meanwhile they are representing only a portion of our country, their concerns getting more than their fair share of attention.

But you’re one vote. One in about 150 million that will be cast. What does it matter, right? It has more of an impact than you think. Adkins said that every couple years in a small, local election there will be a tie. One person who didn’t vote could have tipped the scale. Even on the presidential scale, the margin between the candidates can be very small. In 2000, George W. Bush won the state of Florida in the electoral college by a mere 537 votes out of more than 6 million cast there. This year, Adkins said he expects the district’s representative race will put democrat Brad Ashford and republican Don Bacon neck and neck. As for the presidency, Adkins’ gut prediction is that Clinton and Trump will be very close in the popular vote, but less so in the electoral college. All in all, this is a year where turnout will have a big impact.

In this election, you may feel that you can’t even make a decision. Although the candidates may have no appeal to you, there is always a lesser of two evils, especially in this year’s election. Instead of thinking of which candidate will do the best for the country, you might have to consider which will do the least damage.

Do some research. Look at what their policies and plans really are. It’s a sad position to be in, but choosing silence will not be a protest. It will be a surrender.

“If you don’t exercise your right to vote, then somebody’s going to exercise it for you,” Adkins said.

“There are people who are going to go vote.”

America is all of us–every color, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation and socioeconomic background. It is our patchwork of individual concerns and beliefs that makes us so strong. Now more than ever, it is important to let your voice be heard.

“But you’re one vote.

One in about 150 million that will be cast. What does it matter, right? It has more of an impact than you think....One person who didn’t vote could have tipped the scale.”

Fun Facts about the Parties According to the History Channel, the Republican Party’s elephant symbol originated in around 1854. It was introduced in a political cartoon where many interest groups were portrayed as animals. Thomas Nast, the artist, used an elephant that was labeled “the Republican Vote.” This symbol stuck with the party and is still in use today.

In 1828, Andrew Jackson was running for president.

Those who opposed him and didn’t agree with his views, called him a “jacka**.” Ironically, Jackson liked the symbol and put a donkey on many of his campaign posters as claimed by the History Channel. Nast also used the donkey in the same cartoon as the elephant after it became associated with the Democratic party.

During the 1912 election, Teddy Roosevelt formed the “Bull Moose Party” in an attempt to be reelected into office and defeat republican William Howard Taft. According to the Chicago Tribune, Roosevelt actually beat Taft, but he did lose to the democrat candidate Woodrow Wilson.

This became one of the most memorable third party elections in America’s history.

Voting Information E L I Z A BE TH FAC E R CRAZE COPY-EDITOR

This election don’t hesitate to participate because of any uncertainties on how to cast your ballot. Vote to show your voice, no matter who you believe should represent our state and country. We are the future of our country and our beliefs should help us shape the kind of world we want to see.

“We live in one of those districts where it is going to be a close congressional race...it’s going to be competitive, in those races everyone of those votes are going to count,” UNO Political Science Professor Randall Adkins said.

Whether you like this upcoming term’s presidential candidates, or not, here are the facts on how, where, and when to vote.

Voting takes place nationwide on Tuesday, Nov 8 Through in-person voting, absentee ballots sent to your home and early voting there are many ways for eligible American citizens to participate in this year’s election. Registration deadlines to vote for this year’s election is coming up soon for all of those who are U.S. citizens and 18-years-old or older.

In Nebraska in-person and online registration must be completed by Friday, Oct. 28 at 6 p.m., and registration through the mail must be postmarked by Friday, Oct. 21. To register you are required to have a valid I.D. and a current address identifying document.

IN-DEPTH

13

OMAHA CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATES Graphics by Sam Cohen; Information complied by Nicholas Vincentini

Ashford Democrat

Brad Ashford is the democratic nominee for Congress in the second Congressional district of Nebraska. If he wins it will be his second term as a Congressman. Ashford used to be a Republican while a member of the Nebraska unicameral legislature and then became an independent and finally a democrat. An independent organization rated Ashford the sixth most bipartisan member of Congress according to Congressional Quarterly Roll Call. He is also a Westside alum.

abortion

Ashford is pro-choice and supports the federal funding of abortions. He also supports parental notification, which requires a parent to agree to have their minor child get an abortion.

ECONOMICS

Ashford has voted to cut taxes on small businesses and worked to promote business growth in Nebraska by modernizing business incentives.

He also proposed a balanced budget amendment to the constitution similar to the one in Nebraska which wouldn’t allow the federal government to spend more than it takes in.

EDUCATION

Ashford worked to ensure equal opportunities for all students by raising the standards of special needs programs. He also worked for the fair pay of teachers.

GUN CONTROL

Ashford has voted on bills to increase gun control and restrict the right to bear arms. He has also passed legislation to crack down on the use of illegal handguns which are commonly used in human trafficking and gang related shootings.

IMMIGRATION

Ashford supports helping illegal immigrants that have already here down a pathway to citizenship. He thinks we should address the illegal immigrants already here before securing our border.

LGBTQ RIGHTS

Ashford believes in equal marriage rights regardless of sexual orientation. He worked with state senator Ernie Chambers from Omaha while still in the state legislature to get same-sex marriage back on the ballot for Nebraska in hopes to get the ban overturned.

UNEMPLOYMENT

During Ashford’s time in Congress, he has cosponsored a bill to help get young African-American men apprenticeships and other on-the-job training type positions to give them the necessary skills to help rebuild America’s weakening infrastructure. He also supports raising the minimum wage saying he doesn’t think there’s enough evidence to show that it correlates to higher unemployment rates.

BACON REPUBLICAN

Don Bacon is Ashford’s Republican opponent for Congress. He served for 29 years in the Air Force and retired as a Brigadier General. He has won several medals during his time in the Air Force including two Legions of Merits and two Bronze Stars. Bacon also selected as the European Top Wing Commander. He has been endorsed by Omaha mayor Jean Stothert because of his national security expertise. Bacon currently lives in Papillion with his wife and children.

abortion

Bacon is pro-life and wants to defund planned parenthood and strongly opposed tax dollars going towards any other federally funded institution that provides abortions. He has been endorsed by Nebraska Right to Life which is a pro-life organization.

ECONOMICS

Bacon would simplify the tax code which is currently 73,000 pages long and lower corporate taxes from 35 percent to 25 percent or lower.

EDUCATION

Bacon wants to get rid of common core education and have local officials and school boards decide the curriculum that best fits their students.

GUN CONTROL

Bacon wants to reduce gun control and “protect your Bill of Rights”.

He’s a member of the NRA (National Rifle Association) and the Nebraska Firearms Owners Association and “proud of it”.

IMMIGRATION

Bacon thinks that the solution to stopping illegal immigration is to get businesses to not hire illegal immigrants when they apply for jobs. He also thinks that we need to secure our border stopping more illegal immigrants from entering the country.

LGBTQ RIGHTS

Bacon does not believe in same-sex marriage and that it should remain between a man and a woman. He also doesn’t believe in adding sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression to the protected classes of nondiscrimination law.

UNEMPLOYMENT

Bacon opposes raising the federal minimum wage because he believes it will cause businesses to lose money through higher paychecks to their employees causing companies to be forced to lay off workers increasing unemployment.

Sources: Ontheissues.org, Don Bacon’s campaign website, Brad Ashford’s campaign website, omaha.com, KVNO News, The Nebraska Voter Guide, The Journal Star

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FEATURE

Tender Love and CHeer First male student cheers with the Sparkle Effect SOPH IE K N I G H T students to feel accepted inside the school comSTAFF WRITER

In many high schools across the nation The Sparkle Effect has made a mark on students with disabilities, sending a message of acceptance, respect and positive interaction between students regardless of ability. The Sparkle Effect is a way for special needs students to take part inside the school community.

The Sparkle Effect has made a positive mark on junior Billy Sharp, the first male to ever hold a spot on Westside’s Sparkle Effect Cheer Squad.

“He doesn’t see it as anything boys can’t do,” junior Abby Tigani, varsity dancer and Sparkle mentor said.

The Sparkle Effect is a way for special needs

munity. Sharp is often seen giving hugs, doing cartwheels and making friendly conversation. He is already accepted by many, but being a sparkle is just a bonus. “[Sharp] is electric; he attracts everyone around him,” assisted learning instructor Tammy Greenlee said.

Although he enjoys basketball, being a Sparkle with his friends is one of his favorite things to do.

“My favorite part is pompoms and dancing,” Sharp said. “ It’s in my heart.”

Each Sparkle cheerleader has a mentor who is either a cheerleader or dancer.Tigani meets with Sharp two mods each week during a physical education mod. During the mod she teaches, cheers,

chants and dances.

Each student is more than just a mentor, they are a friend for their Sparkle. It’s someone they can go to when they need someone.

“If they ever see each other they can go to each other if they ever need something,” Sparkles Coordinator Katherine Lupo said.

During the time they spend together Tigani gets to know Sharp’s work ethic and personality better.

“He is so outgoing. Anything you throw at him he wants to get down and get perfect,” Tigani said.

If another boy was wanting to join Sharp would encourage him to join.

“Yes, join, because it is fun and he would like it, it makes my day better,” Sharp said.

Junior Billy Sharp cheers on his mentors and friends during the halftime game on Friday, Sept 23. Photo by Sophie Knight

MOVING MUSIC Students participate in a local traveling orchestra group T H EO JA N S E N STAFF WRITER

A group of 30 musicians stand with violins at their sides. Slowly, they bring their violins into playing position and break out into a fast fiddle tune. A few of the violinists in the front are playing with the violin on their heads. In the back, some are playing each other’s violins. A few move up to the front and begin hula-hooping. This is just the first song.

Two Westside musicians, junior Madeleine Jacobitz and senior Emily Hammans, are part of the Frontier Strings, a group at the Omaha Conservatory of Music. The group is composed of violinists ranging in age from eight to 18. They meet every Friday from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. and practice their routine.

“We play all music from memory and we do choreography with some of our songs,” Jacobitz said.

The stunts they do are even more impressive because the playing is technically very difficult and often very speedy.

The favorite song of both violinists is “Millionaire’s Hoedown.” According to Jacobitz, this song is fast and fun. It is also very tiring to play. This is the song where all the majority of the cool choreography takes place.

“We rock out hoedown style,” Hammans said.

Jacobitz is new to the group this year, which makes it even more difficult for her, because she has to learn a lot of new music and be able to play

along with the choreography. Hammans is returning to the group for the first time since she was 14 years old. Both are experienced musicians though. Jacobitz has been playing for 10 years, and Hammans has been playing for 11 years.

When Jacobitz was younger her dad would take her to Omaha Symphony concerts.

“I always liked looking up there and seeing the violinists and I thought it was really interesting hearing them play,” Jacobitz said.

Frontier Strings provides both an outlet to play and a community.

“Everybody really cares of each other,” Jacobitz said. “It’s kind of like a big family, so there’s lots of joking and everybody’s messing with each other.”

This is Jacobitz’s first year in the group, but she already feels like a part of the family. It also helped that a lot of her friends are already in the group.

“They adopt you into their family,” she said.

There are a lot of different ages and skill levels in the group. Jacobitz and Hammans are some of the oldest musicians, and both like the opportunity to help younger members.

“I think it’s cool because you get to to be a role model for them,” Jacobitz said. “You also get to learn things from them at the same time as they are learning things from you.”

Hammans said she likes the opportunity to help younger musicians as well.

“I learned so much from older members when I was a new member and beginning player, and I’m so thrilled to be able to now lead younger musicians as a senior and an advanced player,” Ham-

mans said.

Frontier Strings travels all around the country playing gigs. Last summer the group traveled to Los Angeles. They have previously traveled to destinations such as Austria, Missouri and South Dakota. This summer the group will be doing a tour across Nebraska. Frontier Strings also plays concerts in the Omaha area throughout the year.

Despite all the fun trips and cool choreography, for Hammans, being a member of this group has really been about learning.

“Frontier Strings gives us a chance to learn from each other as musicians,” Hammans said.

“So much of my confidence in playing, as well as my ability to show emotion in my playing comes from my experience in Frontier Strings ensemble.”

Junior Madeleine Jacobitz plays violin at a Frontier Strings rehearsal on October 14th. She has been playing for 10 years. Photo by Theo Jansen

FEATURE

15

MIRACLE IN THE MAKING Instructor beats cancer in a matter of months

C E L ENA S H E P H E R D EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

The fresh layer of snow glistened in the December morning light as math instructor Teri Donoho drove to school in her red Ford Fusion.

Christmas was nearing and familiar jingles played on the radio while Teri passed houses covered in holiday decorations.

A few hours later she leaned on her desk filled with student papers so fiercely that her knuckles turned white. Her hazel eyes pinched shut, preventing tears from flooding her face. She felt like a knife was stabbing her stomach and there was nothing she could do to stop it. Two months passed. It got worse. “[The pain] woke me up at night,” Teri said. “I was down on the floor [and] I couldn’t get up. It hurt so bad. It was probably the worst pain I [had] felt up to that time.”

In February she went to see a doctor for the first time. He recommended having a CAT scan done. So Teri waited.

She heard her phone ring at about 6 p.m. that evening.

“When your doctor calls you that night you know you’re in trouble,” Teri said. “He said there was a big mass in my abdominal area, so they wanted to do a PET scan, which sees in more detail.”

Teri has seen hundreds of fish race past her underwater, in different spots all over the world. She knows what the load of a BCD (buoyancy control device) on her back feels like as she jumps into the ocean to scuba dive. She remembers the weightlessness of her body in the pristine blue water in Boca Raton. She’s explored intricate caves and climbed mountains with her bare hands then felt a tickle in her stomach as she repelled downwards off mountains.

It showed that a large mass was wrapped around the outside of her colon and in her lungs.

She was immediately referred to an oncologist who said she had undifferentiated squamous cell carcinoma. An inoperable stage four cancer in her lymph nodes, pelvis and lungs.

She had a choice. It was time to sit down with her family.

Teri describes her family as the “Brady bunch” because she has three children and her husband has another three. She also has two grandsons that she cherishes dearly. Her sisters and parents attended the family meeting. It was extremely difficult for her to talk to her family and she had to leave the room. With pressure from her family,

Teri decided to begin chemotherapy.

“I do have a regret that I did the chemo,” Teri said. “It wasn’t my choice. It was a family push.

[I wish] I would’ve lived my life and finished it up on my terms.”

She feels one of the hardest parts about this journey was when her passion for teaching was jeopardized. Teri has been an educator for 32 years, mostly at Westside in the math department.

She appreciates how accommodating Westside has always been throughout her journey. She loves teaching and feels in her element in the classroom and couldn’t see herself leaving.

“I remember being in a hospital room in the summer time thinking I wouldn’t work again, and [it] upset me greatly, that I couldn’t ever teach,”

TERI DONOHO MATH INSTRUCTOR

nesses. She also suffered from some side-effects of chemotherapy such as nausea, drowsiness and neuropathy, causing her hands and feet to hurt and feel numb or tingly. The sense of touch is almost nonexistent where neuropathy occurs. She often feels pains in her legs as well.

As the months passed Teri’s health fluctuated. In May, just three months after beginning chemotherapy a scan revealed spectacular news: 90 percent of the cancer was gone. The only part remaining was a tumor in her pelvis, which had reduced greatly in size.

Teri’s summer was filled with heavy chemotherapy. She went in every three weeks, to receive treatment and became familiar with the white hospital walls and rough sheets in their beds.

“The week after chemo you [feel] dead and in pain,” Teri said.

“You can’t eat or sleep. Eventually, you start feeling better and then… you get chemo again and right back down you go. The more they do it the more time it takes to recover.”

In June she was hospitalized several times due to various reasons such as multi-focal pneumonia, dehydration and breathing problems.

It became a struggle to walk longer than 10 steps according to Jay. “I felt like I was being forced out of my life by this inanimate thing that I can’t see or touch,” Teri said.

“It was taking over my life. I can’t do [things] I’ve done before…My husband understands that if [the cancer] comes back I won’t do anything.”

Towards the end of July Teri received results that there was no detectable evidence of cancer.

A follow-up meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 12 showed the same thing. In a matter of months Teri has managed to overcome stage four cancer and is currently in remission. “[I miss] being able to travel, rock climb and scuba dive. All of that. I miss everything that I could do [before the cancer].”

Teri is still recovering from the effects of chemotherapy, but is ready to move on and begin living life on her own terms, for the first time in months. She is growing her hair out right now and wants to get in good enough shape to scuba dive over winter break on a cruise she has planned with her husband. Due to the neuropathy Teri lost feeling in her hands. She hopes that this side effect will subside soon.

“Id really like to pick up my grandson and be able to feel him in my fingers, and just live my life as long as I can, without drugs and no chemo.”

“That’s not the way I wanted to go out.

I don’t want to be forced out by cancer.”

Teri said. “That’s not the way I wanted to go out.

I don’t want to be forced out by cancer.”

Teri was in and out of work all of February and March. Ultimately, she decided to stop teaching during the 2016 spring break to focus on her health.

“I didn’t want anyone there, so I pushed my family away,” Teri said. “My husband was my caretaker. I just wanted to see nobody. You don’t want anyone to see you in that kind of shape. I really didn’t have a lot of people around me.”

Back in February, Teri’s husband, Jay Donoho, began posting regular updates about Teri’s situation on caringbridge.org, a personal health journal that keeps friends and family connected and informed during her health journey.

“It’s so hard to see Teri like this,” Jay said in a post on April 14. “Those who know her would probably not recognize her. [She’s] very frail and very weak. Damn this cancer. No one deserves this.”

While the chemotherapy killed Teri’s cancer cells, it also killed highly active white blood cells.

This in turn weakened her immune system, causing her to become more susceptible to other ill-

Math intructor Teri Donoho meets with her student, Sarah Marcotte in the math IMC on Friday, Oct.14. Photo by Taylor Baca

16

SPORTS

ACTIVE IN THE A.M.

Faculty members practice basketball together ST EV EN S I M O N playing basketball in the morning.

NEWS EDITOR

Wednesday mornings, by the time the majority of students and staff arrive at school, Dean Brian Stevens, Hall Supervisors Reese Baumgartner and Jevan Booth, a group of other Westside High school staff members, their friends and former students have already taken part in an intense and invigorating workout.

E v e r y We d n e s d a y at 6:15 a.m. during the school year, a group of between four and 12 including, Stevens and some other Westside employees, take to the blue gym to play pick-up basketball.

“This all started six years ago,” Stevens said, “John White, a former Spanish teacher got it started and kept it going for about two years before he left to go teach in the Cayman Islands.”

Since then, Stevens has taken over organizing the league. Stevens played basketball as a kid at the YMCA and also played in high school at Lincoln Northeast. Along with giving him an opportunity to continue playing a sport he loves, Stevens said there are many positive benefits of

“The number one benefit is health,” Stevens said. “If it weren’t for basketball I would hardly ever run.”

Drenched in sweat after every game, it is clear that the basketball players get a very good workout. While a student may be brushing their teeth, those playing in the blue gym might be setting a pick, draining a three pointer, or sprinting toward a fast break layup. Stevens said the transition from an intense basketball game to school mode is difficult but has its rewards.

“It actually wakes you up a bit,” Stevens said.

His counterpart and another morning basketball player, Javan Booth, agrees that morning basketball is the right way to get going in the morning.

“I like to start my day off right and basketball helps me do that,” Booth said.

Stevens thinks the positive benefits of playing basketball are worth waking up at the crack of dawn and thinks other staff members should get active early in the day too.

“Rick McKeever opens up the weight room at

BRIAN STEVENS DEAN

“If it weren’t for basketball, I’d hardly ever run.”

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six o’clock every morning and Wednesday basketball is also an option,” Stevens said.

Many staff members, such as physical education instructor Lacey Batt, business instructor Brad Metzler, social studies instructors Jonathan Preister and Derek Fey and more have taken part in Wednesday morning basketball games. According to Stevens, sometimes even former students from the classes of 2012 or 2013 will come play when they’re in town.

“It’s just a ton of fun,” said Stevens.

For Stevens and the other Wednesday morning basketball players, basketball is a way to get energized and begin the day in a positive manner. With all of these benefits, for those who play morning basketball, the choice between hitting snooze or hitting a three pointer is an easy one.

Dean of Student Brian Stevens plays basketball with fellow faculty members on Wednesday, Oct. 19.

Photo by Taylor Baca

SPORTS

17

LIVING THE DREAM

Brothers follow in family’s footsteps at college TREVOR M U M FO R D braska. For Grant and Spencer, they put in SPORTS EDITOR

Alumni Spencer (left) and Grant (right) Jordan watch a football game at Westside’s stadium on Friday, Oct. 7. Photo by Libby Seline

For brothers Spencer, Grant and Harrison Jordan, growing up in a huge Nebraska football family ignited their spark to be cornhusker players. Their father would take the boys to every Nebraska home game, where they watched in awe from the stands. Internally, there was a different mindset though. For Grant, he knew he wanted to be on the field.

“I always wished I would be able to run out of the tunnel walk,” Grant said. “In front of ninety thousand fans.”

The thought stuck with Grant throughout the rest of his football career. Each moment he could get better, he would capitalize on it.

He knew his dreams wouldn’t just magically come true. Grant knew he had to work hard in order to make them happen. Spencer Jordan cherished the games he went to as well. One moment that he remembers where he dreamt most about playing husker football, was after the 2008 win against Colorado. Alex Henry’s record setting field goal during that game is a memory that Spencer will always have. He wished to experience that great feeling again, but where he was on the field with a Husker jersey on his back.

In order to accomplish their goals and make it to the next level, all the Jordan brothers had to put in the effort. Every opportunity presented had to be grabbed. In high school, each brother learned what it meant to work with tenacity and fight their way through struggles.

Head football coach Brett Froendt, believed each brother brought a unique element to the table during their high school career. Froendt noticed Harrison’s ability to lead on and off the field, which showed his true commitment and was something that helped him get to Ne-

countless hours in the weightroom and were very persistent in achieving their goals. It was their constant hard work that led them to follow their brother Harrison’s footsteps and walk-on at Nebraska. Being a walk-on entails doing the same things as a scholarship player, but with the discrepancy that you have to earn your spot. As a walk-on, one of the jobs the twins do is practice on the scout team, which prepares the starters for each game. Once Grant and Spencer work their way up the scout team, they will then be able to suit up for game day, just like Harrison currently does. From youngest to oldest, the Jordan brothers are a perfect example of the benefit of striving for your goal and not letting anything get in the way.

Now that their goal has been achieved, the twins and Harrison look forward to the rest of their future. Brothers Spencer and Grant just started their career at Lincoln and have goals of soon reaching the field. They’ll spend time improving their skills throughout the year in order to earn the time in front of nearly one hundred thousand screaming Husker fans. Spencer understands the experience is one that will have a lasting effect with him forever and he wants to make every moment count.

“Twenty years down the road, I want to be able to tell my wife and kids my story,” Spencer said.

For Harrison, his walk-on career at Lincoln has had struggles, but has all worked out to make him a better individual. The attributes he’s had since high school have further improved at Lincoln and will be useful later on.

“Down the road, I’ll take away the work ethic and time management,” Harrison said. “Especially being a pre-med, being able to manage time will prepare me well for down the road.”

RUNNING OVER OBSTACLES

Boys XC team encounters success despite inexperience RYA N A D K I N S how much the team maximized their potential in STAFF WRITER

With the fall running season coming to a close, the boys cross country team looks to end their season on a good note. After losing five of their top runners to the graduating class of 2016, the team has surpassed their expectations according to Coach Andrew Easton. The two returning varsity members, senior Milo Greder and junior Sam Madson, have taken big leadership roles in order to get the team ready for the upcoming years.

Along with other seniors, Nolan Dondlinger and Trevor Mumford, the four have complemented each other and helped lead the team together.

“We have four different captains,” Easton said.

“What I love about our team is that each of them have led in a different way.”

The team has had to battle through a tough season that included various problems along the way. Over the summer one of the team’s top runners transferred to Creighton Prep. Also, one race into the season, junior Christian Madsen suffered a season ending injury. After losing two of the team’s top runners, the coaches said they were surprised by how the team fared.

Relying on younger runners, such as freshman Max Frost and sophomore Ethan Goldner, this year, the team has had to battle older and more experienced teams all season. Easton described the team’s placement in races as “middle of the pack.” However, he said he was impressed with

this rebuilding year.

“Were obviously not as talented as last year, where we had the fastest team in Westside history,” Greder said. “I think we’ve shocked a lot of teams with what we can do this year.”

Greder said he has hoped to make the most of his last season. Finishing in the top five in multiple races and leading the team with his race day mentality, he has made a big impact on the team’s performance. He has already comitted to Iowa State for college next year.

Recently the team made a trip out of town to Lawrence, Kansas, to attend the Rim Rock Farm Classic in September. The race was held at Rim Rock Farms which occasionally host NCAA races. More than 3,000 runners were in attendance for the meet and the team ran in the Varsity Gold division, which was the hardest.

According to Easton, everyone set personal records except for three students who were under a minute away. Various highlights of the race included Greder’s second place finish over all runners and Ethan Goldner’s fifth place finish among all sophomores. Perhaps the most noticeable performance was when Mumford lost his shoe with two miles left in the race. He went on to set a new PR. The team has already made Westside history this year, by making it to state four years in a row.

With the state meet on Friday, Oct. 21, runners have high expectations for the meet.

Senior Milo Greder running the last 100m to get first at Metros on Friday Oct. 7. Photo by Lilian Fogland

18

A&E

“SO BAD, IT’S GOOD” HORROR Movie Reviews E M MA KO R E N G E L car wash, two kids re-steal the time machine and COPY EDITOR

You see it every year. Sure, studios may put out a few horror flicks now and then throughout the year, but Halloween is the season for all things scary. Thrillers, slashers, haunting movies. Upon the first drop of an autumn leaf, the floodgates are open to countless terrifying films to binge on.

However, not all of them stack up. Some of them, in fact, wind up being bad to the point of comedy.

And while some people may just be in it for the rush, others, such as myself, also enjoy ripping apart and laughing at bad acting, bad effects and more with a good group of friends. Here’s the best recommendations I have if you’re looking for a wildly bad time.

Firstly, there’s “Death Bed: The Bed That Eats.” This is not a good film. At all. In fact, it was so bad that it stayed in the director’s attic for 27 years, and in an interview on the DVD intro, he said he essentially “forgot he made it.” The plot is pretty much self-explanatory. There’s a bed in some basement apparently located in the middle of nowhere, fueled by demon blood and it eats people. Different people show up to the basement for contrived reasons and it eats them, with a bunch of obnoxiously loud chomping sound effects and synthesizer music. At one point, the bed eats a guy’s hands, and he pulls them out as skeleton hands with his real hands clearly tucked under his shirt sleeves. It’s long. It’s boring (if you watch it alone.) There’s little to no music. But, if you love beds and bad 70s acting you’re in for a real treat. Eventually, the ridiculousness of the plot gets to you and you may find yourself enjoying this little flick despite its glaring flaws.

Another absolute gem is “Gingerdead Man 3: Saturday Night Cleaver.” If you have little to no context with the original two prequels, all you really need to know is that a serial killer’s ashes have been baked into a gingerbread man who is now sentient and out for blood. Out of all the Gingerdead Man films, this one has usually been labeled the worst. (And in a series with sequel names like “Passion of the Crust” and “Gingerdead Man vs The Evil Bong,” that’s a pretty low bar to set.) Essentially, after baked goods rights activists free the Gingerdead Man from prison, he steals a time machine and goes back in time to 1976 where a struggling roller rink is about to close its doors. While the Gingerdead Man creates carnage with incidents like a hydrochloric acid

go the future. All this goes on as the roller rink’s owner, who hates skating after accidentally causing Pearl Harbor, prevents her niece Cherry from skating in a very, very obvious parody of “Carrie.” The voice acting is bad, the acting is bad, the puppeteering is bad, the lighting is bad. It’s a trail mix of bad, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

If you’re looking for dumb fun and several dozen puns delivered by someone who clearly gargled sandpaper before recording, this is right up your alley.

A somewhat overused classic in the genre of bad terror is “Killer Klowns from Outer Space.”

Do I need to elaborate? I think you can figure out the plot. (Especially with a certain range of national reports of weird clowns hanging about.)

Essentially, clowns from space land in a small suburban town and kidnap people in cocoons of cotton candy to eat later. A group of teens becomes aware of the scheme, but nobody believe them because there’s no way these clowns with obviously terrifying body proportions and makeup could ever be evil. Honestly, the clowns do their job in looking absolutely terrifying with their uncomfortable masks and weird body proportions. Weird synth-music-box carnival music plays every time they’re on screen. It’s not a full-bodied horror film, but if you’re all about 80s cheese and oddly sticky-looking special effects then pop this bad boy in and get ready for a hot dose of weird.

Another classic not to be forgotten is the one, the only, the infamous remake of “Wicker Man” starring Nicholas Cage. The film gained notoriety for it’s cringe-worthy “Not the bees!” scene, which isn’t even in the actual film, as it’s a deleted take. However, that’s not to say the final product isn’t filled to the brim with hamfisted dialogue, running gags about ghost children getting hit with cars, an awkward reunion with an ex-wife who’s joined an all-female island bee cult, and America’s own national treasure Nicholas Cage punching a woman in a bear costume. This one contains significantly more effort than some of the other movies on this list, but that doesn’t mean that there isn’t enough terrible to make it a hilarious romp through b-movie land.

Last, but certainly not least, is another internet-famous classic and personal favorite of mine, “Troll 2.” Filmed and written by Italians with no understanding of english, having ab-

right across the street from Westside High School!

solutely no relation to the original Troll and originally titled “Goblins,” the story follows a family who swap houses for a vacation with a family and their son Joshua in the small, isolated mountain town of Nilbog (Which, if you can read, is Goblin spelled backwards, as screamed by a child far later into the movie than it should have taken). Despite some odd behavior from neighbors, things are going well until the strangely Obi-Wan-esque ghost of Joshua’s grandpa Seth warns him that all is not as it seems in Nilbog, and that the green pudding haphazardly smeared on all their food will turn them into plants. Yes, these goblins are vegetarians, as shown by their love of messy green special effects goop and unrefrigerated milk, along with their weakness of bologna, which does in fact save the day. Everything in this movie is wild. The unexplained dance scene with Joshua’s sister Holly. A teen gang member falling prey to a witch who makes out with him with a corncob in her teeth, which may or may not spontaneously combust into popcorn. The iconic “Oh my God!” scene. There was no good direction in this production, made all the more obvious by the statements of cast members who explained that literally nobody spoke Italian on set and basically everybody was winging it 24/7. I can’t recommend this enough. Troll 2 is a wild, terribly written ride from start to finish and it’s a blast all the better with pals.

In short, while it’s fun to be scared, it can be even more fun to appreciate lackluster attempts at being scared. So this halloween, instead of the usual horror flick, consider popping in one of these bad boys with some friends around (preferable tired) and enjoy the night.

Top: Graphic by Sam Cohen Above: Graphic by Emma Korengel

19

HOROSCOPES Taurus 20 apr – 20 may

Aries 21 mar – 19 apr While honesty is a good thing, it is easy to be overly honest. Sometimes, the truth is better left unsaid. Before you say anything think about if you’re hurting another’s feelings. If the truth might hurt another, consider keeping it to yourself for now. Today: reflect on secrets you have been trusted with.

You may find yourself struggling to give up on an activity or project you have started. Being devoted can be a good trait in the work place but in your personal life it may be making it difficult to complete everyday tasks. Try to go easy on yourself and don’t take it to hard if you find you must give up on something in order to focus on more important things. Today: Make sure you have prioritized your activities for the week.

Gemini 21 may – 21 jun A situation might be stressing you out lately. Don’t let yourself get too nervous about it. Your anxiety will only make the situation more stressful. After you calm yourself down and think it through with a clear mind, you will find that the task at hand is not as hard as you once imagined. Today: try meditating or yoga to release stress from your mind.

Cancer 22 jun – 23 jul

Leo 24 jul – 23 aug

Virgo 24 aug – 22 sept

Your insecurities have made you a difficult person to get to know. You have built some walls or boundaries that have prevented some people from getting close to you, who really wanted to. It is okay to make new friends and let people in. They will learn that you are actually very sentimental.

Today: introduce someone to your family.

Try not to be too over dramatic today. Your emotions are running high lately and you might not be thinking a situation through before you react. When something happens, negative or positive, take a moment to consider how you’re feeling before reacting. Today: make a positive contribution to a negative conversation.

You are always paying attention to the small details in things. You are very methodical so you like to make sure that even the smallest details in your plans are right.

For now, it is time to let someone else do the worrying.

Let others help you form your plans and don’t worry about getting them perfect right now. You can always add the finishing touches later. Today: read a good book.

Scorpio 23 oct – 22 nov

Sagittarius 23 nov – 20 dec

Libra 23 sept – 22 oct Use your fair mindedness to stay neutral in a current conflict. Don’t give in to pressure to pick a side. There is nothing wrong with seeing the pros and cons of both arguments.

Not everything is about being on one side or the other, you can be supportive for both sides. Today: encourage others to see both sides of an argument.

You are very assertive which will come in handy here shortly. Especially if lately you’ve been feeling walked on or used. It is time to stand up for yourself.

Cut the negative people out of your life and let others know that you know your self worth. Today: listen to a song that makes you feel good about yourself.

Capricorn 22 dec – 20 jan

Aquarius 21 jan – 19 feb

You may be called upon for advice and your honest opinion. Your constructive criticism may come across as condescending although you are being honest. Tap in to your reserve of professionalism to help you conquer advice giving without coming across as rude. Today: offer constructive criticism to a professional.

Your originality is cherished by those around you.

You may have many great ideas for future projects or activities. Use these ideas to really spice things up and create a fun environment for others. Today: try to make someone’s day.

Horoscopes by April Van Unen

Kindness, conversation & care for your loved ones.

402.350.8230

bloomcompanion.com

Lately, you may have been making promises you cannot fulfil. Although you have good intentions by doing so, do not spread yourself too thin. There’s only so much one person can do and you need to keep that in mind. Keep in mind who deserves your time. Today: help someone who has helped you in the past.

Pisces 20 feb – 20 mar You are known for trusting people too easily. It is good to trust others but sometimes it may be too much.

Try to remain slightly reserved with new comers in to your life. They may not always have as good of intentions as you do. Today: have an intellectual conversation with a friend.

Graphics by Bella Radler

20

A&E

Halloween Costumes REESE P I K E STAFF WRITER

Here are some additional options from the internet:

Deciding on a Halloween costume can be hard. Whether a person is going trick-or-treating or needs a quick costume for a last-minute party, it’s difficult to find a simple costume that’s more creative than the average ghost or vampire. It can be even harder to find an inexpensive creative costume. For those who don’t want to spend much this Halloween, Westside’s Fashion Club has some fun ideas for costumes:

Dobby (from Harry Potter) - Wear a loose-fitting gray t-shirt tank dress, long socks and elf ears. For extra authenticity, try making the dress look dirty and mismatch the socks.

Price: A t-shirt tank dress costs $5 at Walmart. Kneelength socks cost $10 for a two-pack at Target. Elf ears cost $6 at Walmart.

Butterfly - Make wings out of wire and tulle by shaping the wire into wing shapes. Then cover it with the tulle. Wear a colorful shirt.

Total cost: $21

Price: About $4 for tulle and $8 for artistic wire at Michael’s.

Pig in a blanket - Wrap yourself in a blanket and add pig ears.

Total cost: $12

Price: Find a blanket from home. Pig ears cost $4.44 at Walmart.

Total cost: $4.44

Strawberry - Wear all red and tape black construction paper cut into the shape of seeds on the outfit to make it look like a strawberry. Then add a green headband.

Photograph - Make a frame out of cardboard and hold it. Also, make a duct-tape harness.

Price: Visit Goodwill to find a red t-shirt and pants or go to Walmart, where red leggings cost $6 and a red t-shirt costs $5. Black construction paper costs $2.29 at Michael’s and a green headband costs $2 - $5 at Target.

Price: Cardboard can be hard to find in big sheets, so flatten used boxes and cut them into the right shape.

Painting the frame will help make it look nice. Acrylic paint costs $1.19 and duct-tape costs $3.50 at Michael’s.

Total cost: $15.29 – 18.29

Total cost: $4.69 Cat, Mouse or Rabbit - Wear all black and find ears specific to the animal of your choice.

Mime - Wear a striped black-and-white shirt and leggings or black jeans. Put on some white face paint and a black beret.

Price: A black t-shirt costs $5 to $8 and black leggings cost $8 at Target. Rabbit ears cost $6.97, cat ears cost $4.97 and mouse ears cost $4.44 at Walmart.

Price: A black-and-white striped shirt costs $9.60 and leggings cost $8. White face paint costs $4.29 for a tub at Michael’s. A black beret costs $3.29 at Walmart.

Total cost: Rabbit - $6.97 – 22.97

Cat - $4.97 – 20.97

Mouse - $4.44 – 20.44

Total cost: $7.58 – 25.18

Rosie the Riveter (Icon from WWII) - Wear a denim shirt with rolled up sleeves, jeans and tie hair up in a red bandana.

Football player - Wear a jersey and leggings.

Price: Jerseys can be expensive. They can be around $30, so a person can make their own by painting an old t-shirt with their favorite team colors. Shoulder pads can be made out of foam too. Foam costs about $4 at Michael’s and fabric paint costs $7.

Total cost: $11

Price: A denim shirt costs $17.48 at Target. A red bandanna costs $4 for a two-pack. Any jeans will work.

Total cost: $21.48

Pineapple - Wear a yellow dress and tape construction paper leaves onto a headband to make a hat.

Price: A yellow dress costs $15 at Walmart. A green headband costs $2 - $5 at Target. Green construction paper costs $2.29 at Michael’s.

Ninja - Wear all black with a black headband.

Price: Prices for black leggings and t-shirt can be seen above in the cat/mouse/ rabbit idea. Black jeans cost $17 at Target.

A black headband costs $2.

Total cost: $2 - 27

Graphics by Sam Cohen and Jim Schueneman

Total cost: $19.29 - $22.29

Waldo from “Where’s Waldo?” - Wear a red-andwhite striped shirt, jeans, glasses, and a red-andwhite pom-pom hat.

Price: A red-and-white shirt costs $18.20, fake glasses cost $7.86 and a red-and-white pom-pom hat costs $7 at Walmart.

Total cost: $33.06