Issue 4

THE 8701 Pacific St. Omaha, NE 68114 Volume 61 Issue 4

December 16, 2016

ANCE

* FEATURE Sledding hills review on p. 15

“A SEAT THAT’S NOT BEING FILLED”

Senior basketball player allegedly transfers

JA NE G L A Z E R , began to build an impressive record as a forward, working hard to become more of a “vocal leadeven after suffering a leg fracture in the offseason er” during his last high school season as the MA D I GA N B R O D S K Y of his sophomore year. Averaging 18 points and Warrior’s only returning starter.

WESTSIDE WIRED STAFF WRITER, MEDIA COORDINATOR

On Thursday, Dec. 8, sophomore Chase Thompson stood up from the season’s first team dinner, joined the rest of his varsity basketball teammates, and went to take a picture.

All night, the atmosphere had a serious tone. The elephant in the room had been addressed more than once, and the future of their season was constantly conveyed through looks, words, and feelings.

The boys made their way towards the Booth family Christmas tree, and began to put their arms around each other. All looked at each other in sudden realization. The 6’7, 220 pound senior, usually center of their team photo, was missing.

Anthony Bratton was gone. *** Although Bratton began to play basketball when he was six years old, it wasn’t until he came to Westside that he said that he truly began to realize his talent. Both his father and his uncle played, so he said that he knew that “the genes [had been] passed on.”

After making varsity as a freshman, Bratton

seven rebounds per game over the course of 23 games in the 2015-2016 season, Bratton helped

MASON SNOVER SENIOR

However, for Bratton, these goals will no longer be attained at Westside. Varsity coach Brian Nemecek can confirm that on Tuesday, Dec. 6, Bratton didn’t show up for practice, and texted another one of the varsity coaches at approximately 3:15 p.m. that he was transferring to Omaha South. *** “When I found out, I honestly thought everyone was joking,” senior guard Mason Snover said. “I didn’t believe it at first. The first practice without him was varsity only, so with him not being there, [it] felt really empty.”

“I called him up, I talked to him on the phone, cause I’ve known him since I was in 7th grade,” sophomore forward Chase Thompson said. “I was mainly sad more than anything. Most people were angry, I was just sad, because he’s like a brother.”

“When I found out, I honestly thought everyonxe was joking...” lead the team to a 13-10 season record. Between advances from Drake and personal goals of attending either K.U. or Kansas City, it comes with no surprise that Bratton is now a long-awaited college prospect.

With hopeful goals to reach the district championships and then state, Bratton said he was

Story continues onto page 2

Senior Anthony Bratton goes up for a dunk at PapillionLa Vista on Jan. 24, 2016. Photo by Olivia Washburn.

2

NEWS

CONT.: Basketball team adjusts after player leaves

“We had a great relationship, and I think Anthony would tell you that,” Nemecek said.

“We were pretty tight. Great kid. Nothing negative to say about him. [I’d] do anything for him that I could, still, to this day.

People make decisions for whatever reasons, and I can’t really answer the r e a s o n why [he] decided to leave.” *** According to the O m a h a World-Herald, as of Thursday, Dec. 8, OPS has no record of Bratton being enrolled at the home of the current Class A state champions. Principal Jay Opperman stated that as of Tuesday, Dec. 13, Bratton’s family initiated his withdrawal from Westside High School, but is unaware of him attending

any other school at this time. Both Bratton and OPS representatives were unavailable to comment on this issue. As specified by NSAA bylaw 2.6.9.3, as an option-enrollment student, Bratton is permitted to attend any school in the district where his parents live and still be eligible to play varsity sports, regardless of the motives of his alleged transfer. *** Thompson, who views Bratton as an inspiration and a mentor, said that his own reason for choosing to attend Westside was due to the prospect of playing with Bratton during his senior year. Thompson said that after contemplating Bratton’s departure, he

CHASE THOMPSON

SOPHOMORE

“You’re the leader now. That’s what he said when he left. He was like, ‘You gotta lead now.’”

realized that there was “a seat that’s not being filled,” and that this situation was an opportunity for him to step up and “do what I have to for the team.”

“He taught me that things are always better than they seem,” Thompson said. “Nothing’s [ever] that bad. Even though he [would] get a little emotional during losses, he’s always the person to pick it back up, and that’s what I take with me, pick it back up, don’t let [the team] get their heads down because you gotta lead the team now. You’re the leader now. That’s what he said when he left. He was like, ‘You gotta lead now.’” *** On Thursday, Dec. 9, the Warriors were able to pull through for the first time without their starting center, defeating Lincoln High 66-52. Now with a 1-4 record, the Warriors are ready to continue their season, and Nemecek is confident that the team will surprise many.

“We just have to prepare for the season without a big man, a middle man, or a person that brings the team together,” Thompson said.

“I think we have the capability of doing good things. But we just have to make sure that we bring energy. Hopefully when we see him later this year and play against him, it will be a good matchup.”

Above Left: The boys varsity basketball team gathers for a photo at their team dinner on Thursday, Dec. 8. The team dinner was held at freshman Jadin Booth’s house.

Photo courtesy of Jeff Booth. Above: Sophomore Chase Thompson goes up for a lay-up on Thursday, Dec. 1 at Fremont. Photo by Olivia Washburn.

TALKING TRASH

School notices increasing amount of vandalism and hallway littering M A L I A BAT TA FA RA N O, the kids can get food any time of the day that they REES E P I K E want,” Fast said.

FEATURE EDITOR, COPY EDITOR

Throughout November, there was an increase in vandalism at Westside, and, because of this, many bathrooms have been closed. This affects both students and staff by forcing them to use a different bathroom. On Dec. 1, Dean Aaron Bredenkamp sent out an email to staff asking them to help prevent bathroom vandalism and hallway littering.

The rise has a greater impact on custodial staff, who are stuck cleaning up the messes that students leave behind. Custodian Mary Fast said vandalism has primarily been occurring in the boys’ bathrooms, so she has been more affected by the littering.

Fast said she and other members of the custodial staff spend a lot of time picking up other people’s trash.

“We use food to celebrate everything [at Westside],” Fast said. “But we also need to pay attention to the clean-up part of that... It doesn’t take much to feed a mouse. Those little bits and pieces of stuff are somebody else’s supper.”

Fast also said hallway littering has been a problem for years.

“It’s always been some sort of a problem that

Bredenkamp said unlike the rise in littering, the rise in bathroom vandalism is unusual. According to Bredenkamp, the bathrooms by the auditorium and in the 100s and north hallways have been the most affected. Bredenkamp said he has been considering the reasons behind this increase. “[This is not a rise] that I’ve experienced in the past, and I think it’s more than just the vandalism,” Bredenkamp said. “I think it’s an overall lack of respect for the building, in particular our building staff.”

Bredenkamp said that he thinks, along with being disrespectful, students are being immature and not taking into account how their actions impact others.

“Students understanding that their actions can have impacts on people outside of their little group of friends or outside that little moment is a key lesson in life I think, just overall,” Bredenkamp said.

While many students aren’t a part of this problem, they can be a part of the solution.

“Just be mindful of someone eating in the hallways,” Fast said. “We’re all a part of this school.

I take pride in it because this is my work. The kids need to take ownership in it because this is their place of alumni.”

Bredenkamp stresses that the best thing to do is

to speak up about the issue. “[The most important piece is] spreading the idea, trying to build that idea within the students that respecting the building is going to pay off for them in the long run,” Bredenkamp said.

Fast also had ideas for how students can help out.

There are many ways to help, including picking up trash in the hallways, even if it isn’t your own, she said. This can help improve the atmosphere at Westside. “[Helping out is] not about cleaning up after someone as much as it is about developing a sense of community,” Bredenkamp said. “If we all take little steps to help improve the situation, collectively it will have a big impact and change the culture of how students treat the building.”

Graphic by Bella Radler

NEWS

3

A whole New World

English teacher creates game for Sci-Fi unit CYNT H IA F RA N C E STAFF WRITER

In a galaxy not so far away, there exists a world where science fiction books are banned and proficiencies are virtually impossible to obtain.

Created by Westside teacher Andrew Easton for his English 9 honors students, this world is part of a game played during the class’ science fiction unit. The game will take place during the entirety of the unit, which started after Thanksgiving break and ends Monday, Dec. 19.

Easton was first inspired to create this while at an ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education) conference over the summer.

“I was talking to an individual named Steven Isaacs [who] got me in touch with Mr. Paul Darvasi, who teaches in Ontario,” Easton said. “I first read Paul’s work on his blog, and I created my own variation inspired by what he had done.

Paul’s narrative mirrored the narrative of the novel his students were reading at the time.”

However, there were some major differences between the two.

“We’re doing a choice novel unit, so since there’s not one central storyline, I had to create the whole story [for the game],” Easton said. “I started in a place where I was like ‘Okay, we’re going through sci-fi, so we’re going to create a dystopian setting, and I want it to be immersive,’ [where] the kids would play out a role in whatever’s going on.”

The game, called “The Eastside Awakening,” immerses students in a fictitious world where they attend a school called Eastside High School.

Westside theater teacher Jeremy Stoll plays the part of the dystopian principal, Jeremiah Stollin.

The principal is drilling his students with test after test so they can be proficient on the exam that decides how much funding the school receives.

“By putting students in situations it causes them to engage in the content in a way that’s pretty real,” Easton said. “What I was hoping to create with this was a chance for them to experience a dystopian setting, which is in all their sci-fi books.”

At Eastside High School, there is also a group that is in opposition to this approach to education, called “the Awakening.”

“There’s this ‘Awakening’ that happens [at Eastside], where you join a cult[…]against taking these tests,” freshmen Kelly Kroeger and Emma Rieser said. “Then we get books that are banned because we joined the cult. You have secret missions. One is to hold a secret meeting, which is kind of like a practice graded discussion with other people that are reading the book.”

At the start of every class, the students watch a video featuring Mr. Stollin that furthers the narrative of the game and sometimes also provides a clue for a mission.

“One of their missions is to graffiti on the walls of Eastside,” Easton said. “The theater department donated panels to us and the art club painted them and the students right now during class will go up and write quotes from their books on the ‘walls.’”

Once the students have completed a mission, they email the leader of the Awakening, “Myster E,” played by Easton. For the game, each “teacher” has their own email that the students can send and receive emails from.

“When they finish the assignments, they email me and then I send them clues,” Easton said.

“There’s a really big real-world element to all of this because there’s clues that have been in this building since August.”

Each clue leads to another and the end goal is to be able to completely fill out a hall pass, which the students received when they got their book.

“You have to unlock something at the end, which is what the hall pass is for,” Rieser said.

“After you complete each mission, you get a clue to what you put in the hall pass.”

However, the students need to do a lot of work and preparation before the mysterious pass can be filled out.

“Wherever they need to go, there’s something that they need to do there,” Easton said. “There’s a lot of different things that they’re going to have to have figured out by the time they get there too.

Otherwise, they’ll run into things that stop them.”

Easton hopes to incorporate this new approach to learning into other units as well. However, it might not be until next year that this way of teaching surfaces again.

“I don’t think I’ll be able to do it again this year because I have been working on this since June,” Easton said. “It took more of wrapping my mind around how to set all of it up than anything else. The actual setting up of it has gone quick.

It’s been fun.”

When posed with the possible opportunity for another unit with a similar setup to this, Kroeger was all in for it as well.

“If that was a possibility, I would definitely [participate],” Kroeger said. “I [like this type of learning] because it’s fun to put yourself in a simulated world and it encourages you to work harder to complete the missions and to complete them well.”

Although “The Eastside Awakening” is a game with missions, it is by no means a competitive game.

“There’s not really an overall winner, it’s not a game in the sense that someone’s going to become champion,” Easton said. “Myster E is just prompting them to be free-thinking individuals, to be people who value literature, a conversation, [and] who aren’t going to buy into the standardized approach to education.”

Westside teacher Andrew Easton helps his students during their personalized learning unit. Photo by Emily Kutler

IN BRIEF Electoral College On Dec. 19, the 538 electors will cast their ballots for their state’s presidential pick. In a typical election year, this date would pass unnoticed by most. However, the results of the recent presidential election have been divisive. According to NBC News, Hillary Clinton won the popular vote by more than two million votes, which is likely to increase to about 2.5 million after all ballots are counted. Despite this win, because of the distribution of electors throughout the states where she lost the popular vote, Hillary Clinton will presumably lose the Electoral College and therefore the election.

Consequently, there has been a large movement by Clinton fans to try to convince the electors, some of whom are not required by law to vote with their state, to change their votes. Despite all the noise— death threats, petitions—senior Ava Bowman, among the disappointed Clinton supporters, does not have high hopes for the movement.

“I’m definitely expecting Donald Trump to

win the electoral vote,” she says. “I mean, ideally I would still love Hillary to win, but, I mean, I do respect the political process.”

Social studies instructor David Bywater also doubts that the electors will change their votes.

“It is not going to happen,” Bywater said.

“Maybe you get one [elector to switch their vote], but I would be shocked. [The electors are] highly partisan people.”

History sides with Bowman and Bywater.

According to FairVote, there have only ever been 157 “unfaithful electors” (electors who did not vote for the candidate whom their state chose) in the nation’s history and 71 changed their votes because their candidate died before they voted. Of the remaining 85, three abstained from voting altogether. FairVote also notes that there never have been enough votes changed to switch the outcome of the election. However, Bywater said he believes that the current animosity toward the Electoral College may weaken people’s overall confidence in the system. “[It creates] chinks in the armor of the Electoral College and the whole system of democracy when these things happen,” Bywater said.

On Dec. 28, we will know for certain the result of this year’s election.

DECA helps Adopt-A-Kid Each year when the holiday season rolls around, Westside’s Key Club, headed by Dr. Vicki Londer, puts on the annual Holiday Adoption Project. The Holiday Adoption Project identifies students throughout the district whose families may not be in a position to purchase gifts for the holidays.

Typically, homerooms throughout the school pool money to buy things that anonymous students need or want as gifts for whatever holiday they celebrate. There are only so many homerooms at Westside High School, so each year, the Westside DECA program adopts the children whos aren’t covered by homerooms.

Westside DECA raises money through donations in Marketing large groups and according to DECA advisor Sarah Schau, the club “adopts” five or six students each winter. This year, the DECA program is adopting six youth from the Westside community. In total, Key Club’s Holiday Adoption Program will assist 136 students this year.

Briefs by Steven Simon and Malia Battafarano

4

EDITORIAL

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.

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

The Lance staff recognizes that the administration of Westside Community Schools controls the curriculum and, thus, sets the parameters of the production process of school publications. The Lance staff also recognizes its own responsibilities to inform, enlighten and entertain its readers in a way that reflects high standards of journalism, morals and ethics.

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

Graphic by Katelynn Shepard

Editorial

Recent incident does not define our school Within the past week, Westside has received a new reputation.

We’ve become the school with the “frosting incident.”

People around the community and the whole world— literally — have been buzzing about Westside. Based off of one incident, they assume things about our school and district. Comments like “what has Westside come to?” swirl the internet. Due to this unfortunate event the way people view our school has shifted. Our world, nation and community think we are defined by this.

They’re wrong.

Here’s what they don’t know: Westside has been in the media 74 times since August — highlighting positive aspects of our district.

Whether it’s the story of a custodian helping a child find her retainer, an eighth grade student earning a perfect ACT score in science or a group of students getting real-life experience in the business world it is clear that Westside is thriving.

The incident solely reflects those students involved— not our high school. Keep in mind, the few do not represent the many. This event will not hold us back. Westside provides an exceptional education to its students like no other in the state. In an article published on Nov. 15, 2015, Business Insider rated Westside High School as the best public high school

in Nebraska. According to this notable source, Westside excelled in academics, teachers, college readiness, resources and facilities.

This speaks volumes to the type of values Westside Community Schools upholds, and it’s no surprise to us students. We enter school everyday to excited educators, several of whom have received various awards.

Modular scheduling provides unique opportunities for Westside students, promoting the time management skills necessary for college. The district’s top priority is preparing young people for the real world.

By no means are we justifying what occurred because it is inexcusable.

We just want to remind the world that Westside is a phenomenal school producing talented graduates, and that hasn’t changed.

Superintendent Blane McCann wrote a letter to parents Sunday, Dec. 11.

“We believe our district is providing...welcoming, respectful and inviting environments for all of our learners and employees to grow,” McCann said.

We are Westside, and Westside is a noteworthy school filled with accomplished students and teachers who are striving to make a difference in the world. Let this be the lasting reputation you remember.

“...Business Insider rated Westside High School as the best public high school in Nebraska.”

Warrior Voice What do you love about Westside?

Andy rodriguez, senior

“I love being able to get along with everybody, and having your teachers be available to help you out when you are struggling”

CLAIRE WATSABAUGH, JUNIOR

“[I love] the environment. I love coming to school. It’s a good environment to be in.”

GIOVANNI WILLIAMS, FRESHMAN

Natalie vanderloo, SOPHOMORE

“[I love] how there is al- “I really like having modways something going ular scheduling.” on. There is never a time where nothing is happening.”

OPINION

5

School district needs to help students by hiring faculty members who are minorities and of more diverse backgrounds It is no secret that Westside High School is not among the most diverse schools in the Omaha area. While that statement is true for the student body it is also true for the administration. Recently, more students have started to take notice of the fact that there is a shortage of diverse educators in our school.

Attending a DESTINY HOWARD predominantly white STAFF WRITER school as a minority is hard enough, but with no teachers of color that relate to the struggles that we face everyday, it becomes increasingly harder. A school is supposed to be a comfortable environment in which students always feel like they have someone to talk to. Expressing concern to white teacher or dean about an issue that deals with race won’t resonate as effectively as it would with a teacher or dean of color.

What kind of message does the school send to its students when the only racially diverse staff that are employed here are cleaning up behind us, serving us lunch and being sent to fetch us from our classes? Representation for us matters, especially at a crucial time in development such as high school. We want to see people who look like us in positions of power and authority. In my two years at this school and my five in the district, I have yet to see an African American, dean, teacher or even a student teacher.

This fact saddens and shocks me. Westside continuously stresses that they do not tolerate discrimination by any means. Those words fall on deaf ears when I walk into school and everywhere I look I only see one race. If I have multiple classes where I am the only black student or have yet to be taught by a black teacher, this shows the hiring system is broken and we need to fix it.

Westside needs to do better by taking into consideration the fact that as they grow into a more diverse school the administration has to grow with it. The movement for a diverse staff has to start somewhere. I have no doubt that there are plenty of educators of color who are also adequately qualified to teach our students.

Westside has to be an advocate for this issue and employ people with different backgrounds.

Understand this: I am by no means suggesting that the educators we have now are not capable of teaching us and getting us to learn and retain information. Learning about my heritage, history and experiences my people faced from someone who doesn’t come from the same background and cannot share my perspective is awkward. It leaves me questioning the information I’ve been taught.

Like I’ve stated before, representation for our students does matter. Seeing diverse and educated people in positions of power makes us feel empowered. It shows us that there is no job we cannot do and that there are no people that we cannot work with. We all come to school for one thing and that is education. Education does not see color.

Graphic by Bella Radler

Now you see me Transgender students deserve recognition The civil rights of our American citizens have always been a topic of discussion since most of us have started school. Westside teaches us not to be outright racist. They teach us not to bully, they teach us to listen to your peers and be respectful of other people’s differences, but sometimes that lesson gets lost when it comes to transgender kids.

Transgender teens at school have very little representation. There’s no club for us. There’s very little known support out there. No one is ALEX BERGIN OPINION EDITOR informed about what transgender means and how to treat someone who identifies as transgender.

We are stuck being invisible as the world talks about our rights, identities and self-expression as if we are not there at all. High school kids who want to come out have no easy way of communicating to their school about their identity, and in most schools they aren’t even guaranteed to be listened to.

If you want to come out as transgender, it’s more than just telling your friends and family. Once you do that, if you want people and teachers in school to listen, you must communicate with deans, the principal and teachers who, again, are not guaranteed to react nicely, or even respect who you are. This job is particularly hard when all you want is to be heard and respected, yet there’s a debate about if who you are is even ethical or not.

When you’re talked about as if you are not there, it makes it hard to believe in the support systems that are supposed to be there in schools. For example, teachers are supposed to stop bullying and name calling in schools when they see it, but what does a transgender student do when it’s their teacher calling

them the wrong name or pronoun? There’s no system put in place, so it’s up to the student to either get over it or say something. The problem here is if you say something, you open yourself up to even more discrimination or at the very least a really awkward conversation with a grown adult.

Many teens already have problems outside of school, and in the LGBT world, this can make things a lot more complicated and worse. According to USA Today, 41 percent of transgender individuals will attempt suicide in their lifetime.

This is compared to 4.6 percent of the general public. This jump is not for no reason. We are overlooked in society, in our homes, and at our schools. Many constantly strive to just be slightly respected as a transgender person, and the school has a perfect opportunity to help with this.

Westside in particular has had a good track record of being open to its LGBT students, but we still see that a lot of the more vocal support is about our gay brothers and sisters, while transgender kids get pushed to the side. We may not be many, but we matter. In our school there are several students that fall under the umbrella of transgender, yet still we hear things in hall like, “I don’t know much about transgenders because I don’t know one.”

Kids need visibility. We all have a right to be heard. We all have a right to express ourselves, and those rights should be given to transgender students, not just the cisgender* ones. This school needs to do a better job of making us visible, and just as important as other students. We should be protected by school rules and administration.

The teenage years are already hard, and being an LGBT teen adds on a whole slew of challenges. Having visibility and support systems in place for these kids will improve the lives of many, even if just slightly. *cisgender- a person whose self-identity conforms with the gender that corresponds to their biological sex

PowerGrade A

To Winter Break. Finals week is stressful, but let’s not forget the most amazing and relaxing 17 days full of family, yummy food and friends.

96

C+ 78

F

55

To the multiple “20,000 retweets and we don’t have to take the final” tweets taking over our twitter feed from people who don’t attend Westside. You might not have to take the final but we will. No retweet for you.

To the lack of snow, bare trees, grey sky and the bitter cold. The least Mother Nature could do is give us some snow to look at before the snowplows make the streets look ugly.

6 Reducing swearing helps students

THEO JANSEN A&E EDITOR

OPINION

I have never said a swear word. This might sound inconceivable, but it is true. At the beginning of the school year, I would tense up every time I heard a swear word. How could people say these words so nonchalantly? But now, four months into the school year, I hear swear words and I have almost no external reaction, though I

still cringe on the inside.

The main argument for swearing is that the First Amendment provides free speech as well as freedom of expression. Using swear words is one of the main ways in which people attempt to express themselves; however, this is not the best way to get your emotions across. I agree that, when used sparingly, swear words might be effective, but not the way that Westside students are using them.

I can’t tell the difference between when someone is truly angry or just mildly annoyed because of the amount of swear words people use. You can substitute a better fitting word while showcasing an impressive vocabulary. If you are angry at someone, for example, instead of using a four-letter word, you could say “I anathematize you,” which means to invoke evil upon. This still gets your point across and could teach someone a new word.

Swearing conveys a disrespectful and undignified attitude. In a post-high school environment, if you are swearing an aura of unprofessionalism comes around you. A study

by Yehuda Baruch and Stuart Jenkins shows that co-workers see people who swear as incompetent. Many people have been fired for swearing.

This is especially important if you are in a job that requires interaction with people. Getting caught swearing to a customer could be crippling to a career.

Swearing can cause simple arguements to escalate very quickly. A simple argument could turn into much more if you bring swearing into it. This is because to some people are very offended by certain swear words, causing them to react violently. Most of the swear words that cause people to react violently are slurs, though.

It can also put you in a very sticky situation fast.

Being disrespectful to a police officer is one of the quickest ways to anger them. You can very easily get a ticket for a minor offense if you swear at a cop who pulls you over. Police may even arrest you for cursing at them, even though that is illegal.

Swearing is not effective as a way to express your emotions, especially if you swear often.

It doesn’t get your point across. People will have heard you swear so much that it makes no difference. It is much better to state how you feel instead of putting swear words in for emphasis because then someone will see you are not swearing and listen to you.

Certain curse words can be very offensive.

Offensive slurs are the worst. You may think you are being cool, but really you are being disrespectful to other groups of people. These words should never be used, even when you are trying to show your emotions.

If you are swearing too much, one suggestion is to use euphemisms. Euphemisms are a way of putting things lightly. Examples of these are “shoot” and “rats.” Using substitute words like euphemisms is one of the easiest ways to get off saying swear words.

It may not seem like a big deal, but swearing is a real problem. When you swear, you change the way others see you and that could end up coming back to haunt you later in life. Someone will never forget their first impression of you, and that could really change your life in a negative way.

Graphic by Emma Korengel

THANKSGIVING THUNDERDOME

People’s shopping behaviors need questioning Thanksgiving has become synonymous with many things.

Turkey. Awkward family gatherings. The Macy’s Parade and the dog show right after. But another tradition, and a continuous mark of the transition into the business rush of the holiday season, is Black Friday.

Black Friday, contrary to popular belief, was not in fact a EMMA KORENGEL retail invention to get profits “back in the black”, or higher profits COPY EDITOR than losses. The best description of Black Friday in the past was a chaotic blend of people attempting to attend football games, the start of holiday sales and cops attempting to deal with increased crowding and traffic. With this mix, bedlam and fighting often ensued, along with shoplifters taking advantage of sales out of the already busy police sight and stealing merchandise. Police, often worn-down and physically and verbally beaten, referred to this chain-reaction of disorder as “Black Friday”, sort of like what you’d call the day of a massacre (and if that doesn’t scream shopping fun for the whole family, I don’t know what does). So, long story short, those videos of Black Friday fistfights in a Walmart or stampedes into the mall are not so far from the original framework established so long ago.

But is Black Friday an ethical thing to participate in?

Certainly retailers make money, but often face tarnished images when the usual and unavoidable clips and newsreel footage of 24-way fist-scrambles over an Xbox One surface within hours. Even if you don’t get hurt, which is unlikely with the myriad reports of tramplings, stabbings, shootings and road rage on Black Friday (Yaron Steinbuch for the New York Post), employees often have to fight life-and-limb to keep crowds under control. This can be deadly, like in the case of poor Jdimytai Damour at a Walmart in 2008, who

was trampled by a stampede of customers after unlocking the doors on the Black Friday morning (Robert McFadden for The New York Times). Yet, despite stores offering condolences and some crowd control, they often are underprepared to handle crowds, with no real power to break up feuds or direct customers in an orderly manner as the only people available tend to be regular employees unused to the circumstances. If you’ve ever worked in retail, there are often many debates and rock-paper-scissors matches over who has to serve the dreaded Black Friday shifts. Retailers should be discouraging these sorts of mob-mentality shopping fights, but they never seem to find the time to make preparations outside of the normal store day procedure, which not only wears out employees but often ends up hurting them and the customers they crave in the rush.

Keeping this in mind, along with my own opinions, it’s still unlikely Black Friday will fade away anytime soon in the near future. We’re living in an all-time high poor-to-rich ratio and the gap keeps growing every year as the strain on the middle class increases. That kind of strain and poverty-line scraping along with the omnipresent desire to get our loved ones the things they want often means that people will do whatever it takes to get what they need, even if they’re living with low income. Others, however, do it for the tradition, with family members having gone out on Black Friday since they were young to where it becomes a yearly bargain-hunt familial event. Another faction does it for the rush, which I suppose anybody would get after beating away five people and clinging to a PS4 for dear life as you run to the checkout through a swarm of people. But there’s obviously better ways to get your adrenaline fix, like large football games or roller coasters.

Granted, both of those probably cost more than Black Friday, but at least in that case, if anybody gets hurt, it’s not going to be you. Hopefully.

But, with Black Friday behind us, here’s hoping for a year of peaceful relaxation and orderly seasonal sales, until we all have to uncomfortablably associate with our extended family and join the deal-dash Hunger Games once more in 2017.

THE PATH TO WINTER BREAK YOU

FINALS Graphic by Aaron Norton

FEATURE

7

It’s the holiday season... for some Jewish and Muslim students share their views on the holidays With the words “holiday season,” images of glowing trees and snowflakes fill many people’s heads, but for some students at Westside the phrase can mean something different altogether. Considering roughly 66 percent of Westside’s population is Christian, according to a survey of 687 students, it’s no wonder that a majority of people are calling those two winter weeks off “Christmas break.” However, for other members of the student body,

Judaism

the “holiday season” means celebrating the end of a month-long fast (sometimes in the summer) or observing a festival of lights. Many interviewed students of religions other than Christianity expressed their belief that people should develop at least a fundamental understanding of other religions and their holidays. This way, they said, misconceptions may be prevented and minds could be kept open.

MARYAM A K RA M OVA OPINION EDITOR

On the eighth night of Hanukkah, Westside students who are Jewish gather with family and friends to celebrate the end of the festival of light.

Hanukkah is the story of a small army of Jews reclaiming the Holy Temple in second century B.C. They wished to light Temple’s menorah, but only found one cruse of olive oil. There was only enough olive oil to last for one day, but instead it burned for eight days. The eight candles lit during Hanukkah are meant to celebrate the miracles that took place, according to the students interviewed and the Chabad-Lubavitch Media Center.

Senior David AtriSchuller celebrates Hanukkah, which begins during the Jewish month of Kislev, during the winter holidays. He celebrates with his grandparents.

“We have a few commandments, such as lighting candles on the eighth night, and there are various other observances such as being with family and friends,” AtriSchuller said.

AtriSchuller also said he enjoys it when Hanukkah falls on break. But this doesn’t happen every year. Hanukkah may fall before or after break, any time from November to January because the holiday is based on a lunar calendar. “[My favorite part] is probably when it’s around the time when I’m on break anyway so I have more time to relax,” AtriSchuller said.

The holiday is observed differently by families and each has its own unique tradition.

Senior Jacob Wigodsky’s family also celebrates Hanukkah but in a different way than AtriSchuller.

“Every year, we have a big celebration on the eighth day where we get everybody together and we all open presents and make 20 to 25 pounds of latkes, which are potato pancakes,” Wigodsky said.

Junior Madeleine Rauhauser celebrates Hanukkah as well, but for her family, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur hold a much greater significance to her family. Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year festival and is marked by the blowing of the shofar, which is a musical ram horn. Yom Kippur is the Day of Atonement and is known as the holiest day of the year in Judaism according to the students interviewed.

“Rosh Hashanah is always celebrated with my family,” Rauhauser said. “We celebrate after services. We go to the park and have apples and honey for a sweet new year.”

Atri wishes people who aren’t Jewish would learn more about Hanukkah. The holiday holds significance for him and teaches him about overcoming challenges. “[I would like people to know] that there is a lot of meaning to it,” Atri said. “There are a lot of customs that people overlook as simple traditions.”

Wigodsky said he agrees people should be educated about Hanukkah because it holds much importance to people who celebrate it.

Islam

“This is a reminder that we need to keep fighting for who we are and because of that we are still here today,” said Wigodsky. “That’s why we keep lighting those candles, to remind ourselves what we fought for and what we went through.”

“You can’t compare [Jewish holidays] to Christian holidays, which I see a lot,” Rauhauser said. “It’s not the same.”

Wigodsky said he agreed.

“It’s not a Jewish Christmas. It is its own separate holiday that celebrates the miracle that the light lasted eight days,” Wigodsky said.

JU L I A S T E I N E R FEATURE EDITOR

During the summer month of Ramadan, freshmen Yasmine Elrefaie and Yusuf Sodal fast from sunrise to sundown. As the sun sinks under the horizon, Muslims prepare their first meal of the day, eager to finally fill their stomachs. They do this in correspondence to the ninth month of the lunar calendar. In 2016 it was in June, and next year it’s from May 26 to June 25. According to those interviewed and World Book Online, when Ramadan hits they abstain from food and water in appreciation for God. The fasting allows Muslims to sympathize with those less fortunate than themselves. Teachings of the Qu’ran are woven into their everyday life during Ramadan — lessons of self-control, compassion and spiritual reflection. “[Ramadan] is the hardest thing I’ve ever done,” Elrefaie said. “I really pushed through it, and it actually made me show myself how strong I am and where my limits are. I feel accomplished because I know not everybody can do [it].”

To Sodal, Ramadan means being grateful for God, everyone around him and being alive.

“It makes me feel happy,” Sodal said. “I know that I’m starving and all, but I feel it’s for a good cause.”

Eid is the holiday that concludes Ramadan, and it serves as a festival of breaking the fast. According to those interviewed, it is celebrated to praise the people who fasted but also as a reminder to continue to be hopeful and caring of others. Gifts and charity are offered, according to World Book Online.

Eid fills Elrefaie with joy — it’s her favorite holiday. The celebration may vary for each Muslim family, or even deviate depending on where you are in the world.

Elrefaie and Sodal each said they attend a morning prayer on Eid, but whatever follows may differ. Elrefaie gets together with friends on the holiday, and has a festive meal with her family. They bake special cookies called petit fours.

On the other hand, Sodal’s family takes a trip to a place like Funplex where they can bond and celebrate. With Eid, there are varying traditions from family to family, but each one is commemorating a time of great importance to the Muslim culture. “[Being Muslim] makes me unique, and I love that,” Elrefaie said.

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FEATURE

Pure Pageantry Student Council raises money for charity through Mr. WHS JIM SCHUENEMAN MANAGING EDITOR

Once again, Student Council hosted the boys’ beauty pageant, Mr. WHS. The event, which is put on annually to raise money for the Make-AWish Foundation, featured six seniors and two juniors. As a show featuring a multitude of talents, performances, and even a swimsuit section, senior Emma Boyd and junior Cat Cox worked to maintain its image.

“We’ve talked to other student councils and their schools have tried to do it to, and their [administrators] get mad because it’s degrading in how we see the guys,” Boyd said. “We think it’s easier and more fun for the guys and for people to watch if we make it more fun.”

The show raised money through ticket sales and also largley through donations from the crowd. This pageant is Student Council’s primary charity event of the year.

“We want it to have a good outcome because all the proceeds go to Make-A-Wish,” Boyd said.

“We need people taking it seriously enough to come and make donations.”

After around an hour of performances, the judges declared senior Graham Guenette the winner based on his questionaire responses, talent and the swimsuit section. This pageant was his second year competing.

“Last year I was a lot more nervous,” Guenette said. “I was just a little junior with all these senior guys. This year I felt like it was our show, with all my friends. [Winning] feels pretty awesome. At first I was shocked, but now people come up to me and it’s really cool.”

Guenette and the other contestants’ performance helped Student Council’s event meet record attendence and raise over $900 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

“Winning was absolutely awesome and hearing my name called was really cool, but at the end of the day it’s about raising money for Make-AWish and helping kids who really need it,” Guenette said. “I’m proud to be a part of such a cool event and feel blessed to be Mr. WHS.”

Top: Seniors Trevor Mumford and Spencer Salem dance on stage while senior Christian Hanus performs his talent. Bottom left: Senior Graham Guenette performs “Landslide” by Fleetwood Mac. Bottom right: Contestants drumroll as they await the event’s results. Photos

by Biruk Tewodros and Katya Ward.

FEATURE

9

Top left: Contestants and their escorts line up showing off formal wear. Top right: Senior Graham Guenette celebrates after being crowned Mr. WHS. Bottom left: Junior Gabe Hinrichs performs stand up. Bottom right: Seniors Trevor Mumford and Spencer Salem perform, playing ukelele and flipping pancakes respectively. Photos by Biruk Tewodros and Katya Ward

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FEATURE

OPENING UP

Junior holds door to overcome social anxiety LI BBY S E L I N E EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Junior Emmy Miller simply “can’t handle” pep rallies.

The roaring crowd and the raging applause make her feel anxious.

As a freshman, she sometimes would not attend even though she needed to play in the band.

Miller is introverted and shy and has a general fear of social situations.

“I honestly don’t think highly of myself; I’m just a normal person, you know?” Miller said. “[Other people would say I’m] weird and [that I’m someone who] doesn’t know how to communicate with people.”

She decided to drop out of band her sophomore year to avoid pep rallies. However, she wanted to challenge herself to improve her social skills.

Miller remembered a story about a boy who held the door open to help become less afraid of social situations. Inspired by the idea, she began holding the door open between first and second quarter of her sophomore year. “[The boy’s] social skills improved and he made more friends, so I figured I’d follow in his example to help me with my social issues,” Miller said.

Miller has continued to hold the band hallway door open for the past year. She claims this has helped her become less afraid of social situations.

“[Holding the door open] has helped me get to know people and become less afraid to talk and smile more,” Miller said.

Miller’s actions have affected the student body as they have noticed her holding the door open.

“I think she’s the sweetest person to be that considerate,” junior Haley Petri said. “When she’s open, she holds the door for that entire passing period and waits until everyone is done. That hallway is super cluttered so it’s really nice of her to do that.”

Miller appreciates the gratitude and also their concerns about her being tardy to class.

“Lots of people are like, ‘aren’t you going to be late to class?’ but they don’t have anything to worry about because I only do it when I’m open,” Miller said. “I really appreciate [people’s gratitude]. There’s no way I couldn’t appreciate it.”

Miller plans to continue to hold the door open partially because it has become a routine for her. “[Holding the door open is] still helping me out, and if I just disappeared people would be like ‘what happened to her?’” Miller said. “It has become a habit now. Now I just do it without even thinking about it.”

Although she appreciates how holding the door open has helped improve her social skills, she also loves making other students happy.

“I remember somebody saying they were having a bad day and me holding the door open for them was the bright part of the day,” Miller said.

“So just making people happy is just a really great

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part.”

Every week until she graduates, Miller will stand at the entrance of the band hallway with a shy grin on her face.

Her shoulder will prop the steel door open, and as her fellow students pass through, she will memorize faces and nod at the students who acknowledge her.

The students that start a conversation with her are people she is grateful for. It reassures her that this experience is “worth it.”

“I’m not perfect yet at this social thing, but I’m still learning,” Miller said.

Junior Emmy Miller holds the door open during passing period on Friday, Dec. 9. Miller also partipcates in Art Club and Interactive Game Club. Photo by Lili Fogland

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FEATURE

11

From iraq to westside Math instructor reflects upon military experience T R ISTA N N E W M A N were dangerous, the roads were much worse STAFF WRITER

Most days started around 5 a.m. during the late 1980s at the United States Air Force Academy for current Westside High School math instructor and retired Lieutenant Colonel Michael Nolette. The days weren’t easy due to the immense of amount of effort put in day in and day out. Nolette would put in his work strenuously until late 11 p.m. In fact, Nolette often went sleep deprived from the short six hour nights. It wasn’t until many years later,though, in 2006, that things became far more difficult than the academy.

“In 2006, the Army was short of personnel in Iraq,” Nolette said. “They needed someone a with a Top Secret Clearance, but the mission was not initially revealed.”

Nolette ended up in Fort Sill, Oklahoma, to train for the Army’s secret mission. For five weeks, he and his team trained for the unknown task awaiting them in Iraq. Finally, Nolette and his team were sent off. The mission: to provide support for the Army Green Berets and Navy Seals.

“I was assigned as Chief Financial Officer working for the Green Beret Colonel commander of all special forces operations in the Arabian Peninsula,” Nolette said. “Part of the mission was to travel in Iraq in the Black Hawk helicopter. The special forces mission was intense, so we worked tirelessly to provide necessary resources. The hardest part about my job was the conditions. While helicopter missions

due to roadside bombs, so most travel was done in the air.”

Nolette said he wasn’t consumed —as most may imagine— about the threat of death. He focused on the mission and his teammates .

More often than not, shots would be fired into the camp along with rockets. After numerous encounters on the wire with terrorists, combat became more frequent. The combat zone was real.

Eventually, it was Nolette’s time to come back home, back to the “civilian world.” Once Nolette returned, he had to match up his skills with a new career. Nolette eventually choose working in education.

“The military was a great place for me; I enjoyed the daily challenges,” Nolette said. “Being in the military offered me many opportunities.

Training opportunities and education opportunities, you can’t beat that. They ask a lot, but they take care of you.”

Nolette thinks he did his job but is not the true hero. According to him, the true heros are those who gave their lives. The biggest thing Nolette would like those to know is not to prettify violence.

“War is an ugly thing that we should never glamorize,” Nolette said. “We as a nation must act through non-violent diplomatic ways to solve problems.”

Nolette adapted to life in Omaha after his mission. However, this adjustment to coming home wasn’t an easy experience.

“It was somewhat difficult when I got back and just being in regular day-to-day life,” Nolette said. “It’s tough when you know that your friends are still over there fighting in Iraq. The most difficult part of coming back is knowing that the mission isn’t done.”

Math instructor Michael Nolette poses in the Math IMC on Wednesday, Dec. 7. Photo by Roshan Sapkota

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12

A&E

THE LOTTERY

Students perform fall play with an important message G EORGI A W I M M E R NEWS EDITOR

The stage, once an innocent light blue, became flushed with blood red light. The actors moved around the stage like one big fluctuating wave.

Moving as one and all building up to the moment, the fictional society of “The Lottery” would murder one of their own for the sake of tradition.

Then, when the deed was done, the stage once again became its original, happy blue shade.

On Thursday, Dec. 1, Warrior theatre premiered its production of “The Lottery”, based off of a short story written by Shirley Jackson in 1948. Before the actual play, however, theater teacher and play production manager Jeremy Stoll incorporated a unique form of theater called devised theater. This was executed by Stoll’s advanced acting class, that with a less scripted and more improv setup, embraced a more interactive style. They did so by creating a town hall atmosphere where, along with the actors, the audience was a part of making decisions for that town, an important one being whether or not to keep “The Lottery”. Including the audience in a decision that they didn’t fully understand was meant to help them better comprehend what “The Lottery” is actually all about.

“I wanted them to start to explore the concepts of the play before they actually saw it,” Stoll said.

“It’s all about having a community with a certain

set of values and a certain set of expectations and then [looking at] how they deal with someone that goes against those expectations and what place those rituals have in our society.”

By performing the devised piece along with the actual play, the idea that “The Lottery” is more than just fiction and pertains to real life is better displayed to the audience. “[The devised piece is] about a community that’s dealing with upheaval outside of itself, and so it clings to these traditions that obviously our modern mind is like ‘they’re totally unacceptable,’” Stoll said. “We live in a society right now that’s very much in transition, and thinking of what rituals we stick to, and how we deal with the people that don’t agree with us like they do in the play and the devised performance is really relevant right now.”

Although the relevancy of this piece that was first introduced in 1948 is somewhat of a broad idea, different people’s takeaways all fall along the same line, and that line is tradition.

English instructor Stephanie Pueppka sees the way people blindly follow tradition every day at school in her everyday life.

“To see what normal people will do just because they’re following the rules and they’re following what everybody else is doing is really unsettling,” Pueppka said.

While Pueppka found the truth behind “The Lottery” troubling, junior and actor in “The Lot-

tery” Grace Johanningsmeier thought it was engrossing.

“It was really interesting to connect [my own life] with the theme of the play and realize that this is actually relevant and that there are things that we do that might not really have a reason behind them,” said Johanningsmeier.

On Saturday, Dec. 3, the cast of “The Lottery” took the play to a NSAA sponsored competition at Lincoln Northstar. Although they placed sixth out of seven, Stoll understands that it’s more about the impact of the piece than the place they received.

“I’m a little philosophically opposed to thinking that theater is anything that can’t be competed with,” Stoll said. “It just affects every audience member differently and I think it’s a relevant and impactful play, regardless of what our ranking ends up.”

Elizabeth Meyers, who directed the play, agrees with Stoll. She teaches eighth grade English and theater at Westside Middle School.

Meyers said she believes that the goal for the audience’s takeaway was the same despite the competition setting.

“If we can leave our audience with questions, whether its questions specific to the story or whether it’s questions specific to the time period, they might think about how these traditions or these qualities might show up in their own lives,” Meyers said.

Left to right: Freshman Jane Knudsen, sophomore Laurel Nelson and senior Sam Thomas perform in the play “The Lottery” on Friday, Dec. 2. The play was performed on Thursday, Dec. 1 and Friday, Dec. 1. Photo

by Isabella Tyler

Lance Crossword CHALLENGE Crossword by Sophie Knight Graphics by Bella Radler 1

2 3

4

5 6 8 10

9

Across

1. Mr. Nolette was deployed to ____.

5. Prediction of your future based on your birthday.

9. Westside fall play.

13. Many students _________ the winter holidays differently.

15. In November ________ increased in Westside bathrooms.

16. The song Happy Kwanzaa will “get you a ____ in your step.”

12 13 14

15

16

Down

2. Westside DECA spread kindness the season by partnering with _____-a-child.

3. The English teacher who creates games to help Freshman learn.

4. Holding doors and saying hello improve Emmy Miller’s ______ skills.

6. Its almost the _______ season.

8. The Gift Guide suggests ideas for _______.

10. There are 538 members of the _______ college.

12. Snow? Let’s break out the sleds and hit the best _______ hills.

14. A way of expressing your emotions through vulgar language.

A&E

13

Movie Review Graphic by Sam Cohen

Home Alone

RIC HIE P O R RAS and characters, which made Home Alone an instant classic.

WESTSIDE WIRED STAFF WRITER

No wonder the top grossing Christmas movie of all time, according to Forbes, is also a timeless classic. Home Alone is about a boy who is left at home once the rest of his family has accidentally forgotten him, when they were on their way to a vacation. Once Kevin (Macaulay Culkin), realizes his situation, he thinks he’s about to have the time of his life alone. Little does he know, that two men plan to rob the residence they think is empty. Kevin is then left to defend his own house and himself during the holiday season.

One thing that makes Home Alone stand out from other Christmas movies is how most of the film is held from the acting skills of a child. Without the sly and cleverness that Macaulay Culkin delivers, the movie wouldn’t be what it has become today. Another detail to add is how perfectly he captures the spirit of a child, adding on to the joyful feel of the whole movie. An additional point on why Home Alone stands out, is the plot. Though Home Alone’s storyline is pretty absurd, it worked on many levels. It became the ideal Christmas movie for all audiences, creating memorable lines, scenes,

Another key factor of the movie that nobody really pays attention to, is the importance of the production design. With every frame there are either ornaments, garlands, Christmas lights or holiday themed hues. With the rich, warming maroon wood coloring of the table, mixed with the dark emerald green window shades, the colors alone leave the audience feeling cozy as the characters are on screen. Another purpose for bringing up the production design is because it makes the breaking and entering of the house even more engrossing. That might be the one reason why the robbery on Kevin’s house was so infamous (aside from the booby traps).

If the setting were changed to something darker or bland, the scene would’ve misrepresented the tone for the whole movie.

I am not too fond of many Christmas movies; I find many of them to be cliché or just done effortlessly. But Home Alone, although has some corny parts, will always be a great work in my book. To catch the feeling and magic of the holiday season and to turn it into a movie loved by all ages, is a true accomplishment. I would suggest this movie to families and ages of all, especially ones unfamiliar with the movie. No matter how many times it plays on the television, Home Alone has proved it is a timeless classic.

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14

A&E

HOROSCOPES

Horoscopes by April Van Unen

Graphics by Bella Radler

Aries 21 mar – 19 apr

Taurus 20 apr – 20 may

You may find yourself going through some hardships recently. Whether it is a physical or emotional struggle, do not let your faith in life die out. You will always be a child at heart and that should remain untouched by any negativity.

Through the negative times, find new ways to anchor yourself in your hope for the future. Today: create a space for inspiration.

Others may regard you as withdrawn because they do not know you very well. They will try to judge you and may say things about your character. These people only judge because they do not know your true character and emotions. You must remain well reserved because your emotions run deep and only show your true colors when you are ready. Today: write a note to your future self.

Gemini 21 may – 21 jun You are an excellent communicator as you may have been told before. Your charisma allows you to speak freely for hours, and your communication skills make you a very likeable person. Use these qualities to positively influence others, make new friends and address issues occurring right now. Today: try to teach yourself a new language.

Cancer 22 jun – 23 jul

Leo 24 jul – 23 aug

Virgo 24 aug – 22 sept

You may be giving others too much opportunity to hurt you. While you are compassionate for others, you also make yourself vulnerable. You show your insecurities and your emotions without restraint. Being emotionally available can be a good thing you just have to be careful who you are emotionally available around. Today: try to quit a bad habit.

A Leo is the most faithful zodiac sign. Recently, you may have been doing things to prove this to be true. But staying loyal to the wrong people is only hurting yourself. Find it in your heart to forgive those who have wronged you but do not return to them.

When a relationship ends, it should be over for good.

Today: write a letter to someone you are forgiving, you don’t have to send it.

Your creativity and sensitivity often cross paths.

You recognize that things and people need individual attention to blossom. Everyone and everything is unique and you have a lot of experience adapting to help others based on their needs. If you spend enough time on one person or project, you will find that it will grow in to something you love. Today: start a 30-day challenge.

Libra 23 sept – 22 oct

Scorpio 23 oct – 22 nov

Your ability to see all sides of a conflict may render you torn between deciding what to do. You are normally great at being fair and reasonable, but when both sides of an argument have valid points, it may be hard to decide which way you want to go- especially when a situation calls for it. Prep yourself to make a difficult decision that may result in the loss of a friend, make sure you consider all aspects before you decide. Today: learn a strategy game.

You make friends differently than others around you and may feel you are completely different some days. Recently you have probably been feeling a little out of touch with your peers. Try opening up a little more even though you may find this difficult.

There are those around you who want to get to know you more than you think. Today: have a conversation with someone you normally don’t.

Capricorn 22 dec – 20 jan Out of all of your friends, you are the most sympathetic. Your friends recognize this and recently they may have been leaning on you a lot. The important thing is to stay strong and confident in your ability to lead them in the right direction. Use your intuition to help you decide the best course of action when advising your friends. Today: do a random act of kindness.

Sagittarius 23 nov – 20 dec Though some struggles might be testing your patience, stay optimistic and honest. You’ve always been good with remaining optimistic and having your own philosophy on life. Use this philosophy to stay true to yourself and have a positive outlook on future events. Today: learn something from a friend.

Aquarius 21 jan – 19 feb

Pisces 20 feb – 20 mar

You are innovative and a leader. You don’t normally follow in other people’s footsteps and prefer to make your own path. Others may view you as eccentric, but that is not a negative thing. Upcoming events will require your unique insight and ideas. Others will appreciate your ability to think differently than others.

Today: talk to someone who inspires you.

You are a mysterious individual which makes you alluring. Many people wish to befriend you but may feel too intimidated to spark up a conversation. If you feel like you have a tough exterior, try softening that a bit so others feel more welcome to approach you. Today: do something to clear your mind such as meditation.

C RA ZE

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A&E

15

THE BEST SLEDDING HILLS IN OMAHA Graphics by Sam Cohen

THEO JA N S E N A&E EDITOR

Where is the best sledding hill? Westside students submitted incredibly varied responses to a survey about the best sledding options.

The two most popular choices were by far Rockbrook or “Rocket” Park and Memorial Park. Both of these sledding hills are close to many people living in the district. A few sledding summaries follow below.

Rocket Park: It has a perfect combination of length and steepness resulting in a very fun ride. There are a lot of people there, but not too many to keep it from being enjoyable. There are also benefits of the hill being busy. Many people build ramps to enhance the sledding experience. Also, the snow gets packed down even when it is extremely loose.

Memorial Park: Memorial Park is one of the most popular sledding hills in Omaha. This hill is longer and just as steep as Rocket Park. Many Omaha-area families have been going here for generations, so it is an Omaha tradition.

Westbrook: Westbrook is a great hill for thrill seekers. It is steep for a fast ride. One down side is there are a lot of trees, so it can be dangerous.

Prairie Lane: Prairie Lane hill is the perfect hill for beginning sledders. It is not very long and it has few trees. Because of this, it is a very safe hill.

Pioneers Park: A great place for an adventure is Pioneers Park in Lincoln. This park has special slides to get you off to a fast start. The hill is also very long. This makes it a great option for experienced sledders wanting to get out and try a new hill.

HOliday Playlist Mistletoe (Justin Bieber):

Christmas Song (Nat King Cole):

For all those suffering from Bieber fever this holiday season, “Mistletoe” should hopefully cure your illness. Bieber’s soulful voice and romantic words will warm your heart during the cold winter nights. No matter your gender, this song offers the whole package and will have you keeping a piece of mistletoe in your pocket.

If you enjoy a smooth voice that is good for the mind and soul, Nat King Cole’s “Christmas Song” is perfect. It embodies the whole holiday season, truly defining what Christmas means for so many. With lyrics about mistletoe, Santa and joy, it will make you want to settle down by the fire under a pile of blankets. You won’t want anyone other than Nat King Cole to sing to you.

Christmas in Harlem (Kanye West):

Dreidel Song (Various Artists):

The listener who endeavors down a more untraditional holiday path will enjoy the hip-hop flare of “Christmas in Harlem.” Kanye West gives us a different perspective of Christmas spirit with his soft, yet hard-hitting lyrics. Yeezy raps about the wonders of Christmas in Harlem and spending time with his bae. The song will make you appreciate the reason for the season and Kanye’s lyrical genius.

Regardless of religion, this song offers a variety for your classic holiday playlist. The amount of lyrical mastermind in this song is indescribable and the constant rhyming really adds to the overall listening experience. If you’ve never picked up a dreidel for a quick game, this song will get you in the dreideling mood.

Winter Wonderland (Michael Bublé):

Happy Kwanzaa (Teddy Pendergrass):

What is better than living in a winter wonderland?

Michael Bublé convinces us with his classy, singme-to-sleep voice to always exhibit the holiday spirit. It makes you want to take time to play in the snow and the wintery world around us. This is a must have on your playlist and it’s accompanied best with a cold glass of eggnog and a candy cane in hand.

Teddy Pendergrass delivers this soulful, jazzy song, celebrating Kwanzaa and everything that makes the holiday unique. It describes what Kwanzaa is through soft beats and bass riffs that will get you a skip in your step. When you listen to it, I promise you’ll be up on your feet and grooving to the beat!

Story by Trevor Mumford

16

HolIday Gift Guide

A&E

With the holidays right around the corner and shopping season in full swing, here are some simple gifts for family and friends at prices everyone can afford.

Story by Ryan Adkins and Sophie Knight

Graphics by Jim Schueneman and Sam Cohen

Dad: Dad Joke Mug

Almost every dad loves dad jokes. Most dads also like mugs, so why not get him a joke on a mug? A mug is very versatile and inexpensive. A cheap gift like this will assure a laugh over the holidays and might bring you closer to your dad. Dad joke mugs can be found for around $15 on Amazon.

Brother/Guy Friend: Toilet Nightlight

Most people typically get their siblings and friends something thoughtful. Break away from that gift-giving chain and give them a toilet nightlight. Not only is it a gag gift meant for laughs, but it also can be surprisingly helpful for doing your business at night. Not to mention that you can use it too, if you share a bathroom. Color-changing toilet nightlights can be found for $10 on Amazon.

Boyfriend: Shower Speaker

Most of the time boyfriends can be hard to buy for. So getting something that they can use everyday is a safe bet. A shower speaker is a perfect gift for most boyfriends for many reasons. They can be used almost anywhere, they are high quality and inexpensive. Good shower speakers can be for around $20 on Amazon.

Mom: Jewelscent

Every mom loves a good smelling candle to fill the air throughout her home.

But one thing that any girl loves is jewelry. Why not combine them both to get a Jewelscent candle? The candle has a ring inside wrapped in foil and can be taken out when the candle melts enough. The candles aren’t too pricy and they give your mom something to look forward to after lighting the candle. Jewelscent candles are only $25 on their website, jewelscent.com.

Sister/Girl Friend: Socks and Hot Chocolate In such a cold winter, it is important to look out for your friend and make sure they stay warm with adorable and cozy socks and hot chocolate. These ideas may seem simple, but warming up someone’s day with hot chocolate and cozy socks is always worth it. Hot chocolate only costs around $10 for 50 packets and a delightful pair of socks can be found for less than $10 at Walmart or Target. These prices make this the perfect gift to stay warm this

Girlfriend: Bath Bomb and Blanket

For all the guys that don’t know what to buy their girl this winter, look no more.

The way to your girlfriend’s heart is not far past a fluffy blanket and a bath bomb. Give the special lady in your life a snuggly blanket and a bath bomb that she can appreciate for an affordable price. Bath bombs retail for about $15 on lush.com and blankets retail for about $15 at Target and Walmart.