Issue 2 by The Lance

THE

LANCE Read about Caimille Rowan on page 10

November 9, 2018

Westside High School

Volume 63 Issue 2

LETTER FROM THE EDITORS

[ info ]

t is our mission at The Lance to provide the Westside community with timely, thoughtful and thorough coverage of our school, city, nation and world. This issue we planned to include an indepth on sexual misconduct as it relates to high school. However, we are delaying its publication in order to provide our readers with the most comprehensive information. This series of articles will be published in a special edition on Nov. 30. If you have any questions, concerns or story ideas concerning this issue or our upcoming special edition, we would love to hear from you! You can send us a Letter to the Editors at any of our emails: battaf121@westside66.net, cohen479@ westside66.net, steine558@westside66.net or tyler752@westside66.net. Also, feel free to stop by room 251 or 253 or talk to any of our staff members with your feedback. Please keep in mind that all information in this issue is up-to-date as of Nov. 7. In order to publish our paper, we need your help! The Lance is totally student-run, so we raise all the money needed to print. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re interested in buying an advertisement or donating to us, please contact us at westsidelancenews@gmail. com. Sincerely,

Malia Battafarano, Saunders Cohen, Julia Steiner and Isabella Tyler Follow Westside Journalism @westsidewired on twitter, instagram, facebook and snapchat Subscribe to Warrior Television on YouTube @westsidewtv on twitter and snapchat design by elliot evans

CONTRIBUTORS Malia Battafarano Saunders Cohen Julia Steiner Isabella Tyler Maryam Akramova Theodore Jansen Elliot Evans Emma Miller Emma Rieser Abby Schreiber Angelina Pattavina Natalie Gill Meredith Matz Virginia Jansen Jane Knudsen Reese Pike Daisy Friedman Mina Testolin Alex Vandenberg Joe Brunkhorst Will Christiansen Eleanor Dodge Brooklyn James Kaelyn Mettler Nick Protzman Faith Rice Phil Sokolof Luke Steiner Brad Griffin Parker LeFebvre Angela Li Meghan Maynard Tommy Sullivan Ryan Alger Max Frost Kenzie Harden Lydia Kasem Nolan Spisak Vinny Nelson

Editor-in-Chief Editor-in-Chief Editor-in-Chief Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Managing Editor Design Editor Photo Editor Photo Editor Graphic Editor News Editor Opinion Editor In-Depth Editor Feature Editor A&E Editor Copy Editor-in-Chief Copy Editor Copy Editor Business Manager Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer Graphic Artist Graphic Artist Graphic Artist Graphic Artist Graphic Artist Photographer Photographer Photographer Photographer Photographer Designer

where it really does

pay to visit. Visit Doane during your senior year of high school, enroll, and receive our $4,000 visit grant. That’s $1,000 per year for four years— just for making a personal campus visit! Schedule a personal visit at doane.edu/visit or call 402.826.6767. Can’t make it to campus? Check us out online at doane.edu/virtual-tour.

[ news ]

THE CONSEQUENCES OF HATE INCIDENTS

How the administration handles hate incidents at Westside

estside is not immune to intolerance. For example, there have been reports to the administration of the n-word being engraved on a door frame. This is what is known as a hate incident, which is defined by CitizensAdvice.org, a free legal advice resource, as incidents that are “motivated by hostility or prejudice based on … disability, race, religion, gender identity [or] sexual orientation.” Hate incidents differ from hate crimes in that they do not have a legal definition. Principal Jay Opperman said the first thing students should do when they witness a hate incident is report it. “We talk about ‘see something, say something’ with school safety, and we usually think about it in terms of an intruder, but school safety comes in a lot of versions and hate is something that can create an internal unsafe situation,” Opperman said. When a student wants to report an incident, Opperman said it would be best to talk to a dean, but they can also report it to a teacher. The benefit of reporting a hate incident sooner rather than later is substantial, according to Opperman. “As an example, last year, we actually had the n-word written on a door frame over in the sports hallway and [administration] found out about it through social media way after the fact,” Opperman said. “The sooner we can get that, that gives us the ability to narrow down when it might have actually appeared, which then might allow us to be more effective in terms of investigating [the situation].” Opperman said once an incident is reported and investigated, the consequences a person may face depend on the severity of the situation. “It’s going to fall under the category of harassment in the student discipline code,” Opperman said. “That could be anything from a simple consequence of detention to suspension or expulsion depending on its severity and maybe what it caused in the school.” Opperman said that if the behavior is repeated, the consequences would become more severe. To prevent hate incidents from happening around Westside, Opperman said he relies on the curriculums of different classes. “There [are] some classes that deal with touchy topics,” Opperman said. “English sometimes has books they read that have themes or events in them that lend themselves to the topic of hate. Obviously, in social studies we have classes, Global Intolerance, for example. I’m sure a lot of what they cover is related to hate and things that happen around the world and some of those things happen here, unfortunately, in our community.” Sophomore English instructor Nathan Moseley said that although the topic of hate comes up in the books embedded in the curriculum, it’s not a topic that is focused on. “I wouldn’t say that my goal is to have a conversation about hate,” Moseley said. “I don’t design lesson plans around hate. My goal is to have topics and curriculum and text

that spur conversations and students arrive at some of their feelings [themselves].” Students in English 2 and English 2 Honors read “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee. The book includes the usage of racial slurs. Moseley said that the class does not directly address this usage, however, if students want to talk about it, they are welcome to do so. “If they have questions about it, we’ll certainly talk about it, but it’s not something where I’ll do a lesson about the use of the n-word,” Moseley said. Global Intolerance instructor Amy Studts said although the class is an elective, students should take it. “When [students] come away from the class, they have a better understanding,” Studts said. “I’d say more empathy is found after taking this class.” According to Studts, Global Intolerance is not a class that is meant for everyone because of the nature of the course. “I don’t think it necessarily should be a required course for students to graduate,” Studts said. “[We] read two books in this class. Some students absolutely hate to read. They end up not doing well or fail the class because they just can’t keep up with the curriculum, so I think the content is important, but I don’t know if all students would be successful because of the workload.” Since Global Intolerance is an elective, the only required course that may bring up the topic of hate is English. The topic comes up when students discuss in class, but Moseley said that not everyone understands the importance of the books they read. “There’s been times in the past where a student or parent might come up and ask, ‘Why did we read this text?’ because there is, not just the use of the n-word, there are … dark, evil things that happen in a lot of the texts,” Moseley said. “So why do we read such texts? This is our life. This is our history, so we don’t want to gloss over it and pretend it never happened.” Studts and Moseley both said that they believe being able to discuss things like hate is an important part of growing up in society. “We know that hate has been around for a long time, and we can’t educate it out of people, necessarily,” Moseley said. “We’ve had [anti-hate education] for decades. It’s still there because of the way people are on the inside. It’s their natural tendency to hate. There’s a bend toward that in some instances. I don’t know [even] if you had anti-hate classes and be kind classes all four years of high school, those that want to hate people are going to hate people no matter what class they take.” According to Opperman, teaching students is the most important part of preventing hate incidents from happening. “How do we interact with each other?” Opperman said. “How do we treat each other? I don’t think it only happens with administration, I think it happens in the classroom. In some aspects, it happens in the curriculum.”

“This is our life. This is our history, so we don’t want to gloss over it.” English Instructor Nathan Moseley

story by virginia jansen and mina testolin, graphic and design by abby schreiber

[ news ]

ADDING OPPORTUNITIES

Welding addition will give students more hands-on experience

elding is one of the fastest growing job markets in the country, with an average wage of $19.35 per hour, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. After 14 months of planning, Westside has started construction on an addition to the Engineering and Technology Welding lab. “That lab probably was originally designed for 12 to 15 students to be in it,” Engineering and Technology Department Chair Gregory Ratliff said. “[Currently we’re] able to safely put 22 and upwards maybe of 24 in there, but it is so crowded it just slows down production.” With newer lab-based curriculum and higher student enrollment in welding classes, the current welding lab isn’t working. The last major renovation of Westside High School was in 1998, when there was a much heavier emphasis in textbook learning. Today, the curriculum is much more laboriented, according to Ratliff. “The facility is way under-designed,” Ratliff said. “1,200 feet for a welding shop is like a closet.” The Westside Foundation saw this problem and lent their help to try and fix it with Terry Hanna leading the project. Hanna is the director of Development for the Westside Community Schools Foundation.

“Let Westside be the school that shows other schools how to work with workforce development industry partners.” Director of Development for Westside Foundation Terry Hanna

“Our mission is to work with the district and all the schools on special projects to enhance the various programs and departments to benefit the students and teachers,” Hanna said. To secure more than $900,000 needed for the project, the Westside Foundation reached out to individuals and businesses across Omaha for donations. “The success of raising the money was really a testament to the Omaha business community because they totally understand the importance of these types of initiatives which will help workforce development,” Hanna said. Westside hopes to set a standard for working with businesses to further students’ educations, according to Hanna. “Westside is listening to the business community and our industry partners and there’s a need of schools [to give] kids more opportunities to look at different trades and different careers,” Hanna said. “Let Westside be the school that shows other schools how to work with workforce development industry partners.” The addition will completed sometime around spring break of 2019 and will be able to be used immediately after opening. “I think [the addition is] going to be sweet,” welding student Avery White said. “I think it’s going to be a crazy new addition to the lab.”

story by nicholas vincentini, graphic and design by abby schreiber

[ opinion ]

SEE THE SIGNS

Westside needs a sign language club A

ll my life, I’ve been surrounded by people who have some kind of hearing disability. I have seen, up close, how important it is to try and learn a different language for someone who doesn’t have the same advantages as you. The people in my family who have hearing loss have had to deal with the difficulties of not being able to communicate in a school environment for many years now. They had to attend other schools just to get through their education. This is why it’s important for Westside to offer a sign language program, so hard of hearing people can have the same advantages as hearing people. Westside offers a decent selection of different languages students can take, such as Spanish, French, German and Latin. These classes even expand beyond the school elective to school-sponsored clubs where students can get together and learn more about the culture of the language. These languages are considered common and useful for the future. A language that is not being considered that is also important is sign language. People of all races and genders speak sign language, making it a pretty common language that people don’t take the time to think about, let alone learn. Nearly 28 million people in the United States are classified as deaf. This includes those who were born deaf or have a loss of hearing later in life, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. Although there are no students at the high school who are deaf or hard of hearing who need an interpreter, there are students within the Westside district who have interpreters. Once these students reach high school, they will need an interpreter and worry about simple daily tasks because of their disabilities. If the school were to offer some kind of program for students to learn some basic necessities, future deaf students could feel safer in their school

environment. Junior Corine Tourek is a self-taught signer and said she agrees that having the option of a sign language club or class should be open to the student body. She works with sign language in her job and said she has seen the impact on a student when they learn the language. “The thing about sign language is people make it look harder than it really is,” Tourek said. “There are so many words that you can learn on the first day. You could learn 50 words. A lot of words that correlate into sign language correlate with the English word. Waving your hand, ‘Hi’ even could work for sign language.” A simple gesture of, ‘Hello,’ or, ‘How are you?’ could go a long way in making someone comfortable in the school environment. This is why having a program would be beneficial, because students can learn these things. People with hearing loss take a lot of alternate steps in learning different ways of communicating with hearing people, such as reading lips, so who’s to say we can’t do the same? “I think it would open up a lot of doors in terms of that student’s ability to communicate and to socialize with their peers if others were able to communicate using sign,” said Melissa Williams, special services department head. “It’s very helpful for creating an inclusive environment at the high school.” However, sign language speaking skills aren’t the only things students would take away from having a program at the school. They would gain knowledge about a deaf person’s culture and hardships as well as a spark of interest and care for the subject. It’s a way for students to get more invested in school and their peers. “[Sign language] opens up curiosity and the ability to interact with people you haven’t interacted with before and feeling good about helping another person or being able to build relationships,” Williams said. “It helps to feel included in school.”

story by angelina pattavina, graphic by max frost, design by julia steiner

Having sign language as a club first is a good place to start. Students can just dip their toes in and see how they feel about it. If it’s something that they would be interested in, Westside could eventually have a class. The club would have to be something that students would devote time to and take that extra step to learn the language and eventually use it. There are people who already have this interest in learning sign, but it’s not available for them to learn. Opening up this program would give those students a chance to explore the program more and dig deeper than what they already know. “I learned online through other people,” Tourek said. “It’s very difficult to figure out how to learn it if you don’t know where to go. A club here would be fantastic, or a class if it is really going to benefit someone who wants to learn. It could help people to understand what sign language is about.” Learning to speak sign language is something that anyone can continue on for as long as they choose to. It’s just up to the person to make that effort. Having just a small number of people have an interest in taking the time to learn would eventually make the equality between hearing and deaf students a problem of the past. “We have to accept people in this world,” Tourek said. “By doing that, it gives those people that are even just a sliver different a chance at happiness. Even if you’re not 100 percent perfect in a language, you’re still learning, which is showing the effort you’re putting forth.” Because deaf students aren’t able to completely learn everything in a hearing person environment, the deaf have to go to separate schools in order to feel more comfortable. If we are able to open up this door and walk through it, some day we may not even have to think about the segregation in schools with those who are “abled” versus the “disabled.”

[ editorial ]

HANDLING HATE

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 $30 prepaid. The Lance is printed by White Wolf Web, in Sheldon, IA. Advertising rates are available upon request. The Lance editorial staff reserves the right to edit all ads for clarity and grammatical errors. The editorial staff reserves the right not to publish any ads that are libelous or that contain non-factual information. The Lance editorial staff also reserves the right to nullify contracts at any time without prior notification. The Lance also refuses ads that promote activities illegal to a majority of the student readership. Reader response is welcomed in the form of letters to the editor. Letters should be less than 300 words, signed by the author and sent to room 251. Names may be withheld upon special request. Lance editors will decide whether to honor such requests. The Lance editorial staff reserves the right to edit letters for clarity and grammatical errors. The editorial staff also reserves the right to not publish any letters that are libelous or that contain non-factual information. The Lance is a member of the Nebraska High School Press Association, the Columbia Scholastic Press Association, the National Scholastic Press Association and the Quill & Scroll Society. The Lance staff recognizes that the administration of Westside Community Schools controls the curriculum and, thus, sets the parameters of the production process of school publications. The Lance staff also recognizes its own responsibilities to inform, enlighten and entertain its readers in a way that reflects high standards of journalism, morals and ethics. Editors-in-Chief Malia Battafarano, Sam Cohen, Julia Steiner, Isabella Tyler; Managing Editors Maryam Akramova, Theo Jansen; Design Editor Elliot Evans; Photo Editors Emma Miller, Emma Rieser; Graphics Editor Abby Schreiber; Copy Editor-in-Chief Reese Pike; Copy Editors Daisy Friedman, Mina Testolin; News Editor Angelina Pattavina; Opinion Editor Natalie Gill; In-depth Editor Meredith Matz; Feature Editor Virginia Jansen; Arts and Entertainment Editor Jane Knudsen; Business Manager Alex Vandenberg; Staff Writers Joe Brunkhorst, Will Christiansen, Eleanor Dodge, Kaelyn Mettler, Luke Steiner, Brooklyn James, Faith Rice, Nolan Spisak, Phil Sokolof, Nicholas Vincentini; Graphic Artists Parker LeFebvre, Angela Li, Brad Griffin, Meghan Maynard, Tommy Sullivan, Graphic Designers Vinny Nelson, Luke Steiner; Photographers Ryan Alger, Max Frost, Kenzie Harden, Lydia Kasem; Advisers Timothy Kaldahl, Jerred Zegelis.

Westside must do more to educate students on hate

ate and ignorance flood the nation. It’s scary to think that some people are willing to act on their feelings of hostility towards a certain group of people. One of the most recent of these national hate crimes was the mass shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue on Oct. 27 that killed 11 people and injured six. Hate crimes and hate incidents are something that have deeply affected the country recently. With a country so divided, the students of Westside High School need to have more conversations about the origins of hate. Hate incidents at Westside High School are classified as harassment. The Westside student handbook states, “Students who engage in bullying, harassment or retaliation are subject to the full range of penalties, including long-term suspension or expulsion.” Consequences vary based on the severity of the action. A frustrating aspect of hate crimes is that it is quite difficult to identify the culprit of a hate incident or crime. If incidents are not reported immediately, it grows even more difficult to determine the guilty party. More should be done to educate students about hate incidents at Westside. According to Principal Jay Opperman, Westside currently relies on classes in the English and social studies departments to deal with the hard conversations students need to have. Administration should encourage conversations about intolerance where it makes sense. The racism brought to light by books like “To Kill a Mockingbird” isn’t discussed as heavily in English class as it could be. The novel deals with hate and racism in the

1930s, but there are clear similarities between the hate seen in the book and what Americans still see today. The fact that hate and racism from the past are now with us in the present should be more of a focus in conversation. In Dynamics of Global Intolerance, students read books and have discussions about genocides. This gives students a chance to develop understanding and empathy. People taking the class can better understand how, in extreme cases, hating others’ differences causes pain and suffering for many. By being educated on this issue, some students are able to broaden their tolerance and appreciation for things that could divide different cultures. Dynamics of Global Intolerance isn’t a required class, so some of our student population is missing out on these conversations. When students begin to develop a better appreciation of the diversity around them and gain awareness of the history of intolerance in America, it will become easier to prevent hate incidents at Westside. A solution to the lack of conversation is ensuring that substantial conversations about the resentment due to lack of understanding occur in English classes, which are required for all students. It would be easiest to talk about these things in a small group setting, allowing questions and good points of conversation to be brought up. By guaranteeing in-depth conversations about the history, causes and ways to prevent hatred and prejudice, students of Westside High School could become more understanding of the diversity that surrounds them. This in turn would prevent hate from growing strong enough to cause a hate crime or incident. What can high school students in Omaha,

Nebraska do about the issue of hate in the community and the country? For starters, when interacting with other people and hearing words or things that are offensive to an entire group of people, acknowledge that those words aren’t okay. By stopping hate speech, there is a chance to prevent further intolerance. Having necessary conversations regarding hate and hate speech will help hinder the opportunity for hate to grow to a such a scale where people act on it. James Freeman, Senior Director of Inclusion and the Director of Multicultural Affairs at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, said he believes speaking out is the best way to teach people. “Most people, even though they might disagree, will take the safe way out and not say anything,” Freeman said in an interview last spring. “But if it’s wrong, you’ve got to be able to take a chance. You’ve got to be able to take a stance because if you don’t take a stance, you’re part of that ... It’s not easy ... Most of the time, people just sit back. But me, I always consider that as a teachable moment … I always call them on it.” Acknowledging hateful speech and having open conversations about the amount of animosity in today’s society will allow the community to change.

SPREAD LOVE graphic by abby schreiber, design by isabella tyler

[ news ]

BEGINNER WITH A BALLOT Senior discusses his first voting experience

arly on Tuesday Nov. 6, the first voters arrived at the polls. Senior Ethan Goldner made sure he was punctual to his first opportunity to participate in America’s democratic system. He wanted to be ready when he arrived at his polling place, Good News Church at 7415 Hickory Street. “The polls opened at 8:00 sharp,” Goldner said. “I showed up there at 7:45 just because I heard that there was going to be long lines.” He said that the promotion surrounding the midterms from celebrities and others were a factor in his decision to vote, but it wasn’t the only reason. “Being in government class this semester has made me kind of interested in the political process,” Goldner said. “It showed how important your vote actually was.” While government class may have prepared him for the procedure, Goldner said his research helped him when casting his ballot. “I took a little time last night to look up the candidates and just see what their views were and how it aligned with mine,” Goldner said. He said he felt being an informed voter was important. “You could go in blind and just vote for whoever it says is a Democrat and Republican and vote along your party lines, but I mean all of the [candidates] who are registered as a Democrat and Republican don’t necessarily share the same views as you,” Goldner said. While he said researching the candidates required some work, he still enjoyed the process of voting. “It was exciting,” Goldner said. “It was kind of the first

thing I’ve done as an ‘adult’ … because my birthday was two weeks ago.” He said that the procedure was relatively simple. “It was a really short process, so to people who don’t vote because they think it will take hours, there’s definitely

ways.” Goldner said. “I mean it only took me under ten minutes. If you want to vote, I’d definitely say you have the opportunity.” He said that it is important for young people to vote and be exposed to the political process. American Government and Politics Team Leader Jon Preister said he shared this sentiment.

“I would say that [non-voters] are missing out on one of the most exciting things that they could experience,” Preister said. That excitement may be responsible for one of the largest voter turnouts for a midterm election. In fact, according to Politico, 8.8 million more people voted early this year than in 2014. Preister, however, said he aware of another contributing factor. “With the 2016 election, I think a lot of people took it really personally,” Preister said. “Once you get emotions involved in politics, I think it could lead us to a scary point. It leads to more engagement. It leads to people being more involved, but at the same time, I think the trade-off is a lot of people see it as a battle.” Preister said he still believes the voting process is fulfilling. “Once you go through it one time, you get a sense of how important [voting] is, and until you do it, you don’t really understand that,” Preister said. “It can be an intimidating process, but if they dive in, the reward is there intrinsically.” Goldner said he felt similarly. “[Getting] the chance to actually go learn about the candidates, see them on T.V., see them in the news and then be able to go and actually vote for the people who you think would do the best job in the government, and I haven’t experienced this yet, but to see who gets elected and say I had a [hand] in voting some of those people in, I think that will be really cool to see,” Goldner said.

story and graphic by sam cohen

ALLEGATIONS AT MARIAN O

n Oct.16, a former teacher at Marian High School took to social media to make allegations of sexual harassment by another Marian faculty member. The tweet quickly spread throughout the Marian community, leaving students and parents concerned. Marian’s president, Mary Higgins, and Principal Susie Sullivan sent out an email to parents shortly after the allegations surfaced saying that Marian “is committed to providing an environment in which each employee and student is

treated with courtesy, respect and dignity.” They also noted that the complaint against the accused was received in March of 2017 and investigated by an outside legal counsel. The investigation found that the zero-tolerance harassment policy “had not been violated as alleged.” According to the email, no students were ever at risk. These allegations have sparked a Change.org petition to fire the accused which currently has more than 1,300 signatures.

A follow-up to this story will be published in a special edition of the Lance coming out on Nov. 30. story and design by isabella tyler

[ feature ]

YOUTH FOR GREATER GOOD

Group for South Sudanese youth creates community bond

ore than 10,000 South Sudanese expatriates live in Omaha. That is the largest population of South Sudanese people in the U.S., according to the Omaha World-Herald. As the community grows, so does their impact on Omaha. One group that has formed to help young South Sudanese-Americans is Youth for Greater Good. Youth for Greater Good was founded in December 2016 by Nyaliep Kuany, Nyarial Gatluak and Nyaliep Nhial. “We started it because we saw a lot of negative things going on within our community,” Nhial said. “Our youth weren’t really getting a whole lot of support.” Currently, there are 52 members in the group, up from 27 last year. There is no cost to participate and there are three main components of the group: the afterschool program, cultural program and summer program. The after-school program focuses on academic work and college preparation. It meets weekly and includes Creighton University students who work as tutors. Nhial said the group helps students in ways that other programs can’t. “Being South Sudanese, we have our own special type of unique circumstances that a lot of other school programs or schools don’t always recognize or understand,” Nhial said. This program lasts throughout the school year. The summer program focuses on mentoring and empowerment through field trips and group activities. The cultural program is year-round and teaches members about music, dancing and other elements of South Sudanese culture. Junior Caimille Rowan joined the group in December of 2017. Her dad is South Sudanese, so Nhial contacted her and asked if she wanted to join. Rowan said she enjoys learning about her dad’s culture and has been involved with that side of her family for a long time. She is part of all the groups in the program, including the dance group. The dance group most recently opened for Emmanuel Jal, a South Sudanese-Canadian hip hop star and former child soldier, who performed at Creighton’s Africa Rising event on Sept. 27. They also

danced at Afromaha in July and perform throughout the year at community events. Nhial said adults within the South Sudanese community sometimes ask them to perform at parties, creating a bond. “Seeing these American-born youth embracing their culture and showcasing it really brought some hope into

South Sudan Peace Concert Saturday Nov. 24 2 p.m. - 9 p.m. Double Tree 1616 Dodge Street Formal Dress $20 Tickets: 402-800-8402 the community [and] made them all come together,” Nhial said. Performing helps create a larger sense of community, according to Nhial. Part of community is learning about culture, which Rowan said she enjoys most about being in the group. “I think my favorite part is learning more about my culture,” Rowan said. “I like to dance. You get a lot of

opportunities in Youth for Greater Good.” Youth for Greater Good has a partnership with Omaha Talons, a nonprofit organization that serves South Sudanese youth through providing basketball clinics and other programs. The two groups host joint events, including a summer kickoff in 2017. That event, and the partnership as a whole, have been able to bring the community together, according to Nhial. “On the last day [of the kickoff], we had a culture day where we had all these different tribes come together as one and perform their cultural dances, which is pretty unheard of,” Nhial said. “In Omaha, even though we’re all South Sudanese, there’s a lot of tribalism that goes on, so the tribes all kind of stay apart. With the Talons, we were able to bring our different tribes together.” Nhial and Rowan both said that the group has an impact on the students involved as well as the larger community. “They’re creating positive relationships in there, actually going outside their comfort zones, and I think that’s the biggest impact that has been had since the two years of us running,” Nhial said. For Rowan, Youth for Greater Good helps her show a different side of her personality. “Dancing with Youth for Greater Good makes me bring out my cultural side,” Rowan said. “Dancing in general makes me feel happy, like a stress reliever kind of.” Stress relief is an important part of the group, according to Nhial. The group fosters conversations about the problems facing its members today and helps them problem-solve. Overall, Nhial said the goal of the group is to empower its members and help them learn about South Sudanese culture, creating a deeper community connection. “Our message with Youth for Greater Good is shining bright on the South Sudanese community and the bright kids that you have,” Nhial said. “With this program, we really want to shine a positive light on our kids, and that’s what we’re doing, through academics and culturally and empowering them.”

story by reese pike, photos provided by youth for greater good, design and graphic by vinny nelson

Members of Youth for Greater Good pose for a picture with Emmanuel Jal. Members of Youth for Greater Goodâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dance group, including junior Caimille Rowan (center), line up before a performance.

Hip-hop star Emmanuel Jal and junior Caimille Rowan after Jalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s performance at Creighton on Sept. 27.

[ sports ]

LIVING THE LEGACY Freshman takes after family in playing football

ebraska legend Kris Brown spent four years as the starting kicker for the Cornhuskers and played a huge role on the 1995 and 1997 championship teams. After an excellent collegiate career, Brown was drafted by the Steelers and spent 12 seasons in the NFL. Eight years later, Kris Brown watches his son Kolby Brown kick on the Westside freshman football team. Kris Brown said that Kolby Brown got his first taste of football surrounded by professional players at some of Kris Brown’s professional practices. “Kolby started kicking a ball when he was probably three or four years old,” Kris Brown said. “He’d come up to our training camp practices and he’d kick [with the team].” Although Kolby Brown was introduced to football as a toddler, he wasn’t able to play organized football until middle school.

“I first started kicking in seventh grade,” Kolby Brown said. “My dad wouldn’t let me play tackle

“At the end of the day, I still have to go out and perform, no matter what my dad or uncle did in the past.” Freshman Kolby Brown football until seventh grade because that’s when he started, so it was a perfect time for me to start. I kicked

Freshman Kolby Brown laughs with teammate Seth Fonfara, number 62.

a little bit before that to get prepared.” Another Nebraska kicker is part of the Brown family: former Husker Drew Brown. Drew Brown is Kolby Brown’s uncle and was living with the family until he signed to the Toronto Argonauts on Sept. 28. Kolby Brown was able to work with him before he left for Canada. “Whenever my uncle would come down, I’d see if he wanted to kick,” Kolby Brown said. “Anytime I asked, he was more than willing to help.” Kris Brown said that being a professional football player didn’t make being a father much more difficult. He said he believes that it is similar to many other jobs and players still have time to be with their families and friends. “[Balancing my family and football life] was easier than most people think,” Kris Brown said. “What people see on Sundays, they see that game and the

Freshman Kolby Brown attempts a kick during a game.

story by john maier, photos by yamilett ramirez, design by luke steiner

[ sports ] as a kicker. “You just have to stay even-keeled,” Kolby Brown said. “You can’t get too high on the highs or too low on the lows. I’ve learned that. My dad has told me that, and my uncle has told me that.” Work ethic is another important attribute Kolby Brown said his father drilled into his mind. “[My dad has] just said to put hard work into it and if you want something, go out and get it,”

Freshman Kolby Brown takes oﬀ his helmet after practice. glamour. It’s really a lot more normal that what people see. It’s just like anybody else. You get up on Monday morning and you go to work. It’s a lot more normal than what people think.” Brown said an important lesson given to him by both his father and uncle is the need to stay mentally tough, especially

Kolby Brown said. Sometimes, Kris Brown works out with the Westside football team. His football background can offer the kickers better insight than most. “I try not to be too involved,” Kris Brown said. “I don’t

want to overstay my welcome and be up there every day, but if the kickers need help I’m available.” Kolby Brown said that his mom attended Millard South High School. Although the family has some Millard South ties, Kolby Brown’s family history with the Westside area was the driving force of their move. “My wife’s family all went to Westside and her grandparents lived in the Westside district, so when we came back to visit Omaha it was always an area that we were intrigued by,” Kris Brown said. “So, when we decided to move back the area that we were focused on [was Westside].” Kolby Brown said his favorite college football team is Nebraska, mostly because of his family’s history of success there. “I would say my love for Nebraska football is pretty strong, just because my uncle played there,” Kolby Brown said. “To sit in the stands for four years and watch him excel in the kicking position and then go back and watch old highlights of my dad kicking there, it means a lot.” Despite his family’s success with kicking, Kolby Brown said he doesn’t feel any outside pressure to succeed. “[My family history] doesn’t really change anything,” Kolby Brown said. “At the end of the day, I still have to go out and perform, no matter what my dad or my uncle did in the past. It’s helpful that they do give me advice that I can take out on game day and put that into my form and sharpen me as a kicker.”

graphic by luke steiner

VARSITY FOOTBALL STATS 2018 Season

Final Score

Aug. 24

Westside Bellevue East

52 0

Oct. 5

Westside Elkhorn South

35 21

Aug. 31

Westside Papillion-La Vista

38 7

Oct. 12

Westside Columbus

38 0

Sept. 7

Westside Lincoln Southeast

29 14

Oct. 18

Westside Millard South

13 14

Sept. 14

Westside Gretna

49 13

Oct. 26 (State)

Westside Lincoln East

34 7

Sept. 21

Westside Creighton Prep

37 2

Nov. 2

Westside Millard West

21 28

Sept. 28

Westside Northwest

40 0

2018 Record: 9-2

Stats from the Omaha World-Herald

[ A&E ]

SOZO COFFEEHOUSE Local place goes the extra mile for customers

ince opening in 2004, Sozo has offered a refreshing break from the mundane corporate coffee chains. Sozo is hidden underground off of 13th and Jones Street in Omaha. The atmosphere of Sozo is something of its own and offers a place for relaxation while sipping on some good coffee. The ambient lighting and welcoming environment offer a pleasant place to enjoy a cup of coffee. Sozo is littered with students studying at tables and friends chatting on the couches. Pleasant employees greet customers upon their arrival. All of these things contribute to Sozo being one of the best places to grab a cup of coffee in the city. “I think [in] local coffee shops, we have the time and resources to cater more towards our customers, whereas, with Starbucks, I don’t think that they have as much time to slow down and ask their customers [what they would like], ” said Sozo employee Grace Aakre. “Sometimes I wonder if they know coffee as well as they pretend to know coffee.” The employees of Sozo are friendly and offer a bright smile to everyone who walks through the door. They’re very considerate of the customers’ needs and appear to love going the extra mile to

make customers happy. “I feel like [our customer service] makes the atmosphere different here too,” Sozo employee Hannah Hillebram said. “Rather than other places, we like to dig in and have conversations with people

options on the menu include drinks with lots of pumpkin and warm autumnal influences. At the moment, their fall options include drinks called, “Campfire Mocha” and the “Sonshine Latte.” Springtime gives customers more floral and fruit inspired options. Another way Sozo is unique is that their drink options that are available all year. Even if it’s the middle of April and a customer wants to enjoy a pumpkin flavored drink, they can. While Sozo has flavors that always fit the season, the customer can get whatever they’d like. Sozo coffeehouse is a space that is open for a range of activities. While the couches are invitations for conversation, the pool tables encourage a competitive game with friends. The tables and chairs are also great places to study and get some work done. Sozo also has a separate space where they have live bands and performances from local musicians. When looking for a place to relax and study or a nice hangout spot, consider Sozo coffeehouse. Sozo is a great example of a small place taking big steps in the right direction. They are mastering the art of serving and caring for customers, a practice too often forgotten by modern day corporations.

“With Starbucks, I don’t think they have as much time to slow down and ask their customers [what they’d like]. Sometimes I wonder if they know coﬀee as well as they pretend to.” Sozo Employee Grace Aakre as we’re serving them.” Another way Sozo takes strides away from the pack is by providing many unique flavors and memorable names. During the fall, some flavor

story by natalie gill, photo by lydia kasem, design by elliot evans

[ A&E ]

HOROSCOPES What does your future hold?

Aries March 21 - April 19

Leo July 23 - Aug. 22

Sagittarius Nov. 22 - Dec. 21

It’s Scorpio season, which means there’s more importance regarding the interactions you have with others. This month will be all about merging, piecing together many different parts of your life to make a big picture of who you are. This could result in some hardcore soul searching, which can be scary to do alone. Strengthening relationships and talking it out with others will get you through challenging times. Today: Have a cup of tea with some friends.

This month is about self-reflection and nostalgia. Scorpio season typically affects your outlook on the past and how it affects the future. Around this time take some time to stay home and meditate on your childhood. How do your experiences make you, you? This type of thinking may lead to big changes, so take it slow and keep it grounded. Today: Write a letter to your future self.

You usually are an excitable and open person, but now is the time to take a step back and be introspective. November will be all about your dreams. Take time to analyze what you really want as we get closer to the end of the year. Be careful not to let others influence your thinking too much, they’ll pull you away from your goals. Today: Start a dream journal.

Taurus April 20 - May 20

Virgo Aug. 23 - Sept. 22

Capricorn Dec. 22 - Jan. 19

Balance is going to be an important word for you this month. There will probably be a lot of changes around this time and you’ll be compelled to take on an ambitious project. The stress might become too much and your relationships with others could be a little rocky. Remember to take time for yourself. The people in your life are there to help, so just ask. Today: Listen to some calming fall music.

You’re finally going to get some answers. This month will give you insight on many different parts of your life, perhaps a little too much. If a big problem has been worrying you for the past couple of months, this is the best time to rethink it and explore new avenues. Be careful, while you might have some answers, rushing into things won’t give you a happy ending. Today: Do a crossword puzzle.

Capricorns usually have some of the closest friends compared to the rest of the signs, however this month might give you some trouble. Scorpio season might give you more insight on your relationships. You’ll probably feel that you’re ready for a change. Don’t be afraid to be bold and meet new people, now is the best time to do so. Today: Join a new club.

Gemini May 21 - June 20

Libra Sept. 23 - Oct. 22

Aquarius Jan. 20 - Feb. 18

Scorpio season often brings around focus and inspiration. With all the excitement that comes from the energy of this month it’s a great time to channel that creativity into something productive and fun. Take on a new project or organize an event and show off those leadership skills. Remember to pace yourself so you don’t get too overwhelmed. Today: Do some fall DIY projects.

It’s been a hectic year for you, and it’s time to reap what you sow. All your hard work and effort will finally pay off. You have an eye for understanding the worth of something, and this Scorpio season will strengthen your negotiation skills. Go and get what you’ve had your eye on, you deserve it. Today: Go shopping.

Aquarius will have some of the biggest career and overall goal changes this month. You are known for your uniqueness and ability to empathize with others and now is the best time to use those skills. Find a job or take a class that makes you feel happy and empowered. Watch out for this flu season though, your health might not be your utmost priority this month, even though it should be. Today: Apply for a job.

Cancer June 21 - July 22

Scorpio Oct. 23 - Nov. 21

Pisces Feb. 19 - March 20

This is going to be a very positive month for you. November will be a time of reconnecting with old friends and keeping up the good vibes during dreary fall days. All this energy will draw people to you like a moth to a flame. This is a great time to learn something new because you’ll probably be very motivated. Today: Learn some basic words in sign language.

This is your season, use it to its full potential. You’ll have a lot of passion and focus, so don’t let yourself get distracted. All of the energy you’ll have will give you the power to change your life and those around you. If there’s something that you think is an injustice, now’s the time to try and fix it. Remember to have fun while you’re at it too, now’s your time to shine. Today: Join an organization that you believe in.

You might be feeling sluggish and bored, and that means it’s time for reinvention. This is the best time to make some big changes to who you are. Try out a new style or take some art classes to add color and pop back into your life. Don’t let what others might think keep you back from doing what you want to do. Today: Make some colorful artwork.

story by maryam akramova, graphics by brad griﬀin, design by vinny nelson

Enjoy filling out this fun crossword based on information found in the articles throughout this issue of The Lance as well as on westsidewired.net!

8.Joining one of these is a way to “dip your toe” in a new language 10.These are dispersed throughout episodes of the show revolving around Phil Dunphy and his family 11.Sozo Coffeehouse’s couches are this 14.This type of family is the subject of a show created by Spiller, Koch and Rougier 16.Jessica Day is this type of girl 17.This girl continually pulls the football away from Charlie Brown 18.Neal Page is an executive of this in “Planes, Trains and Automobiles”

Across: 4.Youth for Greater _________ is a group in Omaha for South Sudanese teens 5.“____________ Hears a Who” is the name of another movie directed by Jimmy Hayward, director of “Free Birds” 7.Sign _____________ is what deaf people use to communicate

Down: 1.HFS offers services to help sexual and domestic assault victims and also this group of people 2.The Westside ____________ funded the addition to our E&T department 3.Phil _________ directed “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” 6.10,000 expatriates from South _________ live in Omaha 8.Sozo _____________ is this type of establishment in Omaha that serves beverages 9.Jessica Day always has this type of attitude 12.Heartland ________ Services is an organization in Omaha that helps people in the metro area 13.The Engineering and Technology department is getting an addition for this lab 15.Caimille Rowan’s group opened for Emmanuel ______ at Africa Rising 16.Sozo makes unique and memorable these for their drinks

1 3

5 6 7

12 13 14

crossword by virginia jansen, cover photo by emma miller, design by elliot evans and saunders cohen