Issue 2

the

Lance

In-Depth

Check out our Halloween in-depth on pages 7-10.

8701 Pacific St. Omaha, NE 68114 Volume 60 Issue 2

October 23, 2015

ACT FOR EVERYONE

School makes exam required for all juniors

JA CK C O H E N

MANAGING EDITOR Lots of students are familiar with the testing environment.

The quiet room.

The constant tick of the clock.

The scrape of pencils on answer sheets.

Many students claim that the ACT is one of the most intimidating parts of preparing for college. Knowing when to take, how to prepare and where you can go with what scores are questions many underclassman have. With all these question marks the ACT can be a source of stress for students. Starting this year Westside students will at least have a place to start, as the test is now a requirement during junior year. For the March 2016 test, Westside will be paying for each junior’s fee for the exam.

Guidance counselor Vicki Londer explains the reasoning behind the requirement of the exam.

“It’s a way for all students to be able to take a standardized test,” Londer said. “It gives the school a baseline for all our students so we can see if there is anything we can do to support them academically.”

According to Londer, juniors taking the test earlier will give them a better frame of reference when deciding their post-high school plans.

“It will give juniors early on and idea of what options they have for college,” Londer said. “A student could think, ‘Well, I’m not going to do well on my ACT so I’ll just apply for these two colleges’ but if they test in March and get their score, the student will [think,] ‘Oh my gosh, I can go other places.”

Math instructor Benjamin Baber teaches a review class prior to the ACT and agrees with Londer on the benefits of the new policy.

“I think it will be a nice opportunity for juniors, especially those that would already be interested in taking [The ACT] anyway,” Baber said.

Baber also agrees with the timing of the exam as it lines up with junior curriculum. Conveniently, the majority of the math portion of the ACT is over second- year algebra. Most juniors are in this math class, which allows for the material on the exam to be fresh.

Not only will the required test provide a better frame of reference for all students, but it will also give greater opportunities for students who can’t afford the exam.

“If a Westside student is on free and reduced lunch, I already can give them two free test waivers,” Londer said. “So now a student who wouldn’t have been able to afford the test once, can now take it three times for free.”

The three free tests can greatly benefit lots of Westside students. The standard test of the exam is $39.50, and with the writing section, the cost rises to $56.60. Sending out scores requires an additional fee. With these charges and an assortment of others the price can climb quickly.

Londer and the school district are hoping that the required test will change the junior year schedule.

“We’re hoping the state will start to use ACT scores in place of the different NESA tests,” Londer said. “So it is several less standardized tests for juniors.”

Junior Jacob Meyerson has already begun to plan when he will take the ACT. “I’m actually taking [the ACT] on the 24,” Meyerson said. “For the October test I’m going in blind so when the test comes in March I’ll know what to expect and what areas I need to study.”

Come March, students will be given a free opportunity to improve college admissions.

Graphic by Nick Gross

2

NEWS

A FAMILIAR FACE

Student comes out as transgender, hopes to raise awareness N A TA W A R D

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Don’t ask her about her “real” name, because it’s Kate. She transitioned in second grade, but that’s not important. She was always female, regardless of the sex she was assigned at birth.

This is a story about facts. Facts about freshman Kate Stacy. And the fact is that Kate is transgender.

In this article, it is the first time that Kate has come out to anyone, outside of close friends and family. It is a decision that has been a year in the making.

“I don’t want other people to share my story for me, inaccurately,” Kate said. “And having people think it’s okay to come up to me and ask me questions that may FRESHMAN make me feel uncomfortable or not be accurate at all.

I don’t want them to assume those thoughts and then not listen to what the real story is.”

A transgender person is someone whose gender does not match with their assigned gender at birth. In cisgender people, these two things match. Kate is speaking out at a time when 82 percent of transgender teens don’t feel safe at school according to the National Center for Transgender Equality.

She hopes to put a familiar face on the issues facing transgender people, and make these subjects more human to the population at Westside. And also, to finally be fully herself, and to not feel like who she is, is something that needs to be hidden.

“A lot of people know about the LG part of [LGBTQ,] but not [about] the T — other than Caitlyn [Jenner] — but I want to give [someone] that’s closer to home,” Kate said. “A lot of people know someone who is gay or lesbian, but not a lot of people know someone who is transgender.”

Kate left her private elementary school due to harassment for being transgender. Other students would pull at her hair, which she was in the process of growing long, and tell her, “she wasn’t a real girl.” The girls would kick her and become disgusted when they learned she had used the same toys as them at recess. Even a teacher changed her career day project, which described her career goals as “dancing and cheerleading” to “trains and karate” — topics “more appropriate” for someone of her assigned sex.

“My parents eventually pulled me out [several days] early, thank God, because I was getting really depressed and I felt like I was really alone,” Kate said. “And it was really great that they pulled me out because I could finally just be me fully.”

Later that same day, Kate sat at her kitchen table, with an array of construction paper and art supplies around her. She colored her hands with markers and left 10 fingerprints on a poster. Un-

KATE STACY

derneath, she wrote the date: May 14, 2009.

“My mom was asking why I made [the poster,]” Kate said. “I told her, ‘I want to remember today because today is the first day that I actually got to be myself forever.’”

The changes at her new elementary school at Westside, Prairie Lane, were immediate. Nobody said anything, nobody told her she was confused, or making a mistake.

“More than half my life I was being told that who I was, was something I could only be at home,” Kate said. “And when I came to school, I had to put on this face and [pretend to] be someone that I’m not. And [coming to Westside] was extremely eye-opening, [because I realized] I didn’t have to be two different people. [Now,] there doesn’t have to be two different sides of me. I can just be me.”

Kate believes she is lucky to have the people around her that she does, but says that not everyone is as fortunate as her.

“We are still so far away from having trans people be on an equal playing field with cisgender people,” Kate said. “I think that’s because there’s not a whole lot of education. It’s also more complex than a lot of other things in the LGBTQ+ spectrum because it’s pretty easy to figure out what it means to be gay. It means that you are attracted to the same sex. But with transgender, it’s individual for each person, [so] it’s really hard to get an overall knowledge of the trans community just because it’s so vast.”

Her advice: just to use common courtesy. Ask only appropriate questions, and respect that some people aren’t willing to share personal details with everyone.

“Your sexual orientation is not something that is presented on the outside of your body while being trans most of the time is,” Kate said. “So there’s a lot more…assumptions based on trans people that you wouldn’t have with a gay person.

You would ask a person what their sexual orientation is, but you would assume what a person’s gender is.”

Kate’s gender and body are things that are very private matters to her. They aren’t conversation starters. She wants to raise awareness and show that the issues facing transgender people aren’t very far from home. However, she asks that people respect her privacy.

“In my mind, if I start a conversation about it, then go ahead, and you can ask appropriate questions — Emphasis on appropriate,” Kate said.

“And I will answer if I [feel comfortable to.] If other people bring it up, I usually don’t want to talk about it at that moment…It’s not something I am ashamed of, it’s just something I’ve gone through and it’s [private].”

For Kate, assumptions are hard. She understands the tendency to stereotype and to general-

There’s a lot more...assumptions [about] trans people...

You would ask a person what their sexual orientation is, but you would assume what a person’s gender is.

ize, but she wants people to realize the harm in this.

“Everyone loves boxes,” Kate said. “Even I sometimes put people into boxes. [Sometimes,] if I see someone walking down the street, I would be like, is that a boy or girl? …[But] I [remind myself,] ‘Why does it matter? Why do I need to know?’”

Some people believe that coming out is merely a call for attention. People say that they should just “put pants on [transgender girls,] just make them masculine, they will grow out of.” Kate calls herself the “prime example” of why this isn’t a solution.

Psychotherapist, Megan Smith-Sallans, MS, LIMHP, LIPC specializes in working with LGBTQIA+ individuals. On these “reparative therapies” that Kate describes, Megan said: “Reparative and conversion therapies have been rejected by all professional mental health and medical associations in the United States.

These forms of therapies do not work, are harmful and dangerous and can seriously threaten the well-being of the individual.”

The great majority of the health community has dismissed the idea that transgender people are merely seeking attention and attempting to force a person to be a gender that they do not identify with, only causes harm.

Kate is thankful for the support that her family has given her. Her greatest fear, however, in sharing this private matter, is that people may call her a liar. She is afraid that they may be angry for her “not telling the truth,” when in reality she just hadn’t felt comfortable to tell the whole truth.

“I think that everyone has things that they are insecure about,” Kate said. “[A person] may be so proud of who they are, but there is usually something that they just can’t open themselves up to…

Everyone figures themselves out at a different point in time.”

If you look at Kate Stacy, see her success at acting and her love of art. She is not just her gender.

Before you judge another person, Kate would like you to first look in the mirror. If the question you are going to ask would make you feel uncomfortable, it would probably be too private to ask another person.

“There needs to be a line,” Kate said. “It’s their life and it’s not yours. And you need to respect that.”

Freshman Kate Stacy stands outside of room 251 Tuesday, October 20. Photo

by Mitch Francis

Facts about transgender youth

Compiled from GSLEN, NCTE and Youth Suicide Prevention Program

42.2% of transgender youth have been prohibited to use their preferred name

Over half of transgender students were forced to use a locker room or bathroom of their assigned sex

one third of transgender students were prohibited from wearing clothes considered inappropriate for their assigned sex

57% of transgender people faced rejection from their families

78% of transgender youth faced harrassment while in grades K-12

90%

faced mistreatment, discrimination or harrassment at work, leading some to take steps to hide their gender on the job

One-third

of transgender youth were physically harrassed, 17% experienced sexual violence

Half of transgender youth will attempt suicide before age 20

3

the

OPINION

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 Nata Ward, Jace Wieseler; Managing Editors Jack Cohen, Libby Seline, Celena Shepherd; Copy Editor Sarah Hermann; Design Editor Casey Arritt; News Editor Elise Tucker; Opinion Editor Lexi Bergin; Feature Editor Bella Radler; Sports Editor Connor Castleman; Arts & Entertainment Editor Kayla Kyle; Cartoonist Nick Gross; Staff Writers Benjamin Brodkey, Rob Gabel, Cole Hopkins, Emma Korengel, Nicole Petersen, Jim Schueneman, Steven Simon, Nolan Tracy, April Van Unen; Staff Designer Casey Arritt; Photo Editors Madigan Brodsky, Mitch Francis; Adviser Jerred Zegelis.

Graphic by Nata Ward

Editorial

Curriculum should change to fit a changing world Every Parent’s dream is to have their kid be a lawyer or a doctor. Parents often push the hard math and science classes to make sure their kids have their shot at the best Ivy League colleges in the world, but we are living in a world that doesn’t need those things to become successful. Tech has taken over.

In the past decade, the world around us has changed. Sure before then we had computers and television, but now we have iPhones and apps and streaming for laptops that make the world as we know it exist.

We need to start introducing courses for modern technology at younger ages. Of course we are shown technology and how to use it when we are young, whether that’s just learning how to type or learning how to navigate our favorite games, but we are never taught how the computer itself works.

In a world where we will be just as likely to use computer skills as basic math skills, it’s time to start informing our next generation.

Not only will we be likely to use these skills in our every day life but there is incredible job opportunity for those of us learning those skills. The demand for jobs in this category grows everyday. These jobs can range from simple tech assistance to making your own usable app. Jobs like these are not being filled because people are not informed on the correct topics.

While school children are spending time out of their curriculum to learn to rewrite the alphabet, we are wasting opportunities to teach them skills they will need in the future. If we are always worried about the future careers of our children, why don’t we have them studying about a vast and growing world of ones and zeros?

Coding classes are something that we can introduce at young ages and

WARRIOR VOICE

still have young minds understand. With the technology that Westside possesses, we have amazing chances to send our youth into the world not only knowing how to work the computer, but knowing how the computer works.

Just like Spanish is introduced in kindergarten because of its resourcefulness in the future, we can put a curriculum in place that benefits the future of our kids and society as a whole. If there is more people studying technology the more likely it is that we will find major break-throughs for the world to see. We could create bionic limbs or help the blind see or the deaf hear.

We see these amazing advancements ever day that help us see the future of health, but something we don’t always see is the money. Not the money it costs, but the money it can make. Something that’s been big in our news over this generation is the economy. It is important that we keep money flowing through our society.

Technology doesn’t just give the opportunity for small businesses to start up, but we also see a high demand from the populous for technologically advanced products. When we have a high demand paired with good job opportunity we have people both spending and earning decent amounts of money. This is extremely important in creating a strong and reliable economy.

The technological world is not all about creating the most entertaining app or the most intricate and spectacular website. Sometimes it’s about saving the world, or at least some of the people in it. I don’t know about you, but I’ve never saved anyone by being able to write cursive. Let’s give our generation the tools they need in a forever changing world.

How do you think technology will affect our future careers?

BOUNCER

SOPHOMORE

JUNIOR

“If you look at every job from here on out, [it] has some form of technology out there in use.”

“If there is advanced technology there will be new careers for that technology.”

“Technology is going to reach “[It will] make it easier for the point where we are going us to communicate... with to have to keep hiring people other people differently.” to fix these computers.”

TRENT LAST

E LLIE S I M O N

IAN GAL USHA

FRESHMAN

GRACE DUNN

4

OPINION

Fire department shouldn’t charge for home football games Every Friday night at our school football games, firefighters are seen patrolling the area, whether they be in the main entrance or keeping an eye on the large crowds while in the stands.

Unfortunately, the Omaha Fire Department will no longer be serving our football games for free of charge.

It was announced

by Fire Chief Bernie Kanger on Tuesday, Sept. 22 that the fire department will no longer offer free standby service at varsity games starting Jan. 1 of next year. These changes will be affecting Millard, Omaha, Elkhorn and our SARAH HERMANN Westside district, COPY EDITOR who are currently planning on continuing to use the services of our Omaha Fire Department.

While it is a relief that our district isn’t letting the charged services be an obstacle, it is a disgrace that the fire department is taking the free services away in the first place.

Chief Kanger explains in a recent interview that, in recent years, the amount of calls to their department has dramatically increased, stating that the number of calls has gone up from 33,000 to about 49,000. The large increase in the number of calls may be quite shocking, but it’s even more surprising that they feel the need to charge school districts for their services.

Because the Omaha Fire Department now requests a fee before they enter a high school football game, it without a doubt screws up the department’s reputation. According to their official website, their mission statement states that it is their mission to “protect the lives, property, and environment of our community through preparation, prevention, and protection in a competent and courteous manner.”

Whether they believe it or not, I am almost positive that Omaha public schools fit under the category of “community.”

The main priority of the fire department should be to serve the needs and protect the people of our city, not to gain money. Asking for money in return after providing security does not make the rescue squad look good, and more importantly, doesn’t make me feel safe at all.

I may not be involved at a varsity sport here at our school, but learning about this new proposal made makes me worry about other schools who may not afford to pay the department for future services. Knowing that the fire department even CONSIDERED this new proposal makes me wonder about the people who were involved in making this decision, causing me to almost lose trust in our fire department.

Kanger argues that football injuries are extremely rare, and that it would “negatively impact on response times for other calls.” While it is true that injuries at high school football games are scarce, it is not appropriate for the fire department to assume what the future number of injuries will be.

In a game of football, whether it be a varsity high school or a NFL one, it only takes a single play for something to go severely wrong. It saddens me that the fire department overlooks this and doesn’t see their attendance at high school games to be as crucial as it is.

Chief Kanger’s decision to start charging public schools for their services is a valid argument because of other obligations they have to fulfill. But, it is a shame that public high school events don’t seem to be a high priority of theirs.

$ Graphic by Jim Schueneman

TROUBLE IN THE IMCS

Rules in study centers are over-extreme, ridiculous

At Westside, students make decisions on what to do during independent study mods. We can eat lunch, come back, do some homework, but there’s a certain expectation from bouncers and teachers to go to an IMC. When we arrive at an IMC on the first day of school, however, we’re also introduced to a substantial list of rules, so many it can be difficult to remember them all. It’s easy to get down the basics of living peacefully in an IMC: no food, no phones, have something out to work on. This is fine, but these rules aren’t consistent due to the scheduled change in supervisors.

Different supervisors shouldn’t mean different rules, but people are people, and some people are more lenient than others. Sometimes you might get away with sitting around JIM SCHUENEMAN an empty table talking, other times, STAFF WRITER someone will be standing over your shoulder, seemingly watching your every move.

Of course, there are other places to go if you aren’t trying to work, and we are constantly reminded of this. But in the end, who else but you is distracted by being on a phone? No one. Get caught with your phone out and you might get your name written down.

Do it enough, and you’ve made the “Most Wanted” list. Yes, unbelievably, this is a thing in some IMCs. You don’t have to be a famous criminal to be on one, either.

Most times, any combination of food, phone, or talking gets you kicked out for the day. Get caught again and you’re gone for the week. Any time after that and out you go, come back next year.

Marcus Buck, who was on the “Most Wanted” list in the English IMC last year, was kicked out for the whole year for talking.

“Teachers always say [students talking] makes it difficult to work but all they do is tell other students to stop,” Buck said. “You can’t collaborate with other people. Then you can’t go in[to work, and it’s really hard to work.”

Sometimes it’s deserved, but nobody wants to be kicked out. It’s embarrassing in the first place, and separates you from your peers and can make it difficult to get work done when you want to.

The way I see it, kicking a student out is just adding to the problem. Doing homework in the Activity Gym or Courtyard is easier said than done and separating one from their peers also seems wrong.

This year, the English IMC has already handed out two semester bans. Stephanie Heitmann, a supervisor of the English IMC, defends the current policy.

‘The rules are simple and easy to follow,” Heitmann said. “Kids just think they can do whatever they want.”

It is also important to note that while IMCs are known as places to go for students during independent study mods, they also double function as an office for department teachers.

We want to help our teachers help us, but IMCs don’t always seem designed to accommodate both teachers and students. Tables seat four, designed so we can work with other students. Can you place four high school students together when they don’t have class and expect them to be silent?

Interrupting others’ work is of course a good reason to be asked to leave, but a “Wanted” list for teenagers who have a pack of fruit snacks open is probably overkill.

PowerGrade A

To intercession. Enough said.

C

To the elimination of half days. While we like the fact that we no longer have school on Monday, we believe half days are nice for students to have after a hard quarter.

F

To the person who blocks and unblocks Netflix. When Netflix is unblocked, students enjoy having the freedom to watch shows. However, when Netflix is blocked, we feel disappointed and want it back. Please make Netflix permanent.

OPINION

5

ARMED FORCES RECRUitMENT IN SCHOOLS To Recruit....

The Marines bring the pull up bar to school every week, the Air Force gives out pens during lunch mods and the Army recruiters talk to the students throughout the day. Some would say this is coercing our nation’s children to go and risk their lives in a bloody war. Others would describe it as the military stealing the bright futures of the high school students.

Those descriptions have it backwards. The military recruiters provide great opportunities for the future, and should continue to visit schools.

Almost every student has been asked this question: What will you do when you graduate? For some, the answer is simple. They have a life long dream that they want to fulfill. For others, it’s not so easy, even thinking about the future is scary and difficult. How do they even know where to start?

The job and college fairs provide a solution. They let students see what options are available. Large state universities strut their stuff, and small private colleges show ROBERT G A B E L off. The professionals tell the stories of their sucSTAFF WRITER cess. The options are amazing, and without these showings, a large number of students would not know what to do.

Whether you support the recruiters or not, the fact is that the military is a very real possibility for many students, keeping in mind that college isn’t right for everyone.

It would be unfair to deny them the same opportunity. The soldiers in our military fight for our country to have freedom and equal rights for everybody. If we deny the source of our freedom, the same freedom they fight for, we would be hypocrites.

Like a road, there is more than one path to follow in the military. There are five branches, and each branch is unique. They have their own skills and lessons that can be learned. The prospective soldier can jump straight into boot camp, or join the reserves, or even go to one of the military colleges, like West Point Army Academy.

Not only are there academic opportunities, but also numerous life skills that service teaches. On top of those, there are also the technical skills of the various posts and positions. Being able to go around the world is a very attractive and beneficial experience. Not to mention, instead of paying large amounts at an institution, the military is a job; which pays for participating. Throughout the country poverty prevents

Or NotTo Recruit....

When I walked outside the school anxious to escape, the last thing I expect is to see a boy with sweat dripping down his face. The boy pulls his head up above the bar time and time again. People are starting to crowd around and count while random whistles and cheers could be heard.

This seemed like all fun and games to me until I saw who was responsible for the workout. Standing there in uniform was a military recruitment officer. My whole demeanor changed. This was no longer fun and games; it was a strategic move to get another body into the military.

After the kid was done, the officer went on to tell him the very numerous benefits from joining the military. Traveling around the world, health benefits, paid “vacations” are all things being thrown around. What I then realized was the risks to the life of the potential soldier were not discussed. Military recruitment needs to stay out of our schools.

The military is a serious matter, not just a simple career choice, and we need to treat it as such. In the military, you are signing your life away to the government. There is honor in this, as we should all be thankful for those who have served and protected our country, but unfortunately it is an honor of high risk and reward that shouldn’t be pushed onto our youth.

When one joins the military, they’re just another warm body to waste.

The

young men and women from being able to fulfill their dreams. They can’t afford the degree they need for their dream jobs. The military service is not expensive, and therefore a very feasible option. An option that students need to know is available. All of these benefits do have a drawback; the danger.

However, joining the military is not a death sentence. There are a number of inherent risks, which is why service has been voluntary since the draft was abolished. The United States depends on its armed forces to defend itself, and these armed forces depend on the willing volunteers who make up their ranks. They need to be able to recruit. Students don’t need to talk to them. Just like enlisting, even saying hello to a recruiter is voluntary.

It is a willing relationship.

I will not lie and say that people do not die in the military. The recruiters will not lie to you either. One, Sergeant William Hardy, said “People will develop their ideas of why one shouldn’t join, and the best we can do is inform and educate”.

A few die, but for the multitudes that survive, they have gained experience. They have an enormous range of life skills and abilities that no college program provides. Leadership, communication and teamwork are just a few examples. The reasons for joining the military are strong, however it is still voluntary. Unlike some countries that have compulsory military service, the United States of America does not.

With an economic, voluntary service, it is only fair to allow the armed forces the same opportunity as educational institutions. They should be allowed to recruit at high schools.

Not all students know what they want to be when they grow up and having as many available options as possible will help. Just because somebody can win the pull up contest after school, does not mean they have to join the Marines.

Graphics by Casey Arritt

more people you have in your military, the more people you have willing to die for their country. You’re there to serve. You learn to handle dangerous weapons and push your body to the absolute limit. You’re forced to face the reality of your own morality, yet they want you to make the decision to join when you can’t even go to the bathroom whenever you want.

For most of us, there is not much of adult reality that we have been forced to face yet. Most of us have not had to face finding housing for ourselves, or even living on our own without help for that matter. We haven’t be able to legally touch alcohol or face a challenge where there wasn’t an option to run to mommy and daddy.

Therefore, it is wrong of our country to pressure us into joining the armed forces as we have yet to know the realities of this world and what we could be truly signing up for.

Not only is there danger from the enemy that we must face, but there is also danger from those around us. Both ALEXIS BERGIN men and women have reported incidents of sexual harassOPINION EDITOR ment. According to MedScape, 80 pecent of women in the military have experienced sexual harassment and 25 percent have been sexually assaulted. This is something that is extremely dangerous and important for people to know before they commit to something so life altering. The military is not a safe place for teenagers to be going and we should not glorify it as such.

Young people are also at a higher risk for several mental effects the military and armed forces leave on the brain. Veterans under the age of 25 are at a higher risk for alcohol abuse than their older counter parts, according to MedScape. They are also at a higher risk for abusing other drugs. These individuals are also more likely to be diagnosed with mental diseases and have to suffer with something so horrible for the rest of their lives.

These effects on young people are what the military is recruiting our young people for and it is time to put a stop to it. Our youth need to experience life for what it is before they decide to give it up. It’s time we let kids be kids and take the military recruitment out of our schools.

6

FEATURE

TABLES TURNED

Student helps community through project JACE W I E S E L E R

cludes a speech delay.

Because of this, Christopher and his parents, Chip and Michele Hinde, have worked with his Senior Christopher Hinde is only a few steps Boy Scout Troops to modify some of the activities away from putting something on his resume that that were needed to earn his badges. less than 1 percent of the country can.

“He had a lot of support from his dad and I beAfter nine years and earning 33 merit badges, cause he needs that support,” Michele said. “But Christopher just has his project and his interview we try to minimize it as much as we can and still before becoming an Eagle Scout. The Eagle Scout allow him to participate and still be challenged.”

Service Project is meant for Boy Scouts to “demChristopher uses a computer to communicate onstrate leadership of others while performing a most of his sentences. He uses this computer to project for the benefit of his community.” write out all of his speeches for Boy Scouts, with a For his project, Christopher raised money to little help from his parents. add picnic Christotables to the pher gives Westridge his parents CHRISTOPHER’S MOTHER Pool because the ideas he the old ones wants to conwere too vey in his small.

The speeches by new tables using one or will be large two words, enough for and Michele families to sit and Chip just around, and put what he accessible for wants to say wheel chairs and strollers. into sentence structure.

He’s well on his way through the process to When Christopher needs to present the speech, complete his Eagle Project. Christopher started a he goes under his “Boy Scout” button on his comGoFundMe page to raise $2,200 for the tables and puter and plays the speech programmed in. reached his goal within a month. To finish, he just The buttons on the computer range from the needs to develop his detailed product plan, lead Boy Scout pledge to anything he wants to say in his troop in assembling the tables and complete conversations. all of the paperwork.

This will help him complete his interview after Once the tables are put up and his project is the tables are put up in the spring, which is the completed, his interview and review in front of the final step before becoming an Eagle Scout.

Eagle Scout Board is the last step in the process.

Christopher says some of the tasks were tiring, This process has been different with Christo- but his participation in Boy Scouts has been well pher than some other Boy Scouts. worth it.

Christopher was born with cerebral palsy, This process has presented him with many opwhich is a neurological disorder that is caused by portunities, including trips to the White House non-progression of the brain. It usually effects and camping along the Chesapeake Bay, and life body movement and muscle coordination but skills like learning to be courtesy and kind. there is various degrees of capability that come “[It’s awesome] just to see him grow and dewith cerebral palsy. In Christopher’s case, it in- velop responsibility,” Michele said.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

M I C H EL E H IND E

“We try to minimize [our help] as much as we can and still allow him to participate and be challenged.”

Senior Christopher Hinde poses for a picture outside of his home on Sunday, Oct. 18. Hinde, who suffers from cerebral palsy, is becoming an Eagle Scout in the spring. Photo by Mitch Francis

TECH SAVY

Senior begins career in coding apps, software design COLE H O P K I N S

STAFF WRITER

“Things don’t have to change the world to be important,” Steve Jobs said.

These are words that senior Edmon Adams lives by. The young freelance software designer is still attending high school here at Westside. Adams has a rare opportunity, where, as a teenager, he can cultivate a foundation for his life’s passion and career. Through many hours of work Adams has become a freelance software designer and is making more money than most teenagers could even dream of.

It all started during Adams’ freshman year when he enrolled himself in a software design program at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

Here, Adams began his journey of learning software-coding and application design. Later, Adams began helping design applications for places like the Henry Doorly Zoo, and the Air and Space Museum.

It was after this that he began teaching himself a programming language called “Objective C.” This language is used to design any application built on the Apple (Macintosh) platform.

Then Adams’ business ventures really began to take off, becoming busy with private and commercial contracts. Adams has gone on to create a name for himself in the community of freelance software. Adams has created numerous games and other purpose applications that are all available on the iTunes App Store. Adams’ work now consists of being hired by persons or companies who want an application built for them. He negotiates his own contracts regarding

money, royalties and ownership agreements.

Then he creates a final product. Adams holds himself to the standard of quality that a professional company would to ensure his customers are satisfied.

Adams is actually currently working to create an application for Westside Wired. Although, Adams does not plan to collect any money from this project and will instead be using it for his Lighthouse Project. Adams gave us some insight to how much money he can generate through application design.

“For something I’m working on like the Westside Wired application, it would cost Westside about $100,000 if it were to be made through a professional company,” Adams said.

But he doesn’t do it for the money.

“I love seeing my ideas impact the world around me,” Adams said.

Adams also has high aspirations for the future.

He plans to attend Harvard school of technology to study computer science theory. His ultimate goal is to work for Google one day. Despite Adams’ already very successful business, he does not plan to continue his freelance work past high school.

Adams passion for software design has become a tangible career for him. Starting off in the field young and hungry, Adams has laid a solid foundation for his future. Adams also encourages other kids to pursue their dreams like he has. Adams told us his biggest piece of advice to anyone pursuing their own dream is this: “To be good at something, doesn’t necessarily mean you need to memorize or even know everything about it,” Adams said. “It’s a new age, Google it and learn.”

Senior Edmon Adams works on his computer before school Wednesday, Oct. 21. Adams has created many apps available on the iTunes App Store. Photo by Madigan Brodsky

IN-DEPTH

7

Lance halloween InDepth

HOW

not TO CARVE PUMPKINS L IBBY S E L I N E

MANAGING EDITOR

We were a gang of misfits on that October night. The sun was setting in the sky and there was a creative mist in the air. We Lance editors stood in the backyard with three pumpkins, some knives and a Disney princess carving set. We were determined to carve

the best pumpkins ever.

However, as we settled down to carve the pumpkins, we realized how unprepared we were. My pumpkin was rotten. Celena struggled to carve her own, and Jack gave up within the first five minutes. We were done.

So, we present to you how to not carve a pumpkin. As we figured out, we are experts in this matter and are willing to give you tips to make your Halloween a memorable one.

Step 1: Buy a rotten pumpkin

Step 4: Give up

As I sat down with my pumpkin, I realized that I got stuck with the worst pumpkin. So, great. It was disgusting, however, it was very easy to cut. Having a rotten pumpkin certainly made the night more eventful and the sound of me gagging added a pleasant element to this activity.

After a hard five minutes of carving and scraping the guts out of your pumpkin, you deserve a break. Cut some sort of shape into your pumpkin and stick a knife in it. Tell yourself you did a great job and simply walk away.

Step 5: Smash your pumpkin Step 2: Buy a Disney carving set I settled down with my rotten pumpkin and studied it. I determined that carving this pumpkin may just be the grossest thing I’ve ever had to do in my life. The carving set quickly became the source of my struggle. I attempted to use the small princess shovel to get the guts out of my pumpkin. This did not work out well. After ten minutes of a rough attempt, I realized this carving set had failed me, and I left my pumpkin filled with guts.

If you want to spend more time with your pumpkin, don’t worry, there’s something else for you to do. Simply take the pumpkin in both of your hands and hold it above your head. Then throw it down on the ground as hard as you can and watch it break. If it doesn’t break on the first try, try and try again. Even jump on your pumpkin. Once your pumpkin successfully breaks, you are guaranteed to have a great Halloween.

Step 3: Break your carving tool As Celena was struggling to carve her own pumpkin, she called upon Jack’s assistance. He grabbed the best carving tool we had and started cutting a hole in the top of the pumpkin. In the process, the tool snapped, leaving the three of us angry, upset and dumbfounded. So, be sure to break your favorite carving tool, just like Jack did, to ensure the worst possible pumpkin design ever.

Photos and design by Nata Ward

8

IN-DEPTH

HALLOWEEN FOR DUMMIES IF YOU CAN’T HANDLE MOVIE MARATHON do something spooky Camp Fear: ABC FAMILY: SCARY THINGS...

233rd and West Maple

your local television

Road, Elkhorn

• Nightmare Theater: Three horror movies play on an outdoor movie screen, rent fire pits for twenty dollars.

• Fright Over Night: The brave may chose to camp in tents over night. It is 30 dollars for two tents, including a fire pit and picnic table.

• Bloodrush: Bring 10 dollars as you don’t want to miss the 20 minute walk of terror through these haunted woods, Bloodrush is a seclusive true horror experience.

• Creatures roam around the property striking fear into anyone who trespasses, those camping and viewing movies are no exception.

station

Ditmars orchard 19475 225th Street, Council Bluffs • This is the place to go if you’re looking for a fun, refreshing fall day. Come with friends and family to pick out your own delicious apples, which are one dollar and eighty cents per pound, or other fruits such as cherries, strawberries, apricots and peaches.

• Ditmars sells specialty food items, such as preserves, butters and seasonal pies. Locally grown honey is also for sale here. Be sure to sit down at the “Orchard Cafe” for lunch, while you’re there to try a variety of fresh foods.

• The “13 nights of Halloween” from ABC Family began it’s 17th annual showing of Halloween movies on Oct. 19 and will continue through Halloween on Oct. 31.

• Make time to watch this scary movie marathon within the next thirteen days, you won’t regret it. Nothing beats sitting down with a bowl of popcorn and a cozy blanket to relish in your favorite childhood spooky cinemas.

• For those wishing to be more creeped out tune in on Oct. 30 because that is when Poltergeist I and II play.

C EL ENA S H E P H E R D

MANAGING EDITOR

• Entrance into Camp Fear is five dollars not including, the • Pumpkin Patch: All pumpkins are sold for 45 cents other attractions. Camp Fear continues through Oct. 31, every per pound, what a great deal! The pumpkin patch Friday at 5 p.m. and Saturday at 3 p.m. closes on Oct. 31 at 4 p.m., so get here while they last and purchase your pumpkin today.

• Pricing: During weekdays people ages 15 and up (adult) and three or below are admitted for free, those, ages 4-14 (children) cost only three dollars.

On weekends adults cost two dollars and children five dollars. What a great deal for such a quality time.

• Activities: This Orchard offers corn maze, tractor rides, and corn box, similar to one with sand but, filled with corn instead.

asey Graphics by C hepherd S a en Arritt, Cel neman. and Jim Schue

Opinion

Trend of sexualized costumes unacceptable for tweens E MMA K O R E N G E L STAFF WRITER

America loves Halloween. Once October rolls around, mailboxes are flooded with costume catalogues and televisions are clogged with horror films. Only slightly behind Christmas in common popularity, even the threat of razor-blade filled candy and the ever-present danger of cars is not enough to stop roughly 17 million children each year from wearing a costume and demanding candy from strangers at the threat of tricks.

Everyone’s prepared with a bowl full of fun-size treats to give to the hordes of adorable little kids dressed as the latest popular characters, but as those little kids grow older a disturbing trend begins to emerge in the festive clothing marketed towards tweens.

For boys, there’s little noticeable difference in a tween costume. They have more mature designs and larger sizes. For girls, it’s a different story. In comparison to the childhood costumes, tween costumes have gotten strangely short. In fact, most, if not all, tween costumes are heavily reliant on mini skirts and short sleeves, which are less than ideal designs for a freezing October night. Look near and far on any Halloween website, whether it is a devil, ghost, inanimate object or princess costume for young girls, it usually fits the pattern of short dresses with tights.

The tween unicorn costume, sold by popular store Spirit Halloween, consists of a silky white sleeveless dress, that doesn’t quite come down to the mid thigh, short legwarmers and a horn.

Alarmingly, it is almost virtually identical to the adult version. Heck, if you don’t wear the horn and legwarmers you could wear this attire to a club. In addition, parts of the costume displayed in an image (i.e. tights, bootcovers) on the package are not included. So, unless you are willing to pay for them, since they were not included, you’re going trick-or-treating with bare legs.

To summarize, since the accessories were not included, there is now a tween girl roaming the streets on Halloween night wearing nothing but a short white silky dress. Adult costumes are one thing, but it is unacceptable to market such suggestive costumes to tween girls. Girls at this age are looking to impersonate people, characters, and things they enjoy, not draw eyes to their miniskirt-covered thighs. How unsettling and uncomfortable it must be for a young girl to notice someone ogling at her with ill intentions on her favorite holiday of the year.

It’s not entirely the designers of these costumes to blame for this problem or the children’s fault. Parents should be held accountable as well.

Those parents who continue to purchase scarily skimpy costumes for their daughters will encourage more production of these costumes.

Perhaps these tween costumes wouldn’t be such an accepted part of society if parents paid a little more attention to their children and the clothing being geared toward them. After all, you only get to be a kid for so long and tween girls are on the cusp of puberty, so let’s let them enjoy the lighter, more innocent side of Halloween while they still can.

Graphic by Bella Radler

IN-DEPTH

9

N I G H T MA DI GAN B R O D S K Y

A t V a l a s

PHOTO EDITOR

The intoxicating scent of smoke and pine needles. The sound of giggling toddlers on the bouncing pillows. The crunch of maple leaves underneath boots blended with the chomping of teeth on chewy, fresh dipped caramel apples.

Epitomizing all senses of fall in the Midwest, Vala’s Pumpkin Patch never fails to provide these feelings, no matter how many years we keep coming back. For those who have been lucky enough to make it out even once, stopping at the Giant Rocking Chair to snap an Instagram-worthy picture with friends is almost a necessity. It’s hard to say no to taking an old-fashioned hayrack ride out to pick your very own pumpkin, even if it means waiting in line for half an hour.

From our timeless childhood favorites, like watching the Pigtucky Derby Pig Races and making it down the big slides to the challenge that exceeds all of our expectations, the Corn Maze, this pumpkin patch truly has something for all ages. On Saturday, Oct. 10, Westside journalism students and advisers hit up all of our favorite Vala’s attractions, making fall memories with all of our publication teams that will never be forgotten.

Above: A tree decorated with a variety of Jack-o-Lanterns watches over people waiting to climb aboard a hayrack ride. Left: An ominous looking Jacko-Lantern sits atop a tree branch with its other Jack-o-Lantern neighbors. Below: Junior Ande Bilyeu and junior Kate Alston sit around the campfire, watching others attempt to keep the flame alive.

Photos by Madigan Brodsky

Far Above Left: With help from Vala’s employees, WHS journalism students finally get a fire started.

Left: Sophomore Aliyah White and senior Eva Wetzel start of the night by taking a race on the Family Country Cruisin’ Carts at Vala’s Pumpkin Patch on Saturday, Oct. 10. Photos by Madigan Brodsky

10

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FEATURE

11

MARCHING MAN

Freshman, her father perform together in school band N A TA WA R D

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Freshman Eva Houston’s dad is in the band.

Every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, you can find Kevin Houston at band practice. He will be at home football games and out-of-school competitions, soaring a good foot or two above the rows of freshmen. He spends his lunch hour not in the cafeteria at work, but where he believes he should be: with his daughter.

“At first, I [thought] he was going to embarrass me, [that this was] going to be super awkward,” Eva said. “But, it’s fine. It’s kind of fun to have him come during class.”

Eva has cerebral palsy, a condition that has limited her ability to walk. She uses forearm crutches or, in the crowded hallways at school, a wheelchair to navigate. The original plan for band — the first semester of which is dedicated solely to marching — was for Eva to sit on the sidelines.

However, Eva quickly realized that wasn’t going to work.

“I felt excluded from the band,” Eva said. “And also, I felt like I was in a spotlight. And I know I wasn’t, but it felt like I was super front and center. Like, if I make a mistake, they might be able to hear me…It was also kind of hard staying with the band. Because when they were playing sound travels, and the sound was all off. I [ended up] just staring [blankly] at the drum major.”

Together, early in the school year, Eva and freshman band director Timothy Rischling determined the best plan of action was for someone to push her wheelchair. Other students, however, were too hesitant when executing moves. In addition, pushing Eva would require them to stop playing their own instrument. Rischling suggested her father. “[Rischling] knew that [my dad] had marching history,” Eva said. “He [asked,] ‘Well, what if your dad pushed you?’ And I was like, ‘Yeah I’ll ask him,’ but [I doubted he would want to.] But then my dad took it seriously…We had tried having another student pushing me…[but] they were afraid they were going to hurt me. And I’m like ‘Oh my God.’” She laughs. “But my dad isn’t afraid to whip me around.”

Kevin, who works in the IT department at Mutual of Omaha, spoke to his boss, who was supportive of the plan. He takes his lunch hour to go to Westside during freshman band class, working meetings and appointments around class time.

The most pressing problem, however, was learn-

ing the routine.

“He needed to know the drill just as much as anyone else in the band,” Rischling said. “And he [needs] to show up three or four times a week and rehearse.”

The other students had a month to learn the march. They had two previous home games to work out the kinks. When Kevin joined, it was already about a month into the season, and he would only have a week to practice for the next home game.

“I was a little nervous,” Kevin said. “I didn’t want to screw up because I didn’t know the drill very well and I hadn’t practiced one of the songs but one time. I knew we would stand out because we were so big together. And we were in the front.”

Father and daughter took to the middle school the night before the game to practice on their own.

The high school was preferable, so Kevin could practice on turf, but Phelps’ Field isn’t wheelchair-accessible when the main gates are closed.

They stayed for an hour or two, Eva on the side directing her father through the routine again and again.

“The band was still getting to know the drill so it wasn’t our best performance but it was so much fun,” Eva said. “It was nice being a part of the show [finally.]”

For Kevin, being on the field again brought memories back from his own time in high school.

He pulled up old YouTube videos of him in his marching band, showing his daughter what he looked like in the eighties.

“It’s fun to be in front of the audience and to have them react,” Kevin said. “It’s [nerve-racking] at the same time. You get butterflies before every show. But I’ve played in front of forty thousand people before [with] television cameras there [before.]”

Both Rischling and Kevin have noticed a change in Eva since being moved from the sidelines. Even before, Rischling had noticed her talent and her friendliness with other students, but now they can tell Eva feels more involved. “[I remember] the first practice when we left the field and she was just smiling, saying how much fun she had, and how much better it was,” Kevin said. “And it made what I was doing worth it. If she didn’t like it, I wouldn’t want to do it.”

Eva already felt close to her father before starting marching band together. They would frequently travel together to attend tournaments for wheelchair basketball, which Eva competes in.

Her father describes them as having “the same

sense of humor and appreciation for music.”

Kevin supports Eva in everything she does, from music to softball, but Eva thinks it is nice to spend time during the day together too.

“It’s kind of fun,” Eva said. “Now that we’re both in band, it’s like, ‘Well, I’ll see you at 9:30 a.m.’ [And] he’s always been super geeked out about marching band, but now I am. And now we can both share that.”

For Kevin, being where he is feels right. Yes, he worries about next year, when Eva will be in Warrior band, and how the drill will be harder, and that more time will be required of him. But Kevin is going to take advantage of this chance, because it is something he doesn’t want to miss before Eva grows up and moves away.

“I’m just making sure Eva can get on the field,” Kevin said. “I kind of hold my tongue a little bit when I see people marching improperly or not hitting their sets, but maybe next year, I’ll talk to [the band instructor,] and be more of an instructor and marcher. But, right now, I’m just Eva’s legs.”

Top: Kevin Houston, father of freshman Eva Houston, stands by his daughter at her 7 a.m. band practice, Friday, Oct. 9. The varsity and freshman marching bands were preparing for their contest the next day at Bellevue East High School. Above right: Eva practices the correct way to hold her trumpet between songs. Photos by Madigan Brodsky

12

FEATURE

AMERICAN ADAPTATION

Junior adjust to new life after living in United Kingdom LI BBY S E L I N E

MANAGING EDITOR Junior Caoimhe Dunn stood in front of the class feeling anxious.

She began to perform a monologue about the instant she found out she was moving nearly 4,000 miles from Scotland to Omaha.

She remembered how angry she was.

The hopelessness she felt.

And the disappointment that everything good in her life was changing.

She began to cry.

“Basically every negative thought you could ever think about moving was in that monologue,” Caoimhe said. “It was kind of like ‘I can’t believe my parents put me through this. It’s selfish.’ [...I also said] ‘I have to move to a place I’ve never heard of’ and ‘it’s just like I was victim.’ [When I actually found out] I was in a state of shock for a month. I just couldn’t get over it.”

Caoimhe moved because of her dad’s job. Her father, Chris Dunn, had become the Director of Human Resources for Marriott International in October of last year. Although he’d been traveling to Washington DC for two weeks at a time to do business, his position was now based in Omaha, which would make him be gone for five weeks at a time. “[When he was in Scotland my dad] would have conference calls about his job; it was like he never got a break,” Caoimhe said. “But then he was away and it was bit better. Whenever he was back, he’d only be back for five days. [And] whenever he came he’d be packing to leave again. [...] I didn’t see much of him last year.”

On Sunday, Aug. 9, Caoimhe and her family moved into an apartment in Omaha. Chris readjusted to the job that brought his family to America while Caoimhe and the rest of her family settled

in. She did not know what Nebraskan culture was like or know the area in general.

“Coming to the middle of America, I did not know what to expect,” Caoimhe said. “I thought Nebraska was going to be hillbilly central. Honestly, I thought there’d be farms everywhere, but it was not what I expected at all; it was a pleasant surprise.”

Her new life at school was still very hard. She was not used to America’s education system and she did not know anyone. Over time, she was able to make friends through her classes. However, she still felt alone.

“Right now, I’ve actually made a lot of friends; I’ve settled in quite well,” Caoimhe said. “It’s a really nice feeling, but at the same time, I feel extremely isolated. People that I’ve met here are genuinely welcoming [...] it’s [just] weird thinking I’m not [in Scotland] and all my other friends are there.”

Caoimhe does see that this situation has been good for her family. Although the transition has been hard, her whole family enjoys seeing their father more often.

“Now we are all together and it’s easier to communicate,” Caoimhe said. “I used to have to go get dinner by myself and now sometimes we sit down together, which is different. And just having my dad back my brothers are happier and my sister and I are happier.”

Caoimhe also sees a change in herself. She believes that although the situation has been hard for her, it has also been very beneficial. “[This situation is] kind of crazy because it’s kind of unpredictable, but [there’s no] negative connotation to that word,” Caoimhe said. “I’m the kind of person who wants every single moment of my life planned out, and this has made be feel like it doesn’t really matter. I can just take it by day so, that’s kind of good.”

Junior Caoimhe Dunn sings during Warrior Choir on Tuesday, Oct. 20. “I just love singing,” Caoimhe said. “[...Being in choir at Westside] has made me meet a lot of people who are similar to me that love music, which is really nice.” Photo by Mitch Francis

SPORTS

13

A BOND OLD AS DIRT

Student uses dirt biking as way to bond with her family CONNOR C AST L E MA N

SPORTS EDITOR

Junior Camren Strecker poses for a picture with her dirt bike.

Strecker has been riding dirt bikes with her dad since she was little.

Photo courtesy of Camren Strecker.

As the excited 3-year-old ran down the stairs on Christmas day, the first thing she noticed was the enormous box covered in silver wrapping paper and colorful stars sitting next to the Christmas tree.

Junior Camren Strecker began to violently rip off the wrapping paper to find what was hidden inside. Once the wrapping paper was off, her head leaned over the gigantic box, and she stood there, stunned. Inside sat a small, bright green, motorized Kawasaki 50 dirt bike. This dirt bike is a small version of the actual one Strecker has today.

“When I first saw the dirt bike, I was more scared to ride it than I was excited,” Strecker said.

Strecker got into dirt biking through her father, Joel. A couple years before Strecker was born, Joel started competing in small races in his area. Once Camren was born, Joel felt compelled to share the sport that he loves with Camren.

After a couple weeks and multiple attempts of encouragement by Joel, she worked up enough courage to get on the bike for the first time.

Strecker swung her leg over the dirt bike, then her dad fired up the engine. At that moment, a mixture of anxiety and excitement ran through her body.

Then, Strecker kicked up her legs, with her dad by her side and began slowly rolling down the hill.

After a few seconds of rolling, Strecker found that she was becoming more comfortable and she let the bike pick up speed. After a few minutes of rid-

ing she her body became less tense and her face cracked a small grin. It was then, when Strecker knew she really had a love for dirt biking.

“I remember my fear of riding, slowly turning into enjoyment after I got used to the bike,” Strecker said.

As time passed, Strecker’s love for dirt biking increased with age. Strecker would travel with her dad to experience popular dirt bike races around the country.

Strecker’s long list of fun vacations includes a six-hour trip to Millville, Minnesota, and an eighthour trip to Lakewood, Colorado. But nothing can pass the top of Strecker’s list, a 22-hour trip to New Berlin, New York she took with her father in 2006.

These trips Strecker takes, let her get a chance to see the riders she admires in person.

“I really liked going on those trips because I got the opportunity to meet a lot of prolific riders like Nick Wey, Sarah Whitmore, and Malcolm Smith,” Strecker said.

Today, during the months of April through July, Strecker and her family all take the 90-minute trip up to Timber Ridge in Onawa, Iowa, where they keep their camper. They all spend their days riding their bikes on hills and over logs, and their nights grilling out, while they roast marshmallows out under the stars.

Now, when Strecker takes the trip to Iowa, she rides dirt bikes next to the rest of her family, remembering how far she’s come sense she first saw her dirt bike on Christmas day when she was three.

WRESTLING FOR HIS LIFE

Student suffers from possibly fatal muscle syndrome ST E V E N S I M O N STAFF WRITER

The door burst open as the doctor and multiple nurses hustled into the Emergency Room and toward the waiting area. The blood tests were in and the patient needed to be transported to the Intensive Care Unit immediately. Junior Bryce HarveySimi was thrust into a wheelchair and raced down the halls of Children’s Hospital. Within minutes Bryce made it to the ICU bed where nurses inserted numerous wires and tubes and began to closely monitor him. The events climaxed at this point but the cause of Bryce’s ailments occurred almost a week earlier.

On Monday, Sept. 21, during a preseason wrestling practice, Bryce participated in a series of intense workouts intended to prepare him for the upcoming wrestling season. Throughout the workout period Bryce completed about 80 pushups in total as well as a multitude of compounding strength exercises.

Later that night and for the duration of the school week, he experienced massive swelling in his arms from the shoulders down.

“My arms were swollen to the size of a baseball near my elbows,” Bryce said. “I could barely raise my arms to feed myself.”

By Friday, the swelling remained and Bryce was taken to the Emergency Room where his blood was drawn and tested. The results came back and confirmed what Kristi Harvey-Simi, Bryce’s mother, had feared. Bryce was diagnosed with Rhabdomyolysis Syndrome.

As stated by webmd.com, Rhabdomyolysis Syndrome is a syndrome in which muscular trauma results in severe damage to skeletal muscles.

The syndrome can occur from many different stimuli but in this instance the extreme muscle exertion in wrestling practice brought it upon Bryce.

Muscle fibers die during muscle damage and their contents are released into the bloodstream.

These decayed muscle fibers include Creatine Kinase, a type of protein. The kidneys are incapable of correctly filtering all waste products when large amounts of Creatine are present. According to Dr. Prashant Joshi, as a result of the intense muscular exercise Bryce did earlier in the week, his Creatine levels were 150 times normal levels.

With the Creatine levels that were in Bryce’s

blood, the situation was very serious, kidney damage was probable and kidney failure, which can result in death or require a transplant, is somewhat common. Dr. Joshi also made it clear that Bryce was in a very dangerous medical situation, but throughout his 32 hours in the ICU and four total days in the hospital, Bryce wasn’t all that worried about his health.

“Dying was not my main concern, I just didn’t want to have surgery,” Bryce said.

Kicked back in his hospital bed, he spent the long days refreshing Twitter, watching football, and catching up with concerned friends rather than worrying about the rare and possibly fatal syndrome he had developed.

On Sunday, Sept. 26, after about 32 hours in the ICU, Bryce was finally transferred out of the

ICU and had very minimal pain.

“The nurse said he was surprised that I wasn’t in excruciating pain,” Bryce said.

Due to his lack of pain, Bryce thought it unnecessary for him be admitted to the Intensive Care Unit at all. He says he wouldn’t even have gone to the hospital if it weren’t for the urging of his parents. By Sunday, after only one full day in the hospital Bryce was anxious and felt ready to return to normalcy.

Although Bryce wanted to leave on Sunday he was not released until Tuesday, Sept. 29. Bryce returned to school the following day and attended wrestling practice the following Monday, Oct. 4, merely a week after the troubled looking doctor broke the news of this life-threatening syndrome to him.

Junior Bryce Harvey-Simi poses for a picture outside Monday, Oct. 12.

Simi suffers from a condition that deteriorates his muscles due to lack of hydration. Photo by Mitch Francis

14

A&E

HOROSCOPES

Horoscopes by April Van Unen Graphics by Casey Arritt

Sagittarius 23 nov – 20 dec

Watch for a tendency to stray from the truth today as this can happen with you or to you, sometimes it’s best to stay on the fence than to make a decision. A friend may be showing an unpleasant side or something that’s miscommunicated make you uncomfortable.

Misunderstandings are very possible today.

Aries 21 mar – 19 apr

There can be some feeling of regret or guilt about not fulfilling a responsibility or a past decision. Past errors may resurface. This is not the best time to push and idea or present your face, but what comes of the thinking you do now can be significant.

Virgo 24 aug – 22 sept

There can be some wistfulness today, as you may be longing for something you cannot see a way of getting. You may also feel that someone is overstepping their boundaries today and if you feel infringed upon, even subtly, take note instead of shaking it off. This mat be a signal that you need to draw the line. Find ways to improve your health and self esteem today.

Capricorn 22 dec – 20 jan

Some of you could be concerned with a missed opportunity or a past mistake that emerges now. There can be some extra sensitivity to what’s perceived as criticism.

Once you take the time to center yourself, you may decide you’re ready to move forward.

Cancer 22 jun – 23 jul

You’re in a good position to notice things about yourself, others and situations in your life that you may not see on other days. Look for creative ways to express yourself rather than the usual or traditional routes. You may not be in agreement or seeing eye-to-eye with some people in your life now, but it’s a good time to rethink what it is you truly do want.

Try to be as productive and helpful as you can today, but if you feel others are pushing your boundaries, take care of yourself as well. Social problems might interfere with or distract you from your work. While it’s not an ideal day for solid decision-making, it’s good for letting your imagination take you to knew places.

Leo 24 jul – 23 aug

Gemini 21 may – 21 jun

You could be wrestling with your perceptions or second-guessing recent decisions. Uncertainty may not be the easiest feeling for you to manage, but if you resolve to accept that today is not the time for making final decisions or commitments, you can instead entertain possibilities that you may not consider on more practical days.

Communications may not go through the way you intend today, but then again, you may not be completely certain of what you want at this time.

There could be a vague problem with boundaries, particularly with new friends, siblings or classmates. Take note of which situations are eroding your confidence and aim to deal with these going forward.

Pisces 20 feb – 20 mar

Libra 23 sept – 22 oct

You may not be getting the feedback you want today. This is only a temporary hurdle to jump and can serve to remind you to look within yourself for happiness. Make yourself proud of your work and what you chose to do today.

Scorpio 23 oct – 22 nov

Taurus 20 apr – 20 may

It’s a good time to think about the past and take a lesson from it. If you find yourself dwelling on a past mistake or feeling guilty, find ways to forgive yourself. Let go of guilt and aim to be more attentive, this will do wonders for your mood.

Aquarius 21 jan – 19 feb

Inner restlessness can be triggered today if you are thinking about past situations too much.

While it is important to take lessons from the past, if it is disrupting your day, try to redirect your imagination to something more pleasant and productive.

There can be some uncertainty today, but what you’re examining now can lead to important discoveries, particularly in the areas of education and travel, or anything related to those things that help feed your spirit for discovery and adventure. Inner reflection is recommended for today.

SWIFT NEVER GOES OUT OF “STYLE” Singer wows crowd with new sound, special effects E L I SE T U C K E R , K A Y L A K Y L E

NEWS EDITOR, A&E EDITOR

With a mountain of glitter, lights and dancers by her side, Taylor Swift arrived in Omaha on Oct. 9 for her 1989 World Tour along with acoustic singer-songwriter Vance Joy. From country star to pop princess, Taylor’s set was what anyone would expect going to a concert from one of the biggest pop artists in the world. It was full of explosions, confetti and lights, and had everyone on their feet dancing and singing her lyrics for two hours.

Attached to each seat in the stadium was a rubber bracelet that lit up with different colors at certain times in the show. These lights would flash in each song she performed. This was useful in becoming more interactive with Taylor and helped us all stand out among the thousands of people in the room by connecting the music to the bracelets.

Even though Swift is a pop artist, her band brought rock influences to the show’s sound. With a one-minute guitar solo and more rock-inspired versions of songs such as “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” and “I Knew You Were Trouble,” Swift proved that it was more than just your average pop show.

Swift set herself apart from other pop stars by playing her own instruments such as the electric and acoustic guitar and piano. She demonstrated a raw talent that’s difficult to compare to anyone else.

In the middle of the show, Swift had a heartfelt speech about getting over the tough parts of your

life. She told the crowd to never give in to negative influences and to always think positively. This nearly brought us both to tears, along with a majority of the audience. She then launched into her emotional song “Clean” as everyone’s bracelet’s lit up with a deep blue and the whole crowd joined in on singing.

Along with performing almost the entire album of 1989, Swift took some time to sing a few songs like “Fifteen” from her previous albums. This included a mash-up of Taylor’s newest single Wildest Dreams and Enchanted, a song on her third album. She slowed both of these songs down by performing them on the piano. This was exciting for us as Enchanted is a lesser known song and we weren’t expecting to hear it on this tour.

Even though she included these few songs from past albums, we wish that she had spent more time performing other songs. As much fun as it is dancing to her explosive pop songs, it would have been nice to go back to her old acoustic songs that made us originally fall in love with her.

Each of her tours has gotten bigger and her transition into pop music made a big difference in the show production. Throughout the years, Swift’s voice has changed dramatically and has gotten much stronger along with her stage presence. She also showed incredible enthusiasm to be there despite doing 63 shows since March.

Overall, Swift brought the big city vibe of New York to Omaha. Her show was big and bold, and dazzled the crowd. Swift has proved herself as a true musician and brought a new definition to the word “pop artist.”

Taylor Swift singing her final song “Shake It Off” during her Omaha show Friday, Oct. 9. Photo by Kayla Kyle.

A&E

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Ink-redible stories Students honor their past through permanent art Story by BELLA Radler Photos by Madigan Brodsky and Mitch Francis

Left: “[My uncle] would come to all my [basketball] games and be that extra coach in my life,” senior Trae Meeks said. Below: “I got this tattoo because my mom is a big part of my life since my dad isn’t there; she’s gone through a lot so I wanted to get a tattoo of her name,” senior Arianna Bauersachs said.

Above: “[Tattoos are a good way of expressing yourself] because they show who you are; every single one of them is a story of what you’ve been through,” senior Wyleigh Tangeman said. Right: “The lady is my mom, as an angel, and she’s looking down on me,” senior Ciara Seward said. “My mom always called me her sun because she said that I lit up her world so it’s like she’s watching over it.”

Above: “I was 17 and stupid,” senior Hunter Bigge said. Right: “To me [my tattoo is] a reminder that [my grandparents] are still with me everyday and when I look at it memories come back to me,” senior April Adams said.

Left: “I thought it would be different and that it would be something unique about myself, it’s a Star of David,” junior Spencer Arnold said. “[By seeing my tattoo] you know that I am Jewish and that I am proud of it.” Below: “I got [the tattoo] to remember my dad since he died in 2003, when I was six years old,” senior Frankie Tangeman said. “It means a lot to me, because I never knew him.”

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A&E

Theater director Jeremy Stoll (left) sits down to watch the first complete run through of The Fiddler on the Roof at their 4 p.m. practice Wednesday, Oct. 7. Photo by Madigan Brodsky

BEHIND ANATEVKA play

Staff goes “behind the scenes” of recent E MMA K O R E N G E L

STAFF WRITER

It’s been a busy couple of weeks for the cast of Fiddler on the Roof. If one were to view an average rehearsal, they’d see people rushing around asking for keys to the dance shoe hoard; small clusters in seats and corners running lines; and some rushing through backstage with a myriad of props and costume pieces. Pulleys whirl as the tech crew flies in houses and ceiling beams. It can’t be easy, with some rehearsals running till 9 p.m., but it’s all part of the experience for those in production. Despite a few hiccups here and there, the crew has shown determination and commitment to the phrase “The show must go on.”

“The setbacks we’ve had so far have been mostly outside of our control,” director Jeremy Stoll said. “And a lot of it has been related to the set and the props. We’re about two weeks behind in that regard, but we will pull it together and put on an incredible show because we have talented, dedicated, good people working on it.”

Fiddler itself is the classic tale of an early 1900s village of Jews struggling with the hardships of life and the keeping of their traditions. Despite many musical options, Fiddler was ultimately used as this year’s showcase performance due to it’s many advantages.

Above: Junior Luke Esola looks on while back stage of rehearsal. Esola is part of the backstage crew for The Fiddler on the Roof. Right: Seniors Jacob Thomas and Benjamin Battafarano rehearse “Tradition” from one of the opening scenes of The Fiddler on the Roof. Photos by Mitch Francis and Madigan Brodsky

“Fiddler has a great balance of male and female roles, and lots of opportunity for solo songs and a large ensemble,” Stoll said. “It also is a classic musical, which we haven’t done in a few years and shows the value and relevance of some of the more ‘iconic’ older productions. It also provided an opportunity for the cast and crew to learn about the Jewish culture and faith, and for us to promote a culture that’s also part of our own Westside community.”

Rehearsal generally begins with some vocal warm-ups (and occasionally some dance) before taking it from the top of the show, with that obvious occasional workshop sessions. Although now that the show is in its final days, every piece of the production must be put together. “It’s stressful because we start to add technical elements, box office and ticketing elements and promotion ramps up so my job becomes two, or three or four jobs,” Stoll said. “That aspect is stressful, and I don’t have as much time to devote to the cast, which also creates some anxiety. We always pull it together, and this show will be no different.”

As a light show-tune is sung on the illuminated stage this practice night, back in the green room characters crowd around an opened script, flipping through cues. Groups in the same number rehearse steps together in ripped ponchos. The constant travel of cast members backstage and in

transitions is accompanied by reminders to “walk on your toes!” with the girls sporting rather loud character heels, which they practice in to avoid tripping. The hustle and bustle of community is in every corner of the theater.

“Every show I do, one of my favorite things is watching a group of people that didn’t know each other, and many of whom didn’t really know what theatre was all about, grow into a cast that knows, creates and depends on one another,” Stoll said.

The practice wraps up with the slow, somber march, “Anatevka,” and the second act is through.

A tired cast takes five and goes to grab drinks and rerun tricky steps in the hall. With an intercession opening, securing attendees has been a concern, but the majority of the cast, including long-time veterans, is certain they can pull it off.

“This show has been around for decades, and is still one of the most produced musicals in the country,” Stoll said. “They’re reviving it on Broadway next year. And, it has brought an understanding of Jewish culture into the mainstream. Seeing this show, you will become a part of a select group of people that shared in that experience. With this being a return to larger musicals for the school, the cast eagerly waits for the exciting adrenaline of the final days, and those rare moments where the opening chords mark the start of something truly special.

Below: Seniors Jacob Thomas and Natalie Day warm up their vocal cords before their run through of The Fiddler on the Roof, Wednesday, Oct. 7. Far Below: Juniors Audrey McMullen and Emma Chvala take part in pre rehearsal games along with the rest of the cast. Photos by Madigan Brodsky