westsidestory
[PAGES 18-19]
IOWA CITY WEST HIGH SCHOOL
2901 MELROSE AVE.
IOWA CITY, IA 52246
UPSCALE
VOLUME 43, ISSUE 2
DOWNTOWN
OCTOBER 28, 2011
WSSPAPER.COM
OF
CONTENTS
TIM YU’S GUIDE TO STYLE Tim Yu ’12 and his look-a-likes on Tim Yu Thursdays show off their skinny jeans and cardigans.
[Health 21]
POP CULTURE
The West Side Story calculates the real price of your daily soda or java fix. Check out page 21 for stats on caffeine addiction.
^^
PHOTO BY//ADAM CANADY
The WSS gets a green light to explore downtown Iowa City’s bright ideas and bright lights.
EQUITY STATEMENT It is the policy of the Iowa City Community School District not to discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, disability, or socioeconomic status in its educational programs, activities, or employment practices. If you believe you have (or your child has) been discriminated against or treated unjustly at school, please contact the Equity Director, Ross Wilburn, at 509 Dubuque Street, 319-688-1000.
COVER DESIGN BY // ANNA EGELAND COVER PHOTO BY//ADAM CANADY
[News 7]
The West Side Story explores the actual and perceived differences, and their implications, among honors, basic and regular classes.
UPSCALE DOWNTOWN
[In-depth 18&19]
[Profiles 11]
Has the Cedar Rapids post office delivered its last letter? Read all about the implications of the U.S.Postal Service in crisis.
CLASS CONSCIOUSNESS
Ever wondered about the mastermind behind Pancheros burritos or Arts fest?The West Side Story profiles influential local business owners.
BROS FOR LIFE The bro squad isn’t just
[Sports 25]
POST MORTEM
[News 4]
OCTOBER
TABLE
a soccer team, it’s a sub culture. Brobviously.
WSS STAFF MEMBERS EDITORIAL POLICY ELEANOR MARSHALL [Editor-in-Chief] ANNA EGELAND [Design Editor, In-Depth Editor] CAROLINE VAN VOORHIS [Managing Editor] JULIANN SKARDA [Copy Editor] POMBIE SILVERMAN [Copy Editor, A&E Editor] QUENTIN MISIAG [Business Editor, Circulation Manager] BRENNA DEERBERG [News Editor] AMELIA MOSER [News Editor] BLAKE OETTING [Feature Editor] SHIRLEY WANG [Feature Editor] OLIVIA LOFGREN [Profiles Editor] ASHTON DUNCAN [Columns Editor, Social Media Editor, Web Staff] DAN ROTHMAN [Editorial Editor] LEELA SATHYAPUTRI [Comics Editor, Artist] ABBIE SKEMP [Photographer] FRANK WEIRICH [Photographer] ASHLYNN YOKOM [Artist] OLIVE CARROLLHACH [Artist, Designer] ANSEL LANDINI [Writer, Designer, Web Staff] KATIE MONS [Designer] LEAH MURRAY [Designer] TYLER VOSS [Designer] ADAM CANADY [Webmaster, Photographer] HANNAH RUBLAITUS [Web Manager] ZORA HURST [Web Manager, Artist] GRANT LEONARD [Video Editor, Web Staff] SHAMIS MCGILLIN [Photo Editor for the Web] FATIMA JAYOMA [Web Staff] NATHAN PETERSON [Staff] SARA JANE WHITTAKER [Adviser]
A full copy of the Editorial Policy is available in room 111. The West Side Story reflects the views of the staff and does not represent the school administration, faculty, or student body. Guest articles may be accepted to represent an additional point of view or as part of a collection of reader contributions. The staff will carefully scrutinize all reader submissions. All ads are subject to approval by the business staff. Those that are libelous, obscene or plainly offensive may be rejected. The West Side Story attempts to publish all letters, which must be signed, to the Editors, but may reject submissions due to space limitations, inaccuracy or poor quality. It is the responsibility of the opinion editor to verify authorship. Editors can make minor edits for the sake of clarity, length and grammatical correctness.
The West Side Story staff would like to dedicate Volume 43 to former Sports Editor Caroline Found.
TEACHERS IN POLITICS
PAGE DESIGN BY//BRENNA DEERBERG
PHOTOS BY//ABBIE SKEMP
JP CLAUSSEN BY ANSEL LANDINI
ansel.landini@wsspaper.com To stay deeply involved in politics, a person must have time, efficiency, progressiveness and a fair amount of open-mindedness. JP Claussen, past president of the Iowa City Education Association (our teacher’s union) and teacher of Special Education and Government at West, has all of the above and a plethora of ideas that make him stick out in the sometimes muddy world of politics. Staying involved in politics can seem tricky for some, but for Claussen it has become his daily life. Whether he’s knocking on doors, sending phone calls, or just reading the newspaper, he is always avid. Particularly important for Claussen is Branstad’s new bill of education, One UnshakableVision. “[The bill] is an issue I need to stay up on, it sounds good; every third grader will learn to read, but then suddenly they all have to take a reading test just to pass,” said Claussen. In the classroom Claussen remains politically neutral, but he pushes students to become politically active in their lives. “We need Civic Engagement. Students should be ready to be participants in our community, not just going and voting, but running,” Claussen said. Where there’s a debate Claussen will always know about it, whether he’s lobbying down in Des Moines, or simply attending PSTO meetings around town. “We have to pay attention and be ready when the time comes to say ‘hey, This is what we need to do’,” Claussen said.
MITCH GROSS
BY AMELIA MOSER
amelia.moser@wsspaper.com Come November, a handful of people will be chosen to lead our community, state and country. People elected by their fellow citizens choose to spend their time doing what they can to better the lives of those around them. Mitch Gross, an AP U.S. History teacher at West, is seeking to continue just such public service. Gross is running for re-election to Coralville’s City Council. “I think city council is a good way for people to give back to their community,” Gross said. When Gross successfully ran four years ago, he promised to run for a second term. True to his word, Gross is now vying for one of two open seats out of five total council positions. City councils propose and pass ordinances, taking care of things like public libraries, budgets and parks, as well as addressing other issues. “I’d been in office five months when the floods came. … [I’ve been working hard] to get Coralville completely protected,” Gross said. The council has had some success in that regard. They have secured $30 million for flood mitigation from the state and federal governments. Along with continuing to try to help Coralville recover completely from the flood, Gross said one of his goals is “making government more accessible to people” through meetings he calls “Coffee with a councilman” forums, held at Coralville coffee shops like Starbucks or Caribou Coffee. Here people can express concerns they have, and be more involved with the governing of their community. Elections will be held on Nov. 8.
GARY NEUZIL
BY JULIANN SKARDA
juliann.skarda@wsspaper.com Gary Neuzil is dedicated to helping students become informed about politics. By teaching them to inform themselves. “If you are ill-informed, then by voting poorly or not voting, you are writing a blank check that could be subject to abuse… politics can be deathly boring until you understand how it works,” said Neuzil. Though Neuzil’s brother, Terrence Neuzil, is currently a Johnson County Supervisor, Neuzil will only discuss past elections with his classes, never current ones. He believes that his own experience should not influence students’ decision making. “I want to give students the opportunities to inform themselves. I don’t think the party matters as long as the student has the information to support their beliefs,” Neuzil said. Political discussions take place as frequently in his sociology and psychology classes as they do in his government class. “Politics is people trying to convince other people to agree with them, whether it’s voting, donating money or putting signs in their yards. Politics is just people,” Neuzil said. Neuzil reminds students that local government holds equal importance to national government. “Students would be surprised how much of a difference they can make if they become informed,” Neuzil said.
THESE HAUNT-LARIOUS HALLOWEEN JOKES ARE SURE TO LIFT YOUR SPIRITS!
03 NEWS
PAGE DESIGN BY//AMELIA MOSER
PHOTO BY//ABBIE SKEMP
BY ELEANOR MARSHALL eleanor.marshall@wsspaper.com
Right up there with ice cream trucks, U.S. Post Office vans are a fixture of the American landscape, and we count on our mail carriers’ daily deliveries. Proud of its dependability, the Post Office ran a commercial in 2001 stating: “Neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor gloom of night, nor the winds of change, nor a nation challenged, will stay us from the swift completion of our appointed rounds. Ever.” But as the snow begins to fall this year, the post office is treading on thin ice – the national Postal Service faces a $20 billion debt, and was saved from defaulting on its payment due Sept. 30 by a last-minute extension from Congress. The Cedar Rapids mail processing and distribution center, which handles most local mail, faces possible consolidation with a center 94 miles away in Milan, IL. The Postal Service could lose the funds for operation as early as this winter if the stalemate between Congress and the Postal Service continues. According to Dan Skemp, president of the American Postal Workers Union of the Rapid Area Local 166 centered in Cedar Rapids, there are up to 200 jobs on the line, along with higher costs for local businesses with large-volume mailings, associated with the potential consolidation of the Cedar Rapids plant. Skemp said Postmaster General Patrick Donahue is advocating relaxing national service standards – meaning 04 NEWS
what was once overnight mail could take days to reach its destination – which would open the door for consolidation with centers miles away, a move Skemp opposes. “It’s a huge deal for small business to get mail every day. People who do garbage collection in rural areas or local plumbers rely on checks coming in daily. Small businesses are not always set up to take online payments, some are not even set up to take credit card payments. People rely on getting their medicine in a timely fashion,” he said. According to a recent U.S. Postal Service press release, the agency’s financial woes began in 2006 with the passage of the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act, which established the Postal Service Retiree Health Benefits Fund, requiring the Postal Service to pay a $5.5 billion tax each year for ten years to fund retirees 75 years later, ending a pay-as-you-go approach to retiree health care costs.The report claims that over the last four years the Post Office brought in $611 million more than its costs, before counting the $21 billion paid into the Health Fund – ending with the $20 billion deficit it now faces. “No one else has to do that, no public or private business. …The post office didn’t cause this mess, Congress did. The post office has dropped 120,000 people in workforce in last 20 years, cut almost 20%, and our productivity has gone up and our mail delivery services have gotten better. We’re a leaner and a better corporation overall. If we were a private company, we’d be on the
WHAT IS A GOBLIN’S FAVORITE DRINK?
front cover of Forbes, but now people think we’re broke and we’re not,” he said. Skemp helped organize a rally along with 5,000 other post offices across the nation on Sept. 27 to demonstrate for a repeal of the tax for the health benefits fund. At the height of the rally, around 120 people gathered at the Cedar Rapids post office. Other Congressional proposals for getting the post office back in the black include eliminating Saturday delivery, closing up to 3,700 post offices, reducing the postal workforce by up to 120,000 employees or closing up to 300 processing plants like the one in Cedar Rapids. Not all Congresspeople are as ready to blame the 2006 reforms – some say the struggling agency is simply facing a reduced volume of mail, signaling a changing times, as more people pay bills and order items online – an evolution, they say, the post office will have to adjust to. Skemp acknowledges the impact of technological progress, but argues that the economy, not the Internet, is the main culprit behind declining mail volume since 2007. He said that although first class mail (letter-sized envelopes) has been steadily declining and is unlikely to reach pre-2007 peaks, there will always be a need for mail carriers. “Somebody has to deliver all the packages they order online. … [Besides], there is still a large portion of this country that doesn’t have Internet, a lot of rural communities and economically disadvantaged people don’t have
ART BY//ASHLYNN YOKOM access to the technology they would need to bypass the Postal Service. … I don’t think the need will be as great, but there will most definitely always be a need for the post office,” he said. And a need for the U.S. Postal Service in particular, according to Skemp, who says that a private mail delivery company would have no motivation to deliver to every house in the nation every day for the same low cost. “You can mail a letter from the Florida Keys to Alaska for 44 cents, and that’s pretty amazing,” he said.
WHAT IN THE WORLD RUMOR PAGE DESIGN BY//BRENNA DEERBERG
[Tennessee]
[Slovenia]
Two Tennessee women were arrested for art theft after swiping two pieces of art from an Arby’s restaurant entrance.
[Texas]
A man in Texas was found guilty for aggravated assault for a home invasion where he was shot three times by homeowners and police. None of his injuries were life threatening.
[Germany]
In Germany, a team of biochemists created MyMicrobes.com. For $2,000, a person can have their gutbacteria sequenced, and then be matched with people sharing similar bacteria.
In Slovenia, a woman claimed to have created a hybrid out of herself and a horse. After injecting herself with horse blood, she drew her own “hybrid” blood and had it frozen for future research.
COMPILED BY// BRENNA DEERBERG ART BY// ASHLYNN YOKOM
New spotlight on the arts BY QUENTIN MISIAG
quentin.misiag@wsspaper.com For generations, the Iowa City community has hosted a wealth of cultural opportunities and celebrations. This past August, a new performing arts space in Coralville opened its doors, garnering extensive community interest in a city that is certainly no stranger to growth. The new Coralville Center for the Performing Arts (CCPA) has received mostly positive reviews. The theater was designed to fill an incrementally essential niche for the city, and has been in the planning stages for more than ten years. Located on the corner of 5th Street and 12th Avenue, the theater is situated in the heart of a mixed-use development dubbed Plaza on 5th. The main centerpiece of the new performing arts center is the $11.4 million Jim L. Fausett Theater, named after the city’s mayor. The theater itself seats a modest 472, noticeably smaller than downtown Iowa City’s historical Englert Theatre (725) and as West High’s Main Auditorium (800). With one look at the Plaza on 5th complex, you can tell almost immediately that it is different than other area event center. The primary purpose of the CCPA is as a rental facility, open to theater groups, weddings, graduation parties, dance concerts and more. Its clos-
PHOTO USED WITH PERMISSION FROM// NANCY MAYFIELD
BUSTER NO MORE WALL OF FAME?
Some students have become wondered that they, unlike their predecessors, will not be given the opportunity to become part of West High’s Wall of Fame. West’s principal, Dr. Jerry Arganbright, says not to worry. “We’re going to add to it on the other side [of the hallway],” Arganbright said. Lockers weren’t necessarily desired on the opposing side of the hallway anyway, but in such a heavily-populated school they were necessary. Since other lockers have been added throughout the school, the school was able to move ones from the hallway with the Wall of Fame and add to the monument in their stead.
BUSTED ABOVE: A rendering of the new Coralville Center for the Performing Arts. The new theatre can hold up to 472 audiance members. est rival in size is none other than the chestra, Jason Reeves, OK Go, The Englert Theatre, a defining staple in Second City Acting Company and Aasif the Iowa City area for decades. Nancy Mandvi from The Daily Show with Jon Mayfield, the Patron Services Supervi- Stewart. The city of Coralville’s new sor for CCPA said the main reason for theatre is geared primarily towards the theater size “was the need for com- local musicals, recitals and ensembles. munity events. Our mission, like the Since opening in August, the CCPA Englert’s, is to serve our community. has already held local productions of Because this area is so culturally rich, Hairspray and will host The Rocky Horror there will always be organizations seek- Show both produced by The City Circle ing a space for public assembly; we are Acting Company of Coralville. While fortunate to live in an area with such the Englert Theatre has been restored diverse performance opportunities and to its 1920s grandeur, the CCPA illusvenues. “ trates clean and contemporary design, Although sharing a common purpose, and has seemingly less intricacy and dethe two venues couldn’t be more dif- tail. None the less, the center’s calenferent. Since reopening in 2004, the dar has quickly begun to fill with an arEnglert Theatre has hosted a wealth ray of reservations. Time will tell if this of local, regional and national shows, new center becomes a true landmark. including the New Orleans Jazz Or-
CAUGHT ON CAMERA IN THE PARKING LOT? No one likes getting a ticket – so are the cameras in the parking lots always on? Arganbright said that if something ever happens in the parking lot, “it’s always on [the tape].” While there isn’t someone actively watching the tapes at every moment, the cameras are always on and recording. So before students choose to park in the teachers’ lot the day they’re late for class, they should remember that the cameras are watching.
CONFIRMED
COMPILED BY// BRENNA DEERBERG ANSWER: GHOUL-AID
05 NEWS
PAGE DESIGN BY//CAROLINE VAN VOORHIS
History happening daily with new club BY AMELIA MOSER
amelia.moser@wsspaper.com In almost every high school history class, there are some limits. There are rules that restrict the content learned, requiring students to read out of textbooks, rather than only primary documents. One of West’s new clubs, History Day, removes these limitations by allowing participants access to primary documents and materials they may not have worked with otherwise. History Day is a club revolving around individual and small groups of students working on one of five projects: a research paper, an exhibit, a performance, a documentary or a website falling under the broad topic of “Revolution, Reaction and Reform in History.” Projects are to be analyzed and scored by judges at the district, state and national levels, starting in March 2012.
Students are inspired and excited by a variety of topics, leading them to choose different things. Jingyun (Jinny) Guo ’12 chose to make an exhibit about the reform of the treatment of mentally ill patients. “I decided on an exhibit because ... you get to personally create and design its parts, so I feel there is a lot more room for creativity compared to the other options...I enjoy the challenge,” Guo said. Gary Neuzil is co-sponsoring the club along with Dr. Bruce Fehn, a professor at the University of Iowa. “We’re making this up as we go, but we want to make it fun,” Neuzil said. While this is a program that has been established at the national level for some time, it is brand new to West. PHOTO BY// FRANK WEIRICH Any students that are interested in History Day are welcome to talk While casually discussing Latin American dictatorships, Jingyun Guo ’12, to Neuzil in room 225. Doaa Elgaali ’12, Adam Millers ’12 and Joe Henderson ’12 debate their opinions, carrying on the National History Day spirit.
Snitching on quidditch group
BY HANNAH RUBLAITUS
PHOTO BY// ADAM CANADY
Carly Stamnes ’14 and Kate Noel ’14 “fly” through the air while playing the magical sport of Quidditch at Willow Creek Park. The new club meets Thursdays after school in room 109 and practices on Sunday afternoons. 06 NEWS
WHAT DID THE SKELETON SAY TO THE VAMPIRE?
hannah.rublaitus@wsspaper.com Now that the Harry Potter series has finally come to a sad close, many fans have fallen into a deep post-magic depression. Then, out of nowhere, broomsticks began to invade the atmosphere of Willow Creek Park and West High Potter fans united to create the first ever West High Quidditch Club. Quidditch is a fictional sport created by JK Rowling in the internationally acclaimed Harry Potter fantasy series. Colleges and high schools all over the country, including Harvard and the University of Iowa, have started to form Quidditch clubs to continue teenagers’ love for Harry Potter. There is even an International Quidditch Association which, according to their website, “is a magical nonprofit dedicated to promoting the sport of Quidditch and inspiring young people to lead physically active and socially engaged lives.” Sophie McClathchey ’14 is one of the co-founders of West’s Quidditch Club. “My sister, Emma McClatchey ’11, joined the University of Iowa Quidditch team and I saw the light at the end of the tunnel,” McClatchey said. Quidditch in the muggle (non magi-
cal) world is a bit different from the magical version in the books. Each team has seven players: one keeper, one seeker, three chasers and two beaters. Chasers try to score by throwing a volleyball in place of a quaffle into one of three hula hoops. A keeper is the goalie of the game. His or her job is to defend his or her team’s hoops from chasers. While chasers attempt to score for their team, the beaters throw kick balls (in place of bludgers) to try to stop the chasers from scoring. While all this magical madness is taking place on broomsticks, the seeker hunts down the golden snitch, which, in muggle terms, is a person who runs around with a golden sock sticking out of his or her pants which the seeker must retrieve (like flag football). If the golden snitch is caught, the team earns 50 points and ends the game. The team with the most points wins. “The club is 9 3/4% magical and growing as we develop more as a team,” Sophie said.
WWW.WSSPAPER.COM Log on for exclusive video coverage.
PAGE DESIGN BY//KATIE MONS
Class consciousness BY ELEANOR MARSHALL AND JULIANN SKARDA
their peers, particularly as colleges become more selective. “If you have a 4.0 and a 36 on the ACT but you decide to go to [the University of] Iowa you’re labeled as not smart,” she said, saying that she knows extremely intelligent but underestimated students currently attending the University of Iowa, and that some of her competitive peers overlook the financial component of choosing a college – focusing on the prestige. Government teacher Brady Shutt said he hasn’t noticed a sharp increase in the competition among students this year, but that he has seen a growing trend of kids taking on full schedules and independent studying AP tests beyond the bell, without spending enough time studying the simple components of a full life. “I worry about the balance in their lives. It’s really fundamental things: are you happy? Are you sleeping and eating on some semblance of a regular schedule? Do you have a really great group of friends? All of those things make a person creative and excel in endeavors,” he said, encouraging students to take time for Wellness Wednesday yoga or a walk outside. Shutt added that AP and honors teachers are also seeking balance in
SURVEY RESULTS
Do you feel that students in mostly regular classes and students in mostly honors classes become socially separated?
In a school like West, you’re lucky if you can even walk through the hallways, let alone know who you’re walking next to. But step into the classroom, and chances are you see the same faces you saw last period. Why, in a school of nearly 2,000, do we sometimes find ourselves surrounded by the same students - and unaware of others - based on the classes we take? Some students pursue the extremes of elite achievement, often in competition with other others seeking to be in the top tier of academics. Erica Segre ’12 calls this social sphere the “AP community” – and Katie Lew ’12 explains that the students themselves, more than teachers or parents, drive the competitive atmosphere. “[The AP community] affects a very small portion of the school, but when you’re in that group it feels like it’s the whole school. … [There is pressure to achieve] in the sense of what classes you take. Even if you don’t like the class you’re supposed to be in AP. … You take on more than you can handle. You’re always competing,” Lew said. She describes how even students with great academic records feel obligated to take on more and more to outdo
How many honors, AP or university classes are you in?
ART BY// ASHLYNN YOKOM
how much they can push their students – and want to provide them with an opportunity to do learning they’re genuinely interested in– citing extracurriculars like F-cubed. “I can honestly say that I’ve made some of my best friends in AP or honor classes, due to the fact that we could relate over our interest for the subject. Again, honors and AP do move faster and go more in-depth, so the atmosphere can often become stressful and competitive, but the way I look at it, that’s a hugely relevant life lesson. Our world population isn’t growing any smaller, so we have to learn how to be competitive creatures anyway. AP and honors just gives me a leg up,” said Ruchira Laroia ’12 of her class choices. Aurora Green ’13 makes many of her friends in other ways – taking on art and computer science instead of multiple AP’s. “I … like being involved in art because I can meet people who are just as or even more driven than me and learn from their strengths. In some ways, yes, I feel like there is some separation but sometimes it can be good to surround yourself with people who work at a similar pace. … On the flipside, I
like taking some regular and elective classes in areas I’m not as strong in so that I can interact with my other classmates,” Green said. Principal Jerry Arganbright goes out of his way to recognize West’s diverse classes and extracurriculars –making sure students know that their involvement is valued. He said his first priority is academic achievement. “We want to reach the highest level we can help students achieve. But we want to not be selective in that statement. … I think I do [get too competitive]. I wouldn’t call it competitive, I would call it passion. I don’t think it’s bad. … [But] I think there is pressure in this building,” Arganbright said. Ultimately, whichever side students fall on, they shouldn’t continue to mind the gap, Green said, factoring more than just two letters into their class choices or trying things outside West’s walls just because they want to - and opening their diverse experiences to people they haven’t met before. Maybe even walk into a classroom and learn new names.
Do you feel personally included in the awards West High receives as a school?
Please rank the following in the order you feel they are valued by West High school’s administration and teaching staff, with one being the highest priority and five being the lowest.
6 7 8 1.5% 0.7% 0.6%
high quality extracurricular opportunities
5 3.9% 4 5.3%
0 48.4%
2 14.5%
somewhat separated 55.7
1 17.5%
Total: 1,059 students
not sure 12%
%
not at all 25.4%
3 7.9%
a ac thl h e m iev tic 9. emt e1
5.7%
not included 33.5%
completely separated 6.9%
Total: 1,091 students
completely included 14.8%
Total: 1,066 students
creating a safe and supportive school environment
somewhat included 51.7%
14.6%
equal educational opportunities for all students
13.3%
high academic achievement 57.3%
Total: 1,045 students
ANSWER: YOU SUCK.
07 NEWS
step
1
step
2
PAGE DESIGN BY//SHIRLEY WANG
ART BY// ASHLYNN YOKOM
Just three weeks ago, West High students ages 16 and up had the chance to donate a pint of blood. The event was hosted by the DeGowin Blood Center in order to collect blood for patients at the UI Hospitals and Clinics. Members of West could actively participate in their donation through the paperwork, finger prick and 10 minutes in a chair and the juice and snakes that followed. But when the donors left the band wing, onetenth to one-twelfth of their total blood volume took an entirely different route. Let’s follow it back to the heart of blood donation. COMPILED BY// JULIANN SKARDA
BLEEDING GREEN AND GOLD: On Oct. 4 and 5, the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics set up equipment in the auditorium lobby. Over two days, over 50 students donated blood.
HOW TO
GET
INVOLVED
3 step 4 step 5 step
According to the UI DeGowin Blood Center, 57 West students registered to donate and 45 pints of blood were collected. The donation process took about an hour per donor, with only ten minutes for the actual blood collection. “It’s an easy way to be a good person, and, for me, it just makes me feel good knowing I helped somebody out. I was a little freaked out right before the needle went in, but other than that it was fun,” said Sarahann Kolder ’13, a recent donor. The pint of blood that was taken, along with several small tubes for testing purposes, are stored in iced coolers during transportation. Upon arrival, the donated blood is scanned into a computer database. “The database allows every unit to be associated with a person,” said Paula Dayton, Donor Recruitment Coordinator at the UI DeGowin Blood Center. Most blood is then spun and separated into plasma, red blood cells and platelets. One dozen tests are performed for each unit of blood to test for infectious diseases and blood type. Rejected blood is discarded. “A very small percentage [is rejected],” Dayton said. Accepted units, suitable for transfusion are stored. Red blood cells can be stored for up to 42 days, platelets can be stored for five days and plasma can be frozen for up to one year. Whole blood donation can be repeated every 56 days and platelets or plasma can be donated one to two times per week. “I have always wanted to give blood and this was the first year I was old enough. It’s something simple I can do to help others. I definitely will be doing it next year,” said Roisin Welch ’13.
Go to 1. 2. Call (319) 356- 3. givelife.org to regis-
ter online to donate blood to the University of Iowa Hospital.
2058 to set up
an appointment with the Degowin Blood Center at the University of Iowa Hospital.
Check out ui-
healthcare.org for
upcoming local blood drives around Iowa City and Coralville.
COMPILED BY// SHIRLEY WANG
PHOTO BY// ABBIE SKEMP 08 FEATURE
WHY DID DRACULA TAKE COLD MEDICINE?
#lovenohate An anonymous twitter account called linn_marhoes popped up on news feeds across Iowa, tweeting vulgar comments about female students of Linn Mar High School. Similar accounts with similar tweets popped up. Most of the profiles have since been deleted, but one account remains with one notable difference: west_ highhoes. The creator of this profile tweets anonymous compliments, rather than insults, at girls at West High, and the student behind it all agreed to an anonymous interview with the WSS. WSSPaper: @west_highhoes What made you come up with this twitter feed? West_HighHoes: @wsspaper I saw Linn_marhoes and I have friends who got tweeted at. I realized how hurt they were. I wanted to go against that and stand up against cyberbullying. WSSPaper: @west_highhoes Why “hoes” if you tweet compliments? West_HighHoes: @wsspaper I feel like the word “hoe” is used in such a negative way. I wanted to try and revamp the word and use it in a nicer sense through complimenting others. WSSPaper: @west_highhoes What do you want the message of this to be? West_HighHoes: @wsspaper A compliment a day is more likely to be passed on from person to person. I want to help boost people’s confidence. #lovenohate WSSPaper: @west_highhoes Who do you tweet at? West_HighHoes: @wsspaper All girls, no restrictions. I tend to tweet more to the juniors and seniors since I have that age group in my classes. Everyone is special in their own way. WSSPaper: @west_highhoes Were you afraid that having this twitter feed would get you in trouble? West_HighHoes: @wsspaper I was a little scared, because people would see the name and think that it would be something bad. I started tweeting nice things and using the #lovenohate right away so people would realize it wasn’t a bad comment. WSSPaper: @west_highhoes Do you hear people talk about it around you? West_HighHoes: @wsspaper I always hear good things about it in my classes and hallways - especially recently. People always wonder who I am. But it isn’t important for people to know who I am. I’m glad I can just make people’s days. By doing that, I accomplish my goal. WSSPaper: @west_highhoes How long do you want to remain anonymous for? West_HighHoes: @wsspaper I’d prefer to always remain anonymous. Maybe tell people my senior year….whenever that might be. WSSPaper: @west_highhoes Anything else you would like to say? West_HighHoes: @wsspaper I want everyone to feel how good it feels to get a compliment. It makes a huge difference. Compliments can affect people and boost their confidence. By loving people, and not hating them, it can change you as a person. #lovenohate COMPILED BY// OLIVIA LOFGREN
PAGE PAGEDESIGN DESIGNBY//SHIRLEY BY//SHIRLEYWANG WANG
Sweet Tweets from west_highhoes Kathleen Bowman ’12 Tweet:@Kathleenbow you are so dang nice and always there when people need you, do your thang girl<3 #lovenohate Reaction: “I was so excited to get tweeted at by West High Hoes. I think it’s cool that people at our school are so nice and I hope they keep it up.” Natalie Paul ’12 Tweet:@nataliepaul17 you have one of the biggest hearts in the world, I admire you so much for always being yourself no matter what. #lovenohate Reaction: “I was extremely flattered that someone thinks that about me. It’s really cool that they notice what we do and that they’re letting us know that we’re all cool and have something to offer. Who doesn’t love compliments?” Danielle Chelf ’12 Tweet: @DanielleChelf you are so freaking beautiful on the inside and out, you’re one of the strongest people there are. Don’t ever dull your shine Reaction: “I couldn’t stop smiling. I never really thought people thought of me that way and didn’t know I was portrayed that way at all.” Adrienne Jensen ’14 Tweet: @TweetienneJ09 you have been through soo much... And you still manage to keep that beautiful smile on! And ur a stud at tennis. :)
#respect Reaction: “The West High Hoes tweeter certainly brightened up my day and made me even more appreciative of the support system we all have here at West.” COMPILED BY// CAROLINE VAN VOORHIS ANSWER: BECAUSE OF THE COFFIN.
09 FEATURE
Halloweens past PAGE DESIGN BY//TYLER VOSS
COMPILED BY// BLAKE OETTING & SHIRLEY WANG
Remember when your mom bought your halloween costume and asking strangers for candy was socially acceptable? Those were the days. Luckily, the cute costumes were caught on camera and are back to haunt current West High students.
Clownin’ around: Maggie Taylor ’15 always knew she was destined to be a clown. “I really liked the rainbow hair that I got to wear,” said Taylor.
What A strong man!: “It had something to do with we were cleaning out our basement and we found a really strange looking outfit and we decided I would wear it,” said Elliot Young ’14. Magical Times: “I was a fairy princess because it was pink and awesome and my fairy wand sung ‘It’s a Small World,’” said Abbey Lawrence ’14.
Cat Power: “I dressed up as a power ranger because I thought back then that the Power Rangers could really use an Asian man,” said Hahn Lee ’12. “I dressed as the white cat with the pink from the Disney movie The Artistocrats. Best movie ever,” said Sal Lee ’13. 10 FEATURE
WHAT IS A VAMPIRE’S FAVORITE HOLIDAY?
Flying High: “I was Superman because everyone wanted to be a superhero when they were younger and Superman was the best,” said Rob Grady ’12., pictured above.
Halloween is a Drag: “Ben is an evil purple-haired witch and I am a foxy prostitute with a big chest. We thought that we would make rather attractive women,” said Adam Dellos ’14 about the Halloween costumes he and his twin brother Ben Dellos ’14 wore.
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Tim Yu's guide to style Ever feel out of the fashion loop? Not up-to-date on recent fashion trends? Simply feel that your wardrobe needs some polishing? Well, worry not West High. You don’t need to travel to New York, Los Angeles or Paris to see how to dress well. Simply search for Tim Yu ’12 in the hallways. The West Side Story caught up with this West High fashion icon to pick his brain on the latest and greatest.
PAGE DESIGN BY//BLAKE OETTING
“The green bracelet I bought from a vendor in China. ... The blue bracelet I got from my Toms, it was free with the shoes.”
“These are Bucks by Bass, I like these because they’re comfy and easy to slip on. It’s a relaxed look.”
PHOTOS BY//ABBIE SKEMP
“I like this look because it is quite traditional but it has small details like the slim tie and the tie clip is modern. I got the tie clip from www.tiebar.com. The cardigan is from Urban Outfitters, the shirt is from Polo.” “The v-neck I got from American Apparel. Also, everyone should buy some Toms. It’s a good cause.”
“These are my tassled loafers, they’re Cole Hann. This is a very traditional look, I think every guy should invest in a good tassled loafer.”
“These shoes are Polo penny loafers, but I got them off Ebay for half the price, they’re really comfy and versatile.”
Yu likes to shop at J. Crew, Polo, Urban Outfitters, H&M, and Rugby. COMPILED BY//BLAKE OETTING ANSWER: FANSGIVING
11 FEATURE
Delicious. Independent. Frozen Yogurt. [YotopiaIowaCity]
Find us on
Mention West Side Story & save 10% (now through Nov. 30) Yotopia Frozen Yogurt Iowa City, Iowa 132 S. Clinton St.(next to Active Endeavors on the Pedestrian Mall)
PAGE DESIGN BY//OLIVIA LOFGREN
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Photo by// Adam Canady
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“I was born in Manhattan, Kansas. I still have family [on my father’s side] that live around that area.”
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“Salmon is my favorite entrée. I try to eat salmon at least once a week.”
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“I was in the boys Glee club. I tried to have a well-rounded high school experience. My favorite song we did was ‘They Call the Wind Mariah’.”
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“I married my high school girlfriend. I met Glenda in high school and we hung out through high school. I got married while I was in college. She has tolerated me since then.”
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“I used to teach history in Nebraska. I taught ninth grade history in a junior high. It was a seven, eight, nine building for seven years. I still know many [of my old] students.”
“I try to run four miles every day. [I run] every night after work when I can find time. I try to stay healthy and not develop into a slug.”
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“I climbed the Great Wall in China. I went to Sian in China with some friends from the University. When I was there it was 106 degrees.”
“I coached tennis and gymnastics. I helped coach “I met George Bush Sr. when I was a ninth grade when he was president. “I played trumpet [in band] and teacher. I knew enough about [He] came to Iowa City still to this day enjoy listening to tennis to be dangerous. I was and I was invited to a function. I a good trumpet player.” an assistant gymnastics coach because they needed someone.” met him at the Athletic Club.”
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COMPILED BY //BRENNA DEERBERG
ANSWER: IN THE SCAROLINAS.
13 PROFILES
PAGE DESIGN BY//OLIVIA LOFGREN
Beauty and the Beast
Theatre West will be presenting Beauty and the Beast this fall
Meet Belle: BY HANNAH RUBLAITUS
“because they are so French.” Another one of her favorite “characters,” is a running joke between cast members, named Horatio. Horatio has has become somewhat of a mascot for the musical. ‘He’ is a green rolling chair that is falling apart used to roll around such characters as Belle and Chip during rehearsals. “... Even though he is just a prop that won’t be in the show, he is so classy and full of character,” Bassuk said. Come see Bassuk in the musical Thursday, Dec. 1 and Friday, Dec. 2 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 3 at 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Meet Beast: BY ANSEL LANDINI
than excited. The character is loud, already a strong suit for Fortmann. However, using his high volume for intimidation and enraged roaring doesn’t come quite as naturally. Though he hasn’t seen the film since his sophomore year, Fortmann isn’t concerned with brushing up on the old interpretation because of the plays stark differences from the film. “I don’t want to completely emulate the [film] Beast, I want to make it my own so I’m not just like everyone who’s played it before me,” Fortmann said. Rehearsals are just starting to intensify for the cast, and stage traditions are already forming. “I have a habit of yelling ‘Activating Beast mode!’ and swarming on stage,” Fortmann said. Without spoiling too much about the play, Fortmann shared a few things that he is looking forward to, including sporting claws, horns and a cape. “I’m getting a cape, which I will swirl myself into as the master of darkness,” Fortmann said Fortmann shared that he was motivated to try out for the play not only by his love for theater and this specific film and play, but by the opportunity to push Emerson Grow ’12, playing Gaston, off a roof. But never fear, he knows exactly how the scene is going to play out. “I imagine there will be a roof and we’ll be standing on it, and then he won’t be,” Fortmann said. As always Theatre West is sure to bring spectators flocking. “Also, any of my admirers are welcome to bring chocolate and flowers, or jelly beans... especially jelly beans,” Fortmann said.
hannah.rublaitus@wsspaper.com ansel.landini@wsspaper.com aya Bassuk’14: “Strange, but nfortunately, a pair of scisSpecial.” sors isn’t going to save the “Be Our Guest,” as we interprince from this fiasco. In view sophomore Maya Bassuk who will fact, the key to shedding all that fur be portraying the role of Belle in the fall might be a flower and a girl named production of the Disney musical, Beauty Belle - or so the story goes. On the and the Beast. path to humanity, Josh Fortmann Bassuk chose to audition for the musical ’12, is going to have to do a lot more because she loves to sing, dance and act than just trim his split ends. and “had a blast in the musical last year.” Fortmann plays the Beast in TheBassuk participated in Guys and Dolls atre West’s upcoming show of last year, performing the role of one of Beauty and the Beast, and he is more Adelaide’s Hot Box Dolls. Bassuk is also involved in Showtime show choir. She was the only freshman last year from West High to make the All State chorus and will be singing in it again this November. Like Belle, Bassuk loves to read and believes “that what’s on the inside is more important than someone’s appearance.” When asked if she would ever live in an enchanted castle, such as Belle did, she instantly replied, “Heck yeah!” She also said, as Belle, that living with a Beast isn’t as bad as Gaston makes it seem. “Once you get used to the constant roaring and chest pounding, [it] can actually be quite pleasant.” “[My] favorite song [in the musical] is Be Our Guest, because it’s such an exciting dance number and I love the chorus part,” Bassuk said. Bassuk’s favorite characters include Mrs. Potts (Alexa Kramer ’13), “because people always randomly yell out her name,” The Wardrobe (Hannah Rublaitus ’12), “because she has so many lovely articles of clothing in her many drawers,” and the romantic couple of Lumiere (Sam O’Brien ’12) During rehersal, Maya Bassuk ’14 and Josh Fortmann ’12 practice their lead lines. and Babette (Cami Hippee ’13)
M
14 PROFILES
WHO WAS THE BEST DANCER AT THE HALLOWEEN PARTY?
U
PHOTO BY//FRANK WEIRICH
On the way to All-State
P.O.S.
PAGE DESIGN BY//POMBIE SILVERMAN
PHOTO BY//FRANK WIERICH
Of the month
1992 Jeep Cherokee
Claire Hird ’13
ABOVE: Singers Brittany Todd ’13, Paul Ross ’13, Bryn Hedlund ’12 and Rob Nelsen ’14 practice after school.
BY POMBIE SILVERMAN pombie.silverman@wsspaper.com
Andrew Altmaier ’12 enters the Fairfield High school gym nervously on a cold Saturday morning, cello clasped in his sweaty palms. Although thoroughly prepared for his All-State Orchestra audition, Altmaier can’t help but shake in anxiety. Despite three successful auditions, Altmaier enters as though he is on trial: he’s that nervous. “I try to remind myself that I got in for the past three years, so I have a pretty good chance [of making it],” Altmaier said. “I try to pump myself up with overconfidence and not think too much about [auditions], but just instead enter it like it’s a practice.”
COMPLETE THE
LYRICS
with Scott Jespersen
Today is All-State auditions. Surrounding him are several hundred fellow high school musicians packed like sardines in the crowded room with a similar mindset. Students are playing cards, strenuously practicing their audition pieces, facing a wall, listening to their iPod, doing just about anything to appear calm. “When you enter [the gymnasium], there’s a lot going on and a lot of tension in the air. It’s kind of like a gypsy camp, people are camped out everywhere doing their own thing,” said Altmaier. Bryn Hedlund ’12, who after participating in the All-State Choir for three years, also feels the twinge of tension. “I just try to think that [the audition] is basically just impressing a judge. The
control isn’t really in my hands, so I can only hope for the best,” Hedlund said. “[All-State] means a lot to me. I love singing, being involved in something as big as this.” Judgment hour finally arrives. Results are posted as students flock to see the verdict. While bassist John Bourjaily ’12 keeps his calm, other student’s reactions vary. “[Some] of them scream, faint or cry, depending on their result,” said Bourjaily. The All-State music auditions were held Saturday, October 22nd at Fairfield High School. For more profiles on this year’s AllStaters and a complete list of West’s accepted musicians, visist wsspaper.com.
WSS: All the other kids with the pumped up kicks, you’d better run, better run_____ (“Pumped Up Kicks,” Foster the People) JESPERSEN: “You’re late for school and you’re gonna get detention” WSS: I am lost, I am vain, I will never be the same_____ (“Without You,” Usher feat. David Guetta) JESPERSEN: “Better log off Facebook and read something more important.”
WSS: Oh baby you’re the shhh girl, lovin’ you could be a crime, crazy how we fit girl, this is it girl give me 25 ____ (“It Girl,” Jason DeRulo) JESPERSEN: “Push-ups” WSS: And if I listen I can hear you through my radio, in that bright white noise, what I been missing in my life what I’ve been dreaming of_____ (“You Make Me Feel,” Cobra Starship) JESPERSEN: “That’s what she said.” COMPILED BY// LEAH MURRAY
• No automatic lock •Broken ceiling • All-around unattractive
“I got it two years ago from my grandparents. My parents bought it for one dollar.”
“The car can start with other people’s keys.”
Scan this with your smartphone to watch this issue’s P.O.S. video! COMPILED BY// BLAKE OETTING
ANSWER: THE BOOGY MAN
15 A&E
PAGE DESIGN BY//POMBIE SILVERMAN
OCTOBER STAFF PICKS
PHOTO BY//ADAM CANADY
WATCH: ATTACK THE BLOCK COMPILED BY// DAN ROTHMAN
VISIT: FIELD OF SCREAMS
In the mood for some spooky fun? The Field of Screams will not disappoint you. Only a few minutes from Iowa City, this place will certainly give you the heebie-jeebies. The haunted corn field is a breeding ground for all sorts of monsters, chain saw wielding madmen, and the like. After pulling into a parking spot we immediately noticed that the name holds true. Screams were
COMPILED BY//ADAM CANADY
abundant, and they were coming from a field. Walking through the so-called maze, we heard nothing but our footsteps crunching on corn stalks as shadowy figures chased after us - followed closely by our inevitable screams of fear. The excitement can be shared among friends as groups of up to 6 can be frightened, chased and cornered simultaneously. While the maze lacks common mazy qualities - like the
ability to get lost - the assortment of creatures (alive and ‘undead’) encountered along the way definitely make the maze a must for thrillseekers this Halloween. We had one question though: how do the monsters account for crop rotation? Visit the Field of Screams south of Iowa City on Highway 1 and Black Diamond Road on weekends from 7:30-11:30. Admission is $7 per person and a coupon for one dollar off is provided on the Field of Screams website.
LISTEN: “WEREWOLF BAR MITZVAH”
AS HEARD ON 30 ROCK
The teenage years are a time of evolution. Boys and girls shed their childhood and blossom into mature men and women...or werewolves! 30 Rock’s classic Halloween romp, “Bar Mitzvah” is a fun-filled song that makes even the worst of parties feel like rollicking good fun. Crank this catchy song with a killer beat and everyone will be jumping at a chance to show their true Were-colors. Tracy Morgan’s styling is reminiscent of musical comedy groups 16 A&E
such as Lonely Island or Flight of the Concords.With a theme so ludicrous it borders on bad taste, it suits the wacky humor of 30 Rock perfectly. This show thrives on the outrageous, and lyrics from the song such as “Tomorrow you will stand at the bimah and pray/ but tonight let’s gaze at the moon and bay,” provide no exception. At the next full moon, pump this frightening song loud and clear to get into the Halloween spirit. The experience will cause skin to crawl. Or is that hair?
WHAT DOES A LITTLE MONSTER CALL HIS PARENTS?
ART & COMPILED BY// OLIVE CARROLLHACH
When Shaun of the Dead was released in 2004, it was considered a breath of fresh air in the tired horror genre. The film was built on one simple idea: a zombie invasion is ridiculous. The mere idea of people rising from the dead is laughable, and the movie treated it as such. It was able to combine genuine scares with huge laughs in a way that went unmatched for seven years. In Attack the Block, Shaun has found his equal. The film, which comes out on DVD this week, tells the story of a group of hoodlum teenagers living in London who are the unwitting victims of an alien invasion.Teaming up with with everyone from their nurse neighbor to local crime leaders, the gang is forced to fight for their lives while defending their apartment complex, known in Britain as a block, from the aliens. What makes Attack the Block so special is that it works equally well as a monster movie and as a comedy. The aliens are a cross of a creature from alien and a gorilla, and their black fur allows them to sneak up on people in the dark London night. Throats are ripped out, aliens are beheaded and many standard alien movie tropes are followed. However, like Shaun of the Dead, the film manages to be very funny. Nick Frost even provides comedic relief as the block’s drug dealer, playing a character very similar to the one he played in Shaun of the Dead. The film has an endless supply of witty one-liners which make it one of the most fun films of the year. There is, however, one area where Attack the Block stands out, even in comparison to other horror-comedies: its grittiness. The characters at its center are not lovable goofballs, they are criminals. In the very first scene we see them mug an innocent women on her way home from work. However, it is to the credit of first time director Joe Cornish that they somehow remain likable, and manage to provide a perspective that is for some reason missing from most horror films. To put it simply, Attack the Block is an incredibly fun time. It’s rare combination of laughs and thrills make it an ideal movie to watch this Halloween.
PAGE DESIGN BY//POMBIE SILVERMAN
ON THE ARTS
MARCO CACHO ’12 PHOTOS BY//ZORA HURST
FAVORITE PIECE A question that a family member asks you, “which one do you love the most? Your dad or your mom?” I love them both. It’s like me saying that I love this piece more than the other. I actually like all of my pieces because they show my evolution as an artist. All of my artwork together as one piece. I just like all of them. MUSIC I’M INTO I listen to anything that is relaxing. If I want to get excited, I will listen to a lot of rock. Bob Marley is my favorite [musician], he speaks the truth. My favorite song by Bob Marley is “Sun Is Shining.” It’s beautiful. FAVORITE ARTIST My favorite artist is Salvador Dali. Here’s why; Most of his paintings, as I know, were from his dreams. He would sit on a stool with a bunch of glass on the bottom. He would have his car keys. He would go to sleep and once he dropped the car keys, he would wake up and draw exactly what he was dreaming. FAVORITE PIECE (DALI) Destino, it’s a cartoon that Salvador Dali and Walt Disney worked on. It is an animation that shows a girl dancing to get with a guy. I like the art in the video and the story line. There’s no dialogue, but people communicating through body language.
MEDIUM I have multiple mediums. Watercolor is my favorite one, acrylic is my second favorite and then oil is my third favorite. As far as type goes, I like surrealistic, expressionism, but anything really. FAVORITE PLACE TO DRAW My bedroom, early morning. By early morning, I mean 2-3 a.m. That is my inspiration time. Sometimes I’m sleeping and I will wake up and just say “I want to paint.” FAVORITE MOVIE The Pianist, it’s a contrast between the inhumane parts of this world and surviving through tough times. FAVORITE PLACE I’VE BEEN New York because it’s really awesome. I like the buildings. My favorite is the Chrysler Building. I like the Chrysler Building because of its architecture. It’s beautiful. THOUGHTS ON MY ARTWORK I try to portray my thoughts on a 2D plane. Some people write stuff down to express their feelings, but I draw. COMPILED BY// FATIMA JAYOMA
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SOCCER STAR AND ARTIST MARCO CACHO ’12 DISSCUSSES SALVADOR DALI, NEW YORK CITY AND HIS INSPIRATION TIME. Scan this with your smartphone to see more of Marco’s works! MUMMY AND DEADY
17 A&E
e l a c s p U DOWNTOWN
White Rabbit habit BY AMELIA MOSER
amelia.moser@wsspaper.com Art is everywhere in Iowa City and we’re proud of it - from the painted books and pianos around town to the boots and belts spotted on stylish residents. Local downtown businesses like White Rabbit are what craft the perception of openness to unique, original ideas. “This town needs small businesses… [that] used to be what downtown Iowa City was all about,” said Cortnie Widen, co-owner of White Rabbit. Five years ago, Widen decided to take a big step (in a fabulous pair of saddle shoes, no doubt) to fill that need for fresh local businesses. As a recent college graduate with a degree in screen printing, she used less than $1,000 to open a store in the Hall Mall, something Widen called a “very small, hidden location,” with her husband, Luke Tweedy. “I was making my own art … and I PHOTO BY// OLIVE CARROLLHACH
knew a bunch of other artists looking to sell things,” Widen said. Now known for its vintage wonders, White Rabbit originally sold only 100% local merchandise. “A lot of people leave this area. … If we want to still carry on their line, we do,” meaning they have begun taking in designs and art pieces from a greater variety of places. They have also made some changes in what they carry, adding vintage clothing when Widen “saw a niche not being filled.” While her store has become an Iowa City art icon, it wasn’t always so wellknown. “I kind of used it as a studio, [and was] waiting tables four to five days a week [at the Hamburg Inn],” Widen said. “It started out as a hobby, and then it just grew.” After their first store in the Hall Mall, White Rabbit hopped next to the Yacht Club, then across from the Lorenz Boot Shop and finally to the previous loca-
tion of Fired Up. “We like to keep our customers guessing where we’ll be,” Widen joked. West students are more than happy to follow the store around. “It has very unique merchandise that you probably won’t find many other places. … My favorite thing would probably be the variety. You can get anything from a duct tape wallet, to a t-shirt, to leather boots, to a pillow and everything looks cool and different,” said Mandy Rosse ’14. The store offers local artists a venue to put their original products on the market, donates artwork to local silent auctions and sends unsold vintage clothes to thrift stores. “I would encourage people to start small businesses,” Widen said.
BY OLIVE CARROLLHACH
“It was a no-brainer,” Burt said. “We already had everything we needed as well as the know how.” True to their humble origins, the charming atmosphere of Fired Up makes everyone feel like a dear friend. Every year at Christmas, Ashley Knudson ’13 and her sister Lauren Knudson ’15 go to Fired Up with their family. The fun environment has kept them coming back for eleven years. “The owners are super charming, they sit with you and chat while you paint. They absolutely know us. Every year they say something like, ‘Oh, Lauren has grown,’ ” Ashley said. Despite the easygoing atmosphere, Fired Up, like any local business, has faced its share of challenges. One year after Fired Up opened, the arrival of the Coralridge mall began to pull peo-
PHOTO BY// FRANK WEIRICH
Courtnie Widen, co-owner of White Rabbit, poses in front of the store’s window display.
Fired Up about art olive.carrollhach@wsspaper.com
Michael Burt (pictured above) and Nancy Westvig have been running the Fired Up pottery painting studio since 1998.
White Rabbit 109 South Linn St. Iowa City, IA 52240
It’s a Sunday afternoon on the town, and there’s no better place to be. The walls are covered with beautiful displays of pottery, a dog dozes happily on the floor, a cup of tea sits invitingly atop a table with mismatched chairs in one of the many quaint rooms of Fired Up Iowa City. This local pottery painting studio opened in 1998, as the first of its kind in the city. Fired Up offers a huge variety of ceramics to paint, ranging from skull mugs to lamps. Owners Michael Burt and Nancy Westvig first began painting and firing potery for fun in their garage after work. Soon they were having friends over for pottery parties, and eventually a friend recommended Nancy and Michael make their passion into a living.
ple away from downtown, and forced many privately owned restaurants and stores to close or relocate. “[Before the mall opened] people were drawn to Iowa City, and suddenly there weren’t as many people driving or walking by so they didn’t stop in.” Burt said. Although the city changes around them, the owners’ clear passion has kept Fired Up going strong for nearly fourteen years. The work is demanding, but Burt put it best when he said “If I didn’t like it, I wouldn’t do it. I get to be my own boss. Although,” he added with a chuckle, “It’s hard to call in sick!” Fired Up 520 E. Washington St. Iowa City, IA 52240
M.C. Ginsberg BY ZORA HURST
zora.hurst@wsspaper.com A pride in the process to create something of value, a respect for artistry and those who dare to do what they love-this isn’t a long-lost idea of old. Mark Ginsberg of M.C. Ginsberg said, “You will never really finish doing what you love; you will continue to recreate those things.” These words were the first of many nuggets of wisdom from an integral part of Iowa City’s culture. M.C. Ginsberg, located in downtown Iowa City, has brought the city to life through the establishment of trademark summer festivals like Jazzfest and Artsfest. Ginsberg was “raised in retail since birth” and has lived across the map in such colorful places as New York City, LA, Chicago, Washington D.C. and Europe. After his father passed away in 1984, while Ginsberg was living in Chicago, he returned to Iowa City and bought one of five current locations of the family business (two are in Cedar Rapids, and two in Des Moines). Revamping his family’s jewelry story
began with its name. With the change from Ginsberg Tours Jewelers to M.C. Ginsberg (a name he shares with his great-grandfather), Ginsberg hoped to establish “...an appreciation of craft that I think has been lost.” The gallerylike style of the location is modeled after a paleontology display, each piece is unique, waiting to have its drawer pulled out. The business was originally located in a mall, which was the opposite of the experience that Ginsberg envisioned. “If you want a sterile, antiseptic approach, go to a mall. ... They deaden your senses. … [If you want a] warm, artistic approach, come here,” he said. The struggle of finding a target audience was difficult for the company’s new vision, as it is for all businesses, but after securing an advertisement on the Hancher Playbill, Ginsberg began connecting to “people who understood the beauty, the drama [of our pieces], not just the intrinsic.” Moving into a new venue on East Washington Street in 1987 was the beginning of a new era for Ginsberg. During the summer months, this bustling college town “…seemed quiet,
Burritofed BY POMBIE SILVERMAN pombie.silverman@wsspaper.com
The clumsily written logo can be found everywhere in Iowa City. On shirts, baseball caps or on the crinkled papers of students’ leftover lunches. Over the years, the scrawled Panchero’s logo has become just as recognizable around town as the golden arches. With so much popularity, this Iowa staple has received statewide support. “The people of Iowa City have always been very supportive of us; this support allowed us to learn and perfect our [business] concept over our first several years before expanding across the country,” said founder Tom Anderson. “I am amazed at how popular we have become across the state.” Indeed, Panchero’s has become so popular that Anderson claims it to be
Iowa’s very own “Burrito Joint.” With good food comes great business and with popularity comes support. The support that the Iowa City community has given has inspired Panchero’s to give back through school athletic departments, booster clubs, schools, PTOs and charities. In fact, Panchero’s has been so involved in the Iowa City community that Anderson created a “Burrito Relations” position to regulate all of the charities, filled by Jay Jay Goodvin. “The support that the community has given us has made it possible for us to grow and franchise the concept. We appreciate that support and try to give back,” Anderson said. “We try to create fun and interesting ways for organizations to raise money.” According to Goodvin, Panchero’s has helped out significantly over the
almost too quiet.” So Ginsberg struck an agreement with the then professor of jazz at the University of Iowa. They would provide the talent if he would provide the funding. And so Jazzfest was born. The internationally renowned festival has grown from a budget of $2,500 to $100,000 and provides free access to three days of amazing musicianship. Ginsberg’s message resonated with the artistic audience and served to enrich the culture of this city as well as draw in business. And this reputation is alive and well today. Shirley Hochstedler, an employee, said, “No two days are ever the same, as our clients come from all over the world.” The message of art and the appreciation of it rings true globally, not just in the downtown area. Ginsberg is as encouraging as he is innovative. “Try to break down the clique… come up with a new approach. Don’t get so fixed on habits. Stop and look at the moon. Invest in what you’re emotionally connected to,” he said. Ginsberg gives this advice to those seeking advice on business, or anything at all.
Iowa City community. For example, Panchero’s helps out the Iowa children’s hospital every year at the annual Dance Marathon by catering. “The way we give back is to help many different parts of the community by helping them raise money for their organizations. We offer our food as a motor to bring in money for their fundraising. It’s a lot of fun seeing how people love our food and are so willing to donate money for the schools and non-profits,” Goodvin said. Panchero’s also plays a large part in the Iowa City Community School District by participating in sponsorships, fundraisers and promotions with many
PHOTO BY//FRANK WEIRICH
M.C. Ginsberg has helped establish Summer of the Arts. M.C. Ginsberg 110 East Washington St. Iowa City, Iowa 52240
“Embrace failure…keep going and going until [you are] successful. [You need] a willingness to fall flat on your face… be willing to fail, because it’s not absolute, just a step to success.”
schools from elementary level all the up to high school. Such an example was last year at West High when Panchero’s donated free Burrito cards to auctioned off for the funding of the new soccer field. “We’ve had a lot of success with West High over the years. It’s been a great way to spread ideas to schools in other markets,” Goodvin said. Panchero’s 32 S. Clinton St. Iowa City, IA 52240
PHOTO BY//FRANK WEIRICH
PAGE DESIGN BY//OLIVE CARROLLHACH PAGE DESIGN BY//OLIVE CARROLLHACH
The buzz on caffeine
WRITTEN & COMPILED BY// JULIANN SKARDA
ART BY// ASHLYNN YOKOM
What do soda, chocolate, energy drinks, coffee, tea and migraine medication have in common? They’re all sold in pretty little bottles? Not quite. How about they all contain the most widely used drug in the United States. Caffeine, in its many forms, has become a quick
1 Filter out addiction
fix for fighting fatigue, improving mood and treating headaches. A majority of West students admit to using it multiple times per week, but caffeine is no wonder drug. Its perks are often countered by the trouble brewing in bodies that are dependent upon it.
Like many of its illegal counterparts, caffeine is drug with addictive qualities. Anyone who consumes caffeine habitually may start to experience withdrawal symptoms if they wait too long between fixes. Common symptoms include headache, loss of energy and alertness, irritability and anxiety. “I usually [drink] about two to three 12 ounce cans a day. I maxed out this summer when I drank about five cans each day,” said Natalie Kasper ’12. “I get headaches late in the day if I haven’t had caffeine, or my mood will gradually get worse and worse until I have some.” If you’re looking to lower your caffeine consumption, or cut it from your diet all together, wean yourself off slowly, reducing your intake by a couple of ounces per day.
2
The buzz may affect your zzz’s
Some claim that caffeine does not hinder their ability to fall asleep, while others can fend off sleep for hours while powered by caffeine’s metabolic effects. Whether you fall under the first category or the second, it is recommended that you don’t consume caffeine within eight hours of bedtime. “Caffeine delays sleep onset and reduces Delta sleep, or [deep sleep],” said Dr. Eric Dyken, Professor of Neurology and Director of the Sleep Disorders Center, at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.
10.6%
No
Do you consider yourself addicted to caffeine?
89.4%
TOTAL: 1,062 STUDENTS
7 16.6% 6 3.8%
22.5 %
4 9.7% 4-5 days a week 3 12.8%
2-3 days a week
2 14.7%
How many days per week do you consume a caffeinated product?
20.5 %
5 7.9%
27.5 %
TOTAL: 1,074 STUDENTS
30.5 %
6.3%
1 18.9%
11.8%
fee
Cof
s
TOTAL: 1,661 STUDENTS
a
18.47%
rink
Which type of caffeinated beverage do you drink? Circle all that apply.
Sod
Other
0 15.6%
D rgy
Just as not enough caffeine can cause problems, so can an abundance. According to the Mayo Clinic, a healthy dose of caffeine is 200-300 mg per day. That’s roughly three cups of coffee, five cans of Mountain Dew or less than two cans of Monster Energy drink. If one breaches this limit they may experience nausea, dehydration, headaches or anxiety. According to Tammy Noble of the Iowa Statewide Poison Control Center, there were 78 reported human exposure cases to caffeine in 2010, with 47 involving youth aged 19 and under. In addition, there were ten human exposure cases to caffeine energy drinks, with two being teenagers age 13-19.
Yes
Ene
3 Java jitters
ART BY// ZORA HURST
45.7%
18.47% Te a
ANSWER: BOO-BERRIES. 21 HEALTH
All State Musicians 2011 Band Ji-Eun Choi – 1st Flute Gabby Nisly – 2nd Flute Erica Segre – Bassoon Eleni Katz – Bassoon Linda Xiong – Clarinet Leah de Matta – 1st Clarinet Tong Yu – 1st Clarinet Kai Yan – 3rd Clarinet Ben West – Bass Clarinet Daniel Lin – Alto Sax Michael Aitchison – 1st F Horn Hunter Wingert – F Horn Alternate Aidan Manaligod – Alto Sax Alternate Orchestra Devin Hedlund – 1st Violin Rachel Hegeman – 1st Violin HaRin Lee – 1st Violin Elliot Stalter – 1st Violin Kate Anstreicher – 2nd Violin Fiona Edberg – 2nd Violin Phoebe Low – 2nd Violin Taryn Nishamura – 2nd Violin Michelle Seo – 2nd Violin Thomas Burrell – Viola Sophie Shoultz - Viola Andrew Altmeier – ‘cello Lushia Anson – ‘cello Hahn Lee – ‘cello David Ryu – ‘cello Neil Wu – ‘cello John Bourjaily – Bass Colleen de Matta – Bass Kaz Smith – Bass Alex Choi – ‘cello Alternate Ivan Ye – Violin Alternate Sal Lee – Violin Alternate
Choir Katie Harper – Soprano I Bryn Hedlund – Soprano I Megan Ruden – Soprano II Tessa Walz – Soprano II Maya Bassuk – Alto I Jenny Hanson – Alto I Alexa Kramer – Alto I Ruchira Laroia – Alto I Hannah Rublaitus – Alto I Brittany Todd – Alto I Reggie Abraham – Tenor I Emerson Grow – Tenor II Zane Larson – Tenor I Paul Ross – Tenor II Javon Stovall – Tenor II Nicolas Wagner – Tenor I Justin Huang – Bass II Xavier May – Bass II Rob Nelsen – Bass I Ahmed Noureldaim – Bass I Alex Spragle – Bass II Nhan Tran-Phan – Bass I Josh Fortmann – Tenor I Alternate
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Study for finals.
The new normal
PAGE DESIGN BY//KATIE MONS
Leaner lunches and local options arrive at West
BY ELEANOR MARSHALL
eleanor.marshall@wsspaper.com Plants eat sunlight, cows eat grass and Iowans eat corndogs – I mean sweet corn. Food sustains life – serving as comfort and celebration, but we’ll be serving ourselves a little less this year as West High makes an effort to cut back on its sweet tooth. The Healthy Kids Act was passed in July 2010 and took effect last school year, setting nutrition and physical activity guidelines for all schools in Iowa. The guidelines apply to all food served at school from bell to bell, following students beyond the cafeteria and impacting bake sales and vending machines as well. Official policy is unchanged this year, but enforcement of the ban on unhealthy bake sales has gotten more stringent in the 2011-2012 school year. “We need to enforce [the guidelines]. ...It’s clear that
we’re not supposed to be selling food items while they serve lunch,” said Assistant Principal Molly Abraham, explaining that bake sales are not allowed during the school day except for occasional bake sales after school on Fridays.” Abraham said that treats provided in class will be less closely monitored and the school has no control over food students bring for personal consumption. Principal Jerry Arganbright said that while preventing bake sales does not top his list of priorities, he does think it’s important that clubs don’t depend on bake sales as their sole source of funds – a sentiment echoed by the district’s Food Service Director Diane Duncan-Goldsmith. “Let’s not make food a reward and let’s think of other ways to fundraise,” Duncan-Goldsmith said, saying healthy items like fresh fruit and vegetables are allowed. Selling produce may sound ridiculous to those of us that go crazy for cupcakes, but Slow Foods club, which focuses on eating local and environmentally sustainable food, has already tried it out – recently incorporating local
Wilson’s apples into their baked treats, and hosting a salad day last spring to serve greens grown in their on-campus garden. “Salad day was more of an identifier that there is serious interest in fresh salad [among West High students]. People often think ‘they’re teenagers, they’ll think salad’s gross.’ Well, we served over 100 plates and got really good feedback and it showed us that there is interest in eating healthily. … We want to have a bake sale, but expand kids’ opinions of what would be worth buying,” said Bennett Thompson ’12, the leader of the club. The club is largely funded by community grants and personal donations. Local food has also made it into the cafeteria, as the club supplied 20 lbs. of tomatoes to the sandwich bar and the Farm to School chapter allowed the district to provide Wilson’s apples and watermelon from Rausch farms in Conesville, IA. According to Duncan-Goldsmith, the school system’s provided lunches already mostly complied with the law and few changes were
made – and no adjustments were necessary this year. Health Services Director Susie Poulter said that she believes that changes like healthier lunches and vending machines has been impactful, while the physical activity requirement has had little effect. Arganbright said the school does spot checks on the forms student turn in - relying mostly on the honor system. Thompson said the best way to learn health is to take a literal hands-on approach. “The easiest way to show [club members the benefits of local food] is to provide them an opportunity to eat it by their own making, so they will learn skills to grow a garden as an adult or at least have fond memories of what a fresh beet tastes like,” Thompson said.
ART BY// ASHLYNN YOKOM
ANSWER: A PAIN IN THE NECK.
23 HEALTH
PAGE DESIGN BY//LEAH MURRAY
Motocross Masters
PHOTO BY// ADAM CANADY
ABOVE: David Hodge ‘13 makes a jump on his personal track on his farm on the ouskirts of Iowa City.
BY DAN ROTHMAN
dan.rothman@wsspaper.com High school is stressful. It is a list of activities to attend. It is a pile of homework idly waiting to be taken on. It is a line of people nagging about one thing or another. We all have our ways of escaping it, our own little methods for preserving our sanity. For AaronWeber ’13, David Hodge ’13 and Justin Baker ’13, motocross provides that release. “When I’m out on the track, it feels like there’s no one else around me,” said Hodge. “It’s so peaceful.There’s no one telling you where to go or what to do.” To the casual observer, though,
motorcross is anything but peaceful. The sport, which consists of anywhere from 15 to 40 bikers racing through a course filled with jumps and obstacles, provides action in a way that puts most others to shame. “Most sports have spurts of activity,” Weber said. “With motorcross it’s just a constant adrenaline rush.” Success in motorcross requires significant strategy. As the race wears on, competitors struggle with each other for position, especially when it comes to the jumps that are interspersed throughout the course. In order to get the practice necessary to compete, Hodge constructed a course
WHAT IS YOUR WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE
MOTOCROSS
MEMORY?
Justin Baker ’13 24 SPORTS
WHY ARE VAMPIRES LIKE FALSE TEETH?
in his own backyard. The two friends practice on it several times a week. “It really helps to be familiar with the course,” Weber said. “Knowing the twists and turns makes it a lot easier to navigate.” However, unlike most sports, what happens off the track is just as important as what happens on it. “How fast your bike is is a large part of the sport,” Hodge said. ”Racers have to spend a lot of time fixing and cleaning their vehicle.” In addition to vehicle maintenance, racers must spend significant money on protective gear. The necessary protective outfit costs several hun-
“My favorite memory was at Riverside Raceway in Winterset, IA. It was my first time ever attempting to hit a step-up jump [which is a pair of jumps where the first jump is smaller than the second jump and the goal is to clear the whole
thing]. As I went off the first jump for the first time my bike killed in mid-air. When we were looking at the bike to see what had happened we realized that somehow the spark plug had fallen out. So for a while I was a little intimidated to try the
dreds of dollars, while neck braces can cost up to $600 on their own. “It’s a pretty big commitment, but safety is too important,” Hodge said, who once cut open his leg after flipping on his bike. “It’s all worth it though. It just gives you such a thrill. There’s nothing else like it. It’s just awesome.” Scan this with your smartphone for more Motocross pictures! jump again, but the next time I was there I went for it and cleared the whole thing. Both jumps. It was a great feeling knowing that I could clear it all. So ever since then I’ve jumped the step-up every time.” COMPILED BY// DAN ROTHMAN
PAGE DESIGN BY//CAROLINE VAN VOORHIS
Maybe you’ve seen the sunglasses or the bright pink and purple shirts, but few are as well versed in all things bro as the West High students on the Kickers team that calls itself the Bro Squad. “The bro squad is more than just a soccer team. For many of the players, it’s all they’ve got. It’s something to look forward to on a dreary Monday morning. It’s a way to procrastinate (brocrastinate?) on a Sunday afternoon. “During Bro Squad games, we get to express a side of ourselves that society cruelly tries to keep hidden. It started as a simple game, but it truly became a way of life,” said team captain Davy Perlman ’12.
ABOVE: For Kasra Zarei ’13, the best parts of any game are the crazy antics the Bro Squad pulls off. “My favorite [play] would have to be Crouching Tiger Hidden Bro,” Zarei said, describing a play in which the team’s entire defense lies on their stomachs, attempting to conceal themselves from the opposing team.
What is your
Bro Squad name and why?
Evan McCarthy ’12 COMPILED BY// ADAM CANADY
“Brobespierre; because it’s a historical in-joke and it’s a good reflection of the level of intellectualism that we like to maintain in the Bro Squad.”
LEFT: For some bros, like Alex Klopp ’12, playing soccer provides a break from the academic rigor of high school. “I didn’t feel I was able to express my inner bro at debate tournaments and math competitions as well as I can with my bros,” Klopp said. BELOW: While Luke Brooks ’12 possesses a powerful leg, that is hardly his only contribution to the team. “Basically I’ve got a hot body. Marco Cacho [’12] has got the skill down, and Davy Perlman is our fearless leader. I’m just the eye candy,” Brooks said. While Brooks says that some opponents do complain about the team’s overall bro-ness, he believes that there is more going on than meets the eye. “We’re winners. Ask the other teams, we win. That’s what we do. Not really in points per say, but COMPILED BY//DAN ROTHMAN at life.”
PHOTOS BY// ADAM CANADY LOGO USED WITH PERMISSION FROM// HOLLYWOOD GRAPHICS
“Ebroticon; sometimes you’re just too bro to use words to explain what you want to say.” Nick Gerken ’12
Thomas Burrill ’13
“Brovolone cheese; brovolone cheese continues to be the second most important provision in a bro’s diet, marginally trailing orange slices.”
ANSWER: THEY BOTH COME OUT AT NIGHT.
25 SPORTS
PAGE DESIGN BY// OLIVE CARROLLHACH
PHOTO BY// ADAM CANADY
Fall Sports Roundup
COMPILED BY// OLIVE CARROLLHACH
PHOTO BY// ADAM CANADY
ABOVE: Lilian Zhu ’14 swims the 200 Individual Medely. Zhu placed first in the event at Cedar Rapids Jefferson meet on Oct. 15th.
As fall seasons draw to a close, Trojans across the school are determined to finish strong. The excitement of our fall sport success has greatly improved the often sluggish start to the year. With both the fresh faces of new stars and seniors determined to make a lasting impact, the Trojans have once again proved we are a force to be reckoned with. Our outstanding athletic programs have been working hard to continue West High’s strong traditions. Whether on the field, course, or in the deep end; get ready to cheer these Trojans on as the championships begin.
ABOVE: Alex Aaberg ’15 dives at the MVC Diving meet on October 13th. The swimming and diving team placed second in the MVC.
RIGHT: Running for a big gain, Mondo Williams ’12 carries the ball while the West defensive line holds back Washington players. The play resulted in a first down, leading the Trojans closer to the end-zone. PHOTO BY// FRANK WEIRICH 26 SPORTS
WHAT DO YOU GIVE A PUMPKIN THAT’S TRYING TO QUIT SMOKING?
PHOTO BY//FRANK WEIRICH
ABOVE: During the conference
PAGE DESIGN BY// OLIVE CARROLLHACH
PHOTO BY//FRANK WEIRICH
Cross Country Championships, the girls varsity team warm up mentally with a pre-run cheer. The girls team was conference champions, scoring five points over third-ranked team Cedar Falls.
LEFT: Anna Pashkova ’12 serves
PHOTO BY// ADAM CANADY
the ball at the game against Linn Mar. The volleyball team defeated Linn Mar 3-0 at the game. The individual game scores were 25-14, 25-11, and 25-10. PHOTO BY//FRANK WEIRICH
ABOVE: Quarterback Charles Rogers ’12 goes head to head with a Washington player attempting to stop him. The run earned West a big gain against Cedar Rapids Washington.
LEFT: Regional Champi-
on West High Boys Varsity members Isaac Jensen ’13, Daniel Gardarsson ’14, Ben Fick ’12 and Phillip Laux ’12 keep pace with Prairie and Cedar Falls runners at the conference championships on Thursday, Oct. 13, where they placed second. ANSWER: A PUMPKIN PATCH.
27 SPORTS
PAGE DESIGN BY//TYLER VOSS
Boy Cheerleaders take the lead
Walter Robles
BY CAROLINE VAN VOORHIS caroline.vanvoorhis@wsspaper.com
PHOTOS BY// FRANK WEIRICH
The West High cheerleaders perform for the audience during the Washington-West game. Both Jason Barnes ’14 (pictured below) and Walter Robles ’14 (pictured above) did their routines, leading the fans in cheers.
“S-P-I-R-I-T spirit, let’s hear it!” As you sing along, you normally notice the cheerleaders up in the air. Move your gaze a little lower next time and you will see cheerleader Walter Robles ’14, holding up his teammates. Robles joined the cheerleading team this year with the encouragement of his friend Sydney Beaurivage ’14, a fellow member of the cheer squad. “My friends knew how spirited I was, so [Beaurivage] convinced me to go out,” Robles said. Although this is only his first year cheering, Robles has had no problem adjusting to cheering with the squad. “It does take some time to learn everything, but [teammates] are always willing to help you succeed,” Robles said. Despite being one of only two boys on the entire team, Robles feels included
Jason Barnes BY ANSEL LANDINI
ansel.landini@wsspaper.com It’s a rarity for West High to be in the presence of a male cheerleader. This year, it has two. West High sophomore Jason Barnes is proud to be one of them, and isn’t embarrassed to hold the title. Barnes began his path to being a part of the cheerleading squad when he started attending a tumbling and cheering class. Barnes learned that he enjoyed the sport and so he tried out at West High, much to his content he made the cut. “It’s pretty awesome, I’m becoming very good at stunts and tumbling and it’s a lot of fun,” Barnes said. Cheer mate Sarah Williams ’14 agrees that Barnes has brought talent to the squad. “He’s really good at stunting and he brings an easy-going attitude, which makes him super-fun to work with,” Williams said. Barnes particularly enjoys tumbling because it sets himself apart from other 28 SPORTS
WHY CAN’T BOY GHOSTS HAVE BABIES?
and says that he enjoys spending more time with girls that “accept [him] for who [he is].” Not only are his teammates accepting, they are also appreciative of what Robles brings to the squad. “[Robles] has allowed us to compete as a co-ed team at State which will get us out of the division we have been in the last couple years. Also, he is just so up-beat and positive. He never has a frown on his face so it’s easier to do well because you’re having more fun,” said teammate Ashley Erickson ’13. At state, the squad also has the advantage of having people with megaphones. “Girls have poms and guys get megaphones,” Robles explained. When the football games are over and the all-state competition is done, Robles will move on to cheering at basketball games. After that, he will be taking a short break until the next school year. “I’m not going to be a part of wrestling cheerleading. I would rather do more stunts, and they don’t do those for wrestling,” Robles said. people he knows. For instance, not many people can do a back tuck, let alone any sort of flip at all. Along with this, Barnes sets himself apart from the female cheerleaders by being more relaxed than other members. “It can get pretty interesting trying to work with a bunch of girls, so he breaks a lot of the tension,” Williams said. All in all, being a male cheerleader hasn’t affected Barnes’ moral as he twists and flips in practice and throws his arms up in the air along with the girls in cheers. Barnes’ comfort level is impressive to some of the other members and is a something that they all admire. “The best thing about having him on the squad is that he’s really comfortable being a cheerleader despite the prejudice that it’s an all-girls sport,” Williams said. You’ll see him at games, you’ll see him at practice and you’ll see him at West’s first cheer competition Oct. 29 at Prairie. If you’re trying to find him you should be able to identify him by his blond hair and the fact that he’s upside down.
Meet
the cheerleaders
Walter Robles ’14
Favorite cheer: Ah-woo-ah Biggest pet peeve: When people think they’re all that Favorite Food: Tacos Favorite sports drink: Lemon lime Gatorade Favorite class: Biology
COMPILED BY//CAROLINE VAN VOORHIS
Jason Barnes ’14
Favorite food: Spaghetti Favorite trick: Full twisting back layout Favorite song: “No Pity for a Coward” by Suicide Silence Favorite movie: Spirited Away
COMPILED BY//ANSEL LANDINI
PAGE DESIGN BY//TYLER VOSS
Taber’s on fire BY LEAH MURRAY
leah.murray@wsspaper.com It’s half-time at a football game. It can be difficult to spot your friends in marching band in the field of identical uniforms- unless your friend is percussionist and baton twirler Erin Taber ’15. Taber is just as enthused about twirling for West as the student section is when they see her perform. “Twirling for West is such an honor. I’m very grateful that I get the chance to carry on the tradition of having a twirler here. It’s a huge adrenaline rush to be out on the football field on Friday nights with a bunch of people there. It’s an amazing feeling for me … It’s like my dream coming true … I just love it,” Taber said. Taber started pursuing her dream to twirl for West High this summer when she contacted the school’s band directors, Rich and Rob Medd. After a few phone calls, emails and a meeting, Taber had the chance to perform for them and they agreed to let her twirl. In order to twirl, though, Taber must also be in concert band year-round where she plays in the percussion sec-
tion. In addition to her half-time performances, Taber also competes in baton competitions. While these two different types of baton performances may sound similar, Taber is quick to explain that they are not. “The routines and tricks I do on the field are a lot different from the ones in competition …just because I want the routine [I perform at the game] to not be too difficult and have a bunch of drops, but to still look exciting … and the grass and wind definitely play a part in what tosses I throw and how many spins I can put under my baton,” Taber said While Taber only preformed pregame shows and was unable to demonstrate former West High twirlers Nicole Jensen’s signature stunt of twirling fire she did say that “you can most definitely expect to see multiple fire batons at half-times in the future.“ And when that day comes you can be sure that finding your friend in the crowd of white uniforms will be the least of your worries when you see Taber catching fire.
During halftime of the West game, Erin Taber ’15 wows the crowd twirling to the West High marching band’s rendition of “Dynamite.”
Experience in spirit BY OLIVIA LOFGREN olivia.lofgren@wsspaper.com
PHOTOS BY// FRANK WEIRICH
Mark Brown, also known as Brownie to the West High football team, is not only a manager but an inspiration to the players.
When you are passionate about something, nothing stops you. For football manager Mark Brown, that thing is football, and nothing stops him from enjoying the West High home football games. “I have been a manager since 1980. [When] I graduated from West I came back to help the football team,” Brown said. Brown has been the football manager since he graduated from West, but he was also the football, basketball and baseball manager throughout his high school years. On the field Brown is known by a different name. “They call me Brownie … and I have no idea why,” Brown said, laughing. “ Brownie has been here for so long, I don’t think he has ever missed a game” said head football coach Brian Sauser. Brown helps the team in many differ-
ent ways. “I help the team by inspiring them and I help the team compete,” he said. During the games, Brown’s job is to support the players. “I love giving the players help and giving them encouragement,” Brown said. Brown’s favorite memory is just being out on the field each game, having the fans cheer, and having the players do well. “Each year gets better and better,” Brown said. “Brownie has great energy and is a positive motivation for the players,” coach Sauser said. Brown’s encouragement for the team has helped them season by season. Brown plans on returning year after year for the West High home football games “as long as they want me, I will be back - West High is like a family,” Brown said.
ANSWER: BECAUSE THEY HAVE HOLLOW WEENIES.
29 SPORTS
Rising stars
PAGE DESIGN BY//LEAH MURRAY
BY BLAKE OETTING
blake.oetting@wsspaper.com
PHOTO BY/
/ADAM CAN
ADY
For swimmers around Iowa City, IFLY (Iowa Flyers) is a household name, and is one o f the most competitive swim t e a m s i n the state. This organization was founded by Blanca Lehner tz the mother of Tereysa Lehnertz ’14, this month’s rising star. Not only did Tereysa’s mother found IFLY, but she was also the reason that Teresa got involved in swimming. “My mom was a swimmer and I used to watch her practices. When I was seven, she signed me up for lessons,” Lehnertz said.
What started out as mere swim lessons at age seven, quickly skyrocketed to the local competitive team ICE, then branched out to participation in the Cedar Rapids team CRAA (Cedar Rapids Aquatics Association). This eventually led to the West High swim team. However, Lehnertz didn’t participate in swimming her freshman year. “We got a new coach for IFLY from Seattle. I was excited, I wanted to be one of her first swimmers,” Lehnertz said. However, this absence from the 2010-11 swim team didn’t hinder Lehnertz’s statistics. Lehnertz has swum blazingly fast times and even broke her own record in the 100 fly. It didn’t affect her relationship with the team either. “[The transition] was really easy, I already knew a bunch of the girls and they’re all so nice. They are extremely spirited, but really laid back. But the coaches push you very hard,” Lehnertz sad. As for the team, Lehnertz has high expectations for the end of the season, especially the state meet. “We will definitely be top three in the state. We also want to win some relays,” Lehnertz said. Success for the Trojans is inevitable this season according to Lehnertz, and it looks like fruition is assured for years to come with dynamo swimmers like Lehnertz.
Tereysa Lehnertz ’14
BY OLIVIA LOFGREN olivia.lofgren@wsspaper.com
Many people assume the word freshman is a synonym for inexperienced. But freshman Conner Greene is redefining it. Greene is hardly new to football, considering he’s been playing it since he was six years old. He played tackle football in fifth and sixth grade, was on the team at North Central Junior High and now plays on varsity for West. “Playing on the [varsity] team as a freshman is really humbling. It’s a great experience and I am constantly learning new things from everyone around me,” he said. Starting off high school playing a varsity sport could easily be overwhelming, but Greene has adjusted well. “The guys understand that I’m new and they are always quick to help me out when I struggle,” he said. Though there are always ups and downs, Greene has experienced some unforgettable triumphs. “Taking the field for the first home game was my favorite memory. Everyone was so excited; [the experience] was unreal,” he said. “The sky is the limit for him... if he continues to grow he will make a great player in high school and at the college level,” said head football coach Brian Sauser. With the season approaching an end, Greene has set a few goals to
keep the last few weeks memorable. “I plan to continue to work hard and give all I have to the team. I want to contribute anyway I can,” Greene said. “He is a kid with a lot of potential...he has worked up from his freshman spot and is going to be playing in our varsity game this Friday [Oct.21],” Sauser said. Through bad days and good days, Greene can always look to his parents. “They have always worked hard to show me the right from the wrong. After a bad practice I can usually go to my dad and talk with him because he understands the game,” he said. Look for Greene, as the Trojans keep playing hard. “I have learned a ton about the game and what it takes to be a football player. My teammates are really great.” Greene said.
Conner Greene ’15
Meet Events: 100 butterfly, 100 backstroke and 200 medley Pump-up song: “Stronger,” by Kanye West Game day tradition: I always eat oatmeal before meets. I visualize, stretch and I slap myself before I swim. COMPILED BY// BLAKE OETTING 30 SPORTS
Conner Greene
PHOTO BY//FRANK WEIRICH
Tereysa Lehnertz
WHAT DOES A CANNIBAL GET WHEN HE COMES LATE FOR DINNER?
Favorite Quote: “If you don’t have time to do it right, when do you have time to do it over?” Pump-up song: “Amazing,” by T.J. Fredette Game day tradition: [I always put the] right sock on before the left one, and only [wear] high white socks for games. COMPILED BY// OLIVIA LOFGREN
PAGE DESIGN BY//ASHTON DUNCAN
THE
Note: all Radish content is satirical and not meant to be perceived as factual.
Best High overrun with nerdery
GRAPHS
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Best High has once again proven itself “Best” in state, adapting an innovative new curriculum that allows students to choose the subjects they study, officially applied to classes beginning Nov. 14th, the beginning of second trimester. Many classes have entirely thrown away previous lesson plans, instead opting for non-traditional means of learning. Nerdery will predominantly take the place of traditional class and lectures in most subjects, ranging from arts classes to computer science. One such example is the AP Physics classes, who will begin looking for the method to harness time and time travel. “We’re looking at several different
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Amount of Sparta
ashton.duncan@wsspaper.com
ART BY// ASHLYNN YOKOM
find them and one ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them,” said one rather short metalworking devotee. Foods classes will be gaining a new unit on the importance of always carrying a towel, and Shop classes will have an entire trimester devoted to the ingenuity of the screwdriver, from Scotty’s personal one to the Doctor’s sonic model. This innovative new policy has even stretched to clubs. Film club will begin new offerings of MST3K debates to be used as English credit, and the AP Physicists will begin work on flying brooms for the Quidditch club as soon as their intense time-travel experiments have drawn to a close. The Best Side Story has you covered as more updates come in.
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modes of transportation. Some believe in a simple device, such as Hermione Granger’s Time-Turner, and others believe time travel would need to envelop an entire mode of transportation, Back to the Future-style or perhaps even similar to Dr. Who’s TARDIS,” Justa Nerd, Best High physicist said. Other classes have undergone similar changes, restructuring class schedules in ways that may never be changed. Metalworking, for example, will be moving to a year-long class schedule beginning next year. “Next year will be a landmark for the metalworking classes at Best, focusing primarily on rings. First trimester we will study one ring to rule them all. Second and third trimesters will be primarily dominated by one ring to
IN THE
NEWS
10 mil
Lumberjacks that attend West
Amount of fabric on Halloween costumes
No-shave November participants
ART BY//OLIVE CARROLHACH
COMPILED BY//ASHTON DUNCAN ANSWER: THE COLD SHOULDER.
31 OPINION
PAGE DESIGN BY//DAN ROTHMAN
A policy that bites
Due to funding difficulties, the Iowa City Animal Care and Adoption Center is toying with the idea of turning away animals from owners living in certain cities in the county. If the plan is implemented cities in Johnson County that refuse to raise taxes in order to help fund the new building won’t be able to utilize this resource. Since the floods of 2008, the Iowa City Animal Care and Adoption Center has been homeless. Currently, the shelter has been temporarily relocated to Sand Road in the fairgrounds, isolated from other buildings by an empty stretch of highway in all directions. The shelter, which has been figuratively treading water since its displacement, is finally about to find a new, permanent home. Over three years later, FEMA has pledged $1.4 million for the shelter to rebuild. While $1.4 million may seem like a significant chunk of change, it only covers a building of around 7,000 square feet—the same size as the building that was destroyed by flooding. The shelter plans to build a new facility over twice that size (around 16,000 square feet) in order to accommodate more animals. Upon entering the old shelter, a person was met with the overflow animals who had been relocated to the lobby. In its current location as well, the shelter lacks sufficient space for boarding animals.The temporary shelter is made up of two separate buildings in order to hold a sufficient number of animals. The rodents are to be found living in the main lobby. Cats
are housed in the main building along with the rodents, while the dogs have been relocated to a glorified garage out back. The Iowa City Animal Care and Adoption Center shelters animals from Iowa City, Coralville, Solon and various unincorporated areas; and has plans to take on North Liberty in the near future. Therefore, it makes sense that with so many cities benefiting from the shelter, there would be a sufficient amount willing to raise taxes to chip in for a new building. However, this is not the case. Most cities in Johnson County are hesitant to raise taxes, which places a significant strain on Iowa City’s budget, especially during this economically-trying time. In the past, Iowa City alone has paid for over 60% of the center’s operations. “I think we have been very generous in the past and I don’t think we can afford to pursue that same model in the future,” said city manager Tom Markus in a Gazette news story. A significant portion of funding also comes from donations. The shelter is now considering denying animals from cities that don’t help pay for the new building. Simply put,
if a city in Johnson County refused to raise taxes to help with the building project, citizens of those cities will be unable to utilize this resource that has so long been taken for granted to its full extent. We think that denying shelter to certain animals is an inhumane way to deal with this issue. The animals aren’t the ones refusing to pay for their homeless shelter. If animals from certain cities were denied at the shelter, the number of abandoned animals in those cities would rise and create an unsafe environment. Homeless animals would pose both a sanitation hazard, as well as, in some cases, a threat to human life. We believe a fairer option would be to put the responsibility of funding the shelter in the hands of a non-profit organization separate of the Iowa City government in order to reduce the strain on the budget, or to relocate funds from other, less necessary government programs. Just like the shelter has been for these past three years, a greater number of animals would be helpless and homeless. What it comes down to is this: for the cities utilizing this resource, it’s time to pay up.
2011-2012
EDITORIAL BOARD Pombie Silverman Anna Egeland Eleanor Marshall Ansel Landini Ashton Duncan Adam Canady Daniel Rothman Olivia Lofgren Caroline Van Voorhis Blake Oetting Brenna Deerberg Juliann Skarda
Is withholding access to animal shelters an effective and justifiable way to raise funds?
2-10 ART BY// ZORA HURST 32 OPINION
WHAT DID THE GHOST SAY WHEN HIS CAR BROKE DOWN?
The WSS editorial board voted against the proposition.
QUALITY OF LIFE INDEX OCTOBER West Football The Trojans just completed a fantastic regular season. We should all take the time to recognize all the hard work they’ve put in and dedication that they’ve shown. It has taken a lot of effort to get to this point, and the Trojans deserve our utmost support.
Plus 3
Halloween Any day that allows students and teachers to dress up and come to school in costumes automatically gets my support, but one that doubles as an excuse to eat near-unlimited amounts of candy? Pretty tough to beat.
Plus 7
College Applications They will rip you apart and suck out your soul. There is absolutely no way to overstate the sheer pain that they cause. Non-seniors probably think that this is hyperbole. It’s not. They are THAT bad.
Minus 8
Human Centipede 2
So apparently there was a large group of people who, after watching a movie in which three people get stitched together mouth-to-anus decided “that was okay, but it was just a little too tame.” Ladies and gentlemen, I present Human Centipede 2.
Minus 4
Phestival of Pumpkins
Monday after school, fans of Halloween, pumpkins and just fun in general should head to the football practice field for this under-the-radar Student Senate event.
Plus 3
Total: Plus 1 COMPILED BY// DAN ROTHMAN
PAGE DESIGN BY//ASHTON DUNCAN
Improving excellence
BY ASHTON DUNCAN
ashton.duncan@wsspaper.com
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ublic education. To West, that means 309 credits of core classes and electives, a few required classes and attendance of West for the final trimester of high school. It means American studies, economics and American government. It means health and P.E. It means 60 credits of English and 45 credits of math, science and social studies, then graduation. Repeat. But to many other schools, a diploma is not something to be handed out on the basis of passing grades and aver-
age attendance. Many schools nationally and internationally require a high school exit exam and have several diploma offerings for more advanced or vocational students.Why isn’t West one of those forward driving schools? West’s motto is “Where Excellence is a Tradition” and, while true, holding to tradition will not keep West and the Iowa City community in competition with other top-ranked schools around the globe. Right now, West is the top ranked high school in Iowa (according to Newsweek), and one of the top fifty high schools nationally. That won’t always be the case if our standard of education is merely maintained. Not just at West, not just at City, but ICCSD as a whole, from elementary to secondary, should strive to not only maintain, but to improve and set the bar for education internationally. Education is rapidly adapting and growing on a global scale. One such example of this growth is the increas-
ingly popular International General Certificate of Education. Instead of becoming a group reward, handed out like a consolation prize for participation in high school academia, this diploma qualifies a student based on individual subjects taken, similar to an AP course. After taking an exam a student would be qualified in that area of study. To achieve a certificate, students must take five core subjects and pass, but those core subjects come from five different groups of interest: language, humanities, social sciences, mathematics and creative, technical and vocational. There are three grades: distinction, merit and pass. Education is not one-size fits all and we need to stop pretending like we can squeeze students’ minds into molds to fit our pint-sized budget. The world is growing, and soon we’ll need to be competing not only nationally, but globally for the top spots in education, facing off with Western European
Udderly simple
GUEST COLUMNIST: AIDAN MANALIGOD
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et’s face it: food is pretty much the best thing out there these days. You and I both know a chewy monster cookie can be the high point on those dull Tuesdays. You enjoy eating. You relish the very experience of eating. Eating pleases you. Eating is what makes us American. If I gave you a hot, juicy burger and a chocolate milkshake with a side of crispy fries, you’d be grabbing a napkin and a ketchup packet in a cholesterol-saturated heartbeat. Unfortunately for you shameless gourmands, there are certain 33 OPINION
challenges to eating. Listeriosis is one of them. For those of us who aren’t epidemiologists, listeriosis is a bacterial infection characterized by vomiting, diarrhea, convulsions and meningitis (sounds delightful, I know). A few months ago, a vicious outbreak began its rapid infection of cantaloupe enthusiasts everywhere. Experts traced the disease back to Jensen Farms of Holly, Colorado. Come on, Jensen Farms! What will I eat the next time I inadvertently order one of those disgusting fruit salads, honeydew? Oh wait. All jabs aside, the issue got me thinking about the way we eat as a society. Why don’t we all just become hipsters and avoid the shenanigans of mainstream food? Nowadays, there are many healthy alternatives to your typical supermarket biomass. Unfortunately, the downfalls of healthier foods scare off most of today’s consumers. For example, some
hail organic food for its lack of pesticides and growth hormones. I always thought that was where the flavor came from, but there really is no taste difference between organic and non-organic. The problem with organic food is the high relative price; lower crop yields and higher labor costs force organic farmers to charge more. To put this into perspective, a half-gallon of milk from AE Dairy costs $2.49, while a half-gallon from Organic Valley costs $5.89. When you drink as much milk as I do, the choice is udder-ly simple. Heck, we can’t even commit to healthy food because we fear sacrificing taste. Okay, vegetables and wholegrain options are disgusting, but you have to eat them. To meet our conveniently lenient stipulations, “healthy” food has to be loaded with sugar and call itself nutritious (I’m looking at you, VitaminWater). Local food is ris-
countries and the Asian superpowers for educational dominance. Improving doesn’t include shoving students into all-inclusive required classes, it means adapting and restructuring our education to meet the world head-on. It means innovation and creativity and letting students have sovereignty over their own minds. It means keeping public education worth the time students spend in it.
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ing in popularity, but it faces the same cost problems as organic food and has limited availability. What’s an eater to do? I think the most we can do, for now, is collectively embrace all forms of available food, but individually choose foods the way we see fit. As long as we exist, we will continue to eat. Some will eat with pride, while others will eat with shame. Some will stuff themselves, while others will subject themselves to a measly salad for lunch. However, food has a budding potential to evolve. Only time will tell how it will do so, but hopefully it will find a balance between actual healthiness and high availability. In my opinion, alternative food options are growing merely because the people demand and want them. The same principle applies to the future of eating: new food will emerge when society sincerely wants it.
PAGE DESIGN BY//ASHTON DUNCAN
A wannabe hipster Anticrastinator BY BLAKE OETTING
blake.oetting@wsspaper.com Am I the only one who remembers the good ol’ days when it was super cool to have your iPods loaded up with artists such as 50 Cent, Chingy or Eminem? Of course, I also thought at that time that Marshall Mathers was a rapping candy (but you get my point). The time where you would see guys blasting their ghetto jams and thinking they were the epitome of cool, that they were fresh. Let me ask you again, AM I THE ONLY ONE?! Recently I haven’t heard very much about “swag” or “homies.” Instead, I have heard a lot more about a different genre of music. Can someone please explain to me what this new trend is? Can someone please reveal to me the necessary qualities that one must have to achieve this title? Please, someone tell me, what is a hipster? It can’t just be that you listen to music not on the radio, it can’t just be that you wear fashionable clothing that you couldn’t find at your local mall, it can’t just be that you wear wolf sweaters and have cool dance moves that involve minimal movement (see “Hipsters are Roaming the Campus” for a visual example), right? Or could it be just that? Could it be that our society picks up on trends so quickly and puts this trend and, consequently, the type of person who belongs to this trend into a mold so fast that we don’t even know the distinction between them and us? I believe the latter. Let’s travel back a couple years to my original example: hiphop. Wasn’t that the “hipster” or the popular trend of just a couple years ago? Please, stretch your memories. When you were in your earlier teenage years,
wasn’t it cool to be able to jerk, dougie or do the stanky leg? Well, at homecoming this year I was introduced to hipster dancing. For those of you who haven’t heard of this dance, don’t worry, it is not that difficult. Simply move your arms in an arbitrary and generally unexcited way…but don’t EVER move your feet. Wow, did I just instruct you guys on hipster dancing? Yes. I admit, I just took a break from writing this column to do a little research on hipsters and figured out how to hipster dance in about two minutes. And there lies my point exactly. This whole hipster movement probably started through some other alternative group. But it was intensified by society’s recent obsession with the different and unique. This obsession then drove someone to make that “Hipsters are roaming the Campus” video, and buzz from that video made me check it out. I am not afraid of society determining what the next cool fashion, music or gaming trend is. Honestly, I’m more nervous about what the next trend will actually be! Please don’t be techno …neon just isn’t my color.
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BY JULIANN SKARDA
juliann.skarda@wsspaper.com I like to be on top of things: horses, schoolwork, my carbon footprint. I compulsively make to-do lists for almost every aspect of my life. I feel the need to do homework the day it is assigned, regardless of the due date. I am driven to write down the most trivial things in my planner, such as a reminder that the new season of The Biggest Loser starts in two weeks. Underneath that I make a note, one week in advance, to call my friend Helaina so we can watch it together. No wait, cross that out and make it two weeks in advance so she doesn’t make plans. I also pencil in, and highlight in blue so I won’t miss it, that I need to buy ice cream so that we can fully enjoy watching other people exercise. The most pathetic part of all is that I actually lose sleep worrying about these things. My point: I’m the opposite of a procrastinator. With this said, I still always struggle to complete any writing tasks before the last possible moments. Often, I can’t even begin to form a valid sentence until the wee morning hours and it drives me stark raving nuts. I am way too anal to simply be “putting things off,” so I’ve diagnosed myself as suffering from moderate to severe writer’s block. Though my attacks have a variety of triggers: English papers, applications, articles, speeches and many more, my symptoms are always the same. I honestly feel the same level of panic as if someone were actually chasing me around and threatening to bash me over the head with a block of
wood, (branded with the word writer, of course). First, I freeze and forget what I am doing, then I panic because I don’t know what to say and my mind has gone completely blank and finally a hopeless feeling washes over me because I know I then must now endure the battle to slowly and painfully draw each word out of a creative and faraway place in my head. Why, if I am capable of talking, rambling even, without a filter, is it so much harder once there’s a keyboard under my fingers or a pencil in my hand? Sometimes, at three or four in the morning, with an article 500 words short in front of me, I wonder why I even bother. I’m always happy in the end with what I’ve written, proud even, but is anything worth such a painful process? Yet, once I finish summing up my feelings about a book I despised for an English paper, or an article about something groundbreaking at West, I begin to remember why I do it, and it’s probably the same reason you are reading this. Writing is an opportunity to look inside someone’s head, or to let someone peek into yours. It let’s you say something so eloquently, perfectly. It provides a chance to refine your thoughts, and to document your opinions for your future self. Most importantly, it connects people. Even people who will never speak the same language, nor utter a single word to one another in their lifetimes.
ARE YOU INTERESTED IN WRITING a guest column or letter to the editor? Contact ashton.duncan@wsspaper.com
editor, or column idea! 34 OPINION
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adam.canady@wsspaper.com
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he WSS takes to the streets, providing an artistic look at something right under our noses - downtown Iowa City. Providing an epicenter of urban activity, our city is an oasis in the sea of corn surrounding it. From street level to the tops of buildings, every level of downton is full of excitement, motion and life. The city comes alive at night as lights dominate the frame. Enjoy the urban landscape from a different perspective. ABOVE: The busy intersection of Washington and Dubuque streets. RIGHT: Iowa Cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Englert Theatre is open and ready for action. The next upcoming show is The Rocky Horror Picture Show on Sunday, Oct. 29. BELOW LEFT: Flags whip in the wind above the Old Capitol, one of the five buildings on the pentacrest, Iowaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s historical legislative space. BELOW: At the intersection Burlington and Clinton, traffic moves rapidly thorughout the night. PHOTOS BY// ADAM CANADY
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Animorphs
PAGE DESIGN BY//SHIRLEY WANG
COMPILED BY//SHIRLEY WANG
PHOTOS BY// SHAMIS MCGILLIN When teachers go wild, they definitely show their inner animal.
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My inner animal would be an eagle cause they are very powerful yet majestic. They have very few limitations, their boundaries are huge so they can soar to unknown limits.
Jenifer Secrist Science
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They look like they’re having fun. Margaret Shullaw English
Quiet, gentle, strength. Reserved strength.
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We have a sous-le spot question that’s like “if Madame Juhl was an animal, what would she be?” and one of the answers from a student was a cougar. Theresa Juhl French
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David Rosenthal Spanish
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