2015-11-06

WEST SIDE STORY IOWA CITY WEST HIGH SCHOOL

2901 MELROSE AVE.

IOWA CITY, IA 52246

An in-depth look into the decline of religious affiliation among young people and their decisions to find their own faiths.

PAGE 22

WSSPAPER.COM

VOLUME 48 ISSUE 2

NOVEMBER 6, 2015

FADING

FAITH

FALL

PHOTO CONTEST

Via Instagram, we asked you to submit your favorite fall photos to celebrate the season. Here are the winning submissions.

1 2 3 1

Hannah Schillinger ’16

“I had just gotten home from school and I was like ‘hey, that’s a really pretty tree.”

2 Reagan Grieser-Yoder ’17

“[My dad and I] were like ‘we really need to take some pictures of some leaves” so we took it in the back roads of the reservoir.”

3 Leslie McAndrew ’16 COMPILED BY ISABELLE ROBLES

“I thought it was really neat because it showed how new plants can grow close to the winter time.”

CONTENTS NEWS

SAFE AND SOUND

An alleged threat made to West High has sparked the debate on what new safety measures should be implemented to keep students safe.

FEATURE

PLANNING PLANNED PARENTHOOOD In light of the near government shutdown, students from both sides of the Planned Parenthood debate offer their opinions.

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ENTERTAINMENT

DRESSED LIKE THE BEST

Learn how to properly channel the stylistic nuances of some of your favorite celebrity style icons.

SPORTS

GOT A SECRET, CAN YOU KEEP IT? Have you ever wondered what (or who) goes inside Hector the Trojan’s giant, fake head? The West Side Story investigates the mascot and their reasons for staying anonymous.

LETTER

FROM THE

Fall has fallen upon us at last. The big fur coats and all black garb finally get to come into play. The season of college apps is also ramping up and no one will escape its wrath. While balancing our venti mugs of pumpkin spice and enjoying the cool bite of fall air, the WSS writers, designers and photographers have been hard at work generating this issue (which, in case you were wondering, went much smoother than last month).

Fall musings aside, this month we wanted to talk about religion; in particular, the choosing and losing thereof. Our generation is the least religious yet, and we wanted to investigate. As

EDITORS

teenagers, how do we decide what religion to follow? Do we go with what our parents believe?

Or do we go on our own spiritual journeys to find what fits us best? These are all questions that we tried to answer by asking students themselves.

On a side note, is it socially acceptable to take our own senior pictures? ¯\_( )_/¯Asking for a friend. Find us in the hallways and let us know.

XOXO, Karen PHOTO BY JEREMY HU COVER DESIGN BY LEAH DUSTERHOFT

2

3 PHOTO FROM CREATIVE COMMONS

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FOR MORE

COVERAGE VISIT

WSSPAPER.COM 1

MEET THE 2016 REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES

2

CLUB CONNECTION: JAZZ CLUB

Learn the backgrounds and stances of Republican and Democratic presidential candidates.

West Side Story starts a new web series investigating West High clubs which begins by taking a look at newly formed Jazz Club.

4 WEB TEASER NOVEMBER 2015 WSSPAPER.COM

3 4

HURTS DONUT CO. REVIEW

Should you visit the new donut store in Coralville?

PUMPKIN SPICE EVERYTHING WSS staff tries out various foods that have the pumpkin spice flavor and offers their thoughts.

TROJANS TAKE ON

ALL-STATE

NEWS

On Oct. 24, 88 students from people between band, choir, and West High auditioned for a spot orchestra,” said Band Director Rich in the 2015 All-State chorus, band Medd. or orchestra. Out of the The students had been preparing for 28 from choir, 17 were selected to participate several months, some and one was selected to even beginning their practice in the summer. be a first alternate. Out of the 30 students from Each had to go through a preliminary audition band, 20 were selected, a West High Bands here at West, and then Rich Medd record. Out of the 30 was selected to go to from orchestra, 23 were selected. the real audition at Washington “We usually have somewhere High School in Washington, IA. in the neighborhood of 56-60 For those selected, the All-State

Festival will begin Thursday Nov. 19, where participants will audition for chair placement and practice for the concert, which will be on the night of the 21st.

Congratulations to those involved.

COMPILED BY CHRISTINA DAI & NINA ELKADI

DESIGN BY LEAH DUSTERHOFT

TWITTER TALK Q:

If you could be any type of coffee, what type would you be and why?

COMPILED BY NINA ELKADI

R RUMO

EROnly 200 T S U B hours for Silver Cord?

Our City High counterparts have been relishing in the pride of their newly announced Silver Cord hour requirement, 200 hours. “We changed hoping that it is more attainable and more kids will strive for it,” said City High principal John Bacon. However, it’s up to individual schools to determine the number of hours. For West, the requirement is still 400 hours. Keep on trekking, volunteers!

BUSTED Is there a plan for how we will make up snow days this school year?

There are currently extra hours built into the school schedule to allow for some leeway regarding delays and cancellations.

Superintendent Steve Murley will make a decision in the spring regarding any snow days we may have.

CONFIRMED COMPILED BY NINA ELKADI

Will there EVER be air conditioning at West?

WEST SIDE WORD art heaux [ärt ho]:

a heaux who is mysterious, chill, and hippyish; is frequently good at art and probably likes mustard yellow and Twin Peaks.

Spelled “heaux” to emphasize artsiness.

COMPILED BY SHARON XIANG

The Dr. Shoultz confirmed that within the next five years, West High School will have airconditioning througout the entire school. Tell your elementary and junior high friends to get their blankets ready.

CONFIRMED WSSPAPER.COM NOVEMBER 2015 NEWS 5

SAFE AND SOUND

An alleged threat made recently to the school has the district reevaluating its safety measures.

BY NINA ELKADI

A

ccording to attendance records at West High, 100 to 150 students are absent each day. On Monday, Oct. 12, approximately 1,100 students didn’t attend their classes. The night before, an alleged threat circulated through social media that involved a student bringing a gun to school. All parents were notified via Blackboard Connect after West High Principal Gregg Shoultz and board members became aware of the concerns.

This caused the Iowa City Community School District board to reprioritize their meeting on Oct. 13 to address communication and safety.

POLICY

6 NEWS NOVEMBER 2015 WSSPAPER.COM

Before the meeting took place, the district policy stated that only substantiated reports could be communicated to parents. At the meeting, the school board unanimously approved a rule that any threat made — verified or not — will be reported to the police and communicated to parents.

Within the first week, 15 threats were reported. In a report released by the school board, almost all of the threats reported came from elementary schools and

some included descriptions such as “Student got mad at another student for not sharing a swing.

Told other student would punch her in the face [sic].”

After a week, the school board decided this rule was unrealistic, and it was reevaluated. District policy now states that if the threat is not “immediate,” staff will report the threat to administration.

According to Shoultz, factors in consideration are the age of the student, involvement of a weapon and totality of the circumstances.

The administration will then decide, in conjunction with the police, whether or not it determines a threat to the community.

Communication to parents will depend on the circumstances of the threat.

SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER

There are still many options up for debate on what more can be done to maintain a sense of safety and security in the district. Shoultz says that the school and the district have plans in place to increase safety.

“The big change that could happen, and there is no saying this is going to happen, but there is a pretty widespread support for a school resource officer (SRO). That is something that we pursued in the past, and it hasn’t happened. I think there will be another round where we can discuss this and find out what our funding options and

opportunities are for having an for students and enforces the law. all of your senses and any data you When the boy cries wolf and there SRO here,” Shoultz said.

The SRO is viewed by students as a have ... you’re going to do your is actually a wolf, no one will be best to keep [students] safe. If that paying attention.

A school resource officer is regular staff member. a law enforcement officer, but Communication with students is Reducing crime and ensuring means you see the shooter going instead of focusing on crime in safety is the primary goal of an SRO, away and you slip out a door that’s also changing. Students often have the community their no personal connection and Shoultz hopes this nearby, that’s fine ... or if main duty is to provide with school personnel, will be acquired through you say no, I’m going to security in the school thus creating negative a strong relationship lock this door, turn off environment. According opinions on personnel between the officer and the lights, get everybody to Shoultz, students felt quiet and if someone due to the grade they are students. more secure when a law given or the disciplinary “Having someone comes in the door we’re enforcement officer was actions against them. who knows how to going to throw things at “We have redoubled in the building. work with police and them, that’s what you do,” Anna Hitchcock ’18 our efforts to make “Reports we have Dr. Gregg Shoultz has a good relationship Shoultz said. from last week are sure we have a contact with the students in the that students felt reassured by the building and can help with our COMMUNICATION person with every student. In the presence of an officer on campus, investigations, and hopefully just Blackboard Connect is an past we had teachers make one-tothey felt like students would be less establish better interactions with automated service that the district one personal contact with students likely to offend and have physical adolescents and police, that would uses to send out mass emails and who had F’s, now we’ve included conflicts here at school,” Shoultz be our goal,” Shoultz said. phone calls. Texting hasn’t been students who may struggle said. behaviorally,” Shoultz said.

Anna Hitchcock ’18 agrees that students would be less likely to BIG SCHOOL, misbehave, but doesn’t think that BIG RESPONSIBILITY justifies the need for an SRO. In a school of over 2,000 with “I feel safe without having a cop hallways built for 1,300, tensions here,” Hitchcock said. “I just don’t are bound to rise. like the idea of having one.”

“We changed already how we Parents in the district are also work with kids in the hallways. voicing their opinion. West High We’ve eliminated congregation in -Dr. Gregg Shoultz the hallways,” Shoultz said. parent Lynette Jacoby is worried about schools becoming too Congregation is far from being the dependent on SROs for taking only concern. Securing doorways disciplinary actions. implemented yet due to the fact to prevent outsiders from accessing “It interferes with the education HANDLING A SITUATION that some people may be charged the building without permission is process and can wind up Before school started, teachers for receiving SMS messages, and another goal. criminalizing youth that may have took part in a training program inputting the cell phone numbers With 47 entryways in the building otherwise been disciplined within called ALICE (Alert, Lockdown, of every parent has not been and an open campus, enforcing this the school system,” Jacoby said.

Inform, Counter Evacuate). They achieved yet. would be difficult. Upperclassmen In response to the interest in an experienced a mock attack which Deciding what is worth leave sporadically during their SRO for the ICCSD, the district was put on using machines communicating to open hours and would need access sought out information from other to create sound effects. parents is now left to from both the front and back schools that have an SRO. administration in an parking lots during the day.

Teachers also practiced The Davenport Community different methods of effort to not have people Due to the magnitude of the School District currently has two communication perseverate the threats. while school, these issues will be school resource officers. According under an attack and what When a threat laborious to ever fully control. to Executive Director Robert G. to do in such a situation. is communicated However, the administration, Scott, issues there are said to now immediately, it can teachers, parents and students will Just a few years ago, if a Lynette Jacoby be resolved before they reach the school was under attack, lead people to jump continue to work collaboratively consequence point. the go-to solution would be to go to conclusions without proper to make the school environment Principal of Ottumwa High under lockdown. After observing knowledge of what’s actually going safer, despite the huge challenge.

School Mark Hanson stated in an past school shootings, the new plan on.

The hope is to maintain a tradition email that an SRO was added in of action is to allow each teacher to “People don’t have any way to of excellence. response to a murder on campus. decide what is best. evaluate the threat,” Shoultz said.

“What we will continue to do is There, the SRO supervises the With the constant reporting be as vigilant as we possibly can, “You need to make your best cafeteria, gives presentations to judgement, not just to stay in one of threats, another worry is that respond to every threat, and focus staff, acts as a pseudo-counselor area and cower. You need to use people will not take them seriously. on education,” Shoultz said.

“ ... students felt reassured by the presence of an officer on campus ... ”

FOR MORE COVERAGE, GO TO WSSPAPER.COM

DESIGN BY SHATI COOPER

WSSPAPER.COM NOVEMBER 2015 NEWS 7

Coaches Megan Johnson and Henderson everyone’s talking at 50 words per want to help Trepka and Roetlin, the senior minute and doesn’t understand team, win or finish in top spots at the most what the amendments of the prestigious national tournaments this Constitution are. year.

High school debate “Kai and Spencer went into this year is four kids in a room with the goal of being one of the best speaking 400 words teams in the country and they set per minute [during timed their mind to that and they’re doing speeches] with well researched the work that it takes to get there argumentation,” Trepka said. and we want to facilitate that,” Coach “It’s super intense.”

Travis Henderson Johnson said.

Trepka and Roetlin weren’t However, this year both coaches are the only ones who found working not only to win titles but also to have success. Four other West High teams the debate team succeed as a whole. finished strong enough to earn West “We have an especially motivated group the sweepstakes award for highest overall of kids this year who are willing to practice performance of any school. and put in the work outside of school so …

West High’s outstanding performance at we have an opportunity this year the Mid-American Cup was no to have more teams doing well at lucky strike. In fact, this season is tournaments,” Coach Johnson said. looking like it may turn out to “We always have one team that be among the best West High’s does really well, gets to finals, wins policy debate team has ever the state title. We are proud of that, seen. fter nine grueling two-hour debates over but I want to see more teams in West High took first, second, the course of three days, Kai Trepka ’16 the elimination bracket,” Coach and third place at the Roosevelt and Spencer Roetlin ’16 won first place at the Pranav Krishnamurthy ’18 Henderson said.

High School tournament as well as Valley High School Mid-American Cup policy Sophomore debater Pranav reaching semi-finals from a pool debate tournament, sending home 60 other Krishnamurthy ’18 said he’s already seeing his of nearly 100 teams at the New Trier Season teams from 11 states. and his coaches’ work pay off.

Opener tournament in Chicago. Coach Travis The 61 teams came together on Sept. 28 to “Megan and Travis help by teaching Henderson attributes their success to both the debate policy options to reduce surveillance by us about certain types of arguments. I think this size and talent of the team. the U.S. federal government. season is going really well … My speaking at “I think we’ve finally reached a critical mass.

“I’d never won a tournament before. I’d done each tournament is improving,” Krishnamurthy We finally have enough people on the team well at several, but this was the first said. who are talented debaters time we’d come in first,” Roetlin said.

As the team works toward an and who are interested to “I felt like it gave us momentum. It exciting year, Coaches Johnson and make [debate] their top gave us a feeling we’re going to be a Henderson have been steering and priority,” Henderson said. really good partnership,” Trepka said. supporting them all the way.

Sophomore debater Depending on the strategy each “[Coaches Johnson and Henderson] Lauren Ernst ’18 echoed team uses, a debate might center are absolutely amazing. They keep Coach Henderson’s on anything from the global everyone focused … and are always evaluation of the team.

Megan Johnson Lauren Ernst ’18 implications of curtailed drone there for whoever needs it,” Ernst “Everyone is really surveillance to academic criticisms said. “We all want each other to do dedicated. We’re really of capitalism. well and it shows.” focused on doing well and making sure we are “It’s not like the presidential debates where all prepared for tournaments,” Ernst said.

A

8 NEWS NOVEMBER 2015 WSSPAPER.COM

PHOTO BY MEG MORELAND DESIGN BY EUGENIA CHEN

(MARS)VELOUS DISCOVERIES

BY EBONY MCKEEVER

October proved to be a busy month for the little Red Planet, as information collected by NASA’s Mars Research Orbiter (MRO) strongly suggested that there is liquid water flowing on the surface of present-day Mars. Researchers operating the MRO were able to use

an imaging spectrometer to create a picture of hydrated minerals underneath the ground on the surface of the Red Planet. In this image, hydrated minerals appear as black streaks on the terrain of Mars.

Over time, these streaks fluctuate and move, seeming to flow down

slopes during warmer seasons only to fade away in colder seasons.

In addition to this, the best selling novel, The Martian, has been adapted into a movie directed

by Ridley Scott and stars Matt Damon. The Martian follows the story of astronaut Mark Watney

(Matt Damon) who is presumed to be dead after a fierce storm hits and he is left behind by his crew. Alone and stranded on Mars, Watney must use his meager resources and intellect to survive and contact Earth in order to get him back to his home planet.

FAST FACTS In 2026 the first Mars One crews will depart on a one-way trip to Mars to begin the first permanent human settlement

The surface gravity on Mars is 37% that of Earth’s, meaning you can jump about three times higher on the surface of Mars

Surface temperatures range from -87°C to -5°C

Mars was first recorded in 2000 B.C. by Egyptian astronomers Mars has two known moons, Phobos and Deimos Since Mars orbits around the Sun in an elliptical fashion, more elongated than the average planet, the seasons are very extreme

DESIGN BY SIMRAN SARIN

Mars is the home of the tallest mountain in the solar system, Olympus Mons, which measures a staggering 21 km high and 600 km across Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun and is named after the Roman god of war Mars creates the largest dust storms in the solar system; they can last for months and cover the entire planet

WSSPAPER.COM NOVEMBER 2015 NEWS 9

10 ADS NOVEMBER 2015 WSSPAPER.COM

DESIGN BY EUGENIA CHEN

WSSPAPER.COM NOVEMBER 2015 ADS 11

The West Side Story pops into the life of Zofia Goska, one of West High’s prominent balloon artists.

BY CHARLIE CODE

A

BY CHARLIE CODE

s a high school student, it is fairly common to have a part time job outside of school.

Among West High students there are a wide variety of jobs, ranging from lifeguards to lab assistants. Zofia Goska ’17 is unique: she is a balloon artist.

Goska began her job as a balloon apprentice a little over a year ago. She was first introduced to the job by her future teacher and boss Chad “The Not So Bad” Johnson.

“We met in Judo [and] he said. ‘Hey by the way I do this thing if you want to help me out sometime.’ So we started working together,” Goska said.

Goska started working on her ballooning skills during the busy summer festival season. Summer is the main season for the balloon artist, mostly due to the high concentration of events and parties. After that season, Goska developed her skills, learning more and becoming more independent.

“We started working together and eventually I learned more and he sent me off to do my own gig,” Goska said.

The job is comprised of two aspects: big builds and line work. Big builds are large, time consuming structures that Iowa City Balloons, the company Goska works for, is well-known for creating. IC Balloons has created several locally famous builds including rocket ships and massive Minions from the film Despicable Me. “We made a minion for a movie

theatre in Cedar Rapids last summer.

We also paraded a minion through the Coral Ridge Mall. We just pulled it around on a cart and let people take pictures. Almost everyone we passed wanted a picture with the minion,” Goska said. “The adults always think it’s insane that someone would take such a project up and would ask how long it took. Kids on the other hand are very hands on so they would always sneak up sheepishly and try to touch everything. And of course there’s always the kid who asks if he can have it.”

Line work consists of a hands-on approach to balloon art: small builds, such as balloon animals, in front of small groups of people.

“I have 20 to 30 separate things I can do but once you [have] all the basic parts down, you can make up whatever you want, you could take the head of one thing and put it on the body of another. Once you get used to the way the balloons work you can make anything, and be able to do things impromptu,” Goska said.

As an artist, Goska appreciates the on the spot, more personal side of line work.

“I like the smaller events where you get a group of people. With those you can do something big that people have never seen before and see their reactions,” Goska said. “I like it when I do something and see like a fully grown dude as shocked as a kid.”

12 PROFILES NOVEMBER 2015 WSSPAPER.COM

ART BY HANNAH SONG PHOTO BY MARY MONDANARO DESIGN BY MORGAN SCHMITT-MORRIS

FASHION PROFILE

SPENCER MEACHAM ‘16

BY STEFAN SCHMIDT

For Spencer Meacham ’16, every passing period between classes is an opportunity to turn the halls into his own personal fashion runway not just for his outfit of the day, but for his new clothing line, Blanche Threads, as well.

Four months ago, Meacham began designing and printing the first shirts and hoodies and advertising them on social media.

“I sold a couple via Instagram and then when school started up I started talking with people face to face,” Meacham said.

He developed the apparel after his own style, so the designs have a distinctive character: they’re all a striking black and white with lettering or hieroglyphs.

“It’s basic but bold,” said MeachPHOTOS BY PAIGE BRAZINA

am’s girlfriend Taylor Shelfo conducted informally. ’18. “Spencer wants to stand “I’ve just been talking about it and out and he does a reaching out to people great job at that and and they’ve been pickincorporating that into ing it up,” Meacham said. his work.”

“Right now the shirts One of Meacham’s first are actually just in my customers, Kendra Law trunk.”

‘16, agrees.

Though his busi“His clothing line is ness is only emerging, simple but it makes a Meacham has big goals Kendra Law ‘16 statement,” she said. and ambition to match.

Meacham said to pro“If it were to take off, it duce the merchandise he simply could definitely turn into a career,” sent the designs to a friend at Rage Meacham said, “I’d say that’s one Grafix. However, gaining publicity of my dreams - to have something has proved more difficult. that I can call mine that other peo“The toughest part so far is mar- ple appreciate.” keting for sure. Getting the name Meacham’s determination is not out, getting the brand out is kind of lost on those around him. a challenge.”

“I don’t want to say he’s a hustler For now, Blanche Threads is still but he kind of is,” Law said. “When in the startup stage, so business is he wants something he really goes DESIGN BY WINGEL XUE

for it.”

“Spencer has always been super creative and persistent. He always wants what no one else has,” Shelfo said.

After all, his clothing line’s motto is “blood to the fantasies.” “‘Blood to the fantasies’ was the idea behind the creation of everything,” Meacham said. “Blood is what makes up you as a person, so it means putting everything that you have toward your fantasies. If you want to make your dreams a reality you have to put everything you have into it.”

Still, fashion means a lot to him even without the business. “[Fashion] represents who we are in a way,” Meacham said. “I try to express who or what I am as a person at the base level.”

WSSPAPER.COM NOVEMBER 2015 PROFILES 13

BY CHRISTINA DAI

S

itting in the newsroom at lunchtime on a Thursday morning, the three friends known as “the Korean trio” look like three peas in a pod, eating their lunches and occasionally trying to snatch a piece of orange chicken from one another’s plates. Two of them, Chris Jung ’16 and Joseph Kim ’16, have known each other since birth. Their third counterpart, David Kim ’16, joined them in their latter years of elementary school.

“Joseph and I have known each other since we were born, basically. Then [David] straggled along in fourth grade? Fifth grade? I

PHOTO BY JEREMY HU

Left to right: Chris Jung ’16, Joseph Kim ’16, David Kim ’16

14 SECTION MONTH 2015 WSSPAPER.COM

don’t even know,” Jung says. “[We met at] church. Our parents forced us to play with David.”

“Actually, they hazed me. They made me jump off cliffs and stuff,” David starts, but Joseph interjects, “It wasn’t that bad.”

“They were like ledges,” David continues, “They said, ‘we’ll take you to this really cool place, but you have to jump off of this.’”

Despite their tumultuous childhood, the three friends have stuck together throughout junior high and are now approaching the end of their high school years.

Nowadays, one of their favorite things to do together is something they affectionately call “bumping in the car.”

“You know when you’re bumping in the car and you turn up the music [volume] to, like, 29 out of 30? You can’t do that by yourself,” Jung says.

As with any relationship, there is a healthy amount of teasing among the three. When asked who is the funniest in the group, Jung answers with a playful, “[Funniest] looking? David.” David responds with a groan of mock hurt and a doleful look. Joseph also has some lighthearted words towards David.

“David tries too hard during sports,” he says.

“No, that goes for Chris, too,” David replies, defending himself.

Jung clarifies, “No, sports are okay; it’s just when it’s casual that we get too competitive.”

The trio’s friendship also doesn’t come without its treacherous moments.

Jung recounts an experience w h e n Joseph

saved him from serious harm.

“We were at Sundown and the ski lift was coming around [...] I didn’t get quite on it; my butt was, like, half-on, halfoff and I fell off and was dangling by one arm and Joseph pulled me back up,” he recounts. “I could have broken both my legs if I had [fallen].”

Despite the ups and downs, Jung, Joseph and David agree that their friendship has been beneficial and meaningful. David has thicker skin because of Jung’s affectionate teasing.

“Sometimes Chris is really mean to me but it’s good to not get easily offended,” David says.

But perhaps the best thing about this brand of kinship is the ease of mind these three can have when around each other.

“When I‘m around Joseph and David, I don’t feel pressure to conform to a certain image or role,” Jung says. “Because we know each other so well, it’s easier to have a lighthearted or relaxed time.”

DESIGN BY HANNAH SONG ART BY HANNAH SONG

WHAT DID YOU FIND AT

STADIUM CLEANUP?

BY ELLIE GRETTER

H

alf-eaten popcorn, hardened nacho cheese and worst of all, paper cups filled with day old chewing tobacco. Stadium cleanup is not something that most of West High’s athletes look forward to. Although picking up other people’s trash is not the ideal way to spend Sunday mornings, it’s a great fundraiser for the Iowa City Boosters and West High athletics.

“Stadium cleanup makes $13,000 and there are only seven Sundays.

Which is almost $2,000 a day,” said Scott Kibby, West High’s athletic director. “I can’t tell you that I bought girl’s basketballs with stadium cleanup money but I can tell you that I couldn’t live without that money and do everything that I do for all of my teams.”

“[Compared to previous years] people leave a lot more trash, especially the little alcohol bottles and peanut shells.”

-Tia Saunders ‘16

“A baby diaper that was soiled, it was folded up, but you came to the football game and your baby did their business and you couldn’t put that in the trashcan?”

-Scott Kibby, Athletic Director “I found a whole thing of popcorn even though those things are like $10.”

-McKenzie Bonner ‘17

DESIGN BY HANNAH FEMINO AND CATHERINE JU

CHEW I

TO BA CC

NG

“I think the weirdest thing that I have ever found was a hat that someone must have forgotten.”

- Taylor Fridrich’18

O

“One time [tobacco] chew in a bottle spilled on my foot.”

-Natalie Roetlin ‘18 WSSPAPER.COM NOVEMBER 2015 FEATURE 15

SCHOOL SYSTEMS

FROM A U RO ND THE

OR W

LD

BY JIUNG JUNG AND SHAWN THACKER

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mong the 2000 students at West High, a surprising amount have studied abroad. The West Side Story interviews West students with international educational experiences to get a more insightful view of the contrasts between school systems worldwide.

Cast

G

illo ‘

19

GUATEMALA

son er

For Gerson Castillo ’19, student life at West is very different from the 12 years he spent in Guatemala.

For instance, Castillo saw a stark contrast between the technology available at West and in Guatemala.

“In Guatemala they don’t have computers and [Smart Boards],” Castillo said.

Although Guatemalan schools may lack the same technology as their American counterparts, Castillo prefers some of the freedoms the schools in Guatemala provide, such as a free hour to relax.

Even though Castillo would like this extra time for relaxation, overall, he is satisfied to be in such an education-oriented society like West.

“I think it’s better here. [At West] we can get more opportunities and more education,” Castillo said.

A

ie nd

Ly n c h ‘

16

CHILE

Following her passion for travel, Andie Lynch ’16, chose to study abroad in Santiago, Chile for the entirety of her junior year.

One of the biggest differences Lynch saw in education was her class schedule.

“I would only have English once a week while I would have math three times a week,” Lynch said.

“We [also] got ten minute breaks in between classes.”

Additionally, Lynch faced adversity in communicating during her travels.

“All Spanish-speaking countries have their own dialect. Each has [its] own words and accents that are unique to that specific country, and the Chilean dialect is very strange compared to the [standard] Spanish we learn at West High,” Lynch said.

Nevertheless, Lynch enjoyed her time in Chile.

“I can honestly say it was the best year of my life,” Lynch said.

16 FEATURE NOVEMBER 2015 WSSPAPER.COM

BELGIUM

Emerence Tshinguta ’17 has seen a sharp contrast in her education ever since her move from Brussels, Belgium to Iowa City. The main difference she feels is her level of independence.

“In Belgium [the school system] is more strict.

You can’t wear what you want,” Tshinguta said.

“Here, you have more freedom.”

Tshinguta feels this freedom applies to her abilities to pick and choose the classes she wishes to take at West. “[In Belgium], I didn’t get to choose, they gave me the classes,” Tshinguta said. “You cannot change [them].”

Nevertheless, Tshinguta acknowledges some benefits of the school system in Brussels.

“The thing I liked about Belgium is that the lunch time is much longer than here,” Tshinguta said.

“You have like one hour [for lunch].”

hn Jo

Lee ‘17

SOUTH KOREA According to John Lee ’17, education in Korea is intense. Students wake up early to study and do homework, go to school and then attend afterschool academy for more studying. By the time many Korean students get home, it’s already time for bed.

For Lee, studying has always been a tedious task.

From second to tenth grade, Lee lived in Korea and went to Korean school. From 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Friday, life was always centered around education.

Because of this, Lee did not like many of the aspects of the Korean education system.

“The reason I didn’t like the school system in Korea was because I had to spend too much time just studying,” Lee said.

Lee truly does prefer the American system of education.

“I think [American education] is better at almost everything,” Lee said.

b um

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‘17

Ma s

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‘17

Tshingu ce ta n e

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO

PHOTOS BY PAIGE BRAZINA AND JEREMY HU DESIGN BY CATHERINE JU

Many high schoolers around the world share two problems: long school days and school lunch.

However, for Masumbuko Omari ’17, these were not issues.

“There’s no [school] lunch,” Omari said. “You went home to eat.”

Omari’s previous school in Kinshasa, Congo only had school from 7 a.m. to noon. He enjoyed this schedule more than West High’s schedule.

For extracurriculars, Omari enjoys the organized fashion of school sports at West more, but admits he felt more challenged by the level of play back in the Congo.

“Playing soccer was better [in the Congo],” Omari said. “Running, too.”

WSSPAPER.COM NOVEMBER 2015 FEATURE 17

P L A N N I N G

PLANNED

PA R E N T H O O D With the presidential campaign in full swing, Planned Parenthood is once again in the national eye. The West Side Story scopes out to see just how West High feels about the national issue.

BY DANETTA DOBRE

O

f all the controversial disputed, this latest outcry could topics debated on the lead to some major problems.

Although the ongoing controversy political stage for the 2016 presidential election, one threatens the nation as a whole with the temporary deadline managed to almost shut down the government of Dec. 11 to find a new this year: Planned solution that both sides can agree on looming Parenthood.

Planned Parenthood ever closer with each passing day, the subject is a reproductive health care provider that is particularly important receives funding from on an individual and the government. They community level.

English teacher Kerri provide contraceptives, Kerri Barnhouse Barnhouse has a exams and tests, counseling and abortions. While personal connection with the the services Planned Parenthood controversy. provides have always been “When I was in college, and as a

new teacher, I relied on [Planned Yoder said. “Sometimes Planned Parenthood] for my health care Parenthood is the only place where and so did a lot of people that I certain people can go for birth knew,” Barnhouse said. “It was all control and things that should be we could afford and accessible to everybody.”

Ariel Halvorsen ’17 is it was where a lot of college kids went to get against funding Planned information.”

Parenthood, mainly citing economic reasons.

Reagan GrieserYoder ’17 also supports “Government funding funding Planned of [Planned Parenthood] has caused a massive Parenthood.

“I think it provides Reagan Grieser-Yoder ’17 monopoly,” Halvorsen said.

“Planned a lot of great services for girls and women who are Parenthood should be abolished or sometimes in situations where put into private hands.”

One problem Barnhouse finds they need the services Planned Parenthood provides,” Grieser- amidst the controversy is the focus

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on abortion.

“I think [people who oppose funding] are zeroing in on one particular aspect of Planned Parenthood rather than looking at Planned Parenthood from a wider perspective,” Barnhouse said. “They’re not recognizing the many other things that Planned Parenthood does that are so, so good.”

Grieser-Yoder also finds herself frustrated at the misconception that abortion is the main service for Planned Parenthood.

“It’s a highly controversial topic DESIGN BY LEAH DUSTERHOFT

but Planned Parenthood does so Halvorsen dislikes the fact that much more for people than that,” many people consider Planned Grieser-Yoder said. “The first thing Parenthood the only provider of people think is [that low-priced health care if] we support Planned services, and believes Parenthood, [then] we Planned Parenthood support abortions and charges unfair prices for it’s like, no. We don’t.” contraceptives.

According to the “Planned Parenthood Planned Parenthood is just the only one website, taxpayer people think of because dollars are accepted for it is so big,” Halvorsen abortions only in the Ariel Halvorsen ’17 said. “It has drowned rarest of cases, with the out any competitors rest of the money going towards who would sell birth control at other services. a fair price because of all the

government funding Planned Parenthood receives.”

However, Barnhouse believes the reach of Planned Parenthood is underestimated.

“I don’t think people realize how much they benefit [from funding Planned Parenthood],” Barnhouse said. “I think that when people are safe and when people are educated and when people are protecting themselves and planning ahead and being conscious about their decisions, everybody benefits.”

WSSPAPER.COM NOVEMEBER 2015 FEATURE19

CAN A TH REA THO YO U ING L LY S E BAS SEE EYES ANY THIN I C WIT MO ? RA A L LY K O H CISM F YO LIKE T H E R E . KO R , BLA ISN’T EA A U AS SAM CKE E TH N YO U A M R TH ING D CHIN IDDL ’RE I ASIA A .

A TA L I N GIRL E NS A EAST YO U AN? , I’M . I D PA R T ERN I LO ON’ . I C , Y VE P T EV AN A S TA O U G U Y N EN E ACC V THA S !

E H R A EY C ENT T’S LL L TELL SO O A A O N YO ND K AW SPY? TELL U LIS K THE S AII! H OT DO M AME A T E R EN T OUT YO U E YO IF I !

O M SIDE SOU H AV U AC Y ND E AN TA K E TUA RIGH L ARR OFF T? A N G LY J U S T Y O TO U U JEW ED M A C R SC ISH. CH O A ARF MMU RRIA YO U G’ DA ! MY GE? NIS R HA Y MA FOR N I O T I R ’S SO T SE IS TE! ? YO SPEA YO U YO U R RA U M BAS K EN SPEA UST ICAL CE. GLIS B K LY W H. C E G E H N AT A GLIS OO OME R D H E YO ON, AT M U? C WELL SPEA AT H AN . TH K UP I IS IS ! SO EVER A D MER O Y YDA ICA, OU Y? T E AT YO U HEY’ R I C LL A BEC CCE E I’M N AUSE Y P T O OT U’RE BLAC B L AC R AC I S T, K. I HA K FR VE IEND YO U S! W PE HY A RE YO U OP L E S O L CAN O U ’T B TO E RA D? WHI C T E IST PEO SO YO U PLE. ’ RE G BAS OO KETB D AT A LL? LEG ARE A L LY YO U DON HERE ’T S ?

S O PEAK WHA T’S S PA N YO U BLAC Y O ISH? YO U UR A K PE ’RE N SIAN IT’S R Y S OU’R O OT ALM YO U NAM R E RE OST ’RE N N. WHY E? A L LY E A L LY A LIKE DO OT SIAN YO U PRET YO U MEX . ’RE N ICAN T S INDI AN? OT ? SO OUND W Y FOR A BLAC CAN H YO U K. HO YO U ’ R E A I T E ? WA H AV W D I T, REA E A DUM D? W O Y BLAC B AS OU E CA I K PR AN. S AY N’T ESID HELL THO BE R YO U ENT O IN . I’M ACIS UGH ARE YO U T IN BAS T IF ! AR ’RE N I D E YO C W IANS A OT E U AD MUS D O N L LY B L A YO U ONL O L C I ’ M P T K TED ’RE F ? I’M Y HA . I USE ? AR ROM NG SPO ALM E YO OUT O ? YO O NS. ST A U SU U’RE S TA R CUL WITH O E S O E THA N AS TURE T XOT T . SO HER LA IC. W ’S WHE TINO YO U RE HY D S? I’ ’RE N ME H O Y M SO O OW O T S OME U A PA TO YO U RT O I N TO YO KARA TWE TEA F T U R ARE

THINK

BEFORE YOU SPEAK

Throughout West High’s diverse community, many are subject to everyday racist comments. These small yet powerful statements are known as microaggressions, and they are rapidly increasing.

BY ISABELLE ROBLES & FENNA SEMKEN A white girl from Africa moves to the United States. When she arrives in class the principal remarks, “I wanted to let everyone know that we’ve got a new student joining us. She just moved here all the way from Africa.” The teacher looks to a black student and says, “Welcome!” only for the student to respond, “I’m from Michigan.”

Although this scene from the movie Mean Girls might have appeared as a clever one-liner, seemingly innocent phrases and miscommunications like those

happen every day.

Although unintended, what the teacher in Mean Girls said was a brief, verbal statement that communicated a negative racial slight to a person of color.

These statements are called racial microaggressions and are faced by West students and faculty.

Sharon Amazou ’18 has been exposed to such minimally racist comments.

“There was this one time when I said I was from Africa, and [someone] replied with a, ‘Really?

20 FEATURE NOVEMBER 2015 WSSPAPER.COM

You don’t look African,’ and I don’t know it kinda just got to me, like, how am I supposed to look?”

Amazou said.

Nada Ibrahim ’16, co-president of SSIKED, has been told in the past that she doesn’t act like her race.

“My friends would be like ‘Oh yeah, you’re not black’ whenever I’d say I’m black and I’m like ‘What do you mean?’ and they say ‘Well, you don’t act that way.’ Is it a bad thing to be black? Does a black person act a specific way? I told her you shouldn’t say that; I am black. Just

because I act a certain way doesn’t mean I’m not a certain race,” Ibrahim said.

Antonio Clipperton ’17 recollects a time in which a person commented on his appearance. He was told that he looks ‘so exotic.’

“I don’t think I should be exotic because as a person, we’re both the same, we’re both people, we’re both on the same level,” he said.

“When you put exotic you are kind of dehumanizing a person and putting them as like ‘you are on a lower standard, you aren’t on the

ACH RK. T E ! YO R H AT ME O ISIS? CA U’RE ’S SO T’S N R S I G U CH SO AMI? THU A N GHE G. B DO SING INJA T T U O T YO U LIKE ! TE . YO YO U A THA E AT U’RE ’RE M CH T. W DOG SO EXIC H AT D S I A ?

V N. ’S IT ERSE WHI YO U TE G YO U D. D LIKE R BA R FA O I N C R O L K S CA YA R D T HA M I LY N’T ? LIK VING COM E ANIM MUN YO U I LO IST? A DO VE Y CAN IN A LS IN OUR F YO U RICA ACC HOM DO ? IS ENT EWO SO M !

I Y R DOE CAN K M F A OR TH E AT S YO NEV ME? TA C UR F ER S DO OS AMIL AY Y YO U EVER OUR Y EVER YNIG NAM YON OW N A HT? E LIK E HA D WH DO YO U E TH S AN OJO O YO U ’ R E S E N I LO A R T. EQU H OK O B AL O SOMET AT Y AV E P O LO N H O W P I D N P .

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NTS Y N’T EVER Y TERR OU THI .

S EE C Y W NK K ORIS EEKE O LO IM J TS? ND? R. A O SO RE Y YO U NG U N O YO U I ’ UR S R E A G ’D B OD? E SO WA K B L AC K A BLAC E UP ND H OT K PE , LIN SMA I F YO RSO Y O G RT? U N. W LO N HY D ’RE REA U WERE G. L WHI O Y LY P TE. OU RETT SOU Y FOR ND WHI A TE? WA I T, CAN A TH THO REA Y O ING ARE L S U LY S E EY A BAS EE W THIN ES? ICAL NYMOR R ITH K O A L E CISM Y TH . KO F YO LIKE REA E SA , BLA ISN’T U AS A ME T CKE YO U A M R TH HING ND CHIN IDDL ’RE I ASIA A . GI TA L I N E NS A EAST YO U RL, I A AN? . I D PA R T ERN ’M I LO ON’ . I C , Y VE P T EV AN A S TA O U G U Y NEV EN ACC S AL SO ! HE ER T K AW Y C L E E N L L L T O AN AII! OK AND YO U ARE THE TELL DO OUT Y L SAM O I S Y T U M OU E SIDE E A N E! CTU IF I H AV TO TA K E A S M E L O L Y A U Y N OFF ND JUST ARR RIGH YO U A C T? T R SC ANGED TO U O MMU H AT MAR G’ DA ARF CH N ’S ! MY RIAG IST YO U Y MA S R HA N E P T Y ?

O E ?

S I !

T’S E IS IR? Y YO U YO U SPEA SO BAS R RA OU SPEA K EN I M C C K U A L LY H OT E GLIS ST B . WH ENG H. C JEW E G LISH O O AT A R E ISH. OME WEL D AT YO U L ON, FOR ? CA M AT SPEA H. T N I K U HIS IS A EVER P! SO D MER O Y YDA ICA, OU Y? T E AT YO U HEY’ R LL A BEC CCE ICE I’M N AUSE Y PT O OT U’RE BLAC B L AC R AC I S T, K. I HA WHY K FRIEN VE DS! AR

THA

84%*

OF STUDENTS HAVE WITNESSED A RACIST COMMENT DIRECTED TOWARDS SOMEONE AT SCHOOL

same page as me.’”

Amazou has also received comments that, although seem to take a complimentary tone, are racist. She has been told ‘You’re pretty for a black girl’ or ‘You don’t act black’. For Amazou, hearing these statements is difficult to respond to.

“In my opinion the hardest thing about it is how you should react to it,” she said. “It’s like, if you act all angry ... about it, people’ll say that you’re overreacting, that you shouldn’t take it so seriously. And I agree, things ignorant people say shouldn’t be taken so seriously, but I feel if you just brush it off you’re encouraging that type of behavior, and letting it just happen. So to me, it’s pretty much a lose-lose situation.”

Akar Jani ’16 thinks that oftentimes these statements go unnoticed because only a reaction will stimulate realization. For that reason, reaction is necessary, in his opinion.

“I think if they say it and then you react to it, it’s only then they realize [what they said],” he said.

“People don’t feel like they should

24% FROM TEACHERS 76% FROM STUDENTS

*out of 345 students surveyed

respond, but they take it personally. maybe thinking about that a little are embedded into our culture.

They don’t realize until they’re told, differently.’”

We went from a society that and this is why it keeps happening, The Truth Squad, created by enslaved bodies, forced people because no one wants to stand up University of Iowa Sociology into reservation camps and openly to them.” student Chanelle Thomas, helps terrorized people of color, to a After years of dealing with students at West become more society that said ‘We don’t tolerate microaggressions, Spanish teacher attuned to microaggressive such behaviors anymore’,” Thomas Carmen Gwenigale has found an statements and learn how to handle said. “There are few people who are appropriate reaction. them. content with being racist, but most “I’m always one to walk away “The Truth Squad is a place people don’t want to be viewed as … [but] if you decide to confront where students can come and such. Most people who engage in someone, confront learn about issues such microaggressions aren’t even aware them [by]trying to as microaggressions. of their impact. That shows you ... teach them where It is also important how embedded it is in our culture.” they’re wrong, but in for individuals to When encountered with these an educational matter. learn how to heal and experiences, Gwenigale reminds Because if not, your deal with the impacts students to keep their peace of message is not going to of racism and racial mind. come across,” she said. m i c r o a g g r e s s i o n s ,” “There will be moments where AP Psychology teacher, Sharon Amazou ’18 Thomas said. “For they do not get it, do not understand Travis Henderson, agrees example, the Truth because they aren’t saying it from that the smartest way to respond Squad actively works toward the badness, the meanness of their with comments is to try to politely exposing students to a community hearts, and there will be moments correct them. This way, these where they can find camaraderie, where they will just dismiss you unintended, culturally accepted and learn how to engage in self- again. My mom always used to tell comments can be intercepted. care. Most importantly, The Truth me ‘You can’t fight crazy.’ If it’s not “People should, if they hear Squad is a place where students can sinking in, if your message isn’t a microaggression, not in a come to increase their knowledge.” coming through, you just walk combative way, but in a kind way, Despite the efforts, Thomas away, just let it go.” should be like, ‘Wow, you just believes microaggressions will be said this, here’s how some people difficult to eradicate. might perceive it. Here’s a way of “I feel like microaggressions WSSPAPER.COM NOVEMBER 2015 FEATURE 21

FADING

Signs of religion are everywhere; on the doors of places of worship that occupy almost every block downtown, in the shared posts of devout Facebook friends and even on roadside billboards that warn of preparation for the rapture. Religion may seem like it’s as prevalent as ever, but lately the young people of America are turning away from religion and religious affiliation.

We know it’s happening, but what we don’t know is why.

PHOTO BY CHANEL VIDAL

FAITH

BY CAMERON COOK & ELEANOR HO

A

ccording to a survey by Pew Research in 2014, 36% of young millennials identify as atheist, agnostic or “nothing in particular,” and this number is at an all time high. It would make sense for the trend to continue and that an ever increasing number of West students would be non-religious.

Though that may be, there are still those who take their faith very seriously.

“I consider myself very religious,” said Laura Fletcher ’17. “I probably spend more than 15 hours on religious type stuff every week. I go to a church activity on Wednesday night [and] also go to a church class for an hour every morning.

[Then] three hours on Sunday, and occasionally activities on Saturday as well.”

Ali Ali ’17 is a relatively religious Sunni Muslim.

“I pray five times a day and I read the book when I can, but there are definitely people who are more religious than me,” Ali said.

Chirag Jain ’18 follows Jainism, a religion he describes as resembling a mixture of Hinduism and Buddhism, the end goal of which is to become achieve detachment from the world.

“I was brought up listening to

what I’m supposed to do, being vegetarian, doing my prayers and all that. I began more religious than I am right now,” Jain said.

“I don’t believe in a God,” said Emma Christison ’16. “I call myself agnostic because of that idea of questioning what’s bigger than we are. I believe in a higher power, but I believe that it’s something that’s completely incomprehensible to people, and I believe the same about an afterlife.”

to believe that it’s not my job to try to give us a sense of faith in Iowa, the admissions office sends question religion, but to accept that something in the world, but they me your name and address,” Mons people believe in all sorts of things.” try not to give us a specific person said. “We send out four mailings Nadav Cohen ’16 feels as though to worship, because we as a family to those folks. One says ‘send this self addressed mailing his own parents’ religious passivity are so different in the way that we think about envelope back to us’. contributed to his own.

PARENTAL If we get 10 percent of “I don’t know exactly things.”

PROMINENCE Nasim Abu-Dagga ’17 those back, that’s great.” what my parents Most people are born The fact that they’re believe; they never also has parents with into their religions, leaving is evident. But pushed anything onto different religions–his leaving little room the real question is why me and my sister,” father is Muslim and his for movement until mother Christian. they’re doing so.

Cohen said. they’re old enough to “It made me view Emma Christison ’16 One reason for the In contrast, some understand what they’re Ali Ali ’17 relative abandonment parents try but fail to religion less of one doing. of organized religion instill religion into their singular idea that has to Thomas Wagner ’18 be right,” Abu-Dagga said. “I was seems to be its failure to evolve children. is the son of an Episcopal priest, “I’m a Buddhist. My parents are able to choose what I wanted to with the ideals of modern culture. and has never had thoughts about “I feel like it’s because of the new both strictly Catholic and I guess I believe.” changing religions. values in our society,” Fletcher never fit [in],” said Jena Shaver ’17. LOSING THEIR RELIGION “I could’ve had a choice, but I really “I would pray when I was a little The general consensus is that said. “Religion is seen as less of a like the Episcopal church,” Wagner kid, with my step-dad every night, young people are walking away normal thing; it’s the thing that said. “It’s a really nice church and weird people do, people that aren’t and that kind of stopped because I from religion. everyone is so accepting.” didn’t feel obligated to “Increasingly, we see as smart or aren’t intellectual, and Information about other religions pray.” a sort of ‘shopping’ it’s not popular anymore.” isn’t excessively hard to find, so it’s Another may be the fact that When parents have approach to religion, a true belief in one’s initial religion regular religious activity doesn’t one religion, the in which people take a that makes him or her stick to it. decision to be made little of this and a little of work into the busy flow of modern “I’ve learned about other religions is whether or not to that to cobble together a day life. like Christianity and Buddhism, “It might have something to do impress that religion religion that makes sense and some of the flaws that I find with going to church and doing on the next generation. to them,” said Jenna in there I don’t find [in Islam],” Ali But when parents have Jenna Supp-Montgomerie Supp - Mont g om e r i e , religious things is not as much a said. “Most of the questions I’ve substantially different an assistant professor part of our daily lives as it would asked have been answered to my religions, they have to decide what of theology at the University of have a long time ago,” Cohen said. satisfaction, so that’s why I haven’t One of these ideals is that to do with their kids’ faiths.

Iowa. “This allows more people changed.”

“My mom is Jewish and my dad to find religious practices that millennials want to know exactly Not all parents encourage their what they’re getting was raised Catholic,” feel comfortable and children to follow into. said Grace Huber ’16. can address some their religious beliefs, “To me, one of the “My parents decided issues of exclusion by however. biggest [reasons] is not to be super religious institutional religion, “I was raised in that millennials value because it was difficult such as the exclusion of Tennessee, in the Bible authenticity,” Mons to kind of combine the LGBT people.”

Belt, and my parents said.

“One of their two.”

Max Mons is a West didn’t want me to go mantras is ‘Tell me who Huber’s parents take parent and a Missouri with what everyone Thomas Wagner ’18 you really are and what Nasim Abu-Dagga ’17 a relatively hands- Synod Lutheran else was going with. My you’re about’ and you off approach to their reverend, and he runs a mom sent me to Jewish need to do that. I don’t think you children’s religion. parish with mostly college students.

Community Center camps and “We never went to church or “If you take the ACT and self- need to make church look cool or took me to India where I learned went to synagogue very often, only identify as Lutheran Church hip or anything like that, just [tell about Hinduism,” Christison said. for specific ceremonies,” Huber Missouri Synod, and you’re them] who you really are and what “It’s not so much that I was raised said. “Mostly my mom and dad accepted into [the University of] you believe. There are some church under a religion than I was raised Both the ultra-religious and only slightly spiritual have a presence in West’s hallways, but their respective religions didn’t appear out of thin air; they had to be learned.

DESIGN BY LILY WESTEMEYER GRAPHICS BY LEAH DUSTERHOFT

bodies that aren’t doing that.”

“The Bible and the Torah are children to be as constrained as down to that religion is having Jain attributes his own lack of becoming outdated,” Huber said. they were when they were young. trouble continuing to keep young interest in religion to the fact that “The stories can be translated and “Both my parents were raised people occupied and interested.

“I slowly started not to believe in he’s not totally sure of what he’s the ideas can be formed into what Catholic. My mom’s side was very my religion,” Jain said. “I doing. is still being practiced strictly Catholic, and think it’s pretty logical “I’m supposed to today, but it’s still hard my mom was kind of for religion to decline believe in God but I kind to read those things and disturbed by how much as time goes on. In this of don’t,” Jain said. “It still say that you believe religion was enforced on age, probably everyone’s used to be just ‘say these the things that you do.” her,” Christison said. questioning everything prayers, do these things,’ Another viewpoint It’s also worth it to note there is.” but it’s in a language I is that today’s young that young people are don’t know. I just said people just don’t care, exposed to much more HABITS DIE HARD Max Mons them and learned it. As I Nadav Cohen ’16 and want to spend their diversity now then they So is this the death grew up, I was like, ‘what time on what they see to were thirty years ago, of religion in our age? does that even mean?’ And then be more important things. and that not all social relationships Most devotees disagree, and think my grandparents couldn’t explain “I don’t want to sound like an revolve around religious groups. that there’s a way for the religious it to me, so I kind of just slowly old man,” Wagner said. “But kids “People are … just submerged associations to accommodate with started to believe less. At this point these days aren’t focusing on their into a place where there’s all the changing times.

I just question everything, and then religion as much as they used to. different people and all different “We’re kind of like a potluck I [get] no answer, and then I’m like A lot of people aren’t religious backgrounds,” place,” Wagner said. “We have all ‘that’s why I don’t believe in God’.” putting in the effort, and Christison said. kinds of religions in Iowa, and I Furthermore, religion doesn’t if they did put in the Huber notes that this think that the Episcopal church is seem to hold the answers to all effort, then they would is one of the first times very accepting of other religions.” of life’s questions like it used to. believe more.” throughout history At his church, Mons has an As more things become possible Additionally, there’s where religious schools informal bible study group where through technology, religion a chance that how and institutions are not the students come with their own doesn’t hold the same mystique as organized religion has the main thing bringing questions and the discussion stems it once did. This oftentimes makes been set up just doesn’t everyone together.

Jena Shaver ’17 from there. it easy for young people to become agree with most young “I feel like I have “We’ve talked about heaven disenchanted with the entire people. contact with people and and hell, we’ve talked about life religious system.

“I think religion is a really good I have no idea what their religion issues, sexual issues get discussed, “There’s always been thing in general to have even is,” Huber said. “It’s marriage issues get talk about how science in your life, to have not as much of a factor discussed. What’s going will solve everything, something that you in who you’re meeting on in the world today? and how we can just be kind of believe in, but and who you’re forming Does this impact my spiritual without having it doesn’t have to be relationships with.” life or does it not impact a religion necessarily,” an organized religion,” Abu-Dagga religiously my life? Do I need to be Ali said. “Some people Huber said. “Organized identifies as atheist, and thinking about this or do think of [religion] as religion works for some seems to agree.

I not need to be thinking restriction, and I’ve people, but I don’t “I’m not religious, Laura Fletcher ’17 about this? The topics Grace Huber ’16 heard of Muslims that think that it works we don’t see a need for really range widely.” quit their religion for everybody, and if religion in our lives One thing is for sure, and that because they didn’t want to be held you just think for yourself, you’ll anymore,” Abu-Dagga said. “Lots is that an upheaval in religious back.” eventually figure out what you of families don’t see the need to go practices could mean anything for The resolution many millennials think the world is.” to church every Sunday and there’s the country and the world. come to is that most of what Yet another reason could be a not really a space for it to fill that “Religion is a lifestyle,” Ali said. religious texts hold isn’t viable in counter movement by Generation there used to be.”

“It’s not just ‘I believe in this God,’ this day in age.

X parents that don’t want their At the end, it all really comes that’s not enough; there’s more to it.

It’s a way of life.”

TRICKED INTO

TREATS COMPILED BY OLIVIA READ & JEREMY HU

The West Side Story recommends ways to transform your leftover Halloween candy into delicious baked treats.

M&M KITKAT BROWNIES A twist on the typical brownies, these chocolate-y treats are boosted by the crunch of leftover M&Ms and KitKat bars to make the experience a whole lot sweeter.

Recipe:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. 2. Line a 9x9-inch square baking pan with parchment paper.

3. Place butter and chocolate in a large heatproof bowl set over a pot of simmering water and stir until melted.

4. Remove the bowl from the heat and whisk in the sugar.

5. Whisk in the eggs one at a time until fully incorporated and then stir in the vanilla.

6. Fold in the flour and salt.

7. Pour half the batter into the prepared pan and place a layer of KitKat on top then cover with the remaining batter and sprinkle M&M’s evenly over the batter.

8. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with only a few crumbs, about 40 to 45 minutes.

9. Let it cool in the pan for about 15 minutes then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

10. Cut into 9 pieces and enjoy.

Yields 9 3-inch squares Recipe adapted from MarthaStewart.com

Ingredients:

1 stick of unsalted butter 8 ounces bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped 1 ½ cups sugar 4 large eggs 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract ¾ cup all-purpose flour ½ teaspoon salt KitKat and M&Ms, or any other chocolate

26 ENTERTAINMENT NOVEMBER 2015 WSSPAPER.COM

GRAPHICS BY OLIVIA READ PHOTO BY MEG MORELAND DESIGN BY OLIVIA READ

Recipe:

SNICKERS CHEESECAKE

CRUST 1. Preheat the oven to 325°F. 2. In a food processor, pulse the cookies until they are Spice up the average cheesecake finely ground crumbs. Add the butter and pulse until by adding in some Snickers bars and moistened. chocolate for a flavorful change.

3. Press the crumb mixture into the bottom and halfway up the sides of a 9-inch springform pan.

Ingredients: 4. Bake for 10 minutes and place on a wire rack to cool.

CRUST CHEESECAKE FILLING 30 Oreo cookies 1. Meanwhile, in the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the 6 tablespoons melted unsalted butter cream cheese until smooth. Add the eggs one at a time, CHEESECAKE FILLING beating until smooth in between.

32 ounces softened cream cheese 2. Add in the sugar, cream, and vanilla and beat until 5 eggs 1 ½ cups lightly packed light brown sugar combined, do not overbeat. Stir in the Snickers.

3. Pour the batter into the cooled crust and bake for ½ cup heavy cream about 1 hour or until set and the top looks slightly dry.

1 teaspoon vanilla 4. Cool the cheesecake to room temperature on a wire 18 fun-size Snickers bars, coarsely rack and then refrigerate until completely chilled, at least chopped 4 hours.

TOPPING TOPPING 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips 1. Place the chocolate chips in a medium heatproof bowl. ½ cup heavy cream 9 fun-size Snickers bars, coarsely chopped In a small saucepan heat the cream until barely simmering and pour over the chocolate chips.

2. Let sit for 3 minutes then stir until the chocolate is smooth and melted.

3. Pour the ganache over the cheesecake, it’s fine if it drips down the sides and sprinkle the Snickers over the top of the cheesecake.

Yields 16 slices Recipe adapted from HandletheHeat.com

REESE’S NO-CHURN ICE CREAM Transform this cold, creamy snack and skip the hassle of churning by recreating this recipe using leftover Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups.

Ingredients:

14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk ½ cup creamy peanut butter 2 cups heavy cream 1 ½ cups Mini Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups halved

Recipe:

1. Pour the sweetened condensed milk in a large bowl.

2. Microwave the peanut butter for 10-15 seconds until it can be easily stirred and stir into the sweetened condensed milk.

3. Beat the heavy cream until stiff peaks form and gently fold the whipped cream into the sweetened condensed milk.

4. Pour a layer of the ice cream base into a 9x5 loaf pan and add a layer of Reese’s.

5. Add another layer of the ice cream base and Reese’s.

Repeat until the loaf pan is full and sprinkle more Reese’s on top.

6. Freeze for at least 6 hours.

Yields 5 cups Recipe adapted from LiterallyDarling.com

WSSPAPER.COM NOVEMBER 2015 ENTERTAINMENT 27

MOVIE REVIEW

BY EBONY MCKEEVER

D

irected by Guillermo del Toro, Crimson Peak is a movie branded in the horror genre. But, to use the words of the main character, Edith, it is not so much a ghost story as it is a story with ghosts in it.

Starring Mia Wasikowska, Tom Hiddleston and Jessica Chastain, Crimson Peak begins when Edith (Mia Wasikowska) is seduced by a mysterious Baronet and is whisked away to the dilapidated mansion of Crimson Peak. As the story progresses, we find that this manor is stained with more than just the blood-red clay from which it was named, and Edith finds herself in a maddening nightmare as she attempts to uncover its secrets.

The world del Toro brings to the screen is beautiful, the script is impeccable and the cinematography has its fair share of excellently framed shots and brilliant colors.

All this being said, the plot has the potential to be far greater than it proves to be. It is well built and holds all the necessary components for a good story, yet never develops past this point. Crimson Peak seems to hold the air of mystery, but in reality it is predictable. Not only did I find myself knowing what was going to happen ages before it occurred, but I was also let down by the simplicity of it all.

Similarly, the title characters all have the potential to be so much

A

ALBUM REVIEW

fter an exhausting four year wait, Neon Indian’s Alan Palomo has finally unveiled his new album Vega Intl.

Night School. On his newest album, the chillwave pioneer peels away his layers of ambience that saturate his older releases and in turn create a sound that is much more precise and clean. Vega Intl. Night School begins in a similar way as his previous album, Era Extraña, starting the experience for the listener by throwing a psychedelic electronic minute in their face and following it up with one of the top tracks on the album, titled “Annie”.

Along with this new clean sound, Palomo keeps his dreamlike vocals in the mix, leaving his new music

GRAPHICS BY OLIVIA READ DESIGN BY MADDIE MORIYAMA

more than they are. The movie has strong female presences that demand the audience’s attention, but despite this fact they fall flat.

While this might not bother some viewers, it makes it extremely difficult to form any genuine attachment to the characters.

In the end, the film was able to hold my attention for the 1 hour and 59 minutes it carried on, but it lacked any definitive factor to set it apart from any other macabre film.

The plot is flat and predictable, and the characters fail to inspire any genuine feelings. To put it frankly, when compared to some of del Toro’s more well known works, Crimson Peak falls short.

28 ENTERTAINMENT NOVEMBER 2015 WSSPAPER.COM

BY NICK DEERBERG

with a remnant of his first two albums.

After looking at Palomo’s classic 16-bit synths, the similarities between Night School and previous titles start to fade out.

The songs on Vega Intl. Night School have a certain groove that could be compared to disco, something that is not entirely new to Palomo’s music but is now much more refined. Where 2011 Neon Indian made you want to go to the beach with some good friends on a cool summer evening, 2015 Neon Indian gets the listener in the mood to pack up their beach towel and drive to the nearest 1970’s nightclub.

The one clear downside that is

present in Vega Intl. Night School is how similar some of the songs are. It’s as if Palomo wanted certain tracks to fade smoothly into each other, but then forgot to change anything but the lyrics. This makes the album feel like one long experience which in itself isn’t a bad thing, but at the same time it makes distinguishing songs much harder than it should be.

After a long period of experimenting, Palomo has finally completed the album he’s been working on for four years, and his album is proof of that. Vega Intl.

Night School is an album that you’ll revisit often but never grow tired of.

1

2 3 COMPILED BY LEXI SHAFFER PHOTOS BY MEG MORELAND

Megan Kann ’16 has a car older than most college students, coming in at 24 years old. Here, she shares the eight reasons why her ’91 Volvo deserves the title of POS of the month.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Three of the headlights are broken, so I got pulled over by a cop driving home late at night and it was very scary because the cop was kind of mean. We can’t fix the lights because ... they stopped making them. There is clear duct tape holding the lights on.

One time the grate in the front of the car was stolen by some kids on the street. So we had to drive around with chicken wire [attached] so nothing flew into our car. It was really sad until we got a new one. Another time the windows got shot out, but that was with a beebee gun.

The doors are so heavy that weak children can’t open them.

So when I drive my friends around I have to open the doors for them. You have to use both hands to open [the driver’s side door] because there are latches on both sides so you have to pull both ways.

When you drive, the entire front of the car rattles so if you get annoyed you just put your hand on it. So you drive one-handed and put your other hand on the dashboard.

My oldest sister, when she first got it, was scraping the ice off the car and broke the antenna off the back so the radio doesn’t work.

There is a sun roof that you crank open by hand, but it leaks so when it rains and you drive downhill, it will pour into your lap.

The seat buckles in the back don’t retract anymore so you just sit in a pool of seat buckle strap.

The seats are all compressed from the [24] years of driving.

The car is ... older than all of my siblings.

FOR MORE COVERAGE, GO TO WSSPAPER.COM

DESIGN BY KATIE FUHRMEISTER

WSSPAPER.COM NOVEMBER 2015 ENTERTAINMENT 29

T.V. show?

American Friends Horror Story

Find WSS on Snapchat at wsspaper

Turn up

Club going up!!

To the extreme!

Are you living large?

No, school is literally eating me alive

COMPILED BY FENNA SEMKEN AND ABBY JANS CC IMAGES COURTESY OF GAGE SKIDMORE, JD HANCOCK, DAVID SHANKBONE, ERIC BRODER VAN DYKE AND BD TULHIN DESIGN BY CATHERINE JU

Homework of course

Spotify

Spotify or Pandora?

Pandora

Disney or Pixar?

Pixar

Disney

Of course!

Choose a Donald.. .

Pumpkin spice?

Not about that lifetoo original

SNAPCHAT

AA

AAA AA

CE NAA

A A A A AA

Turn up or turnip?

AA

HN

Meme?

AAA J O

AA

Pizza 4ever

Coke

Foods?

I love it like no other

Tuesday night plans?

Chocolate is my comfort food

Coke or Pepsi?

Pepsi Yes, I live for the day it comes out

Do you love WSS?

FILTER ARE YOU?

WHICH

Netflix

Nope

START

What is life?

Are you living your wildest dreams or just shaking it off?

BothTswizzle is What? my life

How do you garden?

What are those!! Water those (flowers)

Buzzfeed quizzes

Snapchat

Twitter

Kanye or Kim?

Social media site?

Insta

FASHION ICONS OF THE

21ST CENTURY C elebrity style can often seem unattainable. Airbrushed images of red carpet looks and glamorous street style shots can discourage even the most seasoned fashionista; however, this issue, the West Side Story decided to ease these style qualms by putting together easy looks that mimic your favorite celebrity style icons.

In order to be as aloof and art goth as Lorde, you’re going to need a lot of black, some band t-shirts, dark lipstick and a jean jacket. You’ll also need a terrifyingly indifferent attitude which is, unfortunately, not sold in stores.

T-shirt | $11.99 Amazon Jean jacket | $80.00 Levi’s Little White Lies Lace Swing Dress | $68.00 ASOS Choker | $3.90 Forever 21

32 ENTERTAINMENT NOVEMBER 2015 WSSPAPER.COM

Kanye is kind of like an adult Lorde but with more camels and beiges.

Consider hitting up your preferred fur coat repository and buying all of the XL hoodies from the Goodwill mens section. Never smile again.

Fur coat | Ragstock Star print sweatpants | $17.90 Forever 21 Publish Sprinter Jogger Pants | $84.00 Urban Outfitters White hoodie | $15.00 Amazon

T Swift’s look is all about hiding the fact that you’re from the south by layering yourself in as many layers of good old East Coast ambiance as possible. Lots of earth tones, neutral colors and styles that look like they came right out of an Ivy League library.

Striped turtleneck top | $10.90 Black high waisted shorts | $5.99 Forever 21 Jorts | $27.99 Target Foxy shirt | $14.99 TJ Maxx Striper CVO | $59.95 Sperry DESIGN BY TAYLOR LIBBY AND SARAH LOGNMIRE COMPILED BY KELSEY KERANEN PHOTOS BY CHANEL VIDAL

WSSPAPER.COM NOVEMBER 2015 ENTERTAINMENT 33

PETER TEARSE AND

ALL THAT JAZZ

BY JUNHEE LEE

J

azz. To the audience, it’s the cool, swinging and smooth flowing music that brings to mind a sultry saxophone and a resonating bass line. To the musician, it’s not nearly as easy as it may sound. The distinct playing style, articulations, dynamics and, most importantly, the improvisation makes jazz an intricate musical genre that even renowned classical musicians can’t master.

But for tenor saxophonist Peter Tearse ’16, playing jazz is more than a daily ritual; it’s the art form that he devotes his life to.

Tearse first picked up the alto saxophone in fifth grade but switched to the tenor saxophone two years later. Around the same time, he began playing jazz by

34 ENTERTAINMENT NOVEMBER 2015 WSSPAPER.COM

DESIGN BY BARBARA BADOVINAC

participating in his junior high jazz band. Without experience in the genre, Tearse had his doubts about joining.

“To be honest, I really did not want to do it. The idea of soloing freaked me out,” Tearse said Although some parts of jazz music are written out on paper, most of the notes in a solo are spontaneous, hence the term improvisation.

While this was initially concerning, the transition wasn’t a problem for Tearse, who now plays in the West High Jazz Ensemble for his fourth and final year. By now a comfortable improviser and a jazz fanatic, Tearse is finding new ways to play jazz outside of the school band.

“I currently play in two jazz combos. I am involved with a combo made up of West students: Jacob Nishimura ’16, Kai Trepka ’16, Ned Furlong ’17, Joel Tansey ’16 and myself. It is a fun group that I hope to play with more often.

My main combo is called the Iowa Youth Jazz Collective,” Tearse said.

Unlike the large jazz bands at West High, a jazz combo generally consists of three to five people PHOTOS BY JEREMY HU

and revolves around players’ improvisation.

Although he enjoys the big band setting of the Jazz Ensemble, Tearse values the individual input that he gets when playing in a combo.

“I like playing in combos more as they allow me to express myself more. I also have the ability to arrange pieces in ways that make the music more interesting to me,” Tearse said.

However, just playing jazz wasn’t enough for Tearse; he wanted to give other people the opportunity to express themselves as well. He did this by creating the Jazz Club.

“I wanted to create an environment where anybody that plays any kind of instrument could come together and jam out,” Tearse said. “I believe Jazz Club is the perfect place to experiment or just to practice soloing.”

Tearse jams with other musicians every Thursday at the club, frequently helping other musicians with technique and blues improvisation while playing a few licks himself. Because of the low stress environment for jazz players of all levels, Jazz Club is helping

musicians not only by improving their technique but by exposing them to jazz music.

“I’m getting better at solos. I’m not much of a soloist,” said Ryan Mercado ’18, who improvises with Tearse at the Jazz Club. “I’m going to be in jazz band and I was interested in how it was going to be like and it turned out to be really fun.”

In addition to the playing aspect of the Jazz Club, Tearse is able to showcase his leadership and teaching skills at these unique jam sessions. According to Rich Medd, one of the band directors at West High, Tearse’s leadership is a major benefit to both the Jazz Club and Tearse’s musical career.

“What’s really cool is to see him grow not only musically but as a leader and take charge ... of the jazz program and push the other students. I think they’re following along in his footsteps,” Medd said.

“When you have a music career nowadays teaching is more likely going to be a part of it. He seems to enjoy the teaching aspect a lot.

I’m excited to see where [he] goes.”

Although the club has only met

for a few weeks this year, it already has more than twenty members and is gaining momentum. In light of his success, Tearse has big hopes for the club in the coming years.

“I would love to see Jazz Club extend beyond just students involved with jazz band. I would also like to extend Jazz Club to performances outside of school; I want to have Jazz Club not only make people feel comfortable playing jazz in a school setting, but also outside of that,” Tearse said.

In addition to his hopes for Jazz Club, Tearse has high hopes for himself as a musician; he plans to pursue Jazz Studies in college and is already applying to schools with solid jazz programs. Although Tearse recognizes that being a jazz musician won’t be easy, he remains optimistic when looking towards the future.

“It takes a lot of work to be notable nowadays, [but] I have always appreciated the amount of sophistication that comes with jazz. In the future I am going to ... practice a lot more and also do some more transcribing of ‘the greats’ to get better.”

WSSPAPER.COM NOVEMBER 2015 ENTERTAINMENT 35

Monday - Friday: 7:30 AM - 5:30 PM Saturday: Appointment only Sunday: Closed

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Services Include: Heating and Cooling Brakes Tires

SPORTS

RISING STAR

RACHAEL SAUNDERS West Side Story: When did you first start playing basketball? What made you want to start?

Rachael Saunders: I started when I was in fifth grade. My dad’s friend coached a local basketball team and [he told me] to go out and try it, and I did.

WSS: Who is your biggest supporter?

RS: My dad and my mom. They get me everywhere and they come to every tournament and practice.

They usually pump me up before a game and then they tell me what I did great and what I didn’t do as well.

WSS: What is your best memory from last season?

RS: Last season was really fun.

My team was really nice and great and we worked really well together.

I think one of my best memories is when we beat Southeast Polk in the first round [of state] with Danielle Craig’s ’15 [three pointer] towards the end of the game. That was ... a really great team moment.

WSS: What are you looking forward to this season?

DESIGN BY GABBY SKOPEC

RS: I’m looking forward to our team building. We have a pretty young team this year so I’m looking forward to us growing together and hopefully doing well together. I’m a little nervous about not having last year’s seniors here this year, but I think we will do fine together and I think our coaches will prepare us

PHOTO BY PAIGE BRAZINA

really close and we do everything together during the season.

WSS: What are you hoping to improve by the end of the season?

RS: Personally I hope to be a better leader this year. I also hope our team can become a well-oiled machine and do all that we can.

WSS: Do you play club? If so,

“Give 150 percent. Give more than you think you can and play to the best of your ability.”

-Rachael Saunders ‘18

well.

WSS: What is your favorite part about basketball? About basketball at West?

RS: My favorite part about basketball is the competitiveness of the sport and winning a game ... but also learning from a loss.

My favorite part about West High basketball is our team. We are

then how has that helped you while playing at West?

RS: I play for the Iowa Barnstormers. It helps me stay in shape over the summer because we don’t do much with high school basketball. It has also helped me to get stronger and be more competitive so I can apply that to our game pace during the high

school season.

WSS: What motivates you when you have a bad game or practice?

RS: Just the thought that maybe that could be your last mistake.

And knowing that you can learn from it and hopefully not make that same mistake in the next game.

Or if I have an off game then I just say, “The next game will be better, I’m going to make it better than this game.”

WSS: Do you feel any extra pressure being an underclassman on the varsity team?

RS: I get along with the seniors and juniors really well so it’s not that hard being younger and I really value their opinions. No [I don’t feel any extra pressure]. I think being part of a team, you all have to contribute what you can.

They don’t expect more than I can give.

WSS: What’s the best piece of advice a teammate or a coach has given you?

RS: Give 150 percent. Give more than you think you can and play to the best of your ability.

COMPILED BY LEXI SHAFFER

WSSPAPER.COM NOVEMBER 2015 SPORTS 37

FALL SPORTS RECAP

ABOVE: Girls cross country poses for a team photo.

TOP RIGHT: Nicole Alden ’18 prepares to push off of the wall into a backstroke.

ABOVE: Emma Norris ‘17 and Ali Tauchen ‘16 block a spike from City High during the Battle of the Spike.

BELOW: Morgan Brunk ‘16 swims butterfly at a meet.

ABOVE: Oliver Martin ’17 breaks a tackle against City High in the Battle of the Boot.

LEFT: Matthew Schneider ‘16 competes at a cross country meet.

BELOW: Natalie Trout ‘17 and Lexee Nicole ‘17 cheer on the crowd at a home football game.

BOTTOM: The West High varsity football team prepares themselves for their game against City High.

PHOTOS BY SARAH LONGMIRE, ISABELLE ROBLES, JEREMY HU AND CHANEL VIDAL

38

COMPILED BY MIRIAM PEREZ DESIGN BY LEXI SHAFFER

FOOTBALL

The football team had a rough start to the season. They lost their opening four games to highly ranked teams including Cedar Rapids Washington, Cedar Rapids Kennedy and West Des Moines Valley, respectively. The Trojans picked up steam towards the end of the season to make it into the playoffs where they faced CR Prairie on Oct. 28 at West High.

VOLLEYBALL

The Volleyball team has been very consistent all season. They have a record of 25-11 and have received very strong play from their junior class, including KCRG Athlete of the Week, Emma Norris. After defeating City High in the Battle of the Spike earlier in the year, they faced them again on Oct. 29 in the MVC tournament in hopes for qualifying for state.

GIRLS SWIMMING

The girls swim team rounded off their regular season with a record of 7-1, losing only to sixth ranked Cedar Falls. The team placed fourth at the MVC Super Meet, placing third in their conference. The team competed at regionals on Oct. 29 and 31. State will be held on Nov. 6 and 7.

CROSS COUNTRY

The boys and girls cross country teams both had successful seasons. Both teams qualified for the state meet that took place on Oct. 31 in Fort Dodge. (For coverage of the state cross country meet visit wsspaper.com). The boys spent the entire season ranked in the top 15, peaking at fifth ranked mid-season. The girls were ranked second in the state four weeks during the nine week season and were ranked in the top 15 all season.

TOP: The student section throws into the air during the homecoming game against Davenport Central.

ABOVE: Emma Norris ‘17 looks on as Madison Ford ‘17 dives for the ball.

BELOW: Tia Saunders ‘16 runs at a girls cross country meet.

BOTTOM LEFT: The girls XC team cheers on their teammates as they recieve awards at the Heartland Invitational.

BOTTOM RIGHT: Devontae Lane ‘17 sets his helmet down to grab water.

BOYS GOLF

The boys golf team finished their season on October 6 at their district meet where the team placed 4th and did not advance to the state meet. Senior JD Goodfellow was the lone Trojan to advance to the state meet on Oct. 9 where he placed 9th. Goodfellow shot a 77 in both days of the tournament.

39

GOT A

SECRET, CAN YOU KEEP IT? COMPILED BY CHRISTINA DAI

Once every week, one of West High’s very own slips into a suit of secrecy and steps onto the field, ready to face the screaming crowd of the Student Section. Although this person wishes to remain anonymous, the West Side Story was able to snag an interview with this ever-elusive character.

So go ahead and take a peek into the mind of West High’s very own school mascot: Hector the Trojan.

West Side Story: What do you do

as the school mascot?

Hector: As the school mascot, I try to rile up the student section and I like to get people involved in the game. When I see someone who is just kind of standing around not really paying attention, on their phone or something, I go up to them, push them around, take a picture. It’s fun.

WSS: How long have you been the mascot?

Hector: Since the Homecoming assembly a couple weeks ago.

WSS: How did you get started?

Hector: A couple weeks ago, Mr. Kibby went to different classrooms and sat in on them. I don’t know what we were talking about in the class, but I just started talking to him [and] Dr. Shoultz and I was just like, “Do we have a mascot?” and neither of them really knew for certain, so I went to the back room with Mr. Kibby and we found the mascot costume - it hasn’t been used in, like, ten years - and he thought it’d be a really cool idea to bring it back, too.

WSS: What does the costume feel like?

Hector: It’s [pretty] hot and heavy.

I can’t really move my arms above my shoulders because of the padding, but it’s worth it. It’s really fun.

WSS: How many people know your identity and why do you keep it a secret?

Hector: I could say ten people know my identity. [I keep it] a secret because it’s just the idea that if you know who it is, it’s just not ‒ like, the most common question I get asked when I’m in the costume is “Who are you? Can you tell us your name?” ... The aura of mystery [around] the mascot isn’t me, it’s Hector the Trojan.

WSS: What is your favorite thing about being the mascot?

Hector: My favorite thing about the costume and just the general experience is [that] I could be anyone. Apparently I’m a ninth grader named Brian, and I’m also a junior named Asia, and a sophomore girl ... I’ve heard so many people talking in the hallways about who I could be, and it’s just fun knowing, hey, it’s me. But they don’t know that and hopefully it stays that way.

40 SPORTS NOVEMBER 2015 WSSPAPER.COM

PHOTO BY JEREMY HU DESIGN BY CLAIRE MURRAY

BY MICHAEL MOONJELY In 2014, NBA legend Michael Jordan’s shoe brand saw a 17 percent increase in sales, rising to 2.6 billion dollars. Contributing to this staggering figure are seniors Bo Nock and August Nicklaus, who are just a small part of a growing population of self-proclaimed sneakerheads. The West Side Story got a chance to delve deep into the closets of these savvy collectors.

To some people, having over 30 pairs of basketball shoes would be considered unnecessary. However, Bo Nock ’16 says collecting has a more personal meaning.

“Every shoe has a story. When you look at a picture of [Michael] Jordan, the shoes he has on captures the moment just as any picture would,” he said.

Nock’s most memorable collecting moment happened earlier this year, when he purchased Jordan Gamma 11’s, which sold out in a record seven seconds. Nock notes that he still remembers the day like it was yesterday.

“It was January 21, and I woke up really early and got onto a computer, laptop, tablet and phone, all on different websites. I couldn’t get them, and I was pretty upset that morning at practice,” Nock said. “[I found out later that] while I was at practice, my mom had been on her iPad refreshing pages for two hours straight. Someone had put the [Gammas] in their shopping cart but didn’t end up buying them, so they got taken out. They ended up being my size, and my mom bought them. [Those shoes] remind me about how much my mom does for me and what she went through to get those.”

PHOTOS BY MARY MONDANARO DESIGN BY EUGENIA CHEN

When August Nicklaus ’16 bought his first pair of Lebron 9 Lows in junior high school, he never thought it would lead to him buying over 13 pairs of shoes. Over five years later, Nicklaus continues to collect and advises other people on how to get started.

“A lot of people think that sneakerheads only buy Jordans, but that isn’t true at all. Don’t buy shoes just because they have hype around them; buy them because you like them. The Lebron 11 Miami Nights did not have any buzz at all, but I loved the color and bought them anyway,” he said.

Nicklaus stated that he uses online shopping sites such as Nike, Eastbay and Footlocker, but warns collectors against using auction sites such as eBay because of potential scams.

“I have seen friends lose more than $200 because of eBay. They think they are getting a ‘great deal’ on a pair of shoes and then get nothing in the mail or fake shoes.”

As for the future, Nicklaus is looking forward to the release of the Air Jordan 11-10 in December and the Air Jordan 4 White Cements coming out in February.

WSSPAPER.COM NOVEMBER 2015 SPORTS 41

EAT TO

COMPETE

COMPILED BY AARON CARTER

I

n the world of competitive sports everything counts: every push-up, sit-up, hour of sleep, extra mile, and even what you eat. The diets that athletes have are almost as important as the physical activity that goes into preparing for the season. Athletes have to watch what they eat, when they eat it, and how much to eat. The dietary regimens that are present in the daily lives of athletes vary between sports. The West Side Story investigates the diets of athletes in different sports.

PAYTON P

Z ‘16 T A R TT O

SO C C ER 42 SPORTS NOVEMBER 2015 WSSPAPER.COM

There are athletes with rigorous and strict diets unique to the athlete but none are quite as unique as the diet of Payton Pottratz ’16.

“After soccer practice I usually get McDonalds, something quick. If I don’t go there it’s usually another fast food place that has burger and fries,” Pottratz said.

However, this excursion is not only reserved for after soccer practice. Pottratz believes there is never a bad time to go to McDonald’s.

“There is a lady that works at the McDonald’s that knows who I am now,” Pottratz said.

Aside from eating McDonald’s regularly, Pottratz has other eating habits that she is more proud of.

“Since I am not a huge breakfast person I almost always just have a bagel and then a water bottle.” Pottratz said. “I always try to hydrate whether it’s soccer season or not.”

Another food you can always find on her plate is bacon.

“Bacon is my favorite food by far. I get four pounds every year for Christmas.” Pottratz said. “It has my name on it so everyone knows not to touch it.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF WIKIPEDIA COMMOMS

FOR MORE COVERAGE, GO TO WSSPAPER.COM

OTT ‘1 C S 6 ILL W

SW

IM MIN G

Swimmers are notorious for having outrageous diets. For example, Michael Phelps eats almost 12,000 calories a day. Although Will Scott ’16 isn’t quite in the 12,000 calorie range, his diet is still quite impressive.

“You need [calories] to burn. That’s really the most important thing about swimming,” Scott said.

Scott’s diet encompasses lots of different foods, which vary with each meal and the day’s activity.

“Usually my mom makes me some sort of egg nutrition for breakfast so that’s really kind of her to do that for me,” Scott said. “Lunch is the hardest part for me though. Since I am at school, I have to stay away from certain foods.”

When it comes to a go-to source of energy, chocolate milk is perfect for Scott’s training regiment.

“It’s really excellent. All the sugars and also the protein really helps for you to recover from really tough workouts as well as prepare you for the day.”

VIA MOOR I L O E

DESIGN BY ALLIE BISCUPSKI

PHOTOS BY ALLIE BISCUPSKI

‘17

Unlike wrestlers or swimmers, picking the right foods to eat is more important than eating an excessive amount of food. Olivia Moore ’17 is a master at this method. Believe it or not, there is a wrong time to eat apples. At least according to Moore.

“You don’t want to eat apples right before a race, well at least I avoid them.” Moore said. “They cause you to cramp up and slow down, so it’s not the best for a sport like cross country.”

Although she does keep a stricter diet than most, she has to indulge every now and then.

“Smiley fruit snacks would definitely be my cheat food.” Moore said. “I eat way too many of those.

Before meets, after meets, any time really.”

Besides the fruit snacks, which Moore sadly admits are not a real food, she does not really have a favorite food.

“But pasta is close.” Moore said, “It’s a good source of carbs and it also tastes amazing.”

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WSSPAPER.COM NOVEMBER 2015 SECTION 43

NON-UNIFORM DISTRIBUTION

BY ABBY JANS

T

he uniforms of a sports team are believes that the uniforms wear out critical to establishing their image. If about every four years, which works the uniforms are too old, they may well with the current uniform get in the way of anyone who wears it and rotation. decrease performance. A balance between “Depending on the position of the price and practicality needs to be reached. player and how much the player Sports with traditional uniforms such as plays will determine the length of basketball or football generally order new the uniform[’s life],” Hartwig said. ones every four years. Other sports, such as “[Uniforms] usually take four to tennis or golf, get new uniforms five years [to wear annually at the cost of the players, out].” who own the uniforms after the The coaches season is over. of sports with Sports that have uniforms on a traditional four-year rotation generally get a uniforms new home uniform one year, and often design it Garrett Hartwig, a new visiting uniform another themselves, if Head Coach year. During the other two years, possible. When the players may get equipment such as new uniforms are purchased, warm-up outfits or team bags. they are a completely different The choice to get new uniforms each style from the previous ones year is left up to the coaches, who usually due to new trends in uniform ask the players for input. Each uniform is style. According to Hartwig, then approved by Scott Kibby, the Athletic each new uniform has new Director at West, to make sure it goes along technology and lighter with the school colors. material.

“I watch for ... the colors because the Cross country and track have school colors are forest green or dark green a different process of getting and vegas gold, not so much a canary gold,” new uniforms. Generally, a certain Kibby said. “If I saw a black uniform ... I amount of new uniforms are ordered would probably shoot that down.” every year instead of buying a new Price is another important factor for uniform for everyone on the team in a set picking uniforms. four-year rotation. Cross country runner “We usually don’t want to spend too much. Bethany Schillinger ‘17 thinks the gradual There is purchasing of some pricing new uniforms comparison is a good involved system. [in the “[Buying d e c i s i o n ] ,” new uniforms girls varsity gradually] cuts -Bethany Schillinger ‘17 t e n n i s down on cost,” coach Amie Schillinger Villarini said. The style of uniforms has said. “Usually the old uniforms are still in changed every year since she became great condition.” coach three years ago but Villarini believes Sports that don’t get new apparel every that her team would be okay with reusing year have uniforms paid for by the school. uniforms as it would save them money.

In comparison, athletes who get new attire Yuxuan Zheng ‘16, a boys varsity tennis pay for their gear because they get to keep it player, could go either way with uniforms. after the season ends.

“I’d be fine with a reused uniform,” Zheng Despite the many different opinions said. “But having new ones is nice because concerning the rate at which teams buy it’s your own design.” uniforms, the athletic department seems to Varsity football coach Garrett Hartwig have found a routine that works.

“Buying new uniforms gradually cuts down on cost ... the uniforms are in great condition.”

44 SPORTS NOVEMBER 2015 WSSPAPER.COM

DESIGN BY WINGEL XUE

PHOTOS BY SARAH LONGMIRE

irthright

of Iowa City

Free & ConďŹ dential Four Minute Pregancy Test

Mon: 12:00 - 3:00 P.M. Thurs: 12:00 - 2:00 P.M. Fri: 12:00 - 3:00 P.M. Location: 341 E. College Street

www.birthright.org 319-338-8665

1-800-550-4900 (24 hour hotline)

Help is just a phone call away

Classes held at Christ the King Lutheran Church School year and Summer sessions available Complete schedule located on web site www.mvdriversed.com

stretch

WSSPAPER.COM NOVEMBER 2015 ADS 45

OPINION LORD OF THE PHONES

BY SHANTHI CHACKALACKAL Long ago, in a time that has now passed into legend, the primitive peoples of this earth existed without smartphones. But then everything changed when the Dark Lord Steve Jobs forged the iPhone: one phone to rule them all, one phone to find them, one phone to bring them all and in the darkness bind them. Its power is great, irresistible even. To

those who possess it, it is...precious.

Okay, Steve Jobs wasn’t really an evil sorcerer (as far as we know) and the iPhone has no known magical properties. Nonetheless, it does draw striking parallels to a certain ring; it addicts, has a very high price and ultimately drives one mad (who hasn’t entered a shouting match with Siri?).

While I’m not advocating casting our smartphones into the fires of Mount Doom, I do think that phone addiction is becoming something of a problem. The teacher leaves the room for a minute and the phones come out.

Students arrive to class early and the phones come out. People finish

a test and the phones come out.

Basically, any time there ever is any time, the phones come out.

I like my phone; it’s a useful thing to have. And I’ll be the first person to admit that, during the first few weeks after receiving my iPhone, I became a little addicted.

Something about it just drew me in -- I found myself checking it for no reason whatsoever, turning it on simply to check the time or weather (or even glancing at the stocks), staring at my Instagram and watching the likes accumulate (or wondering why they didn’t).

Did it fulfill me at all to reassure myself that NASDAQ was down 42 points or that the temperature

had increased three degrees since noon? Not really, no. Thankfully, it only took me a short time to realize this, and soon my down moments were once again filled with relatively productive activities (like making food. And eating said food. NASDAQ up eleven points, weather down six degrees, weight up two pounds. Sounds good).

Spending every living moment staring at your smartphone doesn’t achieve anything. All it does is hinder you from actually experiencing life, from going outside or reading books or creating something.

Time is precious -- more so, even, than the one phone.

PICK AN -ISM, ANY -ISM

BY JUNHEE LEE I’m not a big fan of politics. The Republican debates seem like catfights and the endless stream of commercials can get a bit annoying at times. (I do, however, enjoy the occasional political meme, but that’s not important.). I have no idea what Obama’s doing anymore.

In fact, I’m not a big fan of any major opinion-based conflicts. Protests in the United States, prominent issues such as immigration and gay rights - while everyone else splits into two sides, I find myself treading the grey area in between.

To sum it all up, I’m best described as neutral. Apathetic. Too stupid to pass my own judgments. Whatever you want to call it, I am part of the vast number of people who stay on the down-low in an opinionated and often polarized society.

Being neutral is quite like watching the crazies at a circus.

People sit in their cages, labeled by their respective -isms, showing off their opinions to earn their ‘Oohs’ and ‘Ahs’. Meanwhile, I eat my popcorn, listen to all of their opinions and then move on. Life as a circus-goer is for the most part peaceful.

Life in the cage isn’t nearly as tranquil. Two years ago, I participated in a qualifying math competition where girls who scored lower than the standard cutoff score still had a chance to qualify for the next round.

Although I was unable to qualify that year, I cheered myself up by saying, “At the very least, I met the girls’ cutoff this year, so I must be improving.” Upon hearing this, an ardent feminist screamed from her cage, “You’re such a sexist. People like you are the reason why there’s a girls’ cutoff in the first place!”

Before she was able to cut through her restraints and slash me to pieces, I apologized and backed out of the conversation.

This type of thing happens once

46 OPINION NOVEMBER 2015 WSSPAPER.COM

in awhile; there’s bound to be a problem with one of the crazies one every few times you go to the circus.

Maybe it’s that the Republican and the Democrat cages are too close to each other. Maybe the AntiGun cage was right next to the arcade shooting game. But these hostilities are usually minor. It’s when the cages break loose and all of the crazies come together that it becomes a bloodbath.

People are surely entitled to their opinions. But if the opinion itself isn’t the problem, why does having a strong opinion lead to these hostilities?

The problem is that people are blurring the line between having an opinion and attacking other people for theirs. Instead of taking time to understand the world in a multifaceted way, they make it out as black and white, claiming that people are “right” or “wrong” based on their beliefs. In liberal Iowa City, it’s getting to the point where being anti-gay or pro-Donald Trump is heretical. But again, people are entitled to their own opinion, aren’t they?

In addition to this, people rarely voice their unique opinions and instead use these umbrella -isms as a defense-mechanism against outside ideology. Not to say that opinionated people are incapable of thought, they (probably) aren’t. It’s just that they’re piggybacking off of whomever they agree with the most or whatever ideology they fit best under, instead of representing their own beliefs in their entirety.

And since literally everyone has a different set of beliefs, shouldn’t we stop pretending that a certain -ism is the entirety of human thought?

Shouldn’t we simply remain perceptive and understanding of others’ beliefs? Even if we have an opinion, shouldn’t we at least be externally neutral?

For the small percentage of you who have somehow found a way to express your opinions without offending others, I applaud you for your existence. But for those of you who scream and shout your opinions everywhere you go, it’s time for you to shut your trap, step out of your cage and take a trip to Switzerland.

ART BY SHANTHI CHACKALACKAL

SHOTS FIRED

BY CAMERON COOK As a result of all the recent college shootings and another gun threat at West, the issue of gun control has been brought up from under the rug. It seems as though after a tragedy like this, everyone would be backing some serious reforms; however, that isn’t the case.

At least, it isn’t the case here in the U.S.; Australia is a different story. In Tasmania in 1996, a lone gunman armed with a semiautomatic rifle killed 35 people and left 18 severely wounded. The first 20 were killed in less than 90 seconds. This was just one of many firearm-related massacres in the preceding decade, which left a total of over 100 people dead.

DESIGN BY ELEANOR HO

Fortunately, this was enough to catalyze change. Only 12 days after the shooting occurred, Australian Prime Minister John Howard took action. The government’s new regulations called for the banning of all rapid-fire rifles and shotguns, a halt on importation of automatic and semi-automatic weapons and a tightening of gun-ownership licensing.

While some right-wing groups protested, the general consensus across the country was for reform, and the legislation passed relatively easily. Not only was it largely agreed upon, it also worked extremely well. According to CNN, the risk of death by gunshot in Australia

dropped 50 percent. In addition, since the reform, there have been no mass shootings in Australia.

So why can’t the U.S. do the same? One glaring reason is the Second Amendment, which gives the American people the right to “a well regulated Militia” and “the right of the people to keep and bear arms.” Since the days of the Bill of Rights, Americans have been holding on to their guns like babies holding onto their blankets, and with interest groups like the NRA, that’s not likely to change anytime soon. But while the Elastic Clause of the Constitution was written to provide for changing times, the Second Amendment wasn’t. Have you ever heard of someone needing to raise a militia in the past twenty or so years? There’s no reason to carry your firearms around.

Many gun rights activists believe that if everyone carried guns, fewer incidents including guns would happen. However, it makes more sense the other way around. If there are only three or four guns in a community, the chances that there will be a homicide, suicide or even an accident would be much lower than if a community of the same size is home to seventy guns. With fewer guns available, the chance that someone would be able to attempt a gun-related violent crime wouldn’t be as high. Since forcing firearms out of people’s possession is widely regarded as a bad move, the only way to cut down on gun numbers and accessibility is to make it harder to get ahold of them.

How this violates our right to “keep and bear” arms is a little unclear, but right-wing activists and the NRA remain strongly against stricter gun allowances and more thorough background checks.

When President Obama said “Our thoughts and prayers are not enough” in relation to gun control policy, he was exactly right. Commiserating about how terrible mass shootings are won’t stop them; only legislation will, and Australia is the perfect model.

If the U.S. stops allowing civilians access to firearms without a thorough background check, rates of gun violence will go down. And that’s no shot in the dark.

QUALITY OF LIFE

INDEX Thanksgiving Mashed potatoes.

+26

Family Get Togethers They’re going to ask you about your plans for the future, who you’re dating, why you aren’t dating anyone, whether or not you have a job, etc. Get ready to be interrogated.

-26

Thanksgiving Break Three days off school? What’s not to love?

+10 Weather Iowa weather is unpredictable and the autumn season is no exception. You leave your home in the morning wearing jeans and you’re still a little chilly but the second you leave school, you begin to sweat and develop heat stroke

-2

Studying for Finals Week Get ready for sleep deprivation, caffeine and hand cramps.

Never forget the hand cramps.

-4 Doing well duriing finals week Get ready for that 4.0

+4

+8 COMPILED BY MADDIE MORIYAMA

WSSPAPER.COM NOVEMBER 2015 OPINION 47

A NEW ANGLE FOR SECURITY

The West Side Story reevaluates their stance on school security in light of recent events.

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ontroversy over gun violence and create a safer environment at school and, as school security is not a new issue to many students have said, make them feel safer.

West High School and the surrounding Though the option was brought up last year, it community. From tragic stories that sweep the was ultimately defeated because it seemed like nation to a fifteen year old being shot and killed there was a lack of necessity. in the nearby city of Cedar Rapids, the media However, many solutions have been proposed has been flooded with stories of violence and that the editorial board believe would be useless instability. or even have a negative impact on the security However, the most potent of stories have at West High and the rest of the community. been the ones closest to home. With the recent One solution that is commonly discussed is the threat of a shooting, as well as the fact that it installation of metal detectors. At a school that is has been barely over grossly overpopulated, a year since the last this would serve only Do the new regulations made in incident that prompted to make our problems the community to worse by simply response to the recent gun threat reevaluate school congesting the hallways properly address the needs of the security, it has become more. community? clearer than ever that The issue of school action needs to be security is not one taken to ensure that lightly undertaken nor the schools in our easily and successfully community are safe. resolved. This is an The first action the issue that has no one school board took after solution and perhaps The WSS editorial board voted will never have one the recent gun threat was to pass a rule in which in support of the administration that works perfectly. all threats, whether they So, we applaud the and school board’s decisions. were substantiated or administration, the not, would be reported school board and the to the police as well as community for doing parents. Being a first reaction, it was, of course, its best in the short reaction period that we’ve flawed. Too much information can be the had. equivalent of no information at all. However, an However, it has become abundantly clear that initiative to make communication more timely change, though desperately needed, is hard to for parents indicates a positive change in the come by; this isn’t only a problem at the local school board’s protocols that reflect what many level, but on a national and international scope. students, parents and other members of the We must work together as a community, both in community have been calling for. the Iowa City area and in the state, nation and An idea very widely discussed and also world to make sure that our schools are safe. supported by the editorial board is the idea of Schools are institutions of education, where having a student resource officer, or an SRO. we go to learn and better ourselves. We must An SRO would be a law enforcement officer be able to keep safe these crucial places where who works closely with administration and is young minds may evolve and grow into the present during the school day. An SRO would intellectuals that the world deserves.

11-5

48 OPINION NOVEMBER 2015 WSSPAPER.COM

WSS EDITORIAL BOARD BARBARA BADOVINAC ALLIE BISCUPSKI PAIGE BRAZINA AARON CARTER CAMERON COOK SCHYLER DAVIS NICK DEERBERG DANETTA DOBRE NINA ELKADI ELEANOR HO KELSEY KERANEN MICHAEL MOONJELY ISABELLE ROBLES SIMRAN SARIN LILY WESTEMEYER SHARON XIANG CHRISTIAN ZIRBES EQUITY STATEMENT It is the policy of the Iowa City Community School not to discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, national origin, gender, age, martial status, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, disability, or socioeconomic programs, activities, or employment practices. If you believe you have (or your child has) been discriminated against or treated unjustly at your school, please contact the Equity Director, Kingsley Botchway, at 509 Dubuque Street, 319-6881000. Please contact westsidestorypaper@ gmail.com for questions or comments.

EDITORIAL POLICY 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 a 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.

FATAL FINALS WEEK ART BY BRAEDYN DOCHTERMAN

WEST SIDE STORY EDITORS

Kelsey Keranen Sharon Xiang Barbara Badovinac Allie Biscupski Paige Brazina Aaron Carter Cameron Cook Danetta Dobre Nina Elkadi Layla Hannaford Eleanor Ho Zayetzy Luna Ebony McKeever Michael Moonjely Isabelle Robles Simran Sarin

DESIGN BY ELEANOR HO

STAFF

Morgan Schmitt-Morris Madeline Silva Gabby Skopec Maggie Terry Caleb Thurman Chanel Vidal Lily Westemeyer Christian Zirbes

STAFF

Leela Bassuk Benjamin Bliven Shanthi Chackalackal Eugenia Chen Charlie Code Shati Cooper Christina Dai Schyler Davis

Nick Deerburg Braedyn Dochterman Leah Dusterhoft Hannah Femino Katie Fuhrmeister Ellie Gretter Louis Ho Ace Holst Jeremy Hu Abby Jans Catherine Ju Jiung Jung Junhee Lee Taylor Libby Sarah Longmire Mary Mondanaro Meg Moreland

Maddie Moriyama Claire Murray Jacob Nishimura Ryo Ohashi Miriam Perez Anthony Pizzimenti Prateek Raikwar Olivia Read Stefan Schmidt Fenna Semken Lexi Shaffer Kayla Shader Hannah Song Shawn Thacker Mason Wang David Wu Wingel Xue

WSSPAPER.COM NOVEMBER 2015 OPINION 49

HUMOR CRASS WORDS

CROSSWORD:

*This is satire and is not meant to be perceived as factual.

IOWA CITY & CORALVILLE LANDMARKS EDITION

How much do you know about the landmarks of our area? Test your knowledge and see if you can guess the location based on these cynical clues.

COMPILED BY MADELINE SILVA

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ACROSS

4. It’s a golden dome that caught on fire years ago; now it’s a place where elementary students are taken to be bored 5. Hear live music and get accosted by drunks here 7. Obama visited this bastion of a dying industry 8. The moat that separates us from the peasants to the east 9. Spend your parent’s money on overpriced drinks Study here

DOWN

1. You were so cool if your parents let you amble around here by yourself in seventh grade 2. Lake best known for its cramped, goose-poop-filled beach 3. Where unpaid athletes concuss each other for your amusement 6. Our *ahem* distinguished and learned colleagues from across the river

Key: 1, coralridge; 2, macbride; 3, kinnick; 4, oldcapitol;5, pedmall; 6, cityhigh; 7, prairielights; 8, iowariver; 9, javahouse

DONALD TRUMP’S THE DAY OF THE DEAD

50 HUMOR NOVEMBER 2015 WSSPAPER.COM

ARTWORK BY BRAEDYN DOCHTERMAN DESIGN BY SIMRAN SARIN

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CLUB

CONNECTION

PHOTOS BY SARAH LONGMIRE

West has more clubs than most students know about. Here are a few you can check out.

1. Fellowship of Christian Athletes meets Thursday mornings in room 235.

2. Anime Club meets on Friday afternoons in room 27.

3. Art Club meets on Wednesday afternoons in room 155.

4. E.A.T.S. meets on Friday afternoons in room 122.

5. Weightlifting Club meets in the weight room on Wednesday and Friday afternoons.

6. Theatre West works on their set everyday after school.

FOR MORE COVERAGE, GO TO WSSPAPER.COM

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WEST HIGH BEST TIE In pretty much every area, teachers aren’t fully appreciated for what they do or what they wear. The West Side Story complied some of the most stylish teacher ties at West High. Can you guess who’s who?

James Kirpes, Mathematics Teacher

C D 3

B Paul Breitbach, Guidance Counselor

Tyson Smith, Social Studies Teacher

Brady Shutt, Social Studies Teacher

DESIGN BY SIMRAN SARIN PHOTOS BY NICK DEERBERG COMPILED BY ELEANOR HO & MAGGIE TERRY

1 2 4 ANSWERS: A,1; B,3; C,4; D,2

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