2016-02-19

WEST SIDE STORY IOWA CITY WEST HIGH SCHOOL

2901 MELROSE AVE.

IOWA CITY, IA 52246

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FEBRUARY 19, 2016

JAKE CJ ‘18 ANDERSON & JOHNSON

“He eats a lot of fruit snacks where as I eat fewer. If we had to eat [fruit snacks], I would let him eat most of them, and you know, if we had some scotcheroos I bet he would let me have most of them. And that’s what I think friendship is about,“ Watkins said.

“We haven’t stayed on the same teams as we’ve grown up. We have gone to different sports, so there’s kind of been different interests that could separate us, but they haven’t. We just keep hanging out,” Anderson said.

‘18

SAFEYA & WALA ‘18 SIDDIG SIDDIG

ANDRE JULIE ‘17 MAGALHAES & WATKINS ‘17

‘18

From fruit snacks to canned food, best friends throughout West share what makes their friendship unique.

“For extra credit in chemistry, we needed to bring a can and I forgot to bring one. I was so sad . . . and then Wala’s like ‘Here you can have my can.’ I was like ‘You don’t have to do that,’ but she said ‘It’s okay.’ It was the nicest thing anyone has done for me.,“ Safeya said.

COMPILED BY FENNA SEMKEN PHOTOS BY SARAH LONGMIRE DESIGN AND ART BY CATHERINE JU

CONTENTS NEWS LET’S GET POLITICAL

A historic year for the much-awaited Iowa event, WSS investigates the scene and speaks with a few students involved in the political process.

FEATURE CALL IT A TEENAGE CRUSH

With the sugar-tinted draught of Valentine’s day not yet stale in the air, we looked into teenage relationships and whether love is a possibility at such a young age.

ENTERTAINMENT AND THE OSCAR GOES TO...

Before watching the 2016 Oscars, take a look at our reviews for this year’s Best Picture-nominated films.

SPORTS

UNDER PRESSURE

Students talk about the pressures and expectations or how having parents as coaches at the University of Iowa affect them.

LETTER EDITORS

FROM THE

Dear Reader, Valentine’s Day has just passed and it was once again a day spent alone, watching K-pop videos and being sad (well, for one of us). As we approach the end of a never-ending second trimester and near graduation, we are beginning to feel older and older.

On a completely different note, we have chosen to write a cover story on names. The original idea for the article was to talk about students who have changed their names in order to assimilate. However, when writers Junhee

10 18 32 44

and Prateek interviewed Jace Morely, the idea evolved to be about name changes in order to reflect the identity that we prefer. We explored the concept of gender fluidity and the rejection of the gender binary, and we hope you learn a little more about these students and this subject through our story.

Until March, XOXO,

Karen

PHOTO BY JEREMY HU COVER DESIGN BY LILY WESTEMEYER

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FOR MORE

COVERAGE VISIT

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1

WEST’S LATE COMEBACK TOPS KENNEDY

2

FOOD FROM CHONG’S

The boys’ basketball team comes back from a slow start to win against Kennedy.

Re-live the game and look for more live coverage of basketball games.

West students try out some of the unique foods that Chong’s Market sells.

4 WEB TEASER FEBRUARY 2016 WSSPAPER.COM

3 4

THELANDER DONATES KIDNEY TO WIFE Wayne Thelander, orchestra conductor, discusses his decision to donate his kidney to his wife Kristin.

TRUMP RALLY ATTRACTS SUPORTERS AND PROTESTERS

Donald Trump visits Iowa City and students talk about why they decided to attend the rally.

TAMPONS.

NEWS (PERIOD)

About a month ago all feminine product dispensers were removed from main floor bathrooms. Now, the only bathrooms with products to purchase are in the freshman wing and by the auditorium. The West Side Story investigates why they are gone and what will be done to change it.

WHY WERE THEY REMOVED? Dispensers were vandalized weekly. The constant repairs have been very costly for the school. Additionally, the company that produces the dispensers went out of business, so there was no way to replace all of the broken parts.

BY THE NUMBERS

4 25 240

bathrooms have tampon dispensers (out of 14)

STUDENT REACTION Some students believe that the walk to the health office can be uncomfortable.

“I’m upset about the lack of tampons [and] pads because I feel that it’s completely humiliating and unsanitary for a girl to have to walk all the way down to the health office to get something that’s a basic feminine necessity, as if women don’t already have enough shame about it, which they shouldn’t,” said an anonymous student source.

WHERE SHOULD I GO? If students find themselves in a restroom without feminine products they need to use, they can go to the health office which has products in supply. There, students are asked to pay 25 cents per item, but if they cannot pay it is not added to fines. Nurse Diane Dvorak says this should not be a student’s first resort for products.

cents per tampon, as well as for purchase from the health office.

Source: Groundswell

25¢

feminine hygiene products used by one person annually

25¢ FOR MORE COVERAGE, GO TO WSSPAPER.COM

WILL THEY BE ADDED BACK TO THE BATHROOMS?

COMPILED BY ISABELLE ROBLES DESIGN BY BARBARA BADOVINAC

Former head janitor Mike O’Connor said as all the bathrooms get remodeled new machines will be added in over the next few years. This includes the newer bathrooms by the gym and in the bottom floor.

WSSPAPER.COM FEBRUARY 2016 NEWS 5

CRISIS REVEALS

CHARACTER

BY NINA ELKADI AND CHRISTINA DAI

A recent threat made to West caused the entire school to evacuate. Custodians and food staff continued their job to make sure everything else around the district conitinued smoothly.

serious,” Shoultz said. “Crisis reveals character. We had a minicrisis, and it revealed that the character of our students is very high.”

KITCHEN STAFF

THE EVENT Tuesday, Jan. 19 began as any day back from a break — with groggy and tired students. However, just minutes into second period, Principal Gregg Shoultz made an announcement directing everyone to bring themselves and their coats to the main gym.

According to the Iowa City Police Department (ICPD), a bomb threat was called into 911 around 8:40 a.m. later found to be by a man robbing a bank across town. After the main gym was cleared for any explosives, students were directed there and then onto school buses.

“We were lucky with the buses,” Shoultz said. “They had bus drivers and buses driving around, and they were empty because they just dropped people off; which turned out to be pretty good turnaround.”

The threat raised questions about

6 NEWS FEBRUARY 2016 WSSPAPER.COM

school safety and why no drills for situations have occurred this school year.

“We don’t have a set curriculum for ALICE (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter and Evacuate) training for students yet, [but] we are working on it,” Shoultz said.

“The training can be upsetting to people. It was upsetting to some adults who went through it.”

Amid the confusion, there was miscommunication on whether or not students were to leave their bags at school or take them home.

Shoultz said that in the future he would prefer that students keep their personal belongings with them when they exit the building.

This miscommunication lead to an accumulation of backpacks that the administration had to hand out to students as they came back.

“We kind of sized them up.

‘Wait, you have a pink backpack?’”

Shoultz said.

The entire building, staff and students included, were praised for their calmness and attentiveness during the entire situation.

“They [students] could tell I was

Amidst the bustle of Tuesday’s evacuation, many people’s only concern was getting on a bus and trying to understand what was happening. Not many, however, were thinking hours ahead - except, of course, the kitchen staff. As a production kitchen, our kitchen is responsible for supplying lunch to elementary schools Weber, Borlaug, Hills, Horn, Alexander and the Theodore Roosevelt Education Center.

“Our typical timeline for Weber and Borlaug is that [the driver] leaves between 9:30 and 9:45 and then for the other four schools, our second driver should be out of this building by ten” said Julie Peterson, head of the West High kitchen.

The emergency evacuation, however, put a bit of a wrinkle into their normal schedule. But with a little help from Northwest and City, all schools were able to be fed and very nearly right on time, at that. Alison Demory, head of Food Services for the whole district, was involved in the process throughout the day. Demory said that working together was the chief ingredient in making everything work.

“City High was able to make the

DESIGN BY CLAIRE MURRAY AND WINGEL XUE

PHOTO BY PAIGE BRAZINA

regular menu for Alexander … and also Hills. It took the whole village; we had a sub driver from the physical plant to help us get the food from City down to [some schools],” Demory said. “When we finally got the all-clear to get into West, we got in there and got some food around for Borlaug and then Northwest covered some of the out schools.”

With that said, elementary schools did experience some changes, but all were cooperative and understanding even though the kids didn’t receive exactly what was on their menus for that day.

“We ended up serving sandwiches to a lot of the kids but we were able to offer some of the baked chips with it and I think that was a nice bonus for elementary students.

The feedback we got from the elementary principals is that the elementary students didn’t really

notice a difference,” Demory said.

Through the process, it seemed as if everyone knew that they were supposed to do, and the kitchen was even able to put the food they had already cooked to good use.

“We ended up donating 500 servings of the chicken alphabet soup to Table to Table and they were able to serve about half of it to the free lunch program,” Peterson said. “It took every person to work together and … it just fell together.”

All in all, the experience was a beneficial one that put the kitchen staff to the test. All involved were

able to work through the situation and learn some valuable lessons.

“It reminds us that you have to be prepared for some of those emergencies and I think [Peterson] and I each learned different things,” Demory said. “I felt like everyone stayed calm and did a great job.”

WSSPAPER.COM FEBRUARY 2016 NEWS 7

WHAT

IN THE

WORLD? COMPILED BY GABBY SKOPEC

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS An alligator was removed by police from a man’s basement after he allegedly kept it as a pet for 26 years.

Source: UPI.com

PRINCETON, NEW JERSEY A lizard found in a kindergarten student’s salad has become the class pet and is now named ‘Green Fruit Loop.’ The lizard was found in a salad of tatsoi greens and had previously been refrigerated for days.

DARLINGTON, ENGLAND A school principal is trying to impose a dress code on parents who drop their children off.

She says she is tired of parents dropping students off in pajamas and slippers.

Source: m.sfgate.com

FRANCE A European business man purchased a photo of a potato for more than one million dollars.

The photo was taken by Kevin Abosch and is named ‘Potato #345.’

Source: buzzfeed.com

Source: news.yahoo.com

COMPLETE THE

LYRICS with Mr. Harding COMPILED BY SHARON XIANG

“MY HOUSE”

BY FLO RIDA WSS: Welcome to my house baby take HARDING: Your clothes and put them away WSS: Welcome to my house play HARDING: With any of the toys that you find

“FORMATION”

BY BEYONCÉ WSS: I’m so reckless when I rock my HARDING: chair sometimes I end up rocking over the toys WSS: Okay ladies not let’s get in formation, cause I HARDING: am ready to cook your dinner

8 NEWS FEBRUARY 2016 WSSPAPER.COM

KAZIMIER SMITH ’15 EARNS A PERFECT AP SCORE COMPILED BY SHARON XIANG

Former West student Kazimier Smith ’15 was one of 22 students in the world to earn a perfect score on the AP Macroeconomics test this past May. Of the 2.5 million American students who took AP exams around the country, only 322 students overall earned perfect scores on various tests.

BELL SCHEDULE CHANGES FOR 2016-2017 SCHOOL YEAR COMPILED BY GABBY SKOPEC

The Iowa City School Board voted unanimously to change the bell schedule for the 2016-2017 school year on Feb. 9. With the change, secondary schools will begin at 8:50 and end at 4:00 and elementary schools will start at 7:55 and end at 2:55.

DESIGN BY SIMRAN SARIN

IOWA AND THE ELECTION

On February 1st, Iowa took center stage by hosting the nation’s first caucus. The West Side Story takes a look into this year’s election cycle and the candidates running for office.

20 visits Rick Santorum 293 visits

Bernie Sanders 155 visits

Ted Cruz 152 visits

Mike Huckabee 222 visits

Hillary Clinton

Iowa Democratic Caucus Results

106 visits

Donald Trump 57 visits

Hillary Clinton 49.9%

Marco Rubio 100 visits

Top 5 Spenders on Ads in inIowa millions Bernie Sanders 49.6%

Others 25%

Ted Cruz $6

Bernie Sanders $7.4

Hillary Clinton $9.4

Marco Rubio $11.8

Jeb Bush $14.5

Iowa Republican Caucus Results

Donald Trump 24.3% DESIGN BY MADDIE MORIYAMA COMPILED BY MAGGIE TERRY

Marco Rubio 23.1%

Ted Cruz 27.6%

WSSPAPER.COM FEBRUARY 2016 NEWS 9

CAUCUS PHOTO FROM CREATIVE COMMONS

BY SHAWN THACKER Every four years politicians, activists and volunteers from all over the country descend upon Iowa in a concerted effort to persuade and inform citizens from all walks of life about their respective candidates. Over a period of around three months, millions of dollars are spent on convincing local Iowans of the viability of potential presidential nominees, and the candidates themselves spend countless hours making public appearances.

All of this time and effort is in preparation for a single day - the day of the Iowa Caucus.

This year the Iowa Caucus fell on the night of Feb. 1. Democratic candidates Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton went head to head to start off the elections with a win in Iowa. Likewise, the much more

diversified Republican field sent 12 candidates to contest each other for their share of the Iowan electorate’s vote.

On the night of the caucus, Iowans filled their local precinct voting sites to make their impact on the nation’s political race. After the tedious affair of awarding candidates their respective numbers of delegates, the winners emerged. For the Republican caucus, Senator Ted Cruz beat business magnate Donald Trump by a margin of 3.3%.

Even though this may seem like a negligible gap, compared to the results of the Democratic caucus, this insignificant percentage seems immense.

Well into the early morning of the next day, the results were finalized for the Democrats. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton

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edged past Vermont Senator Bernie this assertion holds true, at least for Sanders by fractions of a percent. the Democratic nominee. The past five Iowa caucuses have correctly Officially, Clinton won by 0.3%.

Though the Democratic caucus chosen the Democratic candidate was virtually a tie between the two who would go on to become the candidates, Clinton indeed won, as presidential nominee with three Jaya Blanchard ’17, a volunteer and out of the five of the Iowa Caucus fellow for the Clinton campaign winners going on to become the had hoped for. president.

“I think [Clinton In the lead up to the caucus, Blanchard winning would be] canvassed Iowa City, a good thing … she volunteering for Clinton definitely has the most and performing many experience and I think she’s a lot stronger logistical tasks in her volunteer work to help on policies … like the campaign women’s rights. It Jaya Blanchard ’17 keep running smoothly. would be a really big “I’m a greeter and visibility leap to have a woman in the White House,” Blanchard said. “Honestly, captain for my precinct, so I have I think [the Iowa caucus] has a big to go meet all supporters and role in deciding who’s going to be sticker them,” Blanchard said.

“I didn’t know this when I went the nominee.”

And according to past elections, in, but … we as volunteers and GRAPHICS BY SIMRAN SARIN

DESIGN BY OLIVIA READ

WINNERS ’17

PHOTO BY CHANEL VIDAL

precinct team members actually do lose to Clinton, Coffey is still all the reporting and the math. So pleased with the results of the caucus. [we have] a lot of responsibility.”

“I’m excited because although Much like Blanchard, senior Thomson Coffey also spent many [Sanders] didn’t win, this at least hours volunteering for a campaign. shows that he is a viable candidate However, Coffey is an ardent and that there is some competition on the Democratic supporter of Sanders and side,” Coffey said. “I volunteering for Sanders think [Sanders] has a still entails similar work.

“We [go] out and we lot more experience than what people give carry informational him credit for and that packets about Bernie he’s more electable than Sanders and we knock what people give him on people’s doors and ring their doorbells,” Thomas Coffey ’16 credit for.”

Coffey said. “So we give In sophomore Lauren Ernst’s opinion, another them information about when the caucus is [and] if they candidate that doesn’t get enough care about certain issues, [we tell recognition is Senator Marco them] where Bernie stands on Rubio, who came in at a close third those issues and what he could do in the Republican caucus; a mere to help.”

1.2 percentage points beneath Although Sanders did technically Cruz.

“Percentage-wise [the result of the caucus for Rubio] is better than where he was … and especially since Iowa hasn’t correctly picked the Republican nominee in a while, I think that gives Rubio a pretty good shot since he’s going to start getting some momentum going.”

Before the night of the caucus, Ariel Halvorsen ’17 supported Rand Paul for his libertarian policies. Following Paul dropping out of the presidential race, Halvorsen’s political support has moved to Cruz. “[I support Cruz] because he supports raising the budget for the military and because he supports a smaller scope for the federal government along with the protection of the Second and Tenth Amendments.”

On Feb. 9 New Hampshire voters cast their ballot for the first primary

in the presidential election. This time, the results were a bit more decisive than those of the Iowa Caucus. Donald Trump won the most votes with 35.3%. Coming in second place was Ohio Governor John Kasich, 19.5 points below Trump. Ted Cruz came in third with 11.6%.

For the Democratic side, Bernie Sanders won by a staggering 21.7 points over Hillary Clinton, coming in with a total of 60% of the Democratic New Hampshire electorate.

On Feb. 20 South Carolina will vote for the third round of the primary elections. With such varied results between the first two contests of the 2016 presidential elections, only time will tell who will become the nominee of the Democratic and Republican parties.

WSSPAPER.COM FEBRUARY 2016 NEWS 11

REGISTER FOR INTRO

TO NEWSPAPER CLASS

DON’T MISS OUT!

What?

Who?

When?

Where?

Why?

Intro. to Newspaper is the yearlong introductory course where students study journalistic writing, graphic design, photojournalism, multimedia and current events.

It also prepares students to become members of West High’s West Side Story newspaper and website staff.

We encourage any student in grades 9-12 to take Intro. to Newspaper if you are creative and hardworking.

However, we recommend you take this course soon, so you can join the West Side Story staff sooner. Once on staff, students can work as writers, photographers, editors, designers, artists, web designers, videographers, advertising reps or podcasters.

Register now for Intro. to Newspaper so you can get into the class next year.

After that, you are able to join theWest Side Story staff your junior and/or senior year(s) in high school.

When registering, simply add ENG150 Jour: Intro Newspaper under the Year Long Elective Courses, and we will see you in Room 109 next fall.

Students who work on high school publications get better grades, earn higher scores on the ACT and get better grades as college freshmen.* Space on staff is limited, and we give priority to students who take Intro. to Newspaper. As an extra bonus, Intro. to Newspaper earns you one year of English credit that counts toward the required four years for graduation.

After you take Intro. to Newspaper, you can join the West Side Story staff and work on the newspaper, the website or both!

*Source: NAA Foundation’s 2008 Research Study

West Side Story West High’s newspaper

-Placed top 4 in the nation for Best of Show newsmagazine contest in 2015.

-Received 26 writing, photography and design Gold Key awards from Quill and Scroll International Honor Society (2 were international sweepstakes winners).

-Received 15 Quill and Scroll International Gallup awards.

-Received 8 National Story, Design and Cartoon of the Year awards four years running (first place cartoon in 2015).

-Placed top three in the state for writing and design six years running (number 1 four times).

-4 WSS staffers were Al Neuharth Free Spirit Journalism Conference and Scholarship winners.

-In the past four years, 6 WSS staffers were part of the Washington Journalism and Media Conference Scholar Program in D.C. -3 WSS staffers were University of Iowa Daily Iowan scholarship winners.

-For a full list of awards, go to WSSpaper.com.

WSSpaper.com

West High’s student media website -Received 4 National Multimedia Story of the Year awards three years runing (First place in the nation for multimedia news story in 2015).

-Received Gold Key award for blogging from Quill and Scroll International Honor Society in 2015.

-Placed top 10 in the nation for the Best of Show contest twice in the past three years.

-Received an Online Pacemaker in 2012.

-Placed first in the state for social media news coverage in 2014.

For more information, go to WSSpaper.com/JOIN. Questions? Feel free to contact Ms. Whittaker at Whittaker.Sarajane@iowacityschools.org or stop by room 109.

12 ADS FEBRUARY 2016 WSSPAPER.COM

ike O’Connor, director of campus facilities, doesn’t just wax the hallways.

He has had friendly wagers over football games with former principal Dr. Arganbright, has made decisions about the creation of the music and the ninth grade wings and has kept West High running for the past 18 years.

Now, he’s leaving West to be a day substitute for the Iowa City School District.

When O’Connor found West High, it was 1997 and he was fresh out of college and looking for a job.

M

BY MASON WANG

“I got a criminology degree from [the University of Northern Iowa]. I enjoyed working with kids, and that’s what kind of led me here,” O’Connor said. “I was looking for a job, and here I am.”

Since he joined the staff at West, he’s been doing everything to keep the school running.

“What we’re doing during the day is maintaining everything, no

matter what comes my way,” said O’Connor.

One thing that makes O’Connor happy is providing a safe and secure environment for everyone.

Besides coaching his youngest son in basketball, he also likes helping other people, according to day custodian Ron Melsha.

“He does quite a bit on his own

MIKE O’CONNOR

time,” Melsha said. “If somebody at night is struggling he’ll help them so they can clean better.”

O’Connor managed the entire school. He removed snow from the sidewalks during the winter, unlocked the doors for school events and did everything e l s e imaginable to make West run smoothly. “ T h e best thing a b o u t Mike is he cares deeply about others including everyone at West,” Arganbright said. “Mike never cut a corner on anything for which he was responsible and [he’s] a very dedicated and hardworking individual who takes great pride in his work.”

O’Connor went above and beyond in his goals, meeting the student, staff, administration and community needs.

“He managed the building instead of just cleaning it,” said lead carpenter Joe Moore.

Before he retired, Arganbright worked with O’Connor for 18 years. “[Arganbright] taught me many

PHOTO BY MASON WANG DESIGN BY CATHERINE JU

great values, I worked with him the whole time. He came in 1982.

He was here forever. He was super influential,” O’Connor said.

O’Connor also recalls numerous friendly wagers with Dr. Arganbright over the NebraskaIowa football game. They would bet on anything from Dunkin’ Donuts to their jobs: “Being a closet Nebraska fan, I told Mike a few years back if Iowa ever beat Nebraska I would quit my job and move … I had to take that wager back or I would have been gone from West several years earlier than I planned,” said Arganbright. “We had a great relationship and I miss working and laughing with him.”

O’Connor left West High on Feb. 9 after helping his replacement transition into the position.

“What I’ll miss the most is the people. Staff, students, those kinds of people I’ve built relationships with,” O’Connor said.

Even so, he looks forward to his new job as a day substitute at the school district. That means opening up a school, delivering food, mail, or the garbage route.

As he looks at it, “It’s just a new challenge.”

Melsha is confident that O’Connor will have a good future.

“He’ll like his new job. He’ll really enjoy it.”

Lastly, as he leaves his 19th year of working here, O’Connor has a final piece of advice.

“There’s no reason to leave food in any other areas in the building; we have a cafeteria for a reason.”

SADDLE UP

Team sports require teamwork, dedication and communication; however, in this sport, a wordless bond between owner and animal is essential to success. The West Side Story explores horse shows through the life of Erika Law ’16, equestrian extraordinaire.

14 14 PROFILES PROFILES FEBRUARY FEBRUARY2016 2016 WSSPAPER.COM WSSPAPER.COM

PHOTOS BY PAIGE BRAZINA

BY DANETTA DOBRE

Mulan so I was like, ‘Wow, it’d be really cool if I could ride horses and be like a Disney princess.’”

Law began leasing a horse a few years after starting lessons, but she did not start showing competitively until she finally bought her own horse.

“I do Western Pleasure, which is a kind of riding where we get sparkly saddles and really sparkly attire,” she said. “You’re teaching your horse to move more gracefully and slower and more elegant. Then the judge judges you based on how well your horse moves, how well connected you are and how smooth it is.”

Aside from competing, Law also participates in horse

Get to know GRETCHEN

Horses and cowboys are a common passion for many children, but few get to actually live out their dreams as a professional equestrian like Erika Law ’16.

She began riding at an early age and has gone a long way since then, going as far as competing in national competitions.

“I actually went with my friend to a [horse riding] lesson when I was like seven and I really liked it so I went home and begged my parents to let me start riding lessons,” she said. “I think when I was little I thought horses were really beautiful ... I also really liked Disney princesses like

AGE: 3 (almost 4) PERSONALITY: Cuddly

“Horses are living creatures with their own mindset … She has learned how to work with that and has had days when it took over an hour just to get a horse to decide to step into the trailer at the end of a long day at a show,” Frey-Law said. “You have to give up a little control, and yet maintain control. It is a balance.”

Law is also able to stay positive even in the face of failure.

“In my twenty years of showing horses, I have never seen someone who has the positive attitude like Erika does,” Fuhrmann said. “CCE

BREED: Paint

judging competitions with her 4-H team, Corridor Competitive Equine (CCE).

“I went with my team this year to National Quarter Horse Congress,” she said. “We got eighth in the nation for judging.”

Despite not actually riding a horse, judging proves to be just as challenging. One of Law’s 4-H coaches, Kristin Fuhrmann, helped her and the rest of the senior team prepare for the competition.

“Erika’s team met every Wednesday night for two years to develop their eye for horses, hone their decision making skills and improve their public speaking abilities,” Fuhrmann said. “Erika

FAVORITE ACTIVITY: Sleeping

has continued to meet every week in preparation of our line up of Spring competitions.”

Law’s dedication to judging gives her an edge in other areas as well.

“Becoming a competitive horse judge has only helped her and the other CCE participants understand what their judges are looking for when they are competing at a horse show,” Fuhrmann said. “Erika has really taken that ability and applied it to her passion for showing her horse.”

Law’s mother, Laura Frey-Law, says one of Law’s particular strengths is patience. Working with animals can be difficult and horses are no exception.

FAVORITE TV SHOW: Reign

FAVORITE FOOD: Strawberries, FUN FACT: Has been to eight countries outside of the U.S. french fries, Fritos

co-coach Kathy Brenneman and I have remarked on numerous occasions how we appreciate that even when horse shows don’t go the way Erika would like them to, we commonly hear her say, ‘It’s okay. I just know now what I have to work on for next time.’”

Law’s mother finds this to be her favorite part about Law’s riding.

“Mostly, it is just seeing her smile when she feels good about a ride,” she said. “It may not even have been a top placing ride, but she was able to accomplish something that she had been working on.”

Law’s favorite part of horseback riding is the relationship she has with the horse.

“You just get a really close bond [with your horse] and [I like] finding a horse that you really get along with,” Law said. “Like my current horse, she’ll be four in March, and she’s probably like the sweetest horse I’ve had so far. She cuddles with you.”

One of Law’s favorite memories of riding is from training a Friesian when she was around 12 years old. Friesians are massive black

horses and as such are not the best for jumping. Law decided to train her horse to jump anyway.

“It took a long time but when she was first learning to jump, she would kind of jump in a really funny way that people call a Superman jump, so instead of curling her legs in she’d stick them straight out like she was flying,” she said.

Law is currently planning on becoming a veterinarian so she can keep touch with her passion even in adulthood.

DESIGN BY CLAIRE MURRAY

WSSPAPER.COM FEBRUARY 2016 PROFILES 15

C

friends, mother, sister and girlfriend, Karli

BY MICHAEL MOONJELY Maurer ’18.

“Sometimes when we hangout we just hances are you will not find look at clothes together. It is fun for us to Nick Burgess ’18 at a local hear each other’s opinions. [Nick] always mall. Ever since he was in shows me something before he buys it, eighth grade, Burgess’ unique sense of and I’m pretty picky,” Maurer laughs. style has led him to buy clothes from all Although he does not follow many over the world. blogs, Burgess gets inspiration from “Once I started to work and make my social media and street style. own money, I could afford the clothes “I am pretty active on Reddit, and [I that I wanted. When I was working at frequent] a subreddit dedicated to street [Bluebird Diner] I would spend almost wear. Other than that I follow people 70 percent of my paycheck on clothes,” like Austin Butts and Ian Connor. Also, Burgess said. a lot of international students at the His favorite stores include the New University of Iowa have really great York-based brand Supreme, Swedish style. My friends and I always hang out fashion house Acne Studios and French at Bubbleology downtown, and there are outfitter Saint Laurent. Since Burgess is always Japanese students wearing really unable to visit these stores in person, he cool designers like Rick Owens,” Burgess resorts to various online outlets. said.

“Usually I look at Barney’s and Dover Burgess says that some people think his Street online, but when I want to find style is ridiculous, including his parents. a really good deal I go to Grailed,” “My parents are kind of used to it by Burgess said. now. My dad thinks it’s pretty insane, Since its debut almost two years ago, and my mom has actually shrunk Grailed.com has become a leading some clothes that she doesn’t like. Even marketplace for buying and selling though they don’t like everything I buy, secondhand designer mens clothing.

I think [my parents] want me to pursue “Probably the best deal I have ever PHOTOS BY STEFAN SCHMIDT fashion as a career because of how gotten was on [Grailed]. It was a pair of passionate I am,” Burgess said.

Acne jeans that retail for $280, but I got Although he is still unsure of what the them for $120.” future holds, he has some key advice for However, Burgess occasionally gets to those who are trying to develop their visit some of the other stores he loves in own style.

• Shirts with hashtags person.

“I want to work at this new “I went to New York this summer with • Jogger Pants contemporary men’s clothing store my friend Noah and that was a really called Scout, which is opening • Vineyard Vines cool experience. The street style there downtown later this year. My biggest • Zumiez is incredible. I also go to Chicago every piece of advice would be to buy what once in awhile and visit stores like Notre • Sperry’s you like and have your own opinion, and RSVP Gallery.” you know yourself the best.”

Burgess notes that his love for fashion stems from many people including his

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relationship you’re looking for. I would say that a lot of the short term relationships don’t require that much maturity,” Biscupski said. “Let’s be honest, most kids in high school don’t date someone under the assumption they’re going to marry them later in life. There’s nothing wrong with having a short relationship, not all of them need to be a lifelong commitment.”

After being together for five years, the couple believes that their relationship has had an effect on their maturity. “[Our relationship] helped us

BY FENNA SEMKEN mature a lot. But that’s probably not s the year progresses, so consequences. going to be the case for everyone,” do student relationships.

“Relationships are most definitely Collins said. “We had to work While walking through affected by maturity, amongst through a lot of communication the halls of West, many many other things. Some issues and that definitely helped students are faced students are . . . mature us.” with public displays of Collins’s opinion on enough to handle the affection (PDA), and is shared. physical and emotional communication not everyone enjoys the aspects of intimate Mason Carter ’16 believes that sight of teenage love. relationships. I would communication and having respect The real question just heed a warning to for one another are large factors posed is one of maturity. students that are in a into having a mature, healthy Megan Kuennen ’19 Megan Kuennen ’19 hurry for that type of relationship. believes that maturity “If you’re not mature enough relationship,” Nahra can affect the outcome of a said. “Often teens don’t consider you’ll end up just fighting all the relationship. time and it won’t be the future; however, “I believe that someone can be someday these students a nice relationship. If in a relationship no matter what will find the person they you’re just using the maturity level they are on, but want to spend their lives other person physically their maturity level might affect with, and I can only hope then you won’t have a the outcome of the relationship. that their future partners relationship for long,” Everyone is different, and although will be understanding if Carter said. “I believe some people are mature enough the student didn’t exhibit Mason Carter ’16 that [girlfriend Rebecca for an intimate relationship, other as much self-control as Sandhu ’17] is mature people aren’t,” Kuennen said. “I they should have in high enough to handle the think that teen love might be real school. Students may not realize kind of relationship that [we have]. for people that are in a healthy the hurt they could cause their We respect each other enough relationship, but for [others], I future selves and partners.” to handle our relationship in the think it’s false hope.”

Though many think maturity is perfect way.”

Kuennen is not alone in her important, former West students, While Collins and Biscupski opinions. English teacher Katy Rachel Collins ’15 and Jack believe communication is Nahra believes that while some Biscupski ’15, believe that maturity one factor to having a mature students are mature enough doesn’t factor into all high school relationship, Nahra believes that for intimate relationships, they relationships.

PDA is a factor to having a mature, could still be blind to future “It all depends on what kind of social relationship.

A

18 FEATURE FEBRUARY 2016 WSSPAPER.COM

LOVE IS IN THE AIR CORNER PDA is shown in the hallways at West, posing the question of maturity, and if students are mature enough to be in these intimate relationships.

“PDA is about social awareness, which [could be] connected to maturity, and I think social awareness is what is lacking when it comes to PDA,” Nahra said. “I don’t want to hear your gossip from the weekend, so don’t scream it down the hallway. I also am not interested in how many swear words you can recite between the library and the commons.

As an English teacher, your lack of vocabulary is disheartening.

And, I really don’t want to see you canoodling one another outside my classroom door. [If someone is participating in PDA], they are less mature.”

Adriana Shaffer ’18 disagrees with Nahra and believes that PDA is misunderstood by students who aren’t in a relationship.

“I don’t think it is always what it seems,” Schafer said. “People who want to be in relationships think people in relationships just try to rub it in other people’s faces, but in reality if I’m having a bad day, I sometimes just need a hug. I’m not trying to show off.”

Kuennen agrees with Schafer, believing that PDA is something not all students understand.

“PDA either makes people feel really uncomfortable or stop and say, ‘Aw, that’s so cute,’” Kuennen said. “I would know from experience that it takes a lot of guts to show PDA.” Though Kuennen and Schafer both have strong opinions, Nahra still believes that PDA is something to be kept out of the hallways, and it determined to make it that way. “[When I see it I think] gross.

While I can appreciate the love two people share, I don’t need to see it,” she said. “My favorite method of discouraging PDA is to make the couple as uncomfortable as possible; that’s what they are doing

to me and everyone else. I usually truth is that two people who are sidle up beside the lovebirds and meant to be together can find love begin an awkward conversation, at any stage in their life.”

The willingness to accept that ‘Hey, guys. What are you doing?

Come here often?’ Works every you are wrong is one thing Sandhu believes factors into the maturity time.”

Despite the levels of maturity of teen love and it is one thing show in the hallway, Allie Pearce no high school relationship can survive without. ’16 believes that teen “Every couple has love is real in any type arguments, but it’s of relationship. working through those “Yeah, I think [teen arguments effectively love is real]. There’s that makes a difference,” all kinds of love,” Sandhu said. “We treat Pearce said. “I think it as us versus the issue, the definition of love changes throughout Adriana Schafer ‘18 not through tears and anger. And that 100 the relationship, but percent factors into that in some way it’s there and shared by whoever is in maturity, just being able to take a it regardless of how old or mature look at yourself and think ‘Maybe I’m wrong,’ that is a huge maturity you are.”

Rebecca Sandhu ’17 is also a thing. It’s the willingness to let things go. I don’t think there’s strong believer in teen love.

“Teen love is absolutely real,” any relationship that can survive Sandhu said. “It’s very uncommon without that.” that I will admit to that, but the

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WSSPAPER.COM FEBRUARY 2016 FEATURE 19

FEATURE

20 FEATURE FEBRUARY 2016 WSSPAPER.COM

DESIGN BY WINGEL XUE

Rachel Feldmann, Bassist

“Nothing you can say to me, my mind is set why can’t you see…”

As expectant fans pile into New York City’s Irving Plaza expecting to see Green Day, they’re greeted instead by punk rock band Lipstick Homicide and their original song, “Call It Art.” The lights flash yellow and white in time with the music and the drummer pounds out an upbeat rhythm. It isn’t long before the crowd is cheering, feeling the headbanging energy of the three twenty-somethings on stage. “... ’cause I’ll try hard, to disregard, everything said of me…”

But before seeing the trio jam in front of thousands of people, before hearing the screams and shouts from the audience, it’s hard to comprehend exactly what they mean when they call themselves ‘musicians.’

“What even is punk rock music?”

“Are you, like, one of those ‘Indie’ musicians that play in bars and coffeehouses?”

“Do you have another job?”

Rachel Feldmann, West High alumnus and also the band’s bassist and lead vocalist, knows that experience all too well, saying, “I can’t tell you how many times I’ve told people my band opened for Green Day once and they just looked at me like, ‘Yeah, sure you did’ and then just went on to the next topic.”

Having personally experienced hard times in her musical career, she understands the doubts.

She remembers sleeping on strangers’ floors and performing in basements. She remembers vehicles and equipment breaking down. She remembers the dry spells in her career, when writer’s block made it

impossible to write new songs. She remembers her other jobs, even referring to them sarcastically as her “real jobs.”

“It definitely hasn’t always been smooth sailing,” Feldman summed up. But even after experiencing these musicians’ struggles, Feldmann’s uncontaminated musical passion has always allowed her to get back on her feet.

“We always bounced back. Once we came up with one or two songs it would motivate us to keep jamming and writing,” Feldmann said. “We were always just [writing music] for fun, but we also enjoyed pushing ourselves to do more at the same time. So we could have more fun playing bigger shows and stuff like that.”

This same passion drove Feldmann and Lipstick Homicide to new heights. It allowed the band to release five records in the last decade. It allowed for their CD sales and fan base to grow exponentially. It allowed for the band to tour across the country as well as Canada and Europe. It allowed them to open for a Green Day concert, marking a high point in the band’s career. Most of all, it allowed them to “grow musically together after playing with each other so long.”

Feldmann now plays in an Ohiobased band called Boys and works with other musicians on a project called 83 Wolfpack. She still comes back to Iowa City to work with her Lipstick Homicide bandmates.

Even though she’s come a long way from performing at the West High talent show, Feldmann admits that there are still challenges.

“I can’t lie, I would love to have more money. Wouldn’t

everybody?” Feldmann said. “It does get kind of discouraging sometimes, you know, it’s hard to keep going as hard as we always have. [But] I think if we were only trying to make money off of our band then it would have gotten boring a long time ago - we probably wouldn’t still be a band after all these years. Just playing together and being able to go on tour and share our music with people was what ‘success’ meant to us. I can’t wait to see where punk rock takes me next! What’s the old saying? YOLO!”

Ben Crouse, Storyboard Artist/Writer

When Ben Crouse sits at his workspace, scribbling and making scratch marks on the paper, he’s not doing the day to day paperwork of a regular desk job. Instead, he’s “sitting in a room with other funny people and coming up with the dumbest thing we can to make each other laugh.”

After spending countless hours at the University of Iowa uploading self-produced animations, illustrations and comics to his Tumblr page, Crouse got an email from Disney asking to work as a storyboard artist. As a “big fan of Adventure Time, The Simpsons, other comedy animation shows,” it was an easy decision to make.

“I was reaffirmed to do what is natural and joyful for me,” Crouse said.

Crouse now works at Disney’s Pickle and Peanut as a storyboard artist and writer. The show follows the mischief and adventures of close friends Pickle and Peanut, talking and walking versions of the everyday pickle and peanut. For

Crouse, working at Disney was his true calling. “[I] always tried to chase laughter and storytelling is a good way to do that,” Crouse said. “There was no question of whether [drawing] was the thing for me because it was just an automatic love that I had simply forgotten about.”

Although Crouse says he “drew a lot when I was a kid” and pursued art throughout high school and college, there were many bumps in the road to becoming a professional artist. Most of the time it was no big deal, just a natural sense of uncertainty.

“I think having the thought ‘What the heck am I doing?’ is a healthy thing to have regularly. Doubt is kind of a cool beast,” Crouse said.

Serious trouble came when Crouse moved to Los Angeles to make short films. Without much success in his shorts, Crouse was left unemployed and moneyless.

He returned to Iowa City with “my tail between my legs feeling like [I] was a big failure.” Feeling like he’d reached a dead end in his artistic career, Crouse began to take classes at the University of Iowa as a biology major. “[Majoring in biology] was totally not me but felt more reasonable. It was really forced,” Crouse said.

Without a true interest in biology, it wasn’t long before Crouse returned to making art full time.

According to Crouse, he got “kind of addicted to it.” He continued to share his artwork and original works through social media. This time around, it only took four months until Crouse landed a job at Disney.

“Point is, share all the dumb stuff you make!”

THE ROAD LESS

TRAVELLED

Finding the perfect path to success is a daunting task. But sometimes, it’s as simple as following your dreams, no matter how unconventional your methods may be.

BY JUNHEE LEE

WSSPAPER.COM FEBRUARY 2016 FEATURE 21

MORMON MYTHS:

DEBUNKED

BY MICHAEL MOONJELY Sitting directly east of West High is a red brick building with a tall white steeple. Inside, you can find members of the Church of LatterDay Saints, commonly referred to as Mormons or LDS. Since its founding in 1830, the LDS community has grown to over 13 million members. Throughout its history, the religion has been subject to ridicule in pop culture.

The WSS sat down with Laura Fletcher ’17, Emily Mergenthaler ’17, Lincoln Fletcher ’18 and Kaylee Guymon ’17 to debunk common Mormon misconceptions and to talk about what it is like to grow up in the Mormon faith.

ON POLYGAMY

burdened] woman. It was actually one of the hardest things men had to do,” Mergenthaler said.

ON LGBTAQ+ Although the Church of Latter Day Saints has banned polygamy since the early 20th century, many people still associate LDS The LDS faith has with plural marriage. always believed that “There was a short period marriage is between of time where the prophet a man and a woman; received revelation from however, Guymon God that polygamy was says that the church necessary because there is not homophobic. were a lot of widows with “We don’t hate gays children. [Polygamy] at Emily Mergenthaler ’17 and lesbians. We this time was more of a way believe in loving for a man to help out a [financially all of the children of God, which

22 FEATURE FEBRUARY 2016 WSSPAPER.COM

is everyone on earth. It isn’t that we don’t want gays to be happy.

The rule that children of [LGBT] couples can’t be baptised is actually to protect kids. Church leaders don’t want children to be baptised in a faith that [does not recognize their parent’s relationship], and don’t want to confuse them. Kids of [LGBT] couples can choose to be baptised at age 18,” Laura said. Mergenthaler notes that this issue has hit close to home. “My uncle is gay and is married and he chose to leave the church, but we love him a lot and we see him every Thanksgiving. It’s not like my family has decided to reject him,” she said.

GRAPHICS BY RYO OHASHI

ON ABORTION

ON BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY

ON MODEST DRESS

smash hit after its debut in 2011.

However, the LDS community has not responded as positively. “My parents have advised me not to watch it because it makes fun of the religion. I don’t want to watch something that makes fun of our faith,” Guymon said.

According to The Washington Modest dress is a more than just The abortion policy in the LDS Times, Brigham a principle in the LDS faith, it is church is not a simple black Young University an attitude. “It isn’t just clothing. and white issue. Although has a student body When people wear revealing the church is against that is 98.5 percent clothes it is kind of selfish; you bring abortions for married Mormon. This is not attention to yourself. Being modest couples and for children ON a sheer coincidence, shows that you are not focused on out of wedlock, Laura states COMMUNITY Laura says. “LDS yourself,” Laura said. However, that an abortion is a viable members pay there are exceptions.

“You can option in some situations.

Everyone interviewed agreed “If a mother is raped or Kaylee Guymon ’17 tithing, which is 10 wear non-modest clothes for usage, percent of our like in sports,” that the sense of community in the is in danger of dying, an [household Mergenthaler said. LDS faith is what makes the church abortion [is acceptable],” income]. This money goes to Guymon noted special. “The sense of community Laura said. funding churches, temples, that the rule of is amazing. [Everyone] takes care mission trips and BYU … modest dress does of each other. We give financial Since BYU has an honor have its downsides. assistance to those who aren’t ON CAFFEINE code that follows a lot of “Sometimes it is meeting all the ends. We make sure everyone’s [LDS] standards, a lot of h a r d Laura Fletcher ’17 b e c a u s e rent is paid. If the The Word of Wisdom is an LDS LDS [youth] choose to go government was you want law that was enacted to outline the there.” patterned aft er [this to keep up with the trends, church’s stance on physical health. structure] it would but I know that [modest ON GENDER “We don’t drink alcohol, coffee or work much better,” dress] is something tea. We can still drink soda and ROLES Laura said. Guymon that is important in the other things with caffeine. It is agrees. “It is really church …

With soccer Lincoln Fletcher ’18 really just another test of our faith,” great because [LDS] Men and women have different sometimes I order boys’ Lincoln said. youth get together duties in the church. “Men have sizes because they are from all over that state, so you get the keys to perform ordinances [longer], ” she said.

ON THE to know a lot of people,” she said. like marriage, baptism and POLITICAL confirmation.

Women are ON THE BOOK Sources: lds.org, mormon.org SPECTRUM primarily in charge of nurturing OF MORMON [children]. Men and women have The LDS community was thrust [equal] duties, and without each into the spotlight when LDS other we cannot reach the highest The satire musical, The Book member and former Massachusetts level of glory,” Laura said. of Mormon, became a broadway governor Mitt Romney ran against President Barack Obama in the 2012 presidential election.

However, the LDS church did not endorse Romney as a candidate.

“A lot of Mormons did support Romney … but the church does not endorse candidates. You can never tell if politicians are good people and being Mormon does not change that. Although most Mormons are Republicans, there are several that are [Democrats].

Liberals’ main focus is being loving and open to everyone, and that is what we believe,” Laura said. Mergenthaler agrees that Mormons do not fall into one -Laura Fletcher ’17 particular political category. “We respect everyone’s beliefs, and we want them to respect ours as well.

We are not really [involved] on the political spectrum,” she said.

The sense of community is amazing. [Everyone] takes care of each other.

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WSSPAPER.COM FEBRUARY 2016 FEATURE 23

BREAKING THE BINARY

BY JUNHEE LEE & PRATEEK RAIKWAR

Even before we’re born, we’re assigned to be a boy or a girl. We’re raised in pink and blue rooms wearing pink and blue clothes. So what happens if you’re neither exclusively male nor exclusively female, but something else?

DESIGN BY LILY WESTEMEYER PHOTO BY MEG MORELAND

As you may notice, the WSS uses the pronouns they, their and them when referring to Morely. Morely notified us early on that these were their preferred pronouns. The editorial board here at the WSS realizes that thousands of people around the world may not identify with their assigned pronoun. As a result, we have decided to add the following statement to our editorial policy: Furthermore, we realize that some sources may have preferred pronouns other than the ones assigned to them. Although WSS reporters will not ask sources for their preferred pronouns, we encourage sources to inform reporters of preferred pronouns during the interview process.

If you have any questions regarding our decision please email westsidestorypaper@gmail.com.

T

hey walk into the first day of sophomore year with a new look: their shoulderlength hair is now a close cropped pixie cut, their wardrobe has changed to have a more masculine edge and their breast binder compresses and flattens their chest. They take their seat in their first period class and the teacher takes roll call.

“Tamera McNamar?” the teacher calls.

They raise their hand, hopeful for a fresh new start to the year, and responds, “Actually, I’m genderfluid, and I’d prefer to go by Jace.”

Just this school year, Tamera McNamar flew off the map and Jace Morely ’18 took their place. After they first encountered the term genderfluid at a COLORS meeting, Morely immediately identified with the term.

“Ever since kindergarten I’ve hung out more with guys and understood them more than females. I was like, ‘Wait a second, that makes a lot of sense because I’m not a female and I’m not a male, but I am some mix of the two,’” Morely said.

While the realization was spontaneous, the name change came more gradually. As a genderfluid person, Morely’s gender varies at any given moment in time. Because

of this, they began to identify to tell them, Morely was expecting themself with gender neutral terms. rejection, pure acceptance or some They started by rejecting female combination of the two. What they pronouns like ‘she’ and ‘her’ and got was something totally different. began referring to themself as ‘they’ “I was completely flabbergasted,” and ‘them.’ Even after that change, Morely said. “They were very proud Morely took two more months to of me for making that step and make the transition from Tamera to trusting them enough. Because I the Jace. On the other hand, finding made that step, they made their the name Jace was rather simple. steps in telling me about [their “I’ve actually been in love with genders].” the name Jace for a long time,” Their mother shared with Morely Morely said. “The first time I came that she was intersex, meaning that in contact with it was she had a high level when I was three because of testosterone in her my mother played Magic body. Their stepfather the Gathering and one revealed that he was of the Planeswalkers beginning to make the names was Jace,” they transition as a transadded with a laugh. “As female and enjoyed I’ve grown older and dressing in drag.

Anneke Thorne ’16 become a writer, I’ve had “As the year went to come up with names on, [my mother and for characters and Jace just seemed stepfather] became more open like one that I always came up with about telling me about themselves,” ... I started to believe that [Jace] just Morely said. “It was a domino describes me in so many ways.” effect.”

After settling into their new name Although initially shocking to and identity, all that was left was to Morely, these revelations became tell their friends and family. Morely the foundation of an impenetrable remembers how difficult it was to tell bond between Morely and their their mother and stepfather, saying family. They felt especially close that “I was entirely nervous and I with their stepfather, who Morely had to convince myself to come out says became “more comfortable to them for twenty minutes.” When in his skin” after embracing his they finally mustered up the nerve gender identity. So when Morely’s

stepfather passed away, Morely remembers crying for four days in a row. Seeing their stepfather’s death as a legacy for them to fulfill, Morely again made the switch from being a McNamar to being a Morely, taking on their stepfather’s last name.

“I realized that I had only seen him a few times and I could not make that time up, but I could live in his memory. He felt that he couldn’t talk about [his gender and sexuality] openly, so when I came out to him he acted like the world had changed.

From then on I have taken his last name.”

Growing and evolving with two parents who are neither exclusively male or female, Morely was able to solidify their place on the gender spectrum more easily. But compared to their experience and the headway made for gay marriage and sexual orientation awareness, the world of non-binary genders is only “on the precipice” according to Anneke Thorne ’16, active member of COLORS. “I feel like since a smaller percent of the population are going to be transgender or genderfluid, [a gender movement] might take longer than the LGBT movement,” Thorne said.

Much of the problem comes from a lack of awareness about non-binary

genders. After years of exposure to University of Iowa opened an the LGBT movement, and as more LGBTQ clinic, one of three in the and more progress is being made, country, that provides counseling new issues such as genderfluidity and therapy for patients who are are being overshadowed. People are changing gender. The clinic also blurring the lines between sexual rewrote the hospital forms to say, orientation and gender.

“What gender were you assigned Olivia Smith ’18, another gender at birth?” and “What gender do non-binary student at West High, you prefer?”, going on to ask the recalls being told that “it’s totally patient, “What pronouns would fine and normal for you to be you like us to use to refer to you?” bisexual, but there’s no such thing At West High, COLORS is pushing as being in between boys and to remodel the bathrooms to make girls.” Morely admits that them gender neutral, other members of the which Barnhouse community see them as says is “definitely a “trying to get attention, possibility.” or just lying, or just really But the progress so confused about who they far is limited. “If you go are trying to portray.” like 90 miles away to my They even remember hometown then people Olivia Smith ’18 being asked, “So one day won’t really be talking do you just wake up with about [gender] at all,” a penis, or how do you feel more Barnhouse said. The next step is to masculine?” bring gender issues to the national “Even members of the LGBT stage. community and its allies are “There was a time when we didn’t uninformed. I think just issues of talk about homosexuality either gender and genderfluidity are much and once the media picks up on it, more now the focus because people once there starts to be public figures are so uninformed about it,” said or characters on television, people Kerri Barnhouse, English teacher at start talking about it more and West High. people start getting comfortable.

Even so, steps are being taken Once you start seeing it, people will locally in order to respect people start talking about that,” Barnhouse of varying gender identities. The said.

According to Barnhouse, once their genderfluidity. Now, Morely the issue starts to make national hopes to help others find theirs, headlines, the next step may be using YouTube and other social to use the momentum to push for media as a platform to share their high profile court cases and new story. legislation specific to gender issues. “[I want] to help people who are For Morely, the next step is to struggling with the same things and remove the gender association with just to tell them, ‘Hey, you’re not names. Having lived with the wrong alone.’ There are other people ... who name and the wrong pronouns for no one knows about that are going most of their life, Morely knows through the same thing.” that gendered names can make With only twenty subscribers it difficult to break free from the on their YouTube channel, most gender binary. of whom are Morely’s “I’ve looked on so many friends or family, Morely [baby naming] sites and isn’t exactly an internet there are always male celebrity. But it’s not names and female names. about the page views Some of them have and the number of male, female and gender subscribers. “Honestly, binary. I think that if we if I can help just one could change that to just person … then I’m Kerri Barnhouse, baby names, then that happy,” Morely said.

English Teacher would be helpful and a They may have already step in the right direction,” Morely accomplished this goal. Morely said. remembers a friend who, inspired Morely recognizes that the by their videos, made the decision progress will be limited. When to cut their shoulder length hair to asked about the prospect of a world no longer than an inch. Yet Morely without gendered names or without strives to reach even further, make gender at all, Morely replied, “We a bigger impact and share the love. can hope and we can dream, but “Do not fall for, ‘You are worthless’ I don’t see it changing in our very and ‘You would be better off dead’ distant future.” But at the very least, because you’re not. You are so much they know that their name change stronger than everyone who is was the right decision in embracing bullying you ... Just stay strong and don’t fall for the hate.”

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P.O.S. We have an issue with our hubcaps, they always fall off.

The metal in the tire, where you pop the hubcap on, is bent on all of the tires. It’s a group effort to put a new [one] on, but because it’s bent so funky they fall off all the time. So whenever we hit a bump I’m like “Oh no, we lost another one.”

1

I backed into a pole in the West High parking lot last year. [Now] there is a dent in the bumper.

2

We’ve had multiple hit and runs on our car. [Someone backed into it] so we have a huge dent in the driver’s side, right by the gas tank. Opening the door for the gas is a two person job. You need one person to pull up the lever, and another one to quickly open it.

ENTERTAINMENT

3

Two summers ago, our sky roof window got stuck open while it was raining. When they went in to fix it they had to take the entire roof off. The piece of ceiling that would block the sunlight from coming in, the little slidey thing, is not there anymore; they couldn’t put a new one on.

On the roof, there are stains and rips from when they were putting it back on.

4

We have paint on the back bumper that is scraping off from where people rearended our car, but we won’t fix it.

The color of the car is just weird.

It’s sometimes purple, sometimes grey, sometimes brown. That’s why we never fix any of the paint on it because it is such a weird color it’s hard to find.

5

There are cigarette burns in the seats. We bought our car on eBay and we didn’t know it was a smoker’s car until we got it.

It reeked of smoke. And there are coffee ring stains on some of [the seats].

6

A couple of weeks ago, I was parked at the mall and I came back out and my mirror was dangling off of the car. There was no plastic left, so now it’s held on by packing tape that I borrowed from the art room.

7

The car makes weird noises when it’s on, that’s normal though. It makes this awful sound, it’s like a screeching. When we turn it on, it takes a minute or two for it to stop screeching.

8

COMPILED BY LEXI SHAFFER

PHOTOS BY MEG MORELAND

After enduring six long years with three of the Staib children, their ’98 Toyota Camry was bound to hold some stories.

Becca Staib ’16 and Cassie Staib ’17 share why their car is truly a P.O.S.

DESIGN BY GABBY SKOPEC

WSSPAPER.COM FEBRUARY 2016 ENTERTAINMENT 29

SAUSAGE & PICKLED JALAPEÑO PIZZA

COMPILED BY JEREMY HU

Awaken from your winter slumber to the wafting aroma of this San Francisco-inspired masterpiece.

PIZZA DOUGH | 1 POUND from marthastewart.com Ingredients

1 packet (2 ¼ teaspoons) active dry yeast 1 tablespoon sugar 2 tablespoon olive oil 1 teaspoon salt 2 cups all-purpose flour

Instructions Pour ¾ cups warm water (105°F - 110°F) into a large bowl; sprinkle with yeast and let sit for 5 minutes.

Whisk sugar, oil and salt into the yeast mixture then add flour and stir until a sticky dough forms. Transfer dough to an oiled bowl, cover with plastic wrap and place in a warm place to rise until it doubles in size, about an hour.

Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and knead once or twice before using.

TOMATO SAUCE | 2 CUPS from thecandidappetite.com Ingredients 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 small onion, diced 2 garlic cloves, minced 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon pepper 1 (14oz) can diced tomatoes 1 tablespoon fresh oregano, chopped or 1 teaspoon dried handful of fresh basil leaves, chopped

30 ENTERTAINMENT FEBRUARY 2016 WSSPAPER.COM

Instructions Heat a small saucepan over medium heat, add the olive oil, onion, garlic, salt and pepper and sautee until translucent, add the diced tomatoes with juice and cook a few more minutes,. Add in the oregano and basil, adjust seasoning to taste and simmer for ten minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly

PHOTO BY JEREMY HU

SAUSAGE & PICKLED JALAPENO PIZZA | 8 SLICES from thecandidappetite.com Ingredients 1 pound pizza dough tomato sauce 2 tablespoon olive oil 1 pound ground italian sausage 1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese ¼ cup pickled jalapeños, drained

DESIGN BY JEREMY HU

Instructions Preheat the oven to 500°F Heat one tablespoon olive oil over medium-high heat, add sausage and cook for about ten minutes or until browned.

Roll out the pizza dough, drizzle with the remaining oil and spread on as little or as much tomato sauce as you like. Sprinkle on cheese, and top with sausage and pickled jalapeños. Bake for 15 minutes or until the crust is golden brown and cheese is bubbling.

WSSPAPER.COM FEBRUARY 2016 ENTERTAINMENT 31

THE

WEST HIGH OSCARS

West Side Story staffers watched and reviewed all eight movies nominated for the Oscars Best Picture category. Tune into ABC on Feb. 28 to see who wins.

THE MARTIAN

RATING:

REVIEWED BY: CHARLIE CODE

STARRING: Matt Damon, Kristen Wiig, Kate Mara, Jeff Daniels, Donald Glover the maintains the excellent precedent Mark Watney, and is able to portray WSS REVIEW: With perfect mixture of science fiction, light drama and comic relief mainly from Matt Damon’s performance as the stranded Dr. Mark Watney, The Martian provides moviegoers with one of the best science fiction films of the year. Despite the occasional unrealistic feats of science, the movie

expected from a Ridley Scott movie.

The stacked cast consisting of cameos of actors like Jeff Daniels, Donald Glover and Kristen Wiig provide a solid support of characters that further emphasize Damon’s performance.

Scott seamlessly transports viewers into the life of Dr.

ROOM

the helplessness and joy of his small accomplishments throughout the film. This allows the audience to connect to Dr. Mark Watney on a much deeper level than the average science fiction protagonist.

RATING:

STARRING: Jacob Tremblay, Brie Larson WSS REVIEW: Directed by solely of a bed, sink, small kitchen, Lenny Abrahamson and based on the award winning novel, Room tells the story of a young boy, Jack (Jacob Tremblay) and his beloved Ma (Brie Larson) as they cope with life in the outside world after years of imprisonment. Room is comprised

bathtub and skylight, all enclosed in four pitifully small walls. There are no windows and scarcely a hope for escape until Jack’s fifth birthday when Ma conjures up a plan to leave Room and their captor, Old Nick, forever. The muted tones and colors

REVIEWED BY: EBONY McKEEVER

of this movie perfectly illustrate the bleak mood that permeates the majority of this film. Larson fulfills her role to perfection, and in the end one is left stunned in a thought provoking silence.

THE BIG SHORT

RATING:

STARRING: Christian Bale, Ryan Gosling, Steve Carell, Brad Pitt WSS REVIEW: In 2008, the to fail, and how they pulled a “big housing market crashed, bringing the rest of the world economy down with it. In the wake of the event, many people were shocked that no one predicted the disaster. The Big Short tells the story of the small group of men who saw the system beginning

short” by betting against the doomed housing market. It’s a solid movie, but feels unpolished at points. The editing can be disjointed, and it vacillates between a cheeky, fourth wall breaking comedy and a serious film. If you’re interested in learning

BROOKLYN

more about the financial crisis of 2008, or if you’re just a fan of white guys in suits yelling at each other, this movie is for you.

RATING:

STARRING: Saoirse Ronan, Domhnall Gleeson, Emory Cohen WSS REVIEW: A tale of emotions as she is forced to decide conflicting romance and coming of age, Brooklyn serves well as this year’s token period piece. Starring Saoirse Ronan as Eilis Lacey, a young Irish woman from a humble background seeking a grander existence, the film concentrates on Eilis’ tumult of

REVIEWED BY: MADELINE SILVA

whether to accept the only life she has ever known or create a new life with no attachments. The combined screenplay and cinematography create a nostalgic, well-worn photograph of a film that feels comfortable, memorable and utterly

32 ENTERTAINMENT FEBRUARY 2016 WSSPAPER.COM

REVIEWED BY: KELSEY KERANEN

real. Although it does little to stand out from the slew of other period romances that have been produced within the last ten years, Brooklyn remains worth a watch for hopeless romantics with a passion for happy endings.

DESIGN BY LEAH DUSTERHOFT

BRIDGE OF SPIES

RATING:

REVIEWED BY: CHARLIE CODE

STARRING: Tom Hanks, Mark Rylance WSS REVIEW: Set in a post the audience WWII America, Bridge of Spies depicts the story of American Lawyer James Donovan (Tom Hanks) as he struggles to navigate the murky waters between the United States and the Soviet Union during a critical moment in the Cold War. Director Steven Spielberg truly provides

with the mindset of a man who is split between his country, and his moral code. Hanks’ knockout performance drives this home. While the first few minutes of the film are a little lackluster, the increasing scale of the situation and the determination of Donovan will draw viewers in and have them fully

committed by the end of the film. With a dreary atmosphere that places the audience in an era fueled by nuclear threat, a phenomenal performance by Tom Hanks, and a plotline that will have viewers wholeheartedly invested, Bridge of Spies is a movie worthy of a Best Picture nomination.

MAD MAX: FURY ROAD

RATING:

REVIEWED BY: KELSEY KERANEN

STARRING: Charlize Theron, Tom Hardy Max: (Charlize WSS REVIEW: Mad Fury Road, a continuation of George Miller’s cult classic film series, isn’t a film for anyone with questionable blood pressure. The film is literally a wild ride from start to finish, following Max Rockatanksy (Tom Hardy) and Imperator Furiosa

Theron) as they race across a post-apocalyptic desert on a mission to provide asylum for a small collection of refugees that they have rescued from a tyrannical warlord whose army is in immediate pursuit.

The film does well to avoid becoming a meaningless monster truck brawl,

THE REVENANT

RATING:

STARRING: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy WSS REVIEW: I n s p i r e d Hardy), Glass by true o cc ur rences, this western semi-biographical film directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu follows the hardships of fur-trapper Hugh Glass (Leonardo DiCaprio) on the great frontier. After being brutally maimed by a grizzly and left to die by his own team members, namely his partner John Fitzgerald (Tom

effectively combining compelling storylines, multidimensional (and decidedly feminist) characters and exceptional acting to make a nuanced, albeit aggressive, piece. A summer blockbuster that feels like anything but, Mad Max is a must for any film buff.

REVIEWED BY: EBONY McKEEVER

faces the merciless winter coupled with untold anguish in his quest for revenge. Pushed only by his strong will and resolve, Glass faces the unimaginable in a perfect portrayal of the strength of human spirit-even when driven by black intentions. The cinematography in this film is strikingly beautiful, an excellent snow white backdrop to

contrast the withering darkness found in the characters on screen. DiCaprio delivers an astounding performance that is only enhanced by the other actors. While the message of strength in human spirit may be unoriginal and a tad overdone , the execution of it in this film is magnificent.

SPOTLIGHT

RATING:

REVIEWED BY: NINA ELKADI

STARRING: Mark Ruffalo, Michael Keaton, Stanley Tucci, Rachel McAdams WSS REVIEW: It can’t possibly how the Boston Globe went about amazing performance of the struggle be easy to create a popular movie in a predominantly Christian nation that has a plot surrounding criticism of the Catholic church.

Although the story the Boston Globe was working on focused on the Catholic priest molestation allegations, Spotlight is centered on

covering the intricate story through investigative journalism. Director Tom McCarthy puts together a rockstar cast, challenging Mark Ruffalo with a character that develops from a hesitant reporter to a breakthrough journalist. Liev Schreiber plays the Jewish editor-in-chief, giving an

to push for a story. His humble but stubborn character is someone you will root for throughout the movie.

Plus, Spotlight gets people talking about a controversial and important issue.

FOR MORE OSCAR BUZZ, GO TO WSSPAPER.COM

PHOTO BY SARAH LONGMIRE

WSSPAPER.COM FEBRUARY 2016 ENTERTAINMENT 33

M.A.S.H. Throwback all the way to elementary school with the West Side Story edition of everyone’s favorite time-waster, M.A.S.H. - Mansion, Apartment, Shack, House. If you are unaware, M.A.S.H. is a game devised to predict your future with startling accuracy.

BY EBONY MCKEEVER

SPOUSE

TALENT Hacky sack professional Mongolian throat singing Can perfectly imitate several equine animals Shadow puppeteer World renowned ventriloquist Mole catching extraordinaire*

John Cena Benedict Cumberbatch Kylo Ren DJ Khaled Iggy Azalea Beyonce

OCCUPATION Cat enthusiast Door-to-door salesman who exclusively sells small dogs Snake milker Fortune cookie writer Private eye Dog surfing instructor

*Please look up ‘Matty Molenator’ on YouTube

AREA OF RESIDENCE Bermuda Triangle Area 51 Outer space The bottom of the Grand Canyon Mariana Trench Subterranean Iowa City

SECRET IDENTITY Part-time superhero, not for justice, just for fun Celebrity psychic Small animal search & rescue Squad but the squad consists of only you You, but James Bond Hannah Montana impersonator A fish-human hybrid who helps out the local aquatic fauna 34 ENTERTAINMENT FEBRUARY 2016 WSSPAPER.COM

PET Capybara A very small but colorful snake A single pill bug A rock, but with googly eyes and feathers glued to it An oversized chow chow An echidna

DESIGN BY CATHERINE JU

DIRECTIONS: Simply choose a number between five and 20 and count through

one of the sections using your designated number, stopping on the option your number corresponds to. Cross off the option you stop on. Continue doing this until only one option is left and circle it; this is your future prediction for this aspect of your life. Repeat this process until all the sections are completed and then, congratulations, your future has been predicted! Don’t forget to go through the title M.A.S.H. in this manner as well to find out if you’ll have a mansion, apartment, shack or house.

Y I D

SPOUSE

OCCUPATION

TALENT

AREA OF RESIDENCE

SECRET IDENTITY PET

WSSPAPER.COM FEBRUARY 2016 ENTERTAINMENT 35

SHOW CHOIR WINTER SWING SHOW

So far this season, West High’s varsity showchoir Good Time Company and the prep show choir have competed in three of their four competitons. The Spring Show will be Sunday Feb. 28.

PHOTOS BY SARA LONGMIRE DESIGN BY MADDIE MORIYAMA

36

37

THE

ON

ARTS

PHOTO BY NICK DEERBERG

EMMA OGLESBY ’17

BY ALLIE BISCUPSKI She lays out a collection of drawings. From sketches to fully shaded portraits to colorful graphic pictures, her works showcase her wide range of abilities and her careful, precise eye. One thing remains consistent throughout her portraits: the meticulous attention to detail and lifelike details of the faces.

Emma Oglesby ’16 has been interested in art from the day she could hold a pencil in her hands.

Now, she is graduating early, taking a year off and pursuing art through commissions from everyone to ghost writers to textbook companies.

“Growing up in a home that was

very crafty ... making things and drawing a lot is how I got into [art].”

With a creative family, Oglesby said having the liberty to try new things and learn through experience helped develop her artistic thinking at a young age.

“I drew on my grandma’s carpet when I was little because I thought it was a marker,” she said. “Instead of getting mad she was just like ‘Well, she’s just experimenting!’ She was kind of upset, but fine with it.”

This open environment is what helped spark Oglesby’s passion for art. Throughout grade school, she participated in art classes, however last year she realized she would like to pursue art as a career.

38 ENTERTAINMENT FEBRUARY 2016 WSSPAPER.COM

“My parents are also very supportive of what I would like to do, and doing something that makes me happy,” she said.

Oglesby has spent her year building up her portfolio and generating a list of contacts for future projects.

“If I want a career in this, it’s great to start young and build your name and start early, but also to see if this is what I really want to do,” she said. “I have been commissioned by a couple people to do work with them.”

Although she cannot talk much about the specific projects she is working on, Oglesby and her family plan on traveling to New York to

meet with editors at Scholastic Book Company.

As an illustrator, the type of profession Oglesby would like to pursue, she will do everything from illustrating a children’s book to crafting detailed sketches for a textbook.

Although Oglesby’s family is fully supportive of her decision, she has faced criticism of her choice to take a year off school. With the criticism, she offers a piece of advice: “Do what makes you happy, no matter what it is,” she said. “It can be hard, but don’t be discouraged.

There’s always going to be someone out there that supports you.”

DESIGN BY OLIVIA READ

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WSSPAPER.COM FEBRUARY 2016 ADS 39

SPORTS “She

QUEEN OF

BY JIUNG JUNG

COURT

THE

ranked in the Missouri Valley.”

Being a newcomer on a team is never an easy to position to be in, but Koch believes her transition onto the basketball team has been relatively smooth.

Freshman Emma Koch has had prolific Koch “It was a little intimidating at first, amounts of success in basketball and s a i d . but I have been playing with all of “My dad is the girls for a while, and they are all tennis, and she hopes to continue her my Amateur very accepting,” Koch said. “I like illustrious prep career at West.

Athletic Union that they don’t treat me any (AAU) basketball differently than any coach and has been o t h e r player, but working with me on basketball they are always almost everyday this summer and very helpful fall.” when I need Koch has already made an it.” immediate impact on West To achieve High’s varsity basketball what she has, program, averaging Koch has put very athlete about seven points in countless has a goal, per game, and hours of whether it she hopes training for be to make varsity, to become to do the both sports. a top regional player or even to same “During find success at the national level. for b asketball -Amie Villarini, girls tennis coach Emma Koch ’19 has achieved all s e a s o n , of this -- in two sports -- and she’s I practice basketball almost only a freshman. tennis. Even though as a freshman everyday. During tennis season, I Koch started playing basketball she lacks experience, she makes up practice tennis almost everyday,” and tennis when she was seven for it with her talent.

Koch said. “Basketball and tennis years old, and she says her parents “[My basketball team] won a are both big time commitments. have always been the driving factor United States Junior Nationals You can’t just randomly take some behind her triumphs. tournament in Chicago, and I time off or not go 100 percent “My mom has spent countless played three years for the Iowa and expect that you’ll magically hours hitting tennis balls with me, Barnstormers,” Koch said. “[For continue to get better.” shooting with me, driving me to tennis] I won three matches at Koch’s coaches speak highly of practices and watching my games,” nationals, and I became eighth her work ethic and attitude.

E

40 SPORTS FEBRUARY 2016 WSSPAPER.COM

She shows superior sportsmanship and does her talking with her ball skills and racket skills.”

continues to work hard in practice and out of practice to improve in all areas,” basketball coach BJ Mayer said. “With her work ethic and drive, she could become a very good basketball player.” “[Koch] is a natural athlete but also works hard putting in the required hours to become not just a good player in both basketball and tennis but a great person,” said Amie Villarini, girls tennis coach.

“She shows superior sportsmanship and does her talking with her ball skills and racket skills.”

Villarini just recently started working with Koch outside of high school tennis; however, Koch has played on the United States Tennis Association tournament circuit for many years.

“Tennis has taught me so many life lessons,” Koch said. “I’ve learned how to deal with cheaters, how to pick myself up and how to compose myself when something might not be going my way.”

Although Koch enjoys both sports, she slightly prefers basketball over tennis.

“I just have a lot of fun playing basketball, and I love the intensity and playing with a team in a competitive environment,” Koch said.

All of Koch’s efforts ultimately are aimed towards one goal: college basketball.

“I think it would be really cool to play at [the University of] Iowa because I’ve grown up watching them,” Koch said. “I’ll have worked really hard to get to that point, and I’ll be able to do what I love with people who love it just as much.”

PHOTO BY MEG MORELAND DESIGN BY CATHERINE JU

A

FRACTURED SEASON

The West Side Story looks into how athletes deal with injuries that put an end to their seasons.

BY ELLIE GRETTER Having an injury can be Ali Tauchen ’17 said. nice thing about doing these is that devastating to all high school Having one injury can lead to you can still stay in good physical athletes, especially when they miss another due to overcompensation. condition despite having an injury, their season. Although having When an athlete has an and helps you not get an injury is very hard for some injury they are likely to down about maybe athletes to overcome, it is also a unintentionally favor losing your fitness,” great opportunity to train and it, which puts a higher Feeley said. improve other areas. workload on other If the injury is serious Even though having a small and muscles or bones. enough it can cause them common injury does not seem Cross country and to miss their season or like it would cause an athlete to be track runner Nick be unable to practice for out for a long period of time, it all Feeley ’16 had a stress months.

Ali Tauchen ’17 depends on the severity. fracture on his fourth “It was early September “A sprain and a strain are metatarsal which led to when [the stress categorized as either mild, a fractured tibia. fracture] happened. I was not able moderate or severe. Mild injuries “You basically throw out all your to train healthily until about midmay require rest for one to 14 days, goals for the season when you get November. Which was weeks after moderate 14 to 28 an injury like that. You cross country state,” Feeley said. days and severe could have to forget about the Having an injury can not only be one to six months season. It takes a toll,” mean missing the season; it can in length for return,” Feeley said. also cut important off-season said Sheila Stiles, West Even though Feeley training time.

High’s athletic trainer. missed his senior cross “I’m out this whole basketball Minor injuries also country season he was season. I will not be able to do commonly lead to still able to train and spring training or anything like that Nick Feeley ’16 bigger and more improve which gave a and be out all summer,” Tauchen serious injuries or even glimmer of positivity to said. “My goal is to be back by next recurring issues later on. the situation.

August.”

“I’m more likely now [due to “When I was injured I did a lot current ACL injury] to tear either of water running and biking. The ACL or get a knee injury later on,”

MOST INJURY-

PRONE SPORTS AT WEST

Football

Soccer

Basketball

Wrestling

SOURCE: WEST ATHLETIC TRAINER, SHEILA STILES

PHOTO BY CHANEL VIDAL DESIGN BY LEAH DUSTERHOFT

WSSPAPER.COM FEBRUARY 2016 SPORTS 41

SURGING TO STATE COMPILED BY AARON CARTER & TAYLOR LIBBY

Success and West High basketball almost seem synonymous. The boys basketball team has won state three of the past four years and the girls basketball team so far has utilized their young lineup. The boys have three seniors in the starting lineup -- Wali Parks, Alex Henderson and Nate Barns -- whereas the girls team has none. West Side Story interviewed the starters on each team, for their thoughts on the season so far.

EMMA KOCH ’19

“I have really liked my team and my coach. Coach Mayer has been really helpful all year and he knows so much about basketball, so it's great to have the opportunity to learn from him.”

“An individual goal is playing better together. Also becoming closer friends and having a stronger bond for next year.”

RACHAEL SAUNDERS ’18

“Our ultimate goal is always state, but I think we’re really focusing on working together as a team because that will get us the furthest in the long run.”

“Our team's goal is to strive to get better each practice and game to reach the potential that each one of us has.”

42 SPORTS FEBRUARY 2016 WSSPAPER.COM

MADDIE HUINKER ’17

LOGAN COOK ’18

PHOTOS BY SARAH LONGMIRE

DEVONTAE LANE ’17

“I’ve liked, even though we have been doubted at times when we didn’t have players, that we’ve overcame everything.”

“Our goal this season is to get to the state championship and we need to work hard as a team to get better everyday in practice to start us off.”

“We want to always make it to state, but before we get to state we focus more on working together and making each other better as an individual and as a team. We work hard in practice and don’t take anything lightly.”

ALEX HENDERSON ’16

LAUREN ZACHARIAS ’19

“Looking forward to winning more games and just improving game by game. What I’ve liked so far is that we have practiced hard everyday to win, so I think we are becoming a more successful team.”

“I have liked the trips to Minnesota because it’s a cool experience to play in those types of environments against top teams.”

CONNOR MCCAFFERY ’17

DESIGN BY SIMRAN SARIN

WALI PARKS ’16

NATE BARNES ’16

“I’m looking forward to seeing how we progress as a team and seeing how good we can be once everyone is healthy.

I’ve liked the way we’ve performed in big games at times, but we need to be more consistent.”

WSSPAPER.COM FEBRUARY 2016 SPORTS 43

UNDER PRESSURE

THE WEST SIDE STORY INVESTIGATES WHAT KINDS OF PRESSURES ARE INVOLVED WITH HAVING A PARENT WHO IS ALSO A COACH AT THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA.

44 SPORTS FEBRUARY 2016 WSSPAPER.COM

PHOTOS BY MEG MORELAND AND CHANEL VIDAL DESIGN BY JUNHEE LEE

F

BY AARON CARTER

“I WOULDN’T BE WHERE I AM TODAY WITHOUT MY DAD, BUT AT THE SAME TIME I WANT TO MAKE SURE I AM STILL RECEIVING MY OWN CREDIT FOR MY ACCOMPLISHMENTS.” -Patrick McCaffery ’19

Because your parent is in such a public job you have to make sure you do things right. You can’t get your name out there in a bad way. -Taylor Libby ’16

or student-athletes, having a parent who is a coach at a major university in a town where college athletics are highly valued can be both a blessing and a curse.

Patrick McCaffery ’19, the son of head men’s basketball coach, Fran McCaffery, believes there is a small downside to having a parent who coaches at a major university.

McCaffery’s father brings publicity that is both positive and negative in Patrick’s mindset.

“I don’t hold it against my dad for people saying stuff, like they might use me accomplishing things on the basketball court and give all the credit to my dad,” Patrick said. “I wouldn’t be where I am today without my dad, but at the same time I want to make sure I am still receiving my own credit for my accomplishments.”

Taylor Libby ’16, whose mom, Larissa Libby, is the head women’s gymnastics coach at Iowa, also feels a slight sense of pressure. However, unlike McCaffery, it is more of a self-inflicted stress.

“Because your parent is in such a public job you have to make sure you do things right,” Libby said. “You can’t get your name out there in a bad way.”

In some cases, such as in the case of Nelson ’18 and Sydney Brands ’19, there is no strain felt from their father, Terry Brands who serves as the assistant wrestling coach or from uncle, Tom Brands, as head coach.

“There is no pressure felt really from my dad or uncle,” Nelson said. “Even though I am in the same sport they coach, it doesn’t worry me that they would take credit for my accomplishments.”

Sydney, a gymnast, doesn’t feel any tension either but does note that her brother, Nelson, is in a slightly different situation.

“I don’t feel any pressure,” Sydney said. “But then again I am not in the sport of wrestling so I am not ever compared to my dad or uncle.”

The Brands kids silence a common misconception, at least in this case, about the relationship between parents who have multiple kids in different sports. That misconception is that there is a difference in the relationship between a parent who has a child who’s involved in the same sport they coach, and the relationship between the parent and a child who aren’t involved in the same sport.

Jeff Garbutt ’17, whose father is the assistant women’s rowing coach at Iowa, agrees with the Brands in that there is little stress; however, he does believe that his dad brings his coaching mentality into the parenting realm.

“He pushes me with all my school work and all my training with sports,” Garbutt said. “I’d say it helps a ton. It keeps my head on straight and keeps me on path to my goal.”

WSSPAPER.COM FEBRUARY 2016 SPORTS 45

OPINION

“WHY SHOULD

I EVEN BE

POLITICALLY

ACTIVE?!”

GUEST COLUMNIST ALLY MCKEONE ’16 Ever since I was a young girl, I knew that I wanted to have a big career. Of course what that career would be changed very frequently – I wanted to be a veterinarian one day and then the next I wanted to be a doctor. Or maybe I wanted to be a cat cuddler. Who knows.

But anyway, I knew I wanted to be successful.

One day, when I was much older, I found out that on average women in America make 78 cents for every dollar that their male counterpart makes. That equates to an average loss of $11,000 per year, which is quite astonishing. Imagine what a woman could do with that extra money every year: send her daughter to college, save for retirement or even treat herself to a nice vacation that she so deserves.

But no, because she is a woman, her salary will not include that extra thousands of dollars. She will have to decide between sending her daughter to college and to go into more debt, or to not send her child to college because she cannot

afford it.

Women receive less pay just because they are female. I could not believe that a pay gap – and to such an extent – was happening in America in the year 2016. I thought we had forgone sexism decades ago, but oh, how I was

I became furious because I will be in the workforce in several years and I will not accept unequal pay just because I am a woman. I will not accept mistreatment because I am a female and no one else should either.

Because the current equal pay

I will not accept unequal pay just because I am a woman.

-McKeone ’16 wrong. We are said to be the country of equality, but right here, in every city and town, women are being discriminated against at work and are not having the equal opportunity to earn what they work for.

46 OPINION FEBRUARY 2016 WSSPAPER.COM

laws are not being enforced, I decided to do something about it; I was not going to just sit here and let injustice take its toll on American women, and might I add families since a lot of families include a woman who brings in income. I

decided to join a campaign because I wanted to make sure our next president will do something about the issues I am passionate about.

Equal pay for equal work was a big reason why I decided to get involved with politics, but other people are passionate about other issues too. For you, you might be really concerned about the environment. Our continued reliance on fossil fuels instead of renewable energy is a big issue that is causing major problems, like droughts. Or maybe you are really concerned about the widening gap between the rich and the poor because it is really affecting your family; you often find your mom and dad talking about how you are going to make ends meet. Whichever issues you are passionate about, take a stand and show the world what a difference you can make. We cannot all do this alone; we have to come together to help make the world a better place for all and becoming politically active is a great way to do that.

PHOTO BY SHANNON FORCUCCI-EARNEST

QUITTERS CAN BE WINNERS

BY NINA ELKADI Quitting show choir was far from being my act of rebellion or defiance as an angsty high schooler.

It was instead a *shocking* revelation I had as I began the process of determining what was really important to me, and sifting out the things that weren’t.

So many extracurriculars are focused on being the best, and an excessive effort is put in the activity

that it becomes exhausted and the passion is lost. This is high school, people. Let’s not forget to have fun.

I kid you not, when I asked someone why they were still doing an extracurricular they constantly complain about they said, “It’s not the funnest thing, but I guess I can stand it.” WHAT!? It makes me wonder: why even do it if you’re only tolerating it?

Ah, but then I thought about why I did it. The friends! The booming social experiences!

Honestly though if you’re doing something you hate, friends alone won’t get you through it.

How is that so many students at West High absolutely hate the extracurriculars they’re involved in? That blows my mind. With the opportunities and diversity of activities available, especially at a school like West, this shouldn’t be

a problem.

How about just doing fun things, can that be too much to ask for?

The first day I had off from a competition I went ice skating, and it was great. The second day off from a competition? Only witnessed history with Bernie, Vampire Weekend and Foster the People. It should be simple, just do what you love. We have four years of high school, and if there is something optional you’re doing that you hate, quit! I promise you will be happier, even if those around you are jealous of your courage. The things you do in your free time you should enjoy, and the moment you stop enjoying it you should know something is wrong.

Let’s say I graduate from West around mid-May of 2018. For a sophomore like me, that only gives me about 19,000 more

hours until I’m off to college with responsibilities and stuff. I have to sleep so let’s say I sleep about 8 hours every night until then; there goes over 6,000 hours. Sometimes we are so caught up in school that we don’t realize just how little time we have to enjoy everything around us, and take in all of the opportunities we’re interested in.

This column could take so many different paths; the stigma behind being forced to be a part of something in high school, the pressure from peers and parents to do something you don’t like, etc. However I’ll just leave you all with this: life is short, high school is even shorter. Just do what you want and what will make you happy, not others. There is something for everyone, and don’t force yourself to be a part of something you resent. Also, stop complaining.

INAPPROPRIATION

Swiping through your daily Instagram feed nearly always entails encountering a photo of a girl showcasing her newest henna designs. Most people make a quick decision as to whether or not the photo deserves a precious like, then move on. The girl’s post doesn’t stick out to most people as offensive or controversial. Rather, it’s viewed as artsy, indie and hip. However, I find this post incredibly insulting.

Each one I encounter is faced with a flash of frustration and annoyance.

Nonetheless, I try to brush it off.

After all, it’s just another person “appreciating” my culture.

Indian culture has become increasingly trendy over the last several years; from yoga to mehndi (henna) and bindis, my culture has turned into something people dabble in when they have too much free time. As of late, mehndi has captured the attention of several of my peers. Quite often, girls will show up to school flaunting their newfound henna skills and receiving copious amounts of attention and compliments. Yet a majority them have little to no PHOTOS BY SARA LONGMIRE DESIGN BY ELEANOR HO

affiliation with Indian culture, nor do they know the true meaning behind their newfangled obsession.

They’ve taken a part of my culture and adopted it into theirs, while stripping it of its symbolism and history. This appropriation has transformed mehndi from a traditional art that entails elaborate ceremonies into a cute and trendy temporary tattoo.

The word mehndi is derived from the Sanskrit word mendhikā. In Indian culture, the most common use for mehndi is in a mehndi ceremony, a major pre-marital ritual. During a mehndi ceremony, a family member or a professional mehndi artist will apply henna on the bride’s hands and feet. The mehndi designs are extremely intricate and take several hours to complete. It is believed that the darker the color of a bride’s mehndi, the happier her marriage will be.

However, very few people who use mehndi know any of this. They view darker henna as a temporary tattoo that will last longer than normal. Furthermore, they do

not understand the symbolism behind Indian designs and blindly incorporate them into their artistic projects. Little do they know that the pretty paisley they integrated into their design symbolizes fertility or that the sahasrara they used represents enlightenment of the soul. They do not even know what a sahasrara is. Instead, they call it the “pretty-flower-lookingthing.” I feel honored that some people respect my culture so much that they created a new name for a symbol of enlightenment!

Arguing that this attraction to the art of mehndi is appreciation and not appropriation is both inaccurate and demeaning. I don’t have the naïveté to believe that several high schoolers have suddenly become infatuated with a love for Indian culture and want to truly appreciate it. If that were true, girls wouldn’t be posting pictures of “artsy” henna designs that actually represent their fertility and foretell their happy marriage (but who cares what it means, it looks good and that’s all that matters isn’t it?).

There wouldn’t be people who walk

BY SIMRAN SARIN

around wearing bindis just because they look cool or people saying “namaste” in attempt to find inner peace without truly knowing the implications this word has.

I do not have a problem with people who adopt aspects of my culture so long as they take the time to genuinely learn about it and truly respect it. What I do have a problem with is ignorance. I have a problem with people ignoring the meaning and significance behind the part of my culture that they are stealing. I have a problem with people prefacing their justifications with “I don’t know much about your culture, but I do this for fun, not to be offensive.” If you don’t want to be offensive, then you have two options: stop appropriating my culture or take the time to learn and appreciate it.

WSSPAPER.COM FEBRUARY 2016 OPINION 47

DEAR STUDENTS,

Following a bomb threat, certain emotions are daunting task, and one Shoultz managed to be anticipated: fear, ambivalence, trepidation. very well. The same high schoolers that Contrary to any expectations, however, the chat with their friends instead of leaving the emotion that reigned supreme this past Jan. building during a fire drill were suddenly calm 19 was undoubtedly frustration; West students and orderly in the time of crisis, despite the fact were upset, and being vocal about it. But are that none of them knew what was going on.

Another thing to remember is that this has these criticisms valid?

The majority of complaints seem to be focused been an unusual year for Shoultz. Taking on on the inconsistencies and disorganization of the such a large school has to be stressful from evacuation, chiefly the backpack controversy. an administrative viewpoint, and adding the Dr. Shoultz would have preferred for students burden of constant worry about the students’ to keep their personal belongings with them, safety makes the job even more demanding.

There have been three known threats made to but there was a miscommunication during evacuation, resulting in some students being able the school so far, and they have been handled to keep their things and the others being forced relatively well The gun threat earlier this year was a prime example of Shoultz’s to leave them. In addition, policy of openness; he made members of the administration sure to inform all the students were available later in the day Did Dr. Shoultz handle the and parents, and allowed to redistribute the backpacks bomb threat well? students to stay home if they and other personal belongings. felt unsafe. Transparence on In the unfortunate case of the issue of threats to the school future threats or evacuations, has continued. Teachers and Shoultz would aspire to a more students learned of the bomb consistent backpack policy. threat on Jan. 19 less than Other grievances included the schoolwide congregation The WSS editorial board voted an hour after administration in support of his actions was notified, and Shoultz sent in the gym; students packed email updates to parents as tightly together could have events transpired. The most been dangerous. Had the threat been legitimate, and had a student been recent threat, on Feb. 10, was announced over the perpetrator, grouping everyone together the intercom on the same day.

There’s no way of knowing whether or not wouldn’t have come off as the wisest idea.

However, the gym had been cleared, and there these threats have always been common, or if was a perceived greater chance of frostbite than this year is an outlier in that respect. If threats toward the school have never been this frequent, an inside threat.

Some complained of wasting time sitting on Shoultz has been placed into a tough situation. buses for over an hour. While school buses are If they have, then he’s decided to open up to a common least favorite mode of transportation, his students and employees, which has so far leaving students without personal transportation been appreciated. Either way, Shoultz should be out in the 14 degree weather wasn’t a desirable commended for his approach to these apparent dangers. alternative.

The important part is, no one was hurt. And at More important to consider is the number of ways the situation could have gone wrong. the end of the suddenly shortened school day, Evacuating a school of 2000 students is a isn’t that what really matters?

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Sincerely, The WSS Editorial Board

48 OPINION FEBRUARY 2016 WSSPAPER.COM

WSS EDITORIAL BOARD BARBARA BADOVINAC ALLIE BISCUPSKI PAIGE BRAZINA AARON CARTER CHARLIE CODE CAMERON COOK SCHYLER DAVIS NICK DEERBERG DANETTA DOBRE NINA ELKADI ELEANOR HO KELSEY KERANEN MICHAEL MOONJELY ISABELLE ROBLES SIMRAN SARIN CHANEL VIDAL 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.

WEST SIDE STORY EDITORS

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

STAFF

Isabelle Robles Simran Sarin Morgan Schmitt-Morris Fenna Semken Gabby Skopec Maggie Terry Chanel Vidal Lily Westemeyer Christian Zirbes

STAFF

Leela Bassuk Benjamin Bliven Shanthi Chackalackal Eugenia Chen Shati Cooper Christina Dai

HILL, NO

DESIGN BY JACOB NISHIMURA

Schyler Davis Nick Deerberg Braedyn Dochterman Leah Dusterhoft Katie Fuhrmeister Ellie Gretter Louis Ho 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 Lexi Shaffer Madeline Silva Hannah Song Shawn Thacker Mason Wang David Wu Wingel Xue Sara Whittaker– Adviser

ART BY EBONY MCKEEVER

WSSPAPER.COM FEBRUARY 2016 OPINION 49

BANNED BOOKS

HUMOR Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland: Banned in China for talking animals.

The Adventures of Captain Underpants: Banned for encouraging elementary students to disobey authority.

And Tango Makes Three: Banned because of a same-sex couple (they’re penguins...).

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?: Banned in Texas because the author’s name was mistaken for a Marxist theorist.

The Fault in Our Stars: Banned in one high school because it was considered to be too sad.

James and the Giant Peach: Banned because of the word “ass” and mystical elements.

The Lorax: Banned because it may influence readers to think of the logging industry in a negative way.

Merriam-Webster Dictionary: Banned in one Texas school for defining inappropriate words.

Where’s Waldo: Banned in some elementary schools for a barely topless woman in the background, who isn’t even visible.

Winnie-The-Pooh: Banned because talking animals are an insult to God... and the characters are pro-Nazi.

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: Banned because it was negative for children to learn.

Twilight: Banned in some schools because of sexual relationships between humans and vampires.

ART BY BRAEDYN DOCHTERMAN COMPILED BY BRAEDYN DOCHTERMAN

The Angsty Student’s Guide to Getting a Date Next Valentine’s Day

With Valentine’s Day behind us, many look back at romantic nights spent with a loving partner who brings happiness and meaning to their life -- but most of us wallow in tears and angst. Fear not; if you didn’t manage to find a person to share that special day with, this list of quick, easy tips can help you do better next Valentine’s Day.

BY STEFAN SCHMIDT

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If you’re worried about your flaws, just remember–nobody wants perfect. Try smearing a little soot on your clothes and saying something stupid every once in a while.

Since the dawn of life, organisms have participated in the fierce game of evolution by competing for mates. Try following your instincts and yelling “SQUARE UP, PUNK,” and fighting someone mano a mano for the right to their partner.

People like the idea of a faithful and stable partner.

Try showing off how prepared you are for commitment by flaunting a stroller or perhaps a box of diapers.

Let’s face it–we’re all more attracted to more attractive people. If you’re not attractive, next time try being genetically predisposed to develop sexy features.

If you can’t get a date, it might simply be that you’re not cool enough. Start going to parties, neglecting your studies and holding the steering wheel with only one hand.

Exchanging cute cards has been a Valentine’s tradition for all of us since kindergarten. If your cards didn’t get you a date this year, next Valentine’s Day put on just a little more glitter and color extra carefully with your crayons.

50 HUMOR FEBRUARY 2016 WSSPAPER.COM

In the modern world, more and more couples are meeting through online matchmaking websites. If it feels like you’ve looked everywhere else, try clicking some ads to find hot singles in your area.

A tip for the guys: it’s common knowledge that girls like an assertive alpha male, not pipsqueaks and nerds. Make sure to act brutish and arrogant, and perhaps even bully those below you. Nothing makes girls lust quite like a berserk pituitary gland.

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A tip for the ladies: everyone knows that guys like a girl who plays hard to get. File a restraining order against your crush so he has to do a little extra work to get your attention.

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If piñatas can teach us anything, it’s that at the end of the day what really matters is what’s on the inside. If nothing else works, remove some of your less important organs (liver, kidneys, pancreas, etc.) and replace them with candy.

DESIGN BY MORGAN SCHMITT-MORRIS

KAITLYN ROSE & ‘18 MADDIE HARTMAN

‘18

KATIE CLAIRE ‘16 OLSON & MCDONNELL

‘16

“We literally tell each other everything, but from the outside, people would probably think we’re straight up insane all the time,” McDonnell said.

NATHAN LOGAN ‘17 ABRAMOFF & STUART

‘17

“I’m sure we’ll still keep in touch even if we’re like on different sides of the country.

Our friendship isn’t something that just goes away because of how close we are,” Rose said.

“We have a lot of similar interests; not much has changed since kindergarden. We play videogames together We’re kind of big nerds,” Abramoff said.

GRACE ANJALI ‘19 YARROW & HUYNH

‘19

“We will look at each other and know what the other person’s thinking, just because we know each other so well,” Huynh said.

“I think we both know each other better than we know ourselves,” Yarrow said.

MISSED CONNECTIONS Missed Connections: lost stories of love submitted by students of West High.

COMPILED BY BENJAMIN BLIVEN

There is one girl that I’ve been following in the halls for weeks. I know she has a boyfriend, but something about that shimmery brown hair and those green light up crocs can’t keep me away <3

Your toupee gives me shivers, the way you scream makes me tingle. I’m voting for you so I can be your First Lady

A poem for the one I love: P lease notice me, E ven if it’s insignificant T he love I have is so strong E veryone knows but you R eally it’s an obsession now

The first day back at school after winter break, I was in the library, trying to check my grades on my phone, but they wouldn’t load. Suddenly, I looked up and saw what I had been looking for, the answer to all my problems. I had been gone for 2 weeks, so my phone didn’t automatically connect to the school wifi. I had no connection. ICCSDGuest, if you read this, I’m here from 8 until 3:10 on weekdays.

FOR MORE MISSED CONNECTIONS, GO TO WSSPAPER.COM

We shared an English class both sophomore and junior years and I always kinda liked you, but we never really talked too much. This year our friends finally convinced us to get to know each other better and it’s been the best decision imaginable. Like Kirpes always says, “Hindsight is 20-20,” and I wish we had started something sooner, but better late than never, right?

Every other day (when you’re not injured with a herniated disc) in the summer and fall, I see you running.

Your tiny calves carrying you along the sidewalk. I admire you from afar, sweat dripping profusely from your hard working efforts. Notice me senpai~

DESIGN BY SIMRAN SARIN