WEST SIDE STORY IOWA CITY WEST HIGH SCHOOL
2901 MELROSE AVE.
IOWA CITY, IA 52246
WSSPAPER.COM
VOLUME 48 ISSUE 6
MAY 18, 2016
SUMMER CALENDAR
MAY 30 Memorial Day
Summer is coming and we should make the best out of it. If you’re ever feeling bored, pull this out and see what’s going on in the Iowa City area.
JUNE 3 1:00 PM Softball Invitational 5:00 PM Baseball vs. Dubuque Wahlert
MAY 31 5:30 PM Softball vs. City 5:00 PM Baseball vs. Jefferson
JUNE 1 7:00 PM Baseball vs. Pleasant Valley
JUNE 10-11 Girls soccer state
JUNE 10 6:30-9:30 PM Friday Night Concert Series in the pedestrian mall: Motherlode
JUNE 7 JUNE 9 Girls tennis 5:30 PM state Softball vs. CR Washington
JUNE 13 5:00 PM Baseball vs. CR Prairie
JUNE 11 8:30-10:30 PM Free Movie Series on Clinton St: Zoolander Great Iowa River Race for canoes, kayaks and paddleboards in Hills, Iowa
7:00-9:00 PM Iowa City Farmers Market (every Wednesday)
JUNE 17 6:30-9:30 PM Friday Night Concert Series in the pedestrian mall: The Fez
JUNE 3-5 4:00-11:00 PM Iowa Arts Festival in downtown Iowa City
JUNE 4 7:30 AM-12:00 PM Iowa City Farmers Market (every Saturday) 8:00 AM-3:00 PM Cruisin’ for the Kids Car Show (UI Children’s Hospital fundraiser) 9:00 AM Softball Invitational 1:00 PM American Regional Math League, open to viewing at the IMU
JUNE 17-19 7:30 PM (17,18) 2:00 PM (19) CCPA musical: In the Heights
JUNE 18 8:30-10:30 PM Free Movie Series on Clinton St: RENT
JUNE 19 Father’s Day
#1AD D
JUNE 30 5:30 PM Softball vs. CR Dubuque Hempstead
JUNE 28 5:30 PM Softball vs. CR Jefferson
For more events going on in June, July and August go to wsspaper.com
JUNE 27 5:00 PM Baseball vs. CR Washington
JUNE 24 JUNE 25 5:00 PM 8:30-10:30 Baseball vs. PM Free Movie Series on Clinton Waterloo West St: The Wedding 6:30-9:30 PM Friday Singer Night Concert Series in the pedestrian mall: Winterland
Iowa City events West High atheltic events Other events
JUNE 21 Summer Solstice 5:30 PM Softball vs. Cedar Falls
COMPILED BY KATIE FUHRMEISTER, ELEANOR HO, ISABELLE ROBLES AND GABBY SKOPEC PHOTOS BY SARAH LONGMIRE, MEG MORELAND, MADDIE MILLER AND COURTESY OF SUMMER OF THE ARTS DESIGN BY CATHERINE JU
CONTENTS PROFILES
LEAVING LEGACIES
West Side Story bids paraeducator Elwyn Pearson and orchestra director Wayne Thelander goodbye after decades of work at West High.
FEATURE
THE YEAR IN REVIEW
To cap off the end of the school year, WSS compiles a collection of memorable moments.
ENTERTAINMENT
KITCHEN COMPLICATIONS
Students share stories of how they found their edible endeavors to be a bit half-baked.
SPORTS
FOR MORE
DEFENDING TRADITION
COVERAGE VISIT
WSS profiles West High’s varsity soccer teams.
5 8 18 20
WSSPAPER.COM LETTER
FROM THE
EDITOR
Hey there, I’m Simran Sarin, the Print Editor-in-Chief of West Side Story for next year. Congrats on fighting off the slew of demons (infamously known as finals and AP tests) that fed upon our souls at West High the last couple weeks. Hunting out of season is illegal, CollegeBoard, so please spare us until next school year. The end is near (or here if you’re a senior) and summer is going to be sweeter than ever. However, despite the days dwindling away, WSS #finishedstrong with this final issue of the school year. As of late, WSS has received some criticism from readers regarding our source choices. We
took this feedback to heart and this issue we focused our efforts on trying to find sources who haven’t been covered before. When staffer Nina Elkadi profiled Lexi Williams ’18, we only knew Williams as “the girl with the guitar.” Elkadi’s interview revealed Williams’ touching story, which grew from a profile to our cover story. We hope you find her story as inspirational as we did. Until next year, Simran Sarin
COVER DESIGN BY CATHERINE JU COVER PHOTO BY MEG MORELAND
SIDE STORIES WEST SIDE WORD brogetit [bro-get-it]
Used when your best friend (A.K.A. your bro) does something stupid, but you just choose to forget it ever happened.
COMPILED BY LEAH DUSTERHOFT
TWITTER TALK
Q:
What food are you excited to eat this summer?
COMPILED BY BENJAMIN BLIVEN
KIRKWOOD REGIONAL CENTER
BY T H E N U M B E R S
201
students signed up for Kirkwood classes for the `16-`17 school year class periods students will miss at West due to later dismissal times
2 12-14
amount of college credits students can earn
Kirkwood high school academies offer students the opportunity to earn college credit at no cost to them or their families. Students can explore topics they may not have otherwise had access to at West High, and also have the opportunity to work in high-tech research facilities on the University of Iowa campus.
COMPILED BY DANETTA DOBRE
4 NEWS MAY 2016 WSSPAPER.COM
R O M U R
R E T S U B Fences out back are permanent?
Several weeks ago many students were confused by the blue fences that appeared around the temporaries behind the art hallway entrance. Administrators explained that the fences are simply part of construction to remove the temporaries behind the school. New temporaries will also eventually be added. “The fence is there to provide a safe work zone while Temp. 2 and 3 are moved out. Eventually this summer there will be a new temporary next to Temp. 4 and 5, and one that will take the place of 2 and 3,� said head custodian MJ Plank.
BUSTED Zero hour classes?
Rumors have been swirling about supposed zero hour classes next year According to guidance counselors, these classes will include Chinese through the University of Iowa and additional classes at Kirkwood. Students who are interested in these classes should talk to their guidance counselors as soon as possible.
CONFIRMED COMPILED BY MAGGIE TERRY GRAPHICS BY LEAH DUSTERHOFT DESIGN BY LEAH DUSTERHOFT
LEAVING LEGACIES BY PRATEEK RAIKWAR AND SHAWN THACKER
“Everybody at this time of the year says ‘Oh, I wish I had your job!’ But in January when I’m walking outside, nobody wishes they had the job,” Pearson said.
West High certainly won’t feel the same after orchestra and pit director,
WAYNE THELANDER,
picks up his baton for the last time. Having worked at West High throughout three decades, Thelander has a vast knowledge of orchestral composition combined with a witty sense of humor and passion for music which sets him apart as a memorable conductor.
“Elwyn Pearson will be missed at West High. [What] we will miss most is his friendly personality and willingness to help out in any way possible,” said “[Elwyn] not only assistant principal Colby monitored parking lot traffic Miller. and closed hallways during lunch, but most importantly was always concerned for and focused on student safety, in and out of the building,” said academic dean Maria Martin. “[At West], people are generally smiling and happy and upbeat . . . the atmosphere here among the students and staff is that “I think his best they really care about what they quality is probably do,” Pearson said. his attention, or his attentiveness. He always takes the time to listen to his students. Some teachers will just brush off “I think [Thelander] any questions but he makes eye just has a lot of contact—you can tell that he’s knowledge and really listening—and he always gives knows a ton about music . . . a solid answer back,” said he has taught me so much about Anupam Tiwari ’16. it and [he] even has a historical side behind it, and that really helps explain [the music] as you go. “I think the best thing And, he’s just a really fun guy; about Mr. Thelander is cool to work with, great he’s able to connect really attitude,” said Meredith well with the students and he’s Music ’16. just a really fun person and I think he has a lot of valuable life lessons after teaching so many years and just being such a great person,” is a paraeducator who said Cescily Vance ’17.
ELWYN PEARSON
“I think he really cares about the music and I think that really reflects in his conducting and that’s a really important quality for a conductor to have,” said Hope Anderson ’16. FOR MORE COVERAGE, GO TO WSSPAPER.COM
DESIGN BY EUGENIA CHEN PHOTOS BY MEG MORELAND
routinely patrols West High’s parking lots and grounds, assuring safe and proper protocol both outside and inside the school. Having faithfully worked at West for over a decade, he has definitely seen his fair share of peculiar sights. Despite these occurrences, good or bad, working at West High has given Pearson the opportunity to make rewarding connections with students and staff alike. WSSPAPER.COM MAY 2015 PROFILES 5
Elizabeth Tate High School is a regional alternative high school in Iowa. Through the years it has falsely garnered opinions about the following areas.
T 1
Maya Claussen ’17
REASONS FOR ADMITTANCE
At Tate, since there are so few students compared to a traditional high school - 158 in the 20152016 school year - it is easier for students’ studies to be more individualized, Claussen says. These close relationships are what she enjoys the most about Tate. “It’s a much smaller school so there’s a lot more time for studentteacher interaction. All your
ATE HIGH MYTHS DEBUNKED BY ISABELLE ROBLES PHOTOS BY CHANEL VIDAL DESIGN BY JUNHEE LEE
Tate is a Positive Behavior Intervention Supports school (PBIS). Being a PBIS school, they use CORR values; caring, ownership, respect and responsibility. Tate also uses a stool system. They strive to help students when one of four legs of the stool - academic, attendance, behavior or mental health - is broken. There is not yet a standard referral process, but there are five types of students that can be referred to Tate: self-referrals, homeless or abandoned students, teen parents, attendance referrals - having ten or more unexcused absences - or those who failed their classes at the larger school. It is becoming more typical for
high schoolers to refer themselves to Tate, according to English teacher Kate Richey. Oftentimes, it’s because students aren’t getting the results they want from a traditional high school setting. This was the case with Maya Claussen ’17, who transferred from City High at the beginning of third trimester this year. “When I transferred to Tate all of my stress went away; it’s a lot better fit for me, honestly,” Claussen said. “The teachers are really supportive.” At the start of enrollment, the students have a sit down discussion with their advisor, a teacher that will meet with the student three times a week to make sure all their needs are being met and they
teachers know you, the principal knows you and they work really hard to get the results that you want,” she said. Richey speaks to the fact that the administration’s first goal is to make the students feel welcomed. “One of our biggest things, and this is driven by our administration, is to build relationships with our students,” Richey said, “because
if we receive students who have severe depression, anxiety or students who have had massive failures at other schools, I can ask them to read Shakespeare, but unless I know who they are and I know what they’ve been through and they know that I care about them, [learning about] Shakespeare [won’t have a meaningful effect].”
6 FEATURE MAY 2016 WSSPAPER.COM
understand how to show CORR values throughout the school. This is a part of orientation, which also includes taking a universal math and reading test and writing a piece about why they are at Tate and what makes them a Tate Warrior. “Four years ago we became the Warriors,” Richey said. “People don’t always refer to us this way, but we are the third high school in the community. We needed that same sense of community and that sense of belonging and we needed to give that to the students that come here. We decided to become the Warriors because every single one of us has our own battles.”
2
CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENT
3
BEHAVIOR OF STUDENTS
One of the five types of students that are admitted to Tate are those that suffered academic failures, meaning they failed their classes at the larger school. The administration at Tate has found a lot of this failure is due to the fact that students were unable to complete homework, not that they weren’t able to master the subject. Since many of Tate’s students are this way, especially with responsibilities outside of school like working or caring for children, Tate does not assign any work for students to complete outside of school time. During their lunchtime, which is one hour each day, there is Warrior
Tate High school is not able to accept students that have a behavioral disorder (BD). Any student with a BD problem remains in the BD or special education programs at the larger high schools. This is something Richey thinks is misunderstood throughout the community. “A lot of people hear the word ‘alternative’ and instantly think ‘bad’ . . . I will go on record - we have fewer fights here than at the other schools,” she said. “There are no bad kids [at Tate]. The idea the kids that go to Tate are any different from kids from anywhere else is just crazy.”
Claussen agrees that people need to see past the misconception. “A lot of people think, ‘That’s where people who get in fights go, or people who have drug problems go,’ but . . . that’s not what it’s like. It’s for everybody, really,” she said. “It’s just another high school, it’s just smaller.” So far this school year, there has been one verbal altercation at Tate. Tristan Meade-Sievers, the student advisory center coordinator, explains how the size of the school along with the close relationships with the administration and teachers allows them to be proactive rather than reactive when it comes
Worktime for students with Ds or Fs who are assigned to come in, talk to teachers and make up all work to get caught up. Tate’s diploma is the exact same diploma as the one received from West or City High. Oftentimes, students believe that there is a difference, but the word ‘alternative’ does not appear on the diploma and is “apples and apples, it’s not apples and oranges” as Richey said. Richey gets disheartened when she hears speculation from the community regarding the education at Tate. “If [some students are] not being addressed at the larger schools or their needs weren’t being met or they just don’t fit into the standard
mold that we accept school is going to be, where else would they go? They would just drop out,” Richey said. “We serve a purpose that is admirable and should be more revered, I think, in the community. This isn’t a school of drug addicts, not a school of adjudicated probation students. Sure, we [have those students], [but] even City and West have those students that have those problems. It’s not like every student here is a criminal. This is just a normal school that approaches things differently, still with the mindset of student success as our end result.”
to conflict amongst students. “We do a ton of intervention with kids,” she said. “Because we are so small, we have the opportunity if we hear one kid say something about another kid and there’s a rumor going around about something outside the school, my job along with administration is to pull those kids in and say, ‘Okay, what’s your side?’ and ‘What’s your side?’ and then get them together and say, ‘This is a school, we’re not here to do these things, and we’re gonna work it out . . . You’re here to learn, not for drama,’ and that has actually helped out a ton.”
4 INTELLIGENCE OF STUDENTS
7
FOR MORE COVERAGE, GO TO WSSPAPER.COM
WSSPAPER.COM MAY 2016 FEATURE 7
’15-’16: THE YEAR BY CHRISTINA DAI, ELEANOR HO, GABBY SKOPEC & LILY WESTEMEYER
“I always try to be really cheesy while being funny at the same time when it comes to asking someone to homecoming or prom, but I always try to be original, which is hard sometimes.” - Jared Kiebel ‘16
“Although AllState is about being all musical, having fun with friends remains with me the most.” - Noelle Jung ‘17
“I was really surprised that we had a bomb threat . . . I ran all the way to my locker . . . in the freshman wing. And then I had to run all the way to the gym while not knowing anything.” - Justin Liu ‘19
West High Boys Swimming set several records this year at state. Individual records were set by Mark McGlaughlin ‘16 in the 200 individual medley and 100 freestyle along with Will Scott ‘16 in the 50 freestyle.
“I have been so happy in show choir. I’m so happy I joined it. I’ve met such an amazing group of people and it’s really changed my life.” - Sofia Perez ‘17 8 FEATURE MAY 2016 WSSPAPER.COM
Bettendorf plays West at a home game.
PHOTOS BY SARAH LONGMIRE, MEG MORELAND, LOUIS HO, PAIGE BRAZINA, NINA ELKADI & LEAH DUSTERHOFT
IN REVIEW “I’ll definitely never forget the experience of laying still for all of fourth period, being covered in a ketchup/corn syrup concoction to look like blood, or listening to Tim McGraw’s “The Highway Don’t Care” at full volume over and over and over.” - Kate Vander Leest ‘17
“Getting involved in WHSDM is one of the best decisions I’ve made in high school . . . The impact WHSDM has on children and families is an amazing thing to get to be a part of.” -Jenny Pigge ‘17 “Drake was a fun experience . . . I do not take it for granted.” - Ali Ali ‘17
“[The caucus] was super hectic. The space wasn’t really prepared for how many people showed up.”
“Mary Poppins was a challenging show for sure, but there’s nothing quite like everyone working together to create something supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.” - Amy Evans ‘16
- Ned Furlong ‘17 GRAPHICS BY SIMRAN SARIN & WINGEL XUE DESIGN BY WINGEL XUE
WSSPAPER.COM MAY 2016 FEATURE 9
MARKED ABSENT BY FENNA SEMKEN
H
aving a baby is described advantage of the lack of policy. as one of the most joyful “The idea is probably that experiences in life, yet the employers will provide paid Iowa City Community School family leave on their own, or that District’s maternity leave policy it should be left up to the states. may be exactly the opposite. While Unfortunately, many employers the district has made it possible have not provided paid family for teachers to take leave and only some maternity leave, some states have passed members of the West laws requiring paid community believe family leave,” Johnson the district’s maternity said. “The family leave policies are unjust. policies in our country The United States is frustrate me because we the only developed are so behind the rest Megan Johnson, country without a of the world. Parents social studies teacher federal maternity leave living in the U.S. should requirement. Megan Johnson, West not be forced to go back to work High social studies teachers and just a few days after having a baby Iowa City Education Association’s because they can’t afford to not be (ICEA) building representative, is working.” irritated by the U.S. maternity laws, Additionally, West High social believing some employers take studies teacher Dominic Iannone
10 FEATURE MAY 2016 WSSPAPER.COM
believes the family leave policies another six weeks unpaid leave, that exist are unfair to those who while new fathers receive two truly need them. weeks paid leave. Substitute and “The people who have the most retired West High English teacher access to paid maternity leave tend Carolyn Van Zante has longto have the most education and term subbed for West teachers are the wealthiest members of our on maternity leave. Van Zante society, so the people believes that the that really need it aren’t district is not giving getting it,” Iannone said. enough benefits to “It puts lower income new parents. people in a bind because “Those first six they have no way to be at weeks of a child’s home with their children life are extremely and have that steady important and I Dominic Iannone, income. Paid family leave don’t think that social studies teacher is now a way to recruit the using a sick leave is most skilled workers. It’s not an ‘I a correct interpretation of what need this to live.’” the government says they should On a more local level, the district’s be allowed. They’re supposed to policies are now under question as get twelve weeks and they can well. The ICCSD policy allows six take twelve weeks, but then they weeks paid maternity leave and have to take [the second six weeks] DESIGN BY SIMRAN SARIN
without pay and I don’t think that the state of Iowa has not enforced needs or wants more time off.” it also makes sense from a family that’s right,” Van Zante said. it. On the other hand, Mitch Gross, perspective that fathers should Furthermore, Van Zante believes “I don’t know why [the district’s chief negotiator for the ICEA, have time off as well and be there that these policies policies are what they believes the time for with their family during are proof of women’s are], but that’s the way paternity leave is not in that transition.” inequality in the it’s always been, and need of a change, as it However, Gross workforce. I think that inertia is is goes unused already. believes that a change “I think it’s another often the way large “I know that a lot of in policy is on low example of the inequity organizations go teachers don’t even demand, as they have in women’s pay. They are until someone forces use the full maternity not changed for eleven treated as though this is them to do something leave because it is years. just something that they Caroln Van Zante, differently, and the more stressful to be “It will not change Grace Yarrow ‘19 can do at anytime,” Van state of Iowa has not gone than to be here at until there is a substitute Zante said. “The way that forced them to do school. I have never used my whole demand for it. I have been the the United States handles it is just anything differently . . . I hope that five days,” Gross said. chief negotiator for eleven years archaic in comparison to what a it changes.” Though men and women have and no one has ever said that they number of other European nations Students are also on different reasons for need more maternity leave,” Gross do.” board with a change in leave policies, Iannone said. “It’s a standard procedure and Long-term sub Joel Flack believes policy. Grace Yarrow ’19 believes the time should a standard policy for the United the district and its employees could believes that the district be equal for both States and school districts.” benefit from a change in policy. should adjust to the parents, and that the While the policies have been the “I believe that [the district] teachers’ needs. district should adjust to same for many years, Van Zante should have a longer time, but it’s “I think that the certain families needs. believes that the time for change is the federal minimum and most maternity and paternity “We haven’t really just around the corner. Joel Flack, places are going to follow the leave should be adjusted hit a consensus with “I don’t know why we are so substitute minimum,” Flack said. “I would based on what the maternity and paternity backwards on this policy,” Van make it a minimum of eight weeks teacher thinks is right,” Yarrow said. leave, and paid family leave is Zante said. “I don’t think it’s fair paid at the least. You need time to “I think that it’s hard to say that the another step beyond that,” Iannone that paternity leave is two weeks bond and time to get used to this whole policy is . . . fair because a lot said. “Both parents should play while maternity leave is six weeks, addition to your family.” of it varies from person to person. a role in the raising of the child, but that they have any maternity Van Zante believes that change However, it’s important for the and women have physical medical leave is remarkable. It’s a move has not come to the district because district to understand if the teacher reasons why they need time off, but forward. It is a sign of progress.”
BY THE NUMBERS COMPILED BY FENNA SEMKEN
11 0
Percent of Americans employed by private industries have access to some form of paid family leave Days for maternity leave that the federal government guarantees
1 6 2
The United States is the only developed nation that lacks a federal maternity leave requirement Weeks of paid leave that mothers can have, followed by six weeks without pay
Weeks of paid leave that fathers can have
WSSPAPER.COM MAY 2016 FEATURE 11
SHE WAS
STRONG
AND HER BRAVENESS WAS NO
MYSTERY BY NINA ELKADI
M
usic is said to connect people in an unspoken way, and heal the soul through its expression of emotion and reality. Lexi Williams ’18 knows this healing process all too well. Her story is one of pain and hardship, but most of all it is one of triumph. Williams’ story begins on the corner of 43rd and Cicero in the Chicago projects, where she lived from birth until age seven.
Her view out the window was what she describes as a “war zone.” The city has since torn down the crime-ridden projects, helping to diminish the violence, but not the memories. “It was a fear living there. There were gangs everywhere. There were needles on the ground and blood spots,” Williams said. “We always had to hide. Our blinds had to be closed and we could never unlock the door unless it was our mom.” The quintessential image of a
child living the American dream is portrayed as playing in the front lawn with the neighbors and walking to the local pool in the summertime. Williams’ experience was much different, as playing outside was not always possible. “We played outside only when our mom was out there. Sometimes our dad was there,” she said. “He was always in jail. We would see him and know he was out, and then when we didn’t see him for a while we would know he was back in.”
Despite living what can be considered an unconventional childhood, Williams also recounts memories that are ordinary and child-like. There was the time when she hid under the plastic swimming pool in her yard from a storm until her mom yelled at her, or the time her father bought her and her siblings bubbles to blow. Williams comes from a tight-knit immediate family; one that has shared countless hardships and experiences.
“I’d say we are closer than the average family. I didn’t know that a lot of people don’t sit together when they eat, but we always do that,” Williams said. “When we had nothing, we had each other. Now we have more things, which is bringing us apart.” After moving out of the projects, Williams and her family found themselves without a home. On the nights they weren’t sleeping in their car, they stayed in church-run shelters; first in Arizona, then Minnesota and finally Illinois. For Williams, explaining the fact that she didn’t have a residence became a common occurrence. “We were always looked at as dirty,” she said. “I don’t know if people knew we were homeless, but I hoped they didn’t.” There was a set bedtime in the homeless shelter where Williams, her mother and her six siblings stayed—lights out at 8 o’clock. This meant no time for staying up to work on that essay due at ten, especially without a computer. Sometimes Williams and her ART BY CATHERINE JU PHOTOS BY MEG MORELAND DESIGN BY LILY WESTEMEYER
family would go to bed hungry, but Williams says she was still grateful for the food they did get. If Williams’ sister didn’t want to eat something, they would trade and dinner would turn into a “big feast.” Williams and her family eventually found themselves heading from Arizona to Minnesota in a $400 blue Dodge Caravan. While living in a homeless shelter in Minnesota, Williams learned to play the violin and read music. Her music teacher, Ben, said she was one of his best players. “When I was going through stuff, all [my music teachers] would tell me not to stress about it and come to their rooms to play,” she said. “That’s probably why when I get sad I go to music first, or drawing or writing.” One of William’s’ current teachers, Phil Keitel, admires her ability to use music and the arts as an outlet. “She doesn’t fight back in a negative way. She writes poems, and I’m pretty sure she made a teacher cry with one of her poems,” he said. “That’s how she gets her emotions out. She doesn’t fight back in terms of violence or negative words, which is really new in kids today.”
When Williams and her family were forced to move again and drop everything but the clothes on their backs, she had no opportunities to continue her passion. Upon her return to Illinois, her cousin bought her an unexpected gift—a guitar. “I never knew I was going to get a guitar for my birthday. When I looked at it I was like, ‘Oh, this is so foreign, what is that?’” she said. Although for most of Williams’ life she was forced into moving to new places and experiencing new things, she feels as though it has shaped her into who she is today. She looked at the constant moving as a way to advocate for trying new things. Thus when she received the guitar, she was not afraid to pick it up. “If I was comfortable with what I did and just sat at home and had the same exact life, there would be no spot for growing. I think you have to be uncomfortable and take a leap of faith to discover more things,” she said. Williams turned to music and songwriting to cope with tragedy in her life, including being a victim of sexual abuse. From age 11 to 15, Williams and her two sisters were
both sexually assaulted by a family member, and it wasn’t until her sisters came forward that Williams also spoke about the abuse she was experiencing. “I was mad at him for what he did to my sisters, and I always acted like it never happened to me. I would try so hard to cover it up, and it got to a point where I believed it didn’t happen,” she said. Her outlet became the arts, which she used to write and “let the words flow.” One of the poems she wrote expresses the weight and burden she carried as a victim of sexual abuse. As hard as it seems I spill from the seams That they rip me out of I’m free to be me I’m free to Be Yet no one understands I flinch hard at hands Held high above my head I quiver It’s not that cold so why do I shiver? ... I have a body that is not mine Williams is far from being alone. As few as three percent of child
victims of sexual abuse report their abuse to law enforcement, and 36 percent never tell anyone at all, according to a study by the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault. “I thought I was dirty and unworthy,” Williams said. “When I went to court for it I felt so much better; it was released off my shoulders. I felt like I wanted women to know that if they were [sexually abused], they don’t have to hide it. That just gives the person who did that to you more power. Just to have to go through that, it showed me that I was worthy.” Williams developed posttraumatic stress disorder after her abuse. Her family’s desire to leave the house and place where it all occurred is another reason they moved to Iowa City. “It’s hard because I don’t trust men, or people that look like him. It’s hard to talk to them. I hate that about me because I don’t like to judge [or] stereotype people,” she said. Williams is passionate about being there for others and helping them through their hardships. She helped one of her friends who was starving himself to “get a little plump,” and writes poems to inspire
people to persevere through hard times. This sense of duty she feels to protect others and make their days generally brighter proved to be the most difficult when it came time for Williams to talk about her experiences. “When I had to tell [my mom], I couldn’t even say his name. It showed me how much power it had over me. When I first told her, she was crying and I didn’t want her to hurt more,” Williams said. “I don’t like seeing people in pain.” Williams’ mom, Danita Pfeiffer, accredits much of her own personal growth to Lexi. “I have grown to understand so much through her struggle. She has help me to be a better person,” Pfeiffer said. “She is created to be a light in dark places.” Williams’ vibrant and optimistic personality is also present in the classroom, where she always tries to make the day a little brighter. “She draws murals on the board all the time. Generally her classes are more happy-go-lucky because she’s always in a good mood,” Keitel said Being not only a survivor but also someone who hopes to “give speeches and inspire others,”
Williams has some parting advice to share. “Know it’s not your fault whatever is happening. The best thing would be to tell someone that you trust. It doesn’t have to be your parents or the police. Holding it in, it really eats you alive. Talk about it; don’t be ashamed of yourself because you didn’t do anything wrong,” she said. “Know that you’re not worthless—you are worthy and you are loved.” Williams wants victims to know this isn’t just something you can keep inside. There are people to provide support, and ways to find help. “No one wanted to listen to me, or was understanding. I always thought that I was alone. I want them to know they’re not alone, and there’s a lot of different ways they can cope instead of hurting themselves or wanting to die,” she said. “Mine was drawing. Draw it out, write about it. I used to hate writing until I put emotion into it, that’s when I noticed I come from emotion. I want them to know they’re not alone. They’re worthy, and it’s not their fault. They have power and they’re in control.”
16 ADS MAY 2016 WSSPAPER.COM
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KITCHEN BY ELEANOR HO & SIMRAN SARIN
COMPLICATIONS MICROWAVE MISHAPS
TOASTER TROUBLES
Freshman Ellie Kouba’s morning routine has the snap and the crackle, but the one thing it lacks is the pop. “My toaster doesn’t have a timer ... We have to wait there and watch [the toast] and bring the toaster up,” Kouba said. Thanks to her toaster, Kouba has developed a keen sense of timing required to successfully toast bread. “I have roughly two minutes to go grab milk or something, then I have to come back and just watch the toast,” Kouba said. However, Kouba’s timing isn’t always perfect. “[Once] I left the toast in for too long, and it came out and it was all black and it fell apart,” said Kouba. “It’s a struggle every morning.”
SPAGHETTI SLIP-UPS Time away from parents is an opportunity for trying new things. For Sam Choi ’17, it was a chance to dive into the culinary arts. Choi was a novice when it came to cooking, so when his mom went out of town for a week, he decided to go out of his comfort zone and make something other than frozen pizza. Choi tackled a spaghetti recipe he discovered online. Things were going smoothly until it was time to cook the pasta.
“It’s a struggle every morning.” “... The entire house smelled like smoke.” “I didn’t cook the pasta ... it all burned.” “I almost lit my house on fire.”
“I didn’t cook the pasta. I just fried it and it all burned, and I had to throw it all away. I forgot [to use water],” Choi said. “I realized it wasn’t going right because it was too hard. I just kept adding oil and oil but it obviously wasn’t right.” Choi’s failed attempt at making pasta resulted in yet another night of frozen pizza. “It was all a waste ... [I] never cooked again,” Choi said.
18 ENTERTAINMENT MAY 2016 WSSPAPER.COM
Recipes have been popping up all over the internet that promise single serve sweets like brownies, cakes and cookies cooked perfectly in your microwave in only a minute or two. These are definitely too good to be true for Izabel Houselog ’18, whose history cooking with these supposed miracle devices tends to be a little less than flawless. It all started the morning after a night out at Olive Garden. Houselog had taken home some leftover breadsticks, safely tucked away in their foil lined package. “So I put that in the microwave because you don’t want to eat cold breadsticks and it just kind of started sparking,” Houselog said. “My parents got really mad, they were just kind of like, ‘Izabel you can’t put that in the microwave, it’s metal!’” This wasn’t the only lesson
Houselog learned dealing with metal and small appliances. “In FCS, someone tried to get something out of the toaster with a fork and the teacher got really mad. No one straight out tells you not to put metal in the toaster or the microwave, you’re just supposed to know,” Houselog said. Metal is only one of the many things that have caused Houselog problems in the past. Cookies have also earned their place on her list of don’ts. “I didn’t know you weren’t supposed to [put a cookie in the microwave] because I did it once and it was fine,” Houselog said. To Houselog’s chagrin, her second attempt was somewhat less successful. “[The cookie] almost lit on fire, so we had to put it outside and the entire house smelled like smoke,” Houselog said.
BIRTHDAY BLAZE Dangerous things can happen when people go overboard with baked goods. Luckily for Brianna Faulkner ’18, the only casualty was her birthday cake. “My parents sometimes put things in the oven to store,” Faulkner said. “We had extra cake and they didn’t want it on the counter, so they just put it in the oven.” But when Faulkner went to make cookies a few days later, she failed to check the oven for occupants.
“I turned the oven on [and] when I went to put the cookies in, there was [the cake] box burning,” Faulkner said. “I almost lit my house on fire.” Faulkner was able to get the box out of the house and into the trash, though the smell of smoke stuck around for a few days. Luckily, the heat she took from her parents was nothing compared to what the cake endured. “My parents just laughed and called me stupid,” Faulkner said.
DESIGN BY CLAIRE MURRAY
PLAYING WITH
HEART
Despite a rare heart condition, Jordan Amelon ’17 has risen to the varsity roster of not one, but two spring sports.
PHOTO BY MARY MONDANARO
BY MICHAEL MOONJELY
schedule. She is a member of both an expansive collection of sports golfer, notes that Amelon is a key When Jordan Amelon ’17 was the varsity golf team and varsity memories, but none compare to member of the team’s success. born, doctors immediately knew tennis team, two sports that both her freshman year golf season. “We know each other’s strengths that something was wrong. She was compete in the spring season. At the state qualifying meet, she and how to help after a bad shot. quickly diagnosed with While the overlapping helped West High qualify for We all play around the same skill a congenital heart defect schedules can be state by one stroke. Along with level so if one of us has a bad round that would require her to challenging, Amelon all of the victories, Amelon values the other can step up and shoot undergo several surgeries makes it work. the friendships she has fostered low,” Kout said. throughout her life. through both teams. With only one more golf and Over time, Amelon has “I have been on the “I was a little nervous about the tennis season left in her high learned to embrace her girls varsity golf team tennis season because I don’t go school career, Amelon is looking disability and has become since my freshman to practice everyday, but all of the towards her future. Although she is a successful golfer and Jordan Amelon ’17 year. This year, the girls have been really great and so still unsure of what she wants to do, tennis player. girl’s tennis coach, welcoming. Golf is like a family. she would like to continue sports. Amelon’s heart Amie [Villarini], asked condition initially prevented if I would come out “When I was little, I was really sad because I her from playing certain sports. for tennis. [Villarini] However, Amelon quickly found knows that golf is my couldn’t play basketball, which is one of my activities that she excelled at. first commitment. I favorite sports. As I got older, I learned that “When I was little, I was really sad can’t always make it to because I couldn’t play basketball, tennis practices, but I should not focus on the couple of things I which is one of my favorite sports. I have been to a lot of cannot do, but look at the thousand things I As I got older, I learned that I the weekend meets. I should not focus on the couple of love the team aspect -Jordan Amelon ‘17 can do.” things I cannot do, but look at the of tennis. You can also thousand things I can do,” Amelon swing at the ball as hard as you I am the only non-senior on the “I want to study business in said. want, which is something I can’t team, but I have been golfing with college. My dream would be to Nothing has held Amelon back really do in golf.” the seniors since I was young.” walk onto the golf team at Iowa.” from taking on a tiring athletic Through two sports, Amelon has Avery Kout ’16, a four year varsity DESIGN BY GABBY SKOPEC
WSSPAPER.COM MAY 2016 SPORTS 19
DEFENDING TRADITION BY LEXI SHAFFER
S
ince the season began on March 21, the girls soccer team has been hard at work to defend their first state title since 2004. The team won the 2015 state tournament and held a record of 20-2. The team hopes the experience will help during the rest of the season. “Winning state last year was incredible. We worked so hard during the season and came together as a team because we played for one another. Being able to actually achieve our goal was really rewarding and [was] what made the experience so great,” said forward Leah Rhodes ’17. “Winning state has definitely given us an extra boost of confidence. We know our strengths and that we can play well together.” However, with their current record at 8-3, and all three losses occurring at the beginning of the season, some could say they have hit a bit of a rough patch. The team has already lost more games this season than all of last season combined. Even so, midfielder Holly Paulsen ’18 explains they aren’t overly concerned. “I honestly think it’s good that we’ve been losing early on in the season because it knocked us down a few pegs and really evened the playing field for the rest of the season so we’re all that much more motivated to get back into the swing of things,” she said. The team has positive outlooks on the rest of the season to come, despite the early losses. “We think it’s important to keep positive attitudes for what is still to come for the rest of the season. We know how to play with each other and we know that we have the potential to win state again. [Coach Dave Rosenthal says] we just need to work on ‘getting our swagger back,’” Rhodes said. The girls also plan to
focus on their team chemistry this season. Their unique bonding is something they value and they hope it will help on the field. “I can definitely say that our team is very different from any other team that I have ever been on or played against,” said midfielder Abby Zimmerman ’17. “A lot of us have played with each other on our club teams since we were really young so we all know each other pretty well already. I think that this has also helped our team chemistry on the field and has made being a part of this team even more fun with all of the things we get to do together, like when we went paintballing.”
20 SPORTS MAY 2016 WSSPAPER.COM
BY JIUNG JUNG
T
he West High boys soccer team have historically had a lot of success. Before last year, the team had gone to state fifteen years in a row and won the tournament five times, three of those wins coming in consecutive years. However, with such prolific success, the members of the team feel an enormous load of pressure on their backs. “It’s hard [to deal with the pressure],” said defender Henry Chen ’18. “[We] just have to deal with it.” The 2015 season proved to be a disappointment for the program, as the team lost to Muscatine in
the first round of the substate tournament. “There’s nothing worse than losing,” said team captain Conor Zielinski ’17. “It’s basically the opposite of what we’re trying to achieve.” The team took the loss to heart and used it as motivation. The Trojans started off 2016 red-hot by winning their first eight games and avenging their loss to Muscatine. “This season I feel like we have more talent,” said defender Armand Crouch ’17. “Everyone on the team wants to show people that we are still one of the best teams in Iowa after last season.” According to the players, the success they have found this season started with a change in attitude. “[We are] not letting bad teams hang around any more,” said defender Will Peterson ’17. “Overall we just need to stay focused and not take any game for granted.” “We are having more serious, intense practices and are fully dedicating ourselves to winning and making soccer a priority,” said forward Zach Logsden ’17. In addition to the on field changes, the team has made a few changes off the field. The team frequently goes out to dinner together and hangs out with each other to ensure that the team chemistry is where it needs to be to succeed on the field. “[There is] much better team chemistry this year,” Zielinski said. “Last year the seniors were more detached from the team than this year’s seniors.” With all the promise the Trojans are showing, they look towards their ultimate goal: winning the state championship. “[To win the state championship] we have to work hard in practice every day and play as a team,” Logsden said. “Not just a bunch of individuals who happen to be wearing the same jersey.” PHOTOS BY SARAH LONGMIRE DESIGN BY RYO OHASHI
REMEMBER
PLAYING
FOR FLASH
RAH BY SA PHOTO
M LONG
IRE
pretty cool for all of us to beat one of the top teams in the state and to have him there with us,” said the bright side of every situation. Carter Johnson ’18, Flash’s close “He always had a positive attitude friend. coming into games. He would Schroeder’s positive outlook and “We used to have the motto ‘Win never get down on other love for baseball was every inning’ in a baseball game people if they were used as an inspiration and then from there, ‘Win the doing something wrong,” to the team to ‘Win the BY ELLIE GRETTER game’ and then that carried on to Trumbull said. day.’ The passing of Austin “Flash” ‘Win the day.’ Everything we do Schroeder’s positivity “At first it was really Schroeder last April after a battle that day has to be the best that we was a key factor in hard to get back into with T-cell lymphoma left a hole can do, and we can’t take anything inspiring his teammates, it. I think all of us kind for granted,” said Logan at West High. Baseball then and now. He will of felt like baseball was Trumbull ’18, a friend of was Schroeder's favorite Jason Strunk ’19 always be remembered our way to come back Schroeder’s. sport and here at West, for his strong fight but together and get our Schroeder’s positive and the baseball team is more so for his genuine love of minds off of everything because attitude left a lasting full of Schroeder’s close baseball and his teammates. that’s obviously what we love to impact on the team and childhood friends and “It was 14U at State; he was not do and what Flash loved to do,” taught them teammates. The team able to play that year, Johnson said. to never get has developed a very but we played Waukee Jason Strunk ’19, another one on close bond through Logan Trumbull ’18 down that year during State of Schroeder’s close friends and themselves his passing and found and they were one of the teammates, reiterated this. or each inspiration through his top seeds. He was in the “We pushed through [Schroeder’s other. According to legendary fight against cancer. dugout even though he passing] by having everyone Before his illness, ‘Win the day’ the team, Schroeder’s was not feeling well, but together and fighting for what during was a quote that Schroeder and positivity he was with us the whole he fought for and knowing how his teammates used every game to baseball transitioned Carter Johnson ’18 time. We ended beating he fought, that we should fight try and inspire the team to push into his fight with them and knocking them through it as a team.” cancer, as he was always looking on through. out of the top bracket. So, that was DESIGN & GRAPHICS BY OLIVIA READ
WSSPAPER.COM MAY 2016 SPORTS 21
THE DI EXPECTATION
BY LEAH DUSTERHOFT “She’s going Division III? She must not be that good.” Here at West, there’s a belief that if you don’t move on to the Division I (DI) level after high school athletics, then you aren’t really that good at what you do. You should just throw in the towel now if no DI schools are looking at you. Peers have started to ask if I’ll go on to throw discus in college. Right off the bat they ask about the top two schools known for their track and field programs: University of Oregon or Louisiana State University (LSU). I shake my head no but say that I’ve gotten letters from other schools.
My first letter came from a small, DIII, liberal arts college in Minnesota. I was ecstatic to know that schools had started to look at me in my sophomore year. Heck, at that point I was just throwing to see how far I could chuck it. College was far from my young mind. But now that it’s my junior year and college is right around the corner, I’m constantly comparing. When I get a new letter from a school, I compare it to Oregon and LSU. Is this an impressive enough letter to be excited about? I research the team’s throwers and compare myself to their best throwers when they were in high school. The question keeps spinning in my mind: Am I good enough to go to these schools? So that’s all that I focus on, getting that ‘perfect’ throw that will attract the big schools’ attention. I’ve stopped throwing for fun, which is the reason I started throwing in the first place.
It wasn’t until I watched the US Wrestling Olympic Trials in Iowa City that I realized, maybe I didn’t need to meet this DI expectation. I’ve grown up around the sport of wrestling and I find a lot of athletic inspiration in a wrestler’s mindset. Well known wrestlers like Jordan Burroughs and Kyle Snyder controlled their weight classes and dominated their way to the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games. Their victories at the Trials were expected by the wrestling community since they both won world titles back in September. Before they made the Olympic team, Burroughs and Snyder were parts of big name wrestling schools such as the University of Nebraska and Ohio State University. But amongst the Burroughs and the Snyders of the sport, there are wrestlers such as Robbie Smith and Joe Rau. Neither Rau nor Smith were state champions, or even runner ups, in high school. Neither
wrestled at a DI school. However, both made the 2016 Olympic team, just like Burroughs and Snyder. Rau and Smith proved that you don’t have to go to the best school to be the best. State championships in high school aren’t crucial to your success later on in the sport. You don’t need to have all these accolades attached to your name to compete at the professional level. Instead, you need grit, hard work, patience and determination to become a dominant athlete at any level. Rau and Smith take the pressure of the DI expectation off of me. I can step back and focus on getting better as an athlete, instead of constantly looking ahead to see where now will get me. I can get back to where I started, throwing for fun. Otherwise, what’s the point?
BLINDED FROM THE TRUTH BY SARAH LONGMIRE Recently, I went with my family to an event for students in Iowa who are visually or hearing impaired and their families. My family was invited to this because my younger brother Jake has congenital glaucoma. At the event they asked parents to introduce themselves and their families. As different parents got up, they began to introduce their children. “This is my oldest son Billy; he’s in sixth grade and plays baseball. This is my other son Fred; he’s in fourth grade and loves to read. Finally, this is my daughter Lily and she is deaf.” This same type of introduction kept
occurring family after family. They introduced their “normal” children by their hobbies, sports and interests and their other children by their disabilities. I wanted to stand up in the middle of that room and scream, “This is my brother Jake and he loves science and reading,” not, “This is my brother Jake and he is blind.” This right here is the problem. We are labeling disabled people by their disabilities when in reality they are so much more. We need to stop limiting them to this box we create for them. My siblings ride bikes without seeing, open doors with their feet and do gymnastics without feet. They are extraordinary kids who don’t need to be left out of activities, pitied or confined because they can do anything they set their minds to. They’re not defined by their disabilities but rather their abilities.
22 OPINION MAY 2016 WSSPAPER.COM
We also need to stop taking away the role models who have set the paths for these kids as they grow up to be adults. One day, I walked up to two of my good friends and they were laughing hysterically. They told me that they had just found a Helen Keller Twitter account with the best jokes. They then proceeded to read me a few jokes: “I was just getting into this really good book today, when I got interrupted by some guy asking for his basketball back,” followed by, “I hate when you’re at the grocery store and can’t tell if a fruit is ripe. Or if it is even a fruit.” At the time I was hurt by this but didn’t have the nerve to speak up, so I just decided to leave the conversation. But I wish I would’ve spoken up. What I should of told them is that by telling these jokes, they are laughing at the way people were born and the people who work hard to lead a normal
life. They are laughing at the fact that some people work ten times harder to run around a track, kick a soccer ball, read and go to the grocery store. Helen Keller was one of the most amazing human beings to ever walk this earth, and yet it is okay in our culture to make fun of her. So many people, especially those who are blind and deaf, look up to her, and by telling these jokes we’re sending them the message that even doing these amazing things isn’t enough because they will always be labeled as disabled. Confining kids to this and taking away the people they admire breaks my heart and needs to be stopped. We need to take a step back and stop labeling and defining kids by their disabilities. Instead, we need to encourage them to succeed and be whoever they want to be.
HOW TO BE A WSS STAFFER
BY JUNHEE LEE ART BY BRAEDYN DOCHTERMAN
Journalism can be a tricky balancing act between publishing newsworthy, boundary-pushing stories and appealing to a diverse group of readers. It’s not a surprise, then, that West Side Story isn’t without its complaints. Here’s a short satire on how to be the perfect WSS staffer, filled with the most common complaints about the WSS. 1. Write about things that are most comfortable to you.
4. Denounce all right-wing urges.
7. Expect only positive comments.
2. You need some story ideas, so pick your friends to interview for the next issue.
3. Make sure to add jokes, references and even full pages that only your friends will appreciate.
5. Or at least minimize the amount of right-wing content.
6. Publish your very first writing, design, photo, etc.
8. When the negative comments start rolling in, just remind yourself that you are perfect and you have nothing to change.
9. Realize that journalism is about education and make some changes.
FOR MORE COVERAGE, GO TO WSSPAPER.COM
DESIGN BY ELEANOR HO
WSSPAPER.COM MAY 2016 OPINION 23
QUALITY OF LIFE
INDEX
PURSUING PASSIONS
Testing Exams. More exams. A nearly illegal quantity of exams.
-17
BY CHARLIE CODE West High is a massive place. It has countless clubs, an incredible athletic department and a wide variety of music programs. It also offers a countless amount of classes ranging from math, science, social studies, business, foreign language, music, art and everything in between. The depth and variety of the education that we can receive in these programs is astounding. The school provides us with so many different outlets and opportunities to cultivate and pursue our interests in whatever subject matter that we wish. If a student is interested in a particular subject, West High gives them the material and guidance that they need to succeed, ranging from introductory courses all the way up to West’s staggering pool of AP and honors programs. Ideally, these advanced programs are utilized to help further progress a student’s abilities in a subject that they are passionate about past the education normally provided in a high school. These classes are supposed to be used to help students to truly pursue their passions. But too often people our age are enthralled with AP and honors classes, not because of a genuine interest in the course material, but because of the title and prestige that the AP and honors courses
are associated with. The idea of lining our transcript with AP classes solely for the purpose of enticing potential colleges is one that has constantly been drilled into our heads since the day that we first crossed through the front doors. Hell, that was one of the driving factors behind my first two years of high school. I came into West with the sole intention of taking every and any honors course that presented itself to me. As a thirteen-year-old I was blindly following in the footsteps of those before me, I was convinced that I was making the right decision. I wasn’t. Nearing the end of my sophomore year I took a step back, and saw myself taking classes that I wasn’t passionate about, and instantly regretted what I had done. I had wasted two priceless years just going through the motions of an honors student and not pursuing the classes that I cared about. Now I’m not saying it’s bad to take AP and honors classes; I’ve had the privilege of taking some awesome courses taught by some incredible people. And if AP Lampbuilding 4 is a course that interests you, then fine, that’s great and you should take the class. If not, then why not spend a significant part of high school taking a class that could help further your knowledge in a subject
that interests you? West High provides too many opportunities for us to not pursue our passions. We only have one high school experience, there are no do-overs. So why are we spending a priceless time of our lives simply primping a resume of classes that we aren’t interested in to appeal to colleges? If we take classes we’re passionate about, that genuine interest and curiosity in the subject would result in similar opportunities for us further down the road, completely circumventing the courting of college admissions. In doing so, we would spend our four years of high school in classes that we care about, instead of drudging through twenty-eight AP classes that don’t interest us. It’s true that the first two years of my high school experience were subjected to the AP mindset, but I’m making a change. This past year I have expanded my horizons, enrolling in classes that interest me, and I intend to do the same next year. No substantial benefits will come from taking a class, AP or not, that doesn’t interest you. However, if you pursue your passions and take classes that pique your curiosity, you will have the truly life-changing high school experience that every student deserves.
Seniors Goodbye seniors. Thanks for making the lunch line ¾ as long!
+1 Five For the number of days of the last two weeks of school you still have to go to.
-5 Dr. Shoultz Or is it Schultz? Or Shuoltz? Or Schuultz? Or Schouletz? Or Schosltz? Or Shultz? Or Arganbright? Or...
+14 May 25th Are we actually ending school in May? This is an unbelievable feat of school administration!
+11
TOTAL:
+4
Positivity? OPTIMISM?? It has to be the end of the school year! COMPILED BY MASON WANG
24 OPINION MAY 2016 WSSPAPER.COM
DESIGN BY MADDIE MORIYAMA