2016-12-21

WEST SIDE STORY IOWA CITY WEST HIGH SCHOOL

2901 MELROSE AVE.

IOWA CITY, IA 52246

WSSPAPER.COM

VOLUME 49 ISSUE 3

wss 1985

A LO O K B AC K

DECEMBER 21, 2016

TERESA KNECHT

I was covering the Downtown Iowa City protest with Fenna Semken and Ala Mohammed. It was very powerful because the people were so passionate about their cause. The protesters marched onto the interstate and stopped traffic while chanting slogans. To capture the movement of the protest, I got in the middle of the interstate behind the protestors and stood on the median and on top of cars.

PHOTO FEATURES

AND THE S TO R I E S T H AT MAKE THEM CONTINUED ON PAGE 51

CONTENTS

08 20 40 44 LETTER NEWS

LIBERTY HIGH UPDATE

With the new year close at hand, the opening of Liberty High is becoming a bigger reality as students and teachers alike begin to make the transition.

F E AT U R E

BEST OF IOWA CITY

From festivals to trails, the Iowa City area has plenty to offer. West High students and WSS staffers recommend and review the best of Iowa City.

SPORTS

PSYCHOLOGY OF COMPETITION Dealing with stressful situations is an unavoidable part of competing in sports. Two athletes describe their nervous quirks and routines that help them relieve some anxiety before competition.

OPINION

CHACOS VS BIRKS

Nina Elkadi and Leah Dusterhoft have been best friends since junior high, but one thing has always separated them: the fight between Chacos and Birkenstocks.

ORIGINAL COVER PHOTO AND LAYOUT

BY TOM KAEFRING COVER PHOTO BY SIMRAN SARIN COVER DESIGN BY CATHERINE JU & SIMRAN SARIN

FROM THE

Dear Reader, Yay, you made it to winter break!

Bless #up. This publication cycle was exciting, as we focused on more indepth stories. Reporters Anjali Huynh, Junhee Lee, Gabby Skopec and Shawn Thacker all wrote a four page spread highlighting the best aspects of Iowa City and News Editor Nina Elkadi dug into WSS archives. Over the last two months, Elkadi gained lots of valuable life lessons and

EDITOR

“had a lot of fun Facebook stalking” from what started out as a little curiosity. To get in contact with old WSS reporters, Elkadi utilized plenty of “internet investigative work” and in the end, she made lots of new friends. This cover story highlights shocking moments in West High’s past and the culture students once experienced. Enjoy!

Yours truly, Simran Sarin

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TIME FOR TECH

With next year’s plan to introduce one-to-one Chromebooks confirmed, how will the role of technology in the classroom change?

BY SHAWN THACKER

A

s technology plays an increasingly important role in people’s lives and becomes an essential educational resource, new district leadership looks to make sure that every student has the ability to access the world of information provided by computers. To achieve this goal, the ICCSD will provide Chromebook laptops to all high school students this coming school year.

“We will be having a device for every student next year that they will be able to use personally.

It [levels] the playing field and we hope that it will reduce the achievement gap,” said Principal Gregg Shoultz. “Right now, students who can’t afford access to computers and to the internet [are] at a disadvantage for getting work done.”

Although the administration is focused on Chromebooks for the near future, this is just one aspect of how technology has become a central part of modern education at West.

“I think teachers more and more are incorporating [technology] into how they do their daily business in class. There [are] so many more paperless projects and people are using [online] management systems,” said librarian Jill Hofmockel.

This implementation of one-to-one technology comes at a time when West administration is looking into a teaching method called blended learning, which blends the traditional mode of face-to-face instruction with internet-based learning.

Social studies teacher Melissa Nies takes full advantage of learning management sites, such as Google Classroom, and incorporates a mixture of virtual and physical resources and activities into her classroom. As an avid supporter of tech-

CURRENTLY AT WEST

nology at West, Nies has high expectations for the future.

“The opportunity to have technology changes the pace that we can do activities. It’s changed the accessibility that I have to students,” Nies said. “My hope is that [technology] will really transform what classrooms look like in a really positive way for both teachers and students.”

Even with all of the enthusiasm and support for this initiative, there are still some who don’t agree with the district’s decision on Chromebooks.

“I’d rather have them use the money on other things that I feel like we need more, like air conditioning … instead of buying all of these Chromebooks that you don’t really need for most of your classes,” said Niki Alden ’18.

Many students have opinions similar to Alden’s; however, some confusion arises over the way the district spends money. To put it simply, the school district has separate budgets for separate categories, meaning that the money spent on Chromebooks would not be able to go to improving school infrastructure in ways such as adding more air conditioners.

Money aside, the school district has deemed the advancement of technology in classrooms important enough to justify their spending.

Teachers such as Nies believe we should make the best of the plan.

“Tech is just like our other tools [and] we need to think of how to make those things work best for us,” Nies said. “I’m really optimistic and excited that the use of [technology] will transform [and] open up a world of education that we didn’t even know was possible.”

319 laptops 551 desktops 350 Chromebooks* *APPROXIMATE AMOUNT

DESIGN BY MADDIE MORIYAMA

WSSPAPER.COM DECEMBER 2016 NEWS 5

IMPROVING

EXCELLENCE Following the implementation of AFT this school year, opinions on its effectiveness vary. The system itself is being brought into question, with some criticinzing the student requesting process.

BY CHRISTINA DAI

LOVE IT

AFT is part of a larger initiative called the Multi-Tiered System of Supports. Its purpose is to reach all students and combat the achievement gap.

“We bring up students who struggle [faster] than it’s happening now … Specifically, it’s referred to at times as an intervention block,” said Principal Gregg Shoultz.

There are four main components in achieving this goal. The first and most important compo-

6 NEWS DECEMBER 2016 WSSPAPER.COM

nent is the idea of re-teaching: when a student doesn’t understand a concept in class, teachers are able to call the student in to reteach that concept. The other three elements are makeup work, makeup testing and accelerated learning.

“With no new instruction happening during those 25 minutes, it allows for students to meet with teachers for makeup work or to retake a quiz [or test].”

When students received word of what was essentially a short study hall in their registration information, many were excited. With the bell schedule being pushed back, time for homework in evenings had shrunk. As a result, some students welcomed AFT. “It gives me more time to finish my homework because normally I don’t have that much time [because] I do orchestra and show choir,” said Ruth Miller ’19.

Even though the AFT period is only 25 minutes long, any time for completing homework can be precious. Miller said that being focused is important if students want to take full advantage of their AFT time.

“I think [AFT] has helped lessen [my homework load] a lot because you don’t think you can get that much done, but I think that if you really work hard, you can get a lot done.”

Head of AFT and science teacher Andrea Harms says that students like Miller are certainly beneficiaries of the implementation, especially since teachers are only contracted to stay at school until 4:15 p.m.

“Yes, we do stay past 4:15 p.m., but we want to see kids before school instead of staying [after].

And AFT, we don’t want it to be a catch all, but we want it to be, “Oh, you have athletics and choir and band and no study halls,” then that’s what we want AFT to be used for,” she said.

PHOTOS BY PAREEN MHATRE DESIGN BY CRYSTAL KIM

HATE IT

THE FUTURE OF AFT just wasting time in class when I could be going home to start my homework … I have to try and be productive with other people, which makes me unproductive.”

Leaving after sixth period would be ideal for Vance, who believes that “[upperclassmen] who have seventh open should be able to leave during AFT, but if they get requested by a teacher they [should] have to stay.”

Even with its benefits, AFT has created problems for many upperclassmen with seventh period open.These students are still assigned an AFT classroom and must stay for the duration of the period.

“I hate AFT because as a senior, I have seventh open and it just keeps me from going home,” said Cescily Vance ’17. “And then I get stuck in traffic longer and it’s so obnoxious because I’m

4

3

PRODUCTIVITY West High students and staff rate the productivity of Academic Focus Time.

5

BENEFIT TO GRADES West High students and staff rate the benefit Academic Focus Time has had on students’ grades.

1

5

OVERALL CONCEPT

West High students and staff rate the overall idea of Academic Focus Time.

Though changes may not come quickly, they seem to be on the way. A teacher survey showed that about 60 to 70 percent said they want more AFT days or that they really like it. How the increase in AFT will be implemented is yet to be decided.

“I think the committee right now, we feel pretty strongly that we’re probably gonna keep it as it is for at least second trimester,” Harms said.

“We are analyzing whether we go to more days or change the length of time, although [changing length of time] doesn’t seem to be a favored option by the survey we conducted of the staff.”

Right now, Harms mostly wants to see teacher teams eventually being formed. This way, all four of the purposes of AFT can be met.

“I’d like to see teacher teams working together to utilize that time as a team. [Have] one teacher offer a reteaching, one teacher offer a makeup and another teacher offer the retesting. I’m a science teacher too, so one’s doing a lab makeup while one’s doing a reteaching or something,” Harms said.

As for requesting students, changes aren’t likely

to be made. The pass system was implemented for a reason, and Shoultz believes that after West provides a personal laptop to each student, kids will be more likely to know when they’re requested.

“I think the biggest boost we’ll see next year is that everyone will have an assigned device so the expectation will be that they’ll be able to check their email … Next year we won’t have that as much because we’ll expect that the students will work on the device that they’ve checked out,” he said.

The pass system is important because it allows the requesting to go as smoothly as possible, including when students are double-requested.

“The deans and I meet every week on Monday, and if there are ties, then we look up PowerSchool data to see who gets to break the tie,” Harms said. “‘Well, they’ve got a 59 in math but they have a 67 in English.’ Well, they’re gonna go to the math teacher in those cases.”

WSSPAPER.COM DECEMBER 2016 NEWS 7

WHERE LIGHTNING STRIKES

BY ANJALI HUYNH

With the new year close at hand, the opening of Liberty High is becoming a bigger reality as students and teachers alike begin to make the transition.

A

s bricks and beams are being put into their final places, Liberty High School is finally shaping into the building that will hold hundreds of students come next fall.

The school has been under construction since its breaking-ground ceremony on May 12, 2015 and is expected to be completed on July 1, 2017.

Although the building is scheduled to be completed next year, Liberty’s growth won’t stop there. The construction done in 2017 is only the first of three phases taking place. Following the completion of the school in 2017, athletic fields are set to be implemented on school grounds, followed by another academic wing increasing the building capacity by around 500.

“If a bond passes the fall of ’17, they’ll break ground in the spring of ’18, and we’ll be using the [athletic] facilities in the ’19-’20 school year,” said principal Scott Kibby. “Then a wing comes in after the fields. It’ll be continuous. [Constructors]

COMPILED BY ANJALI HUYNH

BY THE NUMBERS

750 36 $75

students projected for the 2017-2018 school year

classrooms in the school

million to build Liberty High

PHOTOS BY PAREEN MHATRE

think that we need the athletic fields before the 500 seat addition - that way, we can grow into it.”

As the newest addition to the Iowa City Community School District, Liberty will be the most modern, technologically-advanced building in the area. Though the classrooms found at Liberty are relatively similar to those at West, there will be several innovative features.

For example, several rooms, such as the study hall room, the cafeteria and the library, have large glass windows allowing for a more natural, modern feel in the building.

Students will also have the opportunity to eat lunch on an outdoor patio or utilize coffee-shop bar tables with charging stations.

Additionally, aside from technology-based classrooms, the school will not contain any computer labs. This decision was designed to go hand-in-hand with the district’s new one-to-one Chromebook plan DESIGN BY JENNA ZENG

LEFT: The new cubbies in the art room.

RIGHT: An unfinished hallway in Liberty High.

beginning in the 2017-18 school year.

Registration has been moved ahead to Jan. 9 in order to accommodate Liberty’s planning needs. Classes offered at Liberty were released in November, and although a general plan for the classes is set, details regarding them still need to be confirmed.

“What was released was just a general overview of what we’re going to do,” Kibby explained. “What needs to get done is the nitty-gritty … [like] which teachers teach which subjects and in what hour.”

Much of the curriculum details that still need to be confirmed will be done so by the first Liberty staff members. The first group of Liberty teachers was released on Nov. 21 and includes five West teachers transferring schools.

“They’ll help me with the next round of hiring, curricular questions I might have...and, just in general, advise me and give me somebody to bounce ideas off of,” Kibby said. “I like to collaborate, so it’s nice to have other people on my team

Q&A

with

that [I] can talk about what the new year [will] look like, some of the procedures we’ll have, [etc].”

Math teacher Kay Nigg, one of the teachers transferring schools, chose to take this opportunity because she is excited about the possibility to help lay the foundations for a brand new school.

“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to open up a new high school,” she said. “[Teachers] don’t usually have that opportunity.

Building the culture and the atmosphere of a new high school [is] very exciting to me.”

Although these teachers are excited to start new lives at Liberty, leaving the Trojan community is still difficult.

English teacher Peggy Dolson, another new Liberty staff member still wishes to keep West close to heart as she makes this transition.

“I think every ending is kind of bittersweet,” Dolson said. “Leaving West isn’t easy for me. I feel that teachers want to be here and students have high expectations … so I think West is a special place.”

West students in the Liberty district are also excited to be Lightning Bolts, despite having to leave West. Some, like Sierra Suiter ’20, have already made themselves a part of the Liberty community by playing for the Liberty sports teams that began practicing at West this year.

“I was on the Liberty team for volleyball, [and] it was nice meeting girls that I would be playing with next year,” Suiter said. “[I’m excited for] the new building, and it is cool to be the first people at the school.”

In terms of the future, Kibby remains optimistic about this new community taking shape.

“There are thousands of processes that we do as a school,” Kibby said. “The thing that I’m most anxious about is setting up all those processes and making sure they work. I’m sure we’re going to set something up and after a week, or maybe even a couple days, we’re going to look at each other and go, ‘Why did we decide that?’ We’ll just have to be flexible as we kind of figure out what it’s like to live in our school for a while.”

SCOTT KIBBY

FOR MORE COVERAGE, GO TO WSSPAPER.COM

WSS:

Which teachers from West will be coming to Liberty High?

WSS:

How much work has gone into building the school?

WSS:

What are you most excited about, in terms of being the principal of Liberty?

SK:

In science, there’s Mrs. Hughes, in social studies, Mr. Shutt, in English, Mrs. Dolson, in math it’s Mrs. Nigg, and in Spanish, Mrs. Gwenigale.

They will help me with things that would be more curricular-nature ... and that’ll give me a key group in giving me insight.

SK:

They started in 2015, and they worked through last winter. [The work’s] slowed down, but there was a time where there were over 400 [workers], when the masons were here and they were laying walls. By the time it’s done, it’ll be under construction for two full years.

SK:

I’m looking forward to having kids in that building and their excitement and enthusiasm, and then all the things that you do in the school that are fun to enjoy, whether it’s the first dance we’ll have or the first basket that’s made at the gym.

LEFT: A hallway in the administration and main office area.

RIGHT: View from the entrance leads to the cafeteria eating space.

EXCLUSIVELY ON

1

12 WSSPAPER .COM 2

BASKETBALL: MEET THE STARTERS

RETT: A MINI DOCUMENTARY

Get to know your West High 2016-17 boys and girls basketball starters with special interviews from each player.

Rett Syndrome never quite struck Simone Taylor ‘20. She was born with it, but it came to light only when her ability to speak began to disappear and her once fluid motions were left as nothing more than sudden jerks.

NEED A LAST-MINUTE

GIFT IDEA? Don't get frustrated. Get Scrappy.

By local strategist, speaker, author, and educator Nick Westergaard.

MORE AT GETSCRAPPYBOOK.COM 10 ADS DECEMBER 2016 WSSPAPER.COM

ONE IN

PROFILES

2000

One in 2000 is the profile section’s main feature of every issue, telling the story of a randomly selected individual at West High.

ERIC SHAFFER

BY CHARLIE CODE

Eric Shaffer ’17 attends U15 practice twice a week. Pictured above is Shaffer passing the ball to teammate Luke Moenning ’21.

F

rom Coralville to Copenhagen, Eric Shaffer’s passion for soccer has led him around the world. Since picking up the sport nine years ago, Shaffer ’20 has been playing with local soccer club Alliance for over seven years. This past summer, Shaffer and his Alliance teammates traveled to Europe to compete in an international tournament in Denmark.

“When I was nine, my sister went to Europe to play soccer. She went to Denmark, Iceland, Greenland and Germany. It was a really fun experience to be there with her, but I felt that it would be better if I was in that position,” Shaffer said.

Playing teams from around the world presented an opportunity for Shaffer and his teammates to test themselves against skilled international competition.

“All the teams [in Iowa] are very good and the players are very good, but I can never think of a word to describe the players over there. It’s just incredible,” Shaffer said.

PHOTO BY OLIVIA DACHTLER DESIGN BY SIMRAN SARIN

Amidst over twenty teams from around the globe, Shaffer’s Alliance team stood strong, placing second in their age group.

“The most intense part [was] the finals and semi-finals. Both our coaches and the other teams’ coaches were so intense trying to get the win with all of the players working their butts off,” Shaffer said.

This season, Shaffer hopes to join his sister, Lexi Shaffer ’17, as a member of one of West High’s teams. Shaffer hopes to play center back at West, a position that he has played on Alliance for several years.

“I’m nervous to try out for the team, but sometimes a little bit of nerves are good and make you do better. I have no idea what team I’ll make, but whatever team I make, I hope I can contribute,” Shaffer said.

“Most of the West kids are from ISC [Iowa Soccer Club], so I’ve been playing against them for my whole life. It’ll be a little bit of a challenge to get used to but I think we’ll get used to it and be

fine,” Shaffer said. “I feel like ISC is more individual talent where they work on their own stuff where Alliance is more like, ‘How can we do this as a team,’” Shaffer said.

Despite the differences in their play style, Shaffer is equipped with the skills to bridge the gap with his future ISC-rooted teammate, skills that are noticed by others, including his sister.

“I also enjoy seeing him get better with every game he plays. He has really grown as a leader and as a teammate. He has a really strong work ethic. He always has a soccer ball at his feet, kicking it against the wall or something like that,” Lexi said.

On his Alliance team, Shaffer’s coach has also noticed his leadership skills, promoting Shaffer to team captain.

While spring will bring a challenging time of transition for Shaffer, the qualities that he has as a player and a leader provide an exciting outlook for his future.

WSSPAPER.COM DECEMBER 2016 PROFILES 11

30 AND A LIFETIME OF

MINUTES OF INNOCENCE

G U I L T

BY PRATEEK RAIKWAR

For Carmen Gwenigale, 30 minutes was all it took to signify the end of her innocence, 30 minutes was all it took to signify the beginning of her guilt, and 30 minutes was all it took to signify her life goal.

A

s a 13-year-old, Carmen Gweni- diversity in the compound, gale and her older brothers dis- Gwenigale naturally develcussed war every night before bed. oped powerful friendships and “So where would you hide?” Gweni- learned about varying cultures gale said. “What’s the best hiding place throughout her childhood. if the rebels were to come tomorrow?”

“My beliefs in family and Eventually, the rebel army came in what was acceptance and diversity … the longest Liberian civil war in the country’s came from [the compound],” history. The fighting lasted from 1989 to 1996 Gwenigale said. “We learned with over 600 thousand casualties, while the that family is not blood … effects lasted 16 years. Fortunately, the Amer- Family is more of that unity and ican embassy saved Gwenigale, her brothers that connection that you have with each other.” and her mother because they had AmeriAs a result, Gwenigale formed strong, famcan citizenship. But the same wasn’t true for ily-like bonds with many of the people in the the rest of her family and the community. compound - bonds that were temporarily broHaving lived in Liberia throughout her child- ken when the American embassy sent a car, hood, Gwenigale experienced her share of civil giving an ultimatum of 30 minutes to pack disputes and was used to the family “vacations” up, say goodbye and leave for safety because to Puerto Rico, but this one was different. This of the imminent threat of the rebel forces. one lasted 16 years. This one had lasting effects “We understood the urgency of [the situaon Liberia. tion], but that This one didn’t minimize completethe effect of it,” ly changed “WE LEARNED THAT FAMILY IS NOT Gwenigale said.

Gwenigale “Leaving what and her BLOOD . . . FAMILY IS MORE OF THAT we knew was f a m i l y ’ s UNITY AND THAT CONNECTION home, leavdynamic. ing our famiIn Liberia, THAT YOU HAVE WITH EACH OTHER,” ly, leaving my Gwenigale friends, leaving - Carmen Gwenigale lived in a all the people missionar y we’d grown up compound established by the Evangelical Lu- with and not being able to say goodbye made theran Church of America - her father made a me guilty … Not knowing if I’d ever see them commitment with the church to go to medical again was just like losing somebody I loved.” school in Puerto Rico for free in return for his Over time, this feeling of guilt has comservice in the compound’s hospital later on. This pounded upon itself, especially after hearing commitment system served as an incentive for her surviving family members’ stories. For families from all around the world to stay in Li- example, Gwenigale’s adopted brother and beria and to help the community. Through the cousin, Michael Gwenigale, couldn’t leave

12 PROFILES DECEMBER 2016 WSSPAPER.COM

ABOVE: Gwenigale (second from left) and her mother, father, brothers, and cousin. because he held Liberian citizenship.

“He had a lot of behavioral issues,” Gwenigale said. “There was a lot of defiance and anger because we were able to leave and he wasn’t. He felt abandoned.”

In order to cope and survive, Michael chose to side with the rebels instead of staying with Gwenigale’s father. In his mind, this gave him a higher chance of survival. As a rebel soldier, he became reliant on drugs, lived in the streets and saw his family members get raped and killed. Like many other child soldiers, Michael’s tragic experiences caused him to develop Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. This only added to Gwenigale’s grief and guilt.

“All of those things combined change a person. Seeing him, knowing that he was living in the streets, knowing what he had suffered through over the years caused a lot of guilt,” Gwenigale said. “The knowledge of what he had gone through still sticks with me. It was hard for me to accept that I didn’t have to suffer what he suffered. For me that hurts. I cannot get rid of the fact that I was safe and he wasn’t.”

The majority of Gwenigale’s other relatives also had to stay in Liberia. In contrast to the DESIGN BY JENNA ZENG

TOP LEFT: Gwenigale with her brother and cousin at a community picnic in Liberia.

TOP RIGHT: A family portrait of Gwenigale now with her husband and son.

BOTTOM LEFT: Gwenigale at her college graduation at the University of Puerto Rico.

BOTTOM RIGHT: Gwenigale’s family with their missionary Aunt Caroline from Burlington, Iowa. soldier lifestyle of Michael, they were victimized in entirely different ways. For example, one was raped multiple times and is raising the child of a man who raped her to this day.

Once the war ended, the new government tried to help everyone that was affected by the war through a peace and reconciliation campaign, but their wartime experiences couldn’t be so easily forgiven and forgotten. Although these programs didn’t alleviate the pain of their experiences, Gwenigale’s cousins have remained positive.

“My cousins tell me the story from a perspective of somebody who stayed … but still managed to move on and embrace life,” Gwenigale said.

“Those are the type of people who are my heroes.

Those are the people I can see true strength in.”

Unfortunately for Gwenigale, she wasn’t aware of what was going on with her cousins in Liberia at the time, as communication was limited. Consequently, the move to Puerto Rico flustered not only Gwenigale, but also her brothers. Another obstacle was the language barrier that came with moving. Although her family did speak PHOTOS COURTESY OF CARMEN GWENIGALE

Spanish at home in Liberia, Gwenigale and her brothers never actually learned how to read or write in it. These obstacles ultimately made Puerto Rico seem like “a whole different world.”

Even then, Gwenigale wasn’t the most affected by the move. The language barrier forced her and her brothers to drop one grade level each, which was easier for Gwenigale because she started her education early, but was harder for her brothers because they were soon to graduate from high school and didn’t want to drop a grade level.

As a result, her brothers moved to the United States with their godparents while Gwenigale stayed in Puerto Rico with her mother.

In 1999, Gwenigale visited the University of Northern Iowa as an exchange student in what was another bittersweet move. With the move to Iowa, she was able to be closer to her brothers and further her education. However, being in the Midwest also meant that she was leaving her mother behind in Puerto Rico.

“My role as the only daughter is to take care of my mother, and not doing that, I feel like

I’m failing in that aspect of my life … I call her twice a day, and it’s hard to hear her say she had a really bad day and wasn’t able to get out of bed, especially knowing that I’m not there for her,” Gwenigale said. “The one thing that I’ll never forgive myself for is if anything were to ever happen to my mother and I wasn’t there. I feel that guilt all the time.”

Even with the sense of guilt that came with moving away from her mom, finding a job was a necessity. Initially, Gwenigale studied wildlife management, hoping to become a veterinarian, but she later switched to an education major. Becoming a teacher allowed Gwenigale to have many more personal interactions and, thus, helped rekindle some of those connections that she has lost since moving from Liberia.

“My family is like my students - when my students are in pain, I’m in pain. In that way, teaching is something that just fits on a different level,” Gwenigale said. “Teaching Spanish, I’m not teaching the language. I’m teaching the culture. I’m teaching home. I’m teaching myself.”

WSSPAPER.COM DECEMBER 2016 PROFILES 13

DREW THAYER

LEAGUE OF LEGENDS EXPERT HIGHEST RANK: 60th TOP 0.02 PERCENTILE OF LEAGUE PLAYERS

BY JUNHEE LEE AND PRATEEK RAIKWAR

D

rew Thayer ’18 spends an average of 15 to 20 hours a week playing video games.

But Thayer isn’t the average video game addict. He’s a League of Legends player ranked in the top 0.02 percentile of players worldwide, and at 16, he’s the highest ranked player for his age in the United States. Thayer has even received gaming scholarships.

He started playing League of Legends only three years ago, which is a relatively short time period for someone at his skill level, according to Thayer. A friend introduced the game to him, and there was an immediate appeal.

“I tried it out and then right when I started playing it, I really liked it and then kept on trying to get better,” Thayer said.

League of Legends players spend most of their time playing in online tournaments with small cash prizes or ranking incentives. However, after years of successful League of Legends play, Thayer finally reached a rank where he felt comfortable enough to participate in his first land tournament. Unlike online tournaments, land tournaments are highly public and participants have to travel to a designated site to compete amongst other high ranking gamers. Since both the entry fee and the cash prizes are much higher in a land tournament, Thayer didn’t have high hopes.

“I had my team of five people and we actually didn’t think we’d do too well … Once we finally started competing against the seven other teams at the tournament, we actually managed to end up in second place,” Thayer said. “There was also a pretty decently sized audience there, too, and it was just a really fun time.”

After that tournament, Thayer decided to work even harder. He eventually reached the highest Challenger rank and became 60th-ranked in

14 PROFILES DECEMBER 2016 WSSPAPER.COM

PHOTOS BY ALYSON KUENNEN DESIGN BY JUNHEE LEE

WHAT IS LEAGUE OF LEGENDS?

League of Legends is an online multiplayer game in which players are divided into two teams of five that work to destroy the other team’s nexus (shown below).

North America. But in a game where the rankings change every 24 hours, maintaining that high rank is difficult.

“I will drop out of Challenger a lot. It’s a very highly competitive area to be in,” Thayer said. “Even the pros aren’t always able to maintain Challenger.”

Even then, Thayer feels like he has what it takes to go pro and to maintain the Challenger rank. Currently, he has a $5,000 gaming scholarship from Robert Morse University in Chicago, but he’s waiting for an offer from the University of California, Irvine. Another option is to join a professional team, which Thayer will consider once he turns 17. Many other professionals choose to drop out of high school in order to fully commit their time to the game and therefore earn more money, but Thayer is taking a more cautious approach.

“I’m not considering dropping out of high school [to go pro] because it’s not guaranteed. If it doesn’t work out then I’m screwed,” Thayer said. “If I got onto a good team, I would postpone college and only go if I need to because getting into a good team gives such good pay.”

Since the gaming industry is unique in that a large portion of one’s income comes from sponsorships and donors, getting on a team would be ideal. But in the case that that doesn’t happen, Thayer does have a backup plan in place in online streaming.

“Since I haven’t been streaming, I haven’t really been putting myself out there and haven’t been getting a whole lot of attention. When I do start streaming, though, people will notice me,” Thayer said.

Even if he doesn’t go pro, Thayer won’t stop playing the game he loves; he’ll still play 15-20 hours a week and participate in tournaments.

“Making good plays and everyone watching them and cheering is such a great feeling to have,” Thayer said. “[It’s like] if you are a football player ... and the game’s tied going into the last second and you score. You have the entire crowd, they saw that play and they’re cheering for you. It’s just a great feeling of happiness and excitement.”

CURRENT TOP PLAYERS’ SALARIES

+$400,000/YEAR HIGHEST EVER SALARY $1,000,000/YEAR Thayer’s Rank Challenger

LEAGUE OF LEGENDS RANKINGS FROM HIGHEST (LEFT) TO LOWEST Master Diamond

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Gold

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WSSPAPER.COM DECEMBER 2016 PROFILES 15

FRIEND CRUSH

Guy Snow ’18 and Joe Briddle ’18 reflect on their many years of an unorthodox friendship.

BY REAGAN HART

T

hey were chased down the road towards their cars. The workers wielded chainsaws at them all around the building. Guy Snow ’18 and Joe Briddle ’18 were at a haunted house, an experience they now describe as a fun adventure. At the time, they were both terrified, but they helped each other through the ordeal. “[Snow] was fine with going ahead as long as I held onto [his] back, because [he was] scared of people coming up behind [him],” Briddle said.

Briddle and Snow’s haunted house experience is just one of many adventures they’ve had over the years of their friendship.

Their friendship is very close, which has also warranted them

coming over to each other’s houses without warning. Snow stated that this happened a lot and he found it very funny. Briddle explained a usual scenario.

“I would bike over to [his] house, and be like, ‘Hey, can I come over?’” Briddle said. “[Then Snow would say,] ‘I guess so, but I’m sleeping.’

[I would reply,] ‘Cool, I’m here.’”

They described their close friendship as strange and unorthodox. From sports to their jokes they are very close friends.

A l though t h e y don’t remember exactly w h e n they actually met, they know sports have played a big part in maintaining their friendship. Their teammate, Jake Davis ’18, has noticed their strong friendship. “[Briddle] [jumps] in any conversation that Guy’s in, even when coaches are talking to him. [He] likes to contribute,” Davis said.

Even as Davis was getting to know them in junior high sports, he could tell they were very close friends.

“I can’t see them not being friends in the future. It’s a very strong friendship,” Davis said.

Being in football and wrestling together, Briddle and Snow spend many early mornings and late night practices with each other. Snow sees this very similar schedule as a perk of their close friendship as they will face the same struggles at the same time.

16 PROFILES DECEMBER 2016 WSSPAPER.COM

“I feel . . . one good thing about our friendship is that if one of us doesn’t want to do anything, the … other one doesn’t want to either,” Snow said.

During practice, Briddle and Snow like to mess around and crack jokes. They will be talking and break out laughing, but they aren’t the only ones making jokes along the way. With their close friendship and being wrestling partners, it has lead to many jests from their coaches about them dating.

“If [Briddle’s] not in practice one day and I’m there they will [ask], ‘Oh, where’s your boyfriend, Guy?’” Snow said.

Many of their favorite memories come from being close teammates, most of which include joking around in the locker rooms, though their jokes extend past the doors of the locker room.

Their close friendship also means they share the same taste in humor, such as anti-jokes, dad jokes, comedian jokes and television jokes.

These jokes come from people like Tom Segura and television shows like Family Guy. Briddle and Snow shared many of their favorite jokes, including one about a truck.

“Are you a truck?” Briddle said. Snow proceeded by answering ‘no.’

“That’s probably one of my favorites, because it’s just so dumb,” Snow said.

Their jokes aren’t just words, but can also be more physical, such as pranking each other.

“One time [Briddle] was lying down and he asked for some water. So me and [Davis] filled a glass of vinegar, and we gave it to him. He drank it. It was pretty funny,” Snow said, “Then he spit it all over the floor… He was kind of mad, but more funny mad.”

Even in such instances, they feel that these pranks aren’t going to change how they view each other.

“I know a lot of friendships are close, but I think we are a whole different type of close.

We can tell each other anything that happens. It doesn’t matter ... it won’t change how we think about each other,” Snow said.

PHOTO BY TERESA KNECHT DESIGN BY TYLER THOMASSON

WSSPAPER.COM DECEMBER 2016 ADS 17

MARKED ABSENT

BY ELEANOR HO

T

he absence of math teacher James Kirpes has brought to light issues with substitute teachers at West High. His unexpected leave due to injury revealed difficulty with finding both long-term substitutes and short-term substitutes.

“The first week was rough in that . . . we were able to find a sub who was a math major, but didn’t have the credentials to teach for more than one day,” said West High Principal Gregg Shoultz.

During that week, many West teachers covered Kirpes’ classes in lieu of any short-term substitutes while an appropriate long-term sub was found. Long-term substitutes are required by the state of Iowa to have a substitute license allowing them to teach for longer periods of time, whereas short-term substitutes may only lead class for up to five days in a row, according to the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners website.

Though it was resolved when the current longterm sub Beth Hill was contacted, Dr. Shoultz

18 FEATURE DECEMBER 2016 WSSPAPER.COM

admitted it was a challenge at first.

“I went through the entire list of people who are certified in math,” Shoultz said. “We made many, many phone calls to identify that Mrs. Hill could do it. But as soon as [she] got the credentials she needed, we’ve been in a good place.

She’s a community college teacher in math and she’s definitely certified to do it.”

However, after finding Hill as a substitute, there were other delays regarding obtaining a license and rescheduling Hill’s Kirkwood classes.

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The situation also resulted in an additional teacher covering classes on Fridays due to Hill’s commitments to her classes at Kirkwood College. Though Hill originally had agreed to teach Tuesdays and Thursdays, she was able to change her schedule to have more days.

“I talked to my boss and co-worker is covering my Monday and Wednesday classes, so I’m here Monday through Thursday,” Hill said. “[Travis] Freese comes in on Fridays while I go up to Kirkwood.”

Hill and Freese faced the challenge of integrating new math textbooks this year.

“Normally Mr. Kirpes would have had everything planned for this entire year,” Hill said.

The situation was complicated at first, but Hill said that the faculty responded well.

“Ms. Meyer, Mr. Bach and Ms. Lynn continue to be good resources for me,” Hill said. “Ms. Meyer is taking the Calculus AB kids through the chapter that they’re on. She loves them a lot, and I know she’s having a hard time letting them go.”

This recent crisis, though averted, has brought attention to the shortages of substitutes at West High.

“Substitute teachers are always in high demand, especially in a building of this size,” said Assistant Principal Luke DeVries. “When activities are going on and teachers have to be at extracurriculars, it creates a strain on campus because their classes have to be covered.”

The administration has managed to help keep

term sub in history,” DeVries said.

The administration usually is able to make long-term substitute arrangements in advance.

“We have three maternity leave substitutes for next trimester, and we’re trying to get those identified way, way in the future,” Shoultz said.

That leaves the main problem to be with shortterm substitutes, due in part to the nature of teachers’ absences, often due to illness. Even with the rushed nature of some assignments, Shoultz said most subs do well at West High. The school uses the AESOP system for substitutes.

A request is posted, and qualified short-term substitutes can take the job through it.

Ultimately, if a substitute teacher is unfit to teach at West High, there are protocols in place to correct that.

“If things don’t go well, if they’re not suited for high school, then -Luke DeVries, Assistant Principal we can communicate to them that they should just take jobs K-6,” Shoultz said. “If someone is really struggling, we can just have them ground check to be able to substitute for one day. not come back to the building.”

DeVries added that most of the substitute “You could definitely get an art major [teaching] a physics class. The idea is that for one day teachers at West do a good job.

“We have a great group of substitute teachers that person can follow the sub plans,” Shoultz that come in here; they work really hard and [. . said.

In long-term substituting assignments, teach- .] they’re excited to work with the kids,” DeVries ers are required to be certified in order to meet said. “We do try to walk around during passing periods and during the day to check in on the the needs of the students.

“We don’t have to have a long-term sub very subs and that they have everything they need to often. It depends on the subject area. It’s harder do their jobs and that students are getting what to find a long-term sub in Spanish than a long- they need out of the lesson.” up with the demand, sometimes resorting to having administrators or teachers with prep periods cover.

“There have been a handful of days where we’ve had a shortage and we’ve had to go cover classes,” DeVries said. “I taught a math class the other day just because there wasn’t a substitute available.”

State and school district standards require that short-term substitute teachers have a four year Bachelor’s degree in any subject, have 15 hours of class time experience and complete a back-

“SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS ARE ALWAYS IN HIGH DEMAND, ESPECIALLY IN A BUILDING OF THIS SIZE.”

WSSPAPER.COM DECEMBER 2016 FEATURE 19

THE BEST OF

IC

From festivals to trails, the Iowa City area has plenty to offer. West High students and WSS staffers recommend and review the best of Iowa City.

wATERWORKS PARK

squire point

Waterworks Prairie Park is located on Dubuque Street just past I-80. It consists of a wide asphalt trail that loops through prairie grass, wildflowers and small trees as it makes its way around a pond. Along the nearly three mile trail there are several signs with QR code scanners for various exercise moves you can try out. Additionally, several benches line the trail and there is a small dock on the pond, perfect for a nice picnic. The trail also connects to the Iowa River Corridor Trail, Iowa City’s largest trail network.

20 FEATURE DECEMBER 2016 WSSPAPER.COM

Located off of Dubuque Street in North Liberty, Squire Point is a popular hiking and recreation trail. It is a dirt trail that is a bit hilly and overlooks the Iowa River. The trail can add up to six miles when combined with the Woodpecker Trail System, but it also offers shorter distances. Bethany Schillinger ’17 visits at least once a week and sometimes more depending on the season. Schillinger frequently sets up her hammock in the trees and then does anything from just hanging out to homework.

“I like that it gives me some time away from school and everything. I just like to be out there and enjoy the nature and it’s so peaceful out there. I can just have some time to myself,” Schillinger said.

SHEBREWS COFFEE

LE GOURMET Located in the Old Capitol Mall, Le Gourmet is a small, elegant pastry shop and take-out restaurant that offers a wide selection of cakes, Korean-inspired baked goods and breakfast and lunch options. Although the shop has a respectable savory menu, what makes Le Gourmet stand out is their variety of desserts. With a glass display at the orderings station, it’s easy to see the array of pastries available. From simple and not-toosweet Korean breads to raspberry chocolate mousse garnished with fondant, any choice is sure to please.

This recent addition to Iowa City’s thriving coffee culture offers a unique atmosphere along with carefullycrafted coffee. Located off 2nd Street in Coralville, SheBrews Coffee was founded by Yune and Kwang Song earlier this year. With a range of coffee made with beans sourced from Ethiopia to Costa Rica and ground in small batches throughout the day for optimal freshness, SheBrews is committed to quality and emphasizes the importance of the process of making coffee. “[Yune] really wanted to create this kind of space for people who love coffee and people who appreciate the art of coffee-making,” said Hankyeol Song, West High alum and daughter of SheBrews owners. “It’s something she can pour her creative energy into and share with other people.” With all the care and affection put into the coffee at SheBrews, a visit here is sure to satisfy all of your caffeine cravings.

LA REGIA La Regia is a hole-in-the-wall Mexican restaurant and market on Highway One that offers authentic food prepared in the style found in the state of Michoacán, Mexico. From tacos to tortas, La Regia serves up a host of traditional foods. Now a four-time winner of the Press Citizen’s Best of the Area award, Jose Garcia, owner of La Regia, has transformed his business from a weekend taco truck to a full-time restaurant with an avid following. Using his mother’s recipes, some of Garcia’s favorites are the lengua, steak and carnitas tacos.

MORNING, NOON AND NIGHT +

+

=

HAMBURG INN NO. 2 This intimate downtown eatery is an essential stop on any foodie’s tour of Iowa City. A favorite among politicians along the campaign trail, the Hamburg Inn is famous for hosting the Iowa Coffee Bean Caucus to gauge support for presidential candidates. Other than its celebrity visits, this old standby of the Iowa City food scene is known for having the best breakfast in town. Offering choices such as pancakes, omelettes and their signature “pie shakes,” the Hamburg Inn serves breakfast all day long.

OASIS

SHORT’S BURGER AND SHINE

Founded by friends Ofer Sivan and Naftaly Stramer, Oasis Falafel has become a cornerstone of Iowa City’s cuisine, providing Mediterranean staples for over 12 years. As its title suggests, this cozy, casual lunch spot is known for its falafel. However, its menu extends far beyond its namesake. From tabbouleh to shawarma to babba ganoush and more, Oasis truly offers a taste of the near East. And fear not, there are chalkboards describing all of their delicacies in detail at its Linn Street locale.

This downtown bar and burger joint is one of your best bets for a burger in the home of the Hawkeyes. With cornfed black Angus beef from less than 30 miles away, freshness is a priority at this establishment. Right across from the Pentacrest on Clinton Avenue, Short’s Burger and Shine is right in the middle of downtown Iowa City. Boasting 20 beef burgers along with chicken and black bean options, a meal at Short’s Burger and Shine is a perfect way to end a night out downtown.

WSSPAPER.COM DECEMBER 2016 FEATURE 21

JAZZ FESTIVAL ARTS FESTIVAL BOOK FESTIVAL As a college town that comes to life during the school year, Iowa City is a rather idle place in the summer. The Jazz Festival works to change that.

Taking place during the Fourth of July weekend, the Jazz Festival features professional, sometimes Grammy-winning musicians such as the Neville Brothers or Poncho Sanchez. In addition to the concerts, the festival gives opportunities for local high school and college students to learn about jazz and play on the main stage. Ned Furlong ’17 summed up the event as being pretty crazy.

“There’s a constant stream of music going and some really big jazz artists come out for it.”

As the name implies, the Iowa Arts Festival is a three day festival in downtown Iowa City that celebrates local and national artists. However, the art featured at the festival isn’t just visual.

Not only do painters and drawers display and sell their art at the Art Fair, but musicians get to perform on the Main Stage and the Family Stage and chefs gather at the Culinary Row to make multi-ethnic food for the Iowan crowd. The festival is one of the most celebrated events in Iowa City, being named “Best Festival” by the Press Citizen in 2012.

Iowa City is one of only 11 UNESCO Cities of Literature in the world, so it’s not a surprise that the city has a weeklong festival in October to celebrate books. The Book Festival features public book readings, visits from famous authors and panels on writing style and technique, all of which take place throughout the University of Iowa and downtown Iowa City. This year, the Iowa City Book Festival featured a visit from Rick Riordan, author of the Percy Jackson series, and a public reading of “Crime and Punishment” by Fyodor Dostoyevsky, a historical novel that criticized Russian radicalism in the 19th Century.

JOHNSON COUNTY FAIR As a state known for its farmers and corn, the Johnson County Fair is a popular attraction for agriculture fans in the area. Taking place at the Johnson County Fairgrounds in Iowa City, the fair features agrarian-themed events

such as the children’s tractor pull contest, the beef chili cook-off and the agriculture-themed arts contest. There are animal weigh-ins and judging contests for the 4-H and FFA student. The fair alo includes an Ugly Cake Contest

22 FEATURE DECEMBER 2016 WSSPAPER.COM

for which the rules include “no mold may be on the cake” and “a real cake must be used.” With events like these, the Johnson County Fair celebrates the farmer spirit that lurks in even the artsiest city in Iowa.

TO THE THEATEr ENGLERT THEATRE

FILM SCENE

HANCHER AUDITORIUM

The Englert Theatre is Iowa City’s last remaining historic theater, as it has since graced Iowa City with daily performances from a variety of groups and speakers since its opening in 1912.

Recent performances over the past few months have included a mix of national tours and local annual events like the annual Nolte Academy production of “The Nutcracker.” With the help of community support, the Englert is sure to remain an Iowa City treasure that will enhance opportunities of residents within the area.

Film Scene is a small theater in the Pedestrian Mall that began in 2011 with the goal of bringing “movie magic” back. FilmScene now screens over 200 feature films and receives more than 32,000 viewers per year, enriching Iowa City culturally and artistically. The theater shows a variety of cinematography, from first-run films to classics and offers film education and media literacy programs. Through the cinema, FilmScene hopes to provide the Iowa City community with entertainment in an animated, welcoming environment.

WHITE RABBIT

THE HAUNTED BOOKSHOP

Located in downtown Iowa City, White Rabbit is a local art and apparel store that was opened in 2006 as a means of selling handmade goods. Carrying a wide variety of merchandise from custom screen-printed t-shirts to vintage clothing to paintings, the store sells products from over a hundred local consignors. White Rabbit also holds a monthly art show in order to showcase the work of talented artists from around the Iowa City area. For those looking for an aesthetically pleasing, unique shopping destination, White Rabbit is worth a visit.

Carrying more than 50,000 publications in over 80 sections, the Haunted Bookshop is a beloved Iowa City treasure not only known for the spooky stories found there, but for the special residents found within the shop. Set in an 1847 Greek Revival architecture

COMPILED BY ANJALI HUYNH, JUNHEE LEE, GABBY SKOPEC & SHAWN THACKER ARTWORK BY ANGELA ZIRBES DESIGN BY CATHERINE JU & RYO OHASHI

Since 1972, Hancher has brought music, dance and theater groups to Iowa City from all over the world, including prestigious names such as the Joffrey Ballet Company, Yo-Yo Ma and Book of Mormon. Hancher prides itself as the main cultural hub of the University of Iowa. Following its reopening on Sept. 9 in a new, more modern facility, Hancher has worked vigorously to continue its mission of fostering artistic freedom and promoting creativity by bringing the world’s finest performers to the community.

home, the bookshop is home to two cats, Nierme and Logan, that are more than willing to assist book shoppers. The old-fashioned, cozy feel to the shop makes the Haunted Bookshop a nice contrast to all the modern architecture found in Iowa City today.

WSSPAPER.COM DECEMBER 2016 FEATURE 23

AFRICAN HOLIDAYS

Celebrations and festivals play crucial roles in defining different societies’ cultures. A key component of these festivities is food. In this edition of the WSS, we focus on students with African heritage, examining the diversity of West’s population through the lens of holidays. Check back next month to learn more about the holidays other students at West celebrate.

BY SHAWN THACKER

MALIAN JOLLOF RICE

BUHE

INDEPENDENCE DAY

ETHIOPIAN INJERA

CONGOLESE FUFU

Tabaski is the Malian and West African celebration of the Islamic holiday Eid al-Adha. On this day, fathers across Mali purchase sheep and buy new clothes for their families to commemorate the sacrifice of Abraham as described in the Quran.

Buhe is the Ethiopian Orthodox Church’s celebration of the Transfiguration of Jesus. This holiday is typically observed by groups of children who go door-to-door, singing a traditional song called Hoya Hoye in return for fresh dough.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Independence Day is a public holiday celebrated throughout the nation to mark the sovereignty Congo gained in 1960 from Belgium. The largest celebrations are typically held in the capital, Kinshasa, with parades and fireworks.

TABASKI

“My favorite thing is definitely the prep. We get our hair done and buy new clothes and decorate the house. The day before the Tabaski is seriously the best—everyone is in the best mood. We [also] eat a lot of different foods, but the most common one is zamai (Jollof rice).”

-Barbara (Diaba) Nagueza ’17

“[Buhe] is important to me because it brings me and my relatives and neighbors together … I’ve [been] to it once or twice and those were my favorite [times].”

-Awelu Abdalla ’20

24 FEATURE DECEMBER 2016 WSSPAPER.COM

“I would say Independence Day [is my favorite] because we get to dress up and have fun with our friends. You get to celebrate the day your country got its freedom— that’s great.”

-Bonheure (Alice) Tshibanda ’20

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BY NINA ELKADI

Although many readers may only be familiar with the sleek, in-color West Side Story, there was a time when the paper contained stories about Beatlemania, Nixon and student animosity toward ITEDs. Some things never change.

WSS’s first issue came out in 1969, and since then WSS has made a tradition of reporting on issues that matter. Here are some that make us look back and wonder.

1985 H

PORNOGRAPHY: MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE

igh schoolers can often be wary covering controversial topics, but this 1985 WSS cover story on pornography refutes that.

“I’m not sure [this] was a burning story that was preoccupying everyone at the time. But there was definitely an effort to censor song lyrics in albums at the time, so issues of censorship were in the air,” said the writer, Josh Barkan, via email. “To me, it feels like an earnest piece of journalism. Maybe a little too earnest.”

Barkan recalls getting inspiration for the story near the dumpster behind a store.

By the dumpster were snippets of pornographic film and from that, he began looking into the world of buying and selling porn.

“I tried to teach the kids that they had to be pretty thorough,” said Ben Van Zante, West High’s journalism adviser from 1971 to 2000. “They couldn’t publish something if they didn’t have evidence for what they were talking about.”

Accordingly, Barkan set out to find his evidence. The article features West High students who admitted to purchasing pornography, and store owners in denial.

As one junior who wished to remain anonymous said, “We rented a video from Rentertainment with three different parts … I don’t remember all of the names but one cut was called Savage Lover ... The guy running the store didn’t ask to see any form of identification.” But Rentertainment’s Schmidt said with confidence, “We check everyone if they look like they might be under age. We’re really careful. Besides, it’s obvious if someone tries to rent a video and is a minor.”

Maybe not obvious enough. The junior who rented the movie has never shaved.

Barkan recalls the article being received “without much fuss,” but another student on the WSS staff attempted to draw attention to a much more controversial topic at the time: homosexuality.

“The one thing that created a stir is that a student at the time [added] the words ‘Josh is gay’ at the bottom of the second column. It so happens that I’m not gay. I’ve been married to two women, and I’m not [bisexual] or in the closet,” Barkan said. “What I’m getting at is that being openly gay in those days was something much more controversial than it is now.

So I think that once I started writing an article about something more risqué, the selling of porn, it led to this little sabotage of the piece.”

Barkan is currently a writer and professor of creative writing at Hollins University.

In high school, he wanted to become a journalist. He also wrote for The Daily Iowan in addition to WSS, and he is able to pinpoint the moment he decided journalism may not fit the type of writing he wished to pursue.

“I told the editor [at The Daily Iowan that] I hadn’t been able to investigate the whole story and all the facts by the deadline. There was more to say, which felt important. But the editor said the story just had to print at the deadline,” Barkan said. “Eventually, I became much more interested in the aesthetics of writing, and there was less place for that in standard journalism.”

Barkan has a new collection of short stories entitled “Mexico” coming out in January 2017. It can be found on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

TEACHER’S LOUNGE: WHERE DO WE SMOKE?

1977

A

s high schoolers today, one thing we’ve never had the chance to debate is where teachers should be able to smoke on campus. Peter Van Allen, a WSS editor at the time (who has since done freelance journalism for The New York Times and now works as the editor for Mainebiz), got the idea to do a photo survey in high school from the “man on the street” technique he saw in the SoHo Weekly News. The technique allows a photographer to gauge the reaction of the interviewee and grab a quote or two on how they feel. The photo survey asked teachers their opinions regarding the recent ban of smoking in the teacher’s lounge.

The survey included teachers in disagreement, as some talked about how the ban was handled unfairly, while others said it encouraged teachers to interact with students during lunch. One teacher even proposed having a smoking and a non-smoking lounge.

“I can’t believe I was brave enough to talk to those teachers,” Van Allen said via email. “I used the [man on the street technique] many times over my career. The key is working with a good photographer. When someone on the street is approached by a camera person and a reporter, it’s much less threatening than if a single reporter walks up.”

Some teachers were more than willing to express their opinion on the situation. Brooke Workman, an English teacher, was one of them.

“The teachers’ lounge wasn’t really a lounge. It was a storage room for the cafeteria,” Van Zante said. “That’s where everybody ate, and Brooke said, ‘[Smoking here] is not a healthy situation.’”

On the previous page in the 1977 issue, there is a column entitled “No Smoking,” expressing the stance of the editorial board. It suggests enforcing a no-smoking rule for everyone during the school day.

“Eliminate smoking in public places unless providing separate rooms or partitioning off smokers is possible,” it reads. “The smoker’s right to smoke ends where the nonsmoker’s air for breathing begins.”

Little did the authors know, it would take over 30 years for Iowa to pass such a law, the Smokefree Air Act which was passed in 2008. It “prohibits smoking in almost all public places and enclosed areas within places of employment.” Almost word-for-word, the students predicted what was to come.

NIBBLE ON THIS Peter Van Allen’s father is James Van Allen, a world-renowned space scientist. He discovered the Van Allen radiation belts, which are zones of high-energy charged particles trapped at high altitudes in the magnetic field of Earth.

He was named Time Magazine’s Person of the Year in 1960, and both Van Allen Hall and Van Allen Elementary School are named after him.

1970 O

ne story that continues to pop up through years of archives is a continuum of coverage on a man named Mike Roe. Roe was a teacher at West High in the ’70s who was fired for reasons not quite specified.

The book “Stop the Presses!

I Want to Get Off!: A Brief History of the Prisoners’ Digest International (Voices from the Underground)” did an entire piece on the story of Mike Roe. According to this book, Roe brought in members of the Iowa City Gay Liberation Front to class to discuss their lives and interactions with the straight society. Parents that found out went to the board of education, and Roe was set to have a hearing. WSS covered this incident for over a year.

“How Mike Roe got that [teaching] job, I don’t know for sure,” Van Zante said.

“Mike had this rag-tag bunch of students, mostly boys, and they were the smokers, they were the troublemakers, they were the students who were more controversial than some of our others.”

Roe came to West High after teaching at South East Junior High. Van Zante explained that he was brought to West so the principal at the time, Ed Barker, would be able to “get the goods” on Mike so they had the grounds to terminate his contract.

“You can see by the stories that he was controversial,” Van Zante said. “That was one of the things that kept some of the kids in school. That was his method.”

TEACHING SEX: MIKE ROE According to Van Zante, Roe supposedly didn’t really “teach” a class, but rather provided a space for the at-risk kids.

“They had their own room on the bottom floor of the school, and it was full of couches and overstuffed chairs,” said Rox Brandstatter, who wrote over four articles for WSS about Roe. “The atmosphere was very relaxed, and there wasn’t a lot of traditional academic teaching taking place, which may have been one of the problems in the eyes of the administration.”

One article in WSS describes what parents wrote to the school board. They were worried about the incident in his sexual education class, and wanted to use it as a way to get rid of sexual education indefinitely.

“They are also concerned with the effects such a course could have on their children,” the article read.

The parents cited in their letter that in Sweden, such a class increased rates of sexual promiscuity and mental illness.

Roe was ultimately fired after a hearing, and there is no information on where he went following his debarment.

Attempts by WSS to contact Roe were unsuccessful.

FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP This year was the first time since 1999 that the West High varsity football team has made it to the UNI Dome to fight in the finals for the state championship.

Quarterback Kevin Long ’00 (middle) launches the ball during the semi-final game.

1999

2016

Davonte Lane ’17 catches the football in the 2016 state championship game.

SHOW CHOIR In 1971, show choir was referred to as “swing choir.” One of the choirs was called “Something Better” instead of what it is now, “Good Time Company.”

(From left to right) Kathy Schrock ’73, John Hunt ’72 and Barb Spenler ’72

1971

2016

(From left to right) Sydney Meyerdirk ’18 and Jade Merriwether ’17

THE WIZARD OF OZ The last time West High put on a production of the Wizard of Oz before this year was in 1989. In the 2016 production, a real dog named Skipper was used on stage.

Glinda (left) played by Rya Dunnington, Dorothy (right) played by Elyse Nelson

1989

2016

Glinda (left) played by Olivia Manaligod ’18, Dorothy (right) played by Kate Vander Leest ’17

PHOTOS BY OLIVIA DACHTLER, NATHANIEL GAO, W. HANLIN,, SARAH LONGMIRE, SIMRAN SARIN, JULIE TINKER DESIGN BY CATHERINE JU

BY MOLLY HOWES Iowa winters are brutal, and there’s no better way to avoid the harsh outdoors than by curling up in front of the fireplace with a nice mug of hot chocolate. With Nutella and peppermint twist options, you’re sure to find a favorite.

Milk Nutella Chocolate sauce Marshmallows Whipped cream Candy canes

ART BY ANGELA ZIRBES PHOTO BY PAREEN MHATRE DESIGN BY CRYSTAL KIM

1. Heat each ½ cup of milk in the microwave for one minute.

2. For each ½ cup of milk, use 2 tablespoons of Nutella or ½ tablespoons of chocolate sauce.

3. Melt Nutella and stir in chocolate sauce in the heated milk.

4. To add a peppermint twist, drop a candy cane in the milk before placing the cup in the microwave.

WSSPAPER.COM DECEMBER 2016 ENTERTAINMENT 32

POS

KAIYA LUETHJE ‘18 On the outside, Luethje’s 2003 Chevy Blazer doesn’t look too bad after 13 some years of ownership, but on the road this car proves itself to be a true P.O.S. in its own squeaky fashion.

BY GEORGE LIU

5

3

4

1 4

Whenever Luethje drives, the car emits a loud squeaky sound that can be heard a mile away.

The windows jam a lot, so sometimes they won’t roll up or down.

PHOTOS BY NICK PRYOR DESIGN BY LEAH DUSTERHOFT

22 55

Rain leaks through the top of both doors, and the doors can pop open at any moment.

The AC doesn’t work, so when Luethje is lucky enough, he drives with the windows down on humid days.

33

The car will overheat if the gas tank goes below half full or if the car speeds over 45 mph.

FOR AN INSIDE LOOK AT LUETHJE’S CAR, GO TO WSSPAPER.COM

WSSPAPER.COM DECEMBER 2016 ENTERTAINMENT 33

BACK IN BLACK

BY EMMA BRUSTKERN

During any great show, performers bask in the spotlights, smiles on their faces. However, behind every performer stands a multitude of dedicated crew members. Although they aren’t necessarily the ones to greet the audience at the end of the show, their tasks are essential to every production.

34 ENTERTAINMENT DECEMBER 2016 WSSPAPER.COM

PHOTO BY SARAH LONGMIRE DESIGN BY MEGAN BOLAND

THEATRE

D

on’t be fooled by the scene change music - there is plenty happening on the unlit stage.

Although the spotlight shines on the actors, there are approximately 112 crew members working behind the scenes for Theatre West. Compared to the amount of actors, crew members outnumber performers about 3 to 1.

Tessa Maxey-Kinney ’18 has done four shows with Theatre West, her first show being “Cinderella.” She started on set crew, and is currently an Assistant Stage Manager.

“I would say [crew is] the skeleton of the show . . . they’re the backbone,” Maxey-Kinney said.

There are nine different technical crews in Theatre West. From set to sound to hair and makeup, there is truly a crew for everyone to be involved in.

Addison Vandepol ’17 has been a member of the props crew for both “Mary Poppins” and “The Wizard of Oz.” “[The props crew] puts things together that you cannot buy, and we make them more personalized,” Vandepol said.

Members of all nine crews spend an extensive amount of time working for each show.

A majority of this work gets done during Tech Week, where all the actors and crew members come together to build sets, set up lights, make props and more. In addition, crew members dedicate a few of their Saturdays to theatre in the weeks leading up to the show.

In previous years, Tech Week has lasted from right after school until 9 p.m. This year, it ends at 6:30 p.m. due to difficulties with maintaining productivity while still managing to feed everyone. Many students are grateful for the extra time to do homework, but the change has its downfalls.

“I think it set things back a lot because last year, we had more meetings before tech week actually started and we had things going . . .

We got a lot more done,” Vandepol said.

Despite the many separate crews, there is still a huge feeling of unity in Theatre West.

Vandepol recalls a time during “Mary Poppins” when the props crew had to enlist help in order to fly kites over the stage.

“We tried really hard to make those kites work. We exhausted everything that we could try. We had sound people, who were really smart, try to figure it out,” Vandepol said. “But in the end, it worked because props pulled through. We went up in the catwalks and dangled [the kites].”

All crew members seem ready to work hard alongside the actors to ensure that all future productions are the best they can be.

“Without the set and without the props and without the lights, there would be no show. Crew and tech overall [are] as important as the actors,” Maxey-Kinney said.

SHOWCHOIR

W

ith only 20 members and a total of 1,670 costume pieces, it’s safe to say that the show choir crew has its work cut out for it.

The show choir crew plays an important part in the success of the show choirs here at West. The crew’s main job is to keep track of and care for every costume piece.

In addition, they help with microphones and platforms for soloists.

Meg Wagner, mother of Thomas Wagner ’18 and the head crew parent, got involved with West High show choirs because of her passion for sewing. However, her continued participation in the show choir process has been inspired by her fellow crew moms and the students she works with. “[The crew members] make sure each performer looks and feels their best so that they can concentrate on performance,” Wagner said.

The addition of a third show choir, Primetime, has drastically changed the way show choir crew operates. Lydia Youngquist ’18 has been on crew for two years and says that the new show choir has definitely caused the crew some stress.

“It’s really hard because there’s 50 more people and there’s more things to do and less time to do it,” Youngquist said.

During performances, the show choir crew focuses on hanging clothes and making sure that the dancers get onstage in time. Dancers generally only have three minutes to change into an entirely new outfit before running back onstage. During those measly three minutes, there are multiple things that can go wrong.

“There are a lot of demands on crew’s time from a lot of people all at once,” Wagner said.

“Probably the hardest part [of crew] is remaining calm so that you can make sure the performers aren’t anxious.”

While show choir crew comes with some stress, members agree that it definitely has its perks. For sophomore Dylan Gesell’s first year in show crew, he is in charge of going under the stage during the Showtime show to hand off microphones to performers.

“I like being [under the stage]. It’s like a bunch of kids are just stomping on you. It’s pretty dark and noisy because they’re singing right above you,” Gesell ’19 said.

Being a crew member is more than just hanging clothes. Members agree that it takes an intense amount of dedication, organization and patience. “[Crew members] have to be in it to win it, organized, and okay with touching sweaty things,” Youngquist said with a laugh.

Show choir crew is an excellent way to get involved with show choir without having to sing and dance onstage. Wagner urges all students to join crew and contribute to the success of the West High show choirs.

“To a student interested in joining crew, it’s a remarkable group of people to hang out with. You will learn a bunch of things that you would not have learned any other way,” Wagner said. “The crew has every bit as much fun as the performers do.”

WSSPAPER.COM DECEMBER 2016 ENTERTAINMENT 35

NEW YEAR, NEW MEMES

BY MOLLY HOWES

As “the year of realizing stuff” comes to a close, it’s nice to look back at the memes we’ve endured and/or embraced through 2016. At risk of sounding like “hip granny Hillary” here’s our take on this year’s memes in review.

EVIL KERMIT

CONFUSED MR. KRABS

YOU ON KAZOO

SPONGEGAR

ARTHUR’S FIST

DAT BOI 36 ENTERTAINMENT DECEMBER 2016 WSSPAPER.COM

HARAMBE THE GORILLA

PRANKSTER JOE BIDEN DESIGN BY OLIVIA READ

WHICH MEME ARE YOU?

1 2 3

What’s your favorite color?

A. Green B. Harambe C. Orange D. Yellow Who is your favorite celebrity?

A. Miss. Piggy B. Harambe C. Prince Naveen D. Bionic Bunny

What’s your favorite animal?

A. Pig B. Harambe C. Frog D. Aardvark

4 5 6

If you could take anyone to dinner it would be...

A. Yourself B. Harambe C. Your unicycle D. Buster Baxter On a scale of 1 to 10 how dead inside are you?

A. 5? Or 2? Or 11? Tbh depends on the day B. Harambe C. 1-3 D. 8 What year do you graduate?

A. 2020 B. Harambe C. 2017 D. 2018

7 8 9

What’s your favorite subject?

A. Your open B. Harambe C. Your music elective D. P.E. The world is ending!

What do you do?

A. Prepare for the worst B. Harambe C. Accept your short life D. Try to fight it

Pick a starter pokemon.

A. Bulbasaur B. Harambe C. Squirtle D. Charmander

Mostly A’s: EVIL KERMIT

Mostly B’s: MR. KRABS

Mostly C’s: DAT BOI

Mostly D’s: ARTHUR’S FIST

Like Kermit in this meme, you’re a little conflicted. You wanna be a good person, but being bad is just so much fun. Even though your ideas might not be the best for you, at least you’re being honest with yourself. It’s a catch-22, but at least you’re trying.

You must have lots of questions: “I only picked Harambe.

What type of quiz is this? Why would anyone do this to me?”

Well, like the confused Krabs meme, you’re currently very confused. So you and Krabs must have more in common than you expected.

You’re living a pretty balanced life; some might even say you’re mastering the unicycle of life. From homework to group chats,w you’ve got it all figured out, or at least you have the illusion that you do down pat. So relax, you’ve got this.

Like Arthur, you feel like people just don’t understand you. You get frustrated with politics and math, but not to the point where you actually wanna deal with your problems.

Channel your inner frustrations into making more Arthur memes and hopefully it will satisfy your rage.

WSSPAPER.COM DECEMBER 2016 ENTERTAINMENT 37

FALL SPORTS AT A GLANCE

With five of the six fall sports making it to state, the fall athletics season has been deemed a success. Here are some of the highlights of the season.

BY DENIZ INCE

CITY/WEST MATCH-UPS BOYS GOLF

WEST BEAT CITY EVERY TIME THEY MET THIS SEASON

GIRLS SWIMMING & DIVING

ALL WEST SCORES LISTED FIRST

WEST

271

WEST WON

117-75 VOLLEYBALL

WEST WON THE BATTLE OF THE SPIKE

3-1in sets

WSS tallied the margin of victory across all sports between West and City.

20 16 Golf scores not included.

BOYS GOLF

4

TH “

“ 41.50 38.20 81.00

BEST COMBINED 9 AND 18-HOLE AVERAGE:

[KYLE JENKINS ‘17]

[KYLE JENKINS ‘17]

BEST 18-HOLE AVERAGE:

CITY

97

WEST BEAT CITY IN

3/5 meets BOYS XC

4/5 meets

FOOTBALL

CITY WON THE BATTLE OF THE BOOT

7-20

GIRLS SWIMMING & DIVING

From going and getting last place at our in the Mississippi first meet to getting Division based fourth place at our last on 9-hole and 18-hole meet, it’s just a great averages combined improvement improvement.

-RYAN COOPER ’19

BEST 9-HOLE AVERAGE:

GIRLS XC

WEST BEAT CITY IN

[KYLE JENKINS ’17 AND KYLE SPENCE ‘19] KYLE SPENCE ‘19

326 6 points scored at

regionals to place

38 SPORTS DECEMBER 2016 WSSPAPER.COM

TH

“

From a team [standpoint] our biggest accomplishment was definitely our conference meet where we won our division which has only happened three times ever and so that being Coach Ski’s last year, to do that for him was really amazing.

“

-JENNY PIGGE ‘17

28

1

TH place at the state championships

ST

in the Mississippi Division AUSTYN GOODALE ‘20

3

RD

in the MVC with

297 points

PHOTOS BY SARAH LONGMIRE, NICK PRYOR, & IAN PRESCOTT

BOYS XC

GIRLS XC

6/10

“

2

This year I really understood what was going on and knew how to prepare and get ready for meets.

“

[ALI ALI ‘17: 6TH KOLBY GREINER ‘19 11TH]

-BAILEY NOCK ‘18

“

2016 STATE CHAMPION

2 5 18:06 meets were won during the 2016 season

finishers in the top at state.

Team’s fastest 5K time this season.

Run by Bailey Nock ‘18 at the state meet.

[BAILEY NOCK ‘18: 1ST GABBY SKOPEC ‘17: 4TH]

VOLLEYBALL

EMMA [ NORRIS ‘17] 262 KILLS [MADDIE FAY ‘17] 722 ASSISTS

406 DIGS [MADI FORD ‘17] 71 BLOCKS[EMILY HALVERSON ‘17]

TH “

4

in Mississippi Division based on record

GABBY KLEMME ‘17

FOOTBALL

2

ND

First time in state championship game since winning in

1999 “

in the state

2002

was the last time the team made it to the UNI-Dome prior to this season.

We were pleasantly surprised with our outcome. I don’t think anybody really expected us to make it to the state championship and we worked really hard for what we got.

-DILLON DOYLE ‘18

“

DESIGN BY LEAH DUSTERHOFT

[Cross country has] shown that one of the main ingredients for success is consistency. You have to be consistent, you have to work at it and the rewards aren’t going to be instant.

-ALI ALI ‘17

BAILEY NOCK ‘18

Record: 23-15

15

finishers in the top at state

My favorite part was when we beat Cedar Falls, which was the #1 team. That was just so exciting [and] we beat them by a lot.

“

-MADI FORD ‘17

163

5

points

“

scored at state, placing

TH

15:45

Team’s fastest 5K time this season.

Run by Kolby Greiner ‘19 at the MVC Super Meet.

ALI ALI ‘17

Record: 10-3 EVAN FLITZ ‘18

2237 MOST RUSHING 793 YARDS: [DEVONTAE LANE ‘17]

MOST PASSING YARDS:

[EVAN FLITZ ‘18]

1272 MOST TACKLES: 29 solo & 99 assists MOST RECEIVING YARDS:

[OLIVER MARTIN ‘17]

[MAX BROWN ‘17]

108

MOST POINTS SCORED:

[DEVONTAE LANE ‘17]

WSSPAPER.COM DECEMBER 2016 SPORTS 39

THE PSYCHOLOGY

BEHIND NERVES

BY ELLIE GRETTER

40 SPORTS DECEMBER 2016 WSSPAPER.COM

Although it is expected for an athlete to be nervous before a competition, some athletes can reach stress levels that are abnormally high and cause permanent damage on the body. Two athletes describe their nervous quirks and routines that help them relieve their anxiety before competing.

ELISA ABRAM ’17, RUNNER While some are able to stay calm before a competition, the pressure to succeed inevitably gets to many others. Before each track or cross country meet, Elisa Abram ’17 tries to soothe her anxiety by having a set routine.

“If I don’t do [my routine] I don’t feel prepared and my performance isn’t as good as it would be if I did it,” Abram said.

Having a routine before an event is very common and is a normal way of coping, as long as it does not become extreme.

“If you are a person who thinks just having my backpack a

certain way is going to make me feel better about tomorrow, that’s normal. That’s how we deal with stress. We want to feel like we have some amount of control of our environment and our situation and that helps us as a species, which helps us kind of lower our levels of stress,” Henderson said.

However, if the routine is broken and causes an extreme reaction, the habit may be unhealthy.

“If that has developed to the point where you will be significantly damaged someway the next day if the bag is out of order, then that’s a problem. That tells us you’re starting to develop some compulsive behaviors,” Henderson said.

CARTER ROHWEDER ’17, WRESTLER Stress can be seemingly lessened for athletes by subconsciously participating in a nervous quirk or tick. Wrestler Carter Rohweder ’17 is no stranger to these nervous ticks.

“My nervous tick you could say is this quick little jerking motion I make with my neck during a match. Something about the intensity of a match just gets me wound up,” Rohweder said.

Although it may seem like just a simple nervous habit, once they are developed they continue to lower an athlete’s anxie t y.

“For some people, they’ve come to associate that nervous

FOR MORE COVERAGE, GO TO WSSPAPER.COM

PHOTOS BY ALLIE SCHMITT-MORRIS DESIGN BY WINGEL XUE

habit with lowering their anxiety. Then those two become wired together. It’s something to focus on, so it kind of helps you lessen the focus on the thing that is stressing you out. That lowers your anxiety levels so in the future you’re more likely [to perform the nervous habit] again when you’re nervous,” Henderson said.

Although stress is bound to happen, some believe that focusing on being calm before competition is the best way to concentrate.

“Stress definitely affects your performance. If you are thinking about the outcome before you step out on the mat, you’ve already lost your match once in your head. Just smile, shake your body out and wrestle like hell,” Rohweder said.

3

ELEMENTS OF STRESS

WITH MR. HENDERSON, AP PSYCH TEACHER

1. SOCIAL

“Going into a game you know there are going to be a lot of people there [to] see you succeed or fail.”

2. BIOLOGY “Biologically, athletes would probably have a quickened heart rate [and] their digestive system would slow down so their bodies can use that energy and direct it towards their muscles to increase their muscular performance.“

3. PSYCHOLOGY “In a game situation, obviously failure comes with risk, so psychologically people label the competition to be more risk-laden than a practice.”

It is important to realize when your stress levels are unhealthy and communicate with an adult, whether you’re an athlete or not. For more information on a healthy amount of stress, go to wsspaper.com.

WSSPAPER.COM DECEMBER 2016 SPORTS 41

SHIFTING LANES

BY WILL CONRAD

Devontae Lane ‘17 reflects on his two-sport athletic successes at West.

A

s a successful football season ends, rather than transitioning into the offseason, Devontae Lane ‘17 is preparing for the upcoming basketball season. While many focus on his raw talent, Lane has had to put in hard work and effort into his careers in both basketball and football to get to where he is today. Through help from coaching staff and teammates, as well as individual drive, Lane has become a huge success in both football and basketball at West High, and is receiving attention from multiple colleges because of it.

Lane did not shift lanes to play football at West until his junior season, when friends convinced him that football would be a positive experience and that the team was headed in a good direction. Lane was able to make a big impact in the state title game this year, racking up 53 rushing yards and 60 receiving yards.

Despite the state championship loss at the end of the season, Lane finished 2016-17 season with 11 touchdowns and 741 rushing yards. The journey to the state championship was filled with surprises along the way, and was a game that the Trojans had not been to since 1999. This was a tough loss, but also a great opportunity for him and the team.

“It almost didn’t feel real to see West High playing in the UNI Dome. It was definitely very ex-

citing,” Lane said.

The Trojans got to the state title game by playing tough and staying motivated, which Lane personifies in his career and outlook on football. A drive to be the best and a hard-working attitude has gotten him to his current position when it comes to football.

“No matter what it is, I always want to give my best and I always want to be the best at everything I do,” Lane said.

While Lane’s football career began rather late, his basketball career began much earlier in his childhood and has continued into his time at West. Despite this difference, Lane’s hard work applies to basketball as well. This is a sport he has been involved in since childhood, and one that seems to come naturally to him.

“Because I’ve been playing it all my life, it’s become almost a part of my daily life,” Lane said.

Throughout both sports, Lane has found consistent motivation in his teammates and coaches, and has used them to become better on and off the field. His persevering attitude has made a huge impression on his coaches as well. Football coach Garrett Hartwig has coached Lane for two seasons and has had time to observe him on and off the field.

“Explosive, strong and tough would be three words to describe Devontae … a competitor to

42 SPORTS DECEMBER 2016 WSSPAPER.COM

the end,” said Hartwig.

His coaches in basketball have equal praise for him, particularly his current coach at West, Steve Bergman, who cites him as an excellent team player and role model.

“He has really stepped up as a leader this year.

I really hope that continues, because it will make us a better team.” Bergman said In addition to a tremendously successful past, Lane also has a potentially promising future in athletics ahead of him. He has been recruited by several NCAA Division I schools for football including Minnesota, Eastern Michigan, Western Michigan, Iowa State and Northern Iowa. Lane declined to comment on his future prospect, citing a current focus on finishing his athletic career at West. While it has yet to see what the future holds for the Trojans this basketball season, he is hoping to be impactful and explosive yet again and play a huge role on a talented team.

Not many are able to attain the athletic successes at West High that Lane has built through his determination. Basketball and football both mean a lot to Lane, and have become ingrained into his nature. And while he has achieved great things at West, the future only looks brighter.

PHOTOS BY SARAH LONGMIRE & NICK PRYOR DESIGN BY LEAH DUSTERHOFT & MADDIE MORIYAMA

RISING STAR Will Hoeft ‘20 describes his transition from Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) to high school wrestling and his hopes to make an impact at West.

BY WILL CONRAD West Side Story: When did you start wrestling?

Will Hoeft: I’ve been wrestling since I was extremely young, probably about in the first or second grade.

WSS: How did you start wrestling?

WH: My dad asked me if I wanted to do any sports and I initially said I wanted to do football, but there was a kid’s club for wrestling at West High that my dad really pushed me toward and told me that I should get involved in.

WSS: How did your dad convince you to start?

WH: My dad did one year of wrestling in high school so he had some experience and he pointed out the convenience of it with the Kid’s Club and told me that I could be really good at it if I really worked hard.

WSS: What is your biggest goal for this season in wrestling?

WH: I want to be able to qualify for state, which is hard for a freshman, but it’s obviously a big goal that everyone wants to work hard to accomplish and that I think I can achieve if I put in the work.

WSS: What makes you want to wrestle?

WH: It’s a sport that I’ve always done, and it’s really built into my mind, at this point, as a fun sport that I can achieve a lot in and meet people along the way.

WSS: What is your proudest achievement in wrestling?

WH: Winning state last year in AAU was probably the biggest thing that I’ve ever done in wrestling; it was definitely a major moment that defined what I can do as a wrestler, and it made me feel really confident about my ability.

WSS: Who has been your best coach with wrestling?

WH: (jokingly) My best coach in my entire career has been Coach Mark Reiland, partially because he’d be mad if I didn’t say him, but he’s definitely a great guy who has

PHOTO BY LEAH DUSTERHOFT DESIGN BY TYLER THOMASSON

helped me out a lot and brought me in and made me feel like a part of the team. He’s not a huge verbal guy, but he’s direct and tells you what you need to do to accomplish what you’re hoping.

WSS: What are your hopes for the team this season?

WH: I think we should be really good this year. Obviously all teams have extremely high hopes going into the season, but I have a lot of confidence in us to do really great things this season and compete really hard at all of our meets.

WSS: What kind of impact do you hope to make as a freshman on this team?

WH: I just want to win as many matches as I can and really do as much for this team as possible. I think we have a lot of potential this year for West and I want to try to play a big role.

WSS: How have your teammates helped you get used to wrestling at the high school level?

WH: A lot of the juniors and seniors have really helped me learn and train a lot at the high school level. They’ve really helped me feel like a part of the team and have made a big impact on me.

WSS: What is the biggest factor in getting consistently better?

WH: You have to get beat up a lot in this sport to get better, so I’ve definitely gotten beat up a ton, but it’s really helped me and I’m happy with where I am right now.

WSS: Do you plan on doing anything in the future with wrestling?

WH: I haven’t really put much thought into college wrestling yet, but I’m definitely excited to do high school wrestling for all four years and have a lot of fun with it, and hopefully accomplish a lot as a team. We’ll see where I can take it from there.

WSSPAPER.COM DECEMBER 2016 SPORTS 43

OPINION

CHACOS vs.

They were established in 1989 in Paonia, Colorado and are now manufactured in Rockford, MI.

$55.99-$110.00 Oh yes! You can wear Chacos while you’re doing anything.

Nina wears hers to work at Terry Trueblood where she wrangles boats, and Camp Wildlife where she plays in the spillway. Chacos were created by a raft guide and are specifically built for having traction in moving water.

H

WHERE ARE THEY FROM? PRICE RANGE WATER RESISTANT?

BY NINA ELKADI

onest to god, I can’t even believe this is a debate. How can you compare two sandals, one of which falls apart from a little puddle, and the other that can keep you from falling down the spillway?

Chacos are the most versatile shoes on the market. Not only can you hike, bike and do every water sport imaginable with them, you can also buy them in boot form and have the most comfortable foot sensation of your life all yearround. Every strap can be adjusted to perfectly fit your foot, because everyone’s foot is different, right?

Birkenstocks cannot be perfect for everyone because they cannot adjust to each individual foot. Chacos can.

I walked around Europe for two weeks in my first pair of Chacos, and spent the subsequent five summers hiking and paddling lakes and rivers in them. They lasted six years. This includes the winter that I would wear them with socks.

Now on my sixth pair of Chacos, I can proudly say I haven’t worn any other brand of shoe for over a year.

I have a pair of fancy chacos for fancy events, my regular chacos for school, my dirty chacos for hiking and paddling, and my boots for the winter months. There is absolutely no debate that Chacos aren’t only superior to Birkenstocks, but also to every other shoe on the market.

Yes. You can also create your own pair on the Chacos website and customize every detail of your sandal.

So simple. You can throw your Chacos in the washing machine or hose them off whenever. You can “floss” the straps using fabric softener.

CUSTOMIZABLE? MAINTENANCE REQUIRED

Because they’re made with polyurethane, the material can be recycled. Their ecotread style is made of a 25 percent recycled rubber outsole.

RENEWABLE MATERIALS

Straps can be individually adjusted to best fit your feet.

SIZING

Unlimited combinations for both men and women.

NUMBER OF SANDAL STYLES

All Chaco styles are certified by podiatrists as being supportive and comfortable for all-day wear. Their LUVSEATTM footbed is found in every pair of Chacos. It has a contoured design that naturally cradles the foot for healthy alignment and a more efficient stride.

COMFORTABLE

Each component of Chacos can be re-chacoed online individually. Nina had a pair for six years, and just retired them the other week because the sole is too worn down. This is after miles trekking around Europe, miles hiking around Lake Macbride and miles walking up and down the hill at Terry Trueblood. They are made out of polyurethane, which doesn’t break down or compress with wear.

LONGEVITY

WOMEN: Boots (7 styles), shoes (14 styles), MEN: Boots (6 styles), shoes (9 styles)

44 OPINION DECEMBER 2016 WSSPAPER.COM

OTHER STYLES (BOOTS, CLOGS, SHOES)

PHOTOS BY NICK PRYOR

BIRKS

Nina Elkadi and Leah Dusterhoft have been best friends since junior high, but one things has always separated them: the fight between Chacos and Birkenstocks.

Birkenstocks operated out of Neustadt, Germany since 1774 and have been in the United States since 1966.

TWITTER

$29.95-$145.00

TALK

Sadly no. The majority of the materials used in Birks are not water resistant, but some are (their EVA collection is). There are products you can get to make them water resistant, but they do not always offer full coverage.

No The cork in the sole of Birks must be resealed every 3-4 months. This keeps the cork from crumbling and extends the lifetime of the sandals.

In 1988, Birkenstocks started using environmentally safe adhesives in the shoes and in 1990 the company reduced their energy consumption by 90 percent.

Sizes are based on the European model. (For instance, a US women’s 10 would be a European 40.) They also come in regular and narrow widths.

13 women’s, 2 men’s

The Birkenstock footbeds are made to mold to each individual foot and are designed with anatomically shaped insoles for increased comfort. There are two choices for footbeds: the harder, original footbed and the soft footbed to give you the comfort you want.

Birkenstocks can be resoled and straps can be replaced at local Birk certified repairers for a reasonable fee. By repairing your Birks instead of buying a new pair you can keep the footbed that has already molded to your foot.

Leah has had one pair for three years and had to retire them this past summer due to the toe strap coming loose after having them repaired once already.

WOMEN: Clogs (9 styles), shoes (4 styles), boots (6 styles) MENS: Clogs (6 styles), shoes (4 styles), boots (1 style)

DESIGN & GRAPHICS BY LEAH DUSTERHOFT

I

BY LEAH DUSTERHOFT

own at least one pair of both Chacos and Birkenstocks. But my loyalty stays with my Birks.

Yes, Birks aren’t waterproof, but there are many products to increase their water resistancy. Yes, they take maintenance but it’s very low cost and maintenance depends on how often they are worn. Any repair shop working on Birks must be certified by Birkenstock, so you know that when your shoes are in need of repair, they will be repaired right. There are local repair shops in Iowa City for low prices.

My Chacos have caused me physical pain when I wear them for long amounts of time. I was in Germany for two weeks over the summer and left with eight huge blisters on my feet. But Birkenstocks, on the other hand, are not restrictive to the feet so there is no constant rubbing on any one point on the foot that results in a blister.

Also, the process of adjusting Chaco straps is very confusing and I still haven’t gotten mine to fit quite right. After my Chacos have been worn in dirt, the straps are even harder to adjust, while Birkenstocks have easily adjustable buckles and moldable footbeds to best suit your foot.

There’s a definite reason why Birkenstocks have come back in style since their popularity in the 70’s: they are stylish with no sacrifice for comfort.

West Side Story conducted a Twitter poll asking what sandals WSS followers preferred.

16% voted for Chacos

59% voted for Birkenstocks

25% voted for neither

*

119 @WSSPAPER TWITTER FOLLOWERS PARTICIPATED IN THE POLL

WSSPAPER.COM DECEMBER 2016 OPINION 45

OPPOSING VIEWPOINTS:

The West Side Story editorial board shares opposing viewpoints on the use of trigger warnings in academic settings.

YOU’VE BEEN WARNED

Trigger warnings have recently been pegged as an attack on free speech, but many who make such arguments don’t actually know what trigger warnings are for.

PRO:

Trigger warnings have recently been pegged as an attack on free speech, but many who make such arguments don’t actually know what trigger warnings are for.

The point of trigger warnings isn’t to allow students to be exempt from material, but rather to prepare said students. Teachers of high school and college courses requiring material that includes descriptions or images of war, suicide or sexual violence likely already vocalize warnings; it wouldn’t be a large step to put those same things on the syllabus. Over half of college professors already use warnings, according to a survey by NPR. Most said that they chose to add warnings because they felt the material needed it and not because a student or the administration forced them to. Adding a quick, written description of the material would give students with the need for trigger warnings a heads-up – this doesn’t mean the students will necessarily get out of doing the work, it means the they will be mentally prepared for what they’re going to experience, and will know how to proceed if they become overwhelmed.

The utilitarian standpoint that because most won’t be affected, a content warning would do

more harm than good is dangerous, not only because it drowns out the voices of some students, but because it proposes that convenience is more

SHOULD TRIGGER WARNINGS BE USED IN HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE?

13 9

THE WSS EDITORIAL BOARD VOTED AGAINST THE USE OF TRIGGER WARNINGS IN ACADEMIC SETTINGS.

important than those students’ health and safety. Forcing a veteran with PTSD, a sexual assault survivor or a student with a history of attempted suicide to out themselves to the professor and

ask about potentially distressing content is unacceptable. Such a practice would force those students to relive their trauma by explaining it once again – a warning written on the syllabus would avoid this problem.

The same thing could happen in high school; lots of high school required readings include descriptions of violence, sexual assault in particular. If a student has experience with sexual violence, they should not be responsible for Google-searching the content of all the readings for their English class, nor should they be required to alert their teacher of anything that might cause them distress. While the teacher is also not responsible for the student’s negative reaction, he or she could minimize the chance of such a response by providing a warning.

It is from a position of privilege that people denounce trigger warnings; those who have never had adverse reactions to books with long descriptions of sexual assault or movie footage of wars cannot understand what it is like.

Students with a history of sexual assault, drug abuse, suicide or any kind of violence have the same right as anyone to feel safe in their learning environment, and trigger warnings are a step in that direction.

WHAT IS A TRIGGER WARNING? The term “trigger” pertains to people with diagnosed post-traumatic stress disorder. For survivors of trauma, sounds, smells and sights may induce an intense emotional reaction. A trigger warning is therefore a statement prior to a piece of writing, video, etc., alerting the reader to potentially distressing material (the statement often provides a description of the content).

46 OPINION DECEMBER 2016 WSSPAPER.COM

GET OVER IT

TRIGGER WARNING: DON’T READ THIS IF YOU’RE OVERLY SENSITIVE Protests for and against trigger warnings have swept the nation over the past couple years. The president of Northwestern University endorsed “safe spaces,” refuges open only to certain identity groups, whereas the University of Chicago refused to implement trigger warnings into their curriculum.

CON:

Freedom of expression justifies that trigger warnings not be implemented in liberal institutions, that campuses not cancel invited speakers because their topics are controversial, and not approve intellectual “safe spaces” where students find sanctuary from ideas polarizing from their own.

One of the defining characteristics of a liberal institution is its commitment to progressivism and freedom of expression. A letter issued by the University of Chicago to its incoming class stated, “Members of the community are encouraged to speak, write, listen, challenge and learn without fear of censorship.” Rigorous discussions and exposure to diverse thought cultivate critical thinking skills; a liberal education therefore allows growth through challenge.

Schools redefined as “safe spaces” shield students’ beliefs from criticism.

An example of this is a psychological phenomenon dubbed “group polarization.” This divide occurs when people only surround themselves with assenting voices. When they try to have discussions, opinions become increasingly radical and incoherent because there are no dissenting opinions. It turns out, then, that challenges to our opinions are the only way to broaden our understandings and refine our beliefs.

Many proponents of trigger warnings wish to see themselves reflected in the curriculum, and

this critique has a certain validity. It is, however, very difficult to define what qualifies as a trigger warning. To some, it may be a suicidal or rape scene. To others, it might be vivid depictions of the destructions of genocide. If we stop discussing atrocities such as the Holocaust or Rwandan Crisis, we may see history repeat itself. Additionally, while these are certainly difficult concepts to grasp and may evoke painful memories, the term “trigger warning” inevitably evolves into something of lesser consequence. Soon, students

certain beliefs could be stifled; without seminar discussions, classes would have less diversity of thought and be devoid of exposure to challenges. Without diversity of thought, students would become more intolerant of viewpoints different from their own.

Moreover, only a select few have had a legitimately traumatic past. Those individuals can certainly speak to their professor about any concerns, however, a skim of the course (or even the name of the course) will inform them of topics covered. The syllabus isn’t meant to be a puzzle; although every explicit detail isn’t expressed, the student can research the topic at large. Anything that has potential for distress should be easily identifiable and indicate whether this individual enrolls in the course.

It’s also important to think of trigger warnings in the context of the ‘real world.’

In an interview, a worker in hopes of moving up the corporate ladder would never answer their employer with, “Unfortunately, this topic is one of high sensitivity to me. I wish I would’ve been given a heads-up as to what we’d be discussing. I’m afraid we must move on.” If this answer isn’t acceptable in a job atmosphere, it shouldn’t be permissible in a learning environment.

Because self-expression is the basis of social progressivism and the purpose of liberal institutions is for an exchange of ideas to be subjected to debate and reason, trigger warnings have no place in a school intending to cultivate youths.

“ONE OF THE DEFINING CHARACTERISTICS OF A LIBERAL INSTITUTION IS ITS COMMITMENT TO PROGRESSIVISM AND FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION.”

I don’t know 18.79%

Positive 6.8%

None 11.5%

Negative 62.83%

What effect do you feel the use of trigger warnings has on academic freedom?

DESIGN BY ELEANOR HO

will be demanding trigger warnings in a scene where the protagonist eats ice cream; the scene, they’ll say, evoked a ‘traumatizing’ memory of brain freeze. This practice could have dangerous repercussions in everyday life. In fact, an Oberlin College cafe had a music mural promoting multiculturalism. Students expressed dissent over the scene and the wall was repainted.

Where do we draw the line? If this artwork could be covered up with no qualms, potentially all artwork could be covered up. In the same way,

51%1.8% Percentage of college professors who have used trigger warnings in class

Percentage of college professors polled who said their college has a trigger warning policy

FROM THE HUFFINGTON POST AND NPR WSSPAPER.COM DECEMBER 2016 OPINION 47

GRAB ‘EM

BY THE

SAFETY PIN

BY WINGEL XUE

A

h yes, it’s been over a month after the over the intercom and one of the most poorly election and we’re all still hearing near scheduled, inaccessible forums ever hosted, I’m radio silence from our teachers, aside not sure West has actually done anything to from the safety pin worn here and there. encourage these kinds of discussions. In fact, Unfortunately, safety pins can’t suddenly be- it’d almost make you think that the authorities come sentient and take over classrooms to teach here at West aren’t particularly concerned with us how to deal with the effects of the election. a genuine conversation about the election. Yes, Good intentions aside, safety pins are a terrible dearest administration, while it’s great that you example for teachers to set for students in the can send out emails that poke at your staff to talk gory aftermath of Trump’s victory. about the election and bask in the glory of praise Other than being an incredibly meaningless from The New York Times for being so open to symbol, it only serves to make white males feel deliberation on a sensitive topic, those emails better about not actively doing anything to pro- are an empty promise to students because teachtect minorities. Sure, flaunting a piece of metal ers still aren’t hosting these talks in classrooms. stuck in a shirt is fine - do whatever you want Sure, West High got a shiny trophy for not doing - as long as it’s not an excuse to throw aside ac- nothing, but we all know it’s actually just a partively seeking out change, as it frequently seems ticipation trophy because West also pretty clearto be. No one will criticize you for wearing one, ly doesn’t do nearly enough. but don’t just stand around telling everyone how Let’s not kid ourselves. Sending out a few emails “safe” you are. Go join a solidarity protest. Sign and running one forum is not the same as enwhitehouse.gov petitions. Donate to minority couraging training sessions for teachers on how advocacy groups like the NAACP or the NCAI. to discuss controversial events. Yes, teachers feel Or better yet, ask your teachers to talk about the uneasy speaking about such a thorny topic, but election. not for a lack of will to do so. It’s the adminisThe whole point of civics classes and getting an tration’s responsibility to make sure that teacheducation is that we actually learn how we should ers feel comfortable having the discussions they compose ourselves as citizens, so it seems kind want to have in classrooms, regardless of whethof important for us to at least talk about how we er or not it might be controversial. (But then should react to our President-elect yelling “grab again, safety first - can’t have those lawsuits, am ‘em by the p***y.” A criticism of Trump’s rheto- I right, Dr. Shoultz? As a disclaimer, this is pure ric in classrooms is not a political statement, it’s speculation on the intent of the administration, teaching kids not to say things that are problem- but it speculation is what the student body is left atic and offensive. with when there’s no transparency concerning Having an open dialogue between teachers and school policies on how teachers are supposed students is the only way to effectively communi- to interact with students post-election.) To be cate and effectuate change. For teachers to skirt clear, this column isn’t supposed to be a “Seriaway from those discussions because of hurt al”-style investigation à la “I’m Sarah Koenig feelings or fear of controversy is neglecting an and this is ‘Everything the West Administration Did Wrong Volume 439,’” it’s a call for positive important responsibility: to educate.

Beyond a flaky two-minute announcement change in the administration. As for you kids, if 48 OPINION DECEMBER 2016 WSSPAPER.COM

y’all want to talk about the election, bring it up in classes. Ask your teachers to include Trumpera policies and actions into in-class conversations in a way that’s relevant - you have every right to do so.

A climate change denialist is about to take over the EPA. Ben Carson, who openly criticized desegregation planning for housing, is now running the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Steve Bannon, the face of the alt-right (Trump tested, KKK approved!), is Trump’s chief strategist. These are exactly the kinds of problems our generation will have to face; issues like climate change and race relations are relevant to our lives and we need the education and skill set to deal with them in the future. And since your new Secretary of Education is about to slash all your funding anyways, may as well take a chance - it’s not like there’s anything to lose.

If we’re already going as far as to allow teachers to wear safety pins, which is a pretty explicit political symbol, we may as well actually have productive conversations in classrooms about real-world problems like racism. Now that it’s weeks after the election and we irrational teenagers have had time to calm down, we’re probably finally ready to talk about it without breaking down every time someone says “Trump.” With winter break almost upon us, it’s the perfect time for us to learn how to be less crappy to each other. Happy holidays!

ART BY ANGELA ZIRBES

FACTS I

LEARNED

FROM

LAST

MONTH ART BY BRAEDYN DOCTHERMAN

WEST SIDE STORY STAFF Megan Boland Emma Brustkern*

Grace Christopher Charlie Code* Will Conrad Cameron Cook* Olivia Dachtler Christina Dai* Braedyn Dochterman Jessica Doyle Leah Dusterhoft* Nina Elkadi* Katie Fuhrmeister Ellie Gretter Layla Hannaford* Reagan Hart Eleanor Ho* Molly Howes Anjali Huynh Deniz Ince Asha Irani Catherine Ju* Jiung Jung* Lauren Katz* Crystal Kim Teresa Knecht Alyson Kuennen Junhee Lee* George Liu Sarah Longmire* DESIGN BY ELEANOR HO

Designer Print entertainment editor Reporter/videographer Reporter Reporter Reporter/videographer Photographer Copy editor Artist Reporter Art editor Print news editor Reporter Assistant sports editor Video editor/broadcast manager Distribution manager Opinion editor Reporter Reporter Reporter Videographer Design editor Copy editor Copy editor Designer Photographer Photographer Copy editor/Ad representative Reporter/programmer Photo editor

Pareen Mhatre Ala Mohamed* Maddie Moriyama Claire Murray* Ryo Ohashi Ian Prescott Nick Pryor Prateek Raikwar* Olivia Read Sadie Rhomberg Isabelle Robles* Kristina Rosebrook Simran Sarin* Fenna Semken*

Taylor Shelfo Allie Schmitt-Morris Gabby Skopec* Maggie Terry Shawn Thacker* Samalya Thenuwara* Tyler Thomasson Mary Vander Weg Mason Wang Harry Westergaard Wingel Xue Grace Yarrow* Caroline Young Jenna Zeng Angela Zirbes Sara Whittaker

Photographer Web profiles editor Designer Social media editor/ anchor Designer Distribution manager/repoter Photographer Print profiles editor Designer Reporter Web Editor-in-Chief Videographer Print Editor-in-Chief Managing/web news editor Anchor/reporter Photographer Sports editor Reporter Managing/print feature editor Web feature editor Designer Reporter Programmer/videographer Reporter Designer Copy editor Photographer Designer Artist Adviser

*editorial board member EQUALITY 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, 319688-1000. 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.

WSSPAPER.COM DECEMBER 2016 OPINION 49

HUMOR

2016

MOST POPULAR SONGS

BY IAN PRESCOTT

1

“ZEALOTS”

3

“70 YEARS”

By Graham Cracker

5

“HATE YOURSELF”

By Two-Ty One Planes This song is about a young man lost in a church-literally. There, he meets a drummer who leads him out of the pews and into the choir section. Throughout the song, the man constantly beckons listeners to come closer because all his friends are fanatics for the church they’re a part of. The man then says that listeners will wonder how they got to the church, but gives no explanation. Which makes the listener wonder?

Are they also a fanatic? At the end of the song, however, the man says that the listener is not one of them.

This touching song is about a graham cracker that slowly but surely wastes away. Eventually, the graham cracker becomes a big pile of mold that no human wants to eat. However, he looks back on the good times, reminiscing about how he was almost made into a s’more before he fell. As he’s reminiscing on the floor, a dog starts to approach him. The dog gets closer and closer until suddenly, the dog eats him. It was that dog’s 70th birthday when the graham cracker was eaten, and thus the title 70 Years.

By Justin Beaver

This song that tells you to be disgusted with everything about yourself, from your looks to your brain. No wonder it topped the charts in its first week! This was one of Beaver’s newest songs after taking a break for a long while. Throughout the song, he reminds you that he didn’t want to write this song because he couldn’t stand even thinking about you. Oh, that cuts real deep!

50 HUMOR DECEMBER 2016 WSSPAPER.COM

2

“GO AWAY”

By The Rope Smokers

4

“GOODBYE”

By A Dell

“Go Away” is about a young, kleptomaniac girl who falls in love with a boy, only to have him push her away when she gets a ride from him in his Rover. She falls asleep sobbing on a mattress she stole from the Lebeda store. While she is sleeping, a shady man gives her a tattoo. When she wakes up the shady man tells her to get out of his house. The girl leaves, but not before taking his car keys. With nowhere to go, she ends up driving back to her roommate in Boulder.

A young woman laments about how she has to leave. She said hello, but never got to say goodbye. The guilt of not saying goodbye weighs on her for years and years, when suddenly she gets an idea to try and call the people she never said goodbye to. But you know how calling a person just to say goodbye after years goes over. She says goodbye but she is so embarrassed she sinks into even more of a depression.

6

“PILLOWS TALKING”

By Wayne

This song teaches us about differences, communication and what would happen if a pillow started talking while you tried to sleep. This pillow likes to talk about philosophy, so long discussions with itself ensued. The pillow would talk through the night, keeping the singer awake so long that the singer developed patterns of insomnia.

As the singer wanders around the house, unable to fall asleep, the pillow keeps on talking. Will that pillow ever be quiet?

DESIGN BY MEGAN BOLAND

P H OTO F E AT U R E C O N T I N U E D SARAH LONGMIRE ABOVE: I shot this of Colby Greene ’18. I feel like it shows how closeknit this team of mostly seniors was. This was a bittersweet ending for the team because even though they made it to state most of the girls will never play together again.

BELOW: When I took this I started with my camera focused on the field for the final minute of the championship game, but then I noticed that Alex Kleinow ’17 was over yelling by the bench. I pushed past the cheerleaders and heard him upset, yelling at the team to stand up and that the game still wasn’t over. I took this right after he walked away, at this point the team knew the game was over.

DESIGN BY CATHERINE JU

PROCRASTINATION STATION Bored during break? WSS has you covered with these throwback games.

DOTS & BOXES Instructions: Each player takes turns connecting one dot to another horizontally or vertically. The player who draws a line that forms a box fills the box with his or her initials. This player gets another turn. Play until all the boxes have been formed.

The player with the most boxes in the end is the winner.

WINTER WORD SEARCH Instructions:

Words:

Search up, down, forward, backwards and diagonally to find the following words.

BLIZZARD CHOCOLATE EGGNOG FROST GINGERBREAD HOCKEY

ICICLE MITTENS MISTLETOE ORNAMENT PIE REINDEER

SKATE SKIING SLED SNOWBALL SNOWFLAKE TREE

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PICTURES ART BY ANGELA ZIRBES

Instructions: Find the following hidden objects in the picture to the left.

BLACKBIRD CANDLE COFFEE CUP CROWN DEER GREGG SHOULTZ HAIR BRUSH MISTLETOE PENCIL RING SANTA & RUDOLF 2 BOOTS 2 SOCKS 2 YETIS COMPILED BY SIMRAN SARIN

DESIGN BY SIMRAN SARIN