WEST SIDE STORY IOWA CITY WEST HIGH SCHOOL
2901 MELROSE AVE.
IOWA CITY, IA 52246
WSSPAPER.COM
VOLUME 49 ISSUE 4
FEBRUARY 17, 2017
ALYSON KUENNEN
Patrick McCaffery ’19 dunks a second basket in the first half of the game against City High School on Jan. 24, triggering the West student section to erupt into raucous cheers as their lead deepens on the scoreboard. In the third quarter McCaffery made a third dunk, an alley-oop with assist from Izaya OnoFullard ’17, bringing the game to 74-32. West ended up winning with a final score of 82-38. It was my first time covering a basketball game and all I had been hoping for was to gain was some experience, but when I realized I had a shot of one of McCaffery’s signature dunks, I was on cloud nine.
PHOTO FEATURES
AND THE S TO R I E S T H AT MAKE THEM CONTINUED ON PAGE 51
CONTENTS
OUT WITH THE O L D, I N W I T H THE NEW
FULL HOUSE
UNSUNG
HEROES
WA S T E
ONE MUG MEALS
THE COST OF C O L L E G E S P O RT S
FOLLOW US @WSSPAPER
DEAR READER,
04 14 19 26 34 40 45
DEAR
WESTINA
LETTER FROM THE
As students of an institution that preaches “excellence is a tradition,” it can be easy to fall prey to this overly pretentious motto. Since many students cruise through their courses and consistently perform well on standardized tests, it’s understandable that West High has this mindset. However, this does not excuse anyone from the need to improve. From students and faculty to classes and programs, there is plenty of room in West High for progress. As we reach arbitrary benchmarks with which we associate excellence, we tend to cease working towards a goal. I’d
NEWS 06 LITTLE FREE LIBRARIES 07 MASKED MEDIA
PROFILES 12 FRIEND CRUSH 1 6 WO R K I N G TOWA R D S P E AC E 18 1 IN 2000: SUSIE MONS
F E AT U R E 2 2 A N H O U R A DAY 2 4 L AT I N A M E R I C A N H O L I DAY S
C OV E R
E N T E RTA I N M E N T 3 2 O S C A R N O M I N AT I O N S 3 6 S T U D E N T P L AY L I S T: DA N I E L B U R G E S S ‘ 1 8 3 7 P. O. S. : N I C K S T I LW E L L ‘ 1 9
S P O RT S 3 8 R I S I N G S TA R : C O L E M A B RY ‘ 1 9 4 2 W I N T E R S P O RT S U P DAT E
OPINION & HUMOR 4 6 E N T E RTA I N ( M E ) N T 47 FEMALE RUNNING SAFETY 4 8 T H E M E LT I N G M E LT I N G P OT 5 0 B R AV E N E W WO R L D
EDITOR
rather we think of excellence as an unattainable state of being that we continue to strive for, thus allowing us to further improve. I am a firm believer in this concept and take it to heart, especially with West Side Story. WSS staff continually works to improve our content, regardless of if we have reached a benchmark indicating excellence. Each issue we continue to tweak small aspects of the publication and further the quality of our writing, photography and design. This issue, you may notice our aesthetic has changed, with new page headers and
an altered cover design. We have expanded the opinion section with more comprehensive designs and content, and the issue as a whole consists of longer, in-depth stories complemented with photography, artwork and infographics. As we highlight a wide range of topics from the unsung heroes of our community to our cover story on food waste to our editorial on the executive order on immigration, we urge you to reconsider your conception of excellence. Hopefully, you will discover ways to improve not only yourself, but also your peers and community.
SIMRAN SARIN
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M
OUT WITH THE OLD, IN WITH THE
NEW
The SMARTboard has made an ongoing appearance in ICCSD classrooms, but this West High staple is about to change.
BY MOLLY HOWES
any students have spent a class period with the complaints of a teacher who is stuck calibrating a SMARTboard. The days of this cruel and unusual punishment are over, as SMARTboards will soon be replaced with interactive whiteboards. These new whiteboards, Epson Brightlinks, will use the same software and technology as the current SMARTboards but are cheaper, bigger and can be used as a whiteboard or as a SMARTboard. Over the course of the next four years, these new devices will find their way into each classroom in the district. Adam Kurth, Director of Technology and Innovation for the ICCSD, says this new product has “the interactive functionality of the SMARTboard on the whiteboard.” The interactive whiteboards will provide little to no change in classrooms. “It is just a projector that has [SMARTboard] components built in,” Kurth said. “They are functionally indistinguishable from SMARTboards…even the software won’t change.” This change will not only have a low impact on classrooms, but will be low-cost as well. Kurth said the average total cost of a single SMARTboard and its corresponding projector is $3,600. The new interactive whiteboards, worth $1,600 each, will save $2,000 per classroom. This extra money will be invested back into the classroom toward other new technologies, the specifics of which are yet to be determined. With the installation of the interactive whiteboards, the extra SMARTboards will be “recycled” back into the school system to schools where technology has not been upgraded. According to Kurth, the current system for technology replacement uses periodic upgrades for one-third of the technology in each building every two years. The interactive whiteboards will not follow this system. For the 2017-2018 school year, Hoover Elementary and Liberty High will be equipped with all new technology, and in the 2018-2019 school year, the three junior high schools will follow suit. It is currently unknown when West will be receiving this upgrade. In terms of time required to turn them on, the interactive whiteboards will provide little change from what teachers are already used to with SMARTboards. “The biggest change in terms of functionality
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NEW MARKERS The new Epson Brightlink stylus pens have a spring loaded tip so you can feel the pressure of the pen against the screen.
$1,600 PER BOARD
is returning the whiteboard to a whiteboard,” Kurth said. Due to this, many teachers at West High are looking forward to once again having a real whiteboard. “It will be freeing for a lot of teachers who like to write and project [at the same time],” said social studies teacher Melissa Nies. Nies is also looking forward to the increase in screen size. The current SMARTboards have an 85 inch diagonal, while the new interactive white boards will have a 100 inch diagonal. “With as much space as we have, there will be more room for students to get up there and work together. It can become a central point of the classroom,” Nies said. With new technology comes training, but for
1:1 BOARD TO CLASSROOM RATIO
A HISTORY OF CLASSROOM TECHNOLOGY 1801 The first chalkboard is used in American classrooms.
Mid 1950’s
NEW PROJECTOR The new projectors give a space-age feel with a protective halo encompassing them.
many teachers this tedious task proves worthwhile in the long-term. Math teacher Jean Morsch uses her board not only to teach her classes, but also to save her notes from the day. With the SMARTboard, everything written on the screen can be saved and there are special features to insert various math symbols. With the interactive whiteboards, these features will not go away, but will simply be shifted into a different location or function. “I’m willing to learn new technology and go from there,” said Morsch. “I’m going to be able to do a lot more of the math.” In the coming years, students can expect a flow of upgrades as technology rapidly changes to better fit the modern classroom.
Creation of the first whiteboard by Albert Stallion and Martin Heit.
1991 SMART Technologies Corporation creates the first interactive SMARTboard.
2010 SMARTboard 400, the current boards in the Iowa City Community School District is introduced in classrooms. Source: Wikipedia
GRAPHICS BY LEAH DUSTERHOFT DESIGN BY CRYSTAL KIM
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LITTLE FREE
LIBRARIES W
est High and Alexander Elementary students, two groups of students who seldom interact due to distance and age, are going to begin working together on numerous projects. In an effort to increase literacy and promote reading over the summer, the southeast side of Iowa City will be receiving “Little Free Libraries.” The libraries will be wooden structures placed in neighborhoods that include books for students to take home. The lending libraries will be designed by sixth grade students at Alexander Elementary, and built by students in the industrial technology classes at West High. “Alexander and the nearby schools have a high proportion of free and reduced lunch students,” reads a press release regarding the libraries. “These children and their families face greater barriers to accessing books despite living in Iowa City, a UNESCO City of Literature.”
BY NINA ELKADI
West High and Alexander Elementary students will be teaming up to promote literacy and a sense of community.
Industrial technology teacher Brian Martz hopes this project will be equally beneficial to both Alexander and West students, who are usually divided by the river. He also hopes this process will get elementary students interested in the process of engineering. “I thought this was just a community service that our school could be involved in, but it’s so much more than that, ” Martz said. “This will be a great community project, not just a West High project.” This project came about when Alexander parents and Parent Teacher Organization members Angie Jordan and Anna Flaming applied for a grant, which was funded by HAVlife of Johnson County. According to their website, HAVlife aims to provide resources for sports, music and the arts. To decide what books go in the little libraries, students at Alexander will write persuasive essays nominating books they would like. The Alexander Parent Teacher Organization will also be conducting a book drive. The $1,575 grant will be distributed among 10 libraries at $150 dollars each, and the remain-
ing $75 will go to buying 300 bookmarks for all of the libraries. These bookmarks will be made through a bookmark design contest, which West and Alexander will also be collaborating on. Alexander sixth graders and kindergarteners will design bookmarks, which will be judged by a group of AP Art students at West. The winning sixth grader will be awarded basic art supplies, a sketchbook, and an art lesson from West High AP Art students. Angie Jordan, one of the Alexander parents spearheading this effort, hopes that this is just a “small step towards making art, literacy and even positive community interactions accessible to all the families on our side of town.”
ART BY ANGELA ZIRBES DESIGN BY MEGAN BOLAND
C H I C AG O S H O OT I N G S T H E DA R F U R G E N O C I D E I N S TA B I L I T Y I N T H E C O N G O G R E AT B A R R I E R R E E F F R E N C H T E R R O R I S T AT TAC K S JOSEPH KONY F L I N T WAT E R C R I S I S Y E M E N C I V I L WA R H A I T I E A RT H Q U A K E SHARK FINNING I S TA N B U L AT TAC K S GULF OF MEXICO OIL SPILL N E PA L E A RT H Q U A K E EBOLA AND ZIKA OUTBREAKS AIDS EPIDEMIC CALIFORNIAN WILDFIRES F I L I P I N O WA R O N D R U G S C R I M E A N A N N E X AT I O N MASKED MEDIA
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consumers are greeted with a constant flow of news from their devices. While
I N TO DAY ’ S this is a strong testament to the responsiveness of the current media, the flood of information can overshadow some less glamorous, but still important topics. T E C H N O L O G I C A L LY Compounding this problem is the news media’s tendency to favor sensational topics. However, many of these forgotten issues are still relevant despite not being A DVA N C E D S O C I E T Y covered by the mainstream media, and even affect students here at West. CONGOLESE I N S TA B I L I T Y A N D WA R
G R E AT BA R R I E R B L E AC H I N G
BY SHAWN THACKER
BY CHARLIE CODE
Ever since the Democratic Republic of the Congo gained its independence in 1960, this Central African nation’s history has been marked with political instability and violence, despite its vast wealth in natural resources. Rapid decolonization left the Congo without adequate infrastructure and educated politicians to govern the country, furthering structural issues. For over 30 years, Mobutu Sese Seko ruled as the dictator of the Congo, siphoning off billions of dollars from his country without making much developmental progress. Mobutu was finally forced out of power in 1997 after the capture of the capital of Kinshasa by rebels supported by the Rwandan government. The story should have ended here with the overthrow of a dictator and the installation of a new government, but this was not the case. The nation was once again plunged into violence and war as rebels revolted against the new president Kabila. However, in 2006 Kabila’s son was elected as president in the country’s first democratic election. The country seemed to be at a turning point, yet violence continues to this day in eastern Congo, partly over control of mineral-rich lands. Even though the Congo has immense reserves of fought-over resources such as coltan, there is little coverage about this rebel conflict. The recent violence has resulted in the deaths of over five million and the displacement of millions more. Due to stifled development coupled with seemingly endless bloodshed, many Congolese have left the country in search of peace, education and prosperity. Some have even found their way to Iowa City. Although Jireh Massaki ’18 and his family did not leave the Congo to flee violence, he hopes to better his life through his experience at West. “You see people that don’t eat for two days and … getting water is really tough [because] of the civil war.” said Massaki. “[However,] most of my family lives in … a peaceful city … The only [reason] why I came here was to have a good education, because in the Congo it’s very hard for you to study.”
Stretching over 130,000 square miles, the Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest living structure. However, over the past decade this giant has been hit by a wave of unfortunate phenomena. Rising ocean temperatures attributed to the El Niño ocean heatings in 2014 and 2015 have caused a majority of the smaller reefs to undergo bleaching. During bleaching, a heat-stressed coral will expel the algae living within it, causing the coral to lose all color. After being bleached, the coral is completely exposed and has a higher susceptibility to outside elements and an increased chance of being killed. In fact, up to 93% of the Reef ’s corals have been bleached, according to the Australian Research Council’s Centre For Excellence. Additionally, the Great Barrier Reef has also been struck by a series of natural disasters, which have substantially contributed to the widespread bleaching, the main perpetrator being the tropical storm Ida in 2014. The Reef is comprised of several different sections: the Far North, the Northern Ribbon Reefs, the Central Reefs and the Southern Reefs, all of which have been bleached to varying degrees with the Northern reefs being hit the hardest. While the damage to the Reef may not be entirely caused by human-induced water heating, global warming has played a major role in hurting this staple of nature’s beauty. “I don’t think it’s tangible to us. In the United States you can’t see the damage that is happening there. In California you see forest fires, but other than that, [not] a ton. Seeing [the Reef] in pictures is just not the same as seeing it in real life,” said Conor Zielinski ’17, following a trip to the southern parts of the Great Barrier Reef. Despite being thousands of miles away from any coral reef, West students can contribute to the conservation effort. Recycling, properly disposing of trash and being wary of waste emission can reduce humanity’s impact on the world’s reefs and can help save the Great Barrier Reef.
80% of the world’s coltan, an essential mineral used in
almost all smartphones and computers, is found in mineral deposits in the Congo Source: Al Jazeera
93% of the Reef has been affected by bleaching The Reef is 132,974 mi², the area of approximatley 2,340,342 football fields
Sources: Coral Reef Studies & Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
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DA R F U R CONFLICT
C H I C AG O GUN VIOLENCE
BY SHAWN THACKER
BY GEORGE LIU
For centuries, an ethnic group of non-Arabs called the Fur has inhabited a region now located in Western Sudan known as Darfur. Already pursuing its independence from an unresponsive government, Darfur was hit with drought and food shortages in the ’80s and ’90s, further destabilizing the region. In 2003, direct conflict broke out in Darfur. This war is an ongoing fight between the Sudanese army alongside the Janjaweed—a government-backed militia accused of ethnic cleansing—against Darfuri opposition groups such as the Sudan Liberation Movement and the Justice and Equality Movement. The chaotic situation started in February 2003 when the Sudanese government was accused of oppressing the native Fur people. This conflict has been called the first genocide of the 21st century due to the systematic killing of the non-Arab Darfuris by the Janjaweed. In all, this war has come at the cost of the lives of hundreds of thousands of civilians, through both direct confrontation and through starvation and disease caused by war efforts. While this issue may seem far-off to many, it hits home with some in Iowa City and at West. “Both my parents were born in Darfur and they had to flee because of the war,” said Amani Ali ’16. “My family struggled a lot during the Darfur conflict since they lost everything and had to leave everything behind.” Out of the large Sudanese population in Iowa City, some, like Ali, moved due to the violence and hardships they faced. For Alaeldin Ahmed ’17, the memories of wartime cruelty are still fresh in his mind. “There’s people sitting in the village and the Janjaweed just come riding horses and burn everything and … kill people. If there’s little girls they rape them,” said Ahmed. “Actually, my dad … died in the war—he got killed. We lost my brothers [and] I don’t know where they are right now.” Although this issue has been so devastating to the people of Darfur, the conflict hasn’t received much recent media coverage. “People don’t show on TV whats going on in Darfur. That’s the biggest problem,” Ahmed said. “People don’t know what’s happening in Darfur. That’s why they can’t see the reality.” Just because the atrocities of the conflict are not covered in the media does not mean the situation is getting much better. “It is sad and shameful the extent of to which the humanitarian crises in [Darfur] are not being brought to the attention of Western audiences,” said University of Iowa International Studies Professor Michael Zmolek. “The conflict is far from resolved.”
From blue-collar workers to professionals to students, many relocate to Iowa City to fulfill their aspirations. However, for Moses Bolar ’18, this town represents something more than an opportunity; it is his sanctuary. “Here in Iowa City it’s calm and respectful,” Bolar said. “It’s way different in that you [don’t] wake up from sleep hearing gunshots.” Bolar and his family moved from Chicago when he was eight years old. Since then, the gun violence has only gotten worse, with 762 deaths out of 4,331 total shooting victims in 2016, according to the Chicago Police Department. These shootings mostly occurred in the city’s south and west sides, areas plagued by poverty and gangs. Destiny Buckner ’18, who moved from South Side Chicago two months ago, cited the gang mentality as a major cause of the violence. “There would be gang fights in the streets,” Buckner said. “My best friend, he got shot and became paralyzed from the chest down.” Due to this unrelenting violence, many meet devastating fates, including Bolar’s cousin, who was killed in a drive-by shooting. “My cousin and her friends were leaving a party, and then somebody in their group got mad at somebody else,” Bolar said. A verbal altercation ensued, but the other group did not depart satisfied. “After [the other group] left, they turned right back around in their car and shot up the entire street corner,” Bolar said. Even though the police have a significant presence in these areas, they are not necessarily always well-received by the community. “Some cops are good, but others are bad,” Buckner said. “Most of the dirty cops were suspicious. They would look at you [as if] you had done something wrong.” Due to this rift in the public’s relationship with the police, Bolar hopes police reform can help restore order to the city. “The police wouldn’t do anything. They would watch a fight as it happened and then lock up the people that lost,” Bolar said. “It would get better if they try to find the ones who are causing more trouble.” The future for Chicago may look bleak, but Bolar believes that the violence in the south and west sides of Chicago can be reined in through focusing on educating young students and parents on the implications of dropping out of school. “If you have a kid and you drop out, you wouldn’t want to tell your son or daughter that [it’s okay] you dropped out of school,” Bolar said. “You would want them to have a good life.”
Darfur is a region in western Sudan.
2.7 million displaced Darfuris out of a total population of 6.2 million
Source: UNICEF
As of Feb. 8, 2017, there have already been
369 shooting victims in Chicago
Source: Chicago Tribune FOR MORE COVERAGE, GO TO WSSPAPER.COM
DESIGN BY CATHERINE JU
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ROB MEDD & RICH MEDD
FRIEND
BY ANJALI HUYNH
I
f one were to make the long trek down to the band room, amongst the clamor of instruments, they would find students asking for a Mr. Medd. However, without listening carefully, they might not realize that there are in fact two Medds at West. As cousins, Rob and Rich Medds’ relationship goes far beyond the band room, back to a time of plastic motorcycles and toy elephants. Because they share a last name and teach together, they are often mistaken for being the same person.
“It’s funny that a lot of people assume we’re brothers or something,” Rich said. “Some teachers we’ve worked with for so many years still see me and go, ‘Uh, hi Rich or Rob,’ because they’re not quite sure who it is. You get this hybrid [of the two] and aren’t sure what they just said.” Though they played together at family gatherings as children, the two did not become close until college, when Rich followed in Rob’s footsteps by becoming a band major at
the University of Iowa. “There wasn’t any plan for us to work together or anything,” Rob said. “I graduated a couple years before he did and started teaching … and was the only band director [at West]. When Dr. Arganbright said he would hire another person, Rich was offered the job, and he said no. [Later], Rich realized that he’d made a mistake, so he accepted. And 22 years later, he’s still here.” The Medds have worked together for so long that they’ve come to depend on one another quite a bit. This reliance has made it problematic when one Medd is without the other. “We’ve both had our health issues. Six years ago, I was gone for twelve weeks, and then he was out two years ago. And what was really hard about that was, there’s so many things that I do that he doesn’t have to think about, and [vice versa],” Rob said. “We’re dependent on each other without really thinking about it [and] just take a lot of stuff for granted.” Not only are they dependent on one another, but they have also developed similar traits, such as their sense of humor.
“THERE WASN’T ANY PLAN FOR US TO WORK TOGETHER OR ANYTHING ... AND 22 YEARS LATER, HE’S STILL HERE.” Rich and Rob joke about how their relationship is strictly cousin, meaning that the farther they are from one another, the more comfortable they feel.
-Rob Medd, band director “We’re pretty similar people,” Rich said. “We think the same things are funny, and so when certain situations arise, we both usually think it’s hilarious.” “It’s like junior high humor,” Rob added. “We laugh at each other, we laugh at ourselves, we laugh at students and hopefully get them to laugh at themselves.” While the Medds enjoy joking around, understanding each other is the real key to their camaraderie. This has allowed them to overcome problems easily and made their relationship as both co-workers and cousins even stronger. “There have been some times, as in any relationship, [where] it’s not always happiness and rainbows and butterflies,” Rich said. “[But] I think when you’ve worked for somebody that long, you kinda know strengths and weaknesses pretty well.” Rob, smiling, noted, “When you really think about it, we’re pretty lucky to get a chance to work together when we get along as well as we do [and] enjoy each other as much as we do.” PHOTOS AND CAPTIONS BY ALYSON KUENNEN DESIGN BY JUNHEE LEE
CRUSH CHAD JOHNSON & DOMINIC WESTON
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“HIS ROASTS ARE MEDIOCRE AT BEST, BUT HEY, HE’S VERY GOOD AT TAKING ROASTS. AND HE PULLS OFF THE ORANGE.” -Dominic Weston ’18
“I WOULD SAY WE ARE CLOSE FRIENDS ... BECAUSE NOT ONLY ARE WE TOUCHING EACH OTHER [RIGHT NOW], BUT WE MADE REINDEER NECKLACES TOGETHER, SO I DON’T KNOW WHAT CAN BE BETTER THAN THAT.” -Chad Johnson ’18 From playing the sax to riding on top of cars and eating early meals at Perkins, Johnson and Weston’s bromance includes nicknames like Dom, Jany and Chaddy.
V
ery few students are able to say that they found the love of their life out on the football field. But for juniors Chad Johnson and Dominic Weston, that is exactly what happened. “I met him at marching band camp, and he thought I was funny because I was wearing all orange,” Johnson laughed, to which Weston shot back, “I thought he was annoying because he was wearing all orange. I walked into marching band the first day and he was an eyesore - I was squinting, half because I was confused as to why one would wear all orange and half because it was so bright.” Although Johnson’s monochromatic wardrobe sparked the beginning of a strong friendship, Weston and Johnson did not become close until more recently. “He wasn’t really influential in my life the first time we talked,” Johnson said. “I think we became good friends this year, really, because we had [AP Spanish] together.” Despite not being friends for very long, the two consider themselves best friends, as they continuously profess their love for one another and are “platonically dating.” Not only do they consider each other friends and “lovers,” but they have
even gone as far as to use one another as horses. “We were doing a presentation for Brit Lit, and Chad’s character was on a horse,” Weston explained. “And I wanted to be the horse. I was crawling around [and] was like, ‘Chad, come sit upon me.’ It was great.” Being in band together has strengthened their friendship even more, helped by being in Wind Ensemble together for the first time this year. Despite only having them in the same band for one year, director Rob Medd believes that their friendship is very close. “They’re like buddy-buddy,” he laughed. “If you see one, you’re gonna see the other one not very far behind, and vice versa. They play in the Wind Ensemble together, they play in the Jazz Ensemble together...they’re close.” The two are famous in the band community for being the unofficial leaders of the saxophone section, as the two of them plan sax bonding sessions, lead pre-game rituals and jam sessions and have even created an Instagram, @saxysaxsenate, for their section. “I feel like people have moderate respect for us,” Weston said. “[We] bring together our section under our leadership.” Though a large amount of their friendship is
self-described as “complete BS,” the two still admire one another. “His best quality is, even if [Weston] doesn’t act like he cares about you, he actually does,” Johnson said. “Even if he yells at you all day long, deep down inside, his small heart still cares about you.” In turn, Weston said, “[Johnson’s] very good at getting people to do stuff. We had our sax sectional, and no one was doing anything, and Chad was like, ‘Hey guys, let’s go,’ and we were all motivated ... he’s also very nice, his roasts are mediocre at best, but hey, he’s very good at taking roasts. And he pulls off the orange.” Even though Weston and Johnson appear to have a love-hate relationship, they truly do care about each other. “I would say we are close friends,” Johnson said. “Because not only are we touching each other [right now], but we made reindeer necklaces together, so I don’t know what can be better than that.” While the two are not certain how long their friendship will last, the two expect to be skipping and singing “Just A Friend” together, reindeer necklaces and all, for years to come.
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F UL L HO U SE BY EMMA BRUSTKERN
PHOTOS BY PAREEN MHATRE DESIGN BY MADDIE MORIYAMA
WITH A TOTAL OF NINE KIDS, EVERY DAY IS A BIG PARTY FOR THE GILBAUGH FAMILY.
ABOVE: “That’s one of my favorite things [about having a big family],” said Grace Gilbaugh ’19. “If I have a problem [and one sibling is busy], I have seven other siblings I can call . . . I know I have back ups to call.”
Although the Gilbaugh family has been compared to “19 Kids and Counting,” Grace Gilbaugh ’19 and her siblings love having a full house. “My mom always says God gave [her] nine different blessings. It’s kind of ironic because when my parents first got married, doctors said they [weren’t able] to have any kids,” Gilbaugh said. When her oldest sister got married, Gilbaugh worried that she would
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never see her again. Contrary to her old fears, Gilbaugh sees her family frequently and is thrilled to welcome new members to the family. “My siblings started having kids and I have nieces and nephews; it’s just even more fun. I love having so many people around,” she said. “You don’t have to feel like you’re alone. It’s really, really nice just to have someone there all the time and someone to talk to.”
WHAT THE SCHMIDT-RUNDELL FAMILY LACKS IN PERSONAL SPACE, IT MAKES UP FOR IN KIND SPIRIT.
FROM TELEVISION SHOWS TO ROAD TRIPS, THE FIVE ZIMMERMAN KIDS HAVE A BOND LIKE NO OTHER.
ABOVE: Trenton Schmidt-Rundell ‘18 sits with his brother, Spencer SchmidtRundell ‘20. “Things definitely get chaotic and crazy [with a big family], but that’s what makes it fun!” Trenton said.
ABOVE: “Since my family is bigger and we all spent so much time together growing up, I think that we were also able to build closer relationships with each other easier,” said Abby Zimmerman ‘17.
With seven kids, the Schmidt-Rundell family is accustomed to a multitude of questions, ranging from “How do you do it?” to “Are your parents sex addicts?” Trenton Schmidt-Rundell ’18 and his youngest sibling, Emmitt, have a seven year age gap between them. As an older sibling, he has learned that sharing is a necessity. He says that toys and video game consoles are hot commodities in his house, and not sharing with younger siblings leads to pouting. “I got good at sharing because I didn’t have much of a choice,” Schmitt-Rundell said. “Even if you didn’t want to share something, the likelihood that you’re not going to have to share it is very low.” Clothes are another thing they share, as they are cycled through the family as they grow.
“[Hand-me-downs] are very much a thing in my family . . . I don’t really know what it’s like to get brand new pants all the time,” Schmidt-Rundell said. In addition, space is a luxury that is hard to come by. Even in their eight-passenger van they have some difficulties squishing everyone into the car. “Two of us would share a seat. I don’t know if that was technically legal. We all had a seatbelt on, so I think technically it was okay,” Schmitt-Rundell said with a laugh. Although people are often shocked by the enormity of his family, Schmidt-Rundell insists it works most of the time. “We try our best,” Schmidt-Rundell said. “Just because it’s a big family doesn’t mean everything is crazy.”
As the youngest of five kids, Abby Zimmerman ’17 is no stranger to the benefits of a big family. Her older siblings have enlightened her to things she might not have otherwise known, such as the early ’90s show “Boy Meets World.” “I think [my older brother] exposed me to some things that I wouldn’t necessarily get exposed to, since he grew up in a different decade,” Zimmerman said. According to Zimmerman, there are many positive aspects to being surrounded by older siblings, such as the fact that her family never had to hire a babysitter. Big families have some unique challenges, however. Family vacations in particular tend to be an adventure. “One time we drove to Disney World with all seven of us in a van. It was pretty cramped but it was
fun,” Zimmerman said. While this road trip may have been a wild experience, Zimmerman disagrees with the idea that big families are always loud and crazy. “Sometimes big families can be seen as annoying. You go into a restaurant and there’s a huge group of people and they’re really loud . . . I think it’s just because we’re having so much fun,” Zimmerman said. That’s not to say having a big family is all fun and games. Zimmerman’s older siblings often had to offer up their time to drive her places and take care of each other. “You have to learn to make sacrifices,” Zimmerman said. “It kind of isn’t very fun at the time, but in the end you learn that it actually benefits you as a person.”
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PROFILES FEB. 17, 2017
WO R K I N G TOWA R D S
PEACE Social studies teacher Alexei Lalagos has traveled extensively around the world, creating experiences that have shaped how he lives his life. BY NINA ELKADI
A
fter hitchhiking to “save a couple bucks” and huddling in the back of trucks with a buddy from the Peace Corps, social studies teacher Alexei Lalagos made it to Agadir, Morocco. This was part of a three month expedition in which he also traveled to Northern Senegal and Tunisia, encountering multiple incidents of truck hopping. “The driver [of the truck] got sick on the way [to Agadir], so he sold us off to another driver,” Lalagos said. “Looking back, it was a little sketch.” His drive to explore the world was instilled in him at a young age, as Lalagos is a first-generation American. He attributes his love of socializing to his upbringing by a Greek father and a Cuban mother. “Both of my families come from cultures surrounded by food. And they’re both loud. I like that
kind of chaos,” he said. In search of good food and social justice, Lalagos has been traveling his entire life. He first left the country for Greece when he was three years old, and has since traveled to over 20 countries. This wanderlust inspired Lalagos to join the Peace Corps after completing his undergraduate degree at Lawrence University. He was placed in The Gambia and spent his first ten weeks immersing himself in the culture to learn the local dialect, Fulani. “[Lalagos] has always seemed to have an inner drive to help people and leave a positive impression on the world,” said Lalagos’ friend, Shawn Hansen. “I feel that this drive, combined with his passion for travel and exploration, led him to join the Peace Corps and spend those years in The Gambia.”
“These people are the teachers at the school that I worked at. They were some of the only people around that spoke English fluently, so it was an easy, sort of logical place to go hang out when I first got there before I started learning Fulani.”
Lalagos’ 10-week designated acclimation time was also used to begin to understand the cultural differences. “People do not stay inside at all in [The] Gambia. If you’re inside, you’re either sleeping or you’re sick,” he said. “We had this negotiation of like, hey, if I’m in my hut doing this or whatever, you can’t just barge in.” The idea of what exactly constituted as property was especially different in The Gambia. Just because something was yours didn’t mean someone wouldn’t just take it for a bit without telling you, and if something was gone, chances are someone may have “borrowed” it. When he wasn’t searching for things that others may have “borrowed,” Lalagos was teaching classes
17
“My wife and I went to Argentina and Chile for our honeymoon. This is in Chile outside of Santiago in the Andes Mountains, so you could just rent horses. We just went in the foothills of the Andes mountains and went horseback riding there. It was really beautiful.”
PROFILES
FEB. 17, 2017
PHOTO COURTESY OF ALEXEI LALAGOS
“Mordecai was one of the first farmers that I worked with when I was there ... He had a son and his nickname was actually named after me. His mom would come by and say, ‘Did you see Alexei Lalagos?’”
“[My host sister] had this idea that we should do this traditional wedding. Usually they’re three day long affairs; we just did a one day ... It was this whole day thing and we had a feast at the end.” “
to children. The Gambia is a former British colony that gained independence only 38 years before Lalagos arrived in 2003, so all of the classes he taught were English. Lalagos also played guitar, wrote journals and letters, and says he “read more in those two years than in [his] entire life.” After completing his time in The Gambia, Lalagos attended night classes at DePaul University to attain his masters degree in secondary education with a focus on social science. While back home in Chicago, he met his wife. His wife, Marina, is originally from Ukraine, and helps foster Lalagos’ desire to explore the world. In fact, one of Lalagos’ scariest memories involves him taking her on a trip to The Gambia.
That trip was far from being a smooth sailing romantic getaway and included a stint of getting stuck at the Senegal-Gambia border. “We’re at the border, and they say something [like] ‘make sure you don’t go back over,’” he said. They gave that warning because his wife unknowningly had one entry to Senegal on her visa, which they used when she landed. Eventually, with some impassioned French discussion, Lalagos and his wife were able to fly from Banjul, Gambia, back to Dakar, Senegal. They stayed in the vicinity of the hotel, slightly outside of Dakar, and did “the refugee kind of thing” by playing cards and not going to the center of town with the fear of getting her papers checked. Naturally, Lalagos proposed to her the day they got
back to the States. “After that experience I was pretty sure I wanted to spend the rest of my life with him—in case I ever get stuck on some other border again,” said his wife, Marina Zaloznaya. Lalagos and his wife hope to instill the same passion and appreciation for the world they grew up with in their kids. “Positive encounters with those who are different from us builds tolerance, critical thinking and intellectual curiosity. In these times more than ever, as a society, we need citizens who have these skills,” Zaloznaya said.
DESIGN BY RYO OHASHI
18
PROFILES FEB. 17, 2017
ONE IN
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.
SUSIE MONS '17 BY PRATEEK RAIKWAR
L
ast year in senior Susie Mons’ government class, she oftentimes felt like she didn’t have a voice in discussions because of her Republican political beliefs. And when she did speak up, she found that she was attacked by other people and their views. This hasn’t come as a surprise for Mons considering Johnson County has approximately two times more registered Democratic voters than Republican voters, according to data from the Auditor’s Office. As a result, Mons feels like she has been pressured to adapt to the liberal environment. “We have so many ideas [in Iowa City], which is fascinating and I love that. But those ideas do tend to fall in the liberal category,” Mons said. “When the majority of your friends believe in something entirely different from you, you start wondering if you’re weird for believing in this.” With the help of her family, though, Mons became more comfortable in her beliefs. As Lutherans, Mons and her siblings developed a conservative stance, especially on social issues such as abortion. However, that’s not to say that they fall under the same category as some people on the radical right. PHOTO BY SARAH LONGMIRE
“People just assume that because we’re Republican that we’re also racist and homophobic. I’m not those things at all. I just fall more Republican on some issues,” Mons said. “A lot of people have this misconception that we all fit in that same group … Of course there's a lot of people that understand, but there's a lot
“WHEN THE MAJORITY OF YOUR FRIENDS BELIEVE IN SOMETHING ENTIRELY DIFFERENT FROM YOU, YOU START WONDERING IF YOU'RE WEIRD FOR BELIEVING IN THIS," - Susie Mons '17
of other people that still need to realize it, too.” Mons feels that these misconceptions not only stem from the liberal-dominated population in Johnson County, but also from the classroom. In the past, she recalls teachers allowing liberal ideas to dominate classroom discussions and weakly advocating for their conservative coun-
terparts. As a result, she believes that discussions should remain respectful and that other conservatives should speak up in the classroom. “Respectful discussion is tough at our age because we have so many differing opinions and we’re very passionate about those opinions. Keeping that in mind and trying to have respectful discussion instead of arguments would go a long way,” Mons said. “[My parents] have always told me to stick up for my beliefs, to know what’s right and wrong in our faith, and … to be kind to everyone - to know that not everyone has the same beliefs and that that’s okay.” In fact, Mons has put this idea into practice when she has shared her political beliefs, most recently on ABC’s "The View." Consequently, she feels that those people have responded with more respect in return and that she has learned to accept the realities of her liberal community more positively, too. “[Living in Iowa City] has helped me become a lot stronger in my beliefs and has also made me more willing to challenge my beliefs,” Mons said. “It has made me and a lot of others a lot more open-minded.” DESIGN BY JENNA ZENG
19
F E AT U R E
UNSUNG HEROES
FEB. 17, 2017
AMANDA LONG
her daughter. However, this time was shortlived. Long’s then-husband found himself unemployed as the economy crashed and unemployment significantly rose in 2009. Losing the main income source for family, Long quickly had to KITCHEN STAFF find a job to help support her daughter, but the only place willing to hire her was Walmart. Long BY KATIE FUHRMEISTER worked at Walmart for three years, all the while looking for a different job. One day, the solution est kitchen staff member Amanto her problems came via her friend. da Long always wanted to return to “One of my former co-workers started workschool, but she never imagined the ing in Food Service and suggested that I aptwists and turns it would take to get there. After ply,” Long said. “It was a great decision for me graduating high school, the West alumnus atbecause now that I’m a single mom, I’m off of tended Kirkwood Community College with an work before my daughter gets out of school, and education major in order to become a teacher. if there is a snow day, I don’t have to worry about However, Long changed her mind and decided who is going to watch her.” teaching wasn’t for her. Starting her shift at 7:30 a.m., Long begins food “I realized that I did not have the passion I preparation for West and the five nearby eleneeded to be a teacher, so when I transferred to mentary schools along with Theodore Roosevelt [the University of] Iowa I changed my major,” Education Center. As a second baker, Long’s job Long said. is to help prepare and bake the main entrées for Upon graduating from the University with lunches at West and the six out-schools, along a major in journalism and art, Long quickly with baked goods, such as the monster cookjoined the workforce as an insurance agent in ies everyone loves. Long also keeps track of the order to pay for school. After 10 years of work, number of goods sold in order to calculate how Long became a stay-at-home mom to care for much to make the next day. Keeping count of the food is very important as too much extra can become costly and too little can leave kids starving. “C ounting our food is very important to make sure we are making the correct amount, sending the schools enough food for their kids, and to make sure we don’t run out,” Long said. Long may not have her dream job, but she still continues to ABOVE: Amanda Long works as a cashier in the 9th grade cafeteria. On make a differthis day, Long was in the 9th grade wing, but where she works inside of West ence at West.
From bus drivers to custodians, these are the stories behind the people who make our schools function.
W
varies throughout the week.
PHOTOS BY SARAH LONGMIRE DESIGN BY OLIVIA READ
20
F E AT U R E FEB. 17, 2017
STEVE BOWERS
BUS DRIVER
BY CHRISTINA DAI
E
very morning the wheels on the bus go round and round, but that doesn’t happen without the approximately 120 bus drivers working in the ICCSD. These seemingly nondescript characters who are such a large part of many children’s lives are often lost in the bustle of early morning routines, but each and every one of them came from somewhere. One such bus driver is Steve Bowers, who currently drives for Northwest Junior High. What sets him apart, however, is that he only started driving buses 10 years ago, shortly after he retired. Born in Nebraska and raised in Oklahoma, Bowers graduated with a degree in hotel and restaurant management from Oklahoma State University. When a friend called him regarding a position at the University of Iowa, he didn't think he'd be there long. “We moved here and thought we might be here for four to five years, and that was about 40 years ago,” Bowers said. For the next 32 years, Bowers would work at the University of Iowa in food service, acting as director of the organization for 22 of those years. During that time, they served the nearly 6,000 students living in the residence halls and operated a vending service as well. After Bowers retired, however, he found himself at a crossroads. “I’ve had a job ever since I was 14 years old. I used to work in a theater in Tulsa … so I’d always had a job,” Bowers said. “After I had retired from the University of Iowa, it’s just kind of like, you’ve got to do something [to] get [you] up in the morning and to round out [your] day a little bit.” This something came in the form of a school bus that Bowers noticed one day while out running. He pursued the job and has been at it ever since. One of the things that has encouraged him to keep at it is the experiences with young people he gets to have. “I’ve worked around young people all my life, and I’ve coached little league teams, and I’ve had a lot of interactions with student employees and university students all through my career and
ABOVE: Bowers poses in front of his 1976 vintage bus. In his free time, Bowers enjoys working with and collecting cars. I find it just kind of easy to be around them,” he said. “I’ve been fortunate to have really good kids on the routes that I’ve had.” Sometimes, these kids become more than just passengers. Bowers is able to see them journey through life after journeying with him through the streets of Iowa City. “I’m starting to run into past students that have ridden on my school bus … but now they’re in their senior year of medical school or stuff like that … I’ll run into them at the golf course and they still remember me and they still call me by name,” he said. “That’s really fun, but that also tells me that I’ve been doing this for a long time, when I’m seeing them in a whole different place in their life and they still remember me and we’re still friends.” With that experience comes a lot of passion for others driving buses. According to Bowers, about a third are like him -- retired but driving for fun. Another third are
graduate students, and the last third are driving to support their families. All drivers have to go through a series of tests to become qualified. “It’s kind of like the pilot of an airplane, you know, they have to be able to know how to operate the equipment and then operate it within the standards of that particular piece of equipment,” Bowers said. And as for the students of Iowa City, Bowers holds them in high regard. “And that’s another thing, most students in Iowa City … are growing up in a good, healthy atmosphere and have good common sense.”
ABOVE: Bowers drops off students at Northwest Junior High in the morning.
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F E AT U R E
FEB. 17, 2017
DANIEL CARLOS
exams, complete his residency and spend countless hours proving his education from Cuba and Belize was valid. All of this would mean it would take months, or even years CUSTODIAN before Carlos could work. Adjusting to the healthcare system in the United States would also take time. BY NINA ELKADI The healthcare system in the States is completely different than he daily effort of scratching out graffiti Belize. Free clinics for people lackaround the school is something custodian ing health insurance are virtually Daniel Carlos is all too familiar with. Alnonexistent here. though for many this may seeming like a taxing “I think medicine should be task, for Carlos it’s all about mindset. something everyone has access to,” Carlos grew up in Orange Walk, Belize, where Carlos said. “Mind you, the waithe spent his days playing in the yard with his ing time [in Belize] isn’t the best friends and enjoying the beach. In 1998, he aceither.” quired a scholarship to study general medicine He got his first job after six in Cuba. months of searching, and did cus“Initially, when I first graduated, I got started todial work at Pearson. The job with a family planning clinic. Then I moved over provided little to no benefits, so to a government-granted clinic and did primary when he saw the job open up at care,” he said. West High, benefits included, he Carlos moved back home to Belize and treated jumped on it. every case that walked in. The government clinCarlos has mostly positive exic allowed citizens to get access to medical care periences from working at West, without having health insurance. and he keeps his smile everyday by While Carlos was working in Belize, his sis“making the job fun.” One memory ter met her husband working at a ranch. The ABOVE: Carlos works after school sweeping the from the dance team two years ago 24,000-acre ranch happened to be owned by Roy hallways after students have already left. continues to stand out to him. Carver, and she ended up moving to Iowa City. “[They just had] their poster pictures taken. one big happy family.” Even the bad moments, His family began to follow his sister to Iowa, and They called me by my name, and they all auto- such as unjamming a locker, he tries to turn he followed suit. His career path would end up graphed the poster [to give to me],” he said. into learning experiences. When it comes to a changing dramatically. Taylor Fridrich ’18 was on the dance team and clogged toilet versus the kid with the locker isPracticing medicine in the United States is a signed the poster that day, thinking he would sue, Carlos will always choose the kid. “different ballgame,” Carlos said. In order to beappreciate it as a “nice little gift.” “Both of them are priorities, but the student come licensed, he would have to take multiple “He’s always is behind on time anyways. Students are on the smiling and clock; they can’t be late for class,” he said. always saying After newspaper work nights, English teacher hi to everyone, Sara Whittaker usually brings over the leftover and he’s always brownies, pasta or burritos to the custodial ofhelpful,” she fice. Before winter break, Carlos got her a gift said. “When- card that read, “Thanks for always thinking of ever we’d ask us.” him for help, “He is a bright spot in the day,” she said. “I am he’d never not so grateful to [Carlos] and all of the custodial smile. [Noth- staff. They really go above and beyond the job ing] would ever description.” seem like a job Carlos hopes to continue his education and for him.” receive his masters in public health in an efLittle gestures fort to work on disease prevention. He doesn’t by students and necessarily dream of working for the Center for staff are what Disease Control, but he rather hopes to make make him feel a difference in his community, whether that be like “West is Johnson County or Orange Walk, Belize.
T
ABOVE: Carlos poses in his scrubs with a picture from when he worked as a doctor in Belize.
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F E AT U R E FEB. 17, 2017
AN HOUR
A DAY
As the number of computer science jobs grows, the administration is looking to encourage computer science education in the ICCSD. BY JUNHEE LEE
DESIGN BY WINGEL XUE
23
F E AT U R E
FEB. 17, 2017
IN IOWA... LAST YEAR
15% OF SCHOOLS OFFERED AP COMPUTER SCIENCE
221 OPENVS 3,419 24%
STUDENTS TOOK THE ADVANCED OF TEST TAKERS WERE FEMALE PLACEMENT TEST IN
COMPUTER SCIENCE EDUCATION
COMPUTING JOBS
THAT’S 3X
THE AVERAGE STATE DEMAND RATE Source: code.org
B
eyond video games and Word new because getting an A is so important documents lies a virtual goldmine of job to them,” Ehren said. “I would guess that opportunities and career prospects. if we surveyed people and asked, ‘What is Since the invention of the first computer in computer science,’ a majority don’t know 1946, computer science has transformed into a what to say.” field that reaches the lives of every computerHowever, the future of computer science owning person in the world. However, the may be just around the corner with an number of computer science educated students initiative called Hour of Code. In it, students remains staggeringly low. There are ten times as who are unfamiliar with coding are given one many available computer science jobs as college hour to learn basic programming. The Hour graduates who can code, and only 15 percent of of Code was established at differing times schools in Iowa teach computer science. within the last four years in the elementary, Steve Ehren, junior high a computer and high s c i e n c e school levels “IT’S A HUGELY IMPORTANT teacher at in ICCSD, and West, sees although Ehren COMPONENT OF STUDENTS’ this lack of notes that it has computer been generally EDUCATION, AND THE BIGGEST s c i e n c e u ns u c c e s s f u l CHALLENGE IS TRYING TO FIND education a m o n g firsthand. high school A TIME TO GET THAT TO THEM” Although students, Ehren is Superintendent the only Steve Murley -Gregg Shoultz, Principal computer claims that the s c i e n c e initiative has teacher at “spread like West, he spends only three of his five periods wildfire” among youngsters. teaching computer science. Only around “There’s always room for improvement … 70 students start off the year in Ehren’s AP [but] early education generates interest,” Computer Science course, and that number Murley said. dwindles to around 40 when students discover At Wickham and Horn elementary, for that, according to Ehren, they’re not interested instance, every student spends approximately or they’re not getting the kind of grades they an hour per year, spread out through two want. weeks, participating in the Hour of Code. “A lot of kids don’t even want to try something According to librarian Joan Deprenger
who supervises the initiative at Horn, nearly all Horn students expressed an interest in computer science after spending two weeks with the Hour of Code initiative. Additionally, at Wickham, students spend a period a week learning about basic technology use, sometimes including basic programming. According to both Deprenger and Michael Schlitz, librarian and Hour of Code supervisor at Wickham, the initiative is “extremely popular” among its students. “The program is very interactive and very fun, so even if students are hesitant about [computer science], they tend to enjoy it just because of the way it’s presented,” Schlitz said. “It’s a hugely important component of students’ education, and the biggest challenge is trying to find a time to get that to them on a regular basis. Hour of Code is doing that.” Superintendent Murley hopes that these initiatives will have a major payoff in the future. “Right now, [enrollment] rates of computer science is not high,” Murley said. “There are a limited number of periods a day … so students don’t take elective courses like Computer Science,” Murley said. However, he explains that new classes and new teachers will be added to the computer science course if Hour of Code can encourage students in computer science. And since the initiative was established at the elementary level approximately four years ago, Murley hopes that a change will occur in just a few years. To learn more about computer science, go to code.org/promote.
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F E AT U R E FEB. 17, 2017
CENTRAL AMERICAN HOLIDAYS
BY SHAWN THACKER
Celebrations and festivals play crucial roles in defining different societies’ cultures. A key component of these festivities is food. In this edition of West Side Story, we focus on students with Central American 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.
TAMALES
CHAMPURRADO
ROSCA DE REYES
HONDURAN INDEPENDENCE DAY
DIA DE LA VIRGEN DE GUADALUPE
DIA DE LOS REYES
Honduran Independence Day marks the day when Honduras first gained its independence from Spain on Sept. 15, 1821. This holiday, similar to Independence Day in America, celebrates the nation’s history and is commemorated with marching, singing, dancing, parades and, of course, parties and food with family and friends.
Día de la Virgen de Guadalupe, or Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe in English, is a Catholic celebration of the belief that Jesus’ mother Mary appeared in Mexico City in 1531. This day is commemorated with a feast in the Virgin’s honor and pilgrimages to see the image of Mary in the Basilica of Guadalupe, not to mention the parties held by families all across the country.
Dia de los Reyes, known as Epiphany in English, is a holiday held annually on Jan. 6 that celebrates God’s revelation of Jesus as his son and the visit paid by the three magi kings to Jesus. Similar versions of this holiday occur throughout the Americas and even in France. In Mexico, one tradition for Dia de los Reyes is to eat a special cake called rosca.
“Día de la Virgen is important to me because [it’s] a tradition that has been going on in my family for a while. One good memory I remember was two years ago [when we] gathered together at the church and we danced to the Virgin Mary [and] celebrated it … by making different kinds of homemade food and mingling with everyone.” - Breanna Barragan ’18
“It’s important for my family and me to remember our culture and celebrate [Dia de los Reyes]. My favorite memory of that day is when all of my family and friends got together one year to celebrate and cut the rosca [and] my brother, uncle and mom all got a baby Jesus. Whoever gets that in their slice has to make tamales for the family.”- Valeria Ramos ’18
“Honduran Independence Day is a big thing for our family is because [it represents] a part of [my parents] that was left behind that they want to keep in our family. Although me and my siblings aren’t Honduran natives … they want us to just hold on to that tradition … Growing up, my favorite part of celebrating Independence Day in my family was definitely the dancing.” - Jane Ratliff ’18
PHOTOS BY TERESA KNECHT & SARAH LONGMIRE DESIGN BY WINGEL XUE
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As environmental activism at West High decreases, West Side Story offers some food for thought before you throw your scraps into the trash.
I
given a waste bin, a recycling bin and a compost bin in the cafeteria, most students don’t think about where the trash should go. Trash is trash, right?
Everyone, even the most environmentally conscious people, can be victims of this line of thinking. However, this attitude is what drives food waste in high schools nationally. Discarded food in American high schools has increased by 56 percent from 2012. At West High, students waste approximately 15 percent of the food that they take from the cafeteria. Until about a decade ago, this number was much higher. Julie Peterson, head of the kitchen staff at West High, recounts her first experiences working in the kitchen. “I’ll never forget my first week here. You come in and you watch your employees; my head cook came and there was a stack of buns, about 400 or so, and it all just went straight in the trash.” Recognizing the waste problem in the kitchen, Peterson began making changes to the cooking process. Now, the kitchen staff meticulously collects data to accurately measure the amount of food needed per day, virtually eliminating wasted food. Each day, the cooks keep track of how many portions of each food item are taken
BY WILL CONRAD & JUNHEE LEE
COMPILED BY
THINK ABOUT THIS JUNHEE LEE The amount of food wasted per year accounts for
of waste in landfills where it produces
METHANE and over
million tons of carbon dioxide
ART BY ANGELA ZIRBES
DESIGN BY SIMRAN SARIN
and how many are left over. Based on that data, the kitchen staff makes modifications to the next day’s preparations; for instance, if two portions of salad are left over, then the cooks prepare two less portions for the next day. In addition, cooks now use a process called batch cooking where food is made in small batches during the lunch periods instead of being made en masse beforehand. Because of the smaller batches, the portions of cooked food are closer to the portions sold, which allows the uncooked material to be stored for future use. On top of all of this, the kitchen staff accounts for fluctuations when a more popular lunch item such as popcorn chicken or orange chicken is served. In response, they make sure to cook more of the popular items and less of the undesired ones. Even when the data is off and food gets left over, the kitchen staff makes sure that none of it is wasted. Most of the leftover food from the kitchen at West is taken to nearby elementaries and junior high schools to be offered the follow-
“WE USED TO JOKE THAT IF DR. SHOULTZ EVER GOT SOMEONE TO REPLACE ME IT’D HAVE TO BE SOMEONE WITH A PICKUP TRUCK.” -Steve Merkel, special education teacher
ing day, and the kitchen composts any other wasted food. With the help of grants from local environmental leader Scott Koepke and students in special education programs who transport the waste, the kitchen staff is able to compost daily. Steve Merkel, special education teacher at West High, puts in a great deal of effort to assure that composting occurs at West as well. In the early days of the composting program, he would often have to take all the discarded kitchen scraps to the landfill himself in the back of his truck. “We used to joke that if Dr. Shoultz ever got someone to replace me it’d have to be someone with a pickup truck,” he said. “Fortunately now that wouldn’t have to be the case.” Now, others, including manager Scott Koepke at the New Pioneer Co-op, have stepped up to help transport the waste, with the waste first being sorted through each day to ensure all parts are compostable. Fortunately, the West high staff has been accepting of new proposals; the kitchen composting program serves as a testimony to this openminded attitude. According to Merkel, this kind of willingness is the primary reason why food waste has decreased tremendously in the past few years. “It’s not that the staff don’t want to save the world, but you have to be real about it. They’re
WEST HIGH, WASTE HIGH
COMPILED BY JUNHEE LEE
A WSS CONDUCTED STUDY ILLUSTRATED THAT . . . Students waste
pounds of food per day, which is equivalent to about
This means West High students waste approximately
of food they take from the cafeteria
on the clock, they still have to sweep all the floors and pick up other stuff, and you can’t always expect them to compost too,” Merkel said. “But they do.” Since the waste in the kitchen is practically zero, the one glaring flaw lies with the student body. According to various sources, includ-
LANDFILL OF FACTS COMPOSTING MADE EASY
ing the University of Arizona’s Garbage Project study, notable environmental author Tristram Stuart, TIME magazine and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, approximately 1.3 billion tons of food are wasted per year and account for 19 percent of waste in landfills, where it produces methane and over
COMPILED BY SIMRAN SARIN
WHAT YOU NEED of material at the Iowa City landfill is organic material
A 35-gallon leakproof container with a lid A City of Iowa City Yard Waste Sticker
PRO TIPS of material at the landfill is food waste AKA
pounds wasted per person
Purchase a Yard Waste Sticker at City Hall: $25 for a sticker valid from April 1 - Mar. 31 $12 for a sticker valid from Oct. 1- Mar. 31 You can put food waste in the same container as yard waste, and with the same sticker
WHAT YOU CAN COMPOST Fruit and vegetable parts Grain products Non-dairy products Meat Seafood Eggs Eggshells Pizza Pizza boxes
Place your food waste container on the curb by 7 a.m. on your normal trash collecting day
tons of food each year
Make sure your container weighs less than 50 pounds
Leftovers Spoiled food Uncoated paper items Learn more at icgov.org
four million tons of carbon dioxide. Despite these harmful impacts, food waste awareness and general environmental awareness are low. In fact, even though composting can regenerate some of the 40 percent of the world’s degraded agricultural topsoil, only around 5 percent of food is composted worldwide. This global lack of composting and general environmental awareness can be seen at a smaller level at West High. Despite the roughly 148 pounds of food that are wasted per day, there are only three students in the club EATS, which stands for Environmental Activists Teaching Sustainability. This is a dramatic decline from just four years ago when the club was first created and the number of students was closer to twenty. Even then, the students involved in the club generally had environmentally-conscious parents or some sort of environmental background that prompted them to join the club. This was especially true for then-president of the club Kate Anstreicher ’14, who recalls that she even took her trash home to be composted at her house. “I was first introduced to it at home. [My parents] were aware of the rewards of compost and alternative agriculture,” Anstreicher said. “Food waste is just, in my opinion, a no-brainer. There are no possible consequences of diverting food waste. There are only benefits economically and environmentally.” In her years in EATS, Anstreicher was instrumental in establishing the kitchen composting program that persists to this day. Despite these successes, she recalls the difficulty of educating the rest of the student body. In an attempt to mirror the composting in the kitchen, EATS and Anstreicher put compost bins alongside the recycling and the trash and had their members direct trash to the appropriate bins. However, the procedure was impossible to implement as students would often spread out throughout the building to eat. “So many [students] were rushing from lunch to class,” Anstreicher said. “It’s hard because West High is so overpopulated that you have people eating in the hallways and not even using trash bins or potential compost bins.” The problem became worse when EATS members weren’t available to supervise the composting process. Anstreicher said that during lunch, members often had schoolwork to make up or sat with their friends, making the overwhelming student population even less manageable. She recalls that she was sometimes the only person
TALK ABOUT TOPSOIL
COMPILED BY SIMRAN SARIN
of the world’s topsoil is classified as either degraded or severely degraded
WHAT IS TOPSOIL?
Topsoil is the uppermost layer of soil.
WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT?
Topsoil is where most soil-related biological activity occurs. It also hosts the most organic matter and microorganisms in soil.
HOW DOES THIS RELATE TO COMPOSTING?
Composting is a method that can directly improve the condition of our soil.
“WE ARE CONSTANTLY DEPLETING OUR TOPSOIL. [COMPOSTERS] AID IN THE FUTURE OF CREATING NEW TOPSOIL, AND IT ACTUALLY COMES FROM OUR FOOD WASTE.” -Steve Merkel, special education teacher
CHEW ON THIS
COMPILED BY JUNHEE LEE
The United Nations Food and Agriculture organization reported in 2011 that one-third of consumable food, or roughly
CONFLICTING whether regulations placed on lunches STUDIES EXIST result in an increased amount of food REGARDING waste or not These regulations require
WHAT students to take a half cup REGULATIONS? of fruits or vegetables The regulations are part of the of the SINCE WHEN? Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, which was passed in 2010 and took effect in 2012 According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization’s “Food Wastage Footprint Impacts on Natural Resources,” the carbon footprint of food waste is
billion tons of food, is wasted per year
LET’S BREAK IT DOWN
According to a 2012 study by the International Journal on Food System Dynamics, food waste accounts for only
HOW MUCH GREENHOUSE GAS IS BEING PRODUCED?
gigatons, the third largest behind the U.S. and China
A University of Vermont study says yes, waste in schools has increased
of emissions in the United States
A Harvard study says no, as long as students are given adequate time to eat. They recommend
IS THE HEALTHY, HUNGER-FREE KIDS ACT CAUSING MORE WASTE IN SCHOOLS? since 2012, when the law was passed
overseeing the compost bins in the cafeteria. “I think for something like food diversion to succeed you need a core group of people,” Anstreicher said. “Obviously if there is some form of advertising for it, it could help.” EATS never found a long term solution that didn’t involve a club member supervising stu-
dents during the lunch periods. It wasn’t long before the compost bins were removed from the cafeteria, and no procedure to decrease student waste has been put in place since. With only the recycling and the trash bins left, food waste remains at the same levels as before. Although environmental activism and EATS
minutes
membership have declined since then, there are potential structural changes that may decrease food waste regardless of the awareness. For instance, a University of Vermont study showing the detrimental impacts of certain school lunch regulations raises the question of a federal regulation reform. These regulations, which require
students to take a half cup of fruit or vegetables at lunch, were passed in 2010 and took effect in 2012 as part of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act. The study showed that, although the regulation forced more students to take a fruit or a vegetable, most of the healthy options were thrown in the trash, creating more waste than before. It cited the new regulations as increasing food waste in schools by 56 percent. Despite these findings, there is other evidence that suggests that the food waste increase is minimal, most notably a Harvard study which claimed that students tend to eat the required healthy options given that they have more than 25 minutes to eat lunch. West High Principal Gregg Shoultz agreed that while there were students who threw the fruits and vegetables away, the pros outweighed the cons. “[Without these guidelines] you might see students not eating fruits or vegetables. These nutritional guidelines are there for a reason. If you don’t give students other [junk food], they will eat the [nutritious] stuff.” At a local level, West High’s food waste problem may become much more manageable when Liberty High officially opens, addressing West’s overpopulation problem. Since student composting attempts failed because of the unmanageable number of students compared to the small number of people in EATS, reducing the student population by 500 to 600 students reopens the door for composting programs and other student environmental initiatives that were previously impossible. The population decrease would also help contain students in the cafeteria during lunch periods, making it easier to oversee student waste. Along with the opening of Liberty High, West’s cafeteria remodel for the coming school year may decrease waste even without new environmental initiatives. The remodel will employ multiple stations, rather than one single line, attempting to make it easier for students to take more of what they want and throwing away less. Despite these changes that may make it easier to monitor student waste, activism remains the heart of the issue. Mara Jensen ’17 and Kalei Strabala ’17, the current presidents of EATS and two of the three members of the club, noted that the club wasn’t able to do much this year. Although the club members have a garden behind the baseball field where they grow food and send it to the kitchen, Strabala gave a stifled laugh when asked how much food EATS is able to produce. “Not very much,” Strabala remarked. “We don’t
have enough people to produce enough, and we only have a certain amount of garden space.” However, the club has been attempting to attract more students and has been doing community outreach. According to Jensen, the club promotes movie days and game days to draw more people in and has cooking days using EATSgrown ingredients. Jensen and Strabala continue to encourage more people to join, hoping for big environmental payoffs in the future. “I think [EATS] will be powerful if we start growing bigger and if we start trying to make a big impact. We need more people and we need people who want to preserve the environment,” Jensen said. Anstreicher hopes that environmental outreach will go even further into the elementary and junior high school levels, and work to inspire generations of environmentally active students. Knowing that she was one of the beneficiaries of having early exposure to composting and general environmentalism, she hopes that early education will give students the opportunities that she gained through EATS, a club that Anstreicher remembers as one of her fondest memories from West High. “I think the first step is early education. The earlier people are learning about these issues the more automatic the response is. Teaching kindergarteners to compost versus teaching high schoolers is a whole different ball game. Their brains are a lot more malleable, and they also take the information home to their parents,” Anstreicher said. “We’re from Iowa, which is one of the most agricultural states in the country, and I think it would be cool to learn about our crops and the topsoil.” For now, students can think about what they can do to reduce the 15 percent of West food that gets wasted daily. They can also think about how to reduce waste at home, whether it be as simple as eating leftovers or as complex as starting a home compost bin. As Dr. Shoultz sums up, simply being aware of a particular problem is often key: “All of us, students and teachers, [need to] zero in on our daily lives, and we need to say, ‘what are we doing about it?’”
BEHIND THE SCENES How did reporter Junhee Lee ‘18 calculate statistics regarding food waste at West High? Lee sat during a lunch period and counted the number of places, forks, knives, spoons, milks, bags and napkins students took He then used this data to calculate the average number non-food items used per person
Lee calculated the weight of each of these items
He found the total amount of trash collected in a lunch period and approximated the number of students eating in the cafeteria Lee subtracted the mass of non-food items to obtain the mass of food thrown away
Sources: The University of Arizona’s Garbage Project study, notable environmental author Tristram Stuart, TIME magazine, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations & National Resources Defense Council
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E N T E R TA I N M E N T FEB. 17, 2017
OSCAR
WSS REV IEW S
NOMINATIONS BY HARRY WESTERGAARD
Breaking a record for the most awards received at this year’s Golden Globes, “La La Land” has 14 nominations for this year’s Oscars, including Best Picture. After watching the movie, it’s
no wonder “La La Land” is so well received by critics. WSS reviews all the 2017 Best Picture Nominees, including popular movies such as “Manchester by the Sea” and “Moonlight.”
MAKE YOUR PREDICTIONS
NAME:
Submit your predictions below for Best Picture, Best Lead Actor and Best Lead Actress to Mrs. Whittaker in room 109 or 111 by Friday, Feb. 24. Those who submit correct answers will be entered into a raffle for a $50 gift card to Pancheros.
BEST PICTURE
BEST LEAD ACTOR
“La La Land”
Casey Affleck, “Manchester by the
Amy Adams, “Arrival”
“Moonlight”
Sea”
Annette Bening, “20th
“Fences”
Andrew Garfield, “Hacksaw Ridge”
Century Women”
“Lion”
Ryan Gosling, “La La Land”
Isabelle Huppert, “Elle”
“Manchester by the Sea”
Viggo Mortensen, “Captain Fantastic”
Natalie Portman, “Jackie”
Denzel Washington, “Fences”
Emma Stone, “La La Land”
COMPILED BY KATIE FUHRMEISTER
BEST LEAD ACTRESS
33
E N T E R TA I N M E N T
FEB. 17, 2017
DESCRIPTION The death of his brother prompts Boston janitor Lee Chandler to return to his hometown to take care of his now fatherless nephew, Patrick. Neither having fully accepted the death, they clash over what’s best for them both.
REVIEW
“LA LA LAND” WSS RATING
“MANCHESTER BY THE SEA”
DESCRIPTION
WSS RATING
Mia and Sebastian are two aspiring artists trying to make it big in Hollywood. Mia dreams of being an actress, and Sebastian is a passionate jazz musician who hopes to open a club. The two eventually fall in love in this beautifully shot love letter to musicals and the dreams of stardom.
Though “Manchester by the Sea” has been hailed as one of the best films of the year by many critics, the reviews are far overblown. In one of the worst films of the year, Casey Affleck expresses few emotions beyond angry or drunk and spends most of the movie with his hands stuffed in his pockets staring into space. Lucas Hedges’s flat performance as the nephew adds little to the film. Both Lee Chandler and Patrick are very unlikable and never change or grow over the course of the story. The film mainly consists of them fighting with each other over inconsequential things as the audience waits for the film to be over. “Manchester by the Sea” is a hugely overrated bore that fails to engage the viewer with its uninteresting and mean-spirited characters.
REVIEW “La La Land” is a postmodern musical set in Los Angeles, and is perfect in so many ways. Yes, it does take place in Hollywood, but it’s not as glorified as most movies of the type. We see how Hollywood can be the answer to some people’s dreams. The film depicts how incredibly hard it is for two dedicated artists to pursue their dreams and maintain a relationship. For a musical, this is quite a realistic depiction. But that’s not to say it’s gritty; the movie is an absolute delight. The music is uplifting and will be stuck in your head for months on end, at least. The film also looks gorgeous. The colors of the costumes and the lights really pop. It’s a movie that must be experienced on the big screen to have the full effect. “La La Land” takes you back to what made movies so great in the past as you sit back, relax and forget all of the terrible things happening in the real world and are transported to a Technicolor paradise.
DESIGN BY MEGAN BOLAND & SIMRAN SARIN
FOR MORE COVERAGE, GO TO WSSPAPER.COM
DESCRIPTION Chiron is a young boy living in Miami who struggles with finding his identity as he deals with bullies at school and a neglected parent at home. The movie tells the story by showing three distinct eras in Chiron’s life: as a young boy, a student in middle school, and young adulthood.
REVIEW “Moonlight” tells its story gradually, yet the film is never boring. Chiron’s struggles and pains are palpable, and the audience can identify with him. It’s a powerful film with strong yet not showy performances from the cast, especially from Ashton Sanders, who plays Chiron as a teenager. The supporting cast does a commendable job, including 2017 Best Supporting Actress Nominee Naomie Harris who plays Chiron’s ne- WSS RATING glectful mother. The film has a simplistic style, giving the film a naturalistic feeling. The story is not one that is meant to be big and flashy. It’s the story of the plight of one boy in Miami, with fleeting moments of true beauty.
“MOONLIGHT”
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E N T E R TA I N M E N T FEB. 17, 2017
ONE MUG BY ELEANOR HO
MEALS SWEET
AVOCADO MUG CAKE
This is a sweet, simple treat that only requires six ingredients. The avocado keeps the cake moist, avoiding the dryness that comes with most recipes. The cake comes out with a bright green color, which makes it a perfect snack for the coming spring months.
INGREDIENTS 3 tablespoons white granulated sugar 2 tablespoons fully mashed avocado 4 tablespoons all purpose flour 1/2 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil 2 1/2 tablespoons milk
DIRECTIONS 1. Add all ingredients into a mug with at least an 8 ounces volume, otherwise your mug will overflow. Mix together until a smooth batter is formed. 2. Microwave for about 1 minute and 20 seconds, then let cool before eating.
FOR MORE COVERAGE, GO TO WSSPAPER.COM
SAVORY
SCRAMBLED EGGS Eggs don’t take long at all in the microwave, and they cook evenly with no problem. The best thing about it is you can choose to throw in whatever ingredients you’d like. Here, we suggest a spinach, bacon and cheese combo. This recipe is perfect to cook in portable glass tupperware with a lid if you want breakfast or lunch on the go.
INGREDIENTS ½ cup fresh or frozen spinach 1 egg 1/3 cup milk 1/3 cup shredded cheddar cheese
DIRECTIONS 1. For fresh spinach, place inside your mug with about 2 tablespoons of water and cover with a paper towel. Microwave for 1 minute then drain excess water. If using frozen spinach, simply thaw and drain excess water.
1 slice cooked bacon, chopped (optional)
2. Next, crack your egg into the mug and add in the rest of the ingredients, stirring until evenly mixed. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
salt and pepper
3. Microwave for 3 minutes until totally cooked. Adapted from Bowl of Delicious & Kirbie’s Cravings PHOTOS BY ALLIE SCHMITT=MORRIS DESIGN BY JENNA ZENG
36
E N T E R TA I N M E N T FEB. 17, 2017
IN-DEPTH STUDENT PLAYLIST DANIEL BURGESS ’18
BY REAGAN HART
DESIGN BY OLIVIA READ PHOTO BY SARAH LONGMIRE
Daniel Burgess ’18 is known around school for his musical abilities, including his violin, piano and guitar skills. As a musician, Burgess listens to a variety of music. Although some is more recent, many of the songs that he enjoys are older. The following songs are some of his recommendations.
1
“LIMELIGHT”
4
“DANI CALIFORNIA”
by Rush
While listening to the radio, Burgess discovered “Limelight” by the band Rush. “I personally really like the chorus. The intro and the verse are very hard rock, fake distortion and intense,” Burgess said. “In the chorus, it really opens up into this wide external divide. The transition and the dichotomy between the two moods of the song is very cool.” The song is about coping with fame and living in the limelight. Burgess says this song has a very good balance of melody and technical skills. “Rush is definitely one of the most technically skilled bands in rock and roll. This level of musicianship is close to what one might expect from jazz musicians, [rather] than rock musicians. That’s always impressive,” Burgess said. This song was found on a classic rock station. To hear similar songs, Burgess recommends 105.7 FM.
by the Red Hot Chili Peppers
Burgess found “Dani California” on accident while listening to the entire Red Hot Chili Peppers album. He enjoys their energetic vibe and weirdness. “I mean, if you know about them, I think they [spent] about 20 years shirtless and they have a lot of live antics that they do. They are kind of out there, but it’s all in good fun,” Burgess said. Burgess recommends this song for many reasons, including the musicianship and the lyrics. “It’s not a song you can listen to it once and get everything. [There are] different layers and things to pick out if you listen to it multiple times,” he said. The Red Hot Chili Peppers have been nominated for many Grammys and MTV awards, including Best Rock Song for “Dani California.”
2
“RAMBLE ON” by Led Zeppelin
Burgess’s interest in Led Zeppelin in one of the many musical influences that came from his dad. From a very young age, his dad has been his advocate in music. His dad also helped Burgess with his musical choices. “He was a big part in my pursuit for music… He supported me when I took lessons throughout the years,” Burgess said. “He grew up in the 70s and 80s and has great taste in music. Some that has rubbed off on me, either directly or indirectly.” In 1969, Led Zeppelin released the song “Ramble On.” Burgess takes this song’s meaning as a call for adventure. “This is the time to get out, take my life into my owns type of things. Finding yourself or finding someone else. What ever you are looking for,” he said. The vibe of “Ramble On” is mystical and surreal. “If you are searching for something and need some inspiration, it’s definitely a good one to check out,” Burgess said.
“WHAT ABOUT ME?” by Snarky Puppy
3
Snarky Puppy is classified as jazz, but Burgess thinks of them as more than that. He finds them very innovative in their take on the genre. “They are combining the sound of today’s youth with the sounds of the ’50s and ’60s. It’s jazz fusion, but it’s fusion on another level,” Burgess said. “What About Me?” was released in 2014. He praises them for mastering their instruments with top-of-the-line music writing and musicianship skills. Snarky Puppy has had several number ones on Billboard’s jazz albums and two songs on Billboard’s top 200 chart. Burgess listens to them on Spotify but also encourages watching their live performances on YouTube. “It’s still music [that] you can grasp what’s going on and at the same time experience something that is not really on the radio and not very conventional,” he said.
“TIME”
by Pink Floyd
5
Pink Floyd is a band that has been around since 1966. Burgess admires Pink Floyd’s guitarist, David Gilmour, specifically his solo in “Time.” “What a guitar solo… [I have tried to play “Time”] a few times, but David Gilmour is a very good guitarist,” Burgess said, “I can play this one, I think. I hope.” The style of the song is more than just the guitar solo. The lyrics explore the problems that humans have with time. Burgess describes them as expressing these problems with “impressive accuracy.” Burgess describes the song itself as mystical and easy to get lost in. He also states that Pink Floyd is innovative and unconventional. “It would stick out if it came out today, but if you think about it coming out [44] some years ago, that’s quite incredible,” Burgess said.
37
E N T E R TA I N M E N T
FEB. 17, 2017
POS
NICK STILWELL ’19 “I think my brother intentionally trashed it in his last year because he thought no one else would use it,” said Nick Stilwell ’18. Unfortunately for Stilwell, that wasn’t the case for his not-so-trusty 2000 Mercury Mountaineer. BY CHARLIE CODE
3 2 1
1 4
On the hood of the SUV, a chunk of paint was stripped off by a stray basketball.
The right window of the Mountaineer doesn’t respond to its corresponding button, preventing it from opening or closing.
DESIGN BY LEAH DUSTERHOFT
22 55
The back hatch of the trunk doesn’t stay up by itself, so Stilwell has to hold it open as he tries to get his saxophone into the car. “There [are] only, like, four radio stations and you can’t hook your phone up to it because it’s too old so you have to flip through the three [working] radio stations on the stereo, which is white noise for most of them.”
33
PHOTOS BY TERESA KNECHT
The back doors of Stilwell’s Mountaineer can’t open from the inside of the car, forcing any passengers in the back to be let out by Stilwell himself. “The knobs on the inside are completely ripped out. My dad and my brother had the car before, so as we used them, they just kind of popped out naturally.”
38
SPORTS
FEB. 17, 2017
RISING STAR:
COLE MABRY ‘19
BY DENIZ INCE
From competing in the track state championships as a freshman to traveling to the Dome for football as a sophomore, Cole Mabry ’19 has experienced a great amount of athletic success. Here’s a look into the factors that have contributed to Mabry’s success and his goals for the track season to come.
O
ne of the ultimate goals as a high school athlete is to make it to state. Despite only being a sophomore, Cole Mabry has already achieved this-- and in two sports. With a background in sports stretching back to early elementary school, Mabry is no stranger to competition. “I used to live in Oklahoma, and when I was in
kindergarten, our elementary school had a track team. I ran for [the team] and then went to a couple state track meets individually,” he said. Mabry also began playing football around the same time he started track. This year the team and Mabry, who plays strong safety and sometimes quarterback, made it to the state championship game. Though being a multisport athlete keeps Mabry busy year-round, it helps him con-
tinually improve and stay in shape. “I got a lot faster last year in track and I’ve got a lot more endurance. [Track] helps out with any sport you do. It has really helped me with football and basketball,” Mabry said. With track season coming up, Mabry is looking to the future to set goals and improve on what he has already accomplished in the sport, which includes making it to the state champion-
39
SPORTS
FEB. 17, 2017
“HE’S ON THE RIGHT PATH TO DO GREAT THINGS… HE’S GOT THE MINDSET THAT IT TAKES TO BE A CHAMPION.” -Ethan Holmes, track coach PHOTO BY NICK PRYOR
ships in the 400-meter hurdles, a race accepting 24 of Iowa’s fastest runners in class 4A. Mabry finished 18th, clocking in at 56.73 seconds as the only freshman in the event. This year, he is looking to reach new heights. “A specific goal is to qualify for the Drake Relays in the 400 hurdles and that’s a tall task because they only take eight throughout the state,” he said. The Drake Relays combine all classes and accepts a smaller number of individuals than the state championships. Before graduating, Mabry also hopes to become the individual 400-meter state champion, an event Mabry didn’t begin competing in until his freshman year. “When I started, I had some success [in hurdles] and I stuck with them. Then getting into high school, [I was introduced to] the 400-[meter] hurdles, which I tried out. It’s a tough race, but I liked it a lot,” he said. With a new and more straining event came a
new type of training. “[The training is] more about cardio and it’s a lot about toughness, so the workouts to train for that are more long-distance running,” Mabry said. “They say it’s the hardest race in track, so you really have to be in good shape to be successful.” Mabry trains during the offseason with his coach, University of Iowa All-American and Big 10 Champion Ethan Holmes. Holmes works with several West High athletes, but Mabry sets himself apart. “To be a coachable athlete means that when they’re told to do or change something, they make a really strong effort to make that change right away,” he said. “[Cole’s] definitely one of the most coachable kids I’ve worked with.” Mabry’s friend and fellow track athlete Austin West ’18 also commends Mabry’s effort in practices. “He’s always pushing himself to go above and
beyond … he’s really dedicated. He gives 100 percent no matter what he’s doing,” he said. In finding motivation to get through practices, Mabry looks to his coaches, teammates and religion. “My teammates and coaches are a big reason for some of the success I’ve been able to have, because they push me a lot. [They] motivate me to work even harder,” he said. “As a Christian, I give all the glory to God; I wouldn’t be anything without him and all I can do is work my hardest to invest in the abilities he’s given me.” Holmes thinks Mabry’s hard work will pay off for him in the future. “He’s already run faster than I did in high school, so I think he’s on the right path to do great things,” he said. “He’s an extremely talented dude and I think he has big things coming for him in the 400 hurdles. … He’s got the mindset that it takes to be a champion.” DESIGN BY LEAH DUSTERHOFT
THE COST OF COLLEGE SPORTS Participating in athletics at the college level is a privilege that few people get to experience. Athletes take many factors into account when deciding to pursue collegiate level sports. While the strict schedule may be beneficial to some, it can also cause a buildup of stress and anxiety for others. Other options to weigh are scholarships and the athletic division of the school. These aspects are very important for athletes considering different options.
BY ELLIE GRETTER
MENTAL HEALTH Participating in any level of athletics can increase stress, especially when you reach the highest level of athletics that few will ever achieve. This is due to the low number of athletes that will become professional. However, sports can also be a way to escape the frenzy of normal college life. “Teenagers like their routines. Some people even say they would love it if a lot of kids could have that opportunity because you eat at certain times, you actually have to go to a training table to eat, you have to travel and so because of your travel you have to get things done ahead of time. You’re at your best when you’re scheduled,” said Karen Meyer, math teacher and former collegiate volleyball player. “I think in that way it can be really helpful. College sports can be really good. [They’re] demanding [and] you have to love the sport you do. You have to love it because that’s what your
CHOOSING A SCHOOL life becomes.” On the other hand, participating in collegiate level sports can cause an amount of stress that some cannot handle. There have been some cases over the past years of college athletes committing suicide because of the increased pressure. Some of the most prominent cases have been Madison Holleran, a freshman cross country and track team member at the University of Pennsylvania, and with Kasta Karageorge, an Ohio State wrestler and football player. Karageorge’s case differed from Holleran due to the possibility that his decision was affected by the numerous concussions he had endured during his football and wrestling careers. Permanent injuries, such as chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a condition developed from numerous concussions, can have damaging effects to an athlete’s mental being.
The odds of winning a full ride athletic scholarship is miniscule, with only two percent of college athletes doing so, according to CBS News. But the money is not the main reason Jessie Skopec ’17 chose to participate in college athletics. “[The University of South Dakota] had what I wanted to major in, which was very important. And then they have a great cross country/track program with fantastic teammates, and I knew it would be a place I would enjoy running at, ” Skopec said. However, Skopec’s reasoning is not always applied when deciding between universities and their athletic programs. Meyer admits that she did let the allure of a full-ride scholarship cloud her judgement when deciding where she wanted to continue her athletic career. “I suppose at that time it was exciting that there was a school [that was] clearly interested in me, and admittedly, I did not put an emphasis on the
$$ $
academics at the time.... I was actually only there for two years … [because] my shoulder got a lot of really bad tendonitis,” Meyer said. “I ultimately decided that I did not want to continue my career ... I think it was at that time that I realized that I chose the school to play at because I was going to get to play and I didn’t choose it for the academics.” With so many options to choose from, athletes oftentimes have to make difficult decisions when deciding where they want to attend college. Factors such as the division of the school they will be attending can strongly affect their choice. “I think that being in sports is being honest [with] yourself about what your real level is. Not everyone is a DI [Division I] athlete; I wasn’t. It’s about being at that level you can excel at and you can be your best [at]. If you truly want to be a DI athlete, then do the work that it takes to get there. But, if not then be honest with yourself,” Meyer said.
LEFT TOP: Cailyn Morgan ‘19 goes for a rebound in West’s double header against City High on Jan. 24,. The final score was 63-58 West. RIGHT BOTTOM: Jo Dixon ‘19 takes a break during his match against a City High wrestler on Dec. 16. West fell to City High, 31-33.
LEFT PHOTO BY SARAH LONGMIRE RIGHT PHOTO BY LEAH DUSTERHOFT DESIGN BY CRYSTAL KIM
FAST 7.3% FACTS 7.3% % 39.2 39.2 2%
of athlete deaths are from suicide
of college atheletes get full rides
6
college sports offer full rides
hours are dedicated per week by men’s basketball athletes
37.6
hours are dedicated per week by women’s basketball athletes
Sources: CBS News, drdavidgeier.com & Sports Health
41
SPORTS
FEB. 17, 2017
42
SPORTS
FEB. 17, 2017
Take a glance at how the six winter sports teams are faring so far this season. For a more in-depth look at the teams, visit wsspaper.com and follow @wssathletics on Twitter. Due to our print deadline, all information is as of Feb. 6. COMPILED BY ELLIE GRETTER & GABBY SKOPEC
“[My greatest accomplishment] was beating kids I wasn’t supposed to beat and the team beat a ranked team.” -Hunter Davis ‘18
“Boys qualified eighth out of 16 schools [for our Baker Tournament] and beat the best schools several times and came in fifth place.” -Jordan Tiegs ‘17
“Definitely for the varsity girls we have been improving our pin count overall ... I feel like as a whole team we’ve been getting closer [to our goals] and getting better.” -Kalei Strabala ‘17
43
SPORTS
FEB. 17, 2017
“I have been steadily getting faster this season. I think I just need to keep going hard in practice to get in better shape so I can reach my goals for state in February.” -Brennon Keen ‘18
“We play together like a bunch of sisters; we all know what everyone can do. I think that’s what sets us apart from other teams.” -Lauren Zacharias ‘19
WRESTLING
“So far this season we’ve done a really good job of playing as a team. With the talent we have it would be easy to get selfish but we haven’t.” -Jake Anderson ‘18
UPCOMING EVENTS
PHOTOS BY OLIVIA DACHTLER ART BY ANGELA ZIRBES DESIGN BY CATHERINE JU & TYLER THOMASSON
Wrestling
State - 2/16, 2/17, 2/18
Boys Bowling
State - 2/22
Girls Bowling
State - 2/22
Boys Bowling
State - 2/22
Girls Basketball Regional - 2/18, 2/21 State - 3/1, 3/3, 3/4
44
A DV E R T I S E M E N T S FEB. 17, 2017
12
PHOTOS BY BY LEAH DUSTERHOFT & SARAH LONGMIRE
EXCLUSIVELY ON
1
WSSPAPER .COM 2
‘YOU’RE ON YOUR OWN ON THIS ONE’: THE STORY OF A FEMALE WRESTLER
PHOTO STORY: INSIDE LOOK AT THE NEW CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL
Laurel Haverkamp ’20 tried wrestling for two years before deciding to quit. Read on about her experience as a female in a predominantly-male sport.
Look in on the open house of the new Stead Family Children’s Hospital in honor of the University of Iowa Dance Marathon yesterday.
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45
OPINION
FEB. 17, 2017
ENTERTAIN(ME)NT BY EMMA BRUSTKERN
A
midst headlines detailing terrorism in foreign countries and the worries regarding a Trump presidency, one hero appears as the light at the end of the tunnel: entertainment. Now, hear me out. This might seem like a bit of an exaggeration, but I guarantee that after a long, taxing day, most students want to kick back, relax and watch television. What they don’t want to do is casually note that global temperatures are reaching an all-time high. Entertainment calms you down and helps you understand that not everything in the world is in a downward spiral. Despite this, the mass media and entertainment coverage seem to get a bad reputation. When you think of entertainment, your mind may go to cheap magazines you see while in the checkout line at Fareway. Headlines tell of the newest Kardashian drama or the biggest fashion statements on the red carpet. These tabloids may be why people think
DESIGN BY RYO OHASHI
prestigious news organizations such as The New York Times should be covering more important topics. A quick look at the comment section of a “Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life” review reveals that adults couldn’t care less about the revival of a classic, charming television show. They are more insistent on focusing on the real world and “real news.” As an entertainment editor, these ideas both upset and worry me. Even here at West Side Story, the entertainment section is criticized for being fluffy and insubstantial. To be perfectly honest, I understand this critique. After all, there’s only so much you can do with a recipe. Yet, entertainment isn’t claiming to be incredibly content heavy and important. It’s fun, it’s interactive, it’s an easy read following the cover story. The simple fact that it isn’t hard-hitting dramatic news doesn’t make entertainment any less important or relevant. This problem isn’t specific to newspapers. Teenagers are constantly criticized for their
interests in entertainment, whether it be pop music or celebrities. For this reason, teenagers are thought of as vain, brainless and uninterested in the reality of the world. I disagree with this sentiment. It is possible for people my age to debate politics and also enjoy video games. It is possible for them to read Entertainment Weekly and also read Jane Austen. It is possible for them to worry about refugees and still enjoy binge watching Netflix. An interest in entertainment does not exclude us from being well-informed and educated on issues that matter. I’m not staging an attack on conventional news, but simply pleading for understanding. In a world of discrimination, war, and political unrest, entertainment is easy and uncomplicated. It doesn’t ask anything from you, it simply stands for you to enjoy. And god, it’s fun. It’s really fun.
46
OPINION FEB. 17, 2017
Women’s running safety has been at the forefront of national attention recently following several horrific cases. BY GABBY SKOPEC hen I hear anything about running in the news, I listen in a little more. Recently, what I’ve been hearing hasn’t been about the health benefits of running or about a high school cross country meet. Instead it’s been much grimmer; there have been multiple women kidnapped and murdered while running. In one case, a young mother was kidnapped while out of women runners for a jog, taken captive have been for several weeks and followed by a then found beaten person in a vehicle, and bruised with a on a bicycle or on bag over her head on foot. the side of a desolate highway. These cases add to a growing fear for the safety of women out running. The issue of women’s running safety has an effect on Iowa City runners both directly and in-
directly. I have heard a handful of stories from other runners in the area who have been followed or catcalled while running. And while the number of runners who have personally dealt with such instances may be small, there is something of women that affects nearly all of runners have us: fear. been grabbed, Yes, thinking about your groped or safety is a good thing. But otherwise in all honesty it’s becomphysically ing something that we assaulted. have to think about all too often. I’ve seen too many articles to count with tips on how to stay safe. Tips like carrying pepper spray, a cell phone or a small weapon, or to tell someone where you are going and when you plan on being back, and the list goes on. These tips are helpful, yes, but should someone really have to employ any of them to feel safe while running?
YOUR RUNS TO HAVE LIMIT 60% DAYLIGHT HOURS CONCERNS OF SAFETY OR CHANGE 52% HARASSMENT ROUTES EVER CAUSED RUN WITH YOU TO DO THE OTHER 41% PEOPLE FOLLOWING? FEMALE
MALE
Statistics source: Runner’s World PHOTO BY SARAH LONGMIRE DESIGN BY SIMRAN SARIN
14% 31% 15%
RUN WITH A PHONE
73%
26%
TELL SOMEONE WHICH ROUTE YOU ARE RUNNING AND WHEN YOU SHOULD BE BACK
71%
33%
For many, running is a solitary activity. It is an escape from daily life where they can let their minds wander to whatever they want. But quite often my mind wanders to questions of my safety. Which route is the safest? Where can I go if I am being followed? And the list of questions goes on. Sure, I could hop on a treadmill and run there, but there are a few problems with that. To start, treadmills suck; running in place and trying to constantly think up distractions to keep me from looking at the monitor isn’t the ideal running situation. Secondly, the outdoors are beautiful and motivate me to run. Most importantly, if I stop running outside then I am letting fear take control of me. And that shouldn’t happen. Running should be an activity where no one should have to worry. A place where they can let themselves go. It can of women simply be them and the runners have miles they have to run or it can be a time to been sexually think about troubles of propositioned. the outside world. But it should not be a place to think about the possible troubles of what could come from going out for a run. I do not know what the perfect solution to this problem is. Well, people could stop doing terrible things to each other, but that is probably not going to happen. However, there are a few things that could help us out. First off, installing lights, emergency phones and cameras along trails would be a step in the right direction. Furthermore, the trails in the area could use some upkeep; unmaintained brush and lots of trash do not give off a good vibe to trail users. Additionally, a good way to tackle the issue would be with numbers. Those of us who enjoy outdoor recreation should use the trails and continue outdoor recreation because there is strength in numbers. Honestly, I just want to lace up my shoes with nothing more to worry about than the weather forecast and if I am hitting perfect splits or not.
47
OPINION
FEB. 17, 2017
Hello Readers!
My name is Westina and I am the West Side Story advice writer. It is my loving duty to answer your individual questions about high school. From getting that cutie in chem to ask you out to trying to maintain a reasonable sleep schedule, have no fear, Westina is here. You can email me individual questions at wsswestina@gmail.com or drop a question in the envelope on the WSS bulletin board.
Happy reading, Westina Dear Westina,
My boyfriend is going to college out of state, but I’m a junior. We’ve been together since I was in 7th grade and I know we’re both confused about what we should do about our relationship. We haven’t talked about it yet and I really don’t want to break up. I really like him and I think we both see a future together. I don’t want to be left behind and forgotten about when he leaves. Is there anything I can do to try and save this before it ends?
Sincerely, Stuck in-State
Dear Stuck,
I’m sorry to hear about this. It’s always really tough to try and navigate the waters of the “will we, won’t we” of long-distance relationships. The best way to bring this up is to be honest about your worries. Explain all the possible concerns you have and be open to how they feel as well. Be aware that lots of college freshmen use college as a time to change who they are. In order to try and combat this natural desire to change, communication will be key. It will be very important for the both of you to listen and share your feelings on the coming years apart.
Best of luck, Westina
Dear Westina,
I’m the world’s worst procrastinator, and I’m swamped in school activities. This has led to me getting less than four hours a night average and pulling a lot of all nighters. My caffeine tolerance is up and I’m looking for ways to be a little more efficient with my time. I’m hoping you can help me get more sleep and get more homework done without cutting my activities.
With anticipation, Sleepless in Iowa City
Dear Westina,
Every morning when I get to my locker there is a couple making out in front of it. First of all, it’s really freaking gross, and second, I don’t know how to politely tell them they’re really gross. Also, I end up late for first period because they don’t move until after the bell rings. I’ve tried to ask them politely to move, but either they’re so caught up in their little love bubble they can’t hear me, or they’re ignoring me. I need to get to my locker and I want to be able to say something to them without completely offending them.
Please help, Locked Out Dear Sleepless,
Considering teenagers need an average of nine hours a night, you have a serious problem. My first recommendation would be to balance your activities with the amount of work you have. Try to cut the activities that are not necessary and that you don’t fully enjoy. In order to try and be more productive, find a few friends to put together a study group. Put the phones away and go to a coffee shop so you can’t get distracted by a TV or the prospect of video games. (This works best if one or two of you are intent on getting a good amount of work done). The key to your problem is balance and motivation; find ways to motivate yourself to get work done before it’s due and this will allow you some time without the stress of deadlines.
Sweet dreams, Westina
Dear Locked Out,
PDA is a problem everyone at West High struggles with. I myself have walked into my fair share of couples making out in the hallway. I applaud your attempt at being polite and I think the best way to handle this is just that. Try asking a little louder, and if that doesn’t work, here are a few less polite suggestions. Find a stick outside and try to poke them away. Buy some altoids and wait until they come up for air, then offer them a mint as a peace offering. Now their breath is fresh and they are out of your way. Worst case scenario, if your mint doesn’t work and the stick breaks, try to get everything you need for the next day out of your locker after school and avoid your locker altogether.
Hopefully helpful, Westina DESIGN BY RYO OHASHI ART BY ANGELA ZIRBES
48
OPINION FEB. 17, 2017
THE MELTING M ELTI N G POT WEST SIDE STORY EDITORIAL
49
OPINION
FEB. 17, 2017
As President Trump signed the executive order on immigration, the media was quick to coin it the “Muslim ban.” Citizens across the nation refuse to stay silent as the order defies the very basis upon which the United States was founded—a country established by those fleeing religious persecution and thus dubbed the “land of the free” and a nation of immigrants. The melting pot has transformed into that which discriminates against certain ingredients, and brewing tensions are beginning to boil over.
W
est Side Story is home to students of varying cultural backgrounds. Our staffers have family who were refugees, immigrants or Holocaust survivors. But we are defined by more than that; we are also Christians, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus and atheists. We are a community that has arisen from those who came to America with nothing but the hope of becoming something. Because of our background, we are well acquainted with the importance of diversity and the American Dream. Yet, Trump’s executive order on immigration makes us wonder if the American Dream is even attainable anymore, when the order blatantly
WHAT IS AN EXECUTIVE ORDER? An executive order is something the president issues telling employees of the executive branch how to the interpret and carry out of the laws Congress makes. They do not require approval of Congress. The basis for their use comes from the phrase “take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed” in Article II, Section 3 of the Constitution. Executive orders can be overturned by the subsequent presidents. betrays the ideals of our nation. It sets a dangerous precedent of discrimination, divisiveness and distrust between our nation and others. By creating an executive order that discriminates against Muslims, Trump is in fact perpetuating radicalization, as he fashions a newfound concept of America as an intolerant nation. Although a campaign press release stated that the ban on Muslims from entering the United States will last “until our country’s representatives can figure out what is going on,” barring people from a country solely based on their religion or ethnicity is never justifiable. Furthermore, basing the legitimacy of this ban on a few radical extremists is greatly unfair. In fact, a 2015 New America study cites that 26 people in the United States were killed by Jihadists since 9/11 in comparison to the 48 killed by nonMuslim extremists. The Muslim community is no different from any other; there will always be
Trump’s executive order is no longer a matter
THE DEADLIEST MASS SHOOTING of Republican or Democratic values, of liberal in history and largest terrorist attack since 9/11 was committed by an American citizen in Orlando with a death toll of 49. those who are violent, but they are by no means representative of an entire population. According to a 2011 Pew Research Center survey, 86% of American Muslims believe the actions of Islamic terrorists are “rarely or never justified.” The baseless fears of our highly uneducated nation and Trump’s executive order tarnish and disgrace the meaning of Islam. Trump’s actions undermine democracy and shine a negative light on our country that is based on principles of non-discrimination and religious freedom. As a nation with the world’s largest military, economy and stockpile of nuclear weapons, blocking refugees who need our help is a severe misuse of power. We are a country who is able and thus obligated to aid those in need. America is a country built by immigrants, and we must not forget this; despite the fact that our country is dependent upon diversity, we have consistently discriminated against various religious and ethnic groups. In 1891, the largest mass lynching in U.S. history occurred with Italian immigrants as the victims of this great hostility. Not-yet-President Teddy Roosevelt declared the event to be “a rather good thing,” while The New York Times described the victims as “descendants of bandits and assassins.” Strikingly similar is Trump’s description of Latino immigrants, in which he stated that “they’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists.” Let’s also not forget the Chinese Exclusion Act which was passed in 1882 and resulted in an indefinite ban on Chinese immigration until the act was repealed in 1943. Time and time again, we compromise what our nation stands for when we attack minorities. But this is not just a domestic issue; we must also remain cognizant of former discriminatory atrocities such as the Holocaust and Rwandan Genocide. As our nation continues to marginalize the rights of Muslims, we pave the path towards a dark future not unlike these cruelties of the past. We hold a duty to not only remain respectful of others’ beliefs, but also promote the concept of tolerance.
or conservative beliefs, but rather it is a matter of freedom, justice and equality. Although we may not agree with nor admire one another’s political opinions, it is time to set these differences aside to fight for basic rights. This is no longer a domestic fight, but a global one—one that requires us to have courage and stand up for what we believe in. Whether you’re fighting for black lives, LGBTQ rights, women’s rights, or
EXECUTIVE ORDERS ISSUED PER PRESIDENT
8 48 3,522 346 291 276
GEORGE WASHINGTON ABRAHAM LINCOLN FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT RICHARD NIXON GEORGE W. BUSH BARACK OBAMA
whatever the social movement you are a part of, we must consolidate to fight back. Patrisse Cullors, co-founder of the Black Lives Matter movement, delivered a lecture in Iowa City on Feb. 6. She stated, “all movements need to join together and unify” to aid the most marginalized. The executive order on immigrants is dangerous and requires action, whether it be participation in peaceful protests, contacting your congressional representatives or even changing your Facebook profile. No matter how you choose to act, let us unify as one nation fighting for the basic concepts our country was founded upon. PHOTO ON LEFT: Ala Mohamed '17 and Raneem Hamad '17 acknowledge the crowd at an "Anti-Ban" rally in downtown Iowa City after reciting a poem written by Mohamed. Aside from poetry, the rally also featured speeches and music as over 1,500 people gathered in solidarity. Sources: CNN, National Archives, New America, Pew Research Center & The New York Times STATISTICS COMPILED BY ELEANOR HO PHOTO BY CAROLINE YOUNG DESIGN BY SIMRAN SARIN
50
OPINION FEB. 17, 2017
BRAVE
NEW
WORLD ART BY BRAEDYN DOCHTERMAN
If Trump wants everyone to shut up and calm down, he will legalize the usage of cannabis nationwide. But while we are victorious, we will be oblivi-
ous.
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* Pareen Mhatre Ala Mohamed*
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 Photographer Web profiles editor
Michael Moonjely* 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
Web entertainment editor Designer Social media editor/ anchor Designer Distribution manager/ reporter 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
EQUITY STATEMENT
It is the policy of the Iowa City Community School not to discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, national origin, gender, age, martial status, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, disability, or socioeconomic programs, activities, or employment practices. If you believe you have (or your child has) been discriminated against or treated unjustly at your school, please contact the Equity Director ,Kingsley w, at 509 Dubuque Street, 319-688-1000. 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. DESIGN BY ELEANOR HO
P H OTO F E AT U R E C O N T I N U E D PAREEN MHATRE On Jan. 21, a number of protests took place nationwide. I attended the Women’s March on Chicago, which became one of the biggest protests in the city’s history. More than 250,000 marchers amassed for a plethora of issues; this number was three times more than what the organizers of the march had expected. While the organizers claimed the march was not an anti-Trump protest, many of the marchers participated for political reasons. Nonetheless, I had never seen more people gather peacefully to fight for what they believed in. I felt a sense of robust unity in the crowd, and I had hoped to capture this through my lens.
DESIGN BY CATHERINE JU
:F R
I sa w yo ue fou v e r r t yd hp a d e y o r i n o du ' d t sad rin an bu g .I d t, i m n t o ma iss w t I k h e a sm td FR e a d O bo M d. EU D
FROM:
Id o n 't m iss conn ections. I just ne ver mak e any. EXCUSE S
MIS SED CON NEC TIO NS In what has become a Valentine’s Day tradition, WSS asked readers to reveal some of their missed opportunities at love.
CONTINUED But I could never star in Hamilton, I always throw away my shot By the way, did I mention that I think you’re pretty hot? I can’t derive equations ‘cause you’re all that’s in my head. I don’t really like raisins, how ‘bout a date instead? FROM: TRYING TOO HARD
My heart beats faster when you’re around. Each time I see you, I can’t make a sound. Like a treasure chest not found, Our relationship is the king not crowned. Notice me, I’m always around.
FROM: JUICY J
Hey pretty girl, I think you're pretty neat. Warm like cocoa, and also very sweet. You're such a lovely person, always on my mind. I don't know how to talk to you so I went and wrote this rhyme. I see you all the time, in class and in theatre, And even in the library, much like an avid reader
COMPILED BY MICHAEL MOONJELY ART BY ANGELA ZIRBES DESIGN BY CATHERINE JU