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WEST SI DE STO RY
P ERCEIVED P ROTECTION
P H OTO F E AT U R E KARA WAGENKNECHT Caden Fedeler ‘18 hands the baton off to Cole Mabry ‘19 during the boys distance medley relay on Friday, April 27. The track and field teams competed in the Drake Relays Thursday, April 26 through Saturday, April 28. Austin West ‘18 was the only West High athlete to win a championship flag after he finished first in the 400 meter hurdle race on Saturday. West won with a time of 51.96 seconds, only .02 seconds off the meet record.
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YEAR IN REVIEW
THE LITTLE AC T I O N S
PERCEIVED P R OT E C T I O N
SUMMER POPSICLES
GENDER GA M E S
M A N DAT E D MEDIOCRITY
04 10 12 17 20 24
LETTER FROM THE
F E AT U R E 04 YEAR IN REVIEW 0 6 A M OV E M E N T B E G I N N I N G W I T H A L E T T E R
PROFILES 0 8 S O LO N G, S T E V E S 1 0 T H E L I T T L E AC T I O N S
C OV E R 1 2 P E R C E I V E D P R OT E C T I O N
E N T E RTA I N M E N T 17 SUMMER POPSICLES 1 8 S A LVAG I N G YO U R S U M M E R
S P O RT S 2 0 G E N D E R GA M E S 2 2 T H E S A L A M A B R OT H E R S
O P I N I O N & E D I TO R I A L 2 4 M A N DAT E D M E D I O C R I T Y 2 5 E D I TO R I A L : U N D E R A L E N S
EDITOR
Happy spring, dear readers! I’m Deniz Ince, the Print Editor-in-Chief for the 2018-19 school year. Congratulations on making it through another year. As you’re sitting in class in a puddle of your own sweat, having to peel your legs off the chair, let’s reminisce on the events of the past year. Remember the GO bond? In a couple years, students will no longer be suffering from “humidity hair” and heat exhaustion during class. Remember when the underclassmen stole all the good lockers at the beginning of the year? Read about more events like these in the Year in Review. Another addition was the distribution of COVER DESIGN BY THOMAS DUONG
Chromebooks to all students. In light of recent security breaches on the internet, reporters Jenna Wang and Lucy Polyak embarked on a mission to find out how secure student accounts actually are and how a defining part of teenage culture, social media, may have security downfalls. On a related note, the Editorial Board presents a debate on whether the administration’s ability to monitor Chromebook activity infringes on student rights. I wish everyone a fantastic, worry-free summer and can’t wait to see you all next fall. But let’s be real, I think I can wait.
DENIZ INCE
04
F E AT U R E
MAY 23, 2018
YEAR IN
REVIEW
As the 2017-18 school year comes to an end, West Side Story takes a look at some of the significant events that have made this year memorable. BY ANNA BROWN & ANJALI HUYNH
CONSTRUCTION On Nov. 3, an underground water main burst, triggering a flood in the backlot of West during the new gym construction. This construction is only one of the many projects that were undergone this school year with some others being new additions added to the cafeteria, electrical and plumbing upgrades, and a school wide heating and cooling system.
PHOTOS BY SEAN BROWN, ANJALI HUYNH, ALYSON KUENNEN & KARA WAGENKNECHT DESIGN BY JENNA ZENG
GIRLS BASKETBALL On March 2, the Women of Troy defeated hometown rival City High at the Wells Fargo Arena to win the state championship. West built up a lead during the second quarter that continued to grow for the remainder of the match and resulted in a win for the Trojans with a score of 56-45. “The team worked so hard and seeing all of that hard work pay off is an incredible feeling,” said Emma Koch ’19.
WALK IT OUT
The multicultural fashion show, Walk It Out, held its second annual showing of diversity through fashion, dance, food and music on March 31. Inspired by a similar show at the University of Iowa, Walk It Out showcases a variety of cultures present at West High with all proceeds going to the University of Iowa HIV Clinic. The event this year brought over 240 students, parents and faculty together and will continue to promote diversity in the years to come.
WRESTLING Nelson Brands ’18 took home his third state championship on Feb. 17, in the 160-pound class for Class 3A. “Winning state three times was great, but being short of four was a disappointment … [I’m] ready for the college level,” Brands said. Additionally, Francis Duggan ’18 won the 220-pound championship for Class 3A.
THE MIRACLE SEASON The Miracle Season, a movie recapping West High’s 2011-12 volleyball season, first hit theaters on April 6. The movie retells the story of Caroline Found’s tragic death in 2011 and her volleyball team that would go on to win the state championship the same season in her name. In addition to including shots of West High and the classic green-andgold colors, the movie also portrays health teacher and former volleyball coach Kathy Bresnahan.
05
F E AT U R E
MAY 23, 2018
GIRL UP
Students gathered in the West cafeteria on the evening of Dec. 8, to attend a fundraiser organized by Girl Up, a club aiming to unite girls around the world through raising money for girls in need. The West High branch of this United Nationsaffiliated group was started this year by Megan Schneider ’18. At the event, the audience had a chance to hear from speakers empowering women, listen to performances from West students and participate in a silent auction.
MLK ACTIVITIES West High School began a new tradition for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. On Jan. 15, 112 sessions were offered to students to bring awareness to diversity at West. With classes focused on community service, social justice and race, administration and students alike worked towards an environment of acceptance and equality.
SASS The Students Against School Shootings is a newly-founded group calling for stricter gun regulations following the Parkland Shooting. SASS includes students from both City and West High and on April 20, the group held a ‘die-in’ protest across from the Old Capital building in downtown Iowa City for National Walkout Day. The students laid on the ground for six minutes and 20 seconds which coincides with the amount of time the Parkland shooter opened fire on Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
DOLLARS FOR SCHOLARS West show choirs Good Time Company and Showtime performed alongside other show choirs in the district on Jan. 10 for the annual event, “Dollars for Scholars.” Taking place at Liberty High School, this event raised money for the Great Iowa City Area Dollars for Scholars Endowment, an organization that gives scholarships to students continuing into post-secondary schooling throughout the district.
SPIT Student Produced Innovative Theatre (SPIT) is a student-led group that annually puts on a oneact comedy and one-act drama, and took place on Jan. 12 and Jan. 15. Ethan Seylar ’18 and Heidi Vogts ’18 directed the one-act comedy “Check Please,” while Callie Dains ’18 and Paige Harken ’18 directed the one-act drama “Tracks.”
FRC WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS The FIRST Robotics Competition team “Children of the Corn,” consisting of students from West, City and Liberty High Schools, achieved its most successful season yet this year. After competing in two regional competitions, the team qualified for the World Competition in Detroit, Michigan on April 25. They placed 51st within the Curie division at this prestigious championship.
06
F E AT U R E MAY 23, 2018
A M OV E M E N T BEGINNING WITH BY FATIMA KAMMONA & GEORGE LIU DESIGN BY LYDIA GUO
A group of four students petitioned to have Muslim holidays such as Eid-al-Adha and Eidal-Fitr as days where the ICCSD would not be in session.
A
s the snow was falling and families were gathering to decorate trees and wrap presents, an elementary student sat down and wrote a letter. With the encouragement of her mother, the little girl typed up her thoughts and sent them to Superintendent Stephen Murley. From there, the email would be forwarded to school board member Ruthina Malone, and other students, including fifth grader Reem Kipja, sixth-grader Noor Saad and seventh-grader Lana Ahmed, would join her on her quest. These girls would later go on to stand in front of the Iowa City School Board with their parents, teachers and fellow classmates in hopes of accomplishing the letter’s request. Sixth-grader Rayan Saeid requested for school to no longer be in session on Muslim holidays. “I wrote that it was unfair that we didn’t have Eid off and that we should have it off,” Saeid said. Islam celebrates two major holidays. The first holiday, Eid-al-Adha, honors the willingness of Ibrahim to sacrifice his son Ishmael as an act of obedience to Allah. The second, Eid-al-Fitr, marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting. Those who celebrate the holidays spend them with family, wear nice clothing, receive money and pray the prayer of Eid. For many students, this means being absent from class. “[Teachers] don’t usually [shorten] lessons ... considering that a lot of the school is Muslim,” said Maria Osman ’19. “So I would have to reread everything and teach myself all the things ... That would usually reflect badly on tests later on. They force you to choose between school and a religious holiday.” Even at the elementary level, these absences can have a great impact on the education of the students. “I missed a test and I had to do it while everyone was at recess ... I [was] really scared to ask the teacher about a question that I [didn’t] understand because I [felt] like she [was] going to judge me or be annoyed,” Saeid said.
Just like Saeid, other students may feel anxious about talking to a teacher. Some also believe that celebrating the holiday is not worth the pressure faced from missing class. “We don’t want to miss Eid, [but] we don’t want to miss school,” Saad said.
“ WH E N PEOPLE ASK M E WHAT E I D [I S] , I TE LL TH E M WITH PRI DE AN D HAPPI N ESS. I ’ M REALLY, REALLY PROU D TO B E A M USLI M .” - LANA AH M ED ’23
In their speech in front of the school board on Feb. 13, the girls talked about the lack of knowledge people have about their religion and its holidays. According to the Pew Research Center, there are an estimated 1.8 billion Muslims
worldwide, making Islam the world’s second largest religion after Christianity. Despite this, these students still feel there is a lack of knowledge in the community about their faith and hope having one day off for each of the holidays would counteract that. “I would be proud to talk about it all day; I [could] tell a million people. When people ask me what Eid [is], I tell them with pride and happiness. I’m really, really proud to be a Muslim,” Ahmed said. In the girls’ letter and speech, they also addressed the inequality they felt with not having those holidays off. “Around Halloween at school, [the students] get to have this whole parade with costumes, and even if [the school district] doesn’t give us a party at school, they don’t even give us a holiday [off],” Kipja said. With the invitation from Malone and the help from family friends and city council president Mazahir Salih, the girls were able to present a speech to a full house. And though many did raise their hands in support of having Muslim holidays off, the school board has yet to decide on the outcome. According to Murley, “At this time, the district is seeking input from the religious leaders in Iowa City about the issue of how best to handle religious holidays that fall on school days.” If decisions are made to have Muslim holidays off according to the ICCSD calendar, students would not experience the effects until the spring of 2020, because Islam follows the lunar calendar. This means that for the next two years, Eidal-Adha and Eid-al-Fitr will take place during the summer while school is not in session. A local movement began with a girl and a letter, and even though Saeid has now moved out of the district, she knows her friends will continue what she started. She still hopes Muslim holidays will one day no longer be in conflict with school, even if she is not here to see that day. “I didn’t do this only for myself,” Saeid said. “I did this for everyone.”
07
F E AT U R E
A LETTER
MAY 23, 2018
E AS T C OAS T I N I T I AT I V E While efforts for the ICCSD to observe religious holidays such as Eid-al-Adha and Eid-al-Fitr have faltered, school districts have formulated different plans-of-action to address the growing diversity in their communities.
NEW YORK: The New York City Department of Education has had Jewish holidays off since the 1960s and began to observe Eid-al-Fitr and Eid-al-Adha in the 2015-16 school year. About 10 percent of the students in the district are Muslim, and Mayor Bill de Blasio said the change was made to respect the strength of the city’s diverse communities.
NEW JERSEY: The Paterson Public School District encompasses a racially diverse community. Taking this into consideration, the district allows students one day off for each major religion chosen annually by the school board with support from local religious leaders.
MARYLAND: The Howard County school board expanded its religious observances to include Eid-al-Adha, the Hindu holiday Diwali and the eve of Lunar New Year in the 2016-17 school year. Students do not have school during those holidays along with Jewish Yom Kippur and Rosh Hashanah in order to accommodate the county’s diverse population.
VIRGINIA: The school districts of Fairfax and Prince George have implemented a policy that started in the 2017-18 school year that will prevent tests and major school events from occurring on Muslim or Jewish holidays. Sources: Washington Post and Christian Science Monitor
According to numerous American educational and religious organizations, school districts should do the following to ensure that people of all religions are equally represented:
Develop policies about the treatment of religious holidays in the curriculum and inform parents of these policies
Offer pre-service and in-service workshops to assist teachers and administrators in understanding the appropriate placement of religious holidays in schools
Source: Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction
Become familiar with the nature and needs of the religious groups in the school community
Provide resources for teaching about religions and religious holidays in ways that are constitutionally permissible and educationally sound
08
PROFILE
MAY. 23, 2018
S O L O N G, S T E V E S A look back on the impact retiring teachers Steve Ehren and Steve Bergman have left on West High BY JESSICA MOONJELY
STEVE EHREN MATH TEACHER
“ MANY STU DE NTS HAVE RE PORTE D TO M E THAT TH EY REALLY E NJOY M R . E H RE N ’S STYLE OF TEACH I NG. H E BLE N DS H U MOR WITH A BUSI N ESS- LI KE APPROACH THAT STU DE NTS REALLY APPRECIATE . H E CAN RETI RE KNOWI NG THAT H E HAS POSITIVE LY I M PACTE D THOUSAN DS OF STU DE NTS OVE R TH E COU RSE OF H IS CARE E R .”
-J ON BACH , MATH TEACH E R
W
hen the head of the math department at Homewood-Flossmoor High School in Illinois told Steve Ehren he was going to lose his job teaching math next year due to declining enrollment, Ehren looked for something to make him stand out. He went back to school and took several computer science courses that allowed him to keep his job. But following an early retirement in Illinois, Ehren realized he still had a passion for teaching computer science and decided to reenter the educational world. After searching the entire Midwest, he found West High was one of the few schools looking for a computer science teacher. Since then, Ehren has spent the past ten years teaching math and computer science at West. Transitioning to West went smoothly for Ehren, as he believes the majority of students at West always want to do their best. It’s the one-on-one interactions with students and the light-bulb moments that he will miss the most. “All of a sudden the light goes on and they go, ‘Oh I get this!’ Then they see their project work perfectly, and I can almost feel their feeling of victory over that machine,” Ehren said. In the math classroom, Ehren always knew he wanted to teach the regular level instead of honors because he was once in his students’ shoes. “I wasn’t an honors math student. I was a regular math student so I’d like to think that they realize I knew what their struggles would be and that I helped prepare them to overcome them,” Ehren said.” After teaching a total of 44 years, Ehren looks forward to traveling more with his wife and staying outdoors kayaking, bicycling and cross country skiing. He also plans to continue doing work at Mount Mercy University in computer science. The advice Ehren has for the students of West High is to make their passion their profession. “Find something that you enjoy,” Ehren said. “It may not make as much money as you wanted to make but if you’re enjoying what you’re doing life is going to be okay and work out for you.”
“ I HAVE H I M FOR MATH AN D H E IS A GREAT TEACH E R . ON E OF MY FAVORITE TH I NGS IS WH E N WE ARE LEARN I NG A N EW LESSON AN D M R . E H RE N SAYS ‘OOOH TH IS IS A J U ICY ON E ! ’ WH E N IT IS A COM PLEX PROBLE M .” - HAYDEN HOLST ’19
09
PROFILE
MAY 23, 2018
“ MY FAVORITE M E MORY OF BE RGMAN IS AFTE R MY SOPHOMORE YEAR WH E N WE WON STATE . H E WAS REALLY E MOTIONAL BECAUSE H E WAS GOI NG TH ROUGH A REALLY TOUGH TI M E SO WH E N WE WON , H E WAS REALLY HAPPY AN D ABLE TO H UG IT OUT WITH EVE RYON E AN D THAT WAS REALLY COOL TO SE E .” - PATRICK MCCAFFE RY ’19
B
ehind every great team, there is a great coach. For the boys basketball team, that’s Steve Bergman. It takes a lot of work to win the state championship once, let alone six times over the course of one’s career. In addition to coaching the boys basketball team, Bergman has taught physical education, special education and drivers education throughout his 28 years at West. Though Bergman’s focus at West has been mainly athletics, he’s appreciative of West’s diversity and its emphasis on other programs. “We have so many different things going on and lots of things that are very successful. It’s not like some schools where the athletic program is in everybody’s eye and is the centerpiece of the school. I think that’s one of the nice things about West,” Bergman said. Over the course of his coaching career, Bergman has put in countless hours training the team to be the best in the state as he’s a firm believer that hard work is rewarded. However, it’s the development of his players rather than the wins that make everything worthwhile. “When you win state championships, that’s always a really good high because that’s what you’ve worked for for an entire year, but I think more long term is just working with a lot of different kids and seeing them progress,” Bergman said. “It’s really nice to see a lot of them go on and do really good things in their lives.” After more than two decades, Bergman has decided to stop teaching at West in order to pursue the opportunity to work with his brother in property management and development. Bergman will coach the varsity team during summer off-season workouts, but at this time, he does not know his involvement beyond that. When asked about the legacy he hopes to leave at West, he said he hopes students remember his dedication for his job for years to come. “[I hope I’m remembered] for a long time because I’m still alive. I hope they know that I showed up to work everyday and did my best for them,” Bergman said. “More specifically for the basketball guys, I had to show a lot of tough love sometimes, but I cared about all of them and I just wanted them to have success.”
STEVE BERGMAN P.E. TEACHER
“STEVE BE RGMAN IS A VE RY KI N D- H EARTE D MAN ON TH E I NSI DE , DESPITE H IS SOM ETI M ES GRU FF EXTE RIOR . I M ET H I M ON H IS FI RST DAY AT WEST H IGH AS WE WE RE BOTH SPECIAL E D TEACH E RS AT TH E TI M E . I WI LL M ISS HAVI NG H I M WORK H E RE , ESPECIALLY H IS QU ICK WIT AN D H IS ABI LITY TO MAKE M E LAUGH .” - MOLLY AB R AHAM , WEST H IGH ASSI STANT PRI NCI PAL
PHOTOS BY IVAN BADOVINAC DESIGN BY LYDIA GUO
10
PROFILES MAY 23, 2018
THE LITTLE ACTIONS
Correction: an earlier version of this story erroneously indicated that Dasia Taylor’s childhood had been rough and difficult. It was later reported that this was not true, and the story has been updated to show her life more accurately.
BY NATALIE KATZ
A
djusting the big white bow holding her glasses in place while smoothing down her dress, she walked to the podium on stage. Taking a deep breath to calm her nerves, she began to give the speech that she would remember for the rest of her life. On April 6, Dasia Taylor ’21 introduced one of her heroes, Dr. Terrence Roberts, a civil rights activist and one of the Little Rock Nine. Taylor didn’t know she would be giving the introduction until the day before, when science teacher Maureen Head approached her. “She has an appreciation for black culture and black history [so] I thought she would be someone that would be excited about the opportunity,” Head said. “I think that at some point she will probably be, if not already is, a leader at West.” Head’s choice for Taylor to deliver the speech was fitting because Taylor is inspired by how hard Roberts worked for equality and sees a little of him in herself. Taylor was born in Chicago and lived there until she was eight years old, when she moved with her mother to the small town of Madison, Indiana. No matter what city or state they live in, Taylor and her mom are always there for each other. Moving from the third largest city in the U.S. to a town of 3,500 people was a drastic change. “When the movers drove off, I freaked out and it was so crazy because Taylor was there for me. She was only eight years old and she gave me all this advice like a counselor would give. I felt better. I literally felt better,” said Taylor’s mom, LaDonna Phillips. “That’s one of the best memories that we share together as mom and daughter out of many.” Moving can be a challenge, but for Phillips and her daughter, it was a chance to pursue a better life. “When you have the means and a supportive family and a village to help you, [moving isn’t hard]. I knew I needed to get a career and finish college so that my daughter [could] have a better life than I did,” Phillips said. “That’s just how it goes. Every child should have a better life than their parents.” Knowing how hard her mom worked to provide for her drives Taylor to always do her best and take advantage of everything available to her. “My mom didn’t grow up as well as I am PHOTO BY TEYA KERNS
right now, so she tries to put her everything towards me. It feels good to know that she cares,” Taylor said. While her mother moved, finished her college degree and ended up in Iowa City, some of Taylor’s extended family still lives in inner city Chicago. “It’s hard to be in a separate state and look in and [know] that [the situation is] not good. I have family that lives really close to [the violence] and that could have been them at one point,” Taylor said. It seems like as [a person of] color, I think she just felt like it’s probably not fair to the black community that this [is] going on,” Phillips said. For her English 9 Symposium project this year, she chose to research police brutality, addressing Black Lives Matter, a movement that hits close to home. “I like to start small. I figured I could start that [project] and get awareness out there because people see it on the news, but [then] it’s just another thing on the news. It’s not right and there should be some sort of consequence,” Taylor said. “If people knew or even understood what [was] going on then they would not be so quick to be
so judgemental. That’s another thing I love most about [Taylor]: she brings awareness,” Phillips said. “Whether it’s from the black community or just in general, she’s going to fill that gap of knowledge if she can.” Since moving to Iowa City, Taylor has become involved in numerous activities. She is a facilitator for the restorative justice group, where she mediates a conflict between two or more individuals. Through the little actions, Taylor has allowed seeds planted long ago in her family’s history to fervently grow by spreading awareness on issues that mean a lot to her. But most of all through little actions, Taylor has watched her mom support and care for her in every way possible. Not only has she become very close with her mom, but Taylor has also learned many valuable things from her—to take advantage of opportunities and to value family—but most of all, she’s learned where hard work will get people in life. “When you come from a family of love you will be great. Taylor has been loved since coming into this world,” Phillips said. “We knew she was someone special from the time she entered the world.”
11
A DV E R T I S E M E N T S
MAY 23, 2018
PERCEIVED
P ROT E C T I O N BY LUCY POLYAK & JENNA WANG ART & DESIGN BY THOMAS DUONG
Amid recent internet security scandals, the world learned that there are far less protections for what is put on the web or picked up by new technological devices than people believe. No matter the effort, what’s put on the internet can never truly disappear for good.
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ith the dawn of the digital age came great uncertainty of what’s known about the technological world. It’s impossible to completely control where personal information goes or who is able to see it. Despite the pitfalls of current internet security, the world continues to faithfully use various aspects of the internet in order to socialize and access new information. Some post personal content without thinking, never fearing the possibility of consequence. While this may be amusing at the time, what people post on the internet can come back to bite them if they are not careful. Even if a photo or post is removed from public view, shares, screenshots and websites’ saved data allow this content to live on in the digital world. Additionally, due to fear of government monitoring, many people have covered their laptop cameras and refuse to purchase home devices, fearing the recording of personal conversation. Online presence can only be protected by precautions that are taken to manage digital content.
THE IMPACT OF YOUR D I G I TA L F OOT P R I N T
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common warning given out to teenagers is that nothing is ever truly deleted from the internet. However, many teenagers seem to ignore this cautionary tale, as they often feel that the digital world does not have the ability to come back to haunt them. In reality, this is a highly dangerous mindset to live with. Posts that are created when one is young and ignorant can be found more easily than one might expect. A prime time for this to occur is college application season. According to a Kaplan Test Prep study of 400 colleges in the U.S., roughly 40 percent of admissions personnel turn to Facebook, Instagram and other social media pages to get a read on current applicants. Additionally, 29 percent of these colleges Google search their potential students.
someone you are competing against, and all it takes is one small thing for them to move above you on the list.” University of Iowa Communications Director Aly Shea has seen a slightly more severe horror story unfold where actions online negatively affected one’s future. “A University of Iowa student who went by the social media name ‘Vodka Samm’ was arrested for public intoxication at a football game. It’s not a shining moment for anyone, but she happened to live tweet her arrest and bragged about her extremely high blood alcohol content level. Her tweets ended up going completely viral, ending up on national news outlets,” Shea said. “After the incident, she had to go into treatment, and then went on 20/20 to try to regain control of her narrative. Now when you Google her name, that incident is the first thing that comes up and has continued to follow her around.” One West student that has experience with cleaning up her digital footprint is Amelia Wat-
son ’19. Over the course of the past few years, Watson has applied for selective programs and jobs that left her wanting to make sure that everything attached to her name was positive. Thus, she decided to remove posts that she did not feel necessary to have on her accounts. “There’s always a chance [the colleges I’m applying to will] look at my social media, and I don’t want anything I post to impact my chances of getting in … so I don’t want anything bad about me [online] or anything that could paint me in some sort of bad light,” Watson said. One of the social media platforms that users must make sure they keep in check is Facebook, according to Inc. Magazine. Because of its connections to names and places, it is very easy for advisors to search the site and find who they are looking for. Security concerns like this are why Watson has never signed up for a Facebook account. “It’s at a point where everything [online] is so connected through Facebook. Everything
“IT’S SO I NT ERC ON N E C T E D T HAT I F YOU’RE O N FACEBOOK, T HAT L I N K S YOU TO JUST A BOU T EVE R Y T HI N G. ” -AMELIA WATSON ‘19
West guidance counselor Greg Yoder feels that it is crucial to understand that anyone can find the posts or images considered privately hidden away on the internet. “The thing about the web is that it’s free reign; it’s there for whoever wants to get ahold of it,” Yoder said. “I’ve heard some anecdotal stories about people who didn’t get jobs because [of] their Facebook page, and I could see the same thing happening with selective colleges as well.” Staff at the University of Iowa agree that digital presence can have a great impact on future opportunities. University of Iowa Associate Director and Outcomes and Career Advisor Jamie Lang has seen many cases where a student was not offered a particular spot because of content they posted on social media. “An athletic coach at the UI noticed that a person they were recruiting wrote negative tweets following some games, [and] they stopped recruiting them without even thinking,” Lang said. “People need to realize that there is always
A SURVEY BY CAREERBUILDER FOUND THAT
44% of employers who searched potential employees’ social network platforms found
POSITIVE information that led to a candidate receiving a job.
on your dashboard is full of things that other people can see, and it’s so interconnected that if you’re on Facebook, that links you to just about everything,” Watson said. Diego Rivera ’19 recently downloaded his Facebook saved data out of curiosity and was shocked by the results. He had over three gigabytes of saved data despite hardly using the platform during the past few years he had been on it. To put that in perspective, that amount of data is comparable to that of a 3 ½-hour-long movie. This caused Rivera to reflect on whether he should continue to use the platform as he got older. “I definitely think that when it comes to social media or any kind of Internet usage at this point, it’s really difficult to monitor exactly where your data is going unless you’re literally sending a letter by pigeon,” Rivera said. “Whether you’re putting your files in a third-party app or a main source like Google, it’s still really hard to know exactly where your information is being placed.”
ACCORDING TO A KAPLAN TEST PREP STUDY:
40%
of admissions personnel turn to Facebook, Instagram and other social media pages to get a read on current applicants.
On the other hand, colleges and businesses enjoy seeing applicants who appear to be promising, contributing members to their community. A survey by CareerBuilder found that 44 percent of employers who searched potential employees’ social network platforms found positive information that led to a candidate receiving a job. “By and large, people want to see that students are engaged and contributing members to their community, not that they’re trying to tear down others or be a negative influence,” Yoder said. “Those are just some real basic things, but at the same time, some very important ones.” While the internet is not as secure as many people believe it to be, there are ways to keep personal information as private as possible. Actions like managing cookies on websites, keeping track of social media privacy settings and seeking assistance to delete posts or accounts are simple ways to reduce one’s digital footprint. “Your regular day-to-day posts will more than likely not hurt you in the long run, so it’s okay to be yourself on social media. It helps you connect to the world and others around you, find new interests and stay informed,” Shea said. “If you’re proactive about what you post and think through consequences, you’re going to be just fine.”
29%
THE ISSUE OF INTERNET SECURITY
F
rom Facebook leaking user data to the Russia investigation, technology scandals have catapulted into the spotlight, raising questions about data security and privacy. As accessibility to technology becomes increasingly available, the problem only becomes more personal. One of the most common ways that user data is exploited is through targeted advertising, where companies track web activity and create ads promoting specific products or services tailored to that person’s interests. This has incited controversy, as the boundaries regarding the legality of privacy invasion are uncertain. “While I don’t think that laws and courts have been completely clear on [targeted advertising], that type of data use is not illegal and is in fact Google’s, Facebook’s and the Des Moines Register’s primary business model,” said ICCSD Director of Technology Adam Kurth. “Whether this type of data collection is problematic or nefarious is in the eye of the beholder; some people feel that their privacy has been violated, while others don’t give it a second thought.” However, data collection is no longer limit-
of these colleges Google search their potential students.
ed only to targeted advertising. For example, smart-home devices such as the Amazon Alexa and Google Home are now able to listen in on conversations without the user’s knowledge. “I was recently at a friend’s house who has an Alexa. We were talking about a particular Amazon product at night while having dinner. The next day, those products were on his Facebook feed, and he got an email saying they found something he might be interested in,” said Dale Felton, Senior Information Security Analyst at ACT. “I heard someone say it best when they said, ‘Why would we pay a lot of money for devices that are constantly listening?’” Another method of data collection that has grown more controversial in terms of privacy is camera spying, where someone can watch what is going on through a camera without the owner’s knowledge. Molly Erickson ’18, a student in the Chromebook IT Department, has seen this firsthand. To her knowledge, every Chromebook she has repaired had a piece of tape over the camera. “Literally everyone does it because people are paranoid about it, and it’s justified. I like being secure, and I like feeling safe,” Erickson said. While the concern over data security has grown, so has the necessity to find a balance be-
“I’VE H EA RD S O M E A N E C DOTA L S TORI E S A BOUT PEO PL E WHO D I D N’T GE T JOB S BECAUS E [ O F] T H E I R FAC E BOOK PAGE.” -GREG YODER, GUIDANCE COUNSELOR
tween user convenience and privacy. Erickson believes that among her peers, the issue has become too normalized for any attention to come to it. “I feel like if you’re using technology, it’s kind of expected that something’s going to happen,” Erickson said. “Not everything can be so secure, so [people] might as well be okay with that. I don’t think anyone cares enough because so many [companies] do it that you can’t end it.” Felton agrees that the “out of sight, out of mind” ideology has been ingrained, not only amongst everyday citizens but businesses as well. Having previously worked in the banking IT industry, Felton has also noticed that banks would buy cheaper, less-secure devices rather than more-secure and expensive devices. “You see people all the time in airports and coffee shops accessing their bank accounts or other very private data. Generally in a public area, the user is not protected, and with a few simple programs, someone could be on their device capturing data,” Felton said. “It’s definitely more convenient to turn a blind eye to this instead of using a firewall at home or properly setting complex passwords.” Currently, students in the ICCSD have data being collected through school-monitored services, such as Canvas and Securly. Securly is the content-filtering service on Chromebooks that monitors all student web activity and gives both the school district and parents the availability to control students’ web activity. However, this data is not currently used by the district. “Student email addresses and website visits are collected as part of the primary function of the system … but ICCSD does not use this data proactively. We will pull internet access data at the request of the school administrators, but this does not occur on a regular basis,” Kurth said. “It is worth noting that all companies with whom we share student data are required to be in compliance with FERPA and COPPA laws that protect students’ educational records and online safety. Furthermore, the companies cannot use student data for advertising purposes and cannot sell student data for any purpose.” Student data is also held within the ACT headquarters located in Iowa City. While this data is heavily protected, Felton has noted that hacking attempts are frequent. “There is a very small group of ACT employees that have access to that data. In order to get this access, [employees need] to have approval from very upper management,” Felton said. “We see hacking attempts every single day. We have policies and controls in place to make sure the ‘bad actors’ stay out. Between audits, penetration tests conducted by an outside company, well trained staff and some of the latest tech, we make
52% 74% 91% 86%
O F AMERICANS
OF PEOPLE
OF ADULTS
O F I N T E R N E T US E RS
sure data is only available to those who need it. As long as I’ve been with ACT, I have not heard of a single student data breach.” Nevertheless, as technology continues to advance, many have made comparisons to George Orwell’s futuristic universe found in 1984. “It’s a really scary prediction when you read [1984] and the more you think about it, it’s less of a prediction and more of our reality. Everywhere you look, there are security cameras, screens and companies that can target you with ads,” Erickson said. “The government also has watch lists and can track your information online and all that’s there.” Many have questioned whether the issue stems from the technology user or other parties and who should be responsible for resolving the problem, as both topics of discussion have been under constant deliberation. “I think it’s a little of both because … when was the last time someone actually read the terms and conditions? There’s also the fact that there
would describe themselves as concerned about government surveillance of Americans’ data and electronic communications.
say it is “very important” that they be in control of who can get information about them.
agree or strongly agree that consumers have lost control of how personal information is collected and used by companies. have taken steps online to remove or mask their digital footprint. Source: Pew Research Center 2016
isn’t really any government regulation over this issue, and they haven’t done too much about it,” Erickson said. “I really think that people should be more aware of what’s happening with their data, and unless we take precautions and be more educated about it, things are going to get worse.” Many also believe that the government needs to assume more responsibility in the regulation and evaluation of data and security. “I believe that eventually, the Bill of Rights does need to be reevaluated. The First Amendment was written Dec. 15, 1791. That was about 226 years ago. Based on how much tech has changed and how fast it’s growing, how can a bill written 226 years ago still be 100 percent relevant?” Felton said. Kurth agrees, saying, “It’s the role of the lawmakers, the courts and members of the public to establish firm rules with regard to vulnerabilities to ensure the maintenance of a free, democratic society.”
16
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17
E N T E R TA I N M E N T
MAY 23, 2018
SUMMER POPSICLES COMPILED BY DENIZ INCE
Although spring came late, summer is already in full swing. Savor your days off by the poolside with these easy-to-make, fruity popsicles.
PERFECT PEACH INGREDIENTS 2 cups water 2 peaches
2 tablespoons honey 2 tablespoons lemon juice
DIRECTIONS 1. Combine water, diced peaches, honey and lemon juice and blend until smooth. 2. Pour into popsicle molds and place in freezer. 3. Insert popsicle sticks after about one hour. 4. Let sit in freezer for at least four hours. Enjoy! Recipe adapted from Tastemade
BLUEBERRY BLAST INGREDIENTS ¼ cup apple juice 2 tablespoons honey
3 cups frozen blueberries 2 tablespoons lemon juice
DIRECTIONS 1. 2. 3. 4.
Combine ingredients in a blender and blend until desired consistency. Pour into popsicle molds and place in freezer. Insert popsicle sticks after about one hour. Let sit in freezer for at least four hours before eating.
Note: Use the same recipe to make smaller ice pops. Simply pour blended mixture into an ice tray and insert toothpicks. Freezing time may vary. Recipe adapted from Food Network PHOTOS BY ALLIE SCHMITT-MORRIS ART BY FRANCES DAI DESIGN BY LYDIA GUO
18
E N T E R TA I N M E N T MAY 23, 2018
SALVAGING YOUR
SUMMER
BY ANJALI HUYNH & ANNA BROWN
As the school year winds down, it’s time to start thinking about summer plans. If you’re running out of Netflix shows to binge watch or all your friends are leaving for exotic, faraway places, here are some nearby events that will make your staycation lots of fun.
BLOCK PARTY The summer event that captured the hearts of thousands last year will be returning in 2018. The second Downtown Block Party will be held June 23 in downtown Iowa City following its astounding success last year, where an estimated 30,000 people attended. Last year, this event featured a variety of activities such as sand volleyball in the streets, giant Jenga sets, concerts and many more. While details for the 2018 Downtown Block Party have not been finalized, the organizers are basing any changes to the upcoming festivity on survey responses following last year’s event. The only thing organizers are not planning to change is the inclusiveness and openness of the event for people of all ages, as well as the positive impact the party has on local businesses, being one of the downtown district’s busiest nights of the year.
ROCK THE CHALK Colors are splattered all over concrete. Sounds of laughter and jazz musicians fill the air. If either of these images excite you, visit Rock the Chalk. Hosted by MidWestOne Bank, Rock the Chalk is an annual event that will be held on Friday, Aug. 11 from 5 to 8:30 p.m. in downtown Iowa City. Multiple streets will be closed off to allow artists to decorate downtown Iowa City streets with chalk. Here, you’ll find hundreds of 8-foot-by-8-foot blocks containing works of chalk by creative geniuses from around the Iowa City area. You can also relive your childhood self by participating in creating your own masterpiece or just come for a nice, colorful stroll.
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E N T E R TA I N M E N T
MAY 23, 2018
NEWBO EVO LVE Don’t miss the opportunity to see your favorite pop icons live, only 25 miles away. A festival called “Newbo Evolve” will be held in Cedar Rapids from Aug. 3 to Aug. 5. It was created to celebrate the amount of growth the city has undergone since severe flooding in 2008 damaged much of the city. The event includes a variety of activities and is centered around celebrating bohemian spirit as a nod to the New Bohemian or “Newbo” neighborhood that was hit by the flooding. Come out to fly across the Iowa river on a 1,000+ foot zip line, attend panel discussions with celebrities hosts like Olympian Adam Rippon, stroll through exquisite design gardens and listen to live music from sensations Maroon 5 and Kelly Clarkson.
PRIDE PARADE Rainbow flags are spread out along the street. People of all ages and backgrounds are conversing, being brought together for this special occasion. On June 15 to June 17, the 48th Annual Iowa City Pride Festival will take place in Downtown Iowa City to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community and promote acceptance in society. To start off the festivities, there will be a Pride Picnic at Upper City Park from 5 to 7 p.m. on June 15. The next day will feature the main event, the Iowa City Pride Parade, which will start at College Green Park at 1 p.m. and will make its way throughout Downtown Iowa City. If walking long distances isn’t your thing, then enjoy a snow cone from one of the vendors or simply watch the live performances of local drag queens and kings the same or following day. Whichever it is, get geared up in your most colorful outfit and come experience this welcoming environment first hand.
SOUL FESTI VAL While many have heard of the Iowa Arts Festival and the Iowa City Jazz Festival, Iowa Soul Festival is a relatively unknown component of Iowa City’s arts-promoting organization “Summer of the Arts.” This celebration will take place from Aug. 4 to Aug. 5 in downtown Iowa City. At the festival, people from around the area will showcase dance, music, food and art within the African and African-American communities to highlight the influence these cultures have had on the community. This event will also feature both local and nationally recognized artists such as MarKaus, Shade of Blue and the Iowa City Dream Divas. ART & DESIGN BY SELINA HUA
20
SPORTS
MAY 23, 2018
GENDER
GAMES
Although sports have made progress in terms of gender equality, some coaches believe there are still key differences between male and female athletics. BY WILL CONRAD
W
hen Laurel Haverkamp ’20 walked into her first wrestling practice, the environment felt foreign. Although she was no stranger to athletics, she quickly learned that coaches approach women’s and men’s athletics differently, even at the high school level. In 1972, Congress passed the Education Amendment containing Title IX. This provision promised to end sex-based discrimination in all aspects of public education, including athletics. This landmark legislation changed how coaches approach male and female teams. Even today, many coaches struggle to find the line between treating all athletes the same way while tailoring to each teams needs. Although they present the same goals for both male and female teams, coaches across the country often find that coaching male and female athletics are different tasks that require different methods. The first commonly cited difference between male and female athletics is confidence of the athletes involved. A recent Center for Disease Control study found that female athletes drop off school teams at a rate six times higher than their male counterparts. This decades-long discrepancy has been attributed to the lower confidence of female athletes, coinciding with the proven confidence gap in the workplace between the
“ YOU MAY SPEAK D I F F E R E NTLY TO A MALE ATH LETE VE RSU S A F E MALE ATH LETE BUT I TH I N K TH E EX PECTATI O N S AR E TH E SAM E . WE ’ R E TRYI N G TO G ET ATH LETES TO R EACH TH E I R POTE NTIAL , BOTTO M LI N E .”
-CRAIG HUEGEL, ATHLETIC DIRECTOR
two sexes. According to a sociological theory pioneered by Claire Shipman and Katty Kay, women often underestimate their skills despite proficiency. Even female athletes who perform at a high level may not be self-assured. Byron Butler, who coaches both the boys and girls swim teams at West, has noticed this marked difference. “Sometimes girls will lack confidence and need some checks and reassurance that what they’re doing is good and that they’ve got a lot of ability and they can achieve their goals,” Butler said. “I think guys sometimes come in with confidence to a fault. And not that you always have to check that confidence, but it can get in the way of developing and being productive.” To combat this perceived lack of confidence, coaches often tailor their coaching style, especially in regard to the feedback they give. Many times coaches will use shame-and-blame tactics with male athletes, in which the call out athletes’ mistakes in front of the whole team. On the other hand, with female athletes, a coach may opt for a one-on-one conversation. “I think guys are a little bit more receptive to [criticism in front of teammates], and their teammates joke with them about it even if they are called out,” Butler said. “A lot of guys will see it as a challenge to prove me wrong. If I say ‘we could
21
SPORTS
MAY 23, 2018
be doing this better’ or ‘you did this wrong, let’s try to fix that,’ they’ll try to prove me wrong about it, whereas girls occasionally will take it more personally, when it’s not meant to be that way. It’s just how you have the conversation with them.” In addition, male athletes tend to opt for traditional practice routines and exercises, while female athletes often explore new techniques and strategies to achieve their goals. According to Butler, most times both strategies can lead to great success for the teams. “I think that the boys might buy in a little bit more to the old model of keeping [practice] simple,” Butler said. “In the last couple years with the boys swim team ... we’d be good at just a couple things, but we’d be really good at those. I think the girls teams generally want to do something new, something different. They’re looking for that next [step] a lot of times.”
BY TH E
34.7% 4 0% 6X
in athletes’ mentality, goals remain the same. “You may speak differently to a male athlete versus a female athlete but I think the expectations are the same. We’re trying to get athletes to reach their potential, bottom line,” Athletic Director Craig Huegel said. Haverkamp agrees with this sentiment. “I think it comes down to how the practices are written. You always want to be pushing your athletes to the same amount, to their best. I think the goal is where you’re pushing both to their cap,” Haverkamp said. One of the key ways in which coaches can reach these same goals, regardless of method, is to build unique relationships with each athlete. Each athlete responds to certain types of coaching differently, according to Huegel. “I think that you have to know the student. I know in my [track-]coaching career I had
N U M B E RS increase in the percentage of high school athletes who are female since 1971-72
Source: National Federation of State High School Associations
of females participate in high school sports
Source: Women’s Sports Foundation
Women are
as likely to drop out of high school sports
Source: Center for Disease Control
While coaches have good intentions, there are often drawbacks to approaching the sexes differently in practices. For Haverkamp, wrestling was difficult to become accustomed to. Coaches in the sport often did not know how to deal with a female wrestler, as they had coached almost entirely male athletes. “The first practice the coaches didn’t really talk to me and the athletes didn’t really talk to me, so it almost felt like I was invading, or breaking a certain rule, even though I wasn’t. I think there are a lot of girls interested in doing wrestling, but because it’s such a male-dominated sport, it takes a lot [of confidence] to walk in and be comfortable being there,” Haverkamp said. In sports, coaches generally try to do what they can to put their best team on the playing field. Although different methods, such as different forms of criticism, may have to be utilized for each sex to account for differences
kids who would not respond to a demanding coach. So you know that in the back of your mind. I think a lot of our coaches know that working with kids is about developing a relationship, especially a caring relationship. The kids want to perform well,” Huegel said. Most importantly, coaches continue to learn how to approach boys and girls teams throughout their careers. Although it may take time, coaches are constantly learning how to strike a perfect balance between tailoring to each teams’ needs while treating all their athletes in the same manner. “Two years ago I wouldn’t have been able to talk about any of the things I’ve talked about,” Butler said. “I walked in and thought I could coach [everyone] exactly the same, and I think anyone with experience would say that it’s not possible or it’s not the right way to do it. There are differences and it’s important to learn how to approach both.”
TERMS TO
KNOW TITLE I X As a provision of the 1972 Education Amendments, this bars discrimination on the basis of sex in institutions that receive federal funding.
CO N F I D E N CE GAP This concept is a sociological theory by Claire Shipman and Katty Kay stating that women have the same competency as men in the workplace but are held back by lower confidence.
EQ UAL TR EATM E NT Title IX does not require that each men’s and women’s team receive exactly the same services and supplies, but it looks at the entirety of the treatment the men’s and women’s programs receive as a whole. DESIGN BY JENNA ZENG PHOTO BY SEAN BROWN
22
SPORTS
MAY 23, 2018
TH E SAL AMA BROTH E RS Brothers and track athletes Yousif Salama ’19 and Osman Salama ’20 have been each others’ rocks moving across the world. However, they have also been each other’s toughest critics and competitors. Yousif and Osman discuss their experience moving from Sudan to Iowa, their dedication to track, the competition between them and how they have helped each other on the West High track team.
BY ABBIE CALLAHAN WSS: When did you move from Sudan to Iowa and why? Did you run in Sudan? Yousif: I lived in Sudan for about five years and we moved here for my dad’s job. We moved around quite a bit and I lived in Kuwait for a little bit. I didn’t run in Sudan at all, in fact I had no passion for running. I honestly kind of hated running. Yeah, I hated it. Osman: We moved to the U.S. in 2013 because education in the U.S. is a lot better and there are more opportunities to try new things. I did not run in Sudan mainly because there aren’t that many people that run and there aren’t any tracks or places to race. WSS: How long have you participated in track and what events do you compete in? Yousif: I started running track during my sophomore year. I used to run on my own a lot so Osman noticed that and thought that I would like track. He encouraged me to join the team. Now, I mainly run the 800, 1600 (1 mile) and occasionally I run the 3200 (2 miles). Osman: I started doing track in junior high but never took it seriously until high school and this is my second year doing track here at West. My main event is the 800 and I occasionally run the 400. I knew that Yousif can be really good at track because I used to see him run all the time and he was really fast. Sometimes I can’t keep up with him. I told him that he could be really good at track and he should join. At first he didn’t want [to], so I tried a lot to convince him until he agreed to join. WSS: Is there a lot of competition between you two? How have you overcome that? Yousif: My brother and I are pretty competitive no matter what sport it is. We talk about [track] every day, [but] even though we’re pretty competitive we still push each other and we use that to get better. But, if I’m being honest and unbiased, I think that I’m the better athlete. Osman: [My brother and I] are really competitive. We compete against each other a lot, and I think that it is a good thing because it makes us become better at whatever we’re competing for. We overcome it by pushing and supporting each other to become the best that we can be. WSS: How have you helped or encouraged each other through track? Yousif: My family is pretty supportive, and as long as I have them, no matter where I’m at, life is always good. We [Yousif and Osman] compete against each other [and] we both want to be
Brothers Yousif Salama ‘19 (left) and Osman Salama ‘20 (right) smile in the courtyard on Tuesday, April 24. the best we can be. Also, running track with my brother [has] brought to my attention my brother’s willingness to do what it take[s] to win. Osman: We give advice to each other and push each other so we can accomplish our goals. WSS: Have you found comfort in having your brother on the team? Yousif: I find it very comforting to have my brother on the team because I can always find
someone to talk to and practice with. Also, just knowing that you’re going through the same thing your brother is going through helps. Osman: It is comforting to have my brother on the team because I learn a lot from him. He is someone that I look up to because of his hard work and dedication. PHOTO BY KARA WAGENKNECHT DESIGN BY CRYSTAL KIM
23
A DV E R T I S E M E N T S
MAY 23, 2018
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24
OPINION MAY 23, 2018
MANDATED
MEDIOCRITY One of the major debates surrounding modern education is focused on the implementation of required subjects in school. As it stands, graduation and college requirements necessitate performance within these mandated courses, which dictates how students compete for postsecondary education.
BY NICK STILWELL ‘19
P
ublic education is celebrated for its goals of raising an informed public, preparing students for the workforce and teaching the values of responsibility. For the past many years, schools have decided that required classes provide the most sure method of implementing such effects. I disagree with this sentiment: restraining individual choice during the time of intellectual development removes personal responsibility, diversity of thought and specialization from learning. Many students choose their college major based on what core subjects they have a unique proficiency and/or interest in. However, in my experience, very few people study their future subject outside of school work, believing that the class time alone is sufficient. In a world of education where all-around skill is paramount, students are incentivised to spend less time on the subjects that interest them. They are instead forced to use their energy on material they find difficult, for their natural talent often carries them through with mediocre success in the classes they love. In an attempt to become good at everything, the population becomes great at nothing. A student’s level of interest in their courses is a major factor to overall learning. For example, the National Association for Music Education reports that on the SAT, “Students who participated in music scored an average of 31 points above average in reading, 23 points above average in math and 31 points above average in writ-
“ I N AN ATTE M PT TO B ECO M E GOO D AT EVE RYTH I N G, TH E PO PU LATI O N B ECO M ES G R EAT AT N OTH I N G.”
ing.” This effect is common throughout subjects which are pursued independent of a mandate. Students in music, art and writing programs are expected and excited to spend personal time pursuing their passion, which they do not devote to subjects that are forced onto them. The result are students who have pushed themselves to a broader intelligence which shows on standardized tests. Required courses lack such an inspiring effect, as many of the students enrolled have no outward interest, failing to create an environment for genuine competition. Future music majors will usually spend thousands of hours of outside-of-class practice during their high school years, as opposed to many future majors of core classes which often have no individual study invested before college. Many people are distrustful that getting rid of required classes will have such a positive effect; there are concerns about students changing their mind about their interests and having no backup plan. However, this misconstrues my proposal. Without required classes, there would continue to be a multi-class schedule filled with diverse subjects. These subjects would be voluntary, and would allow for students who are sure of their path to complement their talent with a range of classes they truly wish to learn about. Furthermore, when the education system does not trust students to know what their own interests are, it removes the responsibility from those students. Offering a mass-produced, over-generalized palette of interests for every student eliminates the necessary drive for learning. Often when people are given responsibility, it serves as a challenge to push them further and inspires a new excitement for fulfilling that responsibility. Another incorrect assumption of education is that required classes create a diversity of thought in the population by giving a background in many distinct subjects. Instead, these requirements cause the opposite. Every person, regardless of major or interest, now takes the same four or five classes throughout their entire education. If each person got to choose their own skill set
“ I N A WO R LD O F E DUCATI O N WH E R E ALL-AROU N D SK I LL I S PAR AM OU NT, STU DE NTS SPE N D HAR DLY ANY SCH OO L TI M E O N TH E SU BJ ECT THAT I NTE R ESTS TH E M .”
to develop during their education, teamwork and conversations in the modern workforce would be far more beneficial. Scientists who had a complementary interest in English would have a completely unique contribution to a project than a scientist who expressed a greater interest in mathematic courses. The result would be a society where we can learn from each others’ passions rather than all of us having shallow knowledge of the same five subjects. Overall, education in the modern era seems to have strayed from its goal of true learning. As college becomes more of a necessity for success due to its increasing popularity, it becomes crucial which criteria colleges use to accept students. As of now, the requirement of performance in a multitude of required classes incentivizes students to sacrifice work in their future occupation for work in courses which they cannot wait to forget. Not only this, but students who specialize during high school and become incredible at their talent are looked over by society, as they sacrifice their immediate grades for long term brilliance. The result is a population which produces mediocrity rather than the type of devotion to talent which changes the world.
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EDITORIAL: UNDER A LENS
E D I TO R I A L
MAY 23, 2018
O n e y e a r o u t f ro m t h e 1 : 1 C h ro m e b o o k I n i t i a t i v e, t h e We s t S i d e S to r y e d i to r i a l b o a r d h a s t a k e n a s t a n c e o n t h e I C C S D’ s t e c h n o l o g y u s e ex p e c t a t i o n s , p a rt of w h i c h s t a t e s , “ U s e r s h a v e n o r i g h t o r ex p e c t a t i o n of p r i v a c y w i t h r e s p e c t to t h e i r u s e of s c h o o l t e c h n o l o g y. S c h o o l a d m i n i s t r a t i o n a n d I T p e r s o n n e l r et a i n t h e r i g h t to a c c e s s a n d m o n i to r t h e a c t i v i t i e s a n d f i l e s of a l l u s e r s , a t a n y t i m e fo r a n y r e a s o n o n s c h o o l ow n e d d ev i c e s . ”
DOES THE ADMIN’S ABILITY TO MONITOR OUR CHROMEBOOKS INFRINGE UPON STUDENT PRIVACY?
14-7 EDITORIAL STAFF VOTED ‘YES’ The ICCSD policy oversteps its ability to monitor student web activity when it plainly states that users have no right or expectation of privacy and that the administration has the right to access and monitor the activities of students at any time and for any reason. It creates a neg-
ative relationship between the students and the administration, showing that a mutual distrust exists. A certain degree of involvement from the administration regarding student activity is reasonable. However, students should be able to have an expectation of privacy when using ICCSD issued technology. This is especially true for the ICCSD’s new 1:1 Chromebook Initiative, which gives every student a Chromebook to use. The main purpose of this initiative is to provide resources for students who do not have the necessary technology or internet access to complete school work. Additionally, the Chromebooks are set up with the monitoring service Securly, which gives the administration and parents full ability to track students’ web activity and limit their access. Is it fair that students who have to use the Chromebooks are subjected to constant monitoring when others who have the options of using personal devices are not? When students take these devices home, they become just as much their
own as the school’s. In addition to all of these other components riddling this problem, one of the most telling is that students had to piece together that they were being spied on themselves. When the school issued Chromebooks to students at the beginning of the year, they were largely unaware that Securly was monitoring their every move. The fact that the administration did not inform the students of this from the beginning further reinforces feelings of distrust. It is important to foster a supportive environment between students and administrators. In order to do so, students must feel comfortable learning and being able to trust the administration not to spy on them. With the current policy in place, students are more likely to feel violated by and suspicious of those who are meant to protect them. The role of the Chromebooks is to enhance academic learning, but with current restrictions in place, students are unable to utilize these devices to their fullest potential.
The ICCSD has provided Chromebooks to students in order to maximize learning by supplementing in-class material. The basic purpose of these devices is not to provide every student with unfiltered internet access, and policies should not be written with this purpose in mind. Restrictions are necessary to ensure that these devices are serving their intended purposes. If students use Chromebooks correctly, administrative oversight is not an issue. According to the ICCSD’s policy, “The District has the right to place reasonable restrictions on the material accessed and/or posted through the use of its computers, computer-like equipment, computer network and/or internet connection.” The ICCSD informs students of monitoring in a transparent manner; students should not expect privacy when using school devices. Because students are informed of how their internet use will
be monitored, continuing to use Chromebooks for personal purposes is a choice. If students are adamant about not having their personal internet use monitored, they can use a personal device. Chromebooks should not be treated as a substitute for personal devices, since their purpose is purely educational. Finally, the ICCSD should have the right to evaluate the successes and failures of their Chromebook integration program, the 1:1 Initiative. Monitoring Chromebooks allows the district to gain useful insight about how students use their Chromebooks and make changes accordingly. In order for the 1:1 Chromebook Initiative to continue improving, the district cannot be barred from using all tools available to observe its effects.
NO INFRINGEMENT Technology continues to evolve, but expectations must remain the same. The ICCSD buys, owns and distributes Chromebooks. These devices are district property; therefore the district should have full control over their moderation. These expectations are no different than the expectations associated with any other piece of district property. Additionally, in order to fully give students an introduction to technology for future careers, students must learn how to treat employer-owned devices. Most employers will keep strict tabs on the use of their employees’ company-owned devices and reprimand employees who misuse them. Therefore, the ICCSD policy gives students an introduction to how they should treat devices that do not belong to them. All district property must be used responsibly, especially if the property is easy to abuse.
PHOTO BY MADDI SHINALL DESIGN BY CRYSTAL KIM
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OPINION MAY 23, 2018
THE TIERS OF TECHNOLOGY TRAGEDY
BY FRANCES DAI
THUNK.
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EDITORIAL POLICY
EQUITY STATEMENT
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. For the full editorial policy, visit wsspaper.com/policy.
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