2020-05-21 by West Side Story

WEST SI DE STO RY IOWA CITY WEST HIGH SCHOOL

2901 MELROSE AVE.

IOWA CITY, IA 52246

WSSPAPER.COM

VOLUME 52 ISSUE 6

TRA P P ED WSS takes a look at how isolation due to social distancing is affecting the mental health of students.

T HE SECO N D S TAY- HO M E E D ITIO N

MAY 21, 2020

PHOTO FEATURE ALYSSA SKALA Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no secret that school is cancelled for the rest of the 20192020 school year. Aside from school closures, COVID-19 dominates our world in such a way that it feels like the virus and its effects are seemingly everywhere. As the spring season becomes overshadowed by the pandemic, even tree blossoms can look like coronaviruses.

CONTENTS

Hello friends! I’m Marta, the print editor-in-chief for the 2020-21 school year. Welcome to our second stay-at-home edition of the West Side Story! Thank you for your continued support of our publication. I firmly believe student journalism is imperative, and that it helps connect us through sharing your stories and covering our community in a way only students can. There’s no doubt these are strange times. From school closures to social isolation, the world simply looks different. The implications these changes can have on students’ mental health are explored in the cover story on page 13. That said, I hope that you are staying safe, and that you have figured out how to work the audio on your Zoom calls. I’ve found that distance, specifically six feet, truly does make the heart grow fonder. Sadly, this year we’ve had to bid farewell to our retiring staff (in person) a little earlier than we wanted. Check out page 8, where they’re given a proper sendoff. While it’s important to stay informed (and social distance gosh darnit!), it’s also crucial not to dwell on all of the negativity. Head to page 4 to take a break from all the heartbreaking news with a full page of stories that will bring you joy. Lastly, I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all of our frontline workers. On page 6, read about students who are essential workers, putting themselves at risk while working to support their families and the community. Until next year!

MARTA LEIRA

NEWS

GOOD NEWS BRIEFS 4

FEATURE ESSENTIAL EMPLOYEES 6

PROFILES

WEST HIGH BIDS FAREWELL 8

COVER

ISOLATED 10

SPORTS

ATHLETIC ADJUSTMENTS 14

ENTERTAINMENT

ISOLATION INSIGHTS 16

OPINION

SCARCITY SCARES 17

STAFF LIST Owen Aanestad Fareeha Ahmad Abdul Ahmed Mohammedhalil Al-Ani Caroline Barker Sara Baroncini Paras Bassuk Aditi Borde Kiley Butcher Sarah Callanan Misha Canin Alex Carlon Caroline Chandler Carmela Cohen Suarez Alexis Dick Natalie Dunlap Maddy Ephraim Bess Frerichs

Online Sports Editor Yearbook Sports Editor Brenda Gao Print Profiles Editor Kailey Gee Yearbook Copy Editor Yearbook Editor-in-Chief Photographer Joe Goodman Videographer Renee Gould Photo Editor Yearbook People Co-Editor Emma Hall Yearbook People Editor Jack Harris Photographer Videographer Annabel Hendrickson Photo Editor Vivien Ho Yearbook Staff Cymry Hieronymus Yearbook People Co-Editor Selina Hua Print Managing Editor Natalie Katz Business Editor Edward Keen Yearbook Staff Mariam Keita Online Editor-in-Chief Hanah Kitamoto Print Asst. Sports Editor Tosh Klever Online Copy Editor Luke Krchak Online Entertainment Editor Online Reporter Youjoo Lee Online Editor-in-Chief Marta Leira Reporter Amy Liao Business Editor Abby McKeone Yearbook Business Editor Online Feature Editor Alice Meng

Online Managing Editor Jessica Moonjely Managing Editor Entertainment Editor Profiles Editor Print News Editor Jillian Prescott Broadcast Editor-in-Chief Designer Cameron Reimers Yearbook Co-Editor-in-Chief Reporter Ella Rosenthal Entertainment Editor Sports Editor Alyssa Skala Yearbook Co-Editor-in-Chief Online Reporter Photographer Book Critic Maddy Smith Yearbook Student Life Editor Artist Photographer Online Reporter Nicole Trout Yearbook Co-Editor-in-Chief Arts Editor Sumner Wallace Columns Editor Copy Editor Jenna Wang Copy Editor Feature Editor Editorial Editor Photographer Gwen Watson Online Entertainment Editor Art Editor Photographer Print Editor-in-Chief Sam Westergaard Photographer Arts Editor and Critic Podcaster Online Reporter Videographer Print Sports Editor Ken Wilbur Podcast Editor Video Editor Sydney Wildes Yearbook Clubs/ Online Reporter Academics Editor Columnist Photographer Feature Editor Isaac Young Print Opinion Editor Print Editor-in-Chief Xiaoyi Zhu Designer Design Editor Sara Whittaker WSS Advisor Online Graphics Editor BOLD NAMES Social Media Editor DENOTE SENIORS Copy Editor

G OO D NEWS BRIEFS

As disheartening headlines top the news everyday, it may seem as if there’s nothing positive in sight, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Here is some good news to brighten your day. BY ALICE MENG PHOTOS BY CAROLINE BARKER DESIGN BY AMY LIAO

FURRY FRIENDS With millions of people staying at home, animal shelters around the nation are seeing completely empty kennels, some for the first time in history. A group of shelters in New York, the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic, have reported a tenfold increase in adoption and fostering applications.

CLEARING THE AIR Air pollution levels around the world have dropped significantly due to government mandated lockdowns. In Los Angeles, air pollution has decreased by 51% when compared with a prior four year average, according to a report by IQAir. Due to emptier beaches in Florida, leatherback sea turtles are making a comeback, as they can hatch undisturbed in their nests and safely make their way to the water.

The world’s longest elevated pedestrian bridge, the Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park in New York, was lit up by over 1,300 lights April 30 spelling out “THANK YOU!” The 200foot display was meant to express gratitude towards frontline workers.

CITY LIGHTS #SHAREMYCHECK

NEWS

MAY 21, 2020

As stimulus checks continue to roll out, the hashtag #ShareMyCheck on social media is spreading, showcasing the various places people are choosing to donate their money. Many organizations supporting marginalized communities have been receiving an influx of donations from stimulus check donors. A GoFundMe campaign requesting people to donate their stimulus checks to help undocumented immigrants, who are excluded from receiving federal government relief, has raised $620,534 as of May 8.

WE’RE GOING ON A BEAR HUNT Teddy bears and other stuffed animals are adorning windows across the globe to raise spirits and provide a sense of community. Inspired by the book and song “We’re Going On a Bear Hunt,” children are encouraged to walk around their neighborhood and count how many teddy bears they can spot. A Facebook group started by an Iowan family is posting pictures of windowsill bear sightings and keeping track of them by marking a map with pushpins.

The University of Iowa Health Sciences students are offering free virtual health appointments to all Iowans through The Mobile Clinic, an initiative particularly aimed towards helping uninsured individuals. The clinic provides a wide range of healthcare services, from health screenings to prescription refills for chronic illnesses. Patients can also receive assistance for social services. To set up a free virtual appointment, call or text (319) 535-2684.

THE MOBILE CLINIC

TESTIOWA Announced in a press conference April 21, TestIowa is a new initiative aimed at increasing the rate of COVID-19 testing in the state. Iowans are advised to visit testiowa. com to take a health assessment evaluating whether they should get tested, and if so, are assigned to a drive through testing location. Up to 3,000 individuals can be tested daily, and increased testing could help contain the spread of the virus.

100 LAPS Captain Tom Moore, a 99-yearold World War II veteran, went viral after walking 100 laps around his garden to raise money for the UK National Health Service. His original fundraising goal was 1,000 British pounds, or $1,239, but he ended up raising $40 million as of May 8. His accomplishment earned him a Guinness World Record for the most money raised by a single person charity walk and a Pride of Britain award. He celebrated his 100th birthday April 30, and received a personalized birthday card from Queen Elizabeth II and a message from Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

AT HOME TEST The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the first at home test kit for COVID-19 on April 21. The test requires a swab of the nasal passage to be put in an insulated package and mailed to a lab for results. The test could reduce the spread of the virus, as potentially ill individuals would not have to leave their home to get tested.

Volunteers from the Old Capitol Quilters Guild, the Preemie Project and Days for Girls-Iowa City Chapter have been collaborating to sew fabric face masks for healthcare facilities and various other organizations in need. In four weeks, they made over 6,500 masks and plan to continue with their efforts for as long as needed.

THE IOWA CITY FACE MASK PROJECT

EARLHAM, IOWAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S ANONYMOUS DONOR An anonymous donor gave all 549 households in the Iowa town of Earlham $150 in gift cards for food. The gift cards were split evenly between three local businesses, and a total of $82,350 was donated. One of these restaurants was about to open its doors for the first time when Gov. Kim Reynolds issued a statewide order to shut down all nonessential businesses. Without the resources to offer takeout meals, the restaurant owners worried they would not be able to sustain their business once opened. With the $27,450 donation, the restaurant will likely be able to stay open.

NEWS

MAY 21, 2020

As COVID-19 forces much of the population to stay home, some students don their masks and gloves and head to work where their services are required. BY ISAAC YOUNG ART BY CAMERON REIMERS DESIGN BY ELLA ROSENTHAL

FEATURE MAY 21, 2020

imply leaving the house can seem daunting. The effects of COVID-19 are undeniably evident in the life of every global citizen. Those of student workers are no exception. There are certain employees who need to continue their services, such as those in restaurants, grocery stores and retirement homes. A few of these pivotal workers are students, currently balancing their educational obligations and their jobs. One such employee is Maddi Logsdon ’21, who works at Chick-fil-A. Due to more time available without in-person schooling, she has actually increased her workload. Before school closures, she had been working around 10 hours a week and has since increased that number to 20. As Chick-fil-A has continued operating during social distancing, the company has taken very serious precautions in order to prevent contamination. According to Logsdon, they are holding the safety of customers and employees as their highest priority. “We have to wear gloves and a mask every time we come into work. They also take our temperature,” Logsdon said. Employees also handle the food with extreme

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caution, only allowing kitchen staff to touch it before it is boxed and sent out to consumers. Orders can then be picked up at the curb in front of the restaurant or delivered through Doordash or UberEats, companies that provide at-home food delivery. Logsdon says this carefully planned system puts workers at ease. “I am not really [nervous about the situation]. I think it’s the way that we have it set up, it’s pretty easy to stay distant. We don’t have that many people working at a time,” Logsdon said. Establishments that see little to no in-person customers are also taking serious precautions to ensure they protect staff. Jacob Nyberg ’20 works for Mass Markets, a call center based in Iowa City. When COVID-19 hit, the company sent home a large group of workers. “There was a whole floor that they instantly emptied because they sent everyone home with their computers and [things],” Nyberg said. Although workers are keeping their distance at Mass Markets, Nyberg is not concerned about contracting the virus at work because he sees it as inevitable. “Everyone gets the flu. If it’s five times more contagious than the flu, do you think it’s not go-

ing to be a big deal?” Nyberg said. “So, honestly, I feel like no matter what, everyone is going [to contract the virus] at some point.” Regardless of concerns relating to the virus itself, Nyberg points out that many, including himself, need to continue to work for the pay. Being out of a job is simply not an option for him and his coworkers. Salima Omari ’20, who works at Walmart, shares this same sentiment. “Bills didn’t stop coming because of COVID,” Omari said. “So I still have to go to work in order to keep those bills paid and also pay for college.” For Omari and many others, it is vital that they keep working in order to pay for living expenses, so precautions help to stop the spread and keep them on the job. At Walmart, employees are required to wear masks and clean registers frequently. These steps help, but Omari takes additional, personal measures. “I sanitize very often now, and I try to stay as far away from the customers as I can,” Omari said. “I’ll probably tell them to stand back or something like that.” Employees like Omari, Nyberg and Logsdon need to continue to work, both for their wages and to ensure businesses continue to prosper in these trying times. Safety precautions are in place to keep them and their customers healthy and ensure students can continue to earn wages to save for their futures, or whatever their needs may be.

BILLS DIDN’T STOP COMING BECAUSE OF COVID, [I] HAVE TO GO TO WO R K I N O R DE R TO KE E P THOSE BI LLS PAI D AN D ALSO PAY FO R COLLEG E .” -SALI MA OMARI ‘20

FEATURE MAY 21, 2020

EST IGH IDS AREWELL Because the school year has come to an abrupt end, proper goodbyes weren’t said. Farewells for the summer can already be difficult to say under normal circumstances, but for retiring staff, there will be no ‘next year.’ Although it is disheartening, their coworkers hope to leave them a token of their appreciation as the retirees draw close to the end of their careers. BY FAREEHA AHMAD

DESIGN BY XIAOYI ZHU

“I really, really, really enjoy teenagers. I think they got so much to offer the world, they just made me smile. They might make mistakes, sometimes big ones, and that’s how we all learn.” “The school isn’t run just by teachers, so she always had our custodians and our lunch staff and just everyone who makes the school run in our office, and you can tell people knew that she cared about them.” - Stephanie Higgins, special education strategist

PHOTO COURTESY OF MOLLY ABRAHAM

MOLLY ABRAHAM started working at West in 1984 as a special education teacher. At first, there were many learning curves to overcome, but after 18 years, she assumed the position of assistant principal and made connections with numerous teachers and students. She plans on using the same skills she has developed at West at nonprofits such as the Shelter House and the Domestic Violence Intervention program after she retires.

PROFILES MAY 21, 2020

“She helped make West High what it is. In her absence, it won’t ever be the same. It’s evident that her leadership and her compassion for West High shows up and that it’s going to take a lot for anyone to really fill her shoes. I’ll look forward to hearing what exciting things she gets to do in retirement.” - Christian Aanestad, art teacher “She’s a great boss, but she’s also a really good friend, and so she’s just one of those people that no matter what problem you take to her she helps you through it. She’s just so patient and kind. It’s so hard to imagine not having her there to go to.” - Ann Rocarek, language arts teacher “She says every single person’s name that is graduating, she’s done that for many years, and she practices saying all the names and saying them correctly. She would just go into her room and practice them over and over because she knows how important that is to hear your name and hear it correctly, and she wanted to get right.” - Katy Nahra, English teacher

“I will miss everything. I have loved working with such a great, energetic and supportive staff … It’s like a big family.” “I admire Ms. Beckner’s attitude. When we are required to do something from the administration or math department, Ms. Beckner wouldn’t complain or worry about it. She would just get it done. She is very task oriented and would complete the assignment.” - Gelene Smutz, math teacher PHOTO COURTESY OF DONNA BECKNER

“I used to not eat lunch, and [now] I have the last couple years with her and Ms. Smutz and Ms. Rahmatallah. I love our half hours that we have each day, just catching up and talking about non-school things, about each other’s lives.” - Julie Kennebeck, math teacher “I love how she has really high standards for her kids, and she really pushes her kids, but she also has this really big spot where she’ll do whatever she can to help them and to make things work. So I appreciate her approach to education of really pushing kids but also like being able to fall back on.” - Kelly Bergmann, guidance adviser

DONNA BECKNER has worked at West as a teacher ever since 2016 when she had just moved to Iowa and saw a teaching opening in the math department. At first she struggled with SMARTBoards and computers, but since then she has overcome her difficulties with technology and has enjoyed going to pep assemblies, theater teasers and witnessing senior prank week. She plans on moving to Florida with her husband and spending her time on activities such as golf, pickleball, biking and swimming.

“You are there to help the kids, and when we see them improving and ready to move on in their lives, that in general, I like that.” “He started a drumming circle with some of our students, and some audience members, and many people commented how much they enjoyed that because it was so interesting to listen to. I’ll also miss the way that he would jump up and get kids dancing and moving in music class with a big smile on his face.” - Diane Miller, adaptive music teacher PHOTO COURTESY OF MOUSSA DIOUF

MOUSSA DIOUF started working as a special education teacher at West in 2010. Originally, Diouf intended to work with City High, but when he got a call back from West a week after his interview there, he quickly took up the job offer. Being able to go to the talent show every year and being able to work with close friends are only some of the highlights of his time at West. Moving on, he hopes to spend more time with his family.

“I always was impressed by how he just would know a lot of different kids throughout the building. Sometimes I didn’t even know how he knew these kids, but he had a good acquaintance with them, and he just was really personable and able to talk with a lot of different students.” - Steve Merkle, Best Buddies adviser “He is always willing to help and worked so hard to make sure his students felt loved and valued. Having him in my classroom helped me to be a better teacher.” - Erika Mundt, physical education teacher PROFILES MAY 21, 2020

TRAPPED WSS takes a look at how isolation due to social distancing is affecting the mental health of students. BY MISHA CANIN AND HANAH KITAMOTO

ix feet. That’s the distance every person is recommended to stay physically apart from others, according to the CDC. Although social media and other online communication methods can partially fulfill the sense of isolation brought about by these guidelines, some may believe seeing a friend over a screen simply isn’t the same as in person. This feeling of separation often has an impact on a person’s mental health. Pre-existing mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety disorders can be affected in many ways. For some, the time alone is an opportunity to relax, reflect and move away from the everyday things that cause them stress. However, for others, physical connection and routine can be their best coping strategies. On top of already existing mental health disorders, the idea of possibly contracting or unknowingly spreading COVID-19 can be enough to make anyone feel anxious. As the days pass and social distancing guidelines are extended, affects on pre-existing conditions become more evident.

HIDDEN SYMPTOMS Due to this pandemic, most schools and businesses are shut down, keeping many families at home. This situation is not ideal for some students who suffer from depression and anxiety.

“I can definitely feel there’s some steepness going down to it, where it’s like you can feel yourself slipping back into the darkness that is depression and anxiety,” said Holden Logan ’21. For Maia DeGrazia ’20, social distancing has brought her back to difficult past experiences. In May of 2019, DeGrazia underwent spinal fusion surgery. She faced a six month recovery process, the first months being summer vacation. While many of her peers were away on trips, DeGrazia was forced to remain at home. “It's been kind of hard just because the last time I was this isolated was after my surgery [and] those were some really difficult months of my life,” DeGrazia said. “I'm definitely finding myself being taken back to that place with this isolation, which can be really problematic with panic attacks and things because I don't want to go back to where I was.” Unknown facts and new information about the virus are constantly floating around the world everyday. According to DeGrazia, this adds another stress factor to students' daily lives. “Just dealing with the weight of the rest of the world and hearing about everything going on, it's really hard to not feel that hurt in your heart, even though it's not happening to you,”

“ IT’S LI KE YOU CAN FE E L YOU RSE LF SLI PPI NG BACK I NTO TH E DARKN ESS THAT IS DE PR ESSION AN D ANXI ETY." - HOLDE N LOGAN ’21

DeGrazia said. “I sort of feel like I have my own issues, but then I'm also feeling very deeply the hurt the rest of the world is feeling.” Without school bells ringing at precise times prompting students to transfer from one class to another, many students now lack a defined schedule. This causes Caroline Mascardo ’22 to feel insecure about how she spends her time each day. “I feel like I am not doing enough, and there are a lot of things that are going on,” Mascardo said. “It’s tough for me to feel satisfied with how I spend the day, if I could have done more or if I wasted time doing something that I could have [spent] on other subjects.” On a typical school day, over 1 billion children around the world would head to school. Currently, around 91% of students worldwide are staying home from school to prevent the spread of the virus, according to UNICEF. With classrooms empty, students were abruptly handed large amounts of free time. For Logan, as hours pass by, the increased amount of free time quickly turns into boredom. “Boredom leads you to even darker places, so the main thing that’s been a struggle is trying to keep myself entertained,” Logan said. “Whenever I do get bored, I have to catch myself before I ... slip nearly as deep as I used to, which now for me has gotten quite easier, but I still get a little bit into the darkness.” DeGrazia shares the same sentiment that finding motivation and being productive during isolation has been a challenge. “Personally it been pretty difficult, I definitely find it hard to get motivation to do anything, [and] I don’t feel a lot of purpose. I want to do things and then I don’t really see a reason why because nothing really seems relevant anymore,” DeGrazia said. Physical isolation from others has also been difficult for DeGrazia, causing her to experience depressive thoughts more frequently than before. “When something like this happens, and we are isolated, it’s really, really easy to fall into a depressive state, get very, very anxious [and] spend a lot of time worrying because ... if you have anxiety, for example, it’s just your brain is overly productive sometimes,” DeGrazia said. As the social distancing guidelines are extended and isolation continues into the summer months, Logan worries his condition will become unstable. “I think it’s gonna be like waves, it’s gonna go up and down throughout this whole thing. I definitely feel like there’s gonna be points where it’s gonna be extremely easy to handle and there’s going to be points where it’s going to be extremely hard to handle, but that’s kind of what you have to learn to deal with,” Logan said. Logan believes that even once distancing guidelines are lifted, that the pandemic's effects will still be evident. “There are definitely going to be some socie-

tal aspects that are going to change, whether it’s gonna be permanent or temporary. Some of the things like washing your hands more often [and] wearing a mask, that might become more commonplace even after all of this is over,” Logan said. Due to the outbreak of the virus, upcoming plans of what the future might look like has become a blurry image, especially for seniors who are attending college in the fall. “I think it's less about the virus being invisible and more about all the unknowns that come with it and how it's affecting our daily lives but then also our future...not knowing if I'm going to college in the fall is really stressful,” DeGrazia said. “We don't know what's happening, and so not feeling in control and just not knowing what the future is going to look like is probably the scariest part and the most stressful part, not the virus itself.”

THE SOCIAL MEDIA SITUATION In a time of isolation, many look to social media to stay caught up with the lives of the people they would have seen at school everyday. But of course, that connection is distorted. What’s seen and posted on social media is often referred to as the "highlight reel" of one’s life. To carefully craft the "perfect" life, Instagram feeds are typically filled with beautifully crafted salads and brightly colored smoothies instead of the large pizza and pint of ice cream someone just ate. This forcefully gilded trend hasn’t changed much under social distancing. Opening Instagram can mean coming across the seemingly perfect life of a celebrity, and the “For You'' page of TikTok is filled with fitness transformation videos. The feeling that one must come out of this time of social distancing a changed person often leads to negative self thoughts and sometimes dangerous exercise habits. “For me personally, it’s very toxic right now because every social media platform I opened is talking about quarantine weight gain, the quarantine 15 workouts that you do, eating healthy, ‘let’s glow up this quarantine,’” said Emma Selby ’22. “It’s kind of frustrating because I think everyone is obviously different, everyone’s body is different, everyone’s needs are different, so I appreciate people who want to share what works for them because if it can help someone else that’s really helpful, but I think it can also be really triggering to people with eating disorders, especially during this time.” The constant talk on the internet about gaining weight during social distancing also frustrates Sam Croco ’22. “Quarantine has definitely not helped my body image. Sitting in my bed watching video after video and seeing picture after picture of a girl who I would give so much to look like really sucks. I struggle with motivation to do a lot of stuff, so forcing myself to workout 20 minutes a day is a struggle,” Croco said.

FE E LI NG DOWN? TRY TH ESE TI PS TO LI FT YOU R SPI R ITS! Self care- Taking care of your body helps you take care of your mind. This includes eating healthy, exercising and getting enough sleep. Reach out- Keep in touch with friends and family. Set up a virtual hang-out with friends or call a relative you haven't talked to in a while. Be kind to yourself- Make sure you're taking breaks to avoid overwhelming yourself. Positive self-talk is always a good thing as well! Remind yourself it's okay to not constantly be productive. Balance your news intake- It's easy to feel helpless with all the bad news out in the world. Make sure to balance that with some good news- head to page 4 to check out Good News Briefs! Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Lack of motivation is common whilst social distancing, when time may not feel relevant and the days can start to mold together. Making a routine and sticking with it can be a difficult task but has proven to be an effective coping strategy for those who feel they need more structure throughout their days. For students struggling with body image conditions, isolation can be especially hard. On top of the feeling of isolation, seeing what seems to be “everyone” exercising and eating healthy can easily make any person feel the need to do the same. Due to social distancing and quarantine in other states, lots of fitness bloggers and YouTubers are releasing free workout programs and advertising their meal choices on social networking sites. “The worst part about it is that I know no matter how much I do, I will never look exactly how I want to look. I’ve gone through a lot of stuff because of this feeling, from skipping meals to over exercising, but that isn’t a healthy way to feel better about my appearance,” Croco said. “What I've been doing a lot lately is looking up videos about body positivity and seeing so many beautiful girls talking about how everybody

HOW TO GET H E LP If you or a loved one are experiencing any mental health issues or emergencies, contact any of the helplines below. • 855-325-4296 CommUnity, formerly the Johnson County Crisis Center • 1-800-273-8255 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline • www.iowacrisischat.org CommUnity online chatroom • imalive.org IMAlive campaign online chatroom

is beautiful and how they have learned to love themselves over the years. That doesn’t automatically solve my negative feelings towards myself, but I feel like it’s a start.”

SEEING IMPROVEMENTS While others may feel anxious during this unpredictable time, Teya Kerns ’20 has found it to be a way to reset herself. “Regarding my anxiety it has all been positive, but I expected that. I always do better when I’m not at school, but if I’m missing school and everyone else is there then I start to worry about that. It’s really a never ending cycle. I always say that I just need the world to freeze for a bit, so I can catch up and figure things out,” Kerns said. The Iowa City Community School District originally offered optional learning and enrichment activities for students who wished to participate. Starting April 27, the district switched to a mandatory learning plan. This has been convenient for Kerns. “With COVID-19 moving everything online, my anxiety has improved so much. On Zoom calls I can turn off my video so I know no one is watching me, and I can learn without my head buzzing about all the people around me,” Kerns said. “I always get frustrated in school when teachers just ramble during class time. Having limited class time, I just have to listen to a lecture, and then I’m able to do the work at my own pace. Making my own schedule has allowed me to build in more time to take breaks when I start to freak out, and being at home I’m able to get up and leave when I need to.” Student Family Advocate Jamie Schneider believes the absence of school in students' daily lives can lift some weight off of student’s shoulder. “We are seeing kids that we would see almost on a daily, sometimes weekly basis [at school], their stress is not as high as it is if they were in school seven periods a day. The drama with friends, the drama with boyfriends and girlfriend[s], just the overall stress that high schoolers have in their day, kind of just went away overnight,” Schneider said. According to Assistant Principal Molly Abraham, the ICCSD avoids adding additional stress to students by having a flexible curriculum and asking teachers to reduce the amount of work for mandatory learning to three hours for each subject per week. “We really wanted teachers to focus on the essentials that were really important. We didn’t want to overwhelm kids,” Abraham said. “I think everybody’s trying pretty hard to be flexible with kids and understand we have to meet kids where they are [with] what they can do in this strange setting.” This adaptability the district is offering is something Kevy Huynh ’23 recognizes and appreciates. “I know a lot of teachers are already being supportive of students, and they’re trying to assign

a doable amount of work without overwhelming us. That’s something I'm really thankful for, it shows that teachers understand or are doing their best to understand our situations,” Huynh said. Dr. Patricia Espe-Pfeifer, a clinical professor of psychiatry and pediatrics at the University of Iowa, believes improvements in anxiety symptoms during this time are not out of the ordinary. “We have some kids that struggle with anxiety symptoms that now that they're at home, surprisingly, [they're] doing pretty well. They may not have the stress of school, since a lot of it has been optional. They're able to kind of navigate on their own, so [mental health situations] just really depend,” Espe-Pfeifer said.

A HELPING HAND To help with the feeling of isolation and the effects it can have on a person’s mental health, the CDC recommends staying connected with others and sharing how you are feeling to a family member or friends. For Logan, having people to talk to helps improve his mental state. “Being able to open up to someone [with] no judgment about it, it’s really nice. You’re able to get all of your emotions out in a positive way. You’re able to communicate how you’re feeling, and then you’re able to deal with it,” Logan said. Unlike physical health, mental health conditions can go unseen. According to Kerns, some people don't notice her condition, and it’s difficult to find others who are in her same position. “The thing with something like anxiety is you never know who has it. Oftentimes when people find out I have anxiety, they are surprised. At school I’m outgoing and I take on leadership roles. What people don’t realize is I go home and analyze everything I did or said that day and worry that I messed up," Kerns said. "I’m good at hiding my anxiety, and other people are too, so it’s hard to find those similar to me,” The hidden nature of mental health conditions can cause students who are suffering from them to feel alone. To combat this, DeGrazia recommends staying in touch with your peers. “When you're not being forced to see people, it's really easy to just be like, ‘I'm just gonna block myself off from the world’ and that's not good for anyone, you don't want to keep it all in,” DeGrazia said. “Talk to somebody about it, so it's good to encourage that and just check in [with others].” At West, Student Family Advocates Schneider and John Roarick offer many mental health services at the guidance office. Due to school closures, this is no longer possible. However, these resources are still being offered in a new, virtual form. “All of us in guidance are available by email and we even have 'email office hours’ twice a week. During this time we are immediately available to communicate back and forth with students through email about any of their mental health,

“ IT’S R EALLY A N EVE R E N DI NG CYCLE . I ALWAYS SAY THAT I J UST N E E D TH E WOR LD TO FRE EZE FOR A BIT, SO I CAN CATCH U P AN D FIGU R E TH I NGS OUT." -TEYA KE R N S ’20 academic or social emotional concerns,” Roarick said. Other services such as Zoom and phone calls are offered. The guidance office is making sure there are as many resources available to students as possible. “[We do] a lot of informal check-ins [and] those types of things. But one of the things that we really love doing is connecting students with mental health resources,” Schneider said. At first, DeGrazia was hesitant to step into the guidance office to receive mental health support, but looking back she does not regret her decision. “I think that kids should take more advantage of it, because to be honest I think everybody needs a therapist at some point in their lives, just like we go and we get checkups at the doctor," DeGrazia said. "I think there's just a stigma around it, which I'm guilty of even kind of falling [into] because it was really hard for me to go, especially the first time, I felt embarrassed and ashamed. But I didn't need to be ... it was great." Special Education Teacher Rick Hancox is the keeper of the Student Self-Care and Support Circle, a way for students to connect with others and feel a sense of community during this isolated time. Hancox sent an email to all West students April 28 to survey their interest in participating in these structured conversations with others. For the past three years, the circle was for staff members and occasionally some students. Now it has expanded to the entire student popu-

lation during this time of social distancing. “Being with friends and hanging out and seeing them at lunch and having those conversations are really important. And even teachers in the building: we’re learning, and I’ve learned personally I've taken for granted some of the relationships that I had [and] that I depended upon during my day [that] there aren’t anymore," Hancox said. "There’s these gaps and these holes and I think circle is a way to help fill those gaps and allow people to reconnect again and just [enjoy] people’s company.” Providing an environment for students to share their thoughts during social distancing can ease a student’s mental health condition. “[Keeping your feelings in] is like an invisible bag of bricks, but when you’re able to lay your trust and your relationship with [someone] and you share those bricks, your load is actually lighter. Sometimes those bricks disappear, there are times you learn how to carry them differently to your benefit as opposed to you feeling like you’re isolated,” Hancox said. While society and daily lives have been drastically transformed, Espe-Pfeifer believes that students should still support each other during this time. “I think it would be the same as if you were in person and life was going on as normal. If you felt like your friend was struggling, ask them if they are. I think that's the first step,” Espe-Pfeifer said. “They may be feeling a lot of the same emotions and frustrations that you're feeling . Help them problem solve ... If you feel like you can't help them do that, then ask their permis-

sion to help them talk to somebody, whether it's one of their family members, trying to research what some different resources might be and just letting them know it's okay to be struggling right now, because all of us are having those moments. This is new for everybody.” When a student sees their peer having a difficult time, Guidance Counselor Greg Yoder recommends checking in with the student and making sure they know they aren’t alone in their difficulties. “Just encourage students, if there’s a struggle that they are having, reach out to someone [such as] a trusted adult. If there’s a problem taking place in the home, reach out to a teacher that they trust or counselor. If their family's experiencing some difficulties, just make sure that [they're] reaching out,” Yoder said. “There’s no reason that a student has to go through this stuff alone. As educators, we want to see that everybody is well and is taken care of, and we want to be there to assist.” West is still offering many mental health services despite the school closure, but students can also reach out to their peers as they are only a text or phone call away. According to Logan, these seemingly small and effortless actions can have a big impact for those who need the support. “The one thing that triggers off a good [moment] is really any kind of act of kindness,” Logan said. “[It] is just the small things people do ... simple things can help a lot.”

" WH E N YOU ’ R E ABLE TO LAY YOU R TR UST...YOU R LOAD IS ACTUALLY LIGHTE R ." - R ICK HANCOX , SPECIAL E D. TEACH E R ART & DESIGN BY KAILEY GEE

AT H L ETI C A DJUSTM E N TS

With junior year being crucial for college athletic recruitment, the cancellation of spring sports presents many challenges and unique opportunities for athletes. BY CAROLINE CHANDLER PHOTOS BY ALYSSA SKALA DESIGN BY BRENDA GAO

mongst the flood of cancellations, spring sports seasons are no exception, and the plan for summer sports has yet to be finalized. Athletes are doing their best to stay in shape and keep their hopes up for next year’s seasons. However, college recruitment plans have also been cut short, leaving the class of 2021 without the most important year in the recruitment process. Following her recovery from a hip injury that plagued her sophomore season, Maddy Negley ’21 was looking forward to improving her times in track and field this spring. “Having had an injury last season didn’t leave me very satisfied, but cross country showed me that I could keep getting better after some setbacks,” Negley said. With her high school career cut short of one essential season, Negley missed out on the chance to improve her times in races and has one less season for college coaches to look at. In addition to missing the athletic component of the track and field season, Negley is missing spending the time she had with her fellow teammates. “After every practice we go back to the locker room and the girls just talk. It’s really quality

“IT’S D EFINITELY IMPORTA N T TO CO NTINU E SHOWING T H E COACH ES CO MMITME N T AND POTENTIAL . ” -AU RORA ROGH AIR ‘21 MARCU S MORGAN

SPORTS

MAY 21, 2020

“ I T’S A B IG SUMM ER FOR REC RUITIN G, AND TAKING A WHOLE SEASON OF F CAN SET YOU BAC K A LOT AS A PL AYER . ” - M A RCUS MORGAN ‘21

Junior Marcus Morgan’s favorite memories from past seasons include road trips with his teammates and their experience at Principal Park last baseball season. Morgan is trying to stay as active as possible while possibly not having a summer season.

AU RORA ROGHA I R With pools closed and college visits on hold, junior Aurora Roghair has been staying in shape by going on runs and completing virtual dry land workouts held by her club swim team.

MAD DY NEGL EY Following recovery from a hip injury, Maddy Negley ’21 was looking forward to improving her track and field skills this season. Despite the cancellation of spring sports, Negley is still out running and doing workouts.

“AF T E R EVERY PRACTIC E W E GO BACK TO TH E LO CK ER ROO M AN D TH E G IRLS JU ST TAL K. IT’S R EAL LY QUALITY TIM E HAVING J U ST FIN I S H E D A WORKOUT AND SPEND ING IT WITH YOU R T EAM M ATES.” - MA DDY NEGLEY ‘21 time having just finished a workout and spending it with your teammates,” Negley said. In terms of the college recruiting process, emails and letters play a large role in the task. Negley has reached out to some schools on her own, but most of the time coaches are contacting her. “Coaches are reaching out to me so far. It’s been mainly small schools that contact me, and that’s cool,” Negley said. Negley’s first priority is academics and she would rather compete at a smaller school due to the rigor and competitiveness that comes with Division 1 athletics. For junior Marcus Morgan, the prospect of loosing his baseball season is a huge loss. Similarly to Negley, his experience with the recruiting process mostly involved coaches reaching out to him. As Morgan is pursuing D1 athletics, junior year is a pivotal point in the process. “It’s a big summer for recruiting, and taking a whole season off can set you back a lot as a player. It would also really stink to not be able to play with this senior group one last time,” Morgan said. As of press time, a decision hasn’t been made on what will happen to the summer sports season, so it’s essential for athletes to stay in shape for upcoming seasons. For Morgan, the priority is establishing a routine. “Right now, I’m mostly lifting, trying to get stronger with two of my buddies and also throwing with them a couple times a week when we can,” Morgan said. This soccer season was going to be a major one

“I WAS REAL LY LOO KI N G FORWARD TO PL AYI N G WITH TH E GROU P O F SENIORS. I’ VE BEEN P L AY I N G WITH TH EM SINCE I MOVE D H ER E FRO M TENNESS E E I N SIX TH GRAD E. ” -KOLBY GODBOLT ‘21 KO L BY GOD BOLT The cancellation of soccer season has given Kolby Godbolt ’21 the opportunity to focus on his soccer skills and start lifting more. For Godbolt, one of the biggest losses from not having a season is not playing with the seniors.

for Matthew Steinbronn ’21. Confident that the team was going to take home the state championship this year following a runner-up finish in 2019, the loss of his junior season has had a big impact. Steinbronn wasn’t initially focused on continuing his soccer career at the collegiate level, but his mindset quickly shifted gears after coaches started reaching out to him. “My plan has always been to continue with academics going into college, so I never really reached out to coaches. Then I began getting some interest and coaches began reaching out to me and my mindset radically changed,” Steinbronn said. “Now that it’s cancelled, it’s been important to keep in touch with coaches and communicate other ways for them to look at me.” Currently, Steinbronn is looking towards D1, but is planning on keeping his options open. In addition to losing an important season, one of the great losses from not having a soccer season is playing with the group of seniors. “This season was going to be special for me as it was going to be the last season I would play with the teammates I had played with since I was 11 or 12,” Steinbronn said. For Kolby Godbolt ’21, this holds true as well. “I was really looking forward to playing with the group of seniors. I’ve been playing with them since I moved here from Tennessee in sixth grade,” Godbolt said. With more free time due to the cancellations, Godbolt is taking advantage of the situation to hone in on his soccer skills. “I’m lifting and doing soccer drills. Quarantine

has given me a chance to focus more on soccer and not be distracted by other things,” Godbolt said. In terms of the recruiting process, Godbolt is looking into D1 athletics, but wants to attend a school where he feels most at home, regardless of the division. Sports that don’t take place during the spring utilize the offseason for recruiting opportunities. With the NCAA under a recruiting dead period and all schools not being able to hold official visits until the summer, junior Aurora Roghair’s college process has been put on hold. Although the recruiting dead period is in place, coaches can still text, call and hold Zoom meetings with athletes. The club swimming spring season was also cut short and the meets weren’t able to take place as planned. Clubs are trying to get creative to keep their athletes in shape with pools being closed. “Our club [Iowa Flyers Swim Club] is holding body weight dry land Zoom sessions and I’ve been going on bike rides with my sisters, which is a lot of fun,” Roghair said. Roghair is currently looking at continuing her swimming career at the D1 level. Even though the swimming recruiting process tends to start around the summer prior to junior year, spring is still an important time. “I would say it depends on each person and how they’re taking the recruiting process,” Roghair said. “It’s definitely important to continue showing the coaches commitment and potential.” SPORTS MAY 21, 2020

“One thing that I have learned during this weird time is how much my friends truly mean to me. I always knew my friends were special and important to me, but during this time, I have realized how much my friends impact my life every day. There have been days ... where all I want to do is to just be surrounded by my friends laughing and telling stories. Being in the presence of my friends truly brightens my day, especially on the days that are tough. So, to all of my friends, I hope you know how much you truly mean to me, and how you impact my life on the daily.”

Anna Verry ’22

“I have learned that no matter how cool or tough we think we are, we can only last so long with just our families to see and talk to in person. I’ve learned that it’s easy to forget how great it is to see your friends every day. I’ve learned that I appreciate those friends a whole [lot] more now that I know I won’t see them for a while longer.”

From re-decorating their rooms to learning to cook, read how your peers have been spending their time while stuck at home. COMPILED BY MARTA LEIRA

Ronan Smith ’20

“One of the biggest things quarantine has taught me is that I need a routine. The first couple weeks I woke up at noon and laid around all day and it definitely had an impact on my body. I always felt gross. Like not sick, but my stomach or my head would hurt everyday. Then I started waking up at 9:30, eating three meals a day, working on schoolwork and working out and immediately I saw a change.”

ENTERTAINMENT MAY 21, 2020

Isabelle Paulsen ’21

“I’ve learned that even when you have nothing to do, it seems even more stressful than when you have a lot to do. I haven’t really learned any new skills except I’ve started cooking a lot more. In this time I’ve even added some things to my room to make it a brighter, happier place.”

Maggie Greer ’23

ART & DESIGN BY YOUJOO LEE

“I’ve learned (or relearned) some of my old hobbies, like guitar and piano because I’ve had enough time to actually do the little things I used to enjoy doing.”

Emily Hill ’20

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SCA RCIT Y SCA R ES As COVID-19 spreads mass panic across the world, products are disappearing. But the hysteria has also brought about something more deadly: shortages of life-saving medications. Type 1 diabetic Maddy Smith weighs in on the impacts of people buying what they don’t need. BY MADDY SMITH ART & DESIGN BY BRENDA GAO

anic. I thought my heart would race, but, I don’t think it’s beating. I don’t think I’m breathing. I don’t have my insulin, my reservoirs, my syringes. What do I do? How do I live without the things that allow me to wake up each morning? This could have been my reality. Sadly, it is a reality for many others facing medical shortages due to COVID-19. Pharmacies, hospitals and grocery stores alike are experiencing a lack of supplies due to issues with manufacturing, and people in panic aren’t helping. When the trepidation set in, people went shopping. They bought out hand sanitizers, masks and medications. President Trump only made things worse by making premature claims that certain drugs like hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), a drug for people with lupus and arthritis, were a “game-changer” against the virus. According to CNN, this caused people to fill unnecessary prescriptions, taking it away from those whose lives depend on it. The drug is being tested for use against the coronavirus, but nothing conclusive has been found. Let’s start with toilet paper and hand sanitizers. It’s understandable why people bought these, but really? Do you mean to tell me that you didn’t have soap before? Some shoppers saw the lack of toilet paper and went for baby wipes. These are designed for babies’ sensitive skin, so when their wipes disappeared, parents with young children were furious. Not only were wipes missing, but formula and diapers vanished as well because even their fellow mothers panic-bought supplies. This is putting families in positions where they don’t have the necessities for their children. With hygiene products and virus protection shortages, healthcare industries are experiencing dangerous deficits. Masks were bought out both in-person and online. Medical supply producers like PacingMed and BLBM issued statements in January that their products had sold out and warned against buying counterfeits. Healthcare workers have resorted to reusing single-use masks, endangering themselves and oth-

ers. So please, don’t buy out masks on impulse. Make one; use a bandanna or buy reusable ones that aren’t the hospital-grade that our healthcare heroes desperately need. The CDC has sew and no-sew facemask instructions on their website. Similarly, there are shortages of pharmacy drugs. As someone who has participated in the quick panic of “do I have enough supplies?” I can attest to the worry of getting medication and medical supplies when your life depends on them. But the solution to that is to buy what you need for the next three months, not a year. As a diabetic who needs insulin, I understand that not knowing if your supplies will continue to be available is horrible, but knowing that you might be preventing someone else from getting what they need is worse. I have forgotten to refill prescriptions, order supplies, or left medication at home when I’ve gone on vacation. The stomach-dropping feeling of knowing I don’t have what I need to live is something I will never forget. This is yet another reason why you certainly shouldn’t be buying medication you don’t need, because it would only cause others this same anxiety. The president has been making claims about the virus that have yet to be proven true; some even being blatantly false. Despite this, when Trump claimed that HCQ could help fight the coronavirus, people rushed to grab it. The worst part about this is the lack of consideration for the people who need it to walk and, in some cases, live. As someone who is dependent on a drug to live,

the thought of running out chills me to my core. Imagine having your joints ache and needing to go to work and cook for your family, but you can’t move. The one medication you need is being used by the people who don’t need it. That would suck, right? So don’t panic-buy medication, especially if your life doesn’t depend on it. Another disappointment was the lack of tests and who was able to get them. Despite the Global Health Security Index rating the U.S. as one of the most prepared countries to combat the virus, we have failed when it comes to testing. People with symptoms weren’t tested right away, and some died without knowing what was killing them. It seemed like celebrities were given priority. There were symptomatic people at home living with their families who did not receive tests, yet the entire Brooklyn Nets basketball team was tested when only one person was showing symptoms. While testing is improving, it’s still limited and needs to be saved for the people who really need it, like healthcare workers. Due to the lack of testing, some are unknowingly contracting the virus and continuing to work because they don’t display symptoms. Healthcare workers have a higher chance of contracting the virus because they work with a variety of patients and do not always have the necessary protective gear. Avoid buying masks that healthcare workers could use, make your own instead. Stay safe and remember: we’re all in this position; don’t buy out an OPINION MAY 21, 2020 entire store.

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