d r a o b h c Scrat
Inside: Pg. 4 10 things to do over Summer Break Pg. 8-9 Graduation and advice from Seniors
Tagged Brenna Deerburg
Like any other art form, it’s a way of expressing oneself using a plethora of techniques and materials. Unlike other art forms, it isn’t done on a blank, controlled canvas. Graffiti is an expressive but risky way to share one’s creativity with the world. Due to the risk, many artists prefer anonymity. While many tags or murals are signed by the artist, these signatures are usually only code-names. One such alias is that of a West High student,who signs his work ‘Fin.’ After years of using spray paint on canvases, bringing his painting outside seemed like a natural transition for Fin. While downtown Iowa City is littered with graffiti, Fin can take credit for very little of it. “I’ve done a lot in Cedar Rapids,” said Fin. “It’s an easy place to work, and it’s just the right distance away. Anything local of mine is either quick stencils […] or on trains.” For many, there’s a negative stigma associated with graffiti, but both Fin and another anonymous artist, Chase*, at
West High disagree. “I started because it seemed like a nice way to express my views and give back to the community,” said Chase. Both Chase and Fin agree that Graffiti can be an appropriate method of self-expression if done the right way. “You’d never bomb a church, or a school, or somebody’s house. As long as you keep it respectful you’re fine,” said Fin. While their views on Graffiti are similar, the materials they like to use are different. “I don’t much like [spray paints], so I use Montana Hardcore Markers,” said Chase. An artist will fill these markers with paint themselves. On the other hand, Fin counts spray paints in his stash of essentials, along with stencils. There are many other tools and methods utilized by different graffiti artists. “Something that I don’t do very often is use posters and paste them to walls. It shortens the time
spent in the field and allows more time for preparations,” said Fin. Graffiti is part of a vast culture that is expanding both within and outside West High. Even some students who don’t go around tagging have been exposed to the art. One such student, Sara*, has mixed feelings about her adventure with three fellow students. “I remember asking what we do if we get caught, and all they said was ‘Run.’ I’m guessing it was really thrilling to them, but it terrified me,” said Sara. “If you have a talent for graffiti, and it’s actual creativity, then I enjoy it. If you don’t know what you’re doing and just do it for the rush of going against the rules, maybe you should try skydiving or something instead that won’t affect everyone that goes in the downtown area.”
Slang Dropping: Language in the World of Graffiti
Tag A quick act. Sometimes messy. Often just a signature.
Bomb Similar to a tag, but a larger piece. Usually accomplished by a crew. Synonym: ThrowUp.
Signature A graffiti artist’s codename.
Gallary A secluded place where an artist can take more time on a piece. Usually littered with graffiti.
Slam A job in a high traffic area. A dangerous act.
Left: A sticky note
on a bathroom mirror at West reminds the teenage girls passing through to “Smile, you’re beautiful” as a part of the Operation Beautiful Project
Below: Inside a
bathroom stall at West, a wider array of graffiti can be found. Dirty secrets, drug advocation, and fierce trash talk often gathers too quickly for the janitors to scrub clear.
Changing the World (One sticky note at a time) BY: Olive Carrollhach
Picking up trash, scrubbing floors, odd hours, and perhaps worst of all: the bathrooms. West High students all know the janitors have a tough job, so the real question is, why make it harder on them? If you dare venture into the bathrooms, you’ve seen it.The stalls are coated in negative, lewd, explicit, and encouraging words. Encouraging, what? Lately there has been a movement called ‘Operation Beautiful’ sweeping the bathrooms at West. This project is all about positive graffiti to encourage a healthy self esteem. The founder of this mission, Caitlin Boyle out of North Carolina, says that she “began Operation Beautiful because I am dedicated to ending negative talk in men, girls, and women,” But is the effect of these words truly positive? “I think it would be more powerful if (the person who wrote the note) would go up to someone and tell them they’re beautiful to their face, instead of an impersonal bathroom note,” says Maddie Bushnell ‘11. Despite the good intentions of the founder, many people who have seen these notes cropping up around West have disregarded them, or chocked them up to silly girls trying to make a difference.“Some of them make me laugh,” says Jackie Dowling ‘13, “They say cheesy things like ‘You are beautiful inside and out’, but the ones I’ve seen in the girl’s bathrooms do tend to have a positive effect on my mood,” Though they have little effect on some, perhaps Dowling, with her pep, grades, and long red hair is not the target audience for a self-esteem boost. Perhaps this project picks up steam when it reaches the people
ALL PHOTOS BY// Jessica Carrillo who could really use a boost. “I haven’t noticed much graffiti in the (boy’s) bathroom, but Operation Beautiful seems like a just cause that anyone could support,” Says Garrett Mumm ‘12. “I think it is targeted at insecure people who believe in fate and fortune cookies and all that jazz. But I do think it’s a good thing!” Says Dowling with a laugh. Despite the clear good intentions of this mission, many remain doubtful of it’s worth. “I think the people making these sticky notes are dweebs. They find corny things to be deep,” says Bushnell. Whether a person finds themselves on the receiving end of these messages, the supportive side like Mumm, or you are amongst the skeptics like Bushnell, few could argue that Operation Beautiful has turned some heads at West; and regardless of the result, these harmless postits sure are a nice change of pace from some of the negative things sharpied inside the stalls.
Farmers’ Market May-October. Wednesdays: 5:30-7:30 p.m. Saturdays: 7:30 a.m.-noon A place where you can buy fresh local veggies and different crafts. Where: East Washington St. Across from City Hall. Contact Info: www.icgov.org/farmersmarket 319-356-5210
North Liberty Fun Days June 9-12, 2011 One of many popular celebrations in Iowa. There are events ranging from musical performances and carnival rides to the truck pull and car show. This event is fun for the whole family. Where: Penn Meadows Park Contact info: www.northlibertyiowa.org
Park it at The Movies July 15, 2011 An opportunity to enjoy the cool summer nights in Iowa under the stars. Various movies are shown. Where: S.T. Morrison Park Contact info: (319) 248-1750 Johnson County Fair July 25-28, 2011 Experience different things at the Johnson County Fair. there is livestock to tractors sheep show to talent shows. in Montgomery Hall you can see sewing projects baked goods and pictures taken by local kids. Where: 4261 Oak Crest Hill Rd SE Contact information: (319) 337-5865
Riverside Theater Shakespeare Festival June 17- July 11, 2011 The Riverside Theatre will put on Shakespeare’s The Two Gentlemen of Verona and Eugene O’Neill’s Ah, Wilderness in an outdoor theatre modeled after Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, where people can enjoy the professional theatre as well as picnic dinners under the stars. Where: Lower City Park Contact info: (319) 248-1700
9
TASTY
Iowa City Book Festival July 15-17, 2011 A celebration of reading and writing, presented by our very own University of Iowa libraries. Where: University of Iowa Main Library Contact information: (319) 335-5960
EVENTS
Iowa State Fair August 11 - 21, 2011 The fair that brings all of Iowa together for fun music, games, and farm animal showings. And who could forget the food? Where: S.T. Morrison Park Contact information: www.iowastatefair.org
--Eunice Hsu, ‘11
Music in the Park June 2- August 11,2011 Enjoy free music on Thursday nights throughout the summer. Bring a blanket or lawn chair, and enjoy the live music from 6:308:30 pm. Where: S.T. Morrison Park Contact information: www.coralville.org
COMPILED BY// Jessica Carrilo ART BY// Leela Sathyaputri
S U M M E R B R E A K “During the Summer, I usually eat...”
“...Watermelon.”
Coralville 4th FEST July 2-4, 2011 Traditional July 4th activities, including a parade at 10am and a spectacular fireworks show. Mouthwatering food is supplied for you, and so is entertainment-- a concert. All this for free. Where: S.T Morrison Park Contact info: (319) 248-1700
“... Ice Cream.” Victoria Lance, ‘13
TRADITIONS
“... Corn.” Anna Aaberg, ‘13
Olive Carrollhach With all the variety out there, sometimes the hardest fashion decision to make is what a particular piece of clothing should say about you. A good summer dress is a staple in any girl’s wardrobe. They are cute, comfy, and, if worn right, suiting to their owner. The types of dresses are limitless, so knowing what to look for is essential. And as with all epic journeys, the search for the perfect dress begins within. A shopper should ask herself what she wants her clothing says about her and her personality. Whatever the preference may be, Iowa City and Coralville are chock-full of summery trends and dresses to suit any budget and style. We have provided a few different categories of fashion sense and the corresponding shopping recommendation below to kick your summer wardrobe off to a terrific start. Happy shopping!
[“I myself am very environmentally clean, I buy local so I don’t have as much of an impact as some other people do. I use my clothing to raise
Alice McNamara ‘13 (artsy vintage)
awareness.”]- Kate Anstreicher
Kate Anstreicher ‘14 (Eco-Conscious)
Girls’
OPINION EDITOR// Tziona Perry
Night O u t!
Since all the times I’ve hung out with my friends, I’ve never really had a “Girls’ Night Out.” Mostly, my sleepovers consist of hours of video-games, noshing on whatever’s in the kitchen and making the occasional run to the store by my house. Compare this to the typical girlish hangouts—which normally include painting each others’ nails, eating Ben & Jerry’s and sobbing about the guy that didn’t think twice to wave at you—and you’ll notice that they are a bit different. Concerned about my social skills, I decided to investigate what a “Girls’ Night Out” truly is by going to a sleepover with my friends. It was a joint birthday party, but one of the birthday girls was unable to attend, so we had to party enough to
make up for it. Upon arriving to the party, I was bombarded with misshaped balloons and hugs; then, to kick it off, we played “Just Dance” on the Wii, which worked up an unpleasant sweat that no one seemed to care about. Afterwards, when everyone was settled, we played Twister (which, sadly, was my first time playing), and shared inside jokes. To distract us from the scrumptious aromas of the cookie pizza that was being made in the kitchen, we were taken downstairs; first, to play a board game, then to go hot-tubbing. The warm water made everyone tired, though, so we ended the night eating the cookie pizza and watching “Megamind” and another movie with Catherine Heigl that we
half paid attention to (it was about two in the morning, only three of us were still up, and we were slightly loopy). That morning, we ate powdered donuts, shared jokes, and finally went our separate ways. After recapping that sleepover, I finally realized what a Girls’ Night Out is. The answer? Hanging out. They range from sleepovers to visits to pillow fights to Mario Kart racing. There is no real definition, and there is no wrong way to do it. For those of you reading this, you may think this is pointless, but I’ve learned a lot just by thinking about it. At first, I was very worried that I wasn’t good at going to others’ houses and inviting them to mine. But I realized that it doesn’t matter what you do, as long as you’re with a friend or two and having fun. I hope this has helped many girls learn that there isn’t a certain way to hang out. If it didn’t help you, then I’m afraid you’ve wasted about five minutes of your life. If you’re a guy? Tough luck.
You’re Never Quite that Board of Humor
COMIC EDITOR// Leela Sathyaputri
Everyone in the class of AP Euro knows about Mr. Tyson Smith’s board of quotes. In fact, even many people who don’t take his class know about it. This board is legendary, with the students of Mr. Smith’s (who prefers to be called by his first name, Tyson) class commonly speaking about it with pride and awe. It has been my pleasure to create comics based on a couple quotes taken from this board. Any speech coloured dark red in the comics below are transcribed directly from the board, though the characters and situations have been imagined by me for comedic purposes. Credits for the dialogue are given below each comic.
Dialogue between Mr. Tyson Smith and past-West High student Mike Tappan.
Dialogue on conjoined twins, Tyson and Jesus by Natalie, Ben W. and Hunter W. in 2009. Quote, “I AM the weak” is by M. Han.
ALL PHOTOS BY// Tziona Perry Slow and Steady (Left):
Wearing a cross country shirt, Sofia Mendoza, ’14, grins at the camera in the West High Ninth Grade Commons. Mendoza has an injury in her foot that has been preventing her from giving her all in track, but things are starting to look better for her.
Come to the UAY downtown Youth Center! Attend our band meeting on the last day of school! Go to this website for more info! www.unitedactionforyouth.org
UAY?
YAP!
Going Strong Freshman runner perserveres through debilitating injury W hen in high school, it’s easy to get discouraged. All it takes is one small thing—a “no, you can’t,” or “you probably can’t do it anyway”—but not everyone gives up easily. For West High student Sofia Mendoza, ’14, a small word of discouragement doesn’t seem to be a problem. Mendoza, a dedicated runner on the girls’ track team, learned news of injuries in her foot that might prevent her from running in actual meets. Despite this knowledge, Mendoza continued running and remained optimistic.
“ . . . The doctors said it would be nearly impossible to be able to run this year due to the rupture in three places in the FHL tendon in my foot,” Mendoza said, “but I worked as hard as I could [and] went to almost every practice even when I couldn’t run.” Mendoza kept persevering in a situation where most people wouldn’t. This trait of hers has lead her to meet great friends and earn lots of support. “I loved cheering on the team, especially (with) my
best friend, Ashlynn Yokom, who was a freshman [on] the cross country varsity team.” Ashlynn Yokom, ’14, a close friend of Mendoza’s, recounts how they met and became good friends. “I met Sofia through cross country in 8th grade,” wrote Yokom.“We’ve been close ever since! Sofia has been a strong supporter of the cross country and track team [and] even though she couldn’t run she still came to practice and some meets to support me and the team.” Along with support, good news came—Mendoza’s injury has gotten better, and her possibilities are now as far as she can run. Mendoza can not only run in meets, but can show her teammates just how much potential she has. Even with an injury, Mendoza is considered a great asset to the track team. “She actually has already started running and finished part of the track season,”Yokom wrote. “She was patient with her injury and now she can happily run her miles without worrying about the pain.” Though summer is around the corner, new opportunities are sprouting for Menzoza. Next year promises to be a very good year for the track team, with one more person giving it their all. Mendoza ended her message with a note of hope. “I am still recovering but am hoping to work my way up and support all of my team members, (because) they mean the world to me.”
-Tziona Perry
Reminiscing: I
n the span of four years a student can do many things and gather many favorite memories. According to seniors Ella Brown, Erin Richmond, Matthew Staib, Yiyi Liu, Leah Granroth, AJ Bailey, Kanora Wallace, and Lydia Somers, four years is enough time to: participate in four musicals, be in the All-State band, go on a choir trip to New York, compete in many math competitions, win several wrestling meets, gather fond memories of chatting on buses, join the swim team, enjoy Prom, and vacation to Chicago during Spring Break. Many of these memories were shared with best friends. These best friends were mostly classmates, whose bonds strengthened over classwork, club meetings, band or school athletics. However,as the Seniors graduate,many of these best friends will separate.It is only right to look back on their treasured memories from thelast four years. First Meetings and Best Memories Brown and Richmond became friends at the ages of three and four when Brown forgot to invite Richmond to her birthday party. Brown’s mother later invited Richmond to attend the party. They have been best friends ever since. In fact, the two of them can’t remember a time when they weren’t best friends. Staib and Shi-Ke Xue ’12, on the other hand, first noticed each other at various math competitions in junior high. They started a friendly rivalry, which evolved when they became friends in high school, and continues to this day. Their favorite memories all involve math competitions—staying up late into the night traveling in buses, cheering at awards ceremonies, and, in one particular event, breaking an elevator. The entire team attempted to enter the elevator to exit a hotel. They exceeded the maximum weight limit, and the elevator dropped, with a resounding thud, the last few feet to the basement. Also involved in this memory was Somers. However, unlike Staib, Somers’s best friend is not a member of the West High Math Club. Instead, Ivy Vance ‘12 is a member of the West High swim team. Somers and Vance met when Somers was six and Vance was five, and had bonded over their mutual love of playing dress-up. Perhaps as a result of their long-term friendship, most of their favorite memories involve inside jokes “which just never died, ever.” Nick Demetri Chezum ‘13 shares this sentiment.His two best friends have already graduated, though the three of them still join up to play videogames and chat every Friday. One fond memory involves banter that took place at the Anime Iowa convention. He still regrets not having an audio recorder to preserve the moment. Wallace and Dominique Brown met in the third grade when they were in the same class. Wallace’s first opinion
Graduating seniors reflect on highschool friendships of Brown was that she was nice. This opinion never changed. In fact, it was strengthened through many years of hanging out at basketball games, going to amusement parks and pools, and shopping. Although these people have varying interests, belong to different clubs and socialize in separate groups, they all have two things in common. 1) They all have best friends. 2) They are all going to college next year. What Will Be Missed For the Seniors, the year 2012 means the beginning of college. While many (such as Wallace and Brown) are planning to attend the nearby University of Iowa, some are looking forward to going to colleges farther away. As a result, many of the Seniors will be separating from their best friends for college. “I’m going to miss talking to [her], and hearing [her] kind of semi-snarky, semi-sarcastic comments on everything,” said Richmond, who will be attending the University of Iowa. Her best friend Ella Brown will attend the University of Chicago in the fall. “We’ll still be able to [talk about things] over Facebook… but it’s not as good,” Brown said. Somers will also be separating from her best friend in the coming school year. She has received a full-ride scholarship to a university in Germany. “I’ve known [everyone at West High] for a long time,” she said, “so it’s going to be very weird going to a new school with no one I know.” Somers remains optimistic about her years in Germany, and she plans to keep in touch with her friends via the internet. Staib and Xue also plan to use Skype and the internet to communicate in college. Staib will be attending Stanford University in the fall, while Xue plans to attend an East Coast school once he graduates in 2012. “Now it’s so easy to stay in contact with people… there’s email,Skype,whatever.I can’t imagine going to college before the internet,” Somers said. “I just [think that] not being able to contact people would be terrible.” Most graduating Seniors share this sentiment. After four years of friendships, it is difficult to let bonds go—especially the bonds shared by best friends. From their first meetings to their impending separations, the Seniors will surely see this year as a benchmark in their relationships with friends. “I feel like I’ll really miss just seeing the familiar faces in the hallway. Also, Art by Olive there’s this kind of sense of Carrolhach community and security that we have here, and without that, it’ll be a big adventure,” said Richmond. -Bori Kim and Leela Sathyaputri
Advice Corner: What the seniors have to say. “Try not to be too superficial. Don’t put up a front to other people.”
“Don’t overwork yourself. Give yourself time to relax.” Bailey Miller ‘11
Brian Tong ‘11
“Do your financial aid as soon as possible and do not procrastinate.” Rwisdom Zhang ‘11
“Try something that’s slightly different. Go out of your comfort zone.” Lydia Somers ‘11
Home Away From Home G
rowing up. Amy Schey ‘13 is a sophmore at West High School who has to decide what her future will hold before she reaches the age of 18. Schey says “In Israel when you are 18, after finishing high school, you are required, as a citizen, to serve in the army. Girls serve at least 2 years, and guys at least 3, but [usually] it’s [longer] than that.” Because many of her peers question why a girl who lives in the United States would want to do serve for another country, Schey is well prepared with an answer. “I decided I wanted to go to the Israeli army because I am Israeli, it’s my home, and I know I will live there and raise my children there. So as a sign of appreciation, I will be going to the army, even though I am now living in the USA. No one has told me to
Percentage* of Religion at West
{
57% Christian 11% Jewish 32% Other 60% Currently Practicing *from a poll of 140
do this, I want to. But it is a rhetoric question in my home, we will all go serve in the army after high school. To Schey, joining the army is something that has been done in her family for years. Schey says, “Both my mom and my dad served, and so did all my aunts and uncles! Everyone I know will go, my friends from school, my cousins, my siblings, everyone!” To Israelis, joining the millitary is not just a duty. Schey says, ”It is both a cultural and religious thing. We have some Christians from the USA that have decided to come help in the Israeli military, but it is mostly (for Jewish people).” Many Jews from around the world have come to serve and tour in Israel, and there they find their roots and their homes, and many stay for good in Israel after serving. How does the process work? “The process goes like this: When you are 17, a junior in Israel, you go to your first “interview”. there, they test you to see if you are capable to serve, and in what position,” says Schey, “(When you are 18), there’s a ceremony introducing you to the army and to your new friends that you are going to spend the next couple of years with. Because of this process, and because I haven’t done any of the “interviews” yet, I have no idea what I will be doing.” After she has completed her time in the millitary, Schey says “I will probably go to pre-med school and then med school, to become a physical therapist. But of course, there’s a lot of time until then, and I’m hoping to have many options in life.” said Schey.
“Religion gives people a sense of comfort.” -Azzah Nasraddin ‘13
“Religion is like your relationship with God.” -Jessica Carrillo ‘13
“Religion makes me a better person because I think twice about everything I do and it gives me better morals.” -Carissa Penauluna ‘12
}
Two Rival Schools Come
Together Brenna Deerberg
Art by Olive Carrollhach
“She thought
it was just two colleagues going to see a production of
mutual interest, but I was thinking
After one non-date and many more real dates the West High and City High drama directors, Havilah Meinel and Troy Peters respectively, are tying the knot. “I met Havilah once before when I went with a group of friends to see a band downtown,” said Peters. “He was new to teaching, and Mr. Lindsey was his mentor teacher,” said Meinel. “He was like, ‘single drama teacher, single drama teacher?’” However, Peters didn’t ask Meinel on a date until a few months later. This date was to be forever referred to as their first “non-date,” as Meinel didn’t actually know they had gone on a date until afterwards. When Peters approached Meinel with an extra ticket to a performance at the University of Iowa, Meinel saw it as an outing between friendly drama directors. “She thought it was just two colleagues going to see a production of mutual interest,” said Peters, “but I was thinking otherwise.” Once a relationship had been established, Meinel and Peters enjoyed many real dates. They drive through northeastern Iowa in October to watch the leaves change, or squeeze into small, local restaurants. In fact, it was in one such restaurant that Peters popped the question. “For the proposal I took her to the Orchard Green Restaurant in Iowa City. I had been there earlier in the day and lined up a table in a corner and told the waitress to bring a rose in a vase to the table when I gave her the signal.” According to Meinel, Orchard Green Restaurant is the location of their first “real-date.” “I knew he was going to propose,” said Meinel. “He was so nervous he couldn’t concentrate on anything I was saying.”
otherwise.” --Troy Peters
“I kind of did one of those guy things where I just nodded and said ‘yeah, uh huh’ to whatever she was talking about,” said Peters. Anticipating the proposal didn’t stop Meinel from crying when the moment actually came. “I don’t actually remember most of it because I was crying so hard,” said Meinel. They’re getting married on July 30, 2011. As would be expected, a favorite thing to do on a date for Peters and Meinel is to go see a play. Of course, they both make a point to see each others’ productions as well. They have a system, each trying to make it to at least each others’ opening and closing night performances. They each see these performances as opportunities to better themselves as well as to spend time with each other. “I’ve learned a lot from her about theatre and directing,” said Peters. “Havilah puts her heart and soul into those productions, and I think West High is very fortunate to have her running the drama department.”