the
Messenger Wichita High School East 2301 E. Douglas Ave., Wichita, KS 67211 ehsmessenger.com Volume 124 Issue 6 January 24, 2018
Divers learn to grow as a team Page 14
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Prom
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7
Students react to Logan Paul video controversy 2018 entertainment 13 Upcoming
8-9 our STAFF Sophomore challenges are you looking 16 dress code with petition What forward to in 2018?
kayla vanphotographer The student section, dance team, and cheer squad sing the Alma Mater before the boys basketball game, Jan. 5.
stephanie sustaita-ariasphotographer Gracyen McClain, fr., prepares test tubes by filling them with different sugars during a biology lab, Jan. 9.
lena alhallaqphotographer Marcus Altamirano, sr., works on an engineering project, Jan. 10.
van lyphotographer Thomas Hagler, soph., bowls during a meet, Jan. 17
Seen on cover- Jason Vo, soph., prepares to to dive during their meet at Heights, Jan. 11. lena alhallaqphotographer
news 3
Perfect date ideas in Wichita
stephanie sustaita-ariasphotographer Lydia Lavacek, sr., does a pistol squat during weights class, Jan. 5.
Editorial Policy
“Messenger” is published in print once a month, except during vacations, by the communications department of Wichita High
School East, 2301 E. Douglas Ave., Wichita, KS 67211. The Journalism department can be reached at (316) 973-7275 or by email at smartin2@usd259.net.
kaedra brennereditor-in-chief Graduation and starting college isabel ebersoleeditor College suzannah youngeditor Summer will barfieldreporter New music piper prologoreporter College caroline laycockreporter College katelyn reganreporter Graduation aidan teeterads manager New governor coralie correareporter New music kali soyezreporter Summer lizeth sustaitareporter Improving mental health tudsaley vongsenareporter New music tarynn brennerreporter Getting braces off kayli brownreporter Vacation steven phamreporter Clothing mia reddyreporter College Hill summer swim team olivia wilchreporter Christmas sharon martinadviser Trip to Italy
FOLLOW US @easthighmedia @easthighmedia
“Messenger” staff will publish news, entertainment, features and sports in an unbiased and professional manner and serve as a public forum for the students of Wichita High School East. Letters to the Editor may be submitted to room E144 or by email, and must be signed, legible and concise. The staff reserves the right to edit letters to conform to “Messenger” style. Baseless accusations, insults, libelous statements, obscenity, and letters which call for a disruption of the school day will not be considered for publication. “Messenger” is the official student magazine of Wichita High School East and it is distributed free to students. The opinions expressed in this publication reflect those of the student writers and not the Board of Education, Wichita High School East administration, faculty, or adviser.
@easthighmedia East High Messenger
the messenger january
4 news
faces of
ACES
Meet
Alex Curry
Which extracurricular activities or sports are you involved in?
Grants provide aid
Money given to East teaching staff, STUCO supports school organizations
“I am involved in The Wichita Youth Symphony. I have also ran track for what will now be my third year. I donate blood as often as my schedule will allow and I’m a member of the 11/12 All City Honor Band, along with leading the Pep Band at basketball games.”
What is your role in the band? “I am the East High Band President and the trumpet section co-leader along side Andrew Wertheimer, sr. As president, I organize official band meetings, help plan events for the band, set an example as a musician, and I also help come up with ideas to make the band run smoothly. This involves team building at the start of marching season, coming up with fundraising ideas, and helping organize the vast amounts of music we hold at East.”
How do you juggle all of this along with keeping your grades up?
“I look to my best friend, Dara Boynton, sr. She’s a flute section leader, four year varsity track and cross country runner, in IB, has a job, and keeps an amazing relationship with her mother. I look at all that and, quite frankly, it feels as if I don’t do enough. If she can do that and more, I have no room to complain.”
Alex Curry, sr., poses with his trumpet.
the the messenger messenger january january
As the vice president and president of STUCO, Jay Owens, sr., and Julian Ibarra, sr., help make many decisions to benefit the student body at East.
Recent grants of substantial amounts have been awarded to teachers and organizations through application. This money will considerably improve the instruction ability of teachers and the access to resources to better the school lives of students. The largest endowment comes from funding at East High, particularly the annual Ancient Aces fundraiser every March, which raised nearly $7,300 last year. This money goes to STUCO to decide what aspects of East High need improvement. “The amount of money that is raised from Ancient Aces varies from year to year,” Daniel Conely, STUCO sponsor, said. “Former Student Council Treasurer and 2017 graduate Trevor Mahan developed this initiative last year.” This grant system not only benefits clubs that request assistance, but also funds STUCO objectives, such as Freshmen Orientation gift bags, supplies for Homecoming hallway events, and water bottle filling stations. Two significant grants have recently
been given to teachers in order to benefit their students and themselves as educators. One of these include a $500 subvention from the Kansas Association of American Educators (KANAAE) to Michelle Fields, Math teacher, to implement an educational trip to the Texas Instruments International Conference. The second, a $5000 grant from the Clerk’s Board Office in Wichita Public School District to Arthur Ballos, Physics teacher, will go toward the integration of Chromebooks as a scientific tool in learning physics. “Our students and staff in this building are very, very grateful for the work and time teachers agree to put in so that we can provide and assist with grants for clubs when requested,” Conely said. “This is all about benefiting East High’s student organizations.” olivia wilchreporter van lyphotographer
Coop Construction
news 5
kali soyezreporter
betsy chairezphotographer
Upcoming Wichita Teacher finds opportunity in southeast agriculture program events Opportunity arose for Arlan Penner, Carpentry Instructor at East and his students as Southeast High’s agriculture program lacks solid structures for the FFA program involving the animals they keep at school. The Southeast instructor had bought inexspensive coops that were not stable enough structures for the animals. They turned to Penner and his program to help build more solid structures. The project is completely funded by the Southeast agriculture instructor, Joanna Farmer, who has written grants and collected money for Penner and his students to complete the project. Penner was surprised when he was asked to assist in this project to help Southeast. “It’s a whole new deal and we’ve never done anything like this,” Penner said. “I’d never thought they would need our help.” Penner will help his students build two structures: one for the tools and another as a shelter for the animals such as chickens and rabbits. Advanced students have been assisting Penner by drawing up plans Lacie Howell, jr., sketches out her design ideas for the chicken coop to and designs for the building. be built for Southeast High’s agricultural program. “I’m using the students to research, for the most part they took it and ran with it,” to help me out so that as we start the Penner said. project I can lead them in the right direction The actual building for the chickens and we will end with a nice product,” Penner and rabbits will be built by his residential said. construction students and also his advanced Penner is learning from his students about students. They hope to finish a design and accessories for the coop such as chicken gather materials to begin building soon. The swings, chicken ladders and nesting boxes for students hope to add as many advanced the chickens to use. features as possible to the buildings. “I had an idea that the rabbits could have “We are also going to insulate the building their own little platform and the chickens for the animals to keep them warm,” Penner could have their own little nesting inside,” said. “Also, there will be ramps going down Lacie Howell, jr., said. for the rabbits to run down and play in the Penner and his students have finished a farmyard with the chickens.” 10-foot by 16-foot shed to store tools for the Penner’s students are excited, but know the plants and science program. responsibility it takes to build the structure. The advanced students in Penner’s “I’m excited because it’s fun, but you also seventh hour class completed the project by have to put in a lot of work and you have to themselves. plan stuff out and work with budgets,” Howell “I provided them some leadership, just said. answering a few questions here and there, but
Jan. 24- Jan. 28 US Figure Skating Midwestern and Pacific Coast Synchronized Skating Sectional Championships at Intrust Bank Arena Jan. 28 Wichita State vs Tulsa at Charles Koch Arena Feb. 3 Harlem Globe Trotters World Tour at Intrust Bank Arena Feb. 10 KO Night Boxing: Gold & Glory ft. Nico Hernandez at Hartman Arena Feb. 10 A Patriotic Salute at Century II concert hall
Upcoming School events Jan. 26 - Jan. 28 Winter musical, “All Shook Up” Feb. 9 Homecoming game at East vs. West Feb. 5 - Feb. 9 Homecoming spirit week Monday - PJ day Tuesday- Cartoon day Wednesday- Sports day Thursday- Decade day Friday- Blue and White day Feb. 10 Homecoming dance Theme: Broadway Feb. 10 ACT test date Feb. 14 Progress reports
the messenger january
the opinion
6 editorial
Pests infest school, cause problems
mia reddyreporter ella townsendcartoonist We have become too comfortable with the pests at East High. The issue of mice and cockroaches is one that is not taken seriously. Letting these pests run amok puts students’ health at risk and is detrimental to our learning environment. The root of the problem is most likely that the student body eats lunch all over the school. The scraps left behind provide a plentiful diet for mice and cockroaches. The most glaring risk is that of illness. Students and staff alike are exposed to these risks every day, as throughout the school bugs are on the wall, mice live in corners, and cockroaches scuttle around in the locker rooms. Mice can transmit diseases through biting, droppings, fleas, lice, mites, and ticks. Some of the diseases carried by mice are salmonellosis, hantavirus, leptospirosis, rat bite fever, plague, and meningitis. Cockroaches are known to trigger allergies and asthma attacks in youth, and their droppings carry bacteria that cause human diseases, including food poisoning. This infestation can be ended by various means. We need to take pride in our school and be more conscious about picking up after ourselves. Everyday after lunch, food, plates, bottles, and trash are left behind. These scraps attract pests and keep them alive. We contribute to this problem, and it is not reasonable to expect the janitors to clean all of it up when we could each be doing our part.
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Secondly, the many leaks, holes, and cracks in the school desperately need sealing. Mice and bugs make their homes in the many crevices of our school. These animals also thrive in or around leaky pipes because they are the perfect hiding spot and water source. We currently do have a pest control system. If someone sees a mouse or cockroach and makes a call to the principal’s secretary, she makes a work order to the Service Center, and they send us a pest control person. The combatants used are environmentally friendly, take time to work, and do not kill on contact due to safety regulations. This system could be improved upon greatly. Pest control should come regularly, not just when they get a call. Also, if the service is used over the summer, they may be able to use stronger chemicals to eradicate the pests faster. Safety regulations may allow this, as no one will be at school. Administrators could also see to it that our lovely old school’s structural problems are addressed, sealing leaks and holes. Once repairs are made, the pests will have no place to stay and no water to drink, which should force them out quickly. The infestation can no longer be ignored. We need to start problem-solving immediately. The safety of the staff and student body is at stake.
speak UP speak OUT
minitorial 7
kayli brownreporter
betsy chairezphotographer
and
YouTuber’s video sparks controversy on Social Media An American actor and vlogger, Logan Paul recently visited Aokigahara, Japan, and Japan’s “Suicide Forest.” Paul filmed a controversial video in which a body hanging from a tree is seen in the video. Paul and his friends joked about the suicide. As soon as the video was posted, viewers began to react negatively, and Paul posted an apology video on YouTube, telling people he felt remorse for his actions. Youtube put a hold on any videos featuring Logan and removing his channel.
Elizabeth Martinez
-----------------------------------------junior
I believe the act was stupid and it was very childish to do a video like that. I believe a child shouldn’t even film that nonsense. I don’t know what his punishment should be because it wasn’t in the United States when he did it. Though he deleted the video, Paul needs to stop making videos like that. YouTube shouldn’t ban him because he can just make a different account and use different information and continue to make the same videos. I believe the suicide forrest is a terrifying place. I
Kyle Williams, soph.
Q: What are your thoughts on the Logan
Paul Incident?
A:
“I don’t think people understand the whole situation. He wasn’t making fun of the body, it just caught him off guard. He’s getting a lot of hate for no reason.”
just don’t see it is right why a person would go to a suicide forest and go make fun of people who were really depressed and decided to commit suicide. Logan Paul is wrong for recording that and posting it in the first place. Many children watch YouTube, even some who are depressed. It seems like he’s showing the world it (making of the video) is alright.
Lily Chanthivong, soph.
Q: How do you think Logan Paul should be punished?
A:
“Not only should he be banned, but also his friends should have consequences, too. They wanted to show the body which was really unnecessary.”
the messenger january
8 entertainment
LOCAL P
Entertainment
Bliss Bouldering
DATING
-11114 E 28th St N. -Indoor rock climbing with a personal twist
Xtreme Racing and Entertainment $-$$
on a
-2120 N Woodlawn St. -Racing and arcade games
Entrap Games
DIME
-443 N Mosley St. -Enjoy solving things? Entrap games has escape rooms for everyone
The Arcade
-139 N Mead St. -From old school video games to modern you can spend all day here
tarynn brennerreporter katelyn reganreporter
truc nguyenphotographer emma marvinphotographer betsy chairezphotographer
Picasso’s Pizza
Milkfloat
T
What would y “My dream date would be anything
“My dream date would be driving
“(I would) go to a nice restaurant
that a guy put effort into, like maybe a
around downtown and having a fun
dressed up nicely...go home after,
day trip to Kansas City.”
photo shoot.”
change into comfy sweats and watch movies.”
Katie Malicoat, jr.
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Tyler Anderson, jr.
Sean Whalen, jr.
entertainment 9
PLACES for LOCAL DATES Food Old Mill Tasty Shop
-604 E Douglas Ave. -Old- fashioned parlor, ranges from sandwiches to ice cream
Milkfloat
Dessert
-535 W Douglas Ave. -Unique pastries, homemade ice cream and one of a kind desserts
Nifty Nut House
Dempsey’s Bar & Pub
-537 St Francis N.
-3700 E Douglas Ave.
Beacon
- Gourmet burgers made from Kobe beef, fish, chicken or even veggies
-909 E Douglas Ave.
-Homey diner specializing in breakfast from hash browns to French toast
Miri’s Minis
-3543 E Douglas Ave.
-Mini donut shop with a wide selection of toppings and sweet drinks
Donut Whole
Picasso’s Pizza
-1720 E. Douglas Ave.
-621 W Douglas Ave.
rn day,
-Cake donuts with a cool twist
-NY style pizza in the ICT
The Beacon Restaurant
The Arcade
-Wide assortments of candy, even your great grandfather’s favorite
Miri’s Minis
Dempsey’s Bar & Pub
your dream date be? “My dream date is to take a girl out
“My dream date would be Netflix,
“My dream date would be something
“My perfect date would probably
somewhere nice to eat for dinner.”
crunchy tacos and the char kway teow
simple like going to get ice cream and
be eating good at a cool boujee
from Malaysia Cafe.”
walking around Old Town...having a
restaurant.”
nice conversation.”
DaQuan Massey, sr.
Kendrick Pham, soph.
Jackie Harris, sr.
Jada Khim, sr.
the messenger january
10 ads
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A pure nail and spa experience Inside Town East Mall (316)-691-8996 www.envywichita.com
Get your Broadway
Homecoming Pictures taken
in the big gym during the Winter Homecoming, Feb. 10. Prices start at $3.
the messenger january
entertainment 11
Showtime Junior shares passion for music theater
tudsaley vongsenareporter
betsy chairezphotographer
Ze’ev Barmor, jr., first started music theatre around fourth grade when he auditioned for Music Theatre of Wichita while going to Wichita Dance School. With the support of dance, vocal, and drama instructors and family, Barmor started his music theatre journey. “(Music theatre) is my favorite thing in the world and I absolutely love it,” Barmor said. “I am going to go to college for it. I want to do it for the rest of my life.” However, he, like others, faces challenges. “The hardest part of acting is portraying the character well,” Barmor said. Studying the lines so that he can portray the type of person the character is on stage well takes a lot of effort and time. As a member of Music Theatre of Wichita, Barmor has seen how his acting skills can grow because it is full of college students studying music theatre, as opposed to high school theatre in which anyone can become involved if they would like. “The reason why I love the Music Theatre of Wichita so much is because you get to see what you can become, what you can grow into,” Barmor said. “There are all of these different levels and all of these stages. I’ve grown up in the Music Theatre of Wichita; I’ve experienced the child stage and the teen stage, and then I get to experience the college level and the after-college level. It shows you the progression and you can learn from it as well, which is why I love it so much.” Barmor has even auditioned for the musical “Mathilda” on Broadway. “I was around all these other kids that have been in shows already and know what they’re doing,” Barmor said. “I’m sitting here, this kid from Wichita, Kansas, with these New Yorkers that probably already have their equity cards, and I feel out of it.” However, he settled into the audition. “We went in and started learning the choreography, and I felt more and more like myself because I really love to dance as well,” Barmor said. “I see all these kids around me, and I think, ‘Wait, I am just like them. I am just as good as them and have a chance at this.’ This fueled my energy, so I started working harder and harder.” He received a final callback, though he did not get cast. If he had been cast, however, he would not have been able to act in any high school or Music Theatre of Wichita shows because he would have to get paid, Barmor said. The most important thing he learned was how Broadway auditions actually work. After college, he plans to audition again when his skills improve even more. One of these skills is dance. Barmor does ballet, tap, jazz, and lyrical dance. However, prevalent throughout society is the issue of stereotyping different sports or activities because of the majority of participants being a certain gender. “When people say that dancing and theatre is only for girls, I think, ‘Wait, you go to the movies and you see guys all the time,’” Barmor said. “That’s theatre, just on camera. When you transfer that back to theatre and dancing, their dance is just theatre through movement. You’re releasing and saying things that can’t be communicated through words when you’re dancing.” He said that open-mindedness is the way to fight the stereotypes and prejudices. “If people want to dance, let them dance,” Barmor said. “If they want to sing, let them sing. I’ve experienced prejudice before; it doesn’t affect me as much anymore, but it still hurts me. Just keep an open mind and remember that these are people trying to do what they love. Just like some love football and soccer, these people love dance and music theatre.”
the messenger january
12 feature
self
Tatted
For Thien Huynh, sr., tattooing is not only a hobby, but a passion and intense art form. Huynh started drawing as a child, and upon realizing that he had a talent in the field, decided to further his career in a more permanent way by putting his designs on people. “My first drawing was when I was a kid,” Huynh said. “I didn’t really know how to draw so I just kind of started doing it more and realized I’m kind of good at art. I was thinking more along the lines of tattooing so eventually I tried (drawing) on one of my friends.” Huynh has 10 different tattoos on his body, located on his shoulder, right forearm, chest, back, and both legs. Each of Huynh’s tattoos are unique, and although not all of them are designed by Huynh himself, they all possess a very personal meaning and significance. “This is the main one,” Huynh said. “It has five roses because my mother has five children in her family, and the heart represents my parents. I got the idea for this design from Pinterest, then I drew it myself and gave it to the artist and they made it exactly how I wanted it.” Although Huynh gets the tattoos on his own body done by a professional, he and his friend, Thien Nguyen, a recent graduate of North High School, learned by tattooing one another. “He learned how to do tattoos first, and
january the messenger january
Artist turns passion for drawing into future career
suzannah youngeditor
jordan plowmanphotographer
then we would do them on each other,” Huynh said. “After that we learned to do it on paper first and make the design in pencil instead of tattooing on someone else first. Drawing with pencil is like tattooing on somebody else but it’s harder.” When Huynh started the body art, he bought cheap materials but quickly realized that those were ineffective. Now, Huynh orders his materials from Amazon, as recommended by the artist who does his tattoos, and provides tattoos to many people who help spread the word about his art via Facebook. “I have given a lot of people tattoos,” Huynh said. “I am trying to save my money to get the license, but right now I’m doing it at home so only people that I know get tattoos. I do one (tattoo), post it on Facebook, then people share it and other people see that I do tattoos.” Although Huynh hopes to pursue a career as an engineer one day, he said that he will always continue his passion of tattooing as a side job. “My favorite one is the one on my right leg,” Huynh said. “It says ‘Tattoo for Life’ because I do tattoos, and that’s a big part of my life. It’s a part of my dream.”
feature
messenger 13
entertainment 13
A look into the upcoming trends, movies, music, sports of 2018 steven phamreporter hunter phillipsdesigner
Trends •Chunky sneakers •Windbreakers •Jean jackets •Rose pattern clothing •Layering bunch of clothing •Bright colored outfits (Neon) •Nike Air Max 97 and
Prestos •Adidas ultraboosts and NMDs •Off-White clothing •Calvin Klein •Champion •Olive green clothing •Multipockets/multizippers
Out of 100 students polled more than half have heard or seen one of these trends.
No 48%
Yes 52% He wears the personally designed jean jackets he made. Photo by a metalhead in Boston.
Out of 100 students polled more than half plan on watching one of these movies.
Movies Man dressed in Black Panther costume getting ready for the movie to come out. Photo by Docking Bay 93.
•Fifty Shades Freed- Feb 9 •Black Panther- Feb 16 •Avenger: Infinity War- May 4 •Solo: A Star Wars Story- May 25 •Deadpool 2- Jun 1 •The Incredibles 2- Jun 15 •Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom- Jun 22 •The Purge: The Island- July 4 •Ant Man and the Wasp- July 6 •The Predator- Aug 3
No 33%
Yes 67%
The Avengers panel answering questions about their upcoming movie. Photo by Gage Skidmore
Music Out of 100 students polled more than half listen to one of these musicians.
No 36%
Yes 64% Pink’s performance at the previous Grammy’s. Photo by Dmileson
•Grammy Awards: Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY- Jan 28 •SremmLife 3: Rae Sremmurd Jan 2018 •Beerbongs & Bentley: Post Malone- Jan 2018 •Beware of the Book of Eli- Ski Mask The Slump God- Jan 2018 •M A N I A: Fall Out Boy - Jan 19 •Culture II: Migos- Jan 26 2018 •1987: Lost Boy- Jan 26 •Amen: Rich Brian- Feb 2 •Man of the Woods: Justin Timberlake - Feb 2 •Until Death Call My Name: NBA YOUNGBOY- March 2
Out of 100 students polled almost half would rather watch the World Cup than other sporting events. NBA Finals 19%
Germany and Argentina square off in a World Cup match. Photo by Danilo Borges.
World Super Cup Bowl 49% 32%
Post Malone singing at his concert. Photo by The Come Up Show
Sports •Super Bowl LII- Feb 4 •Winter Olympics:- Feb 9-Feb 25 •UEFA Women’s Champions League- May 24 •UEFA Men’s Champions League Final- May 26 •2018 NBA Finals: TBA- May 31-Jun 17 •Men’s FIFA World Cup: Russia- Jun 14-Jul 15
the messenger january
14 sports
Experience to Expertice isabel ebersoleeditor lena alhallaqphotographer
Coach, athletes grow together
C
urious his freshman year, Jadyn Hinson, sr., walked on to the diving team not knowing what to expect Little did he know, coach Christopher Butler, was fresh on the scene of diving as well. Over the next four years, the two, along with the divers who would come and go from season to season, would tackle the sport of diving. With little knowledge on the sport of diving, both Butler and Hinson began to teach themselves. “The first year, me and Jadyn were working together . . . it was basically like playing ‘I bet you won’t,’” Butler said. “We didn’t really have any knowledge of the sport other then what we had read and seen on YouTube, that kind of thing.” With more experience, both Butler and Hinson have grown their knowledge of the sport of diving - Butler, as a coach and Hinson as a diver. “Since then, through working with other coaches and finding other resources we have developed,” Butler said. “Instead of just knowing how a dive should look, I know more about how to get a kid to create that look. I went from basically seeing a dive and saying that’s a good dive or that’s a bad dive. Now, I can help a kid get from A to B.” Butler’s improved coaching
abilities and expertise has helped both returning State qualifying seniors and the three freshmen. Olivier Scholl, fr., one of three freshmen on the team, is brand new to diving. “Coach has said that I’ve been progressing really fast,” Scholl said. “I’m hoping to get my front double soon and I’m working on some other stuff, too. As he progresses, Scholl looks to the City meet and possibly State. Butler’s goal for the returning seniors is to score in the top 16 at State. Doing so would help the boys swimming and diving team gain points towards a State championship. For his freshmen, Butler has hopes of them each acquiring 11 dives to compete at City. Even as a freshmen, Scholl recognizes how Butler and Hinson have grown into diving over the past few years. “He’s definitely changed (his way of coaching) up because I’ve heard stories about how they didn’t really know what they were doing,” Scholl said. “Now, coach definitely knows what he’s doing and he has had a lot of experience with Jadyn throughout the years.” With knowledge and experience, both Butler and his team look forward towards the rest of the season and have hopes of competing at the City and State level.
Jadyn Hinson, sr., approaches a dive during the meet against Heights, Jan. 11.
the messenger january
sports 15
Legacy in the
Lanes Athlete continues family bowling tradition piper prologoreporter
Ben Waliczeck, fr., practices bowling for upcoming tournaments. van lyphotographer
Although Benjamin Waliczek, fr., started bowling eight years ago, the game has been part of his family for three generations. This began with his grandfather, who established several opportunities to bowl in the Wichita community. “It all started with my grandpa,” Waliczek said. “He created the Wichita State bowling team and owned five or six bowling centers when my dad was a kid.” Since his establishment of the Wichita State team, it has grown in size and reputation. According to the Shocker bowling website, the team even holds a record for attending 20 national championships and having 50 individuals compete for the U.S. National team. Waliczek’s father continued the bowling tradition by learning at these centers and developing his career. Eventually, he even competed in a national bowling competition. “My dad was always at the bowling center bowling and ended up being a professional and did really well at the PBA (Professional Bowlers Association),”
Waliczek said. The success of his family has led Waliczek to pursue bowling on his own and learn alongside his dad. In fact, his dad’s active practicing was the reason Waliczek was able to begin playing so soon. “My dad would go to practice a lot and I would always be with him,” Waliczek said. “I just caught on to that and ended up bowling a lot.” Today, Waliczek devotes his practice time to the school team. Although this team only meets about every other day, Waliczek also practices on off days with his dad. “My dad is a really good coach,” Walicek said. “But I think we also have some really good coaches (at East), too.” Waliczek hopes his practice time will pay off for the team, which he hopes will perform well in upcoming tournaments throughout the season. “I think we’re going to surprise a lot of people this year,” Waliczek said. “I think we’re going to be really good this year.”
the messenger january
dressdrama code
16 feature
Jasmine Quah, soph., poses with clothing she feels should be appropriate in a school setting. Lena Alhallaqphotographer
coralie correareporter
Sophomore pushes for more freedom in school clothes “The first (meeting) did not go exactly as planned,” Quah said. After hearing grievances about the dress code from her friends “It was when we decided to sit down and talk and share views. His and then being dress coded herself for wearing shorts and a pair views were completely different than mine and what my peers of sheer tights underneath, Jasmine Quah, soph., decided that have said. It left me pretty dejected.” something had to be done. The dress code had to change. Leaving the first meeting feeling In mid-September, Quah looked up and discouraged, Quah decided to not give up contacted Betty Arnold, Board of Education and started doing research on dress codes member, who had told her the different that have worked for other schools. ways she could make the impact that she Quah stumbled upon a story written wanted to. about a dress code that was being used in The options that she was told that were Evanston Township High School in Illinois, available to her were to start a petition or which was keeping the students and staff go to the administrators. If that did not happy so she decided to incorporate some work, then go to the Board of Education of those rules into her own plans. Quah and and then the district or just simply go to the press. Jasmine Quah, soph., said. Thiessen still did not seem to see eye-to-eye about dress code, but that has didn’t stop “I decided I would start at the bottom Quah from trying to make her mark. and start a petition and gather information from the students,” “I stepped back and told myself, ‘I did all of this for a reason,’” Quah said. Quah said. After speaking to any student she could reach and presenting her position to clubs, such as The Feminism Club and Students Against Prejudice, Quah had a total of 348 signatures. Quah heard many stories from students about their own experiences with being dress coded, many with the same tone, which was that most clothes were not distracting as long as administrators didn’t make it that way. “From my experience, it is really intimidating when an administrator walks over to you and they’re basically towering over you and they tell you to change your clothes,” Quah said. “After that you basically feel powerless and unable to do anything in that situation. I’ve talked to many students about it (and) they’ve also shared the same experience, that when administrators did that they felt like they were being pushed down.” After months of advocating for her petition Quah, pushed it back as a last chance effort to make the administrators take action. Quah is focusing on making compromises with the principal Ken Thiessen and attended meetings with him before winter break.
I stepped back “and told myself, ‘I did all of this for a reason.’
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the messenger january