Statesman
WOMEN IN TECH pg. 24
N OVEMBER 2018 V OL . 53, N O . 3
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
ON THE COVER
ENTERTAINMENT
24-25 WOMEN IN TECH OPEDS 31
CONGRATULATIONS, YOU HAVE BEEN REJECTED
34-35 36-37
7 DIY GIFTS
28-29 THE PALINDROME
16-17
DAILY RHYTHM
32-33 ENGAGE
18-19
THE START OF SOMETHING
38-39 REDEFINED
SPECIAL
27 “BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY” THE SILENCED MAJORITY
40-41
WINTER
42-43
VINCE // “SKINNER”
SPORTS
THE VALUE OF MISSIONS
4-5 INSTRUMENTALISTS 8-9
IN EVERY ISSUE
21 WINTER BLUES?
FEATURE
WE’RE NOT ALL RELATED
11 HOW TO GIVE BACK THIS HOLIDAY SEASON
12-13 15
14 INVESTED IN FASHION
BACK TO THE MIDDLE
AD OR SUBTRACT ROOM
22-23
SADO ALI
S t a t e s m a n The Statesman’s purpose is to inform and entertain with an honest and accurate approach. The opinions of students, staff members and faculty are expressed in a tasteful manner. The Statesman is a member of the National Scholastic Press Association, the Columbia Scholastic Press Association and is a winner of the George H. Gallup award for “…distinctive achievements in scholastic journalism.” The Statesman was awarded a Pacemaker in 2007 and was nominated for the 2012-2013 year. The editors and adviser take responsibility for the content of the Statesman. Editors- in-Chief: Gage Gramlick and Hannah Hansen
OP/ED Editor: Katie Osmundson
Photographers: Riley Rasmussen, Anna Dekkenga and Jaida Sorensen
Feature Editor: Taylor Ericson
Meet the Varsity: Chloe Crissman and Somer Luitjens
Sports Editor: Somer Luitjens
Design Editor: Will Howes Staff Writers: Nayeli Ayala, Georgia Conlin, Kate Fehrs, Lily Hiatt, Parker Hibbard, Morgan McDonnel, Margaret Meierhenry, Easton Plourde, Brita Quello, Maryam Rauuf, Chloe Robinson, Nicole Schmitz, Emily Shank, Kathryn Sweeter, Nyah Thaemert Business Manager: Cameron Rhode Adviser: Katie Kroeze
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Mi k
ENSEMBLE: Symphony Orchestra YEARS PLAYED: 7 MOST MEMORABLE PERFORMANCE: Playing Beethoven's 5th symphony with the Augustana Orchestra. FAVORITE PIECE YOU HAVE PLAYED: J.C. Bach’s “viola concerto with string quartet” FAVORITE MEME: YEET!
arlson
PHOTOS BY MARGARET MIERHENRY
Hall
ENSEMBLE: Symphonic Band YEARS PLAYED: 8 MOST MEMORABLE PERFORMANCE: SD BandMasters convention FAVORITE PIECE YOU HAVE PLAYED: “Godzilla Eats Las Vegas” FAVORITE MEME: Starter pack memes
C ya al
FAVORITE MEME: “This ain’t it, chief”
lis Bay s
Joh
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ENSEMBLE: Symphony Orchestra YEARS PLAYED: 13 MOST MEMORABLE PERFORMANCE: Playing a solo with an honors orchestra at Australia’s Sydney Opera House. FAVORITE PIECE YOU HAVE PLAYED: “Liebestraum No. 3” by Franz Liszt for piano
ro n
BY MARGARET MEIERHENRY
Aa
ENSEMBLE: Symphonic Band YEARS PLAYED: 4 MOST MEMORABLE PERFORMANCE: Playing Christmas music for a private party at the Overlook Cafe. FAVORITE PIECE YOU HAVE PLAYED: “I-80 Shuffle” FAVORITE MEME: Blues Brothers
Instrumentalists ewitte
ENSEMBLE: Symphonic Band YEARS PLAYED: 9 MOST MEMORABLE PERFORMANCE: All-State Orchestra 2017 FAVORITE PIECE YOU HAVE PLAYED: “West Side Story” .by Bernstein FAVORITE MEME: Play like a block of Velveeta
ENSEMBLE: Symphonic Band and Orchestra YEARS PLAYED: 10 MOST MEMORABLE PERFORMANCE: Pavilion concert of 2016 FAVORITE PIECE YOU HAVE PLAYED: .“El Camino Real” FAVORITE MEME: “All of the freaking meat in the meat ceiling in the band room.”
Xan er Donahue d STATESMAN 5
DIY gift ideas by Maryam Rauuf & Lily Hiatt
Materials: • Jersey (you can find this at a thrift store) • Pillow or stuffing • Hot glue gun
PHOTOS BY RILEY RASMUSSEN
Materials: • Small white plate • Paint and paintbrush • Glue • Toy animal Step 1: Begin by painting a thin layer of your desired color onto the toy animal. Repeat until the animal is completely coated.
Step 1: Cut out two squares from your jersey. Step 2: Flip the fabric so the outer sides are facing each other. Step 3: Begin gluing the edges, leaving one edge open. Step 4: Flip the pillow so that it is right side out, and then stuff it. Step 5: Glue the remaining edge.
Step 2: After the paint has dried, apply glue to the bottom of the animal and press it onto the center of the plate. Step 3: Let it dry. STATESMAN 7
QUINLAN PAIGE ALEXIS
GRACE ELI DAWSON
SARAH CALEB ZACH
EMMA
MILES CADEN DANIEL ALEXIA
MILLER
HANNAH
RILEY AUDRIANNA
HARMONY AALIYAH ALEXANDER MICHAEL PENTU QUINN ALYSON GAGE
HALEY
KAYA J BRAYDEN KAYA EMMA
PEYTON ARIEL
NOT PICTURED:
LAUREN CHEYENNE
SARA RYAN TOREI
EMMA
HENRY BRYLEE KIANA
BEN ANNA
JOHNSON
NOAH
KIMMARIE CHASE BLAKE
NOT PICTURED:
AARON PEYTON
OLSON
BRADY
IN THE LHS HALLS, MANY STUDENTS SHARE THE SAME LAST NAME, BUT NOT ALL ARE RELATED. JOHNSON, MILLER AND OLSON MAKE UP THE MOST POPULAR LAST NAMES AT LHS.
NOT PICTURED:
LUCY
BY BRITA QUELLO & KATE FEHRS
WITH 3 LAST NAMES...
SAMANTHA
WE’RE NOT ALL RELATED
PHOTOS BY JAIDA SORENSEN
How to give back this holiday season by Chloe Robinson
Many religious holidays in December, whether Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or Christmas, symbolically represent the season of giving. Between holiday parties, family obligations and trying to find the perfect gift, make sure to try and find time to give back during this holiday season. Below are eight ways you can do this:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
Volunteer at an animal shelter. There are plenty of dogs and cats that need love during the holiday season. If you don’t have time to make a scheduled visit, call and see what their needs may be, such as collars or food. Adopt a family. Many local organizations allow you to sponsor a family over the holiday season by making gifts or shopping for them. Give to charities. There are endless amounts of charities that you can give to during the holiday season. Pick a charity that is near and dear to your heart and give whatever amount you are able to afford monthly. Any amount of money makes a difference. Write le ers and send care packages to deployed military members. “Operation Gratitude” is a nonprofit organization that will assemble and ship care packages accompanied with a letter personally written by you. Clean out the house and donate what you don’t need . The holidays are a great time to go through cluttered closets and give away the items you don’t need anymore. Serve at local food shelters/bring canned foods. Get in touch with your local food bank for a time to serve your community. If you do not have a few spare hours to do this, go purchase some canned foods and drop them off at your local food shelter. Donate gifts to children in need . Donate gifts to local organizations like “The Ronald McDonald House” and “Children’s Inn.” You can find opportunities to give these gifts through the “Angel Trees,” which are located at the mall and some local churches. Visit a nursing home . Visit a local nursing home with the family. Bring some cards and decorations to brighten up the nursing home, and maybe even sing a few carols. STATESMAN 11
BACK TO THE MIDDLE PATRICK HENRY BY NAYELI AYALA
Here is the tea sis: gum is illegal, science is gay and agendas are extremely important. I decided to spend a day at a local middle school to get a feel for the past that I’ve buried in the dark recesses of my mind. And let me tell you, it was insane. The only good part about my experience was getting an extra hour of sleep and skipping school. Middle school does not start until 8:55 a.m. and with that kind of schedule, I would always be able to get my beauty sleep in. While at PHMS, I followed around seventh-grader Delaney Gramlick. Our first stop was Pro-Time, which is the equivalent to Ad Room except for the children are much smaller and are forced to sit in their assigned spots and read. After Pro-Time, I got to sit in on an accelerated English class. That is when I realized that reading is fundamental in middle school. I sat for 15 minutes and read a random book I found, and then sat for the rest of the class period listening to
the play version of “A Christmas Carol.” After class ended, we were directed to take out our agendas and write down every detail of the class period. Once class was over, the teacher dismissed us by squeezing a dog toy in the shape of a duck. The best part of the school day was when a boy approached me and said, “Science is gay.” In the hall, the science teacher had us stand in a single file line as she inspected us and made sure we did not have gum in our mouths. Gum is strictly prohibited because “it could get stuck on the carpet.” The room had tile floors. The teacher began the class by explaining a “Bill Nye” video the class had watched previously. Afterwards, I watched as Gramlick filled out a worksheet about biodiversity, and I, an AP biology student, did not know a single answer. At the end of class, the teacher waived around what looked like a clicker used to train dogs. The class automatically knew this meant they had to be silent. After science, we headed to the lunchroom. To get the full
experience, I started to mingle and introduce myself to Gramlick’s classmates. This is the moment when I got told that I looked like an “eighth-grader that got held back.” The students knew I was a high school student, but apparently, I look nothing like a 17-year-old. The last class I attended was an accelerated social studies class. I’m not gonna lie, it just felt like busy work. During the class period students worked on filling out a human development index. Really, it was just copying and pasting information found on databases. Overall, I had a great time at PHMS considering I only sat in class, watched videos and observed. To summarize, a day of middle school will be filled with awkward experiences. Students are mean, teachers are strict and passing periods are only two minutes long.
EDISON BY KATIE OSMUNDSON
EMS: my alma mater. The place where I spent three of my most awkward years, yet I still volunteered to return. Walking into the building I found myself feeling much cooler than I was in 2015, but I was also very intimidated by the masses of small children crowding the doors. When I finally made it inside, I met up with Brooklyn Kimmel, the girl who I would be following around for the day. Our first stop was Pro-Time, where I mastered the skill of bouncing ping-pong balls into a plastic bucket. My pod did our best, though we weren’t the fastest. Pro-Time, much like Ad Room, focuses on building relationships between students and giving them time to read or do homework. It gives students a teacher that is looking out for them and checking on any missing assignments that they may have. Then we moved onto Language Arts, where I was transported back
to my eighth-grade year. The walls of the classroom were covered with posters and colorful photos. We discussed a story and then watched a movie adaptation of it. The movie was eerie, fitting for the day before Halloween, and students shouted out their reactions to it. Then just like that, we were dismissed for Spanish. I have never succeeded in Spanish, even though I attempted to take the class in middle school. This class was especially fun due to the conversations that I was able to have with the students. They explained to me how they liked middle school, especially because they had more freedom, but were nervous for high school. I was hopefully able to ease their fears and they were very excited with the concept of open lunch. Speaking of lunch, it was next on our schedule and definitely the period I was most nervous for. The students were very inviting when I sat down, but I did receive many strange looks from other kids. I
truly understood peer pressure when my table convinced me to go up to my little brother and give him a hug in the middle of the lunch room. I then went to social studies and finished up with math, where students were given candy for answering questions: something I hope will be implemented in high school. The day went quickly, and though I had a great time at Edison, I’m very glad I’m in high school.
ARTWORK BY MARYAM RAUUF
12 STATESMAN
STATESMAN 13 ARTWORK BY MARYAM RAUUF
Invested in fashion BY EMILY SHANK
With the many teachers at LHS, Kaaren Huber’s fashion is quite different. After teaching physical education classes at LHS for the past 20 or so years, Huber has developed a very noticeable style. Her exquisite colors and shoes make for a great outfit, while also showing off her personality. “Shoes are a statement that I can actually enjoy with what I do for a profession, whereas the teachers here at Lincoln get to dress in their professional attire with how many pairs of boots they have that might be black, how many pairs of Uggs they own, or sandals,” said Huber. “I get to do it with fun,
comfortable, athletic shoes.” In Huber’s earlier years, she struggled a bit to match all the time, but after many years of experience she has mastered the art of matching her tennis shoes with the rest of her outfit. Huber enjoys being stylish, but also comfortable and prepared for her job. “Nike inspires my fashion, of course,” said Huber. “The goddess of victory. My favorite outfits include anything Nike. Recently, I have been really into the Lululemon flyby pant.” Huber loves everything about Nike. She also loves Lululemon and Patagonia g Between for clothing.
those three brands, there are a lot of unique styles along with a lot of different patterns. There are vests, light coats, sweatpants, leggings, t-shirts, tank tops and even long sleeves. She buys what is practical for her. She does not buy purses; she buys jackets. Jackets to Huber are like purses for some people. “I like to dress for the season. I do not wear a lot of orange, but it is the harvest season, so I felt like I needed to wear something that was the reason for the season,” said Huber. “Red is our primary color here at Lincoln, so I like red. Red is a sign of victory. I wear a lot of Lincoln clothing. Anything that has Lincoln colors; if it is a shoe that
is meant for my foot and my gate, it is definitely a shoe that I will purchase, whether it is an Epic React to a Nike Free to an Asics Nimbus to a Brooks Glycerin. I kind of have an assortment of shoes, not just one brand.” Huber’s style is respectable for her profession. She is a teacher; she wants her style to bring out her passion for her profession. She has fun and enjoys what she does so she does not want to look like she just rolled out of bed. Huber tries to dress the best she can for success. Huber’s exquisite style is a great part of the LHS community.
Ad or subtract room by Kathryn Sweeter This year, LHS switched from having four days of Ad Room per week to only two days of Ad Room per week. Many have different opinions about this change. In order to truly understand how everyone feels about the Ad Room schedule change, I sent out a survey to students and interviewed staff members on how many days they would like to have Ad Room. Here are the results:
responses “The purpose of Ad Room is to advise students. Plus, it’s a nice break in the day to catch up on everything we need to know. The bond that a student makes with their Ad Room teacher is important, and when we only have Ad Room twice a week the student-teacher relationship is a lot harder to form,” said junior Heidi Anderson.
Prefer P efe four fo days da s of Ad Room
“[Ad Room] is a good time to debrief a little bit from the morning, and kind of get relaxed for the rest of the afternoon. Ad Room teachers can create relationships with their students, and I also think students check grades during this time. For the counselors, it’s hard for us to deliver information like ACT, senior stuff, scholarships and financial aid. It’s hard [for counselors] to develop relationships with our students in only two days a week,” said counselor David Myers.
“It feels like a waste of time, but it might be nice to have some sense of community throughout the four years. It may be helpful when someone is going through change, and it’s comforting to know that there will be at least one thing that remains consistent,” said freshman Carleigh Nygaard.
Prefer two days of Ad Room “I have heard from both teachers and students about how Ad Room is unnecessary, and that the time is not being used productively. From my experience, most students do not use the time to do what Ad Room is intended for, and instead use the time to socialize. I feel that Ad Room is not needed, and we could be using the time for actual classes,” said junior Presley Brasel.
Prefer not having Ad Room
“I believe Ad Room is a waste of time. It’s seven minutes to transfer into, seven minutes to transition out and 18 minutes long. So, 32 minutes every day of a study hall seems to be a waste of time,” said Principal Bob Grimm. STATESMAN 15
PHOTOS BY RILEY RASMUSSEN
daily
Rhy hm
ROCK The band Fall Out Boy started in a suburb near Chicago in 2001. Some popular songs that LHS students may have heard of are “Uma Thurman,” “Centuries” or “The Last Of The Real Ones.”
BY NYAH THAEMERT & NICOLE SCHMITZ
Music is a universal power; it has the ability to bring people together from all over the world. There are a plethora of genres that can be enjoyed. Based on a poll sent out to LHS students, there are four prominent genres that students listen to most: country, rock, pop and hip-hop/ rap. For some students, rock music can release stress. Many students said that rock music has a way of connecting with something they are going through. “Rock is another way of letting your anger out into a song, and most of them are overall bops that you can jam to with your friends,” said freshman Olivia Albers. “Fall Out Boy writes about things that so many of us can relate to, and how they present the lyrics with their styles of music is just amazing.” The catchy melodies and the storytelling in country music leaves LHS students refreshed. Country music has a diverse style of music. It can range from upbeat and positive, to slow and sad. “I really like Thomas Rhett and Dan + Shay because their songs have a certain beat to it that makes me groove,” said freshman Jazmine Osberg. Pop is the number one 16 STATESMAN
favorite genre at LHS. It is widely appreciated for its variety of emotions that the songs can connect with. “There’s a song for anything and everything you’re feeling. Sad, happy, hyped up, brokenhearted... pop’s got it all,” said freshman Kate McCartney. “Shawn Mendes is my favorite pop artist because his music is raw and honest and always tells a story.” Tied with country for the second most popular music genre at LHS is hip-hop/ rap. The fast tempo and catchy hooks make the lyrics easy to vibe with. “It keeps me going thru the day and gets me hyped up,” said senior Ayanle Ibrahim. “I do not have a favorite artist. To be honest, I like all of them, but Drake is the GOAT.” No matter what the genre is, many students at LHS rely on music for many different reasons. Whether it is to get pumped up with their friends or a relaxation technique, one can conclude that the power of music is unlike anything else.
PROVIDED BY FREEDOM TO MARY//CC BY 2.0
RAP
Drake has had many songs featured on the Billboard’s Top 100 such as: “Gods Plan,” “Nice for What,” “In My Feelings” and many others.
POP Shawn Mendes has captured many people’s hearts through his music. Some of his hits include: “In My Blood,” “Lost in Japan” and “Mercy.”
PROVIDED BY RAPH_PH //CC BY 2.0
COUNTRY Thomas Rhett’s heartfelt music has left his fans mesmerized. A few examples are: “Crash and Burn,” “Die a Happy Man” and “Life Changes.”
PROVIDED BY ABC/IMAGE GROUP LA//CC BY-ND 2.0
STATESMAN 17
PHOTOS BY ANNA DEKKENGA
The sta BY EASTON PLOURDE
I decided to join the Statesman last year thinking it would only consist of in-class work; I would never have thought Statesman would lead me to a blind double date. It all started on Oct. 22, when we were brainstorming story ideas for Statesman, and Maryam Rauuf had the ingenious idea to set me and Parker Hibbard up on a blind double date. At first, I was not totally fond of the idea, but after talking with Hibbard, the date was set. We would meet up on Friday night for sushi, at Oshima, downtown, at 6:30 p.m. Friday rolled around, and throughout the school day my brain was filled with endless possibilities of who it could be. Finally, after a long day at school, my 7th period came to an end and I was prepared to get ready for our date. I got home, took a shower, brushed my teeth, got dressed and I was ready to go. I left my house at around 5:15 p.m. to pick up Hibbard. I picked him up early because we anticipated a lot of traffic and the parking downtown 18 STATESMAN
something special would be a giant problem. We later found out that we left way too early and were stuck driving around. Our parking spot took no longer than two minutes to find. After picking up Hibbard, we drove to HyVee to pick up flowers for our mystery dates, trying to be somewhat decent gentlemen. We spent our time brainstorming about who we would possibly be going on a date with. After driving around for almost an hour, we finally decided to head downtown. While Hibbard and I walked towards Oshima, we felt like we were sticking out like a sore thumb because we were just some teenage boys walking downtown both holding a bouquet of flowers. It felt really awkward to say the least. We arrived at Oshima at about 6:20 p.m. It was a little early, but not too bad if I say so myself. When Hibbard and I felt out of place walking downtown with flowers, walking into a pretty regular Sushi restaurant holding two bouquets of flowers with no dates around us to be seen, was
much more embarrassing. Once we sat down at our booth, we tucked the flowers by the side of the booth, trying to distract from the fact that we both just walked in with them. After waiting for some time, 6:30 p.m. rolled around and we were getting kind of eager to see who it was, not only because we were curious, but also because we had been sitting in a booth for ten minutes while it was just Hibbard and I with four menus laid out on the table, but only two guys. Then we were there for 10 more minutes and it was 6:40 p.m. and still no signs of our dates. We thought we had been stood up and for good reason, we had been waiting for 20 minutes and still no dates. I remember vaguely just looking down at the menu and then Hibbard said, “Oh look it’s Baily.” Baily? For those of you who do not know my sister’s name is Baily. I was a little confused, so I turned around and Hibbard was not kidding. It was seriously my own sister on a blind double date with me, also accompanied by her friend Lydia Sarbacker. Let me be
clear, I was on the date with her friend, Lydia, not my sister. Here at Statesman we don’t condone incest. We both stood up, hugged our dates and gave them the flowers. Once we sat back down, the overprotective brotherly instinct in me kicked in a little bit and I continued to watch Hibbard’s every move after that. After talking for a little bit, we found out that neither Lydia nor Baily have had sushi, adding to the
Lydia Baily
list of stuff I didn’t know about my sister; a couple weeks ago, I just found out she wrote left handed. Then we were ready to order. We decided as a group to try something new and started off with an appetizer called monkey balls. “The balls are sweet and better than expected,” said Baily. When it came to the actual dinner, we all ordered California rolls, but Hibbard was the outlier and ordered sexy rolls.
“It’s because they represent me,” said Hibbard. After having some funny conversations and eating sushi the night was coming to an end. We paid the bills and left Oshima; Lydia and Baily parked farther away than us which consisted of walking through a scary alleyway to get to their car, so we gave them a lift to their car. Overall, it was a fun night and a great time, but a second date was never planned.
Rate the date
Easton Parker
STATESMAN 19
Winter blues?
How to keep the body movin’ and the mind groovin’ BY GEORGIA CONLIN
The cold and dreary winter months can really put some people into a funk. For some reason, it is really hard to get outside and when the sun never shows itself, it is hard to keep a positive attitude. It may seem like summer will never come, but these activities can make the winter days feel shorter. Get others involved by bringing friends or family with you!
1
2
Yogga classes are a simple and ffun un way to be aable to move during the cold months. In hot yoga, the room is heated to 105 degrees, and you do a series of 26 yoga poses. Hot yoga y g tones muscles and reduces stress.
4
We are all guilty of eating chips and ice cream in bed while watching Netflix, but attempting to eat healthy will give you way more energy during the day. With many options in town you can get healthier options for food at Pomegranate Market, Fit Revolution Nutrition and many more.
3
Also, rem memb ber to o stay positivee. Keeping a posittive outlook willl keep you motivateed to finish h the year strong, and d you will be more fun to to be around. around
During a cyclin ng class,, you get all the beenefits of outd doo or biking on a stationary bike bike. e. E Except xcept this this time, tim me, you you have ha an instructorr telling you u to to go go faster, faster, making mak you more motivated ivated to work work. k You You may not gget to see the outdoors as you bike, but it is a great alternative until it is warm enough to bike outside. STATESMAN 21
Ali raises up the spirits of lhs BY MORGAN MCDONNEL
Sado Ali is a senior at LHS, and she is thought of quite highly among her peers and teachers. She is a student who is both hard-working and determined, as well as a friend to many in the school. Ali is recognized throughout the school as a tenacious student. This is her fourth year attending LHS. Ali enjoys all of her classes and strives for good grades. She comes to school every day with a good attitude and craves to learn more. Her teachers, like Drake Bachmeier, recognize that. “Sado is a super hard worker, I mean everything she does, she works hard. Some stuff is a struggle for her, but I’ve never met a student or person that’s always tried to do it,” said Bachmeier. Ali’s teachers admire how hard she works and how determined she is. She tries her best to get through the material she struggles with and excels at the subjects and concepts that she enjoys. “The work ethic, I mean I’ve never seen a kid do that before. She used to, when she was a freshman, come to me and ask for homework and extra stuff to work on,” said Bachmeier. Bachmeier believes that Ali’s best subject is science, but Ali also really likes math. She enjoys it so much that she plans to 22 STATESMAN PHOTO BY MORGAN MCDONNEL
become a math teacher someday. “Math is my favorite because when I am older, I want to be a math teacher,” said Ali. Not only is Ali an exceptional student, but she is also a caring and loyal friend. Classmates recognize her sweet and compassionate personality and enjoy her presence. Junior Emily Hall was in a gym class with Ali last year and has remained really great friends with her ever since. “My favorite part about being in class with Ali was probably because she was always smiling and laughing all the time. She just wants to be a part of the games and that makes her a really great teammate to have. She was always having fun even if we were losing really bad and getting destroyed by the other team; she would make it okay because she was always laughing and having an amazing time,” said Hall. Although Ali’s smile and laugh are contagious, she has had some hardships in the past that she has had to overcome. It began when she was eight and her mother decided to move her and two of her siblings to the U.S. “When I was younger, we had to move here because I was sick,” said Ali. Ali and her family originally lived in Africa, but now all of them except for one of her sisters live here. Learning a new language and adapting to a new
country was something new and difficult for her, but she worked really hard and has come a long way from when she first moved to the states. “It was really hard moving here. It was very hard to learn English. I like that it’s much cooler here and it is a nice place. It’s safe,” said Ali. The majority of Ali’s free time is spent working on homework, hanging out with friends or listening to music. On the weekends she spends most of her time working at Hy-Vee. “My favorite part about working at Hy-Vee is making new friends,” said Ali. Ali is bright, outgoing and a fun person to be around. There is never a time she will be seen without a smile on her face or a laugh filling the air. After getting to know Ali, it is evident that she is an all-around wonderful human. “My favorite thing about her is that she will always say ‘hi’ to you in the hallway. I hadn’t seen her all summer and when I saw her on the first day of school, we just caught up. She’s just so sociable and friendly and I love her,” said Hall. Everyone who knows Ali knows she has a pure and happy heart. She is a determined student and a kind, down to earth friend to everyone she meets.
STATESMAN 23
WOMEN BY TAYLOR ERICSON
Close your eyes and picture a student that is a part of the tech department; chances are, you envisioned a muscular male holding a power tool, am I right? The idea that only males are capable of building sturdy sets and handling intense tools is extremely prevalent in our society and has been for a very long time. This year’s LHS tech department completely defies those societal norms, to say the least. There are around 20 “techies” that come together to create amazing productions and this year, over 75 percent of those involved are female. Senior Grace Gordon is the student director of the tech department and has been involved in the behind the scenes work since she was a freshman. Gordon has PHOTO BY SLATER DIXON
student directed five productions throughout her high school career and does not take her role lightly. “As a student director, I feel that it is my responsibility to make the theatre a safe place,” said Gordon. “I don’t want anyone to be excluded or feel uncomfortable. This year we have really focused on checking up on one another. Everyone has a place here.” Although it may be easy to look past all of the work that goes into creating a LHS production, the end result would not be possible without the countless hours that the “techies” devote backstage. “It takes a lot to get the set planned, built and painted,” said Gordon. “Having a large amount of people around really alleviates
IN
TECH
that process.” Spending endless hours backstage does not only result in a truly brilliant production, but the close bonds that the “techies” create are indescribable. “Everyone brings their strengths to the table and we work together to create a production,” said tech director, Lance DeRoos. “It is a team, family and community in every sense of the word. We’re all working towards the same goal: a quality production.” A key element that has contributed to the family-like feel back stage this year is the change in demographics. “Something I enjoy about working with mainly females is that it’s fun to talk,” said senior and head of costumes and props, Suzi Fitterer. “Because you could be going
through some girl problems and they will understand and be there for you. Yes, guys can be there for you too and can be fun to hang out with but when working with females, we can just give each other looks and know what is going on.” The idea that girls are not as strong or as capable as boys is still widespread in this day in age, but this year’s women in tech help to prove that this perspective should be diminished, because it is in fact, incorrect. “I have especially enjoyed working with the girls this year because they easily shut down the outdated stereotype that women can’t use power tools or build anything sturdy,” said Gordon. “I don’t think it should be breaking news that my girls get the job done.”
Review Score
BY WILL HOWES Movies about larger-than-life figures face impossible odds regarding fan satisfaction. Die hard fans of anything often develop their adoration in a personal context, meaning those same fans will want one thing from the movie while others will want something entirely different. While a movie can satisfy some of the audience’s unique expectations, plenty more can be left behind, and the criticism is sure to be swift. “Bohemian Rhapsody” ends up being something that everybody wants to see, but nobody wants to make. When Fox Studio hired legendary director Bryan Singer, many could have predicted the following drama that ensued. Singer reportedly missed shoots often and the crew and cast were left running on Singer’s schedule. The situation came to a head when Singer was fired weeks before the conclusion, and the rest of production was taken over by Dexter Fletcher. Suffice to say, production was rough. Removing the context in which the movie exists and focusing on the film’s merit alone, “Bohemian Rhapsody” does an excellent job on
many fronts. The dialogue is wellwritten, if a little forced, and the use of colors to demonstrate a scene’s mood is consistently well-done. The attention to detail is impeccable; from the opening scene alone, the easiersaid-than-done “show, don’t tell” mantra was clearly a goal. Much of the detail serves as a gift to the fans who will recognize the intentionality of its placement, prominent examples being Mercury’s microphone and the Rockstar’s fascination with his nearly dozen cats. Undoubtedly, the movie’s greatest moments come from Rami Malek’s portrayal of Mercury. Having had great success in his role as Elliot Alderson in USA’s “Mr. Robot,” Malek’s devoted preparation for the role paid off. Equipped with prosthetic teeth and raw talent, Malek captures the hearts of viewers in his performance. If Mercury was born to entertain, then Malek was born to act. The film’s first act is brilliant.
Malek’s diligent performance paints a picture-perfect representation of Mercury’s confident flamboyance. The cast has excellent chemistry and the overall pacing is just right. However, the second act of the film is a noticeable slog compared to the first, especially when considering the factual inaccuracies made to fit the second-act low point formula. As we zoom back out into the greater context “Bohemian Rhapsody” exists within, a few problems arise. It’s likely some of the issues the film has would have not been present had Singer not been so problematic, but Hollywood’s problem of dramatizing its subjects is also to blame. Much of the criticism of the film pertains to how Mercury’s sexuality was handled. Though his romantic interest in men is kept no secret, the extent to which his homosexuality led to his moral downfall is somewhat overplayed. Also, much of the later years are widely out of chronological order. With its flaws in mind, “Bohemian Rhapsody” does the tale of Freddie Mercury just short of justice. Perhaps in another decade, some brave soul will take on the task once more, but until then, this is the best we’ve got.
RELEASE IN THEATRES NOW FROM 20TH CENTURY FOX DIRECTOR BRYAN SINGER RATING PG-13 20TH CENTURY FOX
THE THE
“I don’t care” as a tool to mask these fears. But a mask only prevents them from being seen; internally, they are always there; they are always lurking behind the curtain of our selfdoubt. We are told to be fearless: to adapt our worry and morph it into ambition. We are groomed to overcome our fears and are indoctrinated to use this triumph as ammunition towards happiness. But facing the fear is more than just acknowledging it’s there; it involves coming to
n’t
care
I W
e are living in a world where it’s easy to give up: where our fear and our shame of the fear are made specifically to fit the mold of our insecurities, where we are apt to throw in the towel before it even reaches our hands. The weight of the world is dependent on the shoulders that carry it, and when the shoulders are our own, the act of immediately saying “I don’t care” to mask the inevitable fear of never being able to reach the end overpowers any remaining ambition: any remaining outlet of optimism. This “I don’t care” mentality is threatening. It’s dangerous. It makes us fall asleep to the rhythm of broken promises and wake up to the tragic reality of crumbled dreams. It forces us to forget our values in a lost effort of attempting to please: to be something we aren’t, and never wanted to be. We use
terms with what isn’t: with what we try desperately not to care about. No one ever talks about facing the unseen: the places, scenarios and futures we envision. Perhaps it’s easier that way; maybe it’s more efficient to disregard the fact that what we cultivate in our minds is less important than what is visible right in front of us. But fear is present even if it isn’t seen with the human eye. This mask we use to misguide our thoughts reciprocates a feeling of alternative happiness to
those looking in, and this falsity acts as another layer begging to be felt, heard and seen: but how can it be exposed when we just “don’t care?” We should care about what we tell ourselves not to; we need to care about what isn’t seen to protect what is. The phrase “I don’t care” is the easy response to conflict, and we all want a little simplicity in a world where it’s rare. “I don’t care” shields our hurt, or potential scarring, from moving into our minds and settling itself in the crevices
of guilt, shame and denial. But this denial of caring is in the driver’s seat of our own car, and it’s time that we start driving it. It’s time that we start to admit to ourselves that we do, in fact, care: that we want to drive ourselves. It’s okay to not be fearless. It’s okay to feel the weight of the world start to crumble over our shoulders. It’s okay to care about the things people say we shouldn’t. But we first must admit to ourselves that we do care: that, sometimes, this
confidence and ambition we are told to have don’t always transcend our insecurities. By continuously covering up our fear with layer upon layer of “I don’t care” mentalities, we are doing a disservice to our outlooks, our perceptions and ourselves. We deserve more than simply mistaking our own dishonesty for truth. We are smarter than merely believing our personal deceit while sacrificing our sense of individuality. We are weaker when we don’t care, but we are stronger when we do.
BY HANNAH HANSEN, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
The purpose of The Palindrome is to expose the ambiguous angles of life: the angles of which are sheltered from the common eye. There are different ways to interpret life, several directions to look at it from and diverse concepts to challenge because of it. A palindrome involves looking at a word from a different angle of interpretation; life requires you to separate what you see adjacent to the common eye and shift your vision toward the uncommon eye: the foreign, irresistible unknown.
Congratulations, you have been
rejected
by Chloe Crissman
The day has finally come. The crisp clean envelope addressed to you and only you with the crest of your dream school embedded on the back lays in your palms, the answers to your future merely seconds away. You begin to rip open the envelope and read the first words on the page, “I am deeply sorry to inform you that we cannot offer you a place in the Class of 2023…” Immediately you call your friend to see if they have opened their letter. They have. They got in. How could this be? You had a 35 ACT score and a 4.2 weighted GPA. You volunteered and held a part-time job to help pay the bills, but you’re white. Your friend had a 28 ACT and a 3.5 GPA. They did no extracurricular activities, but they’re African American. Before you go crazy and start calling me racist, this is not an article about how minorities don’t deserve to get into impressive colleges and receive scholarships. This is an opinion piece about how the system of affirmative action is less beneficial to even the minorities that you may think reap all the benefits from its placement. The premise behind affirmative action is to give some form of reparation to minorities for the years of discrimination and cruelties they have faced, to try and make up for our “bad
behavior,” if you will. This is all fine and just, except that some minorities are getting cut out of that deal and are, in turn, being even more discriminated against. According to The Perspective, “Asians have an automatic disadvantage in comparison to other students that is equivalent to a loss of 50 SAT points. Not only are Asians required to have higher scores than other minority candidates, but they also need to outperform whites at an equivalent academic level to get accepted to schools.” Would you say that it is fair and just to have inexplicably higher standards for one race over another? Have Asians not faced enough after being thrown in internment camps during World War II while being full citizens of the United States? Not only is affirmative action unfair to certain minority groups, but it also sends the wrong message. It says that you are disadvantaged and are presumably not “well-off ” if you are not white. It can easily be debunked, however, that race and poverty have a weak correlation, and what really matters is your family status. Approximately 25.7 percent of all single-mother households are in poverty and 12.4 percent of all single-father households are in poverty as well. It’s true that African Americans
find themselves in the highest percentile of poverty but it’s not because they are black, it’s because, according to CNN, “67 percent of all non-Hispanic black families are single-parent households.” Should everyone have an equal chance at getting a higher education? Yes, absolutely. Can family and financial status play as disadvantages in that search for higher education? Yes, again. However, there is no world in which a child with a 36 ACT or a 1600 SAT that is also a wellrounded student, should be denied admittance to a university because they are white or Asian. I am a big believer that numbers don’t make up who a student is. Your ACT score and GPA don’t tell your life story; they merely show how well you can memorize and regurgitate information, which unfortunately, is a necessary skill in achieving higher education. This is not to say that if you don’t have the best score possible, you shouldn’t be accepted to a notable college, but that maybe there are other schools that would better fit your learning style and pace. Society wants us to be color blind to everything except possibly the biggest moment of your life, and to me that is unfair, but you’re more than welcome to change my mind.
STATESMAN OP/ED 31
A letter to my executioner
EnGage W
elcome to the ninth installment of EnGage, a column. The goal of EnGage is to entertain, inspire and educate: to engage. The following is a satire. as always, please do not sue the Statesman. Thank you.
To the doctor who flips the switch, I must say, carpentry reveals many human truths- Jesus, after all, was a carpenter. I think the most basic human truth is our need for balance, for level ground. Any craftsman worth his salt will ensure straight lines on all finished products, whether cabinets, chairs, tables, beams, etc. Asymmetry, whether it be in carpentry or in life, is both ugly and impractical. An off-kilter picture frame and a thief who retains both his hands are both hideous injustices. This is why we must react to all action; justice is what restores order. It is likely the most integral form of balance, anthropologically speaking of course. That is why I fully understand my sentence and why this letter is written with gratitude rather than the expected spitecarpentry has enlightened me. See, at the beginning, I feared for my fate. The plan, at its inception, included my death and what with the continued scrutiny over the practice you carry out, it seemed
less and less likely. Fortunately, Alabama has not succumbed to the weakness that suffocates Maine and Massachusetts and the many others. Alabama has good and right principles: Family, God and Country. I have yet to meet an Alabama man who isn’t prolife- if that isn’t a testament to the Alabama character, then what is?! We know the value of life and the price of taking it. As a doctor, I’m sure you’ve heard many hearts beat in your life. In this way, we are very similar. My whole life, heartbeats have thudded in the background, disrupting life like a band of spasmodic percussionists. That is why I had to kill. To have silence. Silence, however, comes with a price. Although an undeniable thrill, killing changes your outlook on the institution of life itself. Life becomes accessible. And, in a way, you feel like God. When I slaughtered the Brown family, dog and all, the world shrunk into
the hearts I held in my hands. The Browns of course were my first. When you kill, you must kill more. If this is confusing, you will soon understand, doctor. This is what I propose to you: Make a show of my death, as I did with my victims (my furniture is homemade, of course). Display my execution like fine handiwork to ward off any future abusers. Although this did not work with me, I must conclude that it was due to the quality of the executions I saw as a child. You, however, have the potential to really make an impact. With that, I would like to leave you (and this Earth) with a heartfelt thank you. To be stuck in a jail cell really would be a drag. You have simply saved me from a horrendous crime. I understand that this all may come as a shock, but not nearly as shocked as I’ll be shortly! Until later, The man in the chair
BY GAGE GRAMLICK, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
THE SILENCED MAJORITY
BY SOMER LUITJENS AND PARKER HIBBARD
“Everyone has the right to a freedom of expression without the issue that they will be bullied or ridiculed for their opinion.” According to a recent Statesman poll, 80 percent of LHS conservatives are scared to voice their political opinions in school, while an estimated 38 percent of LHS liberals are scared to voice theirs. This needs to change. One of the hardest parts about being in high school for me, a conservative republican, is that I feel as though I cannot speak my mind when politics are the topic of conversation. Not because I am uneducated or clueless as to what is going on, but because I am afraid. I am afraid I will be viewed as a sexist, a homophobe or even a racist. It wasn’t always like this. Today’s news and media has a tendency to either lean to the far-right side or the far-left side of the political spectrum, causing viewers to not only lose their core values, but also create a
deeper divide in America. “It used to be that the media was truly journalism and just presented things that were happening in history and the facts that allowed people to make their own decisions,” said Dr. Brad Thaemert. “Now, both written and TV is more opinion, it’s not really facts. That is a very different media then it used to be, even 10 years ago.” This problem of division has spread so far that we are now seeing it affect the halls of LHS. Some students feel the division more than others, and it is changing the way they complete their school work and handle their encounters with their teachers. It doesn’t matter who you’re friends with or what you’re involved in, once politics are brought up, the gloves come off, the arguments heat up and the conservative usually loses.
If a statement is made and the left side of the argument has nothing more to say, they may at times match it with bigotry remarks about racism, sexism and homophobia wrongfully associated with the Republican Party. These hurtful, distressing phrases that are brought up, have a major effect on the conservative who is just trying to voice their opinion. After a while, these painful remarks cause Republicans to just be silent because being categorized as a racist is something that we will avoid at all costs, even if the cost is our voice. “We are a public school district and everyone has the right to a freedom of expression without the issue that they will be bullied or ridiculed for their opinion,” said School Board Vice President Cynthia Mickelson. “I don’t want students to feel intimidated
by other students so they can’t express their opinions.” Let’s put this into perspective: When an LHS team plays a WHS team, we want to do nothing more than to kick their butts. We love to beat them and we hate to lose to them. When we play WHS, we have a little extra incentive to give it our all. Let’s say it like we mean it. We hate WHS. But it isn’t a right vs left hate. It’s a hate developed from respect. When the game is over and we are in our street clothes, no longer on the court or on the field, those feelings quickly dissipate. We meet our enemies with a smile and talk about our favorite movies, music or
whatever the topic may be. We high five, hug it out and go home with no bad feelings towards them as individuals. We go home as friends. Why can’t it be this way at LHS? Why can’t we have a respect for those who have a different opinion? Why can’t we say, “Great argument. I don’t agree with you, but you stated your opinion well and I respect where you are coming from.” It’s time to create unity at LHS. “I think a lot of the time we live in shame and fear of the truth,” said LHS senior Caiden Capaldo. “It’s really important that we stand our ground when we feel something’s right. You can listen to someone and you can respect
their view but that doesn’t mean you have to agree with it. We ultimately want to have a caring community where we all hear each other.” No matter what race you are, you are accepted. If you’re gay or straight, you are accepted. No matter what religion you follow, or if you choose to not follow one at all, you are accepted. Athletes, musicians, actors, debaters and scholars are all accepted and equally appreciated. That’s the Lincoln way. No matter what you look like or who you hang with, if you’re a Patriot, you’re a part of the family. However, the second someone states their conservative views, they feel rejected. When
someone who leans left raises their hand and shouts from the rooftops, they are applauded for standing up for their beliefs, even if their words have an edge or a bite to them. On the contrary when someone wants to share their conservative feelings on a topic, they know they need to “speak softly” and temper their opinions. Those who lean right are met with more than resistance. They are hit headon with looks of disgust, eye rolls and are often interrupted by classmates or questioned by teachers. It isn’t their opinion that is attacked, but rather their character. The disdain for conservatives is so thick that many students
feel they need to remain silent. It’s difficult not to wonder which direction your teacher leans. The heavy cloud that conservatives feel makes them second guess how their views will be received. Should I pick a different topic for my paper? Should I keep my hand down and my opinions muzzled? Will it negatively affect my grade if I express myself in a way that is contrary to my teacher’s hidden beliefs? I realize those of you reading this may have just rolled your own eyes or even whispered the word, “Seriously?” out loud. Please don’t take what is written in this article to be a fact or even a substantiated opinion. These aren’t spoken in reality but
rather feared as a perception. The problem with perceptions is that they are real to the perceiver. Everyone knows LHS has some of the best teachers in the state of South Dakota. We have the highest AP and ACT scores for a reason. I don’t want this article to insinuate anything else. My hope is that this will create an awareness so that we all can examine our motives, our reactions and our tolerance of others’ opinions. We are all one family, and no family ever sees eye to eye 100 percent of the time, but when the dust settles, we walk away arm in arm proud to be a Patriot. STATESMAN OP/ED 35
The value of BY RILEY RASMUSSEN
In 2016, I took my first trip to Les Cayes, Haiti. Going into mission trips, most people expect the adults and children to be sort of distant and shy. However, I experienced something very different from the adults and children in Les Cayes. Each individual I met had been joyful and excited to see another group of missionaries. The adults welcomed each of us with open arms and a “Bonswa, como ou ye zanmi’m?” Fighting over who gets to hold my arms and hands or grabbing sections of my hair to braid, the children were excited to have missionaries present to sit and enjoy time with. Returning to Les Cayes in 2018, I was surprised to find that a majority of the kids remembered my presence from two years earlier. Through all of the missionaries and mission groups they have encountered in the last two years, they still remembered me? I thought, “How could they remember me after all this time?” However, I have found that each mission group that encounters these children and adults makes a lasting impact, even an impact they still remember years later. “Mission groups coming to Haiti have a very positive impact on the orphanage because most of them don’t have family, parents, mom or dad,” said Eduard Constant, Founder of CRESH. “All of the kids here are looking for a love and when missions come they really enjoy pulling them and taking them by the arm. They make them feel like
MISSIONS they are important like regular kids.” Constantly at the orphanages, the adults and children share many stories about the missionaries they have connected with. They share the fun, joyful stories and memories. When mission groups are present, they are able to build connections and mentor the children at the orphanages. Missionaries are able to fill a place in each child’s life as someone to look to. “I have come to realize that all people and missionaries have helped me to learn to break away with other wires,” said Anel, an 18-year-old boy from the boys’ orphanage in Les Cayes, Haiti. “Missionary is truly important for my life.” As mission groups continue to come to Haiti, there are many projects they complete, like the Safe T Homes. Safe T Homes are made of highly-modified grain bins which are able to withstand natural disasters with minor damages. During Hurricane Matthew, the Safe T Homes were able to protect the people of the orphanages and Haitians nearby. y. “The Safe T Home was very, very useful,” said Rozambert Denis, Director of ODH. “We were in a position where we felt safe at the time when we have a hurricane.” Many other projects and items are created to serve and impact each orphanage. Haiti and other places around the world are in need for many supplies and help. However, it’s the presence and actions of the missionaries that
have shown to impact the most. “We always have big needs, but the most important need is to have missionary keep coming because they give more than I expect,” said Constant. “If we have missionary and we have people that’s all we need, no more than that.” Wherever you decide to go, whether the mission trip is in the U.S. or out of the country, I strongly urge you to participate in a mission trip. The overall impact you can make will be worth every second of the trip.
STATESMAN OP/ED 37 STATE
36 STATESMAN PHOTOS PROVIDED BY RILEY RASMUSSEN
Don’t be selfish. Put yourself second, never first. Share. Take turns. Be generous and focus on others. These are what we are raised to do. We are scolded when we put ourselves first, and told that in order to be a good person, we must be selfless. This needs to change. Now I am not saying that you should only think about yourself, stop giving to charities or become some selfish jerk who walks all over other people. But I am saying that it’s time to set some boundaries, because when we only focus on putting others first, we often falter in self-care.
selfish or self-care?
Being selfish and being focused on self-care are two very different things. Renowned positive psychologist Sonja Lyubomirsky claims that being selfish harms your overall health and happiness, but she does recognize that selfishness and self care are not the same thing. According to Psychology Today, “The label self-care refers to prioritizing your own physical health and psychological well-being by engaging in good eating habits, exercise, sleep, relaxation and enjoyable activities every day.” Proponents of a self-care centric lifestyle argue that in order to be there for others, we must first take care of ourselves. One of the most effective ways is to do this is to create boundaries in our lives, most significantly for students between school and our home life. School brings a large amount of stress with it, and when we bring it home with us,
it causes our minds to view our home as a continuation of the stress. In order to prevent the cycle of stress, psychologists recommend that students find a separate study space to do their homework in that is not in their bedroom. As nice as it is to lay in bed while doing math problems, when you do activities that stress you out where you are supposed to sleep, it changes the room from a place of rest to one of stress. This can end up harming our sleep cycles, making waking up for school even more difficult. This boundary is an easy first step that students can take. Other boundaries can be more difficult to set, especially with people. When someone asks you to do something they often have good intentions, but you often have more than one person asking things of you. When there are only 24 hours in a day, you cannot do everything. Saying no can feel
selfish, but when you are giving up your own needs to say yes, saying no becomes a form of self-care. Sometimes saying “no” can hurt someone else’s feelings, even someone you admire. But it can often be more dangerous to say yes. When you spend all of your time in activities for other people that make you feel resentful, down on yourself or just plain exhausted, you can become more critical of yourself because you can’t do everything that you want to do. This spirals into negative thoughts about yourself and can manifest in the forms of anxiety and depression. A good test to see if you are in a situation where you should say no is just by checking with your body. If the thought of the task requested of you makes you tired immediately or your heart rate increases suddenly, it could be a sign to say “no.” And when you say no, don’t come up with an excuse. Just simply
explain that you are feeling overwhelmed or don’t have time. Telling the truth will make it easier to say “no” in the future. Now again, don’t stop volunteering or helping others, no one likes people who think only of themselves. But it is time to reexamine how you treat yourself in respect to others, especially for students who are about to move on from high school. Learning to set boundaries increases the likelihood that you will succeed without working yourself to death. The next time you are faced with a decision that is forcing you to choose between something you want and something for another person, ask yourself, “Is it selfish or self-care?’
redefined BY KATIE OSMUNDSON, OPED EDITOR
BY CHLOE ROBINSON & EMILY SHANK
40 STATESMAN PHOTO BY RYAN JAMES CHRISTOPHER
ACTIVITIES
“The Polar Express” “Cool Runnings” “Eight Below” “The Chronicles of Narnia” “A Charlie Brown Christmas” “Snow Dogs” “The Nightmare Before “Snow Buddies” Christmas” “Home Alone” “Edward Scissorhands” “Elf” “Into the Wild” “A Christmas Carol” “Christmas Calendar”
Build a snow fort Visit Great Bear Go ice skating Make hot chocolate Go ice fishing
M OV I E S
PLAYLIST
Winter
“Winter Winds” by Mumford & Sons “Snowfall” by Ingrid Michaelson “Colder Weather” by Zac Brown Band “The Night We Met” by Lord Huron “If I Say” by Mumford and Sons “Winter” by Maps and Atlases “Winter Prayers” by Iron and Wine “Seasons” by Said the Whale “Winter Long” by Neil Young “Winter Wonderland” by Ray Charles
Have a movie marathon Decorate for the holidays Go sledding Go to a hockey game Make a snowman
STATESMAN 41
scaled-up vince leaps into action!
BY KATIE KROEZE
Opinion is often expressed through the words, yet some have the talent and mental capacity to express their opinion through drawing. Senior, Vince Hofer does just that. Hofer, who grew up in Sioux Falls, started his artistic journey as a child wanting to create a cartoon with his friends. He mostly draws in a “cartoony” style but has also recently started to draw more realistically and has been studying human anatomy to do so. “I’ve always [drawn], and most people tell me I’m pretty good at it, so I just keep doing it,” said Hofer. Hofer draws inspiration from his mom and sister, who are both graphic designers and his brother who is also interested in art. “I think my first drawing was in 2nd grade,” said Hofer. “I started drawing penguins because my brother drew them, and he drew them in a specific way.” Hofer’s favorite set of characters are from a comic he drew with his friends. “The characters were from a weird book called ‘Elvis and Belvis,’” said Hofer. “They were little bug people with Nikes.” Taking a look at Hofer’s 42 STATESMAN
Instagram, @vincent.s.hofer, viewers will see his unique style of drawing. These drawings are influenced by games, movies, TV shows, people and experiences in Hofer’s life. Also, Hofer is influenced by other comic artists such as Fiona Staples, Bryan Lee O’Malley, Scotty Young, Jim Lee and Jack Kirby. After taking journalism, it became clear that Hofer would be a great addition to the Statesman. Hofer has been drawing for the Statesman this semester and will be a permanent staff member starting in the Spring. “I want to draw stuff that is relatable,” said Hofer. “The next thing I am working on is something that everyone can relate to and blows it out of proportion.” Hofer uses a Wacom tablet to draw his cartoons, which is an electronic tablet that transfers his art to a computer screen, although he sketches his ideas out on paper first. Hofer has plans to keep his drawings light and funny. “[My goal] is to just make people do that little nose exhale thing that people do when they see something funny,” said Hofer.