The North Star, December 2018

blue valley north high school

North Star

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12200 Lamar Ave, Overland Park, KS 66209

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December 2018 • Volume 33 • Issue 3

Illustration by Anna Krutz

Editor in Chiefs

Social Media Editors

Copy Editors

Angelica Henson Angelica Lidzy Charitha Lakkireddy Daniel Park Delaina Sanden Emma Brunner Genevieve Hulshof Samantha Perez Alice Wu

Shantha Burt Sooim Kang Taylor Mills

Anna Martin Lyndsey Henkel Megan McConnell Ramya Chilappa

Online Editor Briley Everhart

Chris Lucas Genevieve Hulshof

Staff Writers

Photographer

Grace E. Rudman

The North Star is the official high school news publication of Blue Valley North High School, an open forum distributed to all students six times a year. This is the December issue of volume 33. The North Star is printed by the Sedalia Democrat. This is a student publication and may contain controversial material.

Kansas law prohibits the suppression of a student publication solely because it may contain controversial matter. Blue Valley School District No. 229 and its board members, officers and employees disclaim any responsibility for the content of this student publication; it is not an expression of School District Policy. Students and editors are solely responsible for the content of this student publication.

The Show Must Go On

Despite recent changes to the theater department after a performing arts teacher was placed on administrative leave, students and staff are working together to keep the thespian troupe running smoothly, while the BVN community is reevaluating what constitutes appropriate student-teacher interactions.

The Price of Pink Two razors may be the same brand, blade and style, but a discrepancy in color will make all the difference when it comes to the price tag. The extra cost that comes with products specifically marketed to women, often referred to as the pink tax, reveals how gender-based discrimination may be integrated into the economy.

Going for Gold

They may not receive the same hype as football or basketball, but BVN’s Science Olympiad team has achieved notable feats at both a state and national level through hours of hard work and studying as a team.

A

Letter

FROM THE

Editors L

ast year, “Time Magazine” named their Person of the Year as “The Silence Breakers”— the women who spoke out about sexual violence in both Hollywood and business. It was a recognition of the tidal wave movement that spiked trending lists and news feeds across America— the #MeToo movement. Story after story of abusive power, manipulation and victim blaming emerged, revealing a society’s restriction of women’s voices.

These whispering networks turned advocacy channels became a ripple effect of empowerment, as those who had once felt fear and isolation began to hold the oppressing powers accountable for their actions. However, “The Silence Breakers” cannot be confined to one year’s time. Women standing up and speaking out are here to stay, and we as a staff plan on carrying out this legacy.

We grew up learning the risks and dangers of womanhood, sitting like ladies and ending our nights early in hopes that our precautions would grant us the luck of security. Our moms knew the world they brought us into, a world that carries the vicious cycles of objectification and violation between generations. The notion was that “this is the way things are,” and we as women were the ones who had to adapt.

Now, the #MeToo movement tells our generation that we are not the ones who have to change — it is the treatment and deliverance of justice towards survivors that must. Instead of pointing to those enduring violence, the lens has to change to focus on why such horrendous abuses occur. This begins with the recognition of an imbalance of power between men and women.

It is not enough for men to say that they respect women because they were raised alongside them. Men should respect women because we are equally human and deserve the right to not be afraid to live in whichever manner we choose.

Prove that the discussion of feminism is not necessary. Tell us how it is just that we are almost 15 times more likely to be sexually assaulted than our male peers.

Explain to us how it is right that millions of girls around the world are deprived of educational opportunities. Enlighten us as to why countless pieces of legislation have been proposed to regulate women’s reproductive healthcare while men’s access is hardly debated.

Our staffers wrote this issue because we understand the relevance of women’s rights in our school and coming-of-age culture. Recent events have forced our community to reflect on the dangers of sexism and the abuses that arise from such suppression of security. We cannot blanket over the topics of bias, discrimination or manipulation any longer, and our staff with the utmost professionalism and responsibility tackled these problems.

If you take away anything from this publication, understand that the national headlines and trending topics are not as distant as they seem. Journalism revolves around the commonality of everyday stories, meaning that the narratives of sexual violence and gender discrimination are far from isolated and can happen anywhere.

Be a Silence Breaker. Start discussions with people about assumptions and injustices that are often pushed to the side. The dialogue of some may crack the glass ceiling, but it will take the actions of the whole to finally break it.

— Shantha Burt, Sooim Kang and Taylor Mills Editors-in-Chief

Women’s Progress in Data

56%

of all college graduates are female

For the first time in U.S. history, there are more than 100 women in the House of Representatives

11.7

million

businesses are owned by women in the U.S.

4| The North Star | December 2018

Are You a

Feminist?

Feminist?

I

Emily Grice

N

ot in its modern form, third wave feminism has gone in a direction that I cannot get behind. I view it negatively due to personal interactions I have had with feminists who were very hostile toward me. I have been vilified for the nature

, personally, am not a feminist. Feminism is defined as the advocacy of women’s rights to create equality between genders. The reason I am not a feminist is not because I don’t believe that males and females should be equal, but because I believe in general, we already are.

Although there are situations where this isn’t the case, there are exceptions to every rule, and I don’t think it’s fair to villainize all men and all people

that I am a male and not any ideas I may have.

I’m not really sure how to answer the question of “how do I see the role of feminism in the modern world.”

It’s more of something I’d have to answer in hindsight because I don’t really know what

NO

who aren’t feminists because of these rarities.

I think feminism has unintentionally turned into the maligning of all people who don’t label themselves as a feminist and don’t share the same beliefs.

This said, it’s also important to remember that all people, even if they share similar beliefs, are different and I in no way mean to make a generalization about all feminists.

I think it’s sad that the word “feminist” itself has become so

polarizing that causes so many arguments and debates. Ideologically, it’s a good thing and should create positive change on society, but unfortunately, the way feminism is being redefined does not reflect the true meaning of the concept.

All of this said, I do still believe feminism is a good thing and has been imperative to get women to where we are today. I just also believe that it’s not as necessary and that its meaning has changed.

role it serves right now.

There’s a lot of people who get fired up when you say the word “feminism” or “feminist” on either side of the argument.

It definitely serves as a catalyst for debate, so what comes of that only time will tell I guess.

Logan McMonigle

I

Grace Cote

T

he stance I take on feminism is largely influenced by my sister Anastasia. Anastasia graduated in 2017, and during her time at North, she perfectly encapsulated the overachieving nature that many of the best students here possess.

To name just a few of her many accomplishments, Anastasia graduated with a weighted GPA of over 4.7, received a perfect score on both the ACT and the SAT and got accepted at several top schools including UC Berkeley, Carnegie Mellon, Johns Hopkins, and Cornell. She is now a sophomore at Columbia University, where she is double majoring in Statistics and Computer Science.

Anastasia has obviously had a tremendous amount of success, but what allowed her to do so? Was it the fact that she attended a school in an uppermiddle-class neighborhood? Perhaps.

Due to its location, BVN has great financial resources at its disposal and as a result has more opportunities for ambitious students than any other school in Kansas. Was it due to the fact that her parents are both PhDs? It’s likely. They have always stressed the importance of education and have helped us with homework whenever we needed it.

have come to discover that the word “feminist” is often viewed as a radical term in our current society. Those who gather behind feminist ideals are empowered by the label, while those who are unsure often feel threatened. But why? Why is it that a single word meant to represent the desire for equality between men and women can elicit such polarizing responses?

I often had difficulty comprehending why so many men and women would stand against such a basic declaration of equality, until I realized that its meaning is seemingly malleable in the mind of every person.

While some, such as

December 2018 | The North Star | 5 myself, find feminism to signify a hopeful avenue towards equal opportunities and societal standards for men and women, others feel it suggests superiority of women, which is simply not true, and therefore they are threatened by the concept.

While progress has slowly been made, that does not mean we have achieved equality. Partial changes and small victories cannot be viewed as a complete solution to the age old oppression of half of the global population, and the rest of that solution will not be derived from complacency.

From the wage gap, to underrepresentation

The question that I struggle with the most, however, is if she was able to achieve her many successes by virtue of being a ‘feminist’. As far as I know, in her four years in high school, Anastasia was not a member of any of the feminism or gender-equality clubs. I’m sure that if her schedule was less busy, she would have happily been an active participant.

That being said, I am skeptical if it would have made much of a difference for Anastasia. Her seemingly endless drive to do everything and be the best was something naturally apparent in her from a very early age. Even though she may have experienced limited opportunities due to her gender, she was able to utilize this drive of hers to achieve great things with the opportunities presented to her and inspire many other girls around her.

Thus, the stance I take on feminism is this: for feminism to prevail, women must be prepared to work incredibly hard in the

in politics, to domestic violence, there remain so many prevalent feminist issue to be addressed, issues that in one way or another impact every member of society and that are only amplified for women of minority groups.

Feminism must be addressed as the bipartisan ideology that it is and be recognized for the ways in which it is beneficial to both men and women in creating a brighter future.

A future in which declaring oneself a believer in the notion that women are in fact equal and deserve to be treated as such, is no longer considered threatening but can be seen and embraced for what it truly is — equality.

face of the limited opportunities they have within an inherently unjust society. They must achieve individual success and use it to inspire others and create avenues for other hard working women to prosper in.

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The Price of

Being a woman comes with a cost — literally.

By Charitha Lakkireddy

W

alking through the aisles of CVS, sophomore Alex Doege picked up the same pack of razors she always did but quickly noticed that something was off.

“I was about to put the razors I usually get in the cart, but then I saw the same exact razors, except they were a men’s version,” Doege said. “They cost less, even though they were pretty much the same thing.”

Doege isn’t the only one who has noticed discrepancies in the price of men’s and women’s products. According to a Forbes study, women pay more for products, like the razors Doege saw, 42 percent of the time. Men, on the other hand, are likely to pay more only 18 percent of the time. This imbalance in cost is what is known as the pink tax.

The pink tax is defined as the phenomenon where the same products and services are more expensive for women than men, and the cost discrepancies are believed to be on account of gender-based discrimination. The name comes from the fact that many of the products affected by the

additional cost are pink and marketed toward women. The tax exists in the majority of the U.S. and its effect can be seen by students at BVN. Doege recalls the incident she mentioned above as a situation in which she was directly affected by the pink tax. At CVS, four Gillette three-blade men’s razors cost $8.99, or $2.25 per razor, and three Gillette Venus three-blade women’s razors cost $11.99, or $4 per razor. She said that other than the prices, the only stark difference she could find was the color, as the brand, style and blades were the same.

“Everyone needs [razors], and the production cost is similar,” Doege said. “Yet women’s razors cost more to buy due to the fact that the plastic handle is pink instead of blue.”

The tax is found in more than just razors, though. The NYC Department of Consumer Affairs found cost differences in several areas. Women pay 13 percent more for personal care products, 10 percent for clothing, seven percent for toys and eight percent for healthcare products. All the items used in

8 | The North Star | December 2018

the study were the same quality; the only difference was the target market.

“If women’s products are produced at the same quality, for the same cost of production, they should be the same price as the male counterparts,” Doege said.

“But they aren’t, which is unjust, in my opinion.”

A study conducted by the same NYC department determined that the price differences cost women upwards of $1,351 annually.

School nurse Julia Yano, who said she’s provided countless students with tampons in her office, could understand why some students are so worked up about the pink tax but didn’t see it in the same light. “[The pink tax] is a significant thing, but I think there’s way bigger priorities than that,” Yano said.

“Especially in the big scope of things.”

Yano emphasized that it would be ideal to be living in a world where feminine hygiene products weren’t taxed, but she just sees it as a cost that the state needs to fund itself and keep running.

“With thoughtful consideration, it would be great for necessities to not be taxed, but every state has different laws about that,” Yano said.

“It’s a way for the state to bring in revenue so they can fix our roads and keep our jails open. It’s just like any other tax revenue.”

One of the most controversial components of the pink tax is the taxation on menstrual products, which is often referred to as the tampon tax. There is no specific legislation that allows the taxation of tampons and pads — although some states have created legislation with the sole purpose of ensuring that they aren’t taxed.

Junior Emily Perez, who is a board member of the Gender

Equality Club, explains that because women have no choice but to buy tampons, women have no choice but to be taxed for it. “[The tax] takes things every woman needs, like pads and tampons, and taxes them as a luxury product,” Perez said. “We’re basically being taxed for being women.”

The costs of these products aren’t limited to just the drug store aisle though. BVN charges students

We have to be aware and we have to care, and people should care because it’s affecting your pocketbooks and your health.”

- Genesis Ackermann

25 cents for a tampon. Yano said she charges students to teach them a lesson about being prepared.

“My purpose is not to raise money, my purpose is to teach you all how to plan ahead and manage your life. If you don’t want to pay a quarter here, you can bring your own stuff from home,” Yano said. “[I ask] if you were out in public, shopping, and you needed some of this, what would you do? And [students] say, ‘Oh I’d get something from the machine, or pay for it.’ It’s general life management skills.”

Some students who go into the nurse’s office asking for hygiene products during an emergency are surprised about the upfront cost, which they can pay on the spot or add to their tab. Perez was confused by the charge because she always goes to the nurse as her last resort, not a first choice.

“No one ever really like thinks, ‘Oh, I’m going to get my period today so I won’t pack a tampon’,” Perez said. “The only reason we would ever go to the nurse’s office and ask for one is if it was an emergency, and we hadn’t planned for it.”

Perez also acknowledged the possibility of a student needing to go to the nurse for feminine hygiene products because they may come from homes who cannot afford to upkeep a consistent supply of them.

“You also have to think about the fact that some of the kids going in and asking for [the products] from the office might not have the means to buy it themselves,” Perez said. “If they come from a family that can’t afford to buy the hygiene products they need every time, then going to the nurse and getting them there for free seems like the logical solution.”

AP Literature teacher Genesis Ackermann mirrored Perez’s thoughts, saying that she couldn’t understand why a student would be charged for something that was out of their control, especially in school.

“You shouldn’t have to pay for [pads and tampons],” Ackermann said. “I was frustrated because not only do we have to pay taxes for those products, students have to pay for them in school. Like I get it’s trying to teach responsibility, but come on.”

Ackermann said she’s aware that students are sometimes caught off-guard and might not always have the quarter necessary to make the necessary purchase, although they can add the charge to a tab. That’s why Ackermann provides free hygiene products, like pads, tampons, toothbrushes and deodorant, for students.

“I have a drawer in the back of my room full of [hygiene products] for my students to take whenever they need something,” Ackermann said. “They don’t have to ask or talk to me about it, I just tell them at the

December 2018 | The North Star | 9

How Much More? start of the year, so they know that it’s a resource there for them to use if they have an emergency and don’t want to go to the nurse.”

Activists argue that the problems of the tampon tax are highlighted when compared to other items that are exempt from the luxury tax — such as Viagra, ChapStick and dandruff shampoo. These commodities, unlike tampons, qualify as “necessities” under the tax code.

“You need tampons, because you don’t have a choice about its purpose,” Perez said. “Things like Viagra aren’t [always] necessary and shouldn’t be taxed that way because its uses are things that you [sometimes] have control over, you can choose and so it isn’t a necessity.”

Perez said that because it’s mostly men that are making these laws, it’s mostly the struggles and viewpoints of men that they’ll reflect. Ackermann agreed, adding that because men are the majority being represented in the government, they’ll be the majority that reap the benefits of the legislation they pass.

“Men are going to see from their perspective, things that help them out, and they choose to ignore things that women need and how to help them,” Ackermann said. “I think it comes down to a lack of representation of women in the positions that make that legislation.”

Most aren’t in denial about the existence of the tax, but people are divided in their beliefs as to why it exists. Some credit gender bias as the sole reason, while others argue that economics plays an equally significant factor. Perez disagreed with the latter, saying that when the differences arise solely because of the gender for whom they’re marketed to, in the case of the pink tax, and for products that women need to be healthy, like the tampon tax, it should be considered gender-based discrimination.

“I don’t think it’s dependent on economics, just like how I don’t believe it’s a coincidence that menstrual products are taxed, but stuff like Viagra

is exempt,” Perez said. “It’s gender-bias and geared to cost women more.”

Ackermann conceded that the pink tax was based on gender-bias, but knew it also had a significant amount to do with money. Companies want to generate revenue and an efficient way for them to make more money is to market products of the same quality, in a different color or style, for a higher price. Although the ethics of that can be argued, Ackermann thinks that seeing it from the sole perspective of making more money doesn’t incriminate it as severely.

“I think it’s about money; they’re trying to make money, and they’re using gender discrimination to get that accomplished,” Ackermann said. “But [women] need the products they’re selling, so we aren’t to put up a big stink about it.”

Ten states have already disbanded the tampon tax, meaning tampons now count as necessities in their state or don’t have sales tax at all.

According to the same NYC study, it can be estimated that by exempting feminine hygiene products from its sales tax, New York consumers save about $10 million.

Kansas has yet to take the same initiative. Because pads and tampons are not specially categorized as necessities, or any other product that isn’t taxed, they aren’t exempt from the 6.5 percent sales tax.

Ackermann said the government is what can make or break the existence of the pink tax, but she has ideas that can make a change in an individual’s day-to-day life — if not a change in the big picture. A company works on a supply-demand basis, so if they’re losing support and customers because they’re taking advantage of the pink tax, they are to make their products and costs equal across the board.

“Call out the companies that are doing it intentionally,” Ackermann said. “We have to be aware and we have to care, and people should care because it’s affecting your pocketbooks and your health.”

13% for personal hygiene products

7% for accessories

8% for adult clothing

7% for toys

52% for dry cleaning Source: NYC Department Consumer Affairs, “The Cost of Doing Femininity”

10 | The North Star | December 2018

Taking a Stand to Fill the Stands The attendance at boys and girls sporting events is strikingly different.

By Emma Brunner

E

ight student athletes sat at the attend boys games than the girls games,” signing table. Four were signing Masterson said. to Division I schools for tennis Junior Taylor Roty has gone to many and volleyball. Countless accolades were sports games at BVN. She said she read aloud by their coaches as one by believed that the timing of the games is the one, they signed across the dotted line. major reason for the disparity.

These young women, All-Americans and “They (boys games) are at more State title-winning athletes, were making convenient times, like Friday at 7 p.m. history with their sports careers. Athletic and because girls sports aren’t hyped up as Director Mickey Masterson picked much as the guys,” Roty said. up the microphone, congratulated the Roty went to more guys games than signees, turned towards the crowd in the girls games because of this inconvenience. commons, and said, “And good luck to “I enjoy going to the boys games more football at sub-state this weekend.” The because they are ‘the game’ to go to each ceremony had ended. week, and they have the most attendance, Masterson attends many of the games but I love to cheer on all of my friends as a part of his job. He has noticed the during girl sports, so it kind of balances difference in attendance of male versus out,” Roty said. female games. Masterson notes that Senior Melina Peshoff has played football in general is always bigger because on the soccer team since her freshman there’s room for 5,000 year. Additionally, students at a football “Support for boys she managed the game, whereas there’s boys soccer team. sports has historically She believed that only room for 1,000 students at a basketball been more robust the crowd directly game. Because of this, it impacted how well versus girls sports.” the team played. seems as though football receives more support “Having a crowd -Chris Cassaday from the school than any there is definitely other sports. more motivating “Naturally, football is always bigger in just because you know your friends and attendance. One football game is like a classmates are supporting you,” Peshoff whole basketball season,” Masterson said. said. “So sometimes if looking into the Additionally, with sports that include crowd and not seeing anyone is kind of teams of both genders, there is a major sad.” difference in attendance between the two.

Senior Gus Freeman has attended “If you want to specifically talk many of the girls sports games this year. about basketball, more students will He was confused as to why students

wouldn’t want to go to them.

“Honestly I’m not really sure why,” Freeman said. “I know that me and a bunch of my friends all go to the girls games because they are just as enjoyable. The girls games are fun to watch. I don’t know if I have an answer as to why more people go to the guys games than the girls games.”

In recent years, the school has held double headers for dual-gendered sports to encourage more people to attend the girls games.

“Whenever we did [double headers], there was always a pretty big crowd there,” Freeman said. “But in general, I normally go to the girls games, and we probably have one or two rows of people that are there.”

This fall, our students filled the stands at the Spectrum sports volleyball game.

Freeman, alongside the leaders of BVN Spirit Club, tweeted out announcements and updates on their twitter @The_Stable.

“We packed the whole stands for the volleyball game there. We just tweeted it out and were talking about how it was a big game,” Freeman said. “This year there’s been a lot more change, and we’ve started to get a lot more people out to both gender sports, and I think that’s really just the use of Twitter and talking to your friends ’cause once you get one person to go, then more people want to go, so I think we are just taking the next step like that this year.”

Additionally, a parent-led club has helped this growth by encouraging students to attend all female sports.

Beginning in 2016, four dads of student athletes, Chris Cassaday, Joe Keirn, Brad

December 2018 | The North Star | 11

The student section fills as the boys basketball team begins to warm up. Photos by Emma Brunner

Runnenbaum and Craig Kuckelman, wanted to change the idea that girls sports were not as exciting to attend. As a result, they started the Lady Mustangs Club.

Their mission statement reads, “an organization designed to promote and nurture a culture of support for Lady Mustang Athletics by increasing awareness, attendance and excitement.”

The parents themselves attend games for all the female sports teams in hopes that their actions within the club will encourage students to come as well.

“As a core group of parents in the club, we do a good job of ‘cross pollination’ in support of other sports, but we could always do better,” Cassaday said. “It has been difficult to create awareness and get parents and other students involved, but we feel as though we have made a difference these past two years.”

One reason students do not attend girls sports as much is because of their busy schedules.

“While we understand that students are busy and pulled in many directions, we hope that through some of our initiatives, it has helped to bring more students and parents to support the girls teams,” Cassaday said.

In order to encourage students to attend, they often provided free food for students at the games.

“Earlier this year, the Lady Mustang Club provided pizza for any BVN students that came to volleyball senior night, and we had by far the best student turnout that evening,” Cassaday said.

Many more students attended football games than other sports because of the atmosphere there. Senior Megan Koenig attended every in-season football game this season.

“I don’t feel [going to football games]

is necessarily part of the culture,” Koenig said. “It’s a great activity to cheer on your school and get out there with your peers. They make it a huge deal in certain movies, and I feel that is what pushes some to believe it is a part of the culture.”

In reality, the school spends money on all sports to cover travel, referees, coaches and more. Twice a year, the Parent Booster Club allows clubs and sports to request for new non-clothing items and submit the predicted costs. They then vote to decide what activities get what amount. However, the more a sport attracts students, the more money that sport earns. Although the goal of high school sports is not to make a profit, sports that have bigger crowds can generate money that is in turn put back into the program.

Masterson said the only sport that actually makes money from ticket sales is

football, and that almost every other sport loses money.

The school has made advances to try and increase attendance at female sports games.

“Support for boys sports has historically been more robust versus girls sports,” Cassaday said.

Despite the fact that guys sports have attracted larger crowds to their games, many female athletes were still able to find the support needed for success in their sport.

As eight female athletes sat at the table on Nov. 14, they signed to play in college.

Senior Chloe Kuckelman signed to play tennis at the University of Nebraska.

“It was pretty incredible to be sitting next to seven other athletes who work really hard in school and their respective sports,” Kuckelman said. “I felt like it was such a great time to celebrate all of our dedication and achievements as well.”

Let’s Take Attendance: Football versus Volleyball

2018

Blue Valley North High School Football

KSHSAA SUB-STATE CHAMPIONS

out of 139 students surveyed 2018

83.5%

KSHSAA SUB STATE CHAMPIONS

16.5% at least 1

Blue Valley North High School Volleyball

none

12.9%

at least1

87.1% none

How many school volleyball games did you attend this season?

How many school football games did you attend this season?

Trophy Illustration by Delaina Sanden

12 | The North Star | December 2018

The Importance of

Acknowledgment Finding allies is a vital step to combating discrimination, members of BVN’s LGBTQ community say.

By Ramya Chilappa

T

he impact of silence and that aren’t supportive,” junior Olivia ignorance can often be just as Humphrey said. “Bisexual is something hurtful as the ramifications I now feel comfortable saying, but of legal discrimination, according to it’s hard in school to feel comfortable many members of BVN’s LGBTQ+ talking about it. Slurs being thrown community. around is common, even when you’re Senior Tram-Anh Ho is a nonjust walking down the hallway.” binary student who has experienced Junior Adriana Cordero has BVN’s climate regarding transgender experienced the stigma that comes with students. identifying as a different orientation.

“For as long as I can remember, As a bisexual and asexual woman, she gender has always has come out twice and been a shrug emoji seen many reactions to for me,” they said. her sexuality. The fact “It was really in that no one around middle school that her ever spoke about I found that there different identities made were communities it hard for her to admit that existed that felt who she is. the same way. I know “I always knew I was - Tram-Anh Ho that I’ll be accepted bisexual, but it didn’t by those I choose to feel real until I said it for share who I am with, but I never really the first time,” Cordero said. “It was a feel comfortable talking about it to little bit harder admitting I was ace— I’d everyone because I don’t know how the always known, but everywhere you look, school will react.” people are oversexualizing everything.

In general, younger generations Women, Hispanics, bisexual people, have a reputation for being more scorpios… All parts of who I am, and progressive and open minded. Because they are oversexualized by the media, of the rising prominence of new media the people around me. It took me a bit such as YouTube and Instagram, many to feel comfortable saying that I wasn’t young students are frequently exposed interested in that.” to a diverse array of creators that Ho A large part of the problem says makes them more accepting of stems from ignorance, according to marginalized communities. However, Humphrey, Cordero, and Ho. Without stigma still exists even within the more discussions about identity, there may “progressive” generations. be exclusion of trans and gay students “There are still a lot of students from the “normal student body,” and

“Gender has always been a shrug emoji for me.”

attempts to separate them as different or weird.

Many trans students at BVN have had difficulties with the community.

Even the teachers who are allies and supportive of differences don’t make their support public, which makes it difficult for students to express themselves in the classroom.

“My guidance counselor is super understanding and tries very hard to always make me feel accepted,” Ho said.

“But I know that’s not true for everyone, and that worries me.”

Cordero and others have tried to create spaces like the GSA and Gender Equality Club where students can meet other people with similar experiences and identities.

“It feels good to be seen by other people,” Cordero said. “It’s sometimes the only way to deal with the fact that we’ll never be a hundred percent accepted.”

Ho and Cordero said the best way for those outside the LGBTQ+ community to combat these issues is to show their support publicly.

Cordero is advocating for the inclusion of a rainbow flag, the symbol of the LGBTQ+ community, at the annual diversity assembly to raise awareness.

She also thinks teachers should consider putting rainbow flags on their doors or lanyards to show that they are allies.

“A large part of why I don’t publicly talk about my identity is because I don’t

December 2018 | The North Star | 13

know how people will react,” Ho said. ambassadors are the diversity sponsors “It would be awesome if we knew what at each school who head a diversity teachers supported us, because then we’d council to bring issues to the district so at least know which classrooms where we can modify our policies to we were welcome.” always be flexible and helpful.”

Gender Equality Club sponsor Erica The district, however, can’t Benson echoed similar sentiments, actually change or alter legal emphasizing the importance of teachers documents, such as birth making their classrooms a safe space. certificates or legal names, no “The only thing I know about school matter how much they wish to policy is that any student can go to the accommodate student requests. guidance counselor’s office to use the “We don’t have jurisdiction bathroom if they want to,” Benson said, over legal documents,” when asked about the school’s policies Stubblefield said. “The best towards their trans students. “I definitely we can do is make sure staff think that the district needs to recognize members are calling students whatever the relevance of these topics to our they wish to be called, and make note in students and community.” our databases, preferred nicknames, etc.”

When asked about student and Ho said that while they have staff concerns, David Stubblefield, appreciated the kindness of several the Executive Director of School staff members such as their guidance Administration for Blue Valley high counselor, the problem at BVN stems schools, said that the district’s approach not from the district policy itself, has always been to personalize the but that the school and district don’t response to the individual student’s encourage widespread discussion of situation. different communities.

“We always start with the student and “No one ever talks about us,” they see what they need from us. The best said. “And a lot of the teachers, and solution isn’t the same for everyone,” even some of the students, are really Stubblefield said. “If they prefer a more set in their ways. You never know who private bathroom, we always try to your allies are, and at least for teachers, find one. If the student identifies as that’s really important to making sure a different gender and wants to use a all students feel welcomed for who they bathroom of that gender, we always are. Sometimes, it doesn’t matter how attempt to provide that bathroom. accommodating the school is when We’ve even gotten to remodeling the there is ignorance around you that is bathrooms in all our schools to facilitate hurtful.” those accommodations.”

As the government moves This summer all Blue Valley high increasingly to legally erase different schools renovated their bathrooms identities through restrictive policies in order to increase privacy and such as the military bar and blocking accessibility. The most noticeable change access to Title IX protections for has been the creation of stalls around LGBTQ+ students, Ho, Cordero, and the previously Benson spoke about the freestanding importance of community urinals, and acceptance and discourse.

Stubblefield said They said that while there that is one of is danger in placing too many measures much emphasis on the new on the part of the administration as catalysts for district to create discrimination when those a welcoming and - David Stubblefield issues have always existed, it safe environment is still important to recognize for all students. shifting tides.

“The other “LGBTQ people have important step the district takes is always, always faced ostracization and the training for our teachers and prejudices from our peers,” Cordero staff,” he said. “The main school level said. “But those issues are gaining a new

form of visibility because of the way the Trump administration is codifying that ostracization into the law.”

These legal changes are felt at the school level through annual federal guidances, called “policy guidances,” to Adriana Cordero school districts that “suggest” how to craft policies for diverse gender identities and sexual orientations. Under the Obama administration, those guidances echoed district policies in encouraging different identities and accommodations for those identities. Under the Trump administration, those guidances have taken a starkly different direction, under the grounds that discussions of LGBTQ persons is a violation of religious rights that “pushes a political agenda.”

“They have actively been discouraging school help to those of different identities,” Stubblefield said.

“Luckily they’re just guidances and our district actively chooses to not follow them.”

Ho and Cordero say that such legal codification of discrimination is the reason community is now more important than ever. Public support and recognition of all identities and orientation is the only way to combat future discrimination.

“Just be kind,” Ho said. “Respect people and who they want to be, even if it’s not something you understand.

Because people always say we are the generation of change, and we have to accept change for that to be true.”

While recognizing the importance of district policy as a first step to facilitating acceptance in schools, members and allies of the LGBTQ+ community believe that the only way to ensure a sustainable, just future is through continued attempts to show public solidarity and encourage tolerant discourse.

“It didn’t feel real until I said it for the first time.”

“The best solution isn’t the same for everyone.”

-

14 | The North Star | December 2018

The Masculine Miasma

Understanding the different natures of a man is the key to ending the dangers of toxic masculinity.

Opinion Piece By Daniel Park

W

hen someone is described as “masculine” people think they get a general idea of what that person is like. They know he’s just like a man. They probably assume that the person is strong, athletic and maybe even dangerously aggressive or apathetic. Of course, not every man is like that, nor does every person assume that men are that way, but the fearful attitude towards being “masculine” has grown. What is needed to stop this harm is an acceptance of the numerous different forms of masculinity. We need to focus on dealing with any harm that may come from toxicity, rather than masculinity itself. People should realize,

especially at BVN, that this stereotyping is what is called toxic masculinity, and it is actually harming students.

The fact is that toxic masculinity does exist. Men are strong. Men aren’t emotional. Men play sports and have to show off. These are some of the ideas people expect men should live up to. According to school psychologist Mark Kenney, toxic masculinity is an exaggeration by men of those expectations that hurts themselves and others around them.

Unfortunately, this is apparent in everyday life, from students halfheartedly pushing each other around and calling each other “sissies” to

more extreme actions such as abuse or rape. Both are exaggerations of the stereotypes that men shouldn’t be feminine and should be aggressive and dominant over other people. Both also cause harm to men or others around them, although with varying intensity.

According to “GQ Magazine,” threequarters of suicides in the United States are men. According to “Gallup,” men are three times more likely to own a gun. “NBC News” explained that these statistics were results of how men were encouraged to be like this because male stereotypes of violence and emotional suppression were pushed upon them.

An article from “The Good Man

December 2018 | The North Star |15 Project” describes toxic masculinity as that there may not be too many differences be viewed the same way, masculine or not a cultural view of how men should be. between male and female brains. These masculine.

According to the article, a man’s identity obvious reasons show how the ideas “I think a lot of people who buy is determined by things like violence, sex, of toxic masculinity can’t be a part of a into this toxic masculinity idea status and aggression by cultures that healthy life. Yet there are still students at don’t necessarily know what is toxic placed men in a central and dominating BVN who don’t fully express themselves masculinity,” Adamson said. “When they position. Strength and feel that they have to hear it, they think it’s an attack on men, is viewed to look masculine in front of when it’s an attack on society saying “Every single man, be everything others. men should be this, this, or this. Every no matter how whereas emotions Dr. Kenney has had single man, no matter how stereotypically stereotypically are a weakness “young men that [he’s] talked masculine they are or seem, have some masculine, have some and supposedly to in [his] office who weren’t trait about them that either they or feminine. willing to share because society thinks is stereotypically feminine trait about them that Dr. Kenney that’s what they thought men that they’d maybe like to change about either they or society believes that these weren’t able to do.” themselves. But I don’t think it’s alright to thinks is stereotypically cultural views Senior Michael Adamson, call them out for it.” feminine that they’d resulted from who now outwardly shows These points are exactly why this issue continuous male is so much more important within a high maybe like to change.” his passion for dancing, was dominance and once “afraid people would school. This school strives to prepare privileges over make fun of [him] for not students for society, so it is crucial that its -Michael Adamson other genders — being masculine enough environment has explicit expectations of and because some people still haven’t when [he] dance[s].” what labels criticisms are acceptable. realized how all kinds of people have a Sophomore Jack Finegold, who It isn’t necessary to shut down right to be treated equally. participates in creating poetry, was masculinity, or simply let it develop toxic But there are numerous “struggling to get to know people in his characteristics, in fact that may create misconceptions on how that cultural view freshman year because of how [he] felt a harsh environment that would teach should apply to men in general. Some may [he] didn’t really enjoy the same things a students to do such things. At BVN, we misunderstand and assume that all men stereotypically masculine person would can create that understanding of the need have characteristics that relate to toxic enjoy.” of acceptance and a willingness to deal masculinity. Some may misunderstand But it’s also important to keep in mind with toxicity. We can teach students to and think that a man with a toxic that not all stereotypically masculine traits prevent judgment that can hurt others, masculine characteristic is inherently a deserve the “toxic” label. According to and we can teach students to act upon bad person. Some may misunderstand and an article in the magazine “Psychology intolerable signs of toxic masculinity. believe that all forms of toxic masculinity Today,” many masculine traits are a result Yet we can also understand that it isn’t are “toxic.” of natural processes of human life and men in general who are like this and that All of these misconceptions further reproduction. There are also obvious signs some forms of masculinity are acceptable complicate the issue of toxic masculinity. of how men are often and maybe even It creates generalizations for men that portrayed in our culture beneficial. All of this “I think there’s been a may cause people to assume toxic and at school. Men are can be accomplished growth of acceptance behavior is just simply a quality in men often the poster people by asking students to for gender flexibility, — and that can cause more division and in sports, business verbally, physically and I think it’s grown judgment between people, preventing any leaders — even every or emotionally cooperation in stopping further growth of president we’ve had so encourage others. It to the point where not toxicity. far has been a male. can be accomplished everyone may know But toxic masculinity shouldn’t just be But again, that has by teaching students how to act.” accepted. Toxic masculinity should be shut also been changing to notice those who down at all costs. It’s harmful, and not only as more have been may be struggling to those of other genders. Men themselves promoting flexibility with their masculinity -Dr. Mark Kenney and teaching them are also affected by the stereotypes of with the idea of being toxic in order to be a “man.” It masculinity. When I play games with my to act upon it. It can be accomplished prevents them from doing anything that friends and someone messes up, I will by educating students and staff of the might be associated with “femininity” as it often make fun of them in a somewhat consequences of toxic masculinity and threatens their identity of being masculine. aggressive way, but I also love to write providing openings for those who struggle This idea of abstaining from certain stories and poetry, something that men to express themselves. It’s all dependent on activities or views for men, or just people aren’t often expected to enjoy. whether or not students and staff are able in general, is ridiculous. Emotions are a Neither of these characteristics makes to accept the many faces and reactions key part of human life. Throughout history me either a toxic or unmasculine person. I towards the miasma that is covering the we’ve seen famous men who were singers, am not judged by myself or others because face of masculinity. dancers, writers and artists. Studies, such the people I know accept how I am. It as neuroscientist Lise Eliot’s, are showing should be a right as people for everyone to

16 | The North Star | December 2018

Women’s Appearance Under Fire Women face scrutiny over makeup, clothes and body image.

By Angelica Henson & Angelica Lidzy

“It’s like society has a cookie cutter mold I’m supposed to fit into.”

-Tristan Cummings

Appearance “You have to be thick to be hot.”

“You look like you just woke up.”

“Zika baby.”

Women are subject to judgment about their clothes, body shape, makeup and more. This judgment can impact the students of BVN and make them feel uncomfortable with their own skin.

Sophomore Tristan Cummings has firsthand experience of being judged about her body. “...I’ve been told to lose weight, to starve myself [and] to kill myself because no one would love me,” Cummings said. “It’s like society has a cookie cutter mold I’m supposed to fit into, and since I don’t, I’m cast to the side.”

In today’s society, being overweight or “plus-sized” is negatively viewed. Many believe that being plus-sized is both unattractive and unhealthy.

Cummings explained that most of the backlash about her appearance comes from male students. “... Guys are the ones complaining most about my appearance,” Cummings said. “I think [they] feel that I’m supposed to look good all the time to appease them…”

Plus-sized women are not the only ones under scrutiny. Junior Emmy Taranto has had fellow students tease her about being skinny since the beginning of

her freshman year. Having dealt with this scrutiny, she has had to overcome issues of feeling uncomfortable in her own body.

“Some guys in my grade made an edit of me next to someone from Auschwitz freshman year,” Taranto said. “It affected me a lot.”

Alongside the negative comments made toward female students, male students are also struggling with peer judgment.

Freshman Keaton Lewis believes that males actually experience more negative comments than do females.

“Boys [are teased more] because [people think] they care less about it,” Lewis says. “So people can tease them without repercussions.”

Recent polls on Instagram show that female students at BVN experience more judgments from their peers than do males.

However, female students also participate in making these negative comments. Sophomore Eva Lehane is one student who feels she has been judged by other females at BVN. “The negative comments [about my appearance] make me feel like I need to try a lot harder,” Lehane said. “One of my friends kept joking about how I looked like I rolled out of bed, so I went home during North Time to change.”

Scrutiny from peers can negatively affect one’s self-esteem.

When it comes to students who have body image issues, criticisms targeted toward physical attributes that they cannot change are most

damaging. Taranto explained how she never felt comfortable wearing swimwear in front of her peers.

“It makes me feel worse about myself and [comments from] people who I’ve known for a long time don’t affect me, it’s the people I don’t know,” Cummings said.

The backlash of these comments lead to lowered selfesteem and confidence. Many people feel that there is an unfair precedent set within society that restricts how woman should act and look. Cummings explained how society takes advantage of these insecurities and judgments. “[How women should look] is embedded within everything…”

Cummings said. “Like the beauty industry makes millions based on how insecure we are…”

Dress code

Only five percent of the surveyed students on a recent Instagram poll believe that the dress code is educationally effective. The purpose of the dress code is to maximize the effectiveness of learning by minimizing the number of distractions, but many female students claim it actually negatively affects their learning.

“I think [the dress code] is taking away from education because when you’re pulled out of class… to change into clothes, the students in class still get [an] education while you have to catch up when you were

December 2018 | The North Star | 17

gone because of someone else’s opinion [saying] ‘you shouldn’t be wearing that,’” sophomore Tristan Cummings said.

In the school planner, the dress code is generally directed toward the appearance of women. There are five banned clothing items: apparel that reveals a bare midriff, bra straps under revealing tops, tube tops or tops without straps, short shorts or skirts and necklines that are revealing. Only one comment is specifically directed towards men: boxers under low slung jeans. These are claimed to be disruptive to education, but there is no explicit statement as to who they distract or exactly how they are distracting.

“It’s not going to be a distraction, and if it’s a distraction it’s not our fault, it is the person who is [being] distracted, it’s their fault,” Edwards said.

With the way the dress code is being handled, for some, it seems as if following these guidelines are prioritized over the student’s actual education. Taking time out of a student’s class to change into more “appropriate” clothing makes it difficult for that student to do their work. Opposers of the

dress code claim this rule favors male comfortability over women’s education. This poses the question, do students really get distracted by revealing clothing like the dress code states? Junior Nick Farrell does not believe that wearing clothing that is revealing will disrupt a student’s learning.

“It’s almost a little insulting that district policy makers think that boys are of such a base level that we can not function [at] the sight of a bare shoulder,” Farrell said.

Students are facing comments about their appearance from teachers. Cummings has faced comments about her clothes.

“I was wearing ripped jeans with like huge holes in it and there were fishnets under it [my] freshman year. One of my teachers knows that… I do a bunch of sports outside of school and have to keep clothes in my locker, and she made me change because she thought it was too distracting for the guys,” Cummings said At times, some believe the district should implement a dress code with uniforms, so it cannot be construed. English Language Arts teacher Rebecca Dalton said some situations distract from learning.

“Of course the best way to avoid all of that is to have uniforms,” Dalton said. “The older I get and the more I see kids in the hallway and all the different ways things can be distracting, I’m like, ‘yes—uniforms—let’s do those’ because then everyone would be the same.”

Many believe that school should be a safe environment and not a place to make students uncomfortable. Time magazine writer Laura Bates said, “I can’t help feeling there is a powerful irony in accusing a girl of being ‘provocative’ — in projecting that social assumption onto her adolescent body — before she is even old enough to have learned how to correctly spell the word.”

Eighty-seven percent of the students polled believed that their dress code violation was unfair, and 91 percent believed there is a female bias with the dress code.

They hope for a policy change that either strikes out the whole policy or modifies it to not punish women. Although, some argue that the dress code does benefit learning and should be kept. The future holds possible changes for the dress code.

“District policy makers think that boys are such base level that we cannot function in sight of a bare shoulder.”

-Nick Farrell

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December 2018 | The North Star | 19

The Show Must Go On

By Megan McConnell and Delaina Sanden

In October 2018, a performing arts teacher was placed on administrative leave. A letter sent to some members of the BVN community said they had “received reports of inappropriate interactions” between the teacher and students, and “proper state and local authorities were informed.” According to the letter, an investigation was launched and continues. After a sudden departure, many questions remain for the future of the theater department and implementation of policy.

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Theater’s look into the future

ith this event happening in the middle of the school year, students in the theater program felt greatly affected as a collective whole, and while in desperate need of a leader, seniors and student officers stepped up to organize and guide others through this time of uncertainty. Senior Holly Rassette, who is the president of the theater department, has been one of many to find stability for the program.

“I was put in charge of the entire program for two weeks because we didn’t really have a teacher for any of the events we were doing,” Rassette said. “It was kinda up to me to figure it out.”

Among the confusion regarding teaching and lack of adult leadership in the program, many undertook responsibilities required to keep events running.

The BVN community, built by students, staff and parents, stepped in to produce many upcoming projects. Activities administrator Kelli Kurle and administrative intern Kelsey Bakalar were some of many staff members that helped students transition among the disorder. Even with the previous pressures, the actors, producers, managers and tech crews were able to run and produce their popular haunted house, prepare for the upcoming musical auditions and rehearse for the Murphy’s Law comedy show.

After said teacher was placed on leave, many feared the consequences of changing instruction. Being a 6A high

school with a dominant theater theater productions, undertaken program, there was pressure all classes, and returned as the regarding the future of the forensics instructor. program.

“I’m pretty much the same guy Max Brown, head of the theater that I was before,” Brown said. department since BVN opened “With age comes more wisdom, so until he retired in 2016, has come I think I’m a little wiser than I was out of retirement to teach acting when I retired. I pace myself better classes and direct productions. and try to model to kids how to Though he left BVN, Brown has balance their time.” returned several times, as both Though the school has changed a substitute and a long term sub, with time, the goal to inspire and bringing a familiar face to many teach has remained a goal for along with his influence on the Brown. program. However, even among “I’ve missed it,” Brown said. such circumstances, Brown said he “There’s nothing quite like having was determined your own drama “The kids have class. That’s the to give seniors a good year. always been the part I’ve missed With the ... It’s been fun to ones that have challenge myself help of students, the department do new made it worth it.” and has been things, innovating reorganized and things and trying simplified to to do a good job.”

- Dr. Max Brown allow an easy According to transition for sophomore Jack a newly hired instructor in the St. Pierre, a teacher’s role in the 2019-2020 school year. Returning classroom is to be helpful and to the program, Brown has enjoyed inform students. Though a change teaching and inspiring students. in staff has offered a growing “It has been joyful for me challenge for many, St. Pierre because I get to see the seniors said that Brown introduced new [that were freshmen when I perspective. retired] graduate,” Brown said.

Brown offers a level “I don’t like coming back under headedness in direction,” St. Pierre the circumstances for which this said. “He isn’t [just] an actor. He happened, but I love the kids.” knows that actors should work Since his return, Brown has with other people, [like] what the undertaken the direction of the tech crew should do or how they musical and looks forward to the should react.” spring play. Similar to before his Even with sudden change that retirement, Brown has returned threatened the program, students, to the stage as director of all BVN regardless of grade level, have

20 | The North Star | December 2018 come together both inside and outside of class. Productions, such as the approaching musical, have facilitated an inclusive and welcoming environment for many.

“It’s insanely more organized.

We have had so many less problems and so much less drama,” Rassette said. “We’ve stuck together and have become this huge family.”

Brown has offered a new sense of camaraderie as students look to the future, and with up and coming shows, the theater program has continued to run per usual as the musical approaches.

This show will be the first main-stage production since recent changes were made to the theater department. This year has already offered newfound diversity as choir teacher and 2016 Teacher

of the Year, Jason Sickel, has joined the production as vocal coach.

A situation threatening to cast a shadow over the department has been embraced by some students that have become open to change.

Some even believe that Brown has helped make the program more organized, make productions more professional, and relieve stress imposed on students.

“Brown is really restoring our department because over the past couple of years it slowly went downhill and got messy,” Rassette said. “We were still putting on good productions and doing great shows . . . [but] what we were doing was messy and unprofessional . . . We’re all just relieved that it’s not so stressful, and we finally have a teacher that knows exactly how to do things.”

The dedication from not only actors in the department but everyone involved in their productions, has been incredibly influential in restoring BVN’s theater program. Many are looking to the future with great anticipation and excitement through the continuing dedication, leadership and stability returning to the program.

“This whole situation could have casted a bad shadow on the theater department and it could have made us fall apart if we had let it,” Rassette said. “But the seniors worked really hard to make sure that everyone feels [that] everything is stable and not falling apart because we lost a teacher ... and I think we’re doing [even] better than we were before.”

Top left: Holly Rassette rehearses music for the musical “Jeckyl and Hyde.”

Top right: Dr. Max Brown directs students at rehearsals.

Bottom left: Sophomore Jack St. Pierre practices music for the musical.

December 2018 | The North Star | 21

F

“Inappropriate Interactions”

ostering trusted adult relationships with students.

This is written on every Blue Valley school’s website under the tab ‘Safety and Security.’ In light of recent events, questions were raised concerning the district’s policies and prevention tactics when faced with a situation such as this.

When reports of an inappropriate student-teacher relationship or interaction are made available to administration, it is made a priority, according to principal Tyson Ostroski.

“Along with this or any other report of any concern, when it’s reported to an administrator, it’s taken extremely seriously,” Ostroski said. “Administrators are educators as well, so we care about supporting students.”

When intervention is required, each school follows a protocol that is outlined in the school district’s policies. District board policies 3623 and 2150, both of which were last amended in 2014, outline these aforementioned procedures, stating general steps in intervening and investigating each claim.

Ostroski explained his view of what the protocol entails and why it lacks further detail.

“I think protocol, in general, just means the reporting to an administrator,” Ostroski said. “We don’t really convey discussions, we have to maintain confidentiality with different parties, whether it be students, staff or parents.”

While these policies give a brief outline of steps taken in the case of a report of this nature, there is little explanation as to what these exact steps are or how investigations proceed. Activities principal Kelli Kurle described the first step in addressing a complaint or report.

“Each situation’s a little bit different,” Kurle said. “If there’s a report where a student feels uncomfortable, I would… start with the background. It’s a lot

of me listening and clarifying to offered,” Kurle said. “We obviously know where we are and I also… want firsthand sources ... or if ask if you had talked to your it’s something that gets reported parents about it and then, typically, anonymously, that’s a lot harder while you were still in the office to work with, too, because you with me, then we would call a don’t have any sources, you don’t parent together, and I would walk have any names, you don’t have the parent through as far as what anything to ask. It depends on we had discussed.” the type of evidence ... and you According just start at “When we talk about to district ground zero.” policy, the In the preventing, we train, next step in case of an we discuss, we provide addressing inappropriate district policies, we have interaction a report of inappropriate state policies, state laws.” being interactions reported to between a district office - Dr. Eric Punswick personnel, teacher and student is Punswick school board involvement. Even detailed the response. if the complaint were to come to “If there is any time that a specific administrator, once it is something like that is brought has been passed on to the school forward, we act on that board, only certain information immediately,” Punswick said. “It’s is made available to that specific investigated, and we will take the administrator, according to Kurle. proper steps in following both our This step protects the privacy policy and practice, and both state of the employee in question, and national law.” explaining the lack of detail made After an inappropriate available in the policies. interaction has been brought to “We have a chain of command, light, the question of prevention but because it becomes an HR oftentimes rises to the surface (human relations) issue, because within the district. In order to this is someone’s job, there’s stuff avoid future cases of inappropriate that I don’t know,” Kurle said. interactions between students “It just gets passed on because and teachers, multiple steps they have a right to privacy, too, are taken concerning both the and they have a right to defend district as well as state and federal themselves… so a lot of times, it’s laws and policies, which can be information that I don’t get and found on the Blue Valley School you don’t get. It works its way District, Kansas State Department through a system and there’s a of Education and the U.S. lot of moving parts, but we don’t Department of Education websites know the specifics.” respectively.

After the school board has “When we talk about addressed the report or complaint, preventing, we train, we discuss, an investigator or team of we provide district policies, we investigators not employed by the have state policies, state laws,” district are assigned to further Punswick said. “All of those are investigate the claim, according in place so that our people, when to both district board policy and they walk in the door, they know Kurle. where their positive relationship “The next step is the begins and where that needs to be.” investigation… It starts with whatever evidence initially gets

22 | The North Star | December 2018

BVN has six state titles and is looking for its seventh.

When Forensics Falls Opinion Piece by Chris Lucas

In 2016, BVN was the best forensic team in the state. Now, two years later, I’m just hoping it will survive.

W

hen people think of tragedy, the first image that comes to their mind may be a natural disaster, broken families or the mind-numbing high school reading of Shakespeare.

Tragedies affect us and force us to reflect on what may be wrong and what once was great but somehow fell apart. These tragedies are all around us. Some, like the downfall of the BVN forensics team, are generally unknown.

Forensics, an argumentative exercise where students pick acting or traditional speech events to perform in front of judges across the state, is one of the most valuable activities a student can do in high school.

It’s like DECA and FBLA but actually hard.

It requires you to develop real world skills, more so than any other extra curricular.

It makes you a better advocate, speaker and thinker for future success. The ability to be comfortable talking to an audience, connecting with people on a deeply personal level and developing arguments on the spot in a highly competitive environment develops leaders for the 21st century.

It allowed me to overcome my fear of public speaking, led to my success in debate and gave me lifelong friends. But now hundreds of future students will be robbed of that potential because they will not have the opportunity to participate in it.

Over the last three years, the forensics squad has taken a nosedive into irrelevance. In the past, BVN sent multiple squads to compete every weekend at local competitions. Our team accumulated countless individual trophies and team sweepstakes awards for best team performance across the state.

Three years ago, the 2015-2016 forensics team won its sixth state championship since 1978, with individual champions in two events. It was a final stamp on the legacy of Dr. Max Brown, the forensics coach and drama teacher since the school’s opening.

Dr. Brown’s reputation preceded my first interaction with him. He seemed to be

December 2018 | The North Star | 23 the talk of the town. His persona, teaching methods and attitude for success crafted a championship team every year.

We were a powerhouse on the national stage, too. In the past 15 years, BVN has had several impressive national tournament standings, the most recent being 2015 graduate Clayton Covington, who won sixth place in Original Oration his senior year. After 13 rounds of headto-head competition at the largest speech and debate tournament in the nation, he got sixth. That’s a big deal, but did you hear anything about it?

Even though we’ve never had a national champion, we’ve been close with several final round appearances. That history made me immensely proud to be on the team. I was part of something that people in the activity knew about and respected, even if my classmates didn’t share the same sentiment.

That was Dr. Brown’s last year. After that, everything changed.

Losing our hall of fame coach did not help. Losing an amazing senior class did not help. Hiring a new coach who didn’t actively foster the program did not help.

The new shift in teachers killed the acting component of the program. The forensics team primarily received its participants from theater because Dr. Brown required his students to participate.

Now there was no incentive to compete, which sapped the program for new recruits.

That team transitioned from more than 100 dedicated actors and actresses to three individuals: myself, Shantha Burt and Alice Wu. Any former coach or student would be shocked to see where we are now.

We couldn’t even fill a school van if we wanted to.

Even with such a lack of students,

Any former coach or student would be shocked to see where we are now.

We couldn’t even fill a school van if we wanted to. each of us were able to place in finals at multiple tournaments. Alice won three tournaments, and Shantha and I won one.

We all also qualified to nationals. However, despite massive individual success, the team still suffered. We went from winning the team sweepstakes awards, a total compilation of every student’s scores, multiple times, to being ineligible for the award because we had so few participants.

The lack of team success didn’t bother me because we all individually had a lot of success. The thing that bothers me the

2015

most is the future. I joined one of the best teams in the country, and by the time I graduate it might die. So much for a legacy of excellence.

But then, things have changed again.

With the temporary rehiring of Dr. Brown, there is the possibility of hiring a new forensics coach at BVN. A new dynamic could potentially change the outlook of the program.

Even though the future is uncertain, this year could present a positive shift in the revival of the forensics program.

Dr. Brown is planning to encourage new members to take the forensics class.

In combination with Mr. Box, there is newfound hope among the forensics team.

But, that can only happen if the administration prioritizes forensics with Dr. Brown’s replacement. Experience in forensics, a desire for recreating past success and a drive to build up the team should all be requirements on the contract.

The world needs advocates for change, for peace and for progress. Forensics is the best way to cultivate those advocates, and whether or not BVN will equip their students with those skills is in the hands of a few individuals.

Since 1986, students have found their voices in forensics. No one doubts or criticizes the value this program has to offer, so the choice should be easy.

Forensics deserves a future.

2017

Left: Part of the 2015-2016 forensics team is pictured above. Right: Shantha Burt, Alice Wu and I are at the NSDA National Qualifer at Blue Valley High after qualifying to nationals.

24 | The North Star | December 2018

Going for

Science Olympiad develops STEM skills, sets state records and qualifies for nationals.

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Au Gold

196.967

By Genevieve Hulshof

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very day athletes train for hours on end, dedicating themselves relentlessly to their art. Even after devoting blood, sweat and tears to their passion, few athletes can gain the honor of winning a state title.

While it’s not a sports team, Science Olympiad puts in hours of practice that mirrors almost any athletic training at this school. Student coordinator and competitor senior Sarah Madigan stuffs her binders with nearly 20 hours of in-depth research.

Alongside the efforts of her teammates, Madigan won a record-breaking state championship title last summer.

Science Olympiad is an international competition that consists of 23 events involving studying, building and experimenting in different scientific fields. Last summer, students won the state competition and set an all-time state record for the lowest amount of

points won, as the objective is to collect the fewest amount of points possible.

Madigan, in addition to senior Jackie Perry, placed third out of 60 teams at Nationals for the herpetology event.

“Since middle school, I have been aiming to qualify for Nationals, and the feeling of finally winning first at State after

nationals while beating the current state record is one of my favorite memories,” He said.

While Madigan, He and Preuss all joined Science Olympiad in middle school, it wasn’t until Madigan’s sophomore year that they were able to continue participating.

“When I got to high school, the school didn’t have a team, so in ninth grade, I didn’t do [Science Olympiad]. I ended up really missing it. So, in 10th grade, I started a team,” Madigan said.

Sponsored by Barbara Turnbull and Trinda Wheeler, the team begins every year by holding an interest meeting and “try out” test in order to recruit new members and give them practice for the upcoming year.

By working hard and diligently studying, the team has been able to prepare for their events and compete at a national level. In addition to sports, extracurriculars and schoolwork, Madigan, Preuss and

“Embrace the fact that you’re interested in science. That’s not something to be ashamed of.”

-Jennifer He five years was incredibly memorable,” junior Jennifer He said. He has been involved with Science Olympiad since sixth grade and is currently a student coordinator alongside Madigan, senior Margaret Koulen and senior Anna Preuss.

“The moment we all realized we, a second year team, finally qualified for

He spend anywhere from five to 20 hours a week preparing their notes or building their devices for competitions.

While some may see this as overwhelming, Madigan sees the act of learning new material, competing at a high level and bonding with others through their shared interests as rewarding.

“Even though it seems hard, I know it has a really big impact on the other people in the club because it’s had a really big impact on me,” Madigan said.

Through their hours of working, the members of Science Olympiad have become extremely close. The team studies together, motivates each other and still finds time to relax as friends. A family dynamic emerged between the participants after winning the state competition and competing at nationals.

“The club is part of my family,” Preuss said. “We’ve gotten really close to each other.”

Meeting new people and solidifying an attraction to subjects in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), He sees joining Science Olympiad as an instrumental decision in her life.

“My interest in science would have never peaked, and I would have undoubtedly never met any of the people in Science Olympiad [if I had never joined],” He said. “Everyone comes from different social groups, different backgrounds and different interests, but we all are passionate about science.”

When this club began just two years ago, only around 30 students were involved, but now nearly 100 compete within the group. Because of this, Science Olympiad seems to give students an avenue to pursue topics generally unavailable to them in school, introduce them to new friends, inspire them to become computer engineers or forensic scientists and enrich nearly every aspect of their lives.

“Without it, I would probably be really bored and still have a lot of trouble talking with other people,” Madigan said. “Before I started running the team, I was quiet to the point of where I would actively avoid talking to teachers and other students. [Science Olympiad] helped me get out of my comfort zone, meet new people and learn a lot.”

While Science Olympiad at BVN is led by women and has allowed students to pursue their dreams of working in the STEM field, according to the National Girls Collaborative Project, women make up half of the total U.S. college-educated workforce but only 29 percent of the science and engineering workforce. The same report indicated that while an equal

December 2018 | The North Star | 25

number of female and male students were enrolled in 2013 AP exams, such as Calculus AB, Statistics and Chemistry, males were more likely to take more advanced AP exams such as Calculus BC, Physics B and Physics C. In addition, male students were more likely to enroll in engineering and AP Computer Science A. Even if this disparity may exist and be evident in upper-level STEM classes at BVN, according to Preuss, it isn’t enough to deter her Senior Ethan Tucker demonstrates a device built by the team. from pursuing her passion. pursue and they don’t have positive role “In some computer classes models in many STEM fields. and engineering classes, I’ve noticed a In order to bridge the gap between high lot more guys than girls,” Preuss said. enrollment of women in these classes and “However, it’s never been a problem for me because I know I can do the same work higher numbers of women in the STEM professional field, it is crucial to spark they can. I’ve never been deterred by this students’ interest through exciting projects gender mixture, and its never been a conand welcoming environments—both aspects found within the Science Olympiad team.

As the team prepares for another season, He encourages those interested cern to me because if everyone just does in Science Olympiad to reach out and their work, we all are better off.” embrace their interests.

A 2012 study by the Girl Scouts of “Definitely don’t be afraid of how other America found that female representapeople will see you if you join,” He said. tion in STEM fields is likely lacking due “Embrace the fact that you’re interested to three reasons: teenage girls don’t feel in science; that’s not something to be welcome in STEM classes, they don’t see ashamed of.” a connection between what they learn in the classrooms and careers they want to

“Even though it seems hard, I know it has a really big impact on the other people in the club because it’s had a really big impact on me.”

- Sarah Madigan

The 2017-2018 Science Olympiad team is pictured together before the awards ceremony at Nationals.

26 | The North Star | December2017

BlueValley Buzzers The Blue Valley School District has installed a new buzz-in security system to increase safety.

By Briley Everhart

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s the demand for safety in schools increases throughout the nation, the Blue Valley School District has put forth a greater effort in protecting students. Doors are locked during school hours, all visitors must enter through the office during the day, students and staff practice multiple safety drills, and there is at least one officer at the school at all times.

On Nov. 19, the district implemented a new system that requires all guests, staff and students to “buzz in.� In order to enter the building, individuals must push the buzzer button located on a small black and silver machine mounted to the front of the school. After buzzing in, secretaries in the front office will ask for a name and request that a form of identification be shown to a small camera that sits next to the buzzer.

December 2017 | The North Star | 27

The system records all audio and video When asked if the system was worth so that it can be reviewed if necessary. the wait, Markiewicz said, “No, not really, Individuals who plan on leaving school not at all.” and returning after 7:45 a.m. must now On the other end of the spectrum, keep either their student I.D. or legal Carney strongly believes in the new identification on integration of the them. buzzers.

“The problem with For other “It’s basically a this is it’s very slow visitor districts, the buzz-in management system, or systems system that allows for a lot of people.” like it, isn’t new. a chance to kind of Having transferred -Tony Gensler [investigate] someone from Shawnee before they come into Mission East this the school,” Carney year, junior Tony Gensler is no stranger to said. front door security.

The systems have been in “Basically, what happens, if you’re late conversations for a few years and they or have a class outside of the school, what were finally introduced and placed in you do is you go up to the front office schools by the district Board of Security and there’s a [staff member] who checks and Safety at the beginning of the school out your I.D. and [makes sure] it’s you,” year.

Gensler said.

“We actually talked about this idea While the system at Shawnee Mission back in 2012 but at that time we decided East is similar, it lacks the technology that not to implement it,” Carney said. “We Blue Valley schools are adopting. Some were doing some other things that we students have been inconvenienced or thought were [of] higher priority.” slowed down by the system due to its long Staff members across the district have line of CAPS students or the hunt for been trained in how to use the buzzers student IDs. and how to identify suspicious behaviors “The problem with this is it’s very slow among possible visitors. for a lot of people,” Gensler said.

If there is someone seemingly Director of Safety intoxicated, a “We sort of promised noncustodial parent and Security for Blue Valley Schools or anyone that could that we would Dan Carney has possibly cause harm have [the systems been involved in to students or staff, implementing the monitors have time running] by the end buzz-in system and to safely evaluate of the semester.” integrating them into them. The systems the day-to-day lives “add an extra layer of -Dan Carney security” according of staff and students.

“The goal is to to Carney. add an extra layer of The buzzers are security, so we [can] prevent an unwanted projected to be completely functional intruder or presence,” Carney said. and in every school before the end of first For students like Dan Markiewicz, semester. the system makes getting to class on time “We sort of promised that we would more of a challenge. In the past, he could have [the systems running] by the end of quickly walk in through the office and be the semester,” Carney said. “I’m hoping greeted by staff members that know him [they will be ready] before that though. by name.

Students should prepare for the “I waited in line for about 15 minutes systems to be an aspect in their everyday this morning,” Markiewicz said. “It took lives, as they are keeping possible threats about three minutes for [the staff] to talk out, and welcoming in any and all positive to each student that didn’t have their I.D. guests and students. with them.”

28| The North Star | December 2018

Crisis in Venezuela Hits Close to Home Spanish teacher translates documents for an asylum seeker, and paraprofessionals and alumna share about fleeing a humanitarian crisis.

By Alice Wu

Pictured are documents that Spanish teacher Kathleen Pommerenke has translated to help a Venezuelan political dissenter apply for refugee status in the U.S. Phtoos by Alice Wu.

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n Venezuela, paper money is now worth Bubble” for being isolated from the rest more as toilet paper than currency. of the world, several people at BVN have According to the opposition-led been intimately touched by the current National Assembly, the Venezuelan bolívar Venezuelan crisis. is worth so little that inflation reached Spanish teacher Kathleen Pommerenke 83,000 percent in July, translates documents for “They destroyed our and the International a Venezuelan political country.”

Monetary Fund projects asylum applicant named that number will Edward, whose last name climb even higher to - Paraprofessional has been omitted for the 1,000,000 percent by the Aleixi Martinez sake of privacy. Edward was end of 2018. persecuted in Venezuela for Infrastructure is dissenting against president crumbling, and basic food and medicine Nicolás Maduro’s socialist government, are scarce, causing spiraling death and in 2017, he fled to the U.S. Having rates due to malnutrition or otherwise previously translated for the clients of preventable diseases. Although Johnson several immigration lawyers in Kansas County has a reputation as the “JOCO City, Pommerenke offered to help with

Edward’s ongoing case.

“As a Spanish teacher, there is an affinity toward the Hispanic community, and if I am in a position where I can help someone who really needs it, I should and will,” Pommerenke said. “Edward’s story is unfortunately more common than many people think.”

Edward attended numerous protests, including the La Candelaria protests on June 4, 2017, when 17-year-old Carlos Moreno was killed by the state-supported paramilitary force called Tupamaro.

Edward and other protesters rallied in support of Moreno, causing them to be targeted by Tupamaro themselves.

Edward’s business was invaded, and his family was threatened. Soon after, he fled

Crisis Timeline of bythe the BBC Dates provided

1998

Due to dissatisfaction with mainstream parties, Hugo Chavez is elected president

February 2009

A referendum approves removing limits on the number of terms in office for government officials.

Chavez is allowed to serve for life.

April 2013

President Hugo Chavez dies at age 58. Nicolas Maduro is narrowly elected as his successor, to the opposition’s chagrin.

December 2015

An opposition party, Democratic Unity, wins a two-thirds majority in the Venezuelan National Assembly for the first time in 16 years.

to the U.S. by plane.

Pommerenke said. “He has been “He opposed a lot of their policies lucky, but he has decided to use that and the corruption that they had as far privilege to speak out and has not had as how their economy was functioning great success with it. He does believe as well as the oppression that the that if he were forced to go back, regime was causing to dissidents,” they would find him, and they would Pommerenke said. “He wanted physically hurt him, if not worse.”

Maduro’s regime to be disbanded, Edward is not the only person essentially. He wanted to have actual tied to BVN who has fled possible elections.” persecution in Venezuela. Similarly, In order to claim asylum in special education paraprofessional the U.S., Edward has to prove Veruschka Anez was kidnapped by “persecution or well-founded fears the government for her involvement of persecution,” as stated in the in several protests. In 2014, she Immigration and Nationality Act of fled and joined her mother, Aleixi 1965, a federal law that provides the Martinez, another special education outlines for immigration status in the paraprofessional at BVN, who was U.S. Pommerenke has translated social already living in the U.S. media posts and “We can’t explain “As a Spanish teacher, or understand newspaper articles exactly there is an affinity the disaster right now about Tupamaro’s violent actions as toward the Hispanic that [is] happen[ing] well as the autopsy my country,” community and if I am in of the man who Martinez said. “I was in a position where I okay in my country, died. Along the way, several challenges can help someone who working, with family, have appeared for We had really needs it, I should happy. her as a translator. everything over there. and will.” We have beautiful “They have a particular vehicle beaches, everything.

- Spanish teacher which we don’t ... They destroyed our Kathleen Pommerenke really have a word country.” for here, but it’d According to be like a truck with water cannons,” the Council on Foreign Relations, Pommerenke said. “There was actually Venezuela was once an oil-rich quite a bit of investigation into what [it state, but years of corruption and is]. They call it una ballena—a whale. mismanagement coupled with falling When doing this, you’re kind of like, oil prices have shaken the country’s ‘Why is there a whale all of sudden?’ economy. Despite the dire situation, So there are a bunch of resources that the government refuses to be you need to kind of figure out based challenged. on the information he provided as Sharing her mother’s story, well as further investigation to piece Anez’s daughter and BVN alumna some of those mysteries together.”

Daniuschka Rengifo delivered the Because of a network of educated BVN graduation speech in 2017. people in Venezuela, Edward was “‘They, the criminals, knew where able to receive the extensive amount we lived. They knew where my sister of necessary documents to give to and I went to school, they knew who Pommerenke. our family and friends were, they “He is an educated man,” knew where we went to hang out

January 2016

The Supreme Court forces three Democratic Unity deputies to resign, depriving their party of the two-thirds majority needed to challenge President Maduro’s legislation.

July 2017

The election of an all-powerful constituent is elected despite a widespread boycott of the vote and international denunciation.

December 2018 | The North Star | 29

Migration Crisis Venezuela’s population: 31.7 million People who have left since 2014: 2.3 million Caracas

Venezuela graphic by Linseed Studio from the Noun Project. South America graphic by ilCactusBlu from the Noun Project. Statistics from the UN High Commissioner on Refugees and the CIA. Images edited by Alice Wu.

May 2018

Nicolas Maduro wins a second presidential term.

August 2018

The UN declares a migration crisis: due to shortages in food and medicine, more than two million Venezuelans have fled their country since 2014.

30 | The North Star | December 2018

BVN alumna Daniuschka Rengifo ‘17 delivers her class graduation speech. Photo by BVN Broadcast.

Spanish teacher Kathleen Pommerenke works on translating documents for Edward, a Venezuelan asylum seeker. Photo by Alice Wu.

during our free time,’” Rengifo said in her speech. “‘They were going to make sure we didn’t protest again.’”

Despite the dangers that she and her family were put in, Anez doesn’t regret speaking up, believing that she did what was necessary.

As the Council on Foreign Relations explains, because the Venezuelan currency carries so little monetary value, producers struggle to cover the costs of the goods they make, and many have stopped selling in Venezuela. Government-mandated price cuts have caused further difficulties for producers, and as a result, grocery store shelves remain barren.

“My parents had good jobs, so they were able to provide for us even when prices started to rise ... [but] the government would announce shortages of water in different sectors for different amounts of times,” Rengifo said. “We would plan ahead by filling up big containers ahead of time. Of course, it was very uncomfortable because ordinary things such as showering, brushing my teeth, or cooking became a challenge trying to save water for the whole week. ... This was four and a half years ago, and since then everything has worsened radically.”

According to the Central Bank of Venezuela, in August, the Venezuelan government removed five zeroes from the previous “strong bolívar” currency and introduced a new “sovereign bolívar” to rein in inflation. However, many people, including Anez, Martinez, Rengifo, and Pommerenke, believe that to truly address the crisis, President Maduro’s government

Special education paraprofessionals Veruschka Anez and Aleixi Martinez are pictured. Photo by Alice Wu.

must be removed, and a democracy must person to make it,” Pommerenke said. be reinstated.

“You either are very wealthy or not, and so “This political party of Hugo Chávez a lot of the times, people who are wealthy and right now, Maduro, have all the enough are able to leave, and if you’re not control for the institutions. They take all wealthy enough, you are stuck.” the money,” Anez said. “The court, the Pommerenke will continue to help Supreme Court, is under this political Edward as his case continues to be party. And who says if something is good processed, but Edward’s future, like or something is bad?”

Venezuela’s future, remains uncertain.

According to the Council on Foreign “I don’t know what’s going to happen Relations, prior to the presidential soon, but it’s [been] almost 20 year[s] elections this past May, leaders of the in this situation,” Anez said. “People in largest opposition parties to the United Venezuela don’t have the power to take Socialist Party were Maduro [down]. They There is no justice don’t. We need help.” forbidden to run or and no human rights arrested. Protests were According to the U.N., quashed in the streets. in Venezuela ... It has they are working with The official voter American and foreign become a communist governments and various turnout provided by regime. non-profit organizations the National Electoral Council was only 46 to grant asylum and percent. After Maduro - BVN alumna provide economic support won a second term, to families fleeing the Daniuschka Rengifo ’17 the Organization of crisis. In the meantime, American States, which Rengifo believes that includes the U.S. and numerous countries individuals can create change too. in Latin America, refused to recognize the “Many people have no idea even where seemingly rigged election results.

Venezuela is on the map or what continent “There is no justice and no human it is in, so there is very little awareness rights in Venezuela,” Rengifo said. “The on the crisis that Venezuelans are going government is ... ruthless at the moment, through,” Rengifo said. “Right now, the and they are doing everything they can to internet is the only tool Venezuelans have stay in power. It has become a communist to communicate what is happening ... regime.”

Share the news, the posts on Facebook, Pommerenke disagrees that socialism Twitter, Instagram, because the more is the issue, but she is scared for those still people that know and the more noise trying to flee from Venezuela. we can create, the more international “Everyone says, ‘Oh, socialism is organizations will hear us and take action.” terrible.’ Socialism isn’t bad; the corruption is terrible. There’s no way for the average

Holiday Traditions

December 2018 | The North Star | 31

Annual holiday traditions are celebrated by various friend groups.

A

s the winter approaches, friends and family start to prepare for their holiday traditions. While these traditions vary from group to group, the majority of individuals partake in them for the same reasons: to have fun and get closer with friends. To celebrate their holiday season, senior Maggie Nuss and her friends buy or make everyone in their group a gift. “[Gift exchanges are] a really fun idea because it brought me and my friends closer together,” Nuss said. “Overall [it] made everyone happy no matter what their gift was.”

Every friend group does gift exchanges differently. Unlike Nuss’s friends, some groups assign each other who to buy a gift for.

“My whole friend group draws names, and then we buy small gifts for the person whose name we drew,” sophomore Mackenzie Meyer said. “Throughout the month of December, we deliver these little gifts to our person secretly. Then around Christmas, we all get together and reveal who we had and give our partner a bigger gift.”

Although Meyer exchanges gifts with a large group of friends, others like to make it more one-on-one.

For years, Strauss and her friends have gotten gifts for each other around the holiday season.

“This tradition started for me in middle school and is something I look forward to each year,” Strauss said.

As Strauss prepares for the upcoming holiday season, she recounts the memories she’s had from previous years.

“My favorite memory from exchanging gifts was getting my friend Unicorn Snot, a body glitter, and then using it a year later on our faces,” Strauss said.

Similar to Strauss, Nuss enjoys giving gifts and creating memories.

“The gifts I gave everyone was a mason jar with fun memories and ‘The Reasons Why I’m Lucky To Have Them As My Friends’ on little slips of paper,” Nuss said.

These traditions are used as a time for friends to get together

By Anna Martin

and appreciate each other.

“It was heartwarming to see how happy my friends were because of my gift,” Nuss said.

Both Nuss and Meyer gain satisfaction when making other people happy.

“My friends decided to do this, and we all really enjoyed it, so we have been doing it ever since,” Meyer said. “We just celebrate together and make cookies.”

The holiday season is a popular time to for people to enjoy being with each other, and additional thrill is added in giving and receiving secretive gifts.

“I enjoy figuring out who my secret santa was after having received gifts from them all month,” Meyer said.

Along with gift giving, another holiday tradition within BVN is an annual football game. “[The football game] happens the morning of Thanksgiving and it’s with all of the “Rudman family” so like extended family and second cousins,” senior Grace A. Rudman said. “Then also a few family friends and then it’s split up into two teams.”

Rudman and her family competed in their 24th annual football game on Thanksgiving.

“My family is really crazy, so a lot of the players dress up in crazy costumes to try and be funny,” Rudman said. “It’s something super special to us and we all look forward to it each year. We also bond over all the funny memories of men 50-plus attempting to tackle each other.”

As the holiday season comes around each year, Rudman and her family look forward to continuing the traditions and creating new memories.

“My family is already really, close but it is one of our few traditions, so it’s something super special to us, and we all look forward to it each year,” Rudman said.

Top Right: Mackenzie Meyer is with a friend at a holiday gift exchange. Bottom left: Meyer is ice skating with her friends. Bottom middle: The Rudman cousins are at their annunal football game. Bottom Right: Meyer and her friends are at a gift exchange.

32 | The North Star | December 2018

Celebrating Sports’ Achievements Snapshots of BVN’s sports this semester

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1. Blue Valley North cheer team is congratulated for winning their first state title in November. photo by Grace E. Rudman.

2. Senior Graham Mertz pretends to hand the football to senior Amauri Pesek at the State Championship game in Emporia. photo by Gretchen Ellis.

3. Junior Lauren Roth performs the state-winning cheer routine. photo by Grace E. Rudman 4. Members of the girls’ tennis team are recognized for winning state. photo by Grace E. Rudman.

5. The BVN football team runs out for the 2018 State Championships. photo by Gretchen Ellis.