The North Star / October 2016

The

North

Star

Blue Valley North

Issue 2 | Volume 31 | October 2016 | bvnnews.com

This American Election

+

-Trick or Treat so Kids Can Eat -Things To Do in Fall in KC -Fall Fashion -Back Cover Trading Cards

FROM THE EDITORS 2 / The North Star / October 2016

Dear North Star Readers,

The 2016 Presidential Race has undeniably been a dirty and, for many, exhausting election to follow. The nasty comments coming from each campaign, as well as the turmoil within and between the political parties, has discouraged voters of all ages, and it has given new voters a lack of confidence in the system.

Despite the aggressive nature of this election cycle, The North Star believes that no matter how much one disagrees with ‘the other side’, the alternative — opposing beliefs being discouraged or silenced— is worse. We believe that stereotyping each other based on political affiliations is detrimental to an environment that could otherwise encourage growth and learning. Many young people’s political ideals evolve

over time, and we believe that being civil and respectful to one another allows for this to happen.

Aggression and disrespect only causes people to become defensive and unwilling to consider opposing views. Many of us don’t like what we’re seeing during this election cycle, and we believe that every student can make a difference in future elections by making the effort now to treat each other with civility and respect. It is in that sentiment that The North Star has decided to remain as objective as possible, in regards to covering the election, in order to encourage freedom of discussion and an atmosphere of learning.

Enjoy,

-Sammy Galapo & Gigi Wildman

TABLE OF CONTENTS 4 | Autumn in KC 6 | Halloteen 7 | Can’t Vote, Can Help 8 | Political Breakdown 10 | Obama Rama 12 | Breaking Boundaries 14 | From There to Here 16 | Politic’s Policies 18 | Kansas Your Vote Counts 20 | Delete Your Account 21 | In Tweets We Trust 22 | The Future Fire 24 | Crazy Elections of the Past 26 | Questions for the Elections 28 | Female on the Field 30 | Fall Fashion

How to use:

Aurasma

1| Download the Aurasma app to your phone

3| Look for the photo with this symbol (Located on pages 5, 21, 26)

2| Log into the BVN account, using the username “bvn” and the password “mustangs”

4| Click the purple square and scan the photo and watch a short clip from Studio 424.

Autumn in KC

4

The Future Fire

22

cover images are from Creative Commons

Obama Rama

10

Midwestern Female on Renaissance the Field

28

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Autumn in KC

4 / The North Star / October 2016

By Anna Martin and Lauren Graham

As people first get out of their cars at the Louisburg Cider Mill, the sounds an the old time band drift across the parking lot. Then, as they get closer to the main barn, they start to smell the cider, donuts and other food wafting through the air. The cider mill is filled with people laughing and kids playing tag. This is just one of many fall activities Kansas City has to offer. To get into the fall spirit, students can explore various attractions that Kansas City has to offer-from the cider mill and pumpkin patches to haunted houses and concerts, students enjoy spending weekends at these attractions with their friends and families because they can get into the fall spirit. Check out some of these locations throughout Kansas City:

Cider Mill

Among many cider mills in Kansas City, the Louisburg Cider Mill is the top pick for most students.

“The Louisburg Cider Mill is more popular because there’s a lot of different companies and food trucks that [go there], and even though it’s farther away...I think it’s better,” junior Faith Kopecky said.

There are many things to do with friends and family at the Louisburg Cider Mill, such as the corn maze, hayrides, and picking out a pumpkin. However, the main reason that most students visit the cider mill is to get a taste of the foods and cider.

“I like the cider better than the donuts because that’s what the cider mill is known for, but obviously, the donuts are just as good too,” Kopecky said.

The Louisburg Cider Mill has a variety of different and unique attractions to choose from.

Pumpkin Patch

October 2016 / The North Star / 5

When sophomore Grace Keirn thinks of fall, she thinks of the Louisburg pumpkin patch.

“The pumpkin patch gets me excited for fall,” Keirn said.

However, there are some disadvantages that may sway students away from the pumpkin patch.

“Sometimes it’s really cold, and smells really bad,” Keirn said.

While Keirn thinks the smell is unappealing, Kopecky enjoys the smells at the pumpkin patch.

“I really like the smell, it reminds me of apple pie,” Kopecky said.

Not only does Keirn go to the pumpkin patch to pick out a pumpkin each year, she also enjoys taking photos with the people who went with her.

“I think the pictures are cute at the pumpkin patch,” Keirn said.

Both Kopecky and Kerin agree that the pumpkin patch is a great way to get into the fall spirit, as well as enjoy the company of friends.

Haunted House

Haunted Houses may not remind most people of fall, but they are an exciting and thrilling way to spice up the list of festivities, according to freshman Elena Girolametto.

“They don’t remind me of fall because they are during halloween time, but haunted houses are fun and scary and they make me and my friends laugh,” Girolametto said.

While Girolametto does not like “surprise scares,” she still enjoys going to the haunted houses and tries to laugh with her friends during the scary parts of the tour.

“I get scared when people jump out at me because I’m horrible with jump scares, but it’s fun to walk through the haunted houses,” she said. “Once I’m out of the haunted house, I laugh and take a deep breath of air.”

For those who seek a little extra thrill this fall, Girolametto recommends visting a haunted house.

Concerts

Even though there are many concerts to go to throughout the year, fall is a time for sophomore Eden Brockman to see her favorite bands. As many people choose their favorite fall festivities, concerts top Brockman’s list.

“Listening to a band perform live is a lot more exciting,” Brockman said.

During this season Brockman enjoys seeing her favorite musicians perform live.

“During fall concerts, bands usually have longer sets and play a lot of songs that they wouldn’t normally play, which are my favorite songs,” Brockman said.

Photos by Lauren Graham, Lila Johnson and Molly Hendrick

HALLOTEEN

6 / The North Star / October 2016

By Sri Veerisetti

A look into the history of Halloween, and students’ look on trick-or-treating when in high school As the tree leaves get crisper and the air turns cold, Halloween is just around the corner. Creepy music, scary costumes, and sweet candy fill the atmosphere of the last few days of October. Children shriek in joy as they run from house to house getting pieces of candy and devouring them immediately. Trickor-treating has long been common tradition in the United States and has allowed children and adults an opportunity to go out in their favorite costumes and get candy.

So when asked how was trick-ortreating actually started and why we celebrate it, some students were a little puzzled.

“I don’t know where it originated because I was never told the history of Halloween. I think the day got popular because it was a day where people could dress as the worst thing imaginable, and the holiday explores the weird and scary fantasies to their fullest potential. Like that’s just cool,” senior Dhanush Bareddy said.

Going 2,000 years back, the preChristian Celtic festival of Samhain was celebrated on the night of Oct. 31. The Celts lived in the area that is now Ireland, the United Kingdom and northern France, and they believed that the dead returned to earth on Samhain, Oct. 31.

“Halloween gained popularity over the years,” senior Archie Goyal said, “but I’m sure it’s because of continued tradition in different parts of the world, especially Europe and North

America.”

Celebrating Halloween has been a tradition starting at elementary schools. Children everywhere take on the personality of someone or something new. This night allows kids to expand their imagination and experience a new perspective.

“When I was a kid I dressed up as a magician. After I went to the first house in my neighborhood, I noticed that my magician’s wand was gone, and I couldn’t find it anywhere. I decided that I couldn’t be a magician without a wand, so I didn’t want to trick or treat anymore, and I went home with one piece of candy. It was a Heath bar.

Before, I hated Heath bars, but now they’re my favorite type of candy,” senior Lucy Li said.

Halloween presents a time for treats and fun and can give people a break from their day-to-day lives.

“My favorite memory on Halloween would be trick or treating with Victor Bornstein and getting insanely freaked by his brother which, at the time, was the scariest moment of my life It was just a really fun Halloween,” senior Andrew Smith said.

As many kids grow older they begin to abandon the idea of trickor-treating because they feel that they are “too old” to go out and have the experience. These high schoolers pass the torches to younger children.

“I believe this stereotype is a valid one because as you get older,

Candy

trick-or-treating seems more like a childish activity. Another factor is just dressing up as a fictional or favorite character because as you get older, there aren’t many people you can dress up as,” freshman Hanush Bareddy said.

Some just believe that there is a societal norm that high school students cannot trick-or-treat anymore. In fact, some have even been told that they can’t trick-or-treat anymore by their parents.

“I think anyone should be able to trick-or-treat regardless of age, but there is definitely a social standard that makes it not acceptable to trick or treat at a certain age. I remember at 13 that my parents said that I was getting too old to trick-or-treat,” senior Dhanush Bareddy said.

On the other hand, there are many that also believe that it is OK to just be a kid and let inner emotions out. Constant stress, lack of sleep, and a lack of time are problems that students face today. Sometimes, students need to relax and enjoy themselves.

“I think anyone can trick or treat because everyone loves candy and costumes are fun and it strengthens the bond throughout society,” junior Ashwin Khurana said.

Today, many students itch to grow up and become an adult, but perhaps it’s OK not to grow up too fast.

“I don’t think anyone is ever too old to trick-or-treat,” junior Tamoor Choudry said.

CAN’T VOTE CAN HELP

October 2016 / The North Star / 7

Students who are unable to vote in the upcoming election still have the chance to help make a difference

S

ome students are eligible to vote, but a large majority of them are not. This is because the 26th Amendment restricts the age of voters. If students were born before Nov. 8, 1998, then they are eligible to vote in the upcoming election. However, not being old enough to vote does not mean there is nothing to do to help during the election process.

There are no age limits on many of the volunteer activities available during election season. Included in those activities are making calls and canvassing for specific campaigns, or

volunteering at polling stations on Election Day. If students feel strongly about one candidate and have interest in educating others about them, then making calls or canvassing could be an opportunity for them.

If those who cannot vote want to get involved in the election process but not for a specific candidate, then volunteering at a local polling station may be another option. No matter what is chosen, volunteering is a way to make a difference in the election even for those who will not be able to vote.

Canvassing

Making Calls

C

anvassing for a campaign typically involves going doorto-door in a specific area that is assigned by the local campaign office. Canvassing aims to create a connection with people, give them information about the candidate, and persuade them to go out and vote for the candidate. By communicating with someone in person, it can create a more personal connection, which can be helpful for undecided voters,

who might now begin considering the candidate. Different candidates have different ways to sign up to canvass for their campaign. Both the Clinton and Trump campaigns allow you to sign up on their website to canvass among other volunteer options. If students know the candidate they would like to advocate for, checking their website and/or contacting their local campaign office is the best place to start finding how to sign up.

Election Day

O

by Lila Johnson

n actual election day the Johnson County area needs over 1,800 volunteers to run the polling places all around the county. If students are 16 or 17 years of age, they can fill out the Student Election Worker Application in order to volunteer. Students over fill out a different worker application. The application must be sent in eight weeks before the Election Day, and students must have a small teacher recommendation as well. The requirements for being a student election worker are listed on the application, which can be located on the Johnson County election office website (www.jocoelection.org). If volunteers choose this option, they must stay the entire day, which means they must report to their polling place

V

olunteering to make calls can take many different angles. Students can call to try to recruit others as volunteers, persuade undecided voters, remind people to vote on Election Day, or help people locate their polling locations.

Volunteers can sign up to make calls for any amount of time, allowing them to take things at their own pace than with other volunteer opportunities. The type of calls made are up to volunteer and signing up typically begins either at the political candidate’s website and/or at their local campaign office. The Clinton and Trump campaigns both have information about signing up to volunteer located on their websites.

by 6 a.m. and not leave until after closing, which is at 7 p.m. (for Presidential elections they must report earlier, at 5 a.m. since the polls open an hour earlier). A training class before the election is also required. Dates are located on the Johnson County Election Office website.

The responsibilities of an election worker are greeting voters, assisting with the registration book as well as the card encoder machine, accompanying voters to the voting machines, verifying voter receipt information, collecting voter cards and finally issuing “I voted” stickers. This type of volunteering is most likely going to be best for students who would like to still be a part of the election process even if they cannot physically vote.

POLITICAL 8 / The North Star / October 2016

A basic guide to knowing how America’s Political system works

BECOMING THE NOMINEE PRIMARIES

By Amanda Mok

BECOMING THE PRESIDENT

ELECTORAL COLLEGE

An election in the very beginning of the starting process that elects the nominee for each party.

CAUCUSES

Members of the legislative body that meet and endorse candidates and discuss policies.

DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION (DNC)

A convention where Democrats gather and they bring in speaker and endorsers to talk and their official candidate will give a speech.

REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION (RNC)

A convention where Republican gather and they bring in speaker and endorsers to talk and their official candidate will give a speech.

Each state gets a certain number of representatives based on their population and vote for their state.

DELEGATES

People that are active in politics and are strong believers in their political party.

SUPERDELEGATES

People that hold extensive political capital; they have a lot of influence.

THIRD PARTIES

Multiple parties that aren’t either democratic or republican and they run in the election as well.

RED STATES

States that vote usually Republican.

BLUE STATES

States that vote usually Democratic.

SWING STATES

States that don’t consistently vote along the same party lines.

BEING PRESIDENT

PRESIDENTIAL TERMS

A president is in office for 4 years and can only be reelected once.

REPUBLICAN

-Chief of State: Awards scholarships and gives congratulations.

-Chief Executive: Helps run the executive branch and appoints government officials.

-Chief Administrator: representative of the Nation; has annual meets with government officials.

-Chief Diplomat: Decides the foreign policy; deals with other countries.

-Commander in Chief: Head of the US military; everyone takes orders from him.

-Chief Legislator: Has influence over which laws are passed.

-Party Chief: Head of his/her political party and helps people get appointed and elected.

-Chief Citizen: A representative of all the US citizens.

DEMOCRAT

PRESIDENTIAL DUTIES

POLITICAL PARTIES Scroll by Andrew K Stauffer, Thumbs Up by David, Electoral College

by Delwar Hossian, George Washington by Tim Madle, Baseball Player by Gan Khoon Lay, Presidential Seal by Jason Dilworth from the Noun Project.

BVN, DECIDED

October 2016 / the North Star / 9

Results from the America Decides class’s survey

By Lila Johnson

Student Population: 1,509

If you were old enough to vote on November 8th, which of the following candidates would you vote for?

Number of Responses: 437 Margin of Error: +/- 3.95%

Hillary Clinton

Survey Dates: Oct. 10-19

42.4%

Do you think the candidate you would vote for will win?

No

58.4% 41.6%

Evan McMullen

2.3% 3.7% 15%

26.7%

Would not vote

9.9%

Yes

Jill Stein

Gary Johnson

Donald Trump

Which of the following do you feel is the most important quality in a presidential candidate?

#1

Judgment

#2

Leadership

#3

Honesty

#4

Experience

#5

Personality

#6

Reputation

33.3%

Very Conservative

Moderately Conservative

23.1%

Moderate

13%

Moderately Liberal

Very liberal

Which of the following best describes your political alignment?

22.9%

7.6%

Which of the following issues is the most important to you in this year’s election?

Social Justice

19.9%

Foreign Policy

Gun Laws

17.6%

Environment

9.2% 18.5%

6.2% 13.6%

8.8%

Health Care

4.6% 1.6%

Economics

Immigration

Education

Privacy

10 / The North Star / October 2016

P

resident Barack Obama was elected as the 44th President of the United States of America in 2008. The election was both a political and historical triumph because Obama became the first African American president. This is a timeline of influential events to reflect on the Obama administration during his eight years in office.

Eliminated Catch-22 in Pay Equality Laws: Signed Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act in 2009, giving women who are paid less than men for the same work the right to sue their employers after they find out about the discrimination, even if that discrimination happened in previous years.

“

”

I am going to sleep for two weeks and then I am going to take Michelle on a very nice vacation.

Expanded Health Coverage for —President Barack Obama, Children: Signed 2009 Children’s Health to Time Magazine Insurance Authorization Act, which allows the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) to cover health care for four million more children, paid for by a tax increase on tobacco products.

Coordinated International Response to Financial Crisis: To help with the effects of the recession in 2009 and 2010, Obama aimed to secure more than $500 billion for the International Monetary Fund to provide lines of credit and other support to emerging market countries.

Expanded Hate Crimes Protections: Signed Hate Crimes Prevention Act (2009), which expands existing hate crime protections to include crimes based on a victim’s sexual orientation, gender, or disability, in addition to race, color, religion, or national origin.

OBAMA

Below: President Barack Obama speaks during a visit to Benjamin Banneker Academic High School to highlight progress made in the last eight years to improve education on Oct. 17, 2016 in Washington, D.C. (Olivier Douliery/Abaca Press/TNS)

October 2016 / The North Star / 11

WE asked, YOU answered

Transformed relations with Cuba and Iran: Obama took steps toward official diplomatic relations with Iran and Cuba in 2015 by effectively empowering the Cuban people through adjusted regulations and facilitating expanded Cuban travel, seeking to end decades of enmity with the countries.

What effect do you feel Obama’s presidency has had on America?

POSITIVE

NEUTRAL 18%

25% NEGATIVE

57%

data from a @bvnnews twitter poll with 155 votes

Ended the War in Iraq: Ordered all U.S. military forces out of Iraq. Ordered special forces raid of secret compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, in which Osama Bin Laden was killed and several Al-Qaeda documents were discovered.

Improved School Nutrition: In coordination with his wife, Michelle Obama, signed Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act in 2010 mandating $4.5 billion spending boost and higher nutritional and health standards for school lunches. New rules based on the law doubled the amount of fruits and vegetables and require only whole grains in food served to students.

Signed into law The Affordable Care Act: Obama signed the act into effect in March 2010, which intended to increase affordability and quality of health insurance. The program is available to all Americans and attempts to curb the growth in healthcare spending in the U.S. The cost of coverage is paid through tax credits.

Increased Support for Veterans: Obama increased 2010 Department of Veterans Affairs budget by 16 percent. The new GI bill offered $78 billion in tuition assistance over a decade, and provided multiple tax credits to encourage businesses to hire veterans.

By N

RAMA

icole Dolan

Breaking Boundaries 12/ The North Star / October 2016

By Shantha Burt

A closer look into the boundaries of bias in political teaching at BVN.

T

he comfort zone. It’s anti-stress and antiworry, but can also be anti-productive.

Whether the walls of a classroom should enstate a comfort zone remains a debated issue. Some believe that controversy has no place in school, while others feel that stepping out of the comfort zone and introducing more politics into classes would benefit students’ education.

With the 2016 Presidential election just around the corner, many schools are censoring political discourse in the classroom to prevent offending students. After all, controversy is no cakewalk to teach or discuss in a classroom setting, and breaking the boundary between sufficient and insufficient teaching requires skill.

“I would say it’s not easy. It is something that teachers have to be very conscientious about,” principal David Stubblefield said. “They have to be prepared in their classes for that kind of discussion.”

The do’s and don’ts of teaching politics are outlined in Blue Valley policy 6350. However, the boundaries of these rules can be blurred and are open for interpretation. For example, the policy states that teachers must remain unbiased when discussing controversy during hours for which pay is received, but it does not prohibit teachers from sharing their views with students outside of school hours. Nevertheless, Stubblefield did attempt to clear up some confusing limits of this policy.

“Obviously, we can’t endorse a particular candidate, [and] we can’t talk about the need to vote for a particular candidate. That is pretty black and white, in [that] it can’t happen in a classroom with a teacher,” Stubblefield said.

Regardless of the school’s policies, both students and teachers have differing opinions on what is beneficial to adolescents’ education. Some students believe that an increased focus on controversial discussions is important to their education.

Additionally, they believe that hearing others’ opinions allows them to understand opposing

viewpoints, as well as keep an open mind.

“I think that if the class is an election or politics class, the teacher should be able to state their opinion,” sophomore Melina Peshoff said. “But [he or she] still [needs to] be open to others’ beliefs and obviously not stop other students’ opinions. I think that teachers talking about [the election] is important to students learning different sides of it, and when teachers don’t express their opinion, it’s hard to figure out both sides of an issue.”

Peshoff said that as long as teachers acknowledge the opposing view, they should be able to share their opinion. She believes that hearing their views will encourage political discussion, and not influence students.

“There is obviously a rule that teachers can’t share their political affiliations, and they do a good job because they don’t really express their opinions, but I think they should be able to show their opinion as long as they show both sides,” Peshoff said. “It won’t influence anybody because many students taking [political] classes already have their own opinions.”

Sophomore Madelyn Kingsley also had an opinion on this issue. She said that seeing both sides of a controversial matter is vital for students to keep an open mind and develop individual views. “[A strong political education] is very important to adolescents because a lot of people get their opinions from their parents, and don’t really go out of their way to see both sides and form their own factual opinion,” Kingsley said.

However, other students remain against opinionated discussions. They believe hearing others’ opinions, especially those of teachers, is harmful to a strong education.

“I think when [politics] is taught, it is taught very one-sided, and so kids don’t really get the whole idea of things,” sophomore Genevieve Hulshof said. “It’s taught at the discretion of the teacher, so instead of learning about both sides, and being able to form their own opinions, it’s taught with a bit of bias.”

13/ The North Star / October 2016

Although Hulshof believes that classes often indulge in biased teaching, she said that it is not necessarily the school’s fault, but rather due to the election’s own controversial nature.

“I believe some of the teachers try really hard to stick to the guidelines and be unbiased, but in this election especially, there is a lot of emotion, so it makes it very difficult to be unbiased,” she said.

Hulshof also said that students could still acquire a well-formed political knowledge and be ready to vote by graduation, even if their classes fall short of a strong political foundation.

“This school is very diverse and you get to see a lot of different viewpoints,” Hulshof said, “so even if your teachers aren’t teaching it, you develop your own opinions based on personal experience and involvement with other people.”

Despite some students’ views, most teachers believe that remaining unbiased is a more effective way to educate a class about a controversial issue. English teacher Cynthia Younger said that bias in a classroom setting would be a turnoff for many students.

“It is very important [that] people get involved and understand issues.”

— David Stubblefield “In terms of bashing another group...we are not looking at [a text] in that way, we are looking at it for what was the purpose, why did they do it, and was it effective,” Younger said, “and I think if you do it like that then it is much more successful.”

Younger also said that she believes political education is important and can be beneficial when taught under the correct circumstances and without bias.

“If you are not educated about [politics] before it comes

time to vote, you choose often not [to vote] because you don’t really understand the process or what to be looking for,” Younger said. “I think any time we can get kids to start talking about it and having those conversations, then the better prepared they will be later on down the road.”

“It’s important to have a well developed worldview, and political education gives a general idea of what’s going on in society.”

— Genevieve Hulshof Differing opinions can make it seem impossible to find a common-ground between biased and unbiased teaching.

However, many students still find a way to get a grasp of a political education whether it’s through balanced classroom teaching, or the diversely opinionated environment that makes up the school. After all, according to Hulshof, understanding politics is an important and necessary trait to acquire.

“Political education gives a general idea of what’s going on in society,” Hulshof said, “and if you understand the general concepts of politics, it will shift your world views, how you approach things, the way you treat people, and broaden your horizons.”

Left Picture: The America Decides class watches the last presidential debate in the library together.

Right Pictures: From top to bottom: Top: Sophomore Tatum Trysla watches the last 2016 presidential debate with the America Decides class.

Bottom: Sophomore Chris Lucas debates about relations with China in his 1 Affirmative Constructive.

16 / The North Star / October 2016

Politic’s Policies

By Kristen Xu

A summary of Hillary Clinton’s and Donald Trump’s policies in the 2016 presidential election

T

OUT OF 437 STUDENTS SURVEYED:

his Nov. 8, many adults will be casting their votes for Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton. Though the majority of high school students cannot vote, some choose to stay involved with the election. After all, they will be graduating and participating in society soon.

“I think it’s very important [to stay politically informed] because [the election] directly affects our future,” junior Ashmika Behere said. “Students should start learning more about politics in high school, so they can be more prepared to vote for the future.

And everyone should plan to vote because that’s how a democracy functions.”

With memes from various social websites and talk show hosts poking fun at candidates, it may be easy to get caught up in the entertainment or social issues of the election for many high schoolers and not hear about other significant policies.

Controversial topics in the election include immigration, abortion and the right to bear arms. According to their respective websites, Clinton is fighting for easily accessible abortion while Trump is pro-life (with certain exceptions such as rape).

They have different means for the same gun policy — both want to keep violent criminals off the streets. Clinton plans to have extensive background checks, while Trump wants to “get serious” about prosecuting violent criminals and keeping gang members and drug dealers from guns. However, according to his website, he still wants to “empower law-abiding gun owners to defend themselves.”

“I feel like most students at North are acquainted with the buzzwords of politics, such as the issues of institutional racism and abortion,” junior Romila Santra said. “While these are undoubtedly important topics to discuss, I feel that on issues such as economic policies, students are less informed.”

Because 4.9 percent of the United States population is unemployed, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, both candidates want to increase jobs. Clinton plans to almost double the current minimum wage to approximately $14 an hour.

Trump wasn’t specific about how much he wanted to increase the minimum wage, but he hinted at around $10 an hour. Clinton

42.4%

WOULD VOTE FOR CLINTON

October 2016 / The North Star / 17 Pictured right: Donald Trump on stage during the second debate between the Republican and Democratic presidential candidates on Sunday, Oct. 9, 2016 at Washington University in St. Louis, Mo. (Christian Gooden/St. Louis Post-Dispatch/TNS). Tribune News Service.

Pictured left: Hillary Clinton listens as Donald Trump speaks during the second debate between the Republican and Democratic presidential candidates on Sunday, Oct. 9, 2016 at Washington University in St. Louis, Mo. (Christian Gooden/St. Louis Post-Dispatch/TNS). Tribune News Service.

emphasizes building an economy that benefits everyone and not just the wealthy, even saying that she will “ensure the wealthiest pay their fair share.” Trump’s goal is a 4 percent growth rate in American jobs, resulting in a “booming economy.”

Trump focuses on manufacturing, business and stopping foreign countries from stealing American jobs as a means to boost America’s economy. Meanwhile, Clinton looks at investing in infrastructure, clean energy, scientific research and technological innovation in order to create jobs.

Despite the amount of media coverage on both candidates’ immigration policies, many students do not know much about plans other than Trump’s idea to build a wall.

Trump plans to enforce immigration laws. Though he does plan to build a border wall, he also plans to rigorously check the backgrounds of immigrants and refugees. Meanwhile, Clinton focuses less on deporting — she plans to “end family detention, close private immigrant detention centers, and help more eligible people become naturalized.”

As for foreign policy, Clinton plans to support veterans to maintain a strong military; support and strengthen current partnerships as well as making new ones with countries that share similar values as the United States; hold China and Russia accountable for their actions; defeating ISIS by taking out their strength in Iraq and Syria; and taking care of the home-grown terrorist threats.

Trump also plans to “care and support” for American veterans, working to reward them for their service to the United States.

He aims to work with “allies in the Muslim world, all of which are at risk from radical Islamic violence,” stating extremeism is connected to America’s immigration policies. He plans to spend what’s necessary on military, but overall save money in order to save our economy. Trump believes America must live peacefully and improve relations with Russia and China. *All policies from the article above were taken and quoted from each candidate’s respective websites and all percentages from the graphic below are from the poll conducted by the America Decides class at BVN.

26.7%

WOULD VOTE FOR TRUMP

S A S KAN S T N COU

18 / The North Star / October 2016

E

OT YOUR V

By Ellie

And

an

ie Herm

nd Lex erson a

Information on the Kansas local elections

D

and Senate. BVN’s location lies in the 20th District for the House and the 11th District for the Senate.

The state House election will be held between Chris McQueeney, a Democrat and BVN alumnus, and Jan Kessinger, a Moderate Republican. The State Senate election will be held between Democrat Skip Fannen and Moderate Republican John Skubal.

Although these four men may come from two different parties, their websites all state similar ideas and opinions. The most common beliefs among the candidates revolve around the importance of education and the necessary modifications of the public school system after Governor Brownback’s tax-cuts.

The general elections will take place on Election Day, Nov. 8.

espite the upcoming election, the party majorities of the Kansas State House of Representatives and Senate are unlikely to change significantly.

Currently, the Republican party holds the majority of both legislative offices. The party holds 97 of the 125 seats in the House of Representatives and 32 of the 40 seats in the Senate.

For the House of Representatives, many candidates are not expected to be faced with much opposition. Of the number of vacant positions,there are 32 districts with Republicans running unopposed and 19 districts with Democrats running unopposed.

On the other hand, there will be competition for the eight available Republican seats in the Senate.

Just as the state is divided into districts for the U.S. House of Representatives, it is split into districts for both the state House

Absolute Right to Own Guns

Summarized stances of senate candidates Republican Jerry Moran and Democrat Patrick Wiesner Higher taxes Affordable for the wealthy Care Act

Expand Military

Legalizing Marijuana

Same sex marriage

Limited Government Funding in Schools

Abortion

Government Interventions

SENATE STANCES KEY

Patrick Wiesner

Jerry Moran AGREES OPPOSES

*all data taken from www.ballotpedia.org and www.ontheissues.org State of Kansas from anbileru adaleru

October 2016 / The North Star / 19

[THE HOUSE OF]

REPRESENTATIVES RACE

Summarized stances of senate candidates Republican Kevin Yoder, Democrat Jay Sidie, and Libertarian Steve Hohe

KEVIN YODER

JAY SIDIE

STEVE HOHE

Supports extra government spending if needed.

Wants to increase government spending on education — make college more affordable.

Wants to take away federal social security and let the state control it.

Strong supporter of second amendment rights.

Reform Wall Street so that people are held accountable to prevent future financial crisis.

Wants to remove the income tax, and replace it with a Consumption Tax on goods and services.

Opposes granting amnesty to illegal immigrants.

Strongly supports Medicare and Social Security.

Strongly opposes illegal immigration; wants to “Build a Wall.”

*All information taken from www.yoderforcongress.com, www.jay4congress.com and www.stevehoheforcongress.com

WHAT DO YOU KNOW? After asking students in the halls, some were found to be uninformed as to what is going on in the local elections. When students hear about the election, often the first thing that comes to mind is the presidential election, but not local politics.

“I literally know nothing about politics at all,” sophomore Kayley Cassaday said.

Students had varying answers as to why this lack of knowledge about the local elections was so prominent, students had a variety of answers.

“I just don’t really care,” sophomore Chris Lucas said.

Others disagreed with this point entirely, opting toward age as the reason for being uninformed.

“I think I’ll care more when I’m older, but for now I don’t really pay attention because I have no say and it doesn’t really affect me,” Cassaday said.

Debate coach Kelly Thompson believes it is important to get students informed and involved in the elections, both on a local and presidential scale. He believes that many high school students aren’t involved because there simply aren’t many platforms that allow for them to gain knowledge on the topic, especially when it comes to local elections.

BVN students share if they know about local politics

“The nature of being good at debate mandates that students make a vested effort to understand and be interested in local elections. Even if the activity doesn’t make them interested, it at least forces them to be aware of them, which I think is [just] as important,” Thompson said.

He used to be uninformed about the elections, until something happened in America that forced him to pay attention, and showed him the importance of knowledge in this area.

Thompson says that it’s easy to ignore politics until they actually start affecting your life directly.

“I really wasn’t interested in the political process until 9/11 happened. I remember being a sophomore in high school, and not having any clue what it meant that the country was under attack, and the political ramifications and motivations of that,” Thompson said. “And that really made me think about my relationship to the world, and whether or not it was important that I was actively doing things that were relevant to that.”

Students, as well as Thompson, prove that knowledge of local elections might be lacking, and students should become informed.

By Laura Evans

20 / The North Star / October 2016

All pictures are from the public Instagram accounts of Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton

YOUR

W

How social media affects students’ perception of the election

ith the various national, recognize the effective parts of both of With the usage of social media state and local elections the candidates’ accounts. in the election, memes and similar approaching, students “A lot of Hillary Clinton’s stuff is graphics have started to become may turn to social media in order just pictures of her supporters and a larger factor for the candidates’ to inform themselves about the what she’s been up to, so I think it’s online presences. Specifically, meme candidates and the election’s course. cool that she’s showing her base,” discourse surrounding Pepe the Frog In the presidential election, social Pereira said. “Trump [posts about] made its way into the election when media has the power people he supports, Donald Trump tweeted a picture of to greatly influence the not people who himself as Pepe. Clinton’s campaign “The fact that they are perspectives of many support him, like website has since labeled Pepe as a given an open platform students. military men and symbol of white supremacy due to Junior Shannon law enforcement. the use of the meme in Anti-Semitic to say whatever they Falke follows both I think it is nice contexts. want about each presidential nominees that he’s putting the “Pepe the Frog has now been other’s campaign on Twitter in order to focus on them. ” turned into a white supremacist constantly is crazy.” stay informed.

While Falke meme as a result of the Clinton - Max Indiveri “I think I started and Pereira said campaign,” Indiveri said. “The Clinton following them just that they follow the campaign made that way overblown because I heard a lot of what they candidates on social media primarily — it’s ridiculous. Don’t vote based on were saying in their campaigns,” to stay informed, sophomore Max whether or not Donald Trump posts Falke said. “I thought it was really Indiveri follows the candidates on an offensive meme.” interesting and I wanted to start ...

Twitter for entertainment.

Clinton’s condemnation of Pepe being politically aware.”

“I just want to see the drama as it’s has also affected Pereira’s view of the While Falke sides more closely happening,” Indiveri said. “It is one election. with Clinton, she thinks that Trump’s of the most entertaining elections.

“I think that the classification of Twitter is superior to Clinton’s.

Anyone who watched the debate can Pepe as an alt-right, white extremist “I think Trump’s [Twitter is better] probably tell you that this election is hate symbol is completely unfair,” because it seems like it is coming not about being informed — it’s about Pereira said. “I think that’s stupid, from him more, rather than Hillary’s whose rhetoric wins.” because it is the Internet. The Internet managers tweeting for her,” Falke said.

Indiveri also noted that the is full of bad people and it’s full of Additionally, Falke appreciates amount of interaction that the good people — that’s how it works.” the candidates’ Twitter activity as the candidates are capable of on social All in all, the ins and outs of a debates occur. media is unique. candidate’s social media presence “During the debate, their “The fact that can affect the students’ managers were tweeting what they they are given an perception.

“Social media has a said, like their highlights and their open platform to “Social media has a attacks,” Falke said. “I think that was say whatever they really big potential really big potential for really strong because everyone is want about each reaching a huge amount for reaching a huge looking at Twitter during the debate, other’s campaign of younger voters, which amount of younger so that’s a good time [to tweet].” constantly is is going to be increasingly voters.”

While Falke follows Clinton and crazy,” Indiveri important,” Pereira said. “I - Ernest Pereira Trump on Twitter, other students said. “When know it played a big role in may prefer Instagram. Junior Ernest you have two Obama’s victories in 2012 Pereira follows both candidates presidential candidates engaging in and 2008, so we’re just going to have on Instagram. While Pereira says banter that you would only see on to see how that works out today.” he is more right wing, he is able to online forum sites, it’s pretty insane.”

In Tweets W We Trust

by Sammy Galapo

October 2016 / the North Star / 21

e have compiled a collection of some of the most popular tweets (most liked and retweeted) from both candidates, that we feel collectively embody the discourse of the national election. We understand that some of these tweets are more controversial than others, or could be interpreted to support one candidate over the other. However, this is not our intent, we simply want to provide some evidence as to how the candidates have chosen to use the social media discussed in the previous article.

Scan for an Aurasma

@realDonaldTrump

@HillaryClinton

This tweet from the Trump campaign was in response to a tweet from Clinton’s campaign telling Trump to delete his account.

This, like many of his other tweets, is directed at Secretary Clinton as an individual.

This tweet from the Clinton campaign is from after the first presidential debate. This, like many of Clinton’s other tweets, focuses on some of the more controversial statements and positions from her opponent.

22 / The North Star / October 2016 / Opinion

the future fire Opinion Column by Taylor Mills

how the bern felt across the country will change future politics

M

illennials are unsatisfied, and are sharing it on the platform they grew up with- Twitter. The credibility of their tweets is not the point, although many of them are significantly better than what a campaign staff can crank out. Look at the rigor and the observance they write with.

A generation known for its diversity was thought to be a shooin for the former secretary of state, Hillary Clinton. She was the figure that could be a turning point in history. However, the vote was far from promised.

Disappointed, unenthusiastic and flat out angry have been words

used to describe millennials’ feelings about the choice they have on the ballot, with only one-third of young voters supporting Clinton according to a new poll released by Harvard University’s Institute of Politics. Why she is surprised at this turnout baffles me. I mean, she dabbed on the Ellen show.

Maybe the lack of appeal is due to the constant shifting of her stances, or maybe it’s the questions raised throughout the past two decades of her career that has made her seem untrustworthy. Maybe it’s the pantsuit.

Regardless, the paradigm of this generation has shifted greatly since

Clinton was first elected to Congress, and will continue to move with every graduating class here at Blue Valley North. The cry for a change in who finds their way to the ballet rang clear with the Bernie Sanders revolution that uprooted the democratic convention and election this year. I wouldn’t forget it.

Bernie prided on his campaign of the people. His average contribution of $27 dollars greatly contrasted from Clinton’s super PAC funded campaign. While she argues that this is necessary for a modern election, the $10 million dollars the Sanders campaign collected begs to differ.

This contrast between campaigns

Opinion / October 2016 / The North Star / 23

funded by large companies and donors seen in the past proves the interest of the actual voters for Sanders. Which, for millennials, means that the issues of debt and wealth gap will actually be addressed, not just a simple tool to win votes.

Consistency in Sanders’ 25 years in Congress proved favorable as well. He maintained a democratic stance and voted against things such as the Iraq War Authorization, Breaking Up Big Banks, Trans-Pacific Partnership, Offshore Oil Drilling all of which Clinton supported. This proved yet again that his campaign was formatted on the belief that this election should be for the American people, not the top one percent that fund these projects and other campaigns.

Republicans argue that Sanders’ belief in the increased taxation on this small margin of wealth hurts business and is an unfair depletion from what they earned. However, this “depletion” is to the 55 percent of all new income that goes directly to the top one percent, plus their tax breaks and profit margins climbing in the millions.

This current economy is not fit for a middle class, and especially not for a generation looking to pay off their student loans with wages that barely cover the bills. The high college tuition not only drives this need of loans, but is also decreasing

the number of students able to attend college, affecting the future workforce of this country.

Sanders’ plan included the elimination of college costs to stop the growth of this problem. While the price of education has been deemed necessary and impossible to eliminate, other countries such as Germany, Finland and Sweden terminated tuition years ago and are some of the world’s leading innovators and steadfast economies.

The government makes a profit of over $110 billion dollars on student loans, while young graduates are living in tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt. It seems that politicians forget that Wall Street was once bailed out by the American people in 2008 due to a law they passed and also carry a debt to repay.

Politicians have forgotten many things, ranging from the privileges and favors they had in order to reach their position to 30,000 emails. But, Bernie has stayed true in his beliefs and acts upon the American dream his parents believed in when they immigrated here from Poland.

Bernie has shown a tipping point in elections, where fake smiles and years of experience are replaced by consistency and true facts laid out not only in the rallies but in thought-out plans for everyone to see. This is the future that young voters are fighting for.

While this may mean that the Twitter rants will continue, and campaign staffs will have to come up with better things than “delete your account”, millenials are taking a stand in the 140 characters they have.

Their words are valid, and they affect the future of this country. The Bernie revolution they believed in is still alive, and will be as long as the issues he fought for still remain — and I’m counting that they will.

In order from left to right: A diverse crowd cheers and reaches out to support Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders after a campaign rally at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, Calif., on Tuesday, May 24, 2016. (Mark Boster/ Los Angeles Times/TNS). Tribune News Service.

Demoratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders at a campaign rally in the San Pedro neighborhood of Los Angeles on Friday, May 27, 2016. (Irfan Khan/ Los Angeles Times/TNS). Tribune News Service.

Supporters of Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders pose with paintings prior to a rally at PNC Music Pavilion in Charlotte, N.C., on Monday, March 14, 2016. (David T. Foster III/ Charlotte Observer/TNS). Tribune News Service.

WILD ELECTIONS 24 / The North Star / October 2016

STRANGE ELECTIONS AND CAMPAIGN MOMENTS THROUGHOUT HISTORY

by Gigi Wildman

HEALTH BOMBSHELL, 1972

Sen Thomas Eagleton, democratic vice presidential candidate, had to drop out of the race after rumors about his health became a liability to the democratic campaign. He had been hospitalized for depression on multiple occasions and had undergone electroshock therapy.

The Election of 1800- A Shaky Start- Fans of the hit Broadway musical,

Hamilton, are already familiar with this election that stared Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Alexander Hamilton, and the infamous Aaron Burr. This election was so tumultuous that many leaders doubted that the government could survive it. Ultimately, the outcome of this election was so strange that the United States had to create the 12th amendment, calling for electors to pick a presidential candidate and vice presidential candidate on their ballot, instead of choosing two presidential candidates. The controversy began when Jefferson tied with Burr, who was supposed to be his running mate, but who had openly campaigned against him. Congress was left to break the tie, and Alexander Hamilton, founder of the Federalist party, urged his supporters to vote for Jefferson, the “lesser of two evils.”

Jefferson was eventually voted into office and the 12th amendment was enacted to prevent further vice-presidential confusion.

Burr, still bitter about losing and while still vice president, killed Hamilton in a duel.

oops!

1948

In the election of , The “Chicago Daily Tribune” mistakenly printed that democratic nominee Thomas Dewey had won the presidential election, when in fact it was Harry Truman who had won.

Andrew Jackson lamenting the death of his wife, Rachel.

Aaron Burr and Thomas Jefferson.

The Election of 1828- A Scandalous Election-The rivalry between

John Adams and Andrew Jackson was lively.During their second fight for the presidency, Jackson accused Adams of pimping out an American girl to a Russian Czar. Adams criticized Jackson for his questionable actions as General, distributing handbills that told the stories of various soldiers that Jackson court-martialed and executed. Jackson’s wife, Rachel, was called a “convicted adulteress,” by the Adams campaign and in the press because she had, years earlier, married Jackson before finalizing her divorce to her previous husband. Rachel, an extremely religious woman, died after Jackson won the election, but before his inauguration. At her funeral, Jackson blamed her death on his opponents’ bigamy accusations. “May God Almighty forgiver her murderers, as I know she forgave them,” Jackson said. “I never can.”

The dirty and ruthless election ended with an inaugural party that allegedly turned into a riot at the White House, as an unexpected number of guests became intoxicated and began ruining furniture, and an overwhelmed Jackson fled through the backdoor to spend his first night as president in a hotel.

OF THE PAST

October 2016 / The North Star / 25

The Election of 1860- Irreconcilable Differences-Sometimes considered by

historians to be the most important election in American history, the outcome of this decision would lead to the Civil War. While Republican Abraham Lincoln built his platform on the ultimate extinction of slavery, his Southern Democratic opponent, John C. Breckinridge, believed that the states should have the right to condone slavery.

Additionally, the state of the democratic party was deeply divided, and some feared that it would not survive. Following the chaotic Democratic National Convention of 1860, after the party could not agree on a nominee, the southern and northern democratic factions nominated their own candidates, Breckinridge and Stephen A. Douglas. This effectively split the Southern vote, giving Lincoln an easy path to victory.

1824 THIS ELECTION IS

RIGGED! Abraham Lincoln, the 16th POTUS.

The Election of 1920- A Campaign Behind Bars: Eugene Debs, the socialist

candidate, was running his fifth and final campaign for president in 1920.

However, this time he was running it from prison. He had been convicted under the espionage law for giving what the district attorney of Canton, Ohio called an “antiwar speech”, and he was given a sentence of 10 years. Despite his limitations while in the Atlanta Federal Penitentiary, Debs received 3.41 percent of the popular vote, one of the highest percentages of votes for a Socialist candidate to date, beat only by his own record in the 1912 election.

He still remains one of the best-known American Socialists.

Eugene Debs campaigning from prison.

When neither Andrew Jackson or John Adams received a majority in the electoral college, the House of Representatives was called on to make the decision.

When Adams won the presidency, he made John Clay, Speaker of the House of Representatives, his Secretary of State, and Jackson and his supporters called the men out for a “corrupt bargain.”

DEATH

of a candidate, 1872 Incumbent Ulysses S. Grant was expected to win by a large margin anyway, but his opponent died before the votes were counted.

Multiple choice: 1. b, 2. a*, 3. d *according to a “Cosmopolitan”/”Morning Consult” survey True/false: 1.True, although Trump changed his stance on the war in Iraq, he initially indicated in a radio interview in Sept. 2002, that he was in favor of invading Iraq, responding to a question from Howard Stern (“Are you in favor of invading Iraq?”) “Yeah, I guess so...” according to an excerpt of “The Howard Stern Show” on Soundcloud.

2. True, in several instances when asked about her emails, Clinton responded by saying that she did not use a personal server for classified emails, according to “The Washington Post.”

3. False, although Donald Trump is under audit, there is no reason that one can’t release their tax returns while under audit, according to cnbcnews.com.

4. False, although Clinton made this claim, according to “The Washington Post,” the FBI found that there were classified emails on her private server.

5.True, Trump has referred to women as “pigs,” “slobs” and “bimbos.” According to nydailynews.com, the “pig” and “slob” comments were directed toward Rosie O’Donnell, while the “bimbo” comment was a retweet about journalist Megyn Kelly.

6. False, Hillary Clinton has been spotted in outfits that are not pantsuits.

4. Hillary Clinton had no classified emails on her private server.

True

False

1. Trump initially supported the war in Iraq.

True

False

5. Donald Trump has called women “pigs,” “slobs” and “bimbos.”

True

False

2. Clinton has claimed that she didn’t use her private server for classified matters.

True

False

6. Hillary Clinton only wears pantsuits ever.

True

False

3. Donald Trump is unable to release his tax returns while under audit.

True

False

a. Martha Raddatz b. Lester Holt c. Anderson Cooper d. Elaine Quijano

3. Who of the following was a 2016 VP debate moderator?

a. Melania Trump b. Hillary Clinton c. Donald Trump d. Ivanka Trump

2. Who is the least favorable among millennial women?

a. Completely stopped the progression of nuclear weapons in Iran b. Temporarily stopped the progression of nuclear weapons in Iran c. Altered economic policy with Iran d. None of the above

1. What did the Iran Deal do?

Test your knowledge with some election questions! By Mathew Cotton

Questions for the Election

26 / The North Star / October 2016

October 2016 / The North Star / 27

A “Puzzling” Election 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

Across

4.What is one of Donald Trump’s most notable features?

7.What did Clinton initially claim wasn’t classified but actually was?

8.What policy to lower gun-related crime was implemented in New York but was found unconstitutional?

10.Which of Trump’s daughters recently appeared in a commercial for Trump’s campaign?

Down

1.What was Hillary Clinton suffering from when she appeared to faint at the 9/11 rally?

2.What war does Trump insist he didn’t support?

3.What does Trump claim he can’t release because he is being audited?

5.What is the name of Clinton’s daughter who is supposedly close friends with Ivanka Trump?

6.What was the first name of the moderator of the first presidential debate in 2016?

9.What does Donald Trump want to build in order to separate Mexico and The United States?

1. Pneumonia 7. Emails

2. Iraq War 8. Stop and Frisk

3. Tax returns 9. Wall

4. Hair 10. Ivanka

5. Chelsea

6. Lester

28 / The North Star / October 2016

FEMALE ON THE

By Sophie Roldan

FIELD

October 2016 / The North Star / 29

A

grew up According watching my brothers to ESPN, there play football. Since we were able are less than 2000 to play in eighth grade, I started to get high school girls interested and wanted to look into joining it,” who play football Basalo said. on their school Basalo’s father and brothers were excited when she teams. Freshman expressed her interest in playing football, but her mother was Andi Basalo is more concerned than them. proud to be “My mom was absolutely terrified when I told her I wanted to play,” one of those Basalo said.

2000.

Basalo’s mother, Lorraine Basalo, admits that she was hesitant when she “I learned that her daughter was interested in playing football. always “I probably reacted a little more worried than I did with the boys and that’s unfair,” Lorraine Basalo said. “It’s that double standard.”

Basalo’s mom, Lorraine Basalo, said that she was nervous because football is seen as a tough and dangerous sport. most “I’m just over-reacting a little more because it’s considered a traditional people boy sport and it is an aggressive sport, but I think she’ll be fine,” Lorraine have Basalo said. been very Although her mother might not have wanted her to play at first, she encouraging, eventually opened up to the idea and supported her daughter. according to “In my family they support me and they love that I’m Basalo. doing what I want to do,” Basalo said.

“I think it’s Basalo said she has received support from awesome that parents, coaches and other players. She Andi’s playing. She’s has gotten a few strange looks from having fun and she’s people when they find out enjoying just having that she plays, but the experience overall playing

football,” football coach Lucas Vincent said.

Basalo is able to get along with her teammates without feeling too out of place.

“I’m closer with some of my teammates than others because I played with them in middle school, but overall I get along well with all my teammates,” Basalo said.

While Basalo likes her teammates, she realizes how they sometimes unintentionally act different around her than around their other male teammates.

“I think they do treat me differently and that sometimes if I were to get hit, they’d be softer on me,” Basalo said.

“Just because I’m a girl, they worry that I would get hurt more often.”

Because she is a girl, Basalo said that she is sometimes treated as if

10

she can’t handle the same level of aggressiveness as her male teammates.

Not only has Basalo noticed this, but her mother has, too.

“They’re a little over protective of her sometimes,” Lorraine Basalo said. “[In a game] she was kicking and was tackled after the kick and the boys took it very seriously like not only did they hit our kicker, but they hit Andi.”

Even though Basalo does feel like she is treated differently at times, she thinks that as the season has progressed, she has been treated more equally.

“It’s a little weird and awkward at times,” Basalo said. “As the months have gone on, the team has gotten used to it, the coaches have gotten used to it, I have gotten used to it and all of the guys accept me.”

Basalo likes her team, but she wishes she wasn’t the only girl on the team.

20

“I wish there were more girls because I feel like girls who want to play football either don’t know they can play or they just don’t have the courage to do it,” Basalo said.

“Sometimes I kind of get lonely and I would love to have a girl to talk to and play alongside. That would be really cool.”

Basalo hopes that more people do what they want, even if it isn’t following stereotypical gender roles.

She has the following advice for those who want to play sports that aren’t typical of those for their gender.

“Just do what you want and don’t care what other people think and have fun with what you’re doing,” Basalo said. “You’re not limited to sports just because you’re a girl or just because you’re a boy, you can do whatever sports you want.”

FALLFashion 30 / The North Star / October 2016

F

all brings changing leaves and changing materials. Fall fashion allows students to express themselves more freely because they have more clothes to wear and experiment with in the colder season.

Julia Marks & Sophie Slusher See how the students of Blue Valley North High School individualize their fall fashion

F

Pictured: Julia Marks

all is that time of year when people start wearing jeans and sweaters. Two students described their favorite parts about fall fashion.

“It’s the highlight of my year when I get to wear long-sleeves again,” sophomore Sophie Slusher said. “I feel more comfortable in my clothing when I wear sweaters, and that’s what makes fall different for me.”

While Slusher focused more on the material aspect of fall fashion, sophomore Julia Marks focused more on the color scheme and tones of fall.

“Colors and mood are what sets fall apart in fashion,” Marks said. “The colors are more distinct which allows certain pieces to just be for fall.”

Both Marks and Slusher like to incorporate layering into their fall fashion. While Slusher enjoys layering sweaters and cardigans over her high-waisted jeans, Marks prefers layering necklaces and chokers.

“Sometimes I like to go to TopShop to pick up a pair of jeans or a new necklace,” Marks said.

The girls shared about where they shop for their fall styles, and they both enjoy thrift shopping because of the unique gems they find.

Both of the girls divulged in their love of thrift shopping.

Pictured: Sophie Slusher “I consider myself an advocate for thrift shopping,” Slusher said. “Find clothes that you will actually wear, especially if the item is made of good quality, not a shirt that you will only wear for two months.”

“Thrift stores usually have pretty decent prices and super unique items,” Marks said. “I try to not purchase basic items at retail stores that I could easily find at a thrift store.”

There are some differences between the students that set them apart in their fashion.

“Most of my clothes either come from concerts I have been to or stuff that I make at summer camp,” Slusher said. “Sometimes I will go out to more expensive stores and purchase something that I can wear for a few years. However, I usually try to stay away from the pricier stores.”

Both girls also use social media to follow their fashion idols.

“I love seeing different kinds of styles displayed on social media,” Slusher said. “When people have their own individual style it’s awesome because it can start to spread trends.”

Marks talks about how she uses her social media platforms to view different aspects of New York Fashion Week.

“The different patterns and colors I see in New York Fashion Week influence my style every year,” Marks said. “My favorite brand is by far is Gucci.”

October 2016 / The North Star / 31

Top: Filby’s shoes from fall 2015 Bottom: Filby’s shoes for fall 2016 “My shoes really set me apart in my fashion because of the cool design and color. My favorite shoes this fall are black platform boots.”

- Sophomore Peter Filby said.

Amy Appleton Dreyer

Left: Senior Aoi Oikawa Right: Sophomore Kakeru Oikawa “My fall staples would have to be either a colored sweater or flannel, because it’s an easy way to be comfortable and fashion-forward,” Aoi Oikawa said.

“What sets me apart in the fashion game would have to be my bomber jacket and basic black ripped jeans,” Kakeru Oikawa said.

Amy Appleton Dreyer is a Kansas City-based fashion blogger for 435 Magazine. and has been involved in the fashion world as a model and writer. She shared her fashion knowledge in her third floor closet.

“Fall fashion to me is breaking out of the minimalist image of summer. It’s about having big statement pieces and silhouettes,” Dreyer said. “I’m obsessed with leather skirts, body suits, knee high boots, structured heels, and metallics for this years fall staple pieces.”

Dreyer has spent the past few years traveling to exotic places such as Italy, Australia, France and China where she has found some of her favorite pieces.

“I bought a lot of things in Paris from foreign designers because I just thought they were just the most timeless and on-point thing’s I had ever seen,” Dreyer said. “While I was in Tulum, Mexico, I bought some special jewelry and handcrafted purses. I can never have too many purses.”

Dreyer also spills some of her hot spots to shop around Kansas City for the latest trends without spending an entire paycheck.

“I love shopping at Fine Folk, which is more on the pricey side, but that’s really where I purchase my staple pieces that I’ll wear year round,” she said. “I shop trends that’ll only last a season or two at Dear Society, Net-A-Porter and Need Supply Company. I have to admit my addiction to online shopping. My favorite sites are Zara, Mango and eBay.” As a fashion blogger, Dreyer has found other bloggers and people on social media that she uses for her “inspo.”

“I love following fashion bloggers who don’t always post what everyone else is posting,” Dreyer said. “Some of my favorites are Lucy Williams and Olivia Lopez. I love looking for inspo on Instagram because it gives posters the perfect picture every time. My favorite instagramer is Camille Charriére.”

Link to Dreyer’s blog: stepsofstyle. com Instagram: @stepsofstyle

Written by Emily Birger Photos by Tara Kaplan

Teddy Tai

Oscar Chase

Maddie Robert

Margaret Hubble

Courtney Stallard

Jack Ross

(Orchestra)

(Band)

(Choir)

(Theater)

(Art)

(Debate)

JCCC CONTINUING EDUCATION

Driver Education

JCCC CONTINUING EDUCATION

Driver Education

Need options Need optionstoto fit fit youryour busy schedule? busy schedule? quality face-to-face, JCCC JCCC offersoffers quality face-to-face, online and Saturday-only courses. onlinePlus, andget Saturday-only courses. Don’t forget to check out our NEW up to six lessons of Don’t to check out our NEW Basic Carforget Care and Maintenance Plus, scheduled get up tobehind-the-wheel six lessons of and Defensive Driving classes Basic Car Care and Maintenance drive time with our licensed scheduled behind-the-wheel starting at $39. You could reduce and Defensive Driving classes insurance premiums for three years. instructors. drive and timeexperienced with our licensed starting at $39. You could reduce insurance premiums for three years. and experienced instructors.

Classes forming now! Register at

jccc.edu/DriveJCCC Classes forming now! Register at

jccc.edu/DriveJCCC