Issuu

Common Sense Millard South High School • 14905 Q St. • Omaha, Neb., 68137

April 11, 2022

Volume 22 Issue 6

Senior Galahad Wilken and junior Tranq Queral perform a stage swordfight. This was in promotion of the drama department’s production of “Zorro.” Photo by Ben Bartholow

Juniors Isaiah Rasmussen and Braytn Nespor cheer on “Zorro” actors as they perform a staged swordfight for the pep rally. Photo by Ben Bartholow

School Spirit in Full Bloom

“Covid, space, sound, the challenge for us when we put could because it would make it better,” he said. in the new bleachers we lost about 300 seats,” Throne said. Whatever the deciding factor, attendance is skewed, with “So now with 2500 students, we haven’t really tested whether underclassmen and juniors continuing to keep numbers high From showcasing cheer and dance routines to announcing or not the gym can really hold everyone safely.” With these for various different reasons. varsity and senior athletes, pep rallies at Millard South have restrictions, all pep rallies were moved outside to Buell For freshmen, high school pep rallies brought a new always shown pride in our school and its achievements. Stadium this school year. Hosting them at Buell Stadium experience. “I love pep rallies,” Activities Director Steven Throne says. has allowed more wiggle room for students, the band, and “It felt more inclusive; people were way more involved. “I believe pep rallies set the tone for the spirit in the building. performers but many other factors have challenged the At middle school pep rallies everyone sat in silence, and they It gives us a chance to bring everyone together, generate planning and hosting process. played boring games,” says freshmen Breanna Gomez and school spirit, and recognize kids for their accomplishments,” Senior Ellie Martin has hosted eight different pep rallies in Ashley Gamblin. he said. her four years at Millard South, both before and after shifting Junior athletes are looking forward to walking as a senior. Covid-19 largely disrupted this tradition as the 2020-2021 pep rallies outside. Walking showcases all the hard work the athletes have gone school year moved online and social distancing guidelines “There are challenges to both,” she says. “When planning through throughout the years. Sticking with their sport and discouraged large gatherings in person. Having to take a pause, an outdoor pep rally, spacing is never an issue, which relieves getting to the varsity level is rewarded with recognition. the 2021-2022 school year was the first time half of the high half of the stress of being inside. However, if you have been “I’m really excited to walk,” says junior Cam Kozeal. “I schoolers at Millard South were able to experience an actual to an outdoor pep-rally, I’m sure you have witnessed the mean, I’ve made a lot of memories here, but I’m also looking pep rally. But not without changes of course. dumpster fire that is the “party chant” when the classes are in forward to walking out and going to college,” he said. a stadium and not a gym. With great A majority of senior amounts of space also comes terrible attendance stems from being acoustics,” she said. involved in an activity that Weather has also complicated requires them to attend or the timing of pep rallies. Weather in by being a senior athlete that Nebraska has largely been hit and gets to walk out on the turf for miss this year with random warm recognition. But for those not days giving way to frigid temperatures involved in an activity, going the next day. Setting a date, especially seems like a waste of time, around winter, was largely left up to especially for those with off the hope that the forecast was right blocks. for that day. “With having third and Senior soccer players Faith Kreager and Emma Madej are recognized at the pep rally. Senior While the outdoors was a good fourth block off, I don’t feel athletes from six different sports were recogtemporary solution from not being a need to come back to the nized. Photo by Ally Seevers able to do anything at all, outdoor school when I could be doing pep rallies are just not the same. more productive things like “I personally prefer indoor pep rallies,” junior Cam working,” says Senior Charlie Mischbach. “They were indeed Kozeal says. “I just feel like it’s a better atmosphere. fun as a freshman and sophomore, but none of my friends go Everyone’s kind of closer together and it seems louder. anymore anyways so there’s no need to,” he said. And then you get the screens up and you can hear the Whether pep rallies stay outdoors, move back indoors, or become some hybrid combination of both, the school will microphones a lot better,” he said. It keeps students continue to celebrate its students. closer together, and contains more of the atmosphere “I love watching kids cheer for different groups,” Throne instead of it being allowed to escape outside. Senior Class Board members Travis Cloyd and Joseph said, “I just love school spirit, seeing the red white and blue “We would really like to be inside,” Throne says. Kaipust demonstrate the obstacle course at this year’s pep having fun.” “The outside thing has worked; it’s been good; it’s been rally. Senior Class Board planned and ran the spring pep rally. Photo by Ben Bartholow bad in certain areas. We’d love to get back inside if we Gabe Medina Staff Reporter

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World Language Week activities. Pictured: Freshman Hayden Lee. Photo by Keely King

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Meet the student teachers at Millard South! Photo by Vivian Kaldahl

Pages 6-7

Nebraska brain drain focus highlights issues in state. Art by Haley Johnson

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“The Batman” is a hit in the theaters and in the audience’s eyes

News 4 • 11 • 2022

May we have this dance? Junior Class Board hosts full-fledged prom after three years Turner Wittstruck Staff Reporter The Enchanted Lights in the Forest lit up the CHI center for the class of 2022 for their first and only prom. “It’s kind of what every high schooler dreams of,” senior Gaby Barrientos said. Barrientos, along with her classmates, lost out on the chance for a junior prom last year because of the pandemic. Barrientos put it bluntly, saying, “it sucked.” With limitations on how many people could safely fit in one space, only seniors last year were invited to what became a combination of prom and post-prom all in one event. Luckily, this class of seniors finally got their chance for a full capacity junior/senior dance and post prom after. Senior Abby McGaughey said was on the fence about going until she remembered, “It was the only one I would be able to attend.” McGaughey explained further how she went to post-prom for the same reason and had “so much fun.” Though most students coming to prom this year had

never attended one before, they had little trouble picking up the traditions of this formal occasion and making it a memorable night. “I think that since it was my only prom we just did whatever we could to make it fun,” senior Maddie Carley said. “I think it was just fun to finally be able to do stuff with our friends and have the whole school get together,” she said. The special event was organized entirely by the Junior Class Board, and it was no easy task. Board member Aden Williams laid out difficulties coming off the pandemic, saying how there were “some supply chain issues going on, so getting all our decorations and supplies [took] a little bit longer than it probably would’ve two years ago.” Williams said the goal of the board was to make the dance feel as normal as possible despite any challenges they may have faced planning it. Students who attended say the evening did bring back some normalcy. The best part of prom says senior Joel Anderjaska was “getting to see all the people I know enjoy themselves - at one point all together.”

Senior Dominic Bakk puts a corsage on senior Maddie Conrad’s wrist. The couple took their pre-prom photos at Regency Court before heading to dinner at the Upstream. Photo by Jennifer Castle

World Language Week brings back celebration of food, culture, crafts Vivian Kaldahl Staff Reporter The hallways of the 400’s were again flooded with world language students moving from room to room. French, German, and Spanish students are all learning how to do art projects, play new games, and most importantly, taste authentic food items. Arguably the most anticipated week for world language students has returned. “I think in world language classes you can definitely get bogged down with all the grammar and vocabulary, and people miss culture,” French teacher Terri Wright explained, “and one of the benefits of World Language Week is being fully immersed in just culture.” Wright also said “it’s got such a nice carnival or fair atmosphere that makes it so much fun. I think it puts a positive light on the World Language program.” The last World Language Week was in January of 2020, and because of Covid, the world language department was not able to hold the week of festivities until this year. For many language students, and some teachers, this was their first-ever World Language Week. “I think most of the freshmen had a really good experience with it,” freshman Spanish student Kindric Putting her design skills to work, junior Spanish learner Carley Schroeder creates her own Mexican talaveraRobinson said. He said that his favorite inspired tile. Photo by Makayla Ripley part of the week was Spanish language student doing activities from other junior Alexandra Nhete countries and also that he displays her passport for B4 is looking forward to next and her German gingerbread year’s World Language inspired craft that says ‘only Week because “students you.’ Photo by Amelia Prososki gain new knowledge and experiences about other cultures around the world.” For upperclassmen, the week was another activity that makes life feel like it is returning to normal after the pandemic. “It’s actually my favorite week of the year,” junior Spanish student, Allison Kilzer, explained. “I look forward to it because I get to spend an entire block walking around to different activities, eat delicious food, and everyone is so happy.” “This year my favorite part honestly has to be the crafts,” she said. “I made the French flowers and the Spanish instrument, a castanet.” German teacher Jordan Pullen explained “some of the benefits of World Language Week I would say are students and how they get to first and foremost see other language Freshman Spanish learner Caius Housh looks takers in Spanish and French. They see different activities, to win at La Loteria, a traditional Spanish different foods, different backgrounds, and cultures. They get game. Photo by Mikayala Ripley to meet the whole department and they get to use and reflect on their language learning to see how far they’ve actually come and what more awaits them on the horizon.” Volunteering to help with serving, senior Emma Madej explains the type of salsa to hungry juniors French learner Caroline Dougherty and Spanish learner Neida Rodriguez. Students prepared and brought dishes to share for the food day portion of World Language Week. Photo by Jennifer Castle

Features 4 • 11 • 2022

Student teachers navigate high school for a second time Travis Cloyd Staff Reporter An important part of a teacher’s education is the student teaching period when they get hands-on experience teaching in a school environment while still completing their education. This is especially true now, as teachers have become a hot commodity. This semester, Millard South is lucky enough to have 5 of them. Together, they cover a multitude of departments, those being English, FCS, Social Studies, Science, Special Education, and Music.

Miss Robertson Maddie Robertson is enrolled at the University of Nebraska at Omaha and is majoring in Secondary Education with an English Language Arts endorsement. She teaches Newspaper, Introduction to Photojournalism, and Journalism with English and journalism teacher Christine Kaldahl, and also teaches Literature and Film and English 10 with English teacher Mary Kay Desjardins. Robertson grew up in a family of teachers, which she said most certainly caused an early interest in teaching. When asked why she wanted to become a teacher, Robertson said, “I’ve

always loved working with young people. I think they’re so creative and funny, and great to be around.” She said, “This experience has really confirmed that for me, and it really opened my eyes to a lot of the little details of teaching.” An example is grading, something she had never done before, but now a task she spends her weekends doing. Even with this, she said, “It really cemented that I know I want to do this for the rest of my life.” Robertson also has a better understanding of “the importance of being involved and building relationships.”

Mr. Synowiecki William Synowiecki is enrolled at the University of Nebraska - Lincoln, and majoring in Secondary Education - Social Sciences. He currently teaches U.S. History with social studies teacher Lula McCaskill, but has previously taught world geography with social studies teacher Aubrey Wagner, and World History with social studies teacher Donald Osborne. He is also an assistant coach for the JV girls soccer team, an experience he says has been a lot of fun. When asked why he wanted to become a teacher, he said, “My mom is a 3rd grade teacher and I had some fantastic teachers in my K-12 experience who inspired me to become a teacher myself.” He says, “This student teaching experience has taught me more about teaching than most of my college teaching classes,” along with, “My student teaching experience at Millard South has proved to me that teaching is what I want to do in life.”

(Clockwise from left) Student teachers William Synowiecki, Morgan Kroll, Taylor Perry, Alexa Luther, and Maddie Robertson.

Miss Perry

Taylor Perry is enrolled at Doane University and majoring in Elementary Education K-6 and Special Education K-12. She teaches Foundations 3 with math teacher Katie Garcia, Physical Science Physics with science teacher Erica Storms, and Essentials Physical Science Physics. She just recently started teaching at Millard South, starting March 14, but has taught at Skyline Elementary in Elkhorn and Neihardt Elementary in Millard. When asked what made her

Miss Luther

Alexa Luther meets with creative design student freshman Ava Mejia about her individual design project. Luther is student teaching in the Family and Consumer Science Department and will be a full time teacher next year at Millard South. Photo by Vivian Kaldahl

Coming home

rooms? Oh yeah. I’m teaching with the teachers that taught me Spanish. I know my kids like to see it, my senior pictures are in some of the rooms I’m in. I’m in the Journalism photo in the main hallway to see. It’s a great school, so why wouldn’t I want to be here?” The feeling of home is how assistant band director Lauren Milbourn (class of ‘14) describes her teaching experience. “It’s awesome. I know that we have a wonderful community here that is all about building each other up. And I know that I can rely on anyone, like the students, I can always ask for help from my colleagues who were my past teachers at one point. [they’re] so supportive, I absolutely love it. Like having had this be a part of your life for so long. I can walk in and feel so comfortable, It’s very nostalgic, as well for me to walk down the hall and see teachers

Graduates return to the other side of the desk Laddie Wilken Staff Reporter Millard South has been our home for the past couple years, but after graduation many of us will never come back, but some are fated to return, not as learners, but as teachers. Spanish teacher Amanda Newburn (class of ‘14) is right back where it all started and her high school Spanish teachers are now her colleagues. “I get asked [this] all the time. Are my teachers still here? Yes, they are, [in] the exact same

Alexa Luther is teaching Healthy Living, Interior Design, and Creative Design alongside English teacher Shelby Bockelmann. She is enrolled at the University of Nebraska - Lincoln with a major in secondary education Family and Consumer Science. Luther is also a Millard West alumni and credits her aspiration to be a teacher to her high school teachers. Luther said, “I struggled in my personal life when I was in high school, and would not have made it through without the support and encouragement from my teachers at Millard West.” Luther said, “As I got older, I realized that I wanted to pay it forward and be the teacher that students go to for advice and support.”

Talking about her time student teaching, she said “I have learned a lot about what my expectations will look like as a new teacher, and what I want my classroom environment to look like. She added, “I have grown an appreciation for all educators and have also met a lot of wonderful teachers at this school,” concluding that student teaching has been one of her favorite educational experiences. Her goal is to mentor students as well as to teach them how to be well-rounded members of society. She will be continuing that goal at Millard South next year, as she will be taking over for Bockelmann.

want to become a teacher, she said, “ I had several outstanding teachers during my educational experience, specifically one teacher and basketball coach, and I would like to provide the same for the next generation.” She said, “The student teaching experience has shown me the importance of relationship building with students and staff in your building(s). Along with this, when you make a mistake, your reflection is the most important aspect!”

Miss Kroll Morgan Kroll is enrolled at Peru State and is majoring in Music Education. She student teaches for the choir department, alongside choir teachers Amy Sweets and Jason Stevens, and also was the director of Stage One, Millard South’s all-female show choir. She grew up surrounded by education, as her mother was a teacher. Due to growing up surrounded by education, she said, “I was the kid that played school with my siblings.” When asked why she wanted to become a teacher, she said, “I had some really great teachers when I was in high school that inspired me to want to do the same things as them.” Because of student teaching, she says, she was able to get out of her comfort zone and grow, describing it as “a totally different experience than what I have ever experienced.”

or classrooms that I actually studied in once if privilege of spending both their academic and I go into the bathroom and I see my name or professional career at this school. And even pictures from my class, so it’s very nostalgic, but though all of us students will be gone in the next it definitely feels like home.” four years, I think that Newburn summed up the Amber Wormington (class of ‘95) reflected nostalgia, love and sense of belonging we will upon how natural it feels to teach here. feel by saying: “Millard South has always been “Since it’s the school I went to, it feels very the same. You’re a part of the school. You’re normal to me,” Wormington said. “It seems always welcome.” like it would be weird to go teach at a high school you didn’t go to, to me, Staff who were students at MSHS because it’s the only thing I’ve ever known except for student teaching,” Jacob Battaglia Jessica Nelson she said. “Part of the reason it works Michael Bruch Amanda Newburn so well for me to teach at the high Keegan Case Ron Kaspar school I graduated from, is because my Mike Edmundson Lauren Milbourn teaching is driven by wanting to help Jackie Elsasser Tyler Renken students that were in the situation I Hannah Frasier Jamie Robinson was in find their ultimate success. So Greg Geary Deanna Stickney socio-economically it makes sense to Tyler Hammond Erica Storms teach at a school where I grew up in Ashli Hudson Matt Turner the neighborhood.” Will Keller Bryce Trout These teachers, and many more Mike Kjar Aubrey Wagner throughout the building have had the Taylor Mendenhall Amber Wormington

Focus 4 • 11 • 2022

Should I stay or should I go? Nebraska struggles to keep promising youth grounded Haley Johnson Business Manager

Brain drain is a familiar battle for many places around the country. The practice of young, fervent minds setting off to bustling cities, leaving their hometowns with an unfinished cycle of new talent. Nebraska lacks the urban life that a lot of other states have. With no flashy attractions or big city events, Nebraska’s strong suburban to rural focus doesn’t appeal to everyone. Webster classifies brain drain as the departure of educated or professional people from one country, economic sector, or field for another usually for better pay or living conditions. Many young Nebraskans feel like they lack a voice in state and local government. Senior Ellie Martin plans to study politics out of state to come back and practice politics in-state. “I’m very politically active in Nebraska,” Martin said. “I try my best to stay involved, I’m always watching the news, emailing senators and Governor Pete Ricketts.” However, this sometimes comes as a struggle for her being a teenager in Nebraska. “It’s hard to feel like I have a voice because I have the minority opinion in the state. I’m hoping to go to college to learn a lot of things about myself and about politics and then come back and be able to use my voice for bigger things.” Ashley Rae Turner, marketing and communications specialist for North End Teleservices points out that “When folks don’t feel heard, affirmed or appreciated, they leave.” Young people have been excluded as political candidates and even as participants in politics, giving them limited political control over their futures. Despite the exclusion, many young people want to involve themselves in civic engagement. With a timid voice in the rural Midwest, young people are attracted to places with more vocal youth. Topics like cannabis legalization, LGBTQ+ rights, and upping minimum wage are the kinds of issues young people want to move forward with. They are driven to places more progressive that represent and utilize the younger population. Even with a push to modernize attractions in the Omaha area (TD Ameritrade Park, Midtown crossing, and CHI Health Center) in the last 20 years, it hasn’t slowed the emigration rate. Nebraska lacks the entertainment hubs and modern transport systems that other cities have. Young people flock to cities with opportunities like career growth, personal development, and recreation. --- Some kids have dreamed of an

out of state college for awhile, others just want a new view. Senior Ondrey Valentine put it bluntly. “I need something new, I hate to be in one spot for a long time, and want a change.” Brain drain in Nebraska has been a lingering issue. It was first detected by researchers at the University of NebraskaLincoln in 2008 and the problem only continues to grow. According to Center for Public Affairs data, in Nebraska, 72% of people in the brain drain are between the ages of 20 and 29. Nebraska has roughly lost 2,000 a year to brain drain and has seen a net loss of 16,000 college graduates 25 years or older. United Van Lines released their annual National Movers Study. Nebraska made the top 10 list of states that people are moving out of, 55% of people who used their service in 2021 moved out of Nebraska, while 44% moved into the Cornhusker State. Surveying Millard South’s Class of 2022, when proposed the question about staying instate or going out of state for college, 68.5% of students plan to stay in-state but only 57% of those plan to pursue their careers in Nebraska. Of the 30.9% who plan to go out of state for college, only half plan to return to Nebraska to work . With the scales tipping in the wrong direction, the consequences of brain drain are becoming more visible in our state. It is in the hands of Nebraskans to limit the emigration of our adept residents. Nebraska needs its talented individuals to stay and carry out their professions within the state. This will help protect the economy and the citizens that depend on them. By focusing on the representation of young people in the state and developing our metropolitan area, Nebraska can convince more people to stay.

Are you planning on staying in state for college or work? Source: Common Sense Poll of 55 members of the Class of 2022 Infographics by Haley Johnson

Art by Lexie Smith

Nebraska really isn

It’s too cold here. Seven years I don’t see a lot of things have passed since I first moved me besides horrible seasonal here, and I can’t wait till the day I I also thought my best friend can finally leave. to NYU and have our own Ne I have never pictured myself then we have become a little living in Nebraska. Being the still want adventure, somethi daughter of a Navy pilot, I have Even Montana has more spent most of my life living on the at the least, have a scenic view coast, both East and West, and cheaper living. even an island in the middle of the Although I might go to th ocean. With my vast knowledge of Nebraska-Lincoln to finish off other locations, I would personally on going out of state to get m never willingly choose to stay in comparing my college decisio this landlocked state. which place would offer me t Brianna Strudthoff Nebraska has been the state that list UNL finished last. Sa Staff Reporter with the least amount of things to of all my other choices led m do. Living in other states we would option. go mini golfing on the weekends, take trips to the beach or The schools I looked into includ the lake, have an amusement park day, or simply go for a Oregon, University of Pennsylvania scenic drive. Sorry, but the corn out here just doesn’t count University, Tulane, and University for a scenic view. all advertised diverse communities

Focus 4 • 11 • 2022

Large lake won’t keep youth anchored in state Commentary by Laddie Wilken Staff Reporter

Speaking as a young person, I believe that the best way to solve the problem of brain drain and loss of youth, in general, is to invest the money that the legislature wants to invest in a man made lake in housing and recreation that Nebraskan youths actually want. Things like the annual Omaha summer arts festival being held at Aksarben this year, things like Aksarben. The only people that this bill will actually help are wealthy, Nebraska already has lakes larger than this and anyone who just wants to live near water is going to move to the coasts or the great lakes anyway. This bill is a waste of 200 million dollars that could be spent on literally anything else, like a year of college for 7619 Nebraskans at UNL, just a thought.

Staff pitch: increase tourism by introducing Nebraska’s very own amusement park

n’t for everyone

s this state has to offer l depression. Growing up d and I were going to go ew York moment. Since more realistic, but we ing Nebraska lacks. to offer than here. They, w of the mountains and

he University of ff my bachelors, I plan my masters degree. When ons, I thought about the best things to do. On adly the financial burden me to choose the in-state

ded the University of a, Vanderbilt, Boston of South Carolina. They s, walkability to local

Art by Lexie Smith

The Nebraska Legislature’s Statewide Tourism and Recreational Water Access and Resource Sustainability, or STAR WARS committee has one of the coolest acronyms in Nebraska, and on top of that, they’re trying to build a lake. That’s part of what legislative bill 406 aims to do, along with other improvements to our standing water sources. The lake it proposes would be about 4000 acres which is about 16 lake Zorinskys. The proposed bill would cost the Nebraska government 200 million dollars and there are bigger problems to be solved that we should spend that money on. If Nebraska wants to have anyone use this lake in the future, they may want to do something about the youth… A survey entitled Nebraska Youth Survey, put on by UNO and the Nebraska Community Foundation, found that 28.34% of Nebraska youth surveyed are somewhat to extremely unlikely to live in their current area. The fact of the matter is that Nebraska suffers from brain drain, or the net loss of college-educated people to other parts of the country, over the past 10 years we’ve been losing about 2000 college-educated people a year, and 72% are ages 20-29. Nebraska is ranked as the state with the 10th most brain drain, and it’s massive amounts of money we’re losing out on.

places, outdoor activities, a wide variety of food options, and an all around good time. What do Nebraska schools offer? A (sometimes) affordable education, fairly decent sports, and maybe smaller class sizes; a bare minimum effort if you ask me. Nebraska ranks number six on U.S. News’s best states ranking list. It ranks ninth on World Population Review’s website. Both suggest Nebraska has a high education ranking and that it has one of the lowest unemployment rates. In my opinion, they are not looking in the right place to determine what makes a good state. Taxes are extremely high, there is little to no tourism, minimal outside activities, and the state is quickly becoming a capitalist economy with how many new houses and apartments are going in at the highest prices Nebraska has ever seen. I think with all these negatives, Nebraska should fall into the lower section of the list This is also why I will be moving out of state as soon as I can.

Graphic by Haley Johnson

Entertainment 4 • 11 • 2022

‘The Batman’: a criminally good reimagining Lauren Rayner Entertainment Editor

When DC’s new Batman was announced, many understandably might have been hesitant to give it a chance, as there have been a plethora of Batman films and interpretations of the character that have been a mainstay in pop culture for the past 60 years. It might have been difficult for some to get excited over yet another Batman movie, but with a cast as stellar as this and with DC movies taking a slow but steady return to form, “The Batman” is a crime drama worth your while, for superhero and non-superhero fans alike. Previous Batman flicks that are often punched with action and otherworldly visual effects, The Dark Knight trilogy being a notable example, “The Batman” instead takes a real “Batman” approach as an enthralling detective murder mystery. Justly long, “The Batman” ends up following a trail of clues continuously sent to him sent by a cruel murderer, and he attempts to unmask that killer in order to save the corrupt metropolis as best as he can. With his companion Catwoman, fiercely played by Zoë Kravitz, he’s the investigative crimefighter of the shady city. Fights, violence, and Bruce Wayne wallowing in sadness ensues. The dreary Nirvana needle drop at the very beginning of the movie sets the tone wonderfully for what is in store, foreshadowing the complex and depressing character arch of Robert Pattinson’s Batman. Pattinson’s Batman is emo, clouded, and is at times heart-wrenching to even watch. He marches tediously and dimly through the smudge of Gotham City, those scenes gently adding up to its almost 3-hour runtime. Batman here is vulnerable yet violent, so in that sense, Robert Pattinson was perfectly cast and did a great job playing a moody brooding detective that is probably my favorite rendition of Batman yet. Alongside Pattinson, Paul Dano did an incredibly engaging job as The Riddler. He was over-the-top terrifying but simultaneously humorous, acting as a crazed Batman fanboy. The typical Dano cadence was there, and it worked wonders in this movie. His dynamic with Pattinson was tense, goofy,

and all-around great. Kravitz was bold and exciting to watch, although the romance brewed with Batman didn’t hit all the marks. Batman had better chemistry with almost every other character, which honestly, I didn’t mind. Colin Farrell as The Penguin was solid as well. Every performance was faithful to the character and aided a unique, refreshing telling of a storied superhero. You really get lost in the grimy streets and world building, helped by the pounding earworm score by Michael Giacchino. The score feels instantly classic the first time you hear the main theme blare. “The Batman” also had splendid cinematography, with endless beautiful shots in the grimy rain. Overall, the dark, murder mystery vibe of the movie is what makes it so addicting to watch, and the fact that Bruce Wayne was doing actual detective work makes the Batman a great superhero movie for people who aren’t exactly superhero geeks. Even with the detective mystery outer shelling, the action is still packed in underneath, with a grandiose car chase scene, bike rides, and a neat Batman flying sequence. “The Batman” is both simple and complicated, but confident in what it is trying to say because it has such rich storytelling to back it up. The film is the perfect opposition to the current often repetitive superhero movie landscape, as it feels inspired and already iconic the more you think about it. Even with a long runtime, and maybe some pacing issues here and there, I want to see more of the depressing Pattinson Batman world with hopefully, more sequels. “The Batman is what The Joker (2019) tried desperately to achieve a”nd should have been, and is even better than expected in how raw and compelling it is. You can feel when a superhero movie hits every check and is an instant classic, and “The Batman” did just that. It is easily a must-see.

Rex Orange County’s newest album release gives you a reason to care Joni Beauchamp Opinions Editor Brianna Strudthoff Staff Writer

A cautionary tale about high school mean girls told in the form of a musical, Tina Fey you are a genius. With only 21 songs we get a full retelling of the 2000’s classic film “Mean Girls.” The story follows Cady Heron, a girl who just moved back to the States from Africa, and how she let Janice and Damien convince her to join the school’s group of mean girls, The Plastics. The plastics are your typical high school mean girls and consist of Gretchen Wieners, Karen Smith, and their leader Regina George. Cady joins the plastics and starts ruining the group, but in the process loses who she is. She pines after Regina’s ex-boyfriend Aaron but ends up pushing him away as he liked her nerdy self over the popular girl she became. “Mean Girls” is one of the best musicals out there touring right now. It gave off high school musical vibes but with a mature twist. The songs were executed perfectly with a good mix of playful emotions but the lyrics and vocals were clean and easy to understand. The musical has only been around since 2017 and has brought a new perspective on

how musicals might come to be in the future. While they were nominated for multiply Tony’s, they sadly did not win. Tina Fey, who started the musical process in 2013, did win an Outer Critics Circle Awards for Outstanding Book of a Musical. This new-age musical used a digital set that consisted of giant screen walls that would change with each scene. (Traditionally set pieces are moved on to the stage to change the setting.) The screens helped convey emotions in the scene and added drama to many of the songs. They would bold words, show the burn book, and easily adjust the lighting and mood of the scene. It was also used to show Regina George getting hit by a bus. From the acting to the singing, and to the technical aspects of the show, this show is a must-see. Where do you belong? The answer is in the theater next time the show comes around. Don’t get stupid with love, go and see some stars. If you can’t wait for the next tour to come around, you can check out the soundtrack on any music platform or check out some of the musical numbers on YouTube.

Following the success of his 2019 album, “Pony,” indie rock artist, Alex O’Connor, professionally known as Rex Orange County, releases his newest album, “Who Cares?” Traveling to the Netherlands without any plan, O’Connor met with Dutch musician and friend, Tim Van Berkestijn, otherwise known as Benny Sings. Working with Berkestijn on songs such as their 2017 hit, “Loving Is Easy,” Rex Orange County transformed his sound for good, leaving behind his older bedroom pop sound from previous records, such as his 2016 project ‘Bcos U Will Never B Free’. While driving some of his older fans away, O’Connor’s new sound, especially combined with talents such as Berkestijn, as well as rapper Tyler, the Creator, established an entirely new and more mainstream audience. In October of 2020 O’Connor finally announced that he was indeed recording his newest album “Who Cares” which would be rumored for release in 2021. Fan theories surrounding the release date and the aesthetics of the record circled around the internet, overwhelmingly on the social media platform Twitter, on which O’Connor liked a post implying the release date of the record, which later turned out to be false. Released in early March of 2022, Rex Orange County’s, “Who Cares?” feels like looking into the thoughts of Alex O’Connor with a happy tune in the background. Somewhat like a diary or a journal, this record is like a mental breakdown in the middle of a busy shopping mall, or like listening to happy music while experiencing an overwhelming sadness. For those in love with O’Connor’s signature sound, a joyful and upbeat arrangement with lyrics that would be best to ignore if you’re not wanting to feel particularly sad that day, O’Connor certainly comes through in his most recent record. Some things are best left alone, and O’Connor proves that his original sound is one of those things.

Combining his talents with Tyler, the Creator, whom O’Connor worked with on Tyler’s 2017 album “Flower Boy,” the pair wrote and produced the song “Open A Window,” that, of course, sounds like an endearing pop ballad but has the sort of lyrics that make you feel like you have an empty pit in your stomach. Experimenting with a newer and cleaner production, “Who Cares?” is likely O’Connor’s way of expressing his newfound professionalism to the industry, similarly to “Pony,” which established Rex Orange County as a leader of the indie genre. His second major-label album release under RCA Records, ‘Who Cares?’ had a lot to live up to. Overall, the record adds a new dimension to Rex Orange County while still maintaining the most endearing aspects of his work. “Who Cares?” may not please everyone, but it’s clear that it wasn’t necessarily made to climb the charts or make its way into the hearts of his older audience. Similar in concept to a diary, “Who Cares?” reads as if it was a way for O’Connor to “get out for a minute,” which, according to O’Connor, was his goal in the first place when he traveled to Amsterdam in order to record it.

Opinion 4 • 11 • 2022

Staff Editorial:

Arguments against CRT stifle race conversations The beginning of March marks the end of Black History Month. But the month’s end doesn’t mean that the discussions and lessons on black history have to. This is the time to reflect, and the political climate over recent years makes that especially so. There are always criticisms to levy against how schools handle race issues in history classes, and now that the term critical race theory (CRT) has become a buzzword, there is a concerning amount of pushback against the teaching of historical lessons. The pushback has reached a tipping point, with bills such as SB3 in Texas, which targets social studies classes, and HF802 in Iowa, which targets inclusion training programs. Anti-CRT bills are being pushed by legislators across the country. A research article published with the Brookings Institute in November 2021 found that Fox News had said “critical race theory” 1,300 times in four months. And nine states (Idaho, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Arizona, and North Dakota) passed legislation against it. None of the state bills, except for North Dakota and Idaho, explicitly mention the words “critical race theory” but every bill targeted concepts that are associated with it. And even before this legislation, America’s troubling history with race already made it hard to teach in schools, because while most Americans can acknowledge that racism is bad, they can’t agree on how to present that to students. Those writing state standards can’t agree on how sympathetic the South should be portrayed when discussing the Civil War, nor can they agree on how to tackle topics such as white flight. This can be seen manifesting in textbooks, which have partisan bias, often in accordance with the different values of California and Texas, the two largest markets for textbooks. America has one history, but when the goal is to translate that into stories for students, there are many ways that one could go about that. Take this sample provided by the New York Times: “Reasons for suburban growth varied. Some people wished to escape the crime and congestion of the city. Movement of some white Americans from cities to the suburbs was driven by a desire to get away from more culturally diverse neighborhoods…” This is what the relatively left-leaning McGraw-Hill US

history textbooks of California have to say about white flight. Contrast this with the Texan version of the publisher’s history textbook, which only says: “Reasons for suburban growth varied. Some people wished to escape the crime and congestion of the city…” And then proceeds to talk about how government policy made homeownership “more attractive than ever” in stark contrast to the Californian book which at that point elaborated on the institutional discrimination faced by black people, which left the suburbs as completely segregated white havens. The GI Bill and tax deductions did make home ownership more affordable, but only for white Americans, many of whom were also driven to the suburbs by the desire to distance themselves from people of color. Both can be correct. But when the topic is white flight, downplaying or omitting the role that racism played is a lie by omission, and is driven by the desire to distance curriculums from what has come to be considered critical race theory. There are two fronts that the war against critical race theory is being fought on. There’s the debate about whether or not teaching CRT is a good thing, and there’s the debate about whether or not CRT is being taught in k-12 schools at all. That’s why it’s important to take a look at the five core tenets of critical race theory. The tenets are ideas such as that racism is ordinary and not aberrational, which dispels the notion that racism is an outside threat to society rather than an intrinsic one. It contains the idea that race is socially constructed and defined in ways that hurt people of color, like the arbitrary one drop rule. Critical race theory is the idea that “storytelling” is used in schools in ways that primarily serve white students by elevating white stories and structuring curriculum on white middle-class values and advocates for “counter-storytelling” to share the experiences, stories, and narratives of the historically underserved. Critical race theory demonstrates that in many instances, white Americans have been the recipients of civil rights legislation, such as when the ruling of Brown v the Board of Education led to minority students being left behind as those who could afford it white-flew their way out of those areas. In short, it’s the acknowledgment that systemic racism exists and that the legacies of slavery and segregation haven’t disappeared. By these standards, it’s hard to see where critical

race theory is taught in schools, since in most schools, civil rights units are taught on a surface level in history classes as opposed to sociology classes that would explore modern impacts. Bill 1077 is working its way through the Nebraska legislature. The Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee heard three hours of testimony on Feb 24, but no action was taken. The bill is near identical to the one that has already passed in Iowa. In July 2021, Iowa passed bill H.F. 802 “that prohibits state government, local government, community colleges, K-12 schools, and regent institutions from providing any mandatory training to employees or students that teaches, advocates, acts upon, or promotes divisive concepts.” Iowa governor, Kim Reynolds, explicitly said that she wanted to target “critical race theory indoctrination” when she signed it. The bill isn’t all bad, but the trouble comes with the way that it defines “divisive concepts.” It bans the teaching that an individual is inherently oppressive based on their race or sex, which is understandable. In fact, critical race theory never proposes such an idea in any of its tenets. But the bill also stops the training from teaching that “Iowa or the United States is fundamentally racist or sexist…” Replace “Iowa” with “Nebraska” and that exact line is also in LB1077. Which prohibits a vital part of inclusion training: the acknowledgment that things aren’t okay. An important part of being conscious of discrimination is being able to acknowledge that it isn’t just the malice of a few bad people, but is also present in the roots of our society. That is in line with the tenets of critical race theory, and it’s correct. Instead of legislating to cover up the biggest flaws in our country, we should be actively endorsing the discussion of these problems and their solutions. Those of us who advocate for the teaching of systemic discrimination, past and present, are being put into a position where we have to defend the alleged “critical race theory” already in the curriculum. But there isn’t a good case that critical race theory is in schools at all, though maybe it should be if that’s the best avenue to properly teaching about systemic issues and the legacies of the past. The true threat to our education isn’t critical race theory, it’s the war that has been waged against the strawman of what politicians are calling critical race theory.

Two Worlds, One State: Leaving the suburbs, embracing small-town living To most Americans, Nebraska is a state Our “neighbors” (people in the where cows outnumber people, where Fields same four-mile radius) sent of corn blanket the state. The Omaha or their warm welcomes and waves Lincoln area is the only place people recognize by passing car, but other than as fun and engaging. The dynamic of Nebraska that I felt very secluded when is unique to the other 49 states. The people we first arrived. who reside in downtown Omaha live in their A few months after big-city bubble, while to the west, others we got settled, covid hit, and choose to live in wide-open spaces. Whether I was stuck on my little farm you choose a small terrace apartment, or a 10 in a small town. Our 5.5-acre acre property, no matter what lifestyle you property got old fast, so it prefer, Nebraska can give you something to basically forced me to explore call home. the town of Springfield. I’ve got to experience the best of both It did take some getting worlds. For 14 years I lived in the endless used to. The town was only suburbs of Millard, enjoying the trivial made up of two gas stations, luxuries of drive-thrus and chain stores. churches, a bar, cafe, park, Sophomore year my parents decided to buy a and coffee shop. Which all fits Haley Johnson farm south of Springfield. in a neat 0.69 square miles. Business Manager Although this town was only 30 minutes Although not much to the naked away, I had never even heard of it before. eye, you could always find Going from a concrete jungle to a little house something to do if you tried with a cornfield was an interesting change, to say the least, but hard enough. Good food and small-town gossip were never in it wasn’t the houses that brought the most change. It was the short supply. When everybody knows everybody, your business town. Living in a town with 100,000 people, then moving to is everyone’s business. The more I went the more it grew on a town with give or take 1,000, felt like two different worlds. me. The chef at the Wicked Hen cafe knows my order before

I even come in, the gas station clerk at Pitt Stop always waved when I came to fill up, and I always have great conversations with the drug store owner. The close-knit community did nothing but welcome me and my family. You’d be surprised what you can find just a few miles outside of Omaha. I didn’t realize until a few months in that I could practically walk down to the Platte River. The Mopac trail in the summer is one of the best trails to run on. The view at Stone Creek Falls never gets old. Some of the best sights are things you all see at home, I just get a better view. The light pollution of the metropolitan area fades, and the stars shine brighter than I could ever see them back in Millard. Some nights it is so clear outside that you can see your shadow just from the light of the moon. Oh, and I forgot to mention my house is directly across from a Vineyard that hosts parties and concerts almost every night in the summer. Can’t beat free live music from your own front yard. Country living has grown on me a lot more. Waking up with the sun, waving to everyone driving by, listening to country music…on purpose, and somehow I did acquire a cowboy hat along the way. It’s crazy how relatively close this place is to Omaha, yet how different they are. As soon as you pass 370, the cornfields and gravel roads start leading you home. The sunrise views and cleaner air start to grow on you. It may be a bit tamer and quiet than deep city Omaha, but sometimes you need that open space.

Common Sense Common Sense is the official publication of Millard South High School 14905 Q Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68137. School district guidelines determine the suitability of advertising content. To place an ad or inquire about rates, call (402)-715-8363. Common Sense is a monthly publication produced in Room 130. Common Sense uses desktop publishing hardware and software: Apple computers, Adobe InDesign, Adobe Photoshop, and Google word processing software. Printing by White Wolf Web in Sheldon, Iowa. Letters to the editor are encouraged. All letters must be signed with the student’s first and last name, grade, then submitted to Mrs. Kaldahl. Unsigned letters will not be published. The staff reserves the right to edit letters for grammar, length, and clarity. Letters of profane nature or other infractions of school or district policy will not be published.

Editor-in-Chief Madeline Leland

Opinions Editor Joni Beauchamp

Staff Secretary Turner Wittstruck

Chief Graphic Designer Sam Tews

Entertainment Editor Lauren Rayner

Social Event Coordinator Brianna Strudthoff

Online Editor Darian Pierre Sports Editor Ally Seevers Features Editor Sydney Mejia

InDepth Editor Joseph Kaipust Social Media Editor Lexie Smith Staff Illustrators Keely King Lexie Smith Joni Beauchamp

Business Manager Haley Johnson Distribution Manager Vivian Kaldahl

Staff Reporters Laddie Wilken Gabe Medina Haley Johnson Faith Wehrspann Vivian Kaldahl Brianna Strudthoff Darian Pierre Turner Wittstruck Travis Cloyd Gabe Debernardeaux Adviser Christine Kaldahl

Sports 4 • 11 • 2022

8 Sports Entertainment

HBOMax serves up magic with new TV series Laddie Wilken Staff Reporter Earvin “Magic“ Johnson is often considered to be one of the best NBA players to ever lace up, and almost universally the best point guard. Magic and his ‘80s rival, Larry Bird, both entered the league in 1979, though Bird had been drafted the previous year. This era is what the new HBO original series “Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty” focuses on. [The Showtime Lakers--the team that Magic led to five NBA championship titles in about a decade.] The show starts off with Jerry Buss, a real estate investor, talking to the camera after a night spent at the Playboy Mansion. For a show I thought I was going to watch with my family, it was safe to say I was thankful that I was watching on my own. He tells the camera that we’re the first to know that he’s going to buy the Los Angeles Lakers, even though he had no prior experience in the NBA. Buss, who is portrayed by John C. Reilly, does an excellent job of setting us up for how crazy and loose with the 4th wall this show is going to be, with its constant asides and comments to the audience it keeps the audience on its toes. I had no idea how much they would be talking to the audience and it was jarring, especially when a character who had never done it speaks to you for the first time. It almost reminded me of Malcolm In the Middle’s style of talking to the camera. But the show isn’t just a fun 4th wall break, it’s a semi-true story, and because real people are being portrayed, they need actors who look like those people. Now, usually, you have to choose between an actor or a look-alike, but this show somehow managed both. For the iconic likenesses of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Magic himself, they casted Solomon Hughes and Quincy Isaiah, who are both doing a terrific job on the show and look spot on. In fact, part of the reason this show is so good is the quality of the actors and their clear resemblance to the people they’re playing. There were moments when I completely forgot that I was watching actors rather than recordings of real people. But beyond the amazing acting, the fun vibe they’ve set up, and the fun of learning more about the history of the NBA, this show is super interesting. From the tip off, the story draws you in and the seminarration of John C. Reilly keeps you on the edge of your seat. I can’t wait to watch Larry Bird and Magic Johnson go head to head. Overall, this show has been tons of fun. The only knock I have on it is that I haven’t gotten to see Magic in his Lakers jersey yet, but oh well, maybe in the next episode. Whether you’re a long time Lakers fan who idolizes Magic, or someone who has never watched a basketball game, this show is entertaining. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. But, the best review I can give it is that even though I know the story and what’s going to happen, I’m constantly ready to watch the next episode to find out what happens next.

Losing, with grace Patriots finish out season motivated for the next Ally Seevers Sports Editor When you look at the Patriots, you see the 13 and 11 record: a record that may seem average and even unimpressive. However, what you don’t see is that over half of those losses are losses to Top Ten teams, all lost within 10 points. “Given that no one really expected much from us, I was very pleased with our season,” head coach Tim Leuschen said. “We finished first in Class A for points allowed at 48.8 points per game, and it’s just a credit to our kids’ toughness. And we were fifth overall in rebounding, which down the stretch, helps you win, so I was pleased with how we finished out the season.” “I think the season went pretty good,” junior Lance Rucker said. “There were games where we didn’t play our best basketball, didn’t finish out, but I’m proud of the guys.” While the season came with a few toomany heartbreaking losses, it also brought some thrilling wins, including a sweep over Q-Street rivals, Millard West. In that game, junior Austin Trotter put up an exciting 23 points, shooting 64 percent from the field. “I walked into that game pumped; the atmosphere was insane, the gym was packed,” Senior Jackson Crain (left) searches for an open teammate in the game against Elkhorn Trotter said. “I just played my game. I shot the ball with a lot of confidence; every shot I South. The Pats lost this game 48-46 to the 11th seed Storm. Junior Trey Moseman (top right) celebrates the 41-35 victory over the 9th seed Papillion LaVista South. In the game, shot, I felt it was going in.” junior Austin Trotter (bottom right) helped the team back from 14-9 after the first to upset Sharpshooter, sophomore Will Cooper, the Titans. Photos by Ally Seevers tied the school record for 3-pointers in a game with 7 3s against Creighton Prep. “It felt great, tying the record,” Cooper Jackson Crain said. “Them being a higher seed plan to use the loss to propel the team to an exciting season next year. said. “All the work you put in, all the shots you and it being a 4-hour drive, it was a good “I think we will use it as a lesson,” Norput up, in a game like that where everything’s feeling to walk away with a win.” dstrom said. “We battled hard, but not hard dropping for you, it’s just a great feeling.” Following that win, the team had the enough, so we know if we want to win, that we “This team had daunting task have to play harder and together.” the ability to be of Bellevue “Next year’s going to be fun next year. We resilient and regroup, West ahead got a lot of talent,” Cooper said. “I think we something that I before they should be an exciting team to watch. Next was very proud of,” could punch year, the Metro, it’s going to be wide open, Leuschen said. “Some their ticket to so I think we have a chance to be good next of the losses we had state. season.” can really devastate With the graduation of some of Class A’s your group and make “We knew it most decorated players, next year’s chamit tough to get into the was going to pionship title will be open for the taking, mindset heading into be tough; we something that the Patriots believe they have –Junior Austin Trotter districts, but I thought knew it was a shot at after this past season. we learned from those going to be a “This season goes to show that we can play games, and we were battle, but I with anyone,” Trotter said. “We just got to able to get into the zone for the postseason.” think we knew that if we played together as a To start off the district tourney, the Patriteam and we played hard throughout the game clean stuff up, limit the turnovers, and stay ots traveled 269 miles to North Platte High that we could put up a fight and be able to win together as a team because we all know we can play with top ten teams as it showed, so School. A four-hour drive, the team came the game,” junior Noah Nordstrom said. I have a really good feeling about next year. I back from a rough first quarter to upset the Although the Patriots ended up losing to Bulldogs 58 to 42. the Thunderbirds, ending their season and the think we can be a top ten team if we put our mind to it.” “It was definitely a good feeling,” senior career of three talented seniors, the Patriots

“ We can be a top

ten team if we put our mind to it.

”

Soccer kicks off season with new head coach Dylan Wiese Contributing Reporter New varsity boys soccer coach Nathan Wragge says accepting the head coaching job was an easy choice. “I love Millard South and I love soccer. Everyone was on board with it so it felt like a no-brainer,” Wragge said. Coach Wragge is taking over for Coach Cooney, who retired last year. Wragge has plenty of experience, however. He spent 5 years as the Junior Varsity Coach at Millard South and then was the Varsity Assistant Coach for the Patriots this past season after the 2020 season was canceled. The team is coming off of a very impressive 13-5 record last season that resulted in a trip to the Boy’s State Soccer Tournament.

The new coach has set the bar even higher. “The obvious goal is to win the state tournament this year,” Coach Wragge said, “but the number one goal is to win the day and the number two goal is to trust each other. If we follow these, we will achieve the goal of winning the state tournament.” There is a lot of excitement for this upcoming season since the Patriots are off to a great start with a 7 and 0 win over Benson. “I think Wragge really understands us, understands all the players. He knows our strengths, he knows our weaknesses, and I think we really figured that out in our first game against Benson,” junior Simon McClannan said. “I think we got something special,” Wragge said. “I have high hopes for this season.” The players are also excited for this upcoming season.

“I think it’s going to go well. I think we all just have to work hard,” sophomore Jack Carlson said. “I love sports in general, but my favorite part of coaching is being around the boys and being able to make a change and have an impact,” Wragge said. “I think it will impact the team in a positive way. I think his leadership will make us the best that we can be,” junior Owen Rutledge said. Coach Wragge says, “My rule for coaching is to be myself to develop trust and for my players a lot of the things I would say boil down to being a good person and showing up.” The Boy’s Varsity Soccer team ends their regular season on April 22 with the Boy’s Varsity Invitational at Buell Stadium. Districts will start on May 2.