THE
SURVEYOR Volume 58
Page 11: City for the People
Issue 6 16 March 2015
Meet The Staff WE OUT HERE
editors
Bridget Williams, Editor-in-Chief Nicole Rizer, Photo Editor Courtney Squires, News Editor Andi Lawrence, Opinions Editor Christian Petersen, Business Manager Lauren Barber, Arts and Entertainment Editor Avery Novak, Profiles Editor Brandon Cullen, Sports Editor Betsy Smith, Webmaster Braxton Leonord, Broadcasting Editor
adviser
Kyle Phillips, CJE
2
Bridget Williams and Nicole Rizer Meet the Staff
What’s Inside// 5 News Envirommental Briefs, APushing Americas’ Limits, Medical Marijuana, A Look at the Rest of the School Year, Wanted: RTI Passes
8 Opinions Death with Dignity, Letter from APCG, Anti-Vaccination, Net Neutrality, Roses
12 Feature City for the People
15 ProfIles Meet Joseph, Freshman Bachelor of the Month, Olivia Long: Featured WLP Artist, Former Warrior Explains a Different Kind of AP
17 A&E Live from New York it’s Chris Kroeger, The Comeback Dance, Whiplash review, School of Rock, Before I Die...
20 Sports Teachers in it to Win it, A Fencing Fantasy
24 backpage Nicole’s Life as a Warrior
mission The Surveyor is established as a school-sponsored designated forum dedicated to informing and entertaining its readers. The staff will report as fairly and well-balanced as possible. All activities and news will be covered to the best of the staff’s ability. The Surveyor accepts the Society of Professional Journalists’ Code of Ethics as the basis for good journalism. Readers are encouraged to express their viewpoints through guest editorials. The Surveyor also welcomes letters to the editor, with these guidelines: it is not libelous or obscene, it explains the material clearly, it is not longer than 500 words, and that it is signed.
non-discrimination policy
It is the policy of the Cedar Rapids Community School District not to illegally discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, creed, age (employment only), marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, and socioeconomic status (students/program only) in its educational programs and its employment practices. There is a grievance procedure for processing complaints of discrimination. District employees with questions or a grievance related to this policy should contact Jill Cirivello, Director of Human Resources, 319558-2421; jcirivello@cr.k12.ia.us. Students and others should contact Rhoda Shepherd, Director of Student Services, 319-5582964; rshepherd@cr.k12.ia.us. The District mailing address is 2500 Edgewood Rd NW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52405-1015.
affiliations Iowa High School Press Association, National Scholastic Press Association, Journalism Eduaction Association, Quill and Scroll
staff members Matthew Andersland Aaron Bissell Gunnar Bosking Emily Burke Everett DeVaux Molly Hunter Rielle Jones-Teske Madeline Knutson
What’s Inside Bridget Williams and Nicole Rizer
Emily LaGrange Claire McKinstry Jonathan Melander Kate Nash Braden Offerman-Mims Anna Rizer Addi Westpheling
3
APUSHin’ Americans’ Limits Addi Westpheling Staff Writer
Is it possible for an AP have taken out key legendary U.S. History (APUSH) course figures and moments in history, to actually be claimed antiwhile being replaced with grim American? There is heated and disgraceful moments. debate in deciding whether the On the other side of the course that focuses in on the debate, the opinion that history history of America is being can not be sanitized holds portrayed in an unpatriotic true to many. Many oklahoma fashion. A shift in the course’s teachers are outraged by this focus to convey the horrid and remorseful In states like Oklahoma moments of history, and Texas, the legislatures rather than the glorious passed the bill to ban and honored ones has fueled this fire. APUSH because it is Recently, the AP Central College Board promotes unpatriotic and has made changes to anti-American views. the APUSH curriculum. These changes encourage teachers to go more banning, believing that it is in depth by providing fewer important to show the good and topics to discuss and implement bad. That we need to focus on critical thinking skills into the moments we take pride in the course following ideas set and the times when we have by the Common Core. These failed so that we can learn from changes went into effect this our mistakes. 2014-2015 school year and are The future of APUSH seems currently the hot debate. to be unclear, with further In states like Oklahoma and changes possibly on the way. Texas, the legislatures passed As for now the fire of debate the bill to ban APUSH because is rising with one question to it is promotes unpatriotic and answer: Can APUSH really be anti-American views. This bill portrayed as anti-American or was based on the opinion that is it just a ridiculous opinion the new changes to the course being blown out of proportion?
4
DEVELOPING NEWS
District Increases School Day by 20 Minutes On Monday, March 9 the Cedar Rapids Community School District informed students, staff, and parents that they will be increasing the length of classes by 20 minutes per day beginning on March 30. At Washington this means that second hour will begin at 8:05 a.m. rather than 8:15 a.m. and seventh hour will dismiss at 3:15 p.m. rather than 3:05 p.m. The full story, with reaction from administrators, teachers, and students, may be read on CRWashSurveyor.com.
Courtney Squires News
420 Pass It: Legalizing Medical Marijuana Jonathan Melander Staff Writer In today’s day and age, technology is advancing at a rate we couldn’t have even imagined in the past, but the newest trends in the medical and health world are going back to the basics, focusing on eating healthy, exercising, and trying to find natural, alternative methods for healing. A couple months back, Terry Branstad signed a law that decriminalized the possession of a special extract made out of marijuana The extract is used to treat a severe form of epilepsy. While this law does make it legal to posses the extract, it doesn’t actually provide a way for these patients to obtain it. Essentially, the law is almost worthless, but it could indicate Iowa’s first step to legalizing medical
“Out of the 25 students interviewed, 24 supported the use of extract to treat epilepsy”
cannabis. “I see Iowa possibly becoming a state that legalizes the use of medical marijuana, but not recreational” said Frank Scherrman, an AP US history teacher at Washington. Out of the 25 students interviewed, 24 supported the use of extract to treat epilepsy, and 23 thought legal medical marijuana was plausible in the next 5-6 years Medical marijuana has been common practice in 23 US states starting with California’s legalization of the drug in 1996. The possibility
of Iowa joining these states is looks promising, it’s just a matter of how soon. The modern generation seems to be more and more supportive of using cannabis medically and in Iowa's move to legalize the possession of cannabis extracts for people with epilepsy, a doorway has been opened for the medical marijuana debate.
A Look at the Rest of the 2014-15 School Year... March 18- Early dismissal March 23-27- Spring Break April 3- Early dismissal April 27- Senior Recognition Night May 2- Prom May 8- No school News Courtney Squires
May 20- Early dismissal May 27- Last day for seniors May 29- Commencement (7 p.m.) June 4- Finals June 5- Finals/last day of classes
5
WANTED
Matthew Andersland Staff Writer
Dead or Alive
Photo by Jonathan Melander
Warrior Time Pass Bandits
Many students here at Wash have heard of some young hoodlums who make the poor choice of selling drugs to other students, and although this is bad and all, here is a far more important issue to be addressed, the illegal, unlawful, immoral street pushing of Warrior Time passes. What is this you might be wondering, well in the dark underbelly of our fine school some choice hoodlums are choosing to profit big time from the pushing of these slips of paper, which teachers have large quantities of to give to students. The Surveyor had the opportunity to talk to a possible perpetrator of the mischief, a boy who has had his will tested
6
between the tough walls of the time out corner. “I don’t sell warrior time passes,” says the anonymous source, as his voice quivers and he begins to talk faster. The source claims as well to not enjoy warrior time, as he gets his work done beforehand and during warrior time he just wants to “have a bit of fun”. This statement in particular is a very suspect phrase in itself, maybe of a possible motive for the suspect. After asking the source questions such as how he generates income, and why he has been lurking about in the darker areas of our halls, he stood strong with his word of not selling them, but mentioned that he has considered it.
“I have heard that some kids make over 20 smackeroonies a week pushing passes,” said the source, using the term smackeroonie to mean US Dollar. He even considered pursuing it as a possible career path. “If all schools were to use Warrior Time, then I could make the market worldwide, with the possibility to make millions, maybe even billions of dollars.” Although no evidence has been found against the source or any student at Washington High School, many teachers speculate a black market set up of these Warrior Time passes. So tell us, are YOU a Warrior Time Pass Bandit?
Courtney Squires News
The right to die is most easily Andi Lawrence stated as Opinions Editor allowing terminally ill people to commit suicide or to be assisted in suicide. Very few states in the United States permit assisted suicide, but it should be debated and ultimately universally accepted. Recently, my 93 year old grandmother passed away, basically from old age. For the last year she told us how she was ready to let go and wanted to die peacefully in her sleep. The last couple weeks of her life were incredibly painful for our whole family to watch, and a lot of people are going through the same thing. People who are dying of cancer and are getting more sick everyday shouldn’t have to go through that kind of pain. They should be able to choose when and where they die peacefully. I wouldn’t want to be sick and have my family’s last memories of me be in a hospital. The same goes for the elderly, if they feel that 93 years has been enough and that they’ve lived life to the fullest, then they should be able to decide that. Living with no purpose or without being able to leave the house, no satisfaction in life, is no way to live. No one should have to spend
their last days or weeks in pain. Also, some people just want to be in control of when they die instead of a waiting game. In Oregon, the Death with Dignity Act makes it legal for a doctor to write a prescription for a lethal dose
of medicine if the patient has been told they have six months or less to live and they want to end life peacefully. Our population is growing toward an unsustainable number and there are people on earth right now who think they have lived life to the fullest. We also have people in this society needing welfare and opportunities but we have these elderly people who are ready to die peacefully. Money is wasted on some elderly people living in nursing homes or people who are in the hospital being treated, but these people don’t want to be alive or they have no chance of getting better. Currently, Oregon, Washington, and Vermont have versions of the Death with Dignity Act in place. In other states including California, New York, Montana, and Connecticut someone has introduced a similar bill and they are in the process of reviewing the bill and trying to get it through legislation. To the people against Death with Dignity-like bills, I would ask- how does it affect you if someone near death decides to end their life in a more peaceful way? More states should consider an act like the Death with Dignity Act because people shouldn’t have to suffer in their final days. Terminally ill patients and elderly should all have the freedom to decide which way is the right way for them to die.
Death with Dignity Act makes it legal for a doctor to write a prescription for a lethal dose of medicine if the patient has been told they have six months or less to live and they want to end life peacefully
CC Courtesy of religiondispatches.org
Opinions Andi Lawrence
7
Recently, the antivaccine debate has been running hot Lauren Barber as diseases that haven’t A&E Editor been an issue in decades have had sudden flare ups such as the measles breakout in Disneyland. The big debate that is here is if vaccinations are linked to other diseases. The claim that vaccinations cause Autism has been one of the biggest accusations used by antivaxxers as to why they choose to not vaccinate their children. This accusation has been addressed multiple times with the end result that there is no stronger link than a correlation between
the two AND even if there is a positive correlation, you can not interchange the words causation and correlation. Correlation does not equal causation, therefore it can not be said that vaccines cause Autism. Additionally, children and the families of those who are unvaccinated are at a greater risk for contracting diseases that are usually preventable through vaccinations. Outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases happen almost annually and if a child is not vaccinated, they may be excluded from school or public areas for their safety and the safety of others. Additionally, many vaccinations are required for admittance into college making children of anti-vaxxers in an odd position with their school. Others with weakened immune diseases
due to diseases such as cancer or AIDS may be at increased risk being near unvaccinated individuals due to their ability to catch and spread these rare diseases. Overall, it is unfair for parents to dictate if their children are vaccinated or not because the children don’t get to make the choice for themselves. Bringing unvaccinated children out into the world makes them a risk for not only themselves, but also for others.
“Mexico’s Drug Wars Get Brutal,” Current History, “Alcohol Destroying Rural Russia,” Chicago Tribune, “How to Make More Babies: What can governments do to make fertility rates go up?,” Slate. com, “Nigeria’s Sharia split,” BBC News. In AP Comparative Government, we learn to understand these events through the scope of a country’s political culture, structure, and history; and it is because of this that it’s one of the most important classes we have taken throughout our high school career. Starting next year, the class will no longer be counted for government credit. “We really need to understand how our country works in the world, because our world is becoming
increasingly more global. Like you can’t just ignore the rest of the countries, we have to take that into account, so I feel like this class should get government credit,” said Callie Ochs, ’15. “And it helps with the relation of the U.S. to other governments,” said Dorothy Hogg, ’15. When we discuss a part of a government’s system, we talk about why it’s weird to us, how it differs from the U.S. system, and the history or culture that led to that differing system. “It’s a less biased view than a lot of the news about our concern with other countries. Like occasionally we make jokes about Russia and stuff, but I feel like for the most part, we have a better understanding
of their actual political culture, so not just being like ‘they’re stupid,’” said Nicole Carver, ’15. We can’t understand Russia’s severe lack of democracy, without understanding that Russia didn’t even become an independent state until the ’90s or without understanding their strong, authoritarian background. We can’t understand the chaos in Nigeria, without understanding the religious and ethnic split that defines it, the way Western oil companies have shaped it, and its long history of military coups. We can’t understand events without understanding a country’s culture.
A Letter from Comparative Gov
8
CC Courtesy of pixabay.com
(continue on to next page)
Andi Lawrence Opinions
“I think it is important for Americans, because the world is so American centered that being able to study political systems on their own terms, that most Americans don’t
Molly Hunter Staff Writer Net neutrality is complicated, so let’s start with an analogy describing the status quo—the world without net neutrality. Three people each own a toll road which they’ve built using their own resources. Part of the money each road generates is used to maintain it, and anything left goes to the road owner. Every kind of vehicle which uses the roads pays a different tax; semi-trucks damage the road the fastest, so they pay the most. Accordingly, cars are charged less, and bikes the least. No road owner can set steep toll taxes if they want to stay in business, because they’re all in competition. Likewise, everyone must constantly maintain and improve their roads. These “roads” represent the fiber-optic networks which make up much of the physical infrastructure that supports the internet. These networks cost billions, and
know anything about, I think is super useful,” said Warren Sprouse, AP Comparative Government teacher at Wash. As a class, we hope AP
were built years ago by huge telecom companies, like Verizon and Time Warner. For decades, those companies—many of which are now also large internet service providers (ISPs)—have used part of their revenue to maintain and improve those networks. Supporters of net neutrality are concerned that ISPs can put business competitors in the internet access “slow lane”, while requiring other users to pay extra for spots in the “fast lane”. Their solution, in terms of the toll road analogy, is to make the toll tax the same for every vehicle. Bikes (average consumers) would pay same price as semi-trucks (companies like Google, Wikipedia, and YouTube). While this might solve the “slow lane” issue, it creates another, arguably more pressing problem. Competition between ISPs is what drives them to maintain and improve the technology of the fiber optic networks. If they can’t charge more for
Opinions Andi Lawrence
Comparative Government can continue to shape students’ responses to world affairs and continue to be considered relevant and important, as it has been to us.
preferential access, then they lose most of their incentive to keep doing that vital upkeep. In addition, it potentially hurts the average consumer. While Google and Co.’s rates plummet, we’ll be watching ours skyrocket. ISPs do have a lot of power to abuse, and sometimes, somebody gets screwed as a result. However, there are ways to fix those problems which are far less damaging than net neutrality. Recently, an order enacting net neutrality was put in front of the FCC. On Feb 26, it passed, in a three-against-two vote, with three Democrats supporting and two Republicans dissenting. The Republican party has tried starting a dialogue for compromise, and this is a good illustration of the Democratic response. The vote may be over, but the fight isn’t. Similar orders have been struck down in court before by ISPs’ legal teams, and the lawsuits should start flooding in soon.
- SPRING BREAK 2K15 - Soccer Season - Heat Wave (50 degrees) - Teachers with Twitter - ITEDS Over - 3rd Term - Spring Sports - D- in APES - “Better Call Saul” - March Madness
- 4-point scale - Snow Day Before Finals - Finals - Online Gym - Dieting - Returning Stuff - No More Pink Coat - Daylight Savings - The Dress - Hormones - Adding Time to School Day 9
CONTACT ADMISSIONS: 319.248.2958 admissions@tspaiowacity.com
tspaIowaCity.com
CREATIVE. PROFESSIONAL. EMPLOYED. PURSUE A PROFESSION WITH MORE THAN DOUBLE THE AVERAGE CAREER PLACEMENT RATE OF COLLEGE & UNIVERSITY PROGRAMS
Build a foundation for work as a hair dresser, spa owner, stylist for TV and film & much more. Financial Aid and scholarships available to students who qualify.
Be sure to check out the Surveyor Website at crwashsurveyor.com for school-related news and updates
For more information about our graduation rates, the median loan debt of students who completed the program and other important information visit www.tspaiowacity.com
Sign up for Journalism classes today Intro to Media-Journalism 21st Century Media: Student News (Surveyor) 21st Century Media: Yearbook (Monument) Writing Interviewing Graphic Design Photography Video editing Podcasting Social Media
Talk to your counselor today 10
Christian Petersen Ads
CITY FOR THE PEOPLE Bridget Williams Editor-in-Chief
“There’s a real demand to live The last plan, based on “Euclidean” downtown, not to have to commute zoning, involved separating from a suburb or outside of town, so different areas of interest (industrial, we’re trying to bring some of that agricultural, residential, etc.) into back into the downtown area. We’re zones. While this form of zoning is really aiming at your generation, we not prevalent in its purest form, it’s want your generation to grow up here, had a massive impact on city planning go to school and stay here, and grow in the U.S. and it characterizes the businesses here,” said Joe Mailander, city of Cedar Rapids. The drive from Cedar Rapids Program Manager for home to the park to the library to the Development Services. grocery store, the cars that come from On Jan. 27, City Council adopted downtown and spill into 1st Ave, EnvisionCR, a plan to develop and these are reflections of this single-use, revitalize Cedar Rapids. It is the first Euclidean zoning. since 1999. The plan, heavily based on public input, diverts from the goals of the ’99 plan and reflects the changing dynamic between people and city, as well as the role city planning plays in future communities. Photos by Bridget Williams
Feature Bridget Williams
“I think in ’99, there was a real desire to kind of maintain that manufacturing appearance we’ve had for quite some time…Well now we’re looking at becoming more of a technical city, a knowledge-based type of city, so we’re trying to update the city to meet that,” said Mailander. The new plan encourages mixeduse communities through rezoning and development. Cedar Rapid’s plan for downtown blends rezoning of
the area to become high-intensity commercial (e.g. business,
11
retail) with development of more residential options for varying income types, in addition to more walking and biking oriented features. “There’s probably 100 or so new condominiums coming online in the next year and a half downtown that’ll be ready to either rent or buy, and maybe another 150 that’ll come in the next couple of years after that, so
the future of the city going,” said Mailander. The goals of EnvisionCR are longterm and ambitious, so any changes to the city addressed in the plan won’t be evident for a while, but these ideas of sustainability, mixed-use areas, equity, community involvement; they develop by design. OPN, a regionalbased design firm, played an active role in the planning and development of buildings after the flood. Bradd Brown, a principal architect at the firm, talks what to consider in rebuilding and the role design plays in community. OPN-involved projects after the flood include the Federal Courthouse, the Paramount Theatre, Theatre Cedar Rapids, the Cedar Rapids Public Library, and the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel. Each building was different, from the Paramount, which involved historical restoration, to the library, a design from scratch. The new library does not fall under the traditional, library archetype. It’s big, bright, modern, spacious, and it’s a LEED Platinum building, the highest certification of sustainability within the LEED system. “Through the kind of demolition of the old building and the construction of the new building, over 94 percent of all of the waste was diverted from the landfill, so it was all recycled, which I think was important because there was a lot of demolition happening in Cedar Rapids at that time, from flooded buildings and houses, and we wanted to demonstrate
There’s quite a big change. And it really addresses where, I guess, the citizens and the city staff see the future of the city going .\\ there’s probably upwards of 200 new units downtown,” said Mailander. The plan reveals a total flip in what people want in a city, a city pedestrian and bike oriented, a city that encourages open spaces and community involvement, and a city connected to existing neighborhoods, as well as the natural environment. The plan states goals to lead in energy conservation; address emissions, waste, and water management through a climate action plan; protect environmentally sensitive areas, as well as recreate wildlife habitats in non-use/low-use areas; increase species richness in areas; provide choices for various means of transportation; increase the skywalk network; support existing neighborhoods; adopt policies to provide various housing types; cultivate a skilled workforce; and expand economic development. “There’s quite a big change. And it really addresses where, I guess, the citizens and the city staff see
12
that you could demolish things without having to just pile it all in a landfill,” said Brown. The building involves meeting rooms, an “unconference room,” an auditorium, the green roof, the traditional books and computers, and a coffee and sandwich shop. In its first year, the library had over 120,000 visitors for purposes other than to get a book, as opposed to the previous library’s 10,000 a year. There were 19 weddings held on the green roof in its first year of operation. Rather than just designing another library, the building was designed as a community space. “One of the things we did with the new library is we wanted a lot of transparency, you know when you drive by, you can see into the building, you can see all the activity. I think that helps attract people into the building, but then also I think just as important, when you’re inside the library and you look back out, you can see the community, you can see the rest of the city, so it helps connect it to Cedar Rapids,” said Brown. There are all these things happening in a building, purposes for a building’s features, and a dialogue between person and design the person doesn’t even know about. “It’s a big library, and one of the problems I always had with the old library was that it was hard to find your way around, you couldn’t walk into the building and intuitively know where to find things, and so with the new library we have that two story atrium, kind of the lobby space right when you walk in. Actually, the other thing that’s unique about this library is there’s multiple entry points, you can enter from the south side from the
Bridget Williams Feature
the parking lot, from the north side by the park, or you can enter out from the skywalk on the second level. All three of those entries bring you to that two story lobby, so that no matter which way you enter the building, you enter at the same kind of arrival point,” said Brown. The modern building isn’t just aesthetic construction. It’s functional design oriented towards people. “And then from within that two story lobby, you can survey and see all the different aspects within the library…but with the two story library, there’s a lot of people going up and down the stairs, so we wanted the stair to be more monumental, so that you could easily find the stairway…And then that white wall along the stair was really meant to also help you with way finding, so that even when you’re on the second story, if you want to go back down and you’re maybe a little bit disoriented or you haven’t been to the building a lot, but you see that white
wall, that’s your visual clue as to where the stairway is,” said Brown. Since the flood, building sustainably has become a larger focus for Cedar Rapids, as well as design oriented towards people and community. It’s prevalent in the recent design of new Cedar Rapids buildings (e.g. the new Cedar Rapids Central Fire Station is also a LEED Platinum building) and the EnvisionCR plan for the city. Within these transparent buildings and the EnvisionCR plan is evidence that design is being recognized as a source of community. “I think if you design a really great building, people will want to use it, and then they’ll find ways to use it, in ways you never imagined. When we designed it we never anticipated that people would have weddings there. If you design a neat space, like the green roof and some of the public spaces within the library, people find ways to use it, so I think design very much matters and I think if the design
can be sustainable than that matters financially as well,” said Brown.
The United Nations (UN) estimates that cities contribute 75 percent of global CO2 emissions, and along with that, the UN projects that by 2050, 64 percent of the world population will live in urban areas. (Percentage varies from source to source, The World Health Organization projections exceed 70 percent, and the number that goes around in the public sphere is 75 percent). With these things in mind, city planning plays an active role in the future, most prominently in Africa and Asia. Promoting sustainability, equity, and growth in a community have become major themes in what people want in a city, and trends indicate cities will increasingly continue to tackle these issues through design geared towards people.
1950 more than two-thirds of people worldwide lived in rural settlements and less than one-third in urban settlements projected by 2050 the world will be one-third rural, two-thrids urban World Urbanization Prospects The 2014 Revision Department of Economic and Social Affairs United Nations
Feature Bridget Williams
13
Claire McKinstry Staff Writer It’s no surprise that there’s a new student wandering the hallways of Washington, but just who is this friendly new face? French foreign exchange student Joseph Robert, age 15, is visiting the United States for three weeks from his hometown in the south of France. Within days of the start of Robert’s United States excursion, social media was flooded with snapshots and mentions of him, from pictures of him eating in the cafeteria, to shameless car selfies, to fangirl-esque tweets from girls expressing their admiration. Robert’s response to all of this? “I think it’s a normal reaction to the French so I don’t really care.” The Fox family, a Wash family, is hosting Robert during his stay. Sophie Fox, ’18, a member of the host family, described the hosting process, “In French class they gave [us] a sheet and you pick one out. It was like adopting [someone]... You pick one out that best fits your family.” Back in France, Robert’s decision to come here was through his school, as well. “In my school there’s [an English class] and they asked students if they wanted to go to the United States, so I said yes,” said Robert.
14
Robert’s favorite activity in the U.S. is playing racquetball at the YMCA, which he’d never played before. Along with getting acquainted with some new recreational activities, he’s also gotten the opportunity to go on a few trips with the Fox family. “We went to Ames to visit my brother and then we’re going to Chicago this weekend, and we’ve just been hanging out,” said Sophie Fox. Robert mentioned a few differences between the U.S. and France. For starters, he said that while Washington has long corridors, France’s schools are built much taller and narrower. He also said that although the food is different here, he couldn’t decide on a favorite. Back at home, he doesn’t have a favorite food, either, although he likes his father’s cooking. “My father is a very good cook, so the food that he makes is very good,” said Robert. The U.S. has been a very enjoyable place for Robert. He gets along well with his host family and enjoys the activities here, so much so that he wouldn’t mind coming back. Although he’s only here for a limited amount of time, Robert happily concluded, “I will maybe come again to the United States without the school.”
Avery Novak Profiles
Kate Nash Staff Writer Attention single ladies of all ages! If you’re looking for an amazing date we’ve found your guy. Andrew Todd is a 6’3 freshmen with hazel eyes. He’d describe himself as “personable, caring, and intelligent.” He’s looking for a girl with similar qualities. “She has to be intelligent, humorous, athletic, with a good smile,” he said. A girl who is also interested in sports would be ideal as well. Todd is also a three sport athlete who participates in football, basketball, and track. His favorite
Aaron Bissel Staff Writer
thing to watch on TV is ESPN, of course. If you two weren’t watching ESPN on the couch, a nice dinner or doing something outdoors would be his ideal date. His celebrity crush is Jennifer Aniston. “She doesn’t age!” he added. If you can’t find Todd on the track, court, or field look for him in a music store. “Anything but country. I have an extensive record collection.” With the spring time approaching, look for Todd outdoors or at a track meet. You might just find your perfect match.
Olivia Long: Featured WLP Artist
If you are a creative type, you can identify with being awake at four in the morning struggling to get your thoughts out, a common occurrence for senior Olivia Long. She started writing when she was 13. “The problem was, that I didn’t really know how to write. I would usually just scribble down whatever came to mind. This didn’t typically make for good writing, but it did help me deal with a lot of my angst-y, preteen feelings,” said Long. Since those preteen days novelists Fitzgerald and Vonnegut have influenced her writing along with poets Sylvia Plath and E.E. Cummings. “I enjoy writing about happy,
beautiful things (autumn leaves, city lights, falling in love, the usual sappy shit), but for some reason I always write my best when I’m sad or when the world seems ugly. Unfortunately, my life is pretty amazing right now... Fingers crossed for a tragic life event!” said Long, with a laugh and a “Just kidding.” After submitting her first poem to WLP’s fingerprints as a junior, she decided she wanted to become part of the WLP staff. Her favorite thing about WLP is “being able to see a side of your fellow classmate’s that you have never had the chance to see before.” She plans to submit more work to Fingerprints this spring.
Profiles Avery Novak
As a final thought, the standout writer wisely said, “I love writing and literature in general, because it emphasizes how we are all connected. Everything from the beginning of time has been connected through words and stories. If you just use empathy, you can attempt to understand how Walt Whitman must have felt or how a character must have felt. If you put a mirror up to those characters, those writers, those words, you can see a reflection of yourself. Literature unveils the human experience. It comforts you, because it allows a crucial realization: you are not alone.”
15
Former Warrior Explores a Different Kind of AP
Gunnar Bosking Staff Writer
Some kids dream of being firefighters, astronauts, or police officers. Krista Larson, a Wash grad and the former Surveyor editor- in- chief, knew she wanted to work in journalism. That ambition led her to obtain the title of Bureau Chief of West Africa for the Associated Press (AP), the mongol news enterprise that controls thousands of newspapers and news agencies across the world. She says that it is her dream job and that it requires plenty of hard work. Larson graduated from Wash in 1996 and went to Northwestern University. She then went to do an internship at the AP offices in Paris. When the War on Terror started in the Middle East, she went to work at the AP headquarters in New York City. She started her long tenure in Africa in 2008, where she worked in Johannesburg, South Africa. She currently resides in Dakar, Senegal. Her duties allow her to control the press coverage for 22 countries from Mauritania in the north to the Congo in the south, and as far east as Chad. Lots of important current events in Africa make sure that she stays busy with her press coverage. Larson currently and recently has covered several major wars in the
16
African area. She covered the recent could not walk, was carried by her war in Mali, where al Qaeda- linked brother to safety and they managed Militants took over much of the to survive. country, but were later driven out The war is still currently going on of the country by French Special and doesn’t seem to see a future end. Forces and the French Air Force. One of the other hot topics of Most of her recent work has been in 2014 was the Ebola outbreak in west the Central African Republic, where Africa. The hardest- hit countries there has been an ongoing civil were Liberia, Guinea, and Sierra war between Muslim and Christian Leone. The outbreak spread like insurgents. The war has been a wildfire due to close living spaces constant bloody struggle for the and poor sanitation in these thirdalready corrupt world countries. It has a 60% government to try mortality rate for anyone who to stop the rebels, gets infected. The epidemic is and it has proven still going on and experts say costly, as over it will continue on for several 5,000 people more months. When it first have been killed broke out, Larson was at the in the fighting. center of it all. “I was sitting “Probably the most in a parked car noticeable factor about getting ready to the people whom she saw go somewhere, infected was the bloodshot and I looked eyes,” Larson said, “it was out the window Larson in Surveyor, 1996 also a lot like Malaria with and saw a mob the vomiting, weakness, and the rushing towards this man who had inability to walk. traditional Muslim clothes,” Larson As a precaution she went into said, “they overtook him and beat quarantine on October 7 of 2014 him to death right in front of me. and was declared infection- free on The only thing I wanted to do was October 28th. She said that it was write about it and then hope that “pretty laid- back” and she “could the world would take some sort of just stay at home and go on the action.” internet. The other story that Larson wrote When asked what she wanted to that she said had a real effect on her, do in the future, she said that there was the story of the two siblings, a were a few possibilities. brother and sister, who were living “Teaching could be one thing,” she with their parents in the countryside suggested, “but for now, i think when the insurgents showed up to I’m very happy just doing what my massacre their village. The sister, passion is.” who was infected with polio and Photos from Monument archives
Avery Novak Profiles
Avery Novak Profiles Editor
Live From New York...IT’S CHRIS KROEGER
Why did you get to go to SNL 40? Actually it’s a funny story, it was the middle of 2014, and a letter was sent out to everyone who has been on SNL that they were going to receive a ticket to SNL 40 for the reunion. Since my father RSVP’d just about as soon has he got that, I was one of the five people who were never on the show, that got to go to SNL 40, and I have to say it was probably the best time of my life. Who is your dad? My father is Gary Kroeger and he was on SNL from 1982 to 1985. Who all did you meet? I love to be able to say that I met just about everybody. Actually my favorite encounter was getting to meet Mr. Leonardo Dicaprio, because
you’d think he’d be such an outgoing guy, but he’s actually really quiet, and he’s got a really soft outlook on how he talks to you. How different was it, seeing it in person, rather than watching it on TV? I had no idea that the entirety of the show is done in about a 300 by 300 foot square, during commercial breaks everything would switch from one side of the stage to the other, and when one was being used, the other would be getting completely redone, that way it could do a new scene in the next 30 seconds. Who’s your favorite SNL character? I’d have to say Mike Myers as Wayne, from Wayne’s World, I thought he was always hilarious.
The Comeback Dance
WPA of 2014 was canceled due to lack of participants, however this year’s event sold over 125 tickets in advanced with another 155 sold at the doors. What was so different about this year’s WPA than prior years? “I think this year’s class officers did a good job of advertising the event which helped make it such a great success,” said junior class secretary, Amelia Rodriguez. Each year the dance is planned, from the cookies sold at the dance to the tunes played, by the junior class officers as a fundraiser for that class’s senior prom. “I attended WPA my freshman year as well and I had a blast, so the other officers and I wanted to make this years equally as fun," said Rodriguez. The attendees were from all grades, and all said they enjoyed themselves."I haven’t attended the dance before, but the money goes to the junior class and it seemed like a bigger push to go this year. A lot of people I’m friends with were going and it gave everyone an excuse to dress
A&E Lauren Barber
Do you want to follow in your dad’s footsteps? I would love to be able to do what my father has done, my dad made his way up to SNL, did a few movies, and now he’s doing what I would love to pursue, he’s thinking about running for congress in 2016, which is something I’ve always thought I could do at one point. What was the funniest occurrence of your night? The most hilarious part to me was seeing that Kanye West is actually exactly what everybody thinks Kanye West is. He preformed third out of the musical guests, and immediately after he got off stage, he was immediately with Kim, standing down there, holding her a**.
Emily Burke Staff Writer
Photos courtesy of Chris Kroeger
up and do something. WPA was actually a lot of fun and I really hope that it continues to be more of an event for future years,” said Logan Eckhardt, ‘16. Many Warriors expressed the fun they had on the dance floor and at dinner before and hope that the event continues to grow in popularity in the years to come. “I decided to go this year because I heard that it was going to be fun, and I’m a freshman so I wanted to see what it was like. I do think that it will become more popular because this year’s WPA was really fun since a lot of people attended, so I assume that everyone will want to keep it that way,” said Emma Parker, '18. Many like Parker say they do plan on attending future WPA dances, as long as the same number, if not more people go. “I think the success of WPA is in the hands of future class officers,” said Rodriguez. So it’s up to the future junior class officers to make upcoming WPA dances equally as successful as this year’s.
17
Braxton Leonard Broadcasting Editor Dreams of viewers everywhere bounced away into oblivion with each hit of the drum in the new movie “Whiplash.” Starring Miles Teller and J.K. Simmons, the story chronicles a young and relentless drummer named Andrew, who is enrolled in a prestigious music school, and is faced with a teacher who is arguably the musical anti-christ. This eternally angry lunatic of an instructor, “Fletcher” is masterfully played by J.K. Simmons, who was awarded an Oscar award for best supporting actor; and rightfully so. With relentless abuse both mentally and physically, Simmons instills infinite levels of drive straight into the veins of his students, particularly Andrew. Fletcher originally wears a veil of kindness, along with his evident musical genius, which is what draws Andrew so passionately into the schools program. Battling for first seat in the band with two other struggling young drummers, it is no easy feat. The film is battered with enough expletives to make up an entire season (or two) of South Park, but in the most excellent and terrifying way you could imagine. Beating the drums endlessly for hours upon end, the gruelling practices aren’t finished until blood is dripping from the palms of the young drummers. A dislike for Fletcher grows exponentially throughout the film.
18
One could only imagine that you would reach a breaking point and go absolutely postal on anyone who inflicted the levels of psychological and physical pain that Fletcher imposes on Andrew. However, he bends but never breaks. There are a number of times that Andrews career seems to be at a dead-end, whether it’s by choice or not. But the impeccable young prodigy plans to come out on top, and does just that. In one of the most epic final scenes I have ever viewed, be prepared to have the beating of drums eternally burnt into your brain. A twenty minute drumming tirade wouldn’t begin to describe the level of ungodly riffs young Andrew inflicts upon the drumset, in front of a conservative crowd who came to see anything but an epic drum solo. The likes of John Bonham may shake in his boots upon watching this violent and relentless musical attack laid upon each drum. Though I must say “Whiplash” definitely earned its “rated R” rating, it also earned every bit of pub that it is getting. Winning three Oscar awards and being nominated for many more awards, it is definitely one of the better films of the year. Simmons plays a radical man more adequately than I have seen in any film in a while. Both musically and theatrically, Whiplash exceeded all expectations, and I undoubtedly recommend it.
CC courtesy of de.wikipedia.org
Lauren Barber A&E
ROCK OF ALL AGES
Anna Rizer Staff Writer
The students at Washington High School are talented in so many different ways, whether it be athletics, academics, or the performing arts. Some of these students will soon get the chance to show off just how talented they really are. For orchestra students, the opportunity to break out and approach a different kind of music has presented itself. “This rock orchestra thing is basically students who have signed up to attend this mini concert where they practice music with this guy named Mark Wood,” said Kiran Kearney, ’16, the orchestra secretary. The idea of learning how to play a whole different type of music may be intimidating, but ultimately not be
that big of a factor. “There was actually a lot more people interested than I thought there’d be, and it’s not actually any
The students themselves might be in for quite the experience where they not only learn how to play a new music style, but the attitude that goes along with it that differs from the standard way they perform. “One of the things we did in class was we yell and stomp our feet and just be obnoxious...it’s learning how to be comfortable and not how we used to play where we’re all stiff,” said Samantha Flood, ’16. The students will be performing on Mar. 17th at 7 pm at the TransSiberian Orchestra, and is a great opportunity for all who want to get a different feel or experience orchestra in a new light. “Just playing different music, it’s a break from Mozart and all those other artists,” said Flood.
different, you just play and kinda get into the music a different way with the different rhythms,” said Kearney. Photo courtesy of de.wikipedia.org
BEFORE I DIE... Spend way too much on fine cheese - @iklopf Swim with sharks - @ReedTovey9 Go on a space-cation - @ohh_LaurD
Live. In other words... Eat without getting fat. -@jerridaletemple Get human catapulted into the English Canal then swim the whole English Canal then free climb the Eiffel Tower, - @BlakeMccEmig Be featured in the surveyor -@margarettt528 Get shot in a rocket into space to get hulk powers from gamma radiation -@KaiVorhies Cliff dive -@King_Arthur46
A&E Lauren Barber
19
Teachers in it to Win it Rielle Jones-Teske Staff Photographer
What sport did you/ do you currently play? Brune- Baseball at University of Iowa. Duer- Summer running (long distance, 5ks) and softball (slow pitch, co-ed, both currently). Metzger- Basketball at Indiana Wesleyan University. Johnson- Soccer at Coe College.
What motivates/motivated you to play it? Brune- Enjoyed it growing up. Duer- Likes the mild competitiveness for softball and the exercise from running. Metzger- Did it growing up. Johnson- Comradery, creativity, fun, competitiveness.
What position did you/do you play? Brune- Pitcher. Duer-Pitcher. Metzger- Guard. Johnson- Everywhere. 20
Brandon Cullen Sports
What is/was you favorite part about playing that sport? Brune- Getting to know teammates. Duer- Mental and physical exercise. Metzger- Fun to be a part of a team. Johnson- Lifelong friendships.
Were/are you good? Brune- Would like to think so. Duer- Good pitcher, less “hitting prowess” but can give the ball a special spin and throw strikes. Metzger- Wasn’t bad, “good enough to contribute.” Johnson- Decent.
Did you ever sustain a serious injury? Duer- Hernia from running with dog augie in a 5k (augie wanted to run too fast). Johnson- Was knocked unconscious from scoring a game winning header but being punched by the goalie.
David Duer pictured with his softball team, Duer is in the back row, second from the left. Photo courtesy of David Duer
Sports Brandon Cullen
Scott Brune pitching for University of Iowa Photo courtesy of Scott Brune
21
A Fencing Fantasy
Emily LaGrange
Staff Writer
Fencing started as something of a fantasy for Maggie Wright, ’17. “I had seen it on movies and thought it looked cool so we looked it up online,” said Maggie. This summer Maggie will have been fencing for three years, taking two lessons a week at the Iowa City Fencing Center. Maggie enjoys the mental challenge that fencing provides. “It’s often compared to physical chess,” said Maggie. There are many important abilities that Maggie possesses to make her successful at the sport of fencing. “Maggie has always had a willingness to learn and be coached. Maggie also has a sense of strategic intelligence and problem solving,” said Christina. Maggie often participates in tournaments held by the studio she attends every other month or so. “The tournaments take place at the studio on special strips made for competitive fencing, they usually take a few hours, depending on how many people show up,” said Maggie. Not only has fencing become a great hobby for Maggie over the past three years, it has also impacted change in her life. “Fencing has been a great confidence builder as well as increasing Maggie’s overall agility, balance, and spatial awareness,” said Christina. Contrary to popular belief, fencing is not as risky
22
of a sport as it seems. “Many think that fencing is dangerous, however, fencing as a sport is highly regulated and has a much lower injury rate than many other sports,” said Christina. Maggie hopes to attend a university with a fencing club or team after high school. Photos courtesy of Maggie Wright
Brandon Cullen Sports
W P A 2 0 1 5 Ads Christian Petersen
23
This photo was taken at the WPA dance. See page 17 for a full review of WPA
www.CRWashSurveyor.com TheSurveyor @CRWashSurveyor SurveyorWHS@gmail.com @crwashsurveyor
CRWashSurveyor.SmugMug.com