Hawkeye 02-2023

08

It’s esports, a serious gaming competition, and Terrace has their very own team! Taking home a win after their first competition, the team proved themselves to be the ultimate gamers.

11 Why was six afraid of seven?

Because seven’s a crowd, while six is the perfect amount of students to make up the Executive ASB Big 6 each year.

12 School in the stone ages

For one dark fortnight, students across ESD had to live like their ancestors, using stone tablets instead of Chromebooks and mashed up berries as pencils, while they waited patiently for the internet to return after a cybersecurity breach.

13 Concerning statistics

An alarming amount of sexual assault cases go unreported in the United States, and the ones that are reported face opposition in the system.

14 Dribbling all the way to state

The Terrace Hawks men’s basketball team dominated the district competition this year, earning them a spot to compete for the state crown.

15 Daily dose of thought

Do you have what it takes? Solve this logic puzzle to find out.

C FINALS AND FIASCOS

Just when students thought they were free from the stress of finals, the district lost internet and left everyone in the dark. Graphics editor Rodney Budden depicts the hectic first half of February in his cover illustration.

02 Fast as lightning on the court

Junior Jaxon Dubiel flies across the court in the Hawks’ first state tournament game at Bellevue College against the Eastside Catholic Crusaders. The Hawks put up a strong fight, but lost 54-52.

PHOTO BY EMMALEE HARMON

Hawkeye

Letter from the Editor SHE’S A LOVER, NOT A FIGHTER

Hey there Hawks, long time no see. Last time I sat down and wrote one of these was almost two months ago while working on our December issue. Then came the January hiatus, where Hawkeye chose not to publish an issue so that we could all focus on finals instead. Of course we were going to make a comeback for the February issue, but then came the Great Internet Depression of 2023.

Teachers were scrambling, Chromebooks were collecting dust from lack of usage, and students were hoping school would get canceled. Oh, and our private information may or may not be floating around somewhere on the black market. As terrible as all of it is, I must say it gave us fantastic content for the newspaper.

Amidst all the chaos that erupted at the beginning of the semester, it was easy to almost forget about good ol’ St. Valentine. The day to celebrate love, give out cheesy gifts and awkwardly avoid that one couple in the hallway that insists on committing public acts of affection that should get them put on some kind of list.

Whether or not you’re in a relationship, it’s important to acknowledge everything and everyone that you deem worthy of any type of love, not just romantic. So in order to commemorate that, I’m going to list the things that I love, not only because it’s the month of love, but also because it’s been brought to my attention that I’ve been a very hateful person for most of my LFEs. I mean it’s very accurate. I dedicated an LFE to the things I’m unthankful for, and mind you that was for the November issue, a month where there’s a holiday literally meant for giving thanks. So consider this my redemption arc.

Have you ever consumed some type of food or beverage that is just so delicious to you, you feel compelled to get it as much as possible? It’s almost like a hyperfixation of some sorts. Well, whatever it is, it’s not as good as Snapple Peach Tea. I went 17 years without ever tasting it, until one fateful day when the stars led me to it.

I was at my friend’s house and she let me raid her fridge for something to drink. Not knowing what there was to offer, she showed me some options. My eyes landed on some ugly bright orange and green bottle with a picture of a peach on the front. I grabbed it, it was either that or Coke which always leaves my teeth feeling weird after drinking it (please tell me I’m not the only one who experiences that).

You can guess what happened after that. I tasted it, I loved it, blah blah blah… Sogol, if you ever read this, thank you for giving me that tea. I hope both sides of your pillow are always cold at night.

One downside, if there is any, is that my love for the drink sorta became my personality for a bit. One of our photo editors Seras Bryner actually stocked our fridge in the Hawkeye

The HAWKEYE

room with Snapple Peach Tea because they knew I would appreciate it. Even my mom started buying it without needing me to ask, which just proves the extent of my obsession, because my mother never remembers the names of the snacks I like. I’ll tell her to buy me a box of Cheez-Its and she comes back with something called “Annie’s Organic Cheddar Squares.” Snapple, if you see this, please sponsor the Hawkeye newspaper.

Remember that one movie where those weird orphans crawled through a closet and befriended a talking lion? Pretty sure it’s called Narnia. That’s what revolving doors feel like to me. Like you’re entering a portal that releases you into a magical new world. I know a lot of people actually hate those doors, and I could understand why.

It’s like when you’re a kid playing jump rope at recess, and you’re waiting for the right time to jump in without getting whipped in front of everyone. Revolving doors can feel like that, but the stakes are higher because you’re not at recess (unless we have 6-year-olds that I don’t know about tuning into the Hawkeye) but rather a public area, like a mall. And instead of your friends watching you while swinging a jump rope, you have a bunch of randos watching you do that little back & forth move, the one where you think it’s the perfect time to go but then you hesitate and it throws you off so you have to start all over again.

But look, once you make it past those doors, it’s like a fun little ride, especially if you do more than one cycle. Those few seconds give me a little serotonin boost. In fact, if the door got stuck and I was enclosed in that little space for the rest of my life I think I would be content. I wouldn’t be delighted per se, but I could last a long time before getting worried.

I don’t have any pets, and I can’t say I really want one, but our design editor Rachel Davis has one. A ragdoll cat to be exact, and based on the few times I’ve met her, I love her, and she loves me too. Well, not exactly me, but my feet instead.

The first time I went over, she nested on my dirty, stinky shoes, which surprised even Rachel. I even have a picture for keepsake that I’m very fond of.

There’s also Paul the Cat. Paul is the pet of my Co EditorIn-Chief, Maggie. He’s super friendly and very handsome. He’s also a retired show cat, so if you ever see him on the street and think, “Now that’s a fancy looking cat,” you’ll know why.

Speaking of Maggie, I also love her. My confidant, my dear friend, my shady business partner. My love for her remains as constant as her changing hair colors. And no, she’s definitely not intently looking over my shoulder as I type this, it’s all coming from the heart.

I know I’m writing this letter in honor of Valentine’s Day, but just know that you don’t need a national holiday to express your appreciation for the things that make you happy. You love in spite of it, not because of it.

That’s enough about love, I think I’ve redeemed myself enough. All this lovey dovey stuff will probably be gone by the next issue. Until next time, Hawks. H

The Hawkeye’s mission is to provide the MTHS community with quality, thought-provoking student produced publications. Since September 1960, we have faithfully served our audience and community as a designated open public forum where student editors make all decisions. In policy and in practice, the Hawkeye will always be a designated open forum publication.

Co-Editors-in-Chief

Cecilia Negash & Maggie O’Hara

Editorial

News Editor: Terina Papatu

Sports Editor: Jakob Nacanaynay

Op/Ed Editor: Kaitlyn Miller

Lifestyle Editor: Mika Raring

Fashion Editor: Denise Munoz

Tempo Co-Editors: Hunter Michaelson & Arabella Devera

Business

General Manager: Phuong Lam

Travel & Event Coordinators: Rachel Davis & Rodney Budden

Distribution Manager: open

Outreach Manager: open

Visual

Graphics Editor: Rodney Budden

Photo Editors: Seras Bryner & Emmalee Harmon

Design Editor: Rachel Davis

Online/Digital

Online Manager: Kaylee Miyamoto

A/V Editor: Terina Papatu & Cecilia Negash

Contributing Staff

Virginia Alsept-Beaty, Lucas Barquin, Halle Connell, Ciara Constantino, Charli Gilchrist, Dewey Jones, Evan Kerani, Kimberly Nguyen, Efrata Soloman, Bryce Soumphonphakdy, Zoë Teran, Sofia Terkelsen

Name in bold indicates staff member of the month as selected by the Editorial Board.

Support

Adviser: Vincent F. DeMiero, CTE, CJE

Co-Adviser: Christina Lewis

Journalist-in-Residence: Samantha Pak

FANs Coordinator: Carrie Lee

Printer: Pacific Publishing

Member of: MTHS ASB, JEA/WJEA, NSPA, SPLC, ESD CTE, FAPFA

Policies

Editorial Policy The editorial section of the Hawkeye, including editorial cartoons, serves as a forum for well-written, thoughtful, longer forms of expression. Signed editorials represent the opinions of the author. Unsigned editorials represent the opinion of the Hawkeye Editorial Board. Views printed herein are meant to be opinionated and do not necessarily represent the opinions of the Hawkeye staff, student body, faculty, administration or school board. The Hawkeye will print submitted guest editorials as space allows and requests that all contributors include their name, signature and position relative to the editorial. The Hawkeye will edit all submissions for accuracy, spelling and grammar. We reserve the right to refuse to print any submission.

Letters to the Editor Policy

Readers are encouraged to voice their opinions in the Opinion section, a public forum for the expression of varying viewpoints on relevant topics. The Hawkeye will print as many letters as space allows. Letters must include the author’s name, signature and class or position relative to the letter. E-mailed, typed or legible, hand written letters are acceptable, but should not exceed 200 words. The Hawkeye will edit all letters for accuracy, spelling and grammar. We reserve the right to refuse to print any letter.

Advertising Policy

The Hawkeye will not accept any advertising that the Editorial Board deems to be: factually inaccurate; designed to mislead, deceive or defraud; containing malicious, vindictive or unsubstantiated attacks; offering goods and/or services illegal for teens to possess, buy or use; libelous; obscene; or creating imminent danger or disruption to school. The Hawkeye reserves the right to refuse any advertising, solicited or unsolicited. Advertisements do not necessarily reflect the views or endorsements of the Hawkeye staff, student body, faculty, administration or school board.

Complete policies are available at www.thehawkeye.org/about-2/mission-policies/

Cecilia Negash CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

COMING UP: MARCH

By Rachel Davis and Maggie O’Hara HAWKEYE STAFF

Friday, March 31 End of 3rd Quarter All Day

MTHS

SPOTLIGHT

March 1-10 2023-2024 Registration

Prepare for next year and sign up for your classes! Make sure to complete this by March 10.

March 2-4 “RUMORS”

The drama department is putting on their spring play. Tickets are $7 for general and $5 for students with ASB, children and senior citizens.

March 8 Orchestra Quad Concert

Terrace’s orchestras will be joined by elementary and middle schoolers to perform for peers and parents alike.

March 9 Choir Quad Concert

In the annual quad concert, Terrace’s choir will sing their hearts out alongside elementary schoolers.

March 31 End of 3rd Quarter

We are reaching the final stretch of the 2022-2023. Keep your grades up and chins up! You can do this, you only have 3 months left.

EDITORS’ NOTE: The information in this calendar is taken in part from the calendar published on the MTHS webpage. Information may change. For further information on an event, contact the organizing party. For corrections, contact editor@thehawkeye.org or visit us in Room 130.

Land Acknowledgment

The Hawkeye acknowledges that our campus sits on the traditional homelands of the Suquamish, Stillaguamish and Coast Salish peoples. The lands of these tribes were taken by colonizers using the Treaty of Point Elliott, which to this day has never been fully honored. We also recognize the 29 tribes throughout Washington state. As a local news organization, we commit to remembering the genocide of Indigenous peoples in the United States and ask that our readers take a moment to respectfully reflect on the history of the land where we gather each school day. H

RODNEY BUDDEN | HAWKEYE

By Rachel Davis NEWS EDITOR

Seattle Public Schools filed several complaints against the companies in charge of operating social media outlets TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat and YouTube on Jan. 6. They state these charges on accusations that these social media platforms are specifically designed to harmfully impact the mental health and well-being of students and youth.

Seattle Public Schools states that companies such as Meta and Google, some of the companies behind these apps, purposely exploit the psychology and neurophysiology of their users to get them to spend more time on the platforms. While this brings in profit and engagement for the companies, Seattle’s school district cited reports on increasing stress and anxiety among youth to argue the companies are maximizing profit at the expense of mental health.

The Kent School District also joined in the lawsuit against the same five social media outlets on Jan. 10. Both districts are even working with the same law firm, Keller Rohrback.

Unfortunately, experts following the case in court right now assume that the school districts will lose. Fordham University education law professor Aaron Saiger says it isn’t likely a “winning” case.

“It’s a very long causation chain. I don’t think the courts will be inclined to let the school district pursue it,” Saiger said. “To say, ‘We’re service providers to children whose mental health is affected by thousands of things, and we picked you,’ strikes me as a very attenuated way to understand liability under the nuisance law.”

The results of this case, whether success or failure, could have drastic effects on the future of social media. The problems broadcasted in this case bring awareness to some of the marketing tactics that these social media companies use. H

Intruder prompts changes to access

By Cecilia Negash CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

MTHS staff, students and families were alerted to an unidentified adult woman entering the school building on Friday, Feb. 24 around 1:20 p.m. The individual appeared to be intoxicated and carrying around an alcoholic beverage, and remained in the building for about seven minutes, according to school officials. Since this incident, the main entrance doors have been locked during school hours. Students are now required to buzz in through the office speaker outside the doors in order to enter – even during the school day.

It was discovered that she interrupted a class in the music hallway by walking in mid-session and playing the piano. She also entered a school bathroom at one point. Staff responded quickly, escorting the woman off campus and notifying law enforcement. The woman was temporarily detained by the Mountlake Terrace Police. MTHS administrators are working with MTPD to press charges and obtain a criminal trespass notice.

Assistant Principal Daniel Falk sent an email to MTHS staff that afternoon, detailing the incident and providing pictures of the trespassing individual. It also included a thank you message and directions on what to do in case of another similar incident.

“We want to thank the staff who acted to identify the individual and remove her from our campus. This is a good reminder that the security of this building is each staff member’s responsibility. If you see an individual whom you do not recognize and who does not have a name or visitor’s badge, please direct them to the main office. If that individual is not cooperative, alert building administration immediately and don’t hesitate to call 911 to report an intruder,” Falk said.

An email was also sent to MTHS students and families later on the same day at 4:11 p.m. via ParentSquare explaining the situation. H

• the update •

stories by nico francois graphics by nico francois

One year since Russia’s attack on Ukraine

Feb. 24, 2023 marks exactly one year since the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Since then, the UN has stated there have been over 20,000 confirmed civilian casualties as shelling continues with other reports estimating over 100,000 military casualties on both sides. Throughout the conflict, the U.S. has been the number one supplier of arms to Ukraine, as support from Americans wanes.

On Feb. 20, President Joe Biden met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv, Ukraine, the first time in recent memory a U.S. president has been in an active warzone. The next day, Biden had a speech in Warsaw, Poland stating there was full support for Ukraine and that any attack on NATO allies would result in swift action. H

Rare green meteor sighting!

On this year’s Groundhog Day on Feb 2., a rare green meteor was at its peak visibility, closer to Earth than it has been in over 50,000 years. The green ball of ice, dust and rock was discovered first in March 2022 in Jupiter’s orbit. The comet was named Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) by the Minor Planet Center, and they have stated that despite it being briefly visible to the naked eye, it was over 26 million miles away from Earth and better seen with a telescope. H

How does one guy make up his whole life?

National

Congressman George Santos has found himself in trouble after it was revealed that he has lied or made up much of his life story, including his name. He lied about going to Baruch College and New York University, while also lying about working for Goldman Sachs. He also appears to have been involved in a marriage scam, divorcing a Brazilian woman in 2019 whose immigration status was in question when he married her. He also claimed that he was Jewish and that his mom died in 9/11. Despite this, he has been assigned to two committees by house Republicans. He is facing a measure by House Democrats to expel him from Congress. He says that he has no plans to resign. H

Alec Baldwin trial continues...

National

On Oct. 21, 2021 Halyna Hutchins, a cinematographer for the movie “Rust,” was shot on set by a prop gun that was accidentally fired by actor Alec Baldwin. She was airlifted to a hospital but was pronounced dead after she arrived. Both the armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, and Baldwin were charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter on Jan. 31, 2023, which Baldwin pleaded not guilty to. If he’s determined to be guilty, Baldwin may face up to 5 years in prison. The first hearing for the trial was set for Feb. 24, 2023 to determine the sentencing. Hutchins’ family is also suing Baldwin with a civil suit for their loss. Filming for “Rust” is set to continue in spring of this year. H

University of Idaho killer caught

National

In the early morning of Nov. 13, 2022, four students were killed at the University of Idaho.

Now, a suspect has been caught. 28-year-old Bryan Kohberger, a criminology Ph.D. student at Washington State University, was arrested in Pennsylvania on Dec. 30.

Authorities tracked his phone records and first connected him to the murders after he came to the house where the murders took place 12 times and shut off his phone during the alleged time period.

After DNA confirmed his involvement, he was charged with four counts of murder and faces life in prison or death penalty if convicted. H

A lot happens in a month. From fashion to finance, we are constantly bombarded by headlines from around the world. Here are the Hawkeye’s picks for what you need to know.

Stories by Rachel Davis, Evan Kerani, Jakob Nacanaynay, Kaitlyn Miller, Terina Papatu, Sofia Terkelsen, Cecilia Negash Graphics by Rodney Budden, Kaitlyn Miller, Zoe Teran

ZOE TERAN | HAWKEYE

RODNEY BUDDEN | HAWKEYE

FINALS SCHEDULE FRAZZLES STUDENTS

By Ciara Constantino, Evan Kerani and Efrata Solomon HAWKEYE STAFF

During finals in January, we had an unusual and stressful block schedule for all students. On Jan. 25, periods 1, 3 and 5 were 105 minutes each. This was the same on Jan. 26, with the only difference being classes were only periods 2, 4 and 6 instead of 1, 3 and 5. On both days, there was a 20-minute break between the first two periods, and an entire school lunch for 35 minutes after 3rd and 4th.

The schedule was flawed for a multitude of reasons, with one of the biggest being that there was only one lunch for the entire school. This meant the HUB and other lunch areas across the school were very crowded, which didn’t leave a lot of space to sit down and eat. Additionally, the lunch lines were extremely long compared to usual, which gave people much less time to eat. Only five extra minutes were added onto lunch, which wasn’t adequate to solve the problem of there being twice as many people in the lines. The schoolwide lunch allowed for no conflict with the already confusing schedule, which was understandable, but there was definitely a better solution that would have given more thought to student interest.

The 105-minute periods also left a lot of people in classes without finals stuck there for the whole period with nothing to do. Although people needed a large chunk of time to test, 105 minutes is excessive. Since the schedule was announced late, teachers also might not have had enough time to thoroughly plan their finals to fit with the time. Many teachers that didn’t give finals didn’t create a prolonged lesson plan for their students, resulting in a mundane environment in

their classrooms. This is more of an issue with the structure of finals themselves, but it’s very difficult to concentrate and focus on one subject for nearly two hours. A typical period is 50 minutes, which is a reasonable amount of time for people to learn, but doubling that discourages their learning abilities, especially with the pressure of finals. People’s brains start shutting down and wearing out, making them forget everything they stayed up late studying for. Spending so much time sitting down staring at a piece of paper or a screen slows down the blood flow to your brain, worsening your performance on the final. It also gives room for people to overthink and second guess otherwise simple questions. The finals schedule was also unnecessary considering that many people didn’t have tests in most of their classes. Even in classes that did include finals, the test could often be done in half of the class period. This brings up an important question: why couldn’t we just keep the normal schedule for finals? A switch to a block schedule, which isn’t usually necessary for people to complete their tests, adds to the stress of finals by making finals seem more extensive and difficult than they actually are, which can affect performance by wrecking nerves. Shorter periods also gives teachers an easier time when preparing finals for their class, as they don’t have to worry about making a test that can take up the entire 105-minute period and can just hand out a normal test that covers the semester’s lessons. We could have used the same schedule from last year, the same 6-period schedule kept while staggering when each class had their final based on if it was an even or odd period.

Still, a positive part of this schedule was the free 20-minute period after each day’s first class. This helped relieve stress from tests that took place in previous periods. People had more time to study, interact with others for comfort before their next final, or walk around to clear their heads and take a breath in relief as they had just completed their first final. Or, if they were just released from their first mundane class due to the unnecessarily long periods.

Overall, the finals schedule imposed a stressful and anxious atmosphere upon many students. There was an unspoken dread among everybody, knowing what awaited them in their upcoming periods. The 35-minute lunch stressed kids out who were unable to find a place to sit, or a quiet place to clear their minds post-final. The 105-minute-long periods frustrated students trying to focus during testing, struggling to keep their attention.

Over both days, the unusual schedule brought anxiety upon students because it was all new to them. It brought confusion on which class to go to, where to sit for lunch, which places they could study at, and more. During an already stressful time, a confusing and lengthy schedule is the last thing students need when they would most benefit from a positive finals environment, and is definitely something worth fixing in the future. H

Revisiting the Slender Man stabbings

Two young girls stabbed their friend 19 times. Their reasoning? To please Slender Man. That was the motive of two 12-year-olds who became infatuated with the story of Slender Man, and the tragic story of a girl who was deeply traumatized by this obsession.

Was this a case of the internet affecting young people’s minds? Or was it the fault of two murder hungry 12-year-old girls who were ready to kill?

May 30, 2014. It was the day before the attack. Three girls had gathered for a slumber party. This was nothing out of the ordinary for them, as Anissa Weiler, Payton Luetner and Morgan Geyser had all spent time together in the past doing activities such as playing outside, drawing and having slumber parties. “Something was different about this though,” Luetner described, feeling that something wasn’t right.

A fascination Geyser would often bring up with her friends was an internet story known as Slender Man, Eric Knudsen being the original author of the creepypasta in 2009. (Creepypasta is a genre of user-generated horror stories distributed via internet forums.) Slender Man was described as thin and unnaturally tall with no facial features

such as a mouth or eyes. He was often portrayed with tentacles rising from his lower body. Stories about Slender Man circulated around the internet of him stalking, abducting and traumatizing children, stemming from the original creepypasta with different spins on the character added over the years. The first portrayals of Slender Man were in black and white pictures of groups of children with the tall thin man standing off in the distance.

Later, the story was also exposed to a much wider audience with the release of the game “Slender: The Eight Pages” in 2012. Knowing the story of Slender Man, it seems a bit concerning how obsessed both Geyser and Weier had become with it. Luetner noticed their fascination, but dismissed any worry she had over it.

“I thought it was odd. It kind of frightened me a little bit,” she said.

Though she felt wary, she was accepting of it because they were her friends.

On the night of the slumber party, the girls headed to a large wooded area. Leutner was told that they would play hide and seek, and they lured her into a pile of leaves. She covered herself in sticks and leaves, when sud-

denly Geyser stabbed her 19 times in the arms, legs and torso. Luetner was brutally attacked by the two girls: Morgan Geyser who committed the stabbing, and Anissa Weier who watched the whole thing happen and helped plan the attack.

After the girls fled from what they thought to be Luetner’s dead body, they traveled back expecting to “find Slender Man” but they were instead picked up by police. When the police questioned them, both were disturbingly calm, claiming that Slender Man told them that they had to kill someone in order to be worthy of living alongside him and that he had threatened their families.

Back inside the forest, Luetner had miraculously survived the brutal attack. She crawled all the way back to a road after the girls had left, where she was eventually found. After six days in the hospital she had physically recovered, but the mental effects would haunt her for life.

August of 2014, the judge of the trial ruled Geyser incompetent to take place in the trial, meaning the charges tried against her were suspended until December of 2014. She was diagnosed with early-onset schizophrenia,

leaving the girls unable to qualify to be sent to juvenile court. As they were tried as adults, Weier had been declared not guilty by reason of insanity and was committed to the Winnebago Mental Health Institute where she was sentenced to 25 years instead of jail time. Geyser was committed to 40 years of treatment and monitoring.

Luetner is still living with deep-rooted trauma relating to the incident. In interviews she’s spoken about her story, saying she has issues trusting others and still sleeps with scissors under her pillow at night due to paranoia following the attack.

Now given the context, were the girls insane? Or was it the internet’s influence?

Maybe it wasn’t entirely either. Though the story of Slender Man contributed to the stabbing, a large part of the story that doesn’t get told is the lack of mental help and awareness that could have prevented this from happening. If it was noticed beforehand that the girls were struggling with serious mental disorders and showing concerning behavior, getting the mental help they needed could have prevented Luetner’s trauma. For generations, mental health has often been neglected and though awareness is becoming greater, the suppression of mental illness and societal pressure not to talk about it has left longlasting negative effects. As long as we continue to dismiss this issue, not only will the people coping with these mental illnesses be harmed, but the people around them in their communities as well. H

Kaitlyn Miller OP/ED EDITOR

RODNEY BUDDEN | HAWKEYE

RODNEY BUDDEN | HAWKEYE

Making Terrace a more inclusive learning community School should be a safe place for all students

Sometimes it feels as though the school system was set up for one specific kind of student. A student who can actively participate in class, a student who can work at home, a student who isn’t bothered by large crowds and bright lights. That perfect student who doesn’t need any help. Sometimes it feels like the hallways and classrooms are only safe for certain students, that feeling safe at school is something not every student will be able to experience.

Neurodivergent students process information differently than their neurotypical peers, which impacts learning, thinking and executive function such as organization and time management. So why don’t schools accommodate students who make up about 11% to 30% of the student body?

Whether it be the uncomfortable fluorescent lights or the loud crowds that congregate at every corner, or how almost every classroom has some sort of sensory distraction, neurodiverse students face many challenges in school. While it is improving through IEPs and 504s (student accommodation plans), there are still a lot of problems. Even if you have a diagnosed disorder, you may not be able to qualify for accommodations. The school has to judge your disorder as “life altering” and they will judge your accommodations in accordance, rather than choosing the ones you need. Some teachers have problems with certain accommodations, and it can be extremely difficult for students to get the actual accommodations they need. Large crowds in the hallway can be extremely uncomfortable for many, and with only five minutes to make it to your next class, it can be hard to find ways around it.

and when the other students said the same thing she said it was right,” sophomore Savannah Coco-Barrett said. It’s pretty frustrating to know that numerous students have experienced unfair experiences in classrooms, especially when it comes to how teachers treat students in class.

Many of these situations are genuinely disappointing to hear. There are certain teachers who have a reputation for unfairly targeting students or acting differently towards certain kinds of students.

“One of my teachers targets me a lot because I have some friends in there, and we do talk, but we never disrupt the class, and she blames us for a lot of things that other students did,” freshman Kaelynn Bagley said. “One of my friends was sent to the office because their teacher thought they were dealing drugs in the bathroom when they weren’t.”

Many students, especially underclassmen, feel like school is a hostile environment.

“In one of my classes, the teacher doesn’t target anyone specifically, but he specifically avoids certain people. Like if you have your hand raised he will look at you and then skip over you and look for someone completely different. He tends to do this if you look a certain way, or if you have a certain name, or if you’re not doing something he likes, or if you’re a certain gender,” freshman Kyo Peterson said.

“It feels like I can’t do anything. I feel like I’m being watched for any mistake I make, even if I didn’t make it.”

Kaelynn Bagley FRESHMAN

School lighting can also be extremely disturbing, and some teachers don’t allow sunglasses, hats or hoods. Everyday activities can be extremely uncomfortable and distracting to neurodivergent students, and schools are aware of this. There is plenty of research on neurodivergency in the classroom. Yet instead of making school a more comfortable place, students are forced to go through long processes to be able to attend school comfortably. Queer and BIPOC students also face many challenges in school, and it can be incredibly frustrating when not all students are treated fairly. Not only that, but it often feels like in some classrooms, certain students are unfairly targeted while others are highlighted.

In an environment where we are supposed to feel safe, it can often feel like classrooms are battlefields. Why is it okay for certain teachers to have a reputation for unfairly treating students (especialy BIPOC students), and nobody really seems to care? Why is it okay for BIPOC students to feel uncertain about going to classes, or feeling uncomfortable in certain classes? Is this really the feeling we want students to have who attend Terrace?

“It really depends on where you sit in the class and how much you have in common with the teacher, or if they know your siblings,” freshman Marissa Henriques said. Other students had similar experiences, noticing teachers treating students differently.

“I have been in class where I was trying to explain something to a teacher and she wouldn’t listen, and would listen to the other students. She also would tell me I’m wrong

While this isn’t the case for everyone, some students feel on edge because of the atmosphere school creates.

“It feels like I can’t do anything. I feel like I’m being watched for any mistake I make, even if I didn’t make it,” Bagley said.

But others have had different experiences, some not always as negative.

“All the staff I’ve met here are really nice, and I’ve heard slurs from students, but they’re always used in a joking way,” Henriques said.

So why do some students have such different experiences at Terrace? And how is it fair for students to be afraid to talk to their teachers, or to walk in hallways, or frustrated by how they’re being treated?

A lot of queer students have rough relation ships with their teachers, especially with correct pronouns and naming. Even after reminding their teachers several times, preferred names and pronouns are still not being used. Especially with subs, it is extremely disappointing to see that many teachers do not write preferred names, or tell subs about different names than what’s on Skyward. This is really frustrating. It’s unfair that some students are experiencing unwelcoming environments while others are not, and it feels like a guessing game of which class is going to be difficult and which ones aren’t.

While I’ve focused mostly on the negative, I do want to highlight the fact that although some classrooms are rough, there are plenty of teachers who are actively working on mak ing their classroom a safer place, and ensur ing students feel comfortable and safe talking to them.

I just wish that was the case for everyone.

Lucas Barquin HAWKEYE STAFF

RODNEY BUDDEN | HAWKEYE

A MONTH OF LOVE Two! Four! Six! Eight! Who do you appreciate?

I appreciate my girlfriend for always being there for me. I appreciate my sports teammates for always pushing me and making me feel like family. I appreciate everyone who makes me smile for making life that much more

- Bryce Pawling

I appreciate my teachers past and present. They have helped me get through so much I don’t know what I would have done without them. Words can not describe how thankful I am for each and every one of them.

-Cyrus McMillion

Finton. I just wanted to say that he’s a good and kind person. Please keep smiling!

- Anonymous

I love my cat, Hazel and boyfriend, Ezra.

- Anonymous

Story by Terina Papatu Graphics by Charli Gilchrist HAWKEYE STAFF

Oh,Valentine’s Day. It went from a feast honoring St. Valentine in 270 C.E., to spending $10 on a bag of cards for your 5th grade class, to spending $20 on a box of chocolates for your best friend! Kidding, obviously. But in the month of love, you’re surrounded by flora, pink and red, hearts, jewelry, teddy bears and so much more. And as the years go on, finding someone to love has gotten so much… easier? You used to have to send letters, get parental permission, etc. Now, it’s as easy as stalking their Instagram and messaging a simple, “Hey!” The definition of love is an intense feeling of deep affection. While you might have a different personal definition, the general population has agreed that both platonic and romantic love is a typically good thing. And on Valentine’s Day, you’re given the opportunity to express whatever kind of love you care about most! Maybe even… love most.

“I see it mostly as a ‘day of love’ with ‘love’ being much more vast than its romantic definition. In this sense it is much more all-inclusive and less belittling of those who don’t have

I appreciate my family and friends (especially 2 of my best friends because they’re always so supportive and can make me laugh at any time). I also appreciate any good music and sleep. I could list many more but those are my top few.

- Anonymous

romantic partners, and also allows recognition of those in your life that you really do love and don’t get many chances to express it,” senior Tristan Harmon said.

The students of Terrace have lived busy lives these past few months, dealing with no internet, finals, holidays and whatever else they do in their free time. But, with the day of love just passing, they still found time to appreciate their families, friends, pet rats and so much more.

Out of everyone in his life, sophomore Matthew AlonzoSerna appreciates his family the most for always being there for him.

“Like my parents told me, there’s only two ways you become who you are. One way is with your family, and the other way is with the outside world,” he said. “Your family sets the building blocks of how you will act when you step out of the house. Society is what teaches you stuff you don’t learn inside your home, positive and negative.”

Along with this, showing appreciation has changed over time as well. As mentioned before, chocolate and cards are certainly ways to show someone how much they mean to you. But these gifts also make Valentine’s Day seem competitive.

I appreciate all the friends and family I have surrounding me and push me to be the best me :)

- Casey Carpenter

FOR YOU AND ME

I appreciate my friends for always sticking with me through all of my flaws and my worst moments.

- Ben Dockter

“Everyone always wants to outdo each other, everyone wants to give their partner the biggest and best present until it seems like it’s no longer out of love,” sophomore Reyna Rodriguez said.

This is something seen quite a bit in the 21st century especially, as we’re surrounded by media posts of who got what and what someone did for the day. For teenagers who are on social media more than anyone and are just experiencing their first relationships, this trend can seem amplified tenfold.

“I feel like teenagers treat Valentine’s Day very much as a day to shower their partner in love and express how much they appreciate them and it definitely feels more like romantic love is important,” junior Madi Beam said.

This could be seen on the morning of Valentine’s Day at school, students walking around the halls with teddy bears, baskets, bouquets. Some bouquets were provided by our very own school community, with the class of 2025 ASB selling teddy bouquets to raise funds for their prom while spreading the love.

“I loved the bear bouquet idea they had this year and the spirit week,” Rodriguez said. Luckily, big bouquets of bears, jewelry and all the aforementioned gifts aren’t the only way to show someone you love them. The five love languages are words of affirmation, acts of service, gift giving/receiving, quality time and physical

touch. Why keep it limited to gifts?! Outside of Valentine’s Day, a great way to show how much you care is being attentive.

“I actually value my time extremely highly and I make an effort to hang out with those I care about. That being said, if I’m not spending time with them it doesn’t mean I don’t care about them, sometimes I’m just not in the mood for socializing. But yeah, my main [love language] form is time,” Harmon said.

Adding to that, after a quick poll, another very popular love language among students is physical touch! Hugging, putting your arm over their shoulder, that cute thing where you’re not really holding hands but your hands are on top of each other, all of it.

“[My love language is] physical definitely, I literally give everyone hugs,” sophomore Belle Hensrude said. “I hang on my partner constantly and it’s just so comforting for me. My second one is probably quality time. I spend every second I can to hang out with my partner because I just find myself happiest with him.”

At the end of the day, the pink and red sets in shops, the gifts and roses you get, only last a few weeks. Walk into Safeway from Feb. 1 through 16, it’s decked out and looks like Cupid went $400 over their budget. Why wait for Feb. 14 to roll around when you can appreciate those around you daily? Happy New Year Hawks, and remember to live, laugh, love. H

I appreciate two of my closest friends. Gwen and Anna. l’m completely lost without them. They help me through my first year here in MTHS and in States!!

- Anonymous

I love Paul the Cat. He is the light of my life, my motivation for waking up every morning. Every day I come home and see his face, it fills me with joy. He is beloved by everyone who he graces with his presence with <3

- Anonymous

I APPRECIATE KYLEIGH SMITH! KYLEIGH SMITH SAVED MY LIFE

I LOVE THAT KYLEIGH SMITH!

- Anonymous

I appreciate my friends. They have been my rock through summer and this school year. They are funny, understanding, and so very nice. They have helped me grow as a person and find my best self, well more like find who I wanna be. But they are the most amazing group of friends I could’ve asked for.

- Augustus Lecter

Friends, partner

- Andrian Treadwell

ESPORTS SEASON STARTS WITH A BANG!

By Mika Raring and Rachel Davis Graphics by Zoe Teran HAWKEYE STAFF

A new type of competition has recently taken schools by storm in the form of esports. As the first school in the Edmonds School District to start an esports club and to be provided with the necessary computers, MTHS is at the beginning of the wave.

Just recently, Terrace’s varsity team collected a win in their first competition against Lincoln High School.

Short for electronic sports, esports are video games played competitively, most often involving teams. However, playing esports is more than just gaming according to junior Ryan Sturgill, captain of the MTHS team Rocket League.

“Playing an esport involves not just playing video games but recognizing flaws in your play to improve yourself and the team,” Sturgill said.

As with any team sport, esports require coordination, communication and connection between players who work together to win the game. The games are usually set up with teams consisting of three to six players, each having a role based on their strengths depending on the game played.

First introduced in South Korea during the early 2000s, esports have become an international phenomena, gaining millions of viewers and fans. International competitions, often including large cash prizes, allow players to climb the ranks of professional gaming. As the popularity of esports has grown, schools have begun to introduce their own teams.

The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA)

Executive Board approved a twoyear trial of a new sport/activity in 2020, allowing WIAA and partner Playfly Esports to offer esports with the competitive season in January.

“Esports is new,” Sturgill said. “We are the first and only school in the district to have highquality gaming PCs given to us.”

Computer science teacher Brandon Owings prompted the creation of the club, which started earlier this school year. The esports team is currently in the process of moving equipment to their very own gaming room, formerly a theater storage room in the STEM wing.

As the club works to recruit new members, the equipment

is a huge draw.

“I saw the high quality equipment we get to use,” Sturgill said. “I like being able to compete for my school and playing high level games.”

MTHS currently has two esports teams, split into varsity, which consists of more experienced players, and another team that has players of all different skill levels.

Right now they are playing in the WIAA Spring Season, meaning that they play other schools all across Washington in a 3-on-3 game once a week.

Varsity, named Rocket Hawks, competes in Rocket League, a game very similar to a virtual soccer game but using vehicles instead of people. The object of the game is to use teamwork to advance the ball down the field and score goals.

“[We] all have to be utility players which means we are all playing offensively and defensively,” Sturgill said. “But each of our personalities go into being on the team as well. All three of us on varsity have to have a good mindset or they might compromise the team.”

In their first game, the varsity team consisted of Sturgill, junior Jesse Kilgore and junior Amir Basmani, defeated the team from Seattle’s Lincoln High School. With their first game ending in a win, it seems the season is off to a good start despite minor setbacks.

Due to the internet issues during the past few weeks, MTHS was unable to play in the first part of the season, forced to forfeit those games.

Now, however, it seems they are back on track.

Winning against Lincoln, who held the first place title, means that MTHS expects to end the regular season top three in the state. If they place high enough, which it seems they will, the varsity team will advance to the playoffs.

As the world of esports becomes more developed, it’s clear that there are many things students can learn from it.

As team captain, Sturgill has learned how to lead a group, playing off of different skill sets in a way that makes the team one.

“It has been a lot of fun improving my skills at Rocket League and my teamwork skills,” he said.

“We are able to play not just together in the same game but together as one entity.” H

The esports team moves into their new room. Junior Ryan Sturgill (upper left), senior Gavin Leach (upper right) and junior Amir Basmani (above) carry in the only school provided gaming computers in the district. EMMALEE HARMON | HAWKEYE

“Playing

an esport involves not just playing video games but recognizing flaws in your play to improve yourself and the team.”

Ryan Sturgill ESPORTS TEAM CAPTAIN

Art teacher Nichole Mohs fixes up some old chalk art in the new esports room. EMMALEE HARMON | HAWKEYE

CONTINUING THE LEGACY WITH A NEW BIG SIX

By Mika Raring LIFESTYLE EDITOR

From spirited assemblies to the “GeeeeDouble-O-D morning” that greets MTHS each day, everyone knows the Big Six. Acting as the student leadership of MTHS’s Associated Student Body (ASB), the Big Six oversees the organization of assemblies, dances, charity drives, spirit weeks and other school-wide events.

Fast approaching are elections for the 2023-2024 Big Six officers, which will be held on Wednesday, March 8.

The Big Six consists of the president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, public relations officer and historian. Each member plays a specific role in ASB leadership. Currently, the positions are held by Laraine Sims as president, Ryan Daly as vice president, Davis Gonzaga as secretary, Kaylyn Takeya as treasurer, Kim Banh for public relations, and Henry Obare as historian. To create an impact, however, they have to learn how to work well together.

“I have classes with several of my fellow Big Six officers as well as planning hangouts and meetings so that we can get better acquainted with each other and become a more effective team,” Big Six Vice President and senior Ryan Daly said. “The Big Six have been able to connect with each other. It really is a great and supportive group.”

Once elected, the group learns how to depend on and build off of each other through classes, hangouts and leadership camps. Though they might not have known each other at the beginning of the year, by the end each officer is very familiar with everyone on the team.

“As a member of the Big Six you really put yourself out there to the school and the community as a whole,” Daly said. “It really

allows me to connect with people that I might’ve never known before.”

Acting as a role model is a huge part of being a Big Six member, and that includes forming new connections not only with fellow ASB members but also with students from all over the school. These connections make a huge difference to the students they represent and improve their leadership skills.

“I joined the Big Six because of the role models before me,” Daly said. “Notably such previous members as Ciara Laney, Preston Thrush, Leonardo Diaz and Skyler Knight.”

The Big Six are individuals chosen to lead the school, and the impact they have can last far beyond their graduation from Terrace.

“These are individuals I held and still hold in the highest regard in terms of leadership capability and bringing the school community together,” Daly said. “It’s through seeing their impact that I wanted to try to leave one of my own.”

Inspired by the Big Six members who preceded him, Daly will definitely leave a significant impression on students.

From his daily greeting on the announcements to his endless energy during pep rallies, Daly is widely known and regarded positively throughout the school. Formerly the executive historian, Daly has had over a year of experience in Big Six and knows what to look for in potential candidates.

“A Big Six member should be committed to their school through spirit and responsibility to fulfill their role,” Daly said. “Someone who is able to connect with their community and encourage others to be their best self by being an example to others.”

As the vice president, Daly is in charge of running the elections for next year’s officers. After filling out an eligibility packet and receiving permission, candi-

dates are instructed to start campaigning, which consists of video speeches and posters. Application forms were available starting Feb. 24, and all paperwork is due on Friday, March 3. Candidates campaign from March 3 to March 8, with speech recordings due on Monday, March 6. On Wednesday, March 8, the student body will vote for the people they see as best fit for the positions.

Each year brings new personalities and assets to the group, ensuring an experience unique to the leadership qualities of the Big Six officers of that year.

“I hope that our future officers are able to fulfill their position in office to their greatest ability and exhibit the traits which the Big Six is known for,” Daly said. “I hope that they are able to lead the school through spirit and leading the community, that they are able to make a positive impact through whatever means they find possible.” H

ZOE TERAN | HAWKEYE

ARABELLA DEVERA | HAWKEYE

Back to the Olden Days – Internet? What is that?

Story by Kaylee Miyamoto and Rachel Davis Graphics by Kimberly Nguyen HAWKEYE STAFF

On Jan. 31, Edmonds School District (ESD) discovered a series of suspicious activities that had been happening on the district servers since Jan. 17. The district took measures to mitigate the issue, shutting down internet access, resetting staff and student passwords and limiting access to online school resources such as Skyward and Canvas. Staff and students were left without information until later in the day after the internet had already been shut down, notified through in-school intercom announcements from Principal Greg Schellenberg and the district distributing information through ParentSquare.

District officials took 13 days to restore internet and access to teacher workstations and student Chromebooks, having students and staff individually reset passwords. For two weeks, classes had to continue

without Chromebook or internet access, requiring teachers to adapt and rework lesson plans quickly.

On Feb. 1, the day after the internet shut down, students got a two-hour delay while teachers were given time to plan for the day. Security software installation on district devices began shortly after, and there was no timeline for when the internet would be restored until it was deemed safe to do so.

On Feb. 10, the district notified families and staff that information such as social security numbers, driver’s license numbers, dates of birth, student identification numbers, financial account information, medical information and student records may have been accessed. Between Jan. 16 and Jan. 31 those who breached the system were able to view and acquire information on the network. Students whose information was leaked were contacted separately by the district to address the issue. Currently there

have been no updates as to who had malicious intent on the district server. Due to the internet shut down, the grading deadline for first semester got pushed back to Feb. 20 when they were originally due on Feb. 6. Students and staff struggled with having no access to online school materials, and seniors worried about late transcripts affecting their college decisions. In some classes, students fell behind the recommended course timeline due to the lack of resources and teachers not being able access lessons. Now some classes are working harder to catch up, and teachers are working harder to keep up. Many issues came up throughout the restoration process that pushed it back and raised concern. Some students were not signed out of their accounts up until the password reset, still being able to access their Chromebooks, and

most students were able to access Canvas through personal devices. ESD hired a third party to investigate what exactly happened and more information is to be released. As of two months ago, the district has been without a cybersecurity analyst, leading people to question why the position has not been filled and if that contributed to the network breach.

When the threat had been mitigated and the district deemed it appropriate, MTHS held special block schedules on Feb. 14 and Feb. 15. During these days, students went down to computer labs during their English classes to receive help in resetting their passwords and logging back into their accounts. Students who don’t have an English class were given a time frame for two separate days to come onto campus after school to reset their passwords. H

MINER: THE UNANIMOUS CHOICE TO REMAIN AT THE ESD HELM

By Jakob Nacanaynay SPORTS EDITOR

On Feb. 8, 2023, Interim Superintendent Rebecca Miner, Ed.D was voted unanimously by the ESD Board to become the new permanent superintendent, edging out finalist Concepcion (Concie) Pedroza, Ed.D. The decision follows a months-long search which started on Oct. 11 and was led by consulting firm GR Recruiting.

Miner began her position as interim superintendent on July 1, 2022 as replacement for Gustavo Balderas who moved to become the superintendent of Beaverton School District in Oregon. Previously, Miner served as the superintendent for the Shoreline School District for seven years.

Miner has worked in education for 30 years, having experience in several roles including as an English and special education teacher, assistant principal and assistant superintendent. In 2016, she received a doctorate in educational leadership from Washington State University Vancouver.

On Feb. 7, a public forum was held in the Terraceum for the district community to pose questions and provide feedback to the Board on finalists Miner and Pedroza. The event was moderated by Rob MacGregor, an associate with GR Recruiting. The public forum was formatted so Miner would first introduce herself and field questions provided by attendees and filtered by MacGregor, then Miner would be switched with Pedroza who would introduce herself and answer similar questions.

The topics raised included how they would ensure school safety; promote equity, espe-

cially on increasing the number of POC staff; provide support for paraeducators, special education, early learning, specialist classes and mental health; and adjust to changes in the classroom post-COVID.

Miner introduced herself by speaking about her experience as a teacher and stating that she felt schools didn’t provide enough for her to overcome barriers in the classroom. She stated that seeing the barriers in the classroom propelled her to earn a special education credential to serve as a special ed teacher.

“It’s the obligation of a system to serve teachers, and paraeducators, and administrators, and not all on me,” Miner said.

Miner also spoke on her experience working as the superintendent of the rural White Pass School District in East Lewis County, Washington before she worked at Shoreline.

“My greatest growth came when I became the superintendent of a district with 400 students,” Miner stated. “Being the superintendent of a district with 400 students teaches you the system from A to Z.”

On approaching specific issues, Miner promoted listening to the community via research, focus groups and other opportunities for the community to provide input. As interim superintendent, she conducted a review of the special education program with the American Institutes for Research, and received applause upon pointing out the survey had a wide reception.

“I don’t have in my head or in my heart right now a plan,” Miner said on improving special education. “Like, I don’t have a road map until we see the outcome of that. I’m

not going to disregard the survey results of 1,300 people and the time and the energy they’ve taken to contribute to that. What I will commit to doing is that I believe the next step in the work needs to be shepherded by whoever’s in the superintendent seat… I think that needs to be collaborative work.”

Pedroza in some ways had opposite experiences to Miner. She worked as associate superintendent at the Seattle School District with a body of over 50,000 students. She spoke on the power of education and how she was the first in her family to receive a degree.

“I think about the two values my mother taught me growing up: the love of your community is the most powerful thing, and nobody can take your education away from you,” Pedroza said. “So those are the two values that I have that I think about all the time when I think about my work and how I support students in the classroom.”

Addressing the elephant in the room, Pedroza stated she was interested in the position of superintendent at Edmonds School District because of her familiarity and appreciation for the community.

“I actually have been part of your community, Edmonds School District, all over for many many years. I have family who lives here so I’ve celebrated here… I’ve been here and I know that the people here are the center of the community… I’ve looked at your strategic plan and everything you believe in is in line with my vision and my values.”

On policy, she stated the district should support all students through setting goals, listening to students and families and pro-

viding support.

Public forum attendees, English teacher Jennifer Widrig-Hodges and college and career specialist Tribecca Brazil, both stated they felt Miner did a better job, though they were still left dissatisfied.

“I would like to see [Pedroza] do a little more research in our district… it didn’t seem like they knew what we already had in place,” Brazil said.

Widrig-Hodges noted that it seemed Miner “knew what’s up” with her experience as interim superintendent but that neither really understood the issues with teacher retention.

“‘Listen to our staff of color.’ We often assume we know what that is and it’s not necessarily the case,” Brazil said. H

Speaking to community members, students and staff at an open public forum in the Terraceum, Rebecca Miner addresses questions posed by audience members.

EMMALEE HARMON | HAWKEYE

THE UNDER-REPORTING OF RAPE CASES

WHY IT NEEDS TO BE TALKED ABOUT

By Halle Connell HAWKEYE STAFF

Every year in the U.S. since 2013, around 135,000 rape cases are reported. On average, including unreported cases, there are 463,634 victims of sexual assault a year in the country. To put that into perspective, there are 31,536,000 seconds in a year, meaning every 68 seconds, someone in America is sexually assaulted.

This statistic alone is enough to demonstrate how rampant sexual assault and rape is in America. The sheer amount of unreported cases of sexual assault and rape in America is over two times the amount of cases that are reported. And if the victim decides to report this, there is a high possibility that it won’t be taken to court due to lack of evidence.

So what is the main reason most of these cases go unreported?

The statistics

According to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN), out of 1,000 rape cases, just 310 are reported, 50 reports lead to arrest and 28 cases will lead to a felony conviction. That’s 31% reported, 5% leading to arrest and 2.8% leading to a felony conviction.

Also, keep in mind the statistics of false reports when tackling rape and sexual assault accusations, one of the most common arguments against people who share their stories. Many claim that false reports are common, or at least more than commonly expected. But according to Brown University, false reports of rape are drastically overestimated. Research indicates that false allegations make up just 2% to 10% of cases, making it a very rare occurrence.

This doesn’t stop the narrative that “false allegations happen to young boys constantly.” Through this narrative, many victims believe that they won’t be believed if they report their assault to police due to the “high amount” of false allegations.

According to the Central Minnesota Sexual Assault Center (CMSAC), there is a 16% chance of arrest for sexual abuse cases (including possession of child pornography, travel for prohibited sexual conduct, rape, etc.) that are reported. And the average time in jail? 30 months. Less than 3 years in jail for a sexual abuse case.

Out of past rape cases in the U.S. that led to prosecution, a surprising amount ended with more than a decade in prison. Still, it’s important not to overlook that these are the cases that were reported and taken to court, as well as prosecuted. One thing people need to remember when addressing rape statistics is the amount of them that go unreported or end up dismissed by the justice system.

According to CMSAC, “Only about 6% of rapists ever serve a day in jail. If a rape is

reported there is a 50.8% chance of arrest.”

Someone coming out and facing their rapist in court with only a 50% chance of arrest can be a huge risk for survivors. Many victims don’t report rape for reasons like this, fearing the possibility of secondary victimization, especially if the persecutor is somebody in their life.

Who are the victims?

According to Auger & Auger Personal Injury Lawyers, 91% of the victims of sexual abuse are women and 9% are men. Though men make up just 9% of most sexual abuse cases, they are still victimized. The age when men are most likely to be victimized is 4 years old, and 8% of boys in grades 5 to 12 report experiencing sexual abuse.

Women take the majority of victimization when it comes to sexual abuse. Women and girls age 16 through 19 are four times more likely to be victims of sexual assault, and the greatest risk is at age 14.

Children also make up a large percentage of victims, with 44% of sexual abuse victims under the age of 18, and 15% under the age of 12. The majority of these cases were perpetrated by someone who was close to or knew the child.

Race is also an important factor when it comes to sexual assault. According to New Orleans Sexual Assault Response Team, out of the 91% of women who have been raped, 17.7% were white, 18.8% were African American, 6.8% were Asian/Pacific Islander, 24.4% were mixed races, 14.6% were Hispanic and 34.1% were Native American/ Alaskan Native.

The reasons rape goes unreported

Almost 80% of all rape cases go unreported by the victim. According to a justice department analysis of violent crimes in 2016, victims, mostly women, would refuse to report what happened to the police.

According to RAINN sexual crime statistics, the main reasons people do not report rape or sexual assault are, “20% feared retaliation from the perpetrator, 13% believed the police would not do anything to help, 13% believed it was a personal matter, 8% reported to a different official, 8% believed it was not important enough to report, 7% did not want to get the perpetrator in trouble, 2% believed the police could not do anything to help, 30% gave another reason, or did not cite one reason.”

“I think the reason people don’t report it is one, they’re scared people won’t believe them, and they’re like ‘oh I’m going to look crazy,’ and two, that people around them will be like, ‘Oh no they’re such a nice person,” sophomore Anabelle Bena said. “I feel like

ANALYSIS & PERSPECTIVE

Hope for the future and what we can all do

By Halle Connell HAWKEYE STAFF

Beingbuilt on a very misogynistic and patriarchal society, it’s hard to face these problems head on as individuals, especially when dealing with such a heavy topic such as rape. The one thing we can do is change ourselves, our mindset, and how we treat ourselves and others around us.

“It has to do with the stigma around rape and sexual assault,” sophomore T Mize said. “Most people just think it’s their fault, and most people don’t even know you’re suppose to go to the hospital right after being raped. I think it’s really disgusting the culture of victim blaming and just the stigma around it. It needs to be changed.”

One thing most people can hope for in the future is to believe victims no matter what,

no one gets caught because no one believes them (the victim), and so their fears are correct. I still think you should report it because it would probably get more people in jail, but it’s a big system problem as well.”

There is also a lack of evidence for most rape investigations. According to ABC News Network, “Prosecutors are allowed to refuse a (rape) case due to lack of evidence.” But prosecutors also tend to reject rape cases for more reasons.

But why can’t the evidence be collected? Reports say that forensic evidence is best collected within 72 hours after the incident, which doesn’t happen in most cases. DNA and forensic evidence is often not readily available or does little to nothing for the trial.

According to the University of Massachusetts Lowell professors Melissa Morabito and April Pattavina, “A lot of times, detectives felt like they had really good, solid cases with enough evidence to make an arrest, but prosecutors declined to go forward. Police and prosecutors cited victims’ lack of cooperation as a major cause of closing cases with ‘exceptional clearance’ or for designating them as inactive. But that’s problematic, too.”

Pattavina also reported on why cases don’t go through to trial. “Victims may feel they’re not being treated with respect by police or prosecutors, or they might not have the resources to keep going back for interviews that require them to take time off from work, find child care, or something else,” Pattavina said. “We need to understand what part of case attrition is victim decision-making and what part is a lack of resources.”

Pattavina claimed that even when police investigators have a strong amount of evidence and have high confidence that they will be able to prosecute the perpetrator,

until they are proven otherwise.

“It’s really messed up, and the fact that people have to think that they could go to talk to somebody like, ‘Hey, I’ve just been sexually assaulted’ and you might not be believed, and there’s probably a good chance you won’t be believed is completely wrong and terrible,” senior Karsten Johnson said.

Any victim of any form of sexual abuse has the right to be heard and believed first before proven otherwise.

Rape culture and victim blaming as a whole has planted itself in our society, and people can do it out of habit.

But those habits need to change before we dig ourselves into an even deeper hole, and an immeasurable one for victims of sexual assault. H

prosecutors still reject going forward in the trial.

“Even when suspects were arrested, prosecutors sometimes declined to file charges, foreclosing further investigation, while other cases fell apart because investigations took so long. From report to arrest to prosecution through disposition, so many reports get dumped out of the system,” Pattavina said.

The normalization of sexual and uncomfortable behavior from a young age

The sheer negligence and victim blaming that victims of sexual assault experience is vastly more common than most people realize. Though there are many who do not involve themselves in this behavior, it is far too common and socially accepted.

Victim blaming is ingrained in most toxic or abusive situations. Victims often blame themselves for what happened to them, most likely because of what society has taught us about sexually abusive situations. Women are taught from a young age to accept abusive or harassing behaviors from peers, mainly boys, and are told that it is “normal” or that “it just means he likes you.” These stereotypes that are typically applied to boys teach young children that boys cannot control themselves, and women just have to accept that.

And it isn’t only women who are taught this from a young age. Young boys who are harassed on the playground in primary school by girls are also often told that the girl just likes them, and their feelings and the word “no” mean nothing. H

NOTE: This story addresses a serious issue that some readers may find troubling and perhaps triggering. The Hawkeye has always covered sensitive stories that student editors believe to be important for readers to know about and discuss. We encourage thoughtful discourse on important issues of the day, but also understand there may be those who may not want to read stories like this. Hawkeye editors trust readers with that decision. If you have questions about this or any other aspect of our publications, we welcome your input. See us in Room 130 or email us at Editor@TheHawkeye.org

Hawks leave no doubt, earn 2nd straight championship

By Jakob Nacanaynay SPORTS EDITOR

The sixth-seeded Mountlake Terrace Hawks (18-6) are scheduled to play the 13th-seeded North Thurston Rams (18-8) at the Tacoma Dome at 3:45 p.m. March 1 in a do-or-die moment for the Hawks’ hopes of placing in the WIAA 3A state basketball tournament.

The Hawks finished 6th in the state last year.

The Hawks played their first game in the 2023 3A state basketball tournament against the third-seeded Eastside Catholic Crusaders (198) at Saturday, Feb. 26 at Bellevue College. After keeping mostly even throughout the match, the game almost seemed won as the Crusaders led by 10 points with three minutes left in the fourth quarter. The Hawks, however, would not go down without a fight. In a valiant effort, the Hawks clawed up eight points

and gained possession with seconds left on the clock but could not get off a game-winning shot, losing 54-52. Still, the Hawks held the Crusaders scoreless for nearly half of the final quarter.

Now with a loser-out game scheduled against the Rams, the Hawks will have to give it their all on Wednesday in the Tacoma Dome. Two buses of Rowdy Rooters are currently scheduled to make the trek south to the Dome to help cheer on the team in its second straight trip to Tacoma.

At the District 1 3A tournament, the Hawks annihilated the competition, not only punching a ticket to state but earning their second straight crown as district champions. In fact, they won every game by 10 points or more averaging a winning margin of 16 points per game. The Hawks averaged 62 points per game while holding their opponents to just 46.

HAWKS 2022-2023 SPRING SPORTS CALENDARS (BEFORE MARCH 17)

BASEBALL

Much of the Hawks’ success can be attributed to their stingy defense; in their final district game, the Arlington Eagles (19-5), which normally score in the 60s, were kept to just 34 points compared to the Hawks’ 57. Combined with consistent scorers Jaxon Dubiel and Zaveon Jones, the Hawks prove formidable on the court.

The Hawks ended the regular season in typical fashion with a strong 15-5 record despite having one of the most difficult schedules in the state, which included out-ofdistrict teams like the Mark Morris Monarchs (23-2), the King’s Knights (17-6), the Lynden Lions (21-4), and the Lynden Christian Lyncs (23-2). In fact, the Hawks lost to a WesCo team just twice: to the Marysville Getchell Chargers (16-9) back in December and a 4-point loss to the 16th-seeded Shorecrest Scots, who also play on Wednesday in the Tacoma Dome. H

Compiled by Rachel Davis

DESIGN EDITOR

Senior guard Chris Meegan drives to the basket in regular season game against Marysville-Pilchuck Dec. 6 in the Terraceum. The Hawks thumped the Tomahawks 71-35. EMMALEE HARMON | HAWKEYE

En route to a 23-point win over Arlington in the District 1 Championship game at Everett Community College, the bench erupts in response to a brilliant defensive play. The Hawks beat the Eagles 57-34. EMMALEE HARMON | HAWKEYE

Still headed to the Tacoma Dome, the Hawks fell by 2 to the Metro champion Crusaders in their opening state game

February’s Logic Puzzle

CUTE & CRAZY VALENTINE’S DAY CARD CONFUSION

Created by Jakob Nacanaynay SPORTS EDITOR & PUZZLE MASTER

The Scenario

Alice, Bob, Carol, Dan, and Eve are in a love pentagon/web in which each person likes another in the group, is liked by another in the group, or both.

They all have perfect logical reasoning abilities.

Everyone who was interested in another person anonymously sent one Valentine’s Day card to the person or persons they liked. Each person wants to know who sent them their card or cards (if they received one).

The Details

1. You inform the whole group that exactly one person received no cards. With this information, Bob and Carol, and only them, know who the lonely person is.

2. You inform the group that exactly three people received exactly two cards and that Eve and Dan like each other. The group will keep that information in mind.

3. You inform the group that Carol sent exactly two cards, one of which to someone who sent no cards. Bob has figured out all who have sent all the cards and to whom.

Your Task

Determine what has Bob figured out. Essentially, who sent cards and to whom?

Your Deadline

• 3/10/23

Swag for the Winner

Write your name and your answer on this page and bring it to Room 130.

We’ll randomly select one correct entry and the winner will receive some HSM swag and a shout-out in the next issue!

ADORATION

AFFECTION

ATTRACTION

CANDY

CUDDLY CUTE

DESIRE

ENDEARING

ENDEARMENT

EROS

FEBRUARY

FLOWERS

INFATUATION

HAWKEYE COMICS!

WORD LIST

LOVE PARTNER PASSION

RELATIONSHIPS

ROMANCE

ROSES

SCARLET

SECRET ADMIRER

SIMPATICO

SWEET

VALENTINES

YEARNING

BY VIRGINA ALSEPT-BEATY

2023 Theme: Write of Passage