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we need progress on Gun control

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Get to know your admins: Dan Falk

December 2015 | Volume 31 | Issue 3 Mountlake terrace high school | 21801 44th Ave. W Mountlake Terrace wA 98043

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The Coach.

How coach Nalin Sood and his staff 8 continue to build a culture of success.

2 | December 2015

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December 2015 | 3 hawkeye Leadership ‘15-’16 Editor-in-Chief Paxtyn Merten

Editorial Board

10 5

Tessa King | Hawkeye

Hannah Schuster | Hawkeye

Contents December

2015

Jack Fiorillo | Hawkeye

Visual Graphics Editor Netania Rivera Photo Editor Jack Fiorillo Design Editor Arsha Kiani Hannah Schuster | Hawkeye

jack fiorillo | Hawkeye

5 Take action toward gun violence 7 The power goes out. What next? 10 Snow day! How is it decided?

12 More than an administrator 13 The modern anti-bullying movement 15 Back on the mat: the path to state

Letter from the Editor

We must integrate college and career prep, daily

his year, my senior year, college preparation instruction during the school day has consisted of one 50 minute presentation during my English class in the fall and one optional college visit during PASS. That’s it. Paxtyn Merten Editor-in-chief In fact, throughout all my high school years, post-high school planning has been pretty minimal. A couple of projects freshman year, a form that I check the four-year university box and write “ journalist” in once each year, a senior class on financial literacy. We are taught English and science and history and math daily, yet instruction on how to actually get into college and succeed in life after high school happens far too infrequently.

It seems as though teachers and counselors hold students’ hands through much of the public-schooling process. We’re repeatedly instructed how to fill in the spaces on a Scantron, given dozens of practice standardized test questions, painstakingly walked through credit requirements for graduation and how to fulfill them and so on. However, when it comes to college applications, it seems that this system, which has been designed to coddle us for so long, all of a sudden comes unhitched and throws us onto the street to figure it out on our own. In applying for college, I had to teach myself how to navigate the Common Application and when to start working on it, figure out SAT test days and when registration was due, determine who should write my letters of recommendation and when I should request them. Don’t get me wrong: independence is

Paxtyn Merten, Isaac Otis, Netania Rivera, Stephi Smith, Luke Thurber, Max Tracy Editorial News Editor Stephi Smith Sports Editor Irvin Zhang Feature Editor Maxine Taylor Op/Ed Editors Ian Moffet & Sarah Schank Lifestyle Editor Max Tracy Business General Manager Luke Thurber Distribution Manager Joshua Morrison Event Coordinator Hannah Schuster

not a bad thing and should be expected to some extent. Yet as a school and district that preaches that every student should get some type of post-secondary education, we do a poor job of setting students up to get into those post-secondary institutions we praise so much. College and career preparation should be deeply integrated into the weekly schedule of all students beginning as early as middle school. There is already a work time set aside in most middle and high schools’ days. At MTHS, this takes the form of PASS, in which students are able to work on homework and get help from teachers. Why can’t this include a daily/weekly instructional time on all things college and career prep? PASS could be the time that students are continually drilled with deadlines, provided with Common Application (and any other online registration format) tutorials, continued on page 4...

Online Online Manager Isaac Otis Multimedia Manager Alex Croce ........................................................ 2015-2016 Hawkeye Staff Annika Prom, AsiaLee Donnelly, Ben Eyman, Bobby Stoyanov, Brianna Houtman, Catherine Allemann, Dani Bilyeu, Danielle Barnett, Dee Strohl, Erica Lampers, Jacob Allard, Joey May, Katrina Pirie, Kira Doan, Kyle Llarenas, Lexi Fletcher, Lilly Stelmack, Luke Smith, Marianne Nacanaynay, Matthew Hipolito, Mikayla Smith, Milkias Yonatan, Patsha Ha, Praditha Halstad, Ryan Dunne, Samantha Svikel, Samuel Johnson, Selena Williams, Sierra Clark, Sunshine Haglund, Tessa King, Thaddeus Merten and Vivian Nowka-Keane. Name in bold indicates the staff member of the month as selected by the Editorial Board. ........................................................ Adviser Vince DeMiero FANs Coordinators Sandra Merten & Cathy Fiorillo Printing Pacific Publishing Member MTHS ASB, JEA/WJEA, NSPA, Student Press Law Center, Tao of Journalism

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Mission

Mission Statement The Hawkeye’s mission is to provide the MTHS community with quality, thought-provoking student produced publications. In policy and in practice since 1960, the Hawkeye is a designated open forum publication.

Policies

The Hawkeye has established several open public forums for the exchange of information, opinions and artistic expression dedicated to those in the MTHS community. Since 1960, we have faithfully served our audience and community as an open, public forum where student editors make all decisions. Editorials The editorial section of the Hawkeye 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 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. 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. Editorial Cartoons Submissions represent the view of the artist. Editorial cartoons accompanying editorials and editorial columns represent the view of the author. Cartoons are selected based on appropriateness and clarity of message. Advertising 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; 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. Revised 9/2013

reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.

4 | december 2015

Bringing awareness to people with food allergies

he next time you walk into a bakery or grocery store, challenge yourself. Flip the tables, scrounge the candy aisles and bakery counters until you find one item that is completely safe for those with food allergies. I’ll give you a hint: it’s not easy. Netania Rivera Graphics Editor According to FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education), up to 15 million people in the United States have food allergies, of which eight types of foods have been recognized to cause 90 percent of all reported reactions: milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, soy, wheat, fish and shellfish. The majority of these items just so happen to be present in many bakeries, cafes and factory-made goods. Some may not necessarily contain these allergens, but their presence

during manufacturing processes risks cross demand. In the long run, creating processing contamination, driving away potential cusfacilities that don’t cross-contaminate ingretomers with food allergies. dients will be worth it for the new customers To this day, few self-declaring “allergenthat would be gained as a result. friendly” brands are available at your everyLuckily, a step in the right direction has day grocery stores. Those allergic to more been made on one front. As gluten-free common foods such as wheat or soy have products become more in demand, familiar limited options to what names such as Hershey’s, “To this day, very they can eat and expose General Mills and a numfew self declaring themselves to. ber of other companies “allergen-friendly” Speaking as someone have gotten behind the brands are available at practice of either removwith allergies, it’s much your everyday grocery ing gluten as an ingredilike a treasure hunt to stores...” ent in many products or find, for example, a box labelling items that never of store made cookies or an energy bar where it seems like the makers contained gluten in the first place. And while wheat allergy and celiac disease are two very of this particular product are not trying to different situations, it brings up conversakill you. Finding a brand of dark chocolate or a bakery that actually caters to your needs tion and visibility to the concept of providtends to create an immediate loyal customer. ing dietary alternatives to those originally restricted to specific food options. It’s an endless mission to see which busiToday, according to the University of nesses are smart enough to figure out there’s a sizable audience looking for a very specific Chicago Celiac Disease Center, more than

Hawkeye

2,000 gluten-free food products are available in regular U.S. grocery stores, with the gluten-free foods market expecting to reach $6.6 billion by 2017, showcasing the obvious success this particular market has had with consumers. And even with the popularity of the gluten-free diet, celiac disease only affects about 1 percent of the American population. With the number of those with food allergies far exceeding those who cannot eat gluten, it’s a wonder why more allergen free products haven’t caught on in the same way. Perhaps it’s because of all the noise “glutenfree” has generated. Besides those with celiac disease, there are those who have chosen the gluten-free fad diet, as well as those who dislike eating gluten for their own reasons. Whether you choose to not eat gluten, there was a large enough clamor that got the attention of those who could supply the demand. So, if the same noise was made for those with the common food allergies, we could match the gluten-free fad tenfold. H

More school-provided support for post-high school plans ...continued from page 3

Our current system of informing students by giving the advice on application essays and one-on-one time to talk same 50-minute PowerPoint to diverse classes of students with informed individuals concerning applications. On days is inefficient in that it gives a broad yet shallow amount of without an agenda, it could simply serve as an established information rather than deep, specific information. college application work time. Only bits and pieces of the presentation are valuable to any The only problem with this solution is that, by contract, the given student, whereas having specialized information in any district cannot mandate that there is instruction attached to given area (and more of it) would actually give the student PASS/advisory that the teachers have to do prep work for. worthwhile knowledge. Yet if teachers are provided with the tutorials, deadlines, For instance, a student planning to go to a local commuinformation about what college essays should look like, and nity college after graduating high school does not need to otherwise speak based on their existhear about the options available for ing knowledge, it doesn’t seem like applying out of state. A student who “Frankly, our current system teachers would have to do all that anticipates going into the military forces staff to spend too much preparation: they would simply does not need to hear about applying much time walking students have to push out the information sent to different public or private colleges. through many tasks that are of to them on a regular basis and answer Essentially, this all-encompassing much lesser importance than (or find answers to) questions. PowerPoint is just a huge waste of our post-high school plans.” When we are forced to depend on time for most students. ourselves and other students, there is Rather than force useless informaa lot of room for error in the information onto the masses, it would be a tion we receive and implement. I see many cases of students better use of time and energy to sort students based on their helping other students navigate the Common Application preferences and save these broader presentations for those in website when they only have a limited amount of knowledge the “I don’t know” category. Those who have an idea of what about it themselves. they want to do can instead spend their final years in the Between the Internet, Counseling & Career Center page on public education system preparing for the next stage of their the MTHS website and evening college preparation events, lives. students have many windows of information should they The school district is already beginning to implement a choose to seek them out. program called Naviance which may prove to be a major But students shouldn’t have to seek out these resources: the solution to our problems. This is an online tool which is used public school system should present this information to all for college and career planning. students during the school day so that each and every indiBeginning in seventh grade, the program will force stuvidual can get it without having to go the extra mile. dents to think about what they want to do post-graduation If school staff could regularly take time in the day to prothrough career exploration and measuring interests and vide us with these resources, it would help ensure that all skills. During their sophomore year, students will be asked students receive the same information and have the same to sift through colleges and make a list of ones they are interopportunity to be on the right track post-graduation. ested in. Then, as juniors and seniors they will create lists Furthermore, this information should be personalized to of the colleges they’re applying to and begin to request transtudents based on their post-graduation plans. scripts and letters of recommendation.

For seniors, the program also incorporates a resume builder, job application training, filling out the FAFSA and more. In theory, this program embodies what students need to make it through the application process. Assistant Superintendent Patrick Murphy gave a report on Naviance at a recent Edmonds School District (ESD) School Board meeting and said that it would be launched next year and access would take place during advisory periods. Naviance has all the potential to make post-high school planning much more straightforward for students. However, if the program is going to be truly effective, it is crucial that teachers and counselors implement it regularly in the school week and expand on it based on student need, especially during a student’s junior and senior years. Having sessions once or twice a year would not allow Naviance to live up to its full potential. The program needs to have a consistent presence in students’ lives to truly make a difference. In addition, it must be introduced to staff, students and parents in a way that makes sense. People cannot just be thrown into the program: it requires a fair amount of instruction by those who actually have a complete understanding of it. If this is not provided, students and staff will not understand it and, again, its potential will fall through. Frankly, our current system forces staff to spend too much time walking students through many tasks that are of much lesser importance than our post-high school plans. A student should only have to be told once how to fill in a bubble on a test question. Standardized tests, while they are federally mandated, don’t teach us anything about getting a job, getting into college, or really anything about making it in the real world. Being coddled in these situations is like having to hold hands with your parents to walk across the hall. Instead of such unnecessary coddling, our time would be better spent in college and career preparation. If there’s anything that public school staff should hold students’ hands on, it is post-graduation planning. Above all else, that will have the greatest impact on the rest of our lives. H

Hawkeye

december 2015 | 5

AT War with Ourselves

here is a problem in the U.S. that is killing Americans have been prepared,’” AP Government teacher George faster than ever before, yet there is still a debate on the Dremousis said. “There’s this erroneous belief that if you had issue. The problem is the defensive mentality that Americans a gun, somehow you would get involved in a gun battle and have toward guns that has been neutralize the threat, which very seldom happens. The best deeply rooted into our culture. thing is to leave it to the professionals.” Time and time again, President Yet the same group of people, like Cruz, will jump up in Barack Obama has had to go in arms whenever an American is killed in an act of internafront of the nation and give the tional terrorism. We worry so much about the threat of the same address calling for change, outside world when we are quite frankly killing ourselves but time and time again it falls in cases such as Dylann Roof and the Charleston church on deaf ears in Congress and shooting and the recent Planned Parenthood shooting in nothing is done to address the Colorado. Irvin Zhang ASB Public Relations Officer problem. According to the Justice Department, the Center for This problem has been here Disease Control (CDC), Gun Violence Archive and the New for decades, yet even after Columbine, Sandy Hook, Aurora, America Foundation, the number of Americans killed Charleston, and most recently San Bernardino, nothing is by jihadists during the past 10 years is 29. The still being done to prevent these from occurring again. The number of Americans killed as victims of gun only results that have come out of these tragedies are the homicide over that same time span is 132,349. tears of the victim's family and the thoughts and prayers. And time and time again, gun advocates will As kind as thoughts and prayers are, they won’t bring the give the same old ignorant argument that guns victims back nor will they prevent this from happening again. don’t kill people and that people kill people. But The only way to bring change and put an end to mass take the San Bernardino incident, for example. shootings in America is through the political system and If the armed shooters weren’t equipped with right now, that is impossible if Congress can’t come up with two semi-automatic rifles meant for warfare and any agreement. 1,600 rounds, or if they didn’t have a gun in genThe National Rifle Association (NRA) continues to ignore eral, the outcome would not have been 14 dead, 21 the tears of the victims of gun violence and instead contininjured. If they had, say, a knife, the death and injury ues to pour millions of dollars into gun lobbying in order to tolls would have been far fewer. So no, guns themselves ensure that their treasured second amendment is protected don’t kill people, but they allow people to end many more and that Congress remains divided. lives much faster than any other potential weapon. According to the National Center for Responsive Politics This is the fundamental basis of why gun control laws are and their database of money spent on lobbying, this year needed. Yes, there are responsible gun owners out there but alone the NRA has spent in $2,675,240 to ensure that as we have seen tragedy after tragedy, there are also those America increases the rate of guns per capita in the world; who commit heinous crimes with them. If Obama’s plan to and the competition for highest rate of guns per capita isn’t implement mandatory universal background checks, a ban on even close. military-issue assault weapons and magazines holding more Because of the lack of recognition to this gun problem from than 10 rounds was in place, San Bernardino’s shooters second amendment advocates, the U.S. ranks number one would’ve had a much harder time obtaining the weapons among all developed nations in homicide-by-firearm rate. and killing and wounding as many as they did. Instead of addressing the issue by taking the guns out of Others will say that putting in mandatory background the hands of those who shouldn’t have them and implementchecks and making access to assault weapons more diffiing ways to make it harder for guns to fall into the wrong cult is a direct infringement upon their second amendment hands, pro-gun activists like Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) are rights. But just because it’s an amendment does not mean advocating for more guns. that it is absolute or concrete. There are Yes, despite the United restrictions and limitations to the first “The Constitution was written so States leading the world in amendment, for example. We cannot that it could be adapted in the amount of firearms, pro-gun slander or libel. We cannot force religion future depending on the problems activists think that the only nor prevent somebody from practicing that America would face.” way to solve the problem is by a religion. So, the question arises, why adding more guns into society, does the second amendment get according to the Council for Foreign Nations. immunity to such restrictions and limitations? This path is the polar opposite to that of Australia. After a The Constitution was written so that it could be mass shooting that killed 35 people in 1996, the Australian adapted in the future depending on the problems government removed all shotguns, assault rifles and semithat America would face. “The Constitution was not automatic rifles within the country. written to be a static document. It was written to be a A decade after the ban was enacted, the firearm homicide dynamic document that could be changed over the years, rate was reduced by 59 percent and the firearm suicide rate like we saw with civil rights. Nobody thinks this is an fell by 65 percent. In addition, there have been no mass issue that will affect them until it does and by then, it’ll be shootings since this legislation was enacted. far too late,” Dremousis said. “When there’s a mass shooting, there’s this perception that Dremousis has been vocal to his students about how there ‘that could’ve been me and if I didn’t have a gun, I wouldn’t have been times when he has felt scared about coming to

school because of threats of possible gun violence. “Before [the Columbine High School shooting], you didn’t think much about it. After it, it set off a domino effect of these tragedies happening every couple years and then you start to think about it. Once you have a child, it gives you a whole different perspective on things. I’d like to live in a society where I should be able to feel safe at a public place like a school, and sadly that’s not the case anymore,” he said. If we do not at least try to address the issue at hand, then we are indirectly responsible for the deaths of many Americans because of our inaction. The system needs reform, not thoughts and prayers, contrary to what some in congress and the senate may believe. You might not agree with everything that is in President Obama’s plan but as a developed nation in the world, shouldn’t we be doing something? Any action is better than no action. We should at the very least have a foundation of universal background checks in place. The first step to solving a problem is to realize that we have one. And America, we have one. H

tessa king | hawkeye

6 | december 2015

Hawkeye

Where Has Everyone Gone?

A simple act

Little Things to Change a Life

Find ways to positively impact the Terrace community

he other day there was an “almost” fight that who has dropped his or her backpack or papers. took place between a couple of students in Simple acts like inviting someone who is sitting the halls between classes. I was some distance alone at the lunch table to join you at yours. away when I saw the Simple acts like intervening when you notice a telltale signs—a student conflict between students. dropped his backpack These simple acts have an amazing power to and iPod on the floor impact the lives of those who you do them for. and approached the We often never know the impact of our acts other student, looking on others but please know they are incredible. I quite angry. I quickened saw a post on Facebook a while ago that is a great my pace to get to the example of power of a simple act. The person who Greg Schwab Principal two of them before posted shared the following: something more serious “I noticed that my boyfriend would always wave happened. to everyone while we were driving around. No As I approached, something really cool hapmatter who it was, he’d flash a smile, and wave pened. Another student, senior Riley Morrin, happily, even if they gave him weird looks and stepped calmly in between the two students and didn’t wave back. I asked him why he waved to backed one of them away from the other. strangers like that, and he said, ‘I heard about I was able to get there some people who had tried and walked the angrier of but failed to commit suicide. “We often never know the the two students to the Many of them said that if a impact of our acts on others office to help calm him stranger had just acknowlbut please know they are down. Riley just went on edged them with a smile or a incredible.” his way to class and that wave, they wouldn’t have tried was the end of it. to end their lives. I want to I found Riley the next day and thanked him for save a life.’” his actions and let him know that he very likely Simple acts. They have the power to help someprevented something more serious from happen- one in small ways and in big ways. Imagine the ing just by his willingness to step in and do the kind of school we would be if everyone made it a simple act of defusing a potential conflict. goal to do one simple act a day. I challenge each This incident serves as a reminder for me of of you to try this! H the importance of simple acts that we all have Note: The Hawkeye provides the MTHS Administration space each the power to do for one another in our school. issue in the Op/Ed section as part of our mission as a designated Simple acts like taking the time to smile at someopen public forum. one or say hi. Simple acts like helping someone

here has everyone gone? I’m sure there’s nothing worse than some guy who’s almost 60 talking about the good old days (at least I got to see all the good bands) but I have to give it Kim Stewart a shot. athletic director/activities coordinator One thing that I will never get use to working at high school is the lack of attendance at school events. We went to “everything” and I mean everything. Plays, concerts, every athletic event home and away. I’m not just talking about the big three either. We went to volleyball matches, wrestling matches – even cross country and track meets. I know we didn’t have all the cool gadgets we have today that would allow us to sit at home and let an electronic device be our best friends. We wanted to go to events to support our classmates and in turn they came to support us. It was that simple. We should be grateful to be sur-

rounded by so many remarkable students and staff with so many talents accomplishing so much here at Terrace. I just hope you don’t let four years go “We should be grateful to be surrounded by so many remarkable students and staff with so many talents accomplishing so much here at Terrace.” by missing something extraordinary done by a classmate(s) that you only hear about. What ever you’re doing over break I truly hope it’s a nice restful one and please be safe. Oh, yeah. There’s also a boys and girls basketball tourney here over break and we would love to see ya. Happy Holidays. H NOTE: Hawkeye provides the MTHS Athletics and Activities office space each issue in the Op/Ed section as part of our mission as a designated open public forum.

The duties we have as young people P

eople often comment that politics are too dirty for them or that their vote doesn’t matter anyway. I would know, I said that exact statement two years ago. Luckily I had the privilege of being around MTHS alumnus and current USC Fight-On enthusiast Nicholas Fiorillo who would completely change my point of view on the world of politics by showing me why it’s so important. Sadly for us, we aren’t equipped Irvin Zhang ASB Public Relations Officer with a Superman or a Bruce Wayne ready at any moment to save us from our problems. In this world, politics is how change is done. And in America, we have the rights and privileges that some around the world wish they had, whether that means petitioning the

or anything like that, but knowledge is power and the worst thing that you could do is blindly vote for someone. “Why not take a little bit out of We have easier access to information than any generation your day to see what’s going before so why not take advantage of that? on in the world and to see what Why not take a little bit out of your day to see what’s going could be affecting you?” on in the world and to see what could be affecting you? As the next generation of adults, we must be educated on government, voting for the senators and representatives we the issues that are upon us and think about their solutions think are right, protesting, etc. whether that issue is the war with ISIS, guns, or the econoThe people have more power than most of us think and we my. have to utilize that power because if we don’t, then people like Whatever it is, as my favorite political commentator said in Donald Trump will become president. his final minutes hosting the Daily Show, “we must have vigiWith the chaos that’s been occurring (i.e. how people like lance in order to be a successful country in this world.” H Donald Trump, Ben Carson, and Texas senator Ted Cruz have a chance), more than ever, it is upon the shoulders of young people not only to get involved, but to make sure that Note: The Hawkeye provides the MTHS Associated Student Body space each issue in the the future of our country is the way that we want it. Op/Ed section as part of our mission as a designated open public forum. I’m not asking you to go all out and volunteer on campaigns

Hawkeye

December 2015 | 7

Lights out By Erica Lampers hawkeye staff

With the winter season upon us, it’s time to prepare for the best and worst of the weather. This includes wind storms, rain and snow. The most severe of these bring power outages that can take us for a turn, and it’s time to know what to do in those cases and how to prepare for them when the power does go out.

What do I do now?

It has happened to all of us. You’re sitting at home at night watching TV when all of a sudden, everything goes dark. It usually comes as a surprise, but there’s no need to fear. As long as you take the right precautions and stay patient, the wait for power to return won’t be anywhere near as bad. The first thing to do is not panic, as there is nothing to be worried about. Next, you’ll want look for any light source that doesn’t use electricity, which could be flashlights, candles or the flashlight setting on your phone. Another good tip is to go around the house and switch off any lights you had on when the power went out. In order to preserve phone battery, make sure to turn down the brightness on your phone and only use it when needed. Another common way to preserve phone battery is to set it to “airplane mode” when it is not in use so that it won’t search for a connection and eat up data and battery. But, you may not be home when the power goes out. In some worst-case scenarios, you could have a power line land on your car while you’re in it. “If you are in [a] car and a fallen line has landed on your vehicle, do not leave. Simply stay inside of it and wait for help,” Tracy Samuels, a worker for the Snohomish County Public Utility District 1 (PUD), said. You also should not go anywhere near downed power lines, according to public safety officials.

How do I do regular life tasks without power?

The number one tip is to do everything you need to do when it is light outside. For instance, if you need to take a shower, do your hair or finish some homework, it would probably be beneficial to do those things before it gets dark. If you have to go out and drive somewhere, it is best to do it during the day while there is still light out. When it comes to laws con-

What to do when your power goes out

cerning driving when the power is out, they mostly apply to nonfunctioning signal lights. In accordance with RCW 46.61.183, drivers should consider any intersections with nonfunctional lights to be all-way stops and act accordingly by yielding as if it were so. Also, it makes sense to be more cautious than usual if you are out driving when it is dark and there are no street lights. You also may still be able to cook, but only if you have gas burners for your stove. Make sure to check all perishable food before eating it. A fridge can last up to four hours without power and a freezer can last up to 48 hours if full, according to Foodsafety.gov. Using a generator to power your fridge and freezer is considered a very good use for it. If you happen to have a generator, be sure to keep it outside at all times. According to the California Energy Commission, portable generators exhaust carbon monoxide, a deadly, odorless and colorless gas that can build up in enclosed spaces. Carbon monoxide poisoning can be fatal.

How long will it take to get power?

Knowing when power will be restored is never an exact science and can range anywhere from a few hours to multiple days. “[How long it takes to restore the power] depends. Some wires are different than others or [the PUD workers] might need to remove fallen trees, [so] it depends on the amount of damage,” Samuels said. If you know a family member or close friend who does have power and who lives nearby, you could always use their house to charge your phone (if it’s an emergency), cook food and take care of any other important business that requires power.

What do I do if I get bored?

Having no Wi-Fi, TV or other electronics may seem scary, but there is so much more to do instead. Turn off your phones and other electronics since they will just run out of battery anyway. There are many ways to stay entertained during a power outage, such as spending quality time with your family. You could play board games, play cards, do puzzles or clean the house. If you are into comedy, Mad Libs or a game of charades will be sure to keep you busy. Don’t be afraid to call local movie theaters and restaurants to see if they are still open and running, providing an alternative way to stay entertained and get out of the house.

How prepared are you for the next power outage? 1. Do you have enough flashlights, batteries and candles for your whole family? yes

2. Are you stocked up with enough nonperishable food to last up to a week of no power?

yes

3. Does your house have extra blankets and/ or layers to stay warm without electric heat? yes

4. Do you and your family have an action plan for emergencies like these?

yes

5. (Optional) Do you have enough entertainment to keep you busy while the power is out? yes

6. (Optional) Do you have a generator to provide some power and keep essential home electronics going? yes

HOW WELL DID YOU DO? Yes = 1 point No = 0 points

0-1 points: You aren’t as prepared as you could be, make sure to stock up on nonperishable items and flashlights. 2-4 points: You are just about ready for the next power outage. 5-6 points: You are really prepared! You should be fine for the next big storm.

How can I prepare for the next inevitable power outage? Always have extra candles, flashlights and batteries. Also, store them in a set place so you know exactly where to go first when the house goes dark. Make sure to keep extra blankets and layers of clothing at hand, especially if your house only has electric heat. It would also be beneficial to check the weather or news every once in awhile to see if there any other storms coming, if possible.

Keeping a generator and battery packs is highly recommended. For the unit itself, a quality generator starts around $3,000, according to several websites. There are many different types of generators, ranging from small ones that can power designated electrical loads, like a fridge and freezer, to large and expensive generators that can power a whole house. Upkeep and cost of fuel is another added cost of owning and using a generator, so keep that in mind before buying a generator. H

8 | December 2015

Hawkeye

December 2015 | 9

A Tradition of success By Irvin Zhang Graphics by Netania Rivera going to be a coach someday,’” Phillips said. Hawkeye staff

As a consensus, Sood’s meticulousness is noted by each and every one of his assistant coaches. So much so that he was granted a comparison with Duke University’s famed and storied head coach Mike Krzyzewski. “Mike Krzyzewski is who I’d compare [Sood] to [because of] the hard-nosed intensity of their coaching styles. They get the most out of their kids,” assistant coach Greg Wirtz said. But that wasn’t the only famed and storied head coach that Sood has been compared to. “I say he’s like Gregg Popovich from San Antonio,” assistant coach Allen Shannon said. “It’s not all about you. It’s about the system. The players are a cog in the wheel. Sood demands the same types of things that Popovich does as well.” Shannon played at Terrace from 1977-1980, and his son Ryan played for coach Sood. As much credit as Sood is given, he always redirects the credit back to his players. “It’s all about the kids. I’m only as good as my players. Our kids battle and our kids play hard,” Sood said. “I’ve been fortunate enough to work with some phenomenal basketball players here, like the one upstairs who’s the dean of students here at MTHS, [behavior coordinator] Michael Boxley. If I can attribute my success to one thing, it’s the players. [Former] head coach [Merle] Blevins would say that. [Former] head coach Ottmar would say that. I believe that and I live my life by that.” Sood’s job, as he describes, is to figure out what his players didn’t do and make them work on those particular aspects. Before every game, Sood spends time in his office writing up all of the points of emphasis, the scouting In the illustrious history of MTHS men’s basketball, report, and the overall game plan. After every game, he there has become a “tradition of success,” as it says on the makes sure to update his practice plans, which are typiteam’s website. Ever since Sood inherited the program, cally already planned out a week in advance so that he’s he has accumulated 225 wins and 135 losses – a staggerready week-to-week. ing .625 winning percentage. Out “[The assistant coaches and I] all of his 14 seasons, he has led his spend a lot of time mastering our “Winning isn’t my only goal. teams to the postseason 12 times craft,” Sood said. “I do personally. I When I got to talk to the as well as earning a state tournago home and break down the tape and alumni at Jam Session XXII, I ment berth seven of those times. see what we did wrong. I decide what got to talk to dads, husbands, “His success is because he’s so on firefighters, businessmen, I need to filter and determine what we financial advisors and see who top of everything,” assistant coach need to get better at because there are they’ve become as products thousands of things that we could get Johnny Phillips said. “He’s so of MTHS, not just MTHS better at, but they’re only high school organized and he exemplifies how basketball. That’s your goal.” kids and they have their own lives.” to be on top of everything.” Nalin Sood Sood’s assistants see his work ethic, As a young kid, Sood had aspiraHead Men’s basketball coach and it rubs off as a result. tions to become a basketball coach “Sood is extremely detailed and someday and his potential to do driven to excellence. All great coaches are detailed and so was recognized long before he became the head of this organized. There’s a certain demand of excellence that he program. expects and he expects a lot from the coaches that work “I took coach Sood scouting with me one day as a young under him. Seeing how hard he works, it makes you want boy and I kept telling coach Ottmar that ‘this kid was It’s 6:15 p.m. There’s approximately 45 minutes before tip-off. The locker room is dead silent with an aura of intensity surrounding the players and coaches inside. Men’s basketball head coach Nalin Sood begins to go over the scouting reports and the points of emphasis all while getting his team battle-ready. Fast forward to halftime. The team funnels back into the locker after poor play on both ends of the floor. They’re down by eight. Sood scans through the disappointed faces of the players and points out what they did wrong, but also how to correct their mistakes and win them the game. The second half starts with a fire lit under the team to get the victory. The two teams clash and battle it out in a tit-for-tat fourth quarter. With the Hawks down five points, junior Brock Davis pulls up for a three pointer and swishes it straight through. During the battle taking place, amidst all the intensity that is emanating from Sood, for just a split second, a smile cracks on his face as he takes a step back and simply admires the game that he has loved for so long. Although the Hawks would go on to lose this night at Roosevelt in a non-league matchup, he would use this game as a lesson and move onto the next opponent. This game was just like any other, another run through the motions of something that Sood inherited from his predecessor Roger Ottmar 14 years ago and has upheld with the help of the people around him.

The Man at the Top

Men’s basketball coach Nalin Sood runs through the game plan and makes sure his players are ready for the task ahead. Pictured above is the pregame talk before they faced off against the Roosevelt Rough Riders. Jack Fiorillo | hawkeye

to work that hard,” Shannon said. plays and he has the ones that he wants to use for the game All of this planning is geared for the end result. marked off,” Wirtz said. “As a head coach, you get stressed “As a coach, we want to win state championships. We’re out and aren’t thinking straight, so it’s my job to come up competitive, you can tell. The goal is always to be the best with plays to suggest and use. Sometimes it’ll work, and other times it won’t.” team we can be when it’s all said and done,” Sood said. Phillips, known by most as Coach Philly, is the specialty “Some day, we’d like to say that we’ve won a state chamcoach. pionship, but something I’ve “I’m the ear of the players as well always said is that if winning “You gotta love the program and you gotta want the program to as their shoulder to cry on. My a state championship doesn’t succeed. Once you realize that, it’s role is to be close to these guys and replicate the feeling that we had not as hard. You have to be there be with these guys 12 months a as coaches and players winning all the time and driving everyone year and become their big brother,” fourth in state, then to hell else. Hard work equals long hours, Phillips said. with winning a state championbut the goal of mine is for the team Cashman, a former art teacher at ship. Doing it the right way is to get better every day.” MTHS, is known as the character what it’s all about.” Allen Shannon coach. Winning isn’t the only reason Men’s basketball assistant coach “Sood calls me the character Sood coaches basketball. coach. I do anything and every“If winning a state champithing that’s needed, from getting ice to talking to someone onship is your only goal as a coach, then there’s a lot of failures out there. Winning isn’t my only goal. When I got off to the side and keeping track of stats and scores. I’ve done it all,” Cashman said. to talk to the alumni at Jam Session XXII, I got to talk to dads, husbands, firefighters, businessmen, financial advisors and see who they’ve become as products of MTHS, not just MTHS basketball. That’s your goal,” Sood said. From the birth of the MTHS basketball program in 1960-61 through the 2014-2015 season, the Hawks have a total win-loss record of 678-579, or a .540 percentage. Oftentimes, people only look at the person at the top of From all of the coaches, the common themes of the prothe program and fail to give credit to the supporting cast. gram are hard work and dedication. For Sood, he attributes a lot of his success to some of his “You gotta love the program and you gotta want the prosupporting cast. gram to succeed. Once you realize that, it’s not as hard. “I always believe that my coaches are always working You have to be there all the time and driving everyone harder than anybody,” Sood said. “And something else else,” Shannon said. “Hard work equals long hours, but the is I’m coaching with guys that are my friends. If I had to goal of mine is for [the team] to get better every day.” pick guys for the assistant coach positions, I’d pick the Wirtz added to that by giving his own definition of hard guys that are here right now. My success is a product of my work. environment and these assistant coaches are it.” “Hard work to me is sweat and doing things that you From the assistant coaches’ perspectives, they feel condon’t want to: putting time in the weight room, running stantly included and recognized by the man at the top. the hills, working out with coach [Phillips], running lines “[Sood] has always been really good about including his at the end of practice even if you’re tired, doing defensive assistant coaches in all of the decision making, points of drills, etc. When you’re exhausted and sweating after a views,” Wirtz said. practice and all you want to do is take a nap, that’s hard The MTHS basketball program has five assistant coachwork,” Wirtz said. es: Allen Shannon, Greg Wirtz, Johnny Phillips, Tim Sood combined the statements of Wirtz and Shannon Cashman and Anthony Asbury. and defined this program and its mission and philosophy. “Our program philosophy is student first, athlete second. Coach Shannon describes himself as the defensive coorWe have high standards and expectations on the court dinator. just like we do off the court, whether it’s in the classroom, “I analyze how they’re playing on that side of the ball, if they’re rebounding, how our help side defense is,” he said. in the hallways, in the community. You put it all together, While Shannon operates on the defensive side of the the culmination of hard work in the classroom and on the ball, Wirtz spends his time operating the offensive side of court is what makes a successful basketball team. If you the ball. don’t have the foundation of all those components, then “I’m kind of like the offensive coordinator. I have a list of you have nothing to build off of.” H

The Hawk Standard

The Unsung Heroes

10 | December 2015

Hawkeye

Snow Dazed

Snow days are generally a time to sleep in and relax, but not for those who determine them How does it work?

Story by Vivian Nowka-Keane Graphics by Netania Rivera Hawkeye Staff

The dazzling red and green lights and nostalgic tunes bring us back to what is sometimes described as the most wonderful time of the year. The smell of trees and the tingling of your nose from the low temperatures bring joy because of holidays and family time, but also something more--snow days. Days off from school are generally considered an enjoyable time, especially when spent in the rare company of snow. A two-hour delay is perfect for catching up on sleep missed from staying up late finishing that project. But what decision-making process leads up to these magical days or even hours?

The person who makes the big decisions for MTHS students is the Edmonds School District (ESD) Superintendent Nick Brossoit. According to Brossoit, there will be about four or five people contributing to get information to help him make his choice. ESD District Transportation Director Craig Christensen is the leader and supervisor of this data collection procedure. Additionally, ESD is connected to a weather service called “We look at student safety and one student’s safety is important enough to close the school district for a day if it’s an issue. I don’t want one student to be injured. I’d rather wait and make up the day.” Nick Brossoit

ESD Superintendent

Making the Call The decision process for determining a snow day starts in the middle of the night for ESD officials…

Northwest Weathernet. “[ESD] monitors the weather before it even snows for the purpose of tracking storms and to see, based on temperature and precipitation, if we have an issue,” Brossoit said. Christensen receives two weather reports; one for the day and one for the night. If there is a chance of snow, then he will be up at 2 a.m. If the weather seems as if it may warm up later that day then a delayed start is preferred over a cancellation “With a delayed start, it’ll be okay to have school that day, so we try to monitor the forecast for temperature, not just the actual snow conditions, early in the morning,” Brossoit said. Christensen will then call a colleague of his, or even a few, and they divide and conquer. Brossoit also said that ESD will sometimes have up to three drivers on the road in different parts of the district, all calling Christensen with updates and reports. They hit the high elevation points first and check those immediately, deciphering the type of snow and how slick it is. Christensen said that if there is no snow, it’s a “relatively slow process.” If it looks like a potentially dangerous storm of snow or ice is on the way, Christensen will be on the road by 3 a.m., monitoring all of the bus routes to see if their conditions are safe. While he’s out there on the roads, he’s also conversing with the weather service about whether it will warm up or stay in the low temperatures. Not only do they use the Northwest Weathernet, but they contact a meteorologist for more detailed information. However, this method has not always proved to be a foolproof way to determine whether or not there should be school. “We’ve found that good meteorologists don’t always get it right either. So sometimes the decision we make at 5

3 a.m. – Get on the road and monitor bus routes. 2 a.m. – Wake up to see if there is snow

Speak with meteorologists and other districts

Hawkeye

December 2015 | 11

a.m. looks like it was wrong when we look at it at 7 a.m. or or delay, the process is district-wide. even at 10 a.m.,” Christensen said. “We look at student safety and one student’s safety is Additionally, Christensen calls his colleagues in other important enough to close the school district for a day if school districts, such as Mukilteo and Everett, and takes it’s an issue,” Brossoit said. “I don’t want one student to be what they think into consideration. injured. I’d rather wait and make up the day.” “Being out, driving around those roads very early in the morning and getting reports from other school districts The amount of snow in any given area in the district can in the area, I think is the only way you can do it. The only vary based on the elevation differences. The higher the way to really know if it’s dangerous for students to be trans- elevation, the more likely it is that there will be snow. ported to a school, either through a school bus or through “Because of so many elevation differences in the school a private vehicle, is to get out there and check and see what district, there might be times where up in the Hilltop area the actual conditions are,” ESD School Board member Ann there could be two or three inches of snow and meanwhile McMurray said. downtown in Edmonds, down by the water, there isn’t any McMurray continued, saying that snow days are unpresnow, so we have to make a decision based on the entire dictable and hard to determine by those at home. school district, not just a neighborhood,” Brossoit said. “The weather can be very fickle and [the ESD doesn’t He also said that if a portion of the district is considered always] know, but just because someone hears a report that to be unsafe, bus routes can be modified to some extent. there’s supposed to be snow or the Still, it all comes back to the safety of iPhone shows that there’s going any given route in the district. “We’ve found that good meteorologists don’t to be snow, that doesn’t automatiIn addition, Washington is a high always get it right either. So cally mean that the district will convergence zone due to the Olympic sometimes the decision we close. It does mean the district mountains, according to Brossoit. make at 5 a.m. looks like it was staff will be alert to conditions Wind comes from both the North, wrong when we look at it at 7 beginning very early on the mornusually cold, and South, where it’s a.m. or even at 10 a.m. ing on the school day.” usually wet around the mountains and Craig Christensen meets right around the Snohomish/ ESD District Transportation Director Brossoit will receive a call at King County line. This means that about 4:15 a.m. with an update. Washington is right in the middle of Then, until 5 a.m, he, Christensen and sometimes others where the weather can be very different in two different will discuss and contemplate all of the information to make places despite how close they are. This can make it more a decision, with the safety of transportation being their pri- difficult to accurately predict the forecast, thus making the mary focus. overall process more challenging. “We have to make the decision by about 5 a.m. because it’s necessary to not have the bus drivers drive in and get their buses ready to go out and do the route… we need to let families and students know if there’s going to be a delay or a closure so we have to get that word out to the media right away,” Brossoit said. The state requires a certain number of school days a year, However, the decision is not centered around buses, so students cannot miss a day in the winter without making because they consider that a great number of high school it up sometime. A day could potentially be added during students drive, and regular cars can’t tolerate as much snow various breaks throughout the year rather than the summer, as buses. but that is not generally preferred.. “I would rather do it at the end of the school year than to take my spring break or something like that, because a lot of people plan spring break to be gone. I think families kind of plan on having a potential snow day at the end of Every school within the same district will have a day the year, and they don’t plan to get out of town the day after off, even if the roads aren’t dangerous across the district. school gets out. I think it’s a good way to do it,” Christensen Weather impact can vary from school to school, but to said. avoid complications of selecting which schools to shut down

Why do we have to make the days up in summer?

What should I do? Checking the weather is always a go-to for a heads up to see if temperatures are dropping. When there’s snow, if the temperature isn’t going up, the snow may be compacted into ice and school will most likely be cancelled. There is an alert system ESD is connected to that TV and radio stations also have access to, so anyone in the district may have access to the same information Brossoit and Christensen have. These stations will broadcast if the ESD will have no school or delays. “Pay attention to the weather reports the night before. Be in tune and get up early enough and turn on the TV or you favorite radio station and listen,” Christensen said. Regardless of what the district says, “Sometimes parents and students, even if the district’s not closed, may have to make an independent determination on whether or not they feel it’s safe to get themselves to school,” McMurray said. MTHS principal Greg Schwab said that it seems MTHS has had two to three snow days a year, so they aren’t considered a worry to anyone yet. Even so, the ESD website is updated on days that a cancellation may be questioned. Brossoit said that the information is displayed online shortly after 5 a.m. Brossoit advises those driving to school to be careful on the roads. “It’s more important to arrive safely and take your time driving and make sure that you know your vehicle. Take time to get the windows scraped and defrost them so you can see. Give yourself more space between you and the car in front of you and basically be gentle on the gas and gentle on the breaks, don’t force the car on slippery roads… take it easy and if you’re unsure and you’re not comfortable driving, then see if a parent or somebody else can drive you, or take the bus that day if you can walk to the bus stop,” Brossoit added. H You can also follow the Hawkeye’s Twitter weather feed at @MTHSWeather for snow day updates and other news about how the weather impacts Terrace sports and activities throughout the year.

Why have snow days or delays?

4:15-5 a.m. – Call Superintendent Brossoit and discuss the road conditions

5 a.m. – Decide whether there will be school. Inform bus drivers, district officials and the public right away

12 | December 2015

The obvious choice for the job

Hawkeye

HE STARTED OUT AS A HUMANITIES TEACHER, BUT BEGAN WORKING AS AN ADMINISTRATOR JUST THREE YEARS AGO WHEN HE WAS NEEDED MOST Story by Stephi Smith Photo by Jack Fiorillo Hawkeye Staff

Dan Falk:

› Educator since 2001 › At MTHS since 2002 › Became interim Assistant Principal in 2012 › Hired as official Assistant Principal in 2013 › Graduate of Danforth Educational Leadership Program at the University of Washington › Competitive sailor since his youth

MTHS vice principal Dan Falk takes his first steps outside the HUB during lunch time. He breathes a sigh of relief from the cold Washington air as he sees students “ just acting like kids” on the courtyard, throwing a football or basketball to one another. It’s his favorite part of the day. Falk began teaching Humanities at MTHS one year after he graduated college in 2002. He said he looked into MTHS because some of his fellow graduates, such as humanities teachers Christopher Ellinger and Stephen Merlino, had both taken jobs there right after college. In 2009 Falk was given a taste of being an MTHS administrator. At the time, former MTHS administrator Scott Morrison had been offered a job as assistant superintendent at College Place Elementary School. MTHS Principal Greg Schwab received a call from the Edmonds School District being asked if he believed Morrison was the “right man for the job.” Schwab recommended Morrison. Schwab’s next phone call was made to Falk, knowing that he had his administration credentials, and he asked if Falk would be interested in temporarily stepping in as interim vice principal. Originally, the plan was just for Falk to stand in for the year, but Falk has been an MTHS administrator ever since. Falk said it was during his time as an interim that he realized he genuinely enjoyed the job and the work a vice principal does. It was then that he understood the impact an administrator can have on a student. When his interim ended, he was given a “real” interview to apply for the job, but there was no question about it. Falk was officially made vice principal of MTHS. “Falk was the obvious choice [for the job],” Schwab said. While the job of an administrator and that of a classroom teacher both take place in the school environment and “one can’t function without the other,” according to Falk, the two jobs are as different as different can be. He explained that an administrator oversees the operation of the entire school, while teachers generally focus on their own classrooms and the individual students within. Falk’s job also focuses on certain teachers;

he evaluates the teachers and helps them improve their teaching style and technique. Falk said he loves seeing a teacher that wants to get better at their job and develop and grow. Along with what is usually expected of an administrator, Falk said he also does “not so typical” things as vice principal. “I go to sports games and make sure [MTHS] fans are being respectful, I chat with students in the hallway… my job isn’t as conventional as one might think,” Falk said. Falk began as an administrator almost three years ago, but that wasn’t always his passion. Early in his life, Falk took an interest in sailing. In college, he taught a class on how to sail in Hood River, Ore. and continued it even after he graduated. He said he enjoys sailing because he believes there is something “calming” about being able to transport one’s self along the water only by manipulating a piece of cloth attached to a boat. “Some of my earliest memories are on the water,” Falk said, waving toward a painting of a boat on water on the wall in his office. “I’ve loved sailing for as long as I can remember.” Even now, he still goes sailing every chance he gets.11`1 Schwab said he appreciates how passionate and focused Falk can be and how much he has grown since he first stepped into the shoes of an administrator. “[Falk] has definitely grown as an admin… he’s figuring out the job and making it his own,” Schwab said. In the time he was a teacher at MTHS, Falk said he and Chris Ellinger would pull the occasional prank on one another. He recalled one time when Ellinger had taken “barrels upon barrels” of newspaper and had his class cover Falk’s classroom. As payback, Falk had his class arrive at school early so they could move everything from Ellinger’s room to the courtyard. Falk laughed at the memory, saying he loved the idea of being able to bring the two classes together and have them both involved. Schwab said Falk is always making sure students at MTHS have equal and fair treatment in getting the education they need. “It’s really worth it to be good at this job,” Falk said. H

Hawkeye

December 2015 | 13

The Anti-Bullying Movement Story by Marianne Nacanaynay Graphics by Netania Rivera

BULLY Project aim to combat bullying in schools by encouraging student support and promoting similar protocols for students to Stupid. Weird. Ugly. Gross. Loser. Fat. follow when being bullied. These include Worthless. Freak. There’s a certain voice that telling a trusted adult and avoiding retaliamost people tend to read insults like these in. tion against the bully. Bullying is evident in a number of different “Remember that reporting a bully is not facets such as verbally, socially, physically snitching,” Rosalind Wiseman said for The and now, online. On a national level, approx- BULLY Project, author of the book that imately 20 percent of students in grades 9-12 inspired the storyline of the hit movie “Mean reported that they were bullied in 2013 as Girls.” indicated by a survey done by the Center for “And the reality is adults can’t address Disease Control; another 64 percent of stuthe problem if they don’t know about it,” dents in 2010 were found to not tell someone Wiseman said. when they were bullied. In 2011, 11 schools in the Edmonds The U.S. Department of Education School District (not including MTHS) reviewed all state laws in 2010 and found participated in Rachel’s Challenge, which 11 states (not including Washington state) was started after the death of Rachel Scott have laws against bullying, while every other in the Columbine High School shooting in state in America 1999. Rachel’s chalhas both policies lenge aims to empower “[Being bullied] made me feel and laws against and support students, small and insignificant, it really bullying. While promoting academic made me not like coming to laws are rules that achievement and antischool everyday for a solid must be followed bullying by encouragchunk of time. No one likes by every citizen, ing students to be being bullied.” policies are statekinder to each other. Lexavier Davis ments describing Earlier that same year Senior what the governthe district approved ment will or will a new anti-bullying not do. Although there is no U.S. federal policy, introducing a harassment, bullying, law directly addressing the issue, bullying and intimidation form that would be filled does sometimes overlap with discriminatory out to report any incidents. harassment cases which there are federal The innovation and development of techlaws against. nology has lead to the creation of programs Projects such as StopBullying.gov, Rachel’s against cyberbullying, such as ReThink, an Challenge, STOMP Out Bullying and The app that alerts with a popup before posting a Hawkeye Staff

lar crowdfunding site, to raise money to fight bullying and help Munemasa travel to Los Angeles. Members of Foster the People hope to record a song with her after learning that Munemasa and her brother had also started a band. As far as legislation goes, a new antibullying bill was introduced to the Northern Ireland Assembly on Nov. 30, which would implement a legal definition for bullying and require schools to record any and all bullying instances. If passed, this would not only aid the fight against bullying, but also add to the slowly growing list of countries and regions with federal laws concerning bullying - a list the U.S. remains absent on. Despite so many anti-bullying organizations, movements and campaigns present, doubt remains about the real impact of anti-bullying programs in schools. Time Magazine contributor Christopher Ferguson presented data from a 2013 study by Seokjin Jeong and Byung Hyun Lee that suggested students attending schools with anti-bullying programs faced more bullying than students at schools without. “The issue has arguably now gotten too much attention,” Ferguson wrote. Senior Lexavier Davis noted that while there may be less bullying at MTHS, “it seems like the theme of bullying being cool and okay is starting to come back with some of the underclassmen. I feel like it’s sort of all of our jobs to show them that bullying isn’t cool and to stop it before it starts becoming a big issue again.” H

Get away from the bully

Tell an Admin/Adult

Steps to take

possibly offensive message online. ReThink, started by 15-year-old Trisha Prabhu, ranked as one of Google’s top finalists in its global science fair competition. Prabhu conducted research by anonymously testing 1,500 teens aged 12-18 and found that users change their minds about what they post 93 percent of the time when using the app. Ryan Wiggins, 14, from the U.K. recently gained international recognition for participating in the country’s national anti-bullying week with a selfie stick and a three minute video. The short video details his life as a teenager with Asperger Syndrome and the bullying he faces every day which has included physical fights and hostile texts encouraging suicide. The TrollBusters project was started at the International Women’s Media Foundation hackathon in January earlier this year. By putting a focus on “trolls and cyber harassment that predominantly affects strong women voices online,” TrollBusters brings positive words and affirmation to victims while also offering support online through Twitter or email. Many celebrities and other highly influential people in our society do their part to promote anti-bullying causes, such as the American rock band Foster the People. In September, Japanese student Nanae Munemasa spoke to CNN about rising teenage suicide rates in Japan, which helped inspire Foster the People’s anti-bullying campaign. Partnered with the nonprofit Kind Campaign, the band uses Indiegogo, a popu-

Realize it’s bullying, not just teasing

Stand up for yourself

14 | December 2015

Hawkeye

Safety @ Our Fingertips

Story by Samantha Svikel and Danielle Barnett Hawkeye Staff

The Rave Panic Button is a new, up and coming app that alerts authorities immediately to an emergency at the press of a button. It’s a quick and efficient way to call an emergency response, as it speed dials the nearest available police department, fire department or hospital. The first two school systems in the nation, The Everett and Monroe school districts have adopted this new app in their schools. The average school shooting lasts anywhere from seven to 15 minutes, according to a number of studies done by the U.S Department of Education and the U.S. Secret Service. The average police response time, however, is 11 to 12 minutes. This new app makes response times more efficient by sending texts out to teachers and staff in a person’s area so that other teachers in the area may be aware of new dangers near them. It also notifies key personnel, such as the police and sends critical information to 911 through a new text messaging system. The app also has emergency call capabilities so that a person may immediately call 911 at any time. While the app is free for everyone, it is intended for use in businesses, schools and other organizations. To use the app, a person would have to unlock their phone, open the app and then hold down button for five seconds, indicating whether the emergency is an active shooter, or pertaining to police, fire or medical concerns. At that point, the proper authorities are alerted. “Rapid response is critical to saving lives in an emergency,” according to info from the Rave Panic Button app makers. As the Rave Panic Button comes into effect, teachers have different opinions on its potential. Psychology teacher Kimberly Nelson said she thinks the app could be useful and beneficial, but the Edmonds School District (ESD) already has a district-wide process for such emergency situations. However, not everyone thinks the app would be effective. Choir teacher T.J. Sullivan said the new ESD plan is more efficient than an app could be. “I don’t think [the app would be helpful at MTHS]. I think we are just now evolving some sort of an emergency plan and they’re doing it at a district level,” Sullivan said. Student teacher Octavio De La Cruz said he also doesn’t think the app would work as

well and that calling 911 would be just as efficient. “I would promote [the app] if you only had to press one button. It sounds like you have to press and press and press. That’s a lot of steps,” De La Cruz said. “I would rather just call 911. It would be good if it was just a one button press. It would be a faster response if you only had to click one button.” Many Snohomish County schools have received a grant for a paid subscription of the app. Everett School District received $800,000, Monroe School District $41,880, and the Arlington School District $34,992. Marysville did not receive a grant, but has decided to use the app as well. Stanwood-Camano, Sultan and Lakewood have joined Everett and Monroe School Districts in using the app. Arlington, Snohomish and Marysville school districts are still fixing some glitches in the app. Other school districts are looking into it as well. “With Rave Panic Button, we’ve worked closely with our customers and leveraged that experience and our public safety grade infrastructure to create a unique and powerful solution to improve school safety,” Tom Axbey, president and CEO of the Rave Panic Button said in a company press release. H

Rave panic button to alert authorities in response to emergencies at public schools

Getting the App:

1. In your app search bar look up 4. Accept terms of use. Rave Panic Button and then click download. 5. Next there’s a brief five-slide 2. When downloaded and presentation on how the app opened, a pop up will appear and works. say allow Panic Button to access your location even when you are a. Slide to the right to go not using the app. Press allow. to the next slide. 3. Then you will have to enter b. It’ll introduce the five your phone number and click panic buttons. submit. A text message has now been sent with a 4 digit c. You will be notified if confirmation code, enter and an emergency has been placed in press continue. your area. d. How to speed dial 911: hold down the button you choose for 1.5 seconds, for iPhones it will automatically call, Android you will have to confirm the call. e. The final slide shows the app and if it has correctly pinpointed your location.

6. You are now done. Click the done button at the top of your screen. Editor’s Note: At this time, MTHS and the Edmonds School Netania Rivera | Hawkeye

District do not subscribe to the Rave Panic Button service. However, MTHS and the ESD do have extensive emergency response plans in place.

Hawkeye

By Irvin Zhang

december 2015 | 15

One Last Chance

Sports editor

He opens Pandora on his iPhone and begins to play some quiet music in the background of his thoughts. His world is quiet. He tries to keep his mind blank, focusing solely on the unfinished business that’s been left on the mat – the bad taste leftover from the previous year’s failure. The pain of the disappointment aches at him like a festering cut that’ll only get worse if he doesn’t treat it. The only way to treat this kind of pain is through victory and, for senior wrestler Mattias Kirk, it’s his last year to do it. Kirk’s journey began when he was just 12 and became involved in mixed-martial arts, commonly abbreviated as MMA, with a friend who suggested that it’d be fun for the two of them to try out. Although his friend stopped after a while, Kirk quickly developed a love for the sport and kept at it. Soon enough, he began to compete in both state and national tournaments with wins racking up left and right. “I won one national tournament, placed second in another and I’ve won a lot just in the Washington area. It’s a pretty great feeling when you know you’ve put in the hard work for it,” Kirk said.

Senior Mattias Kirk only has one final shot to prove to himself and to his coaches he’s a top-five wrestler in the state

During the winter season of his junior year, Kirk decided to try something new and joined the wrestling team. Because of his experience with MMA, the transition was smooth and he started to prosper despite a couple of ankle sprains and other small injuries. Every win, every loss, every injury or setback in the regular season was all in preparation for what really mattered: the playoffs. The first road bump for Kirk was in the district playoffs. “I got really sick [the day of],” Kirk said. “I did really well my first match but then I lost my next few matches. It got to the point where my body just wouldn’t let me go anymore, so much that [I couldn’t] just mentally tough through it.” Kirk finished fifth in his weight class (145) and thus wasn’t eligible to participate in the regionals tournament. MTHS wrestling coach Grant Ellis said

which has ramped up his competitive attitude to a whole new notch. “I put in a lot of work. I have this inner desire to not only prove it to myself but to prove it to everyone else. I’m a competitor, I don’t like to lose, I want to be the best, it’s that wrestling is a complicated sport because become part of who I am,” he said. it is based on both physical and mental abilCoach Ellis knows what it’s going to take ity. for Kirk if he wants to become a top-five “With [Kirk], he’s such a phenomenal wres- wrestler. tler but even for him, it was his first year. “[To be a top-five wrestler], you have to He needed more mat time,” Ellis said. “After embrace the lifestyle of a top wrestler,” Ellis districts, I told him what I tell all my best said. “These people are wrestling every day players: focus on the process and not just the possible. They think about it when they wins or the losses and to just practice until wake up, when they eat, when they sleep. It’s you get perfect because that’s all you can do. a part of who they are. You also have to be A lot of [wrestling] is muscle memory. You confident in yourself. Any successful wresjust have to set your eyes on the prize.” tler can’t have self doubt out on the mat. You After the just can’t.” “I put in a lot of work. disappointing For Kirk, he doesn’t just crave I have this inner desire outcome, Kirk the success for his own validation. to not only prove it to had a long offIt’s also because he doesn’t want myself but to prove it season ahead of to let down the people who believe to everyone else. I’m a him. in him, such as his MMA coach, competitor, I don’t like Kirk put himRiley Wiseman. to lose, I want to be the self through a “[Wiseman] took me under his best, it’s become part of grueling regiwing and has become like a big who I am. ment, working brother to me. He’s my biggest role Mattias Kirk out three days model. I have so much respect for senior wrestler a week as well who he is and what he does and he as wrestling three days a week while workreally believes in me. I don’t want to let him ing on a combination of strength, cardio and down,” Kirk said. technique because he wanted to correct the The wrestling season and Kirk’s one final wrongs of last year and achieve the goals he shot at becoming a top-five wrestler has just has set for himself this school year. begun. Be sure to watch him on his journey “For wrestling, this is my big comeback through the season and hopefully the playyear,” Kirk said. “Obviously, I’d like to be a offs as well. H Follow Kirk’s journey throughout the season at your state champ but realistically, I want to place source for Hawks sports – www.TheHawkeye.org top-five [at the state tournament]. To do that, I know I have to stay motivated and make sure I’m giving it my all at every practice.” Kirk has developed a chip on his shoulder

Left: Mattias Kirk holds up his hand in victory after beating his Marysville-Getchell opponent. Above: Kirk tries to pin his opponent from Marysville-Getchell en route to a victory. Jack fiorillo | Hawkeye

16 | december 2015

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