Dec 22, 2016 hi line

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HOLIDAY FEATURES

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Thursday, Dec. 22, 2016

Last days before break filled with options for holiday fun/pages 6-7 Follow us on Twitter at tigerhiline, Facebook at TigerHilineOnline and on our website at www.hiline.cfschools.org

Volume 57 Edition 13

Lunch ‘Lines’ Peet opens time for cell phone use Peet Junior High has started letting students bring their phones into the cafeteria at lunch time. They are not, however, allowed to use them during lunch, only after they have finished eating. Students can either choose to go into the gym after lunch and use their phones worryfree or stay in the cafeteria after eating. “I can see how many people would like this, but I kind of don’t,” freshman Emmey Sherbon said. Many people said that they were ecstatic for this new opportunity so they won’t have to sneak it in the halls between classes. “Lunch time has always been something to look forward to. Now with the new phone privilege, it’s even better,” freshman Natalie Lang said. With the new privilege, comes some boundaries. For example, student phones can-

not be seen while they’re eating or else teachers are allowed to take them away. Students have to be completely done eating, chewing and all, and only then are they permitted to pull out their phones. “I kind of don’t like this new rule because, at lunch time and in the gym, you’re kind of forced to interact with everyone else around you, ’cause you have nothing better to do. Now that the new opportunity is here with the phones, I feel like nobody is going to want to talk anymore. They will be glued to their screens,” Sherbon said. Any casual observer can see that in some sense, she is right. After dismissal to go the gym, one can see everybody yanking their phones out of their pockets. In the gym, almost every face is on a screen, Snapchatting, taking selfies, playing multiplayer games, their fingers sending a message or a picture to someone literally two feet

Phone for Food

Three quarters of teens around the world have or have access to smartphones according to a recent study by the Pew Research Center. Teachers and learning are hit hard by this reality, and schools keep asking themselves “what can we do to reduce cell phone usage?” Banning them won’t work as people would still use their phones. For Iowa City Schools, Pocket Points, Inc. has the answer. Pocket Points is an app that rewards students for keeping their phones off during school by granting them points to local restaurants. Once they earn a certain amount of points, they can get discounts, coupons and gifts at local restaurants. Some restaurants that are redeemable include The Pita Pit, Jamba Juice, Chick-Fil-A, Insomnia Cookies and Cold Stone. To earn points, the app has to be set up with the school, but once schools jump on board, students can connect and begin earning credits. Pocket Points is not set up at Cedar Falls High School, but Iowa City West High School does use the program. “Overall, I think the app has been a good incentive at our school,” said Olivia Moore, a senior at Iowa City West. “I know lots of people who have the app, and they all get excited when talking about what they are going to buy with their points. Free chicken nuggets from

Vipsa Dodiya Photo

Peet students enjoy their new cell phone privileges during lunch. away from them. “It’s kinda sad really. Everybody is still talking to everyone, but without making any eye contact or really listening to one another,” freshman Mackenzie Michael said. But on the other side, many are thankful for this new privilege. “I actually don’t have to sneak a peek at my phone during class when my mom texts

me ‘Lol,’” freshman Noor Afzal said. The student council at Peet fought for this opportunity and are happy that many people enjoy this privilege. Most students know that they have student council to thank for this. “I don’t think it’s much of a problem but more of a benefit. I guess it just depends on how you see it,” Afzal said.

The teachers that are on cafeteria duty agree with Afzal. “You just have to remember it’s a privilege, not a right,” physical education teacher Ethan Jennings said. “So far, everybody has been pretty good about it, and it hasn’t caused any problems,” Jennings said, shrugging his shoulders. By Staff Writer Vipsa

DODIYA

Iowa City schools adopt cell phone program that earns promotions from local restaurants

Submitted Photo

Iowa City Schools, including the Universiy of Iowa, have adopted the Pocket Points program, an app that pays students not to use their phones. Chick-Fil-A is a very popular option.” Pocket Points knows it is hard to give up one’s phone for seven hours, so they are flexible to those who don’t want to give up their phone the whole day. “It can be hard, and I usually end up still texting while the app is running. It pauses your timer from the app, but it’s easy to start earning again afterward,” Iowa City West senior Bethany Schillinger said. Pocket Points app is also an outlet

to have a healthy competition. “Across West, people are always telling others to go on the app so they can earn points faster together. It’s also fun to look at the leaderboard and see who’s ahead. Since we can connect to the university and gain points through the night, they add up pretty quickly,” Schillinger said. The leadership board displays who has the most points in the school, and The University of Iowa also participates in the

program. The app may have been a good incentive for students to keep their phone turned off in their pockets throughout the school day, but just like any app, students are finding a way to cheat the system. “On the downside, there are few known hacks to the app, which can be used to get a lot of points without actually spending time off your phone,” Moore said. Another downside to the app is a phone’s battery life. To keep Pocket Points running on one’s phone all day causes phones to drain faster. “I’ve noticed that it makes my battery die a little faster than usual,” Schillinger said. Some students believe Pocket Points is a reason to stay off their phones throughout the day, but others think it isn’t playing a role in the school’s society. “I haven’t seen a huge change in whether people use their phones or not. Some people may feel like the reward isn’t worth it to them, and the ones that use it are the ones who already don’t go on their phones. I wouldn’t recommend it because I haven’t seen any drastic changes in cell phone use. Also people have found a way to cheat it and get themselves more points by changing dates and stuff,” Iowa City West senior Jess Skopec said. By Staff Writer Sophia

SCHILLINGER

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NEWS HI-LINE For six years, Woody’s Toy Drive has delivered smiles for children recovering in Iowa City hospitals For six years Paul “Woody” Woodward has been helping others put smiles on children’s faces by simply hoping them donate a toy or two twice a year, as Woodward delivered the toys and brings a grin to sick children’s faces. For the first two years of delivering toys to sick children who are unable to return home for the holidays, Woodward was able to say hello, introduce himself and personally bring kids their toys. From now on, Woodward is only able to take the toys into the hospital and to the nurses because only immediate family members are allowed in the cancer unit. He delivers the toys once to the Ronald McDonald House and once to the cancer unit of the Iowa City hospital. Since 2010, Woodward has become close with the families surrounding the hospital and the nurses and doctors who work there. Woodward also became

Thursday, Dec. 22, 2016

Submitted Photos

For six years, Paul “Woody” Woodward has been using his van to deliver donations after collecting donated toys for children in the hospitals of Iowa City. close with some families that were going through treatments with their children while his son was in the hospital. “You become a family when you’re there,” he said. His youngest son was diagnosed with muscle cancer in his leg but luckily, with hard working doctors and a strong

support system, Woodward’s son is now seven years cancer free. “My youngest son was diagnosed with cancer eight years ago, and while he was going through his treatment, several people came and donated toys to the kids staying in the hospital around the holidays.”

‘Still’ Feeling It

He said he thought to himself, why not go ahead and do this, like a “pay it forward type of thing.” Woodward has been paying it forward with bigger loads of toys for six years now. Woodward said he feels delivering the toys helps take their mind off of what is happening and what they are ac-

tually going through. “It changes their whole outlook on the day.” He said it makes him feel pretty awesome knowing he can help those kids feel good and that delivering toys is a great feeling. This Monday, Dec. 19, 2016, Woody took a van full of toys like basketballs, markers, coloring books, Barbie dolls, trucks and stuffed animals to the cancer unit of the Iowa City Hospital. Woodward has a record year of 4,588 toys total to donate for kids staying over Christmas this season. The word gets around by word of mouth, through his own Facebook page as well as Woody’s Annual Toy Drive facebook page and many flyers to be handed out. He encouraged others to visit the Facebook page and donate at any time to make a child’s Christmas wish come true. By Staff Writer Tehya

TOURNIER

Alumni return for annual concert On Monday, Dec. 19, the choir students gathered in Claire Stanard Auditorium to perform their annual winter concert, a concert which has a special place in the hearts of the alumni that returned as well. Each year, alumni take to the stage to join current choir members in singing, “Still, Still, Still.” The high school tradition has been going on for years. CFHS alumni Emily Bruss was one of the many alumni who returned to sing with the choir on the 19th. “It’s just a reminder that even though I’ve graduated and I’m not in concert choir or women’s choir anymore, I’m still a part of that family, and I never have to let that go. I’m moving on with my life, and I’m growing up, and I’m in college now, but I can still sing that song and have that moment with people that I love. All of us have a connection through choir and through Mr. Kranz, and I just think that it’s really special,” Bruss said. Family is something emphasized in Mr. Kranz’s classroom on a daily basis. This year the choir’s theme is umbutu, which means community or togetherness. The theme was particularly evident in the song selection on Monday night. Messages like “God will not forget us”

and “we can mend a crack in the sky” highlighted the theme of togetherness and emphasized the importance of uniting as one during difficult times. Choir not only provides the students with a family, but it also allows them to express themselves. “Music is an expression of who you are: what you want to say to your audience or to yourself or God or just anyone who’s willing to listen. It’s a way to connect with people, to understand yourself, and sometimes it’s a way just to let out everything that’s trapped inside of you, whether that’s joy or sorrow or frustration. Music enables you for every moment of your life,” Bruss said. Alumni Jonathan Kuehner also joined the choir on Monday. “You know I’ve done a lot of theater and learning about theater my freshman year of college,” he said. “We talk about how when you punch somebody or kiss somebody on stage, it’s because words no longer mean anything — there is just too much emotion. Singing is like a version of that in real life, you sing because regular words just aren’t sufficient.” By Staff Writer Clare

ROLINGER

Classroom Connections At top, senior Olivia Habinck reads to second graders in Mr. Ruane’s class for student senate. At left, senior Blake Wolf changes the oil on a Toyota Corolla during an independent study with Adam Reilly. Vanessa Kime Photos

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HI-LINE Virtual reality brings battle to life Thursday, Dec. 22, 2016

Students stood around the room, spinning in circles and bobbing their heads like they were puppies chasing their tails. In Sarah Carlson’s ninth grade U.S. history class, students were given the opportunity to use virtual reality headsets to explore the Gettysburg battle grounds. These headsets are similar to the ones seen on TV but a little bit cheaper. When using them, students would insert a phone, or in this case, a fifth generation iPod, into the headset, open the Google Expeditions app and wait for teacher instruction. What the students saw was all controlled through an iPad by the teacher. One minute the students were standing in the Soldier’s Nation-

al Cemetery, the next they were standing on the battlegrounds of Gettysburg. The instructor would talk through the sites, answering any questions that students had along the way. It was a very unique experience that many students wouldn’t pass up an opportunity to do again. But the system wasn’t without some doubters. When students first walked into the room and saw what they were doing for that day, some questioned the whether the payoff was worth the investment with questions such as, “The schools can afford to buy virtual reality headsets but not new strings for our cellos?” There were also complaints from students throughout the day about headaches

All the Marbles

ELP lesson reveals problems of privelege Everyone has heard of the term “privilege” thrown around in politics and economics. The truth that is now encroaching on the youth of America is that socioeconomic privilege exists — and it is a problem in society. Recently, Peet and Holmes ELP students faced this truth head on in a “Star Power” simulation that was designed to change their views forever. First, students were asked to pick five marbles out of a paper bag. These marbles were given various point values, gold marbles being the best. Then, they were told that they could trade beads with others to try and get more points for themselves. After a few minutes, they were to count up their points and sit in the three different groups (red squares, blue circles and green triangles) that would decide their role in the rest of the game. The red squares each had 30+ points after the third round, the blue circles had 20+ and the green triangles had 0-19 points. Then, they drew another random five marbles, again trading with anyone in the room. Like before, they were asked to add up their total points and sit with their designated group. Soon, students realized that they couldn’t escape their group, except in certain extreme examples. After everyone calmed down, the red squares were asked to come up with two additional rules with the help of a single delegate from the other

two groups. After these rules were announced, many people began to complain about the “corruption of the game,” and some even began to scream revolution against the red squares. Karen Newcomb, the ELP teacher at Holmes, said, “A few [students] were so caught up in the simulation that they had a hard time differentiating the simulation from reality. They were very frustrated by what was happening to them and didn’t feel that they had the power to change it.” After everything had calmed down, the moment of revelation was revealed. Life is just like this simulation. The groups represented the different socioeconomic classes that citizens fall into. The trading and the other drawings represent the work that one puts into making more money or trying to get out of one’s social class. Often times, students of any age don’t see the actual hard work that goes into managing their family and especially what it takes to manage other people’s families. When one only sees someone for eight hours five days a week, one can’t know everything about other people. With this activity, the socioeconomic issue was brought to the ELP students, leading more of them to think: how can I solve that problem? By Staff Writer Katie

MAUSS

that were caused by the headsets. Some students were even hesitant to use it out of the fear of motion sickness. But doubters aside, predominantly, the students enjoyed and learned from their experience. Natalie Huffman, who is in Carlson’s fifth hour, said, “It was fun, but I feel like I didn’t get anything out of it. No one else probably did either because it was distracting.” Another 5th hour student, Alyssa Joyce, said, “I liked it overall because we got to experience what it was like being at the places where the battles were fought, but it was also kind of underwhelming. The equipment we were using could have been higher quality.” Though there were some

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Brian Unruh Photo

Students in Sarah Carson’s U.S. history class at Peet experimented with the Google Expedition app and iPods for a virtual reality view of the battleground of Gettysburg. minor downsides to it, students had a lot of fun. It was something that they don’t get to do every day, and it gave them a break from taking notes and listening to lectures from their

Ending the Stigma

teachers. Huffman said, “It was better than reading a packet, and it’s good to mix it up every once in awhile.” By Staff Writer Mia

DEXTER

At the end of mental health awareness week, psychology teacher addresses lessons learned What is the stigma surrounding mental illness? “We don’t necessarily see people first. We tend to see the disorder first, and there’s also the assumption that if you have a psychological disorder there is clearly something wrong with you when it’s really something you can’t even control. Nobody ever chooses to have a psychological disorder, and you definitely can’t control it the way that people who give it the stigma assume.” Why is this stigma an issue? “Mostly because it prevents people from getting help, whether that’s through a doctor, medicine, counseling, that sort of thing, or even just opening up to their friends and getting support.” How do we combat the stigma? “By educating ourselves more. Taking a stand with those who suffer from some type of psychological disorder, being an advocate for them. If you hear somebody say something that does not consider the person behind the psychological disorder, something that’s just very judgemental or unfair, you can always say something. It doesn’t necessarily take a lot of effort on your part, just the willingness to stand up for people.” Why do you think it’s im-

“I don’t think we necessarily understand mental health.”

—Melissa Rogers psychology teacher

portant to have a week dedicated to mental health? “A week conveys severity and importance. A day doesn’t really do it justice, especially if you’re considering the percentage of the population that either deals with a disorder themselves or loves someone who deals with a disorder. I think if you’re making it into a week, it’s not just a single day where you do some nice activities. If you make it a week long process, it’s maybe more likely to be a habit of someone’s.” Why is it important to raise awareness about mental health? “I don’t think we necessarily understand mental health. There clearly is still so much that we could know and we just haven’t discovered yet, but because it impacts such a great deal of the population in some capacity, either themselves personally or someone they love.” What does this week mean to you as a psychology teacher? “I’ve seen students dealing with psychological disorders … and it makes me feel like we’re going to get to a point in their lifetime where people aren’t

judged for that. That this is seen as, yes, being an aspect of something that person is dealing with, but not an aspect of who they are. It makes me hope that, within the very near future, these students won’t have shame of having a psychological disorder.” Why are people so against talking about mental health that we need a week dedicated to it? Why can’t talking about it be normal? “Because we’re not there yet. I feel like the reason that we have timeframes set aside to celebrate or raise awareness for certain things is because maybe we’re not doing a good enough job in the every day, or maybe it’s even just a week to celebrate people who deal with it.” What do you hope people get out of this week? “I hope that people who have a disorder feel more supported in opening up, if that’s what they need, and I hope those that don’t have it realize the consideration that needs to be given to the people that do.” By Staff Writer Mallorie

SCKERL

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Need to Read

No matter how big or small, popular or obscure, books can be inspiring. They can impact someone’s life in a drastic way or in a small way. Books create new ideas and can teach life lessons for the future. Charles William Eliot, Harvard University’s president more than 100 years ago, explained how books are always something to go back to. “Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors and the most patient of teachers.” Several teachers of Cedar Falls Schools explained which books changed their lives and helped them become who they are today. P.E. teacher Corey Peters Holmes Junior High:

The Bible

You have to go way back in time to when I was 12. I had lots of anger issues. I was in trouble frequently in elementary school. I was the only kid in my grade not selected for the School Patrol (helping kids cross the street). Even more than that I was mad at the fact that my biological father didn’t want much to do with my brother and I. I didn’t think much of church because I thought people looked down on me because we didn’t have as nice of clothes. That summer I had a chance to visit my father in Oregon. He bought me a ticket to spend six weeks with him. I was beyond excited, but when I arrived I quickly found out that he lived in a drug

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Thursday, Dec. 22, 2016

Teachers recommend books that made life changing impacts

house where they made and sold drugs and had parties every night. I was devastated. I came home, and I was as broke as a person could be. I picked up a Bible and said out loud that I was going to read only one verse every night. It was a King James Bible, so it was difficult for a kid like me to understand, but I said that I wanted to see if I believed in God or not. I wanted to find out who He was for myself and not who everyone else said He was. I was very judgmental of people, and I had a bad temper. Now I would think people would think that those characteristics don’t describe me at all. In fact, they are very far away from who I am. I went from a kid who’s parents told their children not to hang around to a kid who other parents called me to see if their child could hang around me. It is because He changed me through reading His Word.

ent to all things, including his mother’s death. If you read the book, you will understand Mr. Duff’s comments.] I abhor Camus. How dare he write my life before I was even born. I reject him. I reject Meursault! I am not him! I cried. and I sang to my mother when we buried her. I said “goodbye Mama.” Besides ... I love a bright beach with hot sunshine. When the sand blisters my feet and the glinting sun off the waves drives a spike into my forehead, I slip into the cool shade.

Holmes Junior High:

Art teacher Chad Wolf

Economics teacher Kevin Kuker

“The Catcher in the Rye” by J.D. Salinger

Reading this book opened my eyes to the real world that was awaiting for me following high school. Science teacher James Duff Holmes Junior High:

“The Stranger” by Albert Camus.

[Note: The Stranger is a French novel about the philosophy of the absurd and existentialism, and Meursault is the main character who is indiffer-

Math teacher Susan Green Holmes Junior High:

The Bible

The Bible gives a person direction in life and also courage and strength when things are not going well. The Bible also states: “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you.” - Matthew 7:12 That is a good philosophy for all to have. I’m definitely not perfect, but living that way is something that I strive for. Peet Junior High:

“The Unknown Craftsman, A Japanese Insight into Beauty“ by Soetsu Yanagi

The book changed my life because it gave me a completely different perspective on what beauty is, what it can be and how it might be perceived differently. Since I’m both an artist and a teacher, it helped to shape my philosophy of art and teaching students about art.

Social studies teacher Sarah Carlson

Counselor Susan Langan High School:

Peet Junior High:

“A People’s History of the United States” by Howard Zinn

I have always loved history for the cultural aspect and being able to see through someone else’s eyes. I love that history gives me insight into how people think and act. This book tells history from the view of average Americans without sugar coating reality in the lives they lived. It told me the stories that textbooks leave out, that aren’t a picturesque view. It tells the views of people whose voices are often unheard like Native Americans, the poor, immigrants and women. The quote on the back of the book by Howard Zinn states, “There is an underside to every age about which history does not often speak. Because history is written from the records left by the privileged. This book charges up the humanitarian in me. It made me want to fight for the underdog and ensure in my classroom I do my best to represent voices of all walks of life throughout different eras we study. As a teacher, I want students to leave my classroom knowing that their voice means something and shouldn’t be hidden. A book like Zinn’s helps create a total understanding that in order to build our country we had to muffle many voices, and my job is to now unleash them and understand how America came to be.

“Perfectly You” by Julia V. Taylor

I have had several books change my life. One of the most recent ones is a kid’s book, and I share it with a lot of younger and older students. I have also bought and given it away for gifts several times. It is called Perfectly You by Julia V. Taylor. The author is a counselor educator at the University of Virginia, and I know her personally. She has been a speaker at many of our counselor conferences. I simply adore her and use all of her wonderful resources. I love Perfectly You because it is so simple and direct and gives young people specific things to do to help themselves. About 10 years ago, I heard Julia speak for the first time. She got me fired up to continue the work to help advocate for all students but especially girls and young women. This book is a reminder to me that we still have a long way to go, but we can get it done. Through a wonderful story and colorful illustrations, Perfectly You will teach young readers (and listeners) to accept themselves, treat one another with compassion and embrace their uniqueness. It provides children with the message that character comes from within while focusing on the importance of self-acceptance, tolerance and leading an overall healthy lifestyle. By Staff Writer Sabine

MARTIN

Peet freshman celebrating 10 years cancer free At the age of four, Peet freshman Raelynn Smith was diagnosed with an eye cancer called rhabdomyosarcoma. “I had to do multiple rounds of chemo and radiation and lost my hair due to the chemo. I had surgery on my eye at one point where they took out the tumor behind my right eye,” Smith said. This month, Smith celebrated her 10th year of being cancer free. Today she is involved in many activities. “I am involved in gymnastics, and I have been in that for about five years. I am in track, and I love it so much, and I am also in school cheer. My favorite part about cheer is the tumbling and the stunting during games. My accomplishments in those is I have about 90 medals and seven trophies (six of them are first place) from gymnastics, and I am so proud of myself for that,” Smith said. “The doctors said because of cancer I might not have been able to do

things like that as good as others, but I am doing amazing.” Reflecting back to when she was only four, Smith said she knows she doesn’t remember a lot of what happened, but one memory does stick out. “I don’t really remember a whole lot about when I found out I was cancer free ’cuz I was only four, but I remember the nurses coming in and singing a song about it being my last chemo treatment.” Smith said that every day is a blessing, and she’s thankful for all that she has today. “It feels absolutely amazing to celebrate being 10 years cancer free. I am so blessed and thankful for all of the years that I have had,” Smith said. Throughout Smith’s journey she has made some great friends along the way. She’s thankful for all the friends she made in the hospital and grateful for new opportunities. She’s involved in the

Dance Marathon in Iowa City at the University of Iowa and also the one hosted here in Cedar Falls at UNI. With proud and supportive friends, Smith’s 10th anniversary was one to remember. Smith’s friend Jaylynn Easterly had a lot to say about her. “She’s a great friend who has always been there for me, and I can go to her whenever I need something to talk too. She’s super good at gymnastics and cheerleading and very strong-hearted and can get through anything she puts her mind to,” Easterly said. Today, Smith has checkups every two years. They draw blood to make sure she is still cancer free. “I go to the University of Iowa Hospital. I am very appreciative of them and what they did for me,” Smith said. By Staff Writer Alayna

YATES

Submitted Photo

Peet freshman Raelynn Smith is now in her 10th year of cancer year free recovery from the tumor behind her eye.

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Retreiving Freedom After over a year of escorting convoys in western Iraq (the proclaimed most dangerous part of the country) and another deployment to Afghanistan, Matthew Miller began to realize how war had changed him. “Shortly after I returned after two years away from home, I noticed things were not the same,” he said. “I was getting angry, anxious doing the things I use to have no problems with (large crowds, noisy rooms and the grocery store), and I had a very short attention span. This went on for several years, and it had become my new ‘normal.’ Other people would make comments such as: ‘you use to be so happy’ and asked what happened to me. I denied that anything was different, but wondered if I had truly changed. “Over time my anxiety and anger grew, but now I was becoming depressed along with the other feelings. In June of 2014, I finally went to see my doctor to try to see if there was something that could explain my feelings. To my shock, he suggested that I was probably suffering from PTSD. That really hit me hard. A few months later I was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder by the VA,” said Miller in his testimonial “Letter From a Veteran.” Miller began his journey to obtain a service dog from Retrieving Freedom in Waverly, in May of 2015. In October of that same year, he was officially paired with his labrador retriever Nala. “Nala is trained to help me with some of the conditions I have from combat related stress,” Miller said. “She can sense my anxiety and when I get nervous. She will either get closer to me, jump-up and put her paws on me or just rest her head on my leg. She also helps me sleep through the night without the nightmares I used to have. On the rare occasion that I have a nightmare now, she will come lay right by me, and she helps me realize that it was just a nightmare. She can also retrieve things for me and help pick-up items.” Miller could not imagine life without his service dog, going so far as to say in his testimonial, “Nala has changed my life in so many ways. She has been my constant companion and my best friend. She was there to support me when I was weak, comfort me when I was anxious and love me no matter what I was facing.” “Retrieving Freedom has given me something that no doctor could, no medication could or counselor could: freedom. Freedom to help other veterans, freedom to experience new opportunities, freedom to reconnect with the outdoors and freedom to live a fulfilled life.” By Staff Writer Halie

FRAHM

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FEATURE Local Army veteran teams up with service dog to combat PTSD

Thursday, Dec. 22, 2016

“Retrieving Freedom has given me something that no doctor could, no medication could or counselor could: freedom. Freedom to help other veterans, freedom to experience new opportunities, freedom to reconnect with the outdoors and freedom to live a fulfilled life.”

— Matthew Miller U.S. Veteran

Submitted Photo

Veteran Matthew Miller and Nala have been inseparable since his service during two tours in the Middle East.

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HOLIDAY FEATURE

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20 Under $20

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Thursday, Dec. 22, 2016

Out of time for gift ideas? Follow these suggestions to holiday bliss

1. Tini Me Winter Wonderland bath bombs: If the person

you're shopping for loves the relaxation in life, be sure to stop by Target and pick up this calming gift for only $3. 2. Que Bella Face Mask: Another gift that helps unwind and de-stress someone is a face mask. Que Bella Face Masks sell a small packet that can be used up to two or three times, and this is sold at Target for $2. 3. Eos lotion kit: This kit is packed in with a full bottle of lotion; a hand sized lotion for on the go that fit in a purse, backpack, etc.; and an eos lip balm sold at Target for $8. 4. Fuzzy socks: This fun gift full of warmth is sold at many stores like Target, Walgreens, American Eagle, etc. At American Eagle, men’s and women’s fuzzy socks range from $5-8 and will be on sale through the holiday season. 5. Baby Lips chapstick: Keeping your lips fresh and smooth, especially during this cold winter in Iowa, can be tough. If you need a good idea for small gifts or a stock stuffer, Baby Lips sold at Walgreens for $5 is a nice to to keep lips from getting chapped. 6. Fudge Box: Sweets is an all time great gift for a sweet tooth you know. One piece of fudge is sold at

Main Street Sweets downtown for $3.25 a piece, and if you buy four pieces, you get two for free. Make sure to sprinkle a little sweetness for someone during the holiday season. 7. Star Wars mug: In honor of the new Star Wars movie that has just recently been released, get that special someone, family member or friend a mug that he or she won’t forget. This creative idea also comes with a packet of hot chocolate that is sold at Walmart for $9. 8. Nike Socks: This is perfect gift for any guy or girl. Cozy and perfect for any practice, any type of Nike Elites or socks is reasonably priced for a range of $14-18 at Scheels, the perfect stocking stuffer or gift. 9. Baseball caps/beanies: Find $10-12 hats at American Eagle for a fun fashion statement and to be cozy, only on sale for this holiday season.

10. Color Me Stress Free Adult Coloring book: With Christ-

mas coming, finals will also be stressing students out as well. Purchasing a stress free coloring cook can channel the inner kid of the gift receiver and put a smile on his or her face. It can be found at Target for $13. 11. Sunglasses: Even though the sun in not yet shining, fashionable sunglasses can be a great gift to a loved

one, boyfriend/girlfriend, friend or sibling. Found at American Eagle in College Square Mall or online for only $10. 12. Apple Earpods: Though each person is given a set when buying an iphone, many people lose the one thing that helps get them through the day. Get the exact copy earpods at Walmart for $10. 13. Video games: If you’re not sure what type to buy or how much to spend on one game, Walmart has a $10 section of video games to get for a quick and easy present.

14. Ecotools Bamboo Brush Set: A six-piece eye brush set goes for

$9 at any local Walgreens in the makeup section. What a perfect gift to help blend makeup for your girlfriend, best friend or sister. 15. Water Bottle: You can find any insulated squeeze Gatorade water bottle at Scheels for $6, Camelbak for $20 and Polar Insulated water bottles for $13. One can also purchase Ello water bottles for $15 that keep water cold throughout the day or any sports practice at Target. 16. Book: Not many but some high schoolers actually read outside of class. Find cheap and interesting books at the Friends Book Nook located in the Cedar Falls Public Library. Magazines and other finds can be found at the local University

Book and Supply, Barnes and Noble or Limited Edition Comics. 17. Tumblr’s: This is just like a Yeti that holds and keeps any liquid fresh, but it is a lot cheaper. You can contact Michele Green if you’re interested in purchasing a Cedar Falls Tumblr for a gift or find sports teams at Scheels, usually ranging from $15-20. 18. Lanyard: For all the things teenagers and adults lose, keys would by far be the worst. To help solve the problem, it’s an easy and cheap give for girls and guys of any age. Nike, Under Armour, plain colors and sports team lanyards can be bought for around $6 at either Scheels or Dicks Sporting Goods. 19. Headbands: For the everyday look or everyday practice, thick, thin, you name it. Headbands are the perfect choice for a holiday gift. Ranging from $10-15, you can find any brand of any color at Scheels or Dicks Sporting Goods. 20. Gift Cards: If you’re an indecisive shopper or haven’t found any idea on this list helpful, and you’re not sure what would make a good present for the special someone sibling or parent, gift cards are a perfect way to go. Get however much you want to spend at almost any store. by Staff Writer Tehya

TOURNIER

Personalized cards create perfect gift

Reading a personalized card means a lot to somebody, and seeing their happy reaction means a lot to who made it. Believe it or not, cards are what bring us closer over the holiday season because each card has it’s own special and heartwarming writing inside. Holiday cards are great for many occasions and the perfect thing to gift this Christmas. Thoughtful, heart-warming, homemade Christmas cards are the sweetest (and the cheapest) Christmas gift! Helpful Tips: Supplies: Thank You! Happy Holidays! • • • • •

Construction Paper Crayons/ Colored pencils Markers Pen

• • • • • •

Glitter Stickers Tape Glue Scissors A printer may also be useful if you plan on printing pictures or free coloring pages to include in your card

Thank you cards are perfect for any occasion because they can be short and sweet or long and thoughtful.

You may also want:

Memories/Family

These are my favorite kinds of cards because it shows you went the extra mile to make the card personal. Including a family picture or a picture of your favorite memory with the person you are giving it to gives him or her a sense nostalgia. Even the happy memories included in your card is enough to make someone tear up because of the thought you put into it.

Happy Holidays cards are a great gift for young and old. Kids may not understand how thoughtful cards are because of their young age, but include a silly picture of a snowman, and you won’t believe how much they love it.

Make the outside look nice with fun wording, nice print and fun designs. Don’t be afraid to do something that might take some thought and some time. It will be worth it in the end. Think of the person you are making it for. What are their interests or favorite colors. Make sure it’s legible and everything is spelled correctly. You won’t have auto-correct. Get creative. You are making this card for someone special in your life, so don’t be afraid to show you took the extra mile in making it unique. Make the message thought out and personal for that special touch. Deliver it with a smile, and maybe even a hug to show you care. by Staff Writer Alayna

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Thursday, Dec. 22, 2016

Holmes artists are selling boxes filled with cards for $6 as a fund raiser for the Cedar Bend Humane Society.

Art cards make great gifts, support Humane Society

It’s the season of giving, or so they say. The Holmes ninth grade art students plan on doing just that this December. They plan on selling the cards in bulks, about four in each bulk, for $6. This money will be going to the Cedar Bend Humane Society in a big check. “I thought that the project was a good idea because in the real world people are using art to make a difference, and I wanted stu-

dents to be able to get the same experience because student art can also made a difference and is also amazing,” Ashley Cardamone, a Holmes art teacher, said. The Holmes ninth grade students hope to have them all sold by Jan. 6, 2017. For those who wish to buy one, they can contact Haley Williams at 20halwil@ student.cfschools.org. She can set up a time with you. by Staff Writer Haley

WILLIAMS

Checkout downtown Cedar Falls for more holiday happiness. Photos by John Dunlop

HOLIDAY FEATURE

7

‘Handy’ craft will warm hearts as well as hands of those on gift list Iowa winters have arrived, and temperatures are dropping below zero fast, which means that it’s time to bundle up; put the shorts and flipflops away for the season and get out the scarves and winter jackets. But plain gloves aren’t going to keep out the harshest winds that winter can bring, so a way to keep your hands from feeling as cold as icicles. Hand warmers are an easy way to keep your hands nice and toasty in less than a minute, and this quick DIY will show you how to make your own. Items that you will need:

MATERIALS:

STEP 2:

-fabric -glue gun -glue sticks -rice (uncooked) -scissors -pins

Instructions:

Step 1. Cut out two pieces of fabric with a length and width of about 3-4 inches. You could try out different shapes if you wanted, but I settled with a basic square. This DIY is also a perfect and useful way to use any scrap fabric that you have lying around and don’t know what to do with. You can get as creative as you want with your choices of fabric by mix-matching fabrics or choosing a plain fabric that you can design yourself with some fabric markers. Step 2. Pin around the edges of the two pieces of fabric, leaving about a centimeter on the outside. Make sure the sides that you want on the outside are together, so that the fabric is inside out. Step 3. Glue together the articles of fabric, only applying glue to the centimeter of fabric on the outside of the pins. An alternative to gluing is sewing, but I find gluing easier and less time consuming. Glue three sides of the square, but leave a decent-sized hole on the last side before gluing and turn the newly made pocket outside in, so the side of the fabric you want showing is on the outside. Step 4. Fill the pocket with the grains of rice, but I recommend not stuffing the pocket completely, as it will make it harder to seal the hole. Leave a bit of space for the rice to move around inside. Step 5. Secure the hole with glue so you won’t have rice spilling out, as it’s a pain to clean up. And you’re finished! Throw your new reusable handwarmer in the microwave before you face the cold for 20-30 seconds. If you’ve used glue, heating it for any longer can be disastrous, because not only will the glue melt and leave you with holes in your pocket that rice can escape out of, but you’ll have hot glue and hot rice on your hands that is prone to burn you. Enjoy your new handwarmer, and make it your new best friend for this freezing weather! by Staff Writer Jade

PHAM

STEP 3:

STEP 4:

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Thursday, Dec. 22, 2016

Kid Cudi emerges from depression with masterpiece that shows return to best efforts from his early days

This was a totally different thing than I have ever heard before. Kid Cudi’s new album “Passion, Pain, & Demon Slayin’” was something that I had been looking forward to ever since it had been announced months ago. Leading up to its release, I had been wondering what kind of music the new album would include. Cudi first exploded with his different style of rap with his “Man on The Moon” albums. These albums really are what made Cudi a loveable person and artist because what Cudi would spit was real; it wasn’t just some garbage thrown together. Cudi’s intuitive beats mixed with his skills as a vocalist and rapper. Cudi’s old style was absolutely adored by fans of many different genres. It was a real big change last year, though, after his last album, “Speedin’ Bullet 2 Heaven.” This album was totally different from any of the music we had been used to seeing from Cudi. It just wasn’t the same. The album was filled with a new type of punk rock feel to it. It was completely different music. Many people, including me, just were not feeling it. It was after this album that we saw a lot of the Cudi hypebeasts turn their backs on

him, and many people just immediately jumped ship and hated on him. It really wasn’t fair, and it kind of exposed some of these “fans” for what they truly were. After this, it seemed like Cudi had fallen into a slump. His new album was delayed because he checked himself into rehab to deal with depression and suicidal thoughts. It was a scary and sad thing to hear that someone whose music had been so captivating and uplifting was going through all of these tough times, and that this person had made an album through these tough times, so after all of this, I was very excited to see if the music I had fallen in love with would return, and I must say, this album didn’t disappoint. “Passion, Pain, & Demon Slayin’” sees a return to the old, predominantly hip-hop based music we had all grown accustomed to, but it still incorporates the new things we had seen in “Speedin’ Bullet 2 Heaven.” From the very beginning of the album, the first track, “Frequency,” immediately sets the tone for the album. It’s slow, smooth and psychedelic feel immediately hits you. This song right away lets you know what the album is going to be like. With this style of music, there are bound to be tracks from time to time that you really

aren’t a fan of. With 19 tracks, and an album almost 90 minutes long, there are definitely a few of these songs that bore you quite a bit. I found myself skipping some of these long, drawn out tracks that were filled with just humming and whispering. I do not mind humming; on some of the tracks it works and adds to the overall talent and diversity Cudi brings to a track. The humming is OK, but in moderation, and slow-paced, long tracks filled with humming sometimes get old rather quickly. A few examples of these are “ILLusions” and “Releaser.” I am not going to lie, though. The album grew on me rather quickly. The first time I listened to it all the way through, I really at the time liked about half of the tracks on the album. As I listened and relistened to the album, a few of the ones that I disliked first time around surprised me, and I realized that over time, I liked most of the album. Some of it is just so different from what I am used to enjoying from Cudi that it just took some getting used to, it only adds to Cudi’s ability to completely change and make something totally new, but still be something that you can relate and bump to. There are so many tracks on here that I can listen to on repeat, “Does it, By De-

sign” and “Rose Golden” are tracks that I feel will be remembered for years to come. This album completely brings back the Cudi music we were all accustomed to. “Passion, Pain, & Demon Slayin’” is many things. On top of being a fantastic piece of art and music, it’s reassurance. It’s a sign of progress in Cudi as an artist and as a person. It’s a sign of recovery, and as a fan of him and his revolutionary take on hip-hop, it’s a fantastic and great feeling to know he’s back. Refreshing and brilliant. “Passion, Pain, & Demon Slayin’” brings back the Cudi that was real, and somebody who is easy to identify with. The hip-hop style along with bits of psychedelic rock make it new and revolutionary. While there are parts where the album gets a little repetitive at times, it is not something that becomes too big of an issue. The album may seem a little weird and different at first, but trust me, give it a chance. It is worth it. Cudi’s resurgence back to the top of rap is real. The fact the man was able to literally, battle some of these demons and his own issues while making an album is incredible, and as a true Cudi fan, to say I am thrilled about what the future holds is an understatement. By Staff Writer Colin

Side series make worthwhile diversions will waiting for main Nintendo releases

Nintendo is mostly known for main series games, like Pokemon, Legend of Zelda and others. However, did you know there are some fun side games? In this list, I will list the top five best Nintendo spin-offs. For number five, I’m going to go with “The Legend of Zelda” The minish Cap.” This game plays slightly different from other games in the series, but the story strongly makes up for it. In simple, a man name Vatti is searching for the ultimate power, and in his quest turns Princess Zelda to stone. Determined to free his friend, Link goes off into the world to reforge that sacred blade. When he goes into the forest, he meets a friend whom he will never forget. For number four, I’m going with the “Mario Kart” series. This might be confusing to consider as a “spin-off,” but it is. Technically a spin-off is anything that takes characters like Mario and puts them in another environment. “Mario Kart” is pretty straight forward; you chose a character, a track and then race. You can link up with friends and race them, which is fun. For number three, I would go with the “Paper Mario” se-

ries. This is a very odd series, if the title does not give it away. It’s like a normal RPG, but you’re playing as Mario, and he’s made of paper. While this might seem pointless, several times in the series he gets some sort of ability to fold, bend, etc., which he could do if he was made of paper. The stories of the games are usually really original, but the main thing about them are the party members. As you may or may not know, in most RPGs, you get a team of friends who help you fight, and “Paper Mario” is no different. “Paper Mario” offers a chance to let you see how enemies you’d stomp without a second thought, fight with you. For number two, I would recommend the “Pokemon Ranger” games. “Pokemon Ranger” is extremely odd, no matter how you look at it. Instead of using a Pokeball, the ranger, you, must use the capture stylus to send your friendship to the pokemon to temporarily ask for their help. This sounds really strange on paper, but it’s basically you drawing circles to beat a pokemon and sometimes use their powers to advance in an area. The gameplay is always nice, and

the stories always drive you to the edge. However, the biggest selling points are the bosses. Bosses, as you’d think, are much harder and tougher enemies. Some of the bosses in this game took me months to beat. In conclusion, the game has a good balance of excellent story, gameplay and difficult bosses. Finally, for number one, I’m going to chose the “Pokemon Mystery Dungeon” series. For this series, you’re turned into a pokemon. This sounds odd, sure, but it’s also awesome. You basically wake up as a pokemon one day, then try to figure how, and in doing so, you get wrapped in saving the world. The departure of yourself from your partner always brings tears to some fans eyes. Overall, this series’ strong point is its story, for sure. Overall, spin-offs are rarely played or mentioned for more than a few days after a mainstream game comes out. However in the in-between gaming seasons, the seasons where no new games are coming out, spin-offs are a very nice pickup. No matter what you chose on this list, you won’t regret it. By Staff Writer Noah

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Even virtual worlds beginning to recognize seasonal celebrations

There are hundreds of winter holidays celebrated around the world from Kwanzaa to Hanukkah, and Ramadan to Christmas. This time is also celebrated in the virtual world with FPS games like “Overwatch” and MMORPGs like the “Elder Scrolls Online.” The latter is not even celebrating a real holiday. The “Elder Scrolls Online” is celebrating an ingame event called the new life festival, which is Tamriel’s (the world the game takes place in) New Year's celebration. This celebration was not just something the developers made up for an ingame event. The new life festival was added to “Elder Scrolls” lore in the game “Daggerfall,” which came out in 1996 and had the world record for largest game world.

Bethesda Game Studios, who created the “Elder Scrolls” series (but not the “Elder Scrolls Online”) has christmas decor added to the main settlement in “Fallout 4” during christmas. It is not just RPGs that have holiday events; the FPS game “Overwatch” has a winter event going on where some maps have a winter reskin and new winter-themed items have been added. These holiday items from character skins to intros are all locked behind crates that you can earn or buy and are eerily similar to slot machines in how rewards are given. However there is still fun in seeing how the maps fare during the winter. Many of these holiday events are gimmicks; however, they are fun gimmicks. By Staff Writer Alex

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9 Record setting musical ‘Hamilton’ ENTERTAINMENT

ENCORE continues to draw huge crowds Hamilton has broken all the award records as the prized Broadway, “show of the decade,” and tickets have been sold out far into 2017, going at thousands a piece. Why the buzz for a show? Junior Joel Ochoa, who’s seen the show in New York, knows why. “I think that I would definitely rate ‘Hamilton’ probably a 9 or a 9.5 out of 10. The show is absolutely stunning,” he said. “Every song, every chord, every word is written in such a genius way that you can’t help but gawk at how incredible it is. The score isn’t ‘traditional Broadway,’ as it has elements of hip hop infused into it. At first, I was really skeptical of it, but I listened to it, and I was entranced at the way it was written.” For Ochoa, the magic goes far beyond the music. “As an actor, I also love to look at characters and how their parts are written,” he said. “Every character in ‘Hamilton’ has a distinct purpose of why they are there, and every character is written so that they know what they want at every point in time. The story of Alexander Hamilton is also so interesting. The man’s life was literally a soap opera, and the story is one that can be watched over and over again and never lose its power.” The grand picture of the show captures historic hero, Alexander Hamilton, and how he makes it to the top in the year of 1776. This show has been classified mostly as a drama and show tune hip hop R&B soul dancehall ballad. The music is far from historical, as it relies on mostly rap and dramatic slam poetry. It follows a music of this age. It is musically in tune and in sync with what culture begs for. Ochoa said, “There is no doubt about it. Even anyone who isn’t ‘musically tune’ should go see it. When my younger sister Lydia and I got to the theater last summer, we already knew most of the words and all the tunes to basically every song in the show. We were the first in line to get into the theater (because why wouldn’t we be), and it was awesome getting to talk to people that were standing around us who were just as excited to see the show. We got to see some of the actors walk into the theater, and Jasmine Cephas Jones (who plays Peggy Schuyler and Maria Reynolds) walked right by us and waved to us. “We got to our seats and the show started. By the first song we were already almost in tears because of how incredible it was. Everything about the show was everything that I hoped it would be. I got to sit in the fourth row, so I could see all the actors super clearly. They all were so good I just couldn’t believe how good they were. I know firsthand how tiring a show is, and it still amazes me how well they do it every single time, eight times a week to be exact.” The show documents the life of Hamilton from an orphan to a struggling college man. With the help of Aaron Burr, he joins the revolution. He has had many

Thursday, Dec. 22, 2016

Submitted Photo

Junior Joel Ochoa and his sister Lydia attended the hit Broadway musical “Hamilton” last summer in New York City. doubters and obstacles. After much self determination and integrity, he gets the attention he needs. Meanwhile he falls into an epic love triangle with the daughters of the most esteemed family of the age, not to mention them being revolutionaries. He falls in love with one of the daughters, Angelica Schuyler, yet she sizes him up too quickly. Angelica introduces him to her sister, Eliza, and they soon fall in love. However, Angelica sorely regrets this as she sees the kind of stuff he was made of. The second half of this story highlights the star gaining followers and being a main director of this country’s future. He starts out singing, “You know, I’m just like my country. I’m young, scrappy and hungry, but I’m not throwin’ away my shot!” Then the show progresses into the man who didn’t throw away, “his shot” and made the most of every situation. This show is best described as a modern drama, modern ideas and slang, yet thrown

right back into 1776. Though this was set back far into history, it is as fresh as any broadway created. Ochoa said, “‘Hamilton’ is easily one of the best shows on Broadway in a very long time. The dancing, the acting, the singing: all absolutely incredible. The show is just absolutely stunning; there is no other way to describe it. The show is really something that has never been seen on Broadway before, and it fulfills the rule of a ‘new thing’ so well. The show is an emotional roller coaster, with a funny moment one second, and the next, a moment that makes you cry more tears than you ever thought possible. The story itself is so powerful, and put it together with Lin Manuel Miranda’s (writer/director/actor) fantastic score, you got a great show. “Another reason that I think makes ‘Hamilton’ work so well is that it tells about the history of America, and it shows the founding fathers in a real, human way. These people were just like us. They

made the same mistakes. They all didn’t get along, but they just made something extraordinary despite all of it. Everyone can get something from the story, and I think that is what makes it so incredible. Also, any show that wins 11 Tony’s (the ‘Oscar’ for musicals) must be a pretty darn good show.” The writer of “Hamilton,” Lin-Manuel Miranda, is 36 year old. He came to this idea unexpectedly. At the airport, while on a vacation from performing in his hit Broadway show “In the Heights,” Miranda bought and read a copy of “Alexander Hamilton” by Ron Chernow, a biography of Alexander Hamilton. After reading a couple of chapters, Miranda began envisioning the life of Hamilton as a musical and researched whether or not a musical of his life had been created. Turned out there was a small make of it in 1917, starring George Arliss as Alexander Hamilton. Lin-Manuel then began a, “Hamilton Mixtape,” and started writing some rough draft songs. On May 12, 2009, he performed his first song, “Alexander Hamilton,” at a spoken word night at the White House. It was such a hit that he decided to continue his work. Fast forward a few years, and he would have the finished product, and he himself would be in the original cast as Alexander Hamilton. The most popular songs include “Alexander Hamilton,” “Helpless,” “Satisfied,” “The Room Where It Happened,” “My Shot,” “Aaron Burr Sir” and many many more. On Broadway, it received enthusiastic responses and unpredicted box office sales. By now it’s earned $61.7 million, and that’s just the beginning. In 2016, “Hamilton” received a record-setting 16 Tony nominations, winning 11, including Best Musical, and was also earned the 2016 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album and the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Obviously, when it comes to the fine arts, this show has blown everything out of the water and is an absolute must see for all ages and tastes and anyone who is especially musically in tune. Ochoa said, “I was feeling definitely a lot of feelings when the show was done. Some of them include, ‘what did I just watch?,’ ‘why can’t it last forever’ and ‘that was the best thing I’ve ever seen with my own two eyes.’ The magic of live theater is that it is live, and that it’s not supposed to be like a movie. It happens one time, and then it lives on in your memory for years to come. I still can ‘see’ parts of the show when I think about it, and it makes me smile every single time. Hamilton is amazing, and I hope some day that everyone gets to see it.” By Staff Writer Claire

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Step into the Light

Sometimes winter’s dark thoughts can arise from seasonal lack of light

Seasonal Affective Disorder is defined as a mood disorder characterized by depression that occurs at the same time every year. Around 15 percent of the United States population may suffer from some form of SAD (yes, the actual acronym is SAD), so it’s not unusual to start feeling sad or even depressed once winter rolls around. There are many warning signs and symptoms of SAD, some of which include fatigue and extreme sense of tiredness. The cold weather also deters us from going outside, which “Many people don’t can lead to an extreme consider the possibillack of sunlight, which can cause depression, ity of SAD because the mood swings and even symptoms very much suicidal thoughts. Many people don’t resemble that of cliniconsider the possibil- cal depression and just ity of SAD because the symptoms very much overall teen angst ...” resemble that of clinical depression and just overall teen angst, not to mention that students often just consider their temporary sadness to be based off of the fact that school is in full swing, and finals are just right around the corner. There are, however, many ways to battle Seasonal Affective Disorder, so you can cross SAD off your list of things to worry about over the holidays. One thing that is always recommended when experiencing extreme sadness or depression is to go and talk to your doctor. They may be able to prescribe you temporary medication or refer you to a psychiatrist. They can often help you make sense of what is happening to you, and it can be a huge relief. LIght therapy is another option that anyone can do to improve their health at any time of the year. Light therapy consists of a large bright light that mimics the sunlight found outdoors, and it often causes a change in brain chemicals linked to mood. Another option many people consider is psychotherapy or “talk therapy,” which aims to treat disorders by psychological means rather than medical means. Sometimes the only thing people need is to have somebody to talk to that will listen, and understand their problems from a professional’s point of view.

Contact Us The Tiger Hi-Line is a weekly publication of the journalism classes at Cedar Falls High School, 1015 Division Street, Cedar Falls, Iowa 50613. Our website is www.hiline.cfschools.org. The Hi-Line is distributed to CFHS students on Fridays to read during their third period classes. Columns and letters do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Hi-Line staff or Cedar Falls Schools. The Hi-Line editorial is presented weekly in the editorial labeled Our View, and it is the view of the majority of the editors listed below. Reader opinions on any topic are welcome and should be sent to The Tiger Hi-Line staff or delivered to room 208. All letters must be signed. Letters must be submitted by 3 p.m. on Monday for publication in the following Friday edition. Letters may not exceed 300 words and may be edited to meet space limitations. Writers should include their contact information for verification. Editor-in-Chief: Tana Gam-Ad Opinion Editor: Brennan Kohls Staff: Macen Adams, Beau Anderson, Jibreel Bailey, Lily Becker, Ben Boezinger, Cassidy Christopher, Logan Cole, Noah Dexter, Vipsa Dodiya, Alexis Dowden, Noah Forker, Halie Frahm, Kyandra Gillum, Emma Graening, Ethan Gunnuscio, Cody Hood, Jubilee Joyce, Yoon Ki, Jackson Kliewer, Mercede Kraabel, Olivia Kress, Elise Leasure, Sabine Martin, Luke Mattingly, Kate Mauss, Casey McIntyre, MacKenzie Michael, Kate Middleton, Jack Moody, Andrew Nickey, Albie Nicol, Maddie Palmersheim, Jade Pham, Skylar Promer, Claire Rolinger, Claire Sabino, Kim Salmon, Madison Schaefer, Sohia Schillinger, Lillian Schmid, Mallorie Sckerl, Sydney See, Lexi Sheeley, Emmey Sherbon, Colin Shultz, Lilah Skaar, Sam Spratt, Mia Stark, Brayden Stotser, Alex Templeton, Tehya Tournier, Matthew Walsh, Haley Williams, Alayna Yates

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Thursday, Dec. 22, 2016

“Seeing the bookmark in the exact place my dad left it when he died affected me much more than any sum of cash ever could.”

In the end, legacy of love will be our greatest wealth Money makes the world go ‘round. Although it commonly causes greed, anger and tension between groups of people, owning a dollar bill or two makes it quite easy to live comfortably. When the final days of our lives approach us, it is important to have a reasonable amount of money stashed away. Between funerals, the process of burial or cremation and the loss of income, death is costly. The higher the size of our bank accounts at death, the more money our children inherit from us, which gives them a little bit of financial relief. Because of these potential benefits, it is crucial to die with a legacy of being able to financially support your family from beyond the grave. This is exactly what I believed, until I discovered something that proved the contrary: money does not make the world go ‘round after all. In 1968, my father, Scott McIntyre, was born into a family facing poverty. He lived in a loving environment, alongside his older brother, mother, father and a German Shepherd named Cocoa. Their house was too small for a family of four and a dog, but it was all that his parents could afford as a prison guard and a dry-cleaner. This house was so tiny, that a closet was used as a bedroom for him and his brother to share. Inspired by his childhood, he decided he did not want his future children to grow up in a house that was not functional. Staying true to his thoughts, my dad worked extremely hard in school. It paid off. When senior year approached, Northern Michigan University offered him a full-ride scholarship for his academic achievements. He eventually rejected the offer in favor of another school, but the scholarship motivated him even greater to go to college and provide a great life for his future family. He did just that. Unlike my dad, I was born into a family with a stable income. Mom didn’t need a job, so she stayed home all day while Dad went to work, and I went to a good school. Life for me was exactly like this until July of 2015, when what the doctors called “the worst case of lymphoma in history” took my father’s life. After being told by a doctor that he was going to die, my dad mainly feared for me, my mom and my brother. All of us recognized the fact that he was the only working parent, meaning that after his death we would have zero source of income. On top of multiple other emo-

Casey McIntyre Photo

Before he died, senior Casey McIntyre’s dad left his bookmark in this half read title. tions, we were all terrified. Does this mean we will live on the streets? How will I afford to go to college? Will be even be able to buy food? These thoughts continuously crossed our minds, only increasing our worries. Although we all were fearful, my dad was definitely the most terrified. He felt that his sickness would ruin our family, yet when he took his last breath, financial stability was the very last thing that mattered to any of us. In the past year, my family’s financial stability has decreased. I often catch myself wondering if my dad is up in heaven, feeling guilty for leaving us, even though it was not his fault. This was something I did not want, as I knew he tried his best to fight. I did not love the idea of my dad thinking that we loved him less because he couldn’t support us financially from Heaven. Just last week, I was assigned a book report. Knowing my dad was an active reader, I asked my mom if we owned a copy of Killing Lincoln by Bill O’Reilly. She nodded, and fetched it for me. When I put my hands on the hardbook cover, I came to a realization. In my hands, I held the very last book my dad ever read. When I thought It couldn’t get any better, I discovered the bookmark on page 62, exactly where he left it. Emotions instantly rushed into my body, as I thought back to everything my dad had accomplished in his life. I reflected on his intelligence and love for literature. I thought

deeply about his passion to keep our family stable. All from discovering a small bookmark on page 62 of Killing Lincoln, I realized that my dad’s legacy has absolutely nothing to do with how much money he owned, how many expensive things he could buy for his loved ones or how many vacations he could afford to take his family on in a single year, but instead it is completely about the love he radiated throughout this world, the passions and aspirations he possessed and the extremely tiny, yet wonderful aspects of his character. I realized that nobody remembers him as the man who made a lot of money as an engineer, or as the person whose death caused a family to need a new source of income. Instead, everyone remembers him as the kilt-wearing Irishman who loved books and would sacrifice in a heartbeat for his wife and children. To me, he was the stem of intelligence, and he will continue to teach me lessons beyond the grave. Seeing the bookmark in the exact place my dad left it when he died affected me much more than any sum of cash ever could. Because of this, I will never again say money makes the world go ‘round. When our last breaths are taken and our last words are said, our legacies will have no relation to our wealth, but instead have everything to do with how we show our love for one another. By Staff Writer Casey

MCINTYRE

The

Tiger

HI-LINE

Thursday, Dec. 22, 2016

Out of the Darkness

OPINION

11

Stay the course on difficult road to depression recovery

Recovery. It’s something everyone struggles with despite how different our situations are. Whether you break a bone or suffer from depression, the aftermath of both takes healing. It’s taken six years to get where I am today. I’ve recovered from a lot, and I think it’s super important that everyone knows things will be OK. I was 11 when I was first got diagnosed with depression. Every week I spent time in a tiny room with a therapist trying to figure out why I wasn’t happy like every other kid my age. In a lot of ways I didn’t understand what I was even feeling, but I knew something was wrong when the ideas of suicide found their way into my mind. So, I was put on my first rounds of medication to try to even out the chemicals in my brain. When I was 12, I found myself in a psych ward. After an attempted overdose, my parents were advised to place me in one for my own safety. It was hard. I felt like I was going insane. Pain consumed my life, and I was young. I still couldn’t make sense of the things I was feeling. It probably stemmed from my insecurities, but your mind has a way of resurfacing hidden memories, and that can destroy you. After eight days, I was home. I was happier than I was the previous eight days, and for the following six months everything was OK, but depression doesn’t go away. Through junior high, things got bad again. I harmed myself, and I stopped caring about my grades and almost flunked out. My medication changed, and although it calmed my anxiety, I wanted to lock myself in my room and

never come out. For days I stayed in my room, and I lost a lot of people because I isolated myself. This was around the time I believed in the idea of not getting better. I tried so hard to be happy. I tried connecting with other people, but it was too hard. I was always overwhelmed. Being around anyone made my stomach drop, and I found myself crying in bathrooms at every social event. I hated myself for not being able to function like a normal person, and I struggled getting through junior high. It took a lot of therapy and support to get me through. As I started high school, I was still a wreck from freshman year. I was quiet, and I depended on my medication and naps to keep the pain away. Again, it also took lots of therapy to help me get through school. When you’re depressed, doing anything feels like you’re drowning. Everything you once enjoyed becomes nothing more than a gray area, and it’s easier to just lie in bed and stare at the ceiling. That’s also the thing about depression; you can stare at a wall for hours without feeling anything. It’s complete isolation, and falling into that is something risky. I started feeling better my junior year. Things became easier, and I hadn’t harmed myself in years. I still have scars, but to be able to pull yourself out of self harm is something to be proud of. It takes a lot of strength to do so. To my surprise junior year wasn’t terrible. I had a lot of bad days, but I’ve learned how to handle those times. As a senior, things are so different than the time I was 11. I still struggle some days. I still take a heavy dosage

of medication, but I’m no longer scared of not getting better. Looking back it breaks my heart to think that for years I thought my life was doomed to depression. But it isn’t. I’m no longer letting it control me. It’s hard to do that, but once you realize you’re alive to do incredible things, you start fighting for your happiness. I’ll admit, some days I sit in my room and do nothing. I’ve lost weight because I quit eating, but slowly I’ve been looking for the joy in things. I also started eating more. Depression makes you lack self care, but I promise you recovery is possible. It’s taken me years to get where I am today, and things still aren’t perfect, but I’m happier than I’ve ever been. I’m glad to be alive. I’ve fought hard to be happy, and it amazes me where I’m at today. Like I said, I have bad days. I have days where I wonder if fighting through the pain is worth it, but I love life for once. I want to experience everything I can. I want to do incredible things, but I can’t do that if I let myself fall back to where I once was. Recovery is so hard, I know. It takes a lot of time too, but in the end it’s so worth it. Happiness will always find its way to you. At this very moment your life and feelings are just a small fraction of your whole life. You have a whole future ahead of you. If you give up now, you’ll never know the endless possibilities of life. There’s so much out there for you. Don’t let sadness ruin your entire life. By Staff Writer Lexi

SHEELEY

Disabilty Double Standard

Safe Ways to Cope with Depression

•Write poetry •Read •Play with cats or dogs •Rearrange your room •Explore the woods •Drink tea •Take a shower or bath •Meditate •Cry •Aromatherapy •Bake cookies •Listen to music •Build a fort •Make a list of good things •Color in a coloring book •Go buy something •Hug your mom or dad or best friend •Dance or sing •Scream into a pillow •Punch a pillow •Make a paper airplane •Get a piercing •Cut or dye your hair •Sit outside and take deep breaths •Watch funny videos •Eat pizza or ice cream or both •Look at old baby pictures •Call your therapist or hotline •Go for a drive and blare your music •Take another shower or bath •Go to Barnes and Noble •Make a tie blanket •BREATHE

Whatever you do, do not harm yourself. There are healthier ways to cope that will make you happy. Harming yourself doesn’t fix anything.

Social acceptance of wheel chairs still faces uphill climb It happens subconsciously on a daily basis. The masses see somebody in a wheelchair using accessible public accommodations and wonder “do they really need that?” Though, it should be noted we rarely think the same things about blind people who use “white canes” or deaf and hard of hearing individuals who use hearing aids or cochlear implants. Why does the double standard only exist for wheelchair users? This especially targets individuals who do not fall into a particular binary of physical disability or what is seen as the socially accepted model of such. We are taught from a young age that wheelchairs are

“... many people who choose to use wheelchairs part time or as needed get a lot of flack not only from people who do not understand their decisions, but also their own care teams.” only for people who can not walk, therefore, creating a stigma for those who did not necessarily choose to disregard walking. Rather, it happened out of necessity. It comes from the problematic nature of the medical model of disability. Most physicians believe that if a patient has the ability to walk, the primary

goal of treatment should be maintaining that ability for as long as possible.This is seen as the ethical approach, though it completely disregards the patient’s quality of life and the possibility that patients themselves may know what is best for their own bodies. This mentality has been subconsciously adopted by society and pro-

gressed to become a toxic social construct. Therefore, many people who choose to use wheelchairs part time or as needed get a lot of flack not only from people who do not understand their decisions, but also their own care teams. Tensions also flow into socialization with full time wheelchair users, who often deem these individuals to be too able-bodied in order to fully integrate into their communities. Another altercation that occurs quite often is the inappropriate inquisition of strangers. Though many of the frequently asked questions are rooted in innocence such as “why are you in a wheelchair?,” “what

happened?” “how do you use the bathroom?” These are all very rude to ask, as one would not casually ask their able-bodied peers such personal information. This also crosses the line into disclosure. A person does not have the legal obligation to divulge any personal or medical information regarding their status of disability or chronic illness regardless if it is visible or invisible. It is all based off of respect and trust. Respect the person, trust that their disability or chronic illness is a very real, and please respect the person’s privacy regarding the previously mentioned. By Staff Writer Halie

FRAHM

12

The

Tiger

SPORTS

Thursday, Dec. 22, 2016

Struggles of late deer season well worth effort Most students look forward to winter break because of opening presents on Christmas morning, and hanging out with friends and family. For others like myself, winter break means late muzzleloader deer season. Late muzzleloader is a very unique form of hunting. First off, you’re using a rifle design over 150 years old. Secondly, it is not like shotgun deer hunting where you have a set group of pushers and standers. Instead, you set your stool down somewhere in the timber or near a cornfield and wait. Muzzleloader season can be a very cool experience, but also can be quite difficult for the average hunter. Obviously, during late muzzleloader season there is usually a good amount of snow on the ground, which makes walking back to your spot difficult at times. There have been some years that we had almost 3-4 feet of snow, and my dad and I hiked back to spots clear up on massive ridges. It gets even more challenging if you shoot a deer too. Along with that snow is bitter, freezing cold. In this late season, prepare to absolutely freeze out there. It’ll be one of the coldest experiences of your life at times, but it’s worth it

John Dunlop Photo

This buck was passing through the city limits earlier this fall, well before the muzzleloader season. when you tag a nice deer. Another drawback of muzzleloader hunting is that you have for the most part, one shot. Granted there have been times where we’ve been able to get off more than one shot at a deer, but it is safe to assume you’ll only have that one shot. Loading a second shot can be even more tricky while under pressure, so speedloaders are a lifesaver. Speedloaders are a tube-like device that has the set amount of black pow-

Cheerleaders champion new Olympic connections Every cheerleader knows how difficult cheerleading is on your mind and body. Recently the IOC (International Olympic Committee) recognized that cheer is an official sport, so while this doesn’t mean that cheerleading will be in the next olympic games, it means that the International Cheer Union will receive at least $25,000 a year and have the opportunity to apply for more grants. Peet cheer coach and former CF cheerleader Sydney Schoentag said that “so many people think that they (the cheerleaders) stand on the side and don’t do anything and don’t realize the works everyone puts in at practice.” And Peet freshman and competition cheerleader Leah Dierks agreed. “I think that it should be included in the Olympics. Cheer takes a lot of different skills like strength, flexibility along with determination and many more,” she said. This also isn’t a final decision; the IOC can put cheer in the Olympics in three years,

but it has to be voted in. “Cheer is a really hard sport, and having it recognized means a lot,” junior Rachel Schmid, a cheerleader at TNT, said. Girls and guys can spend upward of three hours at the gym and cheer practice, putting in their blood sweat and tears. The Olympic endorsement lays to rest the rumors that cheerleading isn’t a sport because regularly people will tell the people in it that it is not. The reasons vary on why these girls think that cheer is a sport. “I think the strength that it takes to do competitive cheer is what makes it a sport. Also, teamwork because if the whole team doesn’t work together, then lots of things could happen,” Dierks said. “I would say the athleticism and strength are key things that a lot of people don’t think about,” Schoentag said. By Staff Writer Lillian

SCHMID

der, the patch and the ball ready to roll. Loading a muzzleloader can be very dangerous if done wrong, so keep that in mind. The pros vastly outweigh the cons when it comes to late muzzleloader, however. Although the snow can be a con, it can also be an awesome pro. One of the coolest things you’ll ever see is Iowa timber and cornfields in the snow. The best deer hunts I’ve had are when it’s snowing. It’s

Tiger Time

Tiger athletes, including senior Cy Hearn from Independence (top), senior Calli Johnson (left) and junior AJ Green (right) are ready for holiday break. Logan Cole, John Dunlop and Madison Posekany Photos

so quiet out there that you can hear the snow falling. There’s nothing quite like being out in the woods when it’s snowing. It makes for awesome pictures and an awesome hunt. Another reward from late muzzleloader is the preservation of a tradition. When I’m carrying my Thompson Center “New Englander,” I think about the men who carried these types of rifles on the same land almost 200 years before me. By using a muzzleloader, you are preserving a way of putting food on the table that has been around as long as this country. Even above the feeling of tradition and the beautiful scenery, the reward of actually shooting a deer with that rifle is much greater. All the work you put in at the range, freezing your hands and feet off, and the trudging through the deep snow paid off. It is hard to describe exactly what it feels like when you finally take that shot and it all pays off, but it’s great. You accomplished something that not many hunters today have. Late muzzleloader can be a very rewarding experience. At times it’s difficult, but in the end it’s worth it. By Staff Writer Brennan

KOHLS

HI-LINE Athlete of the

Week

BRYCE PILCHER Wrestling

Bryce Pilcher is one of the top ranking wrestlers in the state with a record of 16-2, only losing the first two matches in one of the first weeks of the season. All of the others have either been from pins or taps. This week he won all of his matches. How did you get started with wrestling? “My dad got me and my brother started when I was around six years old, and I just always loved it.” What made you want to continue to wrestle? “The whole idea of wrestling one athlete vs. another. Same weight, it’s an equal match, and the better man comes out on top.” Where do you see you going with wrestling, and what has it taught you? “I think that wrestling teaches me a lot, and I plan on using it in life to prove that I am a hard worker and dedicated, with all of these hopefully life skills that should benefit me through my whole life.” Do you plan to wrestle in college? Have you gotten any requests? I have not made up my mind with a decision yet, but if you were to ask me right now, I would say that I want to wrestle in college, I guess. I have gotten letters from schools, not exactly scholarships.