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Peet ninth grade teachers wrestling with advantages, abuses of providing student allowances for retaking assessments In ninth grade, teachers are struggling with deciding whether retakes are good for the students learning or just creating bad habits for the future. The district is making a push to emphasize that learning is an ongoing process, but currently, some students take advantage of the opportunity to retake while others abuse it, and teachers are having a hard time finding the balance between whether retakes should be acceptable or not. Most teachers see it as a better learning opportunity, and most students see it as a way to improve their grades. Peet Principal Bill Boevers said he believes that retakes are helpful and may even help students as they continue into high school, potentially college and even in their careers. “I believe it will be helpful for kids to learn the essentials. This will put them in a position to be successful in other courses,” he said. While Boevers knows that there may be some who abuse the ability to retake tests, he said that, “most kids know it is easier to just learn it the first

“... not every student understands every part of a topic on the first try. Retakes stress the importance of continuing to learn even after an assessment.”

—Mary Watson Peet ninth grade math teacher

time and not make more work for themselves.” Peet ninth grade history teacher Sarah Carlson sees only the positives of the retake policy. “I think retakes are beneficial because student grades are based on their learning. I do not assign assessed work for no reason. I feel it is important and essential. If a student shows learning isn’t happening on an assessment or formative work, then that student may need more support, had something disrupt their learning, need feedback, need a new way of presenting information, etc. As collaborative teams, we decide what is essential for all students, so my job is to ensure students learn all the es-

sentials,” Carlson said. Carlson allows students to retake any work except for the end of the quarter summative assessments. “I think retakes are beneficial because it helps me understand student deficiencies in the learning process and helps me evaluate my teaching practice. It also ensures students are meeting proficiency and are able to move on to new skills or continue practicing skills,” Carlson said. Many students and teachers worry that with the retake policy, a student’s sophomore year could come as a shock. Carlson disagrees and has faith that the students will still be able to adjust. “I think students

adapt to the situations they are in, just like you do when you get a new job or you move to a new city or country. As ninth graders become 10th graders and enter the high school, they will learn about the expectations from their teachers and adapt to the situation,” Carlson said. Peet ninth grade math teacher Mary Watson said she thinks that the retake policy will definitely help kids in the long run. “Yes, not every student understands every part of a topic on the first try. Retakes stress the importance of continuing to learn even after an assessment. If students aren’t allowed to do retakes and they fail an assessment, in the past they would just move on and never need to go back and learn that material. They could potentially pass a class having little to no understanding of an entire unit. This can be a problem long term for concepts that are necessary later on,” Watson said. Watson said she understands that many students abuse their ability to retake tests. “Absolutely, some stu-

dents have the attitude that they don’t need to study or work hard to understand the first time because they can just retake an assessment. I think we need to have a better system for designating when a student has shown that they put in appropriate work prior to the test before they are allowed a retake,” Watson said. Watson said that some students have certain habits in place when it comes to being able to retake tests that may give them struggles at the high school. “However, the research shows that allowing retakes improves students learning, so I don’t think we should discard the idea just because that isn’t the current policy at the high school,” Watson said. “I think policies at the high school will be changing, so that teachers at all levels will be allowing retakes. In which case, our retake policies here will set students on the right path to focus on their learning and making sure that they are continuing to work to be successful even af-

“The moral of the show is kind of the same as ‘To Kill A Mockingbird.’ it’s about everybody,” Frenna said. “It’s really a show about refugees. These are all people who are living lives of desperation because they are thrown out.” In the show, the fairytale creatures are the outsiders. They struggle with being themselves, and they feel as if they are not good enough for being who they are, and they wish they were different. “There are lots of characters in the show. Even if you have a small role, there are fun costumes,” Frenna said. With around 50 people cast, not including tech and makeup crew, each character has his or her own little moment in the show. “All the characters are struggling with the same unifying action, and that is to somehow connect with the greater world around them,” Frenna said. “They were told who they should be, and should is a very dangerous word. We get down on ourselves for be-

ing who we are, and we have this expectation of ourselves that we should be something else.” This theme is shown throughout the musical. “Fiona, one character in particular, is stuck in her tower, and she is fed this hope that her story is going to end with a handsome knight coming to get her. She is told she needs the knight and that everything will be perfect once he comes and gets her.” Not everything in the story she has been told goes according to plan. “Something better happens to her, something that is better than a happy ending, which is finding her true love,” Frenna said. “In the end we’re not bound to what we have been told we have to be. We can make the world a better place by loving ourselves, embracing ourselves and embracing each other for our differences.”

By Staff Writer Alayna

YATES

With cast of around 50 students, ‘Shrek the Musical’ opens Friday Featuring a wide variety of characters, including fairytale creatures, ogres and a dragon, “Shrek the Musical” takes the stage in the auditorium this Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. Tickets are $8 for students and $9 for adults. Activity passes are not accepted. Joe Frenna, an English teacher who is also the director of the show, has high hopes for this production. “At first I didn’t want to do this show,” Frenna said. His wife suggested “Shrek the Musical,” and he shut down the idea at first. “It’s really hard to get something that is appropriate for high school productions,” he said. Frenna said he thought about picking “Grease,” but it just wasn’t appropriate for a production being put on at the high school. “I finally sat down and watched “Shrek the Musical,” and I was impressed,” he said. “The show has great music, a great script and a great message. I see a lot in the show. That’s why I picked it.” The show follows the film, but

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Senior Ellie Haan gets ready for a dress rehearsal for the musical on Monday, Feb. 27. it has it’s differences. “The lyrics to the songs really add some power to it. The music is just really beautiful,” Frenna said.

The playwrights took the message of the movie and expanded on it and made the musical something everyone can relate to.

By Staff Writer Emma

GRAENING

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“We have to have facilities that allow for continued growth ...” —Superintendent Andy Pattee

School board approves land purchase for new high school The school board on Monday, Feb. 27 approved buying 50 acres off of West 27th Street for a potential site to construct a new high school. A new high school will have to go through a public referendum, called a general obligation bond. In order to get a new high school approved, the vote requires 60 percent or higher in favor of the new building. “The expected cost of a new high school is around $80-$85 million. This will allow for a 50-year plan and maximize the life cycle costs of construction,” Superintendent Andy Pattee said. To update, remodel and expand the current high school, it would cost roughly $60 million for the school that is anticipated to be over capacity in the next 15 years with no room to expand. “This $60 million expenditure does not address the parking, lack of green space or expand programming/ courses in the future,” Pattee said. According to Pattee, funding to remodel or construct a new high school would come from a general obligation bond and a combination of 1

cent sales tax funds. A new high school would accommodate 1,500 students, grades 10-12, with room to expand in the future if needed. A new high school would also include spaces that allow for more collaboration, spaces for creativity, higher levels of security, as well as more flexible and comfortable spaces for students to

Shooting High

work during power hour. “We are limited within our current space on some learning activities we would hope to provide,” Pattee said. If the general obligation bond is passed and a new high school is built, Pattee said, “We are working with several groups to explore how the building/site could be utilized in the future for community benefit.”

Submitted Photo Senior Blake Coffee said he believes the high school is overcrowded, especially the parking and cafeteria. “There is simply not enough parking. The cafeteria is cramped, depressing and slow. The wifi works most of the time. The heat and air conditioning are marginal at best,” he said. Agreeing about the need to rebuild, sophomore Kane

Schaefer said he “would change the thermostat and update like better technology and better Internet because the thing goes out all the time.” Other concerns that have been brought up are how the school is falling apart and the need for space for all sports and activities. “We have to have facilities that allow for continued growth, that meet the dynamic and changing needs of our students, programs and community. A strong viable school district is a key cornerstone of a strong viable community,” Pattee said. Students agreed with him, saying that the current high school now won’t last. Senior Henry Shockley said he believes a new high school is needed because our current one doesn’t work or flow nicely. “It is overcrowded and doesn’t function correctly half the time.” He also noted that climate control is a big issue, and students cannot learn when they are uncomfortable due to heat/cold. By Staff Writer Tehya

TOURNIER

Rocket club aiming for national competition in Washington, D.C. Walking into the basement during a “normal Tuesday” during A shift of power hour for a rocket club meeting, one might expect to see a ton of kids crowded around a rocket, possibly fighting over the next launch or the color that they could spray paint it next, but after opening the door of the old drivers ed room, one is greeted by music playing from a speaker and a group of students who were more than willing to share their excitement of this program and their goals for this season. Rocket club is composed of seven students and one leader, Zeb Nicholson. This is the third year of rocket club at the school, and the club numbers and participation have gone up significantly compared to previous years experienced. These students are given specific requirements and a challenge to build a rocket that reaches a certain height and

Submitted Photo

Members of the rocket suspend their rocket in the wind tunnel at the University of Iowa. spends a certain amount of time in flight, all without cracking an egg strategically placed into the rocket. Every second and foot that they are off of the goal in place by the National

Association of Rocketry, points are added. The goal is similar to golf: have the lowest number of points. The team has already had one test flight and reached a

total of 29 points, a number that exceeded their expectations. Hopes are high as they have goals of competing in the national competition in Washington, D.C., that will be held early May. In order to qualify for this competition, the team has to send in two flights that are watched by an official. Their numbers are then compared over 800 other teams across the nation, and the top 100 lowest scores are invited to attend the national competition. The top 10 teams receive cash to help the program and a little bit extra spending money. Rocket club is not a schoolfunded club, so all money for the program is either raised through fund raisers or help from the Tiger’s Den. As each launch costs about $20 each, and most teams do about 30 before they send in their numbers, but last year the club only needed an

impressive three launches until the national competition. This was something that caught the attention of University of Iowa’s engineering program, and the club was invited to Iowa City to put their rocket to the test The team placed the rocket into a 60 mph wind tunnel and hoped for the best. If something were to go wrong, the rocket would be ripped to shreds. They strategically suspended the rocket into the vertical wind tunnel, and it didn’t move one bit. It gave hope to the team that their rocket would fly well. Those interested in the club can email Nicholson or stop by one of their meetings. Walking into a room of students that are passionate about something and have fun while doing can really change one’s perspective on clubs and rockets. By Staff Writer Rachel

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Kranz focuses choir on strengths of unity

Digging through the papers on his desk, choir teacher Eliott Kranz stumbled upon a sticky note with one, singular word written upon it: Umbutu. The Swahili proverb roughly translates to the phrase, “I am because we are.” This short expression is what inspired Kranz to focus on a theme of togetherness and community in his choir classroom during the 2016-2017 school year. The term exemplifies values Kranz wants to encourage in his classroom on a daily basis: community, togetherness and family. He aims to use the word as a theme or talking point to drive his students to build a loving community through their music. Kranz explained his take on the importance of emphasizing community in order to bring about a more positive change in the world. “All of the actions that we do in class affect each other, but more importantly, they affect the actions and the feelings of those we bring our music to,” Kranz said. ”As an individual person, your actions and words affect others, but when we do things as a group, we can create change or

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Choir teacher Eliott Kranz believes in the power of the Swahili proverb, “Umbutu,” which means “I am because we are.” change things in a bigger way than a single individual can.” Throughout the year, Kranz has worked carefully to select songs that reflect the choir’s

theme of togetherness. His music selection illustrates the positivity and peace that he hopes to see his students spread into the world some-

day. “This year I have tried to find music that talks about or touches on aspects of bringing peace, building community, coming together and being a family because there is so much divisiveness in the world right now, and there has been throughout much of this school year,” Kranz said. Sophomore Jonas Walther has enjoyed the emphasis on unity. “I like how he picks music not just for the notes but for the story behind it. When we know what we are singing about, it helps us feel more passionate about it, and that shows through our singing,” he said. Senior Makenzie Nichols agreed. “There is always an important message behind the music we sing. I always learn a lesson from the pieces.” Kranz has selected several new pieces, all reflecting hope, love and peace, to debut on the choir’s spring break trip this March. Titles such as “Prayer of the Children,” “Grace Before Sleep” and “We Can Mend the Sky” will all be featured. While Kranz’s goal may be to impact the lives of those in the world’s community, he has

already done so much for the students in his very own classroom. Senior Sarah Venem said Kranz’s teaching style has positively impacted her life. “He always makes people feel welcome, whether it’s greeting people as they walk in the door, smiling at them throughout the day or teasing them during class. Mr. Kranz makes you feel like part of his choir family. He makes you feel important, loved, appreciated and wanted. I’m really going to miss that sense of family and community from the choir room and seeing Mr. Kranz every day.” Similarly, senior Noah Wolf said he appreciates the love that Mr. Kranz shows for his students on a daily basis. “Mr. Kranz will always listen to whatever you have to say, whether about the choir, your life or news in the sports world, and even with those two things, it’s very clear that he wants every singer in the choir to improve, as well as the choir as a whole, and will stop at nothing to get the best from his students.”

concerns about Social Security, demands for an independent investigation about President Trump’s ties to Russia, desire for a replacement for the Affordable Care Act and a call to hold Trump accountable. Grassley then opened the floor up for questions and got them on a wide variety of topics like immigration reform, Trump’s missteps, the appointment of Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, the disparity between the average worker’s pay and the pay of a CEO, Trump calling the media the enemy of the people, Dodd Frank, refugees, climate change, moral/ ethical standards and Steve Bannon. To most questions, Grassley gave the standard Republican line. On some, he danced around the question, and on others, he didn’t offer an answer at all. He had a few notable answers, however. On the media: “The press is not the enemy of the people. The press is the policeman of the legislative system. We

count on them to keep us accountable.” On refugees: “We’ve been a welcoming nation for refugees since World War II, and we will continue to be a welcoming nation.” On Trump’s boisterous behavior: “The best thing a public official can do is set a good example.” Overall, the event was filled with many passionate Democrats who wanted Grassley to represent their views in Congress. Grassley said, “The biggest takeaway is the concern of what’s going to happen as a result of repealing the Affordable Care Act. The other one is immigration, as well as a general dislike of Trump’s policies to this point.” The event seemed to be a real contentious affair, but Grassley was unshaken. “These are relatively quiet town halls,” he said, comparing them to meetings in 2009 and 2013. By Staff Writer Noah

By Staff Writer Clare

ROLINGER

Grassley hears concerns of constituents in local meetings With the tense political climate and heavy criticism falling onto Republicans and President Donald Trump, many Republican legislators aren’t meeting with their constituents; however, U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley is. Every year, he makes a point to meet with voters in all 99 counties of Iowa, and he took some time during this past week of congressional recess to hold five town hall meetings across the state. Friday morning, he was in Parkersburg, along with camera crews from not only local TV stations, but from NBC and C-SPAN as well. There were many frustrated Democrats at the event, which is unsurprising for this region of the state. The tone was set early on in the event during Butler County Sheriff Jason Johnson’s welcome speech. After welcoming all visitors to the city of Parkersburg, he began a sentence, “Whether you’re paid to be here or you’re here voluntarily ...” He was interrupted

Noah Wolf Photo

Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley picks a question at his town hall meeting in Parkersburg on Friday, Feb. 24. by boos from the largely liberal crowd, tired of being accused of being paid protestors. Once Grassley got in front of the people, he opened the floor up for statements. The first to speak was Black Hawk County Supervisor Chris Schwartz. Schwartz spoke on the importance of keeping Medicaid reimbursements

for the Black Hawk Countyrun nursing home, one of two county-run nursing homes in the nation. He also spoke on his desire for Grassley to speak in front of public crowds in Black Hawk County, rather than just meeting with private groups there during his 99-county tour. Other statements included

WOLF

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ADHD, deficit Attention

health system providing woeful

of

When one thinks of Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder, one may think of a child, most likely a young boy, who is hyperactive and loud. These children are easy to spot in a classroom, always talking, not paying attention and are being disruptive. When ADHD is diagnosed, the symptoms most commonly searched for or questioned about are these stereotypical symptoms, but these are often not the same symptoms exhibited by girls with ADHD. Some girls do exhibit these symptoms that are most commonly found in boys, but most do not, leaving many girls undiagnosed and untreated. The profile for girls with ADHD is scattered and hard to pinpoint, unlike their male counterparts, which may account or contribute to the fact that boys are diagnosed at a rate five times higher than girls. Because symptoms in girls are harder to spot and often do not fit the stereotypical profile of someone having ADHD, there is a skewed perception that boys are more likely to have ADHD. However, ADHD is an “equal-opportunity disorder” meaning that it has the same likelihood to occur in either gender, but in girls, the

disorder is not diagnosed or treated as much or in the same order. “In my experience, girls and women are often underdiagnosed,” said Marc Groen, who has worked 15 years as a school psychologist and is currently working with students at Cedar Falls Schools. “I’ve known hundreds of boys diagnosed with ADHD, but only a handful of girls.” While ADHD can be categorized into three types — inattentive, hyperactive-impulsive and combined — ADHD in girls can manifest itself in a multitude of different ways. This was not recognized by the health community until relatively recent times. This has long left women and girls calamitously underdiagnosed, living life with no treatment and over-compensating for the skills they lack, painting a seemingly pretty picture with messy and complicated personal undertones. While some girls do display the stereotypical symptoms most often seen in boys, the majority of girls with undiagnosed ADHD are hiding in plain sight due to it’s difficulty to decipher. “People imagine little boys bouncing off the walls and think: That’s what

ADHD looks like, and if this girl doesn’t look like that then she doesn’t have ADHD,” said Dr. Patricia Quinn, director and co-founder of the National Resource Center for Girls and Women with ADHD, in an article for Childmind.org. Common behaviors of girls with ADHD include the Daydreamer: inattentive in class, seemingly focused with an internal thought bubble hundreds of miles away, forgetful, disorganized, anxious and easily overwhelmed, probably gazing out the window or picking at her fingernails; the Chatty Kathy: a bubble of socialization, interruption, having difficulty organizing her thoughts when telling a story, using a silly facade to mask underlying issues; the Smart Girl: seemingly sharp-witted, often masking concentration and organization problems until later in life when expectations are more demanding; and the more typical Tomboy: show-off, hyperactive, always jumping from one thing to the next, always trying to impress someone. In today’s society, girls face an enormous pressure to conform to unreasonable expectations. Girls are trained by every aspect of modern life to mask mistakes and and hide imper-

fections, striving to fill a certain mold of what a woman should look and act like in our world. Girls with ADHD are ostracized and stigmatized because of the traditionally “masculine” nature of symptoms like messiness, bossiness and hyperactivity that ADHD presents, causing girls to be ashamed and feel the need to hide and internalize their struggles with simple everyday life. While boys are treated, girls are scolded. “I’ve observed that girls may display symptoms differently, or teachers treat them differently from boys” Groen said. “For example, some boys may be more disruptive or hyperactive, while girls may have more difficulty with inattention or executive functioning deficits. Typically, students that are more disruptive to the learning environment will be more closely monitored by their teachers.” The difference in symptoms does not make ADHD in a girl any less valid or undeserving of treatment as the disorder in a boy, a message still attempting to permeate the minds of not only the general public, but the health community as well. ADHD going undiagnosed in girls can lead to a variety of varying physical and men-

Elise Leasure Graphics/Poll tal health problems in adolescence or later life. “While research of ADHD in women continues to lag behind that in adult males, many clinicians are finding significant concerns and co-existing conditions in women with ADHD. Compulsive overeating, alcohol abuse and chronic sleep deprivation may be present in women with ADHD” reads the National Resource on ADHD’s website. According to mental health research from the National Institutes of Health published in the American Psychological Association, boys are more likely to outwardly exhibit signs of aggression and hyperactivity that accompany ADHD, while girls turn their frustrations inside. This was also noted in a 2012 study by Stephen Hinshaw, PhD. “ADHD in girls and women carries a particularly high risk of internalizing, and even self-harmful behavior patterns,” Hinshaw said. “We know that girls with ADHDcombined are more likely to be impulsive and have less control over their actions, which could explain these distressing findings.” “I’m stupid,” “I can’t do anything right,” “It’s all my fault” are often common mantras within the heads of

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HI-LINE girls and women with ADHD. Behind the facades of false proficiency, many girls find themselves crumbling under pressure to succeed, often silently, due to the common stigma that ADHD is a “boy’s” problem. These self-convicting tendencies lead to years of lowself esteem and often times self-destructive behavior, eating disorders, depression and anxiety. This becomes a heightened problem during adolescence when hormones fluctuate, causing girls to become moody and reactive, and increasing their risks for other mental health problems. According to a study conducted by Stephen Hinshaw, director of Psychology at the University of California-Berkeley, girls with ADHD have significantly higher chances of self harm or suicide attempts. Of the participants in the study diagnosed with combined ADHD, 51 percent reported self-harming actions like scratching, cutting and burning themselves, and 22 percent reported at least one suicide attempt prior to the 10-year follow up. For many women who go undiagnosed, symptoms of ADHD like forgetfulness, disorganization, a tendency to blame themselves, and impulsivity are mistaken simply as personality flaws, and they are often labelled as “lazy,” “ditzy” and “absent-minded.” When the structure of compulsory education disappears and the transition into adulthood begins, women often times find themselves at war with the issues they were once able to suppress in childhood and adolescence, forcing themselves to come to terms with their long-time and overwhelming feelings of inadequacy when tackling responsibilities and relationships. ADHD misdiagnosis or failure to be diagnosed robs young women of opportunities to be academically successful or receive accommodations and treatment that would help them succeed and overcome their internal struggles. Without proper diagnosis and treatments, girls carry these problems into adult life, where failures become evident and self-accusations become more than common. According to Quinn, “The average age of diagnosis for women with ADHD, who weren’t diagnosed as children, is 36 to 38 years old.” Groen offered an explana-

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13.2 % of boys are diagnosed with ADHD

5.6 % of girls are diagnosed with ADHD

Source;: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention tion to the fact that women are often not diagnosed until adulthood, as stated by Quinn. “My best hypothesis is that many young women begin to advocate for themselves with their health care providers as they approach adulthood,” Groen said. “When they begin to share their own health concerns, more of these concerns become apparent.”

Seemingly intelligent and functional women and girls are often disregarded as candidates for ADHD diagnoses due to their abilities to compensate for or mask their symptoms much longer than boys Many are often misdiagnosed with bipolar disorder, anxiety and depression. So why are girls not being diagnosed?

The current diagnoses process in the state of Iowa includes evaluation from parents, family, teachers and health professionals. When a child is suspected to have ADHD by parents or a pediatrician, often times the first step is a written evaluation from teachers or educators that the child has frequent contact with. According to the Psychi-

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atric Associates of Iowa City, “Health care providers and educators may also observe and evaluate the child.” This means a portion of the weight of the evaluation is based on the child in a classroom setting and being evaluated by someone who is not a health professional using biased criteria. “Young children that are the first to be diagnosed are often those with more difficulty managing hyperactive symptoms,” Groen said. “Oftentimes, these students will be the first identified by teachers and parents as they devote a large amount of time and effort helping them to manage their symptoms and making learning gains.” Obviously, the quiet girl in the corner chewing her nails and looking out the window would not attract the same attention or scream ADHD as the disobedient boy who cannot seem to keep his mouth shut or follow simple directions. “However, referral bias is a problem, in that females with ADHD are less likely to be referred for treatment than males with ADHD,” said JJ Rucklidge of the Department of Psychology at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand, in a journal published in the Psychiatric Clinics of America. Besides the obvious fact that symptoms are just not noticed, the diagnosis process for ADHD does not account for the varying exhibitions of the disorder, catering only to the stereotypical attributes most often found in young boys. There has been a recent push by many health professionals and researchers for new criteria of diagnosing ADHD, including gender-based criteria. According to experts, future research that includes equal representation of boys and girls should also be conducted to form diagnoses processes that cater to more than just one profile of children with ADHD. “More research regarding gender differences, child development and public awareness is needed,” Groen said. Despite the growing dire need for modification, the flawed standard continues to be used to diagnose Attention Deficit-Hyperactive Disorder. The current system is failing girls and women, leaving them wrestling themselves inside their minds. By Staff Writer Elise

LEASURE

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Any time is right time

peanut butter

for

By Staff Writer Sophia

SCHILLINGER

“Peanut Butter Jelly Time” is not the only time for everyone’s favorite nutty spread. One can use it for cooking dinner and lunch or even baking sweet treats or healthy snacks. Nuts and seeds like peanuts have many health benefits, and according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Choose My Plate guidelines, eating peanut butter “may reduce the risk of heart

For Best Health,

disease when consumed as part of a diet that is nutritionally adequate and within calorie needs. Because nuts and seeds are high in calories, eat them in small portions and use them to replace other protein foods, like some meat or poultry.” According to HyVee dietitian Dean Schillinger, “One positive [for peanut butter] is that it’s a protein source, eight

to nine grams of protein per serving, a serving being two tablespoons.” Another positive is that it is a source of monounsaturated fat. “Peanut butter has around 16 grams of fat. Around 2.5 grams of that fat is saturated fat, and the rest is monounsaturated fat. Peanuts are nuts, so the fat comes from a plant source, so it is a healthy fat but should be eaten in moderation,” Schillinger said.

Read Labels

Check out the amount of sugar. Commercial brands like Skippy and Jif can contain up to four grams, which is one tablespoon per serving. Sugar is not a necessary ingredient in peanut butter, so look for a brand that just contains peanuts and less than one percent of salt.

Go for the jar. If peanut butter is sealed in a jar, usually it has no added oil and other ingredients you don’t need.

Watch out for “reduced fat.” It might sound like a healthier buy, but look at the ingredients. Jif “reduced fat” peanut butter contains twice as many ingredients as regular peanut butter. Some of the first ingredients listed are corn syrup and sugar.

vs.

Look out for unhealthy oils. Many peanut butter brands have stepped away from using hydrogenated vegetable oils because it is not good for you, but some may still include it, so check the labels. Instead, many generic brands use palm oil, which is bad for the earth. To extract the oil, companies have to cut down the rainforests, so again try to look for peanut butter that just includes peanuts and salt. If you buy one that doesn’t include palm or hydrogenated vegetable oil, there may be some natural oil separation, but you can prevent this by storing it in the fridge after stirring the first time.

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Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Peanut Butter and Banana Stuffed Skillet Cookie French Toast with Mixed-Berry Sauce

Directions: Preheat oven to 350F, spray oven-safe skillet with cooking spray; set skillet aside. In a large microwave-safe bowl, melt ½ cup unsalted butter, about 1 minute on high power. To the melted butter, add 3/4 cup light brown sugar, 1 large egg, 2 tsp. vanilla and whisk or stir vigorously to combine, for about 1 minute, slightly fluffing up the batter. Add the ¾ cup all-purpose flour, ½ tsp. baking soda, ½ tsp. optional salt, and stir until just incorporated. Add 1 ½ cups oats and stir to combine. Pour slightly less than three-quarters of the dough into the skillet, reserving about 1 ¼ cups to be crumbled on at the end; set skillet and large mixing bowl with reserved dough aside. In a small bowl, combine one 14-oz. can sweetened condensed milk and ½ cup creamy peanut butter and stir until smooth. Pour mixture over the dough in the skillet. Evenly sprinkle 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips over the top. Drop tablespoon-sized chunks of the reserved dough into the skillet, dispersing them as uniformly as possible over the surface, which forms the crumble topping. Bake for about 25 minutes, or until edges begin to barely crisp up and most of the top surface of the cookie has set. The center may not be completely set; this is OK because the cookie will continue to cook in the skillet after it’s been pulled from the oven, noting that there is a fairly significant carryover cooking effect with cast iron, so don’t overbake in the oven because the cookie is meant to be very gooey.

new uses with

Directions: The night before, put 8 slices whole-wheat or white bread with crusts removed on a baking rack and let it get stale overnight. Combine one 16-oz bag frozen mixed berries, thawed and ¼ cup granulated sugar in a medium saucepan; bring to a boil; stir occasionally, until berries soften, 10 minutes. Add the 2 Tbsp. seedless raspberry preserves and 1 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice; stir until combined. Transfer to a bowl; cool to room temperature. Crack 4 large eggs into a medium baking dish and whisk lightly. Add ¾ cup 2 percent milk, ½ tsp. vanilla extract and a pinch of salt; whisk. Spread 1 Tbsp. of peanut butter on four slices of bread. Top with remaining slices to make four sandwiches. Flatten slightly. Soak sandwiches in egg mixture, four to five minutes per side. Spray nonstick spray on frying pan or melt some butter. Cook toast on one side until golden brown and then flip and do the same to the other side. Remove and plate and drizzle with mixed-berry syrup.

peanut butter

Peanut Butter Chicken Apple with Peanut Butter Stir Fry with Vegetables and Granola

Directions: In a small bowl, combine ½ cup peanut butter, ½ cup hot water, 1 Tbsp. vinegar, 2 Tbsp. soy sauce and cayenne pepper, to taste. (Don’t worry if sauce is not entirely blended; heat will melt the peanut butter into a smooth texture when added to wok.) Heat 1 Tbsp. oil in a large skillet or work over medium-high heat. Sauté 1 small head chopped broccoli, 1 small chopped red pepper, 5 sliced medium mushrooms and 1-2 pieces chicken breast for five minutes. Pour peanut sauce over vegetable-chicken mix. Simmer for 3-5 minutes, or until vegetables are tender and crisp.

Directions: Cut one apple of your choice in half, then cut thin slice out of each half. Scoop 2 Tbsp. of peanut butter and spread a little on each slice. Then take ¼ cup of a granola of your choice and sprinkle some on each slice. You may also top it off with honey, raisins, nuts or cinnamon.

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An Eye for Images

“I am so fortunate to have [my dad] as a mentor.” —Junior Delaney Tate

Junior photographer follows father’s inspiration for creativity

Some people see the world through their eyes. Delaney Tate sees the world through her camera lense. While many may not realize it, the junior student has a knack for photography. Using backdrops, lighting, a Canon 6D digital camera and her talent, Tate captures stunning moments through her work and features them on an art Instagram under the screen name of Delaney.t8. Both of Tate’s parents have provided an immense amount of support to her and her love for

How did you get involved with photography? I first got involved with photography in my ninth grade technology in art class. For awhile I focused on my drawing and took a break from photography. It wasn’t until my intro to photography class earlier this year that I got back into it, and I’m really glad that I did. My dad also supports and encourages me with my art, and I don’t think I would’ve been interested in it if it weren’t for him. What inspires you as a photographer? I am inspired primarily by fashion, fashion photography and surrealism. I draw a lot of

photography. Her mother, Beatrice, has acted as a model for her, and her father Thomas has served as a mentor. In fact, a great deal of Delaney’s inspiration stems from her father, who works as a graphic designer, photographer and videographer. He described the joy that it gave him to see Delaney pursuing her love for photography. “I’m excited and proud to see Delaney following her passion,” Tate said. “I encourage Delaney by offering her advice and guidance where I can and giving her opportunities to learn, experiment and

push herself.” Ultimately, Tate’s parents continue to encourage her to pursue her passions and embrace her artistic talents. They stand behind the belief that artistic expression should be promoted and embraced. “Artistic expression is important because it transcends language and culture and gives us a way to connect with one another and share experiences,” Tate’s father said. By Staff Writer Clare

Q & A with photographer Delaney Tate

inspiration from fashion designer Alexander McQueen and fashion photographer Nick Knight. Their work reflects the kind of art I try to create. I’m also influenced by my dad, and I am so fortunate to have him as a mentor. What do you love most about photography? What I love most about photography is being able

to work in a controlled environment where I can dictate lighting and set. Also, I love working with models. Using people in my photos gives me the opportunity to work with new people. What do you find most difficult as a photographer? What I find most difficult is preparation and models. A majority of the work that

Delaney Tate Photos goes into the photo is the preparation; setting up the backdrop, lights, camera and dressing the model. There needs to be enough time allotted so you won’t have to rush, and you’ll be able to get the best result. Also, despite how fun it is work with models, I find it difficult to direct people. I often have a clear vision in my mind, and

ROLINGER

communicating those ideas to a model can be challenging. Is photography something that you want to take with you later in life? I definitely plan on keeping photography in my life. I’m considering professional photography as a career. How has photography impacted you? Photography has impacted my life in a way that I feel I have purpose. It gives me a reason to challenge myself, reach out to new people and most importantly, to pick myself up when I’m a mess. I’m really grateful I’ve found my calling.

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Righteous Rapper Rajan Birge, a ninth-grader at Peet, started his rapping career with a simple dare. “What happened was my dad gave us a challenge that we couldn’t write a rap or a song before Halloween. I wrote one, and he told me it was really good, so I kept on going with that,” Birge said. Making music has always been a part of Birge’s life, and it came with being a member of his family. “Just me, my dad and uncle, we are kind of one team. My brother, sister and mom aren’t into music like we are. My uncle started because of my dad. My dad a long time ago started rapping when he was 14, and it grew on him, he liked it,” Birge said. Rajan has support from his family for going into the music business. For his family, music is something they already do. “They support me 100 percent. My dad has a label called Livingstonez, and my mom manages it. We all work on one recording, so the music flows really well. I feel like everyone in my church supports me too. Everyone in my household supports it. Everyone all

around me supports it.” Birge has a four-song demo now on Soundcloud. Religion plays a huge part in Rajan’s music and spirituality. “Mostly, I just write about God. I am a Christian and a gospel artist, so all of my music goes to the glory of God, but some of my music goes to worldly problems and stuff like that, but my song, ‘Message to Pops,’ about my biological father, is more deep,” he said. After a rapping career that started on a challenge from his dad, his new

Six Feet Under’s newest fails in creating intriguing consistency

“Torment” is the newest album from the death metal supergroup Six Feet Under. Their vocalist Chris Barnes wanted to make a death metal band that was more than just blast beats, so let's see if they succeed with their newest album. The album starts off pretty strong with the track “Sacrificial Kill,” which filled with headbanging goodness. It like all of the tracks on the album has a very prominent bass line with the bass sometime following the guitar leads. Chris Barnes vocals are some of the most unique in the extreme metal scene because of his raspy, dying, old man voice. You can hear the torment in his voice, which adds to heaviness. However, most of the tracks feel more like a nu metal with heavy death metal influence. This makes a lot of the songs feel lazy and repetitive. It is not all bad; the track “Skeleton” starts with a snare drum run that hypes you up. The bass then locks in with the groove, and it gets better from then on. It has a very good progression that gets heavier and heavier the more time passes. The guitars then go into a heavy groove that turns into a typical evil death metal riff. It then starts to get thrashy with some Metallica and Slayer vibes coming from the riff. The track repeats this process for a bit until it goes back to the snare drum run from the start. The last track that I think is even worth mentioning is “Slaughtered as They Slept,” which is probably the slowest track on the album and has very doom

metal sound. It has an exotic sound in the start because of the use of the harmonic minor scale, which can give a Middle Eastern sound if used in the right way. Things start to pick up pace with the song starting to feel like a thrash metal song. It still has a grooviness to it even with the faster tempo. After this thrash section, it turns back to a doom feel and back to the thrash attack at the end. These tracks are the only ones that don’t follow the boring checklist that permeate throughout this album. Most of the tracks start off pretty well, but that normally ends quickly with a rhythmically boring breakdown that takes up the majority of the track. The production quality is OK at best, with the guitars sounding a little thin and having no personality. The main thing I feel from this album is wasted potential. All the people in this band are extremely talented and can make something incredible. The bassist of the band, Jeff Hughell, recorded all the guitar and bass tracks, and he also plays with seven string basses. This fact just disappoints me so much because these artists can compose something more than a boring breakdown with a side of lazy nu metal riff. For this reason, I give the album a six out of 10 because of the boringness of most of the tracks. However, some of the tracks are amazing and unique, but there are so few that I would not buy this album unless you are big fan. By Staff Writer Alexander

TEMPLETON

ENTERTAINMENT

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Peet student dropping rhymes at churches with dad, uncle

Sabine Martin Photos goal is to be a better rapper than his father. “As I write my music, I perform it at my church sometimes. They give me nothing but positive feedback. They always tell me that one day I am probably going to be better than my dad is. I take that and put it in my mind that I want to be better than my dad. That is my main goal, but not really. My main goal is that my whole family comes together and I can keep the music going because it is a passion that I have. If I can get better

than my dad, then that is really good, but that's not the point of me rapping,” he said. Birge has gained experience from performing at his church and several other churches in the Cedar Valley. He performs by himself and also with his dad and uncle. “I perform other places, and it is a really good environment. Sometimes I get nervous because when I get up there, I don't know how the crowd is going to be, if they are going to support me or if they are not going to, so I get up, give them a little message before I start to perform. Once I see that the audience is into it, then I just kind of kick it up a notch, keep going and start jumping around,” Birge said. Birge’s first name is Rajan, and his middle name is Christian. His father came up with his rap name. “We were messing around and he said, ‘I'm gonna call you RayChris,’ and it stuck,” Birge said. Rajan Birge’s tracks can be found on Soundcloud at RayChris Thakidd. By Staff Writer Sabine

MARTIN

Where do you find yourself listening to music most often? (254 responses at both junior highs and the high school)

Poll by Kyandra Gillum

Tana Gam-Ad Graphic

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NEW RELEASES

MUSIC

•SLEAFORD MODS: English Tapas •UYAI: Ibibio Sound Machine •NADIA REID: Preservation •BLANCK MASS: World Eater •VAGABON: Infinite Worlds •ACCEPTANCE: Colliding by Design •POWER TRIP: Nightmare Logic •IMMOLATION Atonement

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Forgotten Features

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Four obscure movies deliver Disney magic

MOVIES

•APPRENTICE 03/03/17 •THE SHACK 03/03/17 •LOGAN 03/03/17 •BEFORE I FALL 03/03/17 •KONG: SKULL ISLAND 03/10/17 •RAW 03/10/17 •PERSONAL SHOPPER 03/10/17 •BRIMSTONE 03/10/17

GAMES

•NIGHT IN THE WOODS: (PS4) (PC) •HORIZON: ZERO DAWN: (PS4) •FORMA.8: (WiiU) (PS4) (PSV) (PC) (XB1) •TORMENT: TIDES OF NUMERAMA: (PS4) (PC) (XB1) •NIER: AUTOMATA: (PS4) •STORIES UNTOLD: (PC)

ONLINE EXTRAS

“The Black Cauldron”

is considered to be the worst movie in Disney history. This movie revolves around the journey that the main character, Taran along with his few friends along the way, have to make to first save a pig who can show the future and then to destroy the legendary black cauldron before the Horned King can get it for himself. But why was it such a fail? This movie just about killed Disney. It came out in 1985 with an announced budget of $25 million but was later to be found out that the budget was closer to almost $40 million. In the theaters it only made back about $21 million from the very expensive budget. The movie itself was overall scary, despite its PG rating, and it has a rather dark aura throughout the entire film. A few things did come out of this potentially bad movie. It changed the way Disney made movies from the way the animators color their characters to the robust budgets. Even though this movie was considered a fail on Disney standards, some who rather like the darkness of the movie still find it enjoyable.

“The Great Mouse Detective”

“Oliver and Company”

is perhaps one of the most underrated Disney movie of all. This movie came out in 1986. This mouse version of Sherlock Holmes follows a few mice by the names of Basil, Olivia and Dr. Dawson on their quest to rescue Olivia’s father from the evil wanna be mouse Ratigan. This movie was finished and ready to be released in only 18 months compared to four years of other projects by Disney, and because of this, many corners were cut to create this movie. Some mistakes that were made were hats appearing and disappearing upon characters heads, and one scene where Basil and Dawson walk through a rowdy bar (as suggested by the audio) though everyone in the background is completely still. Though there are many mistakes throughout “The Great Mouse Detective,” it is considered a savior from the movie “The Black Cauldron.” It is also a very heartwarming story that most viewers were happy with.

is a movie about an abandoned kitten named Oliver and his journey to survive in the big city of New York. Along the way he meets a few other animals that become his friends that try to help him become accustomed to the big city and potently learn how to survive, while their owner is struggling with other things that may get in their way. This movie, while adorable for younger viewers, is considered predictable for most other Disney lovers, making the movie not as exciting as people hoped it would have been. Others claim that the songs aren’t as catchy as they could have been, thus making the movie less entertaining. Although it has many bad things said about it, “Oliver and Company” is still a good movie to make you aw at the cuteness of the film.

“The Rescuers” and its sequel “The Rescuers: Down Under,”

are some of Disney’s lesser known and/or accounted for films. In this movie, we follow the story of two mice named Bianca (the female mouse) and Bernard (the male mouse) as they go on a journey to rescue a little girl named Penny from her kidnappers. Although this movie was highly enjoyed by most Disney lovers and had great animation with little to no mistakes, it is greatly overlooked due to many other Disney films. Despite these few things, this movie is full of action and entertainment that should leave you on the edge of your seat. Overall this movie is enjoyable for everyone.

By Staff Writer Skylar

PROMER

Don’t overlook King’s Dark Tower series Digital Dog Diary

with host Olivia Clark Join Olivia as she embarks on an artistic exploration of two of her long time passions: drawing and digital communication. This week’s news feature: Back February, many Cedar Falls residents, including students, attended the protest outside Rep. Rod Blum’s office.

Find the video online at https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=CRNIWKXN3I8&t=3s

Stephen King is probably best known for “The Shining,” “The Stand” and “It,” but there are quite a few books hidden in the author’s repertoire. The Dark Tower series, while his longest series, has still fallen by the wayside in terms of acknowledgement. However, I feel that the series was done very well, in my opinion. The first book is set in a desolate world, inhabited by people scavenging for food and creatures who come out whenever they like. The reader is introduced to the main character, Roland Deschain of Gilead, who

The Dark Tower series is comprised of eight books. A movie based on the series is scheduled to be released on July 28, 2017.

is in pursuit of the “man in black.” On the trail of the man, Roland encounters an alluring woman named Alice,

and meets Jake from New York, a boy who can’t seem to remember how he got to this wretched place.

The reader soon finds out that the world that Roland inhabits is quite similar, yet also vastly different than our own world, with towns corrupted by twisted ideals and morals, forests containing invisible mind-altering creatures, and caves that are home to unspeakable horrors. Does it already sound good? Well, this is only the first book. I won’t spoil it for you, but if this seems interesting, then you should definitely check this series out. By Staff Writer Ethan

GUNNUSCIO

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Cabaret showcases talents of Peet students

Peet Junior High’s 2017 Cabaret variety show proved to be a success as students finished all three shows triumphantly on Feb. 24 and 25. The show was full of humor and well orchestrated performances, featuring acts that showed off Peet students’ talents. Students participated in a variation of acts, such as singing, instrument playing, gymnastics and magic acts. Each one was well done and exemplified the effort that each student put into the performances. The emcees that introduced the acts also played a big part in the humor of the show and were equally as hard working as the rest of the performers. Their skits in between the acts were creative and definitely made the audience laugh. And not only were the big show nights where all the fun took place, but in the making of Cabaret itself. Cabaret students were also able to take part in an annual dodgeball game with their directors, and the production not only gave students the chance to show off their talents, but also to make new friends in the process. Sabrina Leistikow, a Peet freshman

who was an emcee for the show, said she believes that Cabaret gave students the opportunity to connect with each other and bond. “I feel like it was more separated at the beginning. Then on Saturday, everyone was really bonding with each other,” Leistikow said. And toward the end of Cabaret, it became more emotional for ninth graders who were going to be leaving next year for the high school. They were able to give their ninth grade speeches before their last performances, and tears were even shed. “During mine [her speech], I cried, and afterward more than half the people there came up and hugged me, which made me cry even more because I was going to miss everyone so much,” Leistikow said. The shows ended on a good note, and students who performed in Cabaret should definitely be proud of what they were able to achieve and continue to keep working hard with their talents. If you haven’t been to a Peet Junior High Cabaret, then you should definitely plan to next year. Photos and Story by Staff Writer Jade

PHAM

Sax to the Max Saxophone Group. From left to right, Sophia Muñoz, Mia Houlihan, Shelby Conditt, Emma Dewitt.

Vikash Ayyappan magic act

Melodies singing group, singing the song, “Blue Skies” Sabine Martin solo singing act, singing her original song, “Small, Big City”

Emcee’s from left to right, Carsyn Mueller, Sabrina Leistikow, Sarimah Ogbondah, Julia Grey. Elle Culberson solo singing act, singing the song, “True Colors”

Erin McRae solo singing act, singing the song, “Both Sides Now”

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Aiden Flack as Shrek

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Friday, March 3, 2017

Emma Graening as Princess Fiona

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CAPTURED

Shrek The Musical

Friday, March 3 and Saturday, March 4, at 7 p.m., Cedar Falls High School presents “Shrek: The Musical.“ Putting a musical twist on the famous, family friendly fairytale, this production is filled with songs, dances, a storyline relevant to current national questions and a cast of almost 50 students. Tickets are $8 for students and $9 for adults.

Photos by Logan Cole and Tana Gam-Ad

Joel Ochoa as Donkey

Sylvia Brown as Dragon

Joel Bruss as Lord Farquaad

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Personal Paths After confirmations, two students Friday, March 3, 2017

find separate answers to beliefs

Photo Courtesy of NASA

2017:ASPACE ODYSSEY Discovery of seven planets inspires world of possibilities

On Feb. 22, NASA made an announcement that reignited the nation’s child-like luster for space expedition. A collection of seven planets around a dwarf star called Trappist-1 have been noted because of their similarities to our own solar system. Three of the seven planets are in what NASA called the habitable zone, meaning they are a close enough to the main star, without being too close. All of this is very encouraging to anyone looking to become a modern astronaut. Except not really. Firstly, the system is about 40 light years away, which is pretty close considering the “What this discovery proves is that size of the universe. However, it would take the universe is full of systems and roughly 700,000 years galaxies that could be similar to for any current space- our own. If something so similar is craft to reach 40 light a near 40 light years away, imagine years. Secondly, just be- the possibilities in this 93 billion light cause planets are in the year wide universe.“ habitable zone, it does not mean they do or even could hold life. Earth, Venus and Mars are in the habitable zone here in our solar system, yet not all of them hold water, so it’s a huge question on whether or not any of these plants could actually sustain any life. Scientists knowledge of space is relatively small compared to the sheer size of the universe. What this discovery proves is that the universe is full of systems and galaxies that could be similar to our own. If something so similar is a near 40 light years away, imagine the possibilities in this 93 billion light year wide universe. To the future astronauts, space engineers and rocket scientists, they have their work cut out for them. Please stay in school. Sincerely, humanity.

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 HiLine 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: Jibreel Bailey, Lily Becker, Ben Boezinger, Mia Dexter, Noah Forker, Halie Frahm, Kyandra Gillum, Emma Graening, Ethan Gunnuscio, Yoon Ki, Jackson Kliewer, Elise Leasure, Sabine Martin, Kate Mauss, Casey McIntyre, MacKenzie Michael, Jack Moody, Andrew Nickey, Albie Nicol, Kaylee Olson, Maddie Palmersheim, Jade Pham, Skylar Promer, Sam Prophet, Claire Rolinger, Claire Sabino, Sohia Schillinger, Rachel Schmid, Lexi Sheeley, Alex Templeton, Tehya Tournier, Matthew Walsh, Haley Williams, Noah Wolf, Alayna Yates

“I know I’m confirmed, but I don’t exactly ‘feel’ confirmed. This is probably because nothing much will change, since I will continue to go to church and stay loyal to who I am.” On this past Sunday, myself and several others got confirmed in the church. This might be an odd term to some who aren’t familiar with it. Confirmation, to put in simple terms, is when the church recognizes teens as adults. This may not seem like a big deal but I’ll break it down a bit. Up until confirmation, your parents make most, if not all, religious decisions. However, after confirmation, you are free to make all these decisions for yourself. Some take this chance to say, “Forget church, I want to sleep on Sundays,” while some, remain loyal to their church. A person’s mind set changes, some greater than others. It’s hard to directly explain it, but here’s an attempt of explaining my experience. Prior to confirmation, I rarely needed my mom to do much in the concept of reli-

gious decisions, unless waking me up for church counts. I was always loyal to my religion. This is not to say there are some days I haven’t wanted to go to church, but I still went. Church is my escape from the world, in a sense. This is because, in church, no one judges you. In the eyes of God, we are all equals. Post-confirmation, my mindset has not changed in some ways, but it’s also changed a ton on others. To put it in a sense I can describe, it’s like on your birthday when you know you’re a year older, but you don’t feel older. I know I’m confirmed, but I don’t feel confirmed.It’s hard to describe exactly, due to it being a very quick experience. All that happened during the ceremony was my “new name,” which was a saint I chose to call during this ceremony, was called; I was anointed with oil; I said “Amen” and

then I was confirmed. It was such a quick processes, and you don’t really realize what it means, as most kids just get confirmed and leave. It’s such an odd experience, but an important one at that. This experience is not one I will forget, easily. I know I’m confirmed, but I don’t exactly “feel” confirmed. This is probably because nothing much will change, since I will continue to go to church and stay loyal to who I am. I am not the kind of person to change just because of a certain ceremony. To add another example, when I’m 18, I most likely will not move out, or when I’m 21, I won’t drink a ton, if at all. I am not one to let events change me. I am confirmed now, so the church will look at me differently, and in a sense, I’m going to look at myself differently. By Staff Writer Noah

FORKER

“... I do feel a sense of relief and accomplishment from completing the introductory courses to become confirmed, although I still do not believe that it has at all convinced me to continue with my faith.” I was raised as a Catholic ever since the day I was born. My parents weren’t the strictest when it came to religion, but they made sure I got the gist of what being a Christian Catholic meant. We went to church about every other week on Sunday mornings, and we prayed every night before dinner. I attended a Catholic preschool and started religious education classes (RE) when I started kindergarten. To put it lightly, I did not like them. They were boring, and it seemed to me like they taught us the same stuff every week — things like how Jesus died for me, and how he will forgive anyone, no matter what crimes they commit. I, like many people, never really understood that part. I associated

my religion with boredom and unimportance at an early age. I was always skeptical about my Christianity, except I never really knew that I had the power to change my religious beliefs. I always just took what was spoken to me as fact from my parents and teachers, like most good kids do. It wasn’t until high school that I started to challenge my faith and question everything I was ever taught in RE and in church. I started getting interested in science and math, and I questioned the believability of the Catholic church, but deep down I remained faithful to my religion and kept quiet about my suspicions. It wasn’t until about two months before my confirmation that the realization hit me:

I would be done after that. I wouldn’t have to attend any more classes or be guilted into a religion that I didn’t really believe had any backbone in my everyday life. I have been living my life just fine without relying on my faith, and I don’t see a future where I will. After having been confirmed, I do feel a sense of relief and accomplishment from completing the introductory courses to become confirmed, although I still do not believe that it has at all convinced me to continue with my faith. I only see it as a step to living my life without the burden of others guilting and pressuring me into a faith I do not see any merit in. By Staff Writer Andrew

NICKEY

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OPINION

Changes in Iowa gun law will simplify rules for owners Currently in the Iowa House, there has been a bill introduced that would ease unjust regulations on law abiding gun owners in the state. House Study Bill 133 gets rid of outdated and downright pointless laws that constrict Iowans’ Second Amendment rights, and it also adds some very much needed gun laws. One of the biggest things that this bill would add to the state is a Stand-Your-Ground law. A Stand-Your-Ground law is a measure that would make it legal to use lethal force rather than retreating when your life or another person’s life is in immediate danger. Under current state law, you must make an effort to retreat from the danger before you can use lethal force. Of course, retreating is not always an option in a dangerous situation with a violent criminal. If HSB 133 were to get passed, the gun owner must still possess a concealed carry permit. This law would be very beneficial to the safety of Iowa citizens and gun owners. HSB 133 also promotes gun safety with Iowa youth shooters. Under current law, no children under 14 can handle or fire handguns at the shooting range, even under direct parental supervision. HSB 133 would change this to allow them to shoot as long as they

Brennan Kohls Photo

A new dawn of gun rights will be coming to Iowa gun owners if HSB 133 becomes law this year. are have adult supervision. It will teach children gun safety at an earlier age and decrease sometimes deadly firearm accidents later on down the line. The law also benefits Iowa gun owners by restricting the regulation of firearms, ammunition and firearm accessories by counties and cities, so if you live in a very liberal city, and they want to put an end to concealed carry, they cannot do that. Currently it is already illegal for subdivisions to enact separate gun laws, but the writing is not very clear and allows wiggle room.

Also in the bill are lifetime carry permits. Currently, if you possess a permit to carry, you have to renew it every five years by going to get approved by the county sheriff, but in the bill it would change it to never having to renew it. Once you get it, you’re done. This would save everyone time, and save the county resources. One of the bigger things the bill would also get rid of is the permit to acquire. Under state law, in order to purchase a handgun, you must be 21 years of age and either get a

permit to carry or permit to acquire to even buy the firearm. In order to get the permit to acquire, you must meet with the county sheriff and for approval of the permit, which usually ends up taking about three days. The permit only lasts for a year before it must be renewed. The permit is completely nonsensical. It takes too long and is only good for one year. It makes much more sense to just get a carry permit. The bill would get rid of the additional permit needed to buy a handgun. It also brings Iowa in with federal regulation on purchasing a firearm. HSB 133 will cover short barrel rifles and shotguns as well, which are currently banned by Iowa state law. A short barrel rifle is a rifle that has a barrel below 16 inches and a shotgun that has a barrel less than 18 inches. The bill would legalize these, but they would be regulated the same as suppressors, which were made legal in March of 2016. SBRs and SBSs would be regulated under the National Firearms Act of 1934, which would include a $200 tax stamp and would have to be registered in an ATF database. Short barrel rifles and shotguns are usually used for carrying in a vehicle or for home defense as the

shortened length makes it easier for close quarter situations. The current “Armed with Intent” regulations will also be changed in HSB 133. If a person carrying a gun with a carry permit was charged with a crime not even related to firearms, the state prosecution could charge the defendant with “going armed with intent,” which is a Class D felony. HSB 133 would not allow the prosecution to automatically assume that the person being charged was armed with intent. They have to provide evidence that the defendant was planning to use the firearm. HSB 133 will help protect gun owners and allow us the full rights of the Second Amendment. It helps with teaching Iowa minors gun safety, and it also allows the purchasing of a self-defense weapon to be a less complicated process. It doesn’t get rid of background checks or anything else gun-grabbers will try to make up. It doesn’t mean you can just walk into a gun store and lay down some cash and buy a gun. All the federal gun regulations are still in play with this. All HSB 133 does it simplify laws and make owning a gun safer for the owner.

gender individuals don’t have to worry about. For example, when applying for jobs, transgender people in these states have to consider what information is safest to disclose on their applications and in their interviews, and school for transgender students just got a lot more complicated with this letter. Even if schools have acclimated and accommodated their trans youth, they could now take away the student’s right to use the bathroom their gender identity matches with, or the locker room it matches up with. One large “reason” the Departments of Education and Justice signed this letter is because they believe cisgender men or women will pretend to be the opposite gender and molest their children or make them uncomfortable. This is simply untrue. More GOP politicians have been reprimanded for sexual misconduct in bathrooms than trans people.

Why? Because trans people are in the bathroom to use it for it’s intended use: to go to the bathroom just like anyone else. I know, it’s a shocker. There have been three cases in recent history of Republican congressmen sexually harassing people in bathrooms alone. John Hinson, former Mississippi congressman in 1981; Larry Craig, senator from Idaho in 2007; and Bob Allen, a Florida state representative in the same year all committed sexual crimes in bathrooms. There are zero recorded incidents of harassment by transgender people in bathrooms. It will be interesting to see how the ACLU responds to the Trump administration’s letter and if they will file a suit against it. Trump’s revokement of Obama’s letter is a cowardly move by someone whose only accurate title is “bully.”

By Opinion Editor Brennan

KOHLS

Flip flop on bathroom rights will sanction state harassment On Feb. 22, all transgender youth in America bowed their heads to a force larger than themselves: rich politicians. Most people in the LGBTQ+ community knew Trump was bad news from the second he started his campaign, but boy, we are seeing his true colors in the most recent “Dear Colleague” letter, signed by the Department of Justice and the Department of Education. The letter basically revokes Obama’s “Dear Colleague” letter released on May 13, 2016, which said that schools were to treat a student’s gender identity as their sex when it came to Title IX, or risk losing federal funding. Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 states that no student shall be discriminated against based on sex, so the latest letter dismisses the one written last year and says that states would not be stripped of federal funding if they didn’t treat a stu-

Mia Dexter Cartoon dent’s gender identity as their sex — especially in regard to bathrooms or living facilities. Essentially this letter is returning power to the states to decide how to treat transgender students. Luckily, Iowa has laws to

protect transgender students, but not all states do. These states have no laws against discrimination on gender identity: New York, New Hampshire and Wisconsin. Transgender youth who live in these states have so many daily conflicts that cis-

By Staff Writer Albie

NICOL

16

The

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SPORTS

HI-LINE

Friday, March 3, 2017

Marching to Final Four

After avenging regular season loss to Iowa City High with 48-46 quarterfinal victory, women face Indianola today

The women’s basketball team avenged an earlier season loss with a 48-46 quarterfinal state victory over Iowa City High at the Wells Fargo Arena on Wednesday, March 1. The win was secured with 10 seconds left in the game with senior Kiana Barney making a layup, getting a foul and completing the three point play for the win. The Tigers win was described as a, “come from behind,” as it truly was an all out comeback. The whole first half, the Tigers were down. At halftime, the Little Hawks had a 7-point lead. Barney scored 11 points in the second half, and the Tigers shut down Iowa City’s Ashley Jones to just four points in the second half after she had racked up 18 in the first half. The team is now pumped to play the top ranked team, Indianola, at 1:30 p.m. on Friday. The Tigers are up till

“I am extremely proud of how the girls came out and fought the second half.”

—Gregg Groen women’s basketball head coach

this point, 22-2, and their only losses were to the Little Hawks, who they just overcome, and Indianola. The score to the Indianola team was 47-57 in a road game on Feb. 11. “This feeling is indescribable. I am so proud of this team. Hearing the final buzzer was amazing, and I have never yelled so loud,” senior Ally Conrad said. “I think we definitely deserved this outcome. We lost to them earlier in the season, and we knew they were going to be tough, but we played them great, and we

worked so hard for this.” She attributes the win to the adjustments they made at halftime. “Our team struggled in the first half, but the second half we knew what had to be done, and that’s exactly what we did. We did the little things right and the outcome couldn’t of been better.” Head coach Gregg Groen said he was very proud of the team’s resiliency. “I am extremely happy for the girls. We didn’t play as well as we could have the first half. We made some adjustments halfway through,

and I am extremely proud of how the girls came out and fought the second half,” he said. “This team is a very unselfish team. The girls work hard, and they don’t care how it gets done as long as it gets done. City High beat us earlier in the season by 22 points. We knew we would have to play well if we were going to win. City High is a very talented team who only had one loss on the season, and that was a one point loss to their rival.” Groen also attributes the win over City High to the team’s preparation for the big game. “With a week to prepare for City High, we did take a couple days away from practice to not only rest the legs, but also get our minds away from basketball for a while. We then took a couple days of practice to just focus on us and things we needed to get

better, and then took the last three days leading up to the game to really focus on City High. We were also able to practice at Wartburg and UNI to get used to playing on the collegiate court.” This obviously paid off, and there should be some reward. To Conrad, however, the reward is more playing time. “Our team will mainly celebrate by playing Friday and hopefully getting that big win as well,” she said. To Groen, he expressed only love for the team, and working with them is his reward. “I am extremely proud of the girls. They are a great group and a joy to work with each day,” he said. The semifinal game will be Friday, March 3 at 1:30 p.m. at the Wells Fargo Arena. By Staff Writer Claire

SABINIO

Tony, The Tiger ‘Chaperone’ reliably faithful CF supporter For 30 years straight, Tony Kramer has been attending every sporting event of the Cedar Valley. Kramer started following the Waterloo Bucks baseball team, and from then on his love of community sports grew. Kramer started going to the games with friend Dan Hoppas and soon became a big fan of high school football, basketball, volleyball, softball, wrestling and more. Now fans can catch Tony in support at every game. “I go to all of it. I’m even on TV, a celebrity,” Kramer said. Tony has continually made an effort to support and follow all of the high school sporting events. He even rides on the bus to the UNI Dome with the football team and rides with them to the away games. “I ride the team bus. I’m involved. I’m the chaperone, have to keep all of them in line.” Lots of people around the community have helped Kramer travel and get to the games throughout the years, including Dan Deery, Greg Starbeck, a couple of high school students and many others. Senior Sam Cirksena has enjoyed numerous bus rides with “the chaperone” throughout his

Marquise Jones Photo

The Tiger Hi-Line Online has a video story featuring Tony Kramer from last year: http://www.hiline.cfschools.org/2015/11/cfs-no-1-fan/ high school football career and has given Kramer rides home after basketball games as well. “In the student section, we just embrace him, cheer with him and talk to him a lot,” Cirksena said. Cirksena described Kramer as a genuinely nice guy. “I enjoy being around him. We always have a good

time. He’s just really fun to be around.” Kramer said he enjoys going to all sporting events because it is fun to go and watch not only because he loves sports but also he knows all the students. “It’s just fun. I like all of them, and I cheer everyone up at the games,” he said. Kramer said he loves to at-

tend the basketball games because they are exciting, and he gets to help out. He will help the coaches with whatever they need, including collecting the basketballs and even shooting basketballs with the players sometimes. “It feels good, all the support and help people give,” Kramer said.

Kramer has recently been in trouble with some health issues and has found out he has diabetes. Jenny Allen, a Northstar worker, helps Kramer only two hours a week in order to make sure he knows what to do, gets to doctors appointments, reads his mail and knows how to deal with diabetes. Right now they are looking for someone to help Tony with working out and eating right, and they encourage anyone interested in helping to contact Kramer. Allen and Kramer met when he was in high school at River Hills. Allen was in charge of helping those with disabilities find jobs throughout the community before graduation. “I was his job coach,” Allen said as she smiled. Throughout the years, Kramer and Allen have not only made a lot of progress throughout the challenges faced but also have made quite the friendship too. “I am so incredibly happy. We wish everyone had the life that Tony has. He is one of a kind,” Allen said. By Staff Writer Tehya

TOURNIER