JagWire Newspaper: Volume 19, Issue 6

JAGWIRE MILL VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL VOL. 19 ISSUE SIX MARCH. 21, 2019 MVNEWS.ORG

THE STATE OF THE MEDIA pages 11-15

02 CONTENTS

March 21, 2019

Cover by Annie Myers

JagWire

table of contents

SPECIAL SECTION: The State of the Media pages 11-15

08 NEWS:

21 OPINIONS:

Nondiscrimination Policy

Staff Editorial

pages 4-5

page 16

Degree in Three

Opinions

page 6

pages 17-18

FEATURES:

SPORTS:

24 A&E: Review: Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art pages 22-23

PHOTO ESSAY:

SoundCloud Artists

Referee Shortage

A Look Back

pages 8-9

page 20

page 24

Band’s Disney Trip

Chris Sprenger

pages 10

page 21

State of the Media page 11-15

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Design by Annie Myers

March 21, 2019

2018-19 staff

H

owdy, friends. We hope you had a rest-filled and replenishing spring break, and as always, welcome back to another issue of the JagWire. Despite mother nature absolutely obliterating our initial production cycle with her excessive amounts of snow and ice, our wonderful staff was able to put forth their best efforts (and then some) to produce this issue.

Here at the JagWire, we love the first amendment. Not only did it allow Mary-Beth Tinker and her brother to be successful in their efforts to protect student rights, (happy 50th anniversary Tinker v. Des Moines), but it set the stage for our favorite piece of legislation: the Kansas Student Publications Act. 14 JagWire staff members joined other student journalists at the Kansas Scholastic Press Association’s regional contest at the University of Kansas, and not only celebrate this law, but also partake in some friendly competition. Collectively, we earned

STAFF

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PRINT EDITORS-IN-CHIEF 25 awards, including six first places.

Still, while we support the rights of the press, we’re not ignorant to the controversies that have recently been surrounding news media and journalists in general. This issue’s center spread will cover how the journalism field is changing in three ways: battling fake news, utilizing digital content and how local media fairs in the era of free content. Flip to page 11 to read all about it.

Beyond the plights of journalism, we have an array of topics for your enjoyment, ranging from how to get your college degree in three years to a review on the best exhibits at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. That being said, we hope we have something available for everyone.

So settle down with a warm drink and flip through our 24 hand-crafted pages. Our remaining minutes together are very few, so we hope you make the most of them and see you back for our final issues of the year.

thanks peeps,

Annie Myers Ally Nguyen Anika Roy

ONLINE EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Katya Gillig Elizabeth Joseph Marah Shulda

MANAGING EDITOR Hunter Ristau

PHOTO EDITOR Andrew Tow

BUSINESS MANAGER Hunter Ristau

NEWS EDITORS Hannah Chern Tatum Elliott

FEATURES EDITOR Sophie Lecuru

A&E EDITOR Steven Curto

OPINIONS EDITOR Ben Wieland

SPORTS EDITOR Jakob Twigg

SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR Hannah Chern

REPORTERS & PHOTOGRAPHERS Sophia Armendariz Jonathan Atchley Sam Hanson Addie Kemp John Lehan Anna Owsley Tanner Smith

publication information on the web jagwire office

censorship policy

5900 Monticello Road Shawnee, KS 66226 Phone: (913) 422-4351 Fax: (913) 422-4039 Email: jagwirenewspaper@gmail.com Adviser: Kathy Habiger khabiger@usd232.org JagWire, a monthly publication of Mill Valley High School, is printed by Valley Offset Printing

The Kansas Student Publications Act guarantees the same rights for student journalists as are guaranteed for professionals. These rights include, but are not limited to, all First Amendment rights, so far as published items may not contain libelous, slanderous or obscene statements, may not incite or promote illegal conduct and may not cause a substantial disruption to normal school activity. This law also prevents censorship of any kind by the adviser, building or district administration.

professional associations Kansas Scholastic Press Association National Scholastic Press Association Journalism Education Association Journalism Educators of Metropolitan KC The 2018 JagWire earned an All-American rating from NSPA and an All-Kansas rating from KSPA. It is also a member of the NSPA All-American Hall of Fame.

visit mvnews.org for regular story postings:

editorial policy If you wish to submit a column or a letter to the editor to the JagWire, do so by handing it in to a member of the staff or to the print journalism room (C101). Additionally, you may email any member of the staff with opinions or tweet us at @millvalleynews. Anonymous content will not be accepted. Please understand that we have the right to edit all copy that runs in this publication.

@millvalleynews1 @millvalleynews Mill Valley News

04 NEWS

Design by Katya Gillig and Elizabeth Joseph

March 21, 2019

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PROGRESSING POLICY District nondiscrimination policy changes to protect students’ gender identity and sexual orientation

by john lehan reporter/photographer

by tanner smith reporter/photographer

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ith a 6-to-1 vote, the Board of Education passed the GSA proposal to add the phrases “gender identity” and “sexual orientation” to the district’s nondiscrimination policy. This decision puts our nondiscrimination policy on par with other districts such as the Topeka and Kansas City, Missouri school districts who have already implemented these measures.

Before the change, the nondiscrimination policy included race, nationality, gender and national identity.

For GSA representative senior Alicia Ratzloff, the additions to the nondiscrimination policy, make the district more inclusive. “[The change] tells people that the outlying people of [the LGBTQ] community are part of Mill Valley, [and] are a part of the district as a whole,” Ratzloff said.

GSA president junior Madelynn At the Board of Education meeting on Monday, March 4, board member Mitch Powers voices his concerns about the policy change to the Board of Education and audience members. “I get concerned about the risk that [will be] taken on by [USD 232] if we were to pass it,” Powers said. // Hunter Ristau

Hodes is happy to see the GSA making meaningful change.

“It is nice to know … we were able to leave something behind at this school that will hopefully pave the way to making bigger changes, [and] to making future students feel more safe and accepted,” Hodes said.

“[THE POLICY CHANGE IS] ... A STEP FORWARD FOR OUR DISTRICT.” GSA sponsor jeff wieland

GSA sponsor Jeff Wieland feels the district took a step in the right direction. “[The policy change is] a big accomplishment, a step forward for our district,” Wieland said.

Wieland was also pleased with the district’s willingness to change the policy.

“[The Board] is positive towards it, and very complimentary of the kids who presented,” Wieland said.

The policy change is not something that happened over night. The GSA has been talking about the change for many years and Wieland was pleased to see students fight for it.

“It was an issue [the GSA] had talked about previously … because it was something students were aware of, … but this is the first year students really took the initiative to act,” Wieland said.

Superintendent Frank Harwood is hoping that this policy will be able to better suit all students.

“The most important [takeaway] is we want our policies to be inclusive of all of our students,” Harwood said.

“There is not necessarily a problem going on, but [we want] people to feel included and be part of our community.”

For Wieland, the ease of the process encouraged the students to go through with the proposal.

“It was a simpler process than you would think,” Wieland said. “It really

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AN INCLUSIVE

PROCESS

A timeline of the process to change the nondiscrimination policy

aug.

2018

GSA president junior Madelynn Hodes and representative senior Alicia Ratzloff proposed adding “sexual orientation, gender identity” following the word “sex” in USD232’s non-discrimination policy at the Board of Education meeting on Monday, Feb. 4. // John Lehan

just takes students asking.”

Wieland also felt that the proposal was something that needed to be student-led.

“I thought it was important that it came from the students,” Wieland said. “I’m [just] there to guide them.”

Harwood is glad that students are being active in board policy.

“We encourage [student policy change proposals] because the policies we have are meant to be there for students, staff and families,” said Harwood. “It shows this is not just something that we are doing because we have to, but because it really makes a difference.”

Wieland was happy with Harwood’s help through the process.

“Mr. Harwood actually came and met with the GSA, ... [and] talked to them a little bit about what they wanted to achieve, and … what would need to happen,” Wieland said. “It was through the help of the superintendent … [that] it ended up on the Board agenda.”

While most board members supported the policy, board member Mitch Powers felt the policy wasn’t defined enough to pass.

“I think though when you start looking at the worst case scenario and the unintended consequences … I get concerned about some of the realities of the situation,” Powers said. “For the most part, I am really concerned that there is no act of law … that defines what discrimination means in these particular cases.”

Powers was also concerned about the Kansas Associations of School

Board’s recommendation to not add additional protected classes to the nondiscrimination policy because it could open the district up to more lawsuits.

On the other hand, board member Kevin Makalous voted for the bill because he felt it was the right thing to do.

“We have an opportunity here as leaders in the community to affirmatively acknowledge that these two classes of students deserve our acknowledgment and our recognition that they are protected as students and employees within … this district,” Makalous said. “For me, it is critically important that we send that message.”

For Harwood, the district is currently following the proposed changes meaning the district will not be open to more lawsuits.

“I don’t see us discriminating against anybody anyway so I don’t see that we would be taking on any additional liability in that regard,” Harwood said.

The change is a movement, not a reaction to an ongoing problem, according to Hodes.

“At this point in time, it really is just a symbolic thing,” Hodes said. “It is sort of a first step … saying ‘hey, we are not okay with mistreatment.’”

For Ratzloff, the change is important to make sure everyone feels like they belong.

“It allows the LGBTQ community [to feel] more comfortable,” Ratzloff said.

“Not only does this stretch to students, it stretches to staff … [and] teachers who are in the community.”

nov.

2018

jan.

2019 feb. 4, 2019 march 4, 2019

GSA students decided they wanted to propose the policy change to the Board

GSA sponsor Jeff Wieland contacted superintendent Frank Harwood about the change

Harwood met with the GSA and explained the proposal’s logistics GSA students presented the proposal to board members The Board of Education voted on the proposal, which passed with a 5-1 vote

FOR MORE Scan to view more coverage on the policy change

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March 21, 2019

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PLANNING AHEAD

The University of Kansas offers high school students a four-year degree with just a three-year plan

OPTIONS AVAILABLE The eight degrees being offered through the program

Literature, Language and Writing

Biotechnology

At a signing event on Friday, Jan. 25, superintendent Frank Harwood sits with KU Edwards Campus Vice Chancellor David Cook and Johnson County Community College President Joe Sopcich as they finalize the new Degree in Three program. // Photo submitted by Alvie Cater

by anna owsley reporter/photographer

S

tudents will be able to complete an associate’s and bachelor’s degree in three years through a program called “Degree in Three”.

This enrollment opportunity will be offered to present and future high school sophomores through KU Edwards in the upcoming 2019-2020 school year. This is possible through a partnership between local high schools, community colleges and the University of Kansas Edwards Campus in Overland Park, Kansas.

The common pathway for this program is made up of three parts. The first is earning a high school diploma.

The second is the completion of an associate’s degree by taking dual-credit classes in high school and finishing the remaining freshman-sophomore credit hours at a local community college. The final step is enrolling at KU Edwards to earn a bachelor’s degree, three years after graduating from high school.

Early College Program Coordinator Amy Sellers at KU Edwards sees a cost benefit in doing the Degree in Three program versus a regular four-

year college.

“Living at home saves the cost of living expenses,” Sellers said via phone call. “Then, doing the concurrent credit in high school followed by a year of community college saves about a third of the price of attending a four year tuition … Degree in Three would be approximately $30 thousand at the end of a four-year degree.”

Sophomore Addison Stover believes this program will particularly serve students who would appreciate affordability.

“I think it is an especially good idea for students that aren’t as privileged and don’t have the opportunity to go to such an expensive college,” Stover said. “Because the AP classes are [so much cheaper] in high school, if they decide to take all of them I think that is a really good opportunity to graduate early.”

The program was created to streamline the process for high schoolers to earn their degree, according to Sellers.

“The KU Edwards Campus is a junior and senior level campus,” Sellers said. “[KU Edwards] already has a strong partnership with community colleges. Then adding that concur-

Molecular Biosciences

Public Administration Business Administration

Exercise Science

Information Technology

Law and Society

rent credit pace allows us to create the Degree in Three program so that high school students can utilize concurrent credit to the best of their time and money.”

Local students benefit from this program because KU Edwards specifically caters to the needs of Kansas City residents, according to Sellers. “[KU] Edwards has been in Kansas since the 1990’s and we partner with businesses and industries in the Kansas City Area so we know high cost of higher education,” Sellers said. “We wanted to partner with local schools that are already in the area to find a more cost efficient and time efficient option for students which is why we then partnered with local community colleges just like Johnson County Community College and different high schools.”

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Design by Hunter Ristau

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08 FEATURES

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STUDENTS IN THE Students use SoundCloud to make music, to have fun with friends and to express themselves through lyrics

IDEALITEMS Equipment used by senior Killian O’Brien to make music

Voices are recorded on the Rode microphone

The Sterling Isolation Shield is used to prevent sound from bouncing

Pro Tools is then use to edit the sound bytes

by sophie lecuru

STUDIO

features editor

by john lehan reporter/photographer

F

ocusing on his work, senior Killian O’Brien uses special equipment to create a new beat for an upcoming song of his. Several students at the school, including O’Brien, have taken up the hobby of making music and album covers for songs on SoundCloud. Whether continuing a lifelong adventure or having fun with friends, these artists produce with passion.

Freshman Drew Morgan has been making music since he was young, and it has since developed into a larger hobby of his.

“I’ve always been writing since I was little but more recently during the summer I wanted to do something that would put myself out there a little bit more,” Morgan said.

Most of Morgan’s songs use beats from YouTube, but he has made originals before. For inspiration, Morgan looks to his favorite artists.

“I’m really inspired by Lil Wayne and Nicki Minaj,” Morgan said. “I think they’re really good rappers so I make my raps from them.”

Junior Jake Esser also dabbles in the music-making industry and creates album covers for himself and his friends. To date, he has created album covers for three artists.

“I WANTED TO DO SOMETHING THAT WOULD PUT MYSELF OUT THERE.” freshman drew morgan

“I usually look at other album covers [for inspiration] and look up Travis Scott’s covers on Spotify,” Esser said.

According to Morgan, the process to create a song and put it on SoundCloud is simple. Each song takes

The Behringer x32 Digital Mixer connects the mic to software and adjustments

The Akai Advance 49 is a virtual instrument producer and is added to enhance music

Photos by Marah Shulda

Using textures and patterns he finds online and photoshop, junior Jake Esser creates an album cover for Mill Valley Alumni Mitchell Grissom for his Spotify rap song on Tuesday Feb. 26. // Steven Curto

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Surrounded by editing equipment senior Killian O’Brien works on a new single on Tuesday Feb. 26. He uses a variety of equipment and software to make and produce original music. “I use the Pro Tools software to record [the lyrics] and to make beats I use my phone to record,” O’Brien said. // Marah Shulda

about three hours in all, two for writing and one for recording.

“First you have to write [the song] of course, then record it, then edit it so your voice isn’t jumping out and sounds either too loud or maybe too quiet,” Morgan said. “Then, put it on SoundCloud and you’re done.”

The process of creating an album cover is also fairly routine according to Esser, who takes 30 to 45 minutes to produce one. He originally built his skills producing sport-related pieces.

“Usually, I get pictures from whoever the cover is for and then they tell me what they want on it,” Esser said.

“I just throw it all together by going online and searching up textures and text and throw the parental advisory thing on there if it’s needed.”

O’Brien’s interest in writing songs for SoundCloud started last summer.

His songwriting allows him to connect with other musicians.

“There’s lots of [unique experiences],” O’Brien said. “[For example], getting everyone together because everyone likes to either make or listen to music. Creating is always more fun when there’s more people.”

O’Brien tends to write songs when something in his life has affected his

feelings.

“It’s just kind of whatever I’m feeling that day,” O’Brien said. “It could be someone made you mad or a girl hurt you or something.”

Whereas sometimes O’Brien produces music with other artists, other times he works alone in his basement.

“I usually try to make a beat and then I’ll send the link over Google Drive to whoever is writing it. If I’m writing it, then I just do it when I have free time,” O’Brien said. “Then you come back and record it and I’ll edit.”

“EVERYONE LIKES TO EITHER MAKE OR LISTEN TO MUSIC.” senior killian o’brien

Over time, O’Brien has slowly acquired special equipment that he produces his songs with. He got his equipment from either Guitar Center or Craigslist, and spends roughly two hours every day creating music.

“So we have the keyboard which is used to make beats. This is the key-

board, the Behringer x32, which runs the microphone to the software,” O’Brien said. “I use the Pro Tools software to record, and to make beats I use my phone to record.”

Creating beats are usually the most time-consuming part of producing a song for O’Brien, so he puts a lot of thought into them. From there, he begins the writing process.

“If I know it’s a sad beat I wanna be sad, but if it’s a happy beat then I just work off of that,” O’Brien said.

“You listen to the beat and then start writing. I usually try to come up with a chorus first.”

Many of O’Brien’s songs use beats from YouTube instead, which cuts song producing time down to an hour.

O’Brien has plans to continue his musical journey, both for fun and profit.

“For SoundCloud I’m definitely going to keep it up [...] and make funny raps,” O’Brien said. “[For] Spotify maybe I’ll try to make some actual money.”

Morgan also foresees himself using music to express himself and influence listeners to “just to be yourself.”

“I want to get somewhere with my music and broadcast my voice so I can inspire other people,” Morgan said.

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ENSEMBLE EXPEDITION

Band members traveled to Orlando, Florida to participate in Disney-themed instrumental workshop

Gathered around the back of a truck on Thursday, March 7, sophomore Cameron Pilchard and color guard coach Erin Hayes load on instruments for the “You're Instrumental Workshop” at Disney World so they can be transported with band director Deb Steiner to Orlando, Florida // Marah Shulda

by sophia armendariz reporter/photographer

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he band left on Thursday, March 7 for Orlando, Florida to attend the “You’re Instrumental" workshop at Disney World.

“We go into one of the Disney recording studios, and the students sight-read a bunch of Disney music.

There’s a conductor that walks them through that [...] decides what level they’re at. We will rehearse some music and then they’ll record it to a Disney movie,” band director Deb Steiner said. “They’ll record about a three-minute video clip so they can kind of see the movie as it’s going.”

Sight-reading is defined as “performing music without previous

preparation or study,” which means the band went into their performance blind.

Though the idea may have been intimidating for some, junior Rebecca Hertog believed the band was prepared.

“It’s a very talented group,” Hertog said. “We have rehearsed before leaving for Florida [to learn] what to expect and look for.”

This isn’t the only time the band has gone on a trip, though this one differs more than slightly from the last trip they went on, according to Hertog.

“This trip to Florida is a lot more expensive, but we will also stay for five days and we get to fly down there,” Hertog said, “In St. Louis we

PROCESS to APPLY Information required when band director Deb Steiner applied for "You're Instrumental" workshop

Video footage of band performing

just played the music we had already been rehearsing at a contest, so I am really really looking forward to sightread through this music with the professionals” With the average round trip ticket to Florida from Kansas City costing upwards of $250, the band had to get money for the trip with various fundraisers.

“We sold mattresses and mulch,” Hertog said, “We also went out to local businesses and put their business cards and logos in our concert programs.”

Though the workshop was only around two and a half hours, the band stayed in Orlando from Thursday evening to Monday morning, free to explore Disney and other local theme parks. Hertog had a couple of destinations in particular she was excited to visit.

“I’m looking forward to the Tower of Terror and the Haunted Mansion,” Hertog said. “I am most excited to go see Harry Potter world.”

With all the time left open, there were more things than just the workshop on the band’s schedule, according to sophomore Ella Greenup.

“A lot of people in band own [Nintendo] Switches,” Greenup said.

“They’re going to bring them, and it’s going to be intense.”

At the end of the day, the band's performance was the top priority, and Steiner believed it was destined to be great.

“I think they’ll do quite well,” Steiner said. “The group of kids going is a great mix and the instrumentation is almost perfect, there are good players in each section and I don’t think there’s going to be any problem.”

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Ratings from recent band competitions

Photos of what uniforms will be worn

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Design by Sophie Lecuru, Annie Myers & Anika Roy

FEATURES

THE CHANGING WORLD OF

JOURNALISM In the face of fake news, digital platforms and free content, journalism is evolving by sam hanson reporter/photographer

by ally nguyen editor-in-chief

by anna owsley reporter/photographer

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hether it’s catching up on the daily news, checking for a snow day or searching for articles to write a research paper, journalism and the media in general, is ingrained in society. However, journalism is changing in a number of ways.

In the era of “fake” news, students, teachers and professional journalists alike have started to step up to ensure they’re producing as well as receiving the highest quality of information possible.

A large contributor to the spread of false or misleading informations comes from the internet and the increased emphasis placed on online news outlets. While the instant transfer of information has been beneficial in numerous ways, it has also sped up the process of putting packages together. To help suppress the need for instant updates, journalists have begun diversifying their reporting skills in college by introducing new courses. In the digital age, a career in journalism no longer only refers to a career as a reporter or photographer.

With new opportunities, comes new problems. The increased digitization of news has benefited the public by introducing “free” access to knowledge. However, journalists and publications, especially those printing on paper, are suffering as a result.

From increased layoffs to closings of local publications, such as the Shawnee Dispatch, the era of free content may bring about the narrowing of information.

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HOW SOURCES LEAN Prevalence of bias in media reporting Source: AllSides

LEFT -MSNBC -The New Yorker -Vox -The Huffington Post

LEFT-LEANING -ABC -Buzzfeed News -CBS -CNN -NBC -New York Times -Politico -Time -The Washington Post -The Atlantic -Vanity Fair

CENTER -Associated Press -BBC -NPR -The Hill -USA Today -Wall Street Journal

RIGHT-LEANING -Fox News -The Washington Times

RIGHT -Daily Mail -New York Post -The Federalist

THE AGE OF FAKE CONTENT Students, faculty and journalists combat false news

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n recent years, the phenomena of “fake news” has become increasingly prevalent, and as the false narratives have come under fire, credible journalism has suffered along with it. From President Donald Trump’s frequent usage of the term “fake news” to describe unflattering articles, to counselor to the president Kellyanne Conway defending the false claims by coining them “alternative facts,” accurate information can get lost in the mix.

The effects are apparent. According to a Monmouth University poll, 77 percent of Americans believe major news outlets purposefully report fake news. Additionally, there has been an increase in verbal and physical threats to the press, according to First Amendment Watch.

To fight this epidemic, students, teachers and journalists alike have taken action to filter out the false articles from their media consumption and combat the prevalence of fake news.

Sophomore Madelyn Augustine has found that fact checking sources against each other is useful for weeding out inaccuracies in the media.

“All it takes to debunk a fake news article is a Google search. If there are multiple sources saying the same thing, then you have probably read an article that is true,” Augustine said. “But if you are seeing things that are saying the opposite and there are things in the headline and the website that just look fishy or tacky, then it’s blatantly obvious that you are not looking at a legitimate news source.”

Augustine points out that personal beliefs of journalists and news outlets inevitably bring bias into the way news is reported.

“You have to understand it’s not just ‘big news media source’ prints big news media,” Augustine said. “It’s

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a person who is going out and doing all of these [articles], so their beliefs skew what the actual facts are and what happened. If that reporter believes one way, the entire company probably believes very similarly …

There are companies that are really good, but nowadays, you don’t get media that is [always unbiased].”

Augustine, like a majority of students, has been taught some form of media literacy in her English class.

English teacher Ashley Agre advises students to think critically about the publishers of news websites and find articles that analyze the same facts in different ways to become aware of how bias can manipulate the way an audience views things.

“ALL IT TAKES TO DEBUNK A FAKE NEWS ARTICLE IS A GOOGLE SEARCH.” sophomore madelyn augustine

“I think it is important that when you are reading articles to learn something new; read articles based on fact and not on opinion,” Agre said.

“Something that was once reliable can become less reliable just based on who’s in charge. Kids need to be able to read multiple copies and not just from one place. Go to a place you agree with, go to a place you disagree with and then go to some more. Make a decision based on all of that.”

Some English teachers may choose to bring their class to the media center for a lesson from media center specialist Andy Shelly. Beyond searching through books and encyclopedias, Shelly emphasizes the information database that every student has free access to.

“I usually direct students to databases because if you go to databases,

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that’s already information that has been vetted by editors,” Shelly said.

“You know that all the information in there is accurate and reliable.”

Additionally, Shelly favors databases because they allow students access to a variety of sources, not just articles from the internet.

“Many databases will end up having a variety of types of information from various sources. It could be books, magazines, newspaper articles, research papers or opinion pieces, depending on what the base is,” Shelly said. “In general, one of the nice things about databases is that you can [get good, accurate information quickly.]”

For sophomore Seth Jeanneret, the intentional spreading of fake news is disheartening because the effects go beyond making a quick paycheck or promoting a favored politician. In his view, a free society starts with an accurately informed public. “[Publishers of fake news need to] stop hurting the society and the people in it who think that one thing is real, when in reality it is not,” Jeanneret said. “It is just hurting the society as a whole, and we’re all just really confused about what’s truthful.”

Augustine is hopeful for an end to fake news because she believes herself and her peers are able to detect false news better than older generations.

“With this technology comes the uprising insurgence of fake news,” Augustine said. I think our generation especially is really good at finding out what fake news is because we have been raised on technology and we’re constantly online.”

Outside of the school, journalists are learning to adapt to fake news.

PolitiFact is dedicated solely to fact-checking claims that circulate on the internet or claims made by public figures and politicians. Their goal is to “give citizens the information they need to govern themselves in a democracy.”

Executive director of PolitiFact Aaron Sharockman believes that while journalism requires impartiality, most of the time the quality of an article comes down to an author.

“I think journalists all have opinions,” Sharockman said via email.

“But, professional journalists should be able to separate their personal positions from the stories they cover.”

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Which outlet do you get most of your news from?

59% social media

12%

22% television

news websites

5% print news

2% radio

How much trust do you have in local news?

78% of students at Mill Valley have at least some trust 73% of people nationwide have at least some trust

How much trust do you have in national news?

71% of students at Mill Valley have at least some trust

Survey of 288 students

59% of people nationwide have at least some trust

Source: The Poynter Institute

How PolitiFact rates their news Source: Politifact

HALF TRUE TRUE -Accurate -Nothing significant missing

MOSTLY TRUE -Accurate -Needs clarifying

MOSTLY FALSE

-Partially -Contains accurate element of -Leaves truth out info -Ignores -Takes out critical of context facts

PANTS ON FIRE FALSE -Not accurate

-Not accurate -Makes ridiculous claim

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TECHNOLOGY TAKEOVER Journalism curriculum is more digital-based than in years past, adapting to changing field

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According to University of Kansas journalism student Braden Shaw, in modern journalism, it is important to:

“Adapt, utilize video and effectively use social media.”

SEE SHAW’S TWEETS FOR THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN

THE AGE OF DIGITAL CONTENT Journalists and students adapt to increase in digital journalism

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eyond the emphasis on copy-editing, journalism is changing at its core due to the increase of digital storytelling. In today’s advanced technological environment, what it means to be a journalist has been transformed by online and social media. Clinical Professor of Communication at the University of Southern California Dr. Karen North believes this has redefined how journalists must effectively present information.

“It’s become almost a requirement that people understand that there are digital and social media platforms, so [journalists] not only have to be more creative in the way that they produce their stories, they have to be effective in how they use social media to branch themselves and their news outlet,” North said via email. “They can find and reach their potential audiences.”

University of Kansas student Braden Shaw, who’s pursuing a career in sports journalism, agrees with North that a complex understanding of how an audience views news content contributes to the success of the journalist and media outlet. He consistently does a video giving audiences a preview before each event he covers and provides updates for those not watching a game by live-tweeting. “[Professors] want you to be pretty well-rounded, so I’ve taken design, re-

porting, research and editing classes — a little bit of everything, Shaw said.

“I think as we evolve into this social media age with different ways to consume media, journalists have to adapt more. Being able to adapt, utilize video and effectively use social media are really important.”

Shaw is the associate sports editor for the University Daily Kansan and reporter for the radio station KJHK. While others may think journalism careers are becoming narrower, Shaw believes there’s no shortage of experiences in the field.

“THE WAY PEOPLE ARE REPORTING IS CHANGING, NOT NECESSARILY THE JOBS THEMSELVES.” journalism student braden shaw

“I think there are more opportunities than most people would think.

I don’t think journalism is dying, like some people have said in the past,” Shaw said. “With the influx of different videos and social media, more jobs are opening up or changing. The

way people are reporting is changing, not necessarily the jobs themselves.”

The ability to effectively communicate ideas is not exclusive of the journalism industry. In fact, North has seen the necessary education for journalists be transferable across a wide variety of careers.

“The skills that go into being a good journalist are actually the skills that are fantastic foundations for almost any career,” North said. “[Professions] like being a lawyer or running a business involve being able to find the relevant facts, doing analysis of the information provided and coming up with an accurate and persuasive story.”

Journalism and communications are the 13th most popular majors, according to Niche, and it appears it will remain a popular path of study. In a poll conducted by Education Week Research Center, 44 percent of secondary school journalism educators recorded an increase in enrollment for journalism courses. Additionally, 30 percent has noticed an increase in students’ interest in majoring in journalism or pursuing a career in the field later in life.

Senior Crystal Sivilayvong, who is considering a career in advertising or public relations, will be attending the University of Kansas in the fall to pursue a degree in strategic communications.

Journalism was not something she ever dreamed of specializing in, but was surprised to find out it adapted well to her career needs.

“Before when I thought of journalism, I thought of writing and editing, but I realized it’s so much more than that,” Sivilayvong said. “I love everything journalism stands for, which is broadcasting to the public. The high school journalism I got to experience gave me the final push to pursue it in the future.”

JagWire

THE AGE OF FREE CONTENT Free news media causes layoffs, closings for publications

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FEATURES

March 21, 2019

igital content allows readers to get instant news, often for free.

According to authors from the University of Pennsylvania, sites that provide “free” content often make their money by allowing advertisers to monitor users’ activities and interests while they’re on the site.

In the age of free news content, communications teacher Annie Goodson believes that getting a paid subscription to a reliable news source is important because what separates fabricated information from accurate news is a higher quality product.

“The best news publications are going to cost money. The stuff that is free is going to be stuff like Breitbart and Huffington Post that is not super credible, and is oftentimes inaccurate,” Goodson said. “So, I think it is worth paying for your news because that way you know you are going to be

getting the best information.”

Paying for news is not always for the sole purpose of having personal access to reliable information; one should pay because individuals should support the journalism industry as a whole, according to Goodson.

In December 2018 the Shawnee Dispatch ceased publication citing declines in advertising revenue. Former reporter Mike Lavieri was thankful for his time on staff, but has since found that the Shawnee Dispatch closed largely due to a lack of support.

“After the sale to Ogden and being laid off, I kept in touch with my colleagues. They told me that in addition to the staff being cut in half, distribution was cut,” Lavieri said. “I was told the new ownership group didn’t put much in the way of resources, didn’t pay attention and the paper struggled to stay afloat as ad sales dwindled. “ Lavieri believes local news is the pinnacle of journalism.

“Citizens should support local journalism because there are so many good stories involving their neighbors to be told. Local journalism is the only way to receive local news,” Lavieri said. “The mainstream media has finite resources and covers what appeals to the masses. Community journalism can get into the nitty gritty that the larger papers can’t do.”

15

SWITCH UP Recent evolution of journalism Source: Pew Research

in 2014...

8.2 million average monthly unique visitors of top 50 U.S. newspaper websites

40 million total circulation of U.S. daily newspapers 46,310 total number of newsroom employees in the newspaper sector

in 2015...

9.7 million average monthly unique visitors of top 50 U.S. newspaper websites 38 million total circulation of U.S. daily newspapers 44,120 total number of newsroom employees in the newspaper sector

in 2016...

11.7 million average monthly unique visitors of top 50 U.S. newspaper websites

35 million total circulation of U.S. daily newspapers 42,450 total number of newsroom employees in the newspaper sector

in 2017...

11.5 million average monthly unique visitors of top 50 U.S. newspaper websites

31 million total circulation of U.S. daily newspapers Due to print journalism decreasing in popularity, journalism students are encouraged to become well-rounded media reporters. To aid in this, courses teaching videography and social media skills are included in college curriculum. // Photo illustration by Jonathan Atchley and Hunter Ristau

39,210 total number of newsroom employees in the newspaper sector

16 OPINIONS

Design by Ben Wieland

Illustration by Sophia Armendariz

March 21, 2019

JagWire

STAFF EDITORIAL:

STRONG JOURNALISM ESSENTIAL TO SOCIETY JAGWIRE

STAFF VOTE AGREE

19 DISAGREE

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merican journalism is in danger, at least the way we know it. Public trust in the media is plummeting: according to Axios, 72 percent of Americans believe that major news sources intentionally report fake news. Distrust in media has been an issue for years that, during the 2016 election, President Trump directed even more attention to by regularly referring to the media as the “enemy of the people.”

With trust in media declining, it’s important that we take steps to support good journalism. Small actions like checking source reliability, paying for quality news, reading longform journalism and supporting local news outlets can help us restore trust in our villainized fourth estate.

The first step we must take to regain trust in our media is make sure that our sources are worth trusting.

Since the advent of social media, misleading and entirely false headlines have swarmed the internet. Thankfully, there are ways to make sure the stories you’re reading are trustworthy and unbiased. Websites like Snopes

and PolitiFact allow you to check if stories are true or false, and organizations like Media Bias Fact Check inform you about what angle a story is written from. Getting your news from multiple sources also allows you to see different sides of the same story.

If you’re fed up with clickbaity journalism altogether, a more drastic step to find reliable news is paying to subscribe to news services. Subscription-based news services are often far more reliable and accurate than their free counterparts.

Paying for your news is cheaper and easier in the digital age; purchasing online news subscriptions grants access to far more content than is available in a print newspaper while also being cheaper than print news.

Paying for your news ensures that you get the highest-quality content at a relatively insignificant price, usually less than $3 a month.

Similarly, longer stories tend to be more reliable than shorter ones. If you’re stuck reading a non-subscription-based news source, try to find the longest articles you can. They’ll typi-

cally offer multiple angles on a story and report all of the facts involved; shorter news stories tend to only report a few facts and present an incomplete picture of the situation.

Lastly, and most importantly, make sure to support your local news sources. Our local newspaper, the Shawnee Dispatch, shut down for good in November 2018 due to a decline in readers and ad revenue. Even if you’re distrustful of national media, local media sources are trying to keep you updated on what’s going on in your community. They most likely aren’t pushing an agenda, they’re just keeping you more informed.

Here at Mill Valley News, we take our job to keep you informed seriously, especially considering there are few major sources covering our area.

In today’s climate, it can be easy to distrust the news, especially if you don’t like the story being reported. However, fact-checking, using subscription news sources, reading longer stories and supporting local media can help us all regain trust in American journalism.

JagWire

Design by Ben Wieland

March 21, 2019

COLLEGE ISN’T THE ONLY OPTION

Students need to be provided with information regarding success they can have without a college degree by anika roy editor-in-chief

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raduate from high school, go to college, start a career, get married, have a couple kids (and a couple dogs) — that’s the dream. Well, that’s my dream. But, it’s also the dream in which seems to be forced upon students today, especially in affluent areas such as ours. However, there’s danger in teaching teens that college is the only path after high school that leads to an eventual prosperous life.

Preparation for college honestly begins when freshman year of high school does. My high school career has been defined by the various activities I’ve involved myself with in order to build a competitive résumé: studying for the ACT, enrolling in rigorous classes that will count for college credit and answering questions from adults about where I intend to go to college; it’s the first question anyone asks when they find out my age.

As a senior, I receive a newsletter on a monthly basis that highlights the steps I need to be taking to easily transition to college. While this is helpful

information for many, including myself, it isn’t applicable to everyone because ultimately not everyone is “college material”. This doesn’t mean that not everyone is intelligent enough to do well in college, but some personalities flourish more than others in structured academic settings. Many other individuals instead find passion in skills that either cannot or do not have to be taught in a traditional four-year institutional setting such as art, carpentry, plumbing, etc. Our society physically couldn’t function without individuals holding these jobs, so it makes no sense to discourage students from doing so.

Additionally, the cost of attending a four-year college is outrageous, and only increasing exponentially. As of the 2018-19 school year, according to US News, the average cost of attendance at even a cheaper, in-state, public university option is $9,716. Then, for an out-of-state public school option, average tuition is $21,629, and a whopping $35,676 for a private university. Consequently, also according to US News, the average bachelor degree holder spends 21 years paying off their student loans. Because so many can’t afford this investment, it’s critical students are made aware of the fact they can be successful without a degree. And even if one can afford it, it doesn’t necessarily mean they should.

Again, college has always been my dream — I’m set to attend Kansas State University in the fall. I love learning and always have, and don’t at all discredit the importance of higher education Nevertheless, if we want a well-functioning society of individuals diverse in their career choices, we have to stop fitting all students under the blanket statement that college is the best route after high school. It is of course an option, just not the only one.

OPINIONS

17

STUDENT OPINIONS Students share post-graduation plans not involving a college education

“I am planning on going to trade school ... I prefer to work with my hands instead of my head, which I already know how to do. Also, there’s a lot of demand for [trade jobs], so I could be making a lot of money in a short amount of time. ” SENIOR CAHILL ECKARDT

“After high school, I’m joining the Army. I signed up about a month ago as active duty and I will be training. I chose this route because I wasn’t sure what I wanted to study and the Army is a good way to figure that out.”

SENIOR MICHAEL COWAN

18 OPINIONS

Design by Ben Wieland

Illustration by Tatum Elliott

WE SHOULD ABANDON ALL TIPPING Tipping is rooted in racism; it's time to stop the practice by anna owsley reporter/photographer

S

ince the enslavement of African Americans, it’s safe to say America has come a long way. We generally look down upon the practice of prejudice and inequality, but shockingly, we still partake in a nationwide custom that was fostered in discrimination: tipping.

According to the Restaurant Opportunities Center United organization, the practice of tipping in America became most common after the emancipation of slaves; it gave racist restaurant owners a socially acceptable way to not pay black employees. It was popularized again after

March 21, 2019

JagWire

84

Percent of restaurants pay servers below minimum wage, according to the DOL

the prohibition laws in 1919. When restaurant owners were struggling financially, they chose to cheap out on salaries using tipping as an excuse.

This practice has only grown since then. According the U.S. Department of Labor, as of 1996, there has been a special minimum wage of just $2.13 for employees in professions where tipping is customary. While the law says that the wage must equal or exceed minimum wage after the inclusion of tips, the DOL found that from 2010 to 2012, 84 percent of restaurants were in violation of labor standards that include this tipping law.

Forcing customers to pay the salary of waiters and waitresses also allows for legal racism. The Cornell School of Hotel Administration provides clear

evidence for this. For white servers, tips increased from 16.8 percent of the bill size when service was rated less than perfect to 23.4 percent of bill size when service was given a perfect rating, but for black servers, tips were 16.6 percent for both ratings.

This all just goes to show that tipping has been used to cheap out on salaries and allows for rampant discrimination in the workplace. In the current climate of our society, there are hundreds of organizations that fight for the rights of the oppressed, yet Americans are literally paying for the broken system of paying tipped workers. It’s time for society to hold employers accountable for paying their workers.

ships don't come from politics.

While it may seem that having different political affiliations would be the same as having completely different values, that typically is not true. In fact, friends that identify with different political parties are much closer politically than they would think. According to Psychology Today, having different political views as a friend is very different from believing in different things. Friends typically share a few key issues so it is important to not get bogged down in the more polarizing issues and focus on the things that you can agree on, especially things that aren't political..

In addition, having a friend with different political affiliations may

yield many benefits. According to the same Psychology Today article, having friends with different beliefs helps you understand issues better by seeing it from a new perspective. Seeing issues from new perspectives not only makes you more informed, it also helps you to respect people you don’t agree with. A little bit of discussion and debate about current issues will expand your world view.

The idea that politics and friendships don’t mix is false. Just being respectful to others’ political beliefs makes a world of difference and helps you become a more open minded person. If we keep making politics a driving factor of friendships, people will never be able to learn to see the world from another point of view.

FRIENDSHIP OUTWEIGHS POLITICS Don't let your political opinions ruin your personal relationships by tanner smith reporter/photographer

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ver since the election of Donald Trump, it seems like politics is all that matters. For many years politics didn’t seem to matter in picking your friends but that has definitely changed. Politics has dominated the news and political parties seem to be moving farther and farther apart.

This political extremeness has made it very hard to have friends on the other side of the aisle. I have watched friendships be destroyed because of a difference of opinions on something as simple as their opinion of the president. This needs to change. Friend-

JagWire

March 21, 2019

Design by Hunter Ristau

ADS

19

20 SPORTS

Design by Katya Gillig

March 21, 2019

JagWire

REDUCTION

With a lack of referees at the local and national level, games have been played with missing referees

by sam hanson reporter/photographer

by jakob twigg sports editor

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study conducted by the National Association of Sports Officials showed 53 percent of youth sports officiators have felt unsafe or threatened by spectators and coaches while working a game.

This, along with a number of referees reaching retirement age, is causing KSHAA to work to quell the growing shortage of youth sports officiators throughout the state.

The decline in sports officials in Kansas can be attributed to fewer young people applying, according to EKL League Commissioner John Dehan.

“There is a decline in our numbers, but what’s scarier is the huge decline in those under 30 wanting to become officials,” Dehan said via email. “Our average age in the sub varsity level is well into the 50s, with many wanting to retire or cut back the number of games they work.”

Another contributing factor to the decline in officials is more officials feeling threatened at sporting events.

Statistics from the NASO study show 64 percent of officials were forced to eject a spectator due to bad behavior.

For some former officials, such as athletic director Jerald VanRheen, the threat to his personal well-being was enough for him to give up the career.

“The last baseball game I ever umpired was in 1993, and I had a dad and his kid who was a pitcher come after me and my partner in the parking lot, wanting a physical confrontation because their team lost,” VanRheen said. “That was the last game I ever umpired.”

Likewise, according to Dehan, in recent years spectator sportsmanship in youth sports has declined.

“The sportsmanship at the youth level is awful, thus turning away younger officials who might actually enjoy it, but do not last long enough to find out,” Dehan said. “USSF, the governing body for youth soccer in the area, tracks the turn over rate with

KSHSAA basketball referee Andrew Kremer signals a foul to the scorer’s table during a freshman team boys basketball game against Blue Valley on Thursday, Feb. 21. The Jaguars lost 49-48.// Steven Curto

new officials. They say 85 percent of new officials do not return for the second year … and many of the remaining do not last three years, mainly due to sportsmanship.”

VanRheen has hope that more young people will apply to referee in the coming years to counteract this shortage.

“We will show anybody who wants to become an official [how to sign up] because we need them,” VanRheen said. “It’s hard to play a game without them, which is why one of my fears is showing up [at] gametime and not having any officials.”

Despite the decline in young applicants, second year referee Andrew Kremer feels as if he has had the chance to give back to to the sports he grew up playing.

“I grew up in the sport, and I just wanted to give back to the kids, and to give back to the game of basketball and baseball and football,” Kremer said.

Overall, Dehan thinks that more people should understand why many people choose to officiate.

“I don’t work for the fans, coaches or schools, I work for the kids. To see that smile on a 3rd grader [when they] make their first score, or hit, that senior who is recognized for all those years of hard work on senior night,” Dehan said. “Just to talk to the kids and see them smile during competition, makes it worth it.”

STARTLING STATS

A summary of a nationwide survey of 17,487 referees

53

Percent of referees have feared for their safety because of administrator, coach, player or spectator behavior

13 57

Percent of referees have been assulted by a fan, coach or player

Percent of referees feel sportsmanship is getting worse *Source: NASO

JagWire

March 21, 2019

Photos by Andrew Tow

WATER WONDER

Design by Marah Shulda

1

2

SPORTS

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3

Senior Chris Sprenger is the most decorated swimmer in school history

MAKING a CHAMPION

8

school records

by jakob twigg sports editor

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ince his career began at the age of six, swimming has played a major part of senior Chris Sprenger’s life. He currently holds five individual school swim records, and is part of all three relay records for Mill Valley.

During the state meet this year, he placed second in the 100-yard breaststroke and the 200-yard individual medley. His time as a Mill Valley swimmer has led him to become the most decorated swimmer in school history. Chris will be attending either the University of Evansville or Saint Louis University next fall to swim at the Division I collegiate level.

During his sophomore year season, Chris began to realize his potential to possibly swim at the collegiate level.

“Sophomore year was my breakout season, it was when I made it to my first final and I broke two minutes in the 200-IM for the first time,” Chris said. “I owe a lot of the credit to my

3

time All-State team member

The awards and recognitions that Sprenger has acquired

8

state placements

coaches, they were really supportive in helping me look for colleges and showing me what sort of times and goals I needed to break in order to make it to the collegiate level.”

For Sprenger’s club teammate junior Kayla Teasley, the opportunity to train with a future Division I athlete is exhilarating.

“He is always there to push you, and it is fun to practice with him because he is fun to compete against,” Teasley said. “It is really cool because Chris has improved a lot, and it is fun being able to be able to swim with him and watch his [success]” According to Sprenger’s father, Steve Sprenger, he has had little involvement in Chris’ recruitment process.

“Chris has [handled recruiting] all on his own,” Steve said.

“We went and picked him up at his first recruitment visit and we got to see a meet, it was the University of Evansville versus Saint Louis University, and just by watching that, we new that he be-

longed at that level, and that he could compete at this level with no issues.”

Chris’ mother, Joia Sprenger, is excited to see the years of dedication and practice pay off for Chris.

“It is really exciting for all of us when he gets those phone calls from the [collegiate] coaches and just knowing that they are showing interest in Christopher,” Joia said. “It makes us really proud of him and of all of the hard work that he has put in.”

1. Reaching back, senior Chris Sprenger swims the backstroke at Pioneer Trail Middle School on Tuesday, Feb. 26.

2. Swimming with paddles, senior Chris Sprenger practices the breaststroke at Pioneer Trail Middle School on Tuesday, Feb. 26.

3. Getting a breath of air, senior Chris Sprenger comes out of the water at Pioneer Trail Middle School on Tuesday, Feb. 26.

4. Swimming breaststroke, senior Chris Sprenger practices at Pioneer Trail Middle School on Tuesday, Feb. 26.

Scholastic All-American

4

22 A&E

Design by Annie Myers

March 21, 2019

from a

JagWire

CRITIC’S EYE

SHUTTLECOCKS ARTISTS: Claes Oldenburg &

Coosje van Bruggen

Photo by Andrew Tow Source: Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art

DATE: 1994

MEDIUM: Aluminum,

fiberglassreinforced plastic and paint

Japanese artist Ibe Kyoko created “Once Upon a Time” in 2017. Using recycled ganpi paper, ink and minerals, she created a pair of six-fold screens that displays a blend of Chinese and Japanese style watercolors. Kyoko uses fragments of old manuscripts to symbolize figures. // Hannah Chern

ONCE UPON A TIME

W

e were enthralled by this piece by Ibe Kyoko. This six-fold screen is part of a series of pieces focusing on Japanese culture. The screens are made from “washi” or handmade paper that Kyoko made herself. Additionally, she created the colors using natural materials, like gemstones.

Additionally, Kyoko added Japanese characters to the piece in order to illustrate stories from Japanese history about paper-making. The title itself feels like part of a story, like the introduction to a series of work.

The panels were huge and sprawling in person, making it hard to get a full view of the piece in its entirety.

However, this made it completely immersive, making the viewer feel surrounded. The grays and blues gave the piece a dark, ominous tone, like Kyoko was painting the ocean or a storm.

By standing in front of the piece, the viewer almost feels like a part of the work. Viewing this creation is just another way to surround yourself with darkness, although it is much cheaper to just come to school instead.

STAMMER MILL WITH STREAKED SKY

C

ontrary to popular belief, this is actually a painting and not a photograph using portrait mode. In contrast to some of the paintings we viewed at the Nelson, this painting appears to have actually required both effort and artistic talent.

Piet Mondrian is best known for his abstract pieces with thick black lines

and red, blue and yellow squares. Because of that later work, we thought this piece was really interesting. You can see how the paintings he’s most famous for came from the Stammer Mill. This painting uses thick lines, geometric shapes and lots of red, green and blue tones. Mondrian’s interest in bold color and strong lines is made obvious with this piece.

Dutch painter, Piet Mondrian, painted “Stammer Mill with Streaked Sky” from 1905-1907. The use of primary colors and geometric leads to his famous composition grids. // Hannah Chern

JagWire

A&E

March 21, 2019

23

Staffers review art from the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art

by jonathan atchley

by elizabeth joseph

by ben wieland

reporter/photographer

mill valley news editor-in-chief

opinions editor

CAST ALIVE

LADY SEATED BEFORE A BLACK BACKGROUND

“Cast Alive,” painted in 1967 by Marcel Duchamp, was inspired by Duchamp’s interest in chess and mathematics. // Andrew Tow

A

lthough Marcel DuChamp is often recognized for his art, DuChamp was also a chessmaster who deeply believed in the beauty of the game, to the point where he published a treatise on the merits of chess in 1932. DuChamp believed that chess was more like poetry than art is, which is how I feel about apples to apples, but the Nelson isn’t interested in any of my fan art.

There is a clear parallel between DuChamp’s piece and “The Thinker,” with both of the subjects having their head in their hands. The head and forearm are the only parts of the artist represented as DuChamp ponders the last piece left: the knight.

Like DuChamp’s image of himself, the piece left us with many unanswered questions, such as, what is the subject thinking about? He’s playing on half a board with only one chess piece. I’m no expert, but I’m pretty sure this limits the amount of moves he is capable of making.

Other than the casting of the arm, the piece itself was very cool. By using bronze for DuChamp’s self-sculpture, the body is contrasted with the clear onyx black and white of the chess board, drawing the eye and offering visual appeal. The composition, with the placement of DuChamp’s figure and the chessboard, also makes one think about the implications of the game he plays. Remember kids, we are all just knights in the game of life.

French painter Henri Matisse painted “Woman Seated Before a Black Background” in 1942. using vivid brush strokes and bright colors to show hope during World War II. // Hannah Chern

H

enri-Émile-Benoît Matisse created this piece in the middle of WWII, but you probably wouldn’t be able to guess from just looking at the painting. She’s of completely bright, almost neon, colors that strongly contrast with the black background. It’s easy to view the brighter colors as a reference to

happiness and good things in the world persisting despite the crushing darkness surrounding it. In addition, the woman’s expression is calm and uplifting, demonstrating optimism in the face of a terrible reality. Of course, that’s the English teacher interpretation. It really could be just a lady seated before a black background.

Matisse also used a variety of brush strokes to create the piece. The black background is scored with thin curlicues, breaking up the darkness.

We can all relate to the feeling of being crushed by overwhelming outside force, also known as the current political climate.

This painting, and many of Matisse’s others, were heavily influenced by his work as a technical artist, sculptor and printer. He also made art in response to social and political current events. Matisse was considered rebellious in his time, but his work helped define modern day art.

STUDY OF A PEASANT’S

HEAD

Dutch artist Vincent van Gogh painted “Study of a Peasant’s Head” in 1885 using soft earth tones to depict the peasant. // Andrew Tow

O

ver the course of four years, Vincent van Gogh created a series of character studies about poor, working class people.

“Study of a Peasant’s Head” is one of those works, focusing on a peasant who digs potatoes. Vincent van Gogh is a master of making art that is not

realistic, a talent he demonstrates in Study of a Peasant’s Head. It’s easy for the viewer to recognize the subject of the painting as a peasant, because he doesn’t have airpods in.

This piece of art was van Gogh’s attempt to compare the peasant to his work of harvesting potatoes. The soft, earthy tones, lighting and shapes used drive this in. The greens and browns make the peasant appear not dissimilar to the potatoes he digs.

The emphasis placed on the peasant’s eyes draws the viewer in, making one wonder about the story behind the painting. The expression on his face is ambiguous, wide-eyed and focused on something or someone in the distance, as he looks to the viewer’s right.

24 PHOTO ESSAY

Design by Andrew Tow

March 21, 2019

JagWire

After getting fouled, freshman Emree Zars takes her two free throws.

The Jags would go on to win in the first round of the playoffs against Olathe West 56-44 on Thursday, Feb 28. // Andrew Tow

At the Science Olympiad Kansas Northeast Regionals meet on Saturday, Feb. 23, freshman Aiden Burke releases the single-propeller plane that he and freshman Patrick Mack built for their event, Wright Stuff. “It wasn’t our best time... but it still got us third place,” Burke said. // Hannah Chern

After senior Payton Totzke calls “heads” during a game of heads or tails on Thursday, Feb. 28, Prairie Ridge Elementary School students jump in excitement.

The presentation was to promote the Relay for Life of Jaguar Nation on Friday, March 29. // Ally Nguyen

While giving a speech on the dangers of concussions on the first day of practice, Monday, Feb. 25, head track and field coach Chris McAfee speaks to students in the commons. // Jonathan Atchley

During their jazz routine in Orlando, Florida on Sunday, Feb. 24, senior Olivia Augustine throws her hands in the air. The Silver Stars placed third in jazz at the National Dance Association's national competition. // Photo submitted by Katie Jackson

a look back A photographic representation of the past month’s happenings