JagWire Newspaper: Volume 22, Issue 1

JAGW IRE

JW

THE SHATTERING EFFECTS OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE Honoring junior Cooper Davis and sharing his story to raise awareness

VOLUME 22 ISSUE 1 October 14, 2021 Mill Valley High School | Shawnee, Kansas

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Oct. 14, 2021

TABLE OF CONTENTS

2021-22 STAFF

2

8-11 FEATURES

Quinn Franken

12 OPINIONS

Hayden Resch

TABLE OF CONTENTS

3 OPINIONS

STAFF EDITORIAL

SUBSTANCE ABUSE

HOMELESSNESS IN AMERICA

4-5 NEWS

13

6

14-15

SEMINAR CHANGES

FEATURES

‘IMPATIENT’ APPAREL

7 GRAPHICS

HISTORY OF NIKE SHOES

A&E

GRAFFITI ATTIC

SPORTS

PRESSURE ON STUDENT ATHLETES

16 PHOTO ESSAY

IMAGINE FUREVER RANCH

PUBLICATION INFORMATION JagWire Office

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

Professional Associations Kansas Scholastic Press Association National Scholastic Press Association Journalism Education Association Journalism Educators of Metropolitan KC The 2020 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.

Editorial Policy We value your opinions. If you wish to submit a column or a letter to the editor to the JagWire, you can 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, as well as 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.

Censorship Policy The Kansas Student Publications Act guarantees the same rights for student journalists as are guaranteed for professional journalists.

These rights include, but are not limited to, all First Amendment rights, including the rights of freedom of speech and the press, insofar 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.

Editor in Chief

Online Editors in Chief

Gabby Delpleash Avery Gathright

Photo Editor

Assistant Editor

Madelyn Welch

Reporters & Photographers

Kaitlyn Burke Grace Brookshire Emma Clement Julia Coacher Liz Coenen Alayna Dill Amy Hill Katelyn Krosky Sydney McGlasson Natalie Merley Chloe Miller Baylen Monson Sophie Sena Julia Shumaker Elizabeth Summa Abigail Troilo Luke Wood

ON THE WEB @millvalleynews @millvalleynews1 @Mill Valley News

JagWire

Design by Julia Shumaker

OPINIONS

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Staff Editorial

DRUG ABUSE DOES NOT DEFINE YOU Amidst the communal healing from the loss of junior Cooper Davis, we must realize that the negative stigma tied to drug abuse is not tied to the abuser

1-800-622-HELP (4357)

vices Administration states that nearly 9 million people who have abused drugs also struggle with a mental health disorder. Only 7 percent of

“We felt it was important to inform our readers on how to spot signs of substance abuse and why one who abuses drugs should not be defined by their actions.”

JagWire Staff

these individuals get treatment for both conditions while nearly 60 percent receive no treatment at all, facing the 47 percent risk of abusive habits

1-800-622-HELP ( 4357)

1-800-622-HELP ( 4357)

1-800-622-HELP ( 4357)

1-800-622-HELP (4357)

1-800-622-HELP (4357)

T

00-622-HELP (4357)

TAKE THIS NUMBER

by jagwire staff

here is no question that the start of the school year has been rough with the untimely loss of junior Cooper Davis due to drug abuse. Davis’ death has left family and friends feeling devastated, frustrated and confused on the subject of how a teenager in their community could be so easily taken by drugs.

As the JagWire staff sat in room C-101 on a September afternoon, debating on whether we should run this issue detailing drug abuse and how it took the life of a student, there were some staffers who expressed their deep apprehensions.

After 30 minutes of debating what content was taboo and what content was worthy of coverage, our staff came to the collective conclusion that substance abuse is a significant topic that needs to be discussed. We felt it was important to inform our readers on how to spot signs of substance abuse and why one who abuses drugs should not be defined by their actions.

According to Davis’s obituary, his struggle with drug abuse was related to his desire of “wanting to live life to the fullest on his own terms.” Despite the behaviors that drove him to “experiment with drugs,” Davis warned others not to follow his path of “risky” actions.While Davis’ abuse was not a result of poor mental health, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Ser-

Need Help?

evolving into an addiction.

According to SAMHSA, signs to watch for when offering help for struggling individuals include tremors or seizures, loss of physical coordination, extreme lethargy, chemical odor on breath or clothes, pinpoint pupils, bloodshot eyes, and weight changes.

If you are reading this editorial and have previously struggled with drug abuse, or know someone who is currently struggling, be reminded that it’s not too late to turn yourself around.

Davis’ early passing reminds us of the unwavering fragility life holds. Take advantage of the resources provided and reach out, the drug abuse and mental health help line is a call away at 1-800-622-HELP (4357). Despite his challenges with drugs, Davis hoped to warn others not to follow his example. We hope his voice and our advocacy for drug abuse awareness in this issue serves to educate our readers on how to get help.

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NEWS

SWITCHING

Oct. 14, 2021

SEMINARS

Multiple changes to seminar affect students and staff in a variety of ways

Presenting her seminar students with a meme from the show “The Office” on Monday, Sept. 27, Spanish teacher Siri Campbell highlights different aspects of the emotional process during one of the new social-emotional lessons. Photo by Natalie Merley

by baylen monson writer/photographer

by madelyn welch

S

assistant editor

eminar has changed in a number of ways over the last couple years.

From grouping by grade levels to social emotional learning and Xello, students have had to adapt.

One reason for curriculum changes is due to COVID-19. Superintendents in Kansas realized that some

HOW WE FEEL: How students feel about the new seminar changes

students were struggling with mental health and self-management. The state recognized these struggles, and in return, required a social emotional learning (SEL) curriculum to be taught.

Principal Dr. Gail Holder has played a crucial role in the seminar changes this year. Holder thinks that since students are having trouble with their mental health, SEL is beneficial.

“If we have a lot of students suffering from anxiety, self management,

Did you prefer seminar at the end of the day or in the middle?

“I liked [seminar] at the end of the day, because we still got early dismissal. I like being able to work on all my work.” junior Izzy Sommerfeld

self awareness or social interaction, the state then sees [SEL] as a need.”

Holder said.

Holder said that the SEL curriculum was one reason seminars were grouped by grade levels. In past years, seminars were mixed between grades.

“With that social emotional curriculum we developed, it really needed to be that... there were grade level seminars,” Holder said. “The content [of the programs] was grade-level specific.”

How do you feel about Xello Learning lessons?

“I don’t care [about Xello lessons] because I already know what I’m going to do.” senior Blake Fratier

JagWire

NEWS

Design by Katelyn Krosky

The SEL program was developed by seven Mill Valley and seven De Soto teachers last summer. They worked to create a curriculum that could be used in both schools, and met state requirements. This semester, teachers will work with self awareness, analyzing emotions, growth mindset, stress management, self efficacy, goal setting, and perseverance. This pro-

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Following along with their provided social-emotional learning packet, senior Emma Bilhimer reads about how to dive deeper into mentality involving stress and difficult situations at school during Seminar on Monday, Sept.

27. Photo by

“It makes me more productive having [seminar] in the middle of the day. It makes me more likely to do homework.”

Natalie Merley

During seminar on Monday, Sept.

27, senior Ben Baumgart reflects upon his emotions regarding stress as well as helpful characters in his life by writing down various emotions and references he calls on in times of need.

senior Logan Pfeister

gram will allow students to reflect and learn more about their emotional and social wellbeing, especially after a difficult year.

FACS teacher Lauren Stringer, who helped develop SEL, explains that the group thought about both students’ current and future needs.

“We created this curriculum based on what we felt was necessary for students’ social and emotional health, but also what could be valuable after high school,” Stringer said.

Although Xello lessons were part of the seminar curriculum in past years, this year the lessons are more organized for teachers and students.

When it comes to the Xello curriculum, students and staff at Mill Valley have differing opinions.

Junior Andrew Kruckmeyer thinks that Xello is not beneficial since he already has a plan for after high school.

“I don’t think Xello matters too

much,” Kruckmeyer said. “I already know what I want to do, so it doesn’t benefit me a lot.”

In years past, seminar had always been the last 40 minutes of the school day. Now, it’s in the middle to accommodate students who travel between MV and the new CTEC center during the day. Kruckemeyer takes AP Computer Science Principles and Emerging Technology at the CTEC building.

Because of the commute to Lenexa, Kruckmeyer, along with anyone else who has to travel for classes, would be

missing part of 2nd block.

The time change also benefits students who are not taking CTEC or other off-campus classes. Senior Logan Pfeister says that she has been able to get more done with the time change.

“It makes me more productive having it in the middle of the day. It makes me more likely to do homework,” Pfeister said.

Although some students do not view seminar as beneficial, for others it is still a useful part of the day.

Do you prefer seminar at the end of the day or in the middle of the day?

Do you feel like the SEL sessions are enjoyable and beneficial?

Do you like how seminar is split up by grade level?

Prefer seminar at the end of the day

7%

Prefer seminar in the middle of the day No preference survey of 102 juniors and seniors

11%

Photo by Natalie Merley

Don’t find SEL enjoyable or beneficial SEL is beneficial, but not enjoyable

82%

SEL is beneficial and enjoyable

8%

No-I wish grade levels mixed during seminar Yes- I like being with just my grade during seminar

20% 72%

Indifferent on the situation

26% 24%

49%

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FEATURES

Design by Grace Brookshire

Oct. 14, 2021

Using their small business as an outlet, seniors Kelly Doyle and Kylie Dunn spread mental health awareness

restlessly eager for change by sophie sena

F

writer/photographer

or many, small businesses are a way to make extra money for doing something they enjoy, but for seniors Kelly Doyle and Kylie Dunn, their small business is much more.

Their business, Impatient, is a way to spread the word on mental health.

The pair first started their clothing business in November 2020 as a way to cope with mental health problems they were experiencing during difficult times in their lives. Because of this, Doyle hopes that their brand is seen as a “warm environment.”

The pair started off by making a couple of sweatshirts and then began to move on to making other clothing items like stickers, tote bags and shirts they sell on their website.The prices of their products range from $3 to $60.

Senior Sydney Wooton bought a sweatshirt and a tote bag from the girls’ website. Wooton said that she liked the products because they are, “really good quality and they spread a really important message about mental health.”

To Doyle and Dunn, their brand name, Impatient, has a significant meaning.

“Everyone just seems impatient with the life that they have now,” Doyle said. “And so we’ve kind of interpreted it two ways, we’re restlessly eager for change in our lives and we want to change.”

Their message can be seen when looking at some of their favorite products like their “wish you were here” hoodie and “tell them you love them” products.

“I hope they see it as something that they can relate to and can look at it and maybe think deeper on things, because we are big on deep thinking,” Dunn said.

Owning a business with another person can have setbacks such as scheduling conflicts and brainstorming, as Doyle says, the two are “very similar, but we can also disagree a lot.”

Despite these setbacks, the girls

Holding up some of their favorite items on Saturday, Sep. 11th, seniors Kelly Doyle and Kylee Dunn aim to promote talk about mental health through their apparel business, Impatient. “We did that as a way of saying our brand wants you to change your life,” Dunn said. “Go for your goals and do whatever it is you dream of doing and see where it can take you in life.” Photo by Alayna Dill

hope to expand their social media presence to grow their brand, and hope to release more products in the coming year.

“We’re really big on changing the norm of life,” Doyle said. “We both have never had the desire to work like a nine to five job or to settle down and just live, we want to do crazy things.

So, I think we are eager for change, we just want to change the societal norm of what’s going on.”

SHOP SMALL Products found on shopimpatient.com sticker pack

$10

tote bag

$20

Small business owners Kelly Doyle and Kylee Dunn promote their items through social media and word of mouth. Submitted by Kelly Doyle

t-shirt

$30

hoodie

$60

JagWire

HISTORY OF NIKE SHOES

Design by: Quinn Franken and Baylen Monson

GRAPHICS

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THE “MOON SHOE” The shoe that started it all. They debuted at the 1972 Olympic Trials Marathon. Only 12 pairs were ever produced.

The progression of Nike and their most popular releases

SELECTIVE STYLES

NEW TECHNOLOGY

AIR JORDANS

WAFFLE-PATTERNED SOLE

Micheal Jordan wore his first pair of Air Jordans in 1984. The NBA originally banned the shoe because it did not meet regulations, but Jordan payed the $5,000 fine and brought fame to his shoe.

Nike co-founder Bill Bowerman used his wife’s waffle iron to create a new sole that improved runners’ speed.

BLAZERS

AIR FORCE 1S

First released in 1973, Nike Blazers quickly became the best basketball shoe on the market.

George “The Iceman” Gervin was the first to wear Blazers and helped grow the name “Nike.”

The AF1 was the first basketball shoe to use Nike Air technology.

It was created in 1982. There are now over 1,700 color variations of AF1s.

HANDSFREE SHOES

Nike Go FlyEase shoes can get slipped on or off without the use of hands.

CREATOR OF THE “SWOOSH”

Carolyn Davidson designed the iconic “swoosh” in 1971.

PROGRESSION OF THE AIR MAX

First created in 1987, the Air Max was the first shoe to have air-cushioning technology and feature a clear window into the sole.

1987

1991

2003

2021

Source: SneakerFiles

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FEATURES

THE SHATTERING EFFECTS OF

Oct. 14, 2021

SUBSTANCE ABUSE Family and friends of junior Cooper Davis hope his battle with substance abuse can help others

by abigail troilo writer/photographer

avery gathright online editor in chief

kaitlyn burke

A

writer/photographer

fter the death of junior Cooper Davis on Sunday, Aug. 29 due to drug usage, the school has taken the opportunity to recognize the issues that come with the increasing availability and abuse of drugs. Between stigmas that prevent people from reaching out for help with drug abuse and increasing access to substances, drugs continue to claim the lives of countless adolescents each year. Although Cooper lost his life to drugs, he fought his usage, going to treatment centers and encouraging others to not repeat his actions. His story is a cautionary tale of the dangers of drug abuse, but there is hope.

The school hosted a small memorial gathering to honor junior Cooper Davis Friday, Sept.

3. Friends of Cooper wrote messages to him and to his family as a way to help deal with grief.

Photo by Kathy Habiger

CAUSES OF DRUG USE As drugs have become a common topic in our society, more adolescents like Cooper are exposed to drugs and their effects.

The Adolescent Center for Treatment specializes in intensive help for youth with serious emotional and behavioral problems, with 3.4 million teens receiving mental health services annually. According to director Kevin Kufeldt, poor mental health conditions can often result in the usage of drugs.

“Oftentimes the two go hand in hand. Roughly 75% of the youth that I serve in my residential program have a co-occurring disorder,” Kufeldt said.

“Mental health conditions put a person at an increased risk for having a substance abuse problem.”

Cooper’s mother, Libby Davis,

agrees that poor mental health conditions can lead people to start using drugs despite the many negative effects.

“I think that people start to use drugs because they think it’s going to help them escape from their perception of their reality,” Libby said. “If they’re feeling like they’re in a dark place, they just want to escape.They use drugs to do that. But the sad part is that it’s a temporary escape, and it really doesn’t fix anything.”

“I think that people start to use drugs because they think it’s going to help them escape from their perception of their reality. The sad part is that [drugs] are a temporary escape, and it really doesn’t fix anything.”

Libby Davis

Sophomore Reagan Raether, one of Cooper’s closest friends, agrees with this, believing that some people look to drugs because they are unaware of another way to manage their stress.

“It might have been the first thing they thought of to cope, instead of all these other things that we do,” Raether said. “Some people have health-

JagWire

Design by Quinn Fanken

FEATURES

9

Captions should be a half pica below the photo. Make sure t complete line. Captions contain information explaining the photo. Photo by Photographer Name The Davis family, despite their recent loss in August, want to let Cooper’s life serve as a lesson to those who abuse drugs. Photo by Hayden Resch

ier coping mechanisms, some don’t.”

Raether believes that social media and what teens are exposed to online can impact what they think is okay to do, such as drugs. When a teenager’s favorite artist sings about doing drugs, it can lead them to think in the wrong direction.

“Our generation grew up with phones surrounding us, and artists and rappers and all that are constantly talking about drugs and constantly talking about all this bad stuff,” Raether said. “They talk about when they had a drug overdose, and in their songs they talk about how good drugs feel.”

One of the most popular ways teenagers sell and buy drugs is through social media apps such as Snapchat, where, according to Libby, drugs become easily available, even to minors.

“Drugs are so accessible, and it’s easy for kids to get their hands on drugs,” Libby said. “I’ve seen with my own eyes on Cooper’s Snapchat account advertisements for the people in this area that are selling drugs and va-

pes and illegal things, and it’s just right there, that easy to get and so close to home.”

EFFECTS OF DRUG USE Although popular culture can glorify drug usage such as in music, the reality is that using drugs has countless negative effects, according to numerous experts.

Drug users may attempt to stay away from drugs, but it’s often not enough, as the drugs have too strong of a hold on them to be able to quit.

According to Kufeldt, drug users often struggle to quit because they want to avoid the feelings that come with withdrawal.

“The brain experiences a decline in functioning and has a difficult time rebounding from excessive use,” Kufeldt said. “Users will often experience both physical and psychological dependence. Both cases give the user the impression that they have to use [drugs]

CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

SIGNS OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE

Physical and lifestyle changes that may indicate teenage substance abuse

POOR HYGIENE DRAMATIC WEIGHT LOSS/GAIN UNUSUAL TIREDNESS LOSS OF INTEREST IN ONCE-ENJOYED ACTIVITIES SECRETIVE BEHAVIOR SULLEN, WITHDRAWN OR DEPRESSED STRAINED RELATIONSHIPS Source: National Addiction Center and Drugfree.com

10 FEATURES

Oct. 14, 2021

to feel better resulting in a vicious cycle of continued use just to avoid pain, sickness and death.”

When someone uses drugs, it can take over other aspects of their life, something Libby witnessed firsthand with Cooper.

“When [Cooper] started using drugs, it changed his focus in life, he lost interest in the things like his healthy interests, like sports and family activities,” Libby said. “He was just drawn to those types of risky behaviors and friends that also enjoyed those types of risky behaviors. It just made him lose focus.”

Cooper’s close friends witnessed him start to spiral into this routine of canceling plans, skipping activities and missing out on everything to do drugs. Cooper’s declining interests didn’t only impact him, it impacted his relationships with friends and family. Raether believes Cooper’s friendships became more out of reach, such as with sophomore Carley Broyles, his girlfriend.

“I know it mentally broke [Broyles] down,” Raether said, “But, we all know Cooper loved her to death, and he just didn’t know how to show it, and he wasn’t going to stop [drugs] for anyone.”

Drugs can take someone’s life at any moment. Cooper was taken from Broyles suddenly, and she wants people to appreciate those around them.

“People should be smart and not take anything for granted. Tell anyone you love that you love them. I didn’t get to say I love you to him,” Broyles said.

One side effect of drug usage is that people often forget about the drug user’s true character. According to Libby, Cooper was a naturally kind person who strived to help others.

“People should be smart and not take anything for granted. Tell anyone you love that you love them.” sophomore Carley Broyles

“If we ever walked past a homeless person, we could not get past them without Cooper saying, ‘We need to do something. We need to give him something. Do we have food, water, or money? We have to give them something,’” Libby said. “He also had a really sweet heart for kids with special needs. We learned there was a staff member [at Cooper’s treatment center] that had a son who was autistic, and he would tell us that Cooper would always use his free time to teach this autistic boy how to fly a kite. He had a good heart.”

HOW TO GET HELP There are ways for adolescents to get help, but first, they must acknowledge they have a drug abuse problem.

According to Kudfelt, it is hard to get a drug user to continue and comply with a program, especially if they cannot admit to having an issue in the first place.

“Adolescents have a difficult time admitting that their use has resulted into a problem,” Kufeldt said. “Many times, adolescents haven’t lost much [like their] family, house, car, job, [or] kids. They haven’t hit rock bottom.

There are limited resources. Adults have several options from detox facilities, oxford homes/half-way houses, community-based support groups, treatment centers, [to] hospitals. Currently in Kansas, my program is the only residential facility in the state [for adolescents].”

To get the necessary treatment, it takes both the child and the parent to acknowledge that extra help is needed and take action to get it. Sometimes, parents may be embarrassed by the situation or children are too scared to ask for help.

According to Libby, when the Davis family realized the seriousness of Cooper’s drug usage, they chose to enroll him in an eight-month out-of-state program. The program, beginning in

TEENAGE SUBSTANCE ABUSE STATISTICS Statistics on teenage substance abuse in the U.S.

2.08 1 2

of all new drug users are under the are of

18

teens ages 12-17 have used drugs in the past month by

SENIOR YEAR

2/3 of students

have tried alcohol

9/10

people with drug addictions started using as teens

1/5 teenagers have abused perscription medication

HALF

of students in high school have reported using marijuana

90,000

Americans died of an overdose in 2020

Source: Center for Disease Control and Addiction Center

JagWire

Design by Quinn Fanken

FEATURES

11

A candlelight vigil was held in Cooper’s honor Tuesday, Aug. 31 at Stump Park in Shawnee. Family and friends gathered to mourn and celebrate the life of Cooper.

Submitted by Nora McQuain

Cooper’s mom, Libby Davis, said since he was young, “Cooper was so full of life. He was fearless. He wanted to jump the highest, run the farthest. He liked rock climbing and wakeboarding. He just wanted to have so much fun.” Submitted by Libby Davis

March 2020, fit well with the family’s philosophies and included a 90-day addiction treatment plan.

“Eventually, we knew he needed more help because we had essentially lost the ability to help him make good choices,” Libby said. “We decided to send Cooper to a therapeutic boarding school called Teen Challenge Adventure Ranch, and it was located in Arkansas. He spent a total of eight months in Arkansas. Their philosophy was to just help troubled teens become mentally sound, academically strong and prepare them for a strong future, which is all the things we really wanted to get Cooper’s focus back on.”

According to Kufeldt, drugs have become increasingly potent and dangerous in recent years, something many may be unaware of, and he works to educate communities on these dangers.

“Much of what I focus on are the growing trends in adolescent use as “Until we come together well as terminology,” Kufeldt said. “I also spend time educating parents on and try to get this drug the potency levels of drugs, as many of them have increased since they problem under control, were teenagers. [Generation Z] is really a guinea pig generation [and] is it’s going to continue to exposed to higher potency marijuana, synthetic cannabinoids, synthetic take lives. It’s going to opioids and other synthetic amphet- continue to shatter the amines.”

Until more is done to combat the hearts of all the people accessibility and usage of drugs, Libby believes they will continue to hurt that [were left behind more and more families.

“Until we come together to try to by those that lost] their get this drug problem under control, it’s going to continue to take lives,” lives.”

Libby said. “It’s going to continue to Libby Davis shatter the hearts of all the people that [were left behind by those that lost] their lives.”

HOW TO GET HELP Resources for teenagers struggling with substance abuse and addiction 22 SEEK A PROFESSIONAL 1 REACH OUT TO A

FRIEND OR

TRUSTED ADULT

24-hour treatment referral or information service hotline

1-800-662-HELP (4372)

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

Adolecent Center for Treatment

913-862-4200 Residential facility based in Olathe, KS

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OPINIONS

Design by Luke Wood

Oct. 14, 2021

HOMELESSNESS IN THE HOMELAND

The government isn’t taking the correct actions to prevent homelessness nationwide

by kaitlyn burke

T

writer/photographer

he United States Government is not taking the correct actions to prevent homelessness throughout the country. According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, being homeless is defined as having no home or permanent place of residence. As of January 2019, in the U.S., according to the Department of Housing and Urban Development, you could fill five football stadiums with the homeless population in the U.S. To put this in perspective, the average football stadium holds roughly 69,444 people.

That is an astonishing amount of people combating homelessness every day.

Our government rarely chooses to acknowledge this prevalent issue and has so far failed to establish an effective solution. While the government has taken action in certain states, they have been proven to be more harmful than beneficial to the homeless population. Seen from an outside view, homeless shelters are portrayed as a safe place to get help, but according to an article in The Atlantic, homeless people often fear going to shelters because of their reputation for theft, uncleanliness and hostile environments.

Another ineffective solution often seen is anti-homeless architecture.

This architecture is typically found in populous cities with abundant home-

less populations such as Portland, New York City, Los Angeles and San Francisco. Examples of anti-homeless architecture include benches with armrests, street dividers, boulders under bridges, and fenced grates. This is not an effective way to prevent homelessness but rather forces homeless people to take refuge elsewhere. As written in

“You could fill five football stadiums with the homeless population in the U.S. To put this in perspective, the average football stadium holds roughly 69,444 people.”

Kaitlyn Burke

Interesting Engineering, anti-homeless architecture is hostile architecture put in place to prevent the homeless from sleeping and residing on streets, benches and sidewalks. The money spent on anti-homeless architecture should be reallocated to more beneficial solutions. Locally, teens can help out the Kansas City homeless commu-

nity by donating and attending events that support more beneficial solutions to homelessness.

Due to a lack of funds and support from the government, the youth homeless population has increased, and unfortunately, has been harder to record over recent years due to the COVID-19 pandemic causing discrepancy among schools and their ability to keep track of the number of students. According to KMBC 9 News, here in Kansas City, non-profit groups are taking action to prevent youth-homelessness in an attempt to limit the amount of homeless youths in their areas. Youth 4 Change is one of the local, non-profit groups that are aiming to help homeless youth get off the streets, and providing them with the education and tools they need to better their future. More transitional housing for youth in the area includes ReStart, Hillcrest, Pride Haven and Avenue of Life Youth House. Within the Kansas City community, youth are taking action to prevent homeless teens from continuing the cycle. Events are often held in KCMO and the easiest way to take action is to donate or find local events at Youth 4 Change’s fundraising website. Homelessness is an ongoing vicious cycle that in order to improve, requires attention and effort from the government and its citizens.

HOMELESSNESS DEMOGRAPHICS A breakdown of homelessness in America Source: End Homeless Now

Distribution of homelessness

57 43

57% of all homeless people in the U.S. live in California, New York, Florida, Texas, and Washington state The other 43% inhabit the remaining 45 states

Homelessness by race

13 48 39

48% of homeless people are white 39% are black 13% are other ethnicities

Homelessness by gender

1 70 29

Men make up 70% of the homeless population Women make up 29% Non-binary individuals make up 1%

JagWire

Design by Chloe Miller

ALL ABOUT THE

A&E

13

Union Station houses unique art gallery that invites local street artists to display their work by emma clement

T

writer/photographer

he Graffiti Attic at Union Station aims to give graffiti artists a safe place to put up their art and to bring people together through art.

The art on display at the Graffiti Attic includes a wide array of mediums, themes, and colors. It is located on the 7th floor of Union Station and is available to the public from 2- 9PM on the first Friday of each month.

Sophomore Grace Cormany visited the Graffiti Attic and enjoyed the many different political and social issues they covered. “[The art] shined this light on graffiti artists that really haven’t had that opportunity to shine in the spotlight,” Cormany said.

The Graffiti Attic provides a haven for artists to put up their work.

A member of the group running the Graffiti Attic, Ellie Long, says that there is often a lot of fear associated with putting up graffiti.

“Some don’t have a connection to other artists and they were quite lonely before they found this spot,” Long said. “Here, there has been a lot of connections within the community which I think is really valuable.”

Graffiti is still highly stigmatized in society, which is a big contributor to artists’ fear. Critics may discredit artists’ works, claiming their installations are not art or accusing them of creating eyesores. Artist Gracie-Lynn Meroney, who has work displayed in the Graffiti Attic, disagrees with these claims and explains that graffiti is no different from other art styles.

According to Meroney, the stigma “sucks because it’s just like any other art form.”

After visiting the Graffiti Attic, Cormany believes that it can help change the way people view graffiti.

“This really shifted my entire perspective because you could really see the artists’ passion,” Cormany said.

Long agrees, believing that the Graffiti Attic is a unifying experience because viewers get to see what is happening in the artists’ minds through their work and because it can “bring people together to showcase what humans are capable of.”

Meroney hopes that the Graffiti Attic gives artists the confidence to create art for themselves by acting “without expectations” and allowing the rewards to inspire them.

A butterfly airplane, painted by 22-year-old artist Gracie Meroney, is depicted directly on the wall at the Graffiti Attic. “My mural there was actually my first large scale painting ever, it really raised my respect even more for street artists,” Meroney said. Photo by Liz Coenen

An artist prepares a comic mural at the Graffiti Attic on Thursday, Sept. 23. The art is on display every first Friday of each month at Union Station. There are approximately 200+ murals to see throughout the Attic. Photo by Liz Coenen

WANT TO KNOW MORE?

Visit the Attic or check out some of the artist’s Instagrams

ADDRESS:

30 W Pershing Road, Suite 720 Kansas City, MO, 64108

HOURS:

First Friday of each month, 2-9pm

@BREANNA.SHANAJ @GRACIEMERONEY @FORSHETATTOOS

14 SPORTS

UNDER

PRESSURE

High achieving, dedicated senior athletes give us a glimpse into how they have been affected by the pressure of sports by julia coacher writer/photographer

by gabby delpleash

N

online editor in chief

ow that league, followed by the postseason, is right around the corner to end fall sports, athletes and coaches are gearing up to perform their best. For school athletes who are known state-wide for their virtuosity on the field, court or course, preparation for state can come with stress from playing such an integral part of their team’s final ride.

As a school that currently holds four state titles for football, two titles for girls cross country, and one for girls golf, wrestling and boys track, it is

necessary to mention that Mill Valley does not fall short in upholding their athletic program. However, the task of maintaining our school’s athletic program has many star athletes feeling overwhelmed come the postseason.

One student dealing with pressure of upholding high standards in school athletics is senior cross country runner Katie Schwartzkopf, a 2018 individual state champion and the 2018 recipient of the traveling Timmons award; an award given to the boy and girl who runs the top 5K time in the state of Kansas.

Schwarztkopf taught herself how to cope with stress by reminding herself to let go of perfection.

“I’ve definitely struggled with [upholding my own expectations] and it can take a while for athletes to learn

Oct. 14, 2021

how to cope,” Schwartzkopf said. “I have had to remind myself of how to run for myself and not worry about other people’s expectations. [While] having those high expectations can help me stay motivated, I try to remember to not get too down if I don’t meet my expectations.”

Similarly, senior football player Cody Moore faces pressure to succeed after coming off of back-to-back state championships.

“What the football team is doing right now is going to prepare us for the end of the year,” Moore said. “Everybody has the same expectations, we all just limit distractions and then focus on what we need to do. Winning a state championship [last year was a big accomplishment].”

Senior volleyball starter Brylee Peterson hopes to make her last games on the court memorable and understands what it takes to meet the expectations of her team.

“For this being my last chance to try and make it to state, I want to make it count,” Peterson said. “We have had a few bumps in the past before but this year we have a very strong team.

I think we have a very good chance

JagWire

Design by Natalie Merley

SPORTS

15

Racing at the Greg Wilson Classic Thursay, Sept. 2, senior Katie Schwartzkopf leads the pack of varsity runners in first place. Photo

by Gabby Delpleash

Senior outside hitter Brylee Peterson sets up to defend a spike at practice on Wednesday, Sept. 22.

Photo by Luke Wood

Going for the sack, senior defensive end Cody Moore fights his way through the Shawnee Mission East offensive line to take victory on Friday, Sept. 17. Photo by Luke Wood

this year [at making state] as long as we all have the same mindset and all stay healthy.”

From a coach’s standpoint, head cross country coach Chris McAfee accentuates the importance of being gentle with yourself.

“We try to remind people that they’re human beings,” McAfee said.

“As a human being there’s going to be mistakes and that’s the coolest thing: being able to accept that you’re going to make mistakes. We try to be as respectful of their time as we can and remind all of our runners that it’s okay

SPORTS SUCCESS

to mess up.”

Grateful for the role McAfee has played in alleviating her stress, Schwartzkopf remembers that her performance at state does not define her.

“I just have to remember that everyone is going to love me and still want to be my friend and be my coach, no matter how I do,” Schwarzkopf said.

“That definitely helps take the pressure of [competing] off of me. You just have to run for yourself and your teammates and try to have fun with the sport you love.”

“I set the biggest expectations for myself more than my coaches do just because I think that’s kind of the runner personality- very type A.” senior Katie Schwartzkopf

A look at the highlights of senior leaders

PETERSON

Lettered as a Freshman, Sophomore, and Junior Named 2019 6A FKL 2nd team Named 2020 Sunflower Conference 2nd Team Named 2020 Eastern Kansas Volleyball Team 2nd Team Right Side Hitter Named to the 2021 AVCA All-American Watch List

SCHWARTZKOPF

2018 individual 5A state champion Member of the 2018 & 2019 state champion team 2018 Traveling Timmons Award Winner for fastest 5K in Kansas state history 5K PR: 17:44 Lettered all 4 years

MOORE

Started playing football in 2020 5A state champion in 2020 Lettered junior year Player of the week Sept. 10, 2021 Player of the week Oct. 1, 2021

16 PHOTO ESSAY

Design by Hayden Resch

PUP PARADISE Citizens volunteer to help older dogs while they await adoption

Oct. 14, 2021

Their mission at Imagine Furever Ranch is to provide a foster home for abandoned senior dogs, so that one day they may find a new family. They provide dogs with a safe and healthy place to live while they are waiting for adoption. The Imagine Furever Ranch’s mission statement is to promote the loving & humane treatment of people and animals through education, advocacy, and services. Todd Mitchell, the owner of Furever Ranch bought and opened the establishment after his own dog Lucy died last year.

He learned that he loved caring for old dogs and wanted to help the ones who no longer have a place to call home. Photo by Elizabeth Summa

Bending down to play with Ellie, volunteer Debbie Mullikin explains how the Ranch is a community, and how each dog is given the care they need.

People who want to volunteer at Imagine Furever Ranch only have to submit an application, sign a waiver and sign up for orientation. Photo by Alayna Dill

Volunteer Shelee Brim is smothered by the affectionate older dogs.

Brim has been volunteering for almost as long as the ranch has been open, and she always feels better after helping out with the dogs. Photo by Alayna Dill

Captions should be a half pica below the photo. Make sure that your captions make a complete line. Captions contain information explaining the photo. Photo

by Photogra-

12-year-old Jasper came from Oklahoma to the Ranch. Jasper is playful and loves to cuddle. Photo by Sydney McGlasson

Olga is an 11-year-old female who is shy around others until they meet her. A volunteer found Olga and took her in after they couldn’t find her owner. Photo by Sydney McGlasson