November 2019 Issue

STATESMAN

the november issue

In this issue...

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A DIFFERENT POINT OF VIEW

by Chloe Houwman

From playing the violin and piano to journaling and poetry, there is nothing that gets in the way of LHS freshman Jaela Lammi. Lammi is able to do all of the things she wishes to do without something that one might take for granted: the ability to see.

FLYING AND HEALING

by Timothy Stolp

A colorful display of vibrance and tradition, the annual Native American Day Pow Wow held at the Multi-Cultural Center is just one of many events where two LHS students impress with their dancing skills.

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FROM SD TO BEIJING

by Jazlyn White

While many LHS students have Instagram feeds of selfies from football games and the latest local concert, junior Charlie Howes’ profile sports snapshots of the U.S. embassy in Beijing and scenery from rural China.

PAINTING THE 605

by Anna Langseth

Empty concrete walls are somewhat common in most cities, especially in their downtown areas. In Sioux Falls, a group of five artists are helping to change that.

LHS SENIOR REDEFINES EXCELLENCE

by Madeleine Kemper

When many think of the LHS Marching band, they are immediately drawn to the Drumline, known for its talented musicians and all around excellence. At the center of this group is senior snare section leader, Julia Lair.

On September 7, 2018, President Donald Trump spoke at a fundraising event in Sioux Falls for then gubernatorial candidate Kristi Noem.

The President spoke about key issues like immigration, jobs and the importance of manufacturing. He also mused about the inspiration that he has given South Dakotans.

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SAVING AMERICA

by Slater Dixon

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EXPOSING THE UNSPOKEN

by Lilli Eppinga

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Throughout our day-to-day lives, I’m sure we’ve all experienced a significant amount of awkward encounters or troubling decisions.

ON THE COVER: A QUINCEANERA FIT FOR A QUEEN

by Carly Wheeler

For LHS freshman Jimena Hernandez, her 15th birthday celebration was nothing short of the magical day she had always dreamed of. The venue was booked, a professional photographer was hired, the dress was fitted and elegant invitations were mailed to friends and family near and far. It was time to celebrate Hernandez’s quinceañera.

S t a t e s m a n The Statesman’s purpose is to inform and entertain with an honest and accurate approach. The opinions of students, staff members and faculty are expressed in a tasteful manner. The Statesman is a member of the National Scholastic Press Association and the Journalism Education Association. The Statesman was awarded a Pacemaker in 2007 and was nominated for the 2012-2013 year. The Statesman has received Superior and best newspaper in the state of South Dakota. The editors and adviser take responsibility for the content of the Statesman.

Editors-in-Chief: Taylor Ericson, Timothy Stolp, Genna Sheriff and Cathleen Weng Feature Editor: Kathryn Sweeter Entertainment Editors: Morgan McDonnel and Nyah Thaemert Sports Editors: Landon DeBoer and Spencer Wasmund Perspectives Editors: Carly Wheeler, Slater Dixon and Mara Fendrich Photographer: Jaida Sorensen Business Manager: Cameron Rhode Staff Writers: Ree Baireddy, Daniel Bethke, Avery Blackman, Sara Croghan, Abbie DeKramer, Lilli Eppinga, Kaden Fossum, Chloe Hartje, Hunter Hauck, Chloe Houwman, Madeleine Kemper, Anna Langseth, Charley Lockwood-Powell, Easton Plourde, Brita Quello, Chloe Robinson, Nicole Schmitz, Jazlyn White Adviser: Katie Kroeze

Also in this issue...

THE TEA ON THE NEW SPICE AND TEA EXCHANGE

by Daniel Bethke

17 HYDRO FLASK STICKERS: WILL THE TREND STICK?

by Kathryn Sweeter

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ALTAR’D STATE OPENS IN THE EMPIRE MALL

by Chloe Hartje

26 BREAKING STEREOTYPES

by Chloe Robinson

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GIRLS & BOYS B-BALL PREVIEW

by Ree Baireddy & Kaden Fossum

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FROM SOUTH DAKOTA

TO BEIJING:

HOWES MAKES ‘INSTA’NT CONNECTIONS

BY JAZLYN WHITE

While many LHS students have Instagram feeds of selfies from football games and the latest local concert, junior Charlie Howes’ profile sports snapshots of the U.S. embassy in Beijing and scenery from rural China.

Howes attended his first two years of high school at LHS, but this year has other experiences in store.

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Howes has the unique opportunity of studying Mandarin via the National Security Language Initiative for Youth, a fully-funded government program with the goal of enriching its participants in critical languages.

“The application process is very difficult,” said Howes. “I had to go through an hour long interview and write many essays.”

The program is typically attended by students with novice or intermediate knowledge in the language they choose to learn, Howes is no exception.

“I only studied Mandarin for a few years before this program, so my Chinese wasn’t very well spoken [upon arrival],” said Howes.

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PHOTOS PROVIDED BY HOWES’S INSTAGRAM

While in China, Howes has had a plethora of opportunities to better his Mandarin.

“I study 12 hours a day, so the amount of Chinese I have learned is massive,” said Howes. “These first two months in Beijing have been amazing.”

Howes also has the chance to immerse himself in the culture of his temporary home through new friends and his host family.

“I have met and befriended many Chinese locals who have been helping me get around the city and keep busy,” said Howes.

“I also have a host family that I visit on weekends.They have been taking many photos of me because they are photographers. They love me very much and treat me like a movie star since they thought I was Jake Gyllenhaal when they met me.”

During his stay, Howes has also

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spoken to a group at the Beijing embassy about the differences between American and Chinese education and culture.

“A perk of [the NSLI-Y] is that it is with the State Department, so we get many opportunities to visit the embassy and socialize with Chinese people and diplomats,” said Howes. “Speaking on the panel at the embassy to Chinese students was my favorite part.”

However, not everything Howes is doing in Beijing is unfamiliar to him, he occasionally teaches yoga and has kept running for his school, both activities he often participated in while in South Dakota.

“I ran a track meet at my Chinese school and I got first place in three different events,” said Howes.

Howes also keeps in touch with his LHS Ad Room back home.

“We keep in contact with Chuck through his Instagram; his parents will send us newsletters he appears in,” said Tanya Bjerke, Howes’ Ad Room teacher. “His parents will also be visiting him in January, and we plan to send a care-package with them.”

Howes is a big proponent of the NSLI-Y and encourages more South Dakotans to apply for the scholarship.

“I urge students to apply,” said Howes. “As South Dakotans we are underrepresented on an international level, and we should do a better job of spreading our state’s culture and existence.”

Documentation of Howes’ experiences in Beijing can be found on his Instagram page: @c.h.a.r.li.e where he posts almost-daily updates.

LHS senior redefines excellence

by Madeleine Kemper

When many think of the LHS Marching band, they are immediately drawn to the Drumline, known for its talented musicians and all around excellence. At the center of this group is senior snare section leader, Julia Lair. What many people do not know though is that she has another passion besides music; she is also training to be in the U.S. Air Force.

Lair developed an early passion for flying, inspired by her father, a pilot who used to fly F-16s for the National Guard and now currently works for United Airlines. Her fascination with the career sparked a desire to be just like him one day.

“When I was little we would go flying on the weekends, and I remember always wanting to get my hands on the controls,” said Lair.

Lair made this dream a reality as a 15-year-old when she started taking flying lessons and joined the Civil Air Patrol of South Dakota. Just one year later she flew her very first plane—solo. This accomplishment was marked by a special day, her 16th birthday, the very first day she could legally fly by herself.

In addition to chasing down her dreams outside of school, Lair has finished four successful seasons in the LHS marching band as the only female snare and one of only three females in the drumline. Lair joined the band as a freshman and quickly took a liking to the familial atmosphere that it provided. Now a section leader, Liar credits her ability to lead to the experience she had as an underclassman.

“It’s definitely a big brother, big sister environment, and now I get to be the big sister to all the younger guys,” said Lair.

As much as this program has left an impact on Lair, she has left an equally strong impact on those that she leads.

Her accomplishments in the band, as well as her post-high school aspirations leave her peers in awe of the person that she has become.

“She’s accomplishing things unheard of. She’s very structured and works very hard, which I think is very fitting for the military,” said LHS junior and snare member, Mason Endsley.

Even though her time in the band is coming to a close, Lair continues to use her commitment, passion and work ethic to aid in her training to become a pilot. A large part of this training occurs outside of school, with a private fitness trainer whom Lair sees three to four times a week in order to prepare for a very vigorous fitness test, the Candidate Fitness Assessment. If she passes this test, she will be able to apply to the Air Force academy later this year, putting her one step closer to achieving her goal of becoming an Air Force fighter pilot.

“It’s been a great four years with the marching band, and I’m really proud of what we’ve accomplished, but I’m ready for the next step and ready for new challenges,” said Lair.

ED ID ND V O A PR AIR OS A L ER T O LI LE PH JU MC

BY ON D

APOINT DIFFERENT OF VIEW

by Chloe Houwman From playing the violin and piano to journaling and poetry, there is nothing that gets in the way of LHS freshman Jaela Lammi. Lammi is able to do all of the things she wishes to do without something that one might take for granted: the ability to see.

Lammi has been blind since birth, but there is not much that she cannot do. She has many different hobbies that she does in her free time.

“I have been playing [violin] since I was about three years old,” said Lammi.

In addition to her musical talents, Lammi also enjoys reading and writing on her BrailleNote, a computer made for people with visual impairments.

“It is kind of a computer except it has Braille on it,” said Lammi. “It is easier than a computer. Like when I am reading a book sometimes, I can push a button and then the BrailleNote reads to me.”

According to an article published in Live Science, a new study has discovered that visually impaired people have enhanced abilities in their other senses.

“The research used detailed brain

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scans to compare the brains of people who were blind to the brains of people who were not blind,” said Sara G. Miller of Live Science. “The study involved people who were either born blind or became blind before age 3. The scans showed that these individuals had heightened senses of hearing, smell and touch compared to the people in the study who were not blind.”

“I can hear things a lot better than most people,” said Lammi. “Say I am sitting in my bedroom, I can hear cars zooming by, or I can recognize people by their voice. When I hear a voice that is familiar, I know who it is. Once I know a person’s voice it will stick with me.”

In addition to her heightened senses, Lammi’s memory is exceptional. She remembers events from months ago, and in great detail.

“My memory is really good for the most part. I will always remember stuff that has a big impact on me,” said Lammi.

With more responsibilities and more independence, being a freshman in a larger school is difficult for Lammi.

“It is hard getting around new places, but it just takes some getting

used to,” said Lammi. “[When I am learning to get around new places] I get directed a little bit, but when I am in a familiar area, I remember when I am approaching something.”

There are many different classes Lammi takes throughout the day, but her favorite part of the day is Lifetime Wellness and Yoga.

“Yoga is the most relaxing part of the day,” said Lammi. “I love corpse pose.”

Even though Lammi is able to do most things, not everything is easy for her. The crowded hallways at school can be overwhelming. Due to the large number of students at LHS, the hallways can become pretty chaotic during the six-minute rush in between classes. “[In the hallways] a lot of kids aren’t being mindful of me and my cane,” said Lammi. Sometimes they bump into me which is rude because it means they don’t care that I am blind. They expect me not to be blind. They expect me to see them.”

Poetry is a creative outlet for one to express their emotions, and Lammi enjoys using the art of poetry in her free time. One of her best pieces is entitled What if.

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What If? written by Jaela Lammi

When I’m afraid someone might get mad, I feel nervous. My body feels like it is about to explode at any moment. My brain runs like a train with no brakes. I wonder what’s going to happen.

Will I get punished? Will someone be disappointed and mad at me? And then the what-ifs begin. What if my mom yells and the neighbors have to put ear plugs in? What if I fall into the angry river or the shark-filled ocean?

What if someone forces me to eat a billion bowls of ice cream? I start feeling out of control. It’s like my heart stops beating. What if a teacher says I can’t go to school? What if my mom takes away my food? What if I starve? I’m feeling as crazy as a little kid who is trying to eat a shoe. What if I fall into the toilet? What if I take a shower and lose my balance? What if I get sucked down the drain?

What if I couldn’t hold on to anything, and I keep falling, falling, falling?

What if I touch something as tickly as a koosh ball? My head is spinning as fast as a fan.

What if I burn myself? What if I type something and my mom sees what I am typing? Boom! Stop!

These what if ’s have to get out of my mind. There’s nothing to be afraid of.

I’m acting like it is a real big deal. If I listened to all my what if ’s, I wouldn’t be able to do anything. What if I wasn’t able to do anything at all? I would be as frozen as a statue. Here they all come again. What if, What if, What if!

PHOTO BY CHLOE HOUWMAN

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by Carly Wheeler I think I speak for a lot of people when I say the day of my 15th birthday was not far off from any other ordinary day. Sure, there were the annual texts full of birthday wishes, a party with friends and of course the cake, but nothing in particular stood out above any other birthday celebration I have had. For LHS

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freshman Jimena Hernandez, her 15th birthday celebration was nothing short of the magical day she had always dreamed of. The venue was booked, a professional photographer was hired, the dress was fitted and elegant invitations were mailed to friends and family near and far. It was time to celebrate Hernandez’s Quinceañera.

On Sept. 28, Hernandez was treated to a day fit for a queen.

First on her agenda: hair and makeup. Next came putting on her gorgeous gown chosen specifically for her special day. The sheer importance of the Quinceañera in Latin American culture calls for nothing less than the most lavish celebration.

“Celebrating a Quinceañera

holds a lot of significance,” said Hernandez. “It means becoming an independent woman who no longer needs someone to hold her hand every step of the way. But part of gaining independence is still being strong enough to ask for help when you need it, even though you are a grown woman now.”

Hernandez’s faith was of great importance on the day of her Quinceañera. Following her earlymorning preparations, Hernandez, along with close family and friends, went to mass to officiate her transition into adulthood.

“The importance of a Quinceañera is not just the celebration, but also giving thanks for the passage of a young girl into womanhood,” said Hernandez’s mother, Araceli Hernandez. “We celebrated in church to give God thanks and for Jimena to receive blessings.”

Hernandez was surrounded by loved ones from sunrise to sunset on the day of her quinceañera.

Among the guests that flooded the extravagantly decorated reception venue were Hernandez’s damas and chambelanes, close friends that made up the court that stood

in support of Jimena at this momentous occasion. Fellow LHS freshman Claire Conover was one of the honored few who Jimena chose to be one of her damas.

“Being picked as one of Jimena’s damas came as a surprise, but it was really nice of her,” said Conover. “I think the reason she asked me was because she knows I will support her through everything she experiences. I was alongside Jimena during every event of the day.”

Part of what makes a Quinceañera celebration so special is all of the unique traditions that the day encompasses. Among the most memorable was the presentation of Jimena’s last doll, to say goodbye to her childhood, and her first pair of high heels, to welcome her as a grown-woman.

“Having your flats changed to high heels is important because it symbolizes, for me at least, no longer needing the stability of the flats to hold you up,” said Herndandez. “Instead, you start taking risks and get the confidence to stand on something more fragile just for the feeling of freedom.”

If there was one moment

Hernandez will never forget from her perfect day, it is the dance she shared with her father.

“The father daughter-dance was the most special part of the celebration for me,” said Jimena.

“It was very emotional for my father and me. We have always been so close, but he knew it was time to let me go and experience new things. I didn’t want my dad to feel like I didn’t need him anymore.

I want him to understand that I still need his support, just not as much as when I was younger.”

It is safe to say that the day of Hernandez’s Quinceañera was unlike any other. There were family and friends, dancing, food and drinks and fond memories made by all. It was a beautiful day for a beautiful girl.

“It’s a bittersweet feeling knowing our little girl is growing up right before our eyes,” said Araceli. “We are very proud of how she is evolving into the person we want her to be, [someone who is] strong-minded and knows right from wrong. We are proud to call her our little princess.”

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY ARACELI HERNANDEZ

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Flying and healing: Native American dancers take center stage

PHOTO PROVIDED BY BEN SCHUMACHER

Halo St. Pierre walks in the 2nd Annual Sioux Falls Native American Day Parade in full Jingle Dress regalia.

Also pictured (left to right): Jahnessah Rondell (9), Jaquelynn Rondell (10).

by Timothy Stolp

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A colorful display of vibrance and tradition, the annual Native American Day Pow Wow held at the MultiCultural Center is just one of many events where two LHS students impress with their dancing skills.

Halo St. Pierre, an LHS junior, and Ilea Joseph, an LHS sophomore, participate in dancing as a means of connecting with their culture, since neither live on their respective tribal reservation lands. Both have been dancing since they were old enough to walk. As they have grown older, dance has come to mean more to them in terms of their cultural history and what the performance represents. Now, they compete with their dances in numerous pow wows held across the state throughout the year.

At the Native American Day Pow Wow, both performed their specialty routines: St. Pierre the Jingle Dress, and Joseph the Fancy Shawl.

The Jingle Dress dance is an expression of healing power. The

dance is roughly four to five minutes long, paced by drums and singers, another traditional element of the event. Wearing painstakingly-crafted regalia, lush with healthy colors and accessories, St. Pierre expresses the story of a young girl’s healing through the effortless movement of her dress’s numerous jingles. “[This is] from the origin story: there was this little girl who got sick,” said St. Pierre. “Her dad made her a jingle dress, he told her to get up to dance and that’s how she started to heal.”

Through her extensive practice of the dancing, cumulating over 11 years now, St. Pierre has become an expert and hopes to pass down the tradition.

“I just feel more connected to my culture, because...not everybody knows how to dance,” said St. Pierre. “Not everybody is connected to our culture.”

St. Pierre is originally from Wagner, but she moved to Sioux Falls about two years ago. She notes a difference in the educational opportunities she has to

connect with her cultural history in Sioux Falls. For instance, though she learned to dance on the Yankton Sioux Tribe Reservation, she was not able to take a class on Native American history.

“I feel like Sioux Falls gives me more opportunities,” said St. Pierre. “In Wagner…there wasn’t anyone teaching our culture.”

St. Pierre is grateful for the chance she has at LHS to make sure her culture does not die out. Native American Connections class and Lakota Language class are allowing her to understand her roots.

Janet Fleming-Martin, as the Native American Connections teacher at LHS, is especially aware of the opportunity she has to reconnect students with a lost past.

“I think the most important and critical part is knowing what has happened in the history and culture of all Native people,” said Fleming-Martin.

“There needs to be an understanding from the perspective that’s not the Euroamerican perspective, but from the Native American perspective.

“Most of this information was lost to at least two—if not three—generations of Native people. So that opportunity to learn about the culture is really... important because of all the negative stuff that is out there.”

Fleming-Martin was unable to attend this year’s pow wow in Sioux Falls, but notes that St. Pierre and Joseph are amazing competitors all year round.

“I know that several of my students— certainly, Halo and Ilea are some of the best—have participated since they were very young,” said Fleming-Martin.

“They go to a lot of competitions…They get to be a part of that and experience that, and participate in something that really makes the culture shine.”

St. Pierre and Joseph are often the top two candidates in each competition they take part in, though Joseph takes on a different dance altogether.

Joseph’s speciality is the Fancy Shawl dance, which symbolizes the eagle.

Similar to the Jingle Dress tradition, the regalia for this dance is colorful, unique and precise. However, the addition of a large wing-like shawl gives the

dancer more to work with in terms of their outfit. The regalia, in effect, is an integral part of the routine. Though short, the dance is rife with meaning and intricacy.

“Most dances are like two minutes [long], because of the songs that they sing,” said Joseph. “[The fancy shawl dance] is based on the arms, like ‘flying like an eagle.’”

The competitive atmosphere can be nerve-racking, especially as the length of the pow wows can prolong the waiting period for results.

“Most of the pow wows are three days,” said Joseph. “Then, when the pow wow is over, on the last day, everyone waits to hear if they placed or not. So it’s exciting to actually hear your name, because there’s a lot of dancers and only five places to get judged.”

Joseph is a part of the Rosebud Sioux tribe, but has lived in Sioux Falls all her life. Thus, dancing is one way Joseph regularly connects with her culture.

And it is a commitment; Joseph spends her whole summer practicing and continuing her learning. “[Pow wows are] my whole summer,”

said Joseph. “I’m basically gone [all] summer living on the rez.”

Noting that Fleming-Martin, as well as other teachers, wanted to attend the pow wow this year, Joseph remarked on the opportunity LHS faculty and student body have to attend the event next year with Native American Day off.

“I feel like it’s a good opportunity [for people] to go and see our culture,” said Joseph.

Fleming-Martin and St. Pierre express similar sentiments on the exciting possibility this fact presents.

“Everybody can do it,” said St. Pierre, referring to the dance.

St. Pierre recounts an instance at this year’s pow wow that reminded her of the inclusive environment she feels the pow wows inspire.

“At the Multi-Cultural Center, there was this little girl who was white,” said St. Pierre. “She looked like she was four or five, and her mom asked if it would be okay if she danced with me and she did. It’s open to everyone.”

The pow wow circuit that these LHS students have participated in

for years has provided them a sense of community and a connection to a culture that has been damaged for centuries. They are shining examples of the positive regrowth that these events have brought forth. All LHS students have the unique opportunity to watch and participate in these pow wows, which only happen in our part of the world.

St. Pierre needs the pow wows and education of her Native history to continue. It is imperative that the missing link that once existed between generations is resolved.

“This is a part of ourselves that we have to have,” said St. Pierre.

“Otherwise, I feel like there [will be] an empty hole there.”

Luckily, as times have changed, there are inviting spaces in the public eye that Native people have fought for and regained that allow children, especially young Native Americans, to learn about this culture. Spaces which gave and continue to give young Native girls the chance to fly like an eagle and heal with noise and dance, the chance to reconnect and rejoice.

PHOTO PROVIDED

BY KERNIT GRIMSHAW

Ilea Joseph dances Fancy Shawl at the pow wow held on Aug. 25-26 on the Rosebud Reservation.

Joseph won first place.

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ARTWORK BY XAVIER PASTRANO

the

power of POETRY COLLECTIVE

by Carly Wheeler At the City-Wide Poetry Collective launch party hosted at the Icon Lounge Event Hall on the evening of Friday, Nov. 8, the lights that were strung from the ceiling glistened, the audience was full of eager listeners and writers of all ages were able to share their poetry.

A year in the making, the City-Wide Student Poetry Collective is finally coming to Sioux Falls. Behind the project is LHS English teacher Xavier Pastrano and Sioux Falls Education Association president Tony Martinet. The launch party brought together high school poets and local published poets to read their works and discuss the future of the Poetry Collective meetings.

The launch party featured five students from LHS (Dani Koang, Timothy Stolp, Mak Highstrom, Cat Paul and Sophia Hooker) who presented their poetry. Koang took the opportunity to share her work to show that there is a wide array of poetry, despite the stereotypes that may surround the art form.

“I think that the Poetry Collective will be a really good way to open the eyes of a lot of people who don’t really know all that much about poetry,” said Koang. “Poetry isn’t just old-school Shakespeare, it’s really diverse. Poetry is a really good way to get to know more people in your area and get a feel of what is happening in

the world and in the lives of those around you.”

Koang was just as excited to listen to her fellow poets present as she was to share her own poetry. She feels that a very important aspect of poetry is the opportunity to widen your worldly views and step outside of your comfort zone by listening to others.

“Poetry allows me to express myself, but I also love that it allows me to listen to what other people are going through or hear their views on the world,” said Koang. “I think that even if you don’t have an interest in poetry itself, it’s really good to hear other people around you and expand on your knowledge of diverse problems and opinions to get outside of the bubble that you live in.”

A panel of published poets, including Nebraska native Dempsey Tapley, had the opportunity to share their work with the audience and offer their expertise to help students explore their poetic potential.

Tapley sees a lot of value in the outlet that poetry offers and he would like to share it with the students of Sioux Falls.

“I think sometimes having a skill set makes people feel more legitimate about having the emotions they have,” said

First seen online at LHSSTATESMAN.com

Tapley. “If I was just to complain about my problems, I would be whiny, but because I have the skill set to write good poetry about my problems, it becomes a legitimization for my feelings.

So if nothing else, I think through the Poetry Collective kids will begin to feel like their feelings are legitimate because they contribute to something beautiful. Everyone is going to die one day, and you get to choose whether to be a part of something beautiful or not. The Poetry Collective is an opportunity to be apart of something beautiful.”

Among the audience listening to the wide variety of poetry shared at the launch party was LHS sophomore Grace Dinneen. Dinneen attended the event in hopes of connecting with others through the art form, and she would like to continue to see where the Poetry Collective meetings can take her and other curious students.

“I feel like the poetry collective meetings will be a great way for me to be more emerged into this art form that

I am a part of,” said Dinneen. “I have learned through poetry that there are people that have the same struggles that I do, and they are able to express them in such a beautiful way. I think that if more people were able to find a positive way like this to express bad things, there would be less stress and anxiety in the world.”

If you would like to explore poetry as a creative outlet alongside experienced educators and authors, information on further events will be placed in morning announcements.

If you would like to hear Tapley’s poetry and see some of his other creative projects, follow him on Instagram @ dempseykevintapley

PHOTO BY JAIDA SORENSON

JROTC LHS

named National Naval Honor School

by Taylor Ericson, Editor-in-Chief

If one walks down the halls of LHS on a Wednesday, they are bound to see at least one student wearing a camouflage green uniform with the letters JROTC embroidered on the front. Those who are not involved in this program often misinterpret the class as a whole, thinking that everyone who joins intends to join the military, but that is surely not the case.

Junior Reserve Officer’s Training Corps is a program that is present in high schools throughout the nation. It instills responsibility, respect and leadership skills into the students who are involved. The JROTC program at LHS has always been quite successful but the students were given credit for their diligence this year by being named a National Naval Honor School.

This honor is given to the top 20% of all Marine Corps schools nationwide and is based on multiple criteria: community service, public affairs, scholarships, student activities, competitions and academic awards.

LHS JRTOC earned this award not only through great examples set by both SgtMaj Scott Bakken and LtCol Brian Harwell, but through the commitment of the students, as well.

“First of all, the credit goes to all of the cadets,” said Bakken. “My name is not up there. Their names are up there and their scholarships, activities, community service hours and academic awards are what go

into competing, so they get all of the credit for this.”

The program greatly depends on the devotion of the cadets in order to stay afloat. Because there are so many students involved, it is crucial that leadership skills are instilled in the students from the very beginning so they can help lead those who come after them.

“I started ROTC my freshman year and starting off we had very good leadership,” said sophomore cadet Sarah Miller. “We had a very large freshman class which gave us the opportunity to train lots of new cadets to a standard that is very high because we always push ourselves to the limits of what we can do to be the best that we can be.”

Not only do the cadets lead those who are less experienced than them at school, but they take the time out of a regular school day to ensure that they do all they can to make the community a better place.

“Part of our senior grade is to organize, plan and supervise a volunteer project with at least 10 cadets for a couple of hours and many times it’s more than just a couple of hours,” said Bakken. “But they go out and they do anything from the Banquet to the Humane Society or Project Warm Up... but it is not me out there leading it, it is the senior cadets leading it.”

Those who are a part of JROTC have the opportunity to join extracurriculars within the program including color guard, air rifle team and drill team. However, one must

dedicate a great amount of time and effort in order to be involved in these activities.

“Our drill team practices are before school and those are an hour long so we start at 7 a.m. and they go to 8 a.m.

When we are not close to a competition, we usually have Monday and Thursday practices that are mandatory and we get an extra half credit for being involved,” said Miller. “We also get an extra half of a credit for air rifle team and those practices are for an hour after school on either Tuesdays or Thursdays.”

The countless hours that the cadets spend together at practices and competitions lead to a special bond between all of the members of the program.

“I am really happy with my decision to join JROTC,” said Miller. “My favorite part is the camaraderie and the sense of family that we have. We become very tight knit in the program because we do a lot of things together and spend a lot of time together.”

Overall, JROTC enables the cadets to learn and practice their leadership skills that will aid to their success following high school.

“I hope that we as instructors, myself and LtCol Harwall provide a motivated leadership atmosphere where cadets want to succeed,” said Bakken. “Not just here, but in all facets of their life. We provide an opportunity for them and we have great cadets.”

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A Play within a Play aT LHS

by Abbie DeKramer The theater season is upon us and this year’s play is going to be everything but original.

Brian Hardie has chosen “The Real Inspector Hound”

by Tom Stoppard for the 2019 fall play production. This play is essentially a play within a play. With multiple layers, this becomes a difficult yet intriguing production. This is a showcase of not only the exquisite skills of the actors but also the production staff in creating a setting that is understandable to the audience. The play is centered on two theater critics reviewing a play with added twists.

“Tom Stoppard is one of the most well-respected and prolific playwrights of the 20th and 21st centuries,” said Hardie. “This is one of his early scripts that I was PHOTO BY SARA CROGHAN introduced to while I was in college, and I love it. It takes the murder mystery, and it takes all of those tropes and it spins it in such a way that acts as commentary on theater and art. At the end, it's a silly and funny but smart piece of theater.”

The comedy in the production mixed with the mystery concept allows the audience to receive double the experience.

“The content itself is challenging.

The fundamental purpose of theater is to make sure we tell the story,” said Hardie. “It presents the challenge that the audience understands the foreshadowing enough to put the pieces together at the end. The challenge is to make sure the story is told and told well.

It's a play within a play. They have to be bad actors because the play within the play is a B- or C+ murder mystery. It is the understanding that the actors are playing the bad actors. They have to be quite skilled due to it being another layer to the performance.”

Going into the play, the audience should have a background similar to a Russian doll style production. Creating a setting that is able to tell the story of a play within a play is difficult and being able to observe the process with this background will give the viewer a greater ability to understand the play.

Freshman Isaac Smith is featured in the production with one of the lead roles. He has received the role of Birdboot, one of the two theater critics who is well-known in the community and is known for trying to seduce actresses. Smith has been involved in theater since the age of seven, participated in community theater and also attended Eugenie Field Elementary where he engaged

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in a greater understanding of the arts. “[Birdboot is] like me because he gets to eat chocolate in the show but different in the ways that he’s kind of creepy and has no game whatsoever,” said Smith.

Besides memorizing lines, Smith and the rest of the cast are working on their British accents due to the play being performed with such.

Furthermore, this production is abstract for the actors because of the script and also for the tech crew as they have to make sure the play runs smoothly.

“The fall show is our second hardest play to pull off because we’re in the little theater,” said LHS sophomore Gabriela Avenell, a member of the tech crew. “In the way, the set is situated, everyone can see every detail because of how close the audience is to the stage. Everything needs to be complete perfection, especially when building things for people to walk on, jump on and run on.”

The tech crew has been creating platforms for the little theater and now has moved on to creating flats, otherwise known as the walls of the set. They have been working on lights, painting, building, other forms of construction and decorating as well.

“The setting of this play is an old mansion vibe,” said Avenell. “Everything is outdated, old and a little eerie. On the right side of the stage, we’re going to have a box that will have speakers in it that will narrate the show.”

The atmosphere of this production comes from the murder mystery context, although it is a creepy play the double meaning of so many lines creates a comical sense.

From the costumes, tech, setting and the script itself, there is something for everyone in this piece. It will be intriguing to a general audience due to the element of a murder mystery but also offers a deeper level of appreciation for those who are interested in theater. It is a show that makes fun of bad plays, which people who understand theatre will appreciate.

LHS students can come with a diversity of understanding and still enjoy this piece to its full potential. Playdates are Nov. 21, 22 and 23; the 22nd and 23rd will both be at 7 p.m. and the 23rd at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.

The tea on the new

Spice and Tea Exchange

by Daniel Bethke

Along Phillips Avenue in downtown Sioux Falls, many new shops and establishments are sprouting up.

Among these is the Spice and Tea Exchange, an unparalleled store located near the State Theater.

This unique shop features a vast assortment of spices, teas and many other organic products. Though the company is not located only in Sioux Falls, this branch is locally operated.

The first location opened in 2005 in St. Augustine, Florida. Since then, the company has expanded to 75 stores all across the country. What sets this store apart from any other store in Sioux Falls is the cozy, wood-and-tile interior atmosphere. This rustic aspect is blended with a smooth, aesthetically pleasing color scheme. Overall, such decorational tones create a welcoming environment unlike any other Sioux Falls shop.

Another factor contributing to the positive atmosphere is the warm

disposition of the employees. Everyone working at the Spice and Tea Exchange is nice and genuinely wants to help their customers. Each employee there seems to foster a friendly relationship with everyone that walks through the front door. When entering for the first time, one will be offered a tour of the shop. This tour consists of highlighting the neatly organized salts, spices, blends, teas and accessories the shop sells. Remarkably, all but two of these incredible products are blended and created locally in Sioux Falls.

But what do these samples consist of? Specifically, what products are sold here? As the name entails, the Spice and Tea Exchange primarily sells tea and spices. They have everything from the historic smokey Bohea tea to the zesty Tuscany Spice Blend. Among this vast array of more than 100 products, nearly every taste, palette, texture and style is represented. The incredible selection does not leave anything out.

The amount of choice a customer has might seem intimidating at first glance. However, this should not be a major concern. Although there are many products, the staff there are always very helpful. There is no rush at all, and one is even allowed to sniff or sample the various products.

Additionally, all of the teas and spices are organized in an orderly manner.

The Spice and Tea Exchange even has a whole section of the store dedicated solely to their own unique recipes, such as beef barbacoa or pumpkin pecan bread pudding. Each one of the shop’s multitude of products tastes unique and refreshing.

Going forward, it is clear that the Spice and Tea Exchange is crucial to Sioux Falls’s culinary legitimacy.

This wonderful shop just might be a trendsetter that catapults Sioux Falls into the next era of food, drink and business.

PHOTOS BY DANIEL BETHKE

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SAY WHAT? !

BY BRITA QUELLO

The LHS halls are filled with roughly 2,000 personal stories. With such a variety of students, the segments of these stories that are overheard can be head-turning. Watching the student body roam the hallways, getting from class to class, the body language, words spoken and emotions shown are extremely entertaining.

S AY I N G . . .

“I HAVE NEVER SEEN THAT BAD OF A TAN.” Pulling off a perfect tan is a work of art. For a spray tan, you need to make sure that the hair net is not sitting on the middle of your forehead and that you rotate your body between sprays. Meanwhile, digitally, girls are really capitalizing on the orange presets that enhance the go-to oompa loompa look.

“STOP, PIRATES ARE REAL.” If you go to the Big Sioux River, you will actually see authentic pirate ships sailing the bumpy waters. They are very aggressive though, so I would not recommend greeting them or asking them for a picture. I know this from first-hand experience.

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“I AM LIKE AN FBI AGENT, I CAN FIND ANYONE.” With the Federal Bureau of Investigation now based primarily in Sioux Falls, SD, some undercover agents will now be posing as a student of LHS to conduct a study on the behavior of an average high school student. Please be on your best behavior, as you are representing the roughly 25 million high school students in the U.S.

“I AM GOING TO GO THE ENTIRE YEAR WITHOUT GETTING IN A FIGHT.” Your arms are for hugging, not fighting.

Period.

“I AM SORRY, I TOUCHED YOUR HUMMUS.” Here, we are dealing with a classic high school mistake. Usually, it takes high schoolers a couple of years to learn that touching each other’s hummus is strictly off-limits and insanely inappropriate.

“FEET ARE BY FAR MY FAVORITE PART OF THE BODY.” When one licks thine toes, it is very similar to licking a sweet cherry lollipop. With the feet made up of 10 incredible toes, each toe carries a certain special weight, savory flavor and meaning.

“I FEEL LIKE EVERY COUNTRY HAS THEIR OWN MOON.”

Saturn has roughly 150 moons. Jupiter has around 67 moons. Mercury has about 2 moons. The planet of Earth has only one moon, but is the home to 195 countries so we have 194 more moons to discover. Let’s get going NASA.

“IF ELEVEN IS SAID ONETY-ONE THEN SHOULDN’T TWENTY-TWO BE SAID TWENTY-TWO? WAIT.”

Budding comedians at LHS do not always nail the delivery of their joke, but our LHS student body encourages students to not give up on their comedic dreams. Maybe next time we will get the joke right.

“WHAT IS HALLOWEEN?” Halloween is a celebration on Oct. 31st where kids dress up in crazy outfits and try to be someone else.

It is like any other ordinary day if you are a high school student.

“I HAVE A GOOD PICK-UP LINE FOR MY PROFESSOR.” Baby, I know my math, just like you do, and you are going to be my one significant figure.

“I JUST DIDN’T KNOW THAT I WAS GOING TO BE PUNCHED IN THE FACE TODAY.”

See I thought I was going to get punched in the face yesterday, but I for sure did not think that I was going to be punched in the face today. That was a head-turner.

Disclaimer: This article was written solely for satirical purposes.

ARTWORK BY CARLY WHEELER

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Disclaimer: This article was written solely for satirical purposes.

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WE DESERVE TO BE INFORMED First seen online at LHSSTATESMAN.com

by Genna Sheriff, Online Editor-in-Chief

PHOTO PROVIDED BY LINCOLN CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

The doors are locked, lights are off and silence overtakes the room. A lockdown drill is in place and students are participating to be prepared in case of impending disaster. At least, this is what is supposed to happen when a lockdown drill occurs. However, there are some cases where teachers choose to instruct right through the drill, not bothering to prepare their students for the worst-case scenario.

I can remember participating in lockdown drills since the fourth grade.

Back then, my teachers would make us sit in a corner of the room, not visible from the window in the door. We all crowded in and sat with our knees to our chests. Every light in the room was turned off and nobody dared to make a sound.

As the years went on, I worked my way up through elementary and middle school, some teachers didn’t take the drills seriously and allowed students to talk or whisper. It was an example of “it’s probably never going to happen here” thinking. This couldn’t be further from the truth. There has never been an active shooter in the Sioux Falls School District, but we need to recognize that it is still a possibility. In Harrisburg, in September 2015, a student walked into the high school office and fired a shot toward the principal. The student then fled but was caught by the assistant principal and athletic director. Luckily, the principal was the only one who experienced injuries, and they were minor enough that he was able to return to school the next day.

This happened only seven miles from LHS. That is only about 15 minutes away if you take Cliff Ave. I am not saying that this is going to happen, but what I am saying is that we as students deserve to be prepared. And in order to be prepared, we need to take lockdown drills seriously and not worry about losing precious class time.

This is my fourth year at LHS, and

it wasn’t until this last month that I felt that I was in a room that took the lockdown drill seriously. I was walking to class and didn’t make it there when the late bell rang. My friends and I kept walking until we heard over the intercom that there was now a lockdown drill happening.

We were pulled into the closest room, where that teacher made sure we were participating in the drill the way we were intended. The room was pitch black, and we sat in silence until the door started rattling. The teacher was following protocol to stop the intruder, even though they knew it was a drill.

When the police officer unlocked the door and gave us the “all clear” to turn the lights back on, I felt thankful that I was finally able to experience a drill the way we are supposed to. I can’t remember a time since the fifth grade that I had actually participated in a drill to this extent.

While this teacher took the drill seriously, there are many who don’t – not only at LHS, but in other schools across the city. They will turn off the lights, but have the students remain seated while they continue on with the lecture, or they will allow students to talk right through it. This completely diminishes the importance of what is being taught during lockdown drills.

When students and faculty know and have practiced the basic procedures, it is proven to slow down school shooters.

According to NPR, “If the lights go out and doors are locked… the perpetrator will have fewer opportunities to kill students before police arrive.” If we don’t practice properly, students and faculty will be put in harm’s way.

While these procedures help students and faculty, they only practice the most basic responses available. Just locking the door and hiding should not be the only safety precaution you take in the event of an actual lockdown. We should be taught how to barricade the doors with heavy objects, for instance, among other information that could help us save lives. If after each lockdown drill

we had an additional practice that taught us other ways to prepare for this often spontaneous event, we would know how to do more than just sit and wait, terrified that someone might break down the door.

According to the National Association of School Psychologists, a lockdown drill should follow basic exercises and procedures and gradually move into more complex scenarios. This allows students to gradually adjust to the drills that can often induce anxiety.

A school shooter won’t generally plan their attack during W.I.N time because it would be more convenient for the teachers. They come in any time they please. Students might not always be in a classroom when a shooting takes place. They could be in the hallways or at lunch and need to know what to do in that scenario. Where is the safest place to go? Which classroom is the closest?

Is there an exit near me? All of those questions would come into play, and without practicing, students won’t have the skills to answer these questions for themselves. Again, if administrators and teachers would take the time to dive deeper into these drills and spend more time talking about them with students, students might feel more prepared.

Teachers, if you are scared, anxious or unsure of what to do, seek out further information. Talk to the administration or school resource officers. They are here to help every student and faculty member to feel safe and prepared, regardless of the situation.

It’s unnerving and upsetting that we have to learn and practice what to do in the case of a lockdown, but what’s more frustrating are the teachers who don’t inform their students on the most basic procedures offered. We can’t keep taking the easy way out and picking what is most convenient because school shootings aren’t convenient. They are terrible and horrific events, and, as students, we deserve to practice. We deserve to be informed.

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STATESBUDS

JERSEY MIKE’S EDITION

BY MORGAN MCDONNEL

PHOTOS BY MORGAN MCDONNEL

Jersey Mike’s, an American sandwich shop, has several franchises that stretch down both the East and West Coast.

Now they have expanded to a majority of states nationwide, including South Dakota.

The Sioux Falls location is on the corner of 57th and Louise near other popular restaurants.

With its new opening, large crowds have congregated at the door eager to try the new sub shop. When trying the new shop, give yourself a generous amount of time, parking alone can take a while. Once inside, the line is generally lengthy, especially during the typical lunch and dinner rush. The long wait in line provides a chance to fully look at the menu.

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The menu consists of both cold and hot subs ranging in sizes from mini to regular, to giant. On each sub the meat and cheese is shaved in front of all of the customers before it is placed on the sandwich, assuring that everything is fresh. Every sub also has the option of “Mike’s Way.” Mikes way is a combination of lettuce, tomatoes, oil, vinegar, spices and onions. Everyone has the option to order their sub and get some, none or all of Mike’s way. Mike’s way is an easy way to spice up the sub and add a variety of flavors. Jersey Mikes also offers other toppings including peppers, jalapeños and mayo. A drink and a bag of chips can be added for an additional charge,

completing the meal.

After making it through the line, seating can be an issue.

The building itself is very small and half of the space is taken up by the line and food area. A minimal amount of small tables can make it very hard to find a place to sit. If a table is open, it is very close to the other tables which can reduce privacy.

Apart from the lack of seating, the new restaurant is thriving and bringing in large amounts of customers. The location, customer service and all-around quality of the food makes for a really positive experience.

HYDRO FLASK STICKERS: will the trend stick?

BY KATHRYN SWEETER

In the past several years, stickers have become more popular than ever, covering everything from laptop covers to water bottles. The trend of putting stickers on a Hydro Flask water bottle has been recently added to the stereotypical “VSCO girl” image, but there are often more meaningful explanations behind them.

Looking around in each LHS classroom, there is bound to be at least one water bottle with unique, often colorful stickers. These stickers are purchased from different locations and websites, sometimes representing memorable trips.

“A couple of [my stickers] are from trips I took over the summer or from family members,” said LHS senior Shelby Holmes. “The rest are from Red Bubble.”

For some, including LHS sophomore Kate McCartney, purchasing stickers from a fellow classmate was a way for her to support a beneficial cause and create an interesting meaning behind her stickers.

“I got them in a giveaway from an Instagram account called @heartcareboxes run by a girl named Kennedi Veland, who is a sophomore at Lincoln,” said McCartney. “She sells stickers for a charity she runs for girls with cancer. I had bought stickers from her before, but she was doing an Instagram giveaway for a bunch of them one day and I won [the giveaway].”

PHOTOS PROVIDED

BY REDBUBBLE.COM

Another student who purchased her stickers through Veland is LHS sophomore Hannah Miller. She chose to buy local rather than online to support a peer’s organization and help it grow.

“When choosing the stickers that I was going to buy, knowing that it would support her organization, I wanted to get as many as I could since it would positively influence her company,” said Miller.

Students have anywhere from one to over 15 stickers crammed onto their water bottles, which establish a unique look to an otherwise ordinary water bottle. The stickers are easy conversation starters and are a great way to get to know fellow classmates better.

“I do recommend this trend to others because I think it’s a cool way to express yourself, and it also makes a good conversation point,” said Holmes.

“They represent me and the things I enjoy and also some clubs I’m involved in.”

Although having stickers on a Hydro Flask is part of the “VSCO girl” description along with scrunchies and Birkenstocks, students should not let this stop them from decorating their water bottles how they desire. Instead of looking at this trend as “basic,” people should use it as an opportunity to display their interests and hobbies in a diverse way.

opens in the Empire Mall

by Chloe Hartje If you have visited the Empire Mall recently, you probably noticed the elaborate storefront of the new boutique just off of the center court.

Altar’d State is a popular women’s fashion brand, already open in 30 states across the country, and it just added its first location in South Dakota here in Sioux Falls. Apart from the trendy clothing, the boutique sells jewelry, home decor and gifts such as candles and books.

Altar’d State offers a welcoming and bright environment. With an attractive storefront that includes hanging plants and decorative lights, it pulls in women and girls of all ages.

The store has something for everyone, with various styles and sizes that are bound to appeal to anyone from age 10 to age 60.

“We have a lot of different styles,” said employee Caitlin Olson. “We have anywhere from the comfy-cozy girl who is going to stay at home and hang out in front of the fire, we have the girl who is going to go out and go to a party and then we have the girl who is following the trends and maybe going downtown to take some pictures.”

Although the prices are hitand-miss, with items that are more on the affordable side

PHOTOS BY JAIDA SORENSON

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and others that are definitely higher-end and more expensive, the clothing is very fashionable. One could find a sweater for $70 and find another sweater for $40, so the price range varies depending on the piece. There is also a large area in the back dedicated to sale items, so if one is not looking to spend a lot of money, there are some affordable and trendy clothing items in this area.

Altar’d State is not just any cute and fashionable boutique, it also blends with a business model that has Christian values and gives back to the community.

“My favorite part of the store is our mission behind why we are open,” said Olson.

“A percentage of our proceeds, every Monday, goes back to somebody here in Sioux Falls or to an organization right here in our community. And then a profit goes back to Peru every year. This year we are building our 17th school.”

By shopping at Altar’d State, one is supporting a company that inspires, empowers and helps those in need. Through extending the power of prayer and giving the proceeds to local and international organizations, Altar’d State supports a mission of standing out for good in the world.

PAINTING the 605

Empty concrete walls are somewhat common in most cities, especially in their downtown areas. In Sioux Falls, a group of five artists are helping to change this aspect of our local downtown.

Zach DeBoer, Evan Richards, Robbie Jelsma, Chuck Bennis and Cat Evans were chosen to create a 150-foot 5 piece mural that is located on the side of a blank parking ramp wall at the Co-op Architecture parking ramp on 101 E. Sixth St. Starting in early October, the artists began the painting process of the large-scale project. It is expected to be completed by the end of November.

Before they started, the artists were not familiar with each other, only one another’s work. Throughout the process they became friends.

“Meeting and working with the other artists was a highlight of the experience,” said Bennis, one of the artists, based out of Brookings.

The five murals are very different in style and subject.

Zach Deboer’s section of the project features a blown-up version of the “Greetings from Sioux Falls” postcard, including the Falls and various scenes from around the city. On the other end of the mural depicts a portrait of a deer head. The other three

sections include a colorful geometric pattern, a bird rose piece and a bike.

The mural with the bike features the phrase “Life is A Beautiful Ride” written in captivating cursive bubble letters at the top of the piece. The phrase is not a random sentence placed

by Bennis; it has a deeper meaning to him.

“The illustration is of an old bike I owned,” said Bennis. “On the frame of the bike are the names of the most special people in my life, my family. My family has made my life a beautiful ride.”

Art has always been an important part of downtown Sioux Falls (DTSF), from the sculpture walk to the many other murals and sculptures.

Adding to it only enhances the space that is DTSF and makes it special.

“Art can completely change the cityscape and bring a community together,” said Bennis. “It is about bringing beauty to a place that didn’t have it before by celebrating the talents of others. The mural will now take on a life of its own as it becomes a part of other people’s stories and what it means to them.”

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PHOTOS PROVIDED BY ANNA LANGSETH & CHUCK BENNIS

by Anna Langseth

Senior Finiasi Epapy and junior Karla Hernandez 28 PHOTO PROVIDED BY CHLOE ROBINSON

Breaking Stereotypes

by Chloe Robinson Throughout our time at LHS, we have all dealt with stereotypes on a day-to-day basis. There are many groups, including the “mean girls,” hipsters, troublemakers, artsy intellectuals, band kids, jocks, theater kids, the “cool” kids... and the list could go on. But one stereotype that many have not realized was prominent has to do with the English Language Learning (ELL) department. One of the most common stereotypes associated with the program is that English language proficiency is a measure of intellect, which could not be further from the truth.

Just in the Sioux Falls School District alone, there are over 90 languages spoken, with many kids speaking more than just one. What many students fail to realize is how challenging it is to learn upper-level content in a language different than one’s first language. Imagine this: you and your family decide to move to Belgium, and you have never spoken a word of French in your life, but you’re somehow expected to learn upper-level French in a short amount of time. Sounds challenging, right? For many students in the ELL

department at LHS, that is a reality.

“When students take Spanish, they teach you things you know so you could make a connection to the things you already know and the things you were learning,” said Dr. Ashley Griese, ELL department chair. “These kids are learning things and ideas that they don’t know in a language they don’t know, so they have two barriers there.”

Contrary to the challenges that ELL students overcome, it still seems like it is easy for people to judge something that is unfamiliar to them. There is a lingering idea across the student body that somehow someone who has little English knowledge is less intelligent than their counterpart, when the truth is many of the ELL students are multilingual students who can speak up to five languages, meaning that they have more language skills than the majority of the school.

“I feel like there are stereotypes towards this program,” said LHS junior Karla Hernandez. “People see that some of us can’t speak English and so they see us as stupid, which isn’t true.”

Many of the students in the ELL program have noticed these

stereotypes, but little has been done to inform the student body.

It is important to take into account that while the program has done amazing things for many amazing people, it has created division in the school. There is not much interaction between the ELL department and the rest of LHS, with no one in particular to blame.

Thus, the struggle to bridge the gap is even greater. Making sure new students in the ELL program feel welcome and involved is crucial, and there are many things we can do to accomplish this. Inviting students to try out for sports, join a club, or hang out outside of school are just a few ways that we can bring these two sides of the school together.

“We tend to look at someone who doesn’t know English as well as us and think that there is something wrong with them,” said Greise.

“What we should do is look at all the gifts that they have, which are above and beyond many of us.”

As a school, we need to be better about taking a step back to make sure we don’t continue this stereotype and the many others that intentionally or unintentionally occur at LHS.

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by Charley Lockwood-Powell

Around 300,000 high school students are diagnosed with a concussion each year, according to prevacus.com, but do we really know what they go through during school hours?

With concussions, school life is much more of a challenge than usual. Concussions can cause dizziness, fatigue, depression, trouble concentrating and anxiety. Many LHS student-athletes have had concussions throughout their time in high school, and these situations can be difficult to deal with, especially when it comes to schoolwork.

“I couldn’t focus in school because I had a throbbing headache and the lights hurt my eyes, and out of school,” said LHS junior Mitch Herrboldt. “I didn’t like hanging out with my friends because it was so loud.”

Many students with concussions have trouble keeping up with their schoolwork and sometimes even miss school because of the severity of their concussion.

“I missed four and a half days [for my concussion] just because my head was hurting so bad,” said LHS freshman Sophie Siegel.

Having a concussion can make students fall behind in class because when such an event occurs, it is not recommended that they take any form of tests or even read for a long period of time. Because of this, getting through a concussion is stressful for students.

Concussions are overlooked in high school sports because not everyone knows how painful and frustrating they can be. Players may need to sit out from their extracurricular activities for at least a couple of weeks.

“It kept me out from playing football for a couple of weeks and that really made me mad cause I wanted to play,” said Herrboldt.

A student’s social life also takes a hit when they get a concussion because they are not allowed to

look at their phone/computer screen for too long because the lights may worsen the pain of the concussion.

“I couldn’t hang out with my friends, nor did I want to because the light hurt my head,” said Siegel.

“Screaming hurt my head, and that’s what my friends do all the time.”

When students have a concussion, they are more sensitive to light and it can cause them to be fatigued or have slurred speech. After school hours, students with concussions are encouraged to stay home in a dark room and try to sleep.

With these types of head injuries, it is even difficult for students to fall asleep.

“I stayed in my room all day after school because my head was hurting so bad from the lights at school,” said Herrboldt.

Concussions not only create a barrier for students in sports and other extracurricular activities, they also set them back in school because they are not able to do their schoolwork and keep up with their class. Concussions pose a huge threat to students who are competing in sports, and we often underestimate what they really go through.

ARTWORK BY ABBY MILLER

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LHS Kese a PHO n Ladd ( TO P 1 ROV 2) IDED BY

Get in

BY REE BAIREDDY AND KADEN FOSSUM

T

he 18-19’ LHS boys basketball season ended in heartbreak after getting upset in the first round of the State tournament to Harrisburg by a score of 41-39.

The LHS boys’ basketball team hopes that the 19-20 season will end differently.

Coach Jeff Halseth has confidence in his team’s abilities for the upcoming season.

“We got a group this year that I think can go a long way,” said Halseth. “Once we get to State, our goal is to win three games and do what we can, because I think the group can do a lot this year.

the team envisioned, the team excelled with the help of graduates Grant Russell, Jared Jaros, Nolan Ransom, Zach Hanson and Nate Brecht. This group of players helped lead them to a 21-5 record, including the State tournament. Even with the loss of these players, the LHS boys’ basketball team is still confident they will have a successful season with a large amount of talent still present on the team.

“All of the players on varsity have been playing together since their freshman year, and they had success on teams that they played [on] together in their past years,” said LHS sophomore power forward, Caleb Hiatt.

In the 19-20’ season, there will be many seniors that will help lead the team. Many of them play together all year round with tournaments such as “Summer Jam” and find time to practice with each other during the fall to prepare for the Many of the boys’ basketball upcoming season. players also believe that the “We have a lot of upcoming season will be their experience since a lot of the redemption for the school players that are on varsity this and themselves. The year played last year, so a lot of coaches and players know returning players will separate us that the State championship from other schools,” said LHS senior will not come easy due to the shooting guard, Sam Fawcett. competition and the skills of The expectations for this season other high school teams. are high due to the results of the 2019 State tournament. The dedication of the players to the team can be seen through the numerous hours put in during the season and the off-season with high participation in lifting and open gyms.

“We practice a lot in the summer and everyone on the team lifts even “Yankton and if they play other sports like football OGHS will be some of and track,” said Burchill. “If they don’t the best teams in the state, lift with us, they lift with their other with us trailing right along sports.” with them,” said LHS Each player has put in their blood, senior shooting guard, Max Burchill. sweat and tears during the off-season Although the outcome at the State to put them in reach of their ultimate tournament for 18-19’ season was not what goal: 2020 State Champions.

season will be even better than the previous season.

“We play a lot faster than the other [teams] and we have a lot more skilled players and we focus on getting better every day at practice,” said Hansen.

Although the 18-19’ season ended with great success, the girls believe that the 19-20’ season has more to offer.

“We all have the

SAME

goal.”

-LHS senior shooting guard, Emma Osmundson

EMM A OS PH O TO P MUNDSO ROV IDED N (12)

BY L ADY P

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he LHS’ girls basketball team has a lot to uphold in the upcoming season because of their impressive performance being runner up in last year’s State tournament. The team lost to BVHS in the championship 60-40, but they have unfinished business coming into the new season. The players have a lot on the line with most of them playing for the last time on the team together this year.

“Our bond between each other is unlike any on other teams since we have played together since we were young,” said LHS senior point guard, Mya Wilson.

The girls basketball team is strong in players and the dynamic of the team is unbreakable. Most players have become best friends with one another. Their wins as a team are for each other, not just themselves.

“We just have really good bonding between each other, and everyone has a really good relationship between each other since we have a lot of team sleepovers and team dinners,” said center Jaydyn Fikse, a junior.

Their 18-19’ season was a success with a 16-7 record. The girls basketball coach, Matt Daly, believes that the 1920’ season will be another triumph for the team.

“Our program is different from other schools that only focus on the wins, but we focus on the process,” said Daly. “Our focus is on how to get better as a team through all the practice and lifting we do.”

The dedication of each individual player is very evident through the way they play during the season and the offseason. Many of the girls take the sport very seriously, like senior shooting guard Morgan Hansen, who is a USD commit for girls basketball.

Like many other players on the team, Hansen believes that the 19-20’

ATS

the GAME

The

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Things

by Nyah Thaemert

In our society, we often think that only one aspect defines us. One job, one activity, one grade or one mistake.

We focus so much of our attention on that one “thing” that we forget to take into consideration everything else that surrounds us.

As high school students, college students and even throughout our adult years, we let our busy schedules overpower our lives. We forget to take the time to stop all of our hurriedness and take that much-needed deep breath. The breath that holds so much more than just that one job, activity, grade or mistake. It holds little aspects of life that can be so impactful on us.

Little aspects like taking time to eat breakfast with your mom, going to your little brother’s basketball game, watching the sunset on a bitter winter’s day, the smile on your dad’s face when he delivers one of his signature dad jokes or the sound of your friends laughing so hard they can’t breathe.

Embrace these little things. Sure, missing one here and there is human nature, but we seem to forget how important these little aspects can be in the big picture of our life. Instead, we dismiss them. We say we don’t have time for them. We only allow ourselves to focus on our busy tendencies, when really, we are depriving ourselves of hidden joys in life.

According to a neurological study

in Science Magazine, this common tendency to overlook aspects in our life easily consumes our routines. The brain struggles to multitask multiple actions and thoughts simultaneously, which leads to the difficulty of recognizing other values in life.

Although it is not easy for the brain to channel our focus on multiple aspects, it does not mean that it is impossible.

“There are conditions in which you can’t add a third task, but it depends on the type of task and whether it draws on other parts of the brain,” said Neuroscientist Scott Huettel of Duke University.

Not every task consumes us. It is a matter of if we allow it to or not.

Instead of surrendering to our wired complication, take notice. Notice that you are skipping your little brother’s basketball game because you have to get your essay done. Notice when you are eating your breakfast in your car on the way to school instead of with your family because you stayed up too late stressing over a test you promptly studied for. Notice the sunset instead of all of your reminders on your phone piling up on your notifications.

Notice that you haven’t taken time to show your gratefulness of a friendship because you have been too busy with activities.

It is not simply that our brains don’t

allow us to notice and focus on more than one aspect. Instead, it is that we are too oblivious to notice. Why can’t you get up 10 minutes earlier to talk to your mom? Why can’t you take five minutes to laugh with your friends on the phone? The answer is not complicated. It is because we do not put in the effort. We don’t take notice. We get so wrapped up in our bubble of “I need to do this” and “I need to do that,” that we forget to take moments to step out of the bubble and appreciate what is outside of it.

Sure, success, activities and jobs are important. I am not saying that we shouldn’t recognize the importance of them. Rather, I am suggesting that instead of letting that one “thing” consume all of your focus and energy, make time to take that breath. Notice the people around you that are always there for you and spend more time with them. Notice what truly makes you happy and carve out time in your life to embrace it. Whether it is a bike ride with your friends, a crazy jam sesh to all of your favorite throwbacks or simply relaxing and watching the sunset, don’t let your busy tendencies overpower your realization of what is right in front of you.

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T H E CO L L E G E BATTLE

by Nicole Schmitz I swear I was just 12, putting on my mother’s makeup and clothes in an attempt to speed forward to the day I would be grown up. And in the blink of an eye, it is here: senior year. I cannot escape a family gathering without the question “where are you thinking of going to college?”

Almost certainly, everyone has heard of the selective or “elite” schools such as Yale, Princeton, Harvard; the list goes on. However, the title or reputation one receives for attending such schools is not worth the heavy debt and lack of diversity that elite colleges offer.

About 19.9 million people attended colleges and universities around the country in 2019. Most people have or will encounter the daunting task of deciding where they will attend college. The final year of high school, with all of its decision making, is an imperative time in one’s life and helps solidify one’s future.

However, there are some

misleading stereotypes that may steer some students in the wrong direction.

Many people believe that attending a college that falls under the label of “elite” will guarantee a better education.

However, this is not always true.

Is this a surprise? It should be.

As students, we are pressured to be accepted by the best schools because of the titles or labels that are associated with these schools.

However, the opportunity for higher education comes with a higher price. According to the article “Is your big name education worth the price tag?”

by Pat King, Adrian Ridner, the CEO of Study.com, knows how much the cost of elite schools can affect students both in the short and long term.

“If you’re going to go into $200,000 plus worth of debt, it is not worth going to these schools,’ said Ridner. “You look at the student debt crisis, we have over $1.4 trillion in student debt in the U.S. Over 44 million

students have debt an average debt of $34,000 for their college career.”

Even if you are able to secure a well-paying job, it is going to take a lot of time to recover from the costs it took to achieve that job.

Yes, the classroom environment in private schools may be more prestigious and stricter, but with public schools, students are exposed to a more diverse community, which will help them in the real world.

Also, it has been noted that most employers tend to look more at the experience that one has to offer rather than grades or labels when looking to hire.

Perhaps the elite vs. public colleges debate may never be settled, but in the end, the choice should be tailored to the individual’s needs and goals. It is important, regardless of where students go in the end, that they are making the most of their education.

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LATE NIGHT

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AMERICA’S BEST INFORMER

by Landon DeBoer

With an increase in misinformation and lies in the world, it is becoming more difficult for news organizations to give proper coverage to the issues that matter. In a time of disarray like the time we’re in now, late night shows ultimately do a better job than the news in conveying information.

Not only are they entertaining, late night shows are easily accessible and able to satirize a variety of topics prominent in daily news, which brings these important issues into the public eye. As a result, viewers of late night shows often end up being more informed than those who only watch news shows.

The idea of late night shows being better at conveying information than the news may be difficult to wrap your head around, yet their ability to “cut the crap” and reveal the truth is what makes them so effective. Late night TV is able to educate people on complex world issues through satire, avoid coverage of lies and poke fun at all sides of the political and social spectrums.

One instance in which a late night show did a better job than traditional media at covering a complex political issue is The Colbert Report’s investigation into campaign finance reform during the 2012 election. For the show, fake conservative pundit Stephen Colbert created a real super political action committee (super PAC) where he was able to showcase the many troubling issues surrounding campaign finance laws through a continuing satirical segment surrounding his very own super PAC. Colbert’s updates on his own super PAC helped to educate viewers on how super PACs could receive unlimited donations from anonymous donors, face essentially no possibility of being shut down for failing to meet FEC regulations and candidates could receive no consequences of putting out harsh

advertisements against other candidates because politicians are not able to coordinate directly with super PACs. To test the idea that Colbert viewers may actually be better educated on certain political issues than viewers of other media sources, the Annenberg Public Policy Center studied viewers who watched Colbert’s segments on campaign finance. In the study, this idea was confirmed: It was found that viewers of The Colbert Report were more informed about campaign financing and the role of money in politics than viewers of news networks and specific news shows. The study, “Stephen Colbert’s Civics Lesson” pitted networks such as CNN, Fox News, MSNBC and broadcast nightly news as well as radio and print

“

his over 1,000 days in office. Many of these misleading claims need to be covered by traditional media because of how outrageous some of them are, and the coverage of these lies often takes up much of the 24-hour news cycle. By giving coverage to these lies however, news organizations can give them slight validation. Late shows, on the other hand, are able to quickly make fun of them and move on to the main cause of an issue at hand. With the ability to swiftly wipe away misleading information and claims, late shows are able to get rid of false narratives and end nonnewsworthy stories.

Although some traditional media sources like broadcast journalism are important in sharing breaking news, the way news networks have gone for the entertainment value of conservative opinion versus liberal opinion over fact is troubling.

This shift towards opinionated conservative versus liberal news programs helps create more of a political divide in the country and decreases the value of facts as a whole.

Pitting political ideologies against each other does not apply to late night. No matter who you are or what political party you affiliate with, if you do something ignorant in the public eye, late night shows will make fun of you. Whether it be through impressions, jokes or other means of humor, late night writers and hosts will not withhold making fun of any situation.

I’m not saying that we should abandon the news altogether, I’m saying that there are other ways to get information that effectively gets rid of misinformation, can better educate viewers and will make you laugh all at the same time. Late night shows may be a healthy swap or addition to a regular helping of the news today. Who knows, you might just learn something.

“

T

This shift towards opinionated conservative versus liberal news programs helps create more of a political divide in the country and decreases the value of facts as a whole.

media against The Colbert Report, and Colbert ultimately came out on top. By satirizing a real-life example of the troubles that have been caused by super PACs, Colbert was able to cover the situation better than all other media outlets, most of which were telling, rather than showing the many problems with campaign financing.

Alongside being able to use satire to get a specific point across and educate an audience, late shows are often more effective than the news in many ways, because they don’t have to cover all of the lies and rumors being spread in politics today.

After taking office, the Washington Post began an official lie counter on President Trump. At this time, President Trump has made over 14,000 false or misleading claims in

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EXPOSING T HE U N S P O K E N

by Lilli Eppinga Throughout our day-today lives, I’m sure we’ve all experienced a significant amount of awkward encounters or troubling decisions. If you really think about it, there are rules that guide us—not necessarily laws or even verbal preferences, just unspoken behavioral expectations. These social norms are inscribed in an unwritten rule book: they tell us how to behave and distinguish what is normal while casting aside the abnormalities.

For a moment I want to put you, the reader, through a set of similar situations we’ve all faced.

Imagine you’re walking through the hallway, minding your own business when suddenly a person you aren’t necessarily close to starts up a conversation. It’s not that they’re a bad person or you don’t like them, it’s just that you don’t know them very well. You respond to the question they asked about the math homework.

But after the conversation begins to dwindle, you start frantically searching your brain for something to say. Anything would suffice in order to escape the uncomfortable tension of silence between the two of you. You are left with a few decisions: continue the tortured conversation and

38

endure the painful pauses, pretend to have something better to do on your phone, find another friend nearby, or just simply evacuate the scene altogether and take the staircase even though it’s out of the way.

Imagine pulling into the parking lot and snagging the last open spot of back row E-wing. However, the car to your left parked is a little too close to the line for comfort.

You recognize the car and realize it’s someone you know, but not well. They’re peacefully scrolling through their phone—probably waiting for a specific time to go in—and you make eye contact.

This is the moment of panic. Do you decide to acknowledge them and say hi and then sit there with awkward tension, or do you decide to whip out your acting skills and pretend you never saw them in the first place?

There are many parking lot scenarios that make us all cringe a little bit with a traumatic memory in mind. There’s the not knowing of whether to let someone in or not, but even worse, when you try to let them in the line, but, they don’t make a move so you start to inch forward but then so do they.

An awkward dance at its finest. Not to mention the painful experience of trying not to door ding a

person’s car as they sit there glaring at you, just waiting for you to mess up.

Imagine sitting in a challenging class, like chemistry, and you’re not quite grasping the information the teacher is throwing at you.

Like any student, you casually raise your hand in order to clear the confusion, but the teacher blindly disregards your hand and they continue to move onto the next topic. Your stuck with your hand hovering in the air, conflicted on whether you should forget it and accept that you don’t know the information, or to keep it up and wait for the teacher to realize. Meanwhile, everyone around you is aware of the slightly embarrassing situation.

Although these uncomfortable encounters are troublesome in the moment and maybe for a while after, they’re what make high school such a meaningful experience. They’re the laughable moments that you’ll carry throughout college and the rest of your life. They prepare you for the “real world,” a melting pot of more unspoken rules and awkward experiences no one dares to mention. So take a deep breath, embrace the awkwardness and move on.

LESS MONEY THAN THEY WERE MAKING 20 YEARS AGO. THAT IS A STATISTICAL FACT. IT IS NICE TO SEE THAT WAGES, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MANY YEARS THAT WAGES ARE GOING BACK UP. MORE AMERICANS ARE NOW WORKING THAN EVER RECORDED IN THE HISTORY OF OUR COUNTRY. RIGHT NOW YOU HAVE MORE AMERICANS WORKING THAN HAVE EVER WORKED IN THE HISTORY OF OUR COUNTRY. THAT IS AN AMAZING STATISTIC. THAT IS ONE OF THE BIGGIES. JOBLESSNESS FELL TO THE LOWEST LEVEL IN NEARLY 50 YEARS. THEY DON’T REPORT THESE THINGS BECAUSE THEY ARE FAKE NEWS. MANUFACTURING JOBS ARE GROWING AT THE FASTEST RATE IN MORE THAN 30 YEARS. PRESIDENT OBAMA SAID THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A MANUFACTURING JOB ESSENTIALLY ANYMORE. THAT YOU’RE NOT GOING TO GET THEM BACK, REMEMBER HE SAID THAT? I SAID OH WE ARE NOT GOING TO MAKE THINGS ANY MORE? THOSE ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT JOBS, THE BEST JOBS. I HAVE PEOPLE, STRONG TYPE GUYS I WAS WITH THEM THE OTHER DAY. THIS WAS IN ILLINOIS. U.S. STEEL IS OPENING UP EIGHT PLANTS, EIGHT. [APPLAUSE] NEWCORE IS OPENING UP TWO OR THREE BIG ONES, BRAND-NEW. WHAT IS GOING TO COST ALMOST A BILLION DOLLARS, ONE IS GOING TO COST $750 MILLION. THEY WERE DUMPING STEEL AND THAN THEY WERE GOING TO CHARGE US TWICE. AS SOON AS THEY GOT US OFF THEY WERE GOING TO CHARGE US TWICE IN THREE TIMES. WE WOULD’VE HAD NO CHOICE. WE CAN’T LOSE OUR STEEL AND ALUMINUM INDUSTRIES. YOU CAN LOSE CERTAIN INDUSTRIES BUT WE CAN’T LOSE STEEL, WE CAN’T LOSE ALUMINUM FROM A NATIONAL DEFENSE STANDPOINT. YOU TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED -- TO ME ONE OF THE THINGS, COAL YOU KNOW ABOUT. IT IS AMAZING WHAT HAS HAPPENED WITH CLEAN AND BEAUTIFUL COAL. WHAT HAPPENED WITH STEEL IS ONE OF THE GREAT MIRACLES, IT HAPPENED OVER A SEVEN MONTH. PERIOD. IT MAKES ME FEEL SO GOOD. I HAVE HAD STEELWORKERS. [APPLAUSE] I HAD A COUPLE OF THINGS HAPPENING, STEELWORKERS CAME UP TO ME AND THEY WERE CRYING. THERE WERE EIGHT OR NINE OF THEM. ONLY ONE WASN’T, I SAID WHAT IS YOUR PROBLEM. HE SAID I DON’T CHRYSLER. ALMOST ALL OF THEM WERE CRYING AND THANKING ME. WE USED TO BE ONE OF THE GREATEST COMPANIES IN THE WORLD. HE USED TO BE ONE OF THE BIGGEST COMPANIES IN THE WORLD, 50 OR 60 YEARS AGO. THEY ARE NOW BACK AND ARE DOING GREAT, THEY ARE SO HAPPY AND PROUD. THESE GUYS WERE CRYING. I JUST LEFT A PLACE CALLED NORTH DAKOTA, DO YOU ALL LIKE NORTH DAKOTA? [LAUGHTER] I DO. YOU HAVE KEVIN CRAMER RUNNING FOR THE SENATE, HE IS DOING GREAT. I JUST LEFT AND DID SOMETHING SIMILAR, I WALKED IN AND IT WAS VERY INTERESTING. A MAN GREETED ME AT THE DOOR BUT IT HAPPENS SO MUCH. HE WAS A STRONG, TOUGH GUY AND HE WAS CRYING. HE SAID MR. PRESIDENT, THANK YOU FOR YOU HAVE SAVED AMERICA. [APPLAUSE] I’M TELLING YOU, THAT MAN, HE WAS TOUGH. I DON’T THINK HE CRIED WHEN HE WAS A BABY. [LAUGHTER] HE MEANT IT. IT HAPPENED RIGHT NOW, WE WERE JUST SHAKING HANDS WITH SOME OF THE PEOPLE FROM YOUR AREA RIGHT HERE. SO MANY OF THOSE PEOPLE SAY THANK YOU FOR WE WERE ON A PATH THAT WAS GOING TO BE -- WE RUN A REALLY BAD PATH. THOSE TWO MEN HAVE HELPED US A LOT. MIKE AND JOHN, THEY WERE -- THEY HAVE HELPED US, I CAN’T EVEN TELL YOU BUT THEY HAVE HELPED US A LOT. ANOTHER THING, NEW UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS HIT A 49 YEAR LOW. ECONOMIC GROWTH WAS 4.1, THEY JUST ADJUSTED UPWARD TO 4.2%. THINK OF THIS, IT IS A GREAT STORY 401K’S, A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE THEM. I WAS IN NEW YORK AND I WAS SAYING HELLO AND THERE WERE POLICEMEN ON THE LINE, I LOVE LAW ENFORCEMENT AND I THINK THEY ARE GREAT. I LOVE ICE, I LOVE BORDER PATROL. THIS BIG, GOOD-LOOKING COP WAS STANDING IN LINE AND WE ARE TAKING PICTURES. HE SAID SIR I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU. MY 401(K) IS UP, I THINK HE SAID 49%, SOME RIDICULOUS NUMBER. MY WIFE THOUGHT I WAS BAD FINANCIALLY, SHE WOULD LAUGH AT ME. SHE BASICALLY THOUGHT I WAS STUPID. I AM A 49%, NOW SHE THINKS I AM A FINANCIAL GENIUS. I THINK EVERYONE WITH A 401(K) IS GOING TO VOTE FOR US. IF THEY DON’T, THAT 49% IS GOING TO BE DOWN TO MINUS 49%. I REALLY THINK IT WILL HAPPEN, THEY WILL SLAP HIGH TAXES ON YOU. WE ARE PAYING FOR ALL THIS THROUGH GROWTH. THE GROWTH IS SO ENORMOUS, ALL OF THIS IS PAID FOR BY GROWTH. EVERYBODY WANTS A PIECE OF OUR COUNTRY. PRACTICALLY EVERY TIME A FOREIGN LEADER COMES IN TO SEE ME, WHETHER IT IS ABE OF JAPAN, THE LEADER OF INDIA, I BECOME FRIENDS WITH ALL OF THEM. SOME OF THEM ARE TOUGH RELATIONSHIPS BECAUSE THEY HAVE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF OUR COUNTRY FOR MANY DECADES. I AM FRIENDLY, THEY RESPECT ME, I RESPECT THEM. OUR COUNTRY IS NO LONGER BEING LAUGHED AT. OUR COUNTRY IS RESPECTED AGAIN. [APPLAUSE] EVERY ONE OF THEM COME

by Slater Dixon IN AND THE FIRST THING THEY SAY IS CONGRATULATIONS ON THE JOB YOU HAVE DONE WITH YOUR ECONOMY, IT IS INCREDIBLE WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE UNITED STATES. A LOT OF THEM SAY WE ARE TRYING TO COPY MANY OF THE THINGS YOU HAVE BEEN DOING WITH REGULATION AND TAXES AND MANY OTHER THINGS WE HAVE BEEN DOING. THEY ARE ALL SAYING CONGRATULATIONS. PEOPLE ARE COMING IN, INVESTORS ARE COMING IN. UNDER OUR TAX CUT PLAN WE ARE ALLOWING A LOT OF OTHER THINGS. WE GOT RID OF THE INDIVIDUAL MANDATE FROM OBAMACARE WHICH IS A DISASTER. THEY HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET THAT STARTED TO DRILL FOR 46 YEARS. THAT IS WHY I APPROVED IT. I HEARD THEY COULDN’T GET IT, I LIKE TO DO THINGS THAT YOU CAN’T. EVERYONE THINKS IT IS A BIG DEAL. IT IS INCREDIBLE WHAT WE HAVE DONE AND WE WANT TO KEEP IT GOING. AFRICAN-AMERICAN UNEMPLOYMENT, YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT. IT IS POINT AFTER POINT, YOUTH UWNEMPLOYMENT, A BIG THING. IT HAS RECENTLY HIT THE BEST LEVEL IN HALF A CENTURY, THINK OF THAT. YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT HAS REACHED ITS LOWEST LEVELS IN 50 YEARS. LOWEST UNEMPLOYMENT RATE EVER RECORDED FOR AMERICANS WITHOUT A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA, THAT IS A BIG. YOUR PEOPLE THAT DIDN’T GO TO HIGH SCHOOL AND THEY DID NOT GET A DIPLOMA FROM HIGH SCHOOL AND CANNOT GET A JOB. THERE AT THE BEST POINT THEY HAVE EVER BEEN. VETERAN UNEMPLOYMENT IS DOING BETTER THAN IT HAS IN MANY YEARS. MILLIONS OF AMERICANS HAVE BEEN LIFTED OFF FOOD STAMPS SINCE THE ELECTION. [APPLAUSE] MEDICARE WILL BE $700 BILLION STRONGER OVER THE IN THE CASE DECADE THANKS TO OUR GROWTH. BILLY SUTTON AND PEOPLE LIKE BILL YOU SUTTON, DEMOCRATS WITH THE STRONG LIBERAL LEANING WILL DESTROY YOUR MEDICARE AND THEY ARE GOING TO DESTROY YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY. I’M LEAVING YOU SOCIAL SECURITY -- IT IS GOING TO BE LEFT ALONE. YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY WILL BE LEFT ALONE. WE’RE NOT TOUCHING IT. WE’RE GOING TO MAKE IT STRONGER. WE’RE PAYING FOR THINGS THROUGH GROWTH. WE’LL BE ABLE TO PAY FOR THINGS NOBODY THOUGHT POSSIBLE. THEY SAID HOW ARE YOU GOING TO DO IT? WE’RE GOING TO DO IT THROUGH GROWTH. THEY DIDN’T KNOW WHAT GROWTH WAS. HILLARY TALKED ABOUT GROWTH AND MADE A DEAL LIKE SHE MADE WITH SOUTH KOREA. WE HAVE REAL BIG GROWTH AND THE GREAT THING IS THE REALLY GREAT THING IS THAT OUR GROWTH HAS TREMENDOUS POTENTIAL. IT IS GOING TO GET MUCH BETTER. THINK OF THIS. ONE POINT IN G.D.P.. WHEN I STARTED IT WAS DOWN IN THE LOW ONES. PRESIDENT OBAMA HAD THE LOWEST RECOVERY SINCE THE GREAT DEPRESSION. THE LOWEST. THE WORST RECOVERY. LIKE THIS. IT WAS JUST TERRIBLE. I’M NOT EVEN KNOCKING IT. IT WAS TERRIBLE. COULD HAVE NEVER -- STAND THE DEMOCRAT WOULD HAVE GONE IN, YOU LITERALLY IN MY OPINION WOULD HAVE GONE INTO SUBSTANTIALLY NEGATIVE NUMBERS. YOU WOULD NOT BE UP 4.2%. YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN DOWN 4.2%. YOU WOULD HAVE GONE DOWN. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A DISASTER FOR OUR COUNTRY. WE HAVE SUCH INCREDIBLE GROWTH. WHAT HAPPENED HAS BEEN VERY MUCH OF A MIRACLE. THEY HAVE NOT SEEN THE MIRACLE YET. THE MIRACLE IS GOING TO START BECAUSE NOW WE’RE GETTING THINGS READY. I SAID YOU FIX THE TRADE DEAL. WHEN INDIANA HAS 6%, 7%, 8%. CHINA HAD 11%, 12%. THEY ARE STILL AT 6% OR 7%. WHEN THEY ARE AT 7% THEY ARE FEELING BADLY. CHINA IS BIGGER THAN WE ARE. INDIANA HAS 1.5 BILLION PEOPLE. HOW COME THEY ARE AT 10% AND 11%? WELL, THEY CAN’T ANSWER. [LAUGHTER] RIGHT? THEY CAN BE AT 11% AND WE’RE AT 1% AND THEY ARE SAYING OH, THAT IS GREAT. FRANKLY, I’LL TELL YOU INDIA CALLED US THE OTHER DAY AND SAID WE WOULD LIKE TO START DOING A TRADE DEAL. FIRST TIME. THEY WOULD NOT TALK ABOUT IT WITH PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS. THEY WERE VERY HAPPY WITH THE WAY IT WAS. MY TRADE REPS WHO WERE VERY SMART AND VERY GOOD, VERY TALENTED PEOPLE, SAID WHY ARE YOU CALLING? BECAUSE OF PRESIDENT TRUMP. I WAS GOING TO WAIT A LITTLE WHILE BUT THEY WANT TO DO IT. SAME THING WITH JAPAN. JAPAN CALLED US. THEY SAID WE HAVE TO DO A TRADE DEAL BECAUSE THEY DIDN’T WANT TO WAIT BECAUSE THEY KNOW IF THEY WAIT, THEY KNOW WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN. THEY CALLED US OUT OF RESPECT BECAUSE THEY RESPECT IN OUR COUNTRY. AGAIN THEY ARE RESPECTING OUR COUNTRY. BECAUSE WE HAVE A COMMANDER -- YOU’RE RIGHT.

SAVING AMERICA

-President Donald Trump at campaign event for Kristi Noem in September 2018

O

n September 7, 2018, President Donald Trump spoke at a fundraising event in Sioux Falls for then gubernatorial candidate Kristi Noem.

The President spoke about key issues like immigration, jobs and the importance of manufacturing. He also mused about the inspiration that he has given South Dakotans.

“I walked in, and it was very interesting,” said Trump, as documented by C-SPAN. “A man greeted me at the door. He was a strong, tough guy and he was crying.

He said, ‘Mr. President...you have saved America.’”

Messaging like this has taken root in South Dakota since the 2016 election cycle. The sentiment among Republicans in the Midwest is that urban Democratic elites have marginalized the “flyover states.”

Trump appeals to this perspective in his speeches in places like Sioux Falls, which hadn’t seen former President Obama (a Democrat) since his campaign in 2008.

“We just want to thank you; you have some great folks in South Dakota,” said Trump. “I wanted to come here and just pay my respects. What the heck, I mean it’s not that far.”

Trump was elected on what any LHS student who has taken Gov could easily identify as populist rhetoric. He recognizes that there is a large, passionate group of people who felt marginalized by the previous administration. For voters in the middle of the country facing wage stagnation and unemployment, the Trump promise was invigorating. He would save America from excessive taxes, a lying media and a corrupt Washington, delivering the nation into a new age where the DOW can keep soaring, America is a feared foreign power and climate change is for losers with nothing better to whine about. Unfortunately, the problem with populists is that they are often good at identifying problems, but not very good at fixing them. President Trump has successfully identified the growing breach

between the urban coasts and states with lower populations, and he has mobilized his base with the promise of a government that will listen to “flyover” states.

Some Republicans, including those in South Dakota, argue that despite the scandal surrounding President Trump and his inflammatory rhetoric, his administration is helping working class Americans by creating progress on issues that have frustrated conservatives for years.

However, this analysis of Donald Trump’s time as president is inaccurate. Even if you ignore more controversial issues like immigration, the Mueller investigation and accusations of racism, the core policies of the Trump administration have not delivered on the promises that were made on the campaign trail. America may need to be rescued from a coastal elite who isolate mid-western Americans. For the state of South Dakota and U.S. citizens at large, Trump has not saved America.

Trump the business mogul Donald Trump is a businessman at heart, and many of his talking points revolve around the economy.

In September the president boasted the lowest unemployment rate in 50 years. Republicans point to widespread efforts to cut taxes and deregulate industry as the cause for continued strength in the labor market.

However, even if Republicans have successfully stimulated economic growth, their short-term policies will ultimately hurt Americans.

One key example that hits close to home for South Dakotans: The President’s trade war with China.

President Trump has been critical of the People’s Republic of China for their history of intellectual property theft and what he sees as an attack on American manufacturing. The retaliation method of choice was a modification of tariff rates, or money that a country has to pay in order to import commodities into another country.

Unfortunately, tariffs levied against China by the president have largely backfired, causing significant damage to the livelihoods of many rural Americans, including South Dakotans. Despite continued strength in the job market, the trade war has caused stagnation in the U.S. economy, which results in a weaker global economy. As Wijian Shan describes in his opinion piece for Foreign Affairs “The Unwinnable Trade War,” China quickly modified its tariff policies for other countries as a reaction to Trump policies, resulting in lower prices for Chinese consumers and higher prices for Americans on a range of consumer products. “[China] actually lowered duties for those U.S. products that can’t be bought elsewhere more cheaply, such as semiconductors and pharmaceuticals,” wrote Shan.

“Consequently, China’s import prices for the same products have dropped overall, in spite of higher tariffs on U.S. imports”.

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Ironically, the trade war has had a devastating impact on midwestern states that rely on exports of soybeans and other crops, presumably the states that got President Trump elected in the first place. North Dakota exports 70% of its soybeans to China, business which disappeared after Beijing retaliated with its own tariff adjustments. The past year has also been incredibly hard on South Dakota. In February, Governor Noem publicly called for the trade war to “wrap up,” six months after the President claimed that “our economy is the best that it has been,” at the Sioux Falls Convention Center.

“The problem is that [the trade war] has gone on now for a long period of time,” said Noem at Politico’s State Solutions Conference. “...farmers are used to risk... but this sustained low commodity prices, frankly, is driving a lot of family businesses out of business.”

Low prices, flooding and other unfavorable conditions led to 3.9 million acres of South Dakota soil going unplanted this year, according to the Argus Leader. It’s clear that the trade war has had a devastating effect on local and national business.

And, for all of Trump’s efforts, the trade war is not being won. The President often points to the trade deficit with China as a sign that the U.S. is too dependent on Chinese manufacturing. But the trade deficit increased to 54.9 billion in October,

and many companies have struggled to find a replacement for the abundance of cheap labor and supply chains in China. It is becoming increasingly clear that despite strong employment numbers, President Trump is dragging his key base— rural voters—through an economic nightmare that will ultimately hurt the United States.

The trade war demonstrates a recurring issue with the Trump administration. Economists largely agree that the government should do something to minimize the trade deficit, and China has only grown in its control over the United States, as demonstrated by the NBA controversy in October. However, President Trump’s handling of the trade issue has proven that although he has promised to handle the trade issue with the power of a confident executive, he is incapable of delivering a solution that protects American interests. As the trade war beings to wrap down over the next few months, farmers who may have voted for Trump will ask themselves if it was worth it.

Trump the foreign affairs expert A key part of a Trump supporter’s identity is in the United States’ image as a powerful global force for democracy. Recently, however, the President’s shortcomings in fulfilling this vision have come to light. His disastrous handling of the

“President Trump is dragging his key base— rural voters—through an economic nightmare that will ultimately hurt the United States.”

withdrawal from Syria has caused some of his staunchest defenders to question his ability to represent the U.S. through actions that reflect our national values. On Oct. 29, 176 Republicans voted to impose sanctions on Turkey for their military actions against the Kurdish people, who were allied with the U.S. in the fight against ISIS. Trump supported his withdrawal decision by stating that the U.S. should not be so involved in so many global wars, especially in the middle east. This stance shows that he is clearly ignorant about the role that the United States plays in foreign affairs. Even the least-hawkish members of Congress recognized that the United States needs to have an active role in Syria in order to destroy what remains of the Islamic State.

Once again, Trump is “right” in making a decision that is largely supported by a majority of Americans on both sides of the aisle. Unfortunately, actions like an immediate withdrawal of essentially all forces are irresponsible and ignore the complicated history (and culpability) that the U.S. has in the Middle East.

Additionally despite popular support, foreign policy experts disagree on if it is a realistic strategy.

Some argue that the U.S. is so intertwined in the Middle East that it would be irresponsible to leave, while others claim that a withdrawal was the proper move. Despite their stances though, there is a general consensus that the sudden and haphazard withdrawal represents an ambiguous and misguided approach to foreign affairs.

Any conscious believer in a strong image of our country should be appalled by President Trump’s handling of foreign policy. By largely abandoning the Kurds, the United States has diminished its status as a foreign power. America needs a strong executive leader who makes responsible, informed decisions that reflected the highly nuanced nature of global affairs. Trump’s character

is not inclined towards nuance, something that becomes clear in his brutally inadequate handling of

Trump the climate conscious executive foreign policy.

Perhaps the most enduring aspect of the Trump administration’s legacy will not be anything that the President personally did, but what he did not do. Trump’s refusal to take action against the worsening climate crisis will arguably be the most defining characteristic of his time as president. The free-market champion is famous for tweeting “The concept of global warming was created by and for the Chinese in order to make U.S. manufacturing non-competitive.” Although Trump characterized that tweet as a joke, his nonchalant attitude towards climate change is egregious. Combined with the destructive way in which he administers the executive branch, it is clear that these four (or possibly eight) years of inaction on the part of the federal government will have irreversible effects on the global climate.

The President’s inaction is often made up for by action from his appointees. A report from ProPublica detailed “the Trump Administration’s Chaotic Dismantling of the Federal Land Agency”, described how acting director William Perry Pendley and other officials enacted a plan to move the Federal Land Agency from Washington, D.C. to Colorado, uprooting federal employees’ lives, many of whom had jobs that require direct contact with Congress.

Workers for the Bureau of Land Management viewed the action as a direct effort to hinder the regulation and function of federal lands.

The report notes that Pendley has a history of opposing the federal ownership of state parks, grazing land and forests. In fact, Trump has a history of appointing officials with questionable backgrounds, especially when it comes to the most key positions in the fight against

climate change. One glaring example is the appointment of ex-oil lobbyist David Bernhardt as Secretary of the Department of the Interior, which is responsible for the oversight and conservation of federal lands and natural resources. Under Scott Puritt, the Environmental Protection Agency set about reversing years of Obama-era regulations, often exaggerating their financial cost.

Puritt resigned in July 2018 amid a series of ethics scandals. His replacement: coal lobbyist Andrew Wheeler.

It seems that the President may

Trump the Commander in Chief have misinterpreted the phrase “drain the swamp.”

Despite his campaign promises, Donald Trump has failed to act in a way that benefits the American people. Although he has recognized issues such as Chinese dominance in the American economy and the overarching role of the U.S. military, his solutions have proven to be, at the very best, ineffective. President Trump promised to restore the sovereignty of America and look out for its interests, but it’s clear that he is misleading in his true intentions.

If he were a true nationalist, Donald Trump would not be obstructing justice, attacking the press or using his office to pressure a foreign power into investigating his rival.

The conundrum is that Trump’s successor, Barack Obama, highlighted many of the issues with the current establishment, and it is understandable why voters of both parties want to see a radical change in the system. The U.S. needs to be saved from economic pressures, foreign entanglements and climate change. Donald Trump, though, will not be its savior.

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BY Mara Fendrich In a wave of automation growing at a pace never seen before, the formerlyposed curiosities of ‘what if ’ must now evolve into something else: ‘What now?’

Despite the incessant political debates on the true effects of automation and U.S. treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin’s claim that the automation threat is “not even on [the White House’s] radar screen,” the effects of entire fields of work wiped out and replaced by artificial intelligence are getting harder to deny by the day.

Cashiers are being replaced with self-checkouts; chain restaurants are developing touchscreen menus and ordering systems; vehicles are beginning to drive themselves. All of these technological developments appear, on the surface, to be for the good, with less human error and more efficiency, but as more jobs can be taught to artificial intelligence, there is no guarantee as to what will be left by the time our children go into the workforce. The time has come to end the arguments and begin working towards a common goal. We have approached what 2020 presidential candidate Andrew Yang calls the “Fourth wave industrial revolution,” which has caused him to launch his campaign based on a proposal that would provide all American adults a Universal Basic Income (UBI), a plan he calls his Freedom Dividend.

Since the launch of his campaign, Yang has amassed a large online following that, in a sense, mirrors that of Bernie

Sanders’ own virtual presence in his 2016 campaign. In another sense, the Silicon Valley entrepreneur has been met with the same wave of criticism, which shows the hostility towards his visions of better financial stability for the American people on an individual basis. Worse than the fact that no major candidate has adopted his proposal of a UBI, some of them have completely disregarded the urgency of jobs being overtaken by automation.

Regardless of whether Yang is a fraud or a leader at heart, the fear of entire career paths disappearing due to artificial intelligence is real. For Generation Z, it seems that our most daunting task will be surviving this so-called fourth wave as we enter the workforce.

Yang’s most common anecdote is that truck driving is the most common job in 29 American states. On more than one occasion, he has voiced his fears that the transition of this job from man to machine could induce the States into a state of collapse. Data on the effects of jobs becoming automated is notoriously inconsistent, with some sources stating that automation is already too far gone, others saying that it won’t pose a serious threat for up to 100 years.

As for Yang’s Freedom Dividend, a number of news sites have attempted to analyze the financial feasibility of the plan.

Candidate Elizabeth Warren has argued with Yang, saying that the job economy is a result of bad trade. And, while her point is heavily debatable, I found myself aligning

SEARCH with something else she said on the issue.

She said that before we start handing out a flat amount of money to every adult in the U.S., we must first take other steps.

From the moment I decided that I want to pursue journalism, I have been told that I am chasing a career at the peak of its decay. I have been told that news is withering away more and more every moment, that I need to change passions before my skills become obsolete, but I refuse to believe that those voices are right.

I refuse to believe that proficiencies and specialties shouldn’t be explored on the basis that they could one day disappear.

Instead of telling future generations which interests to drop and which to keep, we need to keep in mind that the only way to survive is to be a jack of all trades.

Before a UBI, we must first create an accommodation in our education that calls for jobs not yet existing, accommodations that will teach us how to survive in a job economy that is evolving faster than we can plan.

Every profession and every path is paved on the ground of those that came before. As minutes pass and flow into one another, we must be in a constant state of evolution and growth. Before we take free money into consideration, there must be a consensus. There must come a new age, one of growth and perspective as each of us learns what action drives us through the next day, and to create. To innovate. To search. And, above all, to help.

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