Livewire Vol 7 Issue 3 May 2016 by Livewire

Contents

May 2016 Volume 6, Issue 6

STUDENT LIFE

4 5 6 7 8 10 11

Nate Fulghum: 2016 Livewire Teacher of the Year | By 18 votes, this history teacher won our annual contest. Going Bald for Baldricks | A feature on Bailee Crider who shaved her head to raise money for cancer research. Summer Bucket List | Staffer Abbie Alstatt offers a list of things to do over the summer. Senior Activities | As the year comes to a close, seniors have many opportunities to participate in special occasions. The Young and The Tatted | Many students at East have made the decision to get a tattoo. Farewell Foreigners | After nine months in Kentucky, the forieign exchange students have to part ways with Bullitt East. Senior Flashbacks | A few soon-to-be graduates share their memories about their time in high school.

SPORTS

All The Way to the Finish Line | A look at two graduating track stars, Isaac Shelton and Sierra Poppell.

adviser editor-in-chief executive editor website editor business & advertising cocopy editor cocopy editor copy editor copy editor copy editor sports editor creative editor creative editor

ACADEMICS

13 14 15 16

Closing the Curtain on the Arts Pathway | A look at the

effects of getting rid of the Arts Pathway.

The New Editor-in-Chief | As

Editor Haley Steinmetz graduates, Lindsay Renneisen steps up to take the position.

2016 Governor’s Scholars | This year, Bullitt East had nine students qualify for GSP.

Rising Juniors | A question and

answer with three current juniors.

ADDICTION

Weapon of Mass Distraction | Part five in the addiction series discusses the prevalence of social media in today’s society.

OPINION

20 22

Epilogue | Editor Haley Steinmetz reflects on her Livewire career.

Introduction Letter | Staffer Isaac Shelton tells his experience with covering transgender rights.

Transgender Issues | Pages 23 through 27 discusses a hot button issue in our community.

staff writers Sarah Allen Matthew Childress Brennah Denkhoff Lexie Fisher Kim Houchin Haylie Jenkins Sean Johnson

Larry Steinmetz Haley Steinmetz Jessica Mattingly Sydney Riley Lindsay Renneisen Rachel Grant Abbie Alstatt Zach Combest Isaac Shelton Taylor Hollifield Grant Skaggs Eric Sanchez Haley Snyder Derek Rogers Kelsi Sego Bethany White Maggie Wisdom Luke Young Haley Young

Livewire was re-founded in 2001 by journalism teacher, Larry Steinmetz. In the past, the Livewire has been a weekly newspaper, but moved to a newsmagazine published five times a year in 2011, and increased to six in the 2015-16 school year. The staff remains committed to bringing the Bullitt East community the most up to date news in a quality format and timely manner. To get breaking news, sports updates, and more go online to belivewire.com. The staff appreciates your patronage and, as a public forum, encourages any feedback you care to offer. Letters to the editor must be typed and submitted via e-mail, to Mr. Steinmetz’s mailbox, or directly to room 324 within one week of the publication to which you are responding. Letters will not be censored, but must be deemed appropriate by the editor and advisor in order to be published. In order to be eligible to appear in the paper, all letters must be signed and verifiable. Names can be withheld upon request, but must be submitted with the original letter. Livewire is published by the students and for the students of Bullitt East High School, E-mailing Mr. Steinmetz directly is the best way to reach the staff. His address is larry. steinmetz@bullitt.kyschools.us. The Livewire is printed by Publishers Printing Company. Bullitt East High School 11450 Highway 44 East, Mount Washington, Kentucky, 40047. (502) 869-6400.

LIVEWIRE TEACHER OF THE YEAR BY JESSICA MATTINGLY Executive Editor

y an 18 vote margin, Nate Fulghum was declared the 2016 Livewire Teacher of the Year.

Fulghum has been a teacher at Bullitt East for six years. His passion for his job shows through his teaching technique and the love he has for his students. Because of this, this is the second time Fulghum has been named Teacher of the Year. Fulghum was born in Tennessee and attended Mt. Juliet High School. Eventually, he left Tennessee and pursued his education at Western Kentucky University. Fulghum has been at Bullitt East ever since he first started teaching, which was six years ago. Teaching has always been something that Fulghum has been drawn towards. “I feel like it’s a calling. I feel like I was called to teach. I’ve been told by people my entire life that I should be a teacher. That’s what I’m meant to do, that’s what I excel at, that’s what I’m gifted at,” said Fulghum. Every teacher has a different teaching style and a different way they like to manage their classroom. The way they choose to run their class determines their strengths and weaknesses as an educator. Fulghum said, “I feel like I’m relatable. I kind of get teenagers and understand them, and that’s a huge thing. I feel like my best attributes are classroom management skills. There’s a good flow to my class. There’s good organization to it and I think that I’m very focused on being results oriented when I’m teaching.”

4 page by Jessica Mattingly May 2016

The students can easily agree with exactly what Fulghum said about himself. One student commented on their ballot, “I picked Fulghum because of his enthusiasm to teach. He’s really energetic and he goes into depth very well. I’ve had an 100 in that class all year, and that’s because of his effort and good teaching.” Another student commented, “He is a teacher that makes sure everyone is engaged. He also knows how to joke around, but he knows how to pull people back on task if things get out of control.” Fulghum’s fellow co-workers can agree that he deserves this recognition. April Walker, history teacher and friend of six years, said, “The fact that he doesn’t say ‘no’ to any idea in the classroom [makes him a good teacher], and that makes him flexible. He try’s to think of different ways for all kids to learn.”

The Livewire would like to congratulate Nate Fulghum on his second time being named Teacher of the Year.

>> student life

GOING BALD FOR BALDRICK’S

Bailee Crider shaved her head for cancer research society St. Baldrick’s. BY KIM HOUCHIN Staff Writer

What’s Trending? Birkenstocks

ald is the new black.

Bailee Crider, junior, shaved her head for a foundation researching childhood cancer. Crider shaved her head for the cancer research center, St. Baldrick’s. Peers around her love the new style. Crider plans on shaving her head annually for St. Baldrick’s. Crider, decided to shave all of her hair off and donate it to charity. A boy at Crider’s church named Sam was diagnosed with cancer at the age of two. Every year, his mother participates in cancer awareness events. Crider found the idea interesting and, after research of the topic, decided to also shave her head. “After she [the mother of Sam] did it the first time and kept doing it, it’s just something I’ve always been interested in,” said Crider. The plan to shave her head was not something spur of the moment. It took time for Crider to build up the courage to participate in this event. “I was just kind of working up to it because I kept seeing it,” said Crider. After shaving her head, Crider has not regretted the action. Crider has come to love it for a special reason. “She saw it as something she could do to give back,” senior Emmy Polichetti, one of Crider’s best friends, said.

still in shock at the dramatic change. “I was still having a panic attack, but then it felt good and satisfying,” said Crider. After shaving her head, Crider has received many positive responses from friends and family. “My mom actually started crying,” said Crider. Crider’s friends have been nothing but supportive of the decision she has made. They find her action to be very brave and selfless.

BY HALEY YOUNG Staff Writer

Recently several students at East have been wearing birkenstocks, making them the newest trend.

Crider felt that her family was shocked by the announcement that she was going to shave her head. “My mom was just really happy that even as just a teenage girl, that I would do something like that,” said Crider.

Answered by: Maddie Smith (12) Q: When did you first start wearing birkenstocks? A: “I started wearing them in the fourth grade because my babysitter had a pair, and I was completely obsessed.”

Crider would recommend that anyone who is thinking about shaving their head for charity to go ahead and do it. “It [cancer] is something that is such a serious problem and it’s just the fact that they’re kids and they have so much more to live for,” said Crider.

Q: What do you think is the best thing about birkenstocks? A: “They are comfortable and they can be worn with anything.”

Crider plans to shave her head every year and donate it to the same charity, St Baldrick’s. “It is based on raising funds for research in cancer in children. All the money goes straight to them and straight to all these scientists and doctors,” said Crider. So far, Crider has raised a little over $600. If someone wants to donate to St. Baldricks, they can find the link in her Instagram bio at @baileecrider.

Right after the event happened, Crider found herself

Answered by: Leia Cope (10) Q: Why do you think they have started to be a trend? A: “The Bohemian style is quickly growing, and they are very cute. Plus they don’t hurt your feet at all.” Q: What comments do people give you on your birkenstocks? A: “They call them Jesus sandals or hippie sandals.” Q: How long do you think this trend will continue? A: “Probably only for awhile.”

An Instagram post from Crider’s account from before she shaved her head. Crider keeps the posts from before the event on her Instagram account. “Knowing that all the hair that I did have, I got to donate is going to do a lot of help,” said Crider.

A photo of Crider, about three months after she shaved her head. Crider loves her new hairstyle and plans on shaving her head every year for St. Balderick’s. “I try to think of who it’s benefitting, that they don’t have the option whether if they have hair or not,” said Crider.

page by Kim Houchin & Haley Young

SUMMER BUCKET LIST BY ABBIE ALSTATT Copy Editor

visit the baby gorilla at the Louisville Zoo

bonfire/make s'mores ride the new Storm Chaser at Kentucky Kingdom

afternoon picnic

watch fireworks

Start & finish a book

mini-golf

go to a concert or festival

Visit the lake with friends frozen yogurt date

MOVIENIGHT

explore a new park

participate in the color run stay up late to watch the stars

roadtrip

go downtown to the speed art museum Venture to the kentucky state fair 6 page by Abbie Alstatt May 2016

reunite with an old friend

>> student life

SENIOR ACTIVITIES BY LEXIE FISHER Staff Writer

Senior Assassins

Senior Dance

Graduation

This has become a major senior activity over the past few years. It’s not exactly a school event, therefore, it’s managed by a few underclassmen. It’s an extra way to have the seniors get together by having a little assassination. It’s basically a big , giant water gun fight. The last person who remains will be the winner of the senior assassins and will get the money from all the enterings. Assassinations have begun since after spring break and will continue until the last one stands.

This is the time to get all your class together one last time to celebrate your years in high school. It is where you get to laugh and dance with the people you have grown up with. This year it will be at the Frazier Museum, downtown rooftop, on May 15, from 7:30- 10:30 p.m.

Graduation is a ceremony for the senior class that celebrates over the past four years of their high school career. During this, the administration honors your achievements and excite you about what is to come. This is where afterwards, you are ready to live your life, to be able to take what comes your way, and be able to handle it like an “adult.” Graduation will be at Broadbent Arena, located at the Kentucky Exposition Center, on June 4 at 5 p.m.

Senior Skip Day Senior Skip Day has become a tradition for the senior class. They all decide to get a date together and everyone just skips school that day. This year it was the day before spring break, April 1, as the seniors decided to go to Bernheim Forest for the day.

Baccalaureate A celebration that honors the graduating senior class. This service is held a few days prior to graduation. Baccalaureate is seen as more of a personal, community joined, celebration of the class’s time at East. This year it will be at St. Francis Xavier Church on May 31 at 6 p.m.

Senior Picnic

Project Graduation A post-graduation party that celebrates the graduating class after their graduation. It’s an event that is supervised at the school that is a celebration that encourages the students celebrate them graduating alcohol-free. Project Grad will be after graduation, at Bullitt East from 11 p.m. till 5 a.m.

This is another event that allows the graduating class to get together. The picnic will be located on the Waterfront, and will be on Wednesday, June 1, after graduation practice.

page by Lexie Fisher

THE YOUNG AND THE TATTED BY TAYLOR HOLLIFIELD Copy Editor

“N

o Ragrets.”

Tattoos are a controversial topic in llitt County, but some fail to understand the aning behind the ink.

cast member from We’re the Millers has a too of “No Ragrets.” Several of the stars noed the spelling and the negative appearance gives. While the member’s tattoo may not k professional, he definitely has no regrets. veral students with ink can relate to receivg a tattoo that may give off a bad appeal, but y don’t regret their decision.

veral students are getting tattoos for many ferent reasons. The Chargers with ink press the significance of their tattoos. While students are aware of the effect tattoos can ve for future careers, none of them regret ir decision to apply ink on their skin.

ople get tattoos everyday for different reans. Several students have made the decision get tattoos because of their personal life, ich seems to be the most popular reasong at Bullitt East. While some of the students ve tattoos to represent a family member’s ssing, there are two seniors, Travis Cole and Reiners, who are currently in the army and eived tattoos to symbolize their duty as a dier. Another reason behind getting tattoos uld be for appearance, rather than symbolm.

toos. One of my tattoos is a cross to symbolize my dad passing away and my other tattoo is wings to represent flying high and afterlife, then I have fear God on my arm. I have plans to get a bible verse because that’s how you are supposed to live life.” Wilson is one of many students who have received a tattoo to symbolize a family member’s passing. Dawson Mattingly, junior, also has a cross on her back for her mother.

them don’t think about the affect it may have on their future career choice. Many workplaces have a ban on body art and piercings, forcing people to rethink their choices.

Death isn’t the only personal reason people decide to get a tattoo. Junior Christina Brimm has three tattoos, two of which are bible verses, and the other is a cross. Brimm said, “I got my tattoos for personal reasons.” Brimm didn’t go into detail about her tattoos to keep her personal life private. Several students apply ink to their skin when something extreme happens, not only making it permanent on their skin but in their lives.

“It means many things. It means that we came into this world heaven sent, pure and never did any wrong but the world we live in bent us making us hell bent. We also say it in the army as an airborne saying we are sent from the cause and are hell bent, meaning ready to kill,” said Cole.

Tattoos are permanent and some careers don’t allow their employees to show their body art. For example, if a worker at a hospital has tattoos on their arm, then they have to wear long sleeves making their tattoos unnoticed. “I don’t regret my tattoos and I won’t regret them in the future. I want to go into the law enforcement and if my tattoos are a problem, then I can wear sleeves if need be,” said Wilson.

For Cole and Reiners, that is not the case. Cole and Reiners are both currently enlisted in the army. Both boys are tattooed and plan to get even more. Cole’s tattoo says, “Heaven Sent Hell Bent.”

Reiners’ tattoo is of a woman on his lower calf. The way tattoos work in the army is that they are not allowed to go past the uniform or violate S.H.A.R.P policies [Sexual Harassment Assault Response Program]. Therefore, tattoos may not be banned in the army, but they still have to follow the policy of not being noticed like most jobs.

Many students get tattoos at the age of 18 because that is consenting age, but many of

nior Garrett Wilson said, “I have three tat-

Photo submitted by Garrett Wilson.

8 page by Taylor Hollifield May 2016

Photo submitted by Garrett Wilson.

>> student life

Photo submitted by Abby Coyle.

Photo submitted by Cara Anderson.

Photo submitted by Christina Brimm.

Photo submitted by Abby Coyle.

Photo submitted by Tyler Cottrell.

Photo submitted by Eli Reiners.

Photo submitted by Travis Cole. page by Taylor Hollifield

FAREWELL FOREIGNERS BY LINDSAY RENNEISEN Business Editor

aking memories that travel around the globe.

With only nine weeks left in the school year, the foreign exchange students have become accustomed to American life. When they first got to the United States, they were all extremely timid and didn't really know what to expect. All they had was their host family to transition them to life here in Bullitt County. The foreign exchange students have learned a lot of things since they have been here. They will bring back many memories and traditions to their home country.

ily back home and when I have bad days they are always there for me,” said Sandvik. These exchange students have also learned a lot about Bullitt County life and culture in the short time that they have been here. The “typical Bullitt County culture and style” is described as big hoodies, leggings, Nike socks, and moccasins. This goes for girls at least. All of the foreign exchange students have been actively involved in activities and sports

Exchange student Maja Sandvik is from Norway. “The biggest change has to be I've become more independent and trust myself more on all the choices I have to make. I've also got to know myself better,” said Sandvik, “I'm a lot stronger than I thought I was.” Carina Ronningen is also an exchange student from Norway. “I’ve learned more about myself and how to deal with different situations,” said Ronningen. Host families play a huge role in transitioning students to life in Kentucky. When the foreigners first arrived, many families took them out to do things around our area so they could get to know it better. “They have definitely made a huge effort to make my transition and time here easier and I'm so thankful for everything they have done for me. They have regular contact with my fam-

page by Lindsay Renneisen May 2016

outside of school. “I've tried my best to learn how football and basketball works, but it's too complicated and I just end up clapping when everyone else does,” said Sandvik. Bullitt East is a lot different from schools in Norway. School there provides a lot more freedom for students, allowing them to be more independent. There are no dress codes or hall passes. Also, they are allowed to walk around and leave during lunch. They don't have multiple-choice tests, which, according to Sandvik, has made school here easier. “The

American high schools have spirit that we (Norwegian schools) don’t have. I definitely like that all the students meet up more often after school and at football games. At home, we don’t have any school teams so we don’t bond as good,” said Sandvik. With this school year coming to an end, it is almost time for the exchange students to return to their home country. They have gained so many memories since they have been here with students at BE. “I will absolutely bring home all the good memories from football games at Friday nights, a wild red zone and nerve racking basketball games. My playlist is going to be full of country music and rap music, recipes of typical food like Mac and cheese and cheese bread, just everything with a little extra cheese on it. I think in the future I will make our traditions bigger and better because that's how it is here; everything is bigger. I'll definitely add Thanksgiving with all the good food. I will go home with a lot of memories with people I'll never forget and have made new friends and family for life,” explained Sandvik. The foreigners will bring back many memories, but they will never be forgotten here at East.

>> student life

SENIOR FLASHBACKS BY SYDNEY RILEY Website Editor

What was your favorite high school memory?

Probably bowling freshman year because we got out of gym for a day and I could hangout with my friends and eat cheese fries.

What is some advice you have for underclassmen? Never take relationships lightly.

What will you miss most about BE? Seeing all of my friends I’ve known since Kindergarten.

What are your plans after high school?

I am going to attend Bellarmine and major in History.

Isaac Byrd What was your favorite high school memory?

My favorite high school memory would have to be my freshman year when the band took a trip to New Orleans and Memphis because it was my first time ever visiting those places and learning about the music history from each location.

Who was your favorite teacher and why?

Definitely Mr. Fulghum. I hate history, but he was able to make it fun and understandable.

If you could have a theme song for your high school career, what would it be? “Stressed Out” by 21 Pilots.

What are your plans after high school?

I’m headed to Northern Kentucky this fall, but I’m still undecided on a major.

Photo submitted by Amber Coleman.

Amber Coleman What was your favorite high school memory?

Probably every golf tournament and every road trip we took. Those five guys that I played with over the years became more than just my teammates, they became my brothers and that’s something I won’t ever forget.

What is some advice you have for underclassmen? Have fun with high school, but don’t forget why you’re there.

If you could have a theme song for your high school career, what would it be? “The Office” theme song.

What are your plans after high school?

Go to WKU and try and play golf for the golf team, but also get a Masters in Financial Accounting.

Sam Wilson page by Sydney Riley

ALL THE WAY TO THE FINISH LINE BY GRANT SKAGGS Sports Editor

SENIOR TO WATCH ith the end of senior year around the corner, these track stars take their last laps around.

Senior track stars Isaac Shelton and Sierra Poppell look to graduate this year with many records left behind. In their time at East, the pair has broken a total of five records. With memories made through the years, the next step in life is choosing whether or not to move to the college ranks. With them leaving, the future of track and field is now held in new hands. Shelton and Poppell have left their mark at East. Shelton has the records for the 5 K (3.1 miles) and the 3200 (3200 meters). Poppell has the records for the 5 K, the 3200, the 1600(1600 meters), and also has a part of the record for the 4×800 (a team comprised of 4 people who all run 800 meters each) relay.

My sister (Abby Shelton) also ran at state, and they got 4th. It was just a really cool moment because we both got to get up on stage and receive our medals.

BY SEAN JOHNSON Staff Writer

The next step for these two is the opportunity to run in college. Shelton has decided to take a break and look into something else for his future. Poppell, on the other hand, has taken the opportunity to commit to Morehead State University to continue her running career. Shelton said, “I have really thought about it. I was planning on doing it in college my first three years running it [particpating in track], but this year I’ve decided not to just because I would just like to focus on other things in my life.”

Photo credits to Kasey Markwell.

With the conclusion of these two great careers, the next question falls under who will take on their roles as leaders of the track team.

Senior Jacob Staples plays tennis for Bullitt East High School. Being on the tennis team takes a lot of commitment and difficult tasks that Staples seems to do very well.

Shelton said, “I’m most proud of my 2 mile (3200) because I really wasn’t expecting it. I got a 24 second PR (personal record) that race. That just shows all of my hard work my sophomore year.”

Head track coach Lenny Raley said, “They are going to be hard to replace. We have kids that are capable, but I don’t know if I can sit here and tell you who exactly. It took Sierra and Issac five years to get to where they are.”

“I have been playing the longest and I have more overall skill level than anyone else, and I have a great knowledge of the sport, whether it’s strategies or something else,” said Staples.

Poppell said, “I’m extremely proud of my 3200 because it is my main event.”

Poppell said, “I think Lindsey Spencer (freshman) will do a great job filling my shoes and I think Josh Wetzel(freshman) will take Isaac’s place. They are both showing out this year in track and cross country. They both just work extremely hard.”

Through the last four years, their careers have produced some great memories and achievements for all to see. Shelton said, “My favorite moment was when we went to state my freshman year. We were ranked 9th going in, and we came out 2nd.

There are plenty of players on this team that could have stepped up and took the main player role this year, but Staples was the one to step up and take the job. Since Staples is the only senior on this team, he has developed leadership skills throughout his time playing tennis. Still, there is also a lot of improvement that can come to his overall game. “I really think that I can improve this season by repetition, practicing, and not just practicing during practice but before and after as well,” said Staples. Staples has definitely gotten the team closer and closer together, but whether or not it's the best team he's ever played with, is a different story. “Three years ago we had two seniors and a junior that were all really good and that had been playing a long time. That was my freshman year,” said Staples.

Photo credits to Morgan Grant Sierra Poppell placed 1st on the 3200 at regions and placed 5th in the 3200 at state last year. Poppell holds several records at Bullitt East, those including: the 5 K, the 3200, the 1600, and also has a part of the record for the 4×800 relay. Poppell said, “I am very excited to finish out and move on to college ranks of cross country and track, but it’s definitely bitter sweet that this is my last season with all of my teammates.”

page by Grant Skaggs May 2016

Photo credits to Morgan Grant Isaac Shelton ran at regions last year and came out with a 4th place finish in the 3200. Shelton is one of Bullitt East’s most decorated track runners. Shelton said, “That was the first time in my high school career that i did not make it to state, but it gave me the drive to do well in cross country the following year.”

Now, since Staples is the leader and role player of this team, he has worked harder and harder everyday to achieve the overall goal, a state championship.

>> academics

CLOSING THE CURTAIN ON THE ARTS PATHWAY BY ZACH COMBEST Copy Editor

rom band, choir, drama, and art class; the arts pathway is losing their voice this year.

The Arts pathway has been discredited as a career pathway, leaving students looking for new pathways to take. Seniors that are in the Arts have been scrambling to graduate career ready. The Arts Pathway refers to career fields and programs of study that are related to humanities, media arts, literary arts, technical arts, performing arts, and visual arts. Hundreds of students are affected by the decision to take the Arts away. The arts classes, band, choir, art, drama, and other art related classes, will stay but they will no longer be a career pathway for students. Carrie Gary, choir teacher, and her students are some of the hundreds affected by elimination of the pathway. “It makes it seem like it’s not a valid choice to take an arts class aside from that it is just fun when I think that there is more to it; however, the whole concept of pathways I have an issue with, because if you take a certain number of classes you are not necessarily qualified for that career but it should be more of a career pathway like a pre-college pathway of that career, like a pre-college arts or music pathway,” said Gary. The loss of the Arts pathway was a shock to students. Tenth grade Advanced drama student, Cole Laslie, heard the news from rumors and a letter sent out by the board of education. “I was angry because it’s not right to take away the Arts Pathway when so many kids have devoted their time to it,” said Laslie. Many seniors planned to use the Arts Pathway as their career pathway and now they have to depend solely on being college ready. “I only had two students that left them without a pathway but they already met the college ready benchmarks,” said Gary. Now with the new pathways such as Print Publication (journalism, yearbook, etc.), students have decided to change pathways or change classes to get into a pathway. Laslie will not take drama next year since it’s not a pathway anymore. He plans on following the Business pathway. “Thanks to school I’ll have to change pathways because I won’t be college and career ready,” said Laslie. The loss of the pathway will not result in any job losses for teachers. Students are still taking or planning

on taking the arts classes to pursue their interests of the topic.“Most of mine [students] are in it because it is an outlet for them, it is a creative outlet for their talent and it is just like journalism where you get this family like atmosphere and we have a lot of experiences like concerts and trips and it is different than your typical high school class, most of them will stay in it [arts classes] but they will have to seek a pathway outside of the arts,” said Gary. The Arts was a pilot program for a few schools in the county. A pilot program is defined as a small-scale, short-term experiment that helps an organization learn how a large-scale project might work in practice. The county recognized the arts as a non-pathway because there is not a test they could do to determine if a person is career ready or not. Students in the past have still been able to graduate with the arts as their pathway because it was still a career pathway by the board and East, but this year the board has decided it’s not going to be considered a pathway anymore. Savannah Richardson, guidance counselor, helps students with classes and concerns about their pathways. Many seniors are college ready or have two pathway they follow. “I still have a lot of students involved in the arts pathway but most of them already had another pathway or they were college ready,” said Richardson. Most arts teachers were concerned about the new change. “At first they [arts teachers] were disappointed and then they were afraid that the arts classes were going to go away completely, but now that they see that we [BE] still value the arts even if it is not considered a pathway then they are a little more relaxed about it,” said Richardson. As the new school year starts, incoming freshmen will have to adjust to this change of pathways. They knew that the arts were not going to be a pathway before, scheduling so they had time to pick a pathway like print publications, culinary, business, childhood development, JROTC, and FFA [Future Farmers of America].

page by Zach Combest

THE NEW EDITOR-IN-CHIEF BY DEREK ROGERS

In her two years as a member of the Livewire staff, she has been a copy editor and a business editor. In both positions she has been forced to communicate with people to do her job. Doing this, she has improved her people skills and become more of a leader.

page by Derek Rogers May 2016

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“I just want to come out with some awesome magazines and be able to cover the things that need to be covered, the most impotant things that people really want to read. Our last couple magazines have been awesome being they’re really interesting and people really want to read what’s in them. I want to make sure that it happens in every magazine, not just a couple,” said Renneisen. Renneisen is currently committed to University of Evansville to play softball. She has been playing varsity softball for four years at Bullitt East. She is still undecided as to what her major will be but plans to decide when she gets there.

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era ew raey sihT .gnimoc deppots elpoep nehT sevitnecni erom gnivig yb nuf erom ti gnikam ”.nwod sserd eerf sa hcus ,semag ot gnimoc ot

“It makes you have to talk to people and I really had to come out of my shell. I used to be extremely shy and it has helped me become more of an outgoing person. You don’t get that in any other classes,” said Renneisen.

As the editor-in-chief, Renneisen hopes to make the Livewire, and everyone associated with it, better. She wants to ensure that everyone is held accountable and does their work so that the magazine is at its best.

dna llabteksab sa hcus smargorp strops ehT deR eht rof sdworc regral eht ni ward llabtoof sekaR yeliaB dna eprahS sa hcus sreyalP .enoZ eht gnirud noitaripsni sa enoZ deR eht ees ,smaet hguot htiw sretnuocne esolc nI .semag gnireehc dworc eht raeh ot evol sreyalp eht .no meht

nwonk osla era enoZ deR eht fo srebmem ehT -woR enoZ deR eht ;seidwoR enoZ deR eht sa ttilluB ssorca lla stneduts fo delipmoc era seid nioj ot emoclew si enoynA .loohcS hgiH tsaE -teb eht dnetta stneduts erom ehT .emit yna ta .emoceb lliw noitces tneduts eht ret

Journalism is a class that in many cases, helps staff members become better equipped for their future job when they leave high school. The chances of anyone having to use polyatomic ions or arithmetic sequences are lower compared to the ability for students to walk up to someone they don’t know and start a conversation. Starting a simple conversation with an adult or fellow peer can be very difficult for people who are more shy than others. When she came into intro to journalism her freshman year, Renneisen admitted that she took the class because she knew a couple of former softball teammates had taken the class and said they liked it. Little did she know how much that little decision would affect her future.

fo raey eht rof enoZ deR eht fo sredael ehT .notaeB eissaC dna eprahS relyT era 6102-5102 si )oJ ammoM sa nwonk( snikreP oJ yraterceS deR eht rof stneve eht gnizinagro fo egrahc ni eet dna semag rof semeht ,elpmaxe roF .enoZ .srebmem enoZ deR rof ylevisulcxe strihs

Renneisen became the editor-in-chief after being part of the Livewire staff for two years. She plans to bring organization and leadership to the staff. She also plans on playing college softball.

siht segnahc ynam edam sah enoZ deR ehT ni won si enoZ deR eht ,elpmaxe roF .raey tirips loohcs daerps ot syllar-pep eht fo egrahc esion eht worg ot dna supmac no enoyreve ot .enoZ deR eht fo level ecnadnetta dna

retirW ﬀatS

SSERDLIHC TTAM YB

Renneisen will be the editor of the Livewire for the 2016-17 school year.

“Lindsay has made a lot of the same transformations that I had. She came in painfully shy and really quiet. Now she’s changed and grown to a strong and bolder person. I feel like she is capable of anything,” said senior and current Livewire editor Haley Steinmetz.

yeht nehw maet ruoy no reehc ot ysae s’tI“ uoy deen yeht tub ,kaerts gninniw a no era nehw s’tahT .nwod elttil a er’yeht nehw tsom duol pu wohs ot sdeen yllaer enoZ deR eht si enoZ deR ehT .oJ ammoM dias ”,duorp dna kcabemoc a ekam ot gnithgif si tub gnilggurts .nosaes 6102-5102 eht ni

indsay Renneisen takes over.

sroines ruof ot owt tuoba era ereht raey yrevE dna stnahc eht ni noitan regrahc dael lliw taht .enoZ deR eht ni desu seitivitca

eht ni ecalp laiceps a sah noitces tneduts ehT hgiH tsaE ttilluB ta stneduts eht fo straeh nwonk esiwrehto ,noitces tneduts ehT .loohcS ot yaw a stneduts sevig ,enoZ deR eht sa swolla dna loohcs fo sesserts yliad eht epacse rieht rof gnitoor elihw sevlesmeht eb ot meht .loohcs hgih

F .enoz daed ot enoZ deR mor

-itamard evorpmi ot skool enoZ deR ehT .raey siht yllac

Staff Writer

>> academics

RISING JUNIORS BY MAGGIE WISDOM Staff Writer

#1 on iTunes 7 Years

s this school year of 2015-2016 is coming to an end, here’s a look at some of next year’s seniors.

What is your biggest accomplishment junior year? What do you hope to accomplish senior year? What is your favorite memory from junior year?

Grace Jackson: “My senior year I want to accomplish lots of things. I hope to be offered a scholarship from UK or WKU. I also hope to create a yearbook that places first in the state. I want to be in the top ten of my class. I want the soccer team to win the regional championship, and I also want to graduate with lasting relationships I made throughout high school. My favorite memory of junior year was going with NHS to help the Salvation Army with Toys for Tots. Being able to see all of the donations people around the area brought in and helping pick out Christmas presents for kids that otherwise wouldn’t be able to open something Christmas morning was an amazing experience. It was eye opening, and will never forget it. I was a small help to a big project.”

*as of 3/22/16

plish winning nationals which is a competitive cheerleading competition. It’s something I have been working for a long time and I’m ready to go out with a bang and end senior with a national title. My favorite memory would have to be junior ring ceremony. It was awesome coming together as a class and receiving something that symbolized us being seniors as one. I also gave a speech, and it was a great experience and a great honor to stand up in front of my class and talk about how we have one more year to make it count.” Emma Pressley: “My biggest accomplishment of junior year would probably be the fact that I’m more involved. I was able to help with prom committee, give the speech at ring ceremony, have more time in my soccer games, get my highest ACT score, and help with senior assassins. Senior year, I just hope to better myself even more. My favorite memory from junior year is growing with my friends. We have been able to do so many new things together, like just growing up. Which is nerve racking, but exciting.”

Brooke Stivers: “My biggest accomplishment this year so far as a junior would have to be winning state back to back in cheerleading. It was awesome making history yet again by winning back to back which hasn’t been done at BE. My senior year, I would like to accom-

BY KELSI SEGO Staff Writer

ukas Graham, Danish pop-soul band, released the song, “7 years”, on September 18, 2015. Despite the song’s release date, it has been topping the charts. The band is composed of Lukas Graham (lead vocalist), Mark Falgren (drummer), Kasper Daugaard (keyboardist) and Maghus Larsson (guitarist). “7 Years” is the band’s biggest hit to date. As of March 2016, the music video for the song has over 45 million views on YouTube. The song tells the story of his childhood, adulthood, and his hopes for his future self. The song is about growing older and realizing that being a father is the most important thing to him. It specifically mentions ages 7, 11, 20, 30, and 60 to highlight important parts of his life and his experiences at those ages. Although Graham is only 27, the song mentions age 60 because his father was 61 when he passed away. “If my dad hadn’t died in 2012 I wouldn’t have written our song Happy Home, which catapulted us into a Scandinavian success story. I wouldn’t have written 7 Years, which got us signed to a publisher in America and ultimately signed to Warner Bros,” said Graham in an article for Wikipedia.

Brooke Stivers, Grace Jackson, and Emma Pressley posed for their last few moment of junior year, for senior year is a few months ahead, which they are now preparing for. With just a few more weeks of junior year left, Brooke Stivers describes it best, “We have one more year to make it all count.”

Graham uses the sound of an old film camera to create a feeling of nostalgia as he reflects upon his life so far. The music is soft. The low pitch of the vocals, the slow tempo, and quiet volume all create a warm tone. The band’s soft spoken voice creates a genuine and inviting feeling.

page by Maggie Wisdom & Kelsi Sego

2016 GOVERNOR’S SCHOLARS BY BRENNAH DENKHOFF

1. Don't wait until last minute to start.

Bullitt East students who were accepted into the Governor’s Scholars Program thisyear answered the following set of questions: 1.) What is your advice for future GSP applicants? 2.) What was your experience of opening up your acceptance letter? 3.) What was the most important part of the application process to you and why? 4.) How will GSP impact your future?

ttilluB rof draug gnitoohs gnitrats eht ,eprahS dnik saw raey tsap ehT“ ,syas llabteksab tsaE .gnireehc t’nerew elpoep esuaceb nwod tel a fo

sekaR yeliaB dna eprahS sa hcus sreyalP .enoZ eht gnirud noitaripsni sa enoZ deR eht ees ,smaet hguot htiw sretnuocne esolc nI .semag gnireehc dworc eht raeh ot evol sreyalp eht .no meht

hgih erew erehT .worg ot deunitnoc noitces deR eht tub emoc ot snosaes eht rof sepoh si dna dnuora nrut etelpmoc a nekat sah enoZ ti teg dna yrt ot ssecorp gnidliuber eht ni won .saw ecno ti tahw ot kcab

Claire Feldhaus

1. I would say the best advice is to get involved. Most people think that to get accepted into GSP you have to have a high ACT score or GPA but being involved in as much as possible is the main key.

page by Brennah Denkhoff May 2016

4. It will open up doors for me that involve what college I attend and what new people I can meet while I'm there.

Zach Taylor

Emma Pressley

1 Don't wait till the last minute to complete your application. It takes a lot of time and the more details you have, the better.

Grant Skaggs

Alyssa Peak

sroines ruof ot owt tuoba era ereht raey yrevE dna stnahc eht ni noitan regrahc dael lliw taht .enoZ deR eht ni desu seitivitca

swolla dna loohcs fo sesserts yliad eht epacse rieht rof gnitoor elihw sevlesmeht eb ot meht .loohcs hgih

Staff Writer

Jacob Birge

2. After waiting on the letter to come in for a very long time my anxiety level as well as others were up. The day that I received it, I waited 2 hours before I eventually opened it. GSP didn't waste your time or have you on the edge, the first sentence told you whether you made it or not and can I say what a relief it was.

4. I don't know yet. I've heard from previous recipients that it was really great and that they'd love to do it again.

Justin Defler

Grace Jackson

Kaleb Perdew

2. I didn’t get to open mine. I was on an AP Environmental Science field trip at Red River Gorge that weekend so my parents opened it and texted me. 3. I feel like the most important part is preparing for the college experience and what really living with a roommate and others my age will be like without our friends and cliques to guide us. It was the essay writing. Reading over it multiple times and having others revise it is tedious, but it pays off.

2. Opening my letter wasn't like a crazy experience, I'm not the type of person who jumps up and down or cries or something when they're excited. So, I just opened it and told my mom and dad I got in. 3. The most important part of the application process to me was getting all of my extra curricular activities and community service together.

4. GSP will open so many doors to me and allow me to grow and prosper in ways I don't think I could without the program.

For information on the BAMS Governer Scholar recipients go to BELivewire.com

>> academics

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page by Lindsay Renneisen

ADDICTION

WEAPON OF MASS DISTRACTION BY HALEY SNYDER Creative Editor

“I

fear the day that technology will surpass our human interaction. The world will have a generation of idiots.” -Albert Einstein.

At Bullitt East and in the lives of high school students across the world, social media poses a serious problem to our generation, in more ways than one. In a study conducted by the Pew Research Center, it was found that 78 percent of American teenagers ages 12-17 own a cell phone, and three fourths of teens access the internet on other devices. Teenagers can access thousands of apps on multiple platforms all at the touch of a finger, and that just might be the problem. “It’s a bunch of shitty girls and too much drama.” said Senior Hannah Jenkins. “It’s a love hate relationship. I love it (internet), because it keeps me in tune with what is going on, but I hate always knowing what is going on in everyone’s head. It’s exhausting.” Said Jenkins.

Rachael Neblett was a former Bullitt East student. Teens across the world still relate to Rachael’s situation today. Rachael’s death led the Neblitt family to work with Kentucky legislators to pass laws for bullying, cybersafety, and suicide prevention education. They’re also reaching out to schools, telling them Rachael’s story and how suicide and bullying can be prevented.

page by Haley Snyder May 2016

Recent studies now validate the reality of Internet Addiction Disorder (IAD). IAD can cause tremors, shivers, nausea and anxiety in some addicts. Many professionals now consider IAD analogous to substance abuse. This pathological attachment is placed in the same category as gambling and eating disorders, making it treatable, but not necessarily curable. Addicts neglect family, work, studies, social relationships and themselves. This is an addictive obsession that is human-centered and screen-deep. “We spend too much time on Facebook, Twitter, and Snapchat, and not nearly enough time face to face.” said senior Sarah Link. “You have to step back every once in awhile, it’s not good for us.” Said Link. The safety of many teens is often brought into question. For criminals, the internet is a playground. Only 18% of youth use chat rooms, however, the majority of internet-initiated sex crimes against children are initiated in chat rooms. (Journal of Adolescent Health 47, 2010). According to the same research, 26 percent of online sex offenders used public information about the victim’s whereabouts at a specific time. However, for many teens, the real threat comes from a familiar face. Twelve percent of teens say that they have witnessed cruel behavior “frequently” between mutual friends on social media, (Pew Research Center, FOSI) and for Bullitt East, this statistic is more than just a number. In 2006, Rachael Neblett, a 17 year old Bullitt East student began receiving threatening emails through her MySpace account. In the beginning, she kept it to herself, afraid that her parents would shut down her account. Rachael’s father, Mark Neblett told WAVE3’s Janelle MacDonald “That person, whoever it was, knew exactly every move she made and then the last letter that we got, or she got, stated that they weren’t going to put her in the hospital, they were going to put her in the morgue. She was terrified, just totally terrified. She wouldn’t tell us.” The threats grew more serious, until one day, she received the message that read “I’m going to put you in a hospital, I’m going to put you in the morgue.” After receiving the message, Rachael quickly isolated herself, afraid someone was out to get her.

On October 9, 2006, Rachael Neblett took her own life. Six months after Rachael’s death, her best friend did the same thing. Then six months after that, another friend committed suicide. Rachel’s friend Steven is buried across from her, hit by a drunk driver. It’s a cemetery filled with young people who all went to Bullitt East. Donna Neblett, Rachael’s mother, told WDRB’s Valerie Chinn “They said ‘We’re not going to put you in the hospital, we’re going to put you in the morgue.’ And sure enough, they basically did... When I come home from work that day, I’m the one that found her and no mother wants to fill my shoes, because I tell you what, it’s a feeling you will never get over.” Police investigated and found the computer IP address, but never found out who sent the harassing messages. For students at Bullitt East, the internet has become more than just a common past time. This screen deep obsession keeps teens up at night and tuned in all day, and that’s just the issue. Cutting back on screen time is the only way to put a halt on this epidemic.

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

Part 6 in a Series: SOCIAL MEDIA

Gender affects the TYPE of IAD, but not the risk. Men are more strongly addicted to games, pornography, and online gambling.

Women are more addicted to online chatting, instant messaging, and online shopping.

One out of every eight teens show signs of problematic internet use.

SOURCES http://time.com/4147614/smartphone-usage-us-2015/ http://www.techaddiction.ca/files/ internet-addiction-stats_1

26%

26% of all online predators make used information found on the internet to find personal informaton regarding a victim.

page by Haley Snyder

EPILOGUE BY HALEY STEINMETZ Editor-in-chief

hen I think about graduating from high school, my first instinct is to feel an overwhelming amount of relief. I think about walking across the stage of Broadbent Arena and holding that little piece of paper that represents all of the hard work I’ve put in over the last four years. I think about moving on and going to college and leaving the dress code behind me. I think about being at UofL and not worrying about grabbing a hall pass before leaving a room, turning in packets and worksheets and more packets and worksheets, and waking up at six in the morning. And while that all sounds absolutely fabulous, after I’ve considered all of that, it starts to set in that graduating means leaving behind everything that I’ve dedicated the last four years of my life to. And that’s when it hits me. Graduating from Bullitt East means moving on from room 324.

page by Haley Steinmetz May 2016

From there, I tend to have about three different reactions that follow. The first is, “I can’t.” I literally feel like there is no possible way I can walk out of room 324 and never come back. And then, after I remember that there’s a 0 percent chance of that being the reality of the situation, I think, “I don’t want to.” After I’ve accepted that regardless of whether or not I want to, leaving is inevitable, and finally my last reaction hits me: “I’m ready.”

I have an incredible amount of faith in the staff that I am leaving behind. I am confident that they will be able to handle whatever comes their way next year and that they will continue to make the Livewire as great as it can be. And although I am excited to watch them improve and progress, it makes me unbelievably sad to know that I will be watching it from afar instead of from my desk in the classroom.

I’m not sure if ready is really the right word here. I don’t think that I will ever be ready to leave behind the Livewire and everything it means to me. Regardless, the end is near, and it is quickly approaching. There’s no way to slow it down and there’s no way to stop it from happening. I have worked hard to equip my staff to continue on the path we are on after I leave, and it is time for me to turn it over to them.

The hardest part of it all is leaving behind the people. The relationships I have formed with this staff are ones that I will always love and remember, no matter what happens after I leave. I have had the absolute privilege of watching each and every one of them grow (not physically of course, sorry Matt Childress) not only as journalists, but as people. I have learned how each of them works, thinks, and writes, and I’ve gotten to know all of their personalities and quirks, and those are the things

>> opinion

that make leaving them behind the hardest.

Skaggs on the daily.

I will miss Taylor Hollifield’s ever-present smile and Luke Young’s willingness to step up to the plate and help out in any way that he can. I will miss Abbie Alstatt’s sweet personality and the way I have watched Kim Houchin bust out of her shell like a turtle with a lightning fast growth rate. I will miss Sean Johnson’s positive attitude and Sydney Riley’s tough, bold demeanor and Haley Snyder’s more quiet, dedicated approach to her editor position. I will miss Zach Combest’s constantly flowing new ideas and Maggie Wisdom’s kind heart and love. I will never forget Derek Rogers and the fact that he named his cat Meowford, or Rachel Grant, one of the strongest writers I know, or Brennah Denkhoff, Bethany White, and Kelsi Sego, and their ability to put up with their borderline psychotic copy editor. I have loved getting to know Lexie Fisher and Haylie Jenkins and getting to torment Grant

And of course, from the bottom of my heart, I will miss the Burners, Sarah Allen and Jessica Mattingly. These two have become two of my very best friends and I am so thankful to have been on staff with them. Finally, I will miss Isaac Shelton and Eric Sanchez more than I could ever in a million years put into words. I literally could not have survived high school without these people and I am blessed to call them my family. As I turn over my position to another girl that I will miss more than my heart can handle, Lindsay Renneisen, I am overcome with how truly thankful I am for my time as editor-in-chief. I owe the world to my adviser, father, and best friend (who all happen to be the exact same person) Steiner, and I owe an enormous thank you to all of those who subscribed, bought, or read a Livewire. What

happens in this classroom is nothing without an audience, and we appreciate each and every one of you. So from the bottom of my heart, thank you, thank you, thank you. Room 324 has given me a lifetime of memories, life lessons, and a family that I will cherish forever. It has molded me into the person I am and I truly can not explain how much I will miss it. But, as Semisonic says, “Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end,” and I am thrilled to sit back and watch as this staff does great things next year. Thank you all for making me the person I am, supporting me as an editor and person, putting up with my bad moods and bad days, and being there for me whatever the weather. I am walking out of Bullitt East High School ready and excited to take on whatever comes next for me, and I owe it all to room 324.

page by Haley Steinmetz

MY STORY: HOW COVERING TRANSGENDER ISSUES CHANGED ME BY ISAAC SHELTON Copy Editor

s a staff, we come together before every magazine to brainstorm article ideas. While we were thinking about what we were going to cover in this issue, someone brought up the fact that some parents of other students at East were calling the school complaining about transgender students using the same restrooms as the rest of the student body. It was clear to all of us that we had a responsibility to the transgender students to tell their side of the story; to be their student voice, as our mission statement proclaims. I volunteered for this assignment having no idea how much work, time, and effort I would put into covering transgender students. Now, as my senior year comes to an end, I realize educating myself on the transgender community has been one of the greatest experiences of my life. In every article a journalist writes, it’s key to catch the readers early on, and after staring at a computer screen for hours I finally realized I needed to explain to the readers what transgender means. The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation defines transgender as an umbrella term for people whose gender identity and/or gender expression differs from what is typically associated with the sex they were assigned at birth. After getting to know a few transgender students, I came to the conclusion that this definition wasn’t enough. A transgender individual is a person who was born with a different gender identity than their biological sex. A transgender person has to fight for the right to use a restroom that coordinates with their gender identity. And the truth is, many transgender people are judged by friends, family, and strangers. To be completely honest, I didn’t know the struggles of the transgender community when I started writing my first draft, so I focused on how East’s administration was handling transgender students using the restroom that coordinates with their gender identity versus how Atherton High School, one of the only nearby schools that had taken such definite action, passed a policy allowing transgender students to use the restroom which coordinates

page by Haley Steinmetz May 2016

with their gender identity. Then, I spent days collecting research on how the United States and the state of Kentucky have been handling different transgender-restroom cases. Finally, I finished my first draft. I had created a factual, well-written article that clearly stated my liberal voice. Unfortunately for my social life, my work was not even close to being done. There were still safety concerns that needed to be addressed, because as a staff we were concerned as to how our school would treat the young transgender student I had featured for the rest of her high school career. Meetings occurred between the administration and our editors, and with the help of Larry Steinmetz, my adviser, we used salt and pepper shakers to compare my political views to the majority of the BE students’ views. We realized that there was absolutely no way the majority of the student body would understand what their transgender peers go through if I focused on my personal beliefs. After talking to Haley Steinmetz, one of my closest friends and editor of the Livewire, we decided to add more coverage to the transgender section, because this was such an critical and complex issue to cover. With my work load doubling, I realized I would have to branch out and try to get more information on Atherton’s policy, so I emailed their principal Dr. Thomas Aberli, hoping to get his views on the matter. Within 24 hours, Mr. Steinmetz and Haley called me out to the hallway and explained how Aberli had invited me and a few of my peers to visit Atherton to see their policy in place. A week later, my team, made up of Abbie Alstatt and Sydney Riley, was assembled and together we brainstormed many questions for different graduating classes, teachers, and transgender students at Atherton. As I walked through the doors to Atherton, I had no idea who I would talk to or what they would say about their transgender peers at their school. My team and I interviewed a transgender student, the teacher who put Atherton on the path to their policy, a freshman class, and a junior-senior class. Each of

these interviews gave us a different perspective of the policy, but the majority of the interviewees agreed that their policy brought the school together. Driving home later that day, Abbie, Sydney, and I were thinking of all the amazing quotes we had for the transgender articles, but one of the quotes in particular really made me think. The teacher, who was also Atherton’s Gay-Straight Alliance Sponsor, told us how insulting it was for people to think transgenders would be violent towards other people. When I was reflecting on those words, I realized how right he was. The vast majority of our community fails to see the transgender community just wants the same human rights as everyone else, and this includes using the restroom that coordinates with their gender identity. In my three years working for the Livewire, I have always challenged myself with different editorials that brought serious issues to light. Now, as I am looking back on my high school career, I realize I’m honored with the opportunity to not only show our readers a new perspective or angle of a controversial topic, but to also give a glimpse of what transgender students go through on a daily basis. These are our classmates, our neighbors, and even though you may not personally know the transgenders in Mt. Washington, it doesn’t make them any less of a Charger.

>> opinion

HEADLINE BY KIM HOUCHIN Staff Writer

Their Stories, Their Lives, Their Genders Lately, when you skim through a newspaper or just scroll through the front of a news webpage, it seems your eyes can’t avoid the sight of a new article speaking about the anti-trans laws being passed in the southern states. Most of you may shrug it off and think that the issue doesn’t apply to you or Bullitt County. In fact, the issue is growing more and more in this area. As the people of this county hear more of the issue, everyone forms their own opinion on it; especially the transgender individuals suffering because of the laws. Bullitt East may not seem like a school of diversity, but is actually home to some transgender students.

Cayla Ramos Freshman Cayla Ramos was accepted by her friends and family when she came out as transgender. She wants those who don’t understand transgender issues to watch her videos on YouTube. According to her, coming out as transgender has not affected her school life. Ramos started her transition at the age of twelve. Growing up, Ramos was always seen as feminine by her family and friends. In the seventh grade, she came out as gay. While in the car with family, one member asked her if she was transgender. Not knowing what transgender was, Ramos’ family member explained it to her and confirmed that Ramos was transgender. “I was always girly. I loved getting my nails painted in elementary school and when they brought up the whole transgender thing, I thought that was why,” said Ramos. For people who have a difficult time trying to understand what transgender is, Ramos suggests to watch her videos on her YouTube channel named ‘Cayla Josephine’. On her YouTube channel, she answers questions people often have about transgenders and has other videos about her life. Being a transgender woman has not affected her education at school much. Though, it has prohibited her from changing in the girl’s locker room. “Ms. Barr called me down to the office and asked why she didn’t see me walk to the bathroom because she normally sees me go there to change, and I said that I started changing in the locker room. Later that day, she said that we should stick to the bathroom

plan,” said Ramos. After starting her transition, Ramos says she feels more comfortable and happy in her own skin. She plans to get the full cosmetic surgery in the future with the help of her parents. For transgender teens everywhere, how to approach the issue with others is always a difficult task. Every day, transgender teens struggle with either accepting who they are or are bullied for embracing themselves. “You just got to go for it. The only thing that’s holding you back is yourself,” said Ramos.

Jensen Leonhardt Senior Jensen Leonhardt was accepted by friends, but not his father, when he came out as transgender. He wants those who don’t understand transgender to keep an open heart and open mind. Coming out as transgender has made his life socially harder. Leonhardt started his transition at the age of eight. When Leonhardt discovered the different genitalia between him and his younger brother, he was very confused. He always felt comfortable as one of the boys, and began questioning why he wasn’t born like most other boys. When puberty hit and he started developing as female, he felt uncomfortable in his own skin. “I was always really boy-ish and I didn’t really do make-up,” said Leonhardt. When Leonhardt came out to his family, most of them accepted it, but did not agree with it. His father does not agree with the transition and still uses Leonhardt’s birth name, Karlee. “My dad says he loves me, but honestly, I have seen him attempt to call me Jensen and accept me maybe one or two times,” said Leonhardt.

been receiving anonymous letters, telling him how much they admire his strength. The latest letter included a $100 that will go towards Leonhardt’s surgery. “You bring happiness into my life and honestly, this all sounds so creepy because we are not friends, I am just a bystander, but I feel as though I know you. It infuriates me that people do not see you as the man you are and it kills me to hear about some of your struggles that you face,” the person wrote. For those who don’t understand what transgender is, he suggests to keep and open mind and an open heart. “We’re people, too. I’m summing up the whole transgender community, we are human and I don’t see how my life is going to affect yours. What am I doing to you? What am I taking away from you?” said Leonhardt. Coming out has gained him attention, good and bad, from curious people, people who want to be friends, and people who spit hateful comments at him. He states that he just brushes off the hateful words. “If you want to be an ugly person, you go right ahead,” said Leonhardt. He has received multiple negative comments from parents and students on social media over the bathroom controversy at Bullitt East. For any transgender struggling either with bullying or not being able to accept themselves, Leonhardt has words of wisdom for them. “You have to love yourself and that is a very hard thing to do. I look in the mirror and I wish I could change this or that, but at the end of the day, you have to love yourself. You have to accept the things you can not change,” said Leonhardt.

Leonhardt defines transitioning as being able to be transgender and not get the full cosmetic surgery. He knows for sure that he wants to be male and plans to get top surgery when he has saved enough money. To help with that, he has a gofundme. Over the past few months, Leonhardt has also page by Eric Sanchez

HEADLINE BY ABBIE ALSTATT Copy Editor

Introduction: Not only do these transgender issues reach Mt. Washington, but they have also been popping up in the news quite often in 2016 so far. The specific, recurring issue is one involving bathroom policies, and whether transgender individuals should be able to use the restroom of the gender they identify with. Recently, some schools, workplaces, and businesses have been changing their bathroom policies to accommodate their transgender students, staff, and customers. Before you decide where you stand on this topic, educate yourself. After reading both sides take on the issue, make a decision for yourself about where you stand on transgender-rights; specifically, bathroom, locker room, and dressing room rights.

Possible Solutions During the early part of the 2015-2016 school year, the Jefferson County Board of Education expanded a previous policy of anti-harassment and anti-discrimination to include gender identity/expression. This policy was already in place, but specifically added to so transgender students and staff of JCPS schools would have the right to report any discrimination they might experience while using the bathroom and/or locker room they self-identify with. One local public JCPS high school, Atherton, had already been ahead of the game. Two years ago, they put a policy in place which allows their students to use the bathroom and locker room of the gender they identify with. Their principal, Dr. Thomas Aberli, has been one of the backbones in the process of implementing this policy. In his article published during winter of 2015, The Reality of Gender Identity in Schools, he wrote, “In actual practice in districts and schools across the nation, the accommodation of transgender students' use of school facilities has been implemented without incident for many years. As proof, try to find one court case which accuses a school of wrongdoing in accommodating a transgen-

page by Eric Sanchez May 2016

der child. The argument against this accommodation is not one grounded in safety nor right to privacy, it is an argument grounded on an individual's emotional comfort.” Atherton’s policy has restrictions on who can and cannot use certain bathrooms and locker rooms, as some would be worried that one could lie about their gender in order to get into the opposite gender’s bathroom or locker room. Before granting requests from students seeking to use a different bathroom or locker room of their born gender, the administration will talk with family, friends, and teachers of said students. The inclusion of these rules makes sure no one goes in the opposite bathroom they identify with, and therefore every student feels comfortable and safe using facilities at school. And ever since this policy has existed, they have. Before the policy, transgender students might not have felt at ease going to the bathroom or locker room, but of

course now they do, and so do the majority of cisgender Atherton students. For any students who were not comfortable at first, there was an intermediate period of the policy where there was one bathroom in the entire school that transgender students were not granted to use. In a class Q&A composed of seniors and juniors, nearly all students agreed that their transgender peers should be authorized to use whichever bathroom or locker room they identify with. One Atherton junior said, “It’s their [transgender individuals] right as a person.” During a Q&A session with a freshman class, most students expressed they felt the nature of the policy makes Atherton a more accepting school overall. But like anything else, there was definitely controversy at first. Atherton arranged a public forum for any who were skeptical to be able to openly express their concerns about the policy. Dr. Aberli said,

>> opinion

“We had a relatively small number of families express concern about the implementation of an inclusive policy originally, but have had little-to-no concerns expressed during the two years of the implementation of this policy.” Similar actions have been taken by wellknown superstore Target. They’ve found themselves right in the middle of this same transgender-related issue as of April 19, 2016. They have changed their bathroom and dressing room policy so that both employees and customers can select, for themselves, the correct facilities that align with their gender identity. In a statement on their website, they wrote, “In our stores, we demonstrate our commitment to an inclusive experience in many ways. Most relevant for the conversations currently underway, we welcome transgender team members and guests to use the restroom or fitting room facility that corresponds with their gender identity,” and continued on, “Everyone deserves to feel like they belong. And you’ll always be accepted, respected and welcomed at Target.” There has been backlash from this, but also celebration. Since this corporate policy is relatively new, it’s unclear the effect it will have on customers and the company overall, whether that be positive, negative, or neutral. For Atherton and Target, establishing transinclusive bathroom policies was their way of properly dealing with the issue at hand. Those who find themselves on the other side of the argument have taken completely opposite actions from those such as Atherton and Target. In 2015, Township High School located in Illinois, had an incident where they didn't authorize a student who identifies as a girl to use the women’s bathroom and locker room. This was a violation of the student’s rights under the anti-discrimination federal law, Title IX. Although The United States Department of Education Office of Civil Rights (U.S. DOE OCR) informed the school that they were in violation of this law after the fact, the school still initially took the approach of denying the student to use her self-identified bathroom or locker room. Conflicting with Title IX, anti-trans bills have been passed in states such as North Carolina and Mississippi.

The Controversy Lately, this topic has been all people talk about. Many are worried that as more and more schools and businesses implement transgender-accepting policies, their family, friends, and self are in increasingly more danger. There has always been an argument that transgender citizens are dangerous to the cisgender citizens they share a bathroom, locker room, or dressing room with. Morals are also a factor in some people’s opposi-

tion to transgender facility rights. In some individual’s perspectives, a man is a man, and a woman is a woman; you must use the bathroom that correlates with the gender on your birth certificate. But, the biggest issue people have with these policies, by far, is fear of sexual predators. For instance, they fear a man claiming he identifies as a woman so that he will be allowed into the women’s bathroom, locker room, or dressing room in order to sexually harass women and children. All in all, a great deal agree that trans-inclusive bathroom, locker room, and dressing room policies are not a good idea, whichever reason someone may choose to back their opinion. Target’s new trans-inclusive bathroom and dressing room policy has caused many to boycott the store, even though full effects aren’t able to be seen yet. The American Family Association in particular, also known as AFA, started a petition against Target on their Facebook page which has already accumulated over 1 million signatures. According to Fox News, the current leader of AFA, Franklin Graham, wrote on Facebook, “A man shouldn't be able to enter the women’s restroom or dressing room because he says he ‘feels like a woman today.’ That’s ridiculous. The fact is, gender identity isn’t something we choose or feel. We are the sex God created us to be – male or female. How a person feels doesn’t change the facts.” Others who back the petition may not feel this way; they may just fear their safety. People who oppose transgender-inclusive policies and laws fear that safety will be nonexistent in facilities. Even popular politicians, such as former Republican candidate Ted Cruz, have taken a stance on this topic. While on CNN on April 30th, he said, “But if the law is such that any man, if he feels like it, can go in a woman's restroom and you can't ask him to leave, that opens the door for predators.” Cruz implies that transgender individuals being allowed in the bathroom, locker room, or dressing room they identify with is potentially dangerous; but whether or not he believes the transgender citizens or predators are the actual threat, who knows. Some believe otherwise, saying that assault in public facilipage by Eric Sanchez

ties unfortunately already happens, and is obviously illegal no matter who goes in what bathroom. Terri Poore, the National Alliance to End Sexual Violence’s policy director, told the Huffington Post, “We know the threat of sexual assault is real and pervasive...we just don’t think discriminating against transgender people does anything to keep anyone safe.” Some believe that policies and laws in favor of transgender individuals go against morals; the American Civil Liberties Union website provided quotes from those frustrated by the passing of HB2 in North Carolina which imply that there are more important things. Chris Sgro, Equality NC Executive Director, said, “House Bill 2 is a deeply discriminatory bill that has put the most vulnerable people of our

page by Eric Sanchez May 2016

community at risk,” and he continued, “The only way to restore North Carolina's reputation is to repeal all of HB2 and pass comprehensive nondiscrimination protections that protect all North Carolinians.” To people who are in favor of repealing these bills and keeping policies like Target’s in place, all citizens’ protection and rights come before any citizens’ personal morals. In the same article discussed in the ‘Possible Solutions’ section, Dr. Aberli wrote, “Consider this, what are we communicating to ALL children when we segregate children like this? What are we telling the transgender student about their own worth and role in our school when we tell them that they make other children so uncomfortable that they must be iso-

lated in their use of school facilities? What are we indirectly communicating to other children about how we treat children who are different from them? Our children are watching us, and what we do is making a difference in them.” Clearly, both sides feel strongly about this issue. The most important thing is to stay educated and understand the controversy, facts, and experiences before forming an opinion.

>> opinion

IT’S A MATTER OF RIGHTS BY ISAAC SHELTON Copy Editor

f a stranger walked into Bullitt East today they would see, “it’s a matter of pride” in every hall, on every shirt, and even on the side of the building. This phrase can be taken in multiple ways. Chargers take pride in academics in knowing that they attend a school of distinction. Chargers take pride in athletics as several sports teams continue to grow in success, winning district, state, and even national titles. Chargers should have a matter of pride by not judging their peers and instead accepting other students regardless of their gender identity. It’s no secret that East’s student body and faculty have many similarities. The majority of Charger Nation shares the same race, religion, and point of view on most matters. They live in similar neighborhoods, attend similar churches, and even socialize in similar social groups. It seems like everyone should get along, unless, of course, you’re different. Then, this family-friendly town becomes small and isolated. Transgender citizens are a minority all around the world. A minority that many cannot understand, because they have not encountered a group of people who don’t identify with their view of normal. And in most cases this uncomfortable feeling that some cisgender students experience when they are around transgender people turns into judgment. Often, this uncomfortable feeling some people experience happens in the restroom.

This uncomfortable feeling around transgender people will not disappear when BE seniors accept their diploma. It will follow them to every job interview, every restaurant, and any other public environment. Transgender people exist and they will almost inevitably cross paths with East alumni. They could be a Charger’s employer, a Charger’s customer, even a Charger’s doctor. As a school whose primary goal is to prepare students to be college and career ready, we have to start doing exactly that in more ways than just on paper. In both paths, students will come into contact with transgender citizens. In fact, a significant portion of East’s graduating class attends the University of Louisville, which is the most diverse college in the state. Expecting students to go from a world where everyone is the same, to a world where there is diversity around every corner is impractical. It will eventually interfere negatively with not only their education, but ultimately all of their future life opportunities. Many fail to see the benefits in allowing transgender people to use the restroom which coordinates with their gender identity. They will only see a break from “tradition” or a change from the “ordinary.” They will say their religion prohibits it. They will say it goes against everything they stand for. These people preach only bits and pieces of their faith without mentioning that that same faith teaches, above all, to accept and love one another no matter what. It’s time to practice what you preach and accept these transgender

students for being who they are. At the end of the day, it’s the transgender students who put themselves out there. They are trusting their peers to accept them, and they are trusting the school system to treat every student the same. It’s time to return the favor. This problem isn’t going away. How many Chargers do we have to place in a no win situation before we are ready to accept each Charger equally? There was a time in American history when women could not have the right to vote because it had never been done before. There was once a time when people could not be married based on their skin color. There was a time when African American citizens were beaten for fighting for the same restroom rights transgender citizens are fighting for today. These changes in society did not happen overnight. They were not easy, and people fought to prevent what all Americans today seem to accept. But today we accept them because brave citizens broke the barriers and exposed others to another perspective. The phrase “it’s a matter of pride” should mean more than it does right now. There should not only be pride in sport teams and academic achievements, but in every student who attends Bullitt East. As a stranger walks through Bullitt East for the first time, they should see past the trophies and the ACT Wall of Fame. It should be clear every student has basic rights. It should be clear every student is accepted. It should be clear that our pride for one another doesn’t have a gender. page by Eric Sanchez