Security Overhaul Grant brings sweeping changes to school safety policies
Official newsmagazine of Southport High School
Volume 98 Issue 1 August 30, 2019
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR There’s nothing like that first Journal Friday of the year. The reporters get to see their stories in print, finally tangible and ready for people to read. The editors watch their designs that were once only inspired sketches come to life on a page. Anyone who walks into Room 400 on that early morning distribution can feel the buzz of excitement and overwhelming pride “For our readers, for the first print issue. the excitement For our readers, the excitement is is only just only just beginning. We have plenty beginning.” of interesting, unique content to offer this issue, from a review of The Mocha Nut Coffee Shop to an editorial about the value of fanfiction. In addition, our cover story takes an in-depth look at the security policies that have been implemented this school year. It’s fascinating to delve into how Perry Township came to receive a $1.1 million grant for such a project and evaluate what the changes might mean for students. Thank you for picking up Issue 1 of The Journal. We can’t wait to share what we’ve been working on. For continued coverage, follow us on social media and visit The Journal Rewired.
Haley Miller, Editor-in-Chief Rachel Bayler, Print Managing Editor
J
Julia Brookshire, Online Managing Editor The Journal
971 E. Banta Road Indianapolis, Indiana 46227 Adviser Mike Klopfenstein Principal Brian Knight Business Manager Sherlyn Garcia
Editors Jordin Baker Shelby Denny Brianna Henry Emma Herwehe Marissa Muñoz Russell Peterson-Womack Elizabeth Valadez Jacob Wiese Staff Cartoonist Trinity Trent Graphics Artist Kayla Brown
Reporters Nayeli Ahuatl Thian Awi Eli Beck Kayla Brown Bridget Cagle Kelsey Jones Tanny Khun David Masengale Phoebe Mawi Sophia McKinney La’Kenzie Parker Shelby Reeves Nathan Smith
CONTENTS Features
COVER
The ride of her life, 4 Fresh faces, 6
Entertainment Spilling the beans, 8 Oozing success, 10 Sopo Sudoku, 12
Foreign Language Lamzin rak ongtu, 14 Aprendiendo desde cero, 16
News
20
‘State-of-the-art,’ 20
Sports Leading the pack, 26 Q&A with Kendall Henderson, 28 The Hustle With Russell, 29
Opinion
8
Music ‘n Musings, 31 Back on the grind, 32 All the feels, 33 Share the spotlight, 34 Journal Address, 35
Photos SHS spirit, 38
Have an opinion to share with The Journal’s readers? Write a letter to the editor!
26
4
Follow our social media! @thesopojournal
@theSHSjournal
@sopojournal
The SHS Journal
Features
Editor: Elizabeth Valadez
The ride of her life Senior finds confidence in horseback riding By La’Kenzie Parker, Reporter
A
t the young age of 7, senior Isabel Turner found her passion: horses. Since then, others have seen her grow and think she has potential to pursue a career through this passion. “It takes a lot of making myself do things because I’m busy almost all the time, so I don’t really get a lot of free time,” Turner said. While being very involved with the debate team and volunteering at places like the Humane Society of Indianapolis and the Indianapolis Zoo, Turner excels in school. She takes A.P. classes, is a member of National Honor Society and is at the top of her class. She does all of this while actively riding and competing in equestrian events. Turner displays work ethic and responsibility in her everyday life, according to her fellow equestrian, Mikalya Adkins. She says she looks at Turner as a role model. “It amazes me that she is able to volunteer and ride horses in the same week as well as being the top
of her class,” Adkins said. An average day of horse riding for Turner consists of a 40 minute drive to the horse barn, Senior Isabel Turner practices the two-foot Hunter’s Pointe jump with Chevy on Aug. 17. The two-foot jump Farm, located in competition typically consists of eight jumps. Cicero, Indiana. Photo by Jordin Baker While there, One upcoming competition she works with her trainer and the that Turner has to look forward to horses. She usually doesn’t return is a competition called Hill Top home until around 9:30 p.m. Summer Horse Show Series at Turner also competes in Wild Air Farms. Held on Labor northern Indianapolis at Wild Air Day Weekend, this will be the first Farms. Along with the competitions competition she’s competed in since at Wild Air, she will travel to she switched to Hunter’s Pointe competitions all over the country Farm about two months ago. This in places such as Florida and Ohio. will also mark her first competition There are competitions year round. with a horse new to her, Chevy, a Turner competes about two to three Welsh pony with a light gray color. times a month over the summer, On a competition day, Turner twice a month in the winter with arrives at the competition site the Interscholastic Equestrian between 6 and 7 a.m. The horses Association team and almost are already there because they are monthly during the fall and spring. taken to the place of the competition
TURNER’S TROPHY CASE 2016 Indiana Saddle Horse Association Horse Show 2nd place - Open Color Horse/Pony Halter
4 Features
2016 Marion County Fair Reserve Grand Champion Halter Mares
2017 Heartland Combined Test 3rd place Crossrails Combined Test
2018 Marion County Fair Limited Rider Overall High Point Limited Rider Contesting High Point Limited Rider English Reserve High Point
Turner practices going over the fence with Chevy on Aug. 17. Photo by Jordin Baker
a day in advance. This is to help the horses refrain from getting agitated from all of the travel and gives them time to get used to the location. Around 7 a.m., the horses get fed and brushed to make sure they look presentable. Next, the horses get warmed up by their rider, riding them before they have to be shown at 8 a.m. Turner usually does the two-foot jump competition. She is given 20 minutes beforehand to memorize the jump patterns before executing the jumps in front of judges. After the jumps are completed, they circle the ring and then exit. Once the jump is over, the horses go back to their stable. A few hours later, Turner goes to the building where the scores are distributed to see how
she did. Turner’s new trainer, SHS graduate Robin Lawrence, admires her work ethic and sees potential for Turner to ride horses as a profession. From an individual standpoint, Lawrence looks at Turner as a very conscientious person. She cares about the wellbeing of the horse, including how to take care of it and what it eats. Lawrence says that she sees this in Turner more so than she sees in any other kid she has worked with. “Her mind’s in the right place to do this for a living,” Lawrence said. Turner’s former trainer Kaitlyn Wheeler says she sees a shift when Turner begins to work with horses. “She seems to let go of her anxiety and calm down,” Wheeler said. “Horses help her escape from her everyday life. She always seems much happier and more confident with horses, especially when she tries something new.”
2019
2019
Interscholastic Equestrian Association Horse Show Reserve High Point
Marion County Fair
2nd Place - Varsity Intermediate Over Fences
Turner walks Chevy around the outdoor arena. Photo by Jordin Baker
2nd place Hunter Hack Over 56 Inches
Features 5
Pictured: Melissa Stanley, Jaclyn Richardson, Andrew Frey, Paige Wyatt, Chris Quinn, Tammy Tellas and Maggie Tidrow. Photos by David Masengale, Russell Peterson-Womack and Elizabeth Valadez
Fresh faces Discover fun facts about new staff at SHS
Scan to read the full Q&A with the new SHS staff members
By Daniela Melendez and Elizabeth Valadez, Features Editor
Maggie Tidrow Counselor
6 Features
“I love people. I love helping people, and I know that with counseling, it’s not necessarily like helping, but I’m advocating for you guys, I’m there for you guys. And I think that’s a big part of it because sometimes you’re in a school and you don’t have someone you can go to, and I like to be that person.”
Melissa Stanley ENL teacher
“My husband and I traveled around for a year in a van a couple years ago. So we sold our house, took a year off and traveled with two dogs. It was pretty crowded. We went everywhere. We went throughout Canada and the U.S. and down to Mexico, and then we parked and left the dogs with family and went to Thailand and China.”
“To be honest, I like to just read and sing. I haven’t been reading for a long time now but my favorite book is The Gifted Hands.”
Miriam Mawi Biology teacher
Chris Quinn Health teacher
John McBurney Piano teacher
“It’s a new school for me. This is my 21st year teaching, and the excitement is still there. I went to Roncalli High School, so I’m very familiar with this area, and I wanted to get back to this area. I’ve been teaching down in southern Indiana, so this was a great opportunity for me, and I’m just excited to be at SHS.”
“I grew up living in three different countries. I was in Kansas when I was very young, and then I lived in Canada for quite a while, and I lived for a short time in Ireland also. I would go back to visit Ireland in a heartbeat.”
“Because I live
Tammy Tellas Math teacher
Paige Wyatt English teacher
in Southport, you’ll often see me and my two hairless dogs with their little bodies sticking out of the car in the convertible in the summertime. I have people ask me ‘Is there something wrong with your dog?’ and I’m like ‘No, he’s like that.’”
“I actually went to high school here and I had a really good teacher here. Mr. Bowles was my 11th grade English teacher, and I loved him, and he made class really fun. Every day when we came in, he kind of made it feel like we were just sitting down and listening to him tell stories, but he was teaching us ... I think that’s the best
Sara Neville FACS teacher
Courtney Worley Master teacher
“I’m actually excited about getting my new student club up and going. It’s called FCCLA. It’s a brand new club here, so I’m excited to bring it here. Family is the central focus of it. We also talk about careers and preparing for the future and a lot of community involvement and community service...”
“I have bungee jumped off of the highest jump in the world (in Switzerland). That was in college, I was so stupid, so it made sense to do things like that back then. I would never do that now. I didn’t really want to do it then but everyone in our group did it and I was like, ‘Well I’m not staying on the ground by myself.”
kind...”
Jaclyn Richardson Choir teacher
“When I was in middle school, actually, I loved my choir teacher. I loved how I felt when I walked in her class. I loved singing. I loved the break that it gave me in the day from the academics, as a seventh grader, you know. It’s funny saying that now. So I decided when I was 11 years old that I was going to be a choir director...”
Andrew Frey Business teacher
“I started coaching, actually, before I got into teaching, and that kind of made me want to go into teaching to help grow students at a bigger level than 20 at a time through coaching.”
Features 7
Entertainment Editor: Brianna Henry
Spilling the beans The Mocha Nut Coffee Shop offers new cafe experience to Southport community By Phoebe Mawi, Reporter
A
t first glance, it looks like just another bland coffee shop off the side of Southport Road. However, the parking lot always has cars pulling in and out. There are always people smiling, enjoying their coffee and having conversations out at the wooden tables in front. When I walked into the shop on an early Saturday morning, my anxieties flew out the window as I was greeted with a warm welcome. The Mocha Nut Coffee Shop, located on 1625 E. Southport Road, is a local coffee shop that is co-owned
and operated by Clint and Marnie Weber and their son, Seth. The shop gives off a relaxed atmosphere with tasty drinks, and its family-owned roots create a connection with the Southport community. As soon as I stepped foot inside the shop, I was hit with the pleasant smell of coffee and a friendly greeting from the cashier. I was surprised to see that there was already a small crowd of people there, even though it was only 8 a.m. on a weekend. The interior is industrial and has a comfortable, rustic vibe. The smell of fresh coffee, the whispers of
Scan to visit The Mocha Nut Cafe’s Facebook!
8 Entertainment
the customers’ conversations and the sound of the coffee machines whirring made me feel welcomed and safe. The shop is a perfect size, not tiny or huge. It has a relaxing environment and isn’t loud or very busy like other cafes. I also love the decorative hanging light bulbs because they add warmth to the room, making it feel homey. I must admit that I don’t really enjoy drinking coffee, but I decided to try the iced vanilla latte and the strawberry açaí flavored refresher. When my friends arrived, we decided to try the snacks that they had. We all agreed on the oatmeal no-bake cookies, which we learned were made by none other than Marnie’s mom. We loved hanging out there and had a great time because it felt nice to talk and laugh out loud in the cafe. Overall, I think it is one of the best places in the community to just hang out with friends or to go alone to enjoy the atmosphere, coffee, free WiFi and positive energy. Seth, the co-owner that I talked to, shared some future goals for the shop. Seth said that they want to add a drive-thru to make it easier for people to order coffee, and they also want to get more involved in community events in the future. Delaney Brown, a barista at The Mocha Nut, thinks that everyone who knows about the place should come and give it a chance because it is a nice place to relax and talk. She thinks it’s a great spot to connect All photos by Kelsey Jones
and is happy to see that almost everyone that comes in is with someone else. Later, I got to talk to Marnie, who told me the whole backstory of the coffee shop, which started as a family dream to give back to the community. They were always talking about opening up a coffee shop that would allow people to feel comfortable and interact with each other, not stare at their phones. Her friend, Carol Torp, also shared that dream with her, but unfortunately, she passed away before getting a chance to open the shop with them. Freshman Kaitlin Osborne is a close family friend of the Webers and goes to church with them. “Carol and Marnie were the leaders of my sister’s youth group,” Osborne said. “When Carol was in the hospital, her and Marnie were talking about ways to expand the community and ways to put their talent in place, and they decided it would work if they opened a coffee shop. So as soon as Carol died, they went and bought it. They told us this was what Carol would have wanted.” In late August 2017, Marnie’s family bought what used to be a Greek restaurant and took nearly two years to renovate it because they were doing all the work themselves along with the support of friends and family. Marnie continued to share with me the
hardships of turning the dream of owning a coffee shop into a reality. At first, they thought they would be able to open in about 3 months, but because of issues and the amount of work they had to put in the shop, it took a little longer. There was a lot of stress and grief, but Marnie and her family learned throughout the whole process. They officially opened on June 10, 2019, about three months ago. For me, it definitely seemed worth the time and effort they put into it because every little design detail came together, giving the Mocha Nut a picturesque feel to it. They impressed me, my friends and everyone else I have talked to about the shop. From a Greek restaurant to a coffee shop with a rustic, at-home feel, The Mocha Nut Coffee Shop is one of the best places to go hang out with loved ones and get coffee. The blood, sweat and tears of two years of renovation really paid off to give the shop a designated aesthetic but sincere feel. I am glad the coffee shop is gaining the attention it truly deserves. I see the shop to be more of a destination than somewhere one just goes to get coffee. I strongly recommend anyone go check it out if they have the chance and to bring friends or family along as well.
Seth Weber, one of the co-owners along with Clint and Marnie Weber, makes espresso shots.
The Journal tried... Lavender Latte Rating: 4/5 Light, soft, mellow
Iced Café Miel Rating: 4/5 Woody, smooth, milky
Flat White Rating: 3/5 Dry, harsh, smoky
Iced Americano
The Mocha Nut Coffee Shop opened on June 10, 2019. Since then, it has become a regular spot for Southport locals to drink
Rating: 4/5 Acidic, tangy, light
Entertainment 9
Oozing success
Sophomore makes profit off of famous slime account on Instagram By Kayla Brown, Reporter
10 Entertainment
Sp
Ba
wb a r St
erry Italia n
I
ce
Scan to visit @macarons.slime on Instagram
and so did her sales. Although Nava started the business herself, her friends help her with ideas, naming and testing. In addition, her family joined in on the fun and now helps her throughout the process as well. “I feel like it has made me become closer to my family because my family helps me with slime, so I became closer with them,” Nava said. Nava enjoys doing the work to support her business and has a five-gallon mixer that creates a giant batch of slime in around 20 minutes. According to Nava, with 299 types of slime currently posted on her Etsy page, she sells out pretty often. Last year, she would sell around 200 to 300 slimes every week. Slime sales vary depending on the season, and her slimes sell more frequently during summer, with about 600 slimes sold per week. Her slimes vary from icee to foam to even slushee types. At the moment, Kiwi Slush is a reigning best seller. All slimes are made by
Bubble
th
S
ophomore Pilar Nava owns a slime business and in turn has an Instagram account, showing off the slime she makes and reviewing others that she’s been sent as well. Through this, she’s gained over 460,000 followers. In addition, she has an Etsy account with over four stars. She has made and sold almost 19,000 slimes. Nava’s successful slime business has opened her life to both changes and new opportunities. “It’s really fun,” Nava said. “It can get stressful at times, like with school and family stuff that I have going on. But overall it’s really nice to be a part of what it’s like outside of school.” Becoming interested after buying some slime, Nava started her slime business, known as MacaronsSlimes, because of the 2016 Instagram trend where people would make and showcase different types of slime. Nava knew that the trend was popular, but she didn’t expect the amount of growth she got. Her Instagram page got bigger
kle rin
e De Lim ev i on N
S s h
Slime recipe Ingredients -one six ounce bottle of glue -half a tablespoon of baking soda Sophomore Pilar Nava owns a famous slime business that she promotes through her slime account on Instagram.
Nava and are shipped internationally in small, customized packages. She says she has no secret recipe, but according to many reviews, the enticing smells and different textures are amazing. On the homepage of the MacaronsSlimes Etsy, in bright red text, most of the slimes show that multiple people already have them in their carts, ready to be purchased. However, although she enjoys it, there are some stressful aspects to owning a business. With school, family and friends along with MacaronsSlimes, Nava has a lot on her shoulders. “I feel like I don’t put that much into school anymore because I have slime,” Nava said. Nava also feels stress because of having to restock her business. She tries to restock once a week, but since school has started, restock times have started to vary in timing. She’s only working on the business in her free time and only got one restock this August. Her stress hasn’t gone unnoticed
by her friends either. Nava has to keep up with the business while handling her school classes. Her friend, sophomore Anaika Castillo, says she’s there to help and come up with ideas when needed. “I sometimes feel like it’s too much stress on her if she can’t come up with new ideas,” Castillo said. “Whenever she’s stressed, I’d always be like, ‘Go take a nap, go play with your dog, go play with your little cousins.’” Despite her stress, Nava thoroughly enjoys pursuing her business, and her family and friends are there to support her in the process. Nava has even become an inspiration to her friends. Castillo says Nava has inspired her to want to create her own business as well. Although Castillo is nervous to do so, Nava has supported her ideas along the way. “I always have ideas and I share them with her, and she’s very supportive about it, too,” Castillo said.
-one bottle of contact solution Directions Pour entire bottle of glue into a bowl. Add baking soda and stir until combined. Then add contact solution until the mixture starts to firm up. After sufficiently firm, use hands to knead the slime until the preferred texture is reached. Recipe from somewhatsimple.com
Entertainment 11
Sopo Sudoku 7 6 8 9 3 4 6 8 1 8 2 3 5 3 1 4 8 9 2 6 8 4 7 7 2 9 2 3 6 7 8 Want the solution? Follow @thejournalrewired on Twitter.
Tiptop Trinity by Trinity Trent, Staff Cartoonist
12 Entertainment
Win
FR
EE
Purchase 7 eyebrows threading, get 8th free!
Bring this ad and get eyebrows done for $6.99, or brows and tint for $18.99.
4 News
Asian Market
Store Phone 317-497-8302 Fax 317-497-8300 Cell Phone 317-332-5054 317-937-9370
8375 Madison Ave. Indianapolis, IN Email- soesoewin1024@mail.com
Foreign Language Editor: Marissa Muñoz
Lamzin rak ongtu Laimi sayama thar in Laimi pawl hrang SHS ah palai a ttuan Ngan tu Thian Awi, Reporter
P
assing period ih science hallway feh ah saya/sayamah pawl tlawngta an hmuak lai hmuh theih a si. Asinain, tuikum ihsin saya/sayamah pawl lakah sayama thar in tlawngta pawl a hmuak thok ve. July 24 thok in Miriam Mawi cu SHS ah science sayama a ttuan thok. Perry Township ah Laimi sayama hmaisabik a si; cumi asinak ah a lungawi ih a hgakhlap tla a hngakhlap zet. Asinain, a awlsam ve lo. “A pakhatnak Laimi sayama ka si ruangah phurrit tampi ka nei,” Mawi in a ti. Phurritnak a neih sannak cu Southport ih nunphung tthang deuhdeuh mi amah in a aiawh ruangah a si. SHS tlawngta ah Laimi pawl hi 20% an si, asinain tlawng saya/sayama ttuantu tampi an um hrih lo. Himi ruangah, Mawi in SHS ah Laimi saya/sayamah pawl tampi um ding a thupi tiah a ruat. “Southport hi miphun dang
tampi kainak asi,” Mawi in a ti. “Khami ruangah tu cu hnattuan tu pawl tla miphun dangdang le hnam dangdang si ding ah thupi.” A department chair le biology sayama ve, Amanda Schnepp, in Sayamah Mawi asinak cu thupitak in a ruat ve. Schnepp in SHS tlawngta pawl palai an neih dinghi thupitak in ret
Mawi ih Thu
Ziangvek degree saw na neih? “East Carolina University ah biology degree ka la ih cule University of Indianapolis ah Master of Arts in Education timi degree ka la. “
14 Foreign Language
dingah a duh. “Kan tlawng le kan khawsa tlang hi miphun tampi an um, cu ruangah kan tlawngta pawl hi anmah ih hmuihmel kengtu saya/ sayamah an neih ding hi a thupi tiah ka ruat,” Schnepp in a ti. Mawi in shelter classes pawl tla a zirh, shelter classes cu mirang ttong thiam deuh lo pawl hrang ih khan an tuah mi a si. Himi khan in, a tlawngta pawl kha an theih thiam thei dingin zirh a duh. “Science hi mirang ttong thiam pawl hrang hman ah a har mi ca a si, mirang ttong thiam lo pawl hrang ah cun a har cuang,” tiah a ti. “ELL tlawngta ka rak si dah thu le tu sayama ka ttuan thei thu sim sehla tu ELL tlawngta pawl tha ka pe thei ding ka zum. Cule Lai ttong tla ka thiam ruangah ka simfiang thei deuh ding.” Tlawng hotu Brian Knight in himi tlawngta pawl hi saya/ sayamah dang pawl ih an bawm theilo mi ah Mawi in ah bawm thei
Ziang tuah saw na paih zawng? “Hla ngai le hla sak ka paih tak.Ca siar tla ka paih.”
Ziangtik kum ah saw America ih na rawn? “September 2008 ah America ka thleng.”
Miriam Mawi (vorhlam) in tlawngta pawl a khan ah a bawm lai. Tlawngta pawl in Mawi ih zirh ruangah an tthathnempi ding tiah an zum. Zuk zuk tu Nayeli Ahuatl Ahuatl
To read an English version of this story, scan the QR code.
ding tiah a zum. “Ka zumnak ah, ttong a let theih nak, a zirh theinak le tha a pek thei nak pawl hi a khan ih ummi tlawngta pawl hrangah thil tthahnemtak a si ding,” tiah a ti. Laimi tlawngta in tla Mawi an sayamah asi a tthathnemtak ding tiah an zum; ziangahtile, an ttong a thiam ve ih cule Laimi asi ruangah an theithiam aw awl. “Kei ka hrangah a sunglawi, ziangahtile Laimi sayamah ka nei dah lo,” tiah freshman Cung Par in a ti. “Cule, Lai ttong in kan biak ruangah biak a awl sawn.” Laimi sayamah neih hi thil thupi a si ti ah a zum ve. A thupi ti ih a zumnak cu mirang ttong thiam lo pawl in Lai ttong in thu an sut thei ding ruangah a si. Asinain, Mawi hi Laimi asi ruangah SHS ih hire mi asilo. “Kan tlawng ah tlawngta-
sayamah a rung ttuan ih cumi ihsin kan theihmi a si,” Knight in a ti. “Sayamah ttha a si tiah ka zum ruangih ka hire mi asi.” Phunsang tlawng a kai lai ah, Mawi in sayama a ttuan tum lo lawk. Asinain, nauhak pawl Sunday School ih a zirh hnu ah a ruahnak a thleng sal. “Ahmaisa ah sayamah ka ttuan paih lem lo,” Mawi in a ti. “Asinain, Sunday School sayama ka ttuan hnu ah mi zirhtu si a nuam tak ka ti.” Mawi cu East Carolina University ah phunsang tlawng a kai, cumi tlawng ihsin biology degree a ngah. Cule, University of Indianapolis ihsin Master
of Arts in Education tdegree timi a ngah. Laimi hmaisabik a sinak ihsin phurrit a nei nan, a hrang ah cun a tlawnta pawl kha a khan ih um nuam an ti ding hi a thupi sawn. “Ka hrangah cun ka tlawngta pawl an um nuam ding hi ka duhbik,” tiah a ti. “Ca tuah sual an ttih lo ding tla ka duh ih, ka khan ih an um sung cu thil thar an zir ringring ding hi a thupit bik ti ka zum.”
Tlawngta pawl Miriam Mawi ih khan ah ca an tuah rero lai. Mawi in a khan hi a tlawngta pawl hrangih nuam dingah a duh. Zuk zuk tu Nayeli Ahuatl Foreign Language 15
Aprendiendo desde cero Estudiantes trabajan con companeros en sus programas de apredizaje para la clase de idioma extranjero chino. Toda la clase esta basado en línea. Foto por Nayeli Ahuatl
Estudiantes de idioma extranjero chino intentan de aprender sin maestro en clase Por Nayeli Ahuatl, Reportera
T
omar una clase de idioma extranjero no es fácil para la mayoría de los estudiantes de SHS, especialmente para los estudiantes que no tienen a alguien allí para hablar el idioma. Este año, el departamento de idioma extranjero de SHS está haciendo nuevos cambios para los estudiantes que eligen tomar la clase de idioma extranjero chino. A medida que el maestro anterior se retiró, los estudiantes aprenderán el idioma en línea. “Preferiría tener un maestro para nosotros,” dijo Cing. “Es mejor que nada, supongo.” El año pasado, hubo un maestro chino y orador para los estudiantes.
16 Foreign Language
El Sr. Mao fue el único maestro disponible en SHS que enseñó el idioma chino. Señor, Mao decidió más tarde que se retiraría. Esto dificulta a los estudiantes que están aprendiendo el idioma, ya que no pueden obtener ayuda de otra persona en el edificio. A medida que comienza el nuevo año escolar, los estudiantes ahora están tratando de progresar. Aunque los estudiantes no han tenido el comienzo que esperaban mientras luchan por iniciar sesión en el aula de Google. Por esta razón, los estudiantes no han podido hacer ningún trabajo durante las últimas dos semanas. Junior Lian Cing dijo
que no ha estado trabajando en sus tareas ya que el programa no está completamente desarrollado. “Sí, estamos trabajando en ello,” dijo Cing. “No está en sesión completa. Hay algunas cosas en el aula de Google y la mayoría de las cosas no podemos hacerlo porque el aula de Google no funciona.” A partir de ahora, el nuevo programa podría afectar a los estudiantes, ya que no tienen un maestro para hablar el idioma. Su nuevo maestro en línea es de otro estado. No solo eso, sino que los estudiantes también están tratando de mantener sus calificaciones altas. El estudiante de último año Van
Thawng Lian dijo que enfrentará nuevos desafíos en el aula. “Creo que hay muchas cosas nuevas que tenemos que enfrentar que no estuvieron aquí el año pasado,” dijo Lian. “Ahora nuestra maestra es de un estado diferente y no es de aquí, así que es difícil pedir ayuda porque es a través de mensajes de texto o correo electrónico.” El programa puede afectar y estresar a algunos estudiantes en la clase de idioma extranjero, pero también está ayudando a los estudiantes al mismo tiempo. Esto les da a los estudiantes la oportunidad de aprender nuevas palabras y frases que los estudiantes no aprendieron el año pasado. Lian mencionó que el maestro ha estado enviando videos que parecen ayudarlo. “En realidad, me está ayudando porque nos está enviando videos de los que podemos aprender chino,” dijo Lian. “Estoy aprendiendo nuevas palabras y caracteres de todo eso.” Aprender chino no es una tarea fácil o un idioma para aprender. Necesita años de práctica antes de que pueda ser bueno en eso. Escribir el idioma chino también es muy difícil para los estudiantes y las personas en general. Verás vídeos, leerás libros y comprenderás la
cultura china. Aunque los estudiantes no tienen un maestro dentro del aula, el maestro de SHS Tom Davis está supervisando a los estudiantes para asegurarse de que estén haciendo su trabajo. Él solo está allí para asegurarse de que los estudiantes estén bien y supervisarlos. Él cree que los estudiantes están completamente preparados para trabajar en el programa y trabajar con su nuevo maestro en línea. “Parece que tuvieron una buena preparación del año pasado, por lo que no debería ser difícil,” dijo Davis. “El otro lado del programa en línea también debe ser flexible.” A medida que los estudiantes intentan enfrentar nuevos desafíos al no tener un hablante chino este año, aún logran resolver el programa. Aunque los estudiantes tienen que trabajar con su nuevo maestro en línea y pedir ayuda de una manera difícil, el Sr. Davis siente que los estudiantes están completamente preparados para el programa y los nuevos desafíos. “Hasta ahora, lejos de los niños chinos, parecen muy sinceros y trabajadores,” dijo Davis. “Estaban listos y ha sido un comienzo positivo y espero que tengamos la oportunidad de ponernos en marcha.”
Hechos rápidos ¿Cuántos hablantes de chino hay en el mundo? Hay 1.2 billion hablantes de chino en el mundo, cerca de 16% de la población mundial. Fuente: www.ethnologue. com. ¿Cuántos hablantes de chino hay en Indiana? Hay 26,000 que hablan la idioma chino solo en Indiana. Esta es 0.4% de Indiana. Fuente: U.S. Census Bureau ¿Cuánto ganan los profesores de la idioma extranjero chino en un ano? Los profesores de la idioma extranjero chino ganan 47 mil dolares por año en los E.E.U.U. Fuente: GlassDoor, Inc.
To read an English version of this story, scan the QR code Estudiantes de la clase del idioma extranjero chino trabaja en su programa en línea. Contactan con su maestra por la computadora. Foto por Nayeli Ahuatl Foreign Language 17
Follow us on social media! Hello everyone, it’s Shelby Denny, the Social Media Editor. As you may know, in previous years there has not been an actual social media page in The Journal, but this year all of that is changing. Social media is one of the main sources of communication with students. Through our different accounts, we hope to connect with each student in a more effective way. The Journal Rewired has the newest stories and is updated throughout the entire year, so they can be read at any time. Any time a new story is posted, you can count on a tweet regarding the story or an Instagram story to make sure you won’t miss out. Not only do we have an Instagram and Twitter, but we also have a Facebook and Snapchat. Be sure to add us to your following list to keep up with new stories, updates and Journal Friday challenges!
We’ve got you covered! @thesopojournal
@sopojournal
@theSHSjournal
The SHS Journal
Scan this QR code to begin the scavenger hunt throughout each of our social media platforms.
1625 E. Southport Road, Indianapolis, IN 317-840-8620
News 5
News
Editor: Emma Herwehe
‘State-of-the-art’ $1.1 million grant allows school to update security By Emma Herwehe and Shelby Reeves, Reporter
20 News
New security cameras funded by the Motorola grant can help administration identify potential threats and act on them as quickly as possible. Photo contributed by Eric Woodke
S
chools have been increasingly more dangerous in the past 20 years, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Threat prevention measures such as more advanced security cameras, identification devices and alarm systems have begun appearing in schools across the nation. SHS is joining these schools by introducing new security measures schoolwide. “It makes me realize just how efficient technology can help or how technology can help with efficiency,” Assistant Principal Andrew Ashcraft said. In July, Perry Township received a grant, valued at $1.1 million, from Motorola to improve and streamline its security technology at SHS and PMHS, with the two schools acting as platforms to showcase Motorola’s products. Included in this grant was improved security cameras, radios and identification software. “It was very exciting…,” Associate Superintendent Chris Sampson said. “We could increase the security of our buildings. We are increasing the response time in our ability to respond to situations, all at no cost, so it was very exciting.” Motorola is an American
Do you like the new lanyards?
21% 61%
18%
Yes No No opinion Do you feel safer with the new security measures?
28%
30%
42%
Yes No No opinion 156 students were surveyed during iPass on Aug. 21.
(Left) Success Coach T.J. Lovejoy responds to a message on his radio. Photo by Jordin Baker
multinational telecommunications company. It gifted SHS its new technology to be placed around the school. The company began this security reinforcement with a pilot program last school year at PMHS in order to see if it was efficient in assuring school safety. The feedback was positive, and procedures migrated to SHS for the upcoming school year. The first of many changes is the most noticeable to students: lanyards. Students are expected to wear them at all times throughout the school day. The school IDs attached to the lanyards are used for student identification, buying lunch in the cafeteria and borrowing library books. Lanyards are also going to be used as an entrance into school dances. They will help staff recognize the grade level each student is in, as they are color coded based on class. “I honestly don’t really notice (the lanyards)…,” junior Nathan Taylor said. “I think it’s a really good idea. It has its ups and downs, but I think it’s very good to identify who people are.” If students were to forget their lanyard, they would need to report to Student Services to receive a
News 21
Students are required to wear lanyards that correspond with their graduating class. These lanyards help administration and teachers identify students, and they also allow for a faster procedure when students are buying lunches.
temporary ID. These are able to be thrown away at the end of the day. However, since about 80 students per day receive one of these IDs, staff is trying to put emphasis on remembering lanyards. “I don’t want to give consequences (for forgetting lanyards),” Assistant Principal A.J. Martzall said. “I want the behavior to change.” To improve identification capability, “state-of-the-art” cameras, according to Martzall, now feature new technology that allows them to recognize a person’s appearance as they are entering the school. In addition, the new cameras outside are solar paneled, so they are less expensive. “In the past, (watching the cameras) used to be cumbersome,”
Principal Brian Knight said. “Like you would watch a screen, and then sometimes (the person on camera) would turn a corner, and then you would go to a couple of different cameras and wait for them to come out.” Sampson worked with Motorola to provide the grant to Perry Township. He says SHS and PMHS were the first in the nation to put the company’s new security features in place. “(Motorola was) looking for a large district in a big city that could test their product,” Sampson said. The procedure for entering the school has changed this year as well. In the morning, most of the doors will be open to allow students an efficient way to reach
their classes. However, once the bell has rung, only certain doors will remain unlocked, and students will need to proceed to Door 1 to enter the school. Administration has labeled doors used for exiting during the school day with red and green signs, identified as “Go” and “Stop” doors. If any “Stop” doors are used, administration will be sent a notification and take action when necessary. Senior students who have an unassigned study hall will need to report to Door 1 as they are reentering the school. Administration is aware that these students don’t want to make the trip from the student parking lot to the front entrance, so they are working on a plan that will allow seniors to enter
Administration has labeled “Go” and “Stop” doors for students to use during the day. This map highlights the doors available for usage during the school day.
22 News
Do you think the new security policies make students safer? “Students can come here and get their education and not have to worry about some of the other items.” Assistant Principal Amy Boone
“I think it does because it offers more checks to make sure that people can’t come into the school...” Math teacher Jason Adler
“I think it’s good that it’s inconvient sometimes. In the long run it’s better. Safety for everyone.”
a secure entrance at Door 12. “It’s very frustrating to walk to Door 1, especially if it’s raining,” senior Tori Bell said. Social studies teacher Joseph Leonard believes that some students don’t fully understand all of the things that go into the new security measures. He is appreciative of the extent to which administration has gone for the safety of the school. “I think it’s easy to complain about those things, especially as students, but everything (administration does) is for our safety every day,” Leonard said. Student feedback surrounding the new security measures has been mixed. Sophomore Vincent Duncan does not see much of a need for them in the first place. “I don’t actually feel safer at all,” Duncan said. “I don’t understand why they are put in place. I don’t think many people really come in and out of school. There’s not really much of an issue, (and) there wasn’t much of an issue before.” Sophomore Miranda Deane says she says she feels a little safer and understands the need for the new measures, but she wishes that SHS could implement metal
detecting equipment. “Even if you had facial recognition in the cameras, you could still walk into school with a gun in your backpack,” Deane said. “You could be the next school shooter, and no one would know because the security measures are just your face.” Knight says he is happy with how the school has responded to this year’s changes in security. He has witnessed students encouraging others to wear their lanyards and informing one another about obeying the new procedures. Current data shows how important these procedures can be. In the 2015-2016 school year, 79% of public schools recorded one or more acts of violence, theft and many more, totaling around 1.4 million crimes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. “I wish we didn’t have to do any of this…,” Knight said. “We live in a day and age where unfortunately we have to take some measures to make sure we’re safe as a school (and) make sure you’re safe when you’re here.”
The grant allowed SHS to update its camera system, allowing for smarter cameras with more precise imaging.
Math teacher Cathee Cullison
“We don’t know who gunmen are... With a lanyard... I know that you belong here.” Perry Township Police Officer Thomas Shambaugh
News 23
Step by step The Journal gave Assistant Principal A.J. Martzall the hypothetical scenario that a student exits through an unofficial entrance during the school day. Here’s how the new security system would respond to this proposed situation.
1 2 3
24 News
Student goes through incorrect door. Per the new security measures, the only doors to be used during the school day are 5, 8, 1, 12 and 20. Some of these entrances have not been made official yet, but Martzall explains that they will be staffed and ready for use in the near future.
Certain administrators receive a notification that an incorrect door was used on their cellphone, accompanied with a snapshot from a security camera. They also are alerted on their radios which door was opened and can choose to inform another staff member of the situation.
Responder follows security protocol that is currently being developed for the ‘19-’20 school year. Martzall says that most of the time, the staff member will simply use the situation as a teaching opportunity because students are still learning about the new entrance and exit procedures.
The sad truth More security doesn’t solve issue of school violence By Haley Miller, Editor-in-Chief Logically, this generation should be the one most naturally protected from violence in our schools. We were practically raised on “Stranger Danger” videos and Code Red drills. But alas, here we are in 2019, and whatever may seem logical has been flipped on its head. In this year alone, at least 17 mass shootings have occurred, according to ABC News. Now, the reason Perry Township and SHS have installed updated security technology and revamped procedures isn’t inherently gun violence-although that may have played a role in why Motorola would fund such a grant in the first place -- but for all intents and purposes, the reasoning behind the new security doesn’t matter. The question still burning in my mind, at least, is whether or not this will make us safer. There’s certainly the
comforting notion that security acts as a preventative measure. Perhaps a potentially dangerous individual will be discouraged by the safeguards in place, or the streamlined system can stop an event before it happens. In that respect, I do feel safer having a better camera system and a more efficient process for ensuring that doors aren’t being accessed by the wrong people. Still the part of me thinking on a more national level feels uneasy about heightened security in schools. I don’t want educators
being forced to come up with ways to protect children while members of Congress are shirking that responsibility. It is the role of the government, after all, to protect certain human rights in exchange for the surrender of others. To me, the right to be safe while pursuing education seems like one that should be placed at the top of the priority list. I also know, deep down, that strengthening security isn’t going to stop a determined violent individual from acting on violent impulses, nor will all the congressional laws in the world. School violence is a problem so ingrained in American culture that it’s nearly impossible to discern potential solutions from potential escalators. At SHS, the new safety measures make me feel more comfortable on a surface level, but considering the tragic reality of our country, I can’t pretend to feel legitimately and unquestionably safe.
News 25
Sports
Editor: Russell Peterson-Womack
Leading the pack
26 Sports
Experienced wide receiver transitions to quarterback for senior season
G
By Eli Beck, Reporter
oing into his third season as a varsity SHS football player, senior Ryan Lezon will line up at an impact position, but not the same one he has in years past. “He’s always kind of been just one of those overall outstanding athletes,” head coach Brandon Winters said. After accepting a full-ride scholarship to Ball State University in Muncie to play wide receiver, the position he played last year, Lezon will be taking on a new challenge as the quarterback for this upcoming season. “He adjusts pretty quickly with just about anything,” Winters said. “He’s a really talented player. He’s very intelligent.” As a junior, Lezon led the team with 74 receptions, 1,069 receiving yards and 14 touchdown receptions. Lezon was also selected for the All Conference Indiana, All Marion County, All State and All USA Super Team this past season. Although this is Lezon’s first year as a varsity quarterback and he’s working with many young wide receivers, the team still has high expectations for themselves this year. “Just win the first game, win conference, win a Sectional Championship,” Lezon said. “That’s everybody’s goal, and that’s what I want to do.” Lezon accomplished his first goal by leading the Cards to a 35-10 victory over Roncalli High School on Friday, Aug. 23. Lezon led the team in rushing, with 151 yards, and passing yards, with 81. Last season, the team had 13 seniors who played on offense, but
this year Lezon and senior tight end Matthew Muñoz are two of only eight. These two have had to take on bigger leadership roles this season. “It’s a lot different...,” Muñoz said. “This year I kind of got to take some (players) under my wing, so it’s a good challenge for me.” Since it’s the first time he’s been under center since his freshman season, Lezon has had some struggles of his own in his transition. According to Winters, there are times when Lezon can be too competitive. “(Lezon) just tries to win every play,” Winters said. “Sometimes when you’re the quarterback, you just have to not make a big mistake.” Lezon has big shoes to fill following a record-breaking season by former SHS and current Ball State University quarterback Eddie Schott. Schott stepped up during his senior season at SHS last year and managed to break the previous quarterback, Luke Johnston’s, record for most passing yards in a single season with 3,238. “(Lezon) has different strengths than (Schott) does,” Muñoz said. “They’re both great though.” According to Winters, Lezon is already comfortable in his new varsity position. Lezon has plans for the future ahead of him, playing at Ball State University beside his former quarterback. But Lezon, along with many of his teammates, is focused on the season directly ahead of him. “I’m super excited,” Lezon said. “I’m ready to get up (to Ball State University), but we got a job to do for my senior year.”
Senior Ryan Lezon prepares to throw a ball at practice. With two years of varsity football under his belt, Lezon will switch things up by taking on a new position for the 2019 season. Photo by David Masengale
Sports 27
Q&A with Kendall Henderson Four-year varsity athlete on the girls soccer team talks about her time in the program By David Masengale, Reporter Q: What has been your favorite part? A: “I honestly don’t know. I loved all of it, even the sprints we have to do, and the losses were just good for me I guess.” Q: What was it like to be a freshman on varsity? A: “It was kinda weird cause everyone was older than me, and it took some getting used to because everyone was bigger than me, and it was a lot faster than I was used to.” Q: Did the new head coach Nicole Duncan change a lot of things when she started? A: “Yeah, we were a lot more focused during practice and in previous years we kinda got off track and didn’t really work hard, but she brought in the mentality of ‘You gotta work hard if you want to get better’.” Q: Do you think the growth has been positive? A: “Yes, especially in the past two years. My freshman year was very rough, sophomore year we did make it to the sectional championship but fell short in that game. Last year was kinda rebuilding, and this year I think it’s gonna be a lot better.”
28 Sports
Photo by Jordin Baker
Q: Any tips for younger players? A: “Enjoy every moment of it because I definitely, freshman through junior year, took a lot of stuff for granted, and now I’m wishing I could go back and do some of it again.”
The Hustle With Russell
Transgender high school athletes should be able to participate in the sport of their preferred gender By Russell Peterson-Womack, Sports Editor It’s not often that a boy wins the high school state championship in a girls sport. However, this is exactly what happened for Mack Beggs, a transgender wrestler in Texas, who won the state title two years in a row (2017-2018). This has sparked controversy all over the nation, but it isn’t what it seems. Beggs hasn’t been consciously setting himself up for success by competing against opponents of the opposite gender. On the contrary, Beggs was born a female and has started the process of transitioning to male by taking low doses of testosterone. Beggs tried to enter the male division, but due to Texas law, he has been forced to wrestle with the gender he was assigned at birth. For reasons like this and others, high school transgender athletes should be able to participate in the sport of their preferred gender if they have begun the process of transitioning. According to the Human Rights Campaign, over half of transgender males and nearly a third of females
Down to the Digits
15
attempted suicide at some point in their life. And according to GLSEN, it is essential for LGBTQ+ people to have a feeling of inclusion in their communities. Allowing students to be a part of the sport of their preferred gender would lead to a more positive environment at school. LGBTQ+ students that participate in sports average a GPA 0.2 or 0.4 points higher than students not involved in sports. Even though these might seem like significant benefits, not all of the nation sees it this way. Seventeen states, including Indiana, have laws in place that prevent transgender athletes from participating in the sport of their preferred gender unless the
The boys soccer team scored 15 goals against Greenwood High School on Aug. 19.
24
student has already undergone transition surgery and provides medical evidence of physical changes. Unfortunately for transgender athletes, surgeries like this are not cheap. In fact, they can cost upwards of $120,000, according to the Philadelphia Center for Transgender Surgery. This is clearly a major commitment and cost for the athletes to be making in the first place, and it shouldn’t be expected of them to get multiple surgeries before competing. However, small amounts of testosterone injections for women can cost around $300 to $1,500 a year, according to healthline. Estrogen for men can cost about $1,500 a year, according to GoodRx. Hormonal injections like these would start giving the individual physical attributes of the opposite gender and in turn make competition more fair. The benefits of better grades and a better social life justify allowing athletes to play with their preferred gender.
Senior Lauren Cullison led the girls volleyball team with 24 kills against Decatur Central High School on Aug. 19.
25
The football team beat Roncalli High School by 25 points on Aug. 23.
Sports 29
Henry Discount Auto Repair Henry Bachit Owner
Girls Varsity Volleyball Home Games
8/19 Decatur Central 8/22 North Central 8/24 Southport Invitational 8/27 Franklin Central 9/5 Bloomington South 9/10 Columbus North 9/12 Warren Central 9/23 Beech Grove 10/5 Marion County Semi Finals 10/5 Marion County Finals
6:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 10:00 a.m. 6:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 10:00 a.m. 1:00 p.m.
3029 S. Shelby St. Indianapolis, IN Cell: 317-469-5853
News 5
Opinion
Editor: Jacob Wiese
Music ‘n Musings
Approach the school year with an open mind Column by Rachel Bayler, Print Managing Editor If I’m honest, I was kind of dreading the start of this school year. Sure, I couldn’t wait to see all of my friends or catch up with my old teachers, but by senior year, the novelty of the first day has worn off. New teachers and classes are all well and good and bring their own surprises and challenges, but one starts to learn what to expect by their fourth year. Now, feel” to signify how the narrator a month in, everyone has their feels at peace and free within his routine pretty much nailed down surroundings. He has left his “old and things around school have lost world” behind for a “new world” their luster. But that isn’t how it and plans to enjoy the fruits of his always has to be. efforts, knowing he can “sleep in One of my goals for this year peace when the day is done.” is to try and approach things Despite its rather laid-back with an open mind and minimal sound, this song really does expectations. I’m hoping it will encompass the way I want to feel make my senior year more exciting by the end of this year: energized, and a little less routine, and force at peace, accomplished. In order to me to not simply go through the do that, there needs to be a change motions until May. The inspiration in perspective. behind this goal comes from the There are not a lot of surprises song “Feelin’ Good,” a soulful song school can hold by the end of August, brought to life by the great Sammy especially for sophomores, juniors and Davis Jr. seniors. Excluding procedural, staff “Feelin’ Good” is a song about or other changes, every school day is freedom and optimism, and feeling more or less the same, and it becomes hope for the future. The lyrics harder to spot the new and exciting describe peaceful sights, like birds among the day-to-day. In order to flying, sun shining, rivers flowing turn this perspective on its head, and stars shining, followed by one should embrace the idea that the statement “You know how I this “old world,” full of familiarities,
HOT:
The Mocha Nut Coffee Shop FNL Popeyes chicken sandwich
Scan here to listen to Sammy Davis Jr’s “Feelin’ Good”
is actually a “new world, and a bold world,” one full of new possibilities and opportunities. Taking advantage of the different extracurricular options SHS provides is one way to initiate a change in perspective. Attending the meetings of more clubs, going to more games or maybe even getting involved with the theater department can all be really helpful in showing a different side to high school. Everyone’s high school experience is different, but that doesn’t mean it has to be boring. In the coming months, try to exercise a more open mind when it comes to school. It isn’t all grades and block schedules. It’s an opportunity for growth, and an important one on the crest of adulthood. My favorite line from “Feelin’ Good” gives the basis for this new perspective: “it’s a new dawn, it’s a new day, it’s a new life for me.” In other words, every day is a new day, and every school year is a new year, so take a leap and take advantage of the blank slate that is being offered. My hope is that in May those who have decided to view life through this lens can look back at the school year and gain a sense of satisfaction that has left them “feelin’ good.”
NOT:
Spiderman leaving MCU VSCO girls More Disney remakes Opinion 31
Back on the grind Returning to school early is beneficial By Emma Herwehe, News Editor
Talking with my friends from other schools, one of the most discussed topics is how early I go back to school. Returning to school at the end of July has become normal for me, but with my friends going back in the middle of August, it used to feel like we got an unfair amount of summer break by comparison. But as summer came and went, I have realized that the positives of going to school this early outweigh the negatives, and SHS students should appreciate the benefits we get because of it. This year, our first day of school was July 24, which means we got approximately eight weeks of summer. I was able to do a lot in those eight weeks, and if I had any more time, I would’ve probably run out of things to do. A longer
32 Opinion
summer would most likely make me procrastinate longer on my summer homework as well. With this balanced schedule, we get two-week breaks in the fall, winter and spring. When I am very stressed out and in need of a mental break, I would rather have longer breaks during the school year. With a longer summer, we would get shorter breaks during the year, which wouldn’t be very beneficial to me. According to The Charlotte Observer, a newspaper with a large circulation in North and South Carolina, missing out on a full two months of instructional time is harmful in the long run. No matter the learning abilities and level of individual students, losing that much class time is not beneficial to
their growth. We also have to focus on the economic side of this debate. Teachers do get paid during the summer but aides do not. Students with lower income will have the guarantee of three meals a day. SHS serves breakfast, lunch and “dinner” (right after school) during the school year. I feel very grateful to be back in the swing of things this early. I feel more productive and prepared for the school year and I can’t imagine still being on summer break right now, completely bored and out of shape. Right now, in school I am a lot more social and productive. Going back to school this early was very beneficial to me and provides benefits for everyone else at SHS.
All the feels
Fanfiction should be taken seriously By Bridget Cagle, Reporter
If I’m being completely honest, fanfiction is underrated in the creative writing community. For those who don’t know what fanfiction is, it is a piece of writing that is based off of characters in a movie, musical, show, book or any other media that the writer itself doesn’t own, but tweaks the story line or adds more such as a new ending, character deaths and character relationships. It’s amazing for the writer and its readers, yet people stereotype it to a teenage girl crying over a One Direction poster, writing on a sloppily put together website and using several emoticons after every sentence. Like most stereotypes, there are exceptions, but for the most part fanfiction is not like its assigned stereotypes. As a fanfiction writer myself, I find fanfiction to be an outlet. I’ve tried more than once to make an original story, but it can be near impossible 99% of the time. The checklist for an original story includes things like beliefs, characters, background characters’ descriptions, slight foreshadowing, plot, plot twists, items used by characters (sword, stone, etc), character names that give the reader a sense of their personalities, different character personalities and character traits. The list goes on and on. With fanfiction, it’s already there. The characters are already established for the writer and for the reader. It makes writing so much easier, especially when you first start out.
Fanfiction can be published online, but there are cases in which they are even published as a book. Take, for example, “The After” series by Anna Todd. It started out as a One Direction fanfiction on a site called Wattpad, and now has over a billion views and has been made into a stop motion picture. Additionally, fanfiction gives the writer room to grow. For me, writing fanfictions is my practice. I refer to them quite often as my “draft babies.” They give me space to strengthen myself as a writer within a series I’m familiar with and am comfortable writing about. As mentioned, readers benefit from fanfiction just as much as the fanfiction writers do. Within fanfiction, characters that might have little screen time but a huge roll in the plot get more of a spotlight in the writing. The readers, and myself, get
clarification on several small to large details that are expanded upon within the fanfiction. Can’t remember the hair color of a character? The fanfiction tells you! Fanfiction doesn’t just clarify details to the readers, though. It increases their readers’ reading comprehension and gives them imaginative ideas to keep them into the fandom even long after the series, band or show ends. That’s why fanfiction is so underrated, specifically in regards to what it does for its community fandom. It’s a constant fuel for both readers and writers. It brings the characters into new situations. It lets writers grow, yet it’s so stereotyped in many ways that people don’t take it seriously.
Scan this to read Bridget’s favorite fanfiction, “You Always Have What Others Don’t!”
Opinion 33
Share the spotlight Other sports deserve more attention By David Masengale, Reporter
All students hear about each week during the fall sports season is how big the football game is going to be. However, there are so many other exciting fall sports to follow and watch, and the football team needs to share some of the spotlight. This is most apparent in the size of the audience at each event. The soccer, volleyball, tennis, golf and cross country teams all compete during the week. Sometimes the cross country teams even compete over the weekend. Their meets aren’t publicized as much, so people simply aren’t aware of the games and don’t go. I have seen the girls golf team this year, and I can say they are looking great. I went to watch a match to take pictures. Being a non-golfer I didn’t know what to expect because
34 Opinion
of my lack of knowledge of the game. Of what I know of the game, I think the girls did very well. They did a phenomenal job beating Ben Davis High School that day by 60 points. Girls volleyball is also an amazing way to spend the weeknight. Volleyball is my favorite sport to watch and to play. The energy is off the charts. The most energy comes during the final set when the girls are only a few points away from taking home the win. The fans are always on their feet cheering losing their minds with every serve, set, pass and kill. They have already started their season off in a big way by winning both their games after coming back from a losing first sets. Another fall sport that I think deserves to have a chance in the
spotlight is Ultimate Frisbee. The games are always entertaining to watch because of the fast-paced motion of everything. It is always exciting to see two people go up for a disc and one sky the other and drop them to the ground. My favorite part is to watch that game winning hail mary to the endzone and the incredible jump to catch it by the lip of the disc. There is so much more to fall sports than just Friday Night Lights. Consider going to Tuesday Night Thrills or Wednesday Night Drives. So go out and explore some other sports that SHS has to offer and help support your student athletes.
Journal Address
Gun violence requires immediate government action JOURNAL ADDRESS
This is the opinion of the editorial board of The Journal In a little over a month, at least 34 people have lost their lives due to mass shootings. The loose definition of a mass shooting is “an event involving the shooting of five or more people,” which means that this number doesn’t account for lives lost in smaller scale shootings. We, The Journal, believe gun violence should be brought to the forefront of the national conversation. Taking other countries into consideration like New Zealand, which changed its gun laws less than a week after a mass shooting occurred, the U.S. is lacking the necessary urgency to improve and update our current laws surrounding gun control. There’s no doubt that other major problems are affecting millions of families nationwide, but Americans can’t do anything to help stop these issues if their lives are being senselessly taken by guns. One hundred Americans are killed with guns every day, according to Gifford’s Law Center. If people don’t think something needs to change, then they have simply become numb to gun violence because of how much we see daily. In the most recent mass shootings, like El Paso and Dayton, many politicians and people in our government have stated that the reasons behind these tragedies are because the shooters are
Cartoon by Trinity Trent
victims of past trauma or have mental health issues. We can stress mental health all the time, even in situations such as these. But to use it as an excuse to not fix the real problem at hand is unacceptable. Shooting after shooting, the typical white shooter is labeled as troubled because some people can’t accept that domestic terrorism can exist in what many see as the greatest country. Domestic terrorism is classified as any act in which the perpetrator attacks people of his/her own country, usually for political purposes. Unfortunately, the mass shooting in El Paso is a perfect example of an attack against his own country to carry out his political, racist agenda. Authorities believe that the gunman posted a manifesto before he killed 22 people and injured 24 in El Paso. According to ABC News, many of the victims had Hispanic last names and eight of these victims were from Mexico. After his 10 hour drive to open fire at a shopping center, the gunman later told detectives that he was, in fact, targeting Mexicans. The manifesto states that his racist ideas predate Trump era, along with “This attack is a response to the Hispanic invasion of Texas.” So, are these shootings going to be passed off as mental illness, or are these acts of racist, domestic terrorism that many refuse to see and acknowledge? The fact of the matter is, even if
it is argued that mental health issues are responsible for these shootings, people with these mental illnesses would not be able to carry out such violent tragedies if they did not have access to such dangerous tools. Accessibility to guns is a major factor in the reasons behind any shootings. According to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute, there are 393 million guns in circulation. This statistic is terrifying because anyone with the right connections can have access to such harmful weapons. For example, the gunman responsible for the Dayton shooting acquired his equipment from a friend and was able to carry out his act of terror. This accessibility, according to Everytown for Gun Safety, also increases the risk of death by suicide by 300%. People can argue that even if guns were taken away, people determined to commit suicide would find another way. However, according to EveryTown for Gun Safety, less than 5% of suicide attempts without a firearm result in death. With everything else in our country that causes national panic, preventing gun violence should be a top priority. The alarming death rates and number of shootings per year make it obvious that change needs to be made to ensure safety in the United States of America.
J
Opinion 35
Anaya’s Mexican Restaurant
SHS Home Games Football:
8/30 - Perry Meridian @ 7 p.m. 9/14 - Gibson Southern @ 2 p.m. 10/4 - Terre Haute South @ 7:30 p.m.
Girls Varsity Soccer:
9/3 - Pike @ 7:30 p.m. 9/5 - Trinity Lutheran @ 6 p.m. 9/16 - Whiteland @ 5:30 p.m.
Boys Varsity Soccer:
Monday-Saturday: 9:00 am - 10:00 pm Sunday 9:00 am - 3:00 pm (317) 497-8904
9/5 - Shelbyville @ 7:30 p.m. 9/10 - Decatur Central @ 7:30 p.m. 9/19 - Franklin Central @ 7 p.m.
1285 N State Rd 135 Greenwood, IN
Saturday, September 28, 2019 Southport High School Cardinal Stadium Registration Begins @ 7:30am Run Begins @ 9:00am Health Fair & Fitness Circuit 8:30-10:30am
News 5
FOR MORE INFO CONTACT THE INDY SOUTH CAREER CENTER (317) 888-3410 Or Text “NM71” to 462769 (GOARMY)
Photos
Editor: Jordin Baker
SHS Spirit 1. Senior Keirstin Piatt dances with the rest of the cheerleaders to the school song. Piatt has been on varsity for three years. Photo by Kelsey Jones 2. Booster club member senior Taylor Jackson gets everyone hyped up about the football game that night. Photo by Jordin Baker
The student body attends the first pep rally on Friday, Aug. 23 to hype up the fall season.
3
3.
Senior Olivia Scaggs cheers at the pep rally. This year the cheerleaders performed a new dance routine, choreographed by former student Olivia Brite. Photo by Jordin Baker
4. Freshman Madison Thacker plays the school song on a marching baritone. Photo by Kelsey Jones 5. Senior Megan Frank plays a very large and competitive version of Rock, Paper, Scissors. The seniors won against the sophomores, and the juniors won against the teachers. Photo by Jordin Baker 6. Junior Nathan Taylor pushes junior Joey Mack
on a scooter during a life-sized version of Hungry Hungry Hippos. They were going so fast that Mack fell off the scooter. Photo by Jordin Baker
2
1 6
4
e
3
5
Photos 39
Hello! I’m Julia Brookshire, and I am serving as Online Managing Editor this year. We are working to grow our website, and I know I can count on the student body to help. We include a lot of great coverage in The Journal print edition, but not everything can fit in a 40-page newsmagazine. That’s where The Journal Rewired comes in. Our website includes more editorials, sports recaps, photo galleries and Online In-Depths, something similar to the cover story found in print. Students and faculty can also submit story ideas. Scan the QR code above to check out www.thejournalrewired.com!