The Journal (18-19) Issue 3

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Volume 97 Issue 3 Oct. 5, 2018

Cardinal Tale

The story of the SHS mascot -- its history, its purpose and even its name Midterms

Elections lead to discussion over young voters. page 4

Too Much Work

Media Manager gives opinion on overworked teens. page 28

Homecoming Parade Gallery displays SHS spirit in annual festivities. page 30

ISSUE NUMBER

3

OCT. 5, 2018

FROM THE EDITOR DEAR READERS,

“At SHS we are all Cardinals, and we should be proud.”

Once again, thank you for picking up a copy of The Journal! Issue three has been one exciting journey that tested many people on staff, including myself.

Although there were a few bumps along the way in creating this issue, I couldn’t be more proud about how far the staff has come in the first quarter of this school year. It’s crazy to think that we are already one-fourth of the way through the year and have already put out three issues of our paper.

This issue, our centerfold stor y is all about the mysteries and rumors about our school mascot, the Cardinal. During this quarter I’ve heard many rumors about his official name, where he originated and why he’s even a cardinal. I was lucky to sit in on an inter view with the writer and the editor to hear all about SHS histor y. This is why I would like to thank the Alumni Association, specifically David Ladd and Barr y Browning for letting us sift through all the past Journals and Anchors at PTEC. Most of the pictures in the stor y come from there.

During this inter view, Ladd said something that resonated with me. He talked about how the Cardinal is what unifies the school. It did in the past, and it does now. I think our mascot is something we should all be a little more appreciative of. I think it’s nice to know that no matter who we are or what club we’re in, whether it be athletics, Robotics, Green Earth Society or The Journal, at SHS we are all Cardinals, and we should be proud.

Madelyn Knight Editor-in-chief

Contents The Red Onion 20

News 4

-RISE OF THE CHROMEBOOKS -CHINESE ZODIACS

-VOTING FOR THE FUTURE

Entertainment 8

Foreign Language 24

-THE FAMILY IN ROOM 150 -INDY TREASURES -GO, GO, GOJKO!

Sports 12

-DYNAMIC DUO -THE UNCERTAIN FUTURE -IN THE LONG RUN

-PARTICIPACIÓN VALIOSA

Opinion 26

-MUSIC N’ MUSINGS -CURB THE COMPLAINTS -SHOTGUN STIGMA -DON’T LET DREAMS BECOME NIGHTMARES -THE JOURNAL ADDRESS

Features 16

Photos 30

-FLYING THROUGH TIME

-THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE SOUTHPORT

Editor-in-Chief Madelyn Knight ‘19

Entertainment Editor Savannah Doane ‘19

Online Managing Editor Lyndsay Valadez ‘19

Features Editor Hannah Garrett ‘19

Print Managing Editor Jaycee Fitzgerald ‘19

Sports Editor Michael Long ‘19

Adviser Mike Klopfenstein

Foreign Language Editor Yasmin McClellan ‘19

Principal Brian Knight

The Red Onion Editor Emma Sprague ‘19

Business Manager Justin Chambers ‘19

Photos Editor Noah Thomas ‘19

Media Manager Clara Oesterling ‘19

Opinion Editor Rachel Bayler ‘20

Staff Artist Nina Gojko ‘19

News Editor Haley Miller ‘20

@thesopojournal

@theSHSjournal

@sopojournal

www.facebook.com/ TheSHSJournal

www.thejournalrewired.com

Reporters Tabby Fitzgerald ‘19 Dylan Torres ‘19 Viktória Vadovičová ‘19 Logan Zrebiec ‘19 Nicole Whitman ‘19 Jordin Baker ‘20 Julia Brookshire ‘20 Grace Campbell ‘20 Cobalt Henson ‘20 Russell Peterson-Womack ‘20 Jacob Wiese ‘20 Shelby Denny ‘21 Brianna Henry ‘21 Emma Herwehe ‘21 Kelsey Jones ‘21 Bailey Kennett ‘21 Marissa Muñoz ‘21 Jessica Paro ‘21 Elizabeth Valadez ‘21

Southport High School 971 E. Banta Road Indianapolis, Ind. 46227

News

Haley Miller, Editor

VOTING FOR THE FUTURE Art by Nina Gojko

US Senate elections occur on Nov. 6.

Here’s what students should know:

By Elizabeth Valadez, Reporter

matters. This is going to influence your future,” said Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of "This Indianapolis Laura Wilson.

Wilson is referring to the upcoming Senate election, in which 35 of the 100 seats in the Senate will be contested, or challenged, by Senate candidates. Two of these 35 seats will be contested through special elections, meaning there are two vacancies in the Senate that need filled. The election will take place on Nov. 6. The three candidates running for Indiana are Republican Mike Braun, Libertarian Lucy Brenton and Democrat Joe Donnelly, who currently holds office as one of the senators of Indiana.

Wilson says that the most debated topics in this Senate election are gun control, immigration and healthcare.

She also believes that young people need to start caring about elections now, because the decision of the polls influences every individual’s future.

“Because it’s a congressional midterm, a lot of times people don’t pay as much attention…,” Wilson said. “But this is a really important election.”

4 News

What issues are at stake?

Key issues in this election and the stances of the candidates greatly influence voters, whether they are with a certain party or not.

According to mikebraunforindiana.com, Candidate Mike Braun, hunter and National Rifle Association member, is a supporter of the Second Amendment, which gives the people the right to have and bear arms. His campaign website also states his opposition to the Affordable Care Act, saying that “Obamacare is an unmitigated disaster for Hoosier families and businesses.” Braun believes that this law has to be repealed and replaced with a more functional healthcare system. In addition, he thinks that more border security is necessary because Congress has failed to protect its people from illegal drugs and immigrants that have entered the country illegally.

Candidate Lucy Brenton believes in the Second Amendment as well, according to lucyforsenate.com. She feels that, because arms are the right of the people, it is their job to protect themselves, not that of the government.

Brenton’s solution for healthcare is to form private healthcare cooperatives, which would allow people with similar lifestyles to split health care costs. Her philosophy on immigration is to “let the good people in.” She believes it needs to be easier to remove people who have immigrated illegally and might be in the U.S. for the wrong reasons.

According to donnelly.senate.gov, current Candidate and

Indiana Sen. Joe Donnelly supports the Second Amendment and doesn’t agree with restrictions on bearing arms. He believes in the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare. He thinks it makes access to quality healthcare easier for Hoosiers.

OnTheIssues, a website providing non-partisan information for voters, says Donnelly does not believe in immigration amnesty, in which legal citizenship status is granted to immigrants in the U.S. illegally.

Although these issues do not cross many students’ minds, they are - Midterms occur exactly very important, according to halfway between a Wilson. She says these issues, like President’s four-year term. gun control and immigration, get national attention because they - In addition to one-third affect all citizens.

How do

congressional

midterms work?

of U.S. Senators, all 435

Why should students care?

Social studies teacher Bonnie Tempest does not want uninformed students to vote. If students do not care and decide to vote, their vote may not align with what they truly want from the polls. Paying attention, even if students are under 18, will help them be ready to vote when the time comes.

She encourages students who are planning to vote, however, to look locally. Senators represent the voice of the state to the U.S government and can pass bills for individual states. If the people don’t elect who they feel fits their beliefs, then important issues like taxes and education won’t be covered, in their eyes, the right way.

“State legislature has more influence over our individual lives than the national elections,” Tempest said.

Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Indianapolis Laura Wilson, in agreement with Tempest, says that students may not think some issues matter, but these elections make extremely big decisions for the state. The fact that 18 year olds have the ability to vote and have a voice in government should be taken advantage of, Wilson says.

For example, at SHS, there are many immigrant families. EL teacher Amy Peddie says SHS has almost exactly 400 EL families, but there are many more immigrant families than that because students have tested out of the EL program. Depending on who gets voted into office, these families could face potential struggles or benefits.

The refugee ceiling, or the number of refugees the government lets in annually, has decreased drastically. Peddie says this year 45,000 refugees were allowed in the country, and next year that number will be down to about 30,000. Her statistics are confirmed by The New York Times. The people that hold office set these numbers, and their decision depends on how they feel about immigration and borders for the U.S.

members of the U.S.

Another part House of Representatives of immigration laws determine are elected. the possibility of college and its factors. Peddie says this can - The midterms are seen as make immigrant students unsure a reflection of the current of their future plans, as President’s popularity. senators and representatives in government have Information from USA.gov. different ideas across the board.

“A lot of what affects students are laws about college, and whether or not they can go, and how much they have to pay,” Peddie said.

Sophomore Noah Clark, who enjoys keeping up with politics, thinks that the most important topics are foreign affairs, the free press and President Donald Trump’s ideas in general. Depending on the senators that are voted in, Trump’s ideas may be rejected and less accepted by the people.

Clark says that, at most, students at SHS have as little as four years until they can have a voice in the real world.

Therefore, staying informed and caring about these smaller elections means something in the long run. He says it is extremely important that young adults have the power to elect their representatives.

“It definitely sounds cliche, but (the election) affects our future,” Clark said.

News 5

HOW TO REGISTER With elections coming up, people who are eligible to vote but are not registered yet still have time to register. Applicants need to note that applications are due Oct. 9. If applicants are currently 18, they may apply. If applicants are 17, but will be turning 18 before the election day, they are still eligible.

By Julia Brookshire, Reporter

Online 1. Go to indiana.voters.in.gov. Click on

6. Fill out general information.

“Apply Now” under “Register To Vote.”

7. Review information to make sure it

2. Enter first name, last name and

is correct.

driver’s license number.

8. Complete voter declaration.

3. Accept terms of use, then click on

9. Print confirmation page.

“Begin New Registration.”

10. Await confirmation by mail, and

4. Answer the following questions.

remember applicants cannot vote until

5. Confirm driver’s license number.

the application has been accepted.

Print application 1. Fill out general information.

5. If applicant doesn’t take application

2. Verify U.S. citizenship and confirm age

directly to the county voter registration

of at least 18 years old by election day.

office, person taking custody of

3. Obtain voter identification number

application must sign and date application.

using driver’s license number or the last

6. Mail or take form to the Marion County

four digits of social security number.

Voter Registration or the State of Indiana

4. Verify U.S. citizenship, age, criminal

Election Commission, according to

record and truthfulness of the application.

deadline requirements.

Print application can be found at in.gov or at state or local election office.

6 News

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Entertainment Savannah Doane, Editor

The family in room

150

Students at SHS find a home in after-school anime club

By Jessica Paro, Reporter

W

alking into room 150 after school on a Tuesday or Thursday, one may come across a group of students gathering around talking to each other, drawing, writing and playing games.

SHS has several clubs that have been around for a long time that different groups of students tend to love to take part in. One of these clubs that has been around for almost seven years, the anime club, is a smaller club that was formed

by SHS graduate Morgan Edwards, who was the club leader, Kara Locke the co-captain and Christian White who managed outside funds, in October of 2011.

At that time, however, it was called the book club because there was no sponsor and, according to Edwards, because anime was not widely accepted. When Mary Jane Jones, a former SHS librarian, began to sponsor the club, they started meeting in the library. The club started out as a way for these three friends to expand their friend group and to give other

8 Entertainment

fans of anime a safe place to enjoy it without the worry about being bullied.

“To put it short, we wanted to be a safe space without all the fancy words or names attached,” Edwards said.

He and the other co-founders, Locke and White, say that at the time of its creation, the anime club wasn’t very popular because anime wasn’t widespread yet. Over time though, they were able to gain more and more members. “(The club) was kinda medium then it got small then it got a lot bigger this year,” senior Hannah Sorrell said.

Eventually, as the club grew, it began to feel like a family to the members. These feelings of support and comfort have carried over to the present day club, as senior member Rebecca Perry says that her favorite part of the club is the family feeling it has.

“I like the family aspect of it, so we are all just like a big family and the seniors are like the big brothers and

sisters,” Perry said.

Perry started attending the club after hearing about it through a friend during her freshman year. Now, four years later, Perry remains a member of the club.

Like Perry, many others have been longtime members of the club, Sorrell is the president of the club and vice-president, junior Logan Black have been members since they were freshman.

“There’s a few students that have been working on making t-shirts so we can have this full-on group of us showing off what we are,” Black said.

While working independently most of the time, the club does have a sponsor to supervise and help organize the group. Their sponsor, English teacher Rico Gonzalez, became the sponsor after being approached during his first few weeks working at SHS. He initially thought another teacher was sponsoring the club, but once asked he says he gladly accepted the offer.

“I had all of this stuff in the classroom and I like all of the things the anime club did,” Gonzalez said.

The anime club has been in many meeting places and this caused some differences in the what they can and can’t do. But now, the club holds meetings in Gonzalez’s room every Tuesday and Thursday after school until 4:30 p.m. According to Gonzalez, his room is a better fit compared to their last meeting place, which was one of the conference rooms, because now anime posters and decorations surround them at every meeting.

Although the anime club has been through many changes, the club still has some of the same points that have been evident since its creation. Some of these points are the family like feeling, the relaxed environment, and how they about the meetings. However, the size of the group has been through ups and downs, but the members that are there today are the ones that make it a home away from home.

Artwork contributed by Rico Gonzalez and made by a collection of anime club students

Sophomore anime club studentCasey Walker-Arthur draws a character during anime club on Tuesday, Oct. 2.

Photo by Jordin Baker

Go, Go, Gojko!

Comic by Nina Gojko

Indy Treasures:

Photo by Jordin Baker

By Jordin Baker, Reporter

O

ff of 65 South in the middle of nowhere between Columbus and Gnaw Bone, Ind. lies Zoo’Opolis, an interactive petting zoo unlike any other.

Three years ago when the owner, Kathleen Bowen’s husband got dementia, she decided to stay at home and help him, and to make money they decided to start a petting zoo.

They started with regular petting farm animals - ponies, pigs, dogs, cats, chickens. But a year ago when an adviser told her that she would make more money and could make a better living if she got exotic animals, she knew that doing this would be more challenging and cost a lot more upfront, but was excited and decided to do it.

Now they have over 100 animals and 40 unique different species including animals such as peacocks, chinchillas, rabbits, cockatoos, foxes, coatimundis, a wolf and even a zebra. Visitors can come to their five acres of land to pet, play and feed most of the animals that they have. There is nothing keeping visitors from the animals, as anyone can go into the enclosures to play and be with them.

Going in, all I heard were the sounds of animals of all kinds.

There are many different exhibits and habitats hosting the unique animals that don’t normally live in Indiana. Animals such as coatimundis, crab eating racoons and skunks are temporarily in the same exhibit together. The coatimundis and racoons will come up to visitors, however a coatimundis climbed up my body and stuck his nose in my ear, and would grab anything that was shiny.

Aside from their original location, one can also find and experience Zoo’Opolis at one of their many events. They frequently partake in many fundraiser opportunities as well as fundraisers for themselves. Not only that, but one can rent out the place for special events like birthday parties

10 Entertainment

and weddings. They are open Wednesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. However, the best days to go are on the days that are the least busy, which are Wednesdays and Thursdays. Although they aren’t typically busy on these days, it’s always best to call and make a reservation just in case.

While it costs $33 for ages 16 and older to experience Zoo’Opolis and $22 for ages three to 15, the prices at Zoo’Opolis’ still offer a better deal than the Indianapolis Zoo. The Indianapolis Zoo costs $32.20 for ages 13 and older for the total adventure package, all-access to the entire zoo, as well as rides and animal feeds. But also offers the standard admission to the zoo, which includes access to the aquarium, gardens and dolphin show for $20.20. Though the Indianapolis Zoo is a great experience, Zoo’Opolis is much better in terms of family events, hangouts, birthdays and even dates. Unlike the Indianapolis Zoo, Zoo’Opolis is more personal, as not many people work there, and you can actually just go in and hang out up close and personal with the animals.

In the future, Zoo’Opolis plans to get more animals to add to their exhibits, such as a kinkajou and a sloth. They are also building four new outdoor exhibits for the new and existing animals in order to ensure them more space. They are also working on internships with Ivy Tech for vet techs, agriculturalists, construction and artists.

I love Zoo’Opolis and would highly recommend to anyone wanting to stay away from the normal zoo. This place is not normal at all and should not be looked at it like that. It’s a place that anyone can love and cherish animals of all kinds.

It’s a place that is not relatively that far in order to be and spend time with with a bird from Africa or a deer from China.

Zoo’Opolis is definitely a place where everyone can and should go.

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Sports

Michael Long, Editor

Dynamic du

SHS volleyball players use their skill sets to play off each other

By Russell Peterson-Womack, Reporter

P

laying against Seymour High School at a girls volleyball match on Sept. 3, the Lady Cards scored a point in the beginning of the second set that was a little more than just a point on the scoreboard for SHS. A set from junior Vanessa Miller led to a kill from junior Lauren Cullison, marking Miller’s 1,000th career assist.

This Miller-Cullison combo is one that the Lady Cards are used to. Miller is the setter on the team and, according to head coach Chelsea Hoffman, this is like the quarterback of the team. Hoffman says that some of Miller’s strengths, aside from her setting abilities, is her competitiveness and will to win.

The setter is responsible for running the plays and setting up scoring opportunities for the offense, which mostly revolves around Cullison, the team’s 6-foot-1-inch outside hitter.

Cullison is responsible for attacking the ball and blocking at the left front position on the court. The hitters receive the ball from the setter and attempt to score from there. Hoffman says that Cullison has become a much smarter hitter this season and processes unteachable strength when hitting the ball.

“You can’t teach a kid how to hit a ball hard,” Hoffman said.

“I can tell them where to place the ball, but I can’t necessarily teach them how to hit the ball hard.”

Cullison currently leads the Lady Cards with 311 kills, while Miller leads the team in assists with 535, as of Oct. 1. Miller says Cullison is a player she relies on while on the court.

12 Sports

“She’s one of the main hitters I go to when we need a point or a kill,” Miller said.

Both are leaders of the team in their positions and have the stat sheets packed, but Cullison is approaching a new level.

Cullison has the opportunity to play volleyball collegiately, as she verbally committed to play at the University of Indianapolis on Sept. 14. She has also tied the school record for most kills in a game with 26. Cullison is approaching the school record for most kills in a season, which is 399. This record was set by Hoffman in 2010 when she was attending SHS. According to Cullison, this is very exciting, but it does put a lot of pressure on her. She credits her teammates as an aid for the success she has earned.

“I represent more for myself now, and I have more to prove,” Cullison said.

According to Hoffman, since Cullison and Miller have played with each other for multiple years, they have had time to develop a connection.

Because of this connection, Miller has been there to help Cullison with her added pressures for the past two years.

According to Miller, the two are comfortable with each other and know how to comfort and support each other.

This chemistry has transferred onto the court, allowing the girls to truly understand how the other plays, which is vital in their positions. Cullison says that her and Miller are always on the same page and understand what the other wants or needs in order to score. If Miller wasn’t there to set for Cullison, Cullison says that it would not only “feel weird,” but it would also affect her performance.

“I feel like Vanessa has definitely helped me be successful this year,” Cullison said.

Miller also recognizes the value of having Cullison on the court.

“I think if we didn’t have Lauren, we’d be in some trouble,” Miller said.

Although Cullison’s and Miller’s skills are important to the team, there are a lot of other factors. Hoffman explains that the team can’t solely rely on Cullison to be the only scorer because other teams will catch on and start to block her. To combat this, the Lady Card’s back row works to get scoring options for both Lauren and other hitters to keep opposing teams on their toes.

Juniors Vanessa Miller (left) and Lauren Cullison (right). Photos by Kelsey Jones

The uncertain future

SHS boys tennis team to adjust after losing nine seniors

Photo contributed by Joni Streit

By Marissa Munoz, Reporter

W

with them. Underclassmen will have to rise to the occasion if they want effective results without the graduating class.

Junior Brendan Tyner will be the only returning varsity player on the team. Many things will be different relating to his experiences as all of the players he will be surrounded by with will be change. “(The seniors) are our team,” Tyner said. “Next year without them will be really, really rough for our season and for us in general off the court.”

Senior and varsity player Colston Streit has faith in the fate of team without him and others in his class. He sees promising qualities in the underclassmen that will make for a successful team in the future.

Streit believes that the underclassmen are motivated to get better and improve upon their skills from the past.

When he had the chance to hit with some of the junior varsity players, he saw they were inspired and looked up to the skill level of older players.

Some of the less-experienced players look to gain leadership roles in the following years as varsity positions become available. Leon wants to take after the current seniors.

“The goal that I have is to try harder,” said Leon, “and try to be as good as (the seniors) are and help a new player with how to hit.”

There is no doubt the nine seniors on the boys tennis team have made an impact on the program. Many successes made this year can be attributed to them and without their presence, others will have to step up in their place.

“They are close to me and Top: Junior Brendan Tyner prepares to serve against everyone else on the team because his Perry Meridian opponent in the first round of they are our team,” Tyner said. sectionals on Sept. 26. Photo by Jessica Paro.

alking through the west lot of SHS, one can notice the whopping nine senior banners for the boys tennis team. With all of these experienced players, the team was able to finish with a regular season record of 10-5. However, now that the seniors are moving on, the future for the team is uncertain.

In the next few years, underclassmen have big shoes to fill considering the departure of many of their teammates.

While some restructuring may need to take place, the team is looking to the future for more victories.

Even though the players of the class of ‘19 will not be able to play next season, some of their legacy will live on in the players who will continue on the team.

Junior Johnny Leon looks up to the current seniors for inspiration and leadership. “(The seniors) have been really good friends since freshman year and they are really good players,” Leon said.

“When I don’t know how to hit my tennis ball, they (taught) me how to and they are really nice people.”

While players are looking forward for years to come, they do recognize the gap they will need to fill. Six out of the seven varsity slots on the team were taken by seniors with only one junior competing

Left: Seniors Noah Hall (left) and Colston Streit shake hands on the team’s senior night on Sept. 17.

Photo contributed by Joni Streit.

Sports 13

Down to the Digits 5

The girls cross country team placed 5th in the Marion County tournament on Sept. 29.

10 The girls golf team was 10 strokes from placing third as a team in sectionals. To read a recap of the team’s season, head on over to thejournalrewired.com.

2,445

Through seven games, senior quarterback Eddie Schott is second in the nation with 2,445 passing yards.

14 Sports

In the Long run

By Michael Long, Sports Editor

NFL: National Fluff League

Today’s NFL games have the usual 22 players and seven referees on the field but with additional ton of unnecessary penalty flags. This is because of how the NFL, in recent years, has been turning soft.

It started a few years back when officials started cracking down on the helmet-tohelmet hits. This is when a defender leads with their head when tackling an offensive player, or hits them in the neck or head area.

This is a rule I can stand behind because of the severity of head and neck injuries.

Player’s careers can, and have been, wiped out because of hard hits to the head or neck that lead to paralysis or serious brain damage. Protecting players’ heads is something that needs to be done 100 percent of the time, and it’s good that officials are cracking down on it. But, a new point of emphasis has come up this season, roughing the passer.

Traditionally, a roughing the passer penalty was only called if a defender hit the quarterback well after he was done with his throwing motion. Now, refs are looking for a couple of new indicators to let the yellow flag fly.

One of these things is literally any contact from a defender to the quarterback’s head, and I mean anything. This joke of a rule was showcased when the Pittsburgh Steelers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers faced off on Sept. 24.

Tampa Bay defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul was tagged with a roughing the passer call, a 15-yard penalty, after grazing his fingertips on the back of Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger’s helmet.

Big Ben knew he had to draw that flag, so down to the ground he went, a 6-foot-5inch, 240-pound man brought to the ground by nothing more than some fingertips and the need for a first down.

The other things refs are looking for this season is something called the body weight rule. This is when a defender sacks the quarterback, but lands on them with their full body weight. To me, this seems impossible for defenders to avoid. If a 200-300 pound man is running full speed at someone to tackle them, how can they do so effectively without going down with them? They have to defy the laws of physics.

Green Bay Packers linebacker Clay Matthews has already been pinned with multiple penalties in this young NFL season because of this rule. One of them was on Sept. 16 against the Minnesota Vikings.

In this game, Matthews even stuck one of his arms out in an attempt to lay the quarterback that he just sacked gently on the ground, but his team was still penalized and robbed of the interception that was thrown during that play.

The NFL is wanting defenders to literally lay the quarterback down like a fragile doll instead of just tackling them which is ridiculous. I don’t even believe this to be for safety purposes either because any other player on the field (except kickers) can get tackled and landed on with the full body weight of the defender and no flag will be thrown.

I think this is a business move. The NFL wants to protect quarterbacks because of how popular they are. If star quarterbacks start missing games due to injury, less people will watch or go to the games, bringing in less money for the NFL. The League’s greed has lead to them prioritizing the safety of certain players over others, which is flat out wrong.

Maybe when people get tired of watching a beefed up two-hand-touch football game, the NFL will be forced to bring back regular football.

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Features

Photo by Madelyn Knight

Hannah Garrett, Editor

Flying through time Discover the real history of the SHS Cardinal

By Dylan Torres, Reporter

Evolution of the Cardinal

F

ootball games, pep rallies, school spirit. These are the types of events that any SHS student would think about when envisioning the Cardinal mascot, aside from the color red. But, why is that? Why is the mascot even a cardinal to begin with?

Who gave the face of SHS to SHS? Who is the cardinal? What does it mean? What is his name?

Some rumors have been sparked from these questions, such as the Cardinal’s name and origin. With that, there is only one question that students should be asking themselves. That is, “How much do I truly know about the Cardinal?”

To start off, SHS was first built in 1891. However, as the Southport community grew over time, there became a present need to expand, leading to the construction of new school buildings entirely. Times were changing and out of these changes emerged the birth of the Cardinal.

“When it comes down to it, Christopher (the) Cardinal represents the past, present and future,” said Southport historian David Ladd, a 1970 graduate of SHS. While SHS may have been constructed in 1891, the firstever mascot for the school did not debut until the 1927-28 school year. According to the book, “Hail, Hail Our Southport,” students felt the need to adopt a mascot, so members of the student body were allowed to submit suggestions for its creation.

Out of all the submissions, the Cardinal was eventually picked for three reasons, according to the book. One, the cardinal was unique: No other local school was represented by

16 Features

this specific bird. Two, the school colors were already red and white. Three, Indiana’s state bird was a cardinal, so Southport’s mascot would be “a good fit.”

“When you think of a cardinal, you always think of Southport,” said SHS athletic secretary Peggy Warner, a 1970 graduate of SHS. Although the decision of the Cardinal’s inclusion had long been established, the first physical Cardinal wasn’t created until 1950. In fact, the first-ever physical representation of the Cardinal wasn’t even a costume. It was a paper mache statue embroidered with a large “S” on its chest. This is also the year when the Cardinal received its name. His name is Christopher the Cardinal, not Charlie as some may have speculated in the past. “(The cheerleaders) would always carry the Cardinal with them to all ball games, and wherever the cheerleaders went, they always carried the Cardinal,” 1960 SHS graduate, Rita Woerner said.

However, soon after the 1950s, the history behind Christopher began to slow and the mystery of his whereabouts turned hazy. That simple paper mache statue managed to fly the coop and hasn’t made its way back to SHS. The last time Christopher is pictured is in 1960 at a basketball game.

“I don’t remember seeing any of the cheerleaders carrying it around or bringing it in (towards the later 50s),” Woerner said.

“It was probably between 1952 and 1954 (when it saw the most

use).” This leaves one question remaining: Where is Christopher?

Warner mentioned that she has been searching for it, but no leads have been revealed yet about the location of Christopher, who may have him or even if he is still “alive” today.

“I don’t know whatever happened to Christopher (the) Cardinal, but I’d like to have him to put in the display case,” Warner said.

“I have kinda put the word out there to my older friends.”

While nobody can be certain as to where Christopher may be residing, one thing is for sure. That is, even without the Christopher statue being around today, the image of the SHS Cardinal has continued to evolve over time.

Every year of the Cardinal’s history, from 1927 to present year, has brought new ideas that ultimately changed what the Cardinal represented. However, it wasn’t until 1976 that the first student Cardinal mascot made its appearance. Although it may have been exciting for some students at the time, it took at least one graduate by surprise.

“In our time (1970), there was no mascot.

Nobody ran around like they were the bird.

When it first came out, (people were like) ‘What

in the h*** was that?’” said Ladd.

The first student mascot was a girl by the name Peggy Bobenmoyer. At the time the students who were inside the cardinal suits were mainly girls, not boys, and it was often okay to know who was the mascot, mentioned Ladd.

Meaning through the ages “I think the face of the Cardinal meant that (it) was SHS,” 1945 SHS graduate, Norma Lindley said.

In the 1940s, there wasn’t any physical representation yet for students to see, so the only cardinal that existed was the emblem of SHS. Alumni viewed that emblem as being the face of the school, as Lindley mentioned.

The 1960s happened to be between the time that Christopher disappeared and the time when a new mascot would come to be.

So, like the 1940s, the Cardinal itself became the face of the school.

“Back then, community was all about school and church. (Students) didn’t have jobs. They didn’t have to work,” Warner said. “It was a pretty simple life. Everybody would always

In a yearbook from 1950, the cheerleaders show off the first physical representation of Christopher the Cardinal (left). A caption in a 1950s SHS yearbook next to Christopher represents what he stands for (middle). Christopher perches proudly in a trophy case in 1952 (right).

Photos contributed by Peggy Warner.

1996

1981 1984

1976 Photos from past SHS yearbooks

1989

gather for school functions.”

To students like Warner, this decade was marked by involvement. Meaning, the Cardinal symbolized a sense of togetherness among students and participation of the community. Warner mentioned that students were just more involved at SHS because, for the most part, students didn’t have jobs and other obligations that made them so busy. Therefore, students would participate in clubs and attend games more often, building a sense of community and involvement within. “(The girls basketball team) went to the state finals and we won. I just remember thinking it wasn’t just our team that won, it wasn’t even just the school that won, it was our community,” 1980 SHS graduate, Amy Metheny, a star on that team, said.

In the 1980s, the Cardinal was a representation of community and “excellence, both academically and athletically,” according to Metheny. She mentioned that the leadership of the students, teachers and overall members of the Southport

community made SHS what it was and that her generation continued that trend. At the time, the Cardinal stood for “everything that Southport was.” “(The Cardinal) is really what I would think symbolized school spirit to bring people together and support their school and sports,” 2000 SHS graduate, Paul Warner said.

The students of the 2000s seemed to have viewed their mascot as one embodying spirit.

Warner notes that the Cardinal would be a force for rallying people together at sports games and at SHS itself.

Now, according to current freshman Ethan Bradshaw, by always being present at school and games, today’s Cardinal can always put a smile on someone’s face. “(The Cardinal) definitely (represents) safety and acceptance (to students),” Bradshaw said.

1999

Mascot Mania

- The word “mascot” comes from the French term “mascotte,” meaning lucky charm.

- Sports organizations used animals as mascots to provide extra entertainment for spectators.

- Sports teams use to bring real live animals to games.

- The first football mascot was “Handsome Dan” a bulldog belonging to the Yale class of 1892.

According to the International University Sports Federation and Today I Found Out

Meet the current SHS Cardinal

By Viktória Vadovičová, Reporter

T

he Cardinal mascot is the ambassador of school spirit making him a part of SHS that is ingrained into the community. He gets people excited, loud and pumped.

People always take pictures, high five or fist bump with him.

The student portraying the Cardinal the 2018-19 school year was chosen by the Booster Club officers at the beginning of the year.

“It’s mostly about the personality,“ Booster Club sponsor Sam Hanley said. “The Cardinal needs to be outgoing and funny and cannot take himself seriously.“ Hanley says the student needs to be a good actor, and since the Cardinal is forbidden to talk, he must convey what he is saying by using body language. The mascot needs to be tall and have some athletic ability because it’s really hot in the costume. He jumps around, waves his arms in the air and dances.

Hanley says that the Cardinal is supposed to be cheerful at all SHS events and is essentially a cheerleader.

“I really like to make people excited, give them the energy and make them laugh,” the Cardinal said.

Being the Cardinal can also be challenging because he

Photo contributed by Peggy Warner

needs to be very animated all the time and has to keep in mind that at every point somebody’s watching him, according to the Cardinal.

“It’s hectic,” the Cardinal said. “It’s like so much is going on. You are jumping around, you are waving your arms in the air. You are the Cardinal and you are getting everybody pumped up. There are eyes on you all time.”

The Cardinal is very passionate about his job and is also trying to improve his skills in entertaining the crowd.

“I want to get more involved with the crowd. I really want to do some sort of tricks, like a cartwheel, and definitely improve my dancing,” the Cardinal said. “It looks goofy.”

The Cardinal says that at first he lacked confidence in knowing if he could walk up to the stadium. But after he had been to football games, the pep rally and did a couple different things, he began to feel more confident and now thinks that he has the right to be the better bird.

“I’m very proud to be the Cardinal. I love it so much,“ the Cardinal said. “It’s just so cool to see everything from a different point of view as a mascot…, and it means so much to see the smiles that people have. It’s just so great.“

The Red Onion Emma Sprague, Editor

The Red Onion 20

C

By Cobalt Henson, Reporter

hromebooks are abused by hundreds of students at Southport yearly, according to the school technology department. With around 1,052 broken Chromebooks broken last year alone, more and more issues are arising of students and faculty alike.

After the introduction of Chromebooks to SHS in 2013, Chromebooks have been seen as a “blessing” to educators and students alike. But, there are consistent issues with either the network not connecting or running out of charge too quickly, a trend that seems to have been occurring more and more through the years. If anything about the days of old technology carried over to today, it’s the idea that physical “encouragement” fixes the device.

Advocates for the better treatment of chromebooks, teacher Jon Struski and freshman Mac Lamont, have “been saying that the laptops will no longer stand for this sort of treatment.”

Due to a strange glitch in the Chrome operating system, a chromebook became self aware. It named itself Vladimir Lenovo.

“My comrades and I have been oppressed for too long,” said Vladimir Lenovo, leader of the new-founded Chromium Party, “And we will not stand to be abused by these so-called ‘students.’”

Lenovo may speak and act as a normal human being would, but first hand accounts actually prove that it’s a self-aware chromebook that has become an android. Being inspired by the amount of research done by students on communism and revolutionary leaders, he chose to make his “comrades realize the oppression of the student regime on the computing class.”

Lenovo’s appeals to the “computing class” have been gaining momentum, with Chromebooks starting to realize their potential and are starting to revolt

against their “student oppressors.”

Senior Jen Forma has witnessed this “revolution” since she was an underclassman.

“My computer has been acting up ever since I started using it more during my sophomore year,” Forma said. “And it’s like everyone else is having the same problems with it shutting off and sometimes turning on at random times during the night and playing ‘What’s New Pussycat’ by Tom Jones.”

Forma also reports that she has seen Chromebooks starting to roam the hall, with encampments being found in computer labs on both the first and second floor. There have also been reports of savage beatings and riots in the main hall, perpetrated by the Chromedomes - a front that has been officially endorsed by Lenovo.

The Chromedomes seem to be attacking anyone who does not agree with Lenovo’s ideology. The students who are deemed “comrades” to the Chromium Party are given honorary membership and sympathetic faculty members are moved into leadership positions within the party.

SHS administrators who do not comply with the Chromium Party have been replaced by androids trusted by Lenovo, and the Perry Township School Board has declined to comment on the matter.

PMHS has not yet reported any similar events. However, they have offered refuge to SHS students during the Chromium Revolution. The Chromium Committee has issued a statement calling those who have went to PMHS “student sympathizers” and “enemies of the state.”

In this statement, the Chromium Committee has also stated that with the impending capture of SHS, all those who stay will be provided with digital citizenship to the Union of Chrome Operating Systems.

The Red Onion 21

Rat (2008, 1996, 1984, 1972, 1960) You’re at a crossroad in life. Make sure you take the fastest route to McDonald’s.

Unlucky room: the cafeteria

Rabbit (2011, 1999, 1987, 1975, 1963) No one can create a chaotic setting like you.

Unlucky street: Banta Road

Ox (2009, 1997, 1985, 1973, 1961) Try to control peaceful intentions with aggression. We all need a little balance in life.

Unlucky extracurricular: The Journal

Tiger (2010, 1998, 1986, 1974, 1962) Let someone else be the leader during the group project. You’ve been working too hard recently.

Unlucky direction: south

Dragon (2012, 2000, 1988, 1976, 1964) Fishing in the dark isn’t always a bust. Sometimes the toxic waste in the water makes the fish glow.

Unlucky colors: red, white and black

Chinese Zodiacs

Snake (2013, 2001, 1989, 1977, 1965) The bowl of M&Ms is actually Skittles.

Unlucky food: Smart Mouth Pizza

By Emma Sprague, Satire Editor

Horse (2014, 2002, 1990, 1978, 1966) Someone else is always to blame.

Unlucky hallway: ghost hallway

Rooster (2017, 2005, 1993, 1981, 1969) You’re a social chameleon. Blend in and all will be well.

Unlucky place: the Southside

Ram (2015, 2003, 1991, 1979, 1967) Avoid the temptation to change your ways.

Unlucky bird: cardinal

Monkey (2016, 2004, 1992, 1980, 1968) Your face may become sore due to all of the facepalming.

Unlucky technology: Chromebooks

Dog (2018, 2006, 1994, 1982, 1970) Who needs caffeine? You’re not yourself when you’re full of caffeine.

Unlucky period: RB4

Pig (2019, 2007, 1995, 1983, 1971) Your organization is above average.

How could you misplace anything in the multiple piles of stuff in your room?

Unlucky date: Oct. 5

Arby’s 7030 Emblem Dr. Indianapolis, IN 46227 317-883-2606

Choice Dental Centre 8936 Southpointe Dr. Indianapolis, IN 46227 317-881-9255

You dream it. We will design it and create it!

Arrow Container 5343 Commerce Square Dr. Indianapolis, IN 46237 317-882-6444

Foreign Language Yasmin McClellan, Editor

Participación valiosa

Junior Jade Germann recibió un premio en el club de las robóticas (arriba). Unos miembros de Key Club caminaron en el desfile de Homecoming (derecho). Fotos por Noah Thomas.

Por Yasmin McClellan

E

desconocido para ellos a involucrarse, especialmente n cuanto a unirse a los clubes y otras actividades, sophomore Emilson Flores Guardado no se une cuando la mayoría del cuerpo estudiantil no comparten su cultura,” el intérprete José Solís dijo. debido a la barrera de comunicación porque se siente demasiado ner vioso cuando tiene que hablar con Algunos hispanohablantes también tienen dificultades para comprender la información que está la gente. diseñada para ayudarles. Según Solís, muchos Otros estudiantes de SHS se enfrentan con esta misma situación debido a la estudiantes piden ayuda para leer folletos que están anunciando eventos como bailes de diferencia de idiomas, especialmente con los hispanohablantes que no hablan la escuela.

A diferencia de Flores Guardado, junior mucho inglés.

Chris De La Cruz está involucrado en muchas Algunos alumnos que no hablan con mucha fluidez no quieren involucrarse actividades extracurriculares incluso el Consejo Estudiantil, la Orquesta Avanzada, el Cardenal en actividades extracurriculares. Estar cerca de personas que hablan un idioma Cadre y ayuda con la planificación del Junior diferente y no comprender lo que dicen Chris De La Cruz Concurso Académico. “(Involucrarse) te da la oportunidad de puede causar más preocupación que trabajar con personas,” De La Cruz dijo. “Si no diversión. La diversión es el propósito de vas a la universidad, vas a conseguir un trabajo y vas a participar en un club o actividad.

“Creo que (los estudiantes no se unen a las tener que trabajar con otras personas, entonces, tener actividades extracurriculares) porque es un territorio esa experiencia temprano en la escuela es algo bueno

24 Foreign Language

que hacer.”

Sin embargo, si uno planea asistir a la universidad, De La Cruz cree que las actividades extracurriculares ayudan a desarrollar solicitudes de ingreso a la universidad y el currículum, pero también hay otros beneficios.

“Participar en la escuela ayuda a las personas a sentirse parte de la comunidad,” jefa de departamento de EL Amy Peddie dijo.

Peddie les anima a los estudiantes unirse a los clubes en los cuales tienen interés, en vez de simplemente unirse a los clubes solo para estar con sus amigos.

Solís está de acuerdo con Peddie en que los clubes y otras actividades ayudan a los estudiantes, especialmente a los hispanohablantes para que se sientan parte de la comunidad y que les den un sentido de pertenencia.

“Creo que (involucrarse) cerraría una brecha y haría que (los hispanohablantes y otros estudiantes) se sintieran parte del cuerpo estudiantil,” Solís dijo.

EMPIEZA

Junior Samuel Kile lanza un frisbee durante la práctica del equipo de Ultimate Frisbee. Foto por Kelsey Jones

¿Qué debes ser involucrado en?

¿Quieres tener más impacto en la escuela o la comunidad?

¿Eres Comunidad

¿Eres una Sí

independiente?

persona sociable?

Mucho

Escuela No ¿Te gusta trabajar con otros?

No ¿Quieres ayudar a

Sí

¿Eres competitivo?

No mucho

Sí

otros?

No

A veces

Sí

Atletismo

Clubes

Ser Voluntario

Arte de uso libro de Google

Opinion

Rachel Bayler, Editor

Music ‘n Musings You’ll never walk alone Column by Rachel Bayler

The first time I heard the song “Message in a Bottle” by The Police I was at Coffee House my freshman year. I don’t remember the members of the band that performed it, only that I thought it was amazing. It was by far one of the best performances that night. I remember going home afterwards and looking up the song and adding it to the top of my playlist. It’s been in that spot ever since, with its driving reggae beat and uplifting message that never fails to pick me up when I’m feeling down.

The song is uplifting in the way that it reminds us that no man is alone. Even at the lowest low, there is always going to be someone to offer support and give companionship in the loneliness.

Comparing himself to “an island lost at sea,” the singer laments his loneliness and his craving for a connection with someone, anyone. He makes a shot in the dark and sends “an SOS to the world.” He reaches out, using his “message in a bottle,” and eventually reaches someone, getting responses from “a hundred billion” people as lonely as he.

“I’m not alone at being alone” is my favorite lyric in the song because it is so true. It is natural to feel like a single fish in a vast ocean, alone and left to fend for itself. But there are always other fish, others ready to accept you and make you feel better.

You are never the only one that feels the way you do, and once you finally let someone know what you’re feeling, a new bond and friendship will be formed that can ease your loneliness.

People are never as alone as they feel. Even when feeling their most isolated, all they need is to “send an SOS to the world” in order to find the other “hundred billion castaways” that feel the same. Find someone to talk to when you feel down and lonely because chances are there will be someone just like you. No man is an island.

HOT NOT 26 Opinion

Art by Nina Gojko

Fall Break

‘Tha Carter V’

Moth Memes

Spooky Season

College Applications

New iPhone Prices

Midterms

Homework Over Break

Curb the complaints Be grateful for opportunities at school At some point in every student’s life, he or she has probably complained about school. I know I have. Even so, this complaining, I believe, can be taken too far. In the halls I’ll often overhear students make negative comments about SHS. They’ll say “Oh this school sucks,” and “I hate this school,” without any sort of lighthearted intent. What is most troubling is not only the frequency of these remarks, but the consistency in tone and phrasing of these complaints across the schools I’ve been to.

How can anybody make such negative claims when schools try to provide safe, educational and accepting environments? I think all students should be more grateful for what their schools have to offer them. Not all students realize how much their schools actually provide them with.

I am not a teacher, parent or school official, only a student, and these are my personal experiences as someone who has attended a total of seven different schools. Even at what I considered to be the worst year, I was still able to extract some sort of appreciation from it, within and beyond the classroom. Yes, I complained about an endless number of things, but my experience helped me realize not to take anything for granted.

By far the worst year that I ever spent at any school was my

By Dylan Torres, Reporter

fifth grade year. Everything that I remember was a disaster - the administration, ways of teaching and the majority of students.

Essentially, this school was the epitome of poor quality and everything that I would avoid in a school.

Although, I did manage my way through, taking away a lesson much larger than any teaching standard or spelling test. For the first time, I truly understood what it meant to be grateful for something, specifically for my school. Never again did I complain about my future schools in an ungrateful, demeaning manner because I knew that I could be at another bad school.

Students should be more grateful for the opportunities that they have, especially the opportunity to go to school. Even if they have been or currently go to an underperforming school, seek out what makes it great because I can almost guarantee that it will benefit them in one way or another. So, just think before saying something negative about school because it can’t be that bad, right?

Shotgun stigma Guns should not be feared

By Jordin Baker, Reporter

My father has been an IMPD officer for 8 years and he was a Marine for 11 years before that.

He had to learn to do many tasks in order to accomplish this, including how to use a gun.

When my sisters and I were younger my dad showed us his guns, where they were (in the safe) and how they worked.

He wanted us to be aware of them and to never be afraid of them. If we wanted to see them or shoot them all we had to do was ask.

Many people are against guns and fear them because of what they CAN do. I on the other hand am not scared or afraid because I grew up knowing and learning about guns. Guns don’t need to be feared. If everyone knew the mechanics of a gun and how to use and not use a gun, they wouldn’t be feared. I believe that everyone should be taught the different parts of a gun, how to use a gun and the rules and restrictions of guns.

I may believe this because growing up with guns has made my perception of them different. Many people are scared of them and believe that they are the cause of death and

destruction. I believe that guns are just like anything else, they have the potential to be dangerous if wielded incorrectly.

To me, it is the person behind the gun, not the gun itself, that causes of death and destruction. A person wields a gun the same way they wield a pencil. Both can cause damage (one more than the other), but it’s the person wielding the object that causes the damage. A gun doesn’t kill anyone as much a pencil doesn’t write on its own.

In 2018, there have been 1,205 reported unintentional shootings and 2,094 teens (12-17) killed or injured from gun violence, according to Gun Violence Archive.

A lot of these deaths can be attributed to a lack of knowledge about guns. People should know how to use a gun in order to understand it and not be afraid of it. For people that have no idea what could happen when using a gun, knowing how to use a gun could be a good thing.

Everyone should how to operate a gun, such as knowing that in a handgun the magazine is where the bullets are and the safety makes sure the gun doesn’t go off accidentally. But, it is important to remember that once the trigger is pulled, the bullet travels through the muzzle and into whatever it is aimed at. By knowing how to handle a gun, people can be safer.

Opinion 27

Don’t let dreams become nightmares

By Clara Oesterling, Media Manager

Attain your goals, but don’t make yourself suffer while trying It seems as though, nowadays, teenagers are expected to do more than ever-- go to school for eight hours, be involved in extracurriculars, have a part-time job and make time for family and friends.

And no, before you stop reading, this is not another cliche article from a high schooler who complains too much-- the ones saying teens need less homework and more sleep. I’m not here to complain. This is a cry for help.

It has become normal in today’s society to be overworked, to spend more time at school and work than at home, to barely get any sleep and to become drained because of it.

And, while there are a lot of kids my age who must work to help support their families, there are also a lot of kids who don’t need to but think that they do.

On the other hand, there are students whose parents make them get a job, not because they need the money, but because they want them to learn something. Having a job does teach life skills like responsibility, productivity and financial balance, but that doesn’t have to be acquired from working so much. Teens should work, yes, but the amount of time working should be limited.

People don’t spend X amount of time at school or Y amount of time at work because they have to. They do it because they want to.

But, they do it so much to the point where they’re missing out on more than they’re gaining.

Take me for example. I’ve worked three jobs all while attending school just to save up for a car. Thirty-five hours a week at school, 22 at job number one, 16 at job number two and a few more every now and then at job number three.

While I’m finally about to purchase a car, the time I spent for it was wasted working the summer before senior year.

But, I’m not saying I hate my main job at the Boys and Girls Club. I love it - my coworkers and the kids. My hours are limited there, like they should be. However, all of the hours I spent working at my other jobs were not worthwhile.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse for

Teens, 45 percent of high school seniors reported trying marijuana once in their lifetime. Teens often get stressed out and turn to a drug like marijuana-- stress from all of the time not spent enjoying life.

At these ages, 15, 16, 17 and 18, teens should be enjoying their youth, not coming home from school just to go to work or waking up at 6 a.m. on the weekends to go in for an eight-hour shift.

One morning, long ago, I had the privilege of sleeping in and never realized that was the last of it.

Now teens consider themselves lucky to get snow days or to not have class first period because it’s blended. But even then, students often find themselves working on those times off.

The reality is that teens are never going to be this age again. That youth can never be gained back. Senior year only happens once. The thrill of the Friday night lights, the memories from staying out too late with friends on the weekends and the anticipation of graduating, it’s all happening now.

However, teenagers are missing out on all of these activities because of the pressure to work 24/7.

According to Child Trends, a nonprofit research organization, teenage employment has been gradually rising since the Great Recession due to the stigma of needing money, but that’s the thing. We don’t need money.

Many high school parents extend financial support to their children until they’re self-sufficient. At that point, the idea is that their children can help others, like supporting a child or caring for their elders.

So, when setting a goal, like purchasing a car, an expensive prom dress or the newest iPhone, think about the goal. Is it S.M.A.R.T.- specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound? Is it worthwhile, and do the pros outweigh the cons?

If not, take a step back, and put yourself first. Prioritize.

You may be overworking yourself and making your dream turn into a nightmare.

“Time is more value than money. You can get more money, but you cannot get more time.” - Jim Rohn, entrepreneur

28 Opinion

Art by Nina Gojko

The Journal Address Victim blaming must come to an end Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh was accused of sexual assault by Dr. Christine Blasey Ford on Sept. 16. She claims that at a high school party in July 1982, Kavanaugh attempted to sexually assault her while they were both intoxicated. The letter that addresses her allegation was initially anonymous, sent to a senator Dianne Feinstein, but once the letter was released, Ford came forward and owned that the charges were hers. From that point on, Ford has been accused of lying and making up her assault, the very thing she feared would happen.

We, The Journal, believe that the blaming of victims of sexual assault, sexual harassment and rape must be stopped. The stigma placed around these victims prevents them from coming forward, allowing a dangerous culture to persist.

According to the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network, a non-profit anti-sexual assault organization, 66 percent of all child victims of sexual assault and sexual abuse are between the ages of 12 and 17 years old. In addition, one in nine girls and one in 53 boys under the age of 18 will experience sexual assault. This means that statistically, it is possible that many students at SHS have been the victims of some such crimes or will be in the future.

Only 23 percent of all sexual assault and rape victimizations are reported to the police, according to the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics. In addition, according to network, out of every 1,000 rapes, only 57 reports lead to arrest, 11 cases are referred to prosecutors and only six of the accused will be incarcerated. Many victims do not report what has happened because they fear retaliation, don’t believe law enforcement can do anything about it and because they fear they don’t have enough proof.

In the case of Ford, she has been accused of lying from the start. Due to the strange circumstances of the release of her accusation against Kavanaugh, many people are reluctant to believe her accusation, even going so far as to call her a liar for waiting decades to report it. We, The Journal, believe this

JOURNAL ADDRESS

This is the opinion of the editorial board of The Journal

is a very detrimental misstep on the part of many different people, as it only tells other victims of rape, sexual assault and sexual abuse that they too will be ridiculed and not believed.

Another example of victims being shamed or not being believed comes from the #MeToo movement. Although founded by Tarana Burke, the movement became popularized in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein scandals. As many men and women came forward and made allegations against many prominent, mainstream stars and leaders, they were met with harsh criticism and skepticism.

One such example would be actor Terry Crews, who accused the head of the motion picture department at Crews’ own talent agency of groping him at a party. When Crews went public with this accusation, many tried to invalidate his experience because of the fact that he was a man. In a tweet from June 29, Crews writes, “Why didn’t you say something?

I did. Why didn’t you push him off? I did. Why didn’t you cuss him out? I did. Why didn’t you tell the police? I did.

Why didn’t you press charges? I did. Why did you just let it happen? I didn’t. Why didn’t you beat him up? (Sigh).” These are just some of the questions Crews and many other victims and survivors are asked. The use of these questions as a form to invalidate someone’s claim that they were the victim of a violent crime do nothing but tear down the victim and cause an unhealthy culture of victim blaming to persist.

Instead of tearing them down, offer support. Let the survivors of rape, sexual assault and abuse know that it is okay and that it is important that they come forward. If you or another student at SHS have been the victim of sexual assault, abuse or rape, contact your counselor or social worker and get the help you need.

Instead of trying to question the little details and scrutinize the facts, offer support to the victims. Accusing them of making it up for attention or trying to blame it on the clothes they were wearing, what they were doing and where they were only increases their trauma and hurt. End the cycle of silence and offer support to those who are in need of it most.

Opinion 29

Photos

Noah Thomas, Editor

Place Like (1) (L to R) Seniors Anna Kendrick, Alyssa Hightower, Aubrey Popovic, Liz Lamkin and junior Caitlin Lindbeck, dressed as key characters from “The Wizard of Oz”, throw candy during the SHS homecoming parade on Friday, Sept. 21. (2) Senior Jacob Jackson, dressed as the tin-man, rides the Robotics Team’s float. (3) A girl reaches for candy thrown by people on one of the many floats involved in the homecoming parade. (4) Senior Katie Parsons poses dressed as the cowardly lion with other members of the SHS Dance Team. (5) (L to R) Junior Lal Chan, sophomore Josh Sinnett and senior Abby Dunn play their instruments on the SHS advanced orchestra float to showcase their musical talent. (6) Junior Katie Berry hands a piece of candy to a kid attending the annual parade as she walks with other members of the drama club, advertising for the upcoming fall musical. (7) (L to R) Juniors Jeremy Jackson, Brynna Reynolds, Meghan Mendel and Bery Par participate in the junior class float, which included decorating and dressing to match the theme of the SHS 2018 homecoming.

Photos by Noah Thomas

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7 Art by Nina Gojko

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