The Journal (18-19) Issue 5

Volume 97 Issue 5 Dec. 20, 2018

Vaping companies are marketing to minors, and it’s working Christmas Scandal Corrupt companies ‘scam’ holiday shoppers. page 20

El Viaje Aquí

Los estudiantes de SHS comparten sus historias de migración. page 24

More Than Play

Reporter comments on the artistic value of video games. page 28

ISSUE NUMBER

5

DEC. 20, 2018

FROM THE EDITOR DEAR READERS,

“Looking at how far we’ve come this semester, just imagine what we can do next semester.”

It’s kind of weird to think that we are already halfway through the school year. This is our fifth issue, which means that we are also halfway through The Journal’s production schedule.

Before we reflect on the semester, I would first like to give my condolences to the friends and family of Rashawn Haskins. Please read his obituary and In The Long Run, which also remembers Rashawn.

Now, I’d like to take a moment to reflect on this year so far.

For one, our staff has grown and evolved so much already.

We’ve learned from our mistakes, and we’ve improved. As a staff, our writing and designs have gotten so much better.

Pick up the first issue of The Journal and the improvement from then to now will be easily noticeable.

Not only have we grown journalistically, but we have grown as a family as well. I can honestly say that I appreciate every single person on the staff. I think collectively we’ve all grown very close, which only makes producing The Journal even more fun.

But as the semester finishes up, it’s easy to procrastinate.

Everyone is just waiting for winter break and sometimes it’s hard to end the semester strongly. What keeps me going, though, is I know that in five months I’ll be looking back at the year and I’ll miss it.

So, after break I hope we come into the new year stronger and better than ever. I hope that we can continue to improve and grow. Looking at how far we’ve come this semester, just imagine what we can do next semester. That’s not only with The Journal, but with the school in general.

I am looking forward to the new year, and I hope you enjoy issue five and have happy holidays.

Madelyn Knight Editor-in-Chief

Contents News 4

The Red Onion 20

-MISSING MEMBER -’HEART OF A LION’

-HO, HO, HOAX -TREES A CROWD

Sports 8

Foreign Language 24

Entertainment 12

Opinion 26

-THE SHS SUPERFAN

-LA HUIDA POR SU VIDA

-MUSIC N’ MUSINGS - BYE, BYE MISS AMERICAN PIE -CALL OF DUTY OR FRIDA KHALO - JOURNAL ADDRESS

-THREE, TWO, ONE ACTS -’ICARUS FALLS’ ALBUM REVIEW -GO, GO, GOJKO!

Photos 30

Features 15

-THE JOURNAL’S AWKWARD PHOTO CONTEST

-SEEING THROUGH THE SMOKE

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

Photos Editor Noah Thomas ‘19

Business Manager Justin Chambers ‘19

The Red Onion Editor Cobalt Henson ‘20

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 Emma Sprague ‘19 Dylan Torres ‘19 Viktória Vadovičová ‘19 Logan Zrebiec ‘19 Jordin Baker ‘20 Julia Brookshire ‘20 Grace Campbell ‘20 Deriana Wade ‘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, Indiana 46227

News

Haley Miller, Editor

Missing member School board struggles to fill open seat The Perry Township school board meets at PTEC for a regularly scheduled board meeting on Dec. 10.

Photo by Emma Herwehe

By Grace Campbell, Reporter

F

or common situations, like an icy, below-freezing winter morning, students look to the Perry Township school board. With this, it is necessary for the school board to have all seats filled, but as of now, there remains one empty seat.

In December, three members on the school board, Jon Morris, Collin Fultz and Ed Denning, had their terms come to an end. With three seats up to be refilled, it was expected that there would be multiple people running to fill them, but there were only two candidates on the November ballot.

Fultz, one of the candidates running, successfully retained his seat on the board. The second candidate was Hannah Dale, the

4 News

former Executive Director of the Perry Township Education Foundation.

Even after she was elected, there was still an empty seat.

Keesha Hughes, who manages media relations for the school district, states that the school board is still taking offers for the position.

“One seat is still empty, so we invited interested candidates to send a letter of interest and resume,” Hughes said.

The letter must state and explain why the applicant would want to serve on the board. The board will then select and vote on the candidate, whose duties as a member would be effective in January of 2019.

According to Hughes, one of the responsibilities that board members

take on is being sure that taxpayers’ money is being used not only for the benefit of the schools but also for the community as a whole.

The board also focuses a lot on the needs of Perry Township citizens, which is one of the reasons that the school board holds committee meetings that are open to the public. Members of the community, school faculty and students are able to speak out about what they believe is important at these meetings, which board members take into consideration when making decisions.

The community can get more involved in the school board by attending the meetings that are open to the public. These are held

the fourth Monday of every month and the community. at 6 p.m. at PTEC, according to the Some students have started Perry Township website. Members taking more notice of the school of the community are allowed to go board as a whole due to the recent into the meetings to listen and voice opening. Junior Luis Tavarez believes their own thoughts and ideas. that it would be helpful to see the Another focus of the school school board be more involved with board is maintaining the budget and the students on more of a personal ensuring that it is “fiscally sound,” level, like getting to know students - Provide citizen Hughes says. This means that the and focus on their lives. governance for public school board must make sure that “We have guidance counselors, the budget is balanced with the but if students had more than just schools and the community state government's one or two people - Help set the standard spending levels and to talk to, then that I'd like the new tax rates. When the would help (them),” for achievement while state government Tavarez said. member to listen assuming accountability adjusts its spending He thinks it would more to what the levels, nearly every be beneficial for the for performance students want in business or public school board to help - Ensure taxpayer money school. One that service center, students on a more including the school listens to students, personal level. is used responsibly district, also has to Tavarez also finds not just - Adopt a "fiscally adjust its spending it important for the the teachers. levels. This can affect school board to sound" budget Junior Luis Tavarez what the district and acknowledge what - Advocate for students school are able to the students find provide for students and different to be significant within the district events that the schools hold. and school. He feels like the school Information from Perry Hughes also states that the school board can help make changes in Township media relations board has a key job in making sure the district if students want them, so manager Keesha Hughes that students are benefitting from it is key to have dedicated school their days in school. Members must board members.

Art by Nina Gojko set the standard for achievement, “I’d like the new member to listen meaning that they have to try to more to what the students want in set proper requirements to help school,” Tavarez said. “One that listens students be as successful as possible to students, not just the teachers.” during and after their school years.

In regards to the vacant seat, school board member Steve Johnson, who has been on the school board since January of 2017, says in an email to The Journal the board must have seven members on it to meet certain requirements and laws.

“It is the responsibility of the school board to appoint the new member of the school board,” Johnson wrote.

Other than this, he also states that the school board and the Superintendent have a significant amount of power during this situation since they interview and choose who will be serving on "I would change "I would... make "I would choose the board. the vending more room for better selection in Other than appointing members, machines." another one of the most important parking." lunch." responsibilities within the school Sophomore Junior Thian Sophomore board is advocating for the students Donovan Hon Cen Hrang Kyle Heath

Responsibilities of the school board

“

”

If you were on the school board, what is the first thing you would do?

News 5

Photo contributed by the Southport Athletic Department

Remembering Rashawn Haskins

By Lyndsay Valadez, Online Managing Editor

C

andles were lit on a corner outside of the SHS Fieldhouse on Sunday, Dec. 9, in honor of senior Rashawn Haskins. He passed away just a week before in a car accident. He was with his girlfriend Mallory Blumer and his sister Briana Haskins, who both survived the accident.

Rashawn, though gone, made a lasting impact on the people around him. The same three characteristics kept popping up when his loved ones thought about the person he was.

His smile: big. His laugh: unforgettable. His personality: Ask the ones who loved him.

“He just brought joy,” said Brian Dugger, Rashawn’s football coach of three years.

“The one who always worked hard, who always wanted to be the best,” senior Jalen Caldwell said.

“He had the heart of a lion,” junior LaMarco Yates said.

This heart of Rashawn’s overcame many struggles. Blumer says Rashawn didn’t come from a lot. He just didn’t have what she has. Recently, his family left their apartment and ended up having to live in a hotel.

Rashawn also struggled with diabetes--not that he wanted anyone to know. It even took a while for Blumer to find out about it, as she had to pull it out of him-- just as she had to with anything he was having difficulties with. Still, his older brother Karim Abdullah says Rashawn didn’t let the fact that he had diabetes get in his way.

On the football field, he not only struggled with being small (about 5’9” and 180 pounds), but also with his hair being pulled, as it was longer than most of the other guys’. Yet, he was named 6A IFCA All State on Dec. 1, the same day of the accident. His success on the field was significant, but Abdullah says Rashawn was more than that.

6 News

'Heart of a lion' “He wasn’t just a football player,” Abdullah said. “He turned into a young man.”

Underneath all of that football player exterior was what Blumer describes as a big teddy bear. For example, he and Blumer would apply face masks with each other.

They did everything together, with Rashawn attached to her hip.

“Shawn will always be my best friend,” Blumer said.

Others that were close with him say there was just something different about him when they first met him. One of his best friends, Matthew Allen, says he and Rashawn just hit it off the day of eighth grade basketball tryouts.

Since then, Allen has stayed with Rashawn and his family on multiple occasions.

Having known Rashawn and his personality for so long, Allen says he knows that Rashawn would not want for anyone to feel down about the recent events. Rashawn was one to push through the down times.

There was only one day football coach Brandon Winters can remember seeing Rashawn looking like he felt down. Winters says Rashawn said, “You know what, coach, don’t worry about it.”

Rashawn looked past the situation, shifting his focus to going out and having fun in the game SHS was about to play.

“What I think everybody admired about Rashawn was he always had a smile on his face regardless of the situation,” head football coach Brandon Winters said.

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Sports

Michael Long, Editor

The SHS Superfan

Art by Nina Gojko

Almnus shows endless support for the school’s athletics

By Logan Zrebiec, Reporter

I

n years past, one man has been in the crowd at all types of SHS athletic events showing his support. In a single year alone, he attended 85 athletic events. With this year not even being halfway through, he has already been to nearly 40 games. This man is the SHS superfan, Steve Bean.

Bean has supported the school since the fall of 1974 when he attended SHS as a student. Ever since, he has been one of SHS’s biggest fans.

“I’m trying to be the best fan I can,” Bean said. “A lot of this is giving back.

When I started coming to games again, I started to really have an appreciation for what this school has done for me.”

When Bean was a student at SHS, he first became involved with the school’s sports by becoming a manager for the basketball and baseball team.

8 Sports

This is when and where he “found his place.” According to Bean, he drifted away during college, but really started getting back into SHS athletics during the 2005-2006 school year.

He came back just to check out SHS and after that game he knew that he missed being in the SHS atmosphere.

According to Bean, what really interested him was the hire of former head basketball coach Jason Delaney, who had previously won the state championship.

Ever since then, he has been to as many games as he possibly can.

“I enjoy the experience of coming to the events, even if we’re not winning,” Bean said.

Distance doesn’t matter to Bean either.

Living nearby in Beech Grove and working in Carmel, Bean tries to make it to most games through the week.

Pictured is a piece of the net that Steve Bean cut from when SHS beat Perry Meridian in the sectional championship on March 5, 1977. Bean described this as “the best day of my high school career.”

Photo by Michael Long

Even in 2016 when the boys basketball team traveled to Portsmouth, Ohio to play, Bean took a two-day trip just to make it. SHS athletics have traveled to Kentucky, Huntington, Terre Haute and Evansville, and Bean has showed up. According to athletic director Pete Hubert, Bean has a carefree attitude towards the distance of SHS athletic competitions, and will try to make it to as many as he can. ¨That loyal support from our community and alumni is tremendous,¨

Hubert said.

The SHS adult sports pass is a pass which allows owners to get into home games for any sport without paying admission. It was first introduced over 20 years ago. Bean has been an owner of a sports pass for the past 14 years.

With the sports passes being $75 each year, that means Bean has spent around $1,050 in just sports passes.

Bean has also donated different amounts of money to different teams.

As much support as Bean pours into the current teams at SHS, he also does his best to support SHS graduates on their collegiate journeys. He travels all over the state and even the country to keep track of former SHS athletes.

For example, he has attended as many football games as he can at Marian University to follow SHS alumnus Luke Johnston.

Bean says that he has no plans for discontinuing his support for SHS. “As long as the uniform says Southport, I´ll be there,” Bean said.

Steve Bean watches as the SHS boys basketball team plays in the Forum Tipoff Classic on Dec. 8. Photo by Logan Zrebiec

Pictured above are all of Steve Bean’s SHS All Sports Passes dating back to the 2005-2006 school year. Photo contributed by Bean

Steve Bean (front row, fourth from left) in the 1978 baseball team photo. Bean was one of the managers for the team. Photo contributed by Bean

Sports 9

Down to the Digits 13

Ben Deboer has driven the team bus for the SHS football, basketball and baseball teams for 13 years. To read more about what those years have brought to him, head on over to thejournalrewired.com.

27

On Dec. 6, SHS sophomore wrestler JaShawn Jackson pinned his opponent from Whiteland Community in 27 seconds.

54.98

Sophomore Emme Egan broke the 100 meter freestyle in the girls swim meet against Cathedral on Dec. 8 with a time of 54.98 seconds.

10 Sports

In the Long run #8WAYFOREVER

By Michael Long, Sports Editor As I’m thinking about this column on Dec. 3 at 3:30 in the morning, the thought of Rashawn Haskins can’t escape my mind. As many of you know, on the night of Dec. 1, Rashawn was involved in a fatal car accident. His death hit the entire school and community like a brick wall. You could feel the sense of emptiness in the air in school that next Monday. It was as if everything stopped.

That weekend, we lost one of the most laid back and brightest people there ever was. What’s even more sad is thinking about everything he was supposed to have in front of him.

I had always thought he was the most underrated player on the football team.

He always fought his hardest and earned 1,632 receiving yards and 18 touchdowns for SHS, but hardly got recognition. This year he was selected 6A All-State. Things were finally going his way, but it was taken from him in a split second.

Rashawn was my teammate on the basketball court ever since middle school. However, “close” isn’t really a word I’d use to describe our relationship. So, why was I brought to tears by the news?

It’s because of the bond playing sports creates. Rashawn and I weren’t necessarily close, but we still had a connection that was exclusive. That connection was being a part of the same team.

I remember being in the 8th grade when Rashawn moved to SMS and having that feeling of discomfort you get being around someone you don’t know.

But I also remember how quickly that disappeared. He soon stood out as one of the better players on the team, but more importantly, he became a family member.

On a team, you don’t have have to necessarily talk to each other all the time or hang out to feel the connection. It

grows through all the long practices, the games, the defensive stops, the offensive runs, the losing streaks, the winning streaks and the time in the weightroom.

The connection among a team grows every second spent together.

Not only does this connection grow constantly, but it doesn’t fade.

Rashawn and I, like many other people, grew apart in high school, especially after he stopped playing basketball his junior year. Nothing personal. That’s just what high school does. People go their separate ways, and that’s okay, but when I heard the news of his death, an emotion in me flared up.

It was that old team connection.

Suddenly I started remembering all the times I’ve played against him at the YMCA, picking him up for all our AAU tournaments in middle school and the time his moves on the court put me on my butt (which is the only time that has ever happened, just saying). I was reminded of a deep connection that I thought was gone, but it wasn’t.

A big part of what makes a team’s connection so special is how everyone is fighting for the same goal. It’s a long and taxing fight, but you’re all in it together.

The best thing to compare it to is soldiers in war. Your teammates are your fellow soldiers, and together, you fight. I fought alongside Rashawn for four years and was broken when I found out he was gone. I can’t imagine how people who fought with him for even longer felt.

Rashawn’s death is without a doubt devastating, but it does bring out the beauty in sports. Through all the hard practices and games, true love is formed, and that’s why Rashawn will always be missed. Anyone who has ever stepped on the court or field with him will remember him, and in that way, he will live on forever.

Contact SSGT. Chavis Kendrick at: 317-250-8190 Chavis.kendrick@us.af.mil Airforce.com

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Volume 97 Issue 2 Sept. 14, 2018

Volume 97 Issue 5 Dec. 20, 2018

Volume 97 Issue 3 Oct. 5, 2018

Cardinal Tale

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

Teens affected by obsessive gaming. page 8

El Paso Experience

Staff members travel to the border to learn about immigration. page 22

Midterms

Journal Address

Elections lead to discussion over young voters. page 4

The Journal gives opinion on the threat against free press. page 29

Too Much Work

Media Manager gives opinion on overworked teens. page 28

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

Vaping companies are marketing to minors, and it’s working Christmas Scandal Corrupt companies ‘scam’ holiday shoppers. page 20

El Viaje Aquí

Los estudiantes de SHS comparten sus historias de migración. page 24

More Than Play

Reporter comments on the artistic value of video games. page 28

Contact us at theshsjournal@gmail.com or 365866@student.perryschools.org

Entertainment

Savannah Doane, Editor

Three, Two,

One Acts

Senior One Act directors Alyssa Smith (left) and Priscilla Garcia discuss their script after school on Dec. 18. Photo by Noah Thomas

SHS seniors elaborate on the process of writing and directing annual One Acts production

By Jacob Wiese, Reporter

T

he usual musicals and plays that the SHS theater department puts on are led by people with experience with directing. They know what needs to be done, and how to achieve and present a successful production.

However, in the annual studentproduced One Acts at SHS, all the tasks of directing and producing a play fall on groups of one or two seniors.

“The purpose of One Acts is to give students the opportunity to be directors and also playwrights as well,” theater teacher Kimberly Roberts said. “It’s a completely student driven production. It’s their vision, it’s their words and it’s their creative direction.”

Seven teams of seniors are directing One Acts this year. Each group has to direct a cast of 35 to 40 different kids in

12 Entertainment

all the different productions each with their own roles, lines and directions.

Senior Alyssa Smith is co-directing alongside her friend senior Priscilla Garcia this year. Smith describes the act she and Garcia wrote as a comedic spin-off of the classic love story from “Twilight.”

“We never really meant it to be a spin-off of ‘Twilight,’” Smith said. “We just started writing line by line. Priscilla would write one line and then I would write another. We had no idea where it was going. It just kind of became what it became.”

After Smith and Garcia wrote their script, they had to hold auditions to see who would play each part. The seniors had to set up their own auditions and advertise them so they could find the

perfect actor for each character.

“First, we came up with a list of our characters and as we went through the auditions we put names of actors with each character that we thought would best suit them and their personality,” Smith said.

Jalyn Jackson, another theater class senior, is directing a different play about a man that is pursuing his dream to become an astronaut. He chose his actors differently from Smith and Garcia.

“I chose roles based on the dynamic that the actors had between each other when they were reading their lines,” Jackson said. “If you had that goofy type of vibe, I would have given you a part that fits that dynamic.”

After the process of writing and

casting comes the actual directing of each One Act play. The directors have the creative freedom to achieve their vision of what they want their production to be. They tell the actors what to do, where to stand and how to say their lines.

“Priscilla and I have been working on blocking,” Smith said. “So, basically we give general directions for the actors such as telling them where to walk or how to say a certain line.”

On the other hand, Jackson has been focusing more on the way the actors deliver their lines rather than just stage directions.

“I don’t want them to just read their lines as is,” Jackson said. “I want them to say them like they were actually that person.”

Both Jackson and Smith have had some challenges while working on their own productions. For Jackson, the

greatest challenge has been trying to get everyone together to practice.

“Just trying to contact everyone whether that be by text or email has been the hardest,” Jackson said.

“It’s really hard to get everyone together since some people have other after school activities like sports or even jobs.”

According to Smith, the hardest thing for Garcia and her so far is writing their play.

“Just starting to write it has probably been the hardest,” Smith said. ‘When we started, we tried coming up with ideas and then writing but that didn’t really work. Then we tried doing the more impulsive thing like just writing line after line and seeing where that goes. It was kind of stressful.”

Smith says she’s had a lot of fun so far and is really excited to present her One Act in January.

Jackson, on the other hand, is a little nervous but can’t wait to share his artistic vision.

The One Acts “The Big Comeback” Directed by Deryann Spears

“It’s Complicated” Directed by Aubrey Popovic & Elizabeth Lamkin

“Astronaut Boy” Directed by Jalyn Jackson

“Roof Boy” Directed by Hanna Veen & Sophia Shook

“Shoulder Patrol” Directed by Jordan Cox & Victoria Fitzgerald

“Bucket List” Directed by Becca Hiller

“Twilight, But Better” Directed by Alyssa Smith & Priscilla Garcia

Senior director Jalyn Jackson reads his script as he directs the performers of his One Act during a rehearsal on Dec. 18. Photo by Noah Thomas

Entertainment 13

Zayn’s ‘Icarus Falls’ tops previous projects

By Savannah Doane, Entertainment Editor

A

cross a hazy 27-tracks, English singer/ songwriter Zayn Malik reveals a passionate, aching side of himself in his newly released solo album, “Icarus Falls.”

Due to being mildly disappointed with what his first solo album “Mind of Mine” had to offer, my expectations for this second album weren’t too high. However, after releasing nine impressive singles over the course of 2018, Malik allows most of the album to live up to the standards set by the tracks that previewed it.

“Icarus Falls,” which was released Friday, Dec. 14, starts out strong with the first four presented tracks, “Let Me,” “Natural,” “Back To Life” and “Common.” However, the album then slowly dives into a handful of songs that lost my interest, as they failed to have their own individuality by containing slightly altered elements that were incredibly apparent in other tracks.

Despite that, the album shines brightest in a handful of its concluding tracks, and it is peppered along the way with a few songs that stand out and make up for what the others lack.

Following the first two opening tracks, comes one of my most favorite songs on

the album, “Back To Life.” This is a unique song that starts out slow and hazy, but then soon makes an appropriate, upbeat shift that allows for the song to be lively and interesting while still being able to manage the mysterious vibe that fogs the track.

The album then gradually loses me through the mediocre songs sandwiched in between Album art from Zayn Malik’s Twitter, @zaynmalik the superior beginning and end, which is where I believe the strongest concluding tracks. But, songs such as the euphoric “If I Got You” tracks are presented.

Track 23 on the album is “Rainberry” and the powerful “There You Are” that spontaneously flaked the middle of the and track 25 is “No Candle No Light” featuring Nicki Minaj. Both of these are tracklist were able to hold my interest.

After the rebellious and lively “Sour tasteful, unique songs that stand out Diesel,” the album then falls off again as amongst all the others and are by far I found myself trudging through songs two of my favorite songs in general.

“Icarus Falls” was an album that I that sounded too familiar to ones I had already heard from the tracklist. While genuinely had mixed emotions about.

Malik’s voice and the instrumental that However, the nine singles Malik released accompanies him is beautiful, a handful of throughout this year, along with a select the songs fail to stand out and hold their other few, are the ones that make this own individuality. I personally found myself album deserving of a listen. enjoying the album the most towards the

Go, Go, Gojko!

14 Entertainment

Comic by Nina Gojko

Features

Hannah Garrett, Editor

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E Features 15

Vape companies are targeting teens, but what is the FDA doing about this issue, and is it working?

By Tabby Fitzgerald, Reporter

A

s senior Victoria Fitzgerald sat during her unassigned study hall, she noticed a puff of smoke out of the corner of her eye. When she looked up, she saw that it was a student sneakily smoking a Juul in the back of the class. The teacher never noticed. Although it may not seem

like this happens within the large red brick building of SHS, it does, and according to many other students, it is a problem.

According to a poll taken on The Journal’s Twitter, out of 172 people, 81 percent think that vaping is a problem at SHS. In a second poll conducted

Vaping companies are trying to appeal to teens with their products, according to the FDA and CDC. The National Institute on Drug Abuse says, “Nearly 1 in 3 students in 12th grade report past year use of some kind of vaping device, raising concerns about the impact on their health.” Photo by Noah Thomas

16 Features

by The Journal on Twitter, one in four respondents said they vape.

“I don’t think they tell adults about it because it’s technically illegal to do it...,” Fitzgerald said. “I think it’s a popular thing now.”

According to the 2017 National Tobacco Survey published by the Federal Drug Administration and Center for Disease Control, more than 2 million middle and high school students are e-cigarette users, and since 2014 e-cigarettes are the most commonly used tobacco product among that demographic. Vaping among high school students has more than doubled in 2018 compared to 2017 according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

The FDA has labeled the use of e-cigarettes among teens as an epidemic. As of Sept. 13, the FDA claimed that it was starting to crack down harder on the selling of vape products to teenagers by taking e-cigarette products off the market if makers do not do more to stop teens from getting their hands on it.

On Nov. 13, CEO of JUUL Labs Kevin Burns announced on Juul’s website that it will be partnering with a third party to help prevent sales of their product to those under the age of 21. It has also taken flavors such as Mango, Fruit, Crème and Cucumber *John, Jane and Mary are pseudonyms.

Due to the sensitive nature of this article, their identities will remain anonymous.

Va p i n g Viewpoint

By Brianna Henry, Reporter

off the shelves of over 90,000 retail store shelves because they now understand that these products may also appeal to youth, not just adults.

On it’s website, Juul claims that it’s not intentionally trying to appeal to teens yet they recently announced that it will be lowering the amount of nicotine yet increasing the amount of vapor to create a bigger cloud.

Experts such as Associate Professor of Public Health and Law at Ohio State Micah Berman believe that this will not only make the pods more addictive and harmful due to the increase in the intensity of the nicotine but also attract younger users.

According to FDA commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb, e-cigarettes have become an almost “ubiquitous - and dangerous - trend among teens.” Two months after the FDA sent out 1,300 warning letters and fines to retailers for the illegal selling of vape products such as Juul, Blu and Vuse, Juul started cracking down on who was purchasing their products.

“We’re announcing the largestever coordinated initiative against violative sales in the history of the FDA,” Gottlieb said in a press conference Sept. 12 . “This is the largest single enforcement action in agency history. It’s aimed at retail and online sales of e-cigarettes to minors.”

Their effort is working. According to Senior John* here at SHS, he originally starting juuling when it first came out because he saw everyone doing it. After seeing Snapchat news

stories on the discover page about how the FDA didn’t think that it was safe for the public to be doing it and finding out that it is harmful for you, he decided to quit.

John has also noticed a change in the way the product is sold. Not only have certain flavors such as mango been taken off the shelves, but now it is also required to show your ID when buying the product whereas before it wasn’t. He doesn’t believe that the flavors really affect a person’s choice in it because some people will use what he considers the “nasty flavors.”

He believes that some start out doing it just because they can or see others doing it then it becomes an addiction, and they have to.

“They say they’re not addicted to it but when they lose it or something they literally have a panic attack,” John said. “If you weren’t addicted I know for a fact you wouldn’t have a panic attack if you lost a little piece of metal.”

Contrary to popular belief, there is no scientifically proven positive effect of vaping versus smoking cigarettes.

In addition, studies are coming out highlighting the potential harms of e-cigarettes and that usage increases a teens vulnerability to using marijuana, according to Indianapolis Franciscan Health Interventional Pulmonologist Dr. Faisal Khan.

Khan believes that vape companies such as Juul are targeting teens because of their product designs making it look like a flash drive - and

One SHS sophomore student remembers her first time using a Juul, which is a type of e-cigarette. One of her friends she was with at the time owned a Juul and constantly smoked it, and she became very curious over time and one day asked to hit it. When she first inhaled, she coughed obnoxiously and her throat felt funny. Even after this feeling, she still continues to use it to this day.

Mary* says she started using a Juul because it was popular and she had one there, readily available. She first started using the Juul when her sister wanted one.

She bought one for her sister and now she uses it daily.

“I’m not addicted to it, I would say,” Mary said. “I vape because I just have one and it’s fun.”

Mary says she thinks that it’s so popular between teens today because of the stigma of the topic. Since it’s illegal for kids under 18 she believes that they flock to the idea of something so simple to use.

Although she uses it every day, she feels as if it’s not a threat unless it leads someone to smoke cigarettes. She thinks that since cigarettes cost more and are more harmful, using a Juul is only bad if it leads one to more harmful things.

According to her, a huge part of the community surrounding Juuls can be peer pressure. Some kids can be pressured into it because it’s “cool” and “why wouldn’t you,” she said. According to “The Buzz”, lots of kids get addicted to cigarettes who never intended to because of Juuls.

“I’m aware of when I’m being peer pressured into something, and I wasn’t,” Mary said.

Even though she Juuls every day, she feels as if though she could stop anytime.

She thinks she will most likely stop next year.

Or even when the trend or phase goes away. According to “Health line”, kids are more susceptible to nicotine addiction with vapes because of how young their brain is, and it’s even harder to quit because of that.

Did you spy the Juul hidden among the school supplies on page 15? How easy is it to spy them at SHS?

Features 17

the way they market their product. Khan also believes that not only the amount of nicotine but the flavorings and other chemicals found in vape have known harmful health effects that are a part of the fumes inhaled.

Khan isn’t alone in his belief that vaping is bad for one’s health. John is an athlete and could tell that by using a Juul it was not only affecting his lungs but also his performance in the sports he plays.

“Bottomline is that our bodies are designed such that anything inhaled other than clean air can be harmful to our lungs and our health in general,” Khan wrote in an email to The Journal.

SHS has taken action to try and put a stop to students vaping during school hours. Southport has limited access

to areas that are hard for teachers to supervise such as the upstairs “ghost hallway” and by locking the auditorium restroom doors. By having these areas unavailable to students, it limits the opportunity given for them to vape according to Assistant Principal A.J. Martzall.

Depending on the situation, a few things will take place if a student is caught vaping. Martzall says that he will first always ask a student if they need help. If they do he will get them the resources they need and says that a student will never be in trouble for asking for help. On the other hand, if caught the student will either be suspended or issued a ticket because what they’re doing is illegal. Although it is possible to give out a ticket for it,

Martzall says that they will always try to take care of it at the school first. Martzall also thinks that it is not a problem in the school.

“We don’t see it but I’m sure kids do,” Martzall said.

Despite administration not seeing that vaping is a problem at SHS, there is one student that can show otherwise.

Sophomore Jane* sells Juul pods to other students her age, kids who aren’t legally able to purchase pods themselves. Jane says that she knows other students at school who are 18, so she gives them money to buy them for her friends.

Friends, who just like her, are among the other millions of middle and high school students who are wrapped in the vaping epidemic today.

The FDA is cracking down, and t

Altria Group Inc.

“We welcome the FDA’s action and look forward to sharing our thoughts about how to prevent and reduce youth use, an issue we have focused on for decades. We strongly believe kids shouldn’t use any tobacco products and take a number of steps to prevent kids from getting access to all tobacco products. For example, for participating retailers, our contracts require retailer training and signage, and that all sales must be done in a non-self-service fashion so retailers can check IDs.”

Responses from cspdailynews.com

JT International USA

“We have received a request for information from the FDA and will continue to work with the agency to show that Logic markets its products only to adults.”

The numbers behind teen vaping

37.3%

32.3%

A study done by the National Institute on Drug Abuse found that young people ages 12-21 who had never previously smoked but were receptive to e-cigarette advertising, were 60 percent more likely to try smoking cigarettes one year later.

17.6%

8th graders

10th graders

12th graders

Percentage of teens who have vaped in the past year

these are companies’ responses: Kevin Burns, CEO of Juul “Juul Labs will work proactively with the FDA in response to its request. We are committed to preventing underage use of our product, and we want to be part of the solution in keeping e-cigarettes out of the hands of young people.

Our mission is to improve the lives of adult smokers by providing them with a true alternative to combustible cigarettes. Appropriate flavors play an important role in helping adult smokers switch.

By working together, we believe we can help adult smokers while preventing access to minors, and we will continue to engage with the FDA to fulfill our mission.”

Fontem Ventures

“Fontem Ventures strongly believes that e-vapor products like blu and myblu are to be used only by adult smokers. Minors should not use any tobacco or nicotine products, and we fully support and advocate for both legislation prohibiting sales of vaping products to minors and the ongoing FDA enforcement action against retailers selling e-vapor and other tobacco products to minors. We are evaluating [the FDA’s] request and statement from the FDA. On youth access, we have common aims. We welcome the opportunity to demonstrate and work with the FDA to further strengthen our youth access prevention policies and procedures. We will continue to work with regulators in the U.S. and elsewhere to implement best practices in all our commercial activities.”

Features 19

The Red Onion Cobalt Henson, Editor

Senior John Cheerity mourns the Christmas past in the main hallway on Dec. 18. Photo by Cobalt Henson

HO, HO, HOAX Christmas corporations fall to corruption

By Emma Herwehe, Reporter

W

alking through a crowded mall in the middle of December, Nichola Joy is overwhelmed with the sheer amount of deals, promotions and sales seeping out of the surrounding stores.

People screamed things like “50 percent off for the rest of December ” or “Buy two, get three free.” To Joy, these sounded like wonderful deals, all created to make consumers’ Christmases better and more affordable. In reality, corporations are using what they call “the most profitable time of the year ” to bring in as much money as possible.

“They have no regards to our feelings or personal lives,” Joy said.

When Joy later returned home, after a long day of shopping,

20 The Red Onion

she became disgusted as her favorite show, “Christmas Spirit for the Soul,” was interrupted by thousands advertisements. “I was horrified,” Joy said. “My Christmas spirit is leaving me as we speak.”

Joy claims to attend family dinners where the main topic of conversation is discount codes and gift ideas. Table centerpieces have become coupon books.

“Has everyone fallen under the shopping spell?” Joy said. “Do corporations even care that the only thing on my son’s Christmas list is a discount to Game Start?”

As consumers are slowly feeling the effects of the abundance of promotions, corporations are gaining exactly what they wanted: profit.

“They are practically ripping the money out of consumers’

pockets,” Joy said.

One well-known businessman, Ivan Voleur, is said to have gone door-to-door during the holiday season asking families for up to 50 percent of their income, promising a punch card to their favorite store in return.

“I do it because it’s my job,” Voleur said. “People need to respect that I have feelings too, including the satisfaction of a wallet full of money.”

Patty Cane, a mother of four and Christmas enthusiast, claims to not have realized that this problem was taking place. She claims to have had a wonderful December so far, including a wonderful family dinner (three courses, including half a can of green beans and three pieces of ham, which she claims to

have gotten at 60 percent off ) and family activities, such as shopping or extreme couponing.

Cane does admit that her shopping tendencies have gotten worse over the past few weeks, but she refuses to believe there’s anything wrong with that. She says that it is just too tempting to resist, with everything either on sale or involved in a two-for-one sort of deal. Cane claims to not have had trouble with convincing businessmen.

“I thought it was normal to see corporation CEOs yelling at you in your dreams while you sleep,” Cane said.

In Santaville, Iowa, one of the most important Christmas traditions is the lighting of the 300 feet. Christmas tree on Dec. 1. This year, however, the tree lighting was cancelled. Apparently, a big business called MoneyMakers bought the tree and the lights to sell for profit. The CEO of MoneyMakers, Chris Cash, claims to not feel bad about ruining Christmas for hundreds of people, as long as he reaches his profit goal.

“The lights were a distraction anyway,” Cash said. “All I know is, my business might be able to open up a new location this year.”

Big business problems have even extended to the North Pole. Santa Claus’ workshop was bought out by Winter Wonders, an organization that charges $60 a person to sit on Santa’s lap. With an improved location, Winter Wonders’ profit has increased by 85 percent.

As a result of the profitdriven Christmas “spirit” from big businesses, consumers’ joy for the holidays has gone down by 80 percent, according to a poll from the Dew Research Center. Christmas has become less family-driven and more focused on the shopping and bargain aspects of the holiday.

“It’s the most profitable time of the year,” Voleur said.

Chopped Onions ORNAMENT-AL CRISIS

Southport families are reporting that ornaments are becoming scarce, with a black market where ornaments are the only method of payment.

SMART TREES INTRODUCED TO CHRISTMAS MARKET

Alexa-enabled trees are hitting the market just as Christmas becomes closer, priced at $200 with the option to auto-order gifts with free two-day shipping on demand.

SCAN TO GET THE HOTTEST DEAL OF THE SEASON

TEACHERS TIRED OF CLATTER ON ROOF

Multiple teachers are reporting that noises on the roof are disrupting class and distracting students. Some students report seeing a man in a red cloak attempting to sneak around the building with large deer-like creatures in tow.

Art by Nina Gojko

The Red Onion 21

d w o r C Trees A A candle scandle uncovered

A

By Nina Gojko, Reporter

uthorities have completed an ongoing investigation, arresting the key players in a conspiracy involving multiple high profile executives from various candle companies. The conspiracy was uncovered after months of investigation, beginning when people began purchasing live trees in anticipation for the holiday season.

Indianapolis Holiday Police officer Kris Coal was in charge of the operation, going undercover as a seasonal worker at Wick Industries. He’d been undercover for a year when IHPD had enough information to bring the proper people to justice.

“It was very difficult not to say something throughout this entire awful situation,” Coal said. “It made me sick to see how these huge corporations manipulated innocent, unsuspecting people during these joyous holidays.”

The suspicions started surfacing in late November 2017 when homeowners reported that their live trees started suddenly losing their needles. All live tree owners had said that they took the utmost care of their trees, yet every single needle fell off, leaving their homes a mess and their Christmas spirit in tatters.

“I was so sad and confused when my tree started losing needles,” homeowner Noel Jefferson said. “Pretty soon all the needles were gone and I had to scramble to find another solution.”

Companies such as Wick Industries then collected the needles and trees from the distraught homeowners, buying them for ridiculously low prices now that their aesthetic value plummeted.

Grinding up the pine trees and needles, the corporation manufactured candles that smelled like the very essence of the holidays. They then sold the candles back to citizens across the country desperate to bring festive cheer to their homes.

22 The Red Onion

“The trees are worthless now. No shame in buying them from unhappy people and making good out of the situation.” head of Wick Industries Albert Scrooge said.

During Officer Coal’s time undercover as a factory worker at Wick Industries production warehouse, he collected information from other workers on their working conditions and on how the company had engineered a virus to infect healthy, live trees. The blow to the live tree industry forced producers of plastic trees to push their workers into manufacturing more trees than ever before.

It was then revealed that plastic tree producers were in on the candle plot, sacrificing their workers health and wellbeing for the sake of increased profit and sales.

“We’d work 10-12 hour days with less breaks in between shifts than usual,” an anonymous factory worker for Holiday Lumber Inc. said. “During the holiday season, the boss would let us go home early to be with our families. This year they didn’t even let us outside to see the first snow.”

Conspiracy between the candle and plastic tree industries began after Scrooge suggested they do something to increase demand for candles and artificial trees. The groups then plotted to sabotage family owned tree farms and force consumers to overpay for the iconic pine-scented candles everyone loves so much during the holidays.

After accusations came to light pointing Scrooge out to be the mastermind of this debacle, sources say a trial will be held in early 2019 on charges of embezzlement, fraud and money laundering.

Officer Coal has stated that he’s willing to come forward with more information when the safety of him and his family is guaranteed. Charges against artificial tree producers have not been filed and it is unknown if any will be set during the proceedings of the Wick Industries trial.

Art by Nina Gojko

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Monday, Dec. 3 7-8:30 p.m.

Monday, Dec. 10 5-6:30 p.m.

Monday, Dec. 17 7-8:30 p.m.

Workouts are in the East Gym except for Dec. 10, which is in the main gym.

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Foreign Language

Yasmin McClellan, Editor

La huida por su vida Los estudiantes de SHS viajan a los EE.UU. en busca de una vida mejor

Por Yasmin McClellan

A

los 15 años, uno de los estudiantes de SHS arriesgó todo para cruzar la frontera de los EE. UU. El viaje tardó un mes, pero finalmente, él y su familia lo lograron.

“Ella solo quería tener una vida mejor para nosotros,” SHS senior Jack dijo.

Para muchas familias migrantes, como Jack*, la necesidad de una vida mejor y mejores oportunidades es una razón clave para el traslado a los EE. UU. Los problemas de la economía y del gobierno en los países de origen de los estudiantes, junto con el deseo de una vida mejor en general, han

24 Foreign Language

sido parte de la causa del aumento de inmigrantes de la América Central a los Estados Unidos.

El país de Honduras, el país de origen de Jack, se ha enfrentado con muchos problemas en cuanto a la inestabilidad del gobierno y de la economía después del golpe de estado de 2009 cuando el ejército hondureño derrocó al presidente, Manuel Zelaya, y lo envió al exilio.

Desde entonces, la corrupción y la violencia se han apoderado de las calles de Honduras.

Según el Consejo Asesor de Seguridad en el Exterior de Honduras, la tasa de homicidios

se ha disminuido de 86.5 por 100,000 personas en 2011 a 59 por 100,000 en 2016. Aunque la tasa de homicidios se ha disminuido durante los últimos años, sigue siendo una de las tasas de homicidios más altas en el mundo. Estos problemas se han provocado que los hondureños busquen una vida mejor.

La búsqueda de Jack comenzó cuando su madre quería ser independiente y tener una vida mejor para los dos. Su viaje tomó sólo alrededor de un mes, pero involucró múltiples formas de transporte.

“Tomé muchos autobuses, incluso automóviles, motocicletas e incluso

un bote para cruzar la frontera de los EE. UU.,” Jack dijo.

Otros estudiantes de SHS tienen historias similares a la de Jack. No vienen solo de Honduras, sino también de México. Estos estudiantes también están buscando una vida mejor y mejores oportunidades.

“Tuvimos problemas con la economía,” SHS senior Jill dijo. “Mi madre es madre soltera. Ella tenía problemas en su trabajo y en el trabajo y no teníamos a nadie que pudiera ayudarnos.”

Jill* tenía una familia en los EE. UU. que podía ayudarle a ella y a su madre. El viaje de Jill consistió en

solicitar un pasaporte y una visa, que recibió en un plazo de dos a tres meses.

Mientras que las historias de Jack y Jill son diferentes, los dos buscaban una vida mejor. Algunos encuentran que realmente disfrutan de vivir en los EE. UU. Según el Instituto de Políticas de Migración, el 80 por ciento de los inmigrantes dicen que los EE. UU. es un “país único que representa algo especial en el mundo.” Jack y Jill han encontrado que así es vivir en los EE. UU. y esto les ha beneficiado tanto a ellos como a sus familias. “(Vivir en los EE. UU.) ha sido bastante bueno porque tenemos más oportunidades,” Jill dijo.

*Jack y Jill son seudónimos. Debido a la naturaleza sensible del artículo, sus identidades permanecerán anónimas.

HUMANOS DE SOUTHPORT

Want to read an English version of this story?

Scan the QR code.

Senior Sharon Cung

“Cuando íbamos a venir a Estados Unidos, teníamos que ir a Malasia para preparar todos nuestros documentos. Entonces, la parte principal fue ir de Birmania a Malasia. Yendo de Malasia a América, tomamos el avión. Desde Birmania a Malasia, tuvimos que caminar allí porque no queríamos que los soldados birmanos nos agarraran. Íbamos por el bosque y subíamos colinas y montañas. Teníamos que dormir en el bosque sin comida ni agua. Yo había cumplido cinco años. Fue muy difícil porque formamos un grupo y nadie hablaba el idioma que hablaban los soldados, así que cuando hicimos algo que no les gustaba a los soldados, nos tiraban nuestro cabello y eran muy agresivos con nosotros.”

Foreign Language 25

Opinion

Rachel Bayler, Editor

Music ‘n Musings

A merry Christmas is possible in the face of sorrow Column by Rachel Bayler

I started listening to Christmas music in October. I know the social norm is to wait until the day after Thanksgiving, but I was just too excited. Plus, we’d started rehearsing our Christmas songs in choir in September, so I was in the Christmas spirit pretty early.

What I love most about Christmas music is its longevity. I’ve listened to it all my life and have never grown tired of it. I love how there are a multitude of Christmas songs, old and new, ancient or modern, all sung and enjoyed by generation after generation for centuries. Whether it’s Frank Sinatra, Perry Como or Michael Bublé, listening to these songs fills me with a warmth that can sooth the chill of any December night.

One of my favorite songs is “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” It isn’t like its other Christmas compatriots. It has a melancholy melody, and even more melancholy lyrics. It was first introduced in the 1944 movie “Meet Me in St. Louis,” and sung by Judy Garland in one of the most climactic scenes of the movie.

Esther, played by Garland, has just learned that she and her family will be moving from St. Louis, Missouri to New York City. Her youngest sister, Tootie, is distraught at the news.

Esther tries to offer some comfort to the little girl by singing her this song.

Sadly, the song doesn’t have the intended effect, succeeding in only upsetting the girl further and driving her to cry hysterically and lash out, as she is unable to cope with the loss of everything she has known. The emotion in this scene is palpable, and it brings me to tears every time I watch it.

It is a song of loss, of pain and sorrow, but ultimately of hope. Its lyrics are sad, and acknowledge that every year is full of pain, but also that Christmas is a time where we can be merry and happy and look with hope towards the new year. Whatever troubles we’ve faced in the last year, we can look confidently in the face of a new year, a new beginning, all the while remembering “next year, all our troubles will be out of sight.”

The Christmas season is one of joy, but that can be hard to

remember if you’ve lost a loved one.

This Christmas is going to be the first without my Grandpa, who passed in April due to an ongoing battle with cancer. We recently lost a Cardinal, Rashawn Haskins, and for his friends and family, this will be one of the hardest times of the year. Sometimes it feels like all we can do is “muddle through somehow.”

Even though I know this Christmas is going to be hard, I am still able to find comfort in the love and joy that is this Christmas season. No matter what, I’ll still be able to have a merry little Christmas because I will be surrounded by loved ones.

I love this time of year, even though it can serve as a reminder of those we’ve lost in the last year.

Christmas is also the time of the year where we can look back at 2018, sort out the good and the bad, hold those we love the most closest to our hearts and confidently step forward into 2019, ready to face what’s ahead. It’s the bright light of energy and fun in the middle of the bleak cold of winter. Let your heart be light this Christmas season.

Scan to listen to the featured song!

26 Opinion

Bye, Bye, Miss American Pie Horizons broadened in exchange trip

By Viktória Vadovičová, Reporter Five months ago, I took my heavy suitcases and a grey backpack and hugged my family for the last time in 2018. With a plane ticket in my hand, I left Slovakia behind and stepped forward to my dream. I traveled for almost nine hours, until I was finally in the U.S. ready to fulfill my dream of studying abroad.

I left everything that I knew behind: my family, my friends, my dog, my school, my city and my country for 165 days to experience and get to know something new. I didn’t know what to expect, so I expected very little. Thanks to that I received so much more and I fell in love with this place very quickly. As a little child, I used to watch American movies and always thought about what it would be like to study at an American high school. Now, it was all happening.

During my first few days in school, I felt like I was in a movie. Everything was new, new people, new classes, new teachers and a new school system. I was surprised how nice everyone was and how the students and teachers were willing to help me at any time. Throughout my whole exchange, it didn’t matter how tired I was, I always enjoyed the classes and learned a lot.

I’ve learned how to do improvisation in my theater class.

I’ve learned how to dissect a pickle and a sheep’s brain. I’ve learned that diffusion rhymes with confusion. But I’ve learned a lot about myself too.

I’ve learned what I can do when I’m willing to work for it. I’ve learned how precious people are when you get to know them. But the most important thing that I learned is to value things and people that life gives me.

Far away from my first home, I found another one. I found a second family. I found amazing people to talk to, to laugh with, to sing with and to dance with. With these people, I share wonderful memories.

I came here for 165 days and I wanted to do as many things here as I could. I had my first and last homecoming and my first real Halloween. I cheered on football, volleyball and basketball games and tried to participate during spirit weeks.

For the first time in my life I went to school in my pajamas. I truly enjoyed pep rallies. I even woke up at 4 a.m. to come to the morning pep session.

Believe it or not, even going to Target or Walmart was a big thing for me.

But, the biggest thing was definitely seeing the President because it was an opportunity of a lifetime.

It’s crazy to think about how things could have been different.

How my whole time here would have been different if I chose a different seat or a different class.

And how everything is happening for a reason and a simple little thing can change everything.

That’s the reason why I am even more grateful for every smile, every “Hi,” every question, every conversation and simply everything that has happened to me. All those random acts of kindness made me feel welcomed.

Even though some of the questions were very strange, I realized that I’m probably the first and the last person from Slovakia that people will ever meet. I didn’t realize a huge difference between the culture until I got money from an ATM machine through a car window and was told to try ice cream

with fries.

No matter how basic “life starts beyond your comfort zone” may sound, it’s true. Because just after experiencing something new, something lifechanging, you realize that life is so much more than you know. Be involved in school, get as much out of it as you can, because SHS has so much to offer.

Time flies fast when you are having fun and everything has to end and the time for me to go home is quickly approaching. I’m leaving happier and maybe a little bit heavier, full of amazing memories and experiences. I will always remember this time as one of the greatest times of my life. Ďakujem.

Call of Duty or Frida Kahlo?

Video games are their own form of art

By Jacob Wiese, Reporter When you read the headline you probably thought to yourself “Wow, what is this crazy nerd talking about?

Video games can’t be an art form.

They’re just a piece of mindless entertainment for kids.” I might be a nerd, but I’m not so crazy after all.

Video games are gorgeous.

Just take a look at some of the games that came out this year. For example, “Battlefield V” and “Red Dead Redemption 2” are absolutely breathtaking visually, but that’s not what this editorial is about. I’m talking about the emotional impact a video game can have on the player just like a piece of art in a museum or a musical composition can have on its audience.

Art is pleasant to look at. Music is powerful and adds emotion. Books introduce a story that hooks the reader. Video games use all these elements combined to make a perfect experience for the player.

Yeah, there are games like “Call of Duty” or “Fortnite” that are mindless entertainment, but every once in a while a video game so beautiful comes out and truly makes an impact.

The game that did that for me was “Dark Souls.”

“Dark Souls” is an older game, known for its gruesome and unforgivable difficulty. What many people don’t realize is that it has

a fascinating world, amazing story and a gorgeous score. The world is dark and gives the player a sense of overwhelming loneliness and insignificance in the giant world of Lordran.

“Dark Souls” has little to no ambient music when you’re traversing the world. The only sounds you hear are your own footsteps. Instead, the developers use music to coincide with certain actions made by the player. When you’re walking through the world you always have a feeling of anxiety that at any moment you could die and have to start over from the last time you rested in the game.

The feeling lives with you until you accidentally stumble across Firelink Shrine, one of the only safe areas in the game. The music that plays then fills you with warmth and security, something hard to come by in “Dark Souls.”

The bosses of “Dark Souls” are huge Lovecraftian abominations, except for the last one, Gwyn.

When you walk into the Kiln of the First Flame, the area where Gwyn is, you expect a huge monster-like creature that you’re going to slay and save mankind.

Instead you find a man in that cave. A hollow shell of someone that was. Gwyn lost everything.

HOT “Maybe I’m the monster” meme Kanye’s beef with Drake Avengers: Endgame trailer Art by Nina Gojko 28 Opinion

He lost his kingdom, his knights, his wife, children and friends.

Even with nothing left he sacrificed himself to keep the dark at bay. Gwyn’s story is one of tragedy and can best be summed up with the beautiful music that plays while you put the old man to rest.

Gwyn’s theme is a piece that is different from the other music that is associated with other bosses. Instead of a loud orchestral arrangement, it’s a melancholy piano duet. One piano plays a riff of the same notes over and over again while the other piano plays a pretty melody. The bass note riff symbolizes how the world of Lordran will go on as you replace Gwyn while the other melody describes his tragic life.

Things like these are what make video games special. You might not see video games hung up on walls in museums or in the mustread section at libraries, but they should be considered art.

NOT “New Year, new me” Offset interrupting Cardi at the ‘Rolling Loud’ concert YouTube Rewind

Art by Nina Gojko

The Journal Address

JOURNAL ADDRESS

This is the opinion of the editorial board of The Journal

Can LGBT+ individuals exercise their rights?

Recently, a transgender student at Osseo Senior High School in Minnesota recorded a video of the principal and other staff entering the bathroom she was using and forcing her out. Not only was this student’s privacy violated, but the video she took shows how to some, the safety of trans students doesn’t matter.

Safety, though, is a huge priority for LGBT+ students in many aspects. Some are afraid that they may be rejected by their family or those around them.

In some situations, people have been attacked or killed by those intolerant of their identities.

In high school, a pivotal time for many, feeling safe and accepted is something all want, but for LGBT+ students, many still don’t have this.

Because of this, we, The Journal, believe members of the LGBT+ community cannot fully utilize their rights and freedoms in America today and be accepted. Not only is this lack of freedom being seen in schools, but it is affecting the mental health of many.

Mental health affects millions of people in the US, especially those in the LGBT+ community. According to Mental

Health America, LGBT+ people are three times more likely to experience a mental health condition, compared to those who identify as straight.

The American Academy of Pediatrics surveyed over 120,000 youth during the period of June 2012 and May 2015 to compare levels of attempted suicide between sexual orientation groups.

Half of all transgender men surveyed reported attempting suicide, followed by non-binary youth reporting 42 percent.

Thirty percent of all transgender women surveyed said they’d attempted suicide before. We, The Journal, believe that no one should feel so ashamed of their identity to the point that they feel like they should take their own life.

Every year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention release a national survey of high school students.

Last year in 2017, the Youth Risk Behavior Survey revealed that around 1.3 million, or 8 percent of all high school students identify as LGBT+.

High school is a confusing, stressful and complicated time for everyone, no matter their gender identity or sexuality.

Having such a large population of

students feel vulnerable and unsafe in schools and their communities is something we have to address as a society.

We believe that the LGBT+ community is a valuable part of our world’s population and it’s slowly becoming acceptable to be yourself without fear or repercussions, at least in the U.S. American society has made huge strides towards LGBT+ equality and acceptance but there’s still work to be done. The best thing we can do as a society and as a community is to educate others on LGBT+ topics and how to be understanding if someone you know is struggling with discrimination or identity issues.

If you’re questioning your identity, don’t feel as though you have to come out, especially if it could mean rejection or harm by those who disagree. If you’re someone who’s confused what the fuss is about with LGBT+ people coming out more and more over recent years, seek to educate yourself and try to understand where they’re coming from.

If you just don’t agree with it, then that’s your call.

Opinion 29

Photos

Noah Thomas, Editor

’S AWKWARD PHOTO CONTEST

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HOW TO VOTE:

1. Head to www.thejournalrewired.com.

2. View the gallery called “The Journal’s Awkward Photo Contest” in the “Photos” section.

3. Decide on your favorite out of these photos!

4. Answer the poll next to the gallery to decide the winner.

5. Winners will be announced when we return from break, Jan. 7.

1) Sophomores Nathan Taylor, Casey Rockel and senior Shelby Baker 2) Juniors Toby Brummett, Jerimiah Craig, senior Abigail Sullivan and sophomore Madison Sprague.

3) Seniors Becca Hiller and Amy Norris

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4) Sophomores Madison Baker, Aliyah Wright, Kristy Sloan and Madison Snyder 5) Senior Jennifer Lemons 6) Administrative assistant Ashley Quinlin, the Cardinal and attendance clerk Debbie Galbreth

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Happy Holidays!

From The Journal family to yours