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MIDTERM ELECTIONS page 8
PIPER HIGH SCHOOL
HALLOWEEN CHANGES Pages 12-13 COSTUME IDEAS Page 19
October 30, 2018 ISSUE 02 . VOLUME 36
PIPER HIGH SCHOOL 4400 N 107 ST, KANSAS CITY, KS 66109
KCPIPERNEWS.COM
NEWS BRIEFS Upcoming breaks
STAFF
Thanksgiving break will be from Nov. 21 to 23, followed by winter break Dec. 22 through Jan. 6. Dec. 20 and 21 will be half-days for finals and school will resume Jan. 7. All schools and the district office will be closed to students during these breaks.
Midterms voting Registered voters can arrive at the polling place from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 6. Local polling places include Haven Baptist Church, Kane Community Center, Oak Ridge Missionary Baptist Church, Open Door Baptist Church and Parkway Baptist Church. Voters should bring a government-issued ID, which includes a driver’s license.
Benefit concert Senior Lauren Textor will be hosting a benefit concert as part of her senior project, which will be held from 1-5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 4. at the National Agricultural Center and Hall of Fame. Tickets are $5 and food will be available for purchase from the Funnel Cake Truck, Jim Dandy’s Kettle Corn and other local vendors. Music will include Britten and seniors Jamison Fogelsong and Andrew Telthorst’s band Verona. Proceeds will be donated to maintain the upkeep of the museum and historical buildings on site.
Blood drive The community blood drive will be held from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Thurs., Nov. 8 in the gym. To donate, visit esavealifenow.org and enter sponsor code piperhs or visit English teacher Tiffany Scheffler in Room 205 to book an appointment. Potential donors should eat ironrich foods and balanced meals, drink lots of fluids and get adequate rest in the days before their appointment.
editors-in-chief web editors-in-chief managing editor/copy editor design editor/cartoonist photo editor business manager sports editor social media editor staff members photo journalists
Scout Molder Lauren Textor Taylor McEachron Kaleb Brown Megan Neal Melanie Mnirajd Hannah Pappert Colton Lloyd Charles Connor Morgan Haworth Jack Trumbo Blake Beashore Lauren Pappert Esrom Griffin Emma Martin Allison Neal Kayla Vest Isabella Gravatt Taylor Zimmerman
contact us Piper High School 4400 N. 107th St Kansas City, KS 66109 Phone (913) 721-2100 Yearly subscriptions to “The Log” are $5. Printed by Valley Offset Printing, Valley Center, Kan. editorial policy Editorial opinions expressed throughout this publication do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the entire staff or administration. Letters to the editor are welcome, but we reserve the right to print and edit all submissions. censorship policy Kansas Senate Bill 62 guarantees the same rights for student journalists as are given to professional journalists. These rights include, but are not limited to, all First Amendment rights including the rights to freedom of expression, insofar as published items may not contain libel or obscene statements, invade the privacy of individuals, cause a substantial disruption to school activity or incite others to violate school policies or rules. All material shall be reported truthfully.
On the cover: Halloween decorations sit in a Piper community front yard.
Hannah Pappert
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TABLE OF CONTENTS Therapy dog helps students Page 10-11
Career Day Page 22-23
Costume ideas Page 19
Meet Polina Page 10 Which Halloween candy are you? Page 24 The Haunting of Piper Elementary Page 14
4 News
Midterm elections gauge public opinion SCOUT MOLDER co editor-in-chief
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s the United States approaches the halfway point of the Trump presidency, the importance of voting in midterms has become a hot topic within news and social media. On the national scale, these elections, which take place at the halfway point of every presidential term, are significant because every seat in the House of Representatives is up for election. On a more local scale, the midterm ballots in Kansas also include votes for the governor and other various state executives. The midterms election will take place Tues., Nov. 6. According to social sciences teacher Toure Grimes, these elections are also a good gauge of public opinion. “Midterms are an indication of what the public thinks about the current presidential regime. If the public is satisfied, you will probably see the people that are in those 50/50 races that are in the same party as the president retain their position,” he said. “If there’s backlash then sometimes you will see the opposite party win a few more seats.” Senior Marisa Sanchez, who plans to vote in the election, agreed that midterms are a good time to act on political opinions, especially for young people. “I think it’s important for young people to vote so they can speak their mind and help change our community,” she said. For many young people, though, voting isn’t at the top of their list of priorities, especially when it comes to smaller scale elections such as midterms. Senior Garin Stone said that he only plans to vote in presidential elections for the time being. “I’m a little ignorant when it comes to politics, but the presidential election is the big one,” he said. “I guess I’m not voting because I don’t want to dig into each individual candidate. The presidential elec-
tion has two candidates that normally get looked at.” According to Grimes, though, whether or not someone votes isn’t always an indication of their political knowledge. “I don’t necessarily agree with the old adage of ‘vote or don’t say anything,’” Grimes said. “I can still have an opinion, and just because someone is not choosing to vote for the two or three candidates that are available doesn’t mean that they’re not informed.” On the other hand, senior Chris Baumli, who also plans to vote in midterms, said he sees voting as an opportunity for young people to embrace political activism. “I am voting in midterms because I want to be a part of the new generation that actually expresses their political efficacy, and I want to have a say in policies that are going to affect my future,” Baumli said. Grimes also said he believes the upcoming election will have an impact on party leadership during the presidential election in 2020. “I think both parties are fractured to some degree. Both parties are in need of direction,” he said. “They’re in need of unified leadership, so I think that midterms will bring some new presidential candidates.” Regardless of their impact on larger scale elections, Baumli said that he believes every vote matters. “If you don’t like the way things are going you have to try to change it, and I don’t really like the way things are going, so that inspires me to vote,” he said. “It’s kind of hard to feel that your vote matters if you’re a minority party voter, but regardless of whether or not you believe a candidate is going to win in your state, it’s important to vote, because there’s the chance that maybe they will, and you should keep expressing that right [to vote] because you have it.”
Kansas District 3 Candidates for U.S. House of Representatives
Kevin Yoder - Republican Experience
• U.S. House of Representatives from 2011-present • Kansas House of Representatives from 2002-2010 (from ballotpedia.org)
Issues
• Economy: Wants to cut taxes for the middle class and decrease regulations on small businesses • Immigration: Supports funding of the border wall and limits on legal immigration Website: http://www.yoderforcongress.com
Sharice Davids - Democrat Experience
• White House Fellow in the Department of Transportation • Chair of the board of directors of Twelve Clans, Inc. for the Ho-Chunk Nation (from ballotpedia.org)
Issues
• Economy: Believes the current tax bill gives breaks to the top 1% of Americans, supports tax cuts for the middle class • Immigration: Supports comprehensive immigration reform and “common sense” policies that allow people around the world protection in the United States
Website: https://www.shariceforcongress.com
Chris Clemmons - Libertarian Experience
• Ran for U.S. House to represent the second Congressional District in 2014, but was defeated by Lynn Jenkins
Issues
• Economy: Supports a “fair tax,” meaning a tax solely on consumer goods rather than income. Wants to cut the federal budget by 5% each year • Immigration: No clear position on this issue could be found on the candidate’s website. Website: http://www.clemmonsforkansas.com/
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Fear manifests as sex trafficking rises Experts provide insight, understanding of the recent upsurge BLAKE BEASHORE staff member
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here is a monster lurking in the darkness, snatching lives away from the innocent every day. This monster is allowed to run wild in the streets without anyone to stop it, unspoken of except in hushed whispers and the occasional safety assembly. This monster is the extremely intricate world of sex trafficking. Awareness for the issue of sex trafficking is very low. There was an estimated number of 24.9 million people being victims of human trafficking in the U.S in 2017. KC New Hope, a trafficking non-profit from Kansas City, is a group attempting to raise awareness. “A basic education of awareness can equip ordinary people in all walks of life to recognize the signs of human trafficking and know what action to take,” a representative of KC New Hope said. An issue with awareness is that the details of trafficking are so horrific that people are in denial about the situation. But as KC New Hope says, “Some horrors are so great that we want to look away. We must be willing to open our eyes to the suffering and violence around us.”
The main victims of trafficking can be described as vulnerable. Victims are “those who come from broken, dysfunctional or abusive families are vulnerable,” according to KC New Hope. “Children seeking love, affection, attention and affirmation outside of a loving family are vulnerable.”
“Some horrors are so great that we want to look away. We must be willing to open our eyes to the suffering and violence around us.”
- KC New Hope Kansas City nonprofit
Trafficking affects people of all gender, races, and backgrounds, but it is mostly an issue for women and girls. Sophomore Jennifer Obiesie has certain fears that come with being a girl. “I fear being taken advantage of by someone bigger and stronger than I am,” Obiesie said. “Then when I try to tell someone they won’t believe me.”
Many girls take precautions to defend themselves from attacks or kidnappings that could put them into the world of sex trafficking. Obiesie carries pepper spray and has taken self defense classes so she can defend herself if that situation were to ever arise. The police force is also doing their part to try and solve the issue. School resource officer Brad Lightfoot has a rare perspective that comes from the legal side. Lightfoot said that in officer training they learn specifically about sex trafficking and how to handle the victims. Lightfoot said the symptoms of a victim can be hard to see. “Generally the victims would be very submissive and shy,” Lightfoot said. “They wouldn’t really talk to anyone.” There are ways for people who are caught up in trafficking to get out with legal help. “The internet is the best way to get help,” Lightfoot said. “There are all sorts of hotlines to call.” Lightfoot says the best way to defend yourself from trafficking is simple. “Don’t listen to people promise you things that you know that they can’t, use common sense,” Lightfoot said. “If it doesn’t sound right, it’s not right.”
Trafficking By the Numbers
Out of the 24.9 milllion victims, 7 in 10 trafficking victims are women Source www.humanrightsfirst.org
Graphic by Blake Beashore
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SUPREME COURT JUSTICE HEARING REPRESENTS POLITICAL DIVIDE Photo courtesy of Andrew Harrer
CHARLES CONNOR sports editor
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rior to Sept. 14, 2018, Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination for Supreme Court Justice flew under the radar for the majority of the general public. After that date, however, everyone knew the name Kavanaugh as a result of allegations that surfaced claiming that Kavanaugh sexually and physically assaulted a woman in high school. The woman at the forefront of these allegations is Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, a professor at Palo Alto University. Ford claims that she was assaulted by Kavanaugh and his best friend, Mark Judge, while at a high school party more than 30 years ago. Kavanaugh has explicitly denied these claims. Many politicians are skeptical of the timing of the allegations. Republicans, who support Kavanaugh, think this is all a “sham” created by the Democrats to keep the seat open until midterms. “I’m honestly not sure if the allegations are true,” senior Dylan Hendrix said. “Either way, I don’t believe Kavanaugh should’ve been passed by Congress based on the hearing. I wouldn’t say there are any positives, but I do believe it is a learning experience. It really showed the public just how seperated our legislators are from not only each other, but the public in general.” At the end of Barack Obama’s final term as president, he nominated Merrick Garland to fill the open seat on the Supreme Court. Republicans refused to even bring Garland’s nomination to a vote, which sparked a political war between Republicans and Democrats. Republican
Kavanaugh takes his oath at the hearing Sept. 27.
Senator Lindsey Graham admitted that he wanted to keep the seat open due to politics, which is what many Republicans believe Democrats are trying to do now with Kavanaugh.
“Today’s political environment is a -Senior circus.”
Jamison Foglesong
According to a poll conducted by PBS NewsHour, 45 percent of Americans believe that Ford is telling the truth compared to Kavanaugh’s 33 percent. Both percentages rose after the testimonies Sept. 27. “Today’s political environment is a circus,” senior Jamison Foglesong said.
“I feel as though these sexual assault allegations highlight the state of our political system. Both sides [Republicans and Democrats] seemed to put their agendas above the trauma/potential trauma of a rape victim.” Kavanaugh was sworn in as a Supreme Court judge Oct. 6 shortly after a close Senate vote where senators from across the country voted 50 to 48 in favor of Kavanaugh. The scene of Kavanaugh’s swearing in was described as somber, as female protestors shouted during the event. “Kavanaugh believes he is a victim of a Democratic plot… This alone should disqualify him from being appointed,” government teacher Daryl Graham said. “When a judge holds these types of partisan beliefs, it is impossible for them to remain independent and insulated from politics.”
8 Opinion
we need to talk about... Using Feminist Activism to Combat Day-to-Day Sexism
SCOUT MOLDER co editor-in-chief
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ith every new controversy that involves women, whether it be the sexual assault allegations against Brett Kavanaugh or the altright’s false depiction of Taylor Swift as an “Aryan goddess,” the feminist movement seems to simultaneously gain and lose traction. I’ll be the first to admit that feminism isn’t always perfect, but that doesn’t change the fact that I am a feminist. I’m not a feminist because I think all men are awful, and I’m not a feminist because I’m some far-left hippie chick who just wants to look cool. I’m a feminist because I have to be. My first direct experience with sexism happened in a debate round my junior year. My partner Chris Baumli and I were facing a team composed of two young men. During the the cross examination after my speech, the two boys started asking me questions. As I would start to give an answer, they would cut me off. This happens from time to time in debate, but they were interrupting literally every single one of my sentences. It became clear early on that they were doing this in an attempt to make themselves look smarter than me.
Worst of all, though, was that when Chris would answer a question instead of me, our opponents wouldn’t interrupt him. He would say the exact same thing that I was planning on saying, but he got to talk and I didn’t. The sexism was obvious and infuriating, but I didn’t know what to say. I had no idea how to stand up for myself, so I didn’t. Before this day, I had made it a point never to cry in a debate round, because I didn’t want to look weak. But this time, after cross ex ended, I sat down, and the tears started flowing. I was angry and frustrated, but most of all I was scared. I was scared that we would lose because two blatantly misogynistic male debaters had made me look bad for no reason other than to assert their dominance and because I felt like there was nothing I could do about it. I felt utterly powerless in that moment. Chris and I ended up telling our coach about the round, who thought it was serious enough to bring up to the other team’s coach, who then removed them from the tournament for their behavior. It turns out that they had been treating their female head coach similarly, which was validating, because sexism can be a hard thing to prove, especially when it comes to small things like debate. The older I get, the more I realize that things like what I experienced in that debate round happen to women every single day, and many of those women aren’t always lucky enough to have everything turn out fine afterwards. The more women I talk to about my experiences, the more I learn about the unprecedented levels of sexism that exist in day-to-day life for all women. Sometimes that sexism is intentional, and sometimes it isn’t, but the bottom line
is that it is always there, always wearing us down, always bringing women closer to breaking the promises we’ve made to ourselves not to look weak. The argument that feminism isn’t necessary anymore fails to take into account the fact that women, even in fairly liberal and developed countries such as the United States, face small instances of sexism daily that, after a while, start to build up. These seemingly small occurrences are called microaggressions, and because they happen consistently, they are a form of structural violence against women. Although microaggressions aren’t always physically violent, they are often scarring to women on an emotional scale, and they run counter to the work that countless women have done to achieve social equality. This lack of equality is one of the most common forms of violence against women (although it is oftentimes the least noticeable), and it has been going on for centuries. So no, I’m not a feminist because I think it’s fun and and quirky, and I’m not a feminist because I think men are the epitome of evil. I’m a feminist because it’s the only thing that gives me hope that one day we can break the cycle of oppression that is perpetuated by the kind of day-today sexism that every woman experiences. If we want that to happen, we have to stop talking about feminism as if it’s taboo. I don’t know who decided that wanting equal opportunity to live a happy and successful life regardless of gender is something to be embarrassed about, but it’s not. I am proud to say that I’m willing to advocate for the rights of myself and other women, and if that makes me an extremist, man-hating liberal in the eyes of some people, then so be it I guess.
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Violence Against women Raise Awareness of Sex Trafficking Before it’s too Late
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STAFF EDITORIAL
girl is shopping at the mall. She’s 14 years old, and she doesn’t usually bother telling her parents where she is. There she meets an older, handsome man in a nice suit. Fast forward to a few months later and she’s meeting with him every other day. He showers her with gifts and anything she wants. It’s an odd relationship, but she’s in love. Fast forward another few months, and this 14-year-old girl has quit coming to school. Instead, she finds herself a slave to her pimp, a man who she thought she had loved, sitting on a hotel bed, waiting for him to bring her the next customer. This isn’t a made-up story. This is a glimpse into the lives of hundreds of thousands of girls. This girl, like many others, was lured into this horrific world by a man who used his money to take advantage of neglected youth and then force them into sexual exploitation. It is modern slavery, and according to the End It Movement, an organization that
How To Help
combats human trafficking, it is present in 87 percent of all nations, including the United States. The Kansas City Star reported Oct. 18 that the Federal Bureau of Investigation Kansas City Division arrested 10 suspected traffickers and recovered three minors. The girls were all 16 or 17 years old. This isn’t something that happened far away. This was here in Kansas City. Efforts like these are being conducted nationwide, and so far, the youngest recovered victim was a 3-month-old girl. Although these actions are a step in the right direction, the FBI cannot save every victim. The recent operations were able to make 120 arrests and 84 recoveries nationwide, but according to the Ark of Hope for Children, there are 1.5 million estimated commercial sex victims in the United States, the majority being girls ages 11 to 14. Operations won’t be able to save all of them. However, it doesn’t have to be a hopeless mission. The more people who are informed about this multi-billion dollar crime industry, the more women and children that can be saved. Thanks to organiza-
tions like Citizen & Darling, the End It Movement, Run to Stop It and others, awareness and help is more available than ever. Even with the amount of people living through this tragedy, the subject isn’t often talked about. It is never mentioned in our school, and quite frankly, it is barely a whisper in this community. It shouldn’t be a whisper. It should by a cry: a cry for help and a cry for action. There are so many organizations already created to combat this foul treatment, but the only way they will get traction to make a change is if others talk. Talking about it, no matter how taboo it may seem, can save lives. Millions of young women and children around the world need help. Whether it’s acknowledged or not, sex trafficking is close. A fellow student could be in danger right now. The more people talk about this problem instead of burying it, the more awareness can be brought to young women like the girl in the mall. Speak out. One voice can make all of the difference in the world.
National Human Trafficking Hotline: 1 (888) 373-7888
Put a red X on your hand, and post it on social media with the hashtag #enditmovement to spread the word.
Run in one of their hosted 5ks, volunteer to work at any of their 5k stations or donate through their website.
Buy any of this company’s product and 10 percent of each purchase will go to help victims of human trafficking.
n the freshman hallway sits a room that contains a fluffy black companion. Many people go to talk to Fala and even though she cannot talk back, she is always listening. “People come here because they want to talk to her, which then allows me to get to know the students,” counselor Polly Vader said. “She really has the ability to help students open up and calm them down if they are feeling anxious or upset.” Fala is a Black Lab and Golden Retriever mix that comes from Canine Companions for Independence. Many students at the high school go to see Fala on a regular basis, including senior Savannah Vasquez and junior Stephanie Kerst. “I go to see Fala whenever Mrs. Vader’s door is open,” senior Savannah Vasquez
said. Fala has been the school resource dog for nine years and will continue to serve visitors for many years to come. She tends to leave a positive impact on people when they walk into her office. “She helps me for sure,” Kerst said. “I love going to see her, because I know she will make my day better.” People don’t only go to see Fala when they are having a bad day, they also go to see her on a good day. “I go see her whenever, because she helps calm my nerves and she also makes me smile,” Vasquez said. Fala has had such an impact on people that they have created a certain amount of time in their day to go see her. “I go see her at the end of every day no matter what,” Kerst said. “If it’s a good day she makes me feel better and reminds me to be thankful for the good days.”
Permanent Expressions
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TREY TRUMBO staff member
rom tribal to meaningful portraits, people choose tattoos for fun, to reflect who they are or to be a walking piece of art. The first recorded tattoos were in 1898 from a medical doctor in Egypt. Since the 1970s, tattoos have become a mainstream item around the world. While some people get tattoos to display artwork, others want to memorialize family members, special moments or ideals. Junior Daley Beashore got her first tattoo of a cross with a semicolon last May. “It represents when an author wants to end a sentence but chooses not to,” Beashore said. “The sentence is your story and the semicolon means it’s just a pause, not the end of the sentence to your story.” Some students have or want multiple
tattoos. Senior Keon Townsend currently has two. A cross is located on his bicep, while his mother’s name is written on his chest. “A tattoo should have a meaning and be important to you,” Townsend said. He got both of his tattoos in 2016. “My tattoos represent the most important things to me, God and my mother,” said Townsend. “It’s hard for me to imagine living life without them with me wherever I go.” It is uncertain exactly how much tattoos have grown in popularity from past generations. However, Pew Research Center engaged in a study where they found about 38 percent of people ages 18 to 25 have at least one tattoo. “I would consider getting a tattoo, but I’m scared of the pain,” senior Macey Nigh said. That is one of the most popular concerns with tattoos. However, the amount of pain varies based on the region where
Photo courtesy of Christine
I
KALEB BROWN co-web editor
Christine Kohrs recieved her most recent tattoo of her father in Nov. 2017.
the tattoo is applied. Beashore and Townsend didn’t feel much pain when they got their body marks. Teacher Christine Kohrs has a total of five tattoos. Her most recent is a tattoo of her father who passed in early 2017. “I miss him so much, and I want him with me always,” Kohrs said. The tattoo is located on her upper right shoulder blade. It took about four hours to complete. Kohrs describes the pain as being extremely high after about two and a half hours. “I expected it to hurt, though, and it was worth it,” Kohrs said.
Photo courtesy of Christine Kohrs
fala: THE DOG THAT DOES IT ALL
Hannah Pappert
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new home, school and life awaited junior Polina Rakusheva as she traveled thousands of miles from her home in Kazakhstan to America. When Rakusheva was 14, she learned about a free program called Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) that gave students the chance to go on an educational exchange. After waiting seven months, Rakusheva learned that she was one of the 100 students chosen to go on an exchange out of the 7,000 that applied. “I have always dreamed to find out a lot of new things about this world, to try everything, to meet new people, to travel and see new cultures,” Rakusheva said. “I have also wanted to share the customs and culture of my country.” Freshman Astin Ramos said when she was younger, a family friend hosted an exchange student. Ever since then, she and her brother have wanted to host someone. This year, Ramos and her family got the opportunity to host Rakusheva. “We get along quite well, we were really happy she came to join our family this
There’s no place like home
year,” Ramos said. “There wasn’t a whole lot we had to change, she just slid right into our family.” Rakusheva agreed, and said her host family has helped her adjust to life in America. “Fortunately for me, it was easy to adapt,” Rakusheva said. “I am thankful for my host family. They have helped me all the times I needed it.” Eager to do everything new, Rakusheva has joined Art Club, Key Club and has started volunteering. “I want to study interesting things, go to all the events and just try everything,” Rakusheva said. “I want to meet new people and try to live life like an American teenager.” Rakusheva said America and Kazakhstan are completely different, but she was most surprised by the difference in the structure of schools. She said it has been interesting to learn using a new system and to compare the ways of education. “Here, we can choose the classes and levels that we want to study. We get to do fun classes, like cooking and theatre, which I really enjoy,” she said. “In Kazakhstan, the system is more for in-depth studies of sciences, foreign languages and
A look into Polina’s home, Kazakhstan
Free World Maps
literature. Every school has its own uniform and the discipline in the learning process is much stricter.” One of Rakusheva’s favorite things to do is something that is not very common where she is from: volunteering. She enjoys it so much that she has decided to try to complete 100 hours of volunteer work during her stay. “In Kazakhstan, it is not common or very often that you meet a teenager that is volunteering,” Rakusheva said. “When I arrived to America, I was surprised that almost every person does it, which is wonderful! I think it is great to be a volunteer.” Graphic by Kaleb Brown
MEGAN NEAL managing editor
Hannah Pappert
6,353 MILES FROM HOME
Fact #1: Kazakhstan is the 9th largest country by size in the world, but it has a relatively small population of 16 million people. Fact #2: Kazakhstan is the world’s largest landlocked country. Fact #3: The people who live in Kazakhstan represent more than 120 nationalities.
Fact Retriever
12 Feature
Caught in costume,
Photo by Lauren Textor
Photo by Lauren Textor
STUDENTS DRESS UP FOR HALLOWEEN-RELATED EVENTS
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o celebrate the season, the school hosts several Halloween events including the Dude, Be Nice Door Decorating contest and Student Council sponsored Pumpkin Patch. Phoenix Vogts poses next to her seminar’s door. The annual Door Decorating Contest is where students decorate their seminar teacher’s door to promote Being Safe, Responsible and Respectful within the community for a chance to win a pizza party with their seminar. PaNhia Penney and Martha Wolf stop for a photo during the Pumpkin Patch which is a place to play games and raise money for Harvester’s by charging a $1 admission and 25 cents for each game ticket.
HALLoween changes over time Transformations of Halloween reflect patterns of life
H
LAUREN TEXTOR co editor-in-chief
alloween has undergone several transformations throughout the years, from pagan reverence of the dead to harvest celebrations to community parties to one candy-centric night of fun. Freshman Konner McDaniel experienced typical Halloween traditions growing up. “When I was little, I mostly just went with my parents and I didn’t really have control over it, but now I can go with friends and have a lot of fun instead of just trick-or-treat with my parents,” McDaniel said. This year, McDaniel plans to trick-ortreat for UNICEF with Key Club. Freshman Madeline Lamb has also adapted her plans as she’s gotten older. “I’ve started hanging out with friends, I’ve started going to parties or I take my little brothers around a lot of the time,” Lamb said.
Although Lamb is too old for some former traditions, she still dresses up, although she tries to keep her costume simple. “I think it was last year,” Lamb said. “It was really, really simple. I had fitted fangs and fake blood and a big black hoodie and it was really warm and comfortable. Just enough to the point where it looks like I’m being festive.” Senior Natalie Masters is also a fan of costumes, but she doesn’t usually leave the house to show off. “I don’t go trick-or-treating anymore,” Masters said. “Instead, I prefer to just hide around my house and scare my family members.” Masters hasn’t finished her costume yet, but she plans to be either the Phantom of the Opera or a dead biker. Halloween has lost its appeal for many students now that they’re older. “[Growing up] Halloween was more of an excitement/fear I had, now it’s just another holiday I have to socialize,” sophomore Ryan Blake said.
For others, the significance has changed, but Halloween means more than just trick-or-treating. “I watch more Halloween movies than anything,” Lamb said. “But it still remains my favorite holiday, because of the culture behind it and the fun it brings.” Sophomore Phoenix Vogts usually spends her Halloweens with friends rather than family now that she’s older, but she still has some favorite traditions. “Every year, we put spider webs all over the front of our house, mainly on the roof,” Vogt said. “We put these tombstones in the front in the bushes. We put a jumping spider at the door.” Teacher Matt Reitemeier grew up in a different generation, where Halloween was less commercialized and more about the little things, but he believes that kids still have as much fun today as they did when he was young. “Let’s be real… who doesn’t like to dress up in an awesome costume and consume ridiculously large amounts of candy?” he said. “I still do!”
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Debunking the myth: Poisoned Halloween Candy common misconception is that there are strangers who put harmful things, such as poison or razor blades, into candy and hand them out to unsuspecting trick-ortreaters on Halloween. Many parents caution their kids about suspicious candy. “My parents warned me not to eat candy if it’s open or not in its original wrapper,” senior Avery Cahill said. Junior PaNhia Penney’s parents are also worried about Halloween candy. “My parents make me and my siblings check our candy every year,” Penney said. According to snopes.com, in order for an act to qualify as a Halloween poisoning, “poisoned candy has to be handed out on a random basis to children as part of the trick-or-treating ritual inherent to Halloween. The act cannot be targeted to any one specific child.” In reality, there have been no actual documented cases of Halloween poisoning. So where did this fear come from? There have been cases of poisonings on Halloween, but they did not target random children, which is required in order to be classified as a Halloween poisoning according to the definition from snopes.com. The most infamous case of poisoning
my or Choc um
4
Stay on the sidewalks
In areas without sidewalks, walk on the far edge of the road, facing traffic.
Ensure you are easily spotted
Don’t forget to bring a flashlight or glow sticks or use reflective tape.
Use extra caution while driving If you have to drive through a neighborhood, drive much slower than normal. Kids may dart between cars and into the road without looking.
Carefully check candy
Throw away any candy that is not sealed with a wrapper. Avoid homemade treats from strangers.
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59%
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Sweet o r
Chewy 77%
Sweet 56%
Graphics by Vecteezy.com
117 students surveyed
te? ola
41%
1 2 3
HALLOWEEN SAFETY TIPS
PIPER’S FAVORITE CANDIES G
Gummy
happened on Halloween night in 1974, when a father gave cyanide-laced Pixie Stix to his son in order to collect on his insurance policy. He also gave the poisoned Pixie Stix to four other children to make it look like the work of a random stranger, but none of the kids ate the candy. The father received the death sentence. “I think that’s ridiculous,” Cahill said. “How could someone do something like that?” Other “Halloween poisonings” include a woman that handed out packages marked “poison” as a joke in 1964 and a family that sprinkled heroin on their son’s candy in order to cover up his overdose that he got from getting into his uncle’s heroin stash in 1970. There have also been numerous cases where Halloween poisoning was thought to be the cause of death, but was later disproved, according to Snopes. “People are evil, and they find ways to be evil,” Penney said. Many people have a fear of Halloween poisonings, but they should be more worried about car accidents. According to the National Safety Council, “Children are more than twice as likely to be hit by a car and killed on Halloween than on any other day of the year.” “I’m not surprised,” senior Anh-Dao Do said. “Kids go crazy and ignore the basic fundamentals of being a pedestrian.”
Information from Nationwide.com
A
MELANIE MNIRAJD design editor
14 Feature
THE HAUNTING OF PIPER ELEMENTARY Hannah Pappert
Family carries On skeleton tradition KALEB BROWN co web editor For most people, October is a time to prepare for Halloween and contribute to the spooky atmosphere. Junior Martha Wolf has a family tradition that does just that. Every year, her family uses a Skelf on the Shelf to decorate their home. “We take a life-size skeleton and it’s like Elf on the Shelf, but with a skeleton,” Martha Wolf said. “We just place it in random positions around the house.” This tradition started three years ago with Martha Wolf ’s older sister, Maggie. It was originally created to have fun with the family, but it has also extended outside the house. “My sister does it in college and hers are based off of Vine,” Martha Wolf said. “So she has a Vine playing in the background and she has her friends animating the skeleton to the Vine.” Martha Wolf said that this tradition goes on for the whole month of October. When the sun rises and a new day comes, the skeleton will be in a new position. “I did it starting Halloween of senior year,” Maggie Wolf said. “I did it last year and I’m not stopping this year. I love doing Skelf on the Shelf in college. It’s kind of hard to fit in some days, but it’s easier to get my friends in on it.” Martha Wolf has only one more year of enjoying the tradition with her family, but she plans to take the tradition with her to college like her sister.
The building started out as a highschool and then was turned into an elementary and pre-school building. It is now the district commnity center.
LAUREN TEXTOR co editor-in-chief
B
loody Mary being summoned in the bathroom. Disembodied footsteps following students through the hallways. Hushed voices in the fireplace. All of this phenomenon has been experienced locally, but not by seasoned ghost hunters. As Halloween grows closer, students are reflecting on their own memories of the famously haunted former Piper Elementary. Today the building is used as the district office and the Kane Community Center, but not too long ago it housed screaming children five days a week. Senior Brock Beashore, who attended kindergarten through second grade there, said he remembers one of the more popular rumors about the school: the janitor in the attic. Beashore even had an experience with the spirit once. “I still remember one day when we were out playing at recess. I looked up there and I thought I saw the ghost
standing in the window,” Beashore said. Senior Abbie Grimm remembers trying to summon a spirit in the bathroom. “I would go into the bathroom and do the Bloody Mary thing, which scared me at the time, but I don’t think it ever worked, but everyone thought it did.” Although she said that nothing weird happened while she was at the elementary, stories never stopped circulating. Junior Jamir Jones also heard the stories about hauntings at the elementary, but she never experienced anything in the school personally. However, Jones said that she has had other experiences with hauntings. “We were going out of town and it was me and my family,” Jones said. “We [me and my siblings] were asleep, but my mom and my grandma and my auntie saw a ghost car. It followed us all the way there and after we got there safely it just disappeared off the road, but it didn’t turn and go off the highway or anything.”
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Black cats, broken mirrors and bad luck Students reflect on their personal superstitions MEGAN NEAL managing editor From avoiding black cats to breaking a mirror or opening an umbrella inside, most people have things that make them weary. Although some of these fears seem pointless to others, some are certain these superstitions have merit. Junior Sean Stewart said he is superstitious when it comes to Friday the 13th. “Someone stole my car on Friday the 13th and then another year my dog died on a Friday the 13th,” Stewart said. “Every since then I make sure I lock my doors, especially on Friday the 13th. Ghosts, goblins and ghouls all come out on Friday the 13th.” Junior Andrew Flory also has a few superstitions, but said that they haven’t come out of nowhere. “I’ll tend to notice that something always goes bad or always goes well when I do a certain thing or wear a certain thing,” Flory said. Flory said most of his superstitions per-
tain to what he is wearing that day. “I debate worse when I’m wearing a certain tie. I have a navy blue and teal tie that I tend to win less in whenever I wear it,” Flory said. “Another one is that I always have a good day when I’m wearing a blue sweater. I don’t have an explanation as to why, it’s just what’s happened.” However, Flory said he is not as superstitious as some. “I am not superstitious, but I am a little stitious,” Flory said. “I haven’t ever really been affected by my superstitions. I don’t have any so major that it affects my everyday life.” Senior Cai-Lee Warner said she does believe in superstitions because of a family member’s experience. “Walking under ladders is bad luck, because my uncle walked under a ladder and then two days later he fell into a coma,” Warner said. Senior Jordan Beasley said growing up with her family members believing certain things will bring bad luck has caused her to also believe them.
“Mostly because it’s just what I’ve been brought up with, the whole ‘spooky stuff is gonna happen when you kill a ladybug or break a mirror’ type thing,” Beasley said. Likewise, senior Jackson Welker said his family has always watched out for salt falling over. “I honestly don’t know why but it’s just something that everyone in my family has always been weary of,” Welker said. On the other hand, junior Trent Smith said he does not believe in superstitions at all. “There is no proof to any superstitions, and as a follower of science, tangible proof is important to me,” Smith said. “I don’t see why anyone believes in any, but that is their opinion and I respect that.” However, not all superstitions are about bad luck. Senior Wyatt Oakland’s superstitions focus more on his daily routine. “I always have to put my right shoe on first,” Oakland said. “I feel awkward if I don’t put it on in that order. I also always have to wear white socks, because black socks look weird when you look down.”
DO YOU BELIEVE IN SUPERSTITIONS?
ALORA JONES
SAMUEL NUNEZ
CHRIS LEWIS
freshman
sophomore
junior
I guess so, yeah. There have been a couple of times when they’ve applied to situations.
Yeah, I think that throwing salt over your shoulder gives you good luck.
Yes, like in the Bible they say things happen in threes.
KAYLA VEST
senior Some of them. Like one of the ones that I always worry about is black cats.
16 Sports
Esrom Griffin
Q& fall sports update A Football-Corbin Fullerton Position:
Right tackle and defensive tackle.
Most stressful part of football: Definitely our practices.
What is your favorite memory from playing? Starting varsity freshman year.
What are you going to miss the most?
I am going to miss my teammates. It’s going to be sad once the season’s over.
Esrom Griffin
Volleyball-Jada Simmons Position: Libero
What moment are you most proud of? Being the only sophomore on varsity.
What is your favorite memory from playing?
Substate junior year, even though we didn’t get the outcome we wanted.
What are you going to miss most?
The relationships with my teammates and my coaches.
Christien Johnson
Soccer-Jonathan Moon Position:
Center mid, striker and winger.
What is your favorite part of being on the team?
My favorite part is just hanging out with all my friends. Winning is fun as well.
What is the hardest part of being on the team?
Living up to expectations because there is a lot of pressure on this team.
What is your favorite memory?
Sophomore year when I scored the winning goal against Louisburg.
Photo Courtesy of Laura Nigh’s Facebook
Cross Country-Lexi Nigh When did you start? Junior year.
What is your favorite part? Getting a personal best time.
What is the hardest part of cross country? Getting shin splints or injured.
What are you going to miss most?
My teammates and coach because they push me.
30 October 2018
Girl's golf swings into state
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CHARLES CONNOR sports editor
mbitions were high this past week as golfers Brooklynn Lamberd and Sydney Rhodes teed off at the state golf tournament in Hutchinson, Kansas, a tournament consisting of the top 90 4A girls golfers in the state. Lamberd, a varsity player all four years, made her fourth and final appearance at the state tournament. She shot a 94 over the span of 18 holes. That score secured her a tie of 22nd place, coming up just shy of twentieth, which would’ve got her a medal. “Overall, I think my season was good,” Lamberd said. “I had many medals, but I am not happy about the way I played at state. I loved being a part of the golf team, it changed me as a person and has taught me how to stay positive.” Lamberd’s partner on the course, junior Sydney Rhodes, finished just be-
hind Lamberd by shooting a 97. Rhodes finished tied for 27th place. “I played all right at state,” Rhodes said. “It wasn’t my best score and I certainly could’ve shot better.” With Lamberd’s high school career coming to a close, Rhodes looks forward to the one year she has left after this season, although the size of the team next year could be worrying. “I am really looking forward to my senior year and doing better than this year,” Rhodes said. “Hopefully we will have a team because as of right now, it’s just my sister and I.” Although the players feel disappointed and that they could’ve shot better, head coach Craig Reed was proud of them. “They’ve accomplished a lot this year and this was the reward for their efforts and performance at regionals,” Reed said. “I know the ladies were disappointed in their finish at state, but they both finished top 30 in a good field, so I was proud of them for that.”
kcpipernews.com
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Golf-Brooklynn Lamberd Isabella Gravatt
How many times have you qualified for state? All four years.
What is the most stressful part about golf?
Trying to fix something that is going wrong and trying to stay positive when things are not going right.
What is your favorite memory from playing? I took second at a tournament and I was one stroke away from first and then the next day I took first place.
What are you going to miss the most?
Mr. Reed being my coach the most, even though I get mad at him a lot and almost always play bad when he’s around.
Photo Courtesy of Kinley Brown
League vscompete club in club, school sports to be their best students
Sophomore Kinley Brown poses for the Leavenworth Elite team photo. Brown has been a part of this club team for one season as a runner.
T
TREY TRUMBO staff writer
hirty seven percent of 328 students surveyed at Piper High School are a part of another team outside of school. Club teams compete in seasons around the high school season or even year around. They range from young kids to the college levels. Club sports include volleyball, basketball, soccer and many more. “It’s hard work to play high school and play year around, but it’s definitely makes me a better player,” senior basketball player Braijon Barnes said. According to ESPN, 21.5 million kids between the ages of six and 17 played team sports in 2013. That is about 44 times bigger than Kansas’s population. “I play because I want to become the best player I can be,” sophomore baseball player
Nate Golubski said. On athleticbusiness.com, they state all of these club sports are pushing high school sports away and making them less competitive. “I think club sports are more intense than high school games,” senior soccer player Jonathan Moon said. High school and club sports can be vary different from one another. They can very from style of play, teams and even competition levels. “I like high school sports better because the fans that show up to the games,” Moon said. Many students prefer high school sports, while others recommend clubs. “I think club sports help me and other kids a lot because we get to see more competition that we normally don’t compete against,” sophomore track runner Kinley Brown said.
18
Arts & Entertainment
Scary delicious Halloween Recipes Pumpkin Seeds
Directions:
Ingredients:
1. Seed a pumpkin then put seeds into a bowl. Preheat oven to 300 degrees. 2. Clean the seeds by separating the seeds from the stringy pulp. Rinse seeds in colander under cold water and shake dry. CAUTION: Don’t try with paper towels, seeds will stick. 3. To dry the seeds, spread them on a oiled pan and roast for 30 minutes. 4. Add flavor by tossing seeds with olive oil, salt, and your choice of spices.
Pumpkin seeds Desired seasoning Salt
Caramel Apples
Ingredients:
Directions:
6 apples
1. Line baking sheet with parchment paper 2. Put the stick halfway into apple 3. Put caramel and orange juice into pan and melt over medium-low heat for 10 minutes. 4. Take the apples and dip them into caramel mixture, coating the entire apple. 5. Let cool and set for 2 hours on parchment paper. 6. Melt chocolate over boiling water on medium heat. 7. Drizzle chocolate over apples with fork and decorate with whatever you desire. Ex: sprinkles or nuts.
2 bags of caramel candies 1/4 cup pulp free orange juice 1 bar of chocolate
Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes
Ingredients:
Directions:
2 1/4 cups flour
1/3 cup brown sugar
1. Preheat an oven to 375 degrees. Sift together the flour, the cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, clove, allspice, salt, baking powder and baking soda. 2. In a separate bowl, mix together the butter, white sugar and brown sugar. Add eggs one at a time and mix in between. Stir in the milk and pumpkin puree. Then add flour slowly and stir until even throughout. 3. Add cake mixture into muffin cups and
2 eggs
cook in oven for 25 minutes, then let cool.
1 teaspoon cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg, clove, ginger, allspice, salt and baking soda 1 tablespoon baking powder 1/2 cup butter 1 cup sugar and pumpkin puree
3/4 cup milk
Graphics by Morgan Haworth
Information from www.allrecipes.com and www.foodnetwork.
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DIY LAST-MINUTE HALLOWEEN COSTUME IDEAS Darla from “Finding Nemo”
face paint craft wire
Snapchat Rainbow Filter
clear bag
face paint
water
purple shirt
a fake fish
Scarecrow
Alvin & The Chipmunks
hat
glasses
face paint
face paint
blue sweater flannel flowers red sweater jeans
Graphics by Melanie Mnirajd
fabric or paper
green sweater
Information from Seventeen.com and Bestproducts.com
20
Arts & Entertainment
Taylor Zimmerman
PIPER’S GEN Z PREFERS HIP-HOP, R&B ON THEIR PLAYLIST BLAKE BEASHORE staff writer
C
ountry, Rock, Hip-Hop, R&B, Indie, Alternative, Reggae, and many others. Music comes in many forms. Each generation is defined by their own musical style. From Baby Boomers to Generation Z music has developed and evolved in a number of ways. Generation Z has a large variety of music that is listened to. People listen to Rap, Country, Rock, Indie, Latin and many other diverse styles of music. Hip-Hop and R&B is the most listened to genre across Piper and for many reasons. Some listen to it for the feeling it gives them, such as sophomore Kyron Fergus. “I like how chill R&B is and the mood of it,” Fergus said. “It puts me in a good mood and I like the vibes.” Others listen to it for the complexity and meanings of the lyrics. “I love the message and how much soul an artist is able to create lyrically,” senior Ryan Cobbins said. Many people agree with Fergus and Cobbins choice in genre. In a poll released to the students, 26 out of 57 people chose their favorite genre as Hip-Hop or
Senior Chase Bundy works on the yearbook in Editorial Leadership while listening to music.
Piper High’s Music Taste Other
Alterna
ntry
ck
Ro
tive
Hip-Hop/R&B
Indie
Cou
R&B. Cobbins also alludes to the genre’s ability to change. “It’s been around for years and there’s still a constant evolving door around it,” Cobbins said. “It never gets old.” Another popular genre is Country music. Someone who enjoys country is freshman Kaia Cordill. “It has a unique vibe,” Cordill said. “It feels like nothing’s going on in life and just everything is good.”
Graphic by Blake Beashore
Spooktacular Playlist: Superstition By: Stevie Wonder
Monster Mash
By: Bobby Pickett
Thriller By: Michael Jackson
This is Halloween
By: Marilyn Manson
Ghostbusters By: Ray Parker Jr.
3.5” x 2”
30 October 2018
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MKT-5894I-A
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22
Photo Essay
Career Day Learning the possibilities of the future HANNAH PAPPERT photo editor
O
nce a year, usually on a halfday, students are pushed along through classrooms to listen to presenters talk about what they do on a day-to-day basis. Career Day presentations are used to give students ideas as to what they may want to do for the rest of their lives, and show how some adults have gotten there. “It was great to see students have the opportunity to meet adults and learn about their careers and the path they took to get there,” counselor Marge Eckard said. Volunteers present careers that many students have already heard of, but learning more about what those careers, such as its day-to-day operations and how to rise through the ranks can prove to be beneficial to students. Sophomore Aiden Price already had some idea of what an entrepreneur was, but seeing one present allowed him to learn a lot more. “My presenter was just talking about college, smart ways to spend money and the ropes of owning your own business,” Price said. “I thought it was really good.” Career Day offered a variety of creative jobs as well. Some of the more out-of-the-ordinary careers presented to students were a DJ, medical lab scientist and beekeeper, which was presented by teacher Matt Reitemeier. Although Reitemeier hasn’t made a profit off of his recent hobby, he left the students with an important message. “Something that you do for fun can actually turn into a profession and a way to make a good living.”
Ocuupational therapist Lindsay Wynn lets students experiment with some of the tools she uses with her patients. Wynn shows freshmen Jai Moore, Troy Griffin and Nathan Hiatt the putty she uses for those with issues like carpal tunnel syndrome in their hands and explains why it helps them during Career Day Oct.18. Freshman Naomi Woods uses some of the techniques and tools an occupational therapist would use in their day-to-day work.
Sophomore Aiden Price listens to a presentation about owning a business.
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Juniors listen to a presentation by entertainer and DJ Brandone Noone in the library during Career Day Oct. 18. Noone showed the students his equipment and spoke about his routines.
Students participate in class discussion about civil engineering with Phillip Brown and related fields at the end of presentations Oct. 18.
Special agent Karen Smilgis answers junior Andrew Flory’s questions about requirements and regulations in her presentation about her career as an FBI special agent on Career Day. Reitemeier shows students in his presentation room the process of collecting and making honey in his side career as a bee keeper during Career Day Oct.18. Price listens to Reitemeier about how to smoke the bees in order to not get stung.
which Halloween candy are you? What would you dress up as to a Halloween party? a) a celebrity b) a cat or a sports player c) a group costume
What would you want to do on halloween? a) go to a party b) stay home and pass out candy c) go to a haunted house with friends
What is your Favorite halloween movie/show? a) “The Conjuring” b) “Hocus Pocus” c) “Stranger Things”
WHat is your favorite monster? a) Bigfoot b) ghost c) zombie
WHat are you most excited about for fall? a) Halloween b) fall clothes c) friday night lights
‘
Mostly As
You’re the life of the party, and you love to have a good time. There is never a dull moment with you.
Mostly Bs
Mostly Cs
You’re classy. Traditions are important to you, and you make sure to stick with them.
You’re everyone’s friend. You love spending time with people and welcome everyone.