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P O W W O W
6450 US Highway 6, Portage Volume 78 - Issue 2 - November 2017
Sliding into Founders’ Square The new addition of Hannah’s Hope Playground in Founders’ Square continues Portage’s project to develop the area into a commons area for the city.
Story | Page 4
Table of Contents - November
In this Issue... News 04 Founder’s Square unveils park 05 Yearbook Ad 06 Hurricane Maria affects students
Features 08 Perks of reward apps
09 Fall movies to be excited about 10 Grinds my gears 11 Floats your boat 12 Thanksgiving activities
Sports 13 Winter sports schedule 14 Bowling team expectations 15 Girls basketball changing it up 16 Wrestling shoots for state title 17 Swimming finds new coaches
Opinions
18 Gun control is now a necessity
19 Houston deserves their trophy
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Editor-in-Chief Tori Henderson
Design Editor Kaylee Darnell
Managing Editor of Print Trenton Haraminac
Social Media Editor Jessica Butz
Managing Editor of Web Evan Gerike
Staff Writers Emily Extin Darius Owens Becca Rosado Jamie Valadez
Photography Editor Madison Perez
Staff Photographers Bri Fravel Gracie Hansen Hope Anderson Mackenzie Guth Staff Designers McKenzie Price Sarah Russ
News - November
Behind the scenes
Emily Extin
The Staff Writer Portage High @extin_emily School Thespians are putting on their fall play “MASH” at Portage High School on November 17,18, and 19 in the East Auditorium. “It’s coming together really good. The more we rehearse the better it gets,” Sophomore Elizabeth Valdez said. Director Kevin Giese describes MASH as a comedy with splashes of drama. It is a combination of the novel, movie, and tv show, and says it is a “nice ensemble character piece” He wanted to visit the origins of all that is going on in the nation today. The play is staged in the North Korean War, and although it is a comedy, he says “It brings to attention the complexities and absurdities of armed conflict.” This is Giese’s ninth year being involved with the thespians, and says it is “going to be rather a bittersweet year” Giese would normally have Bill Bodnar’s assistance, who was the acting teacher at Portage High School for 38 years. Bodnar passed away this last summer, and Giese says he will always remain part of the program. He also added that there is a scholarship in the final stages of being set up, and said Bodnar’s name will live on through the financial assistance his legacy will provide. The cast this year is very talented and Giese is confident in their abilities. He says they are doing well, considering they are only one week into the process of getting things ready. Another sophomore Isabella Marquez says “Rehearsals have been going well, you can really see why people were casted for their roles.” and that by the first read it was clear that it’s going to be a good show. Giese stated that there were nearly 100 people at the callout meeting for the show while there are regularly 30 to 40. He also said that there is a lot of “excitement amongst the students about being part of what we do.” Giese wants all students to
know that auditions are open to all students, especially for the musical. He says that “theatre can break one from one’s shell,” and that theatre kids are generally more outgoing and more at ease when it comes to public speaking. While Giese is excited for all of the productions the thespians put on, he says he especially loves the plays because it allows for more in depth character exploration compared to musicals. Musicals spend so much time blocking and singing, it does not allow for it.
“The eyes of a student who gained something from instruction or direction and you see it reflected on their face, is the best feeling I could ever hope for.” When choosing a production, Giese says he looks for one that requires a large cast, as he wants to give as many students as possible the chance to appear on stage. The thespians are always working and learning tech, whether it be on their productions or city events that take place in the East and West auditoriums. “It all takes an extreme amount of cooperation and coordination to make sure everything is covered,” Giese said. Upcoming events after MASH include the student production in January, the OYM Scholarship program in February, the Student Variety in March, late April is the annual spring musical, finishing off the year with the DYW Scholarship program. “I love what I do,” Giese said. “The eyes of a student who gained something from instruction or direction and you see it reflected on their face, is the best feeling I could ever hope for.”
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News - November
Finding new things in Founders’ Square
Portage Parks Department Superintendent explains the new parts of Founders Square Kaylee Darnell
This past summer, Design Editor Portage’s Founder @_kayleedarnell Square, came up with the idea to start having concerts and movies throughout the summer for the town of Portage. Jenny Orsburn, the superintendent of Portage Parks and Recreation Department explains how the idea all started. “We started having movies in the park before the Amphitheater was built. The Portage Parks Foundation purchased an outdoor movie projector for the Parks Department to hold movies in the park. It was such a success when the Amphitheater was being planned we considered that
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to be one of the community events we would hold on the stage,” she said. “We hold concerts every Tuesday in the summer at Woodland Park, so we knew that it would be a popular addition to amphitheater. We also hire musical acts for Fourth of July and other festivals. The stage provides the perfect gathering space for musical acts, with lawn seating there isn’t a bad seat to take in a concert,” Orsburn said. When this started the people of Portage did not have a place in town to go to that was just theirs, until Portage Parks and Recreation Department started this idea at Founders Square “These events bring the community together and are family friendly We want everyone to enjoy themselves and have a great time,” Orsburn said.
“When this started the people of Portage did not have a place in town to go to that was just theirs, until Portage Parks and Recreation Department started this idea at Founders Square.”
Left - The Portage Water Tower stands tall above the water pad at Founders’ Square. Right top - New apartments undergo construction next to Founders’ Square. Right bottom - People get in spirit for Halloween Trunk or Treat. Photos by Hope Anderson
Ad - November
YEARBOOK 2018 Order your 2017-2018 yearbook by December 11! You won’t be able to purchase them after the deadline date! They are $75.00 Come to room 153 to purchase your yearbooks or go to YearbookOrderCenter.com Design by: Kaylee Darnell
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News - November
Families affected by Hurricane Maria Students reflect on how their families were affected After being hit by Hurricane Maria, 3.4 million United States citizens are left without power in Editor-in-Chief Puerto Rico. The island is expected @torixhenderson to have no electricity for months. Junior Lilly Mendez has family in the area that has been affected by the storm. She has been in contact with them through her grandmother and Facebook. “My mom was raised there,” Mendez said. “My grandmother was raised there her whole life and she lives here in Indiana now.” “When Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico, I was devastated. My mom cried for awhile,” she said. “When we finally got in touch with my family, they sent [us] a video of their house destroyed, but they didn’t get flooded. I was happy they are still alive.” Mendez said her family is currently living off of the land they own as they try to move forward. They have vegetables and the animals from their farm to eat; some stores are still open to the public. “We are really worried about them. When we first found out, my mom cried and I was in shock because I didn’t know they got hit that hard,” she said. According to Mendez, the United States government is
Tori Henderson
Left: Trees are fallen in front of a building. Top: A woman sits on a fallen tree branch. Bottom: Cars and buildings are damaged by high winds. Photos provided by Lilly Mendez.
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bringing food and water to the people affected by the storm. “I wish I [was] able to go down there and help my family with food and clothes,” she said. “My family really needs help, because my mom and I can’t do this by ourselves. I would hope that some people would help pitch in some food, money and clothes, so that they can survive.” Senior Marc Biggs also has family that has been affected by the storm; his great grandmother and cousins live on the island. “In order for them to contact my second cousin, the only one that’s directly talked to them, they had to drive to San Juan,” Biggs said. “That was the only place that had service,” Biggs said that his family was not in a patch of land that was affected badly, but they are still left without electricity or water in the heat. “Everyone on the island was scared because the goods usually sit there for weeks before they actually get transported to the people.” Biggs said. I n order to help distribute items faster, President Donald Trump lifted the importing rule that ensured everything brought to the island was checked before being sent out. “Unfortunately I have never personally met them but it is still crazy to think that part of my family went through one minor hurricane and the major one [that] hit Puerto Rico.”
News - November
Over a month after being hit by back to back category five hurricanes, approximately one third of Puerto Rico is still left with no clean water. Students collected over 25 cases of bottled water to donate to victims.
On top of no clean water, about 62.1% of electricity customers in Puerto Rico are still left with no power 43 days after Hurricane Maria hit. Students collected over 20 flashlights and over 20 packages of batteries.
Graphics by Tori Henderson
Students hold collection for hurricane victims Spanish teacher collects items for hurricane reTori Henderson Editor-in-Chief @torixhenderson
Students were able to collect *amount of water* and *amount of flashlights* as part of a relief effort for victims of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico with the help of Junior Sheridan Bickett, Spanish teacher Brighitte Snemis,
and English teacher Allison Morphis. Bickett said she and Snemis both wanted to get more involved in the hurricane relief effort, and they came to the decision of holding a collection for the victims. “My boyfriend’s family was setting up donations and I donated three bags [of items],” Bickett said. “When I talked to Mrs Snemis we talked about how we should get the school to do it because it’s like a group effort we wanted to help as much as we can.”
Not only does Snemis want to help victims in Puerto Rico, she also wants to help the kids from Portage High School. “I graduated from Portage High School and I want people to be proud to be from Portage High School. Snemis said. “When people think about Portage High School they can say it’s a good school, [it] just put together this relief effort and these collections and they’re working with churches, the community and they care about others. Kids are donating their clothes because they know these people have nothing.” Neither Bickett nor Snemis are in it for the recognition. “People who have less give more. You might have a lot right now but there might be a time when you might need something. You might want to go somewhere and that person’s going to say Are you hungry? Here’s food. Are you thirsty? Here’s water. That’s important. We shouldn’t do it because we want a pat on the back.”
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Feature - November
Helping to reward you Apps offer up some tasty treats
MESSAGES Mom
Hey! Don’t forget to redeem your birthday reward from Starbucks!
Starbucks Dunkin’ Donuts Pizza Hut McDonald’s
After signing up you get: >Birthday reward >Pay with the app >Order ahead >Free in-store refills >Bonus stars
Free beverage when you: >Enroll >On your birthday >Every 200 points
After signing up you receive: >2 points for every dollar >When reaching 200 points you get a free medium pizza >At 250 points you receive a large pizza After signing up: >Free fry Friday >McCafe beverages >Happy Hour 2-4 >Free hash browns with a purchase of a breakfast sandwich *And they vary daily
Design by: Darius Owens and Sarah Russ
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Feature - November
Movie Preview
What movie are you exctied about? “Star Wars has been my favorite series since I was a kid! Im interested in seeing the development of the characters in the new movie.”-James Havrilla, 12
“I want to see the movie for the cultural aspect of it. It gives kids the chance to expirirence a different culture and learn through a fun movie.” - Brighitte Snemis
Star Wars
Coco
The Last Jedi
Theater 1 Star Wars Premieres Dec. 14
Design by: Madison Perez and Trent Haraminac
Ticket Booth
Theater 2 Coco Premieres Nov. 22
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Feature - November
Grinds my gears
Six PHS students and staffers tell us what really grinds their gears.
Casey @CaseyHill23 The lack of knowledge about what deodorant is for who goes to school here
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#3 @knelson1423 When I have to leave vocational early for SSR
gaucomole @jackie_alaniz3
cassandra @CassieQuiroz
What really grinds my gears is when teachers don’t erase the entire board
AP art history
Jess Munden @munden_jess
thomas gene @t_wood0
Constantly reminding kids to put away their phones.
When you can’t use your phones for work that’s on Schoology Design by: Darius Owens and Kenzie Guth
Feature - November
Floats your boat
Six PHS students and staffers tell us what really floats their boat.
Ms. Nye @CathyNye
Stacy Bachman @Bachmanator
Water, duh
Authenticity
Marissa @MarissaRazo
Drake Guerrero @GuerreroD44
My HOSA vocational
Fello z fighters reppin DBZ
Alaynah Chatman @Tobe_imperfect
Caitlynn @CaitlynnTibbetts
Designated Survivor
Anime club
Design by: Jessica Butz and Kenzie Guth
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Feature - November
Thanksgiving Fun Word Bank Ham Apple Cider Mashed Potatoes Corn November Cornucopia Pie Cranberry Sauce Pilgrims Family Stuffing Football Thanksgiving Green Beans Turkey Color me full!
We ran a 24 hour poll and asked the students of PHS... What do you like to eat on Thanksgiving?
Turkey Ham
71% 29%
What’s your favorite type of pie on Thanksgiving?
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Design by: Jessica Butz, Sarah Russ and McKenzie Price
Pumpkin pie
62%
Apple pie
16% 22%
Other
Feature - November
Winter sports home schedule
The Pow Wow looks ahead to this season’s home events Boys Basketball 12/02/17 | 6:30 p.m. | South Bend Clay 12/05/17 | 7:00 p.m. | Hobart 12/12/17 | 7:00 p.m. | Lowell 01/05/18 | 7:00 p.m. | Valparaiso 01/09/18 | 7:00 p.m. | Hammond 01/12/18 | 7:00 p.m. | Lake Central 01/16/17 | 7:00 p.m. | Whiting 02/09/18 |7:00 p.m. | Chesterton 02/16/18 | 7:00 p.m. | LaPorte 02/23/18 | 7:00 p.m. | Hammond Morton 02/27/18 | 6:00 p.m. | IHSAA Sectional
Girls Basketball 11/07/17 | 7:00 p.m. | Griffith 11/11/17 | 7:00 p.m. | North Judson San Pierre 11/14/17 | 7:00 p.m. | East Chicago 11/24/17 | 7:00 p.m. | Michigan City 11/28/17 | 7:00 p.m. | Hobart 12/01/17 | 7:00 p.m. | Crown Point 12/16/17 | 7:00 p.m. | Munster 01/06/18 | 6:00 p.m. |
Mishawaka 01/13/18 | 7:00 p.m. | Lake Central 01/17/18 | 7:00 p.m. | West Gary Lighthouse CPA 01/25/18 | 7:00 p.m. | Kankakee Valley 01/30/18 | 7:00 p.m. | IHSAA Sectional
Gymnastics 01/11/18 | 6:00 p.m. | Lake Central 01/15/18 | 6:00 p.m. | Michigan City 02/07/18 | 6:00 p.m. | Valparaiso 02/13/18 | 6:00 p.m. | Lowell 02/24/18 | TBA | IHSAA Sectional
01/16/18 | 5:30 p.m. | Chesterton 01/23/18 | 5:30 p.m. | Lake Central 02/15/18 | 5:30 p.m. |IHSAA Sectionals
Girls Swimming & Diving 11/16/17 | 6:00 p.m. | Hobart 12/05/17 | 5:30 p.m. |LaPorte 12/09/17 | 9:00 a.m.| Highland 12/12/17 | 5:30 p.m. | Michigan City 12/14/17 | 5:30 p.m. | Kankakee Valley 1/16/18 | 5:30 p.m. | Chesterton 02/1/18 | TBA |IHSAA Sectionals
Wrestling Boys Swimming & Diving 12/05/17 | 5:30 p.m. | LaPorte 12/09/17 | 9:00 a.m. | Highland 12/12/17 | 5:30 p.m. | Michigan City 12/14/17 | 5:30 p.m. | Kankakee Valley 01/09/18 | 5:30 p.m. | Valparaiso
11/29/17 | 6:30 p.m. | Chesterton 12/06/17 | 6:30 p.m. |Merrillvlle 12/13/17 | 6:30 p.m.|Michigan City 1/03/18 | 6:30 p.m. | Valparaiso 1/13/18 | 9:00 a.m. | DAC Invite 01/27/18 | 9:00 p.m. |IHSAA Sectionals
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Sports - November
Bowling their way to victory
This year the bowling team is undefeated and has big goals set.
Junior Mickayla Himden Photo by: Gracie Hansen
Junior Jade Keller bowling at one of the team meets Photo by: Jade Cauley
This year the PHS girl’s bowling team is off to a Becca Rosado great start. With the girls Staff Writer trying to a state win this year they are all trying @becca_rosado01 their hardest to do their part on the team. Junior Michaela Smith has been bowling for 13 years and is very excited for this upcoming season, looking forward to hopefully taking first at state this season.
“I personally want to go to state as a team and individual, and we are currently predicted to do so.”
“Bowling is always different,” Smith said, “it’s never the same, and that is what I love about it.” Michaela Smith is on the varsity bowling team and has yet to lose a match for this season. For those that do not know, a match is when bowlers go head to head with one another. The winner gets one point, as well as if you lose then the winner gets another point. This happens in two games per match. The bowling team consists of players like Michaela Smith as well as another bowler Lauren Smith. Lauren Smith has been bowling one the team at PHS
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since her freshman year. It is a sport that she says she loves. The girls are very excited for this season, with coaches Debbie Gossett and Michael Place they are all hoping to go to state and place well. Michaela Smith says that she has met some of her best friends from being on the team. “I’ve met some great people because of the team,” Michaela Smith said, “and I would not want to do anything else.” “If I am correct the team as well as myself have not lost a match yet.” Michaela Smith said. This year all the girls are undefeated this season. They are currently number one in the DAC, with girls on both junior varsity and varsity winning all their matches so far. “I want to personally go all the way to state as a team and individually,” Lauren Smith said, “right now we are predicted to do so.” With the goal being to go to state all the girls are hungry and ready to bring all they got. Members of the team include, Alyssa Unger, Chloe Zollman, Courtney Zollman, Jade Keller, Jordan Chambers, Julie Creasy, Makayla HImden, Kayla Marr, Kelly Karwatka, Lauren Smith, and Mackenzie Borr. All these girls range from a variety of grades here at PHS and all have the same goal of hopefully making it all the way to state this season. For rosters and match times check out the Pow Wow’s website for the latest news on sports including the girls bowling team.
Sports - November
The final quarter
Seniors express their feelings going into their last season.
Senior Kaitie Clasen practices her shot at practice. Photo by: Darius Owens This season the Portage girls basketball team is Staff Writer going to be exciting, fastpaced, and fun to watch ac@jswagggiee cording to head coach Marc Bruner. Forward Kaitie Clasen and Shooting Guard Serena Flanagan have many feelings and emotions beginning their final season as Portage basketball players. Flanagan and Clasen have been playing varsity for three years with partial playing time their sophomore year. The two have been working hard on the court to make sure their final year will be as successful as possible. Flanagan is working hard on the court in hopes of having a winning season as well as go farther than the sectional championship. Clasen also plans to have a better record than usual in regular season and also hopes to win the sectional title and go beyond that point. Bruner says so far his returning six seniors are standing out and there are a lot of expectations on them to lead on and off of the court. “They’ve been through it. They were in the sectional championship last year, and they took the eventual champions down to the wire, so they’ve come back pretty hungry,” said Bruner. Sophomore Troilisia Lacey is new to varsity and is very happy to be playing alongside these seniors. “I am feeling kind of nervous but excited. This season I have moved up from JV to Varsity and that’s a big step for me,” said Lacey. She is happy to have the opportunity to be playing the sport she loves on the Varsity level.
Jamie Valadez
“This season is different from all my others because I am playing
Senior Lexi Switzer shooting during practice. Photo by: Darius Owens 'With more experienced athletes, and everything is moving really fast, but I love the team and the energy they bring to the court,” said Lacey. Although the team has many positive feelings coming into this season, there are a few setbacks that they plan to overcome with team work. “Our biggest challenge is height, we don’t have one girl that is six feet tall, so we are very small,” said Flanagan. Clasen agrees that height is the team’s biggest challenge, and says they have to work harder to get rebounds. Despite the challenges, the team is coming into the season very determined. “This season is different because we have a new motto, which is to earn it. We have to prove what we can do and earn everything that comes our way, it’s not just going to be given to us,” said Clasen.
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Sports - November
Keeping the dream alive Portage Wrestling takes competition to the next level, aiming for state titles Jessica Butz
Most people think that wrestling is just an individual sport, but to senior Colin Poynter there is also a team aspect. Social Media Editor For this season, Poynter has had the same goal since freshman year and that is to win a state title, not just as an individual, but as a team. @jessicabutzz “Over the summer I have been working on a lot of little mistakes that I have been making and just inch by inch getting better everyday,” said Poynter. “I look forward to being a large contributor to the team this season.” He says the most exciting thing for him is having fun and just dominating everyone the team goes up against. Senior Kris Rumph is looking forward for the state tournament this season. “It’s my senior year and I have to win a state title,” said Rumph. “It’s a must.” One main goal for the team is to be team state champions. “To be team state champions we all have to work hard and we all have to learn something new or fix something we were doing wrong,” said Poynter. “But we all know it’s not going to be easy even though we have worked countless hours in the wrestling room over the off season.” When the state series ended, most of the team kept traveling around the country competing in tournaments. At that time, junior Jacob Moran was eligible to wrestle for PHS for the first time. “It feels amazing being able to wrestle this season,” said Moran, “I want to be able to contribute during this season.” Moran stated that this season will be different because he has to balance his weight while learning new technique at the same time. One of the tournaments this summer Poynter and Moran went to is the Virginia Beach national tournament. There were many division 1 colleges there, so performing well was important to both of them. Poynter and Moran both placed at the event. “Placing at Virginia Beach was a great accomplishment for me, not only getting All-American status, but it also showed me how close I really am to those nationally ranked wrestlers,” said Poynter. “If I just put in a little more work to get better I will soon be able to be among those nationally ranked wrestlers.” Moran and Poynter are most excited for the state tournament this season. “I need to perform like any other tournament so I can bring back a state title,” said Moran. Poynter, Moran and Rumph participated in the Super 32 tournament the weekend of October 28. This is a prestigious tournament that you have to qualify for with 250 people per weight class bracket. Rumph, who placed second at last years state tournament, was one who made it in the quarterfinals, but lost two close matches by making simple mistakes. There has not been an individual state champion since 2010, which was Sean McMurray who went 42-0 on his season. Portage has never won the team state title at the individual state wrestling tournament, but was runner ups in 2001. The team has placed second twice at the team state tournament. Poynter plans on continuing his wrestling career at the United States Air Force Academy. Moran and Rumph are both still undecided because they want their choice to be the perfect fit. Poynter would like thank everyone who supports the team through all their ups and downs throughout these last couple years, and even though they haven’t reached their goals yet, they really appreciate that PHS and the community takes the time to come and watch them compete. The team’s first meet is November 29 against Chesterton at home.
Colin Poynter and Jacob Moran drilling the day before they head to the Super 32 tournament Kris Rumph and coach Eric Keith drilling to prepare Rumph for the Super 32 tournament. Photos by Gracie Hansen
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Sports - November
Swimming through tough changes Swimmers face challenges with new coaches
Erin Burke swam laps to warm up before practice starts.
McKenzie Price
With old coaches leaving and new coaches coming in, the Staff Designer swim team has a lot of adapting to do. @mckenzziieep Greg and Eric Mundt have resigned from coaching the swim team at Portage High School after the Mundt name was synonymous with Portage swimming for 50 years. The new coaching staff includes one familiar face, Richard Lowe, two new coaches, Chris Schreier and Jordan Simmons, and new diving coach Jatwone London. Along with the new coaches, swimmers no longer have access to the west pool as a secondary training facility. “One of the biggest adaptations is probably that we went from four to six coaches to only having a couple. This, doubled with not having the west pool, means that we won’t have the same schedule we have always had in terms of junior varsity and varsity,” said senior Daniela Demko. The athletes were all extremely close with the old coaches, according to Demko, so this season is going to be difficult to adjust to. Junior Erin Burke mentioned that she is pretty upset with the situation and will miss the coaches a lot, however, she understands their decision. “I was shocked when I found out. I’m going to miss the old coaches,
Danielle Demko finishing her warm up laps before practice. Photos by: Gracie Hansen and it is going to be hard adapting because different coaches teach differently,” junior Hector Moya said. “We’re going to have to work really hard to readjust.” Senior Jacob Mendoza mentioned that having new coaches would be a very sudden change and that he was close with the Mundts. “I will miss the old coaches, but I have no hard feelings towards them. To me will “I will miss the old coaches, they always be my coaches either way,” but I have no hard feelings Mendoza said. Although the towards them. To me they athletes are saddened, will always be my coaches and this has had a rippling effect on them, they either way,” Mendoza said. are still optimistic for the upcoming season. Burke said that her biggest goal this season would be to place better at sectional finals this year. “My goal for the team is honestly just to do the best we possibly can.” Lowe said, “I’m excited and I’m looking forward to a new and great year”.
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Opinion - November
Make gun control a target
Congress needs to take action on changing laws
Tori Henderson
After the September Editor-in-Chief 11 terrorist attacks, @torixhenderson congress took action to help prevent anything similar from happening, and airport security increased tenfold. In 2012, 20 elementary aged students, along with six school staff members and the gunman himself, were killed in a mass shooting in Newtown, Connecticut. Almost five years and approximately 1,520 mass shootings later, congress has yet to budge on the issue of gun control. To this day, Sandy Hook is still the second deadliest school shooting in America, only behind the shooting at Virginia Tech just five years prior. At the time, Virginia Tech was considered the deadliest mass shooting in America. Since then, the title has been passed on to two separate incidents. These statistics are unacceptable; there is not a single reason 13,000 Americans should die from firearms every year. Gun control works when it is done properly. There may not be a single answer to solving the issue of gun violence, but the country of Australia can be used as a positive example of where to start. After a gunman opened fire in a cafe in Port Arthur, Tasmania with a semiautomatic rifle, groups from across the political spectrum joined together to pass legislation to restrict the
availability of guns in the country. As a result, Australia’s parliament adopted new licensing requirements, established a firearm registry, and banned semiautomatic and fully automatic weapons; since then, there has not been a mass shooting that even compares to what has happened recently in America. While the exact policies Australia adopted might not be as efficient in America, it helps lay the foundation for better gun control laws. How many more Americans have to fall victim before something is done to combat the problem? Some gun activists argue that they use their guns against criminals, not the innocent citizens who are actually impacted by gun violence. However, self defense cases are rare; only .79% of victims of crimes actually use guns in self defense. On top of that, only .12% of victims of property crimes, such as burglary used firearms to protect themselves. In 2012, the Violence Policy Center found 259 cases of gun-related homicides to be justifiable self defense. In the same year, 232,000 guns were stolen, with approximately 172,000 stolen in burglaries. That amounts to a single justifiable homicide for every 896 guns in the hands of criminals. A good guy with a gun is not going to stop a bad guy with a gun. Movies and television shows may romanticize it and lead us to believe it, but statistically speaking it doesn’t happen. The ratio of justifiable self defense to criminal violence does not give gun-activists a valid argument to keep their guns.
Many gun-activists also try to use the second amendment as an argument against stronger gun control. What they don’t realize is the second amendment has two parts to it. The second amendment doesn’t say anybody can own whatever guns they want. The purpose of the second amendment is to maintain a well-armed militia. It does not say anybody can own any guns that they want and be protected by the Constitution. Just because the Constitution doesn’t say people can own whatever guns they want, doesn’t mean they can’t own guns at all. There is no problem with people owning handguns, but there is no need for anything bigger or more powerful than that. People often argue that people can kill with cars just as easily as they can kill with guns, but there are laws and regulations in place that help ensure that it is much more difficult for that to happen. Measures such as licensing, insuring and doing more thorough background checks won’t solve the entire issue of gun violence in America, but it’s a good start. The issue may be much more complicated than anybody realizes, but a problem can’t be solved unless somebody attempts to solve it. There is no justifiable reason that American lives should be lost because people want to keep their firearms. Nothing people are doing with their assault rifles is more important than human lives. Congress needs to take action before things get any worse.
Texas shooting fast facts: On November fifth, Devin Kelley opened fire in a Texas church. Here’s what you need to know. • Kelley attended the church he targeted, The First • He used an AR-15 style semi-automatic assault Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs rifle • 26 people were killed and 20 more were • Kelly was previously discharged from the Air wounded; the youngest was an 18 month old Force for allegedly assaulting his spouse and child and the oldest was a 77 year old child • Kelley had no link to a terrorist group • He served 12 months confinement after a 2012 court-martial There were signs this man was going to carry out this attack. This is a prime example of why the United 18 States needs better gun control.
Opinion - November
Out with the new, in with the old When being asked, “What is your favorite kind of music?”, I usually Design Editor respond with “Country”, and then they ask, “So like, Sam Hunt @_kayleedarnell and Luke Bryan?” and I begin to laugh. In this generation, the definition of country music and the sound of it has changed drastically. In the past decade, country music was actual country music. It was soulful and not all about driving trucks, drinking beers, and dating girls. It was about life, and life’s lessons. It was about stories, and memories. It was about family, friends, and love. Now, it all went down hill. In the early nineties, country singers like Merle Haggard, Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn, and Patsy Cline took over the country industry, making hit songs and albums throughout their lifetime and their careers; creating the path of country music. Now, we have singers like Sam Hunt, Luke Bryan, and Florida Georgia Line, who have turned country music into pop-country, adding pop and some rap into it. With hit songs like “Body Like a Backroad” and “House Party”, country has gotten a new name for itself, new fans, and a new outlook. One of the world’s most famous country singers was Merle Haggard, who became a big singer in 1965. He continued on the path of country, and led the way for soon to be country singers. Haggard died on April 6, and was able to continue his legacy through his son
Kaylee Darnell
Ben Haggard, who also makes country music. “My side would be is that I’m glad it is coming back around because I’m not sure how much I could stand honestly knowing people are being forced fed music that isn’t honest. It became more about money than actually making something honest. Money is a crucial part of it, it makes it all happen but it should never be the main point of focus for making music. But on the bright side there is a movement happening with traditional country music, it hasn’t went mainstream all the way yet, but with big acts like Chris Stapleton, Sturgill Simpson, Margo Price, there is still hope for the realism that comes with three chords and the truth,” Ben Haggard told me in an interview I held with him. Country from the nineties and early 2000’s was actual country; it was good country. Not every song was the same, with the same beat and the same lines. The songwriters told stories in their songs, they made memories, and made real country music. Country from today is not real country. It has become pop-country and rap-country, repeating the same lines over and over again, bringing in electric guitars, throwing away the banjos and acoustic guitars and singing in a pop tone instead of a country tone. Country has changed, it has become something it is not. Something it should not be. A few artists are bringing back the old and real country, while some are continuing the new path of pop-country. All in all, old country is real country, and the better version of country.
Astros win a well-deserved title The World Managing Editor of Web Series is supposed @evangerike to pit the best two teams in Major League Baseball against each other, with the winning team being the best baseball team in the world. Even though Los Angeles had a better record and a more triumphant road through the playoffs than Houston, the Astros deserved to be crowned World Champions. To prove it, all you have to do is look into the statistics. Records aren’t the deciding factor in who the best team is. While the Dodgers did have the best record in the regular season this year, these numbers alone do not determine who the best team is. If baseball was perfect, this series would be between the Dodgers and the Indians. However, baseball isn’t perfect, and the Indians were eliminated in the American League Division Series. The Indians finished the regular with one more win than the Astros, thanks to a record setting 22-win streak, but if you look at the
Evan Gerike
statistics between two teams, the Astros are much better overall. The World Series champion is often the winningest team in baseball; the Cubs were far and away the best team in baseball last year. With an overpowering bullpen, strong starting pitching, and a scary lineup including the league MVP and two Silver Sluggers, not even poor management decisions from John Maddon could stop the team from breaking the curse. But being the winningest team in the regular season doesn’t mean anything in the postseason. The 2015 World Series didn’t even host the team with the best record. That team, the 100-win Cardinals, was defeated by the Cubs in the National League Division Series. A sure-fire way to determine the best team in baseball is to look at the lineups themselves. The Dodgers are known for their pitching, using their aces Clayton Kershaw and Yu Darvish, surprisingly strong starters Alex Wood and Rich Hill, and shutdown bullpen headed by Kenley Jansen to hold teams from scoring. While not as strong offensively as even other teams in their division, performances from players like Justin
Turner and rookie phenom Cody Bellinger have led the Dodgers to 104 victories and an easy road to clinching the pennant. As good as the Dodgers are, Houston has managed to overpower them in every one of these categories. The Houston Astros are a strong offensive force. George Springer is one of the best leadoff hitters in the game today. Alex Bregman made a name for himself in the playoffs. Jose Altuve is the best hitter in the game, and should be a sure shot to win the league MVP. Carlos Correa and Yuli Gurriel are a powerhouse duo, combining for 159 RBIs in the regular season. The team ranked first in baseball in batting average, on base percentage, runs scored and slugging. On the mound, the deadline trade to acquire Justin Verlander was the best deal of the season, as Verlander has only lost one start since becoming an Astro - Game 6. Overlooking the poor performances of the Astros’ regular bullpen, normal team starters have stepped up to close out games. For the Astros, everything came together at the right time. In one of the most exciting World Series in recent years, the best team in baseball reigns victorious.
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