Talisman vol.55 iss.1 October 9, 2019

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TALISMAN a student-edited newspaper

New OSAA Rule page 4 Homecoming page 5 Sheldon High School

VSCO Girls page 6 vol. 55│iss. 1│October 9, 2019

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October 9, 2019

Loving Yourself and Others

the Talisman

Finding positivity and confidence within yourself Tawny Thomas staff writer

Leading a confident lifestyle decorated with positivity is a virtue. Some of the strongest and greatest role models and influences in our lives carry these values with them, presenting them to the world, essentially winning our affection for these icons. Looking up to a confident individual is so inspiring and enticing, for we all aspire to be so comfortable in our skin. What if you were told that confidence isn’t just something some people are gifted with? What if you were told that a positive and confident mindset is achievable by any “Regular-Joe?” Just like anything worthwhile, such a rewarding lifestyle requires a lot of energy and effort. However, the road to confidence can be achieved in ways that are simple enough for anyone to conquer insecurity or negativity. Senior Melanie Riggins, “Everyone has their own insecurities, but confidence is about not being totally negative about those insecurities. You have to embrace them.” Though the embracement of our most feared flaws may sound suspicious or even ridiculous, the classic, timeless message of “owning it” is among the most valuable advice you can consider.

A simple way to own an insecurity is to recognize and acknowledge it. Sophomore Elijah Templin-Jacobs advised, “If you have an insecurity, just say it out loud. Say to yourself ‘this is what I am insecure about,’ and think about why. Is it people’s opinions? Can I just not listen? Is it me? Do I need to work on myself? Really think

about the explanation and work on yourself from there.” Coming to a truth and realization about yourself is definitely difficult. It takes a lot of self-reflection and an honest voice within your mind’s walls.

An important thing to remember is that self-reflection allows you to repair the things you focus so much worry upon. It’s essential to the process of self-growth and achieving that confident, positive mindset. Senior Jaya Clausen said, “In order to fix the problem, you must first recognize the solution. Hating something about yourself without putting the effort in to fix it is weak. By not putting the work in, you let yourself be miserable, and that’s on you.” A huge component of confidence is proactivity. Take that bull by the horns, and conquer that insecurity by chipping away at it any time you can with the pick-axe of positivity you have by your side. After all, wouldn’t you want to become what you aspire to be?

Overall, confidence is available to all of us if we reach a few requirements first.

Recommendations in the journey to confidence are to stay humble, make self-care a priority, exercise, self-forgiveness and to remind yourself that you are one of a kind and perfect being the human being you are. Just remember that with trying comes failing, therefore be kind to yourself. You can only do your best. Just like architecting a sturdy building, architecting on your self-worth will create a beautiful masterpiece made to last.

From all of your role models and confident individuals among you, know that the process to confidence and positivity is worth it!

Relationship effects Gaby Rodriguez and Marilyn Luna staff writers Three students at Sheldon offered their opinions on how relationships affect high school experiences.

Some students feel as though being in a relationship can make them feel left out of certain school activities or time with friends. Senior Kimberly VillaGomez Lopez said, “I just knew how to balance it so that I could do the things I enjoyed and still have time for my relationship.”

An important perspective to take note of is the perspective of those not in relationships. Senior Austin Frost didn’t feel as though having a relationship would change anything about his high school experience and said, “A relationship isn’t my main priority because I rely on myself for happiness.”

Another common worry of students is having relationships distract from grades and academic dedication. Senior Cadence Klindt said, “No, I always have focused on school and had it as my main priority because I wanted to be able to get into a good college.”

Whether they’re in a relationship or not, many students agree that their self determines if a relationship would affect them in a positive or negative way.

photo by Michaela Kearney

Opinion

the Talisman

October 9, 2019

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Columbus doesn’t deserve a day Sofia El-Shammaa page editor Columbus Day is a federal holiday that glorifies an mass murder and his crew.

Contrary to what many of us are taught in elementary school, Columbus was not the first European to set foot in America (that title belongs to Norse explorer Leif Eriksson), nor did he arrive in either of the Americas. He accidentally reached the Bahamas with three ships and 88 men- the Niña, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria, after begging the Queen of Spain for a second time to support his voyage. He arrived at San Salvador on October 12th, and encountered the Taino people.

Two days after his arrival, Columbus captured seven of the Tainos, writing in his log, “…from the seven I have captured to take away with us as to teach them our language, unless Your Majesties’ orders are that they all be taken to Spain or held captive on the island itself, for with fifty men one could keep the whole population in subjection and make them do whatever one wanted…” He then proceeded to have the population of the Taino people enslaved, raped, and slaughtered.

Navajo U.S. presidential candidate Mark Charles said, “It’s like the Native American community is an old grandmother with a very large and very beautiful house, and years ago people came into our house and locked us up in a room upstairs.”

But why is Columbus Day a federal holiday in the first place, if he’s so horrible and unaccomplished? The answer lies in the late

1800s, when Italian-Americans were vilified. They started to celebrate the so-called hero and founder of America on October 12, 1866, to prove that Italians such as Columbus were good for America.

By 1937, FDR proclaimed Columbus Day to be celebrated nationally as a federal holiday. Now that we know how horrible Columbus is, there is no reason for Columbus Day to be celebrated.

U.S. history and Honors Global Geography teacher Mary Youngblood said, “Columbus Day celebrates genocide… It should be renamed after Bartolomé de las Casas, who changed his views.” Casas was a 16th-century historian who originally believed that only Native Americans should be slaves, but later evolved his views to a completely abolitionist stance.

As important as it is to revoke Columbus of his celebratory day, perhaps we should focus on educating children before we do so. Junior Gabe Hawkins said, “I was taught that he discovered America in elementary school.” Hawkins also stated that she had only learned the truth in the past year: “But I believe we should be taught about him in middle school, and learn the basics in elementary school.”

In the end, it’s up to educators to ensure that Columbus is glorified no longer.

Illustrated by Tawny Thomas

Weather changes and favorite seasons Carsten Konyn page editor The weather is changing; it’s getting colder and damper. People at Sheldon have different opinions about this. Senior Ian Bonine likes the new weather because it allows him to dress in style: “It really gets me dressing,” he said. He would like it if it snowed because he won’t get any extra days, as seniors like him don’t have to make up snow days like the other grades do. Besides the way he dresses, the changing weather has not affected him at all.

Other people, such as sophomore Taylor Suit hates how the weather is changing. Suit said, “It’s stupid and it should be hot 24/7 and we should live in Australia.” Taylor hates the rain, and would much rather have hot than cold weather and he misses being able to go outside and read a book. It affects him negatively: he can’t go to McDonalds because it’s too cold, his dog doesn’t want to walk as much, and he has to wear a jacket. Suit hopes that it doesn’t snow because last year snow caused a mess.

Some people don’t strongly favor one season or one kind of weather. Junior Caitlin Booth likes some aspects of the new weather, but dislikes others. Booth likes how the weather is colder as it lets her wear her sweaters, but doesn’t like the rain. Booth has to bike to school, so she gets soaked if it rains and she has to bring a change of jeans. The rain also affects whether she eats lunch or not, as she usually doesn’t eat if there’s rain. Booth said, “I wish we lived somewhere it didn’t rain.”

Most students at Sheldon prefer the colder seasons. Fall and winter weather are the most popular with 38.2% and 32.4% of surveyed students having them as their favorite season weather wise. Not as many students like the warmer seasons: 23.5% of students prefer summer weather and only a miniscule 5.9% of surveyed students preferring spring. The survey taken for this data surveyed 34 students across the school.

34 people surveyed

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Changes

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Meet the new administration team Callie Lininger page editor New year, new administration! This year we welcome our new Principal Mike Ingman, our new Assistant Principal Wes Flinn, and our new Assistant Principal/ Athletic Director Heather Stein. All of our new administration are very excited to be working here.

Principal Mike Ingman said, “I chose to come work at Sheldon because there is great staff, a great reputation of

staff, [and] students here are absolutely tremendous and everyone knows that. It’s not a well kept secret of how great the students are, [and] the parent community is super supportive and it just seems like a great place that I would want to be. Plus the icing on the cake is that my wife was a Sheldon High School graduate.” We are very thrilled for this year and beyond with our new principal!

Even though it’s only been a little over a month since school started, our new staff are already loving it here.

Assistant Principal/Athletic Director Heather Stein said, “My favorite part of working here so far has been the people. They are all very supportive and positive and I’m

very appreciative of them.” So far our new staff have had a positive experience here and are looking forward to their future at Sheldon.

There are many responsibilities of administration, including empowering kids and staff and making sure they have the resources they need. Assistant Principal Wes Flinn said, “I motivate and encourage students by just being real with them. I make sure I’m fully present and aligned… so they feel comfortable, and I try to model what I want to see.” Sheldon is very lucky to have administrators who are so motivated and excited to work here and make our school even better.

Sheldon’s new administrators (L to R):.Assistant Principal Wes Flinn, Assistant Principal/Athletic Director Heather Stein, and Principal Mike Ingman. (Returning Assistant Principal Mark Watson is also on the administrative team, but not pictured.)

photo by Callie Lininger

New OSAA fan rules in effect Beatrice Walton page and social media editor The state of Oregon just passed a law (bill 3409) in which section 3.4.1 states, “All cheers, comments and actions shall be in direct support of one’s team.” This means that while attending Sheldon sports games you are no longer allowed to turn around, say negative cheers, or call out the other team/players. This also includes behavior online.

However, this isn’t a new rule, it just recently became a law because of increased instances and a changing climate. At a recent Athletic Director Heather Stein said, “I didn’t see anything that violates the rule which is great and shows good sportsmanship” She said that it might take time for the law to be embraced especially because students don’t have the best role models. For example, when attending an Oregon Duck or Beaver game fans behave in contradiction of the law.

Sophomore Kaitlyn Begines said, “I was unaware of the law, but I think it will help Sheldon be a more positive environment.” Overall she said it won’t have a huge effect on students conduct at sporting events. Some students at the first home football game

said they noticed some upperclassmen making an announcement about the law at the beginning of the game. The transition and acceptance of the law seemed to go over smoothly with most students, and many think it will show Sheldon’s good sportsmanship.

Student athletes play an important role in the way students view rules regarding sports games. Sophomore Alex Bradford, a current football player said, “I think it’s a step in the right direction. The game should be enjoyable for both teams and their fans. Before the rule, people would disrespect and taunt the other team making it not enjoyable for all. So I think it’s a good thing they implemented the rule.” Even though some students may have been unsure about it, everyone seems on board to embrace the new OSAA law.

Music and Dance

the Talisman

October 9, 2019

Tunes and tasks

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Lily Nopp photo and page editor

Have you ever wondered if listening to music could help you with a task, or if it would be to your disadvantage? Many people listen to music throughout the day, most likely including yourself. Some people play music whenever they can, some listen only when doing specific tasks, and others listen very rarely. Different tasks may also affect the type of tune you decide to listen to.

When people want to feel energized or motivated, many choose to listen to music that has a fast beat. However, tasks that require you to be calm or focused would probably elicit a different choice of songs.

Plenty of students listen to music when they study or complete work for classes. Some students said that they feel like the music helped them focus on the work, and remember information later on, like during a test. On the other hand, other students stated that they don’t listen to music then because it distracts them. Freshman Allison Erickson said, “It’s hard to concentrate when there’s music playing.” The type of music they listened to while working did tend to effect peoples answers. People who feel music helped them, tended to listen to calmer music, such as classical or instrumental covers.

Different genres of music are helpful for various types of tasks. For example, sophomore Jessica Scialfa said that she listens to Young Gravy (a rap artist) when she studies: “I get really distracted and don’t finish my work.” On the other hand, she likes to listen to his music in the morning because it helps her feel less tired. Upbeat and fast paced music is more helpful in some cases, but in others, calmer and quieter might be a better option.

Chemistry teacher Dave Whalley likes to play music when his class is doing a lab, and based on how his fifth period class has reacted, the students like it too. He said that he decides to have the songs in the background

because, “It lowers anxiety and helps people relax and focus in the lab instead of feeling stressed.”

Some people find it helpful to listen to music while studying or working, some blast music in the morning to feel awake, and some get to listen while mixing solutions

in chemistry. There are many different reasons to listen to music, and while it might not appeal to you, others can really benefit from it.

A student studies for geometry while listening to music.

photo by: Lily Nopp

Incoming: Homecoming!

Posey Chiddix page editor With homecoming right around the corner, students are starting to get ready for the dance on October 19.

Sophomore class treasurer Nabikshya Rayamajhi said, “Homecoming is being planned by the ASB sophomores and we’re all working together to make it super enjoyable!” They’ve decided on City of Stars as the theme and are planning other events, such the homecoming assembly. Last year, many people voiced their concerns about certain aspects of homecoming like the DJ’s music and homecoming court.

When asked about homecoming court, Nabikshya Rayamajhi said, “We’re probably not going to do that because it honestly takes so much money and so much of our time as well. And with Sheldon’s culture, it doesn’t seem like a big deal to us.” While it may be controversial, homecoming royalty is much less important to Sheldon than it is to other schools in the 4j district.

Many students had negative opinions about the dance

last year, especially those who were going for the first time. Sophomore Kaylen Pedersen said, “Homecoming last year was okay. Personally, I thought it was really long with nothing to do, considering how much work and thought has to be put into it.” The music was another thing that students weren’t happy about, so ASB has decided that the DJ won’t be taking song requests at all.

Despite a few issues last year, some students enjoyed homecoming. Sophomore Lillian Avery said, “Homecoming was fun because I was with my friends, but I didn’t like that our bags were taken away when they could have just been searched.” Whatever your feelings are about homecoming, sophomore class leadership students are planning on making this year’s dance the best one yet! photo by: Posey Chiddix The ASB sophmore officers and senators making the Homecoming dance happen.

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Media

October 9, 2019

Viral Trends

Michaela Kearney editor

Trends are something that teen culture seems to revolve around. From fashion choices to music tastes or popular slang, many teenagers seem to find some sort of identity in the world around them. For better or for worse, it is hard to deny that trends have had a large impact in today’s society.

Some people may be wondering, “What exactly defines a trend?” Senior Morgan Thomas said, “A trend is something people are following, is currently (not permanently) viral, and can be just about anything from clothes, a phrase, a dance move, etc.” The Oxford Dictionary defines a trend as: “a general direction in which something is developing or changing.” That definition connects back to Thomas’s, and the definition that many others may hold.

It’s no surprise that trends greatly influence youth’s culture, and the culture at Sheldon. Whether it be the clothes that people wear or the ways common language adapts, students at Sheldon often reflect the ways that society is shifting. Senior Tatum Smith said, “Yes, I do believe that trends contribute to Sheldon culture. It’s hard for kids to not join in on a trend that becomes popular.” Smith brings up an important observation: youth tend to “follow the leader.” For example, an Instagram model who promotes a certain clothing store may have followers that look up to them and then want to shop at that store.

Wanting to participate in what seems “cool” or commonly accepted is a human quality that becomes apparent in many forms.

Students tend to rely on social media for supplying and generating trends.

Social media influencers and people with high status on these apps direct the movement of teens’ culture. A pretty popular app currently is TikTok. Most students have a love-hate relationship with TikTok, as it used to be categorized as “cringey.” Now, it seems to have become a second version of the app Vine, with short, comedic videos gaining popularity. Senior Ana Papen-Gould said, “TikTok is my favorite app to look at trends on because the videos are funny.”

TikTok seems to have transitioned into humor and away from awkward lip-

The VSCO Girls There is always something new going on in the world of social media, whether it’s a new meme, dance or stereotype.

The most recent trend has been VSCO girls which gained its popularity on the app TikTok, where videos are created targeting a certain group of girls. According to Dictionary.com the term VSCO girl is “generally used as an insult, for a young, usually white women who posts trendy pictures of herself edited on the app VSCO”.

Although the stereotype started on TikTok it has become popular on many other social media sites. One of the more popular ways is on YouTube where famous YouTubers create videos titled “Transforming into the ultimate VSCO GIRL for a day” or “Turning into a VSCO GIRL to see if my boyfriend notices.” The stereotype has become very popular for many teens.

Everyone has his or her own opinion about VSCO girls but the definition seems to be similar for all. Senior Hunter Bang said, “A VSCO girl is a girl that is obsessed with objects such as hydroflasks, scrunchies and laughing with ‘sksksksk’.” This is how many people picture the stereotype when they hear the phrase VSCO girl.

Senior Kalierose Stramler has a very similar definition as Bang: “VSCO girls to me are girls who are constantly wearing oversized shirts, scrunchies and dropping their hydroflasks on purpose.” The most common things VSCO girls are associated with are hydroflasks, scrunchies, and oversized shirts. Which has brought up the question of whether or not people who are not considered one are now embarrassed or less likely to wear or use these products. Many are not discouraged and wear their style confidently, but others do not and have stopped being seen as often wearing or using the items listed above.

synching. Other popular apps include YouTube, Instagram, and Twitter, with teens spending a majority of their time on them.

Like it or not, trends command our society’s attention. Students and kids look to them for guidance and acceptance. Luckily, there are trends currently circulating that, though seen as comedic, bring up good points. An example of this is the “metal straw instead of plastic straws.” People make fun of girls that are encouraging the use of metal straws, and though it may be a bit exaggerated, it brings up a good point. Trends that bring awareness to important issues have started gaining traction, and students are better for it. Hopefully movements like the ones occurring now continue in the future, and bring positive change to the global community.

The TikTok Logo!

Photo by Michaela Kearney

Jasmyn Jensen editor

The other big topic around VSCO girls is whether it is a form of bullying between the upperclassmen and underclassmen. Walking through the halls, more people have been hearing the older students using the phrases that are associated with a VSCO girl than people who are actually considered one. Stramler said, “I don’t think that people call them VSCO girls to be rude; it’s just kind of like a joke that everyone is a part of and I don’t think people really get offended by it.” Bang had a similar opinion when it came to being a joke or a form of bullying.

Senior Jacob Oester agreed with the thoughts stated above by the previous people. Oester said, “I see VSCO girl based posts more on TikTok than any other social media form but every post is more of a joke than something serious, I think.”

This trend has lasted quite a while now although it seems to be dying down. The popularity of the joke was very big for many people and brought many laughs to groups of friends. The excitement of the stereotype is coming to an end, which will only bring a new one for people to enjoy.

A meme about the VSCO girl stereotype Photo by Nathan Byers

Influence

October 9, 2019

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Who’s famous at Sheldon Nathan Byers editor the new youth. These trends are best represented through It’s no secret that it’s possible to make a living on the TikTok. Sophomore Taylor Langworthy said, “TikTok internet. Numerous people have done so already: David is fun. I like making funny videos and putting smiles on Dobrik, Liza Koshy, Casey Neistat, Felix Kjellberg, people’s faces.” Many others like Langworthy spend their and more. Most of these people began their careers and time making others laugh and being creative. adventures when they were in high school. Whether Sheldon has numerous individuals who have accumulated they started on Vine, YouTube, or any other form of a following. Sophomore Kyle Knapp boasts 12.8 thousand social media, they took it to the next level. Nowadays followers and a cumulative 542.1 thousand likes under the internet fame is easier to obtain than ever before, with username “@whenkylehasnun2do” and enjoys making the rise of new social media platform such as TikTok videos. He is friends with Langworthy, and has been and others becoming more streamlined and easy to use. posting videos for quite some time. Knapp said, “I think Now anyone can become famous. social media will get bigger in the future and there will be Most forms of social media have their differences and more platform of social media. I think it will remain free are more geared towards a certain type of creator. Senior to whoever wants it… and my buddy Taylor Langworthy Rylee Valentine said, “YouTube would be my preferred is @taylor_langworthy23 on TikTok and he loves making route to fame because it has the most stable income. videos.”

I could also do stupid things like Liza and have fun Some semi-famous people from Sheldon have moved with it.” These facets can complement an individual’s away. Some like Summer McKeen have moved on after personality. For some it’s easier to livestream and rely graduating, others moved away to other states. Senior solely on your personality and others prefer putting a lot Collier Campbell moved to Tennessee and boasts 28.2 of effort into their videos and the editing process. thousand followers, has a cumulative 710.8 thousand likes, Our generation sees the internet as the new promised and has had his original sound used by Cody Ko. Campbell land, where dreams can become reality, and everyone said, “I think it would be really cool to be a social media has a shot. It’s the modern American dream. Senior influencer as a full time job. I really like uploading and Ian Gilchrist said, “For me, that would be the ideal making people laugh, and it’s crazy to think that thousands life style. I love making people laugh and the money of people watch my videos.” Campbell has uploaded would be dope.” For many others like Gilchrist, this consistently under the handle @CollierCampbell and is one is a possibility. All you need is a phone capable of of many people who have attended or are attending Sheldon downloading the certain applications, a sense of humor, and have found a way to make their name known on social and dedication to persist and get to the top. media.

Social media has become increasingly popular and continues to spread among the younger generations, Incoming freshman implement new trends that the youth has cultivated and combine them with the social media that has been experienced by the older generation. We see this in multiple ways, the most prominent being the fact that Vine is still referenced and represented through Sophomores Kyle Knapp and Taylor Langworthy hanging out Photo provided by Kyle Knapp

Do you believe in Bigfoot?

Josh Lamberson staff writer A lot of things comes to mind when you hear the word Bigfoot. Some may think of big, hairy, and smelly bear-like figures. Its large feet that be behind the thought process naming it Bigfoot. Sophomore Jay Gelsomino said, “I think he’s twenty feet tall… stinky and ginormous.” Some people think Bigfoot looks like a human with a lot of hair covering his large body. Many also believe that he isn’t aggressive.

The story of Bigfoot has been told for a couple hundred years which brings up reports of sightings of said Bigfoot. Searching for Bigfoot has become a form of earning money for some people because it has become televised for those who believe it’s out there. A close relation to the Bigfoot story is the yeti story which has many similarities. Gelsomino said, “The yeti and Bigfoot have a rivalry because the yeti thinks it has bigger feet and Bigfoot disagrees so they clash.”

There’s a lot of talk about what people would do if they came into contact with Bigfoot, Sophomore Lucas Kirkpatrick said, “I’d snap a picture and run away because it’s big and scary and I don’t want to get eaten.” Depending on who you talk to, you will hear that they

find Bigfoot scary or that they don’t at all.

Bigfoot enthusiasts believe that the Sasquatch is a predator with evidence of it eating elk. In regards to that, Kirkpatrick said, “I think Bigfoot is a predator and eats humans and licks their bones clean.” For all we know, though, the mysterious creature might be a vegetarian.

The Sasquatch is believed to be mostly found in the Pacific Northwest. Sophomore Brody Spurlock said, “I think Bigfoot’s home is in a cave in the forests of Wyoming where he’s all by himself.” We really don’t know where Bigfoot is, obviously, or else there would be real scientific evidence.

Nobody really knows the gender of Bigfoot but people have their opinions. Spurlock said, “I don’t think it’s either. I think it is its own species called the Bigfootians.” Bigfoot is a really mysterious story that is pondered upon and no one really knows the truth about Bigfoot. But the most important question is: is Bigfoot real?

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Student Support

the Talisman

Teen homelessness Cayden Hatcher staff writer Have you ever had a hard time balancing schoolwork and a social life? The same goes for homeless students, but they also may not know where to go after school. Sheldon freshman Allistair Rutherford said they (nonbinary singular pronoun) had to fit everything they had into a backpack. This includes clothes, school books, hygiene products, etc.

However, they didn’t have to go through this struggle alone. There are multiple organizations in the Eugene area that help support homeless youth. Rutherford turned to 15th Night and Station 7. Both organizations provide resources and shelter to the homeless population of Eugene.

According to Wikipedia, there were 1,462 unaccompanied young adults in Oregon two years ago and the number grows every year. Some kids struggling to find a home feel ashamed and embarrassed about their situation. Rutherford wants to see more education about homelessness and more shelters and resources to help unaccompanied youth and the general homeless population in Oregon.

Schools also have resources you can look to for shelter and supplies.

For example, teachers and school staff are mandatory reporters.

Mandatory reporters are required by law to report things that put a child in harm’s way, such as neglect, abuse, and homelessness. There are even

school board positions to help homeless students. Bethel School District’s Assistant Liaison Deleena Faimen helps with just that. She advocates for the educational rights of students experiencing temporary housing and homelessness. She supplies OHP and food stamps, free meals at school, FASFA letters, transportation to school, and access to housing information and waiting lists. Through donations from the community, she also provides clothing and household goods that aren’t covered by food stamps, such as shampoo and laundry detergent. Sheldon and 4j have mandatory reporters and supplies for students with housing issues as well.

The website Accredited Schools Online says that 1.3 million students in public schools have experienced or are currently experiencing homelessness. Some signs of struggling home life is unexplained absences, poor health, and academic difficulties. The top cause of youth homelessness is family related issues like neglect, physical abuse, and addiction. You can help by donating items such as soap, feminine hygiene products, socks, diapers, etc. You can also donate to places like Goodwill, United Way, and YWCA.

Care Closet Destiny Gates staff writer Have you ever been in need of school supplies? Well, since last year, there is a new program called the “Care Closet” that can help. This idea was inspired from other schools (such as South Eugene High School) doing it, but for the most part was inspired by 15th Night. 15th Night interviewed homeless students, asking what kinds of things they needed the most (clothes, shoes, food, and more). This program also focuses on being less wasteful. You can get many different things from the Care Closet such as school supplies, snacks, clothing, backpacks, and shoes.

If there is something you need that isn’t on the list, you can make a personal request with Jackie Owens or your counselor. If you’re wondering where to get clothes, there’s a rolling rack of clothes right in front of the doors to the science hall, free to grab whatever you want or need. Again, if there is something you need, and it’s not at the cart, talk to either Jackie or your counselor about it to make a request.

The clothing rack comes out at eight in the morning, and gets put away at four in the afternoon. A good time to go to the cart would be before school, during lunch, or after school. If you want to pick up an item but want to do it in private, you can make a personalized plan with Jackie. For example, she could put your item(s) in a bag, and you can pick it up after school, or even leave the item(s) in your locker.

This program is for all grades, and you can get an unlimited amount of items if you are in need. If you have any questions, you can ask a counselor

The clothing Rack by the science wing.

photo by Lily Nopp

or an EJL (Economic Justice League) member who also helps run this program. If you would like to donate, a good time to do that would be during upcoming clothes drives or to put donations in the small bin next to the clothes rack. Currently, they are also requesting any non-wired hangers, which you can either give to Jackie or put in the small donation box next to the clothes rack.

Lunch Time

the Talisman

October 9, 2019

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Lunch review: Chipotle Peter Saisslin page editor Food is good, it’s a necessity of life, and every single day at 12:20, hundreds of students from Sheldon leave campus on a search for food.

What is the best deal? Can I get there and back in time? Does it even taste good? These questions have plagued many students seeking good chow, and these questions have now caused me to restart my own search for food (as I have long been settled in a routine of Burrito Amigos).

I started this new search with a recommendation for a new burrito, specifically a Chipotle chicken burrito with beans, rice, lettuce, cheese guacamole and corn, recommended by Senior Ryan Duncan. “I really like the guacamole and chicken,” Duncan said, “[the burrito] just feels different from other foods. You can really taste the guacamole in every bite”.

Taking a similar stance to Duncan is junior Caitlin Booth: “Chipotle is great. I like the variety. I like the food based on my mood.” Customization is a key part to the Chipotle experience, as people get to choose what they want on their food, how they want it, and why they want it. Ordering a burrito at Chipotle is similar to creating a pizza at Mods.

There are occasions when customers do not get exactly what they want at

Chipotle. Senior Gabby Baker said that “sometimes [the employees] add too much salsa, which can really distort the balance of the ingredients.”

Nobody likes a carrot drenched in ranch, the same goes for salsa on burritos. Though Baker expressed her distaste for too much sauce, she affirms that she still likes Chipotle, the variety it offers, and the customer service.

I decided to take my own trip to Chipotle, to find out if it was actually good. As I entered the restaurant, I was greeted with many smiles by the Chipotle employees. As I ordered my burrito, I noticed that the restaurant was organized in a manner similar to an assembly line, allowing me to receive my order within seconds of finishing my debit transaction. The burrito I proudly tailored to my likings included salsa, sour cream, beans, meat and lettuce. The workers at chipotle did an excellent job packing the burrito to its maximum capacity; it was almost intimidating to look at.

As I took my first bite, it tasted sort of generic, the top was heavy on lettuce, light on the beans with a little salsa.

It was good, but nothing special. I continued my path down the stacked burrito, the flavor became more and more intense. Within minutes, my

burrito went from average to one of the best I’ve ever had. Everything in the burrito settled towards the bottom, creating a pleasant experience of progression; eating Chipotle is not just a bite to eat, it is a journey.

What really makes the Chipotle experience special is the small things. The smile on the faces of the employees rewards the customer for deciding to eat at Chipotle. The

pompous, yet subtle, music adds a flavor to its atmosphere to match the taste of the food. Even the small things, such as the paper straws, shows customers how Chipotle cares about the community around it. It’s a little pricey (my burrito came at just under $9), but Chipotle delivers a unique experience, fresh food and fills stomachs. It is worth the extra price, and the drive down Coburg Road to eat at an establishment like Chipotle.

The Chipotle chicken burrito.

Photo by Peter Saisslin

Money spent on lunch Keira Collier staff writer With school starting up, some questions regarding lunch have arisen. Most people go off campus for lunch. Many people end up going to lunch at Market of Choice and Dairy Queen. According to Sophomore Haylee Germyn, “I usually spend $25 per week on lunch.” Most students spend roughly $100-$150 per month. The money that’s spent is usually from students’ parents, mainly because students don’t have jobs. Most students spend $5 or $6 daily on lunch.

Market of Choice is the easiest place to go because it has many lunch options, it’s

close, and the lines move quickly. Most students walk to lunch but juniors and seniors tend to drive somewhere farther away. Sophomore Madelyn Raleigh said, “I usually drive or get a ride because it’s quicker.” The people who drive usually switch up the places they go every day. One hour is roughly what most students want for time to eat lunch, but we only have 40 minutes.

The most common places people go are Market of Choice and Dairy Queen.

They may not be people’s first choice but they are the closest options this year.

Sophomore Jorryn Phelps said, “I do not like going to Market because it’s expensive.” Some people like going to Subway because you can choose what you want, but it takes too long and people are usually late to class. Students spend a lot of money per month on lunch, yet many students continue to do it because of the convenience.

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Impacts at SHS

October 9, 2019

School culture Culture is often defined as a set of values or norms that a group of people all share, but it’s not commonly considered in a school setting, especially in terms of the extent to which it affects students. The idea of a welcoming and friendly school culture in which everyone values a strong community is very appealing, but there is often more to it than that. Some students like sophomore Charlotte Ford believe Sheldon’s culture is not exactly the ideal environment for students. Ford said, “I think that at Sheldon there is a lot of emphasis put on participating in sports and on reaching individual goals rather than on the more academic side of high school. Sheldon’s culture really makes a big deal out of playing a sport and doing well in it to make a name for yourself instead of focusing on your classes.” The idea of Sheldon being very athletically oriented is popular among students of Sheldon and other schools. Ford continued, “Other schools like South are more known for academics and arts, but Sheldon has so much pressure on students to be athletes that I think that some people only play sports to fit in and be a part of the culture here.”

very important to make personal relationships with others during high school. White continued, “I think that we need to allow Sheldon’s culture to develop further in a way that lets people feel comfortable expressing themselves through their actions instead of their possessions so that they can make the relationships that will really help them in the long run.”

A school’s culture is a lot more influential than most people originally believe, especially to its students. At Sheldon, it is widely agreed upon that the culture focuses on athletics and status rather than academics or personal relationships, which can have a very big impact on the students of the school.

To form a welcoming culture, in which everyone feels comfortable in their own skins, we have to let ourselves open up and accept people for who they are, not for who we want them to be.

Jordan Boldan staff writer

The legend of Zelda breath of the wild is the first open world Zelda game with hours of missions, story, beautiful landscapes and creatures to discover. The game has gotten many “game of the year” awards, and numerous 10 out of 10 reviews on credible gaming websites.

The legend of Zelda Link’s Awakening is a very nostalgic game for many. Good news: Link’s Awakening has gotten a remake! No fans will be able to play Zelda Link’s Awakening with today’s beautiful graphics. Want more Zelda games? No problem, you can play Zelda: a link to the past, Zelda one and Zelda to put the Nintendo Switch online service. The service comes at a super cheap $20 for the year. Another playing option is four dollars for a month. That’s not it, Zelda Breath of the Wild 2 will be released next year along with Cadence of Hyrule.

Super Mario odyssey is a double edge sword. The game

Vaping Although vaping has been around for a long time, over the past couple of years it has become a huge topic of discussion.

Through the news and social media, vaping has been commonly seen and discussed. Sophomore Aurora Cardone said she felt that social media had contributed to the quick spread of addiction among teens. Cardone stated, “Since so many people have posted pictures or videos of themselves or other people vaping, it’s gotten a lot of exposure and made people want to try it out. Almost everyone has access to social media, so it’s a quick and easy way to share what you’re doing.”

Social media has been subject to blame for many issues teenagers struggle with, such as depression and other mental illnesses, but is it at fault for vaping too? Cardone stated, “As a community we need to talk more about the consequences of vaping so people will understand what is actually happening

Alayna Hughes staff writer

Sophomore Maggie Fountain shared a similar view with Ford, and said that Sheldon’s culture is “very athlete-centric and focused on socioeconomic status over academics.”

Elaborating on that, Fountain said that she often found that Sheldon’s culture influenced students to “show off their assets, like cars or expensive clothes, and is more focused on having the newest things instead of being yourself, and I think that people need to learn to be more inclusive to change that.”

Fountain also believes that Sheldon should try to develop a culture that emphasizes individuality and lets people express themselves. Fountain said, “I feel like I have learned to separate myself from trying too hard to actually ‘fit in’ and realized that if I express myself the way that makes me happy, I’ll find people with similar values to me. We need to work to lift people up so that they feel they can be themselves to fit in.”

Another sophomore, Daniel White, agrees with Fountain when it comes to the issue of socioeconomic standing and Sheldon’s culture. White said, “I feel like people at Sheldon value material things more than their relationships with other people or their willingness to make new relationships.” It is

Switch it up Back with more news to help out people who keep asking if the Nintendo Switch is worth it. Let’s find out shall we? Now first of all if you don’t know what the system is fully capable well listen close. The Nintendo Switch is the first ever main gaming Council that is portable. What does that mean, you ask? It means that you can bring Skyrim, Zelda, and many other games where ever you go. Also you can play on your TV as well.

The Nintendo Switch is an incredibly successful system and offers a large variety of games, even third-party games. For those not impressed with this handheld device, you can even play the Witcher 3. The Nintendo Switch has sold more than the PS4 on launch and the system is over 400 games available this year. Of course not every game on the Switch is good.

Here are the games you should check out and consider if you were picking up the Switch this holiday season.

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is beautiful and very fun to play for the first time, but it does not offer a good replay value, it is also the easiest Mario game ever made. It’s smart financial decision would be renting this and return it.

Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield are coming this year on November 15. It is going to be the first Pokémon open world game polished with breath of the wild engine.

Super Smash Bros Ultimate is the newest addition to the Super Smash Bros series. It is beautifully polished with 620p graphics on the go and 720 p graphics on the television. It includes all the previous purchase and is currently adding more fighter too.

Are those games making anyone’s wallet and Study yet? If not, The Witcher 3 Wild Hunt with all of its DLC will be releasing on October 15 this year. Luigi‘s Mansion 3 is also releasing in October just in time for Halloween.

Alexa Zitterkopf staff writer

to them. Many people who vape are not being educated on what chemicals they are ingesting and how it’s affecting their body.”

Sophomore Bree Skelton added on to this idea, stating, “Parents should talk about vaping more with their kids, or at least be aware of whVat their kids are seeing online or in person.” Following up with that, Skelton said, “Many people I know vape and I don’t think their parents know or have paid attention to what they’re doing. It makes me upset because I don’t want them to get hurt or have negative effects in the long run.”

Vaping has also been used as a “replacement” for smokers, and the original goal was to have fewer people purchasing cigarettes. Junior Kaelan Valentine said that is why he believes vaping shouldn’t be banned altogether.

Valentine stated, “These products were made so it would

be easier to give up smoking.” Skelton added onto this, and said, “I don’t think they should be banned, but I think there should be more regulations on who is using them. Adults should be able to buy them and make their own choices, but obviously not anyone younger. It is too easy for vape products to get into the wrong hands.”

Based on the opinions of these Sheldon students, we can make an impact by simply making good choices and being aware of what is happening around us. Even if we cannot control what is happening outside of our lives, we can control our own personal decisions. We can use social media to our advantage and educate ourselves. We can speak up if we feel that something is wrong. We can make healthy choices. Ultimately it is up to us to be an advocate and a role model for ourselves and those around us.

Student Experience

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October 9, 2019

Teen’s Top Ten Books

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Sariah Thrapp staff writer

The Young Adult Library Services Association, a division of the American library association, started a program to help narrow down good books for teenagers. The Young Adult Library started this program in 2003. A group of students pick 25 books to let other students pick their top 3, and the 10 most popular books become the Teen’s Top 10 Books of 2019. Students and teens around the country are able to vote for their favorite book. There are so many books, and this program helps narrow top favorites to help you choose what to read. The books separated into categories, including fiction, non-fiction, graphic novels, and many more. This program is very helpful for students and teens.

You can find the 25 books you can choose from in your school library or, you can visit “www.ala. org.” The Sheldon school librarian, Ms. Kuns, top three favorites of the 25 are The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo, Thunderhead by Neal Shusterman, and Speak: the Graphic Novel. You can pick your top 3 favorites until October 12th at their website or search “Vote teen’s top 10.”

Sheldon student finding a novel to read The best place to find good books

Upcoming Events Allie Davis staff writer Coming up at Sheldon there are lots of fun events and changes in the near future. Halloween is right around the corner, and people are starting to get excited.

Sophomore Ava Montagna said, “Halloween is my favorite because there are so many possibilities on what to be.” Halloween is an exciting time for a lot of people, whether you dress up or just hang out with your friends.

There is also a chance that the coffee cart could be coming back to Sheldon.

Montagna said, “I would love for the coffee cart to come back because I love coffee and it’s a very reliable source of food.” Many people hope it comes back because it’s very convenient during school hours and it was very popular when it was here.

Some other events coming up are Homecoming week (October 14- 18), PSAT testing day (October 16), Homecoming dance (October 19). This month holds very exciting things, and everyone is looking forward to them.

photos by Lily Nopp

Run by students, for students.

Frontpage Editor

Loving Yourself and Others pg.2 Editor Opinion pg. 3 Editor

Changes pg. 4 Editor

Music and dance pg. 5 Editor

Media Influence pg.6-7 Editor

Student Support pg.8 Editor

Lunch Time pg.9 Editor and social media editor

Impacts of SHS pg.10 Editor

Nathan Byers Michaela Kearney Callie Lininger Carsten Konyn Sofia El-Shammaa Nathan Byers & Jasmyn Jensen Posey Chiddix Beatrice Walton Peter Saisslin

Student Experience pg.11 Editor and photo editor

Lily Nopp Backpage Editor and editor-in-chief

Jasmyn Jensen Staff Adviser

Greg Cantwell Staff Writers Jordan Bolden Joshua Lamberson Keira Collier Maya Nair Allie Davis

Gaby Rodriguez Destiny Gates Tawny Thomas Cayden Hatcher Sariah Thrapp Alayna Hughes Alexa Zitterkopf

cover photo of senior Ryan Duncan by Nathan Byers backpage photo by Greg Cantwell

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