The Harbinger Issue 3 2022-23

the harbinger.

SHAWNEE MISSION EAST 7500 MISSION ROAD PRAIRIE VILLAGE, KS 66208 OCTOBER 03, 2022 VOLUME LXV

SPECIAL SECTION

14

INTRO

15

FEATURE

16-17

FEATURE

18

FEATURE

19

OPINION

20 FEATURE 21

SPORTS

During Mental Health Awareness Week, East and community members reflect on Gen Z’s shift in addressing mental illness, including a heightened alertness, persisting stigmas and overlooked mental strains

COLUMBIA

BLUES

ISSUE 3

02

INSIDE COVER

THE HARBINGER

d esig n b y k atie m ur phy co v er d esig n b y fr ancesca stam ati co v er p h o t o s b y hadley chapm an

cross-country connection Student life at a Missouri high school

KIRKWOOD HIGH SCHOOL •

LOCATED IN KIRKWOOD, MO

•

1,813 STUDENTS

•

MASCOT IS PIONEER PETE

SCAN ME WEBSITE Visit the website of The Kirkwood Call, their student-run newspaper

KIRKWOOD’S EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

What current events are students talking about?

EVERYONE’S TALKING ABOUT the Greentree Parade. It just happened last weekend, where local businesses and sports teams ride floats across the downtown Kirkland Park. There’s fun booths with food and jewelry and music. It’s a recurring tradition that really S IM K H A N U J A shows our school spirit.

T O P L E F T The Kirkwood marching band plays at the Greentree parade. guest photo by I katie bowers T O P R I G H T Kirkwood’s football team celebrates their 65-0 win over in their annual Turkey Day rivalry game — a Thanksgiving day tradition since 1907 — taking home the special bell trophy. guest photo

by I marianthe meyer

SE N I O R

B O T T O M L E F T A junior participates in one of Kirkwood’s traditions, where each class decorates a hallway of the school a different theme. This year, the juniors’ class theme was Mario Kart. guest photo by I coco legrand

publication by PRINT EDITORS Peyton Moore Francesca Stamati ONLINE EDITORS Lyda Cosgrove Kate Heitmann ASST. PRINT EDITORS Greyson Imm Katie Murphy ASST. ONLINE EDITOR Maggie Kissick ONLINE POST MANAGER Aanya Bansal HEAD COPY EDITORS Caroline Gould Caroline Wood

ASST. HEAD COPY EDITOR Greyson Imm DESIGN EDITORS Nora Lynn Anna Mitchell ASST. DESIGN EDITOR Bridget Connelly ASST. ART EDITOR Marissa Liberda PHOTO EDITORS Rachel Bingham Hadley Chapman Macy Crosser ASST. PHOTO EDITORS Liv Madden Riley Scott Elle Siegel

The Harbinger

VIDEO EDITOR Abby Lee PODCAST EDITOR Emma Krause SOCIAL MEDIA EDITORS Mia Vogel Paige Zadoo ASST. SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR Bridget Connelly SECTION EDITORS PRINT NEWS Avery Anderson ONLINE NEWS Tristan Chabanis ONLINE SPORTS Christian Gooley PRINT FEATURES Addie Moore

SME Harbinger

ONLINE FEATURES Ben Bradley EDITORIAL Sophie Lindberg ONLINE OPINION Emmerson Winfrey VIDEO EDITOR Abby Lee COPY EDITOR Hassan Sufi STAFF WRITERS David Allegri Isabel Baldassaro Luke Beil Larkin Brundige Maggie Condon Mary Gagen Lily Simmons Gracie Takacs Connor Vogel

Lucy Wolf Ada Lillie Worthington PAGE DESIGNERS Afa Akwana Sofia Blades Adya Burdick Ava Cooper Grace Demetriou Elle Gedman Olivia Hawley Maggie Klumpp Veronica Mangine Kai Mcphail STAFF ARTISTS Sofia Blades Madi Maupin PHOTO MENTORS Riley Eck Julia Fillmore Claire Goettsch

smeharbinger

Caroline Martucci Emily Pollock Mason Sajna STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS Kate Beaulieu Lydia Coe Audrey Condon Sabrina Dean Charlotte Emley Julia Fillmore Molly Miller Clara Peters Tristen Porter Ella Ralston Jill Rice Mason Sajna Seri Steinbrecher Lili Vottero MJ Wolf Amelie Wong

SM East Harbinger

political cartoon CANE FIONA RRI HU

PUERTO RICO

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

ca r t o o n b y ava cooper

OC TOBER 3, 2022

d e s ig n & art by sop h ie lin d b e rg

PREVENTION, NOT PROMOTION EDITORIAL

03

Glorification of suicide in media is detrimental to those struggling mentally

W

SCAN ME WEBSITE Reporting guidelines on the International Association for Suicide Prevention

FOR: 12 AGAINST: 4 The members of the editorial board who agree with the viewpoint of the editorial are represented by for, and those who disagree with the viewpoint are represented by against.

EDITORIAL POLICY The Harbinger is a student run publication. Published editorials express the views of the Harbinger staff. Signed columns published in the Harbinger express the writer’s personal opinion. The content and opinions of the Harbinger do not represent the student body, faculty, administration or Shawnee Mission School District. The Harbinger will not share any unpublished content, but quotes material may be confirmed with the sources. The Harbinger encourages letters to the editors, but reserves the right to reject them for reasons including but not limited to lack of space, multiple letters of the same topic and personal attacks contained in the letter.

The Harbinger will not edit content thought letters may be edited for clarity, length or mechanics. Letters should be sent to room 413B or emailed to smeharbinger@gmail.com.

dies by suicide, as proved in the case of steadily increasing each Kurt Cobain. When Cobain was found year since 2000, the dead in 1994, Seattle news stations media has developed covered suicide prevention and mental a morbid fascination with the tragic health resourcess, focusing on his concept of killing onself. It seems family’s pain following his death rather that each time we open Netflix and than the death itself. The insubstantial Twitter, yet another show or hashtag change in suicide rates after Cobain’s death clearly reflect the findings of normalizes suicide.

Inspired by TV shows like “13 studies conducted on the contagion Reasons Why,” the media frenzies over effect — proving that media coverage celebrities who have taken their own can have disastrous effects.

The reason certain deaths have less lives. Social media posts are far too comfortable in spreading sensitive — national impact comes down to how sugar-coated and glorified each suicide and often false — information.

Depictions of suicide in the media is portrayed. If reporting is done well are often oversimplified, romanticized and specific phrases like “commit and graphic. There shoudn’t be a suicide” are avoided, details of the concern of an increase in the suicide manner of death are withheld and the rate simply due to reading an article or person is recognized for more than watching a movie that depicts graphic their suicide, then the contagion effect content. However — due to wrongful is far less likely to occur, according depictions of such tragedies — there to licesned Children’s Mercy social worker Michelle Camerer. unfortunately is.

After the release of “13 Reasons Why” — which poorly illustrates c o n • t a • g i o n e f • f e c t the mental state of teens struggling p r o c e s s b y w h i c h e x p o s u r e t o s u i c i d e o r suicidal behavior of one or more persons with suicidal ideation or self-harm i n f l u e n c e s o t h e r s t o a t t e m p t s u i c i d e — suicide rates hit a 33-year high However, oversimplification of in the U.S. This is the opposite of what the show was trying to accomplish suicidal ideation is equally detrimental in following the aftermath of a teen to those struggling with mental health. suicide. The responsible phenomenon Claiming that suicide is caused by only a few events invalidates serious mental is called the media contagion effect.

According to the contagion effect, illness leading to suicide, causing celebrity suicides in film and TV confusion when differentiating one’s correlate to an increase in widespread own valid, yet temporary struggles suicide rates. The phenomenon’s from severe cases of mental illness.

A tendency to categorize a suicide impact can be small-scale, like hearing as poetic or beautiful not only portrays about back-to-back suicide attempts at a neaby school, or big enough to cause events incorrectly, but also recklessly a 10% increase in suicide rates over insinuates that suicide can be justified. five months, like in the case of Robin Apple TV’s hit show “Ted Lasso” is one of the few shows which aptly Williams’s suicide.

Reports included specific details discusses mental health by addressing of his suicide method that sparked how suicide can affect families. It a 32.3% increase in deaths by the accurately depicts mental health same method, according to a study treatment as a process that can’t be conducted by PLOS ONE, an open- resolved in just one episode. The show access and rigorously peer-reviewed doesn’t justify characters’ mental health complications, but instead lays online journal.

However, the contagion effect out realistic ways to treat and cope doesn’t apply every time a celebrity with these struggles.

ITH THE SUICIDE rate

Recently, social media is largely responsible for perpetuating the narrative of the “beauty in suicide.” For instance, Twitter tags such as #cutting skyrocketed 500% since October 2021, according to the misinformation index Network Contagion Research Institute.

Trivializing a form of self-harm is damaging to those who come across these posts. Oversharing graphic details of self harm or suicide can be triggering for those who are working to free themselves of suicidal thoughts.

That’s not to say that we shouldn’t discuss suicide at all. Sharing thoughts and feelings can be beneficial, but generally speaking, according to Camerer, suicide becomes an issue for those who struggle with a buildup of long-term emotional issues or mental illness — not in people who have been wronged in 13 individual events, as portrayed and defended by “13 Reasons Why.” By portraying suicide in a trivial or romanticized way, people may not view legitimate mental health issues as being cause for concern.

If someone’s experiences aren’t reflected in the media, they may avoid getting help because they assume they don’t need it.

These factors push the notion that suicide is a correct or reasonable reponse to trauma or mental health struggles without offering up alternative solutions or even calling suicide what it really is: a tragedy. If they do provide content warnings or resources, it’s in a performative way that doesn’t begin to offset the harmful effects of the content itself.

Those struggling mentally shouldn’t find a reason to die in a news article, a movie or on social media.

By following media guidelines, seeking input from professionals when producing content and calling for social media platforms to regulate suicide-related content, those who are struggling can find better longterm solutions to their mental health challenges.

04

NEWS

news. s t o ry by dav id a lle g ri

THE HARBINGER

d esig n b y aver y ander son p h o t o s b y am elie wong

EAST

G R I G H T Senior Sylvia Bunde runs to get hit the ball.

L E F T Senior Rachel Bingham sets herself up for her serve at practice.

LOCAL

O

can vote on the legalization of recreational marijuana.

The current law in Missouri states that marijuana is only legal with a state-issued medical card, but the Missouri legislature is looking to legalize the use for recreational purposes for reasons such as the increase in state revenue, the decriminalization of the substance and hopefully an increase of population, according to John Payne, campaign manager

NATIONAL

P

VOLLEYBALL ’S SENIOR night is scheduled for a match against Shawnee Mission South on Oct. 6.

As the season closes, volleyball head coach Alexander Henton is preparing for the senior night and recollects how the seniors performed this year.

“The seniors this year are special,” volleyball head coach Alexander Henton said.

The senior lineup is versatile in how the athletes work together, Henton said.

“It’s a unique blend,” Henton said. “We have Rachel, who’s a four-year varsity player, Ava, who is a three-year, Vivian who is a two-year, Annie and Avery are first year varsity players. It’s an exciting mix of girls, and they all have similar personalities in terms of how they function on the court.”

Throughout the season, the seniors’ ability to keep the ball down and score IRLS

has been highlighted in games and practices. Because of their work ethic and aggressiveness, Henton is sad to see them go.

“This group has played this year, and it’s hard to believe it’s already over,” Henton said. “We have done well this year and we have been playing well this season.”

The team has played well this year with a 14-10 record and they are hoping to carry their win streak on through senior night.

“We have a great group of girls this year.

We all really like each other and there’s good chemistry,” senior Vivian Riehl said. “The team this year is the best team I’ve been on and we all have enjoyed playing with each other this season.”

Missouri to vote on legalizing recreational marijuana on Nov. 8

N NOV. 8, Missouri citizens

RINCETON

Volleyball senior night is coming up on Oct. 6

UNIVERSITY

for Legal MO 2022.

Marijuana’s legalization will stop prohibitions on purchasing, possessing, consuming, using, delivering, manufacturing or selling marijuana for personal use by any adult over the age of 21, according to the new 39-page Missouri legislation bill.

Even though medical marijuana is legal in Missouri, possession and sale are illegal in Kansas. Possession and/or sale is a Class B misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $1,000 for first-time offenders, according to Missouri

state law.

Missouri can expect similar effects from states who have already legalized the substance according to the CATO institute.

Colorado — a state known for loose cannabis laws — saw a $3.5 million dollar increase in state marijuana tax revenue after years of legalization, according to the Colorado State Revenue Department.

Junior George Anderson thinks that legalizing weed will boost Missouri’s economy.

“Honestly, I think legalizing weed will help Missouri,” Anderson said. “With the condition, the roads, the crime I think the city could benefit from additional tax revenue. I think it may draw more people to live there, and hopefully help with the economy.”

Those looking to register to vote on legalizing marijuana can register online or in-person in their town’s city hall.

Princeton makes tuition free for households earning less than $100 thousand annually HAS

raised the minimum threshold for free tuition from $65 thousand to $100 thousand dollars of annual household income which will take effect in the fall 2023 semester, allowing more students to attend the university.

Princeton’s financial aid program is designed to encourage all qualified students

— regardless of financial circumstances — to consider applying for admission to Princeton, according to the school’s website.

Princeton offers substantial financial aid for students whose annual household income is up to $180 thousand a year and can allow students to receive multiple grants and supplemental aid. Due to their generous financial aid program, the university claims

83% of their seniors graduate debt-free.

“Our generous financial aid has ensured the continued and growing enrollment of a diverse group of undergraduates from low and middle-income backgrounds,” Princeton states.

The new tuition change helped to convince senior Presley Connelly to apply to Princeton.

“I was mainly looking at Ivy league schools, but the tuition was just too expensive,” Connelly said. “I then started looking at Princeton, and I was drawn in by their math program, but the more I researched, I found the amazing financial aid program.”

OC TOB ER 3, 2022

NEWS

BREAKING BOUNDRIES

05

de sign by vero nica m angine phot os by claire go ettsch SM North SM Northwest

SMSD will be offering open enrollment to all

story by av e ry an d er s o n students starting June 2024

G

OV. LAURA KELLY signed House Bill 2567 on May 16 which included funding for Kansas public schools and an open enrollment policy being put into place in the 2024-25 school year.

The policy would allow students grades K-12 to attend any school within Kansas.

This includes being able to attend East from anywhere in the state.

“We haven’t gone over it extensively as a district or as a staff yet, so we don’t have a lot of information,” Principal Jason Peres said.

Currently, all Kansas public school districts state that if a student lives within the boundaries of the district they have to attend the assigned public school in their area unless they officially transfer to another school within the district.

However, with the new open district policy, students will be able to attend any public school they’re accepted into regardless of where they live.

According to the Kansas City Star, each school district is expected to limit the number of kids they can take from outside the district with siblings of current or former transfer students and those already in the district being prioritized over newlyenrolled students.

Students looking to transfer must fill out all necessary forms and paperwork before the beginning of the 2024 school year and continue attending their current school until they get accepted, according to the Kansas City Star.

Districts will also be required to hold

STAFF

FOR

public meetings notifying local families and potential transfers of their policies, capacity and any other relevant information. All meeting information will also be uploaded to the district websites for easy access and reference.

Once transfer students are accepted into a given school, they can expect to remain there until graduation unless any issues with attendance, suspension or expulsion arise.

The bill specifically states that districts can’t judge students based on “ethnicity, national origin, gender, income level, disabling condition, proficiency in the English language, measure of achievement, aptitude and athletic ability.”

However, this doesn’t bar students from attending a school for a certain program or sports team specific to that school. Districts also aren’t allowed to accept or deny students based on any learning disabilities or mental health issues — a growing concern for parents and larger school districts.

If a student applies and is not accepted, they will receive a letter outlining why they were not accepted. This could be because the school has reached their capacity or the student’s past records.

Once admitted into a transfer school, students will be expected to coordinate their own transportation because schools are not required to provide transportation to and from school to any location outside the district.

While some parents are happy with the new bill and the potential for their student to receive an education at a school more fitted for them, SMSD’s Chief Communications Officer Dave Smith has openly opposed the

OPINIONS East staff voices their thoughts on open enrollment coming to East

EMILY

C OLEBAN K MATH TEACHER

SM East SM West

SM South

Map of current SMSD boundries, with East starred decision.

Smith’s concerns include additional administrative responsibilities and a general lack of need for the bill. He has also expressed concern about funding for more students and service costs.

Sophomore Maren Dickerson has been a transfer student since kindergarten.

Originally allotted to attend Shawnee Mission North, she now attends East.

“I really like being a transfer student because East has so many opportunities and for someone from another district to also have access to those opportunities is great,” Maren said.

There is also concern from local residents about a potential tax increase. Residents are worried that with increasing student populations, taxes will rise due to the strain on school resources.

Districts including SMSD, Olathe, Kansas City, Kansas and Blue Valley are all opposed to the new bill according to KMBC news, but many smaller districts support it.

More information specific to each school will be released after the public meeting is held on a to-be-determined date.

UNDECIDED

RIGHT NOW STUDENTS have wildly different access to quality education based on where their parents can afford to live. Open enrollment is one of the quickest ways to fix this injustice.

S US AN

LEONARD

I HAVE SEEN similar things happen in other states and it has never been successful.

There is no official word from for how we will handle this yet. I think everyone is sort of grappling with how they understand it.

ASSOCIATE PRINCIPAL

PROS

Positives of open enrollment Choose the right school for you More opportunities for others Increases competition and accountability of schools

CONS

Negatives of open enrollment Extra travel time to school Disproportionate funding School sports become more exclusive and less

AGAINST

STE VE N

A PPI E R

CH EM I STR Y TEA CH ER

I UNDERSTAND THE point. I think that from a logistics stand point, it’s a bit of a nightmare. I think that the idea is OK, but I think that actually doing it is going to be difficult.

06

NEWS

EQUAL RIGHTS,

EQUAL FIGHTS

THE HARBINGER

d esig n b y m aggie k issick p h o t o s b y k ate beaulieu

The senate prepares to vote on the Respect for Marriage Act that will provide protection for gay marriage

s t ory by con n or v og e l

T

Ozkan believes that Republican its decision. opposition to the bill stems from the “Roe versus Wade has definitely influence religion has on American shown a more extreme Republican voters.

Party and more extreme Democratic “I don’t believe America is Party so it becomes harder secular in any sense of and harder to [find President’s of LGBTQ+ clubs at the word,” Ozkan said. bipartisan support] AND AS WE “Religion is something on these issues East share ways to better support the become more cod•i•fy you go to when you want that are LGBTQ+ community polarized from arranging laws and rules into a to learn your morals and becoming each other, systematic code values. Those teachings more at the eventually forefront of Members of Plus Club are worried will directly affect your nothing is going to our minds,” that they won’t be able to marry the political views and your get done.

Wilsonperson they love based solely on vote on election day.”

The Senate requires J O WIL S O N-HE A D H e a d their gender according to Plus Club s a i d .

SENIOR SO P H O MO RE President and senior Jeanne Ozkan. 60 votes to legally pass “And as This comes after the Democrat- the bill, meaning ten sponsored House bill passed with GOP Senators must vote in favor. we become more 267-157 in July with the bipartisan The Respect for Marriage Act may polarized from each not have an immediate or significant other, eventually support of 47 Republicans.

Bipartisan support for the bill impact on East students right now, nothing is going to USE [YOUR] VOICE and talk to goes beyond the walls of Congress, but it has made Queer History Club get done.” representatives. I know it’s super scary, In the face of this with 71% of Americans supporting the President Jo Wilson-Head question crucial bill, Wilsonbut they really do want your input. They right to same-sex marriage and 25% the future of many LGBTQ+ students.

“Hopefully, this is a [bill] that we’re Head believes it’s objecting due to moral or religious are there to represent you. Make sure reasons, with the remaing 4% of those hopefully never going to have to think vital for the public they are doing that. about, but I know I for one am to be aware of the polled offering no opinion on the going to be moving out of the discrimination queer issue — according to a poll by country if that ever people face in this Gallup.

[THE MARRIAGE happens,” Wilson-Head country.

This bill doesn’t only said. “And I know a lot “[The Marriage expand marriage rights, Equality Act] is of people that feel the Equality Act] is very but also repeals the 1996 very important, same way.” important, no matter Defense of Marriage Act, no matter what The push to pass this what happens,” Wilsonwhich defined marriage as happens. There is bill comes nearly three Head said. “There is always a union between only a man always going to months after Roe v. going to be backlash and and woman. The law banned SOPHOMORE be backlash and the federal government homophobia with Wade was overturned. homophobia with these bills.

In his concurring That’s just part of our culture from recognizing same-sex these bills. But we opinion, Justice and society in general. But we all marriages and disqualifed all must try to pro- Clarence Thomas stated must try to protect the rights of LISTEN, BE RESPECTFUL and don’t couples from federal tect the rights of that the court should LGBTQ+ people.” be afraid to make LGBTQ+ issues benefits like joint tax LGBTQ+ people. reconsider former a topic of conversation. It really filing and spousal benefits such as Social Security, J O WIL SON- H EAD precedents, specifically means a lot to LGBTQ+ people to mentioning Obergefell Medicare, disability and have supporters who are willing to SOPHOMORE versus Hodges, the basis of visitation rights in instances of stand up for them. grave illness, according to the Wall the constitutional right to same-sex marriage that the court used to make Street Journal.

HE PERFECTLY DIVIDED Senate faces debate over the Respect for Marriage Act that will codify the the Supreme Court’s decision to legalize same-sex marriage in 2015, with huge potential effects on LGBTQ+ students at East.

WAYS TO HELP

OZKAN

WILSON-HEAD

OPINION

OC TOB ER 3, 2022

opinion.

d e s ig n by paige zad oo

WHAT IN THE

A STUDENT CONTROVERSY

Students answers “controversial” questions

DO YOU USE A TOP SHEET? WHY OR WHY NOT?

DO YOU THINK TOMATOES ARE A FRUIT OR VEGETABLE AND WHY?

YES, BECAUSE IF I get hot, then I can just take the comforter off, and I have the top sheet.

KATIE COOK FR E S HM A N

VEGETABLE . TO ME, anything you can eat with ranch is a vegetable.

G R ACE KNOFF

WHAT’S THE RIGHT WAY TO PRONOUNCE “GIF”?

DO YOU EAT PASTA WITH A SPOON OR FORK?

GIF WITH A g, if you say anything else, you’re just wrong.

*photo courtesy of Ben Bradley

OK, SO IF it’s a smaller-sized pasta, a spoon is absolutely better than a fork, because it makes eating it way faster.

G R E T CH E N G A R BE S E NI O R

SHARE EXECS TAKE BUZZFEED

SHARE Execs answer Buzzfeed quizzes to find out what dessert they are, their sleepover personality and what type of corn they are

HADLEY

mochi one who stays up till sunrise mexican street corn

THOMAS

créme brulée one who has gossip to tell mexican street corn

EMILY

créme brulée one who stays up till sunrise popcorn

TAKE OUR POLLS Follow the Harbinger on social media to participate in our polls

WORLD Opinions on worldy topics

?

“BREAKING: NEW YORK Attorney General Letitia James just filed a $250M lawsuit against President Trump. NOT because he did anything wrong but because Democrats have nothing to run on in November other than pretending to take him down.” @DixonCox12

S E NI O R

ED D I E L E OP OL D S ENI O R

07

p h o t o b y em ily pollock & audr ey condon

BEN baklava

one who has gossip to tell mexican street corn

THE QUIZZES what desert are you?

what is your sleepover personality? what type of corn are you?

EVAN

créme brulée one who falls asleep first candy corn

@smeharbinger

@smeharbie

@smeharbinger

@smeharbinger

GRAHAM

coffee ice cream one who gets goofy & random in middle of night candy corn

RILEY mochi

one who gets goofy and random in middle of night mexican street corn

MILLY mochi

one who has gossip to tell candy corn

“JUST WATCHED THE the first episode of season 2 of the Kardashians, and I just feel like even if you don’t like them...if you could sit there and watch that episode without getting a lil teary eyed you can’t possibly have a heart.” @FeesTalktime_

“DESPITE A WORLD class cast & visually captivating style, Don’t Worry Darling fails on every level you can imagine. Thanks to an utterly miserable screenplay, Olivia Wilde’s second film as a director is too repetitive, too long & most notably, too boring. See at your own risk.” @Locke_Wiggins

A LOOK INTO COLUMBIA BLUES

Instagram polls about mental health

DO YOU THINK SUICIDE/SELF-HARM IS GLORIFIED BY THE MEDIA? *Instagram poll of 203 votes

YES 69%

31%

NO

HAVE YOU EVER TAKEN MEDICATION TO TREAT MENTAL ILLNESS? *Instagram poll of 219 votes

YES 36%

64%

DO YOU CONSIDER YOURSELF SLEEP DEPRIVED? *Instagram poll of 238 votes

YES 76%

26%

NO NO

08

OPINION

PERFORMING FOR PRAISE Three well-known businesses consistently participate in performative activism in the media

THE HARBINGER

d esig n & a r t b y ava cooper

CLOSED SUNDAYS FOR THE LORD

NO LGBTQ+ ALLOWED

s tory by em m erson w in f re y

CHICK-FIL-A Donated to anti-LGBTQ+ charities for many years and won’t allow LGBTQ+ at sponsored camps

A NT HROP O LO G I E Consistently known for following black customers around the store

HOME DEPOT Donates to anti-LGBTQ+ charities despite supporting on social media

RS

CAREE

ers

are pot C e DoteCareers Hom ep meD @Ho

PY HAPPRIDE!

AS I O P E N

Instagram and see brands like Home Depot and Buzzfeed’s new rainbow profile picture LGBTQ+ along with their tweets supporting the BLM movement, I’m proud to support companies that stand formovements that I believe

Ma’am, were you going to buy that...?

discriminatory g r o u p s — performative activism at its best that needs to be stopped.

I’m nt saying that all BLACK LIVES businesses should only donate MATTER to politicians that I agree with. They the right to support whatever cause A N T H R O P O L O G have IE they’d like. The problem starts when large companies hide their true intentions in an attempt to profit off marginalized groups. i n .

Businesses hiding their values and T h e n creating a falsely inclusive persona online I see to gain money makes me lose all my trust my favorite in them. When I see that a company posted LGBTQ+ and about how they support everyone but then POC creators posts the same company donates to politicians exposing the chains for with different views, I struggle to believe performative activism, with that anything they say is true. captions like, “Home Depot is the For example, Chick-Fil-A claims to biggest donor to 2020 presidential support everyone despite their beliefs, election objectors.” yet they donated millions of dollars to Wait…what? anti-LGBTQ+ charities, according to the But the company just tweeted “Happy New York Times. Due to backlash and lost #Pride! We’re reflecting and celebrating customers, the company stopped giving the LGBTQ community…” How could they money to those controversial organizations. be supporting the LGBTQ+ community But the damage was already done. Many and donating to racist and homophobic still boycotted the company, including politicians at the same time?

Notre Dame students who voted to keep Many businesses donate to homophobic the restaurant off campus and New York politicians, then put out things supporting lawmakers who vowed to ban it from rest the LGBTQ+ community and the BLM stops, according to Yahoo. movement as if they didn’t just donate Organizations such as GLAAD, a large to organizations that harm these groups. non profit focusing on how LGBTQ+ people Playing both sides pleases customers are portrayed in the media, still warn allies with liberal views while still supporting

a n d members of the community to stay away from Chick-Fil-A due to their tainted history. Plus, Chick-Fil-A still refuses to let LGBTQ+ community members stay on their campground sites.

This back-and-forth from the company makes it hard to keep up with what they stand for. As an ally, I took the different statements about the company’s beliefs as a stance that they didn’t support the LGBTQ+ community.

Playing both sides is not only an issue for the LGBTQ+ community, but also potentially for customers of color.

For instance, Anthropologie posted a Maya Angelou quote that read, “We should all know that diversity makes a rich tapestry and we must understand that all the threads of the tapestry are equal in value no matter their color.” At the same time, managers had a code word for when black customers entered the store they would say over the headsets, according to employees in a report by the Evening Standard. This led to associates closely watching black customers to ensure they weren’t stealing.

Black customers also posted stories of being followed or watched while shopping at Anthropologie on social media.

After hearing these accounts from all sides, I stopped shopping at Anthropologie and stopped following anything they did.

Mainly because I no longer felt like I could trust what they posted and I no longer wanted to support a company that hid their beliefs from the public. If they were able to hide that from the average customer, I wonder what else they are hiding.

A false sense of inclusiveness and support causes customers to be blindsided by some of their favorite businesses. To avoid shopping at places like this, do proper research about what they stand for and what goes on behind the scenes before becoming a loyal customer.

all it ng

OPINION

OC TOBER 3, 2022

d e s ig n by bridget con n e lly p hoto by elle siegel

TAME THE

MANEG s t ory by ada lilli e w ort h in g t on

Curly hair has a stigma of unruliness, portrayed through the media, and education and representation is necessary to reverse this prejudice

WHEN PEOPLE SAY THEY don’t like poofy hair, I can’t do anything about it. I mean my hair is naturally poofy. It’s just BRENAE how my hair is BARNES and has always S OPHO MO R E been.

IS CURLY HAIR UNPROFESSIONAL?

*Instagram poll of 303 votes

YES 3%

97%

ROWING UP, MIA

Thermopolis — aka “Frizzball” — was an icon in my life. In “The Princess Diaries,” I loved her dorky personality, granny glasses and outcast-turnedprincess arc. Most of all, I admired her huge, untamed brown curls — which looked exactly like mine until Paulo, the royal hairdresser, gave her a makeover, straightening her curls to make her “beautiful.” I didn’t even begin to question anything.

That was necessary…right?

My brain made the connection: if Mia had to straighten her frizzy hair to be pretty, then so did I. It seemed like common sense at the time — I didn’t realize the scene’s permanent damage to my beauty standards. Entering my teenage years, I wondered if straight hair would be the final step of my “glow up.” My sister, who has the same hair as me, started straightening her hair. No one else in my family had curly hair to show me it was okay to let mine loose. This pulled me closer and closer to the straightening iron.

The only reason I didn’t burn my hair to a crisp with the iron’s heat was my family who’d say, “Ada Lillie, we love your curly hair so much!”

T h e i r

NO

THE VERDICT

voices, however, highly contradicted the movies and media that surrounded me every day.

Disney and Nickelodeon showed me that curly hair means messy and unruly.

Comedic relief and free-spirited characters, like Alfredo Linguine from Disney’s “Ratatouille” and even Pinky Pie from the TV show “My Little Pony,” who had wildly unruly hair compared to any of the other ponies, each made me question my own personality. Both of these characters paved a one-way path for curly haired characters — they have to be the oblivious, wacky side character.

I couldn’t help but wonder: Was I also supposed to be dumb or unkempt? Why can’t curly-haired characters be strong, organized leaders? If we stopped associating curly hair with goofy side characters and started educating people about the importance of curly hair, then I never would’ve spent years upon years trying to tame my mane. I would’ve embraced it with open arms and truly believed that curly hair could be beautiful. Maybe I wouldn’t have put my hair in a ponytail every day in middle school or maybe I wouldn’t have declined every genuine compliment I got about my curly hair.

Recently, I’ve been trying to embrace my curls and have developed a six-step curly hair care routine consisting of washing, conditioning, brushing, drying my hair in a T-shirt and finally airdrying.

It’s frustrating to go through my entire hair care routine only to have people stare and think I just rolled out of bed.

This stigma is present across cultures. As a black woman, sophomore Campbell Kangethe feels that the stereotypes around natural, curly hair add to racial prejudices she experiences.

She used to be afraid of wearing her hair out, but now embraces it. People still make comments.

“I do my hair, this is just how it looks,” Kangethe

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said. “ I t ’ s frizzy, not straight. It’s very annoying when people come up to me [and they say] ‘Bad hair day?’”

What someone may think is a bad day for curly hair could be a great hair day for that person. Frizzy is natural.

Frizzy is beautiful. Frizzy isn’t unkempt or rugged like TV tells you through movies and TV shows like Disney’s “Bad Hair Day” or “Sabrina the Teenage Witch.” This constant reminder through all sorts of media negatively surrounds the curly-haired community.

The first step to eliminating the curly hair stereotype is through education, especially for hair stylists.

Beauty school curriculum often includes the textbooks “Milady” and “Pivot Point,” which are designed to prepare students for the hairdresser license exam, according to popsugar. com. Neither of these textbooks have a chapter or section dedicated to curly haired clients. The word “curly” is only mentioned in a chapter covering how to curl someone’s hair with a curling iron.

Education on curly hair isn’t required for official hair stylists to work with curly hair. Unprofessional hair stylists’ pages on TikTok or Instagram with tips and tricks for curly hair have taught me more than any hairstylist I’ve talked to.

With education comes representation. Kids need to see more powerful curly-haired protagonists like Wonder Woman and Frodo Baggins — not the geeky side characters I grew up watching. They shouldn’t have to experience the stereotype that I experienced growing up.

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OPINION

THE HARBINGER

A

INSIDE

EAST s t or y b y h a s s a n s u f i

Islamophobia, the fear or hatred of Islam, is an unacceptable issue at East and in society

9 / 11 AFTERMATH

Statistics of discrimination against Muslims after 9/11

1,617 % 40 % 80% INCREASE IN HATE CRIMES AGAINST MUSLIMS

OF THE PUBLIC BELIEVE OF MUSLIM FAMILIES LIVING IN THE U.S. FEEL THAT TERRORISTS WERE MOTIVATED BY AFRAID FOR THE SAFETY OF THEIR FAMILY RELIGION

*according to abcnews.go.com

d esig n b y lar k in br undige a r t b y sophie lindber g

LLAHU AKBAR” IS an Iraq’s argument that they are justified Islamic phrase meaning “God in killing innocent people because they is great.” Muslims, including won’t convert to Islam. Islam completley me and some of my family, forbids this by explaining that killing an are required to say it at least 17 times a innocent person unjustly is like killing all day during prayer to thank and praise to of mankind in the eyes of Allah.

The constant prejudice toward my Allah.

It’s also a cheap joke. In fact, it’s my religion is not only incorrect but has white, Christian classmates’ favorite become way too normalized at East and punchline when our teacher lectured often goes unnoticed by teachers and about the timeline of 9/11 — despite the fellow classmates.

When we read the book “Woman phrase having no relevance to the tragedy itself. The class laughed anyway. No one at Point Zero” in my IB English class, scolded the student for belittling my discussions were focused on Islam and religion or falsely relating a mass act of sexual assault, discussing how a Sheikh — a leader in a Muslim community or terrorism to my innocent society.

But what could I say? As much as I organization — sexually assualted a wanted to speak out, I didn’t want to risk woman. The class pointed to Islam as being called a terrorist — for the third what justified the assault. Students made comments like, “Islam allows men to take time that day. advantage of their wives.” These students This jab wasn’t a harmless mistake were ignorant and uneducated — — it was outright Islamophobia, they had never read the the dislike of and prejudice Quran or a single fatwa, an against Islam or Muslims. This hostility isn’t just present in THIS JAB WASN’T Islamic ruling, in their life. a harmless By reading the Quran, nonjokes, I see it daily in news mistake — it was muslims will learn the basic shows, books and in classroom parts of Islam Because outright assignments. people make Islamophobia Islamophobia, Islamophobia has surged the dislike of and the societal norm, these since 9/11, which was said to have been carried out in prejudice against comments were completely the name of Allah. Though Islam or Muslims. disregarded.

Islam is portrayed as they were Muslims like me, This hostility isn’t a violent and opressive they misinterpreted the true just present in message of Islam and were an jokes, I see it daily religion simply because it is different than the American extremist minority group. in news shows, standard of Christianity.

Islam is a peaceful and books and in This fear of another religion intricate religon that in no way classroom is especially a prevalent permits violence like 9/11. Most assignments. issue in homogenous states Muslims believe it is a severe like Kansas where 77% of criminal act to kill an innocent person — residents are Christian, according to an Islamic principle which is specifically outlined in the Quran. Members of my pewresearch.org.

Unintentional Islamophobia, like mosque frequently give Sadaqah — a voluntary charity to please Allah — such sending a picture of one dressed up in a as giving money to starving children or veil, acting as a member of ISIS as a joke, water to those who are thirsty. We value is something I see all the time, but this kindness, charity, honesty, respecting ignorance is still inexcusable. It makes me parents and elders and many other morals feel unwelcome in the world and does the same to millions of other Muslims by not — not killing innocent souls.

Most people are unable to look past respecting our decision to please Allah.

Islam has been aligned with horrific the way the media portrays Islam. They are unable to see us as anyhthing besides acts of mass murder and destruction terrorists, suicide bombers and mass throughout my life, but it doesn’t have to murders. They are unable to see our happen at East. It’s time for the constant beautiful religion because they don’t dig generalizations to stop along with the unneeded comments that are so clearly deep.

We also value “La Iqra Fiddin,” a verse commented at me. It’s time for people from the Quran, which means “there is to educate themselves about Islam’s real no compulsion in this way of life.” This principles instead of assuming the worst. verse refutes Islamic State in Syria and

PHOTOSTORY

OC TOB ER 3, 2022

d e s ig n by m acy cro s s e r

Following two consecutive years of outdoor, half-filled or nonexistent assemblies, Pep Club hosted an all-school Homecoming pep rally

R I G H T Wi nni ng a spot in the next rou n d o f musi cal cha i r s, senior Ahmon Cana d y steals the chair fr o m the circle and pu l l s it toward the midd l e , fighting seniors Aa r o n Cameron and E u r o A l ber f or the seat.

“The atmosphere w a s intense and ne r v e racking, but mai n l y fun because you ’ r e focusing on try i n g to get in the cha i r , ” Canady expla i n s . photo by I sabrina dean

RIGHT In one of the final rounds of musical chairs, sophomore Andrew Levin lost his seat to senior homecoming court nominee Graham Mosher. A musical chairs competiton was conducted between this year’s homecoming court nominees, intermixing two randomlyselected people per grade into the game. photo by I emily pollock T O P R I G H T Se n i o r S am Herpich jumps in f r o n t o f t h e senior section to c h e e r w h e n musical chairs en d s i n a w i n fo r senior Suzett e N a v a r r o . “[The] energy w a s s o h i g h and everyone ju s t s e e m e d like they really wa n t e d t o b e there,” He r pi c h sai d. photo by I tristen porter

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SCAN ME PHOTO Use this QR code to purchase photos from this event

T O P L E F T Senior varsity Lancer Dancers Macy Crosser, Adya Burdick and Julie Griggs hit an “L” pom motion during the pom section of their NDA Team Dance. photo by I sabrina dean

L E F T Senior Luc Prendiville circles the perimeter of the gym with one of the East flags to begin the homecoming pep assembly. This was the first allschool assembly in two years. “[The assembly] was more senior-involved, so there was a lot more of my friends there, which made it more fun,” Prendiville said. photo by I sabrina dean

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FEATURE

THE HARBINGER

feature.

d e s ig n by addie m oore

THIS WEEK IN

PHOTOS

TRUSTED TEACHERS

A look at what’s happening inside East

Students share teachers they feel they trust and can go to with personal issues

BRIANNE STOCKMAN TEACHES

FAID Essentials Child Development FAID Studio Apparel Procedures

R I G H T Senior Louis ProsserGebhardt walks into the dark room to develop photos in his dark room photography class. photo by I lydia coe

SHE’S ALWAYS there for me, and I love to be able to look at her as both a teacher and a friend. I feel like I can tell her anything.

LE I LA Z O T I N C A S OPH OM OR E

KEN FOLEY

TEACHES Choir

Women’s Choir Chamber’s Choir Choraliers Men’s Choir T O P Senior Lola Sidie works on her past, present and future project in Ms. Schnakenberg’s painting class. For her project, she chose to paint her bedroom by showing it in the morning, afternoon and evening. photo by I amelie wong

IF SOMEONE IS having a bad day, he can tell and immediately tries to pick up our spirits. He is super comforting and knows how to make me feel better.

L E F T Junior Wes Lyerly holds the frisbee in relief after chasing it down in a game of ultimate frisbee in team games. photo by I molly miller

WHAT’S IN A

NAME? Students share the reasons their parents chose their names

RADLEY BROWN

NAMED AFTER “BOO RADLEY” FROM “TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD,” HER MOM’S FAVORITE BOOK

LI B B Y M C S H AN E S E N I OR

ROBERT MARX

NAMED AFTER HIS GREAT GRANDFATHER, A NUCLEAR SCIENTIST INVOLVED IN THE MANHATTAN PROJECT, WHICH DEVELOPED THE ATOMIC BOMB

POPPY ROOT

NAMED AFTER THE POPULAR ENGLISH NAME BECAUSE HER MOM LIVED IN ENGLAND FOR FIVE YEARS

D

FEATURE

OC TOB ER 3, 2022

d e s ig n by grace deme t riou p hot o by clara pete rs

IS FOR

A

East alum Jordan Dunseth reflects on the effect of East tennis on his professional life

DESIGNER

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SCAN ME BOOK Amazon link to Dunseth’s book

st ory b y a a n y a b a n sa l

FTER WINNING THE 1996 boys’

tennis state title, then-Eastsenior Jordan Dunseth savored the bittersweet end to his high school tennis career. The feeling of being a part of the best tennis team in Kansas fueled his dream of playing college tennis, but he knew that the next step, pro tennis, wasn’t his future.

Back in 8th grade, Jordan realized his desire to play professional tennis wasn’t realistic because of the tough competition.

Now, 30 years later, instead of seeing the sport as a career, Jordan sees it as more of a hobby. Though he still plays adult tournaments, he’s turned his focus to another passion — art. “[Jordan is] an amazing artist,” Jordan’s sister and 1999 East alum Olivia Dunseth said. “Growing up, he could draw anything.

I used to make him draw things for me all the time because I was just fascinated that I could tell him to draw something and he could do it on command.”

Though he didn’t pursue pro tennis, the connections he made on and off the tennis court would impact his life — from high school tennis to his graphic design business, Big Bird Creative, in Corinth Square.

“My dad always said, ‘Remember the names of everyone you meet on the tennis court,’” Jordan said.

After playing tennis at Emporia State and graduating in 2001, Jordan was on the hunt for a graphic design job. Unfortunately, graphic design was in low demand at the time and Jordan struggled to find a job that

stuck. For the next eight years, Jordan had small design jobs but had to mow lawns and do temporary work on the side to earn enough to pay rent.

Then his opportunity arose.

Three-time Kansas state tennis doubles champion and Jordan’s friend from high school Graham Heaven introduced Jordan to the Chief Financial Officer of Tompkins Industries Ben Blades who offered Jordan an advertising job for the company.

After gaining experience with print advertising and designing for Tompkins, Jordan began looking for more business — so he founded Big Bird Creative, his graphic design company now located in Corinth Square. He designs banners, websites, handbooks and infographics for his clients.

“My dad was a creative director growing up and he had his own company so it was something I figured I would always go into,” Jordan said. “East always had really good commercial art and graphic design classes so I took all those classes when I was there.”

A few years after starting Big Bird Creative, former SM West tennis player, Homestead tennis coach and friend Kevin Braun approached him with the idea of illustrating a children’s book that simplified tennis for kids. The book, titled “Tennis for the 10 & Under: The New Look of Tennis From A to Z,” features

CAREER TIMELINE 1996 GRADUATED FROM EAST

GRADUATED FROM EMPORIA STATE

2001

pictures of now East tennis players freshman Josie Mangine, junior Veronica Mangine and senior Bryson Langford and was published in October of 2015.

“My coach, Kevin Braun, was the author of the book,” Langford said. “And so I just took pictures for that and it was about tennis advice for younger kids, going through the steps of how to learn tennis and how to be good at it through the alphabet.”

Jordan also designs the website for “The Big Slick,” an annual charity event run by Kansan actors Rob Riggle, Paul Rudd and Jason Sudeikis.

Though he decided to ditch his dream of going pro after college, Jordan’s love for tennis never

really died. In fact, it’s still present in his life just as much as it was when he was younger — just in a different way. Remembering the names of everyone he met on the tennis court — like his dad always told him — is the reason he has his dream job now.

“Every job or career opportunity I’ve ever had can be traced back to tennis somehow,” Jordan said. “Either someone I met on the court playing or someone I met at college because I went there to play tennis.”

Highlights of Dunseth’s career

2007 TOOK SMALL DESIGN JOBS

CREATED BIG BIRD CREATIVE

2010

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TITLE PAGE

THE HARBINGER

co p y b y fr ancesca stam ati & peyton m oor e d esig n b y peyton m oor e a r t b y nor a lynn

GENERATIONAL MENTAL HEALTH SLEEP DEPRIVATION LGBTQ+ BLUES

A PRESSURE FOR PILLS ATHLETES WEIGHT

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UN RAVELING HARBINGER’S MENTAL HEALTH SPECIAL SECTION

FEATURE

OR EAST STUDENTS who constantly feel like their brains are unraveling, mental health is an everyday conversation.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness’s 2022 Mental Illness Awareness Week from Oct. 3 to Oct. 7 provides an opportunity to learn, understand and support those who battle with mental health issues. Each day has a different theme that allows us to look deeper at mental illness’ effect on East.

Oct. 3 begins with breaking “Stigmas.”

While Generation Z has been a trailblazer for mental health awareness, shame and misconceptions prevail.

From children told to “suck it up” to those raised in open and supportive homes, East students experience a range of opinions regarding emotional distress outside of school.

Tuesday is themed “Medication.”

Deemed “crazy pills” or “addictive toxins” by critics, anxiolytics, antidepressants and mood stabilizers can be considered an “easy way out.” Others may see not taking them as a sign that an illness isn’t that bad, invalidating a teen’s struggles. There are arguments to medicate and not to medicate — in the end, it’s an individual decision.

OPINION

NEWS

ONLINE PACKAGE

A DROWNING SYSTEM

MH RESOURCES

A LOOK INSIDE

Wednesday is called “Therapy.”

Our generation may be more accepting of those struggling internally, but outdated mentalities of addressing illnesses are still deeply woven in our institutions.

In therapy, mental health centers and the rest of the American health system, improvements can be made in addressing our struggles.

Thursday is for “Disclosing.”

Ignorance easily blinds us to our peers and personal inner battles. Whether it’s trading sleep for a stacked college application, pumping iron until our bodies snap or seeing a stranger reflected in the mirror, students face unrealistic pressures that are normalized in East’s highly competitive environment. To address and overcome these issues, one must first open their own eyes and seek perspective.

The week ends with “Caregiving.”

In high school, our minds must unravel a bit to wrap around drama, activities, assignments and emotional fluctuations. Each challenge presents opportunities for personal growth and realworld understanding, but students must remind each other to balance excellence with well-being. The same way muscles need rest days, brains need peers and resources to untangle them.

SPORTS

OC TO BER 3, 2022

SPECIAL SECTION FEATURE

d es ig n by francesca s t a ma t i p hoto by nora lynn

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A GAP IN THOUGHT s t or y b y f r a n c e s c a s t a m ati

As mental health awareness increases through Gen Z, tension ensues between teens and older generations who grew up around a sharper stigma

*names changed to protect identity

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feel uncomfortable talking to their parents about mental health, according to an office, then-sixth-grader Ann Instagram poll of 181 students. Now-junior Smith* felt her mother’s glare — Smith is one of them. she knew what that look meant.

That’s why it wasn’t until high school that Smith had done something wrong.

Smith started consistently seeing a therapist On the car ride home after her mental — without her mom’s knowledge. health screening, Smith felt that she was a Former Prairie Village psychologist little too honest in her answers. She saw it in Sally Pollock, who specialized in a variety her mom’s eyes and heard it in the restrained of adolescent mental health issues for over anger in her voice when she asked “Did you 40 years, has seen a generational shift even understand his questions?” To in mental health awareness. Compared Smith’s mom, mental illness to clients she helped at the was a taboo topic to discuss PARENTS FEEL beginning of her career, young within the family, much less uncomfortable patients were more open to with her child’s pediatrician, with the idea that expressing emotions and often who recommended therapy. their child would better informed on mental health.

As teenagers like Smith She attributes this increased have mental seek open conversations awareness to social media, a about mental health, conflicts health issues [beemerge between children cause to them] it platform for discussion and and parents who feel less still feels like a flaw. education that parents lacked as teens. As a result, many parents comfortable sharing emotions, SAL L Y POL L OCK grew up believing mental health leading to strained family should be dealt with privately, or FORMER relationships and shame PSYCHOLOGIST not at all — and still retain this around mental illnesses. attitude.

At East, students discuss “Parents feel uncomfortable with the personal struggles with counselors, idea that their child would have mental teachers and peers in organizations like health issues [because to them] it still feels Sources of Strength, a club intended to like a flaw,” Pollock said. promote mental health awareness. Despite Judgment and unwillingness to discuss the openness in school, 53% of students still mental health at home can create a strained S SOON AS the doctor left the

relationship between parents and teens, mental health and getting everything according to Pollock. If a child fears their out,” Galvin said. “If I’m telling my mom parents will accuse them of lying about or therapist something, it makes me feel their illness or suggest they “suck it up,” so relieved, and a huge weight lifts off my this can lead to resentment and mistrust shoulders.” in families. In therapy, she often saw To have productive conversations bottled-up anger often released with hesitant parents, Pollock through yelling, screaming and IF I’M TELLING MY recommends that children cussing on both sides. research their symptoms and mom or For Smith, it resulted in a ease parents into a discussion. therapist quiet house. She avoids any However, for urgent symptoms something, it conversation with her parents such as suicidal thoughts, she makes me feel now. When her dad gets home encourages teens to be direct so relieved and a from work, she takes long in seeking support. huge weight lifts showers to avoid talking. When In response, parents should off my shoulders. emphasize that sharing mental her mom asks how her day was, she mumbles “fine” before issues is admirable, not AN N A GALV I N rushing upstairs to her room. shameful, she said.

S E N I OR “We live under the same roof, but “It’s got to be the adolescents I’m on my own,” she said. that do the educating of their parents,” For some students, opening up is easier Pollock said. “Some parents are wonderful when parents make the effort. Talking about about it and very supportive of their children mental health with her mom and therapist when they’re struggling with mental health has dramatically affected how senior Anna issues. The ones that aren’t, they’re still stuck Galvin copes with her struggles. She’s in that stigma. Gentle sharing of information grateful to have supportive parents and by adolescents to adults, bringing up mental wishes all families would actively promote health occasionally, openness — that’s how open discussions to confront the stigma you show your parents how to confront within homes. mental health stigmas.”

“I know some people are against therapy and don’t believe that it helps them, but therapy has helped me so much with my

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SPECIAL SECTION FEATURE

*names changed to protect identity

TUDENTS LEAVING PRACTICE and clubs at 5 p.m. may not notice senior Michael Newbold slumped for a nap in the reclined seat of his white Mercedes-

Benz.

It’s only on days when he’s been frustrated with too many people, his hands are too jittery and his eyes can’t focus long enough to drive the 6.5 miles home immediately after one of his seven different school club commitments.

They definitely won’t hear the ringing of the 30-minute timer he set because his body naturally wakes him up ten minutes before it goes off anyway. He’s accustomed to “not sleeping much” by his personal standards — meaning an average of three hours of sleep each school night. He’s also used to the brain fog that comes with lack of sleep.

Saint Luke’s Hospital Sleep Disorders Center leader Michael Bajkowski is extremely concerned about students like Newbold for the sake of their overall well-being. He has noticed his teen patients sleeping progressively less over his 32 years of practicing sleep medicine, but he’s worried more now than ever about students’ diminishing sleep schedules.

Sleep deprivation due to evolving societal pressures is a growing issue quietly damaging high schoolers’ mental and physical health. More than 87% of U.S. high schoolers sleep far less than the recommended 10 hours, according to the National Sleep Foundation, a percentage that has been increasing annually in the last five years. Bajkowski attributes this trend to two major societal changes: the increasing competitiveness in schools and the growing popularity of social media.

sleep•apnea a potentially serious sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts

“Lack of sleep doesn’t only affect focus,” Bajkowski said. “It has overwhelming health consequences on memory consolidation, athletic functions, increased levels of anxiety and depression, irritability and lack of motivation that are becoming more obvious as society evolves.

Consequences of exhaustion and the coping mechanisms to deal with them are both becoming more extreme.”

At East, 70% of students report experiencing sleep-deprivation that affects their mental health, according to an Instagram poll of 169 students. For Newbold, the negative effect on his mental health stems from overwhelming pressure to excel in academics and extracurriculars.

From Thursday to Saturday two weeks ago, Newbold spent 67 hours writing five college essays, catching up on Calculus homework, brainstorming for the Freelancer magazine, performing with the Color Guard, debating at a tournament, competing with the robotics team and practicing for ROTC.

This left time for only five hours of sleep total over the three-day period — a “generous” estimate by Newbold.

At East — one of the top public high schools in Kansas — Newbold justifies his extreme sleeping habits with his desire to beef up his college application. The number of college applicants during the 2021-2022 cycle rose 21% compared to the year prior according to Common App, so Michael feels he needs to stay up later and be more involved to set himself apart.

“There’s a gap in the understanding of how sleep-deprived young people actually are,” Newbold said. “Adults might not realize, but academia in general is becoming more competitive which forces students to spend more time working to get that edge.”

Newbold made up for his sleep shortage the Saturday night after his three-day stunt two weeks ago by getting “enough” sleep — he considers any amount over five hours to be plenty. That particular stunt wasn’t even that bad in his opinion, since he didn’t reach the point of exhaustion where he loses his appetite. Normally that happens for him after a four-day streak of less than five hours of sleep total.

“My parents occasionally lecture me on how I should get more sleep, but I just can’t help it,” Newbold said. “I tell them that I have a deadline the next day, and I need to get my work done.”

Senior Tyler Kirchhoff’s parents, like Newbold’s, bug him to go to sleep earlier. On top of balancing AP classes and marching band, he was diagnosed with sleep apnea and insomnia three years ago after struggling to focus in class with hyperactive, ADHD-like symptoms — all contributing to his average of 3-6 hours of sleep each night.

Even though his sleep apnea medication doesn’t work well, he drags himself to school no matter how little sleep he got the night before.

His strategy is to eat a good breakfast, but exhaustion still catches up to him on his most tired days. One time, his cream cheese bagel wasn’t enough to prevent him from lashing out on a classmate for not pulling their weight with a statistics project — something that would never happen if he was fully awake.

The short temper that Kirchhoff and other teens experience is a common symptom of sleep deprivation, according to the National Sleep Foundation. But craving sleep doesn’t just make him irritable. His wake-up Cheerios didn’t stop him from drowsily backing his car into his trash can or almost dozing off behind the wheel after school.

“I had driven down Somerset to my house so many times that it was almost muscle memory,” Kirchhoff said. “I felt my head slowly bobbing down as I was driving before I snapped up, thinking, ‘Oh my God.’ I didn’t know how much time had passed.”

Bajkowski warns that students should be year. But I’m still so tired.” concerned if they fall asleep in any calm situation, Attendance receptionist Joan Gu like driving. It’s their brain’s way of begging for noticed a significant increase in the more sleep. students who regularly come in 15 min “As long as students are busy, they’re doing mystery appointments — suspected great,” Bajkowski said. “But when they’re at a — in the past five out of her 17 years in stoplight or catch that idle moment in class, they She’s puzzled because this wasn’t an can easily enter white line hypnosis where they she attended East as part of the class just zone out. Sleepy driving should be seriously Beyond school commitments, Rieh avoided.” media as a major reason she stays up Newbold is familiar with the dangers Bajkowski a poll of 292 East students, 87% feel li is talking about. The last time he had to nap in the to check their phone right before go East parking lot was because he knew he’d slipped This includes sophomore Ron Phyre, too far into hypnosis to safely drive the 20-minutes gets so foggy from being on his phone home. Re-parking under the cool shade of a tree that he normally can’t remember wh in the East parking lot, he shut his eyes for twenty he puts it down. He estimates around minutes instead.

2 or 3 a.m. each school night.

“I don’t want to say I was hearing things that Elongated exposure to blue ligh day, other than a humming noise in the back of my from screens in the evening, like that o head,” Newbold said. “But what people were saying Phyre’s, is comparable to self-induced to me was becoming less and less audible as I was insomnia because it suppresses leaving school, and I knew it’d be dangerous if I production of melatonin necessary to didn’t nap before driving.” fall asleep, according to Bajkowski.

Bajkowski’s concern is that not everyone is as But Phyre wants to check TikTok responsible as Newbold — 66% of East students in Instagram, BeReal, Twitter and Redditt an Instagram poll of 250 reported a lack of sleep nightly, since he doesn’t have time negatively affecting their driving abilities. Around during the day when he’s napping or 21% of fatal car crashes involve a person driving completing assignments. Sometimes while drowsy, according to the American Academy he watches shows on Netflix, Hulu and of Sleep Medicine.

HBO to wind down as well, averaging The previously pristine hub-caps of senior six hours of sleep each night — equa Vivian Reihl’s car are now scratched and worn to his average of six hours spent on from drowsy curb checks. It’s hard for her to focus social media daily. on the road en route to 6 a.m. varsity volleyball “Sometimes I have homework and practices after hours of homework and working sometimes I just want to stay up late,” two jobs past midnight.

Phyre said. “I’m not in the hardest clas The blasting siren sound of her alarm — the can take, but my homework still takes only ringtone blaring enough to stir her — rips Then I’ve also got probably ten differe through her head at full volume each morning, but shows that I want to and almost have she still struggles to get out of bed after her regular before I go to sleep.” five hours of sleep. It’s st o r y b y k atie m ur phy tempting to snooze for 15 more minutes and ask her Sleep deprivati mom to call attendance issue quietly aff about her “appointment.”

A little too tempting.

Last year, she had 87 total excused absences and received a truancy letter during the last three weeks of school. Her mom won’t let it happen again.

“Now I have to physically force myself to sit up and wake up by asking myself, ‘Do you want to be on truancy again this year?’” Reihl said. “I know I can’t get called out anymore, and it’s getting better this

CAN’T

UNDERSLEPT

NOTICE THE N

T HE HARB IN G E R

when I would throw up in the bathrooms between classes because of smoking, I just feel like it was the one thing that was getting me through the day.

Still, I’ve been trying to stop these past few weeks.”

She can only think of one teacher at East who has ever noticed how tired she is in class. Bajkowski believes that schools should seriously reevaluate the physiological needs of students regarding sleep, even if it means moving start times.

“I’d say I’m an extreme case of sleep deprivation,” Brown* said. “But almost all of my friends and the majority of students I know at East are concerningly tired.”

on due to evolving societal pressures is a growing fecting high schoolers’ mental and physical health

NUMBERS

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?

INSOMNIA

NEED HELP?

DISTRACTIONS

*sidebar information according to sleepeducation.org, healthline.com,hopkinsmedicine.org

Junior Maya Brown* — who averages six hours of sleep — also reports scrolling through her phone in the darkness of her room. She started staying up late after homework and sports practices when she got her first phone in sixth grade and hasn’t stopped since. When she wakes up in the morning, caffeine doesn’t stop her eyelids from feeling heavy or the persistent humming in her chest. She needs something more, and so do the 35 out of 208 East students who admitted to using illegal substances to cope with being tired in an Instagram poll.

High school students who get less than eight hours of sleep per night are significantly more likely to use alcohol, smoke marijuana and become lifetime users of illegal drugs, according to the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse.

I HAD DRIVEN t down Somerset to Brown turned to weed to f my house so many help her wind down d at night during her times that it was s sophomore year — almost muscle o something Bajkowski is memory,” Kirch- strongly against. hoff said. “I felt my k, “Maybe marijuana can head slowly bob- make you fall asleep, but t e bing down as I was it’ll be less quality sleep,” driving before I r Bajkowski said. “It’s not the s snapped up, think- solution to being tired, but there ing, ‘Oh my God.’ will always be people who build d g I didn’t know how their own excuses to use it as a al ‘solution.’” much time had n Brown* believes smoking is the passed. main coping mechanism keeping her TYL E R K I R CHHO FF d calm and awake during the school S EN I OR ” day. That single hit of a cart in her sses that you car before heading to first hour makes her feel s a long time. less shaky. The same hit at night calms her anxiety ent apps and about school and friends and helps her fall asleep. to check out “Last year, I made some stupid decisions, like being high in chemistry class,” Brown* said. “Even

ustafson has e number of nutes late for oversleepers the position. n issue when of 1980. hl cites social p late. Out of ike they have oing to sleep. whose brain at night hat time d

d esig n b y peyton m oor e p h o t o b y hadley chapm an

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THE HARBINGER

s t or y b y ka t e h e i t m a n n

S

Plus Club connects queer students with mental health struggles that East’s heteronormativity intensifies

ENIOR AND PLUS Club president Jeanne Ozkan needed to write five papers, didn’t receive the grade she wanted on her last math test and her significant other relationships were strained.

She felt the stress piling on.

And then she started feeling gender dysphoria — incongruence with one’s gender identity or biological sex. She felt more masculine than feminine. Her grades weren’t her sole source of stress anymore. Now, she didn’t feel comfortable in her own skin due to being unsure of her gender identity.

According to The Trevor Project — a queer youth crisis support and research foundation — 73% of LGBTQ+ youth reported symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder in 2022, with 58% reporting symptoms of major depressive disorder.

Despite these statistics, queer youth are not inherently more prone to mental illness. They struggle with the same mental health concerns that all teenagers face, such as eating disorders, friend drama and the parental expectations to have “it all figured out” by now.

However, queer youth are often in the spotlight of their peers’ scrutiny, poltical debates and administration policies. Last Febuary, the Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources introduced Bill 160 to the Kansas Senate, which would bar transgender girls from participating on girls sports teams in high school. Governor Laura Kelly vetoed the bill and both the Kansas House and Senate failed to overturn the veto. Many trans athletes,

BLUE

d esig n b y fr ancesca stam ati a r t b y nor a lynn p h o t o b y j ulia fillm or e

however, still don’t feel comfortable uncomfortable about the lack of privacy competing in high school sports. in the open bathrooms. However, Senior Carmen Lukaszewski wanted Shrock and Lukaszewski feel that the to play baseball when she first came lack of a wall protects them by giving to East. When she was younger — and them space for a bystander to step in identified as a boy — she’d played if they were being harrassed. Both fear baseball and soccer on male teams. But they could be harassed in a closed-door once she identified as a girl, she was no setting. longer comfortable playing baseball for In middle school, classmates barked a gendered team. She wished that she and shouted f-slurs at Shrock. They’d could’ve played on a gender-neutral call him “it” and a “thing.” While he team — one where her involvement feels safer at East, he still has lingering wouldn’t have been the subject of fears of harassment in closed spaces. congressional debate.

They all feel that East accepts “I miss the sports and wish I could their identities, but still are nervous get back into them,” Lukaszewski said. depending on the situation. They On top of struggling with finding don’t know how someone will react their identity and feeling comfortable to they way they dress or learning expressing that viewpoint of they are transgender, according to themselves to their family and friends, Shrock. In middle school, Shrock minor comments throughout the would enter depressive episodes day negatively affect the and worried constantly mental health of queer about others’ perceptions TRANS KIDS ARE of him. He didn’t want to students. already so Ozkan describes attend school most days.

East’s environment as uncomfortable in His mental health has their own skin, in improved at East since he heteronormative, where students are expected to their own body and found Plus Club and formed be cisgender and straight. being a teenager connections with students Though students and staff on top of that. Why who’ve experienced similar don’t intentionally enforce are you trying to struggles. heteronormativity, it’s make them more Due to its supportive when her classmate’s slip environment, Ozkan calls uncomfortable? up and they deadname it “friendship club.” When J E AN N E O Z K AN her, when a lab partner they meet once a week, S E N I OR misgenders her, or when her it’s an opportunity to laugh teachers corrects her use of “they” as about their past crushes and make a pronoun — citing it as grammatically Pride bracelets — even if they’d been incorrect — that add onto the misgendered earlier that day. daily stress of school, sports and “In the hallways, you walk around relationships. and you feel isolated,” Lukaszewski For sophomore Alex Shrock, the said. “But having this club, it’s like, ‘Oh, new gender neutral bathrooms have there’s like 10 other people at least here relieved anxiety. Last year, he didn’t that are like me in some way.’” feel safe using the boys bathroom.

Compared to other friends, the When he used the girls bathroom, he relationships formed through Plus Club would be told “this is a girls bathroom.” are based on supporting each other and He didn’t know what to do. This year, celebrating their similar backgrounds he appreciates being able to use the while also recognizing their differences, restroom without questioning which Shrock said. one to use. “[My friends and I] both have experiences with being discriminated “It’s nice to not feel unsafe or against and we can share that trauma uncomfortable in a bathroom,” Shrock with each other, but we can also share said. “It’s nice to just go that joy of same sex marriage legalized to the bathrooms and not and possibly protected in the future,” have it be this thing that Shrock said. “It gives me and my friends has to impact you.” a really strong foundation to build off Ozkan and senior of because of how much gender and Alyssa Alvey feel sexuality can impact our lives.”

RAINBOW

SPECIAL SECTION OPINION

OC TOB ER 3, 2022

d es ig n by peyton m oore a rt b y nora lynn

DROWNING. s tory by m ary gage n

K

19

TRIGGER WARNING; SUICIDAL IDEATION, UPSETTING IMAGERY

The American mental healthcare system should focus more on empathetic rehabilitation

NOCK. AN OFFICER pounded her knuckles against my bedroom window, which I only half-heard as I scribbled goodbye letters to my mom, dad and little brother. The sound of their banging drifted away with my thoughts.

If I tell them to move on without me, they will, right? That will help. Just like the movies.

I jumped, hearing the second knock, and forced myself to open the front door. Eyes wide at my shaking arms and tear-streaked face, one of the police officers nudged the other and muttered

in•ter•ven•tion action taken to improve a situation especially a mental disorder

for him to say something.

“Uh... um... how are you feeling?” he said.

If you’ve ever been in crisis, you know that this is the least helpful, most dreaded question anyone could ask. He knew exactly how I was doing. The purpose of an intervention should be emotional support, not a halfhearted attempt to push aside the call.

It was the first of many flaws I’ve seen firsthand of the American health system.

Progressive healthcare and top scientists constantly work to improve physical healthcare, devising vaccines, perfecting surgical techniques and analyzing the human body down to the atom.

Unfortunately, this rigor isn’t applied to mental health. While not all is bad, the system desperately needs to be restructured. After spending a week in a psychiatric hospital, the

need for change was clear.

I saw a 12-year-old girl have a seizure and jerk a neurostimulator implant out of her abdomen just so she could escape the ward, shouting at the nurses as she was escorted to the ambulance waiting for her outside. I’d see the same 16-year-old girl getting restrained twice a day. The 15-year-old brunette girl from across the hall screamed and thrashed when she learned she couldn’t go home.

I’d watch the four year-old boy in the cafeteria, sullenly eating his vanilla pudding alone. I saw other child patients scream and thrash as nurses pinned them to the ground, triggering my existing anxiety. For a calm place to recover, this chaotic environment defeated the purpose.

When entering most children’s psychiatric wards, the first step is changing your clothes. The nurse in the room with you takes all personal items — shoes, clothing, phone and jewelry — and has you slowly spin in a circle, squat and cough. All while naked. The procedure is intended to check for cuts, bruises or other possible bodily harm and search for harmful substances or weapons.

Though the intentions are pure, this protocol is humiliating, making myself and others suffering feel more exposed and unsafe than ever. Degrading patients won’t help them to recover effectively.

My first trip to the ER, prior to the psychiatric ward, was just as bad. Though I was physically cared for with heart and stomach monitors, I felt like a caged animal. My mental struggles made me a threat. I felt crushingly alone, despite the nurse assigned to stay in my room at all times. My door gaped open at all times due

to the Care and Treatment Act, which requires 24/7 surveillance of patients struggling with mental illness.

For non-aggressive patients, this feels invasive and unnecessary.

Nurses and doctors probed me with insensitive questions — even assuming I had tried to kill myself for attention. It was clear to me that training of healthcare professionals doesn’t include effective tactics to handle mental health crises.

Child healthcare professionals are currently only required to complete nursing school, learning primary health care. According to The National Center for Biotechnology Information, there is little evidence proving that this curriculum prepares nurses in crisis intervention.

Information, there is little evidence proving that this curriculum prepares nurses in crisis intervention.

Reflecting on my 13 year-old self, I deserved to be cared for and seen, rather than feeling forced to mature in order to make the lives of the nurses and officers easier.

Patients in psychiatric wards deserve to be invested in not only emotionally, by best preparing staff who will help them. Mental healthcare should leave patients less traumatized and more emotionally stable. In the current health system with the existing procedures, patients are prone to excessive stress within the supposed solution. By education faculty within law enforcement and healthcare providers, we can ensure that no other child will have to endure the trauma that I was unknowingly exposed to.

MARILLAC MEMORIES

Mary recounts traumatic memories from Marillac hospital

4 $ 500

YOUNGEST PATIENT WAS

REQUIRED AMBULANCE RIDE TO MARILLAC ASSESSOR ASKED IF SHE WAS

“FAKING IT.”

20

SPECIAL SECTION NEWS

THE HARBINGER

16.5 %

d esig n b y peyton m oor e a r t b y nor a lynn

WOMEN

of U.S. adults take perscription medication for mental health

are more likely to take medication for mental health than men

*according to cdc.gov

THE

1/4

Of people take medications for mental health

PRESSURE PRESCRIPTIONS

*according to nmih.gov

F

RESHMAN AIDEN COX went days without getting out of bed or brushing his teeth, objects strewn around his room after a depressioninduced psychosis. Sophomore Ainsley Pyle described herself as a “ball of anxiety,” unable to function in daily life. Junior Emma Kuhlman knew she’d reached her tipping point when she could no longer hang out with friends without her self-conscious thoughts taking control.

re•up•take the reabsorption by a neuron of a neurotransmitter following the transmission of a nerve impulse acrosse a synapse9

The prescription of a pill changed the course of their lives.

Since Cox’s doctor prescribed a daily dose of Fluoxetine, Hydroxyzine and Olanzapine, he’s able to brush his teeth and get to school nearly every day. Pyle has gotten out of her comfort zone and found new passions like aerial silks. Kuhlman often feels more extroverted than she ever had before.

When it comes to treating mental illness, there are several options for medicinal treatments. Most medications work by blocking serotonin reuptake, and with less of this mood-regulating hormone passing messages between nerve cells, users experience a more stable mood. SSRIs and SNRIs are the most commonly prescribed types of these medications.

But not everyone has medication success stories. This is why board certified psychiatrist Dr. Christopher Van Horn, who has specialized in child and adolescent psychiatry for 20 years, says that medication for mental health issues should be reserved as a last resort in most cases. Because of

potential side effects, adverse reactions from person to person and the lifestyle changes that need to be made before taking them, Van Horn recommends careful consideration of these factors before requesting a prescription.

For students like senior Bella Lynch, it takes months or even years of trial and error to find the right medication. After seven years of battling severe anxiety and four years of therapy, nothing was resolving Lynch’s constant state of panic, so she turned to medication as a last resort. Her pediatrician prescribed Sertraline — commonly known as Zoloft — which came with a slew of unbearable side effects: dizzy spells, nausea and panic attacks even worse than before the medication.

After two months, she couldn’t take it anymore — she switched to Fluoxetine, or ProZac, which has since changed her life. Though Lynch still deals with daily stressors and anxiety-inducing situations, whether a presentation in English class or uncomfortable social interaction, the combination of her medication and coping skills from working with a therapist allow her to push through these moments instead of shutting down.

“It changed the way that I approached situations and allowed me the chance to set myself in the right direction,” Lynch said. “It gives me that extra something to get through the day, and that’s something that I didn’t know if I’d ever be able to have. It really has impacted my life and allowed me to actually do things and not feel so sick all the time.”

The choice of which kind of medication, or whether to even medicate at all, depends on a number of factors that vary by mental illness. For example, those with mild to moderate depression won’t respond to SSRIs, while someone with severe symptoms like

*according to cdc.gov

FOR

st o r y b y lyda cosgr ove

Students and a psychiatrist weigh pros and cons of medicating mental illnesses and its surrounding stigma suicidal ideations or hallucinations would likely be co-administered a combination of medication and psychotherapy according to Van Horn.

With generalized anxiety disorders, psychotherapy should always be the initial intervention, according to Van Horn. It’s when a patient is clearly not responding to that intervention that they should consider medication, but only after the entire situation has been examined. “ You have to know what you’re treating first,” Van Horn said. “If you don’t have a good idea of what a person’s condition is, you can’t appropriately treat it.”

From her experience, Lynch agrees that medication is not the quick-fix or cure as it’s often perceived to be. While antidepressants don’t eliminate underlying causes of mental illness like an antibiotic would quickly cure an infection, they instead alter neurotransmitter levels and functions in the brain over time, without permanently changing brain structure or chemistry. And according to Van Horn, medication is only ever effective when in combination with adequate sleep, medical care, regular physical activity, sunlight exposure and a healthy diet.

“Medicines don’t work in a vacuum,” Van Horn said. “For example, if I’m taking Zoloft and I’m continuing to smoke pot three times a week, and drink alcohol on the weekends, I’m probably not going to respond to an antidepressant if I’m loading my body up with depressants, so there’s some lifestyle issues that need to be taken into account.”

Through years of openly discussing anxiety, depression and medication with peers, Pyle, Lynch and Kuhlman have grown familiar with criticism around to how, when or why someone medicates. For example, those who choose to medicate are often confronted

with alternatives and blamed for taking “the easy way out,” according to Lynch.

Kuhlman’s been told to simply try journaling and Pyle’s been told to take more deep breaths. Van Horn acknowledges that these solutions can be helpful in moments of panic or stress for any person, but not for those with chronic anxiety disorders where medication is often vital to their daily functions.

Some choose to avoid medication. But those who overcome struggles with natural approaches like CBD or herbal remedies, breathing exercises and coping skills are seen as invalid or that their struggles must “not be as bad” if they can handle it without the aid of medication.

“No matter what you do, somebody’s gonna have an issue with it,” Pyle said.

“You either don’t take medicine and people are like, ‘It’s not real, you’re not taking medication for it, therefore it’s obviously not bad enough.’ Or you do take medication and people are like, ‘Well, so you didn’t try anything else. Your only fix to this is taking medicine?’ They think the first thing that we jumped to was like, ‘Yeah, let’s just pump her full of medicine and that’ll fix the problem.’”

Van Horn believes that the critical stigma around medication taints the way people with mental illnesses approach treatment compared to how they would approach non-mental-health-related prescriptions or medical treatments, like glasses and contacts or asthma medications.

“This has a lot more weight than that.

People usually don’t think twice about taking their asthma medications and there are some people out there who really, really need to be on psychiatric medication,” Van Horn said.

“And the stigma prevents them from being able to consistently do that.”

OC TOB ER 3, 2022

SPECIAL SECTION SPORTS

AN ATHLETE’S

d es ig n by peyton m oore a rt b y sophie lin dbe rg

WEIGHT s t or y b y g r e y s o n i m m

IT’S GONNA BE

F

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Anxiety and depression are common, widespread struggles for student athletes due to ignorance of mental health in sports

LCSW Becky Wiseman’s recommendations for dealing with anxiety as a student athlete RECOGNIZE SHIFT MAKE TIME ACCEPT & UNDERSTAND THE EMOTIONAL RESPONSE TO PUSHING ONESELF AT A HIGHER LEVEL

YOUR MINDSET FROM FEELING VICTIMIZED BY SELF-EXPECTATIONS TO FEELING EMPOWERED BY THEM

OR JUNIOR EMALINE Handzel, coaches, teammates or oneself, and can mental health struggles from sports become unmanageable on top of homework, looked like uncontrollably crying extracurriculars and social interactions.

Former East social worker Becky on her drive back from volleyball practice three times a week for two months Wiseman, who is a clinically licensed social worker specializing in sports medicine, has straight. For sophomore Morgan seen many cases of perfectionism Anderson, it looked like constantly and anxiety while working at East, and obsessively comparing her Children’s Mercy and Sporting abilities and scores to the other AN ATHLETE’S KC for the last 18 years. girls at dance team tryouts. For “Typically, I’m working with junior Ayden Beveridge-Calvin, depression can be it looked like mental burnout on just as debilitating a lot of really high-performing a sport he used to love because of as anyone else’s. individuals, people who want The difference is to do well in every area of their his coaches’ constant negativity. that sometimes, lives,” Wiseman said. “They These current and former push themselves really hard. student athletes — along with they just don’t 130 others at East — report their have the time or And not only in sports, but also mental health suffering at some bandwidth to take in their classes and socially.”

This anxiety manifests point due to sports. Whether it’s a look at it until pressure from coaches, anxiety things slow down. itself differently in different people. For dancer and senior before games or depression BECK Y WISEMAN Ava Black, it was feeling following injury, sports-induced physically sick to her stomach FORMER mental struggles are prevalent before preformances, nausea EAST SOCIAL among today’s youth. and knots forming.

WORKER In a poll conducted by “It’s definitely made my the American College Health Association, 30% of 195,000 collegiate anxiety a lot worse,” Black said. “This past student athletes surveyed reported having summer, I had dance nationals and I was so felt depressed in the last year. In the same incredibly stressed for it that I would make period, 50% reported overwhelming anxiety. myself feel super sick.”

Along with anxiety about sports One main cause is the pressure to perform at a high athletic level, according to the ACHA. performance, depression is the second Pressure can come from parents, most prevalent mental illness reported by

FOR DOWNTIME; SET ASIDE TIME SPECIFICALLY DESIGNATED TO RELAX AWAY FROM YOUR SPORT

collegiate and high school athletes. Recently brought to light by the suicides of three college athletes in the past year — soccer player Katie Meyer, cross country and track runner Sarah Schulze and softball player Lauren Bernett — depression is common among student athletes according to ACHA, even if it isn’t widely discussed.

In many cases, conditions like depression and anxiety in student athletes stem from not being able to play a sport, usually while injured or during offseason. Wiseman points out that it’s difficult to cope with mental illness when an athlete’s coping mechanisms are intertwined with their sport. For example, she says when running cross country or playing soccer after school is how you unwind after a long day and process your emotions, it’s hard to replicate that without being able to do this activity.

Black’s dependence on dance motivates her to continue training despite its toll on her mental health. Worrying about her ability compared to the other girls in her studio on top of balancing hours of homework from her AP classes and her work schedule made her feel burnt out, but she continued to do it because she says dance is “a piece of her.” “[Dance has] made me really upset, and I’ve wanted to quit a lot because it’s just so stressful, and it’s caused me so much anxiety,” Black said. “But dance is who I am.

When people think of me, they’re like, ‘Oh

THAT HIGH EXPECTATIONS COME WITH CONCRETE ACTIONS TO MAKE GOALS MANAGEABLE

yeah, she’s a dancer.’”

Black isn’t alone. In an Instagram poll of 131 East student athletes, 61% say that they’ve felt depressed after not being able to play a sport, usually due to injury.

For student athletes struggling with depression and anxiety, Wiseman recommends setting aside time specifically reserved for relaxation. This, she says, is the difference between feeling victimized and empowered by a busy athletic schedule.

“An athlete’s depression can be just as debilitating as anyone else’s,” Wiseman said.

“The difference is that sometimes, they just don’t have the time or bandwidth to take a look at it until things slow down.”

More conversations surrounding the subject of athletes’ mental health are coming to light, including gymnast Simone Biles’s decision to not perform in the Olympics and swimmer Michael Phelps discussing his depression. Wiseman hopes these conversations transfer to high schoolers to normalize athletes asking for help.

“We’re having a discussion, which to me, is so helpful because that’s really important, saying ‘I don’t want to sit here in shame, quietly suffering and not letting anyone know what’s going on,’” Wiseman said. “So I think athletes coming forward and saying, ‘This is something I experienced, and this is really difficult at times,’ is huge.”

22

LOCAL LANCER

WHAT IS YOUR PASSION? I’d say the animals in my life. I love taking care of them and just being there. And I love being there for my friends, they’re my closest people in my life and I love them so much. So I’m definitely very passionate about making sure they’re OK and, if they need anything, they tell me. It feels like my purpose to make sure that people are OK all the time.

THE HARBINGER

d esig n b y nor a lynn p h o t o b y r iley eck a r t b y sophie lindber g & nor a lynn

HOW DID YOU GET INTO ROWING? My mom did it in high school and college and she was really good.

She was like, ‘You should try.’ My mom rowed for the same team.

She had the exact same coach that I have now. She wanted me to be involved with that coach, because we loved her so much. I wish we practiced more, but it’s just Thursdays and Saturdays. I’m kinda all over the place [in the boat], but I like sitting in the back, where you row backwards, beacuse it’s a weird position. You don’t see where you’re going.

DO YOU BELIEVE IN ANY CONSPIRACY THEORIES? This is gonna sound super weird, but aliens, because nobody can tell me we have so many different solar systems and like universes and there’s no way there’s not another being on a different planet.

O T L T E R A H C A R D AC R E H

HOW LONG HAVE YOU KNOWN YOU WANTED TO BE A VET? Since I was little, I’ve always been in love with being with animals all the time: people’s dogs and their cats and their pets and stuff. We did go to the zoo a lot when I was little, because I was constantly begging, like ‘We should go to the zoo.’ I always loved the polar bears, watching them spin around. Same with the otters. I remember going to see them.

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST IRRATIONAL FEAR? Spiders, definitely spiders. I had one in my house in the bathroom the other day. I was about to wash my face, and I saw it, and I stood there for 30 minutes trying to figure out what to do with it.

So I ended up waking my mom up from her sleep and telling her to kill it.

Forgot you’re camera?

We didn’t.

Scan the QR code or go to harbiephoto.com to view and purchase photos of student life and sports

Harbie Photo

24

A&E

a&e.

When all you need to do is scream, here are some recommended songs to get your emotions flowing

THE HARBINGER

d esig n & a r t b y nor a lynn p h o t o s fr o m spotify & apple apps

SONGS TO SCREAM IN YOUR CAR

FRIENDS*

by mob rich & bishop briggs

SHAKE IT OFF

by florence + the machine

APPS THAT HELP

KEEP YOU CALM

FREAKIN’ OUT ON THE INTERSTATE by briston maroney

BEACHBOY

HAPPIER THAN EVER

MONDAY

by billie eilish

by mccafferty

by the regrettes

When you need to stay calm, here are accessible apps to help

I LOVE HUE

COLORFY

WHITE NOISE

DAY 1 JOURNAL

INFINITY LOOP

HEADSPACE

a color puzzle game feature

a private diary

YOU’RE NOT ALONE You might have anxiety tics and think it’s just you, but you’re not alone cartoon by sofia blades

a 1000+ picture coloring book

a stress-relieving logic game

200+ calm nature sounds

relaxation for sleep & stress

A&E

OC TOBER 3, 2022 d e s ign by lily sim m o n s p hoto by audrey c o n d o n

FROM PARCELS

to plates

North Kansas City’s Iron District is a venue that hosts up-and-coming restaurants in repurposed shipping containers

sto r y by mia vo g e l

S

ATURDAY NIGHT: FIRST we’ll get some dinner — I’m thinking Thai food — then we’ll go see a band, afterwards we’ll just chill on the couch and to wrap up the night we’ll go get some boba tea.

I know what you’re thinking — she’s about to drain her gas tank.

Usually, in order to execute this plan, I’d be driving all over town, but thanks to the Iron District, these activities are conveniently arranged ten steps away from one another so that every craving can be satisfied in one place.

The Iron District is an outdoor food court and retail destination made up of repurposed shipping containers that businesses convert to store fronts. Thursday through Sunday, customers roam between containers, ordering at the windows — a similar concept to food trucks congregating in a parking lot, except most businesses stick around for at least a couple months.

The District is located just five minutes north of Downtown KC — distinguishable by the turquoise, graffitied shipping container standing tall at the entrance. Since opening in the fall of 2020, the Iron District has become a unique hub for weekend fun.

The vendors are the epitome of efficiency. They streamline the ordering process by texting customers when their orders are

ready, preventing customers from crowding around the shipping container while waiting for their order. It’s an impressive level of organization to the generally busy and chaotic ordering process.

Though the Iron District’s hours and days are limited, they pack them full of activities: trivia night every Thursday at 7 p.m., Happy Hour Thursdays and Fridays from 3 to 6 p.m. and live music every Friday and Saturday.

There are giant board games in the courtyard such as Jenga, corn hole and dominoes to keep customers entertained, and it’s pet friendly, being outdoors.

The Iron District provides a space for small, local restaurants regardless of whether they have an established, independent storefront. Their current vendors include Thaiger, Bruu, Taco Tank, Tupelo Joes and Vegan Crave, with menus ranging from boba to burgers. I’d never heard of most of these restaurants before going, but now that they’re on my radar I’ve got an itinerary of new restaurants to try out.

However, these vendors aren’t permanent. The shipping containers are rebranded regularly as new businesses move in. This vender variety offers a convenience factor unmatched by other dining establishments — ideal for plant-based folks who refuse to

compromise with their carnivorous tablemates. While I opted for spring rolls, my companions were in the mood for tacos, and no one had to make concessions.

The seating spans from benches to couches, accounting for intimate meals as well as family-style dinners. The mish-mosh seating, varying shaded coverage and semi-square shipping container arrangement combine to achieve a surprising functue and functionality for the space. It’s full without being crowded.

The Iron District offers shopping as well as dining. Local boutiques such as Boheme, Layne Boutique, Madhouse Clothing, Collections

by J and Say It! KC all currently occupy shipping containers there, with various pop-up shops on Saturdays. Although I didn’t make any purchases, the retail therapy was a necessary escape during my hectic week.

The only downside is that it’s a half-hour drive from Prairie Village, but as a result the parking is a breeze since the neighborhood isn’t too busy, especially on weekday afternoons. It’s a great opportunity for us Overland Park folks to expand our bubble.

Overall, the Iron District is an elevated spin on the street food and shopping experience.

TACO TANK

25

CARNITAS, CHICKEN & BEEF TACOS

BRUU & THAIGER

EGG ROLLS & BROWN SUGAR BOBA

LOOK INSIDE FOOD : TACO TANK THAIGER BRUU TUPELO JOES VEGAN CRAVE MK DELI &GRILL TIKI HUNA

CLOTHING : BOHEME

THE LAYNE BOUTIQUE MADHOUSE CLOTHING COLLECTIONS BY J SAY IT! KC SCAN ME WEBSITE Scan to see food and clothing vendors on the Iron District’s website

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A DIY FOR THE DUOS A&E

THE HARBINGER

A

s tory by paige zadoo

Creating do-it-yourself duo Halloween costumes with pre-owned clothes or easily bought items

WIGGED OUT

$21.

A few wigs to 99 enhance these THING 1 & costumes THING 2 available on Amazon

$18.

99 $18.99 $17.99

COSMO WANDA

ZACH & CODY

WANDA &

COSMO

d esig n b y anna m itchell p h o t o s b y char lotte em ley N O T H E R CLASSIC, BUT

more unique duo that Anna and I obsessed over as kids was Wanda and Cosmo from Nickelodeon’s “The Fairly OddParents.” If you didn’t have the pleasure of watching these two fairies grant Timmy Turner his wishes, you seriously missed out.

Their go to colors are bright greens for Cosmo and electric pinks for Wanda — with the accessories of wands and crowns. You may be familiar with infamous memes that say when young people see

A THING 1 &

THING 2

W

H E N TRYING To find

a classic and easy-to-recreate duo costume, the iconic partner costume, Dr. Seuss’s Thing One and Two immediately springs to mind. We wanted to achieve the quintessential “Cat in the Hat” character’s look with their red, white and blue outfits.

We didn’t even need to do any research to create this well-known outfit — it was practically effortless.

A l l you need is a plain red t-shirt a n d construction paper to make the Thing 1 and 2 signs. I wore blue leggings as an optional touch. To save ourselves a trip to Savers, Anna and I turned our red Chiefs shirts inside out.

The construction paper just takes a quick run to Target where you can get a pack of 240 sheets in 12 different colors for just $5.39. This costume should be on the top of your list for an effortless duo look.

ZACH & CODY

S A LITTLE kid, my friends and I spent hours obsessing over Disney Channel’s sitcom “The Suite Life of Zach and Cody.” The twins’ outfits were their trademark feature — a sweater vest or polo for preppy Cody and an oversized tee or Hawaiian shirt for laid back Zach.

So when we were talking about trouble-free but amusing duos, Disney’s favorite twins practically jumped at us; especially because Anna portrays Zach’s outgoing personality and I relate more to Cody’s OCD lifestyle. Not only did we love their relationship but

N ANGEL & DEVIL

OW

THIS DUO is practically timeless, with mentions of their pairing going back for more than hundreds of years. Devil and Angel is a household duo that everyone knows.

Therefore, this duo was a must on our list of costumes. We knew we needed to rally red or black and white outfits and couldn’t forget to include horns, wings and a halo. Luckily with the beauty of Amazon, that was troublefree and cheap to obtain.

I wore an all white tennis

pink and green together, they immediately think of Wanda and Cosmo, so you don’t have to copy their exact outfits, you just have to get their colors down.

I found my brightest pink workout set — a color not hard to find in my closet — and Anna found a green top and sweatshirt to wrap around her neck and paired it with black leggings. The wands and crowns can be a piece of cake too — all you would need is construction paper or another click on Amazon.

Effortless, amusing and affordable: all you could ask for in your next Halloween duo costume.

also their well known — and a piece of cake to recreate — outfits.

We put together our costumes in less than two hours. Borrowing khaki shorts from a friend, I wore my own polo and Anna wore a Hawaiian shirt she already had in her costume drawer. The only thing we were missing were blonde wigs which were easily found on Amazon ranging from $9 to 12.

Not only was this costume quick to put together and comfortable but it was completely free which made it more appealing. If you’re looking to spark nostalgia in your friend group, this costume is for you.

dress that reminded me of what an angel would wear — flowy and unembellished — with a halo and wings I Amazon Primed for $9.59.

Anna wore a black top and black leggings with sparkly red horns also Amazon Primed for $6.99.

This costume was simple as can be, as the only things we didn’t already own were the halo, wings, and horns. Our accessories brought the outfits together for the low price of $16.58.

So if you’re looking for a duo to do with a friend, or even better a frenemy, Devil and Angel is the perfect costume for you.

sports.

SPORTS

OC TOBER 3, 2022

d es ign by m ia v ogel

THIS WEEK’S WINS

UP & COMING

04 04 05 06 07 TUESDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

Girls Tennis Match

Gymnastics Meet

Volleyball Senior Night

Football Game

Soccer Game

where? BVN when? 3:30

where? SMS when? 5:30

where? SME when? 6:00

where? CBAC where? SMAC when? 7:00 when? 7:00

A look back at a couple big wins for the Lancers this week

VARSITY FOOTBALL

SENIOR BLAIR PTACEK 5K RUNNER

27

GIRLS VARSITY TENNIS

SCORE: 35-34 VS. SMN

9/23

BOYS C-TEAM SOCCER SCORE: 3-2 VS. ONW

SCORE: 4-0 VS. SMS

9/21

9/19

9/27

VARSITY CROSS COUNTRY p hoto by a l e x sa j n a

WENTZ IS WINNING

p h o t o b y mj wolf

FRESHMAN WILL GRIFFTH GOALIE

SOPHOMORE ELLE TOLLEFSON SINGLES PLAYER

SENIOR GEORGE KOPP QUARTERBACK

BALDWIN MEET PLACED: 3/18

p h o t o b y c ha r l o t t e e m l e y

p h o t o b y a m e l i e w o ng

East alum and MLB pitcher Joey Wentz’s stats from when he graduated to now

JOEY WENTZ DRAFT: FIRST ROUND OF 2016 MLB JUNE AMATEUR DRAFT BY ATLANTA BRAVES FROM EAST POSITION: STARTING PITCHER BATS: LEFT THROWS: LEFT TEAM: DETROIT TIGERS AGE: 24

2016 STATS

WINS: 1 GAMES PITCHED: LOSSES: 4 INNINGS PITCHED: RUNS ALLOWED: STRIKEOUTS: WILD PITCHES:

12 44 18 53 6

WINS: 2 GAMES PITCHED: LOSSES: 2 INNINGS PITCHED: RUNS ALLOWED: STRIKEOUTS: WILD PITCHES:

2022

5 53 8 57 2 information courtesy of baseballreference.com

STATS

28

SPORTS

THE HARBINGER

d esig n b y car oline gould p h o t o b y alex saj na

XC CUSTOMS

Some of traditions

the

teams

favorite

BUTTON RUN but-

Runners pick up buttons laid out on their race course and the runner with the most wins a prize

MILKmilk MONDAY After their monday run, parents provide runners with chocolate milk

SCAN ME GALLERY

CARBO LOADS

View the rest of the Baldwin Meet by Alex Sajna

Friday before their meet, the team feasts on spaghetti, bread and watermelon

Over the years, traditions celebrated by the cross-country teams have become just as important as the sport itself

C

s tory by em m a kra u s e ROSS-COUNTRY

RUNNERS

know exactly what to expect when the season begins: stretching calves before a fivemile run, elevating their legs above their head after running to reduce inflammation — and Milk Mondays. Creative traditions are integral to the training methods of cross country head coach Tricia Beaham.

One of the first traditions she started was “The Button Run” — a roughly six mile course around Prairie Village where Beaham distributes buttons across streets for runners to pick up once a year. She forms two paths in opposite directions for the different running levels so everyone has an opportunity to get buttons. The runner who collects the most buttons gets a gift card.

Weekly traditions like Milk Mondays and Popsicle Wednesdays are also rewards for runners after long runs. On Milk Mondays, Beaham gives runners chocolate milk as a source of quick energy after 10-mile-runs.

Parents donate popsicles on Wednesdays for the same reason.

But it’s the Friday night carbo-load dinners that are the fan favorite among runners, according to senior Scarlett Pearlman. To store energy before Saturday

meets, each grade level brings foods like Pearlman said.

“So it definitely pasta and bread to feast at a senior runner’s helps for them to have the house. After eating, the team plays a game opportunity to figure out what’s of football, basketball or whatever they’re in going on and get any advice they the mood for. need.”

The dinner isn’t just to fill up on The boys’ pre-meet ritual is kept calories — it’s to bond with teammates secret from the rest of the team and in different grades. According coaches due to its “sacredness,” to senior Blair Ptacek, it works. according to Ptacek. It had SOMETIMES IT CAN “There are people [on the existed for years as a rite of be a little bit team] that I wouldn’t normally passage for new runners. stressful having hang around,” Ptacek said. “But “It’s been around for so long to run a lot and the carbo-loads and other cross and what makes it special is we sometimes it’s country events have helped me have it to ourselves,” Ptacek not that great. So interact with new people and said. it’s fun to have become really good friends with Pearlman and Ptacek carbo loads or them.” agree that experiencing these any times we get Boy and girl runners have traditions as seniors has together. separate pre-meet traditions changed because now they’re SCARLETT on Friday afternoon runs. the ones who are giving advice PE A R L MA N Girls sprint down to the boar and helping runners instead of SE NIO R sculpture in the Village where they asking the questions. touch the nose for good luck. Then “As seniors, it gives us the chance they all huddle up and the seniors give a pep to give all of our knowledge about courses talk to the underclassman with tips about and advice to the other runners,” Ptacek the races. said. “I’ve answered questions that they “Having that pre-meet run is good have like what to eat before meets or what because we’ve got people who have quite a types of shoes they need.” bit of experience and then also some kids These traditions have impacted the that are just running for the first time,” runners and team as a whole on a personal

level because of the amount of time spent together at practices and outside events.

“I feel like the traditions help the whole attitude of the team,” Ptacek said. “I know for sure everybody on the guys’ side are all super close friends, so if somebody has a bad race or something, we’re not going to hold it against them. Or if somebody that’s typically slower than you comes up and beats you, there’s not going to be a fight because we are all just close friends outside of running because of team dinners and bonding.”

Pearlman commented on the fact that it’s good to have all these outside events with the team because then everyone can be around others who are experiencing the same things.

“Sometimes it can be a little bit stressful having to run a lot and sometimes it’s not that great,” Pearlman said. “So it’s fun to have carbo loads [and spend time] together.”

SPORTS

OC TOB ER 3, 2022

• • •

B

“ Freshman Brock Rider and fifth-grader Eddie Condon run up and down the sidelines as East’s varsity football ball boys

W

s t or y b y l u c y w o l f

”

BIG BALLERS

ITH 23.4 SECONDS left in the first quarter of the East vs. North Varsity football game, freshman Brock Rider and ten-year-old Eddie Condon felt the rush of a touchdown as they raced down the field — or, parallel to it.

Their position isn’t on the field. As East’s official ball boys, retrieving the football from behind the goalpost is just another game for Rider and “Big Ed” Condon — brother of senior Audrey Condon and sophomore Rachel Condon.

Rider’s been running down the sidelines for years. Between playing football in first grade, helping by throwing in footballs on the sidelines of the team his dad coaches and collecting balls for East since 2015 after being offered the job by then-headcoach Dustin Delaney, Rider is familiar with the sound of roaring fans and the gleam of Friday night lights.

“I just really love football,” Rider said.

“I’ve been around the atmosphere for so long, that [football] really is my entire life.”

Through Rider’s years as a ball boy cycling through different groups of high school players, he’s grown close with the players — it’s as if he was another member

of the team, he said.

Rider’s father has coached football long before coming to East, starting at Bishop Miege then moving to a small high school in Riverton, Kansas, being the head coach.

He’s been around the sport for as long as he can remember, it’s one of the biggest parts of his life.

“I get to experience moments with the team, whether it’s the games, on the sidelines or in the locker room,’’ Rider said.

“They don’t care that I’m a freshman, [the players] treat me the same as they would their teammates or any other player.”

The football players have always been a kind of “big brother” to Rider, paying attention and talking to him even when he first started at eight-years-old. Even though he was always many years younger, the players were always trying to have him involved in some way talking to him or including him in team conversations.

Since Rider is approaching his turn to play for East next year, not on the freshman team, his duties as of Lancer Day — September 16 — have recently been shared with Condon, who will eventually take over the position.

Like Rider, Condon has a background in football and is the quarterback for St.

•

29

Eat a good dinner Dress up Wearing a jersey according to the theme Play catch with his dad, then with the other ball boys

BIG ED • •

• •

B-ROCK

GAME DAY RITUALS

d es ig n by m aggie con d on p hoto by tristan po rt e r

Playing catch with the players Getting the right footballs for quarterback and kicker Help coaches run drills When he was younger, running on the field with all the players

Anne’s flag football team, the Tigers. He’s nickname — have helped Condon get in the befriended head coach Justin Hoover over groove of being a ball boy by showing him his two years on the team, as Condon’s dad the ropes and how to stay out of the way on is good friends with Hoover, who later then the sidelines. approached Condon in April offering Last season and in occasional years him a ball boy position for the prior, Muller was a ball boy, upcoming season. too. He uses his experiences to I GET TO On the field, Brock and mentor Condon.

EXPERIENCE Eddie’s duties consist of [almost the same] Muller mainly helps Condon bringing the quarterback and moments with the get the reins when he is on the kicker the specific footballs team whether it’s sidelines. He helps Condon that they want and retrieving look out for certain things like the games, on the the footballs when needed. where he should be standing sidelines or in the Rider assists by telling Condon or where he should be moving locker room. They so he doesn’t get in the way all the perfect times to throw footballs in and when to don’t care that I’m the time. With Muller’s previous a freshman, [the years of ball boy experience, he throw them to the refs during players] treat me knows refs can be very picky games. Even though Condon the same as they and a little harsh at times, so is 4 years younger than Rider, would their nothing stands in the way of Muller guides Condon in the their relationship due to Rider’s teammates or any right direction. Making sure he talent of teaching and helping is in the right place at the right other player. kids younger than himself. time so that doesn’t happen to “[Rider’s] a great person Condon, like it did to himself.

B RO C K RI DE R to have Eddie around,’’ junior With the constant help and F R E S H M AN and football manager Michael support from Rider and Muller, in Muller said. “Brock is great with kids and no time Condon will be ready to take over is probably the most perfect person and the full-position of ball boy once Rider has teacher for Eddie to follow around.” leveled up from the sidelines to playing on Rider and Muller — who coined Condon’s the big field.

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PHOTOSTORY

OC TOBER 3, 2022

d es ig n by rachel bin g h a m

31

To start a more inclusive tradition, homecoming royalty now consists of four candidates regardless of gender rather than the traditional king and queen

The Four The Merrier

SCAN ME PHOTO Use this QR code to purchase photos from this event on Harbie Photo

L E F T Seniors Emily Pollock and Abry Steinbrecher clap after Afa Akwanka is announced as the first member of the Homecoming Royalty, which were listed in alphabetical order. photo by I caroline martucci

A B O V E Percussionists play the marimbas and vibraphones as the sun rises to practice for game day performances. With the drum’s in the background, they find a tempo that will be adequate for games and the whole band. photo by I riley eck

A B O V E Sophomore Lucy Pace, senior Greta Dickerson and senior Emily Winter hold up signs supporting their cheer teammate, Samantha Herpich, as she walks out with her family. “She’s a really good leader and just a good person for everyone to look up to because she works hard all the time and always brings good attitudes,” Winter said. “We wanted to make sure she was really well recognized.” photo by I riley eck

A B O V E Junior Marissa Liberda takes a photo of the four homecoming royals to post on the Harbinger social media. Liberda was broadcasting the game and halftime on the Harbinger Instagram. “The number four [for royalty] was decided upon as long as there was a break between the number four and five. If the vote had been very close, we would have taken the top five or six,” said STUCO sponsor Brenda Fishman. photo by I charlotte emley L E F T Senior Macy Crosser is given a sash by last year’s homecoming king, Octavio Galicia. Each member of royalty was given a homecoming royalty sash and crown. photo by I riley eck T O P L E F T Senior Kate Cronenwett reacts to her dance teammates surrounding her after being crowned for homecoming royalty. photo by I caroline martucci

ALT-COPY

O C

N R

THE HARBINGER

EGE PR L L

Counselors assist in college applications and preparations

EP

I

Y M N

R E CO

32

The counseling center exists as an academic and emotional resource for students

E

Schedule changes for mental or personal reasons

NG

ES

A-El Michele Grimes Em-K Susan Fritzmeier L-Re Brenda Tretbar Rh-Z

SCAN ME WEBSITE

C

Make your schedules Change schedules upon request during allotted amount of time at beginning of year or at semester Encourage meetings with the counselor, yourself and your teacher to find a solution Changes will not be issued in the middle of the year unless there is a clear reason Mental health You weren’t meant to be put in that class

L WOR A I

K

A link to the student services and counseling page for East

SO

Traci Ybarra

D

ULE CH

Transcript release form Choose to send scores and decide test-optional Submit and meet with registrar, Mrs. Lowe Fill out google forms asking Extracurriculars Proud work Struggles throughout high school Effects of COVID-19 Meet with counselor for follow-up answers and college discussion Counselor writes recommendation letters Any additional questions

A

ASSISTANCE

SCH

ACADEMIC

The academic counselors and their corresponding last names

d esig n b y anna m itchell co p y b y addie m oor e

Social workers help similarly to therapists for students

Social not academic help Emily MacNaughton L-Z Elizabeth Kennedy A-K Exist to support students (similar to therapists) When struggling with a class, social workers reach out to see if anything in particular is causing that Provide professional development for teachers Reach out to parents to teach them how to help There is a list of outpatient facilities (therapists) that social workers can provide