The Northmen's Log, Issue 1, Volume 56, November 2020

VOTE THE NORTHMEN’S LOG Issue 1, Vol. 56 November 2020

For coverage on the 2020 election read pages 8-9!

Letter from the editor

Hi Oak Park! My name is Lindsey Dunaway and I’m the Editor-in-Chief of “The Northmen’s Log” this year. There is so much going on in the world this year and so many people lost so many things. There is so much anxiety with not knowing what will happen next and we feel a need to find something to help relax us all. With that, I’m super excited to bring you just a little bit of normal with this first issue - even if it’s a digital, interactive magazine instead of paper in your hands.

With all the civil unrest going on right now, staffers felt it was important to cover how it effects the Oak Park family. Please

Lindsey Dunaway, Editor-in-Chief Kayleonah Trumble, Managing Editor Kelsey Abunga, Staffer Matalin Andre, Staffer Luka Ashton, Staffer Adrian Berry, Staffer Benjamin Dunaway, Staffer Haydenn Gallagher, Staffer Lillian Goss, Staffer Lukas Martin, Staffer Amelia McCoy, Staffer Nathan Nance, Staffer Rowan Simmons, Staffer Christina Geabhart, Adviser

Publication information “The Northmen’s Log” will publish four times during the school year. “Log” staff strongly supports the First Amendment and opposes censorship. Freedom of expression and press are fundamental values in a democratic society.

Therefore, “Log” encourages readers to participate in the discussion by submitting Letters to the Editor

note as journalists, we have to be as un-biased and truthful as we possibly can to tell the full story. Regardless of how you personally feel about each matter, please don’t attack staff members for not taking the stance you would. We welcome you to write a Letter to the Editor to express your opinions. Details about how to do that are in the box at the bottom of this page.

We also have coverage of how this year looks for students and staff. I really hope that everyone enjoys this little bit of normal in this all-around crazy year. Have a fantastic year Oak Park.

Thank you.

Staff

in Room E134 or by email to christina.geabhart@ nkcschools.org. Letters cannot exceed 350 words and must be signed. “Log” will not run letters that are libelous, obscene, or that may cause a verifiable disruption to the education process at Oak Park.

Advertisers may contact the adviser at christina. geabhart@nkcschools.org for more information.

Subscriptions are available at $20 for a mailed copy, $10 for an emailed PDF version, and $25 for both.

Opinions expressed in “Log” do not reflect student, staff, or district endorsements of that opinion, product or service.

“Log” is a member of MIPA, NSPA, and Quill and Scroll. “Log” is affiliated with JEA, MJEA, and JEMKC.

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Table of contents

On the cover: Democratic presidential candidate, former Vice President Joe Biden speaks at a rally in Norfolk, Va., at Booker T. Washington High School. (photo by Carter Marks, Royals Media) President Donald Trump addresses the crowd at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minn., for his 2020 presidential campaign rally on Oct. 10, 2019. (photo by Nikolas Liepins)

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Opinion // Trumble

Never let your guard down, especially in crowded places

by Staffer Lillian Goss

Although the Miami Herald reported crime rates declining since the start of COVID-19, it doesn’t mean all crime.

A friend and I bought opening tickets to Kansas City’s very own “The Edge of Hell.” Opening night tickets started at $10 per person if you were in line by 8:30 p.m. My friend and I had the bright idea to show up at 8, with two masks on to be safe. We were not prepared for the number of people waiting in line to walk through a 20-minute haunted house.

I had already had a bad feeling about the huge crowds. The line stretched for at least three blocks, and the wait time would take hours. But we decided to go ahead and step into line.

We did wait for hours. Hardly anyone had their masks on, we were all tightly compacted together.

Just before we got to the entrance of the haunted house, the real hell broke loose.

Two gunshots went off. Everyone ran in every direction.

“We all felt really tired and our legs were sore. We were just ready to into the haunted house,” my friend said.

“But when we let our guard down, what happened next was unpredictable. We just heard people screaming and running towards us, and next thing we knew we heard gunshots. We just ran, took cover, and hoped for the best.”

All around us, there was panic and fear in the air. I heard a mother calling her daughter, asking where she was.

A girl had an asthma attack, most likely induced from panic.

I myself freaked out, shaking and breathing hard.

While my friend remained level headed.

“All sorts of confusion ran through my mind, we didn’t really know what was going on, or who was involved,” he told me later. “But I knew I wanted to get home safe. But then again, at that moment I questioned myself. I was wondering if I was going to make it home alive.”

Although the police patrolled that area all night, they still weren’t expecting the two gunshots fired off.

Two people were hit, both will live. The shooter was never caught.

The scariest part of it all, the few moments I thought I was truly out of luck, was when the crowd of hundreds of people began to run towards us.

At first, my initial thought was “is there a scary person in a costume?” And the voice inside my head said “Don’t be stupid. Run!” In that moment just before my feet could take off, we were split up. I could only focus on finding my friend. I called out to him, screaming, and eventually found him.

We ran through the parking lot parallel to the haunted house, where people were hiding behind cars. I kept looking over my shoulder, just in case the shooter had ran into the crowd.

“After following some people and taking cover, we were able to escape to the car. We went online and read the news, two people were injured,” my friend said. “Up until this day the investigation did not show any transparency as to what really happened, so we’re still in the dark.”

According to KCTV5 News, police said they would not be releasing any new information.

The shooting has really made me come to realize that growing up in America, nowhere is really risk free from people with guns. Crowded areas to this day make me nervous, I always know my exits.

Feature // Ashton

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Meet the new faces

by Staffer Luka Ashton

New faces joined classrooms this year. English language arts teachers Elizabeth Menne, Kalie Jones and Monika Binder; math teacher Molly Casel; and art teacher Rachael Cofer became Northmen this fall.

Menne said she joined for her first year as a teacher because, “I really resonated with a lot of the values that the school holds. It’s committed to diversity. It’s committed to respecting one another and building a community.”

Menne is not the only first-timer, Jones and Casel also picked the Northmen for their first year of teaching.

“Anytime to other educators that I mentioned that I had an interview with Oak Park, they just had nothing but phenomenal things to say about the school, about the district, about the ad-

min staff,” Jones said. “So, right off the bat there was just so many good things from the reputation that this school district had that I was immediately very comfortable with my decision,” Binder and Cofer made another change this year as well, both previously teaching middle schoolers.

“I really love, like, higher content level,” Binder said “Being able to read more complex texts and things like that, and I think high school is just a really cool age because kids are getting ready to go to college and figure out the next step in life. I just think it’s cool to be able to have a part in that.”

“A lot of people say, you know, it’s everybody’s first year as a teacher this year because we’re all trying to get used to the new way of doing things”

While students struggle to figure out this new way of doing school, it’s a learning curve for teachers too.

“Trying to teach in person students, and virtual students so you kind of have to teach two classes for one class, almost.

Getting the material into so many different formats has been difficult. It’s been hard,” said Cofer.

Whether it’s their tenth year teaching or first few months, there are problems to overcome this year.

“A lot of people say, you know, it’s everybody’s first year as a teacher this year because we’re all trying to get used to the new way of doing things,” said Binder. “So, it’s nice to know all the teachers are kind of in the same boat right now with figuring things out. So, I don’t feel like that much of an outsider.”

-English language arts teacher Monika Binder

art courtesy of Canva.com

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News // Dunaway

Fight for equality Students give their opinion on the Black Lives Matter movement

by Staffer Kelsey Abunga Protests erupted.

Tension has grown.

A movement continues.

As people fight against racial injustice and discrimination, the Black Lives Matter movement spikes a conversation, as well as controversy.

With the May 2020 case of George Floyd, a 46-year-old man who was killed by Minneapolis police for an alleged counterfeit $20 bill, and Breonna Taylor, a 26-yearold woman who was fatally shot in her home after an unwarranted police raid in March 2020, a nationwide movement resurfaced. People turned to social media to express their rage in the lack of justice.

According to a student body survey in early October, 81% of the student body support the BLM movement, 10% do not support it and 9% are not sure.

“It’s been seven months and we still haven’t got justice for Breonna Taylor. Her killers still aren’t arrested. What will it take for people

to realize this is wrong?” sophomore Tia Fitzpatrick said.

A 2020 Harvard study found that when mapping police violence based on racial inequities, black people are 3.23 times more likely to get killed by police than any other racial group. This study suggests racial bias influences police.

Discrimination has been evident in society for quite some time.

“Black Lives Matter is an incredibly important issue because racism won’t change unless we make it change. There has been inequality in America ever since it became a country,” sophomore Ashlyn Scott said.

While many people support the movement, others find it dangerous and intrusive.

“My sincere opinion on the matter is that the protesters are only hurting their own community. Of course, many police actions are unjust and those responsible deserve punishment however destroying your own towns and cities is not going to make people sympathize with your message,” senior Hayden

Hancock said.

This movement made an impact on many students’ lives.

Administration plans to continue to create a safe place for kids to grow and succeed.

“Our theme this year as a staff is ‘justice.’ So, when we talk about our role here, we are talking about impact,” principal Chris Sartain said. “If I were to say ‘I love all these kids,’ yet sit in my office and do nothing, those are just words.

Impact is when we actually do something about it. Whether it’s meeting with students or talking about ways to help them become more successful.”

“One hundred percent of our students have the potential to do great things, but not one hundred percent have access to those opportunities. That’s our goal, to make sure every student at Oak Park knows all the opportunities that will help them achieve the best lives possible.”

New tactics to relieve racial tension and create equity are being brainstormed.

News // Dunaway

“We could start by teaching the true history of America, not the white-washed version,” -sophomore Tia Fitzpatrick “We could start by teaching the true history of America, not the whitewashed version,” Fitzpatrick said. “Also, we can celebrate different holidays for different cultures, rather than the ‘American’ ones.”

Oak Park has many partnerships in store as well.

“One of the biggest opportunities coming up is we’ve just started a partnership with HBCU Walking Billboard, which is a group in Kansas City that’s focused on helping any student who wants to take advantage of opportunities that exist at historically black colleges and universities,” Sartain said.

If students would like to show support or hear more about this cause, they may attend the Walk Out during AR on Friday, Nov. 13.

There will be motivational speeches, a question panel to voice your concerns and more.

art courtesy of Canva.com

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News // Ashton

America talks about the election

by Staffer Rowan Simmons

It’s that time again. U.S. citizens vote for the 2020 Presidential election. The candidates are Democrat Vice President Joe Biden and Republican incumbent Donald Trump.

Voting will be Tuesday, Nov. 3, even though record numbers of absentee and mail-in ballots have already been cast. With COVID-19, voting will look different this year. Polling site, mail-in voting and absentee voting were options for voting.

Many Americans say they are doubtful of the outcomes this year because Trump

and Biden don’t seem like good candidates. Although some Americans have hope.

“The stakes are really great this time and I just would like to see a positive outcome,’’ said Kansas City-area senior citizen Margaret Phillips.

In a survey of 623 Oak Park students 47% of the underage students said they wouldn’t vote for anyone even if they were eligible to vote.

The U.S. presidential debate aired on Tuesday, Sept. 29 between the two leading candidates, Biden and Trump.

Many Americans had negative reactions to it because both candidates talked over each other and constantly argued. ‘’From watching the presidential debate, I didn’t watch the whole thing. But from the clips that I saw it really seemed like back and forth. A little bit of chaos, which in my opinion has gone on for the last four years, so it seems kind of

Democratic presidential candidate, former Vice President Joe Biden speaks at a rally in Norfolk, Va., at Booker T. Washington High School. (photo by Carter Marks, Royals Media)

iffy,’’ said Oak Park parent Tanya Slaughter.

This year, experts say the race sparked the younger generation to vote for someone who takes the job of president seriously.

Many young voters expressed anxiety.

“I’m really nervous, but excited at the same time. I’m nervous because of who

the candidates are,’’ said graduate Ashlee Williams.

President Donald Trump addresses the crowd at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minn., for his 2020 presidential campaign rally on Oct. 10, 2019. (photo by Nikolas Liepins)

News // Ashton

https://www.diffen.com/difference/Dem- https://www.nj.com/politics/2016/07/ ocrat_vs_Republican dnc_2016_10_big_ways_the_democratic_platform_diffe.html

A North Kansas City yard shows support for Trump and Pence with a “keep America great� sign. (photo by Rowan Simmons)

A North Kansas City home shows support for Biden and Harris with a political sign. (photo

by Rowan Simmons)

art courtesy of Canva.com

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Entertainment // Gallagher

Beware the Halloween season

by Staffers Haydenn Gallagher and Lukas Martin

Halloween has come and gone, but the spooky season leading up to it had many people in a state of questioning.

People were unsure if it would be safe to go out with their friends or if they should just stay inside this year.

According to the Center of Disease Control, Alison Abram CDC, website, “door-todoor trick-ortreating is the highest risk to get the virus.”

“I would choose trick or treating cause it’s fun to walk around and get free candy from people,’’ said senior Alison Abram.

Others agreed, even against the recommendations.

“It’s fun to do with friends,” said junior Shelby Schemer.

Other people said they just

“I would choose trick or treating cause it’s fun to walk around and get free candy from people,’’ -senior

wanted to cut back and hang out with their friends but were unable to do so because of COVID-19.

Halloween is historically a fun time to hang out with friends, binge eat a bunch of candy, and not have a care in the world.

“With COVID and other craziness from this year I can’t go to the pumpkin patch,” said junior Mia Mungai.

Moderate risk activities, the CDC wrote, could be outdoor movies and possibly trick or treat at family houses or visiting a pumpkin patch with your family. That can make lots of memories and you could pick up a pumpkin.

“Pumpkin patches are fun to do with your family and are enjoyable,’’ said senior Nick Colvin.

For the students who have little siblings who want to go out this Halloween, it was very difficult for them since many people aren’t putting out candy.

“If I was [doing Halloween] this year I would be dressing up as a werewolf and going

trick-or-treating with my 3-year-old sister. This will be the first one my sister understands though,” said junior Thomas Dyer.

On the other hand, some people aren’t affected as much because they either didn’t have anything to do in the first place or were scheduled to work.

“I work on Halloween pretty much all day. I’m just going to skip this year,” Dyer continued.

Even though some people had to go out, other chose to stay home and watch scary movies to get in the spooky season.

“I just stayed home and watched ‘Friday the 13th,’” said junior Ronald Do. In the end, this year maybe scarier than most.

“Something positive is what we still get to do - like I can carve my pumpkins and kids can still go around to houses just being safe. People can do a lot of things and be safe if they just keep doing what we should be doing during COVID,” said Mungai.

Entertainment // Gallagher

Haydenn’s Top 10 by writer Haydenn Gallagher

Some great movies to chill your bones:

STAYING SAFE FOR HALLOWEEN LOW RISK ACTIVITIES Carve pumpkins, decorate your house, watch movies

MODERATE RISK ACTIVITIES Trick or treat at close family or firends houses

Set up an outdoor movie theater

Go to a pumpkin patch with your family

HIGH RISK ACTIVITIES

1. Scream- One of the best horror classics that redefined the horror genre 2. It Chapter 1 and 2- Very scary with a good plot and keeps you entertained the whole time.

3. Scary Movie- A comedy of other scary movies so you don’t have to be creeped out the whole time you’re watching movies.

4. 28 days later- Zombies... need I say more?

5. Us- The perfect amount of creepy that keeps you on the edge of your seat and gives you something to think about at the end .

6. Get Out- Totally creepy and keeps you engaged the whole time. Plus, every time you watch it there is something new to discover.

7. The Invisible Man- A classic.

8. Jigsaw- Very gory and keeps you wanting more.

9. A Quiet Place- Lots of suspense that makes you invested in the story of if they will be able to survive or not.

10. Sinister- Absolutely terrifying, I don’t recommend watching alone.

Going to a bunch of random peoples houses for free candy

art courtesy of Canva.com

art courtesy of Canva.com

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Entertainment // McCoy

by Staffer Amelia McCoy

COVID-19 has been a struggle for many departments, but live theater is even more challenging with some students who had to stay home. One said she watched everyone from home.

“Theatre’s difficulty depends on how involved you are,” junior Hannah Butts said. “The more you immerse yourself into theatre - whether that be acting on stage or being a techie backstage - the harder the tasks and the faster and stricter the work deadlines become.”

Junior Tatiana Rizek agreed working conditions are different, but people pull together.

“The theater kids are all pretty nice individuals, but something I really like about the theater kids is we are all very different, but we still get along and in the end get a great result of a show,” Rizek said.

Senior Katie Hulme, student mu-

sical director, has big responsibilities.

“Very difficult, I am the first student to have directed a main stage production so it’s coming with a lot of new challenges and difficulties that I’m not quite sure how to face and taking it one day at a time. It’s a lot of responsibility - a lot of difficult tasks, but it’s all going to be worth it in the end,” Hulme said.

She really likes the way the show is shaping up.

“I think it was a really good choice.

I think we have a really good set of actors for the show not only that but also it ties a lot back to current events that are happening and it’s very interesting to see whenever you look at some of the similarities that are happening from that time to now, I think it was a very super good choice for the show.”

The fall musical will be live streamed by N2 Sports to online sites, since in-person audiences are not possible with health protocols.

“Very difficult, I am the first student to have directed a main stage production so it’s coming with a lot of new challenges and difficulties that I’m not quite sure how to face and taking it one day at a time it’s a lot of responsibility a lot of difficult tasks but it’s all going to be worth it in the end,” - senior Katelynn Hulme

The musical can be watched at 7 p.m. Nov. 12-14 streaming via N2Sports.

Link to the theater page: https://www. oakparktheatre.org/

Musical: https://www.oakparktheatre. org/radium-girls.html

Senior Cameron Burns snaps a thespian selfie, including juniors Olivia Robins, Kylie Thomas, Isabelle Christus and Hannah Butts and senior Reese Hill. In the back, junior Kayleonah Trumble, senior Brenden Blue and junior Nicholas Begley. (photo by Burns)

Entertainment // McCoy

Making the most, theater to screen

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Thespians prepare for the annual fall musical after first-ever live streamed production of Fright Night

What was Fright Night like?

Senior Cameron Burns acts in Fright Night. “So far the most fun thing has been writing my Fright Night performance. Theater is definitely a lot of work especially now with COVID because we can’t have rehearsal as much as we want to but it’s definitely a lot of hard work,” said junior Tatiana Rizek. (photo by Cambia photographer Christina Nguyen) Senior Reese Hill improvs. “I enjoy most everything about it,” fellow thespian junior Hannah Butts said. “I’ve loved performing for as long as I can remember, and being a part of a crew is an unexpected joy for me. Both give you something to be really proud of at the end of a production. I think the relationships I’ve made within theatre is probably the part I love and value the most.” (photo by Cambia photographer Christina Nguyen)

“Fright Night was really different from any other show I’ve done.

It’s also different from any other show anyone else in Theatre 3/4 has done, since we had to be creative and switch things up due to COVID. I have to say, it definitely felt weird not to have a live audience, but nonetheless it was an experience I will surely remember.”

- junior Hannah Butts

Fun Fact: Oak Park graduate Alex Pfaff, a teacher at Miss Dianna’s School of Dance, said he and his theater troupe started Fright Night in the early 2000s.

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Sports // Dunaway

Athletes take the field

Northmen play Northtown on Friday, Oct. 16. Oak Park lost to Northtown, 27-28. (photo by Cambia photographer Christina The JV softball players gather during the Thursday, Sept. 24 game against Staley.(photo by Cambia photographer Shayna Campa) Nguyen)

Softball pitches against Staley.

Oak Park lost 1-14. (photo by Cambia photographer Shayna Campa)

All-Conference Team Softball: Seniors Irelynn West, First Team All-Conference Outfielder; Jazlynn Mahoney, Second Team All-Conference Infielder; Brooke Brown Second Team All-Conference Outfielder and Nataley Hansfor, Honorable Mention All-Conference Infielder Sophomore Carley Freeman, Second Team All-Conference Catcher Freshman Mia Ivan, Second Team All-Conference Infielder

Senior Sophia Sander Girls tennis plays Park Hill. (photo by Cambia plays Kearney on Mon- photographer Kayli Sims) day, Aug. 31. (photo by Cambia photographer Heisman Scholarships: Shayna Campa)

Seniors Jonathan Greene, football, and Daly Rosenbloom, volleyball, were selected in the Heisman High School Scholarship and now run for state and national recognition.

Sports // Dunaway All-Conference Tennis:

Senior Summer Murphy, singles, Second Team All-Conference Junior Kylie Michael, singles, First Team All-Conference and Senior Sophia Sander and Michael, doubles, Second Team All-Conference

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The girls golf team poses for a team photo at Paradise Pointe. (courtesy of head coach Seth DeRose)

The cross country teams practice on Wednesday, Sept. 9. (photo by Cambia photographer Christina Nguyen)

The JV soccer team plays Northtown on Monday, Sept.

21. Oak Park beat Northtown 4-1. (photo by Benjamin Dunaway)

The boys swim team: on the board: Jonathan House and Conner Justus. On the floor, William Dreier, Brent Compton, Tony Vanderbeek and Jason Maxey at the Gladstone Community Center. (courtesy of the swim team) Varsity volleyball plays at Staley. (photo by Matalin Andre)

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News // Trumble

School year saddens seniors

near silence when capacity rules limited fans. Most games offered two tickets per performer or athlete.

Everyone else had to watch from home on GoNorIt’s generally agreed this year has been really thmen.org. difficult for everyone, but the class of 2021 may “I waited four years to sit at the bottom in the miss out on many senior year milestones. senior section. I waited four years to have the se“And the hard part for us, we want to provide nior dance facing me. I waited four years to be able them with experiences that are fun and make to scream when they called the graduating class of memories, but we also want to make sure that 2021,” said Dennis. you’re keeping them Sports are not the safe, so we’ve definiteonly activity effected. ly tried to do a couple Senior Katelynn things that could be fun Hulme said, “COVID for them.” said Principal is definitely affecting Christopher Sartain, theatre. We wear masks Ed.D. during rehearsal, which Seniors already missed makes understanding fall sporting events, expressions very normal class times, -senior Vaughn Dennis facial difficult but we are navihomecoming powder gating through it.” puff, parade, and dance, Even with COVID-19 affecting senior experiencplus there is more to come like winter sports with es, they stay positive. few to little fans, black light dance, more virtual “I wouldn’t say last year was better. I would say assemblies. Everything depends on if COVID-19 that this year is different, but I’m still a senior and numbers improve.

“I missed out on all of the football games, home- I still get to feel that sense of accomplishment,” coming, an actual spirit week,” said senior Vaughn said Dennis.

“I think they both have pros and cons,” Hulme Dennis. said. “I wouldn’t put one above the other because Normally seniors scream at the top of their lungs rooting for their class but this year there was everything happens for a reason.”

by Managing Editor Kayleonah Trumble

“It’s pretty quiet and calm all of the time. The school environment isn’t very high stress like it used to be sometimes,”

News // Trumble

Do you like how the hybrid schedule is?

No Yes

Do you think you are missing out on the “senior experience?�

Yes No

53 of 416 seniors answered the email poll

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