Issue #3 2019

The Oshkosh West

INDEX 2

Index editors offer up rare moment of positivity through seasonal thanks

Page 2 3-5

News

The world is burning, what are you gonna do about it?

Page 3 6-7

Sports Thomas arrives at the end of a long journey of recovery

Page 6 Spread

8-9

A look outside the mainstream as West reveals diversity

Page 8-9 Community

10-11

Holiday spirit parades around downtown Oshkosh

Page 10 Entertainment 12-13 Entertainment or a mirror to the darkness festering in society?

Page 13 Features

14-16

Wildcats cook up victory in laboratory of culinary arts

Page 14

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www.oshkoshwestindex.org Volume 116, Issue 3

November 25, 2019

Variety show offers stage for student ‘dreams’

This Issue: Opinion

“Your source for Wildcat news”

Fr o m d a n c i n g , t o u k u - diverse array of talent and skills, away,” he said. “For me, these and everything that they do,” he lele strumming, to Barbie-themed yet each separate act takes as much shows are practice because I want said. “Then we just put the entire skits, Oshkosh West’s 2019 vari- practice as any in order to put on to be a comedian and an actor. show together with the one-act, so ety show had it all. What started a satisfying performance. Senior For other performers, they might it does take up a bit more time.” out as a way show off a hobby, This year, sophomore Kiki to give hopeand it could just be Bess approves of the variety ful performers something they do show being after the one act. in the student for fun. However, “The play has a more seribody of West they could also want ous tone this year, and having the an opportunity to go i nto acti ng variety show after might leave to showca se a n d w a n t s o m e the audience on a happier note,” their talents has pr a ct ice i n f ront she said. “I don’t think the sadbloomed into of a n au d ie nc e.” ness of the one act will affect an annual show Even though the the show in any way, and vice that plenty performers devote versa, because the play and the of au d ie nc e s hours of their own variety show are two separate a n d t a le n t e d f r e e t i me, T hu r- things that just happen to be on students alike watcher and other the same night, but it just gives look for wa rd managing students people performing in the varito. Drama in Sock ‘n’ Buskin ety show the job of making the photo by Abe Weston cl u b a d v i s o r do more work be- audience feel better and laugh.”

Juniors Dominic Mueller, Nick Smith, Steven Reigh, and Jaxson Villeneuve start and English hind the scenes than Thurwatcher thinks that the the show off with a jovial rendition of “Oh, What a Night” by The Four Seasons. teacher Scot t Not only did the four sing, two of the quartet hosted the two-hour long variety one would thi n k. variety show is a great addition to T h u r w a t c h e r show.

“I’m lucky that the drama club’s repertoire of perthin ks it is formances impor tant to make sure that Trinity LeFlore, a singer in choir I h a v e they put on, i nclusion was t he st rongest since middle school, diligently A l i c e especially fa ctor i n t he va r iet y show. prepared for her acts in the show. P r o b s t , for the “This year, our one-act play “In order to prepare for the my stage students. only had 14 roles in it along with show, I first looked for music that ma nage r “ It ’s a st a ge c r ew, for t he i mpor t a nt but we also had o n e to see what over 40 students act, for you’re caaudition for help,” pable of,” parts, and I just Thurhe said. didn’t want them watcher “Many kids to go until the said. “I don’t realspring not doing pretty ize what anything dramamu ch they can do photo by Abe Weston related,” he said. h a v e Junior Marcus Wakefield showcases his talent along- u ntil they “We have singt o p u t side his band Fender Bender. The trio played both s e e t h e i r i n g , we h ave together covers and original songs throughout their set. own peers stand-up comet h e do those dy, we have a tap dates, things, dance routine, the rooms, getting all the back so I think watching these talwe have a band, tracks set up for everybody and ents helps students understand a nd sk it s; we doing the scheduling. There’s all the potential and thi ngs truly do have a a ton of work that has to be they could do and be a part of.” variety of acts.” done, so I pretty much lean on LeFlore also believes in the As for getAlice to be more of a student importance of letting students ting a slot on the director, working with the skits do what they love in front of a lineup, the audionce I hand them over to her.” crowd, and also acknowledges the photo by Abe Weston tion process was Senior James Last performs a Van Halen cover with passion usefulness f a i rly le n ie nt while a gaggle of performers gather behind him to dance. His of gaining a n d s i m p l e . performance was one of the most anticipated of the night as he confidence “I incorpo- closed out the show. through rated the audiperfor mtion for the variety show with the suited my vocal range yet was i n g . auditions for the one-act,” Thur- unique in style,” she said. “I then “ I watcher said. “So for those who spent some time really practicing believe it’s auditioned, I asked if they were the pieces I chose, ensuring I could i mp or t a nt interested in performing in the perform them both vocally and to give variety show if they didn’t get cast instrumentally on my ukulele.” students in the one-act. I just compiled a A unique performer and asthis opporlist of those students, and then of- piring comedian, senior Dexter t u nit y to fered Plier also showcase it up worked their talents t o on his because it photo by Abe Weston t he m. acts as gives them Senior Trinity LeFlore showcases her skills on the ukulele something Even soon as for both of her performances of the night. The singer chose a lot he found to be proud her songs carefully and continuously practiced them before of the out about of ,” s h e the show. stage the show. said. “Vacrew “ I riety shows for the h e a r d Along with making auditions help students build confidence in oneabout the accessible and including diverse themselves through the display act are v a r i e t y acts, Thurwatcher also exam- of their various personal skills. in the photo by Abe Weston s h o w ined how to keep audiences on Students really do not often get v a - Junior Dominic Mueller drums for a plethora of songs during hist h r o u g h their toes, and is thrilled about the chance to showcase their r i e t y band’s set. The group, Fender Bender, performed a few songs andd r a m a the exciting aspects that have talents to the community, so switched roles for each. club, and been added into the show, such the variety show is a great opshow.” s i n c e I as the one-act play, Our Place. portunity for students to show Especially with this open au- did it last year I knew that I want“We incorporated skits into others what they’re proud of.” dition concept, it’s no secret that ed to participate in it again, so I the show this year, but the kids will

by K. Freund and J. Mayo this year’s show flourished with a started writing something right still do acts and sing and dance

2

November 25, 2019

Opinion

Volume 116, Issue 3

Ten second editorials...

Thumbs up What is the worst Thanksgiving Food?

“Cranberry juice; that stuff is absolutely terrible.”

-freshman AJ Kohl

“Probably the gravy; it’s just weird.”

-sophomore Chloe Yager

Thumbs down

...To Thanksgiving break! I think we could all use a small break to spend time with our families and take advantage of the Black Friday deals. ...To our Perkins not closing!

With corporate headquarters going bankrupt, our privately owned Perkins is safe to continue hosting late-night pie fests. ...To Starbucks holiday cups!

Nothing better than getting caffeinated with your favorite drink in a jolly cup. ...To the Index debate on how to cook Joe Mayo! ...To West’s state report card recognizing our school as exceeding expectations, a significant growth from last year.

Bravo to our fine staff! ...To Disney+! What a way to relive your childhood! Our favorite classic movies and shows are finally all in one spot. ...To Christmas and all winter holidays approaching! It is a time to reflect on the year and all the things you’ve done that made you grow and change.

...To snow and the lack of salt! While it looks nice at the first fall, the way it greases the road and turns into brown slush is not ideal for anyone driving. ...To wonky carts! Why can’t the wheels just work? I know I love when I’m walking around a store and my cart keeps trying to run into every shelf. ...To getting dark at 5pm!

Nothing like going out and having it be practically pitch black; it does wonders for brightening the mood in winter. ...To the ongoing impeachment process! Come on guys, let’s move this along, get Trump out or keep Trump in, but don’t keep us waiting. ...To Myles Garrett taking a swing at Mason Rudolph!

That’s a new way to use your helmet (unless you have time traveled to a gladiatorial tilt at the Coliseum) ...To having homework over break! This is our time out of school to spend with our families and celebrate, but we still have to endure school work.

The Oshkosh West “Oh, let me think... I don’t really like stuffing.”

-junior Lukas Xiong

INDEX

Oshkosh West High School 375 N. Eagle St. Established in 1903 Volume 116, Issue 3

General Adviser: Trent Scott

“That jello stuff from a can made of cranberries... gross!”

-senior Lisa Johnson

“The most disgusting are those canned cranberries, yikes!”

- Sociolog y teacher Matthew Mauk

Editor in Chief: Aspen Oblewski Akashraj Karthikeyan Editors: Zade Alzoubi (Sports) Keerthana Ambati (Features) Sophie Burke (News) Belle Cartwright (Photography) Abby Eaton (Features) Olivia Everett (Copy) Kailey Freund (Entertainment) Izzy Gabavics (Opinion) Allison Kelly (Web) Joe Mayo (Sports) Katie Miller (Video) Ainsley Moore (Web) Jensen Muza (Video) Emma Olson (Community)

Hannah Olson (Graphic Magic) Cora Pizon (Web) Jack Rowe (Ads & Business) Javit Thao (News) Grace Weber (Production) Abe Weston (Photography) Hunter Willis (Web) Writers: Hannah Chung, Abigal Furcy, Caitlynn Gehl, Griffin Holdridge, Brian Huo, Samuel Mollenhauer, Sarah Pizon, Savanna Sandstrom Photographers: Sarah Pizon Mascot: Mulligan and Chonk and Zuul

Non-Profit Organization Oshkosh Area Schools P.O. Box 3048 Oshkosh, WI 54902 November 25, 2019 Issue #3

The purpose of the Oshkosh West Index is to educate, inform, and entertain through eight publications each year. The paper will provide a forum for students’ ideas and opinions. All letters must be signed. Index editors reserve the right to edit all letters for reason of space, clarity, or libel. All letters express the opinion of their authors and not necessarily that of the Index staff. Drop off all letters in E25, direct them to www.oshkoshwestindex.org, or mail them to Index, Oshkosh West High School, 375 N. Eagle Street, Oshkosh WI 54902. Index accepts advertisements from businesses, faculty, or students, thus creating a market for saleable goods.

Editorial thanks in the season of giving

Abe Weston: I am thankful for my family and Joe Mayonnaise.

Abigail Eaton: I am thankful for my amazing family, friend group at school, and that I can avoid the “unwashed masses” by eating lunch in the Index office.

Ainsley Moore: Izzy and everyone else in 7th hour Index.

Akashraj Karthikeyan: I am thankful for the free PS4 Pro that came in the mail.

Allison Kelley: I am thankful for flannels and Club Penguin.

Aspen Oblewski: I am thankful for Stephen King’s parents. Thank you for giving birth to him, I can’t wait to box him in the octagon one day. Also, Joe Mayo.

Cora Pizon: This is so hard, I’m thankful for so much! I’m thankful for my loving family, Hunter Willis, my cats (except for when they wake me up in the middle of the night), having 7th hour in the Index office, and fuzzy socks!

Emma Olson: I am thankful for my twin sister. Without her, our pages would look boring, so thank you Hannah for your graphic magic!

Grace Weber: I am thankful for potatoes and lefse, if you know you know.

Hannah Olson: I am thankful for having friends and family who will always be there for me.

Hunter Willis: I am thankful for Joe Mayo’s Disney+ subscription and Cora Pizon.

Izzy Gabavics: I am thankful that my 18th birthday is on Thanksgiving, my friends and family, Ethics puzzles, and Joe. Isabelle Cartwright: I am thankful for when I get home from practice and my mom orders pizza instead of cooking for dinner.

Javit Thao: I am thankful for the support from my editors and friends. Especially Joe Mayo.

Jensen Muza: I am so thankful for Katie Miller, I wish I could be her. And Joe Mayo.

Jack Rowe: I am thankful for Joe Mayo and chasing him down the hallway at full speed.

Joe Mayo: I am thankful for chicken sandwiches, Yung Gravy, Hunter Willis, my co-editor Zade Alzoubi, Kailey’s boyfriend, and the phrase “OK BOOMER!” Kailey Freund: I’m really thankful for Joe Mayo hyping up my boyfriend every single day - it makes my job easier.

Katie Miller: I am thankful for my mother because she makes a really good dinner.

Keerthana Ambati: I am thankful for my family and curry and naan and biblical allusions.

Olivia Everett: I am thankful for the people in my life who support me through everything I do.

Sophie Burke: I am thankful for the fact that my bed is always waiting for me after production.

Zade Alzoubi: I am thankful for my co-editor Joe Mayo.

Trent Scott: I am thankful for my family, and I’d particularly like to shine some light on Violette Scott. Even at 18, she continues to grow, to thrive, and to amaze. Cri du Chat does not define this kid; her joy and love transcend the limitations of her body.

She has begun to play with her baby dolls and actually reads books now instead of eating them. This tells me milestones never cease, and we never stop growing. For that, I am thankful beyond words.

by Index Staff

News

Volume 116, Issue 3

3

November 25, 2019

Baghdadi death casts short shadow in Middle East

Before the events of 9/11, national izing the Middle East and Europe ever snakes showing up. It might end ISIS, but military’s must stay in the Middle East.

“To block Russian influence, we should security was not in the forefront of Ameri- since. Junior John Koth feels that ISIS all of the sudden there’s another group.”

This possibility tends to make some stay in Syria,” he said. “To protect Kurds can minds. After the attacks, everything has been imperiously pushing around about security completely changed. TSA the rest of the world, and that some- feel that U.S. intervention is not the correct who have been our allies in this fight, I would agents were introduced, airports inspected one needs to put an end to their terror. policy. Junior Mercedes Stromberg feels it is say yes, stay in Syria. As far as ISIS and its unknown passengers more warily, and “There’s always a bully that’s trying unfair that terrorists of Caucasian decent are rule and the leader in Syria, I don’t know.”

St romb e rg b el ieve s Bag hd a d i’s technology improved to help find weap- to draw attention to themselves,” he said. not as highly criticized as Muslim terrorists.

“I feel like people can be very up- death could be a solid chance for inons and other contraband. When the word “Right now, I think the world’s bully is ter vent ion i n t he M idd le Ea st.

“ISIS” is heard, terror and fear are the “There is a great possibility that it is emotions that run through many minds going to put a lot more pressure on those first. The ongoing struggle with ISIS countries,” she said. “They are smaller was becoming less and less popular now than they were, but if we leave the until October 26, when their leader, area alone entirely, they might take the Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi, was killed by chance to grow to their former strength American forces in Syria. AP Governinstead of dispersing. I don’t think we ment and Politics teacher Paul Stellpshould be as active, but we should defiflug expands on the ISIS issue and their nitely keep an eye on things and try to impact in Syria over the past years. keep some preventative measures. But, it “ISIS has not been kind to anyshouldn’t be full military involvement.” one within any territory that they’ve For Koth, this fight against ISIS hits decided to take control of,” he said. close to home. He has several friends “They’ve enforced upon the populaand family members fighting in Syria. tion their interpretation of radical “I know a lot of people that are law. They’ve forced discrimination, out there and I have family there,” harassment and death on those who he said. “I want my friends and famdo not submit to their interpretation.” ily to be safe; t hat’s i mpor t a nt.”

Stellpflug believes that the threat An anonymous student at West of ISIS, though a serious one, probphoto from Flipboard bel ieve s t hat P re side nt Tr u mp is ably will not reach the United States.

“They’re not as prevalent in the President Trump announces that ISIS leader Baghdadi was eliminated in Syria by American forces on October 26. The Presi- far too focused on his “victory lap” dent held his press conference on October 27 in what some say was a “victory lap” for Trump and his administration. instead of the problems with ISIS. U.S. but they’re still dangerous in those “President Obama said we removed communities,” he said. “I don’t know if ISIS in the Middle East, and they’re trythey’re dangerous to the United States, un- ing to get all the attention towards them set about it very quickly, but it’s mostly a possible threat and we’re moving on less they had sleeper cells here and they’re so that they can cause fear in others.” geared towards specific religions and from it,” they said. “Trump, however, is just waiting for an order from the ISIS high W hile Baghdadi’s death may be races like Muslim terrorism,” she said. only focused on saying that he ‘died like command. But, they continue to destabilize impor tant because he represented a “I feel like we should be more con- a dog,’ and he was cornered, and killed, the Middle East which then draws the Unit- large part of ISIS, social studies teacher cerned about white terrorism because and he is so focused on that, it seemed like ed States to draw troops into that region.” Jef f Sch i n ker a rg ues t he cont r a r y. that’s a lot more prevalent than any it was more like a victory lap. It wasn’t The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, “There’s a phrase often used that if Muslim terrorism we have right now.” really informing us on what happened; it Stellpflug has confidence in the U.S. was like it was him patting his own back. or ISIS, emerged out of the shadows of you cut off the head of the snake, it dies,” Al-Qaeda after the U.S. invasion of Iraq he said. “But sometimes if you cut the intervention and thinks that for the sake

by J. Mayo and J. Thao in the early 2000s, and has been terror- head of the snake off, it just leads to more of American allies, the United States

Discussion, debate over facilities grow closer to vote

Shortly after the 2018-2019 school “The schools in the district need the become even more prevalent all over replacing it would allow Jefferson to be year, the Oshkosh Area School Board maintenance,” junior Danielle Dickinson the country,” junior Trent Lehman said. less full and let those kids still go to school decided to close down Smith Elemen- said. “It’ll help keep the school build- “Giving schools more security will ease with the other kids they’ve grown up with.” tary School due to an inability to fund ings clean and fix a lot of problems.” the students from that kind of stress.”

But instead of building a new school, multitudinous, needed repairs. However, Many changes to the schools do hapS o m e e ve n fe el t h a t t h e p ol i- the committee has recommended an exrumors have gone around the community pen periodically. At West, new windows, c ie s i n i n d iv id u a l s ch o ol s s h o u ld pansion onto existing elementary schools. that the board is planning to open a new doors, and vents are almost done being b e e v a l u a t e d a n d c h a n g e d f i r s t .

“I would think that building onto an middle school closer to Oshkosh North. existing elementary school would be the “ Nothi ng is g uaranteed,” West way to go,” senior Hudson Smith said.

Principal Erin Kohl said. “Currently “It would give the younger kids more opthere isn’t money in the budget for tions for classes and they could expand on a new school, like there wasn’t for the hobbies and skills outside of academics.” maintenance of Smith Elementar y.”

There are several pros and cons for The Facilities Advisory Committee, each option that the committee has prea group made up of community members sented, whether it’s the cost, availability, in charge of making recommendations for or how much time it would take. While the benefit of the district’s needs, have sugall of the options will require a referengested the opening of a new middle school. dum for the public to vote on, very few “Much of the information about these district students actually thought that the meetings are on the district website,” Kohl new middle school would be beneficial. said. “There are videos and the actual “ T he re isn’t real ly a ne e d for presentations shown at each meeting.” another middle school,” Smith said.

Some of the other recommendations “A lot of t he ot he r r e c om me nd ainclude safety and security updating at tions seem to be more impor tant.” photo from OASD Website existing school buildings, immediate School Perceptions founder Bill Foster presents recommendations to members of the Facilities Advisory Committee to decide what to present Every option presented to the Fabuilding maintenance, building a new to the community. The recommendations, which may involve new buildings in the district, would then go to vote in the form of a referendum. cilities Advisory Committee is meant elementar y school, and updating or to bring new improvements to the Oshexpanding existing elementary schools. installed. Many other parts of West and “Violence seems to only be getting kosh Area School District. The commuIn order for any of these recommenda- other schools around the district could worse,” sophomore Jessie Kolb said. “If nity will have the final say; however, the tions to be fulfilled, the district would have have changes made that would greatly there were more strict rules and conse- committee will decide what they want to to pass a referendum in the community. improve the functioning of each school. quences for students, and additional safety present and have open for public input.

“Any of these options would require “So many schools look like they are measures taken, the students and staff “The committee could choose to a referendum because the district doesn’t literally falling apart,” junior Adina Beyer would be much more comfortable overall.” space out the options, present multiple have the money in the current budget,” said. “It’s either too cold or too hot. NothA not he r r e c om me nd at ion f rom at once, or even none at all,” Kohl said.

Kohl said. “It would be up to the school ing seems to be quite where it should be.” t h e Fa c i l i t i e s A d v i s o r y C o m m i t - “These options are all just recommendaboard and this committee if they put A l o n g w i t h b u i l d i n g m a i n t e - tee is to create another school instead tions at this point based on a study done multiple issues out for the public vote.” nance, some feel that the security and of wor r ying about existing schools. of community members. Nothing is set Many students have mixed opin- safet y precautions at school should “The board should build a new elemen- in stone, but everything is a possibility.” ions and ideas regarding which di- be updated before the building itself. tary school,” sophomore Brant Paulick said.

by Sophie Burke rection the school board should go.

“Shootings and school violence have “With the recent loss of Smith Elementary,

4

November 25, 2019

Volume 116, Issue 3

News

Green team stresses need to ‘treet’ Earth with care From the California wildfires, to the 2019 polar vortex, and the multiple hurricanes such as Harvey and Irma, climate change has been a key factor in inciting destr uctive phenomena. The popular YouTuber, Jimmy Donaldson, also known as “MrBeast,” is one of the people trying to make a change. Through social media, he created an online movement known as #TeamTrees, where he joined with the Arbor Day Foundation to set a goal of planting 20 million trees by 2020.

To complete this goal, a fundraiser was set up, and for every dollar raised, a tree would be grown. The current amount of money raised is over 15 million dollars.

Sophomore Melia Holmes, a member of West’s environmental club, exposes the importance of this online presence.

“I think it can spread awareness better,” she said. “It’s a better way to educate people and see a certain thing, rather than hearing it from a random person at school. If you see it on social media, you’re more inclined to do it.”

Social media provides a powerful platform that has the potential to do a lot of good and help to raise a lot of money.

With a young audience on social media, it can positively affect people much earlier.

“You nger people wa nt to ma ke a difference,” Environmental Studies teacher John Reiland said. “They can see the future, and if we put them in the right situation for the right cause, it can really motivate people. Still, we have to show them what the right thing is.”

To Rei l a nd , r a i si ng awa r e ne s s i s ve r y c r u c i a l t o t h e m ove m e nt .

“I t h i n k awa reness gets people t h i n k i ng a b out s u s t a i n a bi l it y,” he said. “It gets them thinking in the right direction. Thinking about the environment is something they can get behind.”

However, young people are not the only ones thinking about this pivotal issue. #TeamTrees plans to plant many trees on almost every continent with many varying species to greater benefit the environment.

“I don’t see how planting trees could be a bad thing,” Reiland said. “It’s just a matter of putting them in the right place.”

In the cor rect areas, Reiland illust rated the many benef its that t hese t rees could potent ially have.

“It can be simple, like where you could

“Laptops are thrown away and when they be cooling a building,” he said. “If you have a tree, the roots will hold the soil in break down into the soil, it can be toxic,” she place and reduce erosion. There’s a lot of said. “Students throw cans and everything beneficial things that can come from trees into the trash. There’s a recycling bin right if placed in the right spot.”

UW-Oshkosh Environmental Studies professor M. Elsbeth McPhee added to the list of ways trees can benefit other environmental issues.

“Deforestation is a problem because as we’re releasing more and more carbon into the atmosphere, we need the trees to help sequester that carbon,” she said. “As we lose vegetation, we lose topsoil which we need in order to have a healthy planet and to grow food. Something like #TeamTrees is good for the soil and the atmosphere.”

A lt houg h McPhee be lieves that #TeamTrees can make an impact, she also feels that the real extent of that impact will be little compared to what needs to be done.

“What I don’t think social media is going to be good for photo by Javit Thao is actually getting people to The Environment Club presents their campaign to help the environchange their behavior,” she ment through promotional posters throughout the school.

The Green said. “You can sit there on Team met to educate and learn during W-hour. social media and talk all day long about how greenhouse gases are increasing and the climate is next to it and we’re just not thinking, because changing, but nobody is going to give we’re so used to throwing things away.”

Despite knowing that the climate up their car, phone, or computer because of it. It’s not a way to get people is worsening, there is not a sufficient to actually act in meaningful ways.” amount of action concerning the issue, Populations in the low island states according to sophomore Trinity Perry, and the Arctic are losing their homes to a member of the environmental club.

“It’s become a really big issue,” she natural disasters and melting permafrosts.

Changes in temperature have been proven said. “If we can solve the problem at its to correlate with the effects of these source, everyone else who comes here, negative environmental developments. the middle school and elementary, will “It’s going to hit every part of our be better off. We shouldn’t have to teach lives,” McPhee said. “The more activ- 18 year old k ids what goes where.”

W hile not completely saving the ism and awareness we get, the more likely we’re going to see change. We environment, #TeamTrees can be a part can march, chant, and make signs but of the solution. Holmes explains how it, what we really need to do is change and West’s Green Team, are important.

“Ever ybody should be exercising o u r ow n c o n s u m p t ive b e h av io r.”

The leader of the environmental club the right to be able to stand up for what at West, Ellyn Lahr, feels like people pro- they believe in,” she said. “It’s a small duce so much waste because society has step but there won’t be any big one’s made itself intentionally more disposable. if there aren’t any small ones f irst.”

McPhee agrees that a response is needed and describes how anyone, at school or at home, can have a positive influence.

“The single greatest thing that any person can do to help the environment would be to quit eating red meat,” she said. “Beef uses inordinate amounts of water. Almost 2,000 gallons of water are used to end up with a pound of beef.

The amount of energy we put into the system to raise cattle and the calories we get out of it is a very inefficient system.”

Although giving up on red meat may be beneficial, there are easier ways to help the environment. Reiland comments that if people are willing to try, the very least they can do is become educated about the issue.

“I think even knowing something like where our electricity comes from, knowing ways we can help conserve electricity, understanding or seeing our heating system and why it’s more efficient than in the past is important,” he said. “We don’t have to all be driving little cars, but we do need to be more efficient.”

Li ke # Te a mTr e e s , L a h r wa nt s to go f ur ther to create an environment to promote sustainability at West.

She wants the Green Team and the entirety of the school to be a model of environmental efficiency for the district.

“We as a district get charged for trash and recycling pickup,” she said.

“If we screw up ou r recycling, we get charged. It costs us money because we’re not pay i ng at tent ion.”

To i n c r e a s e a w a r e n e s s , L a h r and the Green Team want to int roduce videos during homeroom or have weekly tips about the environ ment.

“West can make an impact on all buildings in this district with a consistent education program about recycling,” she said.

If West can make a significant effect, it is possible to save lots of money for the district while preserving the world through smart environmental habits.

“One thing that I think is important is to celebrate your successes,” Lahr said. “You have to celebrate it because it’s important to see you made a change. You don’t have to be an academic superstar to be aware and change the world. You can believe in something passionately and go do that.”

by Javit Thao

News

Volume 116, Issue 3

5

November 25, 2019

West scores staggering improvement on State report Tests like semester finals, AP exams, SATs, and ACTs may cause many students dread in their high school careers. Often, rather than putting actual effort into these tests, students are motivated to simply complete them because they are obligated to do so. However, what students may not realize is that their own scores, low or high, affect the score of the school in the annual Accountability Report Cards.

“The school report card is issued by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction to all public schools in Wisconsin,” Principal Erin Kohl said. “It is intended to be an accountability tool to hold schools liable for student success. It is significant because the report cards are open to students, parents, and the public, and often these people judge the quality of schools based on their report card. Schools who score in the ‘fails to meet expectations’ category can be subject to sanctions from the state.”

Over the last year, Oshkosh West has seen significant growth in this report card. In the 2017-18 school year, the school earned a score of 68.3/100 (meets expectations), and in the last school year, West earned a 76.8/100 (exceeds expectations). A number of factors contributed to the increase, such as growth scores.

“We scored very well in the growth area, which means our students demonstrated more than one year’s worth of academic growth in a school year,” Kohl said. “This is an exciting score for us

as educators because it allows us to celebrate students’ growth over time. Even if a student is not ‘proficient’ according to

On October 30, around 70 West students took the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test, or PSAT. The test focused on grammar, reading, and math skills. The test is exactly what it sounds like, a practice for the SAT meant to help prepare sophomores and juniors for their future testing.

The SAT isn’t required for students at West to take. Most in-state colleges accept either the ACT or SAT. However, out of state schools vary on their requirements for standardized testing. Because of this, students have mixed opinions about taking the PSAT. Some believe that the PSAT is not very important or that it is a waste of time.

“I didn’t feel like the PSAT was going to be beneficial to me and my future education,” junior Maddie Bowen said. “I don’t even plan to take the SAT this year, so the practice for it wasn’t necessary.”

On the other hand, some students who took the test feel that the exam was beneficial for them, even if they didn’t plan to take the SAT or qualify for the scholarship.

“It is an opportunity to gain a scholarship that many could benefit from,” junior William Engedal said. “It’s actually good practice for test taking in general, even if someone isn’t applying for the scholarship.”

Despite the benefits that the PSAT can offer students, several felt that the test information wasn’t given to them.

“The test was a few weeks ago,” sophomore Joe Gonzalez said. “But I still don’t really know what it was.”

Many students felt they missed information about the PSAT.. Some even became aware through social media.

“I actually first heard about the PSAT through a TikTok,” Gonzalez said. “It wasn’t even information about the test.

It was a joke of this guy who was supposedly giving answers to the test.”

Several juniors who did take the test were interested because a score on the PSAT was a requirement to qualify for the National Merit Scholarship. This scholarship rewards $2,500 to 2,500 different finalists in the program. Fewer than 1% of applicants actually receive the scholarship. While many students didn’t take the PSAT for the scholarship, a select few did.

“I did take the test to at least qualify for the scholarship,” junior Savanna Sandstrom said. “There isn’t a high chance for me, or anyone, but it is a possibility and anything will eventually help.”

For those students who did have the information about the test and chose to take it, it cost them $20. This is less than half of the price of the actual SAT, which costs roughly between $45 and $65. The test is offered at a very low price, especially compared to the amount being charged to take an AP test, which is $96.

Many students are concerned about the stress that comes with standardized testing, so the PSAT was a feasible solution to help reduce test day jitters.

This option offers them a more relaxing practice for the real test environment.

“I didn’t really have any stress before taking the test,” Sandstrom said. “Overall, it wasn’t a big deal if I didn’t do super well because it was a practice, but it did help that I was pretty confident either way.”

the state criteria, if they show growth towards proficiency, that is a huge success.”

Other factors that contribute to the increase of scores include closing gaps.

“The largest area of growth from last year to this year was in the area called ‘Closing Gaps’ where there was a 12.4 point increase,” OASD Superintendent Vickie Cartwright said. “The highest portion in this area was Closing Gaps in English Language Arts with a 9.5 point in-

crease from last year. It’s also important to note that Mathematics Achievement Gaps and Graduation Rate Gaps also increased from last year. Ultimately, the school scored above the state average in all four areas, which is wonderful. It indicates that growth is occurring in all academic departments and is something to be very proud about.”

Standardized tests also played a role in the scoring.

“Our OASD 9th and 10th grade students pushed up the report card scores for both high schools,” OASD Director of Curriculum and Assessment Julie Conrad said. “Freshmen and sophomores last year scored above the state average in state testing and they are outpacing the growth of their peers at the state level. West had a significant improvement in scores last year and in growth. West added an incentive to last year’s freshmen and sophomores of opting out of finals. We believe this increased engagement in the ACT Aspire and students truly showcased what they now and are able to do.”

However, while standardized tests may serve as an indicator of growth, they may not actually contribute to student growth.

“The ACT, ACT Aspire, and Wisconsin Forward exams are included in the data used to determine the school report card,” Assistant Principal Aaron Herm said. “They are

used as measurement tools, but I don’t believe the act of taking those tests contributes to student growth. The growth has happened because of the teaching and learning within the classrooms at West on a daily basis.”

As the school year continues, there is room for more improvement. The start of this could be the simple act of attending class.

“For the most part, I think we’re already on the right track for improvement,” junior Andrew Engedal said. “However, one thing to be focused on is having a high attendance percentage, which had already been encouraged more recently with the competitions between classes.”

Another step in the process could be self-evaluation of personal growth and identifying areas of improvement.

“I think I have made a lot of improvements in the last year,” Engedal said. “I’ve gotten a lot better at explaining my thoughts, especially in English. In the future, I’d like to focus on that even more because it’s probably my weakest subject. To achieve this, I’m going to set goals for both grades on important writing assignments and focus on being concise and strong within those.”

Ultimately, the growth signals further success for Oshkosh students.

“The good news is that our community knows and understands that it takes all of us to ensure that all students are college, career, and community ready,” Conrad said. “The OASD is delivering on this promise. The longer students are with us in the OASD, the better they perform. It all takes time. In addition, children and schools are more than a score or a number on a single test. Behind every number or data point is a child with hopes and dreams.

We need to look at the whole child and the entire school community. What we see is a lot of success and promise for the future.”

However, some felt that even though the test was just a practice, it would be stress inducing.

“I felt like it was going to add more stress than I wanted or needed,” Bowen said. “It just wouldn’t fit in my life with what I had going on.”

Despite the confusion that came with the test preparation, the test successfully fulfilled its

purpose of giving students the opportunity to prepare and practice for future exams.

“Even though I didn’t know much about it, I think it’s good that it’s now being provided for sophomores,” Bowen said. “For juniors or sophomores that decide to take the SAT, doing the practice may be beneficial and if it’s what they want to do, then why not?”

by Akashraj Karthikeyan

Students struggle to find purpose in taking PSAT

by Samuel Mollenhauer

6

November 25, 2019

Volume 116, Issue 3

Sports

Sports Runners peak with appearance at State Photo Poll

Would you rather play in the extreme cold or extreme heat?

“Extreme cold because it sounds better than the heat” - freshman Myrah Lago

“Extreme heat because your muscles tense up in the cold” - sophomore Xavier Gauthier

“Cold because there are more ways to heat up than to cool down” - junior Mercedes Stromberg

“Extreme heat because I don’t like playing when I’m numb” - senior Collin Jones

“Both are very uncomfy but nothing is worse than being hot” - Spanish teacher Alyssa Gauthier

As blankets of snow cover the once joyable to join. Junior Taylor Allen has the team through improved times, along green fields cross country runners knew as not iced how i mpor t a nt it has been with two of her runners making state. home throughout the fall, the team wrapped for the team to grow close as it has “Amongst the team, I love watching up its successful season by sending two helped them to perform well in meets. how passionate they get about improvrunners to state competition. Through “The team bonding is probably one of ing on their times and racing perforcountless hours of practice while balancing the most important parts of cross country mances,” she said. “I just love the exschool and sports, the Wildcats pushed because running and training with people citement when they do well and achieve through the hardships of being student- helps when you’re closer to them,” he said. their goals, I thrive on that excitement.” athletes. The runners point to the camaraA major contributor to the bonding Pol a k h a s b e e n a ble t o ef fe c derie among the team this year for a lot of of the team has been the lack of drama. t ively coa ch t he g roup be cau se of the team’s success, as teammates developed Senior Grace Halstead feels that the sup- her passion for running, as it gives her into family through spaghetti dinners and port of the group has given everyone a way to ref lect and relieve st ress. collective hard work. Junior Aidan Berndt confidence during meets and practices.

“I love r u n n i ng becau se I l i ke witnessed this friendship in action as team“There is no drama on the team, which how, for that short amount of time, you mates rallied around state qualifiers, junior is just so great,” she said. “Everyone is lifting are just able to reflect on your life,” she John Thill and sophomore Taylor Guido, each other up and cheering each other on.” said. “Running is so good for your soul.” to practice with them for their big meet.

In cross country, having a supportive Polak has also been able to give the stu“We were able to send two of our run- team is just as important as individual dents a confidence boost with her positivity. ners, John Thill and Taylor Guido, to the practice and dedication. Guido loves cross Berndt learned the importance of positivity state meet,” he said. “During the practice country because it is a way for her to display through Polak and her coaching, which week of state, we is something he will weren’t required to be able to further use be at practice, but in his everyday life. we would go and “ Eve r yd ay, n o run with John and matter how terrible Taylor, which really her day was, Coach shows how close Polak will come to of a group we are.” practice with a smile Junior Nick on her face and get us Vey has been parmotivated to run,” he ticipating in cross said. “I have learned country since sixth that you should never grade, and this seas h o w t h a t y o u’r e son he really loved upset because when the atmosphere you’re happy, it is p r ov id e d by t h e easier to get through team and coaches. ha rd t i mes, wh ich “ T h i s ye a r ’s sometimes were cross country seathose four-mile runs son was by far the we ran at practice.” mo s t f u n out of Along with the my three seasons life skills Polak has of running at West conveyed to students, because our team ma ny have gai ned did a lot of activities skills through balancoutside of practice ing school and sports. photo from Oshkosh West High School Instagram Cross country has also t oge t he r a nd we had an overall bet- The coaches get ready to send off sophomore Taylor Guido and junior John Thill helped Guido to better outlook towards to state. After a regular season full of success, Guido and Thill competed against ter manage her time. the ultimate goal students from all around the state in their final meet of the year.

“Cross counof m a k i n g s t a t e t r y has helped me and improving evbalance my time ery runner’s time,” he said. what she has been practicing so intently for. between school and sports since I also Guido reached the goal of state that “My favorite part about cross country play for club soccer, which makes it hard many aspiring runners also hope to achieve. is the meets, because you get to showcase to complete homework and spend time Guido reached as a result of the hard work your hard work that is put into the four- with friends,” she said. “Being busy she put in and the support around her, month-long season,” she said. “It’s not has helped me use my time effectively.” which guided her to a successful season. easy running four to six miles every day.”

Some students have been balancing “W hat makes cross count r y f un A l o n g w i t h t h e h a r d wo r k i n cross country and school since middle for me is all the support I have around practice and meets, there are many school and have made cross countr y me,” she said. “I have met some of my benefits outside of cross country that en- a lifestyle. Vey has made cross country closest friends through cross country courage students to improve. Berndt ap- more than just a four-month f ling, usand they were ultimately the ones who preciates what cross country has done for ing it as motivation to prepare all year. made the hardship of running easier.” him and how he has been able to give to “Cross country is unlike any other Another Wildcat who competed at the less fortunate through group activities. sport when it comes to enjoying what state, Thill enjoyed being with his team“Every year in cross country we do a you do and gaining the momentum to mates as well as navigating the hardships drive where we ask people on the team to succeed, because it’s a sport that goes of r unning competitively with them. bring wanted items from a list that is given year-round, influencing what you eat or “What made cross country fun this to us by the Oshkosh Warming Shelter,” he the free time that is sacrificed to be able year was the team,” he said.“They made the said. “It really helped me learn that helping to get a decent workout in daily,” he said. most out of everything, even when we ran people in need is important and that someThe unique aspect of cross country in the rain, snow, hills, and hard track work- body always has it worse than you do.” has left an impression on many runners. outs. We all supported each other no matter Every team needs a good coach and Halstead will move on to bigger and the time or place, which was great to see.” Stephanie Polak has been able to get very better things soon as a senior but will Despite some bad weather, sophomore positive results from her runners. Polak always take what she has learned from Annika Larson believes that nothing can top loves the excitement displayed by her stu- cross country and her coaches with her. training in the occasional beautiful weath- dents and their willingness to work hard.

“Cross country is something that I er and the rush of competitive running. “ T hey’r e a g r e at g r ou p a nd it will miss when I move on to college,” “ S o m e t i m e s yo u go fo r a r u n makes me happy to see their excite- she said of her future plans after graduon a beautiful day and you just feel ment,” she said. “It makes me want ation, “but the great thing about running great,” she said. “The r unner’s high to strive to always do better for them.” is that it will always be a part of me no you get from cross country is the best.”

For a coach, the best thing they can matter what happens or where I am.”

To some, having the right people watch is the success of their athletes. Poby Joe Mayo around is what makes a sport truly en- lak has been able to see the success of

Sports

Volume 116, Issue 3

7

November 25, 2019

New coach, new year, new ice as ‘Hawks hit rink When the snow begins to settle and the weather begins to drop, it can only mean one thing: the beginning of hockey season. The Ice Hawks, a co-op hockey team that includes West, Oshkosh North, Lourdes, Winneconne, Laconia, Lomira, and Ripon, is excited to kick off the new season while welcoming their new coach, John Thomson. With a team that is full of players from around the area, Thomson is hoping to bring new chemistry and bring the team closer as a whole.

“I am excited about kicking the season off and working with and getting to know all the players on both the jayvee and varsity teams,” he said. “From what I have seen to date we have a fine group of young men from all the schools in the co-op that are willing to learn and work hard to achieve our goals.”

Not only is Coach Thomson trying to develop a new style to the ice rink, but he also is focused on making the team atmosphere better, by adding support to the squad.

“Goals for myself this season would be to develop the coaching staff, program development, and booster board/parent support,” he said. “Goals for the team would be to develop our team identity, implement the teams core principles, which are respect, hustle, teamwork, dedication and lastly to develop our own style of team play.”

With a team excited to see Thomson’s new management, senior Holden Robertson has many positive hopes and predictions for the upcoming season. His thoughts are very important to the team, considering he will be looked up to by many younger teammates.

“Being a senior, you, of course, have to have a positive impact on the team.” have very high expectations for yourself and One of the first things Thomteammates as this very well could be the last son will do is choose team captains, year we ever play hockey together,” he said. who are a necessity to a well functionHaving a new coach has greatly ing and hardworking team as it will be boosted team spirit after a very frustrat- a much smoother season with leaders ing season last year. everyone cam look up to and depend on.

“I think we have a great chance to make “The captains and alternate captains plays and win many games because we have a great group of players this year.”

Thomson has worked with younger athletes and hopes to translate what he has learned to this Ice Hawks team. He wanted to take this new challenge and make the Ice Hawks o n e of t h e b e s t teams in the state.

“Having coached s e ve r a l ye a r s a t the youth hockey level, I had the opphoto by Isabelle Cartwright portunity to learn f rom many g reat The Ice Hawks have a close team bond and chemistry that relates c o a c h e s . W h e n to the ice rink. With the Ice Hawks under new management, many t h is op p or t u n it y are excited for the upcoming season. opened up it seemed the time was right for me to take that next step and apply are the biggest leaders… in order to be all that I have learned to a high school selected as a captain or alternate captain hockey team,” he said. “I was encour- the player must display the following charaged by my family and friends to take acteristics; always put the team first, lead the position with the thought that I could by example, inspire those around them,

and create positive relationships with teammates and coaches,” Thomson said.

Junior Logan Farber, has very high aspirations for the team and what they can achieve. Thomson can hopefully use his new style of play to make the team undefeated.

“I am very confident in our new coach and looking forward to this year; I know we are going to go 24-0,” he said. “Goals for the season are to have everyone play an equal role for the team and score as many goals as possible.“ The hockey players have a common theme in their goals, which is to get closer with the other players, create chemistry, and have a more positive, winning season.

“My goals for this year are to be able to look at any one of my teammates in the eyes and be able to call them a brother,” said junior Dylan Sprister. “Since we have brought in a new coach, I’m confident that he will be able to bring us closer as a team. I have talked to him numerous times, and I know he will value hard work, discipline, and attitude on this team. I am interested to see the new ideas he brings to the table because we needed a change as a team and I think we finally found it.”

Ethan Hoodie, a sophomore, hopes to achieve greatness with his team and excel in teamwork to reach his goals of a better win percentage than last season. ¨I hope we go above 500 as our win percent and I hope it will be a good team effort every game and that ever yone works together,” he said.

by Savanna Sandstrom

Thomas grinds to come back from gruesome injury

Senior and captain of the boy’s basket- son-ending injury for Thomas was working ball team, Karter Thomas, has proven to hard in the offseason, which took a lot of be one of the best dedication players in the state “Karafter a standout ter has 2018-19 season avperfect eraging 24.2 points attendance per game. With the for our basketball season off-season getting underway, activities Thomas is on a and is a quest to come back leader and from a serious knee mentor to injury from last our youth season, hoping to players. lead the Wildcats He is one to state for the first of the more time since 2006. skilled Head Coach Mike players in Johnson has seen the state Thomas work in and plays the offseason and with a lot believes he will of pasbe a force to be sion.... reckoned with this when he upcoming season. channels “Karter is in that pasthe best shape of sion in a his life,” he said. positive “He took his rew a y, i t photo by Isabelle Cartwright i s i n f e c covery and rehab very seriously and Senior Karter Thomas celebrates a made basket. After a tious to is ready to hit the torn ACL and meniscus, Thomas worked hard to recover our entire ground running. and get ready for the upcoming season. team and Anyone who untakes us derestimates his abilities coming off to another level,” an injury will have a rude awakening.” J o h n s o n s a i d .

After tearing both his ACL and me- After not niscus, and an eight-month recovery, being able to play Thomas kept his eyes on his goal, the sport he loves w h i c h w a s a s u c c e s s f u l r e c o v e r y. for months, he be“It was a long road but now I gan to fully underam able to do what I love again, stand the beauty which is playing basketball,” he said. o f t h e g a m e .

One of the keys to success after a sea“This offsea-

son with the physical activity I worked on things that I never thought I would have to work on to be successful and this made me more athletic and my knee is stronger with all the physical therapy that I did. I think that I am going to come back stronger with my mental aspect because me not being able to play basketball and see others out there it was really hard to comprehend.”

Thomas has loads of confidence coming in to the start of the season, saying it is all about the mind set and expectation to do good.

“I know I will come back stronger this season. It all comes with confidence in my opinion because of I have the attitude I have,” he said.

Thomas, who only has one more season of high school basketball, has seen himself grow not only as a basketball player, but as a person.

“As an athlete I have grown a lot; I have gotten stronger faster and just developed my body for the better,” he said. “I have put a lot of work into the weight room and in the gym to develop my overall game and be able to be successful and help the team win. I think it’s easy for me to say that I have grown more as a person than an athlete because I have realized how I need to carry myself.”

Thomas had an exceptional season last year, and Johnson can’t wait to see what he will bring to the team this season.

Junior Jacquez Overstreet sees Thomas as a great leader who is constantly helping out the team, in multiple different ways.

“He is a great leader. Whenever we workout or whenever we are in practice, he always pushes everyone and is always looking out for teammates,” he said.

With Thomas’ last season of high school basketball coming to a close, Overstreet has seen him grow as a person on and off the court and he thinks Thomas is one of the hardest working people he knows.

“I’ve known Karter since fourth or fifth grade. Karter’s work ethic is out of control. He’s always working, and he is always trying to improve as a basketball to get to the next level and reach maximum potential,” he said.

Thomas has matured a lot on the basketball court over the years. He hopes to give advice to younger athletes by changing their mindset, and getting a strong work ethic.

“The biggest advice I can give to a young athlete is that listen to their coach and trust the process because that is what I did with Coach Johnson,” Thomas said. “Over the years I have been in the gym 6/7 days and same with the weight room as well.”

Physical rehab has parallels to a n y c h a l l e n g e i n a p e r s o n ’s l i f e .

“Find something that will keep you going everyday and realize what you’re doing now will get you where you want to be in the future not just with basketball same with school and overall just in life,” Thomas said. “Something that I live by is G O L A = G r i n d O r L i v e Av e r a g e . ”

by Zade Alzoubi

When diversity creates opportunity...

Microcosmic school communities can set st With Thanksgiving quickly approaching, scenes of roasted turkey, gathered families, and hordes of shoppers spring to mind. The event serves as a prelude to the largest part of the holiday season in America - Christmas. This festivity plays a significant part in the lives of many Americans. However, in a nation also containing a variety of individuals stemming from different social, cultural, ethnic, and religious backgrounds, some people’s traditions vary from the those of the majority.

At West, the same concept applies, and there are many students from backgrounds outside the American mainstream. One such student is junior Marcus Wakefield.

“I’m biracial,” he said. “My mom is Chinese and my dad is white, and I did live in China for five years, which was interesting because in China I was the ‘American kid.’ Here, often a lot of people will say I am the ‘Chinese kid.’ But, honestly, I culturally identify as an American.

I don’t know much about my Chinese culture. I can count to four in Chinese and say ‘ice cream,’ so I wish I knew more.”

Wakef ield, while con sider i ng h i m self American, does differ slightly f rom the majori t y , where rel ig i o n is concerned.

“Religiously, I am Christian, but I’ve come to kind of dislike the Christian label because of everything that has been associated with it,” he said. “I’d prefer the term ‘follower of Jesus.’”

Some others follow a different r e -

l i g i o n e n t i r e l y, s u c h as senior Ekaan A h mad.

“I religiously identify as a Muslim,” he said. “I believe in one god. I also believe that all the religions that have come prior to Islam, such as Christianity and Judaism, are all true. All the prophets are true as well. There’s no compulsion in religion.

I also believe in ‘love for all, hatred for none.’”

Other students reside on the other side of the spectrum - a lack of belief in the divine or supernatural. Atheism is a growing “religion” across the world, and more and more followers are gravitating to a belief in non-belief.

“I identify as an atheist. I guess the only core belief of being an atheist is not believing there is a god or other supernatural deity or being of any sort,” senior Alex Jones said. “Personally, I am a registered member of the Temple of Satan. They are a federally recognized ‘religious’ group comprised of atheists and agnostics whose main goal is to fight for the separation of church and state. I believe a lot in the separation of church and state, and that religion shouldn’t have any inf luence in our politics.”

H o w e v e r, a s w i t h d i v e r s i t y a n y w h e r e i n t he world , c on f l ic t i s i nev it a ble, a nd hu m a n it y has a long a nd u n for t u nate h istor y of t h is.

“At times, I think diversity can lead to conflict in the school,” Principal Erin Kohl said. “Sometimes, people lack a full understanding of another person’s beliefs and culture.

I know some people are very tied to their own beliefs and values and have a hard time understanding that not everybody holds the same beliefs and values they do. When there’s that sort of clash of values and beliefs, I think that misunderstanding or lack of understanding can create conflict.”

For some students, an inability to comprehend differing beliefs has led to disbelief, and in some cases, denial. “ I r e me mb e r, i n m at h cla s s of my s o pho more year, it somehow came up that this girl went to church, and she asked me what church I went to as if I had to go to a church,” Jones said. “And I said I was an atheist and the girl looked at me and said ‘How do you live your life without knowing there’s a god?’”

Often, misunderstandings lead to the stereotyping of various cultures. Wakefield is no stranger to this occurrence.

“I can think of just one memory of coming back to America,” he said. “When I went to f i rst grade and told people I lived in China, they would all pull their eyelids back. I was like ‘they don’t look like that, I don’t look like that,’ but that was just their view of what C h i n a was and I don’t blame them for that; they were in first grade.”

In extreme cases, misconceptions can lead to violence and discrimination towards minorities.

“At points, it has been diff icult being a minority. Some people will yell racial slurs,” Ahmad said.

“One time, I was by the sundial in downtown Oshkosh and I was holding a sign saying ‘Meet a Muslim, Ask Me Anything.’

The point was to get people to understand what Islam stands for and to get rid of any misconceptions they might have. And I was just standing there waiting for anyone to come by when this guy pulled up in front of me, f lipped me off, and shouted ‘get out of our count r y you f- - - - -g sand n----r.’”

Such o ccu rrences a r e unf o rtunate a n d cast a dark sh a d ow ove r a world filled with d iver sit y. However, not all is ‘doom a n d g l o o m ,’ a n d such conf lict can be avoided when acceptance comes into play.

“Obv iou sly, I t h i n k the more we work to try and understand each other, multiple beliefs, and perspectives, it will help,” Kohl said. “This doesn’t mean we have to agree with those beliefs or perspectives, but I think it makes us more open-minded, and understanding makes us willing to accept each other rather than create conflict.”

Many times, the unfortunate incidents perpetrated by those who are closed-minded can be made up for by instances of acceptance.

“For the most part, people are respectful and kind, especially in Wisconsin,” Ahmad said. “Bad incidents happen sometimes, like at the sundial, but they’re fairly isolated. When people hear others yelling slurs at me, they do come to apologize. For instance, after this incident, a few minutes later a woman came to me and bought me cookies and coffee and apologized for how that man had acted. So, some things are present, but it’s not too bad.”

At West and around Oshkosh, other instances of openness to outsiders include relations with exchange students who visit the school ever y year.

“My transition to America has been pretty good,” Latvian exchange student Darija Barsukova said. “My host family is really nice. I connected to them really well and they’re really good people. I also started swimming, which kind of helped me at making friends in the beginning because we have an amazing team here. I really like it here.”

This relationship-building is vital to overcoming the obstacles in acceptance and celebrating diversity, instead of letting differences drive rifts between people.

“I think the number one thing to do is build relationships; that to me is the absolute key for staff and students to overcome differences,” Kohl said. “I think our staff do really work hard to build relationships w it h our students, but it’s something we all

can work on.

We n e e d t o create conditions where students have the opportunity to build relationships with each other and to get to know each other on a much deeper level than just, ‘oh yeah, I know you, you’re in my class.’ But, to really have those opportunities to really know each other, to get to discuss, share, and collaborate together - I think those are the most important steps. The relationship is everything.”

An overall acceptance of both majority and minority cultures allows for individuals to freely express their faith, values, and customs without persecution at West

tandard for macrocosmic world of relations and around the globe. A very valuable form of expression is the freedom of religion, and this very right plays an important role in the lives of students like Wakefield.

“I think that Jesus loves ever yone, and that he really did die for everyone,” he said. “Something that my dad has been saying that I really like from a theologian is that not all roads lead to Jesus,

but J e sus will go down all roads to find people and to help them.

Despite this, I also really disagree with the idea that everyone who doesn’t convert to a certain religion is condemned to Hell.”

Many people often look to religion as a platfor m to f ind g uidance. However, Barsu kova believes that one can look to religion for suppor t, but one mu st a l so h ave i nd iv idu a l d iscipl i ne.

“I believe in people making their own future and doing things that benefit themselves,” she said. “So, if you

want to change your life, you just have to do it yourself.

Nothing is just going to come to you, you have to actually work for it. I think a lot of people just wait for something good to happen in their lives but are not really doing anything to cause it. You actually have to get up from the couch and do the stuff that will benefit your life.”

For Barsukova, there is one main source of these values.

“I’d say my parents influence me a lot, especially my mom,” she said. “She has always taught me to do the right thing and to work for things you want. She taught me to be disciplined, even in studies. Some people get money or presents for having good grades; I never had that. My mom taught me to work for my future. That inf luenced me a lot as a person.”

For t hose not believ i ng i n relig ion, like Jones, a lack of inf luence has instead cont r ibuted to their beliefs.

“Neither of my parents really identify as atheists; I belong to the first generation,” he said. “I like how neither of my parents tried to force a religion onto me at a young age. I was raised without a religion, and I never had anybody tell me what religion was ‘correct’ until I was six or seven, and at that point I had already decided. I guess in my mind, I character ized ‘God’ along where you would put Santa or the Easter Bunny - they’re things that some people believe i n , but some thing I personally never believed in.”

Religious or not, there are a multit ude of holi-

days a n d events that play a large role in any belief system.

“There are only two ‘official’ holidays in Islam,” Ahmad said.

“They are Eid ul Fitr and Eid ul Adha. Eid ul Fitr is basically after Ramadan, which is the month where Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset.

The reason for fasting is to understand how the poor and the hungry feel, and to be sympathetic towards their needs. It is also to remember people’s sacrifices, and there are additionally a lot of health benefits because sometimes intermediate fasting leads to a cleansing of the body. The holiday is where we have a feast, have a prayer, get together to give gifts and money, and to thank God for our food and other stuff. Eid ul Adha is two months after Eid ul Fitr and is about remembering the sacrifice of Abraham.”

On the other hand, as a Christian, Kohl celebrates more traditional American holidays.

“My family c e l ebrates the traditional Christian holidays like Christmas and E a s t e r ,” she said. “But I also celebrate holidays like Halloween, the

Fourth of July, and New Year’s Eve. They are a part of how I was raised and I still practice them. Thanksgiving is also a great holiday for getting together with family. It’s my favorite food holiday because I love the Thanksgiving meal.”

Despite being an atheist, Jones still finds a purpose in holidays that are often religiously-connected.

“My family still celebrates Christmas as more of a cultural tradition rather than a religious tradition,” Jones said. “We have a Christmas tree but there’s no angel at the top. There’s no mention of Jesus. To me, Christmas is more about the spirit of family and giving, and we usually volunteer for a variety of organizations. And Thanksgiving isn’t a religious holiday, but some people connect it to religion. We just celebrate it to get family together.”

Thanksgiving especially, being classified as a national holiday, appeals to a variety of faiths and belief systems where giving thanks is a fundamental part of life.

“We celebrate Thanksgiving, but it’s not like we have a religious ceremony,” Ahmad said. “Muslims are taught to be thankful before all else. We need to be thankful to God, to our parents who provided for us, and to our society. So, we don’t have any objections to Thanksgiving. I love Thanksgiving food anyway.”

A p a r t f r o m h ol id ay s , id e a s of w h a t h a p pens after death are deeply pondered and discussed.

These beliefs can be fundamental in any culture.

“I believe in life after death but I don’t believe in the ‘good people go to heaven and the bad people go to hell’ philosophy,” Wakefield said. “I think it’s a lot more complex than that. I believe that when Jesus died, he descended into Hell, but he was too hot to handle; it can’t hold him. He holds the keys to Hell, and if we, his beloved, descend into that why would he keep us there?”

Others believe in the conce pt of rei nca r n at ion a nd /or rebi r t h.

“I believe in Buddhistic things regarding death,” senior Harry Zhang said. “People come back as babies and live over and over again.”

Overall, We st’s m icro -

cosm of diversity translates to the larger macro-cosmic setting of the world. The plethora of perspectives and perceptions creates an opportunity to learn new concepts by simply interacting with each other.

“I’d say diversity in the community is important,” Zhang said. “Being open to different points of v i e w and learning about different traditions and cultures is good.

It’s really cool to come up with different ideas after interacting with another culture.”

More specifically, diversity allows for selfref lection, which b e n ef i t s a l l .

“With ever ything going on in the world, I thin k the more diverse perspectives and opinions we come in contact with and have make us better,” Kohl said. “It helps us solve world problems in a better and more effective way. Especially in a school setting, it helps us become critical-thinkers and really think through our own values and beliefs.”

story by Akashraj Karthikeyan graphics by Hannah Olson

10

November 25, 2019

Volume 116, Issue 3

Community

Parade d r ums in holiday season for Osh kosh

Julie’s dancers twirl their way throught the streets of downtown Oshkosh in festive candy cane costumes.

The theme for the 2019 Holiday parade was the March of the Toys.

Junior Demetrios Voulgaris drums to the beat of “Frosty the Snowman” as the West band moves along Main Street. The Oshkosh Holiday Parade took place on November 14th.

The West Drumline marches proudly, setting the tempo for their classmates.

The band practiced in the freezing weather to prepare for this important performance.

The band will also make an appearance in the Appleton parade tomorrow night, where they will be aired live on television. West band students marched in step for over a mile while showcasing their talents.

H O L I D A Y

P A R A D E

The Grinch waves to the crowd as he rides in a Mustang. With the holiday season around the corner, classic winter characters made their way through the parade, including penguins, snowmen, and of course, Santa Claus.

Miss Oshkosh and Miss Oshkosh Outstanding Teen embrace the cold night with smiles on their faces. The two have made dozens of appearances in parades, fundraisers, and community events this year.

2 0 1 9 The dancers of Juile’s Touch of Silver spin their way through the streets with an upbeat music routine. Juile’s was one of many dance groups featured in the parade.

Along with West, the Lourdes band proudly represents their school for the holiday season. The high school bands loved to entertain their audiences with recognizable tunes during the parade.

photos by Abe Weston

Community

Volume 116, Issue 3

November 25, 2019

11

Music provides universal language for all ages

This year, the Oshkosh Youth Sympho- music and with high schoolers. This year ny has joined forces with fourth graders from was the first that offered the opportunity across the community to create an interac- for the fourth graders to come and watch tive concert. Yukiko Grine, the Oshkosh the Oshkosh Youth Symphony perform.

Youth Symphony conductor for the OYS“At the time the OYSO was working Symphony Orchestra, as well as the West with third graders, but it no longer fit into and North Orchestra director, explained their curriculum,” Renee Schumacher, the the purpose and intention of the group. Arts District Coordinator, said. “So we “Our mission and vision includes pre- shifted to fourth grade where their engisenting musical opportunities for all stu- neering standards matched and we reardents, and we ranged their also wanted to sound unit.” figure out how T h i s to better coly e a r ’ s laborate with t heme for our community t h e OYS O and school disconcert was trict,” she said.

S.T.E.A.M.: The Osscience, h kosh Yout h technology, Sy mphony is engineering, open to grades the arts, and f ive t h roug h m a t h e m a t12. Senior ics. In order Nathan Kop to integrate per knows he the concert will miss the into the photo courtesy of Nithya Ambati members in the Cello player Nathan Kopper strums to the music with his fellow stu- curriculum, years to come. dents. The Symphony Orchestra is the highest group in the Youth Schumacher “I started Symphony. Other groups include Woodwind Trio and Philharmonia. p a r t n e r e d OYSO before with Grine freshman year and have been involved in to create lesson plans for the fourth gradOYSO for four years,” he said. “I’m going ers surrounding the concert’s theme. to miss the rehearsals and all the fun Ms. “I discovered there was a sound naGrine puts into them, plus the time spent tional science standard, and the fourth with everyone seems to just have flown by.” g rade st udents were lear ning about Preparation for their concerts included sound, sound waves, and wavelengths,” practices every Monday night from 6:30 to Grine said. “I thought we should go 8:45. Junior Jonathan Bowers was happy with that idea and see what we could to finally play the music they learned, but do to collaborate with the district on the real joy was sharing it with others. a much deeper level across the board.”

“We try to do what we can so the pubWith the new integration program in lic can go and enjoy their experience,” he the school district, Grine reached out to said. “If kids get involved, that is great, and the curriculum director Julie Conrad, and it gives students the opportunity to make she connected Grine and Schumacher. new friends and just have a good time.”

“The Oshkosh Area School District Bowers and other current members are just adopted these new engineering stanglad for the chance to perform music out- dards related to our mystery science unit side of the school environment. He was just which is all hands on experiments and one of these many students who jumped learning for the students,” Schumacher said. at the chance to play his instrument more.

The fourth graders each made an in“OYSO provided an opportunity to play strument of their choice as a practical way more music, since I am an absolute fanatic to apply what they learned about sound. for anything that has to do with the classi- They then created videos they could share cal music,” he said. “Just having more of an with their classmates and teachers. Grine opportunity for French horn solos, which was pleased to see that the fourth graders are rare, took learnm a de it ing seria special ously, along opporw it h t hei r t u n it y.” understandThe ing behind Oshkosh the project.

Yo u t h “They S y m exceeded phony is our expecno easy t a t i o n s of activity. what they Grine created, and was thorthe instr uoughly ments they photo courtesy of Nithya Ambati i m - Fourth graders come up on stage to answer questions related to their unit. engineered p r e s s e d Orchestra teacher Yukiko Grine helped to create the lesson for the fourth to demby what grader classrooms and the interactive concert. onstrate t h e their unmusicians accomplished at the com- d e r s t a nd i ng of s ou nd wave s we r e munity fall concert on November 10. incredible,” she said. “It was wonder“Overall I think that, given the dif- ful to see how they shared their learnficulty of the repertoire and the huge un- ing and knew what they were talking dertaking that the children’s concert was about, proud to share their creations.” this year, the students did really well,” she Without Grine’s passion for wanting said. “I’m very pleased with how it went.” the students to really learn and take away The OYSO musicians also performed something from the unit, Schumacher beat the children’s concert a few days later. lieves that this would not have been the The event was created as an effort to get in depth lesson the district was going for. more students in the district involved in “I think it is way more in depth than

it has been in the past, especially seeing were so involved with a concert coming up.” high school students perform,” she said.

As well as the families getting ex“This year, having them so involved in the cited about the collaboration, the kids process, having them making their own in- were also spreading the word and were strument, they have a part in it. Making the ecstatic about their field trip to West. instruments, watching Ms. Grine talk in “The kids are excited about it and the videos, talk about get ting to it with their meet her in p a r e nt s ,” their classes, Schumacher seeing her in s a id . “ O u r the concert, goal is to get and conkids who are ducting the already into s y mphony, music to get it is just so interested much more in science i n vol ve d .” and engiAfter neering and the lessons, vice versa.” photo courtesy of Nithya Ambati the students When The fourth graders watch as the Symphony orchestra performs its would watch set from the fall concert. As they listen, the kids try to figure out how one finds t h e h i g h concepts they learned correlate with the sounds. At the end of the a n i nt e re st s c h o o l e r s performance they were able to play along with the older students. in the ar ts, perform sophomore and talk Ella Steffen believes it is important to share about the science behind the sounds. At that passion because music can greatly the end, they each got to share their in- inf luence those who attend concerts. struments and play with the symphony.

“It’s impactful to the community by “We played our set from the fall getting adults excited about music and getconcert and in between, Ms. G talked ting more kids involved which will help about the science they had been learn- them in different aspects of their life.” ing about. At the end, as part of their Stef fen goes on to poi nt out project, they made their own instruments t he specif ics about how music ca n and played along with us,” Kopper said. help st ude nt s i n t hei r d a i ly l ive s.

“I saw some really cool instruments, one “OYSO has allowed me to meet differlooked almost exactly like a real guitar.” ent friends who had similar interests, and I With the concert over now, Kopper was able to enhance my skills musically,” thinks that she said. “It it was a help s w it h creative math and way to language engage the sk i l ls, a nd younger opens up students in different le a r n i ng. pathways in “I felt the brain and it went int roduces r e a l l y you to new well,” he sk ills you said. “The can use for kids were t he rest of engaged you r l i fe.” photo courtesy of Nithya Ambati and I think SchumStudents stand as the crowd applauds their performance of Beethoven hav i ng it a c h e r also Symphony no. 5. With two days between their two concerts, the students t i e i n t o still had an opportunity to tweak their performance. r e c o g their scinizes the ence classi m p o r t a n c e of t e a c h i n g k i d s t h e es at school, then having a field trip here v a l u e of a r t s e ve r yd a y t e a c h i n g . to wrap up their unit with an interactive “You have that student who can’t arconcert, was a good experience for them.” ticulate what they’re learning, but through After introducing the Oshkosh Youth music they can,” she said of the process.

Symphony’s collaboration with the fourth “I think as we continue this project, it graders at their community concer t, will keep growing and kids in younger it sparked the interest of many parents. grades won’t be able to wait until they’re “When the public concert happened, in fourth grade so they can have that we played a video that expressed the gist of fun. Since art integration is one of those the project and the collaboration with the magical things, that really helps all learnfourth grade students,” Schumacher said. ers demonstrate their understanding.”

“There were ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’ because they

by Emma Olson were excited to see that the younger students

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admissionsspecialist@fvtc.edu 920-735-4740

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November 25, 2019

Volume 116, Issue 3

Entertainment

Sleep shines light on overlooked mysteries Nearly 40 years since the release of Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining, Mike Flanagan has brought the horror master’s sequel, Doctor Sleep, to the big screen.

After the predecessor was deemed a classic horror film, Doctor Sleep has been highly anticipated by King enthusiasts and horror film fanatics alike. Following Danny Torrance, now in his 40s, the film answers many of the questions that The Shining left unanswered, finally answering questions from mind-boggled viewers.

Though Doctor Sleep doesn’t entirely fit under the horror movie genre like its prequel, the film entertains with an enthralling plot, abundance of suspense, and exceptional acting that will leave the audience captivated and biting their nails bloody.

Now set in the 21st century, the film begins by showing Torrance, clearly struggling from alcoholism like his late father, Jack, in an attempt to drown out his traumatizing past and his unusual telekinetic powers he calls “the shining.” Deciding he needs a change, Torrance gets an apartment, a job, and begins to attend regular AA meetings. As he begins to embrace the shining more, a young girl named Abra Stone with a very powerful “shine” begins to telepathically communicate with him.

Soon after they begin this communication, Stone begins to have visions and dreams of a sinister group, called the True Knot, that murders others to take their shine.

Though they are an odd team, Torrance and Stone work together to take out this menacing, overpowered cult that threatens both their lives and those who also have “the shining.” This inclusion of a young girl not only brings in an interesting aspect

to a film whose protagonist is an old white similar. Wendy has the same hair and highman, but it also brings back a nostalgic feel pitched voice and, as for Danny, one would to the film, as fans of the original will know have to be paying close attention to notice that a young the difference, creatDanny Toring a new, revamped rance was the glance into the familmost intriguiar Overlook Hotel. ing part of Though the lack The Shining. of appearances from Throughactors from The Shinout the moving is disappointing, ie, there are Doctor Sleep has flashback many new and admiscenes to rable actors. One acevents that tress in particular that took place stands out is 13-yearduring the old Kyliegh Curran time of The who plays the riveting Shining, young “shiner,” Stone. but were This film is Curran’s not actually feature film debut depicted in and only her second the original film overall. She confilm. Due to veys fascinating talthe 39-year photo from the Doctor Sleep Facebook page ent through the screen gap between and her young characthe films, the scenes have new actors but ter captures the empathy of the audience retain the same mood as the original film. throughout. Though Dan Torrance isn’t Though the difference in actors is disap- played by the actor who originally played pointing to fans of the original gorgeously him, Ewan McGregor (Star Wars) does haunting Kubrick film, it is obviously not an incredible job at portraying a matured realistic to maintain the same cast given Torrance, and Rebecca Furguson’s (Misthe amount of time since The Shining was sion Impossible - Rogue Nation) role as filmed. The actors who play Wendy Tor- the leader of the True Knot will send chills rance (Alexandra Essoe) and young Danny down your spine. Overall, the actors have (Roger Dale Floyd) give excellent perfor- spectacular chemistry and are excellent at mances of the mother and son in nearly the creating a believable and entertaining film. same way that the original actors did and, Like its prequel, Doctor Sleep keeps though they don’t look exactly the same a serious and ominous tone throughout facially, their dress and style are extremely the film. While it may be disappointing

Within Kanye West’s long awaited ninth studio album, Jesus is King, he diverts into a different music path that focuses on gospel themes.

His audience has heard similar themes in the past, with acclaimed tracks such as “Jesus Walks” and “Ultralight Beam,” but fans are introduced to a whole era and record focused on Christianity. The Chicagoraised rapper successf ully placed all of his 11 new tracks on the Billboard Top 100, but fans and Christians alike have ver y split reactions on the album. Just as anyone would when singing about God and sharing their thoughts on religion, West has received great criticism for his questionable new works. However, despite controversies in the past about his own religious experience, he creates an exceptional album focused on his beliefs.

One distinguished track exhibiting this is “Selah,” featuring the Sunday Service Choir that completes the song with loud percussion paired with soulful church organs. Even though the sound is there, this particular track lacks lyrically, as West proclaims “Before the flood, people

judge / They did the same thing to Noah.”

Many Christians and new listeners were

to some that there is no aspect of comedic relief, such as in Stephen King’s recent IT films, this helps to keep an obvious tie to The Shining. The film uses the same music as the former and keeps the same hushed atmosphere to keep the continuous gloomy, serious mood that the original held. One aspect of the film that is especially anxietyinducing is the presence of a loud, deep, heartbeat sound that plays during major scenes. The sound is used a number of times throughout the 152-minute movie and adds to the already extremely ominous tone.

While Doctor Sleep fits more under the thriller genre than horror like its predecessor, the film is entertaining with a captivating plot, an abundance of suspense, and phenomenal acting that will leave the audience mesmerized. Even with the 39 years between the two films, they connect smoothly in order to finally answer the question of what happened to Danny Torrance after the trauma he experienced during The Shining, along with many other unanswered questions that the film left behind.

Despite the lack of original actors, the 2019 film adaptation of Stephen King’s Doctor Sleep still manages to “shine” brightly on the big screen.

by Caitlynn Gehl

K a nye goe s gosp el w it h newe st rele a se

photo from Flickr

displeased with this, since West essentially compares himself to a biblical figure while still preaching that “Jesus is King,” making certain listeners view him as Jesus. Aside from the controversy surrounding this lyric, “Selah” offers cinematic excellence, illustrating West’s own emotions through his music while portraying religious understanding concurrently.

Another outstanding track is “Follow repeating, “Closed on Sunday, you’re my God.” This song appeals to listeners due to Chick-fil-A” makes the track laughable, the sampling of the 2013 gospel song “Can and defeats the entire religious point that You Lose By Following God” by Whole West was attempting to convey by blindly Truth. This West comparing the Christian track includes the church to an outwardly hosampled “Father mophobic fast food chain.

I stretch / Stretch Althoug h Jesus is my hands to you,” King’s lyricism and meswhich many Kanye sage as a whole was rather We s t f a n s h ave shor t and doesn’t fully heard before from convey West’s distinct his 2016 Life of point across to listeners, it Pablo albu m on brings with it a truly rethe track “Father ligious sound and holds a Stretch My Hands few insightful references Pt. 1.” Aside from to Christianity. Although simply being a callmany, such as West himback, the meaning self, may argue that in behind the gospel order to fully understand p h r a s e “ Fa t h e r art, you must focus on the stretch my hands” music itself while not tryis that Christians ing to succumb to one’s photo from Wikimedia own inner bias, West must are reaching out to God, yet not quite have known that expressbeing able to touch him and asking him ing his thoughts on religion might come to supernaturally “stretch” their hands to- with great backlash. wards him. Both tracks demonstrate songs of yearning and trying to reach something Even with beautiful music, Kanye’s bigger. attempt at a religiously motivated Along with the religiously pictorecord establishes itself as a flop rial songs, Jesus is King is paired with with critics and Christians alike. songs that didn’t sit well with many Christian listeners. One particular track, “Closed On Sunday,” includes the repetition of a cringe wor thy lyric that ruins the

by Trista Fleck entire song. West

Entertainment

Volume 116, Issue 3

13

November 25, 2019

Joker walks f ine line between pathos, exploitation

Psychologically chilling and cinematically brilliant, Joker hit the big screen this October, much to the excitement of DC Comics fans, cinephiles, and average moviegoers alike. While its predecessors, such as the acclaimed The Dark Knight and the dreadful Suicide Squad vacillated between vile and coarse, Joker is warped and beautiful or beautifully warped. Featuring an incredibly talented actor, artistically gifted director and film crew, it creates a haunting and provocative addition to the Batman and DC Universe.

Before diving into the twisted story of the movie’s protagonist, we must a c k n owl e d g e t h a t when examining it technically, Joker is a gorgeous film. With a beaut if u l, fa ded o r a nge - blu e c olo r scheme and frequent long shots, the cinematography makes the film a thousand times more powerful and g ut-w renching for viewers. Director Todd Phillips (Old School, The Hangover) t r u ly k nows how to work the camera, adding an artistic and almost somber ef fe ct t o t he f i l m through his cinematography. The camera almost always focuses on Fleck, the film’s protagonist-turned-Joker, allowing the audience to truly follow his twisted story vicariously. Without even examining the plot, the beauty leaps from the screen.

Joaquin Phoenix gives an excellent performance, embodying the Clown Prince of Crime through the twitchy, dark, mentally unstable character of Fleck that viewers oddly sympathize with during the early

half of Joker. Long gone are the days of fans seeing their favorite soft-voiced actor play rather one dimensional roles such as the spoiled Roman emperor Commodus in the 2000 film Gladiator, or the awkward and heartbroken Theodore in 2013’s Academy Award winning Her; rather, Phoenix stirs up a tempest of emotions within his portrayal of Fleck. Audiences feel a mixture of sympathy and disgust for the film’s protagonist, something not easily accomplished. Fleck’s neurological condition causes him to produce eerie shrieks of laughter uncontrollably, notably at the most inconvenient times. Not only does Phoenix give us the best Joker laugh i n the last 50 years, but his condition helps t o bu i ld another layer of meaning behind the Joker’s sign at u r e ca ck le, shifting it from a simply sinister t r a dema rk of the villain to an emotional, grotesque, burdening disability that our protagonist suffers f rom. photo from Joker Facebook page Phoenix also went th roug h a very obvious physical transformation for his role as the Joker, losing over 50 pounds and mentally putting himself into the shoes of Fleck, socially isolating himself. This immersion into the character, known as method acting, also engulfed famous and late actor Heath Ledger, who also portrayed the Joker in 2008’s The Dark Knight. It’s a common theory among fans that Ledger’s method acting was what

ultimately consumed him, leading to his lutely not, and most can understand this, drug overdose and death. However, this has but this concept can become jumbled in the not been confirmed, and respectfully, it’s minds of those who cannot separate this not our right as fans to judge or question movie from reality. Because the audience Ledger’s devastating death. True or not, it’s is meant to sympathize with Fleck and his pretty common knowledge that playing a mental illness, some also might take that character as complicated and warped as the as a cue to sympathize with his murders, and maybe even their Joker takes a ow n w rongdoi ngs. large toll on Joker makes for an the actor, yet alluring and poignant Phoenix still film, and definitely beputs on an comes a mind-boggling astounding inclusion in the DC show and Comics universe. Phoechannels the nix’s superb acting pairs new Joker betwonderfully with Philter than any lips’s directing as well current actor. as the unique backstory A congiven to the world’s troversy surmost famous villain. rounding JokHowever, this doesn’t er, however, mean we can overlook is its portrayal photo from Joker Facebook page the obvious flaw within of mental illness. Fleck, living in 1980s Gotham (in a the mental illness aspect of the plot, and time when Bruce Wayne is around 10 years how the movie essentially excuses Fleck’s old and not yet orphaned or Batman-ized), murderous spree because of his neurologisuffers from mental instability, plagued cal differences. Joker manages to convince throughout the film with delusions of some audiences to justify violence and grandeur, hallucinations, and the notion criminal acts through the excuse of insanthat “the worst part about having a mental ity and a corrupt society. Viewers must illness is that people expect [him] to behave allow themselves to be engulfed by the cinas if [he doesn’t].” While in recent years, ematic masterpiece that is Joker while still American society has taken significant maintaining the notion that Fleck’s story steps in accepting and acknowledging men- was a warning, rather than an example. tal illness, Joker seems to take a step back Joker introduces audiences to a from this progressive movement, making revamped villain in the form of the Fleck’s psychosis almost an excuse for his grotesque Arthur Fleck, yet subtly murderous rampage that engulfs the latter fails to address mental illness aphalf of the movie (yes, spoiler alert, the propriately for the 21st century.

Joker does kill people in the movie). Sure, society failed Arthur entirely, completely isolating him due to his neurological condition and being fired from his job as a clown in New York City, but does that mean that every time society fails us, we can turn to violence? Can we murder people and become one of the greatest villains in history

by Kailey Freund just because we are mentally ill? No, abso-

I’m a big fan of learning about history. It’s like a giant story book starting at the beginning of time, filled with love, betrayal, discovery, and loss. What I don’t love about history is t he over whel m i ng dread I feel when I stop to consider all the people left out of the books, their lives b e c o m i n g s t o r ie s humanity can only guess at and recreate t h roug h h istor ical f iction. The prob lem, though, is that authors repetitively tell t he stor ies of British explorers and white Americans in World War II, and while these stories can be compelling to some, I have always found them a bit dry and u ninteresting.

So, when I st u mbled across Joh n Keene’s Countern a r ra t i ve s, I wa s b eyond excit e d .

This anthology, being a collection of 13 short stories and novellas, follows the lives of those who have been neglected from being mentioned in the textbooks about the founding of America. In this case, they are African Americans who, at

most, get mentioned in a footnote. From enslaved people on ships and farms of the 17th century, to inventors during the Civil War, Keene takes his audience on a tour t h roug h t i me a nd empires. His characters feel like real people, t he prose often makes you feel like you’re reading a textbook, and you often forget you’re reading f iction.

My absolute favorite short story out of this anthology is “Gloss, or the Strange History of Our Lady of the Sorrows.” “Gloss” is formatted like a seventy-six page footnote which follows a young, enslaved girl named Carmel who is overlooked all of photo by Kailey Freund her life, crafting her into an empathetic character to anyone who has ever felt isolated. When supernatural occurrences begin to occur around her, the story takes a surprising and entertaining turn that keeps readers interested. “Gloss” certainly has the most entertainment value in a work that can be dry at times, for those who don’t enjoy the non-fiction styled

prose that the anthology often employs.

My second favorite short in this anthology would be “The Aeronauts.” Although Civil War historical fiction is popular, “The Aeronauts” is unique, as it follows a young African American man called Red, and his ambitions to become an inventor during the war. At times, this story made me rather uneasy, as some of Red’s criminal actions made it hard to sympathize with him. Despite this, I felt that Keene did an excellent job in creating a disenfranchised character, realistic in his faults, yet able to keep the audience rooting for him. Keene ultimately masters the skill of placing the reader into his protagonists shoes, creating rich, period-inspired environments, making you feel as if the characters were real people.

Gory and heavy around every corner, Counternarratives is not for the faint of

Keene reclai ms voice f rom pen of t he power f ul heart, but I highly recommend this breathtaking anthology to anyone who has sat and pondered about those left out of history and wish to take a trip through John Keene’s fictional, yet realistic, take on history.

John Keene crafts an enchanting collection of stories in his novel Counternarratives, allowing readers to take a look into the world of those left out of the history books.

by Griffin Holdridge

14

November 25, 2019

Volume 116, Issue 3

Features

Academy breathes new life into Day of the Dead As a tribute to the traditional Day of the Dead celebration in Mexican culture, level two of Global Academy classes prepared projects to teach audiences about the culture, history, and language of the tradition. Marisa Karll, level one Academy Spanish teacher, enjoyed seeing the mixture of Academy levels as they collaborated for this endeavor.

“My favorite part was seeing level two interact with level one,” she said. “That’s always my favorite because I feel like students are so timid when presenting, but you’re not timid at all in my class.”

Between the confusion of stations and excitement of the sophomores, the freshmen were slightly intimidated. However, this issue is expected to be resolved next year with numbered groups, signs for directions, and improvement in communication. Karll was optimistic about improving the transition strategy for next year.

“I teach second hour and then Mr. Schinker also has to teach, so sometimes our communication can get mixed up,” she said. “I would say in the future, we have to figure a way so the kids know exactly where they’re going. It’s a learning curve we will work to figure out next year.”

Sp a n i sh t e a che r Ju s t i n H a ble hopes that further improvements will be made, because he believes this event has the potential to inform more than the Academy and Spanish st udents.

“As far as making the event better as a his students express their creativity. whole, I would like to see it branch out more “I get excited to see how they are gothan just Academy and actually bring in the ing to take it and improve on what the years rest of the school,” he said. “The cultural past did, and I think they did that this year,” part is not just important for certain Span- he said. “I always start off a little nervous, ish speakers be cau se i n t he or Academy b e g i n n i n g i t ’s st udents; hard to see how it it would will turn out, but be great then they come in to bring it and everything is to a bigger very intriguing.” group in Students like the O-room sophomore Faith or the audiHopk i n s fou nd photo by Sarah Pizon torium and the preparation have other Sophomores Cora Pizon, Hanna Tran, Philip Nikitin, Mason for the projects c l a s s e s Weigand, and Anika Larson pose with their traditional masks of a s e xc it i n g a s c o m e calaveras painted with unique designs. Each student was able to the teachers do, d o w n . ” take their knowledge of Mexican culture to a new level with this in terms of what hands-on project.

N o t they discovered only is the staff annually improving this about the traditional Mexican holiday. activity, but the students are as well. Each “I also really enjoyed lea r n i ng year, the presentations become more about something that I didn’t know too engaging, as if every new class is try- much about, and researching Day of ing to top the last one. Hable decided to the Dead thoroughly to compare and increase the variety of presentations and contrast it with Halloween,” she said. showcase the creativity of the students.

When interacting with the fresh“It grows every year,” he said. “It m e n , H o p k i n s t r i e d h a r d t o e n went from stations to go through, to stu- c o u r a ge c o nve r s a t io n a n d p r o m p t dents picking the topics, to then students them to t ake par t in the activities. selecting what they wanted to talk about.”

“It was really just getting them to parHable looks forward to the projects ticipate and talking to them to get students each year because he enjoys seeing how out of their shell a little bit more,” she said.

There were games, prizes, snacks, and coloring sheets given to the audience, wh ich ma ny people enjoyed.

Hopkins thinks that one reason that people should go to this event is because it’s a unique learning experience.

“I like it because you learn a lot through activities,” she said. “It’s not just sitting and getting lectured at. It’s actually learning through fun games and stuff.”

The presentations were displayed during first and second hour, and with the large variety of topics and information to present, Hable felt that his students’ presentations were hurried.

“Some of them felt rushed like, ‘I only have eight minutes to get through what I am going to say,’ and they could have done a lot more if they had more time,” he said.

Hopkins explains that the presentations were researched and constructed in less than a week and all had very unique characteristics and activities.

“I think it took our group about two or three days of research, and then one day to actually put together our poster and get all of our supplies for the presentations,” she said.

Hable was proud of the motivation and creativity presented by his students.

“It’s exciting to see them being passionate about what they created,” he said.

“They take what learned and they keep passing it on and that’s what I love about this.”

New achievements are being cooked up in the kitchens of West, and the smell of upcoming success lingers in the air.

On December 6, two students from Robin Badtke’s class will compete in The Throwdown, an annual cooking competition.

Eighteen total teams will be competing, and all students will have one hour to put their cooking skills to the test and show the judges what they are capable of.

“They have 60 minutes to create a chicken dish with a vegetable and a sidestarch, and show two knife cuts and two cooking methods,” Badtke said.

Mike Buckarma, owner, chef, and operator of Wagner Market, is mentoring the competing students. There are three awards that can be won at the competition: gold, silver, and bronze. Roughly 80% of teams entering the competition end up leaving with a silver.

“The bronze is a participation award,” he said. “Bronze is if something really went wrong. You touched raw chicken and then went and touched fresh vegetables that you’re going to serve, so basically you gave the judges a chance to die.”

Although the participants are underclassmen, they are no novices in the kitchen. Sophomore Elijah Kienast, one of the competitors, said he discovered his love for cooking when he was just three years old.

“I would come home every day in the winter and my grandma would have tomato soup, or chicken noodle soup, or just some sort of soup being made,” he said. “I would always come over to help her, and later in

life I helped her make cubed steak, burgers, the chefs they have become today. The two and a bunch of other things.” have had entertaining stories to tell about The second student competing in the their worst disasters in the kitchen. competition, sopho “When my sister tried to more Br a dy Engle, help, I think she confused had a different rolepowdered sugar with flour model in his life who when we were making introduced him to the frosting,” Kienast said. culinary world.

Engle remembers when “My aunt always he had made a calculation made the best meals error in a recipe, but foreve r, so she really tunately, the dish was still pushed me,” he said. salvaged.

“She’s the one that “I added too much flour drew me to cooking to mac and cheese one and inspired me.” time; that was last year,” The duo went on he said. to state with their own Kienast hilariously reexpectations and hopes sponded that he rememfor the outcome in the bered the incident. competition. They said “You tried to give it to photo by Robyn Badtke that “not losing” would Sophomores Elijah Kienast and Brady me,” he said. “It was good; be their ultimate hope, Engle prepare for the state competition it was just very different.” sand they just want to in December by cooking up some hot T he ma n beh i nd t he try their best and give dishes. They use the kitchen facilities at cooking scenes is Buckit their all. But besides West to practice the skills they’ll need. arma. He helps Engle and preparing for the comKienast out by volunteerpetition, the sophomores have their own ing his time after school on Tuesdays and preferences of signature dishes they can Thursdays. His expertise in the field is subprepare. stantial, and this competition is definitely “I have two favorite dishes; one of not his first rodeo. them would be shepherd’s pie,” Kienast “I’ve judged the high school ProStart said. “The other one would simply be competition for the last seven years down cubed steak because that is what I made in Milwaukee at our national show,” he every other weekend when I went over to said. “I’ve done some student teaching up my grandma’s house.” at Fox Valley Tech. I’ve had many classes Many attempts, successes, and fail- at our restaurant, which means field trips ures helped shaped the sophomores into for elementary school students. This is my

third competition team here. I’ve done a lot of talking to individual classes at my former high school, here and North.”

Buckarma is certainly proving to be a positive inf luence on the students, as he helps them strive for consistency and perfection. He stresses that practice makes perfect, and the more times the students can practice preparing the dish, the better.

“The goal is to make the same dish the same way every time,” he said. “We are all learning this together. Each day when we do it, we’re just trying to perfect it a little more.”

He describes how small details are important when cooking, especially when going through a show like this. Any imperfections could cause the team to lose points in the competition.

Buckarma volunteers to bring all the ingredients and his time every week. Using the guidelines that must be followed by the competitors, the students, with the help of Buckarma, chose a dish to compete at the competition with. They have been practicing preparing the dish twice a week, and will continue to do so until the competition.

“Kienast, Engle, and Buckarma came up with a recipe idea after the first couple times we met,” Badtke said. “We looked through some recipes and then they went and practiced. They need to be able to execute this in 60 minutes, in a strange location, not using a stove; using heated elements. It’s a little bit slower cooking.”

Despite the difficulties the competitors are sure to face at the competition, Buckarma hopes to show them how they can improve a little bit each time they prepare the chosen dish.

“Hopefully the techniques will help the students do well in the competition,” he said. “And the techniques will continue to show them how they can make the dish they prepare a little bit better each time.”

by Sarah Pizon

Budding chefs flavor education with culinary art

by H. Chung and A. Furcy

Features

Volume 116, Issue 3

15

November 25, 2019

Students packing on pain for sake of convenience

Although professionals recommend that backpacks should only weigh 10% of a person’s body weight, this is not the case for the majority of the Wildcat pack. Many students have to lug heavy backpacks which are home to several large textbooks, notebooks, and a four pound Chromebook.

J u n i o r M a r c u s Wa k e f i e l d heard a unique com mentar y on the large propor tions of his bulky bag.

“Some of the band kids said that my backpack looks like it is pregnant with another backpack,” he said.

Studies show that the type of backpack students use can also affect the amount of pain they feel. It is recommended to carry a backpack with extra padding on the back so the stress from contents inside will not cause as much discomfort.

Wakefield definitely notices this pain.

“Somet i mes af ter I have to c a r r y a r o u n d m u l t i pl e t e x t b o o k s and materials like that, I get a stiff neck and sore shoulders,” he said.

Wakefield is one of the many students who have been burdened with carrying around large textbooks and other materials. Freshman Alexander Beek has a simple solution to reducing the large number of school materials that he uses.

“Receiving less materials and papers would reduce the weight of backpacks, along with using our Chromebooks more for school work than we do now,” he said.

Some negative effects caused by overweight backpacks could include muscle soreness, balance issues, or back pain. Kimberly Hoyle, an anatomy and physiology teacher, thinks that most back issues are caused by an unequal weight distribution of materials.

“We tend to carry all your stuff on the dominant side, so if you’re right-handed it’s on your right shoulder,” she said.

“That constant, repeated extra weight on

that side is going to definitely start affecting the way you carry yourself and the alignment of all of your bones or joints.”

Another effect of wearing backpacks on one shoulder is the stress that comes from the overwhelming weight. Excessive weight on student’s backs to one side could even cause balance and posture problems.

“If there’s too much unnecessary stress on your joints, nerves, or muscles, they might not be working as well as they could due to the build up of muscles on one side of the back, which makes the body not balanced the way it should be,” Hoyle said.

Health teacher Tony Gerharz witnesses another backpack-related issue in the school’s halls and cafeteria. Large backpacks and crowded locations may be the main causes of these problems.

“I see it in hallways, kids are constantly bumping into each other,” he said. “It also irritates me in the freshman lunchroom, when you got kids with their big backpacks on and its already crowded in there, and they’re bumping into people and hopefully not spilling any people’s food trays or hurting them.”

Many students continue to carry everything they have in their backpacks, despite experiencing slight back pain or the fact that they take up excessive amounts of space in crowded locations. Gerharz realizes that everyone has a locker, but it is easier for students to carry everything at the same time.

“Kids seem to be packing more stuff in their backpacks, but very few kids use their lockers even though they all have one,” he said. “I’m sure there could be some soreness on their backs, but for them, it’s a convenience to carry a backpack around ever ywhere rather than going back and forth to their lockers.”

Similarly, Beek doesn’t feel the need to use his locker for storage as it is too far away for accessibility and just not as practical as bringing everything along with him.

“I don’t use my locker; it’s nowhere said. “So, I always give the kids an option near my classes, so I think location is a big to check out an actual book if they want to.” problem,” he said. “I think lockers could Completing online homework would remove some weight from backpacks. But, be harder to do without Wi-Fi, but at least nobody uses at West there is cont h e i r l o c k e r, nection throughout the so they just school. Another option c a r r y e v e r yfor having no access t h i ng a r ou nd to inter net would be w i t h t h e m .” to download the textTr a n s f e rbooks for off line use. ring heavy “Taking a textbook paper textbooks on a trip or to an event to an online and trying to work on a ser vice usi ng bus is difficult and you student-issued would not be able to read Ch romebook s it,” Levine said. “But, if could help you had your Chromeremove a book and if you could substantial download stuff for when portion of the you don’t have internet load placed on or when you do have inphoto by Isabelle Cartwright students. From ternet, that’s better than a student view, Juniors Lexy Manning and Hailey Weickert show off lugging all of your books Beek concludes their large, heavy backpacks. At West, it is common around and tr y to do t h a t o n l i n e to see bags of this size and even larger. homework with them.” textbooks are A l t h o u g h far more versatile than paper textbooks. Wakefield does see the benefit of all “Online textbooks are better than pa- the online resources, he still believes per textbooks because you can use them that schools may not be able to comanytime; they are lighter and they are pletely eliminate hard-copy resources. just more useful than textbooks,” he said.

“I don’t th i n k you ca n ever go One downside to spending more completely paperless; I don’t think that time on Chromebooks for school is an would be beneficial for learning,” he issue of accessibility and battery us- said. “It think it is a lot easier to become age. During times of power outages or distracted with Chromebooks, and, on general technology issues, the Wi-Fi the other hand, I think it’s easier to get may not be available or some Chrome- into the zone with a physical textbook.” books could run out of power. This issue Solut ions a re challeng i ng. has occurred before within the class“It’s necessary to have all the materiroom of math teacher Kenneth Levine, als for class, but kids feel like they don’t and this may present another problem. have any other choice,” Hoyle said. “I “I have kids tell me that every once in understand how everything comes toa while they couldn’t get their homework gether to make the situation what it is.” done because they lost their internet at

by Brian Huo home or there was a power outage,” he

TA experience benefits student, instructor equally

From a student to inspirational peer responsible for some basic garden mainleader, the life of a Teaching Assistant tenance on the courtyard in the science (TA) is not an easy one, but holds re- wing,” he said. “I have also been tasked with disposing of wards nonetheless. To become old, outdated a TA, one must first fill out an textbooks, application, meet academic cutting styrequirements, and be a student rofoa m for in good standing. For senior the biology Brendan Rohloff, a TA for choir bug displays, teacher Bethany Meyer, workand f illi ng ing face to face with students close to is his primary responsibility.

100 ziplock “Being a teaching assistant, bags with I have been able to interact and boiled cabwork with students of Treble bage juice.”

Choir to prepare for concerts,” T h e he said. “I also help with copying W o r l d music, working on digital music Language files and other individual tasks.”

Department The workload of a TA varies between classes and teachers. photo by Isabelle Cartwright a l s o hold s positions for One may be more hands-on Senior Jack Zangl hovers over the lab station with st udents, and one may as he prepares materials for upcoming classes. T A s s u c h as Braeden focus on other aspects of a Zangl, a senior and TA for UW-Bio, enjoys R e m y , classroom. Jack Zangl, a senior doing odd jobs around the classroom. w h o h elp s TA for UW-Biology, focuses on getting supplies ready for student labs. out in French. He has been a French “ I a m r e s p o n si ble fo r g a t h e r- student since his freshman year and ing the supplies necessary for the lab is concluding his senior year by assistand then following the provided direc- ing students in a more hands-on style.

“Because of the age gap, sometimes tion sheet to make the lab,” he said.

“Some labs are very simple and others the kids don’t feel comfortable asking a can take an entire week to prepare for.” teacher questions because they don’t want Not only does Zangl prepare labs, but to sound stupid,” he said. “But if you put he gets to work in other aspects of the class someone in there that’s their age and who by helping science teacher Sara Dobish with understands the topic, then it is benefiany odd jobs she may have around the room. cial to them to have a tutor or TA there”.

All of the TAs at West are tasked with “Other than preparing labs, I am

creating a project during their time in the class. For Remy, his goal is to introduce students to modern French culture outside of the classroom, by presenting the students with weekly music as his project.

“On Fridays I present my music, but on a day to day basis I help students with their bell work, and sometimes I help students with the games they play in class,” he said.

By working closely with French teacher Kiersten Thompson, Remy now has a lot of respect for how she teaches and prepares her daily schedule. He had the opportunity to teach a class for the Boys and Girls Club, and understands first-hand how much preparation goes into teaching other languages.

“Being a TA teaches us a lot of very valuable life skills because you see everything teachers do behind the scenes and how long it takes,” he said. “I just have a lot of respect for teachers and lesson planning because it’s actually really hard.”

T houg h a nyone t h at me et s t he requirements to be a TA can submit an application to Instructional Coach Heather Kangas, having a good relationship with the teacher you would like to TA for makes the process much more enjoyable. Senior Jazmine Yang, a TA for UW-Biology, has found this to be true.

“Being a TA for UW-Biology shows the dedication that I put into the class last year, as well as, the effort that I put into developing a relationship with Mrs. Dobish, which is really important,” she said.

Spa n ish t ea che r A lyssa Gaut hi e r r e c e n t l y a c q u i r e d a TA f o r th is yea r, a nd has seen ma ny ben-

efits since then for herself and students.

“I think it is a great experience for students to have TA experience, becau se it g ives t hem i n sig ht i nto what it takes to be a teacher, and to explore a potential career path,” she said.

For some students, it is a way for them to gain experience for a desired profession. For Rohloff, his experience as a TA will help him in his future career path, as he aims to work in music.

“I want to pursue a major in either music theat re or music education,” he said. “I am able to enhance my musical skill set to become more prepared for my i ntended career.”

Overall, most students believe that being a TA makes them a more well rounded student. Especially for Zangal, the skills used in the class period can transfer into other classes, proving usef ul in other areas of academics.

“My ability to follow written instructions has gotten better since the beginning of the year,” he said. “Many of the lab directions can be confusing and contain long names of substances. Even one little error can be detrimental to whether the lab works for the students or not. Also, having to do many specific measurements makes me a more precise and accurate student.”

To b e a TA , R e m y b e l i e v e s t h at one mu st b e a n i n s pi r at ion a l leader and be invested in the class.

“People who want to be a TA should be passionate about the subject and have a willingness to help where it is needed,” he said.

by Isabelle Wolf

16

November 25, 2019

Volume 116, Issue 3

Features

One dock, five stories, punch return ticket to State

Five scenes all interwoven around don’t require any speaking at all, like one setting - a peaceful dock on a crystal sophomore Preston Munsch’s role, the lake. Scott Thurwatcher, director of the preparation might be lessened but this show, set the stage of the basic premise does not diminish their impor tance. “ Fo r m y of “Our Place” and the role, I’m mute, signif icance of the title. so I don’t re“A l l t h e p e o ple i n ally need any these different scenes are vocal warmups all there for their own paror any thing ticular reasons,” he said. to do with “ It always c ome s ba ck my voice,” he to ‘this is our place’, that said. “It’s all spot, that lake, that dock i n t he facial is ‘our place.’ We get to expressions.” see that place and its value The mood through the eyes of those of the characcharacters in each scene.” ter can someThurwatcher selected times speak this play because of the louder than diverse scenes, and he was words, and able to include a variety senior Trenton of different actors. This photo courtesy of Mersaydee Brown Davis finds it allowed f lexibility for the very important crew because it incorporated After receiving an accidental blow to the head, to use the time var ying rehearsal times. junior Dominic Mueller lies unconscious on the he has before “ Not eve r yone wa s wooden dock. This was the third scene in the show, which provided a comedic take on family the shows to required to be there every life sure to resonate with audiences. fully enter single day, and I liked the into his charability to do that, and then we came together to put it all together,” he said. a c t e r ’s r o l e , w h i c h c a n s o m e In order to perform in state-qualifying t i m e s r e q u i r e u n i q u e m e t h o d s .

condition, the group has been practicing together for about a month, however, the amount of time it takes each individual cast member to learn their lines varies.

Freshman Mersaydee Brown found she had little trouble in accomplishing this.

“The act ual scr ipt memor ization was ver y easy,” she said. “It is more what happens on stage when I am not talking that is challenging.”

For st u de nt s who s e ch a r a c t e r s

“I go into a really dark room and put on some sad music and cry, so that I can get into that sad emo mood,” he said.

Brow n also benef its f rom mentally preparing herself for the role she i s a b out t o play, wh ich for her, requ i res a bit of i mag i nat ion. “ I ju s t p r e t e nd t h a t I’m a c t u ally going on a family canoe trip, because my mood probably would not be too far off f rom Nicky’s,” she said.

In the show, Nicky is a teenager who follows what may be seen as the norm for teenage behavior, feeling annoyed by her family when she is forced to take part in this trip with them. Brown works hard to embody Nicky’s emotions through acting.

“It took me a couple run-throughs of my scene to really get a feel for my character, but after that I just work a little bit harder everyday to develop my character,” she said.

After weeks of practice, the group was ready to perfor m, and in junior Br y n M i l let t e’s opi n ion , t he more they perform, the more they improve.

“I feel like each performance just gets better and better, which is the best thing about plays, you can always do it better than it’s ever been done before,” she said.

In agreement with this sentiment, Davis is positive that past successes can only lead to future ones with continual practice.

“I’ve generally felt very good about ou r per for ma nces so fa r, but t here is always more to improve,” he said.

One thing that gives the students joy as they are performing is being able to interact with their audience by evoking many emotions. With each new performance comes a new audience and the crew looks forward to that as they continue.

“My favorite par t of the play is

there’s always a little bit of distance.”

Kerkhof also finds a way to contend with the fact that those who don’t get the spotlight may not always be acknowledged.

“Tech people may be under appreciated, but it’s okay because we know we are doing a good job,” she said. “Having a good show that goes well is sor t of a rewa rd i n itself.”

In order to achieve this rewarding feeling however, a lot of work needs to go into the physical preparation for the show. For Kerkhof, her introduction to the role of lights opened her eyes to a whole new area which she hopes to pursue.

“I didn’t think I would like all the lights and technical aspects, but turns out that I really like it and now I think I might do it as a career and go into production,” she said.

T his year, th ree f resh men were cast in the show, and Thurwatcher was pleased to see how the upperclassmen welcomed them into the drama community.

“Seeing how they became part of the family and they were accepted was one of my favorite parts,” he said. “Ever yone works together and watching them all grow and come together as a group I think was really really cool.”

Thurwatcher has put his heart and soul into preparing the crew for the

the fact that it takes the audience on perfor mance and has enjoyed being an emotional roller coaster,” Millette able to watch as an audience member. said. “I just love shows that can make “My favorite part is getting to be you laugh but also ma ke you cr y.” able to just sit back and watch what As the charthey do, k nowing acters developed that this is out of my th roug hout the hands now,” he said. play, the students Thurwatcher playi ng those e n c o u r a g e s i n t e rroles also cre ested students to give ated stronger drama a try because bond s be cau se h e k n ow s t h a t t h e of t he a mou nt exper ience makes of t i me t hey them bet ter people. spent together.

“It’s fun, you get a “I think chance to step outside being around of yourself,” he said. ever yone for “In a world where we two hours a day lack empathy, there’s just nat u rally not a bet ter way to builds a closer learn empathy than to relationship, put yourself in someone along with inside else’s shoes - by acting jokes and such,” as a character and beMillet te said. coming someone else.”

Fo r s o m e , photo by Isabelle Cartwright Whether the cast is like junior Fran- Senior Olivia Everett tries in vain to get her father goofing off or assuming ces Kerkhof, who (sophomore Preston Munsch) to recollect memothe role of a characwork behind the ries from her childhood. This scene provided the ter, Brown loves how scenes to control audience with a more sentimental approach as it drama club welcomes lights and sets, dealt with the realities of dementia. and includes everyone maintaining i n a way t hat sup relationships with peers can be a chal- ports the unique abilities of each student. lenge, but is accomplished nonetheless.

“Not only do we get to act and be in these “There’s always a little bit of a di- absolutely amazing shows, but it’s a place vide between the people on stage who where everyone is so talented and kind,” she get to actually interact with each other said. “They are willing to accept you as a more and the people backstage who have part of their family, no matter who you are.” to be quiet and watch what happens,”

by Index Staff she said. “We still become friends, but