April 10, 2015

John F. Kennedy High School

Volume 48, Issue 5

April 10, 2015

h c r o t e h t

Letter from the editor John F. Kennedy High School 4545 Wenig Rd. NE Cedar Rapids, IA 52402 Volume 48, Issue 5

So the countdowns begin… 32 days left of school after today seniors, we are almost done! Sorry @everyoneelse you still have 40. So that means 48 days till we the seniors become the alumni, the juniors take over the senior bench and the foyer seems a little less packed for the underclassmen. Of course, we can’t forget the countdown to prom, 22 days. Crap, that means AP testing starts in about 30 days, even fewer school days, papers are due, final exams.

Where did the year go?

I know everyone will tell you this, but underclassmen, enjoy your senior year and all your years at Kennedy.

Do not wish them away because in the blink of an eye they will be gone.

Yes, the extra long school day now seems to drag on sometimes but before you know it, you will have to be thinking about graduation and college or whatever else you choose to do with your life and you will miss things about high school.

As seniors, we just had our last pep assembly, and yes our grade wasn’t always the best but we had fun and

we came together as a class. Time is slipping away to be a kid and have the most important part of your day be if you win the spirit stick or not. Make sure to make the most of this time.

Finish strong. The clock is ticking away… Just Drew It.

Torch Staff:

cover by Naomi Hofferber

Lydia Martin Editor-in-Chief Hannah Bruns Design Editor Maddy Crist Editorial Editor Gabby Olejniczak Business Manager Maddie Herlocker Ad Manager Jade Milota PR Director Emily Sass Photo Editor Brooke Timmerman Photo Editor Xander Riley News Editor Elianna Novitch Profile Editor Macy Anderson Health Editor

Naomi Hofferber A&E Editor Abby Donovan Sports Editor Hugh Banderob Photographer Fatima Elsheikh Writer Ron Lund Writer Hadley Rittgers Writer Madi Beauchamp Writer Joey Riley Writer Luke Martin Writer Caitlyn Fisher Writer Stacy Haynes-Moore Adviser

Contents

Editorial

Health

05 More time, more controversy

16 The caffeine craze

News 06 Taking charge

Feature 12 Prescriptions for disaster

Photo

14 Fun in the sun

A&E

20

18 A month in reviews

Profile 20 Cougars commit

Sports

22 Busy living the dream

14 Staff Editorial: Next time, let’s add it to the end The Cedar Rapids Community School District has decided to add 20 minutes onto every school day to make up missed time due to snow days and 2 hour delays.

This new hour requirement has been implemented this year instead of the normal 180 day school year.

Not only has this modified the Kennedy schedule, but it also has called on teachers, administrators, and students to begin their school day at 7:45 a.m. instead of 7:55 a.m.

The school day now ends at 2:55

p.m. instead of 2:45 p.m.

This adjustment began March 30 and will be in place until the school year ends on June 5.

This was an adjustment for all schools as each administration decided how to implement the minutes into their building schedule.

This change has brought a lot of negative feedback from the students and even some staff. As most teachers prepare for their school day in the morning, this prep time has been cut.

Faculty has been concerned about the amount of tardies and absences

that could occur due to this schedule change.

The majority of the Torch staff would rather make up the hours at the end of the school year as full days instead of adding minutes onto each day for the remainder of the school year.

Twenty minutes may not seem like a lot of time, but 20 minutes every day for two months adds up.

Editorial

ACCEPT & TOLERATE W

e live in a time in which this country is witnessing a never before seen level of tolerance. Minority groups that in past decades and centuries were oppressed and discriminated against now enjoy a greater level of equality.

Many would say that total equality has still not been achieved, and I agree-I’m definitely not trying to imply that minorities now enjoy lives free of prejudice. There is undoubtedly much more to be done in that area., but I think we can all agree that things are at least better than they were.

However, with this increasing level of acceptance, there is a risk we run of a different type of discrimination: intolerance towards people’s viewpoints.

To illustrate this, I’ll use one of the more prominent, if not the most prominent minority rights groups of our time-the gay rights movement. People all over this country, both homosexuals and heterosexual supporters, are campaigning for homosexual people to have the right to get married. Currently, 37 states in the United States have passed laws allowing gay marriage.

A reason this issue is so controversial is because people tend to have very polarized opinions on it; they are either completely for it or totally against it.

People who support gay rights often imply, or state outright, that people who oppose homosexuality are closed-minded bigots. They therefore challenge a person’s right to say gay marriage is wrong.

This, I believe, is a tremendous paradox. On the one hand, people say that they are all for diversity and not restricting people, allowing them to think and feel the way they want, but then they tell people who disagree with them that they’re wrong and bad people. That’s dangerously close to being a whole other kind of discrimination.

People who are anti-gay marriage are not always prejudiced, terrible people; often times there is a very deep-seated reason for them to feel the way they feel. Religion is a big one: people who oppose gay marriage on the grounds of Christianity often do so because the Bible sets out marriage as being between a man and a woman, and the Bible specifically lists homosexuality as a sin.

Anti-gay Christians have gotten a bad name because of groups like the Westboro Baptist Church, which stages protests holding up signs indicating that God hates gay people and they’re going to burn in hell, and other such hate slogans. Please understand that I am not advocating this kind of behavior. While I support the Westboro Baptist Church’s right to believe that homosexuality is wrong, they have completely overstepped their bounds with the level of outright hatred and prejudice they display by going out of their way to preach their message of anti-homosexuality.

As far as the religious issue goes, people like the Westboro Baptist Church miss the point. Let’s say you believe that, on the grounds of the Christian doctrine, homosexuality is wrong.

That doesn’t make it your job to be hateful and try and force everyone to conform to your point of view. Christianity is not a religion of forced conformity-at least, it shouldn’t be. You are free to peacefully express your beliefs and explain your reasoning behind them, but people are still allowed to make their own choices.

The same goes for supporters of gay rights. They are free to express their beliefs and explain their reasoning, but that doesn’t give them the right to try and make everyone conform to their point of view by forcing everyone to support homosexuality.

Merriam-Webster defines tolerance as “willingness to accept feelings, habits, or beliefs that are different from your own.”

That goes both ways; being anti-gay doesn’t give you the right to go out and insult or assault pro-gay people, and being pro-gay doesn’t give you the right to insult and deride anti-gay people.

No one has the right to restrict the rights of other people.

Violence and prejudice towards gay people is unacceptable, but people still have the right to their belief that homosexuality is wrong.

So keep in mind this thought: tolerance does not mean agreeing with everyone about everything. Tolerance means that you recognize that people have the right to their own belief, and while you are under no obligation to support it or agree with it, you must respect their right to exercise free will and make their own choices.

Xander Riley News Editor 4

MORE TIME, MORE CONTROVERSY

Editorial

I understand our district has decided we are on total school hours instead of the 180 days of school in the past, but I still feel like the district could’ve approached the situation differently. I’m sure I speak for most, if not all of the students, when I say that this isn’t the best way to get in the required hours. There are various other ways that students would prefer over this implementation. Adding one or two days at the end of the school year would be much easier. Before making this decision the district should’ve contemplated the possible negative impact the new schedule could have, like more absences or tardies.

-Luke Martin ‘18

For all the high school students, especially the seniors, complaining about an extra 20 minutes added on to your school day, please just take a moment to value your education. First off, unfortunately for a lot of people, high school is the last time they have a free education. Take advantage of this OPPORTUNITY as much as you possibly can. Adding 20 minutes a day is not bad at all. The more you learn in high school, the easier college and life after high school will be. I’m amazed at how far ahead I feel at UNI in the basic liberal arts core classes because of the quality of education given in Cedar Rapids.

You are LUCKY you get extra time to learn in high school, cherish it.

You will get out what you put into it.

-Nathan Althoff ‘14

For me as a teacher I don’t mind the shorter SMART lunch. I know my students don’t like it, but I think a half an hour is plenty for what the school is using it for. A lot of kids are going out for lunch anyways, but I think the 10 minute earlier start and later day is harder for me.

My early bird starts at 6:45 a.m. instead of 7 a.m. so that is an hour and 15 minutes that I’m losing a week. And If I add those minutes up at the end of the year, that’s a lot of lost time. I do a lot of stuff in the mornings before my students come, so that’s going to be hard. I also think tardies and getting everyone here is going to be a problem.

- Jan Perkins, World Language teacher

For more information on the new schedule, visit www.kennedytorch.org

PAGES BY MADDY Crist 5

News

Taking charge Brad Buck is returning to his hometown to become the superintendent of the school district he graduated from in 1987.

He graduated from Jefferson High School, and has since moved away from Cedar Rapids to take on other things — most recently as the Director of the Iowa Department of Education, a position he has held for approximately 20 months.

According to Buck, having graduated from a school within this district will be a positive quality that he brings to the table.

“I love Cedar Rapids. I was born and raised in Cedar Rapids so I have a fondness for this place at the outset,” Buck said. “Not that somebody coming in that hasn’t been in Cedar Rapids couldn’t have a passion for the organization, but I think it does sort of change the dynamic in terms of my long-term interest in having great things happen, not only Photo by Naomi Hofferber for the district but also for the city.”

Buck was announced on March 18 as the replacement of Dr. Dave Benson, the current superintendent who is retiring after this year.

Buck will officially take over the job on July 1.

Buck originally applied for the position six years ago. Although Benson was chosen at that time, Buck feels that he has since gained experiences that will benefit him in the Cedar Rapids superintendent position. For example, he has been able to travel to several different districts due to his position with the state, which has allowed him to see what’s going on with different districts on issues such as the Teacher Leadership and Compensation system.

Buck planned from the beginning to go into education, and so he has a degree in science from the University of Northern Iowa, and his master’s and Ph.D. from Iowa State University. Before taking his state position, he served in a number of educational positions, one of which was a middle school science teacher, where one of his students was Kennedy teacher Leah Howard (then Goodmanson).

He was also a middle school and high school principal and an associate superintendent, as well as superintendent in Saydel.

One of the things Buck says he is most excited about is the district’s vision of “Excellence for All.” “Excellence is the notion of continuous improvement,” Buck said, “and the second part…is this notion of all, that we really do have a responsibility to make sure that all kids…have every door of opportunity open to him or her.”

Along those lines, Buck stated he believes that a wide range of classes to choose from is important, including math and science, humanities, performing arts, technology, and others. He also is a supporter of AP classes, and believes that schools should prepare students to take AP should they so desire.

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“One of the great ongoing challenges for AP classes is that they be as inclusive as possible,” Buck said. “I don’t want just every kid to take [AP classes] if that’s not really what they’re passionate about, but by the same token, get every student prepared such that if they wanted to take AP, it would be an option.”

A very important topic on the minds of many in the district right now pertains to making up weather cancellations and delays, such as through the extended schedule the CRCSD is currently implementing. According to Buck, the purpose behind changing to an hourbased system was to give school districts the flexibility to make up snow days in different ways. Buck also expressed that he feels the people who made the decision were making it with the right intent to do what’s best for the district, and he explained the difficulty behind having to make decisions regarding weatherbased cancellations or delays.

“One of the most difficult parts of the job for a superintendent is the weather call, because it’s like officiating a basketball game. Every time you make a call, half the people think it was the right call, and half the people are screaming that this was a bad call,” Buck said.

According to Buck, the main factor behind those decisions revolves around the safety of the students, particularly teenage drivers and younger kids who have to wait for buses.

Buck values relationships with the students and staff of the district, and plans on getting to know them in both formal and informal settings.

“I had a superintendent’s advisory council of students when I was at Saydel,” Buck explained. “My intent with that was to bring students in and just talk to them.”

He used this as a venue for students to have input into what the district is doing. While he does not yet know the specifics of how this might play out in Cedar Rapids, he does intend to have similar form of formal conduit for student input and communication. He also enjoys informally mingling with students and staff at functions such as sporting events, concerts, etc.

“The intent is to be out and around and interact,” Buck said.

Buck is a father of six children, which he believes will impact the way he’s able to deal with the district and making decisions.

“The ‘dad’ perspective of all those experiences absolutely shapes the way I think about school,” Buck said.

Buck’s starting salary as superintendent will be $229,000.

Abby Donovan, Xander Riley, Elianna Novitch and Naomi Hofferber

Jacq

Le

Their new boss

News

We asked Kennedy’s teachers what questions they wanted to ask the new guy in charge. Here are some of his answers.

Q: A:

What is your view on offering world languages to our students in elementary and middle school?

“My understanding is one of the advantages of that is it also helps you in terms of better understanding English. My experience was when I took Spanish, I better understood how English worked…I think it’s important.”

Jacqueline Hullaby, French

Q: A: Scott Muters, Vocal Music

Q: A: Leah Howard, Language Arts

How important do you feel it is to have the arts during the school day at all grade levels?-Scott Muters “Arts during the school day are terribly important…I would say one of the reasons my oldest son continues to stay interested and excited about school is his opportunity and access to the arts, especially the vocal music program.”

What role do you think the humanities (literature, fine arts, performing arts, world language, etc.) play in a student’s education?

“I believe in…the power of school and the power of offering a variety of experiences for students so that they are well served, with the recognition that all of it’s important.”

Photos by Hugh Banderob, Caitlyn Fisher and Jade Milota.

PAGES BY Xander Riley 7

NEWS

Trying out a career

Pick a career. Go to college. Graduate.

Get a job.

That’s the path that many students have followed for years.

Finding a career that you want to pursue for the next 40 years of life can be tricky for some people. Having to find a school that has the right program for that job can be stressful as well.

College is not cheap, either. Pouring thousands of dollars into an education for what you think is a possible career choice can be risky. So how do students know what they want to do before going into college?

Internships.

One average, 300 to 500 students do internships every year in the Linn County area.

Laurie Worden works for the Workplace Learning Connection (WLC). She helps students sign up and find the right internship suited for them.

“Internships are one way to learn from the inside, what the ups and downs are of most any profession,” Worden said.

At an internship someone can see what that career is truly like. It is a hands on, up close look at the daily job. An internship is more than one day long and is a big commitment.

Worden believes that internships give young people a glimpse into a career that they could possibly have for the rest of their lives, since the average person spends around 86,000 hours of their lives at work.

Internships are open to students starting the summer after sophomore year

through spring term senior year.

The WLC also offers job shadows. They are only for half of a day but are still informative.

The WLC will be at Kennedy in late August or early September to talk to students who are interested in the program.

Completed applications for the summer and fall of 2015 were due April 3. Deadline applications are firm and they will not be excepted late.

All internships and job shadows are free of charge to every student. Students can earn school credits from them as well.

“Career knowledge equals future success and satisfaction,” Worden said.

Jade Milota

issu

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Students at WLC interships last summer: Adam Burstain, sr., at Cumulus 3 (top); Abby Krueger, jr., at NRCS (bottom left); Jonathan Beck, 2014 alumnus, at New Covenant (bottom middle); Madeline Bany, sr., at Ahmann Design (bottom right).

Photos provided by Laurie Worden.

Web Connection:

News

Find this story and others at kennedytorch.org.

Schools begin extended schedules Prior to Spring Break, students and staff were made aware of the CRCSD’s plan to extend the school day beginning the first week back from break.

The reason behind this school day extension plan is in an effort to decrease the number of make-up days, and to ensure that local schools can end school on the original date planned.

“I think this is a better solution for making up missed time than adding days onto the end of the year,” said principal Jason Kline.

Kennedy has already made a significant stride in fulfilling state mandated requirement hours by changing the start time of school from 8 a.m. to 7:55 a.m., which went into effect at the beginning of the school year.

Despite Kennedy’s time increasing initiative, all CRCSD schools are required by the State of Iowa to have the same number of hours spent in school.

Some students agree with Kline, thinking that it is better to add more minutes than add more days.

On the other hand, some students like Sabareen Mohamed, jr., don’t agree with the solution of longer school days.

“I wish we could’ve just made half days, full days to make up time. I also don’t like how they took time off of SMART Lunch, because I am a student who actually uses it to get help,” Mohamed said.

Plain Brown Wrapper

Get information about Kennedy’s yearly literary magazine. Submission deadlines are today.

Pep assembly

Mohamed is currently enrolled in a zero hour chemistry class which originally began at 7 a.m., but now begins at 6:45.

“I live roughly 20 minutes away from school and I know other people who have zero hour classes that live far away too,” said Mohamed.

“I leave for school early enough as is, and even so I am still late to class sometimes. I would much rather have a few extra days of school than have to leave my house that early.”

Despite being in favor of the 20 minute addition to the school day Kline admits that he would have gone along with whatever solution the school district came up with.

“No matter what happens I am still here year round, working,” Kline said. “Overall I think this solution will benefit students and their parents because it can be challenging when families have made end of the school year plans, and this guarantees that they won’t have to cancel anything.”

After having experienced this change for a few days, Mohamed still feels that it’s a bit of an inconvenience.

“I guess I don’t mind it during the day, but honestly in the morning it is a hassle because I didn’t realize how early I was actually going to be getting up,” Mohamed said.

See photos from the April 2 spring pep assembly. See if you can spot yourself in one of the pictures.

Additional 20 minutes

Read one of our reporter’s opinion of the new extended schedule.

Podcast episode three

Watch the most recent episode of the podcast to see highlights of the Mr. Cougar Contest and hear reactions to next year’s gym requirements. Plus, check out the first and second episodes from this year.

Art displays

The Humanities class has set up several pieces of art around the school. Check out some pictures of the different projects.

Gabby Olejniczak

Check out the Torch on the web:

@JFKtorch

kennedytorch.org issuu.com/kennedytorch

@kennedytorch

@kennedytorch

PAGES BY Xander Riley 9

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Feature

Prescription for disaste The The toll toll on on teen teen lives lives T he abuse of prescription pills among teens is T herise. abuse of prescription among teens is on the Health, school, andpills teen futures are at

Nathan Nathan Sheeley, Sheeley, jr. jr.

Ross Grekoff, sr.

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on theAccording rise. Health, school, and teen futures at risk. to the NABP, the number of are teens risk.

According to the NABP, the number of teens who have abused prescription drugs in the United who have abused prescription in the United States nearly doubled betweendrugs 2003 and 2014.

States nearly doubled between 2003 “They’re all over,” Ross Grekoff, sr., and said.2014.

“They’re all over,” Ross Grekoff, sr., said. if they Grekoff and other students were asked Grekoff and other students were asked if they had seen anyone in the past year struggle with prehad seen anyone in the past year struggle with prescription medication abuse. scription abuse. Nathan Sheeley, jr., “I thinkmedication it’s a big problem,” “I think it’s a big problem,” Nathan Sheeley, jr., said. said.

Time and place have a large effect on how stuTimeget and place have large effect onand how students their hands onathe medication where dents get their hands on the medication and where they choose to take them. they choose takesee them.

“You don’t to really them at school much,” Shee“You don’t really see them at school much,” Sheeley said. ley said.

When taking the medications, more and more When taking the tomedications, moreproperty. and more teens have decided move off school teens have decided to move off school property.

Taking medications not prescribed to you can Taking medications notlives prescribed you age. can have a serious effect on at such to a long have a serious effect on lives at such a long age.

It contributes to the overall addiction faced by the It contributes to the overall addiction faced by the country. country.

“More and more kids are trying them and once “More more kids are trying and more once and thenand it becomes a habit slowly them they take and then it becomes a habit slowly they take more and more without realizing it,” Grekoff said. and more without realizing it,” Grekoff said.

Hannah Bruns Hannah Bruns

ster

Feature

Debating the outcome Debating the outcome The plus side to prescription The plus side to prescription medication medication

T here are two sides to every T twoitsides toto every storyhere andare when comes pre-

story andpills, whenit’s it comes to prescription no different. scription pills, it’s no different.

Like all substances, prescription Like all substances, prescription medication can be used propmedication can be used prop-inerly and help the prescribed erly and help the prescribed dividual, or it can be abused inand dividual, or it can be abused lead to lasting consequences.and lead lasting consequences.

“Wetotry to stay optimistic in “We try to stay in the belief that as optimistic long as a child the belief that as long as a child isn’t abusing the medication, isn’t abusing the medication, that it is supposed to help their that it is supposed to helpand their mental health symptoms mental health symptoms and make them more functional for make them said moreTonya functional for day living,” Hotchday living,” said Tonya Hotchkin, Tanager Place’s clinician sukin, Tanager supervisor and Place’s clinicalclinician therapist. pervisor and clinical therapist.

Tanager Place is a child and Tanager Placeand is abehavioral child and family mental family mental and behavioral health clinic. Though clients health Though clients can’t beclinic. prescribed medication can’t prescribed medication at thebe clinic, therapists can at the clinic, therapists can or recommend them to a doctor recommend them to a doctor or psychiatrist who can. psychiatrist who can. of each “It’s the philosophy “It’s the philosophy of each therapist. There are lots of therapist.

There are lots therapists who believe inofaptherapists who believe in and approaches like meditation proaches like meditation and talk therapy,” Hotchkin said, talk therapy,” Hotchkin said, “and then there are some thera“and there are some pists then who believe that youtherahave pists who believe that you have to have some level of medicato have some level of medication to manage the symptoms tion to manage the symptoms in order for therapy to be useful in order for therapy to be useful or productive.” orHotchkin productive.” also said that the Hotchkin also said the top three things thatthat children top three things that children are on medication for are are on medication for are

ADHD, anxiety, and depression.

ADHD, anxiety, andin depression.

It has been noticed recent It has been noticed in recent years that more children and years that more children and teens have been put on medicateens have been put on medication for such things. tion such things.

“Asfor long as we have insur“As companies long as we have insurance pushing for the ance companies pushing for the care of clients and their mental care of clients and their mental health treatment, there’s always health treatment, always going to be a push there’s of the medigoing to be a push of the medical model and to just give them cal model and to justit’s givecheaper them medication, because medication, than having because the clientit’sincheaper ongothan having client in ongoing therapy,”the Hotchkin said. ing therapy,” Hotchkin said.

“Diagnosing clients with mental “Diagnosing with mental health issuesclients and prescribing health issues and has prescribing them medication always them medication has been a problem, but italways is now been a problem, but it is now becoming more mainstream.” becoming more mainstream.”

Kennedy’s interventionist Kennedy’s interventionist Jenny Wagner agreed that the Jenny Wagner agreed that the use of prescription medication use prescription has of become more ofmedication problem. has become more of problem.

“I hear about it from the me“I hear it from the media, but Iabout have not personally dia, but I have not personally experienced children who are experienced children who are abusing, transferring, or selling abusing, transferring, or selling them,” Wagner said. “People them,” should Wagner be usingsaid. them“People [prescripshould be using them [prescription medication] to help.” tion medication] to help.”

Hotchkin also commented Hotchkin that she hasalso seencommented prescription that she has seen prescription medication become more widely medication become widely known through bothmore social meknown through both social media and other sources of media. dia and other sources of media.

“Usually our culture has been “Usually our culture has been pretty relaxed on over the counpretty relaxed on over the counter medicine and prescription ter medicine and prescription medicine and we haven’t really medicine and we haven’t really

informed parents and kids on informed and kids on how to be parents safe with prescription how to be safeHotchkin with prescription medication,” said. medication,” Hotchkin said.

Though there are people out Though there are people out there who abuse prescription there who abuse prescription medication, many are helped by medication, many are helped by them every day. them every day.

“Anyone who is abusing a sub“Anyone who is abusing substance would benefit from asome stance benefit from some level ofwould treatment; whether it level of treatment; whether is substance abuse treatmentit is abusetreatment,” treatment orsubstance mental health or mental said. health treatment,” Hotchkin “It’s never a Hotchkin said.

“It’s neverhelp a hurtful thing to go seek hurtful thing to go seek help and talk with someone about it. and talk with We could do asomeone better jobabout in ourit.

We could dosociety a betterofjob in our culture and offering culture and society of offering more education on prescription more education on prescription medication and those kinds of medication and those kinds of things.” things.”

Elianna Novitch Elianna Novitch

PAGES BY Hannah Bruns 13 PAGES BY Hannah Bruns 13

FUN in the SUN

PHOTO

Many Kennedy students and staff enjoyed their break from school March 21 to March 28. They shared their memories of this year’s spring break with the Torch.

Some enjoyed the beaches, others hit the slopes and some spent the break relaxing at home.

Taylor Golden, jr., with some of the show choir members that went to Florida for the music department’s spring break trip.

Photo provided by Taylor Golden

Alex Paustian, jr., poses with flowers on her trip to Sarasota, Florida with friend, Morgan Petsche, jr.

Photo provided by Alex Paustian

Tyler Dennis, so., on the slopes in Colorado during the annual men’s swim team trip.

Photo provided by Tyler Dennis

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PHOTO

Fourteen seniors and their families enjoyed a trip to Riviera Maya, Mexico.

Photo provided by Steph Grovert

Lydia Yang, jr., spent break touring colleges. Here she is at Northwestern University.

Photo provided by Lydia Yang

Alex Neff, math teacher, posts photoshopped picture on Instagram captioned “Spring break day two. #crapids” Photo provided by Alex Neff

Brianna Petsche, fr., and Bella Steele, fr., enjoy the beaches of Ocho Rios, Jamaica.

Photo provided by Bella Steele

PAGES BY EMILY SASS AND BROOKE TIMMERMAN 15

Health and Lifestyle

The caffeine craze How much caffeine and sugar are you drinking?

Sugar content in one bottle of Diet Mountain Dew: 0 grams Sugar content in one Snapple Tea: 46 grams (11.5 sugar cubes) Per 1oz can there are 42 mg of caffeine in both diet and regular Snapple Tea

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Sugar content in one bottle of regular Mountain Dew: 31 grams (7.75 sugar cubes) There are 92 mg of caffeine in one bottle of Mountain Dew

Sugar content in one can of Monster Energy: 54 grams (13.5 sugar cubes) There are 160 mg of caffeine in one can of Monster Energy

Health and Lifestyle Sugar content in one Mocha Frappuccino: 64 grams (16 sugar cubes) Caffeine content: 116 mg There are 330 mg of caffeine in one grande Starbucks coffee

t Every four grams of sugar are equal to one sugar cube (actual size) t The general requirement is to limit yourself to 200-300 milligrams of caffeine per day t You can overdose on caffeine. Symptoms include: headache, fever, irritability and confusion Sugar content in one can of Diet Coke: 0 grams Sugar content in one can of regular Coke: 39 grams

Sugar content in one 5-Hour Energy: 0 grams

There are 32 mg of caffeine in a can of Diet Coke and 42 mg in regular Coke

There are 200 mg of caffeine in one bottle of 5-Hour Energy

Photos by Hadley Rittgers, sugar cube from Creative Commons

PAGES BY Macy Anderson 17

A month in reviews

Arts and Entertainment Ah, the fresh smell of another young adult dystopian movie. As more and more of them have hit the big screen, it’s difficult to start differentiating themselves from each other. And while Insurgent (the second film in the Divergent franchise) succeeds at being a fast paced and visually appealing thriller, it becomes a bit sloppy at times trying to balance the story, characters, and pacing.

Starting with the good news, however, is the awesome performance by Shailene Woodley. She has truly been making a name for herself in Hollywood lately, and continues to impress here where she is easily the most developed character and the most believable actor. The supporting cast is pretty good, but a lot of them just play the typical version of the characters we see all the time: the love interest, the deceiver, the ultimate villain, and the rebel. None of those performances were bad, per se, but they just didn’t stand out.

Another huge boost this movie had was an increase in their budget, which showed with the visuals and action sequences. From a fight scene in two moving

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In late September, when much-adored rapper Kendrick Lamar released the single “i”, there was both cheer and fear. Cheer, because it meant a return to the studio since the now-classic good kid m.A.A.d city, but fear because it seemed he suddenly went pop. “i” is a loving song, a joyous celebration to oneself, and one of my personal favorites of last year.

But, in the context of Lamar’s “To Pimp a Butterfly”, the song is more than just positive emotion. It’s Kendrick coming to terms with his race and the history that comes with it.

Lamar’s last release, good kid m.A.A.d city was tale of Compton adolescence and all the trials and tribulations that comes with mere survival. “To Pimp a Butterfly” is also by Lamar, but that’s where the similarities end. “Butterfly” examines slavery, and in general, racial discrimination. To categorize it as rap would be incorrect. “Butterfly” is more jazzy and funky than m.A.A.d city, representing certainly something of a change of pace in Lamar’s abilities as an artist. For those expecting m.A.A.d city 2, “Butterfly” isn’t it. But like Yeezus was two years ago, “Butterfly” represents a sound new to hip hop that

trains to a CGI-filled set of simulation scenes, the effects were definitely where a lot of the money was spent. And while it’s great to see so much detail put into all of this, I feel like so many of the scenes were rushed simply so they could quickly get to the next action scene. Because of this, I felt like it lost a lot of character development and even plot development.

This leads me to my last point.

Throughout the entire movie, I felt like Tris (Woodley) was the only character that was actually developed, which is dangerous to do when you’re trying to create a franchise. It’s crucial that movies develop a good amount of characters, otherwise the audience doesn’t really care for what’s happening in the story. But perhaps there is still time to get those characters the development they need in the twopart finale, Allegiant.

I did enjoy watching Insurgent a lot. It’s captivating, intriguing, and pretty well paced. But ultimately, if you’re burnt out on the YA dystopian movies, it may be best to take a pass on this one. It’s not that it’s bad, but simply that it’s more of the same old stuff we’ve seen, with a few scenes here and there that temporarily elevate it to something new and fresh.

Jason Grobstich

many future artists will be owing inspiration to for years down the road.

Actually, “Butterfly” has more in common with Harper Lee’s book To Kill a Mockingbird than Lamar’s last. Many would argue that Mockingbird is the great American novel. Is “Butterfly” the great American hip-hop album? It’s too soon to say. Lamar’s history of slavery and race is probably one of the most beautiful expressions of anger I’ve heard, though.

Standout tracks include the ‘Roots’-inspired “King Kunta”, the best Snoop Dogg track in years, “Institutionalized”, the Flying Lotus produced track “Wesley’s Theory”, and the previously mentioned “i”. I’m satisfied also with the amount of tracks produced by Thundercat, one of the best producers that no one’s really listened much to.

Sean Wu

that you weren’t able to explore earlier on. You can also use your new found powers to combat other creatures in the forest.

Enemies you will find yourself fighting include large spiders, large fungus-like creatures, and Kuro, the Dark Owl. You also find yourself having to dodge projectiles such as fire and light orbs that can hurt you.

The objective of the game is simple; save the Blind Forest. The controls for the game are easy to control and very respondent. The game is sold for Microsoft Windows, Steam, and the Xbox 1.

The areas of the map consist of dungeons, ice caves, abysses, and the most obvious, the Blind Forest. This game doesn’t waste time to develop the story as it dives right in, starting you down an emotional path that you want to get to reach the end of. The developers of the game focused on making the platforms amazing and clever, they really indulge in the story and atmosphere as well, adding calming music to the game to really give off the vibe of a quiet and peaceful forest. Using vivid colors and 3D effects, the fantasy illustrations really bring the game together. The game’s website has a video that shows a preview of the gameplay and has links that will send you to the places where you can buy the game for $19.99.

Steam logo courtesy of Creative Commons Flikr

Ori and the Blind Forest is a platformer game that came out this March. Developed by Moon Studios, an independent company, the game was actually published by Microsoft. The story revolves around a young and very small creature by the name of Ori. As the website for the game explains, “the games tells the tale of a young orphan destined for heroics,” the game was also created around making the player remember what is truly important, as the website goes on to explain, “it explores a deeply emotional story about love and sacrifice, and the hope that exists in us all.”

So the question is; what kind of heroics is Ori destined to follow? Well, as the website will also explain, “The forest of Nibel is dying. After a powerful storm sets a series of devastating events into motion, an unlikely hero must journey to find his courage and confront a dark nemesis to save his home.”

Ori is the last guardian spirit of the forest he lives in, with the help of a small, but powerful spirit, he finds his way through the layers of the platform game, using different powers to open up new areas and even finding things that can assist him in the future. As the player finds out while playing, not only can you develop stronger and more powers but you can also go back into different parts of the map

WHATS NEW? APRIL MOVIES: 3rd: Furious 7, Superfast, Last Knights 10th: The Longest Ride, True Story, Ex Machina 17th: Unfriended, Paul Blart Mall Cop 2, Child 44 24th: The Age of Adaline, Little Boy MUSIC: 7th: Flo Rida 10th: Haelstorm 21st: Passion Pit

MAY MOVIES: 1st: Avengers: Age of Ultron, She’s Funny That Way 8th: Before I Wake, Hot Pusuit 15th: Mad Max: Fury Road, Pitch Perfect 2 22nd: Poltergeist, Tomorrowland MUSIC: 4th: Mumford & Sons, My Morning Jacket 19th: 21 Pilots 26th: Lifehouse

JUNE MOVIES: 5th: Entourage, Insidious: Chapter 3 12th: Jurassic World 19th: Inside Out, Dope 26th: Max, Ted 2 MUSIC: 1st: Florence + The Machine 8th: Muse 9th: Of Monsters and Men

Emma Kieckhaefer

PAGES BY Naomi Hofferber 19

Cougars Commit

3URÀOH

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Brinley Milbrath, jr.

College: Northern Illinois University Scholarship: Full Ride Sport: Volleyball What kind of step up will playing a D1 sport be?

“It’s going take a lot more time. I’ve heard a D1 college is a four year job, so I am really going to have to work all time.”

How does it feel to be committed?

“It’s a weight lifted off my shoulders. It [being committed] makes everything a lot easier because now I only have one coach to keep happy.”

Photo provided by Brinley Milbrath

Sydney Hayden, jr.

College: University of Northern Iowa Sport: Soccer Scholarship: “UNI offered me a really nice scholarship that helped me in making my decision to go there.”

Photo provided by Sydney Hayden

What was the scouting process like?

“The recruiting process began for me the summer of my sophomore year. Colleges that saw me play contacted me through e-mail and over the phone and from there I narrowed it down to the schools that offered me what I wanted in academics as well as a strong soccer program.”

PROFILE

Carly Langhurst, jr. & Anna Frerichs, jr.

Photos provided by Carly Langhurst and Anna Frerichs

College: Iowa State University Sport: Soccer Why did you commit to a school so early?

“I committed so early so that I could get the weight off my shoulders.

There was no reason to wait when I knew Iowa State had been my top choice from the first visit.”

- Langhurst What kind of step up will it be to play soccer in college?

“It will be huge. The time commitment is ginormous and there is a lot of outside practice fitness work. I gotta be a lot stronger.”

Anna Fluent, jr.

Photo provided by Anna Fluent

College: Loyola University Chicago Scholarship: 3 year scholarship with the option to redshirt her freshmen year Sport: Volleyball What are you looking forward to about playing in college?

“I look forward to playing the sport I love at an even higher level with coaches and teammates who are just as passionate about it as I am.”

Abby Donovan, Emily Sass, Elianna Novitch

PAGES BY ELIANNA NOVITCH

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Sports

Busy living the dream

To some, being a teacher is a full time job. To others, being a teacher, a coach, and a parent is a full time job. Coaching a sport can take hours of planning and preparation, as well as time away from home.

Brian White is a history teacher and coaches football and track and field. This causes him to be in season half of the calendar year.

“I am very busy during the season. I get about four hours of sleep at night because there is always something to do for football,” White said.

“I love everything His wife Debbie, also finds herself busy during season. about being a coach.

“Generally speaking, in season I am living my dream we eat fewer home-cooked meals, right now. The only are always behind on laundry, drawback is missing and have a baby sitter help after school for our younger children. time from my family in It is also pretty common to call in the fall.” grandma to help make sure every- Coach Brian White one makes it to their practices,” Debbie said. “We always look forward to Friday night, there is nothing quite like it.”

Head basketball coach Jon McKowen describes his coaching career as a lifestyle for his family. He says that coaching takes a lot of time, but he never feels that he’s too busy.

“Our afternoons and nights are filled with practice or games and since my kids and wife are at most of those it just becomes part of our family activities,” McKowen said.

The time commitment is worth the experience for the Whites.

“I love everything about being a coach. I am living my dream right now. The only drawback is missing time from my family in the fall,” Brian said. “Thankfully, I have a great wife that does a lot for our family that I can’t do during the season.”

Coaching a sport can be a great experience, both for the coach and for their families.

“I love the fact that my husband coaches. It is his passion and I enjoy having the opportunity to be a part of it,” Jody McKowen said.

The coaches children look up to the players.

“Whether they know it or not, those players are role models for my kids, and not only my kids but all the kids that are at the games,” Jody said. “I always enjoy hearing the kids playing in the backyard with their friends saying, ‘I am Cole Murdock,’ or ‘Zach Daniels for 3.”

However, it can at times be difficult to keep up with everything.

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Top: White family photo provided by Brian White Bottom: McKowen family photo provided by Jody McKowen

“Our children are busy with activities, and he has had to miss events that were special to them,” Debbie said.

“I am very proud of my husband. Being a teacher and a coach was his dream, and he is good at it. It is a great thing to watch someone turn their passion into their career,” she continued.

Morgan schwab

Sports

Gymnast at heart: Todd Beyer

W

hen the bell rings after school Todd Beyer gears up for the next five hours in the gym. Beyer has won more than 20 state awards and multiple regional gymnastic championships.

Beyer’s parents own CRAG Gymnastics and that’s where he got started.

He started competing at age five.

There are six different events that men compete in: floor exercise, pommel horse, still rings, vault, parallel bars, and high bar. After preforming, the athletes wait to get ranked to see who will move on to the next level at more competitive meets. During the year there are state, regional, and national competitions. There are seven different regions in the country.

Beyer spends anywhere from 22 to 30 hours a week in the gym. After practicing after school he typically lifts and then goes home, does homework and goes to sleep.

The cost of this sport is not cheap.

“I go to about eight to nine competitions a year and they go $100 plus an entry fee on top of travel expenses,” Beyer said.

Most of the competitions he goes to are out of state. He has been to Florida, California and Wisconsin to compete which adds to the overall cost of competing.

During these competitions men wear something similar to a wresting singlet with a pair of shorts over it.

When Todd isn’t practicing he coaches some of the younger classes for his parents at their gym.

Beyer is going to the University of Iowa and will be on the team, although he will be ineligible for a scholarship due to tearing his labrum while doing a trick on the still rings.

He did have to take time off, but he does not need surgery.

“I think it’s just a fun sport overall,” Beyer said. “I’m excited for college to see all my hard work pay off.”

Maddie Herlocker

Beyer’s Awards

Photos provided by Todd Beyer

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