Wauwatosa West High School • February 2017 • wauwatosawest.com
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Wauwatosa West High School • February 2017 • wauwatosawest.com
WEST SIDE STORIES
STAFF
Advisor Chris Lazarski
Print Editor-in-Chief Rick Sear Reporters Emma Gabriel Abby Grabow Jade Grippe Muskan Kanungo Gaoyeeng Vang Ellie Sear Anna Smith Print Layout & Design Rick Sear TW Live Stream Team Tori Bradshaw Chris Bravata Dylan Bravata Weston Davies Lucas Metzner Anthony Moroder Chris Paasch Ben Singleton TW Today Anchors Adam Fendos Michael Green Paris Howell Simon Ng Jomari Ross Jade Tanjung
OUR PHILOSOPHY
West Side Stories (WSS) believes that it is essential to preserve the freedom of the press in order to preserve a free society. Therefore, WSS will resist all attempts at censorship and will serve the best interests of the students. WSS will be guided in publication by a concern for the truth, will strive to provide a comprehensive account of events in the school and community, will strive to be a leader of student opinion through its editorials, and will be an open forum of the exchange of comment and criticism. WSS’s editorial page will take stands on important issues, will help protect the rights of students, will support groups seeking the betterment of the community, and will serve as a constructive critic. Columns and reviews will be signed unless there is a consensus of opinion among the WSS editors. Copies of the complete WSS editorial policy are available upon request via email.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Letters are accepted from all readers. Editors have the right to edit for length and obscenity, but will not alter the original meaning of the materials. All submitted letters must be signed. Please submit letters at the Journalism Office, Room 267. If there is no one there, slide your letter under the door.
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TW Today Production Staff Chris Bravata - Lead Rick Sear - Lead Sterling Heit Chris Paasch Teresa Toohill
Cover photo by Rick Sear
MEME CONTEST: BEST SUBMISSIONS
ALIYAH THAO, FRESHMAN
TYLER KAISER, JUNIOR
MAX HERTEEN, SENIOR
SPENCER JOHNSON, JUNIOR wauwatosawest.com • PAGE 3
COMMUNITY FEATURES
Photo by ELLIE SEAR
A GLIMPSE INTO WISCONSIN’S NATIONAL SCENIC TRAIL: THE ICE AGE TRAIL
By ELLIE SEAR
When thinking about national parks in Wisconsin, you probably don’t think “The Ice Age Trail” immediately. You may not even be able to think of any national parks here. Actually, Wisconsin is home to four national parks. There’s the Apostle Islands, but those are way up north near Lake Superior. There’s also the North County National Scenic Trail that spans seven states, including Wisconsin. There’s even the National Scenic Riverway, located in Saint Croix. But the last one is a National Scenic Trail called the Ice Age Trail. The Ice Age Trail National Park is a giant trail that winds through Wisconsin, following the path of glaciers. The trail path is laid out, but it is not fully built and not all the land has been given to the Ice Age Trail Alliance, so the current park is only part of the actual trail. A complete hike of the trail would take about 7-12 weeks (from endstone to endstone), but a lot of people just go into a small section and hike that instead. One of the nearest sections of the Ice Age Trail to Wauwatosa is in Delafield, which is about 25 minutes away. The Ice Age Trail is a beautiful place to hike or just look around and take some of those superartsy pictures.
“It’s also special, in a very basic way, in that it provides the people to go out with their dog, or just by themselves or with friends, and just kinda relax,” comments Ice Age Trail volunteer Ed Spoon. “Listen to the birds, listen to the wind and trees, and just kind of get away from the craziness that of the everyday life sometimes has.” With beautiful views, a serene atmosphere, and plenty of trail to hike, the Ice Age Trail is certainly one of those underrated natural beauties. If you like to actually help people and communities, volunteers are appreciated and needed. “I love working with the volunteers and I love building trail; that’s fun for me--all the different aspects of being out in the field...” says Jo Ellarson, who is an administrative assistant at the Ice Age Trail. “I work here because I love the trail, and I want people to experience it,” comments Luke Kloberdanz, who is the director of Outreach and Education at the Ice Age Trail Alliance. “Due to the underfunding of the national parks, the Ice Age Trail needs volunteers. Volunteers can do things from leading hikes on the trail to removing invasive species to marking the trail.” ¨There is no shortage of things that are done by volunteers... But I think the thing
PAGE 4 • wauwatosawest.com
that drives my work the most is just that spirit that they bring to everything. And it’s just love of the trail, and the people along it, and the route, the landscape. That’s what’s so motivating to me.” Kloberdanz says.
Whether you already knew what the Ice Age Trail is, want to know more, or want to hike it, just know that’s it waiting for you right here in Wisconsin.
COMMUNITY FEATURES
MYSO OFFERS STUDENTS AN OUTLET FOR MUSICAL PASSION By GAOYEENG VANG
Music is a great enrichment for all students. It helps with the mind and patience, how one thinks, and it takes practice to be good at it. MYSO is a way to extend the enrichment of music for any music student. MYSO stands for Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra, and it is open to any student, from elementary to high school. MYSO is a safe and welcoming environment where young musicians can meet new friends and teachers with the same interest in and passion for music. There are several different levels of orchestra a student can get into depending on his or her ability (Ranked lowest to highest): ♦ Prelude ♦ String Orchestras ♦ Symphonia ♦ Philharmonia ♦ Metropolitan ♦ Senior Orchestra Sometimes orchestra teachers or private tutors can recommend students to join MYSO based on their character as a person, as well as their willingness to challenge themselves. Tiffany Chang, Orchestra teacher at West and Whitman, says that
students must be motivated and committed to rising up to a challenge outside of their level of music. She looks for not just how well a student plays but their interest in music. Zipporah Salm, a freshmen at Tosa West who has been playing viola since fourth grade, gave advice about MYSO’s audition. She says “not to be nervous to audition into MYSO because there is a 90% that you’re going to get in. Your playing level is reflected in what orchestra you get, but you’re still going to get in.” “There are always some things a musician doesn’t know about,” said Chang, concerning musical ability. “Even Yo-Yo Ma, a well-known cellist, knows that being a good musician [means] always trying to expose yourself to new styles of music. YoYo Ma started the Silk Road Project, where he learned a new style of music from different backgrounds on the historical Silk Road.” To be prepared to audition for MYSO, students should practice a solo, scales, and sight reading. Auditions take place in June, and if students do get in, they would again need to audition for their seating. This is
known as Seating Auditions, and it takes place in August. MYSO recently won an award for their outstanding work from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). Through NEA’s Art Works grant program, MYSO was able to provide music training, comprehension, and musical skill development for youths who face music education barriers in the City of Milwaukee and Milwaukee Public Schools. Linda Edelstein, MYSO’s Executive Director states, “This grant, directly supporting MYSO’s innovative string training program for urban youth in the third and fourth grades, enables MYSO to change the lives of these young musicians, as they gain critical life skills through music study.” “Time management” is what Ellen Lisser, a junior, learned from being in MYSO. “Balancing practicing with homework, and even MYSO practicing with school and private lessons is hard. It’s a time commitment.” Ardan Hogan, sophomore said she “[learned] a lot about group playing [and] synthesis, because you must practice to blend with the section,
and there are many other instruments to listen for.” If you would like to learn more about MYSO, or even audition to part of MYSO yourself, go to http://www.myso.org/ new/ to learn more.
QUICK QUOTES
I like MYSO. It’s a really good challenge, and a good way to meet other people with similar interest and play a wide variety of music.
- ELLEN LISSER, JUNIOR
[It made me a better musician] by making me more aware of how important you are no matter how miniscule.
- AIDAN HOGAN, SOPHOMORE
Its yearly concert competition has motivated me to work hard and become a better player, and it has given me opportunities to work on many different types of music.
- BRADLEY NOWACEK, SOPHOMORE
Cello graphic courtesy of Freepik.com
wauwatosawest.com • PAGE 5
JUST THE FACTS
DISTRICT ENFORCES STRICTER CELL PHONE POLICY This last semester, students at West have been following a new cell phone policy: a total ban on their cellular devices during the school day. In previous years, the policy fluctuated often, at times allowing phones during lunch or even in classrooms with teacher permission. It was also enforced differently between Tosa East and Tosa West. This year, the policy is being uniformly enforced across both schools. “We were very lax in the past,” said District superintendent Dr. Phil Ertl. “The decision was made to enforce the policy because we found that...cell phones were getting in the way of learning.” The new attitude towards cell phones brings up the question of technology’s role in the classroom. A few years ago, the school district allowed students to bring their own tech into schools for educational purposes, creating a free Internet connection and times in classrooms when students could use their devices, as indicated by a green or red sign from the teacher. Even more recently, Chromebooks have been provided to all students as a means of creating a modern classroom environment. “As technology continues to grow and develop, it changes very rapidly,” said Ertl. “Early on, I made [this] point...Students should have their cell phones and they should use them and they can be an educational tool. But very quickly we realized what they were being used for. You can monitor our Internet and...the amount of bandwidth that’s being used for non-educational purposes...it’s pretty high.” Of the 48 staff surveyed in our polls, most seemed to agree with that sentiment, with 81% agreeing with the new policy. On the whole, however, staff do feel that there could be an educational use for phones. 54% of those surveyed agreed or
strongly agreed with that statement. “I do think there is an educational use for cell phones,” explained English teacher Kelly Hetzel. “However, with...Chromebooks, those benefits can be accessed through that avenue. I let students use cell phones a lot in class before Chromebooks were so readily available.” Regardless of educational uses for technology, the policy has certainly made an impact on the ability of teachers to manage their classrooms. “Overall, I think it’s dramatically improved the learning environment, and that’s coming from a lot of the teachers that we’ve gotten feedback from,” according to Ertl. The data confirms this, with 71% of surveyed staff agreeing or strongly agreeing that the policy has made it easier to manage the classroom. The students don’t see it the same way. Of the 614 surveyed, 68% indicated that they disagreed with the policy. The digital world is a central part of the typical West student’s lifestyle. 70.1% said they spend over an hour on social media on non-school days and 45.1% said they manage to squeeze in at least an hour on school days despite the ban. “Phones, despite their occasional distractions, are part of a social aspect of our everyday teenage lives that is difficult for people of older generations to fully understand,” remarked sophomore Adeline Davies. “Balancing the policy a bit more could allow for a better perspective on what the rule is meant to be doing, and I think it would lead students to making smarter decisions on their own regarding how much time is spent on their phones.” Many students felt that they should be allowed to have their phones at lunch, study halls, or other non-instructional
By RICK SEAR
STUDENTS
68% of STUDENTS disagree with the policy
STAFF
81% of STAFF agree
Disagree
Other
Agree
CONTINUED on FACING PAGE >>
47% There were 362 violations from 231 students last semester “There’s plenty of room for improvement, but this was a big change for our students. We will get even better!” -CLINT GROCHOWSKI
54%
46%
37%
OF STUDENTS USE... FACEBOOK almost NEVER
TWITTER almost NEVER
SNAPCHAT
VERY FREQUENTLY
INSTAGRAM VERY FREQUENTLY
Infographic by RICK SEAR Surveys administered through District email Staff: n=48 Students: n=614
PAGE 6 • wauwatosawest.com
JUST THE FACTS EFFECTIVENESS OF POLICY STUDENTS SAY... STAFF SAY...
Not very effective
Percentage of STAFF who agreed or strongly agreed that there is an educational use for cell phones
71% Percentage of STUDENTS who mentioned the use of phones at lunch as something they would change
times throughout the day. In fact, 52% of surveyed students mentioned the use of phones at lunch as something they would change about the policy. Allowing phones out in school at all, however, can become a slippery slope. “[The] allowance during spirit week... opened the door for students,” explained Hetzel. “The following week was when I confiscated the most phones.” “I would’ve originally said to allow [phones] during lunches and study halls,” remarked another teacher, “but then kids may be texting friends in other classes, which would start the problem all over again.”
Neutral
54%
Very effective
WHAT EFFECT HAS THE POLICY HAD ON YOUR/YOUR STUDENTS’ ABILITY TO LEARN? STUDENTS SAY...
STAFF SAY...
Percentage of STAFF who said the policy has improved their ability to manage the classroom
52% Though the policy is more strictly enforced than in years past, students acknowledge that there are still a few problems with phones becoming a distraction. “The people who abused the power last year still abuse it,” said junior Samuel Sebastian. “And those who used it properly are being punished for the actions of the people who do still abuse their devices.” Staff members shared this sentiment, also adding that in the absence of cell phones, Chromebooks are beginning to become an issue. “Students will always find a way to combat rules that they see as unfair...and repressive,” said Latin teacher Nate Kolpin.
Negative Very Negative
No Effect
“Currently, students go to the restroom so that they can text. They use Chromebooks to distract themselves in class.” Another teacher remarked, “It would be hard to ban every distracting website, [but] many of my students will use their Chromebooks to play games when they are supposed to be working on class work.” While this is certainly problematic, there is a point at which regulations aren’t effective. After all, even something as simple as a pencil can become a distraction. Ertl explains: “There’s always going to be distractions, and really, that’s what we try to do in school...avoid distractions and have students focus on learning, but seven
Very Positive Positive
hours straight is difficult for anybody to do nothing but focus.” The cell phone policy will remain unchanged for the current semester, though the District will be continually monitoring trends in the number of infractions, use of school Internet, and feedback from students and staff. The comments which arose as a result of the policy change bring up many questions and points about how the District will move forward in trying to keep its students engaged in the learning environment while at the same time allowing students to have their voices heard.
wauwatosawest.com • PAGE 7
COMMUNITY FEATURES
TOSA DONUT SHOPS
By EMMA GABRIEL & ABBY GRABOW
CRANKY AL’S TASTE:
PRESENTATION:
The famous crawler was delicious, but the chocolate frosted doughnut was so-so
The doughnuts were served in cute classic diner baskets
PRICE:
Very reasonable at $1
OVERALL: “What makes our place so special is that we are a family-run business. It’s been [that way] for 17 years now. We’ve also won many awards - Best Donut Shop in the United States, 1 of top 9, 2 years in a row. We just recently won best crawler from the Wisconsin Baking Association...We love what we do!”
The store had a great family atmosphere, and very personable staff. There was also plenty of space and tables to enjoy the doughnuts solo, or with a group. The doughnuts at Cranky Al’s were pretty yummy and we could tell they were made with love. The cost was set at an economical 1 dollar. Our only issue was the hassle of finding a place to park. With Cranky Al’s location on busy North Avenue, we had to search for parking on the side streets and walk a few blocks to get to the store. Overall, our favorite part of Cranky Al’s was the friendly atmosphere.
SENDIK’S FOOD MARKET PRESENTATION:
Not much of a presentation, but the doughnuts were set in a display case for the customers to easily see
TASTE:
Surprisingly very tasty!
PRICE:
A super affordable price at 80¢
OVERALL: CUSTOMERS SAY:
“Sendik’s doughnuts are truly a work of art. They have a certain something special to them, some would say they are even magical.” -Chloe Beaudoin
Because Sendik’s Food Market doesn’t specialize in selling baked goods, one wouldn’t expect top notch doughnuts; but that was just the opposite. With great taste and a jaw-dropping cheap price, the doughnuts really hit it out of the park. The Sendik’s bakery also offered a variety of other baked goods, in case you aren’t in the doughnut mood. The doughnuts themselves were extremely fluffy and super tasty, satisfying every doughnut craving. The only downside to buying a doughnut at Sendik’s is the lack of seating and busy atmosphere.
This quaint doughnut shop screams fun as soon as you walk through the door. Located at the Mayfair Collection, Holey Moley is a great place to grab a bite after a busy day of shopping. The bright colors, fun flavors, and friendly staff all add to the exciting atmosphere. Although the doughnuts were beautiful in terms of appearance, the taste didn’t impress us, and wasn’t worth the steep price. The store itself felt slightly cramped, and with limited seating, we were left standing. All in all, not enough bang for your buck!
KRISPY KREME PRESENTATION:
TASTE:
Served in the classic Krispy Kreme A classic glazed box, and if you’re lucky, you can get a doughnut always hits silly Krispy Kreme hat! the spot here.
PRICE:
The prices vary from specialty doughnuts to classics, but the price averages out to around $1.10.
OVERALL: CUSTOMERS SAY:
“Krispy Kreme doughnuts are fluffy and they taste like angels kissing my face” - Anna Smith
PAGE 8 • wauwatosawest.com
Photos by EMMA GABRIEL and ABBY GRABOW Donut designs by Freepik.com
THE STAFF SAY:
HOLEY MOLEY TASTE:
The doughnut was alright, but too rich for just one person.
PRICE:
$3 - Far too pricey for a single doughnut
OVERALL:
This classic doughnut shop was exactly what you would expect - simple, yet quality doughnuts. Anyone visiting Krispy Kreme can enjoy a variety of doughnut flavors and an old fashioned atmosphere. From the doughnut assembly line to the fun old-timey hats, you get the full doughnut experience. The doughnuts were undoubtedly yummy and reasonably priced. The staff was very friendly, but with such a large corporation, you don’t get the local feel that can be experienced at other doughnut shops. Altogether, Krispy Kreme is a classic stop for great doughnuts.
PRESENTATION: Beautiful displays filled with doughnuts of all colors.
SCHOOL FEATURES
Q & A WITH CLARE JENNINGS By ANNA SMITH
TDT is quite well known here at Wauwatosa West, but there are some onstage secrets that you might have never guessed! I had the chance to sit down in the library after school on a December day with 4-year TDT member, Clare Jennings (Bottom right photo, fourth from right). She told me lots of interesting aspects of the dance team, including how she thinks “TDT is a cult that performs sacrifices”! Obviously kidding, Clare proceeded to tell me all about TDT and their season stats, and how they continue to work super hard to dance their way to the state competition!
Anna: How much time do you usually have to prepare for a competition? Clare: We practice 4 to 5 days a week. Anna: What does your training look like going into these competitions? Clare: Besides practicing our dances, we do core workouts, we do leg and arm workouts and we do conditioning in the weight room. Anna: Wow! Is there any aspect of your dance training that you think is harder than what other sports do to prepare? Clare: I think the time commitment because our season is year round, and other sports are only a few months. So we basically have to do what the other sports do
the whole year when they don’t have to do that. Anna: As a dancer, who inspires you? Clare: My dance coach, former Bucks dancer Annie Shaw! Anna: Let’s see; as a senior, what would you say to freshmen on the team? Clare: It goes by fast so enjoy it! Anna: What routine do you look forward to doing at competitions? Clare: The red queen routine, because our costumes are cute as ever! Anna: How has dance affected your academic life? Clare: It’s hard to balance homework and practice, but our coach makes sure we all are all doing well in school. Anna: Do you think dance is a sport or an art? Clare: Okay here’s the thing; dance team is a sport, [but] dance like ballet [or] jazz [is] an art.
TROJAN DANCE TEAM FUN FACTS Depending on the routine, the dancers rub mint oil on their wrists and say they love each other before going out to perform. According to Clare, Sheboygan North is their biggest competitor, even though the team doesn’t like to compare themselves to others. At practice, if they don’t do the dance well enough, the coach makes them run laps! Personally, Clare’s favorite style of dance to perform is hip hop! The team’s hip hop routine has won 3 competitions and the pom routine has won once TDT has two overall high scores
Photos courtesy of TDT
Anna: Obviously you’re on the dance team, but what is your role on it? Clare: I’m one of the senior leaders, and basically we don’t have captains because our coach thought that if all of the seniors were kind of like a captain, it would work better, and it’s been working really well so far.
wauwatosawest.com • PAGE 9
SCHOOL FEATURES
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE MULTICULTURAL FAIR
By MUSKAN KANUNGO
What is culture? According to Dictionary.com, culture is “the sum total of ways of living built up by a group of human beings and transmitted from one generation to another.” Spanish teacher and advisor of the Multicultural Fair Catherine Muñoz said, “Culture is so much more than the color of our skin or the language that we speak. It’s really every interaction, every day, and what we do - it’s all culture.” To appreciate the diverse cultures within the student body, Tosa West conducts an annual Multicultural Fair. Every year, over half of Wauwatosa West’s students come together on the Wednesday before Spring Break to put on the Multicultural Fair for the community to enjoy and appreciate the various cultures at our school. It is an annual celebration that everyone can benefit from in many ways. On the surface, the Multicultural Fair seems very simple, but there are many details behind putting the fair together to make it work. Here is everything you need to know about this year’s Multicultural Fair. WHO Muñoz has been involved in the Multicultural Fair for a total of four years. She told us that any Wauwatosa West student, staff member, or family member can get involved in the fair. The Multicultural Fair Planning Committee is a group of students here at West who, along with Muñoz, meet about once a month to help orchestrate everything for the fair. The fair is open to the whole community. There are close to 1000 guests every year. Most of the guests are elementary school and middle school students and their families.
WHAT The Multicultural Fair is a community event where students show off their diverse cultural backgrounds and interests. The fair is a night of food, fun, and education, and everyone is welcome. Muñoz said that the general format from fairs in the past would be continued this year, as well. As usual, before the fair, there will be a lesson for the third and fourth graders at Eisenhower Elementary School. There will also be the T-shirt design contest in which any Tosa West student can participate. “Then, for the fair night, we’re going to have crafts from around the world, and foods from around the world that are made by people that are part of that culture, or people that may have experience in that type of food,” said Muñoz. She went on to say that there will also be food that is going to be made on site, like crepes, quesadillas, or guacamole. There will also be live entertainment, including an array of plays, short skits, songs, dances, musical performances, and spoken word. Muñoz added, “We’re going to have our live demonstrations, and one of the most loved demonstrations is the henna tattoos, so we’ll have that again. We’ll have booths from all different school organizations, individual booths that represent different cultures, booths from clubs, booths from trips, all different kinds of things. You’re sure to find something that you really enjoy.” WHERE As usual, the Multicultural Fair will be held right here at Tosa West. Activities for the fair will take place in the Learning Center, parts of the hallway in front of the office, parts of the gym, and don’t forget to go
to the cafeteria for all the mouthwatering food. Make sure to visit everything - there is so much to see! WHEN This year, the fair will be on Wednesday, April 12th, 2017, from 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM. As we talked about the timeline of preparations leading up to the fair, Muñoz said that the committee starts preparing for the fair in the fall, recruits volunteers in the fall and winter, and then in the spring all the way up to the Multicultural Fair the committee does final preparations and brings all the details together. Additionally, the committee does a lesson at Eisenhower for the third and fourth graders to get them interested in the idea of learning about other cultures. The committee also helps conduct activities for Multicultural Week, including homeroom lessons and different activities at lunch. Muñoz went on to say, “In the past, we’ve had a language challenge where students had to spend the entire lunch period talking in the target language, and we’ve done themed lunches. This year we’re going to be doing a fashion show during A and B lunch.” WHY Muñoz gave us some more insight as to why Tosa West conducts a Multicultural Fair. The Multicultural Fair is a way for all the students to recognize and appreciate the differences that are in our student body. She said, “Hopefully, the guests of the fair really learn something new, try something new, and see something new. It’s all about learning.” A student who visits the fair every year said, “The showcase of all the cultures just shows what a great, diverse world we live in, and it’s great that West does this fair because it brings out appreciation for every culture here at West.”
Photos taken from the West Side Stories archives, shot during the Multicultural Fair in 2014
PAGE 10 • wauwatosawest.com
HOW The fair generally costs about $1500 $2000 every year. With that in mind, we asked Muñoz where the money comes from to put on the fair. She told us that the Tosa West PTA donates money, and other private donations are made from West’s students, staff, and family, as they donate money, food, service, and time. She continued to say, “We try to be environmentally friendly and recycle a lot of materials [from previous years],…but our goal is really not to make any money - we just want to break even, so whatever cost we put in we just want to make sure we get that back so that we can continue doing the fair from year to year. The rest of the money comes when the community visits the fair and buys tickets to do various activities. This year the tickets are being done differently than previous years. Every ticket will be $1, whereas last year they were $2, but the different items are either going to be one ticket or two tickets depending on what the item is. The great thing about the fair is that no matter what materials people have to work with, it’s always a blast. “If we have x amount of food, that’s what we have and it will still be great. If we have x amount of booths, we still work with it. Every fair is different and that’s what makes it fun and interesting every year,” Muñoz added. NOW YOU KNOW Everything you have read so far gave you insight as to what goes into putting on a fair and how it is all done. It’s not as simple as it may seem. So come celebrate culture here at West on Wednesday, April 12th, 2017, from 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM. This event is open to the community and the diversity of the school will be celebrated through dance presentations, musical performances, arts and crafts for the kids, cultural booths, ethnic food, and much more. Who knows what you’ll discover...
EDUCATED OPINIONS
BOTH SIDES OF THE STORY:
DO BLACK LIVES MATTER?
By MICHAEL GREEN
*Disclaimer: I am a 17 year old boy from Maryland of Jamaican and African American heritage. I am a black young man in America, but my voice does not reflect the opinion of all people who share a similar skin tone. Everyone is an individual person with different beliefs and the thoughts and actions of one person should not be attached to an entire demographic. The “Black Lives Matter” campaign is a social justice movement that has recently been sweeping the nation. Having such a bold slogan causes some ambiguity. There is an argument on whether the claims of the Black Lives Matter movement are valid. Both spectrums of the argument will be briefly addressed in this article.
EQUALITY ALREADY EXISTS
PREJUDICE STILL EXISTS
Black lives do not matter more than any other lives. It is often argued that black lives are underappreciated. Those who oppose this claim say that the legal system was created to promote equality. Those opposing the Black Lives Matter movement often claim that black people put themselves at a disadvantage. Every citizen of the United States of America possesses the same rights and abides by the same laws. Black people do not need to gain any equality because they already have it. In 1964 the Civil Rights act was issued, ending legal segregation. This end to legal segregation signifies this legal equality in the eyes of those who do not support the claims of the Black Lives Matter movement.
The belief of the Black Lives matter movement is that African American people are not viewed as equal in our society. The official website of the Black Lives Matter movement states, “When we say Black Lives Matter, we are broadening the conversation around state violence to include all of the ways in which Black people are intentionally left powerless at the hands of the state. We are talking about the ways in which Black lives are deprived of our basic human rights and dignity.” The movement is not a hate group that discredits the lives and critical role that police officers perform for our society. They believe that the lives of African American people are not valued in our nation. The movement’s objective is not to promote black supremacy or superiority, but rather to promote racial equality.
According to Rebecca Barnette, co-founder of the White Lives Matter Group, “What happens to blacks in this country at the hand of law enforcement is none of our concern ... other than to prepare to restore order and rebuild our neighborhoods taking back our lands one community at a time. When the enemy destroys … we guard our town borders..” According to the leader of a group which arose to counter Black Lives Matter, what happens to black people in this country should not be a concern. Essentially, black people are an independent entity and it is their own fault for an injustice they receive. Many groups such as White Lives Matter are present in our country that discredit the beliefs of groups with a mission similar to Black Lives Matter.
The Black Lives Matter movement also emphasizes the history of our country that was clearly opposed to racial equality. In 1619 African slaves were first brought to North America. 244 years after this in 1863 the Emancipation Proclamation was issued, and in 1864 the United States Senate passed an amendment to abolish slavery. Another 101 years after the Emancipation Proclamation, in 1964 the Civil Right Act was passed, which ended legal segregation. For about 345 years, persons of color have been legally oppressed in our society. Although this legal oppression has been dispelled black people are still at a disadvantage. While Caucasian persons have been given privilege black people had to go through leaps and bounds to succeed. A universal acceptance of the concept of privilege and its pitfalls would be a huge step towards the Black Lives Matter movement achieving its goals.
Why should I care? It is evident that African American people have been oppressed for the majority of our country’s existence. It is also very important to be informed on issues, and that is why I chose not to delve into either side of the argument too deeply. One source is not enough to develop a complete understanding of this complex situation. I encourage you to challenge yourself and find the reasoning behind the perspectives in a multi-sided argument. I could state my opinion and ask you to agree with it, but that should not be enough to convince you. Wearing someone else’s shoes might be uncomfortable, but it can sometimes be illuminating. In the information age we live in today, it is surprising that hasty and misinformed generalizations are made so frequently. You can email Michael Green at: greenmi2017@wauwatosa.k12.wi.us Photo courtesy of Black Student Union
wauwatosawest.com • PAGE 11
WORDS OF WISDOM
COLLEGE: ONE SEMESTER IN What is the biggest difference between high school and college?
By JADE GRIPPE
“The biggest difference between college and high school is the coursework. I know everyone says that, but it’s hard to understand until you are really living it...In college, most homework is not counted...or it counts for a very small percentage. However, if you don’t complete the work you end up very behind and confused...There are no retakes, and even though I hated [Grading for Learning] in high school...it is easy to get used to it and find it hard to realize that doing badly on one assignment in college...can mean you say goodbye to an A in that class forever!” -ZOE STACK, UW-EAU CLAIRE
“The biggest difference is that school is a lot harder. You actually have to do your homework and study or you won’t do good on quizzes or tests. Going off of that finding a way to study that works for you and also a place that won’t distract you is another big difference from high school.” -ALYSSA GOODWILLIE, MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY “The biggest difference is definitely how much independence there is. There’s nobody reminding you to do your homework, to get to a bed at a reasonable hour, or to cook your dinner. You have to learn how to balance everything on your own.” -KATE DARLING, UW-MADISON
What is one thing you wish you would have known before you went to college? “One thing I wish I knew was that I didn’t have to have all the answers. Because there are so many people ranging from students to staff that are really willing to help you with almost anything if you ask.” “I would...like to have known, and this sounds cheesy...that all students are afraid their first semester away. Some make it seem easy, but it’s really not, and I guess I wish I had known that it does get easier and hanging in there is important.” “Before going to college I wish I would’ve known how to manage my time well, because in high school everything was structurally laid out for me. With all the free time in college, it’s easy to choose recreational activities or priorities.” -JAMES CANADY, NORTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY
What is your favorite and least favorite thing about college? “My favorite thing about college is all of the new people I have met and continue to meet. Especially since my school is so large, I meet new people almost everyday. My least favorite thing is probably the food, I’m a super picky eater so eating in a dining hall is definitely a challenge.” “My favorite part of college is all the people I met. There are so many really cool people and it’s really amazing how close you can get with people in less than 4 months. I also really enjoy the ease of being able to walk down the hall and hangout with people.” “What I like best and worst about college is the amount of freedom I have...It’s really nice to have the freedom to be done with class by 11 AM and go into town for lunch and studying. But then it’s also really easy for that trip in town to turn into an all-day procrastination outing and for me to get nothing done. Time management is something that really hits a first semester college student within the first month.”
Are you happy with the college you went to? Would you change anything? “I am super happy that I chose to go to Madison. Obviously it’s a big school, which makes for long walks to class and 400-person lectures, but you’d be surprised how easy it is to find your niche by joining different groups and organizations... There are also students from all over the world at Madison, which creates many new cultural opportunities.” “I love Marquette so much!...I love the location; even though it’s really close to Tosa, I never go home, but having the ability to is really comforting. I love being in the city because there is so many things to do and places to explore.” “I am very happy on where I chose to go to school...When choosing schools, make sure it suits you, and that your points are met while on your college search. 4 years is a long time to be away from home, just make sure that you make the right decision. I would also recommend students don’t get caught up in the name.” Photos shared by their owners
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