Issuu

the

torch “the torch has been passed to a new generation.” -John F. Kennedy April 29, 2011

investigating kennedy’s

carbon footprint pages 10-11

John F. Kennedy High School 4545 Wenig Rd NE Cedar Rapids, IA 52402 Volume 44, Issue 8

JFK Torch

Editorial

April 29, 2011

Page by Alex Busbee

Letter from the editor

torch the

Even though the weather does not seem like it, we are now one more month closer to the end of the year, one more month closer to summer, and of course, one more month closer to freedom. Michael Nordstrom, sr., gives his opinion about pet ownership (page 3). Nordstrom has volunteered at the animal shelter, and has seen first hand the affect of neglected animals. Pets are a big commitment, and he warns that people should seriously contemplate if they are up to the task before they buy that cute and furry critter. Especially if they are leaving for college soon. I spent time digging through files, reports, and charts trying to find out the impact that Kennedy has on the environment (page 4). I want to thank everyone who made information available to me and helped me with my research. I especially want to thank Dr. Wilcynski. She understood that my research might make her

John F. Kennedy High School 4545 Wenig Rd. NE Cedar Rapids, IA 52402 Volume 44, Issue 1

Mission The Torch staff and adviser are committed to producing a top quality student newspaper, applying high standards of writing, editing, and production. The Torch seeks to fairly serve the Kennedy High School faculty, students and staff, showing no favoritism to decisions about content are the responsibility of the individual editors and the Editorial Board.

Advisor Gary Lindsay

table of Contents

Editorial Board

Editorial

In-depth

Editor-In-Chief Alex Busbee Managing Editor Michael Hoefer Photo Editor Asmaa Elkeurti Design Editor Allison Kindig

Editors

News Darcey Altschwager Profile Jessica Rowan, Rachel Gilman Feature Michael Nordstrom Copy Editor Sean McQuade, Steph Wenclawski Lifestyle Allie Sindlinger, Shane Goodall Sports Riley Galbraith, Mohammad Cheetany

Writers Jordan Calef, Zack Goodall, Grant Sheeley, Spencer Grekoff, Amy Brause, Alli Nemecek, Grace King, Bailey Zaputil, Hanna Krivit, Andrea Traeger, Katie Hefflefinger, Norm Althoff, Annie Feltes, Steph Mercer, Tara Mittelberg, Lexi Theusch

Photographers Erle Kaasik, Sam Nordstrom, Sarah Sickles

Think twice before buying a new pet

How much does Kennedy waste in a day?

News Holocaust survivor tells her story

Photo

Men’s fashion

Feature

10 Bullies suck Profile

Vegan challenge

Lifestyle

15 Summer shape-up Sports

school look bad, polluting the environment. However she was enthusiastic about the opportunity to improve her school. She is eager and encouraged me to also research possible solutions to improve Kennedy. This past month, students had a very special opportunity. A holocaust survivor came and spoke about her experiences (page 7). She had a very special moment with two German foreign exchange students and a Jewish student here. Some kids may have had preconceptions of a defeated woman, but they were mistaken. Instead they found a woman who was not just surviving, but living life. We have two excellent photo pages again this issue. Our photo editor, Asmaa Elkeurti, has put together a men’s fashion page (page 9) and a heritage page (page 17). She showcases very different aspects of our school, highlighting the diversity of our

school. Our feature pages this issue cover a grim subject—Bullies and their victims (page 11). Victims finally have a voice to speak about their past conflicts and the scars, physical and mental, that they carry as reminders. One psychiatrist, who was interviewed, sees 40 year old patients who still struggle with the harm of school bullies. Health and fitness are touched upon in the Profile and Lifestyle pages. Veganism is explored (page 12) and how to get in shape before summer (page 15). A recent tragedy has stricken our neighbors, Washington High School, who lost their boy’s tennis coach to diabetes (page 19). I want to say a special thank you to Ms. Niemeyer. She has been a wonderful student teacher, and will be greatly missed. Good luck in Des Moines next year!

Letter to the editor It is no secret that our school feels like one of the greatest in the nation. Our school has fantastic athletics, phenomenal extracurricular activities, and even better academics. Yet, the Torch this year has taken to covering something that is apparently considered a little bit more ‘important.’ Several times this year I have received the Torch and saw one thing in the front page headlines: drugs and addictions. To be honest, it is disappointing when I read the Torch, and the headline stories are of people tripping on ‘schrooms.’ Are you serious? When sitting around the table coming up with ideas, did you think that, “Hey, we covered marijuana last month, this month lets talk about a DIFFERENT drug!” I can’t wait until I get to see which drug is going to be in next month’s issue. I feel this drug phenomenon is representing Kennedy in such a negative way. When the Torch is read around Cedar Rapids, the readers get to be enlightened about all the wondrous drugs that are in Kennedy High School. So I ask you, what are the repercussions of these actions? Will Kennedy be labeled the ‘druggie’ school of Cedar Rapids? Will a mother of a student be afraid to send their student to school because of the fact she thinks everyone is smoking pot in the parking lot? What other

problems could have been brought upon Kennedy due to your fascination of telling us about drugs? So I propose that the Torch attempt to cover other things than the drugs at Kennedy High School. There are lots of other stories you can write about. You can even write about the economy (and no, legalize it and tax it doesn’t count). Or better yet, you can do more hardhitting stories that are not even real. I don’t care what you write about; just quit talking about drugs and addictions, it is getting old. Chase Sullivan

cover by Rachel Gilman The December issue of the Torch

Washington tennis coach passes away

Staff Editorial: Student press rights

The existence of this sentence is indeed, evidence of one of the United States’s First Amendment rights: freedom of the press. As a country, we pride ourselves of this stature and sympathize for other countries lacking such privilege. To address this issue, there is an entire day dedicated to countries coming together to elevate press rights across the globe. The United States is a leader in this movement, consistently serving as a model for others. The effort is called the World Press Freedom Day. And on May 3, the United States will host this event for the first time. But before we begin to take on the problems of free press abroad, our government must uphold and protect our rights on the homefront, an action not currently

practiced. The majority of journalists in the United States are students, and they are not granted full freedom of the press. There is a double standard practiced; students are subject to much greater limitations than those in the professional realm of journalism, especially when it comes to censorship. An overwhelming number of high school papers are censored by their school’s administration. While this does not happen at Kennedy, there are schools in Cedar Rapids that are under such scrutiny. Principals are removing content, editing stories, and cutting programs at their personal discretion. Everyday, student journalists and newspaper staff advisors work in fear of lawsuits and job cuts. Although this is not a significant concern here, Kennedy cannot

be put on a pedestal of free press perfection. There are glaring red flags when it comes to censorship. For example, the school blocks several websites. This status quo is no longer a go. Student press rights represent a significant defect in the state of our press freedoms. We cannot and should not use our current system as a model for other nations. The result would be devastating to student journalists here and abroad. If we want our first time hosting the World Press Freedom Day to be the best possible, the silent majority must speak out and politicians must listen. Students must gain equal press rights. We support the Student Press Law Center in urging President Obama to address student press rights. The time for change is now.

JFK Torch

Editorial

Page by Alex Busbee

April 29, 2011

Neglected

Think twice about buying a new pet, large commitment High school only lasts four years and once it’s over, students begin to leave home for college, work, and what not. Because of this small amount of time left, it is important for students to begin to think about the future when they make commitments. While owning a pet is rewarding, it is in no one’s best interest to get a pet when they won’t be able to care for it after a few years.

Keepin’ it Phresh Michael Nordstrom Way too often students buy animals not thinking about the long-term commitment that they are making. They’re usually more focused on the price tag rather than the life expectancy. Unfortunately, once it comes time for college, the question arises, “Where is _____ going to go?!” Although mom and dad may be a viable solution, do you honestly think every mother dreams about taking care of a hamster or python? Chances are the answer is no. Making your problem someone else’s

problem isn’t considerate of the animal or the person. People need to realize that when they purchase or adopt an animal they are making a long-term commitment to care for that animal. If they know that they won’t be able to care for an animal, then they should hold off on buying that animal. Too many animals are bought on impulse by people who have no idea how to care for them. Not too long after do these animals end up neglected, in different homes, and in shelters. In my own opinion, buying an animal simply for ones enjoyment, with no consideration for the animals best interest is very selfish. Lets be realistic, most colleges won’t let you bring anything more than a 10 gallon fish tank. So next time you’re in the pet store and are tempted to buy an animal, do some research. Find out their life expectancy and consider the animal’s best interest. Also, always check local shelters first. Chances are, soon after Easter, the shelters will be full of unwanted Easter bunnies.

artwork by JosiahWilbur

Uncovering truth behind serious problem

photo by Asmaa Elkeurti The Runner. Hallway speeders pose a risk.

It was after third hour, I was supposed to go to math class. I leaned calmly against my locker next to the social studies wing, waiting for the moment. I thought it wasn’t going to happen; I thought this would be another fruitless stakeout. The bell rang and I almost lost all hope. I headed towards the foyer to catch any late drifters. It was in that moment when it happened. I felt the small disturbance in the air and heard the shrill of sneakers twisting on the asbestos tiles. Turning around I got a view of a five foot ten inch male student sprinting down the halls. I quickly started after him, hoping to get an interview. Alas, the sprinter made it into his room too quickly. By the time I got to the door of the classroom, he had already blended into the rest of the class. I scanned all of

with something when people the students, looking for anyone aren’t looking,” Holmes said. that showed signs of exertion. After listening to Holmes talk This guy was well trained; I couldn’t distinguish him from the about the issue, I had an idea. Maybe this was something bigger. others. At this point the teacher Maybe this wasn’t just a small was giving me weird looks, so I case of hallway speeding. This left. was in fact an example of a bigger People running in the halls, problem known with school as ‘runpolicy. ners,’ are To learn becoming more about more of a hallway problem at Michael hoefer running, Kennedy. I caught “They’ll up with seven-time marathon walk, and they’ll look behind runner and social studies teacher, them, and they’ll just run,” Joe Benedict. “I’ve never actually Jordan Holmes, fr., and third been run over, but I have been hour pass runner, said. Holmes passed a couple times,” Benedict spends most of her time in the said. This isn’t just an occasional halls during third hour, and experiences firsthand the dangers occurrence; Benedict said he sees hallway runners a couple times a associated with these ‘runners.’ year. People running in the halls “They think they can get away

Mikey J in the Morning

are a major problem at Kennedy. Why hasn’t the administration done anything about this? “We tell them to slow down, and if they don’t, we tend to let it go unless it becomes a problem and we constantly see them running,” Dan Kosteck, paraprofessional, said. This is wrong. If a student is running, all they have to do to get away with it is to keep running. Although this may keep students in shape, it poses a danger to the rest of us. There is no one solution to this problem. Holmes is one of the proponents pushing for carpeted floors, “so when you fall it doesn’t hurt as bad,” she said. The cost of installation and upkeep of carpets would be a major burden to Kennedy, however. Benedict offers a simpler approach. “I would suggest outdoor running; it’s very nice.”

James Odegaard, one crime, double time

After breaking the good conduct policy once, Odegaard is suspended for both Happiness and tennis James Odegaard, sr., has always been very involved in the community. He epitomizes what it means to be a great student and what it means to be a good person; but with one mistake everything in high school he held dear to him was taken away.

Dance Monkey

Riley Galbraith

While at a show choir competition Odegaard along with eight other members were caught under the influence of a controlled substance – marijuana -- baked into a brownie.

It became one of the most regrettable decisions of Odegaard’s life. “If I could go back and change it I definitely would but I just kind of have to live with it and deal with it,” Odegaard said. But the whole situation ended up being harder to deal with than he would have previously thought. Odegaard was suspended from school for five days, removed from both National Honor Society and Science National Honor Society, suspended from show choir for thirty days along with tennis, and was not allowed to perform in the all-state speech competition. According to Aaron Stecker, activities director, the way the

punishment works for violations of the good conduct policy includes first a violation triggering a 30-day suspension from sports or one third of a season’s events. For other activities, like show choir, the punishment is 30 days or one live performance. Each separate activity is considered to have basically a different good conduct policy, with sports only counting as one activity. For repeat offenders the punishment becomes more severe. Although Odegaard deserved a punishment for his violation of the code of conduct, it seems the punishment was a bit too extensive. Sitting out for one third of the show choir season would have effectively taught

Odegaard a lesson, but all of the other disciplinary actions are kicking a man when he’s down. We don’t need to ruin everything he has worked for in high school. The real lesson here is you shouldn’t be so involved and you won’t lose as much. Now things are pretty much back to normal for Odegaard. He has recently been cleared to participate in tennis meets, and is grateful that all of the punishment is behind him, but he is still feeling the effects. “[Being out for the first part of the season] I really didn’t get to show Coach Bova that I could play and win in any of the meets, and now it’s pretty deep into the season so it’s tough,” Odegaard said.

photo by Sarah Sickles Sitting out. James Odegaard, sr., looks on during tennis practice.

JFK Torch

In-depth

April 29, 2011

Page by alex busbee

Information gathered from: Tammy Carter, District employee Richard Sedlacek, School Engineer Tracy Leytem, Bookeeper Kathy Ulch, Associate Principal’s Secretary Jim Muench, Associate Principal

Pa p

W at er

11,170 gallons of sewage

tra

1 Pine Tree 11,220 gallons of water

1,200 lbs of smog from buses

how much waste in one day?

Included reams of paper, checks, receipts, toilet paper, and paper towels.

s a G

4 Tons of Coal

le a k

z u g

P o w e r

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Kennedy has 19 buses

Robert Young, 20 percent of energy in Iowa is produced by wind power. Assumed 3,484 lbs of teacher and the rest is produced by coal. CO2 from cars founder of the AP Calculated from 729 Environmental parking places, with a two mile average commute program, gives his simple graphic by Rachel Gilman solutions to making Paper Trail AP Environmental’s Kennedy a ‘greener place’ “Paper use is a big one. Paper is the number Gas guzzler “Cars are an obvious way for us to cut down on our waste. We can carpool. People who live close enough don’t necessarily have to drive. And that would make parking easier too if there were a third less cars in the parking lot. Diesel fuel [used in school buses] is a very dirty fuel to burn. But biodiesel can be run in the exact same engines, and that diesel is generated from soybeans, which produce less pollutants.”

one municipal solid waste in the country. It’s the number one thing thrown away, and it’s the easiest thing to recycle. It’s a frustrating situation. We have blue recycle bins all over the building. In my class we use the web site, so I don’t have to make copies all the time. Kids can e-mail me things to turn them in. Don’t make single sided copies. What would be a big help is if we had front and back printers. We have laser printers, but they waste so much more paper.”

Power leak “We could use a smart system that shuts lights off when people aren’t in the room. We have fluorescent lights which are better than incandescent bulbs. We already have a geothermal heating system which flips on or off whether the room is occupied. The geothermal system was definitely a step in the right direction. It replaced an old, old system. Computer monitors go to sleep, but if we make the computer itself go to sleep when they are not being used, it would save a lot.”

Water mark “Fix any leaking faucets because that’s just straight up waste. If we could get low flow toilets, that would help. We use a lot of water for our geothermal system, but we inject it back into the ground when we are done with it, so the amount of water used doesn’t change.” Interview conducted by Alex Busbee

Ten simple ways to change the world

1 3 5

2 Unplug your cell phone charger when not using it. 4 Recycle paper, plastic, glass, pop bottles, etc. 6 Drive less or carpool.

Use your power as a consumer: buy products made from recycled materials.

Buy products with less packaging.

Turn off lights and electronics when you leave a room. Switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs. Use a refillable water bottle instead of buying bottled water. When shopping, refuse a plastic bag if only buying a couple items or bring a reusable shopping bag.

10 SPREAD THE WORD!

JFK Torch

news

Page by darcey altschwager

April 29, 2011

Rodents roam halls

Adviser announced for Torch

ecent upgrading, construction, and the installation of the geothermal system at Kennedy has led to a slight rise in extra “visitors” in some classrooms. The unwanted visitors—mice—have caused some interesting days in the classroom for some teachers and students. Jenny McAtee, math teacher, had a first hand experience dealing with an unwanted visitor a few weeks ago. “I was teaching and then all of a sudden the kids started screaming and I looked over and all I saw was this little furry thing go into the cupboards,” McAtee said. McAtee was not scared of the mouse. However, many of her students, both male and female, were standing on top of their desks. She was shocked at what had happened and attempted to calm down her class. After the mouse made its appearance, McAtee looked through the cupboard that it ran into. She was unsuccessful in finding it and believed the mouse made its escape through a whole in the wall. Traps were set up in McAtee’s room, but the mouse was never caught or found. Nick Scharf, fr., and Lauren Kubovec, fr., were both in McAtee’s class when the mouse ran through. “I was grossed out. It was kind of scary,” Kubovec said. Kubovec lifted her feet off the ground as she saw the mouse run into the cupboard. “I was surprised that we have mice in our school,” Scharf said. Scharf was not scared when the mouse ran through. He just sat at his desk surprised. Scharf and Kubovec still believe that Kennedy is a clean environment. They try to make sure that all of their trash is cleaned up so the mouse does not come back. Despite the mouse in her classroom, McAtee still stands by her opinion that Kennedy is a

photo by Asmaa Elkeurti Stacy Haynes-Moore will be the new Torch advisor language arts teacher next year.

photo by Hanna Krivit Mouse trap. Jenny McAtee, math teacher, searchers for a mouse that ran into her room last week. clean environment. “I think Kennedy is very clean. I think the mouse just wanted to find a warm home,” McAtee said. This is her first year teaching at Kennedy and this is the first time that a situation like this has happened to her. Richard Sedlacek, custodian, believes that the recent rise in the mice population has been from construction and remodeling over the past few years. He has not heard of any teachers having mice in their classrooms lately. “Usually teachers will e-mail me and I will go in and set up traps,” Sedlacek said. He has been working at Kennedy for 18 years and believes that Kennedy is one of the best kept schools in the district. David Schmidt, Spanish teacher, has also had problems in his classroom with a possible mouse. For a few days there was a stench lingering in his classroom, believed to be from a decomposing mouse. The stench disappeared but

no mouse was found to Scmidt’s knowledge. Mice problems have not been limited to just the classrooms. Mice have been found down in the pool area, especially in the breakfast room where swimmers store their food for practices and meets. John Smith, so., experienced an encounter with a mouse in the breakfast room. “We were down in the breakfast room and we heard some squeaking. Then we saw a mouse so I stepped on it,” Smith said. The first time he stepped on the mouse he broke a few bones, which caused the mouse to squirm around a bit so he stepped on it again to fully kill it. Although there has been a rise in the recent mice sightings throughout Kennedy, many still stick with their opinion that Kennedy is a clean and safe environment. Darcey Altschwager

Eagle Cam causes strain The Raptor Resource Project Eagle Cam has quickly received a lot of popularity throughout the country. The Eagle Cam is located in Decorah, Iowa and has been viewed almost 50 million times. James Burke, Spanish teacher, started watching the eagle cam before it was publicized on local and national TV and said he thinks a friend first showed him the Eagle Cam. Burke

likes that the Eagle Cam is a chance to see a kind of nature that you do not always get to see. Burke has even gotten his own children interested in watching the Eagle Cam. The two eagles have had their nest in this location since 2007 and have been together for multiple years. The nest is about 80 feet high, six feet across, four feet deep, and weighs around 1000 pounds. The two eagles had three

photo by Katie Hefflefinger Eagle’s eye. James Burke , Spanish teacher, watches the Eagle Cam in his classroom.

eggs this year on Feb. 23, 26 and March 2. The eaglets hatched on April 2, 3, and 6. The Eagle Cam is something to watch during classes as well. “We have tuned in, not consistently. On funner days we would just open it up and see,” Burke said. He believes the coolest part of the Eagle Cam is when the mom is feeding the eaglets. Deb Baber, technology facilitator, said, “I think there was a good indication that a lot of people were watching it throughout the district because the network was so slow.” She heard that the network was maxed out at 100% for at least one day. Baber said that whenever people stream videos online, it is going to slow down the network, but the speed has gotten better. The Eagle Cam consists of two cameras with an infrared light to see what the eagles are doing at nighttime, without them noticing the light is there. The cameras are about four feet above the nest and the camera can also zoom in and move around. Neither the mom nor dad eagle are banded. The Raptor Resource Project has been around since 1988 and works to sustain the life of falcons, eagles, ospreys, hawks, and owls. The Raptor Resource Project has over 23 nest sites. The Raptor Resource Project also provides training programs to over 85,000 people every year. Burke said he thinks he would tune in to the Eagle Cam if they continue it into the future to see if it would be different from year to year. “I mean, this is one of those pure reality things where they just put a camera up in a tree and they’re not manipulating the behavior of the eagle at all. That’s what I think is so cool.” Alli Nemecek

With the school year winding down, teachers who have decided to retire are finding people to take over for them next year. Saying goodbye to the teachers that have worked at Kennedy for a long time can be hard and difficult, but the teachers that are filling their roles are ready to help and get to know the school better. One of the teachers that will be leaving this year is Gary Lindsay, L.A. teacher and Torch advisor. After teaching at Kennedy for over 40 years, he has decided to retire and has already found the new teacher for his class. Even though he will be missed, he is confident with his choice in the new teacher. Having taught at Jefferson for 10 years now, Stacy Haynes-Moore thought it was time to come back to Kennedy, her alma mater. She was also a member of the Torch and feels honored to be able to teach here. “I am so excited. It is really an awesome experience and opportunity for me,” HaynesMoore said. The thing she is most excited about coming to Kennedy is just getting to know the students and teach in a different environment. “I am excited to get to know the students, and experience a different environment from where I was teaching,” Haynes-Moore said.. Coming to Kennedy, Haynes-Moore hopes that her and Lindsay have the same teaching styles. Having Lindsay as a teacher when she was in high school, Haynes-Moore learned from him and doesn’t want to mess with what he has accomplished at Kennedy. She doesn’t feel like she is replacing him, but filling in after he graduates. “I have patterned a lot of the way I have run my publication with this publication,” Haynes-Moore said. Even though leaving Jefferson has been difficult, Haynes-Moore is ready for a change. She is hoping to continue helping the Torch become better and is ready to take a new step in her career. Jordan Calef

JFK Torch

news

april 29, 2011

Page by darcey altschwager

Retirement alters staff Future of wood tech dept. uncertain

photo by Jessica Rowan Helping Hands. Dennis Roloff lends a hand to one of his students during his wood tech class.

Dennis Roloff, basketball coach, wood tech and physical education teacher, will soon be leaving behind his teach career as he has decided to retire at the end of this year. The district has offered a $25,000 incentive to those who are retiring which was a big factor in Roloff’s decision. “The toughest decision was to retire from teaching,” Roloff said, “I feel I have a lot of good years left.” Though leaving his teaching career behind, Roloff has many other things to look forward in his future, “I’m mostly looking forward to a little time off and trying to lose some weight. I will also still be coaching girls basketball.” Roloff is most noted in his coaching career for reaching is 300th win in his career. The wood tech program is a popular selection for many students looking to go into

different kinds of construction work, wood working, or for students who are looking for a unique elective class. Roloff retiring will bring noticeable change to the program, but it is still going to be a steady option in course selections for students next year. The administration is currently looking for a replacement, but is confident that the program will go on and still be successful. A replacement has not be decided yet. Roloff will be remembered at Kennedy for being a great teacher and an outstanding coach, “Every day is different; every student you work with is different. I’m going to miss the students, fellow teachers, and the administration.” Andrea Traeger

AP chem to be taught by new teacher

photo by Jessica Rowan Instruction. Deb Snook gives her students directions during her AP chemistry class.

AP chemistry is known as one of the toughest advanced placement courses at Kennedy. But the teacher, Deb Snook, is known as one of the most fun teachers around. Snook has enjoyed heading the AP chemistry program, as well as being a student counselor in the office, but as this school year closes, so will her teaching career at Kennedy as she has made the decision to retire. AP chemistry takes a lot of scientific knowledge to teach, which isn’t always an easy skill to find when looking for replacements. But as Snook is the only AP chemistry teacher at Kennedy, this is a process that the administration has had to face recently. Finding an appropriate replacement is a very difficult decision, but the administration has decided to make Jennifer Lewis, who

Shoeless for a cause Shoes. “It was kind of cold that day, so it really brought to light what little kids have to go through everyday,” Frazier said. Frazier hopes that everyone who went shoeless for a day realized how helpful it was to feel what children around the world have to deal with. “People with open minds saw how it helped to know what other people are going through,” Frazier said. Aria Roshay, fr., said she participated in a day without

shoes because she can relate to children in need. “I grew up in poverty, I was in foster care but I didn’t really have much,” Roshay said. She said the best part of going barefoot was getting the word out about TOMS Shoes. Roshay said that going without shoes made her realize how influential helping others can be. “I liked the positive feeling I got from it, like I was making a difference,” she said. Grace King

TOMS

Test your skills on events happening around the world 1. Which state is currently having severe wildfires? a) Oregon b) Kansas c) Colorado d) Texas 2. Which fast food item is decreasing in sales? a) Chicken strips b) French fries c) Soft drinks d) Apple pies 3. What is the name of Prince William’s wife? a) Carrie Underwood b) Katie Bell c) Susan Bones d) Kate Middleton 4.) Which movie genre has raised box office profit this year? a) Family b) Horror c) RomCom d) Drama 5.) Which celebrity just went to jail? a) Robert Downey Jr. b) Lindsey Lohan c) Miley Cyrus d) T-Pain 6.) What can you now rent for seventy thousand dollars a night? a) Hershey park b) Central Park c) Liechtenstein d) Google Inc. 7.) Flooding in which state has forced evacuations? a) Tennessee b) Louisiana c) Maryland d) Missouri 8.) How many flight control attendants have recently been caught sleeping on duty? a) Five b) One c) Three d) Seven Answers: d, b, d, a, b, c, d

One for one, this is the went on she realized what it promise TOMS Shoes makes. was all about. “Walking across the parkFor every pair of shoes bought, TOMS promises to give a pair ing lot was extremely painful and cold because we had to of shoes to a child in need. The TOMS Shoes program avoid rocks and glass. It was began when traveler Blake really eye opening,” Rowell Mycoskie visited Argentina said. Stephanie Wenclawski, and saw that many of the children there couldn’t afford jr., believes that it is very imshoes. Going shoeless leads to portant to bring awareness to soil-transmitted diseases that the problem of children who penetrate the skin through are not fortunate enough to bare feet. Mycoskie started afford shoes. When people TOMS Shoes because going asked her why she was bareshoeless is such a major prob- foot, Wenclawski would tell them about TOMS. lem in third world countries. “By the end of the day On April 5 TOMS Shoes sponsored A Day Without my feet were sore. It brought Shoes. The challenge was to me down to earth what the kids might actually be going go barefoot all day. Taylor Rowell, sr., partici- through,” Wenclawski said. Wenclawski helps run a pated in a day without shoes club at Viola along with Gibson m a n y “People with open called Club o t h e r Kennedy minds saw how it helped Change. In students. to know what other peo- May, the fourth and R o w e l l ple are going through.” fifth gradsaid that in some -Jake Frazier, so., said. ers are doing a barecountries foot walk if children don’t have shoes they can’t go for TOMS shoes. “The goal is to get kids volto school. If they have shoes they have the opportunity to unteering at a younger age go to school and make some- and showing them they can make a difference in the world thing of their life. At first Rowell wasn’t go- too,” Wenclawski said. Jake Frazier, so., also paring to participate in a day without shoes but as the day ticipated in A Day Without

currently teaches regular chemistry, the new AP chemistry instructor. She will be making the transition to an AP teacher at the beginning of next year. Snook reflects on her future plans for retirement as she looks forward to some relaxing time with her friends and a trip out to Colorado, for starters. It seems as though the transition will be effortless as she steps down from her position. Snook will always be a valuable part of the Kennedy family, working or retired, and will always be remembered by her students, since that’s what she loves the most about her job. “I’ll really miss the student interaction. It’s always been a lot of fun to be around all of my students,” Snook said. Andrea Traeger

Information gathered by Zack Goodall

graphic by Rachel Gilman

JFK Torch

news

Page by darcey altschwager

April 29, 2011

Sophomore class inspired by words of survivor Kennedy sophomores were invited to listen to a Holocaust survivor speak on April 7. Elane Geller, born in Poland, was merely four years old when Nazi soldiers invaded her village. Before the raid, her father had arranged for her to flee to a Christian neighbor’s home. However, as they were walking to the safehouse, they saw several other Christian hosts betray Jewish children and report them to Nazi soldiers. The children were murdered on the spot. To avoid this fate, Geller and her father returned to the group that would eventually be sent to labor camps. It was here that she was separated from her father, brother, and 16 year old sister, who died at Auschwitz.

However, Geller got lucky. She was sent to a labor camp with her aunt, who acted as her mother for the remaining years of the war. “My aunt never left my side for almost five years. I obeyed her. If not I would not be here in this very room,” Geller said. For the five years that she was imprisoned, every minute was a struggle to survive. “Everyday that you lived there was hope for, yet, another day,” Geller said. “I had rats in my hair. I stole. I ate toothpaste. I drank urine. I did whatever was necessary to fill my belly and stay alive.” Gellers’s most nightmarish memory is of the Nazi dogs that were released onto the prisoners. “We were attacked and

chewed and bitten and mauled and we begged and we pleaded and we cried. The physical scars are well, well healed, but the emotional scars are not,” Geller said. Her fear of animals remains to this day. Eventually, Geller and her aunt were relocated to Bergen Belsen concentration camp. Shortly after arrival, British soldiers liberated the camp. Geller and her aunt were reunited with her father and brother, and soon they made the long journey to America. Geller travels around the nation educating students about her experiences. She shares her story “because of the revisionists,” she said, “the people who said [the Holocaust] never happened.” Tara Mittelberg

photo by Darcey Altschwager Speaking out. Holocaust survivor Elane Geller speaks to sophomores about her experiences.

photo by Darcey Altschwager Adam Parker Goldberg, so., poses with Elane Geller.

Jewish student connects with speaker For one Jewish Kennedy student, Geller’s speech instilled a sense of cultural pride. Adam Parker Goldberg, so., was proud of his background after hearing Geller speak. “I thought she was way cool and inspiring,” Parker Goldberg said. “Her story could teach us how to alter our lives to make a better world.” For Parker Goldberg, the most impressionable part of Geller’s speech was when she bluntly stated that she could never let off the Nazis. “You always think about forgiving people… and she was like, ‘I’ll never forgive for this,’” he said. For Parker Goldberg, her lecture put other aspects of everyday life in perspective as well. “Sometimes things may seem bad,” Parker Goldberg said, “but it’s not that bad compared to what they had to go through.” Parker Goldberg’s mother, Judy Goldberg, was raised in a Jewish family. His father, Gordon Parker, is Christian. Parker Goldberg’s great great grandparents immigrated to the United States after war broke out to avoid being drafted into combat. “If I was living in that time period I could’ve been in it,” Parker Goldberg said. “And that would be really scary.” However, he also felt a special tie to the speaker. “Because my mom is Jewish and I have it in me, I feel a little more connected to the speaker,” Parker Goldberg said. “It’s almost like it’s part of my history.” Parker Goldberg’s entire family attended Geller’s lecture. “Elaine told so many incredibly sad and descriptive stories,” his mother Judy Goldberg said. “Hearing Elaine speak made me proud to be Jewish.” Tara Mittelberg

photo by Darcey Altschwager Warm hugs. Ben Bach, exchange student, gives Elane Geller a hug. Bach was able to introduce himself to Geller and exchange stories abut Germany.

German exchange students reflect on a country’s faults from past Hearing that a survivor of the Holocaust would be coming to speak at Kennedy, German exchange students Ben Bach, jr., and Thanh Nguyen, jr., decided to attend to listen to her experiences. “She was so self confident with her opinion and everything. She seemed to me that she is a really, really strong woman,” Nguyen said. He was impressed by Geller’s strong personality even when she was a young girl especially the strength that she had while being held as a prisoner. This was Nguyen’s first time listening to a Holocaust survivor speak. Nguyen and Bach have both learned about the Holocaust at their schools in Germany.

“There is no single teacher in Germany that would say the Holocaust is good,” Bach said. In Germany, it is illegal to deny that the Holocaust happened. “The teacher just wants us to know what huge mistake Germany made. She just wants us to learn about it so we know the fault and how cruel and bad these things were so we are learning from these faults so we never do something like this again,” Nguyen said. Along with learning an intense lesson on the Holocaust, Bach and Nguyen have also visited concentration camps. “It is very interesting and at the same time awful to see how they lived under the circumstances,” Bach said. “I saw a lot of people cry when we went through

the barracks.” After Geller finished speaking to the auditorium packed full of sophomores, Bach and Nguyen were able to talk to her one on one. Both of them were not afraid to talk with Geller after her speech because they knew that she was a very kind and compassionate person. “She said everything she said wasn’t dedicated to the Germans today like teenagers but to the other [Germans]. She said our generation is the future generation,” Bach said. “It just happened that we were born in Germany,” Nguyen said. Darcey Altschwager

Holocaust speaker moves an audience, shocks students with harsh realities

photo by Darcey Altschwager Chatting. Bailey Steinke and Kelsey White talk with Elane Geller after her speech.

Geller’s story touched the hearts of many students who attended her lecture. Kelsey White, so., and Bailey Steinke, so., were both struck by her sincerity, optimism, and bittersweet story. “It made what we learn about in the textbooks come to life,” Steinke said. “It’s a lot easier to grasp when it comes from a person who’s been there,” White said. White’s first impression of Geller was one of surprise. “I expected her to have a whole bunch of scars,” White said. “I actually expected her to have an accent.” In reality, Geller seemed like a typical 74 year old.

“It was hard to believe that she was a Holocaust survivor,” White said. “She didn’t look like the kind of person who would’ve gone through that.” Steinke was most influenced by Geller’s optimism and positive outlook on life. “To go through such a terrible thing and to be as optimistic as she seemed made me have all the more respect for her,” she said. Steinke was awed by the sincerity of listening to a Holocaust survivor speak. “The reality of it was just something I didn’t expect,” Steinke said. “People in the future won’t have this opportunity.” Tara Mittelberg

JFK Torch April 29, 2011

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April 29, 2011

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Cardigans. Button up sweaters can be pulled over any simple tee to add a refined touch. Photo by Sarah Sickles.

BULLIE

JFK Torch

Feature

April 29, 2011

Page by Michael nordstrom

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When Jessie Zehme, jr., walked in to be interviewed for the Stand Up to Bullying special last week, she was timid. For her to share a story that she was somewhat ashamed about was a frightening thought. Zemhe felt that people were just starting to forget about the whole thing, and this would just be bringing it back up again. “I was kind of iffy on whether to take part in it [Stand Up to Bullying] or not. I mean some of my friends don’t even know about it yet, but my parents insisted that I should. She just thinks that it’s a good for people to know about it and to get my story out,” Zemhee said. Stand Up to Bullying is a segment put together by KCRG anchor Nadia Crow. It was designed to raise awareness and educate through having students explain experiences bullying problems in schools today. The segment will air on May 21 at 6:30 am on digital 9.2. Swayed by her mother’s advice, Zemhe agreed to take part in the KCRG special and instantly her mind race back to the memory that haunted her. The young Zemhe was in just seventh grade. She had always attended private schools, but after her older siblings’ terrific experiences at Kennedy, a public school, she was excited about the idea of following in their footsteps and coming to Kennedy. The family had decided she would attend Harding Middle School the next year in order to make new friends before high school, making the transition easier. She started at Harding in the fall and things did not go the way that she had pictured it. “I didn’t really know anyone yet, so I didn’t have any friends or anything, so I guess that made me an easy target,” Zemhe said. As she was walking out of class one day she was jumped by another classmate for no apparent reason. Zemhe had to stay in the hospital for two days with a concussion. On top of that, she was suspended for being involved in a fight that wasn’t her fault. Although the

difficult situation seemed to be over problems. at the school, it was just getting startAs far as Kennedy goes, Dr. Mary ed. Some of her new classmates at Wilcynski maintains the fact that Harding would constantly make fun bullying is unacceptable. “It’s really of her for the event. “I was just known important that students, if there is a as the new girl who got beat up. That’s situation that we need to know about, all I was” Zemhe said. After the teas- that they tell us and we learn about ing and harassment would not stop it. I think, frankly, we are pretty efZemhe had no choice but to change fective at dealing with it, but we can’t things up, so she opted to transfer deal with it if we don’t know about it,” back to her old school, Regis. Wilcynski said. Zemhe, who is now a student at Dakota Murphy, jr., who was also Kennedy, the school she originally interviewed for the segment, agrees wanted to attend, and is thankfully with the fact that the problems are not problem free. “I feel like the whole as prevalent at Kennedy, but nonethesituation just made me a stronger less believes that the segment really person. If people bully me now I have helped him understand that he’s not friends that I can turn to so it doesn’t alone in the battle against bullying. “It effect me anymore. So if people still really helped me understand that I’m want to hold it against me, I don’t not the only one and you’re connected care – I’m just over it,” Zemhe said. with them even if you’re not considAlthough Zemhe remains strong ered friends,” Murphy said. after the difficult situation it still left Even though the past issues are a scar in her childhood memories, as gone now, Zehme still looks back at she has just tried to block out that that period of time and feels saddened part of her life. “When something by what happened. “The mental games bad happens to you in your life, you that people play with you, it may seem always just try to leave it behind you like it’s funny, but what the other perand that’s what I’ve been doing with son’s thinking is, ‘it’s not funny, it it. I don’t remember very much about hurts’,” Zemhe said. the whole thing or that day. I really Riley Galbrith don’t even really remember my middle school experience,” Zemhe said. fat Keri Christensen, psychotherapist of seven years, often sees patients of bullying who have situations like this one. She knows well the effects that the harassment can have on a person’s life. “Bullying can cause a lot of psychological and emotional damage and hurting self esteem and the way kids see themselves,” Christensen said. Christensen believes that the effects from bullying can last for a long time, even throughout someone’s entire life, as she has seen patients four eyes buck-tooth in their forties who still struggle from high school bullying

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ES SUCK JFK Torch

Feature

Page by Michael Nordstrom

April 29, 2011

our eyes

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Although definitions of bullying vary, most agree that bullying involves:

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Imbalance of Power: people who bully use their power to control or harm and the people being bullied may have a hard time defending themselves

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Intent to Cause Harm: actions done by accident are not bullying; the person bullying has a goal to cause harm

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Repetition: incidents of bullying happen to the same the person over and over by the same person or group

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www.stopbulling.gov

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Graphic by Rachel Gilman

JFK Torch

Profile

April 29, 2011

Page by Jessica Rowan and Rachel Gil,man

Vegetarian Amanda Brause was a vegetarian for four years and now has been a polo-tarian for the past 2 years. A polotarian is someone that only eats poultry. “It started off as a bet in 7th grade then I ended up doing some research on factory farms and I thought it was just cruel the way factory farms treat their animals, so I ended up becoming a full on vegetarian.” Brause said. Amanda Brause is a swimmer, It is really important to keep your health up while the swim season and you have to get all the vitamins an protein and zinc to stay healthy. “ I was really bad about keeping up with the amount of protein I need. I was good

at first with eating peanut butter but that got old really fast. When I went to the doctor, my doctor told me that I need to start eating meat of some sort not a lot but I have to if I want to continue to do swimming,” Brause said. There are some cases where if someone wants to be a vegetarian they cant always do so because of their lifestyle. “I chose to eat chicken again just because it would have been really hard to go from no meat to red meat and I figured chicken would be the easiest and my doctor said chicken would be the best choice. I like to be more aware of what i am eating but eating chicken made me healthier,”

Vegan Amanda Brause, sr.

Dakota Reed, sr.

Brause said. “It is really Cruel and sick how humans treat animals in factory farms. The Worst thing I have ever seen was in a book it explained how chickens and turkeys were treated and it made me cry. When I talked to my friends about it we decided to make it a bet” Lexi Theusch

Dakota reed has been a vegetarian since he was born. “My parents were [vegan], so that is why I was when I was a kid. Now [the way animals are treated] just grosses me out, even looking at meat I get sort of grossed out,” Reed said. “I tried being a vegan for awhile. I ended up being vegan for 9 months.” Reed said. Being vegan means no meat what so ever, no milk, no

eggs, no cheese, nothing dairy or that comes or was tested on animals. Vegans constantly have to watch their diet and make sure to get enough protein or vitamins. Not enough protein or vitamins could lead to a trip to the emergency room. “I Always had to eat lots of food with protein, and had to take vitamins everyday so I could stay healthy,” Reed said. There are a ton of vegan meals. Boca is a brand of meatless food made to taste like hamburgers and chicken. A well known product called chik’n, which is 100% meatless, has the same amount of protein and zinc as a regular chicken breast. Vegan meals are made to have the same

amount of vitamins and minerals as regular food but are created without meat, cheese, eggs, milk, etc. “My favorite vegan meal is Mac and cheese, with soy cheese of course. It is really good and tasty,” Reed said. “Over the nine months I lost a ton weight. I feel a lot healthier, it may sound odd but I do feel healthier being vegetarian then vegan,” Reed said. Reed is perfectly content, and will continue to remain being a vegetarian. Lexi Theusch

VeganChallenge Torch staffers experiment vegan lifestyle for one week

Gilman, the other participant in this week long vegan diet, and asked for Jessica Rowan her advice on My first thoughts; how a few things I the heck am I going to make had picked up here and there it through the week? Being (all of my items had honey a meat-lover, I didn’t think in them so I had to put them I would be able to make it down). In the end, I purthrough an entire seven days chased some food that would without any sort of animal end up being better than I byproduct. To my surprise, had originally thought. however, the week went by My vegetarian sister smoother than I believed it Shannon was right, there would. were plenty of food replaceThe night before I started ments out in the world for my ‘week of hardships’, I the average meat-eater. For traveled to good old Hyvee almost everything I would eat to search for some items that on a daily basis, there would would help me stay alive. be a way to beat around the Everything I began to pick bush and find the same thing up was created with either without any dairy product. honey, milk, eggs, or butter. Though they may not have I thought I was going to have the exact same taste, most a mental breakdown when I were tolerable. The non-dairy actually realized that the vast cheese, however, I would majority of groceries have highly recommend you don’t some kind of animal byprodeven waste your time trying uct in them. Not knowing it….YUCK. what to do, I turned to my Every morning I woke friends for advice. up to a bowl of oatmeal My good friend Maddy made with vanilla soy milk. I Fangman happened to be honestly never believed that with me at Hyvee, so she I would enjoy anything with offered to look up a vegan soy milk, but now id conshopping list on her cellular sider myself a fan. For lunch device. I also called Rachel I would have a CLIF bar, this

Secret Russian Spy

way I would get the protein I needed for the day while managing to make it through school. For a snack, id either make myself a bag of white popcorn, or id eat my plain cheerios like I do on a normal day. For dinner, I found myself eating either a salad without cheese and eggs, or a boca burger. The first few days were a little difficult to get used to, but as the week went on, eating those meals everyday got easier. The temptations throughout the week were the hardest part. There was one night when I was with a few girl friends of mine and we were baking a cookie cake for our friend Paige on behalf of her birthday the next day. It took everything in me not to take a bite of the cookie dough. Instead, I found myself enjoying some nice cold slices of celery from the fridge. This wasn’t the only temptation that I had to obstain from, there was something little everyday that would make me want to scream because I couldn’t even take a single bite. To all those vegans out there, I give you props. It takes a lot of will power to maintain this lifestyle.

Even though I am slightly tofu in hand accustomed to the diet, beready to take ing a vegan offers a lot less on the week’s choices. I got bored of my challenge. options after just a few days. The first I broke down on the third day was the Rachel Gilman day and purchased my first most difficult. It has been six years gallon of dairy free chocolate When one is since I have last consumed and peanut butter ice cream. told they can’t consume any anything that has four legs Something was necessary animal byproduct, it seems and can moo. No hamburgto curb my chocolate cravas though all you want is ers, steaks, or any red meat ings. The second half of my anything that contains milk for that matter. It has been vegan week revealed itself to or eggs. I went through my six months since I have become routine. I consumed first day craving a gallon of proclaimed myself a pescatar- cookie dough ice cream and nearly the same foods ian. When the challenge arose a grilled cheese. My craveveryday. of becoming a vegan for a As Monday night week, I thought it couldn’t rolled around and the “I truly admire a vegan’s be much more difficult. week of vegan lifeWhat is one step further, motivation to be able to style came to a close, right? I reflected on the past stick to their diet. Their Wrong. It only took week. I have grown a personal beliefs have to be sense of respect for one night of vegan preparation to understand incredibly strong. For this, I the vegan lifestyle. It is the difficulties my next in no way easy to live say, kudos vegans.” week would entail. To without any animal by-Rachel Gilman, Jr. begin my preparations, products. It takes much I visited various vegan more time and thought recipe websites. I made a to go to the grocery list of things I would need store and creativity to to get and headed off to create meals. Going the grocery store. A whole out to eat is nearly out of the ings went unanswered as I new dilemma came about question (I figured this out made it through my first day when I arrived at the store. first-hand). I truly admire a unmarked. The next few days Who knew so many foods vegan’s motivation to be able of my vegan challenge were contained milk, eggs, or even to stick to their diet. Their rather uneventful. Being a honey? I searched the aisles personal beliefs have to be pescatarian already, I am for vegan-friendly treats for incredibly strong. For this, I used to consuming large about an hour. I returned say, kudos vegans. amounts of tofu stir fry and home with soy milk and peanut butter sandwiches.

Soundtrack to my life

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JFK Torch

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April 29, 2011

Different parenting styles

The big three

photo by Sam Nordstrom Trash talk. Garet Christianson, sr, discusses taking out the trash, a common household chore, with his father.

Students reflect on parental rules Parents control almost everything in a student’s life. When it comes to a student’s curfew or a missing assignment, parents are always there. Some students have strict parents, while others have more relaxed parents. Garet Christianson, sr, believes he has strict parents. “They’re strict when it comes to being home on time, knowing where I am, stuff like that,” Christianson said. Christianson has a curfew of 1a.m., but believes that it should be later. “I have daily chores, like taking out the trash, but most of the time they don’t get done,” Christensen said.

Andrew Shannon, so., believes his parents are more relaxed. “I have to be home usually around 11p.m., but some of the time I will just spend the night [at a friend’s house],” Shannon said. Shannon is allowed to stay home alone, overnight when his parents are away. “I actually have spent the whole weekend by myself a few times. I think my parents are just more relaxed because they trust me,” Shannon said. “If I have friends over, my parents want them to leave by their driving curfew, or just spend the night.” Andrew does help out around the house. “I dust, vacuum, and pretty much help out around the

house whenever my parents ask me,” Shannon said. Shannon believes his parents will stay relaxed, as long as he continues to behave well. “There are three types of parenting when it comes to being strict or enforcing rules: authoritarian, permissive, and authoritative,” Patrick Cory, AP psychology teacher, said. Cory believes that the way parents were treated when they grew up plays a large role in their parenting. “When faced with uncertainty, parents will defer to what they know, which is what they experienced growing up,” Cory said. Sam Nordstrom

01 02 03

The Authoritarian The most strict parenting style. A no questions asked regime. Parents rule with an iron fist.

The Permissive The least strict parenting style. Children live by essentially no rules. There is little structure at home. The vibe is live and let live.

The Authoritative The authoritative parent is the middle-of-the-road strict. There are rules with reason, exceptions can be made, and an explanation as to why is always given.

Staff member participates in local roller derby

Regena Hale

Jaw Breakin’ Gena, otherwise known as Regina Hale, joined the Cedar Rapids RollerGirls on Nov. 22, 2010. Hale chose her “Jaw Breakin’ Gena” name because she is a huge boxing fan, and she wanted something that related to boxing. She is a part of the team because she had a lot of friends that participated and she had previously been a speed skater so she thought it would be a fun thing to do. “Being active in a sport and being part of a team is fun and I like that,” Hale said. Hale is a jammer on the team, a position to be proud of. “Its dedication. There’s a lot to learn, and you have to know a lot of the rules,” Regina said. She is responsible for scoring all of the points, and getting past all of the derby girls on the opposing team. Jammers try to

make it past the “pack” which is a term used to describe the 10 blockers who are at the beginning of the track (5 blockers on each team). Regina then scores all her points by earning 1 point for each blocking player she passes on the other team. The CR RollerGirls team was started in Feb. of 2008 and meets are held at the US Cellular Center. The team practices 2-4 nights a week for 3 hours, and they compete 1 or 2 times a month in their 10 month long season, from February to December. The CR RollerGirls are made up of 2 teams: The Helldorados and The Bobmshell Cartel, which is the team Regina is currently on, and that team consists of their “up-and-coming stars”. The Helldoados are their all-star team made up of veteran players. Before being on the team the “fresh meat”

players mush finish a training program that consists of many, hard, long practices a week. All of the players play for free and the coaches and refs donate their time to the team because of their love for the sport. Jaw Breakin’ Gena is her name for a reason. “It’s interesting, and I like to spend a lot of time in the penelty box because I’m very aggressive.” Regina said. Roller Derby isn’t a very common sport, but is a very intense game to play and is worth seeing. The CR RollerGirls hope to have a bigger audience next time they compete in town. You will see all of the rollergirls out there, along with Jaw Breakin’ Gena, kickin’ some roller derby butt. Katie Hefflefinger

JFK Torch

Lifestyle

April 29, 2011

Page by Allie Sindinger And Shane Goodall

Kennedy pop culture grid Torch gets the inside scoop on what students think about pop culture

If I were Harry Potter I’d...

Musician I’d like to be for a day...

I’d use magic all of the time

Fiona Apple

i think I’m addicted to...

Laughing

Phrase you overuse the most?

Shut up

Kylee Von Ahsen, sr.

Josh Zimmerman, jr.

Grant Ajango, fr.

Ali Bennett, so.

I’d ride the Basilisk around Hogwarts Become Friends with Grant Ajango

Mr . WIlliams

My straightnener

My kitten

Ke$ha

Kitten Cannon

Tyler the Creator

Rap music or Mints

#Winning or Real talk

My camera

SIms medieval

Definitely

My dog BlackJack

Brendon Urie because he I’d go to HoneyDukes can play every instruand just ment in the hang out world.

I’d make the world a better place

If It don’t make dolla signs, it don’t make sense

My most prized posession?

Jay Z

Sweets

Hey, where are you supposed to be?

My Beamer

Data collected by Allie Sindlinger and Grant Sheeley

Lifestyle

JFK Torch

Page by Allie Sindlinger And Shane Goodall

April 29, 2011

The summer shape-up Workouts to get yourself in swimsuit shape:

Squat

Bicycle Crunch

Pop a squat. Ryan Cummins, sr., executes a squat.

Step One: Position the bar behind your head with your hands grabbing on from behind  Step Two: Bend your knees, pushing your butt out Step Three: Stand up with your back straight and repeat

Pumping iron. Zach Dietrich, sr., performs an arm curl.

Arm Curl

Step One: Hold dumbbells in each of your hands with your knuckles faced towards you Step Two: Lift up to chest and hold for five seconds Step Three: Release and repeat steps one and two

Photos by Jessica Rowan Take a knee. Ryan Cummins, sr., does lunges in the Kennedy weight room.

Standing Lunge

Step One: With a weight in each hand stand straight up. The weight can vary with your strength Step Two: Start with your dominant leg and step out Step Three: Bend dominate leg, as if you were proposing, and bend the other leg so it is barely above the ground Step Four: Stand up with your back straight and repeat steps 1-3, changing which leg you step out with each time  Steph Mercer

Crunch time. Zach Dietrich, sr., demonstrates the bicycle crunch. The bicycle crunch is a good core workout.

Step One: Lay on the ground with your knees propped and hands behind your head. Be sure your elbows are parallel with your head Step Two: Bring your left knee, and right arms towards the middle of your torso so they touch and then bring them back to the floor   Step Three: Repeat steps one and two, changing the order of your knee and elbows each time

Diverse diets create varying effects, advantages Vegetarian

A vegetarian lifestyle is when a person excludes meat from their diet. Many people say it is an unhealthy lifestyle, but do people know what they are talking about? A vegetarian diet can give one very good nutrition. But the nutrients that the vegetarian diet lacks is, vitamin B12, vitamin D, riboflavin, zinc, iron, and protein. With a vegetarian diet one will have better nutrition. Vegetarian teenagers have a significantly lower stature, weight, and body mass index. It’s proven that vegetarians will have less arm strength. Sometimes an issue with being a vegetarian is having a high carbohydrate intake. Well planned vegetarian diets, particularly those including milk and eggs, can provide all essential nutrients for good health and for a high level of sports performance.

Carnivore A carnivore is what most humans are. Their diet consists of meat and other food. Carnivores get more protein mainly because of meat intake, which is good for athletes since athletes need a lot of protein. If meat eating does enhance strength, the method could increase testosterone synthesis or increase storage of muscle. There are always concerns for high protein supplements. One can have bad breath and a bad odor. A risk of heart disease because of high fat content, also exists. Some meats carnivores eat are not healthy or really fatty. Those types of meats are for everyone to stay away from. Hanna Krivit photos by Erle Kaasik

Vegan A vegan diet excludes any type of food that comes from animals. Types of food one cannot eat include eggs, dairy products, meat, and any other type of animal formulated food. Vegans lack the nutrients of vitamin B12, vitamin D, riboflavin, zinc, iron, and proteins. Vegans have a hard time trying to find ways to keep protein. Food that will help are nuts, grains, tofu, beans, and mushrooms. Concern has also been expressed about a possible effect of high intake of soy or other natural compounds found in plants, This high intake can have an effect on the testosterone level in male vegans. Some people who are vegans will eat unhealthy food, but it will be more effective if one eats healthy. When going vegan one can have weight loss and clearer skin.

JFK Torch

Lifestyle

April 29, 2011

Page by Shane Goodall and Allie Singlinger

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Foreign band New Politics revives a unique style Artist: New Politics

Genre:

Alternative Rock

Members:

David Boyd, Søren Hansen, Louis Vecchio

Hometown: Copenhagen, Denmark

Hit Songs:

New Politcs. The album art from New Politics self-named album.

Yeah, Yeah, Yeah Dignity We Are the Radio Give Me Hope Love is a Drug

With the revival of a style of music that mixes alternative rock with punk and electro-rock music, New Politics, a Denmark band, is making noise worldwide with their style of music. New Politics started out as a small band in Copenhagen, Denmark, with only a few tracks, and after a music festival in Denmark they started to get noticed more. The band decided to move to Brooklyn, New York, in which they started to create music in a small loft. In November 2009 the band was signed to major recording label RCA Records. Following by their signing, they went on tour throughout the United Kingdom and the United States where they gained more attention. Soon after the tour, the band released their first album entitled “New Politics” in 2010 and gained most of its attention through the hit single “Yeah, Yeah, Yeah.” Yeah, Yeah, Yeah gained popular attention by being one of the songs featured on

the video game, Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit and also on the music of a series of Dell commercials. Soon after the release of the album, the band continued onto touring and also playing on many late night talk shows. The style that is presented by New Politics is one of the things that makes the band most unique. A majority of their songs that they have released have a great blend between alternative rock, punk, and electro-rock musical styles. Along with that the band focuses mainly on keeping true to the lyrics of their songs while putting great emphasis on their instrumentals. New Politics has made a big impact in alternative rock in the past two years, and is planning on putting out a follow up album soon, but is not stated when they are going to release it.

M o h a mm a d Cheetany

JFK Torch

Photo

Page by ASmaa Elkeurti

April 29, 2011

Cultural connections A look at different heritages of Kennedy students

India

Czech Republic

Megan Lehmann, fr., displays her traditional Czech ensemble, a colorful wardrobe representing her familyâ€™s European background. These festive costumes are called kroje.

Megha Puranam, jr., shows her bright and colorful ghagra traditionally worn in India, made with heavy and extravagant fabrics and emellishments.

Lumioa Chang, sr., displays a Qipao, a formal Chinese silk dress for special occasions.

Morocco

Trevor Hyatt, sr., displays the Moroccan gellaba, a casual light weight robe worn by men.

China

JFK Torch

Sports

April 29, 2011

Page by Mohammad Cheetany

Special Olympics 2011

Cedar Rapids area event cancelled due to rain After an unfortunate chain of storms, the regional Special Olympics scheduled to take place on April 16 at Coe College was cancelled and not rescheduled. Kevin Then, sr., has participated in the Special Olympics all four years of high school. He was disappointed to hear that the Olympics had been cancelled and not rescheduled. “I was expecting to do very good and get first place,” Then said. This year Then was supposed to participate in the 200 meter dash. Last year Then participated in the Soft ball throw and the 100 meter dash. Then prefers the running events over the softball throw because he enjoys running and the softball throw hurts his shoulders. “Last year I did the 100 so this year I wanted to do the 200,” Then said. Then enjoys being challenged which is why he choose to move up to the 200 meter dash this year. He hopes to participate in a higher distance next year. Doug Boyd, jr., was supposed to participate in the softball throw at the regional competition at Coe. He was also disappointed that the competition was cancelled because he enjoys competing. “Meet new friends and feel the adrenaline rush,” Boyd said. Boyd participated in the Softball throw last year as well. He place first at Coe which moved him on to the state competition where he placed second.

Because the regional competition at Coe will not be rescheduled, athletes will be moved onto the state competition based on their qualifying times and distances. Matthew Dudley, sr., and Zachary Zenk, so., were going to compete at regionals as well. Dudley’s qualifying distance for the 50 meter dash placed him at first which will allow him to move onto the state competition. Dudley will be the only one out of the four moving onto state.

David Rima, special education PE teacher, has helped coach students for the Special Olympics for ten years. He helps students with their technique along with understanding what they need to do for their event. “It’s a fun group to work with. They will run through a brick wall for you. They are great kids, it’s just a fun group to work with,” Rima said. Rima enjoys working with this group of students because they love school and going to

PE to stay active. Boyd and Then practiced with Rima during their gym time. Boyd also practiced at home by lifting weights to build up his strength. Rima was just as disappointed as the students when he found out that the Special Olympics had been cancelled. “They all thoroughly enjoy it because it is something they can do because they don’t get to participate in sports at Kennedy,” Rima said. He believes that the Special Olympics builds confidence and self esteem for the students. Boyd and Then enjoy competing because they get to shoe off their skills and they get to meet students from other schools. Their favorite part about the Olympics is being able to go to state. Although both students will not being competing at state, Boyd still lives by his favorite motto: “If you want to make your dreams come true you got to work hard to make them come true.” Darcey Altschwager

Photographers, writers, graphic artists, business personnel...

“If you want to make your dreams come true you got to work hard to make them come true.”

We Want You! Contact Mr.Lindsay about joining Torch next year.

-Doug Boyd, jr. Training. Doug Boyd, jr. trains for the Special Olympic softball throw.

Photo by Sarah Sickles

New faces, same team

Soccer team acquires new talent, makes big impact Spring has begun and it is time again for boy’s and girl’s soccer to shine as some of the top teams in the state. This year both teams have welcomed new players to add to the quest for a state championship. Ten freshman girls have made the roster for the varsity team, which may be the most in school history. Of those ten players, two start: Kaela Dickerman and Annie Feltes. “I was kind of surprised (when I made varsity),” said Dickerman, who also has four goals and one assist as of April 23. She also added, “I think it was a good idea (to have ten freshman on varsity) because we are all talented and I’m glad a lot of people I know made the team.” Jordan Holmes comes off the bench to provide good depth on defense. She thinks it’s more challenging playing girls that are two and three years older than her, rather than girls her own age. Upperclassmen have welcomed the freshman with open arms. “Shauna Happel has really helped me,” said Holmes. Team chemistry is also very high, “It’s good, they’re (upperclassmen) are very accepting and they treat us as if we were one of them,” Jordan added. If the freshman class continues to work hard the next three years, watch out, the sky’s the limit. The men’s soccer team got an upgrade this year with foreign exchange student Sho Takaoka joining the team. Sho is from Japan and has been playing soccer for a long time. “Soccer is the biggest sport in Japan,” he said. Having the opportunity to play soccer in both the U.S and Japan has given him great experiences and he has learned some new things.

“The more we play the more you will see his personal impact. He [Sho Takaoka] just loves, loves, loves soccer and our guys see that kind of passion. He has that true passion for the game.”

-Mike Robertson “(It’s been great) playing with the Christensen brothers; they are very good...American soccer is more powerful and Japan soccer is more speed and technical.” he said. He also added that in America, the coaches scout the other teams a lot more than they do in Japan. Coach Robertson, who has been a cohead coach since 2004, thinks Sho has been a good addition to the team. “He’s a starter, that right there tells you a lot, especially with our depth. He’s very quick and is technically a very good player.” As for expectations for Sho, the coaches expect him to improve with every game, just like all members of the team. “The more we play the more you will see his personal impact. He just loves, loves, loves soccer and our guys see that kind of passion. He has that true passion for the game.” His attributes on the field will be key to the team’s success this season. Nathan Althoff photo by Jessica Rowan Sho-time. Japanese exchange student Sho Takaoka, so., is a starter for the varsity soccer team.

JFK Torch

Sports

Page by Mohammad Cheetany

april 29, 2011

“He was just a good guy, he was a good team member, always very supportive of everything, and just a solid and good guy.” -Dr. Ralph Plagman

“He was just very fun loving and very fun to be around, and had a great sense of humor which made him great to be around,” - Charlie Hammond, sr.

“He was a funny and great coach, he never really got mad at anybody, and always was a just a nice guy. I’ll always remember him as a great mentor,” –Clayton Hoyt, sr.

“He was always laughing, and it’s great to know he made such an impact in their [tennis athletes and students] life,” - Marlene Meyer, Wife.

Photo provided by Ann Hammond Victory. Coach David Meyer of Washington tennis stands with Charlie Hammond, sr. and Mitch Blades, so. after being state runnerup in doubles tennis.

Overcoming tragic loss Wash recovers from loss of mentor and coach As a teacher, mentor, and coach, David Meyer made a large impact in many lives. David Meyer recently passed away on April 2nd, 2011 due to natural causes from diabetes at the age of 49. Meyer had been a teacher at Washington for eight years prior to his death, and was the head boys tennis coach for six years before his death. Meyer was also a large part of the special education program at Washington and a tennis coach throughout Washington and the district. “It was a total shock, and the sense of loss seemed to build up. He was a nice guy and easy guy to talk to and get along with, since their was nobody who didn’t like him. He was just a real great guy,” Dr. Ralph Plagman, Principal of Washington, said. As a total shock to some, his large role at coach and teacher were quickly filled. His role as head boys’ varsity tennis coach was filled by Frank Howell, who is also a varsity girls basketball coach at Washington. Only a week after the report of his death

one of the largest tournaments was held in his honor. The tournament, originally named the Warrior Invitational was renamed as the David Meyer Invitational. “It was a big honor [for the Invitational to be renamed in his honor], he was such a big part of the tournament; it meant a lot to him and it was quite an honor,” Marlene Meyer, wife of David, said. At the Invitational players wore black wristbands embroidered with David’s initials, created by Kennedy’s tennis team and Tom Galbraith. As well as honoring Meyer and his family with the David Meyer Invitational, Washington and the athletic community throughout the district are also honoring him. “We have his initials embroidered on our shirts, as well as that we put up a plaque and bench for him at our tennis court and are trying to get bracelets, like Livestrong bracelets, for him to honor him,” Clayton Hoyt, sr. who played under Meyer’s coaching for three years, said. Players, faculty, and especially family have

Photo by Asmaa Elkeurti United. Players from Kennedy and Washington shake hands before David Meyer Invitational. The black armbands honoring David Meyer were made by the Kennedy tennis team as a way of honoring the coach.

“He was great coach and we all miss him, he meant a lot and will really be missed,”

-Clayton Hoyt, sr. had a tough time dealing with the loss of such a beloved coach and teacher. “It was real tough for a while, but we were able to come together, and just work hard together and go out there and play hard without him,” Charlie Hammond, sr. Varsity tennis player who played for Meyer all fours, said. “It’s impacted us greatly and served as a shock. The first week of practice seemed odd without him; it didn’t seem the same way. Although we’re trying to bounce back and play

well and get to state and honor this year to him,” Hoyt said. As the season progresses, the team looks to gradually improve and recover from their loss and hopefully make a run to state in his honor. “Not only [students from] Washington, but other students in the conference that have sent gifts or been supportive have really meant a lot, it has meant so incredibly much that they were able to do that,” Marlene Meyer said. As the season continues and nears its end, the games and matches come to end with it, although the impact of David Meyer in the community at Washington is something that will not be forgotten. “He was great coach and we all miss him, he meant a lot and will really be missed,” Hoyt said. Mohammad Cheetany

Photo by Asmaa Elkeurti Family. Wife , Marlene and daughter of David Meyer support Washington’s tennis team at the David Meyer Invititational which was renamed in his honor after his death.

JFK Torch April 29, 2011

Smashing. Ali Ajango, jr., smacks the ball durphoto by Jessica Rowan ing a JV meet.

Girls tennis

sports

JV teams take center stage Varsity. Whether you’re playing soccer, tennis, golf, or track, everyone is trying to earn a spot on varsity. Though not everyone makes it to varsity in their high school careers, junior varsity players say that their not discouraged by that and strive to do their best. Austen Winders, fr., said that he wasn’t disappointed when he didn’t make it into varsity for track. “I’m a freshman,” Winders said, “So it’s not that big of deal. I’m going to try to be on track on all my years and hopefully be on varsity by my senior.” Winders, who runs the 100 shuttle hurdles and 400 hurdles said that the varsity players really just try to help and that he does track for fun. Karly Donahue, fr., talks about how she felt when she didn’t make it into varsity soccer her first time. “I was [disappointed] at first. And I still am a little. But I have realized that JV is a great team to be on and there’s a lot of good people on both teams. Being on JV will help me get better. I also knew that I probably wouldn’t get as much playing time if I was on varsity. But I would have liked to make varsity.” Donahue has been playing soccer since she was five. Even though she feels less pressured being on JV, she said that she plays with the

same aggressiveness and skill as she would have on varsity, though she feels like people only really care about the varsity accomplishments. Still, Donahue said that soccer is her favorite sport, and she likes and supports her team, just as they do for her. “I like it a lot. My friends are on it so it is a lot of fun. All the girls are nice and get along,” Donahue said. Though most sports are separated into freshmen/sophomore, JV and varsity teams, girls golf is the exception, having all the team members play together. Instead of having different teams, girls golf is separated into just junior varsity and varsity meets. Even without the competition to get on the varsity squad, Julie Bush, the girls golf coach and a chemistry teacher at Kennedy, said that everyone is motivated equally. “Kids that are good want to get better, and they work very hard,” Bush said, “and the kids that have less skill, also want to get better and they’re working just as hard.” Overall, both Winders and Donahue said they enjoy junior varsity, and are going to continue to work hard to make varsity and keep having fun. Bailey Zapitul

Page by riley galbraith

Pushin’ it. Madeline Harris, so., pushes herself photo by Asmaa Elkeurti at track practice.

Girls track

Girls JV tennis players haven’t gotten a lot of opportunity to play yet but are hoping to end up with a winning season. “I think they’re practicing hard, and I think their ready to play,” Coach Joe Benedict said. Unfortunately, weather related cancellations have put a dent in the girls playing time already this season. “I think our biggest challenge is team unity, because we have a lot of underclassmen coming up to play.” Emma Penn, sr., said. “Our greatest strength is probably our skill level because I think we’re one of the top competitors in our region.” “Hopefully everybody improves,” Benedict said. “And from the JV team we’ll hopefully find some players for next year’s varsity.” Amy Brause

Many freshman girls have found their way onto the JV track team this year due to the large amount of talent out for track this year. One of these freshman’s name is Kelsie Coates. Coates runs for varsity and JV in different events. “When I run JV I know that those events are not my strong points and being on JV helps me develop the skills to be better at those events,” Coates said. The girls junior varsity team has made great improvements since the season started. “Continual improvement would be my ultimate goal for the team; we can always use it,” Coates said. The JV girls will be in action with the varsity team on May 2 in Van Horne at Benton Community. Also they run in the Mississippi Divisional on May 6 at Loras College in Dubuque. Spencer Grekoff

Boys tennis The boys tennis team hasn’t had a lot of opportunity to play yet, but they are expecting a great season. “It’s kind of hard to tell how well [we’re doing] because of all the rain,” Coach Craig Bova said. “I think we have a really good district,” Mitch Martin, jr., said, “we just have to stay tough and play well. We have a lot of experience, so that helps us a lot.” “Getting these meets played is one of the biggest challenges,” Bova said. “The other part is finding playing opportunities for all the kids because not every team matches our numbers.” Despite these challenges, the team has a lot of potential. According to Bova, the biggest strength on the team is their depth. “Right now, we have kids fighting for positions, which makes everyone have to play a little bit harder.” Amy Brause

Boys track Focus. Sean Kenel, sr., focuses on the ball as he prepares to head it during a junior varsity soccer game against the Linn Mar Lions.. photo by Jessica Rowan The JV boys soccer team has started their season out with a bang. “I think we’re doing really well,” Coach Adrian Evans said. “We have won three games, and tied one.” Like many other sports, one of the greatest challenges

Boys soccer

for this team is to get all of their players the playing time they deserve. “Kennedy soccer is a very competitive program,” Evans said. “We have kids playing on JV that if they went to a different school would probably be playing on

Girls golf Though the ground has been very soft all spring, the girls golf team have pulled through and found time to practice in between the rain showers. “We’re not the best, but we’re not the worst. We really are starting to come around and play better. This is the first year I have golfed and I have improved greatly,” Amanda Wiedemeier, first year golfer for Kennedy, said. The team

is always trying to get better, that is always there goal. “A lot of the varsity team has really helped me at the driving range and on the course to get better,” Wiedemeier said. JV usually has two meets a week. Their next meet is on May 4, in town at Jones Golf Course. Spencer Grekoff

varsity. So it’s tough to find the balance of making sure they’re playing well enough to be ready for when they get called to varsity, but also to make sure that all of the guys get playing time as well.” “Our greatest challenges

are probably teaching the Germans [foreign exchange students] how we play here, and working together as a team,” Zach Koch, sr., said. “My goal is that we go undefeated this season.” Annie Feltes

Girls soccer Girls junior varsity soccer has started their season out very well. “Last year we literally lost all but one starter for our JV team,” Coach Jason Cochrane said. “So this year we were very reliant on that new incoming freshmen class, and there’s a lot of talent on that team so I think that as we grow throughout the season we will become a pretty good team.” The biggest challenge the

girls face this season is communicating on the field according to Valerie Ross, sr. “I think my biggest goal [for the team] is that by the end of the season we could start talking and start playing as a team more and having fun, because that’s what it’s all about.” The girls hope do as well as they’ve been doing, if not better as the season progresses. Annie Feltes

They are considered to be varsity’s understudies by some, but to them it is there time to shine. “We practice with varsity and do everything that varsity does they just run in different heats than us. Most people don’t understand that,” Austin Winders, fr., said. The track season has gotten off to a great start this wet spring, including the JV team who have many talented freshmen participants including C.J. Breja, fr. “I like track because it showcases my speed. It is my eventual goal to make varsity because they get in the spot light way more often but I got three more years for that I’m enjoying my time on JV for the moment,” Breja said. Many JV runners and throwers won’t be at the Drake Relays; you can catch them running and throwing in Muscatine, at Muscatine High School on May 2. Spencer Grekoff