Everyone has heard plenty about the American Public Policy Special Emphasis (APPSE) class by now. However, as the competition ended and learn-ing new material drew to a close, plenty of work was still being done by the APPSE students’ APP counterparts. This past Tuesday, May 22nd, was the date of the American Public Policy Issue Fair, a sev-eral hour event during which APP students gave a presentation to judges on a subject of their choice.

Issues ranged from school start time policies to abortion to drunk driving. Students chose their top-ics earlier in the semester and then spent several months gathering information in order to make a tri-fold display board and write a paper. While there was no set length for the paper, it had to thor-oughly cover the problems and possible solutions for the chosen subject. Most students created online surveys with various questions pertaining to their topics, and then invited others to take the surveys via email and Facebook. This allowed students to find out what their peers knew and how they felt about a given subject. “It was a lot of work,” said ju-nior Gina Richter. Junior Vicky Young agreed that the project was a strenuous one. “It was difficult and

a little confusing at times.” However, it was worth it in the end. “I learned a lot along the way,” said Richter. “I made it through eventually,” said Young.

All this work culminated in the Issue Fair. Judg-es ranged from lawyers to parents to local law en-forcement. Attorney Lindsey Draper, who was also

a judge at the We the People national competition, thought it was a night well-spent. “[The Issue Fair] is really interesting,” he said. Sharon Muehlfeld, a member of the school board, agreed. “I love seeing all the topics. It’s very encouraging.” The event gave members of the community the opportunity to see how much work students did and how much they learned—and maybe even learn a little bit them-selves. There were two time slots for the issue fair, with the first group of students beginning at 5:00 p.m. and the second group beginning at 6:00. Each group had a total of five rounds, although indi-viduals did not have to present during each round.

As rounds finished and students left the build-ing, the excitement was obvious. “It feels so good to be done,” said senior Sara Aiello with a sigh of relief. Despite all the work it entailed, many people felt the Issue Fair was a worthwhile expe-rience. “It’s a good way for [us] to interact in the community,” said junior Kelsey Kennedy. Overall, the night was a success for students, observers, and judges alike. “I’m thrilled,” said Draper. “The chance to hear the thoughts that young people have put into these topics…very much enjoyable.”

Tosa West’s theater troupe, the Trojan Players, were nominated and accepted to perform at the 2013 Ameri-can High School Theater Fes-tival in Edinburgh, Scotland. The American High School Theater Festival takes place during the annual Fringe Festival in Edinburgh. Ed-inburgh’s Fringe Festival takes place during August and is the largest arts festi-val in the world. The festival contains performers from all over the world showcasing their variety of talents. From one man skits to full out mu-sicals, the festival includes many different forms of the-atrical works. It was creat-ed in 1947, when a group of performers decided to host a flash mob to display their pro-ductions when they were not invited to the national festi-val. The festival grew from a flash mob to a spectacle so large that many smaller fes-tivals have formed beneath it.

The American High School Theater Festival is just one example. Each year a cou-ples hundred American high school theater troupes are nominated to participate in the festival. The schools must be nominated by a theater professor or another theater professional. Tosa West was nominated by three individu-als for its work on Footloose.

Once a school has been

nominated they receive no-tice and must reply with an application. The application includes topics such as past shows, program structure, and theater philosophy. Tim Catlett, the theater director at West, said, “Many schools send in videos, photos, or news stories about them-selves, but not us. We got in on just the black and white.”

The application was ac-cepted based greatly upon the philosophy of the theater. Catlett’s theater philosophy is that he is not supposed to teach the students how to be theater professionals but to “give [them] an opportunity to learn how to live and work together as a community of artists.” This philosophy im-pressed the panel of theater professionals and professors who review the application.

The high cost of the trip has prevented the Trojan Players from participating. Catlett held several meetings with the students and parents to explain the trip as well as the six to seven thousand dol-lar cost per student. The trip would be ten to twelve days long and the cost would con-sist of the materials and ship-ping of the set, meal expenses, boarding expenses, licensing and permitting, as well as other expenses. Catlett said, “Most of the cost for the trip comes from that it is a per-

formance trip.” The theater had to give their response by May 21st, and due to hav-ing commitment from only eleven of the fifteen needed participants they had to de-cline the offer. Susie Shively, a junior in the Trojan Players,

said, “I’m sad the Trojan Play-ers don’t get the experience.” Although they do not get the experience of performing in Scotland, the Trojan Play-ers still have the great hon-or of having been accepted.

Catlett said, “What we

need to do right now is to recognize that we were rec-ognized for the work we have done so far as well as the work we were starting to do. We need to focus now on who we are going to become.”

June 2012 • Wauwatosa West High School • 11400 W Center Street, Wauwatosa WI • Volume 16, Issue 6

Addressing the Issues American Public Policy students present research at the 2nd annual Issue FairJennifer Flynn g Copy Editor

A New and Foreign Stage The Trojan Players recieve national recognition from the American High School Theater FestivalStephanie Eberle g Editor-in-Chief

Waj Ali g WEST SIDE STORIES

NICK FRITAS AND VALERIE VOGEL enact a fight scene during dress rehearsal for Peter Pan.

STORIESWEST SIDE BURRITOS!!!

p. 4-5

Megan Wendelberger presents her project before a judge.

Stephanie Eberle g Editor-in-chief

June, 2012

FeaturesWEST SIDE STORIES

2

Ache.   Metal.   Pain.   Rub-ber  bands.    Throb.    Wires.  Expense.  Ouch!  These words are  what  come  to  mind  for many people when they hear the  word  “braces.”    We  are all  acquainted  with  people who  have  or  had  braces; many  of  us  even  have  or had  braces  ourselves.    The common  conception  is  that braces  are  painful,  irksome, and  all-around  bad.    But  is that  how  those  who  have braces really feel about them?

The consensus seems to be that while all of these descrip-tions may be true sometimes, braces  are  typically  not  as bad  as  they  are made  out  to be.    Freshman  Aleksandra Zielonka explained,  “Usually, I  forget  I’m  wearing  them.  The  braces  just  feel  normal; it would feel weird not wear-ing  them.”   Another  student confirmed,  “They don’t  really hurt  that much once you get used  to  them,  except  when [you’ve had your] wires tight-ened.    [Braces  are]  not  so much  of  an  inconvenience;  I can eat most of the same foods as I could before I had them.”  

Orthodontist  Dr.  Charles Hewett  detailed  some  of  the difficulties  of  braces:  “Bacte-ria that normally exist in peo-ple’s mouths break down [the] sugar into an acid, and if you don’t brush your  teeth  really well, the acid can demineral-ize  the  enamel  of  the  teeth and  cause  permanent  white stains on the teeth called de-calcification  marks,  and  also it  can  cause  the  gum  tissue to get really puffy [and have] really  bad  Gingivitis,  too.” 

Another downside of brac-es  is  their  cost.    Dr.  Hewett stated,  “The  typical  cost  for braces  is  around  [$]6,000, I  think…I  would  say  [$]5-6,000.”    However,  he  added that  payment  plans  make the  expense more affordable.

The  article  “Braces  Are Cool – What’s Up With That?” by WebDentistry  claims  that many  braces-wearing  chil-dren  are  even  fond  of  their braces.   They enjoy  selecting colors for their rubber bands, and now that braces are more popular  than  they  were  de-cades  ago,  people  who  have braces  do  not  stand  out  as much.  The article also states 

that  today,  approxi-mately 20% of those with  braces  are adults.  The advance-ments in orthodontics which decrease the vis-ibility  of  braces  appeal to adults, especially when they  have  observed  suc-cessful  braces  procedures  in their acquaintances.However, braces are not  just a modern development.  Braces-devoted website  ArchWired’s  article “A  Brief  History  of  Braces” explains that primitive brace-like devices have been discov-ered  on  bodies  of  Etruscans and  Romans.    Both  Hip-pocrates and Aristotle consid-ered ways  to align  teeth.   At the  beginning  of  the  twenti-eth  century,  the  article  also states, it was common to form the  braces’  bands  from  gold.  The  bands  then  encircled each tooth.  Steel braces were not  adopted  until  the  mid-twentieth  century.    The  ar-ticle explains that in the mid-1970s, today’s bonded bracket attached  with  adhesive  was invented.  In this time, self-li-gating brackets were also in-vented.   These brackets hold 

wires in with  a s p e c i a l clasp  built into  each  brack-et.    Since  then,  further  pro-gressions in the world of brac-es have been made; now, there are lingual braces, which are attached  to  the  sides  of  the teeth facing the inside of one’s mouth.  Dr. Hewett explained another  form  of  “invisible” braces:  “Braces  themselves are  these  little  squares  that are glued to the teeth.  Invisi-ble braces were originally just clear braces, so they were still these  little  braces  that  are glued to the teeth, but they’re made out  of  ceramic  or  clear material…but now they have Invasalign, which  is  a  series of  aligner  trays  which  pro-

gres-s i v e l y 

straighten your  teeth  over 

a  period  of  time.”  However,  this  alter-

native  is  not  perfect,  Dr. Hewett  continued.  “The  dis-advantage  of  that  type  of thing is that it does not move teeth  three-dimensionally  as well  as  braces  do,  so  it’s  not a  pure  substitute  for  hav-ing  braces  on  your  teeth.”  

It  seems  that  today’s  gen-eration  of  children  ought  to consider  themselves  fortu-nate to have these advantages of modern  braces.    Carolynn Muci, a former braces-wearer, put it, “I’d definitely say that kids  who  have  braces  today have  a  much  better  experi-ence  than  we  did  a  genera-tion ago.”   The field of ortho-dontics  has  covered  much ground  over  the  centuries.

Sabrina Black g Staff Writer

Closing the GapThe evolution of the orthodontics staple

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Get Personal!

OpinionsWEST SIDE STORIES3June, 2012

I will start with the precaution that the following steps on many toes and might not be music to many ears. Now that that has been said, someone needs to be real. I am rais-ing my hand to be that girl. The dress code, regarding short lengths, is inconsiderate. Yeah, yeah, we have all heard the complaints buzz-ing around campus, but this is more than a superficial fashion injustice.

First of all, I would like to cite the actual regulation in the Wau-watosa West Handbook regarding short lengths: “Clothing must be as long as the first knuckle on the lon-gest finger on your hand when your arms are hanging by your side.”

This provision seemingly gives some slack—just a little bit under an inch, actually; that miniscule amount more than most thought was allowed, however, is insignificant. I have found in my shopping excursions over several years that finding dress code appropriate shorts—whether knuckle length or what have you— is simply not possible (unless you feel like sport-ing a crafty pair of Bermudas). And I have not been a pansy in my search for the “perfect pair.” I have been on the hunt since fifth grade at my pri-vate grade school, raiding Kohl’s, and Target, and Forever 21, and H&M, and JCrew, and Marshalls, etc. and not having any luck. All of the shorts I have tried on, despite the administra-

tion’s beliefs, have not been obscene or offensive in any manner, however.

Simply because shorts are short does not automatically list them un-der “scandalous.” I like to think that I am a young woman with taste and would like to be given the trust that such a young woman deserves. And I believe I stand with several others in that desire. Shorts can be out-side of the designated lengths and fit a woman’s body ap-propriately and tastefully.

But school is your job…or so we are told; therefore, you must dress as such. Now, let’s be real again. School is not my job; rather, it is a bridge I am crossing to prepare me for my career someday and it should be treated as such. High school is a world of its own where teenagers work to find them-selves and learn to become diligent contributors to society. The focus should not be a min-ute detail regarding clothing so much so that it takes students out of school. Instead, the fo-cus should be shined on helping the students make their way and encouraging them to keep committed to their schoolwork. Now that is the job of the school.

Unfortunately, I do not have the golden answer to this prob-lem. My brain and my common

sense scream at me to say simply, “If the shorts do not display any ob-scenities or body parts not tradition-ally seen, then they are permissible.” HOWEVER, I definitely do not want teachers or administration looking that closely at me or any of my fel-low young women at Tosa West. So what can be done? That might be up to those who care about it. I know

more students care than not, so help an honest girl out and raise your voices with intelligent cries. We do not control the length manufactur-ers cut out our shorts, but can con-trol, or attempt to control, how our school dress code tolerates them. I kicked you off with the truth; you rocket forward now and make the dif-ference in your school environment.

Erin Stapleton g Staff Writer

Who Wears Short Shorts? Everyone!POLICY

How practical is West’s dress code?

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/community, will strive to be a leader of student opinion through its editorials, and will be an open forum of the exchange of com-ment 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, will support candidates for school office, 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 in Room 267 at West High School.

Letters to the Editor: Letters are ac-cepted from all readers. Editors have the right to edit for length and ob-scenity, but will not alter the original meaning of the materials. All submit-ted letters must be signed.

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Editors:Ellyn Kirtley: Editor-In-Chief

Stephanie Eberle: Editor-In-Chief

Jack Wongtam: Design and Layout Editor

Jennifer Flynn: Copy Editor

Caylin Rosene: Photography Editor

Staff Writers: Mark SalamoneBreanna SubotichBrianna BlinkiewiczNatalie MullinsErin Stapleton

Photographers: Ben Makhlouf

Illustrators:Sullivan BoydJordan LlanasJess Suson

STORIESWest Side

Designers: Jarrett Biefeld

Well, I thought for a long time about a life experience to share with you guys, but I would rather share this awesome dream I had a while ago.

So, in this dream I think my circle of friends and I were supposed to be the Mystery Gang from Scooby Doo, only we didn’t have a dog. We approached this old mansion and just walked through the front doors. First thing we did was split up, everyone on their own, five of us in the mansion. About two minutes into my “investigation” I found this old library thingy. I didn’t have the urge to read anything at the time but when I was there, I heard

this blood-curdling scream come from the opposite side of the mansion; it was one of my friends. I decided to keep moving. Just as I left the li-brary, I heard a second scream; this one was much closer, inside the front hallway through which we came in.

I kept moving and found a tall spiral staircase that lead to the top of this tower. When I got to the top I looked out the window. I saw Friend #3 in the middle of a courtyard, but just as I was about to yell to him, this long, pale white appendage broke through a window, grabbed his ankle, and dragged him through the window from which it came. I was then that I

realized that this was no Scooby Doo.Just as I began to descend down

the staircase, I saw Friend #4 on the first floor with his flashlight. Just like Friend #3, something grabbed his ankle and flipped him on his back. In-stead of screaming like the others, he just looked up at me with a puzzled look on his face, as if he didn’t even know me. Nowhere was safe; I climbed back up the stairs, out the window, and down the wall onto a low rooftop. I began to walk down it when I broke below me. My foot was caught on the broken planks of what was the roof-top. Hanging upside down, I looked up, trying to regain myself. Right in

front of me was a mutilated pasty white obese monster. It just stared at me from two feet away for about 30 seconds before raising its arm and wrapping it around my arms and neck. After I was locked in place by his arm, the monster opened up its gut and shoved me inside. This was the last thing I remember before waking up.

The moral of this story is to not play M-rated videogames or to watch rated-R movies until you are old enough to do so. They mess with your head and give you crazy dreams and thoughts and distract you during the day.

Lesson Learned Tosa West student Christopher Trojan shares an interesting dreamChristopher Trojan g Staff Writer

Stephanie Eberle g Editor-in-chief

June, 2012

FeaturesWEST SIDE STORIES 5

BEN MAKHLOUF g PhotographerCourtesy of chipotle.com

Being in such close proximity to our own Tosa West, Chipotle has proven itself to be a staple in the average high school-ers diet. For that reason, I went into my review of the Chipotle burrito with a bit of a bias. Upon eating my chicken burrito (one of many from their fine establish-ment) I found it just as satisfying and delicious as ever. For a substantial burrito, which many cannot even finish, the cost is approximately $6.50 (slightly higher when you opt for steak). Quite cheap when you take into consideration the fast service, various selections and portion sizing. You’re also able to choose exactly what’s wrapped into your burrito. For in-stance, I was able to choose between brown rice and white; black or pinto beans; and a variety of salsas. The atmosphere of Chipotle itself is quite welcoming and friendly. The workers are always prepared to greet you with a smile and will never kick you out if you perhaps “overstay your welcome”. You get the feel-ing that they want you to eat there and are happy to have you as a customer. Chipotle has once again proven itself worthy of the affection of teenage taste buds. 4 ½ stars.

Perhaps it was because of my loyal dedica-tion to Chipotle, but after eating my bur-rito from Qdoba I found myself thoroughly unimpressed. As much as I would like to look for something positive to say about my experience at Qdoba, I simply cannot think of one delightful aspect. I personally found Qdoba’s burritos to be quite lacking despite the fact that it cost the slightly higher price of $6.99. The rice was at need for cilantro, the meat (steak) was cold and had a strange taste, and the tortilla shell encasing the burrito was mushy. Not to mention the terrible service that we were treated to, where the workers paid abso-lutely no attention to us and took their precious time when preparing my burrito. I can’t say much about the actual atmo-sphere of Qdoba itself because I decided to take out, but the short amount of time that I spent in there while ordering my burrito felt loud and frenzied. All in all, I felt that the service was severely lacking, the food itself was far from satisfactory, and the atmosphere was anything but welcoming. A burrito is still a burrito though and for that reason I would give it 2 stars.

Upon entering Habaneros, I thought that the atmosphere was the most spectacu-lar by far! The artwork and decorations surrounding the tables were absolutely gorgeous. Based on the interior, I imme-diately had high expectations for the food that they were going to serve me. The staff was extremely friendly and helpful as they catered to all of our needs and the food itself was actually quite good. The “Macho Grande Burrito” (my selection) was quite delicious. It didn’t exceed Guadalupe’s bur-rito, but it was nevertheless quite tasty. I do however have a few complaints with Habaneros. One, the food was pretty pricey in comparison to all of the others. My single burrito cost $10.99 and that was the cheapest of its kind on the menu. Also, it took a long amount of time for us to actually get our food after ordering (about 20 minutes) which may not seem like that long until you take into consideration the 5 minute preparation time of the other three burritos. So although my burrito quest didn’t exactly end with a bang, Habaneros was still (in all fairness) very good and for that reason I give it 4 stars.

When I walked through the doors of Gua-dalupe’s in the midst of my burrito journey, I thought no burrito would ever be able to top Chipotle’s. I was wrong. Before I start talking about the savory tastes of the bur-rito, I should first mention that the atmo-sphere of Guadalupe’s was beautiful and the workers were extremely friendly. They stopped by multiple times to make sure that all of our needs were taken care of. First, my selection of the “Burrito Meal” at Guadalupe’s (costing $8.95) was the cheap-est in comparison to all of the others since came with a meal was well. The “Burrito Meal” came with of rice and refried beans. The burrito was also the largest in com-parison to all of the others- so much so that my sister and I split one of them and we were still not able to completely finish it. The burrito can only be described as perfection in a shell. It was heated per-fectly with amazing blend of tastes con-tained inside. The shell was slightly crispy and the meat was tender. The workers of Guadalupe’s were right in saying that they “serve the best burritos in town.” I would give it a solid 5 stars.

Chipotle Qdoba Habenero’s Guadalupe’s

Freshly Grated CheeseMarinated Grilled Steak

Cilantro Lime RiceCreamy Guacamole

Fresh Sour Cream

Spicy Salsa

Soft Tortilla

Crisp Romaine Lettuce

Slow-Cooked Beans

What makes a good burrito?

June, 2012

FeaturesWEST SIDE STORIES4

BURRITOSBUENOSLOCALES

West Side Stories staff settles once and for all who has the best burrito in town and looks at what makes up a Chipotle burrito.

THE SHOWDOWN

Brianna Blinkiewicz g Staff Writer

OpinionsWEST SIDE STORIES6

Get Back In the Dating GameErin Stapleton g Staff Writer

Stuck in a rut? Sick of the same old night at the movie theatre? Change it up this summer and try something new. While movies and popcorn are a favorite pastime, they don’t leave much room for one-on-one time. Quality time is what will bring you summer bliss… and good thing because our city is chock full of venues for a great time shared with your special someone. Take a look!

1. Alterra at the Lake—Everyone has enjoyed a coffee at the Tosa hotspot. Drive a little farther and enjoy an afternoon at the beauti-ful “Alterra @ Lake.” Get a chilled coffee or delicious fruit smoothie and enjoy the peace of the water while sitting on the outside deck.

2. See a Play under the Stars—If you want a romantic evening to remember, American Players The-atre is your destination. Located in Spring Green, it is a bit of a hike, but assuredly well worth it. Quite simply, it is a theatre in the middle of the woods completely open to the nature around it with impeccable drama that is nation-ally renowned. Pack a picnic to

Savory Burgers—Guys will love this:

burgers, burg-ers, burgers, and incredibly delicious ones at that.

Stack’d Burger Bar, located in the Third Ward, serves award-winning

burgers that rock your world and don’t slop. Vegetarian? No worries! They

4. Fly a Kite—It’s a beautiful day out? Any wind? Take the opportunity and head over to Veteran Park’s Gift of Wings shop and buy an inexpen-

sive kite, set it up in a few short min-utes, and send it flying. Something fun to share together…reminds you of when you were little and gets you

playful again.

5. Night in—Put on some comfy clothes, turn up your favorite music, and get creative! Sometimes the simplest things make for the best of times…try cooking. Nothing fancy, just open the cupboards, freezer, and refrigerator and concoct something yummy out of whatever you have in front of you. It might sound gross, but sloppy joe English muffin pizzas

6. Take a Hike—in Wisconsin, nature is abundant…take advantage of that. Try out Lapham Peak in Delafield—

stunning nature trails, thriving wildlife, and a 45 foot tall observa-tion tower that overlooks miles of

landscape. You have options there as

7. Bristol Renaissance

Faire—Some-thing out of the ordinary, yet completely unforgettable. Entering the Re-

naissance fair is like taking a step back to a completely different era full of corsets, mud wrestling, jousting, and

more. While there, dine on favorites such as steak on a stake, turkey legs, garlic mushrooms, and good ole’ Sas-

safras root beer. Plan to shop, too; the shopping. is. incredible. Step out of your 9. Visit a Farmer’s

Market—Tosa has a fantastic farmer’s

market every Saturday morn-ing during the

summer months right behind Café

Hollander. It has booths selling everything from or-

ganic produce to popcorn to flowers to gourmet chips. Order a mouth-watering crepe to share and take

everything in. Bring a bag in case you are dazzled by anything and

help the Earth, too!

10. Laser Tag Adven-ture—Give it a chance. Seemingly completely nerdy, but ridiculously fun.

Wear tennis shoes and prepare to run around an Aztec themed arena with a sa-weet laser gun. Make sure to sign up for at least two games, though, because after the

first you will want to get right back in there and cream your date…in a completely good-hearted way of course.

8. Get Cycling—Hop on your bikes and take a

ride on the Menomonee River Parkway. It is right in your backyard and, best of all, completely free. It gets

your exercise in for the day and lets you be active together. Plus,

it might provide some healthy competition to see who can pedal

harder.

well; you can hike, bike, run, or just be leisurely and share good conver-

sation in a beautiful place.

comfort zones together and let loose at this completely friendly,

zany experience.

are de-licious. Whatever odd masterpiece you create together, it will bring plenty

of good laughs.

have plenty of options for you including a very tasty black bean veggie

burger. Whatever you or-der, make sure to choose the pretzel roll bun…it is a true treat for your taste

buds.

DATING

3.

enjoy together before the show and plan some time for a stroll

through the breathtaking woods.

Delightful.

June, 2012

WEST SIDE STORIESJune, 2012

FEATURES7

Random ChatterAndrew Albee g Guest Writer

Everything you want to know about social studies teacher Riley Mewes

The Best of SummerAfter nine months of schoolwork, West students are ready to relax--check out what they’re planningMaddy Jordan gStaff Writer

        What is the absolute best thing to do in the summer? We have all been given three months to get away from this school. Oth-erwise known as about 12 weeks, 84 days, 2,016 hours, or even 12,096 minutes away from tests, homework, exams, and all the rest.  There is a reason we students are allowed to escape to the heav-enly glory that is our summer. We have worked hard to get through the work dished out, all for this well-deserved break. Don’t waste the marvelous time given to us.        The question is what would make this the perfect summer? We asked a bunch of Tosa West kids and the answers really varied. When asked what the best thing to do over summer was, Jordin Schnell, a senior, suggested, “I would stay home and relax because during the school year everything is so stressed and during the summer you just have a lot of free time to spend by yourself.” Junior Adriana Dunson replied, “Go to travel and waterparks and hang out with friends and family.” Sophomore Megan Jay immediately said, “Camping!”         If you like to just keep a low 

profile and watch the world go by, you are one of many. And on the other hand, if you like to be out and about in the summer, you are certainly not alone either. After all, there is so much to do. There’s the state fair, amusement parks, mu-seums, restaurants, movies, malls, and many more places to go and people to see. 

Sophomore MacKenzie Thomp-son says, “I like going to the beach and probably hanging out with friends.” She also said, “I go to Six 

Flags every sum-mer.” Brandon Moy, a senior, said, “I go to the Dells, Six Flags...I normally go somewhere out of Wisconsin.” He later 

said, “You have to go to Summer-fest! Everything about it is just so awesome!” Reggie Cole told West Side Stories, “I like to keep it fresh and new,” and suggested, “Stay busy. Don’t just sit around. If you’re into sports, work out. If you’re not, get a job if you can. Hang out with friends and just live.”        No matter what your opinion on summer is, let’s all relish the great wonders of vacation before we’re dragged back to another year of school!

1.Favorite Doughnut?

Chocolate Long Johns

2. What did you want to be when you grow up?

An Astronaut, I thought it would be cool.

3. If you were a shoe, what shoe would you be?

A soccer cleat on Chistian Geraldo’s foot, because I would be the richest shoe ever.

4.  How long have you known Guse (another Wauwatosa West Social Studies teacher?

Since kindergarten. After he first met me he tried to tell his mother about me but since he couldn’t pronounce his “r”, he ended upcalling me Wiley instead of 

Riley.

5. Is there such thing as a stupid question?

Yes, the one you just asked... no, that was a good question.

6. Which is better: Ice Cream or Custard?

Ice cream

7. How would you break down a Lego city?

I would smash through it with a mallet.

8. What was your Favorite Halloween Costume?

Lady Godiva, I got to wear a cool body suit.

9.  What is a random ques-tion you have?

Do dragon tears really turn into Jelly Beans?

10.  And what is the answer to that random question?

Still searching . . . but in my heart, I believe yes.

12 weeks, 84 days, 2,016 hours, or even 12,096 minutes away from tests, homework, exams, and all the rest.

For many students at Wauwatosa West, relay for life is more than just a simple night to spend laughing with friends and blowing off steam before the stress of exams; it is an impactful night that relates directly to their very own lives. For them, this night will be a heartfelt experi-ence that will bring up many emo-tions and memories from loved ones that have struggled with cancer. These students will find this night to not just be one for socializing, but instead it will be a celebration for those who have overcome the battle and mourning for those who were not as fortunate. 

One thing that can easily be said about RFL is that it will be a great awakening for many students at Wauwatosa West that feel that their family is alone in their struggles with cancer. Junior Jordan Voit says, “I think a lot of times people think they are the only ones when they find out about a loved one with can-cer. I think that relay is a great way to show them that there are many others in the student body that are going through the same things that they are”. This “togetherness” will be especially emphasized during the relays “Luminaria Ceremony” where candles will light bags that bear the names of people who have been 

touched by cancer. Students will then be able to reflect on the count-less illuminated bags during a silent lap around the track. 

“I think it will be an extremely humbling time for all of the stu-dents” says Sophomore Mackenzie Halkola, “I think that’s the point of the night where people will real-ize the real meaning of this entire event”. 

Although a great majority do find the night’s events to be something that should be taken seriously, some have joined with different intentions. “While I do see the deeper meaning 

of the night, I think that it will just be a good opportunity to spend some time having fun with my friends”, says 

Sophomore Sarah Otto. This is a common feeling in many of the par-ticipants of RFL, and it’s not a bad one. RFL is not just a time of seri-ousness. It’s important to remember that it is also a celebration for those who have overcome cancer and for the donations people have made towards the cause. “What we need to remember is that not all families have had losses when it comes to cancer. It’s important to remember the ones who have, but I feel it is just as important to celebrate the families who have overcome it”.

I think it will be an extremely hum-bling time for all of the student... I think that’s the point of the night where people will realize the real meaning of this engire event

A Relay for LifeStudents raise money and awareness for cancer Brianna Blinkiewicz gStaff Writer

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Jess Suson g IllustratorThis data is taken from a survey given to West students during their homerooms.