By: Haili Luevano
“The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez” is a true crime documentary that was released on Netflix on Feb. 26, 2020. It takes place in Los Angeles, California and covers the story of an eight-year-old boy who was tortured and murdered by his mother and her boyfriend in 2013. Directed by Brian Knappenberger, this six-part documentary depicts graphic images of the physical and emotional trauma that Gabriel went through leading up to his death. If you choose to watch this show, viewer discretion is advised.
Each episode focuses on a different aspect of the Fernandez case. The show’s exposition introduces Gabriel as a happy, caring little boy who lived with his great-uncle and his partner. When circumstances changed, Gabriel was placed under his grandparents’ custody before being re-homed with his biological mother, Pearl.
The inadequate care that Gabriel received under Pearl and her boyfriend, Isauro Aguirre, is quickly exposed. He was both physically and verbally abused by both of his caretakers, while his two siblings, Ezequiel and Virginia, were forced to watch or participate in the abuse, while never incurring it themselves.
While Gabriel’s death is the main focus in the documentary, Knappenberger also branches off and delves deep into the inner workings of the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) as well as the involvement of the LAPD. While the police visited Pearl’s household multiple times, they rarely conferred with the boy himself and on occasion would threaten him if he continued to lie about his injuries.
The evidence of abuse and neglect regarding the Fernandez case is simply overwhelming, bringing to light the deficiency of care and regard the DCFS put into Gabriel’s conditions, as well as the conditions of countless other child abuse victims.
The last two episodes encompass the trials of Pearl and Isauro in full, as well as the four DCFS social workers entrusted with Gabriel’s well-being. The strive for justice displayed throughout the film impacts the viewer on an extremely emotional level.
While not for the faint of heart, “The Trails of Gabriel Fernandez” is an enrapturing show that reveals the blatant evil existing in the world, with the educational aspect urging scrutiny over the way the government runs the DCFS. The trial’s results will offer you a mixture of closure and devastation, with a final conclusion that will rock you to the core.
If you or another is suffering from any type of abuse, please contact 911.
Senior Spotlight
By: Gabriel Lorenzo
Jack Butler:
Q: Who has given you the best advice? What did they say?
A: “Last year’s seniors, and they all told me, obviously ‘worry about your grades, get some work done, don’t spend too much time, enjoy your senior year.’”
Q: What is the worst thing about being a senior?
A: “I would say just how fast it’s going. I don’t think there is anything bad about it.”
Q: Describe your senior year in four words.
A: “Fast, fun, simple and eye-opening”
Q: What is the most creative excuse you’ve ever used to get out of a homework assignment?
A: “I dropped it in the sink. It got all wet, and I threw it away.”
Q: Describe senioritis.
A: “Just being lazy. I’m not doing track. I dropped Sports Performance. Just don’t feel like it anymore.”
Layla Ford:
Q: Who has given you the best advice? What did they say?
A: “I have to say my chemistry teacher, Mrs. Verba. ‘Some things are going to be harder for other people than others that you can do to be successful.’”
Q: What is the worst thing about being a senior?
A: “That the year goes by so fast”
Q: Describe your senior year in four words.
A: “Awesome, wonderful, fun, fast.”
Q: What is the most creative excuse you’ve ever used to get out of a homework assignment?
A: “I don’t think I have one.”
Q: Describe senioritis.
A: “They say that senioritis is getting lazy to do homework or some of them start slacking off. I don’t have that, and I don’t think I know anyone who does that.”
Ean Simmons:
Q: Who has given you the best advice? What did they say?
A: “My dad. He said to save up money.”
Q: What is the worst thing about being a senior?
A: “The fact that you are going to be done after this year. You got all your friends left behind. Flies fast.”
Q: Describe your senior year in four words.
A: “Easy, speedy, slow, different.”
Q: What is the most creative excuse you’ve ever used to get out of a homework assignment?
A: “It flew out of my truck, flooring it.”
Q: Describe senioritis.
A: “I don’t have it.”
The cost of representation
By: Emily Krupicka
For the past century, Former Slave and Abolitionist Harriet Tubman has served as a powerful symbol of women’s rights. As a result, her portrait was set to appear on the $20 bill in March 2020, marking the 100th anniversary of women’s suffrage. This, however, will not occur.
According to an NPR article, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin announced the delay last May during a hearing before the House Financial Service Committee. In his statement, he revealed that the release would be deferred for almost a decade. Although the exact reason for the postponement was not revealed, many speculate that it was in effort to avoid a confrontation with President Donald Trump, who has spoken out against the idea.
The idea to put Tubman on the bill was first coined in 2016 by former Treasury Secretary Jack Lew under the Obama administration in an attempt to honor the Underground Railroad hero and provide greater representation for females and African Americans. Trump, however, has derided the suggestion as “pure political correctness.” Instead, he has proposed putting her face on the $2 bill in an attempt to compromise, as stated by an article in The New York Times.
A BBC article reports that, as of last June, a leaked prototype of the bill has been circulating the internet. The chosen picture displays a familiar image of Tubman wearing a buttoned coat and a light smile. In a series of street interviews that the BBC conducted, it was revealed that many see her soft expression as something that “portrays emotions of both contentment and determination.”
In contrast, the current face on the bill is Andrew Jackson, whose blank face appears unfeeling. Jackson’s placement on the bill may be ironic, as he strongly opposed the national bank and paper currency during his presidency. However, despite many advocating for the change, others have spoken out in favor of keeping the seventh president on the bill.
If a change were to occur, Jackson would remain on the bill but would be placed on the back side.
In the upcoming years, it is unclear on whether or not we will see real change reflected onto paper money. However, there is one fact that remains clear: as of now, America is not willing to pay the price of representation.
Miss Americana: Looking at fame in a different limelight
By: Emelia Richling
In the opening scene of Netflix’s biographical documentary that aired on Jan. 31, Taylor Swift seems completely comfortable, sitting at the piano as her cat lazily crawls across the keys. However, from that point on, the artistically-crafted documentary is packed with a raw honesty that Swift has previously not shared because of how uncomfortable and vulnerable she feels when exposing her opinions and the way she truly feels.
As the audience follows Swift’s story from the first song she wrote to the present day, the documentary does an incredible job of exposing how the media makes an everyday person into an icon, stripping them of their emotions and allowing them to be judged by other people while only showing one side of the star’s life.
Many “Swifties” feel as if they may know a lot about Swift, but this documentary reveals how little we really know about the lives of famous icons. Swift reveals a vulnerable side of herself, expressing her insecurities, fears and political viewpoints. For so long, Swift felt as if being a traditional “good girl” meant that she had to seek validation through praise and couldn’t express her political viewpoints; however, “Miss Americana” shows Swift coming to terms with herself and what she believes. Anyone can relate to Swift’s story as we all struggle to come to terms with our opinions in a hyperjudgemental world.
Before watching “Miss Americana,” I only saw Swift as a famous musician. In 2018, when she didn’t receive a Grammy nomination, I didn’t think twice about the incident, but I didn’t realize how much it hurt her until I saw a clip of her struggling to contain her tears on the couch. This isn’t just the story of Taylor Swift; this is the story of the superstars that we judge, even though we don’t truly know who they are.
“Miss Americana” documents the story of someone discovering herself and her opinions while being influenced by a world that wants her to be perfect. Just like how Taylor Swift won’t be stepping out of the limelight anytime soon, “Miss Americana” won’t be leaving Netflix for a long time, profoundly impacting everyone who watches the empowering documentary.
Taking Shots at Gun Control
By: Emelia Richling
Advertised as a panacea for the mass shootings heard around the world, gun control is widely advocated for by those who believe that guns don’t have a place in our society. For many years, the topic of gun control has been under fire because it fails to provide citizens with the safety they seek.
If gun control actually stopped criminals and made the world safe, there would be no controversy. However, the reality is that gun control laws will not prevent criminals from obtaining guns illegally. If someone is already committing a homicide, the minor gun control laws will have no significance to them.
According to a Bureau of Labor Statistics study, in the 62 mass shootings in the United States from 1982 to 2012, 49 of the guns were obtained illegally through means such as the black market or from stealing the firearms from friends and gun stores.
There is a problem, but it isn’t what we think it is. Many citizens have no knowledge of the massive black market that has allowed criminals to easily obtain guns. The black market is the exact problem that we need to address.
The problem is not the guns themselves but how the users obtain the weapons. Controlling the mass majority of citizens by implementing gun control isn’t the answer; we need to address the few citizens who are illegally obtaining firearms and murdering people with them.
Statistically, however, it may appear that states with the harshest gun control laws have the least number of deaths per 100,000 people, as a study from the World Population Review found in 2019. If the statistics are dissected, it proves that the numbers are very misleading. The study considers suicide death rates, which account for more than two times the homicide death rates.
If just the homicide death rates per capita are considered, states with the harshest gun control laws, such as Nevada, New Mexico and California, suffer from high rates of homicides. States with less strict gun laws, such as South Dakota and Maine, have lower rates of homicides. To support these statistics, a study from the Applied Economics Letter, an academic journal, found that “assault weapon bans did not significantly affect murder rates.”
However, if these statistics are used to disprove gun control, it is imperative to note that states with loose gun control laws and high rates of homicide deaths by a firearm have other factors that influence the alarming number of deaths.
Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi follow the atypical trend of high homicide rates and less strict gun control, but their numbers are influenced by socioeconomic factors, such as lower-income households and worse education. Therefore, the high number of deaths by firearm are not related to relaxed gun restrictions, meaning that gun control is fairly ineffective.
For so long, we have been taught that gun control is the solution to the staggering gun violence rates in the United States, but the problem is deeper than what we have been told. Our freedom and our rights don’t need to be taken away in order to solve this issue. If we focus on the root of the problem, it becomes apparent that the solution does not involve taking away the people’s means of protection.
An article published by The Atlantic, entitled “A Case Against Gun Control,” stated that we continue to blame “an inanimate item instead of the user.” In the simplest terms, the argument against gun control is derived from the fact that guns aren’t the problem, so placing restrictions on the object won’t stop the people from being the issue.
Since such a large number of people who commit homicides are obtaining guns from the black market, change has to happen at the source. A federal program needs to be funded that undergoes further investigation into the black market. Putting an end to this market is the only way to control homicide rates.
Implementing gun control doesn’t control guns and certainly doesn’t control criminals. If homicide rates are going to fall, the black market has to fall first.
Review: Yet Another Post-Apocalyptic Horror Movie
by Kirsten Medlin
The Silence is a new Netflix original movie that was recently released. It’s basically Bird Box meets A Quiet Place. The main problem isn’t that the idea doesn’t seem original, it’s just a bad movie. It’s at least not a complete rip off of A Quiet Place or Bird Box; the movie is based off a 2015 novel by Tim Lebbon with the same title. Even though Bird Box and A Quiet place are similar movies, they still are good movies in different ways. However, The Silence does not serve as a good movie on its own.
The genre of post-apocalyptic movies is already becoming oversaturated, and this movie certainly doesn’t help. The Silence is about the world being under attack by a monster who hunts its prey by sound, It focuses on a family of four, one of which who is a young teenage deaf girl, sounds familiar right? The most unique and most bearable part of this movie is the cult that tries to exploit the daughter, I think it added a really creepy aspect that the other films comparable to this movie didn’t really have.
None of the “emotional” moments feel emotional at all. No matter how many deaths there are in this movie, they don’t make you feel anything towards the characters. It just feels like this movie is going through the motions and using cheap gags to try to scare and make you feel sad for the characters, but it just fails. I give this movie two out of five stars, two just because it’s not the movie’s fault it was released right after Bird Box and A Quiet Place.
Opinion: Pro-life or pro-choice, some facts matter either way
Abortion is a touchy and troubled subject especially among Americans today, affecting men and women alike. Women are feeling the need to protect their wombs now more than ever, and it is for little to no reason. Feminists especially are trying to fight for women’s’ or doctors’ rights to kill a child, for about any reason, including the woman with the undeserving title of “mother,” not wanting the baby. The recently passed LIFE Act (Living Infants Fairness and Equality Act) in Georgia has brought the continuous controversy to a highlight again, making observers from all walks of life, religions, political parties, and gender speak up.
The LIFE Act was passed by state lawmakers of Georgia in March of 2019. Also being known as HB 481, this omnibus bill (a bill that covers a number of different topics) bans abortions of a fetus after a heartbeat is detected, protecting it by recognizing “fetuses as natural persons who qualify for state income tax and state population determinations.” The bill calls for only professionals to determine and perform the abortion. After the heartbeat is detected the only reason a professional is permitted to perform the abortion is due to the pregnancy being severely hazardous to the mother or baby’s health, and the choice is ultimately the mother’s. Most mothers would, and do, choose their baby’s possible survival over their own. Georgia is not the only state standing up for the rights of children in the U.S. either, Georgia is going along with many other states, and many have followed suit after them as well.
Many are arguing that this bill is “unconstitutional” and “absurd.” The only absurd part about this bill is the fact that it isn’t as widely accepted as it should be. I thought that once health professionals came together and decided the correct and obvious start of life, even one that the most pro-choice person could agree on, that we could finally stop killing children for no apparent reason. While terminating a pregnancy just makes sense for some people, for others it is the most heartbreaking and horrifying thought. If you haven’t looked up to see how a professional performs abortions, search it on the internet sometime.
There are generally two methods that are recommended; a pill process and a minor surgery. The pill process, which the FDA has approved for this to be taken up to 10 weeks into pregnancy, consists of a medicine or two to be taken, and then the woman will pass the embryo and the lining of the uterus, getting rid of the developing baby. The medical abortion is very similar to a miscarriage. The second method, the surgery, is the option that is recommended after 10 weeks of pregnancy. There are two different methods of the surgery as well: aspiration, where the baby is basically sucked out of the woman, and dilation and evacuation, which is a process using tools to pull the parts of the baby out of the womb.
I am not going to tell you that it is every woman’s destiny to become a mother, other than for purely biological reasons, but if you can stomach the thought of having a doctor purposely stop your child’s life, when there is nothing wrong, then I don’t believe that you are to ever be a mother. I understand that there are so many women and teens who don’t mean to fall pregnant when they do, and that it can cause problems, but there are so many other options out there for mothers who feel that they are unfit for a child for whatever reason. Adoption, financial help, being a surrogate for someone who dreams of having a child. There are about 2 million couples wanting and waiting to adopt in the U.S. and that’s roughly 36 families for every one child that is put up for adoption.
There are plenty of viable options other than abortion, no excuses unless it is medical. I am “pro-choice” for after the woman has the baby. Before that, it is not just the woman’s body. The fetus has a separate set of DNA. There is no reason to abort your child out of pure convenience for yourself.
“We Are Witt’s Warriors”
By Jared Fredericks and Bryce Harrington
Senior Jared Fredricks and English teacher Mike Witt Pose with a “Witts Warriors” cake during class.
The track at Viking Field was home to more than just the Dave Gee Track Invitational on April 18. It was also the site for the first ever Witt’s Warriors Walk for Parkinson’s Awareness and Support.
Inspired by the amazing show of support from the community for the GRACE Foundation’s Race for GRACE, held annually in Grand Island, sophomore Jenna Buttner knew she wanted to do something to support Northwest teacher Mike Witt after he made his diagnosis with Parkinson’s Disease public.
Walkers are led by Mike Witt in the first annual Witt’s Warriors Walk held on the track at Viking Field at Northwest High School.
Parkinson’s Disease is a progressive incurable nervous system disorder that affects movement and muscle control.
The initial idea for Witt’s Warriors was to do the walk and sell tee shirts and goodie bags, but due to the limited timeframe, that didn’t quite work. The group settled on selling wristbands and putting on the walk instead.
While the final number of participants from Witt’s Warriors walk is unclear, the Northwest Student Council raised over $2,000 from a combination of the wristbands, the walk, and free will donations. One former student of Witt bought 500 wristbands himself.
She was happy with the numbers and the turnout for the event, Buettner said.
“Anything that we can do to get people to participate is good enough for us.” Buettner’s favorite moment of the walk came when she looked out and the entire home stretch of the track was completely filled with participants.
Northwest Student Council members sell bands and collect donations by the concessions area on April 18 at Viking Field during the Dave Gee Track and Field Invite.
Student council has not found a specific use for the funds as of now but their hope is to use them to support research being done about Parkinson’s Disease. They have also had the idea of creating a scholarship to help spread awareness about the disease.
Walkers wait for the starting gun to fire to begin the first annual Witt’s Warriors Walk
“I was very honored and humbled that so many people gave their time and resources in order to help draw awareness to a disease that so disproportionately affects Nebraskans,” said Witt. “That level of support emphasizes the strong community that is Northwest. It makes me proud to be a part of the Northwest family.”
Student council is still selling bands for $2. Anyone interested in picking one up to show their support for Witt can contact Buettner or Student Council sponsor Darbie Mazour. Buettner says they plan on continuing Witt’s Warriors in the years to come and are looking forward to being able to advertise and promote it more so they can one day move the event to a bigger venue.
Witts Warriors Bands are sold by the Northwest Student Council for $2.00
Anyone interested in helping out with Witt’s Warriors in any way can contact Jenna Buettner jbuettner21@ginorthwest.org or Darbie Mazour dmazour@ginorthwest.org.
Class of 2019 Senior Superlatives !
Most likely to win the Nobel Peace Prize
Jacque Johnson & Jared Rosenlund
Future social media influencer
Heidi Cooper & Brock Dankert
Most likely to win the lottery and lose the ticket
Abby Leigh & Caden Isley
Most changed since Freshman Year
Alizae Rodenbaugh & Luke Jacobs
Most likely to join a colony on Mars
Alexis Zlomke & Garret Olsen
Most likely to star in a Broadway play
Madison Roberts & Carson Holliday
Pulled the most all-nighters
Brynna Lewis & Wyatt Whitt
Best work ethic
Megan Cooper & Mitchell Vitera
Most likely to be interviewed in the news for an unexpected reason
Brook Buhrman & Mario Nuno
Most likely to have the next big Silicon Valley tech startup
Madolyn Oakeson & Ethan Meyer
Senior Advice: Top Ten Tips for Getting Through High School
By Jalyn Johnston
Four long years of your life that are made way harder than they should be = High School. I have learned a lot from other people’s mistakes, but there are some lessons that are uniquely yours, and nobody tells you what to do. Here are some tips to make life just a little easier during those years.
- Don’t start or condone drama and rumors.
If it doesn’t involve you directly, leave it alone.
- Just do your homework.
Trust me, it’s just easier to get it done. Get it done, keep up your grades, get help if you need it. It makes life go smoother and leaves a lot more room for fun if you get it out of the way.
- Figure out how to sift through the fake friends.
This process is different for everyone I’ve figured out. Figure out your standards of friendship and try to find the best group of people for you possible. Who you’re around really can shape who you are, so if you recognize yourself as sort of a follower then either fix that about yourself or choose people who you don’t mind being like.
- Don’t post every part of (you)r life on social media.
Vlogging, posting and snapchatting is cool and all, but it’s only cool until it hurts someone. And don’t send nudes kids, it’s illegal and not cute.
- (Similar to 4) Don’t tell everyone all your business, or anyone else’s.
There are some things just best kept private. Sharon in your algebra class first of all doesn’t care, and second of all doesn’t always need to know when you hooked up with that one guy. And you know you would hate it if Stacy from chem spilled the tea about your family drama, so don’t do it to her.
- Just be nice to people. (But don’t let people walk all over you either)
It makes life a lot easier if you’re just nice to everyone you meet, whether or not they deserve it. It builds a good reputation for you, you’ll be less stressed, and chances are you will have more friends.
- *This is a weird one* Smile when you make eye contact with someone.
I know, it’s awkward sometimes, but there is a real chance that you might make someone’s day because you were kind and didn’t scowl at them at the grocery store. Plus, if you’re wondering what’s in it for you, scientists have proven that smiling, even if it’s on purpose and disingenuous, you feel happier. So just smile 🙂
- Take time to get to know yourself.
Figure out what you want to do, you don’t have to know right away, you don’t even have to know by graduation. But figure out what you like, dislike, and what your passion is. If you don’t know that, then you’ll be stuck in a loop until you do.
- Just listen to your parents. Be with your family.
Go to the family dinner, the holiday celebration, spend time with them. Be home by curfew, let them know where you are. They just want to know you are safe, fed, and happy. After high school you don’t know how much time you’ll get to spend with them and if it’s not important to you as a 15 year old, it probably will be when you’re 20 and missing home.
- Have fun in high school, but know that it’s not everything.
There is life after 12th grade, and you need to remember that. Whether you’re a popular kid, band nerd, or a scholar, high school is not the end. Don’t base everything you do after graduation on what happened in highschool, you can change who you are, what you want and how you act, for good or bad. So just remember.
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