They play the same sport at the same level in the same country. They support each other and both play their hearts out. They’re role models for countless people worldwide, including East students. The reality is, they are two different genders getting drastically different salaries. This is a reality for WNBA players. 

“I’ve been involved in sports since I was young… seeing other athletes not getting fair treatment and their pay being so different is stupid,” sophomore and athlete McKenna Dolphin said. 

The NBA and WNBA are both big and successful basketball associations. The NBA is so successful that it’s average income for its players is $7.7 million and water boys in the NBA can make as much as $110,000. But the WNBA’s current highest income is $127,500 and the average pay being $79,000.  

“It’s unfair that they get different pay because they shouldn’t be treated differently because of their gender,” senior and athlete Shannon Merrett said.  

Many NBA players also think it is unfair that the WNBA players earn so much less. WNBA players are growing tired of the drastic difference in pay and feel as if they have to fight to get a higher pay. Once the WNBA season has ended players can travel overseas and play for other countries in their national team. Many players can earn up to a million dollars playing overseas. This causes WNBA players to be frustrated that their WNBA income and overseas income are so different. 

“I don’t like seeing income inequality in general, I think it’s a huge problem in society,” Mr. Core said on the difference between WNBA and NBA incomes. 

There are many different opinions on the difference between WNBA and NBA incomes. I decided to interview former high school basketball coach and current administrator at East High School, Mr. Core. He said that the incomes between the two associations are so different because of the ticket sales and social media. He also said that not many people are addressing the income inequality which is symptomatic. 

“It’s obscene,” Core said. 

If you’ve been looking for a counselor at East that is a good listener, a helper, and someone to be there for you, look no further than counselor Mike Freund. Journalism students sat down with Freund to learn more about his life inside and outside of East High School. 

What is your favorite thing about being a counselor? 

“When those students come back after I help them and I get to hear their success stories,” Freund said. He also likes when students come in knowing nothing and leave knowing something. 

What is your perspective on East? 

Freund has been working at East for one year and has a lot to say about the school. “The good definitely outweighs the bad,” Freund said. He also said that East is really diverse, and his job is different every day. This keeps him busy which allows him to see different perspectives. 

Where is your favorite place to go outside of school and why? 

He enjoys spending time with his wife even if it’s going out to eat. “With a two-year-old we don’t get out much,” Freund said. He also likes going to Wells Fargo to see a concert or watch the Iowa Wild play. 

Tell me about your family… 

He has a wife named Hannah, they’ve been married since 2016. They have a daughter named Linley who was born in 2018. His wife is an ELL teacher at Southeast Polk. “We love being outside, not in the winter,” Freund said. This is one of the things he enjoys doing with his family. 

Tell me about your childhood… 

Freund grew up in Richfield, Minnesota and he moved houses at the age of seven. He grew up playing football, baseball, basketball and he ran track in the eigth grade. He also had really good grades when he was younger. 

Tell me about your friends as a child and how are your friends different now? 

His best childhood friend was also named Mike. They hung out a lot together and would play video games and baseball together. “As you get older the opportunities to hang out with your friends become less and less,” Freund said. He also said to be intentional with who you hang out with. 

What are your hobbies? 

“I really like woodworking,” Freund said. He also said he likes camping, hunting, fishing and just being outside in general. Him and his family also like going to the zoo a lot. 

What made you want to work at East and why? 

“The eastside traditions,” Freund said. He also said that being a part of the traditions and leaving his mark on that history is really cool to him. Another reason is to help other students that are going through the stuff he went through as a child. 

In the United States there is a former NFL player named Colin Kapernick. On August 26th of 2016 Kaepernick decided he would kneel during the national anthem of that game and many afterwards. “I have to stand up for people that are oppressed.” Kaepernick told The Undefeated.

Even though some people were and some weren’t okay with Colin kneeling, Kaepernick used his Freedom of speech and assembly.

I personally feel in the middle about Kaepernick’s actions. I like that he used his rights for those that might not be able too but i do not like how he did it. I personally have grown up with putting my hand over my heart or being respectful during the national anthem. In my eyes I do not like that he keeled during the national anthem because i think it is disrespectful.

Personally, I am a very strong christian and having freedom of religion in the First Amendment is very important to me because I know others around the world do not have that so I feel lucky and blessed to have this right. This also means I can talk to others about God or religion in general which I do often. I personally want as many people as possible that do not know about God to know about him because he has given me so many blessings and I have seen miracles happen and I really want others to experience the same thing I have.

One thing I am able to from freedom of religion is spread the word of God which I love doing.

This summer my church and I made signs that said “YOU ARE LOVED” or “JESUS LOVES YOU” and “YOU ARE WORTH IT”. We then took the signs and went to street corners and held the signs up showing the to the people driving by. This was such a great experience for me because I got to express how I feel about God and how he truly loves us all.

The First Amendment has really helped me as a person and I can’t wait until it can help me as a student with freedom of speech.

This is an example post, originally published as part of Blogging University. Enroll in one of our ten programs, and start your blog right.

You’re going to publish a post today. Don’t worry about how your blog looks. Don’t worry if you haven’t given it a name yet, or you’re feeling overwhelmed. Just click the “New Post” button, and tell us why you’re here.

Why do this?

• Because it gives new readers context. What are you about? Why should they read your blog?
• Because it will help you focus you own ideas about your blog and what you’d like to do with it.

The post can be short or long, a personal intro to your life or a bloggy mission statement, a manifesto for the future or a simple outline of your the types of things you hope to publish.

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• Why are you blogging publicly, rather than keeping a personal journal?
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You’re not locked into any of this; one of the wonderful things about blogs is how they constantly evolve as we learn, grow, and interact with one another — but it’s good to know where and why you started, and articulating your goals may just give you a few other post ideas.

Can’t think how to get started? Just write the first thing that pops into your head. Anne Lamott, author of a book on writing we love, says that you need to give yourself permission to write a “crappy first draft”. Anne makes a great point — just start writing, and worry about editing it later.

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