March Le Journal

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LE JOURNAL

ISSUE 5 VOLUME 34 March 2016

T H E

CTT AAC Finding balance in a new world of dieting Pages 14-17

NEWS Field Trip to Union Station

5

New Orleans Spring Break Trip

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OPINION Diets Demonstrate Danger Hillary Clinton Emails

6

Google Overcomes Apple

8

7

SPORTS Seniors Sports Signing

10

Basketball Season Wrap-Up

11

Soccer Springs Back

11

FEATURES 12

Zoë Mulkey

18

Olivia Neal

20

Cecilia Mohácsi

22

COVER Dieting: Finding Balance

14

A&E

2

Aubrey’s KC Adventures

24

KC Staycation

26

Gus’s Fried Chicken

27

LE JOURNAL March 2016

Last Performance Sophomore Sammie Nesslein and senior Rachel Young dance their Nationals routine at their last school performance this year. (Photo

by Laney Ulowetz) For more pictures of the performance, go to Lejournallive.com.

LeJournal 2015-2016

Casey Engel

Le Journal is the official student publication of Notre Dame de Sion 10631 Wornall Road Kansas City, Missouri 64114 MEMBER

Missouri Interscholastic Press Association National Scholastic Press Association International Quill and Scroll Journalism Educators of Metropolitan Kansas City Missouri Journalism Education Association

CO-EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Sophie Nedelco Ellie Schwartz

PRINT MANAGING EDITOR Rachel Ergovich

WEBSITE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Chioma Okuagu

WEB MANAGING EDITOR Alex D’Alesio

EDITORIAL EDITOR Abby Smith

A&E EDITOR

Chloe Barrett

{

SPORTS EDITOR Madison Heide

FEATURE EDITOR Natalie Sopyla

PHOTO EDITOR Laney Ulowetz

REPORTERS

Selena Hunter Aubrey Makar Natalie Williams Lucy Stofer Kate Noble Clare Kimmis Tara Jungden

Paige Dussold Lily Coit Rachel Doctor Megan Ostrander Toni Mathis Taylor Spies Kathleen Watz

Le Journal accepts letters to the Editors in response to published articles. Letters must be signed, verified and no longer than 200 words.

Letters may be edited for length, grammar, spelling and content.

Letters will not be printed if content is obscene, invasive, encouraging disruption of school and/or is libelous.

}

THE EDITOR’S INK

T

his year, the arrival of springtime has been anything but normal.

Usually, we open our eyes one morning to discover our formerly snow-soaked yards replaced by a scene straight out of “Snow White:” tulips budding, deer peering from behind bushes, birds singing and ladybugs crawling across our windowsills. But this year’s spring arrival deserves no allusions to Disney movies or magical scenes of rebirth.

Instead, my sign of spring came the other day as a slightly annoying piece-ofsomething lodged in my shoe, digging into my heel. It was a rubber pellet from the new turf field. Earlier, I had been enjoying the warm and breezy weather while taking soccer pictures. As winter sports such as basketball come to an end (page 11), there’s never been a better time to take in some fresh air and enjoy the season.

But really, this beautiful weather is nothing new. Spring has come gradually this year, rather than all at once, and the closest I came to witnessing anything rebirth or renewal-related was watching a video on fertilization set to dubstep in psychology class. We didn’t have snow days. The weather was bearable, dipping below zero for only a few days at a time. There were no extremes, only balance.

With the early warm weather came early plans for spring break, ranging from the service trip to New Orleans (page 5) to staycations. On page 26, there are plenty of ideas for you to enjoy the break here in Kansas City. But with the early warm weather also came talk about both healthy and unhealthy dieting for spring break. On pages 14-17, we explore what unhealthy dieting looks like and how to find the dieting balance.

On a different note, balance can be found in other ways, not just with weather and dieting.English teacher Casey Engel found a balance of leadership and happiness after her difficult years in high school (page 12-13), and three students: junior Zoe Mulkey (page 18-19), senior Olivia Neal (page 20-21) and freshman Cecilia Mohácsi (page 2223) all find balance through doing what they love whether that be participating in theater and fine arts or horseback riding.

Take a breather this spring. You’ve worked hard for three quarters. Find some balance and come back ready to finish the school year off strong.

Online This Month Blood Drive is a Sucess The National Honor Society’s fifth annual collection had more participants than in previous years.

Lenten Traditions Need a New Twist Discovering the true meaning of Lent takes just 40 days and makes it a season for positive development.

A Crepe to Remember Read Editorial Editor Abby Smith’s review of the new crepe store located in Town Center.

lejournallive.com lejournalsion lejournalsion

Sincerely, Sellie 2.0

LE JOURNAL March 2016

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IN BRIEF Sanders Visits KC

Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders visited Kansas City for a midday rally at Bartle Hall Feb. 24. “I support Bernie and thought it was a good opportunity because it counted as part of our government civic service project,” senior Rachel Martin said. “I think Bernie Sanders has a lot of good things to say, and I wanted to learn more about what he supports and his ideals.” (Photo by Sophie Nedelco)

Robotics State

The robotics team competed in the For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology Tech Challenge at University of Missouri, Science and Technology on March 5. The competition drew the top teams from Missouri and surrounding states with a total of 48 teams competing. Although they did not not place, freshman Libby Kramer enjoyed spending time with the team. “We had a good time even though the robot didn’t perform as well as we wanted it to,” Kramer said. (Photo by Hannah Valentine, Le Flambeau)

“Steel Magnolias”

“Steel Magnolias” premiered on March 4, for a onenight-only performance. The show told the story of a group of six Southern women in Louisiana over a three year period as they navigate medical complications, friendships and familial troubles. Cast and crew worked six weeks to prepare the show just after many of them finished the musical. “I met a lot of people who I wouldn’t have met otherwise through the play,” sophomore Joileeah Worley said. “And it really helped with my memorization skills.” (Photo by Lauren Dwyer, Le Flambeau)

Project Purple SADD, REbeL and Healthy Living clubs joined to put on Project Purple March 7 through March 10.

According to SADD Sponsor Sarah Johnson, the week was part of the substance abuse and treatment program, First Call. “One of the main messages is that it isn’t necessarily say no to drugs but more say yes to making healthy choices,” Johnson said.

Students tied purple yarn around their wrists Monday to raise substance abuse awareness.

REbeL club passed out compliment cookies during lunch Tuesday and Wednesday students walked around the track during lunch to promote a healthy lifestyle. (Photo by Sophie Nedelco)

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LE JOURNAL March 2016

WORLD WORLD Obama to Visit Cuba

President Barack Obama will be the first U.S. president to travel to Cuba in 88 years where he will meet with Cuban president Raúl Castro on March 21 and 22.

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NATO Expands Patrols

NATO announced that they would send more ships to the Aegean Sea to stop human traffickers who have been smuggling refugees into Turkey.

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China’s Economy Slows

The markets are growing at the slowest pace in 25 years. With job losses and lagging industrial output looming, Prime Minister Li Keqiang announced goals to maintain growth at 6.5 percent.

Election Update // Counting Delegates

NEWS

Delegate Graph Guide: Candidate

Total KS # 2,383 delegates needed for Democratic nomination:

Hillary Clinton

1,130 10 Bernie Sanders

499 23

1,237 delegates needed for Republican nomination:

Donald Trump

384 9

Ted Cruz

300 24

Marco Rubio

151 6

John Kasich

37 1

(Data collected from Politico)

UPCOMING

& local

*March 15 *March 17

Melanie Martinez Concert $27.50, The Midland

St. Patrick’s Day Parade

11 a.m., Midtown

*March 2528

Easter Break

*Through March 26

Girl Scout Cookie Construction Contest

Crown Center Atrium

NEWS

Sion Mission Spreads South Spring break trip seeks to restore the previous glory of New Orleans while teaching students the importance of volunteerism.

BY MEGAN OSTRANDER REPORTER

Sophomore Sydney Crawford experiments with Da Vinci’s model of a cannon on Feb. 23 at Union Station. (Photo by Abby Smith)

Students Take Field Trip to Union Station Kathleen Teel said.

Throughout the exhibit were models of his inventions.

According to senior Lauren Dwyer, the exhibit did a good job of showing how diverse he was as

BY KATHLEEN WATZ a person.

REPORTER “Da Vinci, besides being an inventor and artist, was an Science and art overlapped anatomist,” Stewart said. in a field trip to Union Station for According to Stewart, the the Da Vinci exhibit, following class is currently studying the Leonardo Da Vinci’s works cardiovascular system, but the throughout his life. Anatomy and exhibit had many drawings of physiology, art and physics classes the muscles, went to which the “The man could do Union Station class covered Feb. 23 and everything. When they say in the first took a walk Renaissance man, Da Vinci s e m e s t e r . through the Ste war t works of Da really was the definition of it.” wanted to Vinci. He was —Anatomy and Physiology Teacher take a break not only an Marilyn Stewart from the artist, but also a man well-known typical class to show the students for being an anatomist, according a different view on anatomy. to Anatomy and Physiology Some students got the teacher Marilyn Stewart. recorded tour, meaning they “The man could do wore headphones and could everything. When they say listen to the tour as they walked Renaissance man, Da Vinci really around. Since there were not was the definition of it,” Stewart enough recorded tours, some said. students read all the sections of The variety of classes the tour themselves. The students attending the exhibit was due to were excited to read and learn, the new STEAM program. This according to Stewart. stands for Science, Technology, The art students from Engineering, Art and Math. The D.I.V.A. were told to take notice goal of the STEAM program is to of his inventions and the tools he give students real-world problem used because they had to think of solving opportunities in the their own inventions, according classroom, according to the Sion to sophomore Olivia Dopheide. website.

“I thought it was really “We wanted to to try STEAM interesting to see all the things Da and Da Vinci was the perfect Vinci did,” junior Zoe Locke said. person for this,” Physics teacher “[The trip] was a lot of fun.”

Anatomy, Physiology and Art classes learn about the life of scientist and artist Leonardo Da Vinci.

Seventeen students and two adults will head to New Orleans for this year’s spring break mission trip from March 11 to March 20. This trip, although new to the school, isn’t new to everyone.

After living there as a student at Loyola New Orleans, religion teacher and Service Learning Coordinator Alex Hall knows about the city and the service opportunities available.

“I picked New Orleans this year because I went to school in New Orleans,” Hall said. “I know a bit about the city and about who to get in contact with to serve there.”

Because this year is the 10-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, Hall thought it was important to spend time giving back to those who lost so much during and after the storm. “[Hurricane Katrina] brought a lot of destruction upon mostly the Mississippi Gulf Coast, but also hit the city of New Orleans pretty hard,” Hall said. “I thought it’d be a great opportunity and a great time to go down since there was that 10-year anniversary.”

The group, which is paired up with an organization called Camp Restore, got to vote for what they wanted to do.

They had two choices: to work directly with the people or to work with the city and environment. Although they voted to mainly work with the people, Camp Restore will set them up with projects based on what is needed. Grade School

teacher and second chaperone, Claire Burns, is hoping to grow closer to the community and its people.

“I am excited to be in a new city and to become fully immersed with those who I come in contact with,” Burns said. “I believe this is the best way to serve, to be for and with others.

Especially the ‘with’ part.”

The students will also work with an organization that takes construction materials, recycles them and resells them at a reduced price to the people that are still trying to rebuild their homes after Hurricane Katrina. This gives the affected people an opportunity to fix their own homes while still being cost-efficient.

Not only will the group participate in service, they will also get the opportunity to experience the culture of New Orleans. Students will get the chance to see the city and try famous foods that the city is known for.

“My goal is to see a lot of the city of New Orleans,” Hall said. “There will be a little bit of time spent in the French Quarter, because there is a lot of history and culture there and also going to different food places because in New Orleans food is a big thing.”

By carrying out the school’s mission of creating students that are socially responsible and leaders in a culturally and religiously diverse world, this service trip provides a chance for the mission to spread past the Kansas City area. Sophomore Carolyn Dickey has visited New Orleans before, but is excited about this process and helping those in need.

“I think that this is a really good way [to help the people], especially in a city that has been greatly affected even 10 years later,” Dickey said. “They’re still recovering from it and this would make a big impact on some people.”

During last year’s spring break mission trip, 23 students volunteered at a soup kitchen on Skid Row in Los Angeles.

Skid Row has the largest concentration of homeless people in the U.S., according to CNN. (Photo submitted by Clare Kimmis)

LE JOURNAL March 2016

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OPINION

Diets Demonstrate Danger Extreme dieting negatively impacts our society.

THIS EDITORIAL REFLECTS THE VIEW OF THE LE JOURNAL STAFF. THIRTEEN OUT OF 23 VOTED IN SUPPORT OF THIS VIEW.

Going on a diet is not always a bad thing. If recommended by your doctor, you can lose a lot of weight in a healthy way under medical supervision. However, most people’s idea of what it means to be “skinny” or “fit” has been greatly distorted due to the influence of lean celebrities in Hollywood and slim models in advertisements. This tainted conception of body image impacts people everywhere, especially teenagers, because it makes them think that they need to diet even if they are nowhere close to being overweight.

The idea of dieting has become so apparent in our society that the word “diet” itself has developed a negative connotation. Types of diets vary and some are certainly healthier or less extreme than others.

Juice cleanses have become popular recently because they have been advertised as a way to reboot your body and get rid of toxins. But there are a lot of negatives to these cleanses that many people may not be aware of. According to US News, many juice cleanses restrict people to less than 1,000 calories per day, way below the approximate 2,000 that people need. By not giving your body the energy it needs, you can actually alter your metabolism and slow it down. In fact, because juice cleanses can be so low in protein, they may actually break down muscle tissue rather than fat. All of these negatives aside, juice cleanses are very expensive; T. Loft’s cleanses, for example, are a whopping $55 per day.

Something that can be just as harmful to your body as extreme dieting is not eating or skipping meals. Everyone knows the saying “breakfast is the most important meal of the day,” but many don’t take it very seriously. According

to healthychildren.org, skipping breakfast is more likely to cause weight gain than it is to prevent it. Actually, the biggest predictor of overeating is undereating. People who miss meals tend to, in a sense, starve themselves for a short time and then at the next meal, they eat too much. Skipping meals can also lead to serious eating disorders and health issues.

Low calorie diets are very common among people who want to lose a few pounds quickly. However, they are more geared towards those who are obese. With many calorie counter apps available, people take advantage of them without knowing the reality behind what they’re doing. According to WebMD, most low calorie diets offer between 800-1,500 calories per day, but can also be well below 800. These are not recommended for teenagers. Healthyeating.sfgate.com reports that there are many side effects possible such as nausea, fatigue, diarrhea, intolerance to cold, menstrual irregularities and hair loss. If the diet is not well planned, nutrient deficiencies may develop, and if it lacks fiber, constipation is also likely. More serious health risks associated with these diets are gallstones, heart arrhythmia, stroke and brain hemorrhage.

So “dieting” may not be the best option for you to live a healthy lifestyle, but good eating habits and exercise are.

Fitness.gov says that only one in three children are physically active every day and about 90 percent of Americans eat more sodium than is recommended for a healthy diet. The way to handle weight loss and maintaining one’s figure is to exercise regularly and eat healthier alternatives. Fast food, excessive snacking and junk food can easily be cut down and substituted with different types of fruit, vegetables, granola and much more. If you want to create a better diet for yourself without actually having to “diet,” try watching your daily dose of Netflix while running on the treadmill and swapping out your after school snack of chips for a banana.

(Artwork submitted by senior Abby Hamilton)

The Real Cost of Dieting 1 6

LE JOURNAL March 2016

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Juice Cleanse $55 per day

Waist Trainers $100-$200

T. Loft 8025 State Line Road, W 81st St, Kansas City, 64114

Waist Gang Society (Endorsed by Kim Kardashian)

135

Fitbit $129.95-$249.95 Newest Fitbits (Alta and Surge) (Illustrations and photo

by Aubrey Makar)

OPINION

Clinton Carries Baggage into the Campaign

Hillary Clinton continues her campaign in spite of consistent involvement in scandal.

BY PAIGE DUSSOLD REPORTER

In the heat of the presidential campaign, candidates are using any information they can get to combat their opponents and better their own chances. A popular topic among the Republican candidates is Hillary Clinton’s e-mail scandal which surfaced in March of 2015, although new information is still surfacing regarding the incident.

The incident is also linked to the 2012 attack on government property in Benghazi, Libya, which resulted in the deaths of four Americans. E-mails regarding the attack were sent from her personal server that contradicted statements made by the Obama administration.

Her careless actions of using her personal server to send official government e-mails, full of sensitive information, are unacceptable. It is baffling that she can still be in the running for the presidency after exposing top secret government

information that hackers across the it is a matter of national security.

This is not the first time Clinton globe could access, putting American has been surrounded by scandal. lives and homeland security at risk.

As a person with a long-term On Sept. 11, 2012, while Clinton connection to the government, was still Secretary of State, the U.S. Clinton should have known better, diplomatic compound in Benghazi, plain and simple. It doesn’t matter if Libya was attacked. Four Americans she broke a law or violated something lost their lives and countless others on the technical level. A capable were evacuated. The story favored by the Obama member of the Administration, and government should be able to recognize Emails deemed too classified to repeated multiple be released. times by Clinton, stated what information that the violence was is sensitive even 4 sparked by an antiif it hasn’t been the 2012 Benghazi Islamic video created formally labeled as People Killed in attack. by the U.S. and carried such.

According 2+ out by fighters who to the New York Times, 22 of the benefited from NATO Stories released by the Obama Administration regarding the logistical aid, according emails are too topBenghazi attack. to the Washington secret to release to the public, and now that they have Times.

According to the Washington been compromised their classification Post, 10 or more different agencies has upgraded.

While campaigning in Iowa, began investigations into the attack, Senator Marco Rubio said that if during which it was discovered that in Clinton was under his authority Clinton’s private emails to family and she would be fired and prosecuted other world leaders that the attack on immediately.

Senator Rubio’s the Benghazi compound was in fact sentiments should be shared by a terrorist attack. But Clinton and everyone, regardless of political the Obama Administration denied affiliation. This is beyond the level of any claims that this was Al Qaeda, petty attacks on campaign opponents, and according to the Washington

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Post, their story has changed at least twice. Just weeks before the incident, Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens requested more security in and around the compound but was denied. Clinton insists that she did not make that decision. Stevens died in the attack.

Despite ongoing investigations, Clinton is still campaigning. She beat Senator Bernie Sanders in the Iowa Caucus elections on the flip of a coin. In the New Hampshire Primary, Sanders defeated Clinton by a significant margin. However, although Sanders is often the popular winner, Clinton holds the favor of many superdelegates who do not have to follow the popular vote. The South Carolina primary on Feb. 27 saw Clinton beating Sanders with 39 delegates to his mere 14. With so many superdelegates in her favor, it is possible that she will travel far in the race.

Clinton is not afflicted by bad fortune, and is never just ‘in the wrong place at the wrong time’. It is no coincidence that one person has been the center of multiple controversies.

Clinton should do her country a favor and drop out of the running.

Scandal and fallacy follows her. How can she possibly run a country? The answer is simple, she can’t.

Senate Shouldn’t Block Obama’s Nominee

The death of Supreme Court justice causes panic among Republicans.

BY TAYLOR SPIES REPORTER

Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia died Feb. 13 in his sleep. Scalia was well known for his conservative views, dedication to the Constitution and loudly voicing his opinions in court. His death has caused the government to panic because now the Supreme Court is split evenly between conservatives and liberals. President Obama now has the chance to change the majority of the court to liberals.

Even so, he should be able to nominate a candidate, and the Senate should agree to consider the candidate and take a vote.

Obama’s opportunity to change the balance of the court concerns many people because the Supreme Court will address many controversial issues in the coming years including abortion and immigration, according to CNN. If a conservative judge replaces Scalia, it could swing the votes one way, while if a liberal judge is the

replacement, the votes could swing the other way. Therefore, it is a crucial time to have a full court.

It is likely that President Obama will want to fill the empty spot with a liberal judge, but the mostlyconservative Senate will not want this to happen. President Obama has a little over 300 days left in office and most Republican senators have vowed to avoid making any decision until after he leaves office, in the hopes that a more conservative president will be elected and will nominate a new conservative judge, according to CNN. If the Senate chooses to block the Supreme Court candidate, it could break the record for longest time the Senate has taken to vote for a nominee, according to the BBC News.

This mirrors the new level of partisan politics at play in the Supreme Court, where politics should ideally play a minimal role.

This refusal to make a decision will likely lead to split votes from the Supreme Court, leading to little progress on real issues, according to BBC News.

Since 1900, there have been six Justices that were confirmed in a

presidential election year. The Senate has typically confirmed the President’s nominee whether or not it was an election year.

There’s never been a block on the same scale that the Senate is considering now. For example, in 2005 President Bush nominated Samuel Alito to be the Supreme Court Justice after Justice Sandra Day O’Connor retired. The senate panicked, much like they are doing now. Some were determined to block the nominee, although it was the Democrats rather than the Republicans that were worried. However, the Senate voted after around 60 days and Justice Alito was voted into the Supreme Court.

This shows that politics are starting to play a bigger and bigger role in the Supreme Court. If Americans are striving for an unbiased judicial system, politics shouldn’t be the deciding factor on important decisions like judges for the Supreme Court.

Ideally, politics should play a minor role in the judicial system to preserve justice. This is no exception.

The sharp reactions from the Senate are part of a political revenge cycle that needs to stop. It seems if a

candidate is from a certain party, the Senators from the opposing party immediately panic and jump to drastic decisions like refusing to vote or even holding hearings.

In fact, Obama hasn’t even nominated anybody, people are only talking about his short list of candidates he’s likely to nominate for the position. However, the Senate is already determined to block them, according to CNN. This process takes an average of 25-35 days but the longest time it has taken to vote was 125 days, according to the New York Times.

The Senate should not need to take any longer than 125 days, at the most, to vote for the Supreme Court nominee. People should be less concerned with what party the nominee is, and be more worried about if they can do the best job as a Justice of the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court is too important to be made into “political football,” and turning this decision into another game of politics is disrespecting the Supreme Court, judicial system, and everything it stands for.

LE JOURNAL March 2016

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OPINION

(Photo courtesy hubblesite.org)

NASA Thrives in Troubled Times, Job Market Space exploration continues to grow despite the economic downturn.

BY ELLIE SCHWARTZ CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

In need of 14 new astronauts, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration received 18,300 applications for the spots, according to the Washington Post. That’s a .08 percent acceptance rate. Looking at its future agenda, it’s easy to see why so many want on board.

In today’s storm of partisan politics, constant war, tanking economies and global ecological collapse, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration is an unstoppable ray of sunshine. With new, unparalleled projects in sight through 2030, genuine excitement regarding its competitors and a corner on the future generation’s jobs and

G

BY TONI MATHIS REPORTER

Google has surpassed the biggest company in the world, while Apple has started to slowly drift away.

Apple reported numbers for its fourth quarter with $96.88 and investors were not pleased. A week later, Google reported its numbers with $724.59 and the investors couldn’t get enough of it, according to forbes. com. Forbes reported that everyone was impressed with the coming clean on how Google makes and spends its money.

Google, also known as Alphabet, is gaining ground economically, while Apple is losing its ground. According to Yahoo, Google will continue to grow as long as internet is around.

Google is the company to proceed with, not Apple. Google is progressive for advertising, gaining ground on Apple and is run by a forward-thinking CFO. LE JOURNAL March 2016

possibilities truly limitless.

Even as countless agencies lobby to the government for more funding and attention, NASA is perfectly happy with its miniscule share of the federal budget, according to Layton. Its share, down from an alltime high of approximately 5 percent of the national budget, now sits at at $18.5 billion, just .04 percent, in 2015, according to the NASA fiscal year budget request. The association expects Congress to maintain its funding into the foreseeable future as its value is established by NASA and supported.

Furthermore, even as private companies such as MarsOne enter into the space travel market, NASA welcomes them, its own competition, into the field. NASA puts the future of space travel before its individual progress.

Even as competitors move into the market, NASA will likely retain its

proactive corner on the job market.

It is already recruiting the next generation of bright minds through increased social media and outreach, according to Layton. It sees potential in the millennial generation that is often described as self-interested and lazy and looks forward to new ideas instead of pining for the past.

So, as young people enter the job market, NASA should be first on their list of opportunities, even if they are not scientists or potential astronauts.

NASA needs lawyers, physicians and analysts as the company pursues its ever-changing agenda. With longterm settlements on Mars and more breakthroughs to come, NASA looks pretty great in today’s cutthroat job market.

Looking at today’s storm of political and economic turmoil, it’s easy to let it consume the future.

Instead, look forward to the stars and see the brighter future NASA offers.

Apple has continued to fall ever since the death of Steve Jobs, the founder of Apple. Apple’s economic climate is even rough, according to Time.

Google makes 90 percent of their money through ads, according to vox. com. The ads can cost up to about $50 per individual click. As we all may know, television ads are not going anywhere. The advertising industry has been rapidly changing. Digital Signage Today shows that there will be only more internet ads in the future.

It’s clear to see that this means even more growth for Google.

On the other hand, Apple makes money off of iPhones, but most of the people around the world who can afford to buy an iPhone already have one. According to express.com, it is even predicted that iPhone sales will decline for the first time in history in the next quarter of the year. If you own an iPhone, you know that the device has not been making many changes.

The only big difference of the iPhone 5 and 6 is, sadly, the size.

In 2014, Google paid Apple $1 billion to have Google the default search engine on every iPhone, also

according to vox.com. This reveals the lengths Google goes to keep people using its search engine on mobile devices like the iPhone, according to bloomberg.com. In short, Google will continue to profit with every iPhone sold, which makes it more difficult for Apple to gain ground.

Google’s CFO Ruth Porat, a forward-thinker, is an important part of the company’s historic growth.

Porat is 58-years-old and came from Sale, United Kingdom. According to Business Insider, Porat has a work ethic that puts most employees to shame.

Before Google, she was known for leading fundings of eBay, Priceline, and Amazon. When she started working for Google, most people were questioning her abilities since she is a female, according to Business Insider. Porat challenged the status quo successfully and built up Google despite others’ doubts. Also according to Business Insider and Forbes, she is now one of the most powerful women in the country.

Porat sets an example for modern CEOs and women in business because she is known for answering questions simply, making Google’s revenue

more transparent and pursuing new acquisition opportunities, according to Forbes. Despite her great success, she is known for being available to her coworkers, according to Business Insider. With Porat at its head, Google will likely continue to grow as it has under her leadership so far.

Google has also stepped up with the help of running YouTube and DoubleClick, while Apple has Beats and AuthenTec. Youtube has become so popular that it is even more popular than Google.com, according to The Telegraph. Youtube has been increasing each year by 60 percent.

Google has more control over industries while Apple is losing.

Google has a hold on Netflix, streaming and news. On the other hand, Apple is making their customers pay for music and streaming, which is making the people move onto free services.

More companies should follow Google’s lead because with its new CFO, recent growth and smart partner companies, it will only continue to grow. In the meantime, Apple needs something bigger than the iPhone to catch back up with Google.

gle Overcomes Apple

Google has taken over as the biggest company in the world, while Apple has started to slowly drift away.

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fascination, NASA offers what few other organizations or government agencies can or do: real progress and optimism.

While Congress struggles to pass laws here on earth, and social progress seems to move at sluggish rates, NASA is moving forward with a clear plan and plenty of funding, according to NASA contracting representative and longtime employee Jennifer Layton.

Two main projects define its agenda through 2030. The first will capture an asteroid and send it back to space in a new orbital path, and the second, through the Orion capsule, will send humans to Mars for the first time in history (hence the new astronauts).

Because NASA’s past missions have led to groundbreaking research in water purification, crop growth and its efficiency in nations struggling with food disparities and earth’s climate, these missions will likely lead to similar breakthroughs, making their

OPINION

Finsta Fails A multitude of Instagram users have resorted to creating unnecessary second accounts.

BY TARA JUNGDEN REPORTER

While it cannot be determined exactly when the finsta phenomenon consumed the attention of teenage Instagram users, what can be said is that once it took, it spread like wildfire.

Endless amounts of private accounts with clever, punny names appeared seemingly overnight with indiscernible profile pictures making it impossible to guess who the account belonged to.

Teenagers had finally found a way to post the content they desired without having to deem it officially “Instagram worthy” and ready for the scrutinizing eyes of the hundreds of followers they would have to face on their main accounts.

When questioning a finsta user on their basis for creating a second account, answers are most commonly given following the premise, “I wanted to be able to post more,” or “I wanted to post stuff I liked, but that wasn’t good enough for my main account.” However the truth comes out when you follow up with the question, “What’s stopping you from posting that stuff on your main account?” This is where things get awkward and the questioned users tend to mumble a stuttered response. Because when it comes down to it, finstas are created out of fear.

Living in a generation where so many measure self worth by number of likes and followers, it is difficult not to be concerned with social media presence and popularity. This is where the appeal of the finsta comes in: a finsta grants an opportunity for users to post artsy, silly, embarrassing and even inappropriate pictures with almost no foreseeable

repercussions. It acts as a safeguard guaranteeing no shame when your offering to the worldwide web receives less than the standard 100 likes.

The classic one hand on hip, other arm wrapped around best friend, smiling, makeup on, hair done, camera ready picture is the epitome of a normal, main account Instagram.

However many users have hundreds of other pictures they equally enjoy and want to share, but don’t, because those pictures will get less than the desirable amount of likes. This is one of the reasons finstas are so popular; 12 likes on a finsta is completely acceptable, while 12 likes on a picture posted from a main account would be social suicide.

Finsta The belief that every moment of one’s life is suitably prominent and deserving to be shared with others so much so that you need two accounts to do it brings an entirely new level of meaning to the phrase “self absorbed.” As if one Instagram account to post pictures of yourself wasn’t enough.

In all actuality, no one cares about your Instagram. If you want to post three times in a row, upload a strange photo or caption your pictures to the angstiest imaginable lyrics, you should do it. It is not the expression of oneself through social media that should be ridiculed, it is the idea that two accounts are needed to succeed in doing this. Is the loss of a few followers really so horrific that an entirely new account is needed in order to express yourself in the way you most want? It’s ironic that the only way high schoolers feel they can be real on social media is to create fake accounts.

Sprint

Messages

2:10 PM

Details

Ghosting Haunts The New Age Technology finally allows us to cut more people out of our lives on multiple platforms.

BY AUBREY MAKAR REPORTER

Following a holiday season of not hearing from her grandmother, local student Ruby June started to wonder if their relationship could be salvaged.

“Grandma started ghosting me after she didn’t like the family photo on Facebook I posted during Christmas break,” June said.

The sudden loss of communication with Grandma continued with June being ignored again on her birthday with no card and no usual birthday call. Then, in a final blow, Grandma blocked her on Facebook. There was no possible way for redemption.

Since then, June has tried to weasel her way back into Grandma’s heart through posting multiple candids of them together and sending her samples of her quilting projects.

“If this doesn’t work, I will have to learn Grandma’s passion, knitting, to try to get back into her life,” June said. “But even knitting can only ever take you so far in times like these.”

June isn’t the only one being ghosted.

At first this ghosting caught June and her mother, Regina June, off guard. Regina June thought that Grandma might have died after their contact was cut off. Grandma later posted a picture of her and a neighbor girl making cookies which confirmed that Grandma was alive.

“I posted a picture of my other grandma and me to try to get the message across that I was over her,” June said. “Later I remembered that she had blocked me on Facebook so she wouldn’t have even seen the picture.”

Regina maintained her relationship with her mother but each time they talked on the phone, Grandma made sure that she would not have to hear anything about her forsaken grandchild.

“The moment that I realized it was really bad was when I said Ruby’s name in the conversation. She immediately hung up on me,” Regina said.

Grandma could not be reached for comment. Maybe it’s because she was contacted through Ruby’s phone.

Read 3:12 PM

(Illustration by Aubrey Makar) LE JOURNAL March 2016

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HOW TO GET RECRUITED

SPORTS

1

Seven Sign to College

Lauren Dwyer

BY SOPHIE NEDELCO CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Hendrix College Volleyball

Seven seniors signed to play college athletics March 8: Stephanie Ostrander, Alexis Cutrera, Izzy Romano, Lauren Dwyer, Molly McEnerney, Validate your status as Camille Keane and Erin Mills. Last November, an amateur athelte. You Madison Heide signed to play softball at the need $50 and a social University of Notre Dame, bringing the total security number. of seniors committed to college sports to eight.

According to Athletic Director Dennis Conaghan, this spring signing contains the largest number of athletes signing since seven athletes signed in 2002.

Make “What is actually going to help us in Lists the upcoming year is the outside facilities,” Make separate lists for Conaghan said. “That’s going to bring your dream schools, better athletes to Sion from grade schools schools you could thus you’ll have more signings.” realistically get into and and backup schools.

Most of the seniors’ recruitment processes were similar in that they were constantly contacting different coaches, attending camps and putting together YouTube videos to showcase their abilities.

“I would enroll in camps and tournaments Create a and showcases throughout the summer. I went Video to most of mine over the summer, six or seven, Keep your highlight and then throughout the year too,” McEnerney reel short, simple and said. “Showcases are professional-looking.

For pictures from where colleges will the signing, go to come watch you lejournallive.com play and comment on how you’re playing. Then they’ll come over to Contact you after the game and give you their information, and you just keep in touch with them until they Coaches make you an offer. They’ll come and see your Check out a school’s website. Find out who’s clinics and your games and your tournaments.” on their roster and According to Cutrera, the process was let the coaches know stressful for her because many athletes committed you’re interested. to programs before she did last summer.

“You just have to go with the flow. There’s going to be a lot of times where the coaches of the college teams are very excited for you so you Attend just have to weigh out your options,” Keane said.

“Sometimes you think they really like you, and Camps they probably do, but they just don’t have a lot of Get better, get noticed spots to fill, there’s maybe one or two to a team. and make good first impressions.

You just can’t take it personally and you just have to move on and find the right fit for you.”

Register with the NCAA

2 3

4

5

Erin Mills

Q: What’s your favorite part of volleyball?

A: “I like the team aspect because it’s not just one person; you

depend on everyone. Also, I love the adrenaline in tight games.

I love when the game is 24-24. I want to be in the position where they’re serving me, I’m getting set. I just like that part of the game. I want my team to win. I’m really competitive.”

Coach’s Comments: “Lauren is just a tremendous athlete, but this year I really think she worked to increase her volleyball IQ and play smarter. She leads through her actions, but as one of only three seniors, she was forced to step out of her comfort zone and try to be more vocal this year as well. The level of commitment it takes to excel both on the court and in the classroom at the collegiate level is going to really allow Lauren to blossom because of her natural gifts.” —Volleyball Coach Sarah Johnson

Camille Keane Washington University in St. Louis Basketball Experience: 12 years Position: Guard/Pointguard Club Team: Mo-Kan Eclipse Q: When did you begin to consider playing in college?

A: “It’s always been a dream since I was little. It’s always

been my end goal. I probably started thinking seriously about it freshman year, and then it just went from there.”

Q: What’s the toughest thing about basketball?

A: “Not being able to play. It’s hard living with an injury your senior

year, but I’m glad it happened now instead of in the future. On the court, the hardest thing would be your limits of your abilites because there comes a point no matter what you do, you can’t do a certain thing. But you can grow in what you’re really good at, understand your goals and develop your strengths.”

Coach’s Comments: “Camille is a leader who never gets too high and never gets too low. Her calm demeanor gives confidence to others, and it doesn’t matter whether she is on the court or the bench.” -Varsity Head Coach Leslie Berger

Stephanie Ostrander Rockhurst University Soccer Experience: 15 years

Q: What do you hope to gain from rowing?

A: “I love being with a team, I love having girls that are close

to you, and so just being with people one or two times a day everyday, growing that bond, I’m really looking forward to that.”

Q: How did being on the swim team prepare you for this team?

A: “Definitely the determination. It’s really mental; you have to

push yourself to do well. It’s the same in rowing; you have to push yourself, you have to be mentally committed to doing well.”

LE JOURNAL

Club Team: MAVS Volleyball

Experience: 0 years

with a girl that rowed at K-State, and she always talked about it. So that sparked my initial idea of doing it. Then, I took an ACT class in September, and I sat next to a girl that just committed, and her mom got me in touch with a coach, and that pushed me to finally decide to go for it.”

March 2016

Position: Outside

Kansas State University Rowing Q: When did you begin to consider rowing in college?

A: “I thought about it a couple years ago. I coached swimming

10

Experience: 8 years

Position: Forward/Center-Mid Club team: Sporting Blue Valley Q: How is soccer beneficial to you?

A: “It reduces my stress and allows me to express myself. I’ve met a

lot of friends and made a lot of connections from it. It keeps me active.

Q: What keeps you going in soccer?

A: “My teammates. We’re a big family, and I treat them like

I would want to be treated. Even though we can get angry at each other, at the end of the day, we’re always going to be teammates, and we’ll always be family. I know I can always rely on them, and I have never-ending trust for them.”

Coach’s Comments: “Stephanie is one of the best leaders we’ve had. She was a captain as a junior and now as a senior. She leads both by action and words. Some people are just natural leaders, and Stephanie is one of those people.”—Sion Varsity Soccer coach Matt Darby

SPORTS

Alexis Cutrera University of Evansville Soccer Experience: 12 years Position: Midfielder/Defender Club team: Kansas Rush Q: When did you realize you wanted to continue playing?

A: “All the Mo-Kan tournaments really just solidified that

[want to continue playing soccer]. It’s just better competition, and we always play pretty well during that tournament so it’s pretty fun, and it’s just working hard the whole time. The adrenaline makes me want to continue it in college too.”

Q: Why did you choose Evansville?

A: “Evansville is a lot like Lee’s Summit, and sometimes I struggle being able to give 100 percent. But I could give everything there. It just reminded me a lot of home.”

“Alexis really excels at leading by example. Younger girls on the team see how hard she plays, and that really gets everyone working their hardest.” —Sion Varsity Soccer Coach Matt Darby

Coach’s Comments:

Molly McEnerney Benedictine College Lacrosse Experience: 10 years Position: Attack Club team: Midwestern Force Q: When did you know that you wanted to continue playing lacrosse in college?

A: “It just hit me that I can’t go to school next year or put my stick

up after the season, I needed to keep playing. Because if I get the chance to play for four more years, and I love the sport, then why wouldn’t I just play? So it’s just the fact that I can’t live without it, it’s just something I’ve grown up with and I’ve learned to thrive off of.”

Coach’s Comments: “Molly’s positivity was always prevalent when I coached her, she made my job easier by constantly communicating with her teammates on the field. She brought hard work and determination to every practice... she is naturally a leader and will add to the chemistry of the [college] team.” —Midwestern Force Coach and father Jim McEnerney

A Steadfast Season

As basketball season comes as advising the underclassman players. to a close, three injuries This has also helped her realize she have impacted the team. might want to coach basketball one day.

BY CLARE KIMMIS REPORTER

The Sion Varsity Basketball season started off as strong as ever with the goal of making it to State, but was soon affected by the injuries of sophomore Amaya Adams and seniors Camille Keane and Rachael Beck. The team lost the district game to Center High School Mar. 4.

The injuries not only took away three important players, but made the team work harder to achieve their goals.

“We obviously can’t replace those players. They are irreplaceable and it has been tough; however, my motto going into the season was that we were going to be like storm troopers,” Varsity Basketball Coach Leslie Berger said.

“What I love about storm troopers is that they keep coming at you. When you knock one down, another takes their place. At the beginning of the season, I did not know that I would be foreshadowing this season.”

Berger said State is always the goal of any season, but the most important goal is to have fun. Of course the injuries have been minor drawbacks to a great season. Keane was injured at the Washington University in St. Louis basketball summer camp.

According to Keane, she didn’t know she tore her ACL until she went to the doctor because she walked on it the next day after her fall. She misses being on the court, but she feels she has helped the team in other aspects such

“I wish I could be a leader on the court instead of off the court because when you’re not actually on the court, you’re not as much of a presence,” Keane said. “You don’t actually know what the team is going through because you aren’t playing the game yourself. Being injured has helped me to see basketball differently and appreciate it more.”

Beck suffered a concussion in November and Adams damaged her meniscus Feb. 5. JV girls have had to step in to fill the roles of the missing players. When the team was in a tough spot or suffered more injuries, these girls were there to go in and help. Taking away the two seniors left one senior actually playing on the court, Madison Heide.

“Heide is my lone senior and I’m grateful that she has stepped up and done her best this season. We’ve had other girls step up, but it’s nice to have one senior on the court,” Berger said.

The Varsity season concluded with 10 wins and 16 losses. One of the most memorable games, according to Berger, was the first St. Teresa’s versus Sion game. According to Berger, even though Sion lost 40-56, the girls put up a good fight against their rival school.

“I have never seen anything like the St. Teresa’s game in the Kansas City Metro area. Our girls fought extremely hard while showing character and class,” Berger said. “Even in the games where we have lost by a lot, there are these moments of brilliance that you have to keep highlighting.”

Soccer Strives for Success

Izzy Romano Northwest Missouri State University Soccer Experience: 12 years Position: Center-Mid Club Team: Kansas Rush Q: What do you like about being on a soccer team?

A: “It’s just a different side of life. It’s a different kind of family, not the

same friends at school. Having a team really just brings us together.”

Q: Why did you decide to continue playing in college?

A: “I liked it as a kid, but as you get older, you start getting

better, and you start growing away from other kids that aren’t developing as much as you are, it gets a lot more fun because you can play faster. Getting older, you start to love it more.”

Coach’s Comments: “[Izzy] will bring a sense of pride and work ethic and passion to [her] college soccer program. Izzy will be able to play 10 positions. She has played defense, midfield and forward for us at various times. Being able to play multiple positions is crucial for players as they transition to the college game.” -Sion Varsity Soccer Coach Matt Darby

After winning State last not have to cancel as many practices.

“We just want to do as well as we spring, soccer prepares did last year,” junior Zoé Trouvé said. for the new season.

The first game of the season

BY NATALIE WILLIAMS REPORTER

will be at home March 22 against Grain Valley, and the team is ready for another exciting season.

“My hope is that we win again and even if we don’t win, we go to state and are able to go as far as we can and not have any regrets,” Ostrander said.

Soccer transfers the energy from last year’s State victory to this season.

The team has high expectations and has begun practicing on the new field.

“I think [winning] brought us closer and made us more confident that we could do it even though we are a small team,” team captain senior Stephanie Ostrander said.

Despite the loss of several key players, Head Coach Matt Darby is confident that others will step up and provide the same morale and leadership. The team is also excited to use the new field. The turf will make it easier to practice under different Senior Amelia Bodde scrimmages during soccer weather conditions, meaning they will tryouts Mar. 3. (Photo by Sophie Nedelco) LE JOURNAL March 2016

11

FEATURES

English teacher Casey Engel struggled with self-confidence and a difficult upbringing all her life, but now hopes to inspire her students to be happy with their own lives. (Photo by Natalie Sopyla)

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March 2016

FEATURES

Engel is Fierce After growing up with a difficult home and family situation, English teacher Casey Engel learns to find happiness in her own life.

T

he lights are off in the classroom, yet the space is illuminated by the square-shaped glow of the projector at the front. Today they discuss insane asylum culture in the 1800s as English teacher Casey Engel scrolls through old black and white photos on the screen.

Students murmur in amazement at the terrifying images of archaic instruments and patients strapped into chairs. They gasp in disbelief as Engel tells them of women who were institutionalized merely for having postpartum depression. This is not your conventional English class, and Engel wouldn’t want it any other way.

After struggling as a pre-med major at Loyola University Chicago, Engel switched gears and became an English major, a field that she says combines her love of both history and psychology.

Connecting to the timeless issues presented in novels fascinates Engel, and she says that these topics are important to discuss. “[English] is the most interesting study of human nature,” Engel said. “I like being able to every day come and discuss these things with everybody. I think it is the most important thing in our lives to discuss the ins and outs of being human.”

Stationed at the front of the classroom, Engel chats with students as they file in before class, asking them about their days. From the way she talks, it seems as though she is not a teacher, but rather a fellow student. What originally drew Engel to teach high school students was witnessing students during the most pivotal years of their lives, figuring out who they are. This desire to connect with students stems from Engel’s own days as an insecure high schooler.

“Up to my sophomore year, I wasn’t able to make eye contact with anybody,” Engel said. “I had no self esteem.”

Part of this lack of confidence comes from her chaotic family situation. By the time she was four, Engel’s family was already broken. Her parents were divorced; her father had been unfaithful and had moved to California. For one week each year, Engel anxiously awaited the day when her father

BY NATALIE SOPYLA FEATURE EDITOR

would visit and she could show him how much she had grown, how long her hair was and how well she was doing in school. Yet Engel said her father never responded much to this, leading her to believe that there was something wrong with her.

“I thought ‘Well if I’m fabulous, he’d want to be around me. So I must not be so fabulous,’” Engel said.

As if that weren’t enough, Engel’s family struggled financially as well. Her mother remarried when she was seven; however, after three years, her stepfather decided that he was not going to be, as Engel puts it, “gainfully employed.”

With a stepfather who did not want to be the breadwinner of the family, the task of providing for everyone fell to her mother, a therapist. Engel says that her mother was the type of person who couldn’t turn down a patient, especially one who couldn’t pay. Yet the family had now grown to a family of eight, and the income was barely enough to put food on the table. The house was condemned, and the family cars were repossessed.

“There was a lot of macaroni and cheese and cornbread,” Engel said.

Attending Shawnee Mission East for high school did not help matters either. Seeing the picture perfect lives of her friends’ families, Engel would often wonder what it would be like to have a normal one, one where her mother and father were together, and everyone lived comfortably. Humiliated, she was forced to lie to people in order to make it seem like her life was as normal as everyone else’s. Going to a large public school also meant that Engel struggled to stand out amongst the hundreds of people in her class.

“My class was 530 people. If you weren’t in the top 10, you were seriously a number,” Engel said. “I felt like there was no way for me to stand out and feel like I was an individual.”

However, things began to turn around when Engel became drum major of her high

school band. According to Engel, this was when she broke out of her shell of negativity and began to feel more comfortable with herself.

“I forced myself to become a leader of 130 people,” Engel said. “That gave me a lot of confidence.”

Flash forward a few years, and Engel is now a leader for not only the students she teaches, but the student body as a whole. Engel says she feels that she has a lot to offer high school students in terms of helping them through the most formative years of their lives. As someone who understands some of the difficulties that students go through, Engel says that she has learned that the best way she can help students is by simply being there.

“My first couple of years of teaching, my response was, ‘What can I do? Let me help you,’” Engel said. “Now it’s just, ‘Let me listen and be with you.’”

Junior Maddi McMaster has Engel as a teacher this year and says that she loves the relaxed atmosphere of the class. She says that Engel’s positivity and eagerness to make learning fun are what inspire her as a student.

“You can tell how much she truly loves what she does just by the way she interacts with her students,” McMaster said.

Class has begun, and though they are discussing the novel they are reading, the conversation has not lost its lighthearted energy. This is thanks not only to Engel’s quips and jokes, but to the thoughtful questions she poses to her students, yet another way in which she tries to make centuries-old works relatable and interesting. Like the characters in the novels and the students in her classes, Engel understands struggle.

She has risen above her own difficulties and hopes to inspire others to do the same.

“I may not be rich or famous or make some great intellectual discovery,” Engel said. “But I can still lead a really happy life, and hopefully influence people to be happy with theirs.”

LE JOURNAL March 2016

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COVER STORY

V

Finding B A L

NCE

Dieting itself is nothing new. As early as 1930, women used the “grapefruit diet” to limit their calorie intake. Then came Weight Watchers in the ‘60s, the Beverly Hills Diet in the ‘80s, and the South Beach Diet in 2003. However, today, with the influence of social media and new diet fads weekly, dieting is a balancing act. Users swap meals for liquids, skip meals and use waist trainers to slim down.

O

STORY AND LAYOUT BY REPORTER LILY COIT, EDITORIAL EDITOR ABBY SMITH AND CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ELLIE SCHWARTZ

pening up your Instagram page you scroll past numerous selfies of your friends but something stands out to you. Right in the middle of the selfies is a post you haven’t seen before.

It’s a post from Kylie Jenner flaunting her figure to the camera holding a bright pink bottle in one hand and an opened package that holds the secrets to her slim stomach in the other. You read the caption and realize it’s an advertisement for a tea detox called Lyfe Tea. Posts like this have been increasingly apparent on well known social media accounts of celebrities and bloggers alike. Influential celebrities like Bella Thorne and Vanessa Hudgens display their tea detoxes or juice cleanses to their thousands of followers, convincing their fans that this is the key to having that sought after, perfect body. The hashtag “teatox” on Instagram has almost 350,000 posts. Posts like these are able to rack up hundreds of thousands of likes, creating a major influence on its users.

Living in a 21st century world, driven by the power and influence of social media, posts like Jenner’s have reinvented the word dieting. Users

are shown daily inspiration of healthy living, or “fitspo,” and new methods of achieving that perfect body by the simple touch on a screen.

Seeing the way these Instagrammers and celebrities get their physique through their photos and posts places audiences in a mindset of obsession to achieve their #bodygoals, even if it takes drastic measures to achieve it.

As photos of people’s colorful meals and intense workout routines grace users’ feeds, these images are a constant reminder of what others are doing and what we aren’t.

“There’s nothing wrong with a little selfimprovement, but anytime we spend excess time wishing we looked like someone else, we walk into dangerous territory and can easily become compulsive or consumed with perfection,” clinical psychology doctoral student Abby Ness and Sion REbeL liaison said.

Junior Lizzie O’Connell said that Pinterest was a big factor and source of inspiration for her endeavor into the popular smoothie detox.

“I have a board on Pinterest. I have my good food and then my healthy food. I have a bunch of smoothies pinned and healthy snack options,” O’Connell said.

While Pinterest may be used for personal inspiration, promotions like Jenner’s are a different story. Celebrities are often paid thousands of dollars to promote products on their accounts. And while these promotions are technically screened by the Federal Trade Commission to protect consumers, even they admit that the line blurs when it comes to social media bloggers and celebrities.

The FTC’s rule is that customers must be able to tell whether the promoter is paid to advertise the product. However, because images like Jenner’s are interspersed with her personal photos, it can be difficult for customers to tell the difference between her preferences and life and the advertisements disguised as posts.

“The fad diets and exercises that we engage in often trickle down from celebrity endorsement,” Ness said. “I Story continued on page 16

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Story continued from page 15

wish that the media was more interested in accuracy t h a n dollar bills b e c a u s e it often promotes behaviors and diets that are ineffective or even detrimental to our health.”

According to Cassey Ho, health and fitness blogger and pilates instructor, her research found the fit teas and teatoxes celebrities so frequently advertise on social media are a false permanent way and only make you lose water weight. Ho claims that these businesses are selling wishful thinking and dishonest representations of their products’ benefits.

Despite social media’s sometimes negative presence in the dieting and healthy living world, there are a few people out there who are a positive enforcer of living and eating right. Ho promotes living healthy but not to make money like celebrities on Instagram do. Ho’s YouTube channel features not just unique workouts but healthy food recipes and guidance for those who have trouble with their body. With 2.8 million subscribers to her YouTube channel, Ho is an enforcer of positive thinking to attain a healthy life.

However, her promotion of a healthy lifestyle came after many personal struggles with her body image and an eating disorder. In two recent videos, Ho admitted to restricting her eating habits while training for a bikini competition when she started making workout videos a few years ago.

Before she admitted to her past disorder, many praised her thin, muscular physique of the time when she had an eating disorder, comparing it to her present body and criticizing her weight and muscle difference. Ho says that she is healthier and happier now and encourages her followers to pursue methods of becoming healthier, not losing weight explicitly.

At the time of her bikini competitions, Ho had the “perfect” body. Knowing the suffering and selfdestruction that went into it now, she says that going too far to appear healthy is not worth it and that social media perfection can be deeply misleading.

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March 2016

them,” Ehren said. “They want to be like them.”

What’s a Waist openly compares “waistshapers” NEW EXTREMES to corsets from Victorian times, an era known for its styles and culture that restricted women. They Social media and the healthy lifestyle tie up in the same way, strengthen customers’ cores, trend create an abundance of new ways and reduce food intake similar to an old-fashioned to lose weight and become healthier. corset, according to the What’s a Waist website.

However, many of these techniques This return to the past has not come without and products are intense and expensive backlash. Ho recently published a sharp criticism on a new level. These new health of the waist trainer on her website, blogilates. trends include cleanses, veganism com, citing indigestion, displaced organs and to lose weight, meal replacements intestines and lack of health benefits as reasons and waist trainers, among others, to avoid the corset-like products she calls a and many of them are marketed scam. Instead, Ho encourages exercise and toward adolescent girls. core-strengthening to get a healthier result.

Locally, Energizing Mission The Kardashians, other Instagram-famous in Mission, Kansas, gives customers models and girls with many followers also promote a shot of aloe, tea and a smoothie for tea detoxes, while lifestyle magazines such as $6.50. Many of its customers are local high Cosmopolitan regularly promote new “cleanses” school students and some go to Energizing including the Chick-fil-A chicken nugget cleanse Mission instead of eating lunch for a lighter meal. and taco cleanse. For the most part, “cleanse” and At Sion, swim team members often go there to “detox” mean about the same thing: replacing get a smoothie instead of lunch or before a meet. what one usually eats with “I use it as a meal replacement because it fills you up for a couple Of 256 Students Polled... either teas, smoothies or a food of choice (tacos or of hours, and you feel lethargic if nuggets). However, there you eat too much before meets,” is little scientific proof of senior swim team member their benefits, according to Katarina Qamar said. “You can Yahoo News, and limiting have it as a snack, then you can the foods you are allowed eat real food throughout the day.” to eat can lead to relapses.

Qamar says she goes not only “Dieting fads such as for the smoothie, but also for the juicing, cleanses, detoxing, community aspect and because etc. typically lead us to the owners make an effort to know become intensely hungry their customers. She can also see and dissatisfied and to how people go as part of a trend. over-eat on a future day, “People think it’s a way of thus re-establishing the staying healthy,” Qamar said. “It negative, shameful dieting happens a lot around spring break.” cycle again,” dietician at While local trends can of students have tried eating a influence people to try new health certain way or dieting to change their Olathe’s Renew Counseling Center Paula Nyman said. trends, so too can celebrities appearance So, while they have popularize potentially dangerous no obvious detrimental methods of getting healthy. effects because of their Celebrities like Kim and Khloe content, dieting fads can Kardashian and Jessica Alba lead to negative habits in often promote waist trainers the future. Over-doing on Instagram as a method of these fads can also deprive molding an hourglass figure one’s body of essential and flattening one’s stomach. nutrients, leading to fatigue, Senior Lia Ehren tried dizziness and nausea, on a waist trainer after seeing according to Yahoo News. the Kardashians promote In a profile on fad them on social media. diets, the Pennington “You feel super Biomedical Research constricted,” Ehren said.

“It limits your movements, of students who dieted were pleased Center at Louisiana State University reported in 2011 and the effects didn’t last.” with the results that those replacing meals However, despite shortwith liquids can avoid these term results, customers pay Source of Inspiration symptoms if they receive more than $100 for What’s a 100 percent of needed Waist waist trainers, those that 52.7% social media daily values of vitamins celebrities promote actively 35% family/friends and minerals and only on social media and on the 27% technology replace meals once a day.

Waist Gang Society website.

In addition, skipping fewer “When the Kardashians 15.5% other meals helps dieters keep post their workout pictures 13.5% professional weight off by making it less and take pictures of themselves guidance likely they will over-eat after in the corsets, people idolize

65.5%

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they

return to normal food.

Some replace “normal food” permanently, swapping it for a gluten-free, vegan or paleo diet.

At best, these diets help people whose allergies or side effects from certain foods demand dietary limits. Isabelle Ianni, a freshman heavily involved

It all starts with the reason behind dieting, according to self-esteem-experts.com. Often times for one to be motivated enough to pursue a rigorous diet, the cause can be traced back to low self-esteem. When we live in a world so focused on an ideal body standard, it is hard to realize that we are not all meant to look like models. If a diet doesn’t work the way it is “supposed” to or even causes the dieter to gain weight, the individual experiences a sense of failure that enhances her already low self-esteem.

According to thankyourbody.com, this can lead to a vicious never-ending cycle.

“This [cycle] leads to a severed and broken relationship with food and our bodies, and to a great degree of shame when we cannot control our eating,” Nyman said.

Adolescents in particular are prone to experiencing unwanted results due to their ongoing physical, psychologic and social development, according to medscape.com. A bad diet can affect almost every aspect of life: work, school, sleep, and relationships to name a few. According to womenshealth.about.com, when the body’s metabolism is slow the mind focuses in on one sole purpose: eating food. This natural survival instinct takes over one’s thoughts and is a very exhausting constant distraction.

Junior Masen Fridkin uses juice cleanses as a way of feeling better about herself, not as a means of losing weight. Even with these good intentions in mind, Fridkin does not escape all the side effects that the three-day diets can induce.

“I have to keep myself busy because it’s really hard not to think about food, especially on the first day,” Fridkin said.

Dieting is not a bad thing if done in the right way and for the right reasons, according to Ness. It is when these two factors are lacking that it can become a serious harm to an individual.

According to medscape.com, a rising concern has become the relationship between dieting and the subsequent development of eating disorders, including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating. Because of the thin line between dieting and disease, the self-diagnosis of an eating disorder is an extremely difficult step.

“I didn’t see any of what I was doing as an actual problem. I honestly thought I was trying to better myself,” advancement associate Bridget Rutledge said.

Rutledge suffered from varying extents of anorexia nervosa from the age of 10 until 2011.

According to Rutledge, she had always been a perfectionist when it came to her grades and her passion: dancing. However it was when she began implementing this same control over her body that her relationship with food and exercise became a problem. For Rutledge, her eating disorder stemmed from more than just wanting to be skinny; she was obsessed with becoming this perfect ideal of herself.

“I just had this thought that if I could get skinnier, get tanner, if I could be blonder maybe

“This [cycle] leads to a severed and broken relationship with food and our bodies, and to a great degree of shame when we cannot control our eating.”

-Paula Nyman, dietician in CrossFit, switched to a paleo diet after her Crossfit coach recommended it to combat stomach pains, headaches and rashes. Ianni avoids grains, dairy, added sugars and legumes as part of her diet.

“It’s helped with my original symptoms, and I feel like it helps me perform better,” Ianni said.

At worst, these diets can lead to what Nyman identifies as orthorexia: the need for an extremely healthy eating and lifestyle as defined by the individual herself. She might cut out fats or foods that are not organic, establishing a new “food rule.”

This can lead to extreme restriction or the feeling that she will hurt herself if she deviates from the rules.

“Her brain and thinking become deeply affected and patterned in these ways and, without help and support, she will have much difficulty in breaking out of these rules in her brain,” Nyman said. “Her life and decisions will be ruled by these patterns, which are destructive.”

In short, those considering new diet or health trends, whether it’s a waist trainer or food limitation, should do their research first on whether they could harm themselves by not getting enough nutrients, falling into a destructive pattern or even spending money on a tool that could displace their organs. With new extremes come new precautions.

DANGERS Fatigue.

Guilt.

Shame.

Stress.

Irritability.

Depression.

The brain and the body are inevitably linked; depriving oneself of certain foods or to a certain amount of food can take a serious toll on the emotional stability of an individual.

The reasoning behind it is really quite simple.

Every cell in our body needs glucose in order to perform its routine functions. So when one’s diet isn’t supplying the body with enough glucose and other nutrients, the body (including the brain) is unable to perform to its usual standards.

“When dieting takes extreme forms, our body’s homeostatic mechanisms can be altered and our electrolytes, vitamins, etc. can become imbalanced and may lead to worse health and increased depression or anxiety,” Ness said.

With these side effects, it comes into question whether people actually become healthier by dieting or not. Sure, there are the wonder stories of people losing 50 pounds. But for the majority, attempting to diet only creates more problems.

I would finally be good enough,” Rutledge said.

With these thoughts came other symptoms, such as anxiety, depression and overall emotional instability. According to Rutledge, this is where the general public who isn’t educated on eating disorders gets it wrong: wanting to be skinny is just a symptom of everything else that is going on internally.

After getting help in 2009 and 2010, Rutledge began to improve and is now living proof that one can fully recover from this “hopeless disease.”

“For me today, there is not much magic with food anymore, and I’m really grateful for that,” Rutledge said. “I try not to look at food as either good or bad, but instead just as energy.”

FINDING BALANCE For those looking to engage in a healthier lifestyle without the risks, experts advise to avoid thinking of it as a diet in the first place, and to stay away from any urges to restrict food intake. Find the balance that is right for you. After struggling with unhealthy eating habits in the past, English teacher Melissa Wilcox practices healthy living by selecting the majority of her foods from the perimeter of the grocery store. Wilcox and her family avoid eating processed foods while cooking meals from scratch as often as possible. Experts echo Wilcox’s methods.

“Avoid dieting altogether and instead eat a variety of foods in moderation and listen to our bodies to determine when and how much to eat, honoring our body’s hunger and fullness signals,” REbel founder and psychologist Laura Eickman said.

Rutledge, with the help of her husband, now focuses on becoming a better and healthier version of herself instead of just a skinnier version. She also helps mentor girls who are struggling with eating disorders and shares her experiences to show them that they can be okay again. When asked what her advice on healthy eating is, she didn’t have to think twice.

“It is about moderation, but still indulge; have that donut before school. Find what exercise you enjoy and fits you, not what you feel you have to do,” Rutledge said.

“And for someone struggling with an eating disorder, just do not be afraid to ask for help.

Even though it’s the hardest thing to do, asking for help shows a tremendous amount of strength.”

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A Lifetime of

Junior ZoĂŤ Mulkey practices the saxophone, her favorite of the many instruments she is able to play. (Photo and Photo Illustration by Tara Jungden)

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Musical Motivation Junior Zoë Mulkey’s influences throughout her life push her to be involved in fine arts.

A

BY TARA JUNGDEN REPORTER

ll her close friends know that if they need to find her in any moment of free time during school hours, junior Zoë Mulkey will be in the music room. From choreographing dances for the Grade School musical, to practicing any one of the numerous instruments she’s able to play, to simply spending time with her biggest musical supporter, mother and teacher Elizabeth Mulkey, Mulkey’s time in the Old Grande Salle is dedicated to all things fine arts.

“She’s a strong leader, especially in Tri-M [Music Honor Society],” Elizabeth said. “She’s had a lot of focus and a lot of ideas that have been really strong and acted as a voice for the performing arts in general here at Sion.”

Beginning her musical pursuits with piano lessons and introduction to reading music at the age of 5, there is hardly a time in Mulkey’s life she can remember where she wasn’t involved with music. Even before she began playing piano, Mulkey said she was always surrounded by music due to her father’s constant instrument playing and her mother’s singing.

“My dad plays the mandolin and guitar and sings a little bit; he used to play me and my little brother to sleep when we were little,” Mulkey said. “And with my mom always having been a music teacher, music has always been a very prominent part of my life.”

With a choir/symphony/drama teacher as a mother, grade school music teachers as a great grandmother and a great-great grandmother and various other relatives involved in some aspect of the musical world, it is clear that devotion to a life of music is not at all unusual in her close or extended family. However, Mulkey is not letting her familial connection to music education influence her career choice in the slightest.

“I’ve never considered teaching music as a profession, but I like the idea of doing recreational music in community groups,” Mulkey said. “I also like the idea of things like going into nursing homes and preschools and doing stuff there just for fun and to provide service.”

It is through her involvement in the Sion grade school musical, “Honk! Jr.,” that Mulkey realized how much she enjoys helping people with the arts. And while she wouldn’t want her profession to revolve around teaching children, she says she’s interested in offering beginner saxophone lessons on the side and volunteering in music therapy once

her high school music career ends.

“If I did music therapy I think I would want to work with either mentally or physically disabled people,” Mulkey said. “Music has been proven to help with mental stimulation. I’d be helping people that are really struggling.”

While Mulkey may not want to make a career out of music, her current commitments to the subject are extensive. Playing in her church’s orchestra, school jazz ensemble, drumline, symphony, a North Kansas City youth jazz band and serving as president of Tri-M Music Honor society, Mulkey’s musical talent is not going to waste.

In addition to Mulkey’s obvious musical accomplishments is another, not as well known, layer of fine art ability that she possesses: dance. Mulkey has been taking dance lessons since she was in first grade, and although she no longer dances competitively, she continues to take weekly lessons.

“I love the athleticism of [dancing] and the beauty and all the different styles,” Mulkey said.

Students were first offered a hint of Mulkey’s dancing abilities in this year’s production of “Thoroughly Modern Millie.” Her role as a speakeasy dancer/stenographer/Rita all involved extensive amounts of rehearsal and choreography memorization. Mulkey’s love of dance corresponds to her love of musicals and her inkling to participate both as a cast member and a helping hand. Mulkey has participated in the high school musicals all three of her years at Sion.

“I love the dancing and the acting and the stories they tell,” Mulkey said. “I also love the closeness that comes out of it; by the end of the show the cast is a family.”

Despite Mulkey’s assurance that a music based career is not what her future has in store, her lifelong passion in its regard is something that she has treasured and is not willing to easily let go of. Although her continuation of musical participation may not come in the formal sense her family or friends expected it would be, Mulkey’s intended use of music as a source of recreation and service allow her to have the best of both worlds as she continues her studies in college and later career life while also being able to maintain this as a creative outlet.

“Music is like a whole other language, full of expression,” Mulkey said. “It’s how I’ll always be able to express my feelings. Even if it’s just in a non-competitive setting, it’ll always be there to make my life a little brighter.”

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Searching for the SPOTLIGHT

Senior Olivia Neal’s journey through theater has evolved into both her passion and future.

BY RACHEL DOCTOR REPORTER

O

livia Neal sulked into her first rehearsal for her grade school production of “The Nutcracker.”

Yet nine years later, she walks with confidence and passion into her auditions for university acting programs.

Neal’s start in theatre began as what she describes as a “Mother knows Best” situation when she was pushed to try out, which was just the beginning of what has evolved into a large aspect of her life today.

Although she was reluctant, the thought of having stage fright never crossed her mind.

“An acting teacher once told me acting is reacting. It’s real life and it’s beautiful and to capture the authentic moments of life as we know it, is really honoring and humbling,” Neal said.

After her role in The Nutcracker, Neal was involved in both Christian Youth Theatre and theatre classes. Since then, she has participated in 12 productions, her favorite being Sion’s production of “Hairspray” in 2014. She played the role of Velma Von Tussle.

“I really felt the role was dynamic,” Neal said. ”I always thought I could play the mean role, but [Hairspray] allowed me the chance to play the somewhat vicious role, and it was the first Sion show I really loved.”

A part of a close-knit cast of six girls, Neal participated in the student production, “Steel Magnolias,” March 4. She played the role of M’lynn, the mother of a diabetic, Shelby. The production was Neal’s final Sion production.

“Olivia was born to be an actress. She embodies characters all the time and puts the emotions she acts into how she lives her everyday life,” junior Clare Carey said.

But her future in theatre won’t just stop after high school.

Neal plans to continue her career with a major in acting. She has already auditioned for several school’s programs including NewYork University, Boston University, Emerson College and Southern Methodist University and will hear back in April about potential admissions.

“I don’t really care about the fame, I just want to be a successful actor and be able to have a steady job doing it and being good at what

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I do,” Neal said.

Capturing the authentic moments in life is what Neal has aspired to do with her actions on stage.

She is able to find herself when recognizing the similarity in what is apparently different.

“Acting is so humbling in that way it’s not about you,” Neal said. “It’s about the story and how you touch people with that story.”

Neal hopes to be a part of a wide variety of aspects in the industry.

While she wants to begin onstage in Boston or New York, further down the road in her career she hopes to make the connections to potentially become involved in the film side of the industry.

“After her “Hairspray” audition, I was just blown away with her potential. She has always given very strong auditions and is very well prepared,” music teacher Elizabeth Mulkey said.

Neal uses her theatre and performances as an escape from her everyday life. But she also hopes that her performances can provide an escape for others.

“I kind of get the chance to forget whatever else I have going on when I’m onstage, I get so wrapped up in the moment,” Neal said. “It just really makes me happy to get to be there”.

She has learned throughout her acting experiences that finding humor in daily life is important in not only acting, but in real life as well. Acting ultimately affected her life by not only shaping her disposition, but by creating joy in those around her.

“We cry at weddings and laugh at funerals sometimes so I have to remind myself not to take the acting process so seriously,” Neal said. “You have to find the humor in every character you play. That’s where life stems.”

FEATURES

Senior Olivia Neal points towards the crowd during her role as Muzzy Van Hossmere in “Thoroughly Modern Millie.” (Photo by Sophie Nedelco) LE JOURNAL March 2016

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Mohácsi Makes Her Mark Freshman Cecilia Mohácsi expresses herself through horseback riding, which teaches her teamwork and perseverance.

BY KATE NOBLE REPORTER

When walking into freshman Cecilia Mohácsi’s room, soccer and basketball trophies don’t fill her shelves like many of her peers. Instead, medals and trophies from horse riding competitions and shows are proudly displayed. Replacing the normal pictures of teammates are pictures of Mohácsi’s other half, her horse Rupert.

After traveling to Germany in third grade to visit family and witnessing her cousin Magdalena’s riding lesson, Mohácsi discovered her passion for horseback riding.

“I watched [Magdalena] ride, and I knew it was something that I wanted to do,” Mohácsi said. “I hadn’t really seen or rode horses before seeing my cousin ride, so that was the moment when I decided to start.”

Mohácsi began riding when she was 8 years old, and decided to stick with it because of her love of animals and the amount of joy she feels when she rides. After getting her own horse, Rupert, a Quarter Horse Thoroughbred, she’s gained an irreplaceable relationship.

“Rupert is the first horse that I’ve ever owned. I’ve had him for about two years now,” Mohácsi said.

Out of all the events, jumping is Mohácsi’s favorite thing to do. The improvements she’s seen since getting Rupert motivate her to continue to work for more progress.

“I love jumping, that’s what I do,” Mohácsi said. “When I got [Rupert] I was only jumping two foot, and this year I’m showing three foot. I’ve jumped 3’3 on him. We’ve come a long way since I got him.”

An important aspect of riding is training. A dedicated and attentive trainer is crucial to improvement. Daphne Thornton, Mohácsi’s trainer since 2012, has witnessed her long-term improvements. “[Mohácsi] has grown from a cute little girl into a lovely young woman,” Thornton said. “She has accepted the physical challenge of competing in a

very demanding sport and has risen to that challenge on every occasion.”

Mohácsi has two lessons every week and rides three other times a week at Seven Oaks Ranch.

She dedicates her time with Rupert to improving her jumping height and all areas.

“The difference between an average rider and a good rider? 5,000 hours,” Thornton said. “Cecilia is putting in the time. She knows that in the end, she will conquer whatever task she has set for herself.”

The hard work that Mohácsi puts into her sport during lessons has paid off in local competitions. She won medal finals at a show last year. With her achievements serving as motivation, riding teaches Mohácsi important lessons that are applicable to other aspects of her life. “[Riding teaches] teamwork because you have to listen to your horse, and your horse has to listen to you,” Mohácsi said. “If you don’t work together, you don’t get anything done.”

In addition to teaching her to work with her horse, riding has also introduced Mohácsi to some of her close friends, such as Lizzy Kneibert, an eighth grader at Overland Trail Middle School. Kneibert and Mohácsi both ride at Seven Oaks and have grown close.

“Cecilia is the sweetest person I know,” Kneibert said. “She is also such a ray of sunshine, she can cheer up anyone’s day.”

Her peers don’t just notice her kindness, but her determination to improve as well. Kneibert is impressed with Mohácsi’s ability to stay focused and her can-do attitude, never slacking off during lessons. According to Mohácsi, the friends she’s made since she began are one of the best benefits of riding.

“I’ve made a lot of great friends here at the barn, and I think that if I hadn’t ever started riding I wouldn’t have met my friends,” Mohácsi said. “I just love riding so much, I don’t know what I would do if I hadn’t started.”

Mohácsi rides her horse, Rupert at Seven Oaks Ranch for practice on the weekends. “Cecilia shows her passion in the only way anyone can, really. She works at it. She rides, she listens, she learns, she thinks, she does,” Mohácsi’s trainer, Daphne Thornton said. (Photos by Kate Noble)

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LE JOURNAL March 2016

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A&E

Aubrey’s Kansas City Adventures Monarch Glass Studio holds creations that captivate the mind through their dangerous origins.

BY AUBREY MAKAR A&E COLUMNIST

In a small building on East Truman Road, my friend’s brother, Tyler Kimball, owns Monarch Glass Studio where he makes the most amazing pieces that transform molten glass into something spectacular.

Right when you walk in the door there is a variety of glass artwork which immediately captures your attention. There are pieces from

“The Gods of Egypt” PG-13

“The Finest Hours” PG-13

“Zootopia” PG

CHECK IT OUT ONLINE Go to lejournallive.com for these movie reviews

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colorful vases to an intricate glass sculpture of a shuttlecock. Each piece is highly individualized by the artist who created it.

The studio makes up the entire building and the first thing that we did upon arriving was take a tour. All the levels of the building had something to do with glass blowing even if it was only to store a few pieces. After taking a tour of the studio, we observed the creation of the glass sculptures.

It was immediately noticeable that there was a lot of skill involved in this craft. They were constantly dealing with lighting up a furnace that held the molten glass and the scorched metal beams used to gather the glass.

I was able to watch with utter delight as Kimball pulled out a dripping ball of glass out of the fiery furnace and transform it into a small pony. The glass was still red with heat

as he finished making it and set it on the metal sheet to cool off. A small bucket was underneath the sheet filled to the brim with colorful glass pieces that we could look through and collect our favorites to take home. Each of the pieces were cut from a bigger project that couldn’t be put back into the furnace due to color differences.

The next thing I knew I was given a huge metal rod and directed towards the furnace to gather the glass for a different project. The heat was almost too much as I gathered the courage to get the job done. I have no idea how they are able to make these creations with such ease because I was having a hard time trying to hold onto the stick as I twirled it in the liquefied glass.

The rod was heavy, and my knees shook because of the irrational fear that I was going to brand someone with the end of the stick. Thankfully,

no one got a cylinder shaped burn forever etched into their face but it could have easily happened with me driving the rod.

After I had gathered the glass it was time to collect our things because they had some real work to do that didn’t include making small horses or dodging a blazing metal rod. Kimball gave us the horses and we excitedly accepted them and tried to decide on names. I named mine Power while my friends took Light and District just to commemorate our time in the studio.

Glass blowing is definitely not one of my talents and I highly admire anyone who can do it with such precision and composure. This turned out to be one of my favorite days that I was able to spend with my friends because of the mix of suspense and excitement. Some of the most creative places are in Downtown Kansas City.

River Market Offers Something for Everyone This downtown neighborhood The name is pretty self -explanatory.

For the lunch or dinner crowd, is the perfect place for there are plenty of options. You could weekend exploring. stick to the tried and true local chains

BY RACHEL ERGOVICH MANAGING EDITOR

Just north of Downtown Kansas City, wedged in between I-35 and the Missouri River, is a quaint neighborhood known as the Kansas City River Market. This small area has a multitude of interesting shops and restaurants that are suited to the traditional and adventurous alike.

Spend at least a few hours at the River Market. If you’re a morning person, start your morning with breakfast. Try The Farmhouse, but make sure to get there before 10 a.m. because it tends to fill up quickly. The Farmhouse pancakes and fruit are the best pancakes ever.

If you’re not a fan of breakfast food (do those people even exist?), try one of the many coffee shops located in the River Market. Kansas City favorite Quay Coffee will never disappoint. If you’re looking for a coffee house vibe but want some food more substantial than pastries, head to The Opera House Coffee and Food Emporium.

like Bo Lings or Minsky’s. For those wanting to try something new there is an abundance of restaurants serving international cuisine ranging from Mexican and Italian to Ethiopian and Brazilian. There is no where else in Kansas City where you can find that kind of variety.

One of the coolest things at the River Market is the farmer’s market.

The vendors sell both local and international fruits and vegetables, as well as other merchandise. Next to the fruit and vegetable booths there are people selling baked goods, honey, tea and spices from all around the world.

Some of the international vendors

also have shops in the same area as their stands for the farmer’s market. So even if you don’t go on a Saturday morning, you’ll still have the opportunity to buy their products.

There’s more to do in the River Market than just eating and shopping, though. Take in some local history at the Arabia Steamboat Museum. If museums aren’t your thing, take in the beautiful views at a number of unique parks in the neighborhood, or bring your four-legged furry friend and play around in an off-leash park. You may even see the new streetcar completing one if it’s test runs.

Plan a trip down to the Kansas City River Market with some of your friends. No matter what you’re interested in, you won’t be disappointed.

(Photo by Sophie Nedelco)

A&E A&E

“Full” of Laughs// “Fuller House” brings up old memories from the 1980s hit sitcom.

BY MADISON HEIDE SPORTS EDITOR To prepare for his role as Jesse Owens, Stephan James trained for months, learning how to emulate the Olympic runner’s technique.

(Photo by MCT Campus)

Directionless Movie Falls Short of High Expectations “Race” doesn’t quite cross the finish line and achieve the potential that Jesse Owens’s story provides.

BY LUCY STOFER REPORTER

Race: Uplifting //

“Race” depicts the story of the African American sprinter, Jesse Owens in the same style as every other big Hollywood sports movie.

Owens is portrayed by Stephan James, who is commonly known for his role in “Selma.” Owens endured many struggles related to his race and racing (note the clever wordplay in the title) in his life before and during his victory at the 1936 Berlin Olympics where he won four gold medals, broke two world records and matched another.

“Race” is directed by Stephen Hopkins who also directed movies like “Predator 2” and “The Life and Death of Peter Sellers”.

Owens’ unique story provides a different angle than most sports movies. The 1936 Olympics were held in Nazi Germany in the midst of Hitler’s reign, which became a problem when Jewish Americans and African Americans were preparing to compete in the games. The

movie details the struggles of Owens’ life as well as the obstacles that were put in the way of the people Hitler detested, who were just trying to compete in the games that they had worked so hard to get to.

The Jesse Owens story has many different avenues and groups involved, and the film tries to cover them all. As a result, this lack of direction lessens the impact of each part. The movie contains too many subplots that become confusing and difficult to follow. For most of the movie, the story centers around Owens’ story with the historical aspects as a subplot. However when they reach the games the subplots take over the rest of the storyline and Owens gets lost in the seemingly random story about a filmmaker who is attempting to make a propaganda film for Nazi Germany.

The Jesse Owens story, paired with the historical elements of the world at this time, had the potential to create a beautiful film confronting the very real problems that athletes and all people at the time faced. However, “Race” dragged on at a long two hours and 14 minutes and still left the audience wanting more infomation on Owens and less of the side stories.

After almost two decades, the revival of “Full House” premiered, leaving fans finally fulfilled with closure. Abundantly cheesy, “Fuller House” reminisces the puns that left us laughing before, with 80’s humor that was adored. But now, the jokes are almost too familiar, like a funny joke told too many times.

In Full House’s attempt to have final closure, the sequel series retains a second-rate value to its prequel. It would be almost impossible not to, with eight beloved seasons and a familiar cast. “Fuller House” keeps the esteemed cast, but the reunion is overdone. After an elongated applause for each returning cast member, and a 13 second silence questioning the absence of the Olsen twins, a favorite cast member to most fans of “Full House,” it is understood “Fuller House” will do everything to reprise its original version.

It throws a twist on the original series, instead of three men raising the children, three women come together to raise the next generation of the Tanner family. DJ Tanner Fuller, (Candace Cameron Bure), the oldest daughter in the Tanner family, is recently widowed, and joined by her sister Stephanie (Jodie Sweetin) and her best friend Kimmy Gibbler (Andrea Barber) in helping raise her three sons. The show continually compares itself to its predecessor, matching up both catchphrases and even playing clips from “Full House” side-by-side. It’s almost as if they didn’t change from the adolescence the audience left them in. Although the show may bring back the nostalgia feel, don’t bet on “Fuller House” leaving the impression “Full House” did.

The 1975 Reinvents Their Distinctive Personal Sound Like the cover of the album itself, “I like it when you sleep, for you are so beautiful yet so unaware of it” is familiar yet new, with a little added color.

BY CHLOE BARRETT A&E EDITOR

The 1975 presents a new sound with their sophomore album, “I like it when you sleep, for you are so beautiful yet so unaware of it,” released Feb. 26. The album is a mix of genres, drawing on endless influences but with a clear focus on pop and the ‘80s era of music. It is a break from the old, yet with a sound still recognizable to The 1975, making it an enjoyable experience for both new and old fans of the band.

The new sound is clear from the first track, which like the band’s first, self-titled album, begins with a self-titled song. “The 1975” on “I like it when you sleep” features the same lyrics as the previous version of the song, but with completely new production elements. The song is set to a new beat and there is a new effect on lead singer Matt Healy’s voice, immediately cluing the listener into the band’s

intentions with the album: to experiment with new harmony between the two.

Other songs even more closely align with sound across a variety of genres.

This new sound flows “The 1975” such as “She’s American” and “Lostmyhead.” immediately into the next track, Both featured melodies that “Love Me,” a song clearly inspired closely align with the first by ‘80s funk. Many artists draw inspiration from the ‘80s, but album, and even include a few “Love Me” takes the ‘80s and uses lines that are reminiscent or even directly mimic lyrics from it to present a strong force running the first album, achieving a through the song. Other songs take sense of familiarity to comfort a softer side of the ‘80s, like “Paris.”

“If I Believe You” is also a new those who might be reluctant sound for the band: it’s soulful, with to accept the new direction the band is taking. choir-like background singing and With such an extensive list the distinct sound of a saxophone.

Diverse // of songs and the wide range of “Nana” is also a break from previous sound. It is slower, an ode to Healy’s variety among them, it takes someone who is open grandmother and appears to be The 1975’s first to a lot of different genres to buy the entire album. song with an acoustic guitar. “She Lays Down,” the If you’re that person, the album is definitely worth following and final track, is even more stripped the $11.99 on iTunes. But even those who aren’t as down, with only Healy’s voice and a guitar. adventurous in their music will find at least one song Despite the new sound of many songs, fans of they like, thanks to the wide variety of songs on the The 1975’s first album will still find familiarity. A few album. Take the time to listen to a bit of each one songs, including “UGH!” are like a bridge between (and don’t be intimidated by the number of songs; the first album and second album, combining the there are some gems at the end). most distinctive aspects of each into songs that find LE JOURNAL March 2016

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KC STAYCATION

BY NATALIE WILLIAMS REPORTER

As the days get shorter and the homework load grows, school becomes a sluggish time in the winter. Some students have been counting down the days until spring break since the end of winter break. The time has come, and that muchanticipated week of relaxation is right around the corner. Spring break is known for students’ varied

travel plans, and many see it as a time to adventure with friends and family. But here in Kansas City, there are ways to find a thriving art scene and exciting cultural opportunities without the hassle and expenses of travel. Put away your suitcase and see what Kansas City has to offer for a spring break staycation.

Indoor Adventures // Urban Air

Bring out your inner child with a trip to Urban Air, an indoor trampoline park located in Overland Park. With dozens of trampolines lining the floors and walls, dodgeball arenas, an indoor playground, and the Urban Warrior Obstacle course, Urban Air provides endless fun and is the perfect place to spend a high energy afternoon during your staycation. Located at 14401 Metcalf Avenue Overland Park, KS 66223

Mini Trip // Lawrence

For a 40 minute drive, check out the college town Lawrence, Kansas. On a walk down Massachusetts Street, shop at local jewelry and fashion stores like the unique boutique Eccentricity, find accessories and decor from around the world at Earthbound and see what Lawrence artists have created at the many art galleries. Spend some time with the Jayhawks, and take a tour of the University of Kansas campus. Stop by Love Garden Sounds, a unique music store that is home to records, CDs and several cats. Grab some music to enjoy on the car ride back to Kansas City.

Skydiving // iFly

Get your adrenaline rush this spring break on a trip to iFly. Located at 10975 Metcalf Ave. in Overland Park, iFly provides indoor skydiving for a starting price of $69.95 for two flights.

The wind tunnels push air through the flight chamber, enabling guests ages three and up to fly.

Spring Break // Traveling Report

A&E

21%

Will stay in KC

13%

Will visit colleges

50% Will travel

16%

Will go on a service trip

At Home Entertainment

Check out all those Netflix shows you’ve been hearing about such as “Fuller House,” Marvel’s latest release “Jessica Jones,” perfect for those looking for something dark and gritty and “Making a Murderer,” the documentary on one man’s twisted experience with the legal system. This week is also the perfect time to get some reading in. “Brain on Fire,” the memoir of Susannah Cahalan’s battle with a neurological disease, is perfect for anyone interested in how the brain works.

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(Based on 104 students polled)

A&E

Ditch the Fast Food, Try Gus’s and bustle that goes into making the food. The major

A new sit-down Kansas restaurant is offering difference, though, is that while customers have the option a tasty and spicy alternative to fast food of take-out or dine-in, if they elect to dine in, they must fried chicken joints. wait to order until once they have been seated. Gus’s serves

A hidden gem just on the other side of Ward Parkway in Kansas City, Kansas, Gus’s Fried Chicken, has proved its title of “World Famous Hot & Spicy Fried Chicken” in its soft opening Feb. 14. From West 47th Avenue, the restaurant looks deceivingly small, but after pulling into the parking lot, it is clear that it opens up into an upper and lower level.

As customers walk through the doors, they are greeted by a sparkling crystal chandelier and unfinished floors - seemingly a contrasting image, but this is what gives Gus’s its unique character. Music sounds throughout the restaurant, creating the aura of unity and community. The restaurant takes on a vintage feel with its decorative posters and light-up signs; eating here feels like sitting inside an old-fashioned, Southern-style country diner.

Green and red checkered tablecloths drape over the tables, coupled with classic wooden chairs. A baby blue retro fridge adds a dash of color behind the counter. The restaurant has a Chipotle/Five Guys vibe, as the kitchen is open behind the counter, so customers can see the hustle

UNIQUE //

fried, but not fast food, and the typical wait for to-go orders is 10-15 minutes.

Coming from someone who does not particularly fancy fried chicken, Gus’s Tennessee-style chicken is delicious - crisp and crunchy on the outside and soft and juicy on the inside. The touch of cayenne pepper adds just the right amount of hot spice. While waiting for the main meal, the fried pickles with ranch are also a must-try - a delicious crunchy crust around a tart, sour pickle. For all the pickle-lovers out there, if you haven’t tried fried pickles, you are missing out.

The restaurant can accommodate everything from lunch to a late night snack as it is open 11 a.m.-9 p.m.

Sunday-Thursday and 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday.

The prices aren’t too bad either - ranging from $2.45 for a single chicken leg to $49.95 for a 20 piece bucket of chicken with bread, Gus’s has something for everyone.

As the restaurant just had its soft opening, meaning employees are still learning the tricks of the trade, there are understandably some kinks that still need to be worked out.

For instance, the wait time on takeout may be a little rocky, as my brother’s order got accidentally skipped. For the most part though, the fried chicken joint is off to a great start.

Memoir Reveals Mysteries of the Brain Susannah Cahalan faces her lost identity as she recounts her battle with NMDA-receptor autoimmune encephalitis.

BY SOPHIE NEDELCO CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

At 24 years old, Susannah Cahalan is everything.

Witty, inquisitive and a go-getter, she is a rising reporter at the New York Post, just moved into a studio apartment in the heart of the city and is in the midst of a serious relationship with her boyfriend, Stephen. Her family and co-workers dote on her vibrant smile, sociable disposition and contagious sense of humor. But in less than a month, Cahalan would wake up strapped to a hospital bed, unable to remember how she got there or who she was.

Her

Fried Pickles

served with ranch dipping sauce $5.50

Baked Beans small $1.95 medium $3.45 large $4.45 extra large $8.75

Mac n’ Cheese small $2.45 medium $3.95 large $4.94 extra large $9.75

Spectacular Sides

BY ALEX D’ALESIO WEB MANAGING EDITOR

Seasoned Fries medium $3.95 large $4.95

Fried Green Tomatoes $5.50

Fried Okra $5.50

Phenomenal //

personality and former life seeming to have been erased, Cahalan would be nothing.

In her memoir, “Brain on Fire,” Cahalan provides a chilling view into the foreign world of mental illness as she retraces her decline to madness and the terrifying realization that her mind was quickly disconnecting from her body. Based on the first article she wrote after returning to her job at the New York Post, “A Month of Madness,” the memoir is a must-read for anyone interested in the complexity of the mind and the ambiguity surrounding the functioning brain.

Because the account is told from the point of view of the afflicted brain itself, Cahalan provides a rare perspective on the intricate interconnectedness between immunology, neurology and psychology.

How her illness began is still a mystery, but her original symptoms that started off as a paranoid obsession with nonexistent bedbugs soon spiraled into seizures, prompting desperate diagnoses until finally arriving at her answer.

C a h a l a n’s effortless stream

of consciousness shifts from her current sanity to her former insanity, embed insightful commentary to accompany her journey. Her intense, and sometimes humorous, self-exploration as she attempts to clarify the hazy line between the two states is narrated in an engaging journalistic style: concise yet descriptive paragraphs, short yet compelling chapters and a beginning and end that are tied together in more ways than one, bringing Cahalan’s recovery nearly full-circle.

However, what is most impressive (as well as indicative of her journalistic mindset) is the sheer amount of research used to construct the memoir.

Considering only bits and pieces of her experience remained in her memory, Cahalan used every single source possible in order to deduce what happened to her and attempt to recapture the identity she had lost. Countless interviews with her co-workers, family, friends, healthcare professionals as well as the analyzation of EEG monitoring videos taken of her while inpatient, her parents’ diaries and any drawings or diary entries made by her during that time all merge to form her unique and reliable viewpoint.

Although the book costs $16 at Barnes and Noble, the perspective gained from a woman courageous enough to face her identity-less self, revealing the extent still waiting to be discovered about the brain, is a priceless source for those interested in neurological mysteries.

LE JOURNAL February 2016

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LET THE GAMES

BEGIN

Sion Olympics commenced Feb. 23 with knockout, sharks and minnows, and relay races upholding a tradition that has been going on for over 20 years.

23

4 5

6 7

1.Freshman Mary Kelly Shevlin Irish dances in the freshman dance. “It felt pretty natural because dance is a huge part of my life, and it was so cool to see my friends getting excited and cheering just for me to dance,” Shevlin said. (Photo by Laney Ulowetz) 2. Seniors Anna Ciani, Blair Allen and Sara Watkins cheer on their classmates in the games.

“I got really into it because it was my last Sion Olympics,” Ciani said. (Photo by Laney Ulowetz) 3. Sophomore Mariah Lynn performs in her class’ dance. “I was looking forward to doing the dance and seeing all of our hard work pay off,” Lynn said. “Hearing everyone screaming for us pumped me up. Even though I think we got robbed, I still loved being able to do the dance.”

(Photo by Laney Ulowetz) 4. Juniors Maddi McMaster and Zoé Trouvé show support for their class. “I feel like our dance gets better every year and I’m excited to see what we come up with in the future,” McMaster said.

“Our class was super spirited as always, and that kind of atmosphere makes the dances a lot of fun to perform.” (Photo by Laney Ulowetz) 5. With a face full of pie, senior Abby Breckenridge laughs as she searches for the cherry. “I didn’t know what my friends had signed me up for but right when I saw the pies come out I knew it was for me,” Breckenridge said. “It was pretty fun to shove your face into a pie, but the taste wasn’t too good. I got a good laugh out of it in the end though.” (Photo by Laney Ulowetz) 6. Juniors Angela Neunuebel and Kathleen Gansner crawl to the finish line in the relay race “Crawling was a lot more difficult than I was expecting, but anything for Sion Olympics,” Neunuebel said. (Photo by Paige Dussold) 7. Freshman Hana Awad and sophomore Haley Ulowetz get their medals at the end of the Olympics. “It was really fun this year because I actually got to be in the dance. It was a lot more fun to be involved with it all because of Stuco,” Ulowetz said. (Photo by Laney Ulowetz)

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