March Le Journal 2015

LeJournal

SE R I O US SHA D ES The blockbuster movie "Fifty Shades of Grey" portrays unhealthy relationships as glamorous.

Pages 14-17

A PUBLICATION OF NOTRE DAME de SION 10631 WORNALL ROAD, KANSAS CITY, MO 64114

VOLUME 33 ISSUE 5 MARCH 2015

INSIDE THE ISSUE news 4

sports

Baking Club New club is added to club rotation Foreign Film Festival Competition Students compete in foreign film competition.

Do It For The Vine Sophomore Kathleen Gansner's Vine showcasing senior Molly McCarthy goes viral

5

editorials/opinion 6

Staff Editorial Combatting relationship pressures

7

Meninism The new meninist twitter account has created controversy

8

UMKC Fakes the Numbers Business school tried to better its reputation

10

Giving up a Sport Senior Year

Swim Team Relays go to State

11

An Empty Sporting Seat Manning misses her sister

12

Izzy Romano Junior lives for soccer

cover story 14

Shades of Unhealthiness The blockbuster movie "Shades of Grey" portrays unhealthy relationships as glamorous

features 18

Alyssa Moncure Junior is more than just a Poetry Out Loud winner

20

SEED and Interfaith Assembly Club members collaborate and create an eye-opening video, encouraging dialogue

22

Stephanie Pino-Dressman Campus Minister creates art and relationships

Le Journal is the official student publication of Notre Dame de Sion High School 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

PRINT MANAGING EDITOR Mary B. Freeman

FEATURE EDITOR Anna Schoer

WEBSITE MANAGING EDITOR Chioma Okuagu

PHOTO AND SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR

NEWS EDITOR Ellie Schwartz

LAYOUT EDITOR Georgia Evans

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Katia Milazzo Senior makes doumentary about Senior Service projects.

26

Excercise Classes Exercise classes in Kansas City to help you stay fit.

Be YOU Week Photo Essay Sion Olympics Cover Design

By Ellie Stingley

SION

HUMANS OF

Hana Visesio, freshman Falling through the gutters at the Plaza.

SPORTS EDITOR Madison Heide

Meghan Kearney

25

What is your biggest fear?

CO-EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Sarah Harris Ellie Stingley

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

Movie Review Read about the new movie "DUFF" Murder at the Orient Express Student production directed by junior Anna Sell

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LeJournal 2014-2015

EDITORIAL EDITOR Sydney Daniels

24

Soccer and Lacrosse Practices are at Swope Park while field is under construction

Brian Williams is suspended

9

a&e

Erin Mills, junior What is your biggest fear?

Drowning.

Sydney Manning

REPORTERS Chloe Barrett Rachel Ergovich Alex D’Alesio Natalie Sopyla Selena Hunter Laney Ulowetz Anna Ciani Sara Watkins Sophie Nedleco Aubrey Makar

Nia Scott, senior What is your biggest fear?

Disappointing my parents.

THE EDITORS’ INK

BY SARAH HARRIS AND ELLIE STINGLEY CO-EDITORS-IN-CHIEF

It was the one full week off of school during the infamous second semester. It was the week so many girls spent months at the gym for, opting for salads instead of a Freddy’s burger. It was the first glimpse of the summer. It was spring break. Whether you went to the beach or the mountains or sat on the couch with Netflix and your dog, everyone loves spring break.

However, as much as we hate to admit it, the week of freedom has passed and now it’s time for the final stretch of school before summer.

But with the time off comes the feeling of obligation to have the perfect swimsuit body whether it was for spring break or for the summer season ahead. Different people have different methods for achieving this, but it is important to stay healthy in the process. Crash diets and overthe-top exercise regimes are not the smartest route to take. For exercise tips and gym options, go to Page 27.

Maybe over spring break you had an opportunity to catch-up on movies. One movie under the microscope is "50 Shades of Grey." Check out the story on Pages 14-17 as it explores how this is an unhealthy relationship as well as an affront to all women.

Movies like this one show a skewed standard for women and men in relationships. And in some ways there is a double standard, which has led to the new meninism campaign. See Page 7 for more on the trending topic.

Although, the meninism twitter account is meant to be a joke, some of the points it makes

regarding the pressures on men in our society are valid. Which leads us to the fact that everyone has felt pressured, stereotyped or undervalued in one way or another. Whether it be because of gender, race, ethnicity or religious affiliation, everyone has their struggles. Students Educating on Ethnic Diversity Club focuses on just that.

The SEED club officers teamed up with the Interfaith Club and created a video based on a student survey. They then accompanied the video with a live presentation from Diversity and Inclusion Specialist Vickie Harris. Learn about the people behind this school-wide assembly on Pages 20-21.

One of the girls in charge of the project is junior Alyssa Moncure. In addition to the SEED presentation she has another project to focus on.

For the third year in a row she has won the school Poetry Out Loud Competition and went on to compete at the State competition. To learn more about Moncure see Pages 18-19.

Although not all of us spent spring break like Moncure, we did do something out of the ordinary.

Whether it was going to the beach or sleeping until noon, that is a blessing in itself. But it’s time to return to reality and hopefully make sure this fourth and final quarter is done right, no matter what that entails or how unmotivated we may feel.

So let’s take advantage of the time we have before summer because there are only 29 days left, people.

Sayanora Sion, Sellie

Photo of the Issue Basketball players sophomore Madeline Dercher, junior Madison Heide, freshman Mariah Lynn and senior Anna Romano rejoice after their 57-48 win against St Teresa’s Academy Feb. 26. For Romano and senior Jenna Bolton, the senior night victory marked their last home game. “It was very intense going into the game because we all had been extremely focused on our goal of winning the entire week before the game,” Lynn said. “We knew how badly we wanted to win.” (Photo

by Laney Ulowetz)

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3

New research proves sitting can be detrimental to health. Research provided by Women’s Health Center of Excellence, Journal of the National Cancer Institute, Mayo Clinic and Physical Activity and Health at Loughborough University. (Illustration

by Madison Heide)

2 hours of sitting coninuously for a year raises risk of lung cancer by 6 percent.

125 percent increased risk of heart attack and chest pain when sitting for 7 or more hours.

BAKING CLUB // A new club at Sion gives girls the opportunity to develop and share their cooking skills.

TRENDING //

Harmful Effects from Sitting Down

TRENDING

IN BRIEF

NEWS

TED CRUZ FOR PRESIDENT// Rafael Edward "Ted" Cruz, Senator of Texas, has announced his candidacy for the 2016 presidential election.

Cruz was the first HispanicAmerican to serve in the Senate representing Texas.

EMPLOYMENT GAINS // Department of Labor finds the economy is making strides with decreases in unemployment.

FOREIGN FILM FESTIVAL// Students in foreign language classes are advancing their knowledge by participating in the University of Central Missouri’s foreign film festival.

FRENCH ALPS PLANE CRASH// German jetliner crashes in the French Alps on March 24. The plane rapidly lost altitude killing 150 people.

INTERFAITH ASSMEBLY The Interfaith Assembly presented by SEED and Interfaith Clubs held on March 24 educated students about diversity through a video presentation and small group maison discussions. The video was created by senior Katie Kentfield and featured student stories about expreiences with diversity.

112 percent increased risk of diabetes if sitting without interruption.

Get up every 30 minutes to help reduce health risks.

Women can lose up to 1 percent of bone mass a year when sitting over 6 hours a day.

4LE JOURNAL MARCH

NOW THEN

CAR RAFFLE At the annual Gala Auction, Athletic Director Reynold Middleton won the car raffle, and senior Madeline Browne sold him the winning ticket. The car was a red 2015 Toyota Corolla Sport. The fundraiser totals concluded with a Freshmen victory, giving them a day off of school. The fundraiser ultimately raised over $39,000.

BAKING CLUB

BY AUBREY MAKAR REPORTER

The smell of baked goods wafts through the halls during club time. Sophomores Ally Koehler, Maddie Marquardt and Angela Neunuebel recently visited the Assistant High School Division Head Fran Koehler’s office and suggested the possibility of a new Baking Club. With Koehler’s approval, the club was soon created.

The girls then asked Service Learning Coordinator Alexander Hall if he would be their sponsor.

“I like to bake things and they asked if I would want to [oversee the club],” Hall said.

The main concern when creating the baking club was where to make the food on campus.

With no kitchen facilities besides the lunchroom, the baking club bakes at home then brings their creations to school. They then share recipes, decorate cupcakes and gorge themselves with all the treats. Students in the club must bring something to eat or donate a dollar every meeting.

The leftover food and money is then donated to Hospice House.

“The club will benefit students who are interested in baking because the cooking shows are very popular so I think that it will be a success,” Koehler said.

With the addition of a baking club, students will be able to find a new excuse to share their treats and talents during the school day. The club allows students to enjoy delicious food in a specialized club time, while also benefiting others.

FILM COMPETITION

BY MADISON HEIDE SPORTS EDITOR

“¡Hola chica!” a girl calls to her fellow actress.

“Hhh-ola” a shaky response is returned. The video cuts, and the girls start over. Señora would not approve. And this is an important grade.

Not only is Spanish teacher Leah LaFaver grading the project, but an invited panel of film experts, University of Central Missouri students, faculty and staff will be examining the project. Both Spanish and French I and II Honors and Spanish and French ACCP IV classes are participating in the University of Central Missouri’s Foreign Film Festival on April 10.

The foreign language students must choose between six categories, including animation, drama, comedy, mystery/thriller, science fiction/ fantasy or social justice. It is the first year that the high school has participated in the competition, but the grade school has done the project before.

The students found it is a different way to explore their knowledge of their language while speaking about a multitude of different topics.

“It is a new way to learn Spanish without using a textbook,” freshman Amaya Adams said.

While topics span across the genres, the film festival allows the students to work in groups, and creates an entirely new opportunity to further develop students' language skills.

“I hope the students gain knowledge through this project, but gain the knowledge in a way that is authentic and interesting to them,” LaFaver said.

Do it for the

Sophomore and senior recreate a Vine during Cross Country senior night that goes Viral.

BY SYDNEY MANNING PHOTO EDITOR

What do you get when you combine a cell phone, a cross country team, and a laid back senior night? A viral video.

According to the runners, cross country has always been a fun team sport. They have enjoyed goofing around and bonding as a team. But what happened at the Richmond Invitational on Oct. 22, may have taken the cake.

Senior Molly McCarthy and sophomores Kathleen Gansner and Ally Koehler were the masterminds behind what happened that day.

Gansner said that they were watching Vines before the races during the Richmond meet. They came across a Vine of a little boy, a cross country runner, screaming “I can’t do it” during a race.

Sophomore Ally Koehler originally suggested that they do it, so they started planning.

“I was the one that had watched it first, then we showed the other seniors and we all just planned to do it,” McCarthy said.

The race was around a two lap course, so they found a spot along the path and decided to do it there.

“When they all came around the corner I gave Molly a thumbs up so she would start saying her lines,” Gansner said.

That was when the now famous moment was captured. McCarthy runs across the course and now across the screen of millions of phones, yelling “I can’t do this!” As of March 29, the vine has 403,200 likes, 213,000 revines and 3,884,869 loops.

In the beginning, Gansner, who posted the Vine, never thought it would become that popular.

She said the team had joked about it going viral by the next day, but they never thought it would get so popular overtime.

“I think it’s crazy that it’s gotten so popular, I never thought it would have gotten this big.”

Gansner said. “It was at 100 likes and I thought

Timeline of Events:

‘that’s pretty good.’ Now it has over 200,000 likes.

It’s crazy.”

Some are shocked by this sudden fame. There are quite a few different opinions about the subject.

Cross Country Coach and Athletic Director Reynold Middleton wasn’t too flattered by the stardom.

“I guess Molly is having her 15 minutes of fame or something,” Middleton said, “but I’m not sure if that’s the 15 minutes I would want.”

Middleton also talked about the logistical race side of the Vine. He said it wouldn’t have been able to happen during just any race.

“Since we moved up to Class 4, our district race was two days later,” Middleton said. “The only reason why it happened was because the seniors were running the race together for fun, otherwise she wouldn’t have had the opportunity to do that.”

Middleton’s comments didn’t bother the girls.

They said they still had fun making it and they’ve had quite the experience since it’s gone viral. They said the feedback they’ve gotten has been the most interesting.

“The comments are the best, they think I actually can’t do it,” McCarthy said. “People think it’s serious and that was the catch. It’s awkward that people think that, but it’s funny because we all know it’s not.”

Gansner also had fun looking at what people wrote.

“Someone commented and thought our jersey’s said ‘slow’,” Gansner said.

Though more has come from the 6 second clip than anyone could have ever imagined, McCarthy isn’t letting any of the recognition go to her head.

“I’m not sure if it’s a high or a low for me,” McCarthy said. “It’s definitely one of the best and worst things that has ever happened to me.”

Good or bad, the clip has over 16 million loops and has appeared on timelines across the globe. The runners behind it have had a great time watching so many people enjoy it. The real question is what sophomores Gansner and Koehler will come up with next season.

“The vine is hilarious and it's cool to see that people who are watching social media everywhere can see our school.”

Original vine posted.

Oct. 22, 2014

Gansner’s vine posted.

Feb. 23, 2015

Major twitter accounts tweeted the vine.

Feb. 25, 2015

Vine succeeded 2K likes.

To watch the vine, go to lejournallive.com

Student Opinions

“It was a funny remake and it seems like it became more popular than the original.

People that I know from other schools keep revining it.”

Oct. 2, 2013

March 6, 2015 "I thought it was really funny and cool to see my school represented."

Tweet Like a Girl twitter account had 18.1K retweets

-freshmen Mandy Mayer

-junior Katie Donnelly

-sophomore Kate Noble

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5

OPINION

The PRESSURE

Sex of

“Fifty Shades of Grey" highlights the pressure for girls to engage in sexual behavior that comes from the media, boys and society’s protrayal of love.

THIS EDITORIAL REPRESENTS THE VIEW OF THE LE JOURNAL STAFF. TWENTY OUT OF 21 VOTED IN SUPPORT OF THIS VIEW.

The lights are off. The theater is dark. Everyone sits extremely still trying to avoid drawing attention to themselves in fear they will see someone they know. Some even slouch in their chairs. Some teenagers snuck into the movie. Parents came because they secretly enjoyed the books.

“Fifty Shades of Grey” is the type of movie most are embarrassed to see and even more embarrassed to like. Not because they secretly think Jamie Dornan is attractive or that they were somehow rooting for Dakota Johnson to be happy in the end. But because it would mean that deep down the masochistic movie, designed around one of the most unhealthy relationships ever, wasn’t off putting. And that scares them.

Sex can be a controversial topic. It makes people squirm and cringe, but it is the reason that everyone on the planet is alive. However, this movie created a relationship based solely on sex, with a signed contract to dictate behavior.

As high school girls, there are expectations in every relationship. Some expectations are from you, your partner and from society. The pressure to be sexually active is evident today, but it can and should be combatted.

The first challenge to combat the pressures of society lies in the media’s presentation and the media’s portrayal of relationships. Today’s movies and television drive the sex conversation.

Innuendos and graphic scenes are common in all movies from “Annie” to “DUFF” to “50 Shades of Grey.” These scenes and movies give girls false views about sex. It is portrayed as casual and

6LE JOURNAL MARCH

exciting. Or as spontaneous and natural in every relationship.

This shouldn’t be the case. Relationships should not be all about sex. It is an intimate act that shouldn’t be had on a whim. Plus, a relationship is much more than that. And there are repercussions from treating it casually such as loss of self-respect, unplanned pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. Although teens represent only onequarter of the sexually active population, they account for nearly half, or 9.1 million, new cases of STIs each year, according to a study by the Guttmacher Institute.

Peer pressure is also a factor that needs to be combatted. It may seem like everybody around you is doing it. The truth is, girls and boys talk about sex more than they actually have it. But sometimes teens feel pressured to engage in it. Twenty-three percent of females feel pressure from their friends to have sex according to teens.lovetoknow.com.

Some believe that if they don’t have sex they will be ostracized by their friends and peers. The thought of being “left out” or “behind” others can be enough for girls to pursue this avenue in a relationship. But according to womenshealthmag. com, the third most common sexual regret women have is moving too fast. Having sex is a something that is permanent. Don’t make it a regret.

Another obstacle to combat is getting into an unhealthy relationship. Pressure from the media and peers can be intimidating and lead girls to make a decision they regret, but pressure from a partner can have a lasting impact. According to healthychildren.org, 70 percent of women who had sex for the first time at the age of 16 or younger wished they had waited longer for their first time.

A loving partner would not expect you to do something you weren’t ready for. So if a partner pressures you, he does not love you. For women, the biggest sex woe is having lost their virginity to the wrong person, according to recent research published in the “Archives of Sexual Behavior.”

In some cases a person may even use verbal or physical abuse to force a woman to do things she doesn’t want to. Other times a partner may use the excuse that they will dump you if you don’t do what they want. These types of actions aren’t healthy for the woman or the aggressor.

Although glamorized in characters such as Christian Grey, no one should ever put their hands on your body without your permission. Any hesitation is enough to warrant a no.

The pressures for girls to have sex isn’t a new issue. From the beginning of time women’s sexuality was used as an object to be taken. Today the pressure has been magnified. There is scarcely a television show, movie or even an advertisement that doesn’t have sex portrayed. It is either a selling point, the prize or something to be bragged about with friends. It is everywhere.

Letting the media, your partner or peers dictate if you have sex isn’t healthy. Be the girl to talk to your parents about sex. There is nothing wrong with that. Also know your boundaries and your body. Look for the warning signs of pressures such as making you feel bad about wanting to wait or physically hurting you when you say no.

Every relationship is different and every person is different. Women don’t have to be the “submissive” to another Mr. Grey, or to the type of movie sex symbol many women in society portray.

MENINISIM

TAKES TO

TWITTER

The Meninism movement started with parody tweets that have sparked a reaction from Sion students and women around the world.

OPINION

He Can Do It! Parody twitter account dedicated to advocating for men’s rights offends many feminist students.

BY LANEY ULOWETZ REPORTER

Feminism. A word surrounded by controversy.

If you aren’t a feminist, many would consider you an anti-feminist. However, there is now a new term to add to your vocabulary: Meninism. Followers of this rising account call themselves Meninists.

Created as a parody, this twitter account mocks extreme first-world feminists by flipping the sexes and shedding light on men’s supposed lack of rights. Many of their tweets bring up double standards from a man’s perspective.

Girls and women everywhere have different opinions on the account. Some realize the account is a joke and don’t take it personally. However, many are highly offended by the account’s brutality.

“I think it’s a sad excuse of another way to oppress women from behind a screen covered up as a joke,” junior Emmie Gragg said.

Although the account can be cruel in its joking tweets, they are just that: jokes. Many feminists are appalled by the account and claim that by making fun of their cause, men are continuing to disregard their message.

This is partially true, but because the account is not supposed to be taken seriously, how can feminists use its content as ammunition?

It is understandable that a woman may

M

@MeninistTweet

If you catch me cheating you owe me an apology for an invasion of privacy.

530

1,588

M

@MeninistTweet

On Valentine’s Day most of these girls will be alone wanting some comfort, but forgot they spent all year rejecting men.

2,070 Comments

“It’s not offensive. I understand that there’s a lot of double standards with women, but it’s making fun of double standards for men too and extreme feminists,” junior Jordan Hermes said.

Comments

interpret their tweets as demeaning; however, by making a fuss over the account, in a sense, feminists are proving them right.

The account specifically targets first-world feminists. These feminists are not starving. They are not being married off at age 14. They are not refused an education. And they do not work in sweatshops. There are bigger issues in the world than the petty things this twitter account makes fun of.

Yes, there are many valid points to be made about wanting equal opportunities and equal pay.

But this account is directed towards radicals who believe that they are severely oppressed in their current first-world lives.

The account makes jokes about things like women wearing too much make up, working in the kitchen, cleaning and complaining about guys.

One of their tweets talks about how girls say that “men are dogs,” but that dogs are actually very loyal. Several jokes mention how girls whine that men are too critical of girls’ looks, but then flip the perspective to say that girls do the same thing by saying they want a guy who is over six feet tall.

“It’s funny sometimes. I can’t take it too seriously because it’s supposed to be ironic, but every once in a while they actually make a point,” sophomore Paige Dussold said.

Although this controversial account has caused a great deal of drama, its tweets are purely for entertainment. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, so the way each tweet is understood is entirely up to the reader.

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@MeninistTweet

If you say 'woman' fast enough it sounds like 'make me a sandwich.'

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2,992

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“I think it’s really funny. I’m not against feminism, but people just need to lighten up and take a joke,” junior Stephanie Ostrander said.

Comments

“I think that men are afraid when women have power. They are threatened by the prospect of being seen as equal to someone ,” sophomore Clare Carey said.

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OPINION

I'm Never Going

Pro

Stigmas aside, sometimes it's okay to quit in order to explore new avenues of expression.

BY SYDNEY DANIELS EDITORIAL EDITOR

D

on’t be a quitter.

At least that is what my parents told me every time I just “couldn’t hack it." Don’t be a quitter.

Because winners never quit and quitters never win. Don’t be a quitter.

Every time my legs felt as though they’d give out, every time my lungs burned from over exertion, I reminded myself that quitting is a dirty word. Or so I used to think. But you know what? Sports just aren’t for everyone.

Sometimes the best thing you can do is quit.

However, when you’re young, sports are great.

They instill a value system characterized by respect for the coach, teamwork and a hard work ethic. But once I got older and sports got competitive they just weren't as fun. Everyone plays to win. It’s as simple as that. But it’s the feeling of defeat following a loss that lingers longer for me than a winner’s high.

Part of my childhood was playing sports and weeding out those I did and didn’t enjoy. I fenced, swam, played volleyball, basketball, soccer, lacrosse, softball, tennis and danced ballet. The only one that stuck was lacrosse and that was mainly because my parents would’ve made me go to the gym if I didn’t play a sport. Let’s just say that to an eighth grader, the gym with its sweaty old people and naked ladies in the locker room was not an option.

At least not until now. To be honest, I’m not very athletic, nor am I super into any one

I’ve collected a lot of lacrosse paraphernalia throughout my seven years of play. These items are just a few mementos that I’ll keep to remind me of that period in my life. (Photo by Sydney Daniels)

sport. In order to get into a “good school,” many people are encouraged to do as many sports and extracurriculars as possible. Unfortunately for me that has translated into a lack of passion for the sport. and a simple checking off a box on a long to-do list.

At this point in my post-lacrosse life, the sole way that I’m going to exercise is by going to the gym. Unfortunately, I’m not very motivated for that either. I’ve been hit with a case of Senioritis at its finest. Second semester senior year has motivated me to do absolutely nothing.

Sports are a great part of student life. They helped me form bonds from the start of freshman year over struggles such as running the dreaded “Three Mile,” to senior year Hill sprints and the pacer test.

But after forming those bonds, the need to be a part of the team seemed to dwindle.

There’s no doubt that I will miss lacrosse and the camaraderie that accompanied it. There’s just something about being a part of a team. Something about knowing that there are 30 other girls whose hamstrings ache just as much as yours from the wall sits.

But before you quit, there are some questions to mull over. By quitting what do I hope to get? Will I later regret it? Rank your extracurriculars in order of importance. If the sport falls far down on the list, then maybe it's time to reevaluate.

As I reevaluate, it’s weird to think that a sport I’ve played for the past seven years will no longer be a part of my life, no matter how small. I realize that I’m evolving. Along with that evolution comes new interests and passions. Lacrosse was a great part of my life, one that I’ll reflect back on with fondness.

However, quitting a sport may give me time to explore something else that I may come to love.

Polishing Priorities “I was kind of tired of it and it's time to move on. I’m very busy. I like volunteering two times a week and I have internships. I feel like I’m too busy for it. I’ll miss all the people for sure, I won’t miss the practices at all." senior Sydney Summers

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“I really miss lacrosse but it would be tough for me physically and between 4 APs and work, there’s no way I could fit it in.

I realized it’s better to be able to commit to a few things completely rather than trying to do everything."

senior Alexandra Dykeman

“I feel like senioritis is really kicking in and I don’t want to go to lacrosse practice everyday after school for two hours. And it goes into summer. So during graduation, prom and spring break it's just the last thing I want to be doing." senior Madie Redmond

OPINION

Business School's Rankings Stripped The University of Missouri–Kansas City inflates numbers to keep its prestigious ranking for the school of business management.

BY MARY B. FREEMAN MANAGING EDITOR

When applying for college there are several things most students pay particular attention to.

For many, one key piece of information is rankings.

Whether it be overall school rankings, social life rankings, education rankings or even rankings for the most delicious cuisine, each is important.

We know these rankings, we trust them and we adhere to them. Ten girls from the senior class have applied to the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

This is why the news of the Henry W. Bloch School of Management at UMKC inflating their ranking numbers is earth-shattering.

Because they inflated their own numbers, and thus their rankings, when reporting them to the Princeton Review board for the past three years, UMKC has been stripped of their rankings for 2011, 2012, 2013 and consequently 2014. According to the Princeton Review, this is the first time such drastic measures have been taken. However, to restore legitimacy to the top

25 business management school rankings, this measure had to be taken.

According the the Huffington Post, UMKC has now appointed someone to head a committee that will oversee all ranking applications. Amends have been made and repercussions have been withstood by UMKC, however this is not an issue that should blow away with the wind. Rankings are an important part of the college decision-making process, as well as the post-college hiring process.

The fact that this travesty went unchecked for three years is unacceptable.

I shudder to think of all those who have applied to and attended the Henry W. Bloch School of Business under the false pretense that it was ranked among of Princeton Review's top 25 business management schools in the United States. Among these 25 schools are Stanford University and Washington University in St. Louis, according to the Huffington Post. Here's hoping this falsehood will not also negatively affect them and their reputations in the future.

No false information should be reported to establish rankings again. Hats off to UMKC for taking the affirmative as well as the cautionary action to ensure this never happens again. All universities should take this as a lesson: if you are only as good as your rankings, then what does it say if they are faked? Think about it.

By the Numbers The following are credentials UMKC claimed under false pretenses.

No. 25 in the nation (2014) Undergraduate program No. 24 in the nation (2014) Graduate program 57% of students launched a business while in school.

(2013) Information from kansascity.com

Williams Faces the Facts News broadcaster experiences justified repercussions after exposed for embellishing stories.

BY NATALIE SOPYLA REPORTER

It’s 5:30 p.m. I dash into the kitchen and hurriedly turn on the television, just in time for the beginning of ABC World News with David Muir. As the hour rolls by, I listen intently from my kitchen counter as the charismatic and sharply dressed Muir reports on the events of the day. In the ever-changing world of technology and mass communication, television has remained a constant in the media domain.

Television is my most trusted source of information. NBC Nightly News, is the nation’s toprated newscast according to the Washington Post.

That changed on Feb. 10 when Brian Williams, the dynamic face of the program, was suspended for “misrepresenting” facts in his coverage on the Iraq war.

The suspension stems from Williams’ claims that, while reporting in Iraq in 2003, his helicopter was forced to land after being hit by a rocket propelled grenade. Williams would later go on to

embellish his story further in interviews. Over a decade later, the pilot of the helicopter that was hit contradicted Williams’ story in a post on Facebook.

According to the pilot, Williams was not on the helicopter, in fact, his helicopter arrived an hour after the incident occurred.

Williams apologized as soon as the truth was exposed, citing a faulty memory, but that did nothing to quiet the growing concern. Critics returned to other major stories Williams covered, such as Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and the Israeli war with Hezbollah in 2006, finding discrepancies between Williams’ claims of what he had experienced in these disastrous areas. NBC News President Deborah Turness soon announced that Williams had been suspended from the program for six months, and his name was taken out of the program’s title.

At the end of the day, the punishment must fit the crime, and Williams’ does. Williams’ misrepresentations were of mere descriptive details, not the story itself; the issue of whether or not he was conscious of the fact that he was lying is too much of a gray area to determine with certainty. In this case, Williams merely embellished a detail in order to tell a more powerful story, something that

Brian Williams has served as anchor and managing editor of NBC Nightly News for 10 years. (Photo courtesy Wikicommons)

colleagues say he tended to do often in his writing, according to the Washington Post. Yes, Williams fabricated some details, but at the end of the day, they were details that had no impact on the main focus of the story.

The news has always been known to inject the tiniest bit of sensationalism to liven up a story, and hopefully Williams will not suppress the storytelling abilities that put the program at the top of its class. As for me, I will return to my normal viewing of my preferred newscast, perhaps with a more critical eye this time.

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SPORTS

All Swim Relays Compete At State After a full season of preparation, three relay teams qualified to compete at the state meet.

BY AUBREY MAKAR REPORTER

Racing across a lane without being able to breathe isn’t an easy task, especially under a time constraint and competing against some of the best swimmers in the state. Last year only two of the relay teams went to State and this year all three were able to compete. All three relay teams swam against some of the best teams at the St. Peter’s Rec Space in St. Louis, Missouri.

In the state finals the 200 Medley Relay placed 22, the 200 Free Relay placed 21, and the 400 Free Relay team placed 28.

“The girls worked really hard to get the state qualifying standards and we were happy to get all

200 Free Relay

Placed 21

Meghan Kearney Nathalie Barbeau Megan Sloan Clare McGannon

three of the relays to go,” Swim and Dive Coach Kelly Timson said.

Timson has worked with the swim team to improve on swimming fundamentals and fitness since the beginning of the season. “[Coach Timson] has definitely helped us with our strokes and compete a lot in comparison to last year,” senior Meghan Kearney said.

This year was full of success and accomplishments from the swim team and the team hopes that next year will be as rewarding as this year.

“Compared to last year our coach this year is much more involved in practices and better workouts,” junior Nathalie Barbeau said.

For some of the swimmers, this was the first time participating in a state competition while others have competed all four years on the team at State. With each practice and meet, the girls gained new experiences and skills to better their

200 Medley Relay Placed 22

Kat Qamar Ellie Magsamen Meghan Kearney Nathalie Barbeau

techniques throughout the swimming season to be highlighted at the state competition.

State is the final chance to bring out a win at the end of the season. This was exciting but also brought up the chance for some apprehension about making it to the finals for relays.

“I’m most excited to swim for our team and while also being an individual swimmer it is humbling that our relay team has made it, so I’m not swimming alone,” Kearney said.

Nerves can be a crippling ailment which seems to loom in the minds of the girls as they prepared to face some of the best relay teams in the state to compete in finals.

“I [was] nervous to swim at state because everyone is super fast and amazing,” Barbeau said.

The season was able to end on a high note by placing in the state finals and all three of the swim relays were able to battle it out in the water against the best in the state.

400 Free Relay

Placed 28

Meredith Oswald Ellie Magsamen Megan Sloan Clare McGannon

Construction Causes Commotion (Illustration by Aubrey Makar) (Based on Olsson Associates rendering)

While constructing the new field, students struggle to find peace while dealing with preparation for their upcoming sport season.

BY LANEY ULOWETZ REPORTER

With construction on the new field underway, many athletes had concerns regarding where and when they would be practicing and playing games during their spring seasons. The track team was not affected by the demolition of the old field because they have previously been practicing at Barstow High School’s track. However, the soccer and lacrosse teams’ dynamics have both drastically changed.

Athletic Director Dennis Conaghan has been diligently working with the coaches to make a schedule that fits everyone’s needs. According to Conaghan, Sion has access to three fields. Sion has a field at the 122nd and Blue River Soccer complex from 3:30 until dusk. Soccer’s junior varsity team will typically be playing on the second available field, at Center Middle School, on 103rd street starting at 5:30 p.m.

The other fields available to the teams are at Swope Soccer Village. These fields were reserved for the first two weeks before Spring Break, Monday through Thursday, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Lacrosse and soccer players were released early from class in order to arrive at the fields on time. After this

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two-week period, one field is reserved for either lacrosse or soccer to use for that week. The teams’ coaches are collaborating to see how each week fits to the teams’ schedules. Buses will also be provided to drive athletes to any practice at Swope. However, students are expected to drive or ride the vans, if necessary, to the other locations.

“We need everybody to be happy because it’s only one season,” Conaghan said.

The soccer team will host three home games at Rockhurst High School and one game at Swope.

Lacrosse’s home games will be held at Center Middle School, but their dates are not set in stone yet, according to Conaghan.

“I don't want to drive to Swope everyday. We'll basically be driving longer than we'll be practicing and home games will be later because they're

farther away, so I'll get less homework done,” sophomore Zoe Trouvé said.

Many students are upset about playing at an inconvenient location with a time-consuming schedule that will make it difficult to do homework and other extracurriculars.

“It's going to be slightly inconvenient this year.

But it'll all be worth it next year when we have a nice brand new field," junior Alexis Cucchiara said.

Although the season may look long and grim now, the big picture proves that it will all be worth it in the end. Athletic Director Reynold Middleton is confident in the field’s progression and believes that if the weather continues to cooperate and there are no delays with products, the field should be done by July.

SPORTS

The Vacant Seat Senior copes with the unknowns of the season without her sister.

BY SYDNEY MANNING SPORTS COLUMNIST

This year is different. Not because of the change in playing style. Not because of the players that left and came back. Not because of the potential for a player strike or ugly new kits. Not because of anything I can control, because if I could change it back, I would.

For all of high school, there have been two somewhat consistent things in my life. Week after week, I could count on those two things to be there. But as the 2015 Major League Soccer season quickly appeared, my sister did not.

My passion for soccer has given me the opportunity to get to know so many people I didn’t before, but I’ve realized that I have gotten to know so much about people I already knew for a long time, 18 years to be exact. Ironically, she’s the one who introduced me to this team four years ago.

Section 130, row 15, seats 3 and 4. I sat in seat four, and my older sister Mackenzie sat in seat three. Every week we would be there together and have 90 minutes to share with each other and the team we loved so dearly. It was an hour and a half

of laughing, crying, yelling and chanting. It meant the world to me. I always looked forward to that oasis at the end of each week. I knew that however badly I failed my algebra test or how little sleep I got, I had the Sporting KC game to look forward to.

Throughout the time we spent together at games, media events, and anything else Sporting related we could sneak ourselves into, I got to know her more than I ever thought possible. Granted she is my sister and I knew her pretty well before, but I have learned so much about her passionate spirit and genuine character that I never got to see before.

The way she is so devoted and loving of this team inspired me to be the same. I had never seen her so excited about anything the way she was because of this team. It has brought so much joy to her life that she shared with me. Four seasons running, none of my excitement has changed. The game days are scheduled, but seat three is vacant.

Mackenzie was with me when I first toured the stadium, and took me to my first game a few months later. She’s the one that has made the drive to Kansas City, Kansas with me every week since.

She went to a surprise player lunch with me where we ate at our favorite restaurant for the first time in the company of some of our favorite players. She was there when we won the U.S. Open Cup in 2012 and when we won the MLS Cup Championship on my 17th birthday. She was the one that attacked me in the hallway when we traded for her favorite player and made sure I stayed updated with the team throughout the school day. She was there when my bucket grill was purchased, destroyed, repurchased and then stolen out of the Season Ticket Members lot. Come to think of it, I can’t recall a single memory that she wasn’t there for, but

all that changed on March 8.

Mackenzie wasn’t there for the home opener and she won’t be there for the next few months of the season. She’ll be at the University of Evansville finishing her first year of college. She’ll come home at some point in May after she finishes her exams, but the season starts two months prior. She won’t be there to make fun of me when I wear shorts to a 30-degree game or mispronounce a new player’s name. She won’t be there when we play the expansion teams for the first time or to watch rivalry games. Sure, she’s just a phone call away, but when I turn to high five her after an SKC goal she won’t be there, not at first.

I didn’t think about any of that when Mackenzie was at Sion with me. It never hit me that one day she won’t be living in my house everyday, much less going to Sporting games with me. When her “last game” came around in August, I did my best to take it all in, but it was weird to think about her not consistently being there with me.

Luckily, I have so many amazing people that are still able to go with me. My dad is always my first go-to, but he’s not the kind of guy to help me sneak in a cupcake and stay in the Member’s Club hours after the game. I have to give my little sister, freshman Tierney Manning, mad credits as well.

She does a great job of dealing with my frantic and obnoxious gameday self. Beyond the rest of my family, I have a great group of friends that occupy seat three, but the more I look, I find that nothing is quite the same as my dearest older sister.

As the months become warmer and the rest of the season quickly approaches, I await the day when I’ll be able to be back with Mackenzie in our rightful seats.

The Art of Juggling Multiple Sports Students manage to balance sports in back-to-back seasons.

BY MEGHAN KEARNEY ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

The fresh smell of spring fills the air, signaling the start of longer days, hinting that summer is near and the start of new seasons of sports. For some, spring might be the first sport they are involved in for the school year, but for others it may be a backto-back season to a winter sport.

High school Athletic Director Reynold Middleton says that very few students are able to balance sports and academics, but fewer are able to go directly from one sport to another with no break in between seasons while also keeping up with the school work that is given.

According to High School Assistant Athletic Director Kate Pilgreen, 22 of the 115 girls participating in spring sports have also played a winter sport as well.

Junior Nathalie Barbeau is one of the few who knows about transitioning from swim season in the winter to lacrosse in the spring with just a one week break in between.

“It is stressful because I only have a small break.

The time that I do have off, I spend it conditioning for lacrosse,” Barbeau said “It’s draining during the season because there is practice after school and then once at home, you want to relax but I just can’t.”

For other students, there is no one week break between back-to-back sports. As a freshman, Afton Fennewald manages to train for her upcoming soccer season while still playing basketball and balancing her school work.

“I think sometimes it might be difficult to play both sports because you might have three or four tests the next day. And as a freshman it can be difficult as you learn the study habits of high school,” Fennewald said.

Though it may be challenging for some, it comes to time management and the drive to work at everything, according to Barbeau.

“I’ve learned to do what makes you happy and be around the teams that make the sport you are playing fun," Barbeau said. "It is hard to the pressure of time management, grades and overall endurance, but stick with it and everything will seem easy at the end.”

(Illustration by Madison Heide)

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Prior to team pictures, junior Izzy Romano practices juggling the soccer ball in the courtyard. (photo by Sara Watkins)

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Romano Rises

to the Challenge Soccer has always been a constant in junior Izzy Romano's life, allowing her to challenge herself mentally and physically.

A

By sara watkins Reporter

lmost every kindergarten girl she knew played. But 'playing' soccer was more of a social hour dedicated to picking flowers and naming the butterflies than anything else. The soccer balls they played with were mini, and had fluorescent shades of pink and blue. Their young pigtails bounced on their heads, and little squeals escaped their mouths as the ball flew at them.

Their tiny shoes were never tied, and the shin guards were pale pink. The most exciting part of the practice was the snack after, typically the cliché orange slices, grapes or maybe even a pudding cup.

But, for junior Izzy Romano, soccer was something more.

“She ran faster than all the other girls,” twin sister, and former teammate, Emma Romano said. “She always wanted to win and prove that she was the best.”

As the years passed, the small St. Thomas More school team that began with 40 young girls and boys, dwindled to about 15 girls. Izzy was always a steady component of the team, according to Emma.

She helped keep the tempo of the young team up and competitive, and ensured everyone engaged that winning spirit and will.

“I play because I just love the game, I don’t have a specific thing I am trying to accomplish when I am playing other than just feeling accomplished,”

Romano said. “Soccer gives me that feeling of accomplishment and worth.”

Not only is Romano recognized by her family and friends as a dedicated soccer player, but also her fellow teammates. Teammates look to her as one of the key elements in their defensive line, and one of the brains of the team.

“She basically holds the entire defensive end together. She is a wall back there and doesn’t let anyone or anything past her,” sophomore Zoé Trouve said.

Since starting as a freshman on the varsity team, Romano hasn’t stopped playing. She has constantly saved a place for soccer in her life, allowing the sport to remain a dependent factor in her life.

“Soccer is the only thing that keeps me sane,” Romano said. “Without soccer I would feel like a part of myself was missing, it is the constant in my life, I will always have it.”

Romano is hoping to continue her love of soccer in the future, by playing in college.

Romano refers to sports as one of the only things in her life that has always been there, so she is not willing to stop playing now.

“It is an exciting step in my future, I can’t wait to continue my love of this sport in the years to come,” Romano said.

Romano still continues to play with the childlike love of soccer. Although her shin guards are no longer pink and she doesn’t get snacks after practice, she still finds her escape through running across the field.

“She basically holds the entire defensive end together. She is a wall back there and doesn’t let anyone or anything past her.” -sophomore Zoé Trouve

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50 SH DE 14LE JOURNAL MARCH

A blockbuster movie perpetuates and encouraages a submissive role for women, dominant for men, resulting in unhealthy relationships.

H

STORY AND DESIGN BY ELLIE STINGLEY, GEORGIA EVANS AND ALEX D’ALESIO

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arning over $150 million in the domestic box office and over $500 million worldwide in theaters, the ironically female-directed “Fifty Shades of Grey” has gone above and beyond to prove to the world that men, once again, hold dominance in relationships.

For those who aren’t familiar with the story, a recent college graduate meets a young and attractive billionaire business magnate who has a rather substantial secret lifestyle. It doesn’t take long to realize how much power this man, Christian Grey, has over the girl, Anastasia Steele. And power in this story has nothing to do with money or status.

S Story continued on page 16...

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Continued from page 15...

Dominance From the beginning of time, sex has been used as a tool for both men and women. But according to senior Katie Kentfield, “Fifty Shades of Grey” takes this idea to a whole new level.

“In relationships, power should be evenly distributed or off the table all together. When power is in one person’s hand, then the relationship becomes too controlling,” Kentfield said.

She also mentioned that most of the film’s plot is unrealistic. According to school nurse Amy George, seeing this kind of portrayal might not be the best way for young people to begin to learn about their own sexuality before they have established their own sexual values and norms.

In the movie, a powerful man takes an extreme interest in a woman he knew for about 30 minutes.

Grey has her sign a sexual contract defining her as ‘the Submissive.’ She signs the contract, agreeing to ‘obey and serve the Dominant.’

“I think the relationship it depicts is very demeaning to women,” REbeL founder Laura Eickman said. “The woman in the movie is submissive and forced to accommodate the male’s demands in order to be in a relationship with him.

She is depicted as somehow ‘less’ than the man.”

Within these unequal relationships, oftentimes, the superior objectifies the inferior, viewing him or her as a mere thing under control.

When one stops seeing his or her partner as an equal person, this intensifies the unhealthiness of the relationship because it makes it that much easier for one to manipulate another.

“The idea of ‘submissiveness,’ is juxtaposed with ‘dominance,’ in that one who is submissive heeds to the needs of a more dominant individual in order to be agreeable or seen in a more favorable light,” Sexologist and Sion alumna Dr. Erin Donnelly said. “Submissiveness and dominance have to do with who holds power.”

One reason that some men feel the need to

exert control over their partner is that modern culture has increasingly linked a man’s sexual experience directly to his social status. Donnelly said that over time, a man’s “sexual prowess” has progressed into a method to calculate his masculinity and “manliness.”

However, Donnelly further emphasized that the need to be in control comes from the ‘be a man’ mentality, which typically includes maintaining control of emotions. With this mindset, men are left without a forum to express how they feel.

Therefore, some men have become accustomed to keeping their feelings “on lockdown,” according to Donnelly.

“I firmly believe that once men can be themselves in relationships, including being emotionally expressive and vulnerable, there is a greater balance of control and power,” Donnelly said.

Manipulation In modern society, teenagers often see this type of issue in relationships in movies such as “Fifty Shades of Grey.” This influence from pop culture as well as that from peers can affect the decisions teens make within relationships of their own.

In addition, movies, books, advertisements and peers frequently send the message that everyone is having sex and that a “normal” relationship includes sex. In today’s society, there is scarcely ever a book or movie in which there isn’t a sexual relationship. This paints the picture that this level of a relationship is nearly mandatory.

School counselor and REbeL sponsor Erika Ellwanger said that people also may feel obligated to have sex with their partner because they feel as if they owe it to them. Such a situation occurs in “Fifty Shades of Grey” when Grey buys food and expensive clothes for Steele, making it seem as though she is indebted to him.

Reasons Students Abstain from Sex

31% 22%

47%

Haven’t found the right person Religious/Personal Beliefs Health risks (pregnancy, STIs, etc.)

155 students polled

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(Information from std.about.com)

This behavior is not confined to the big screen. Ordinary people use sex as a tool of manipulation. And though these people may not act to the extreme levels of Grey, their dominance materializes into unhealthy, unequal relationships.

“I actually knew a guy who pressured his girlfriend into having sex with him after one month of dating or else he would break up with her,” junior Michaela Elsbernd said.

Lines such as “you would do it if you loved me” are also commonly used in relationships to coerce partners. According to a 2006 Liz Claiborne Survey 14 percent of teens in relationships said they would do almost anything to keep a boyfriend or girlfriend.

“When girls are pressured into sex, they are not being shown love – love doesn’t push,” Lauren Pollack, a University of Missouri-Kansas City clinical psychology doctoral candidate, said.

In such an instance, the sexual relationship is not consensual. This can lead to regrets, doubts and much worse later, according to Ellwanger.

JV Basketball Coach and former Sexually Transmitted Infection counselor, Jamie Collins, said other reasons people choose to have sex vary and some may be surprising. Throughout Collins' 15 years as a counselor, reasons ranged from "it looks fun" to "I'm curious" and even to "I just want someone to love me."

“Girls who have a low sense of self-worth can seek out affirmation in an attempt to make themselves feel better,” Eickman said. “Girls in this state can enter into a relationship with a male who treats them quite poorly because they don’t feel worthy of anything better.”

Donnelly says the overall reason women find themselves in these unhealthy relationships is because women have traditionally been taught to suppress themselves, and with this suppression comes a culture of submission.

The Consequences No matter the motivation, there will always be potential consequences from the decisions made regarding sex. Sexually transmitted infections and accidental pregnancy are some of the most prominent.

Collins said that STIs are more common than she initially expected when entering the field.

While working as a counselor, she saw hundreds of cases every year with Chlamydia and Gonorrhea as the most common. She was also interested by the mindset many people have about these infections and their potential to come in contact with them.

"Human nature gets in the way and people have this idea that it happens to other people, it doesn't happen to them," Collins said.

According to George, it only takes one sexual experience to contract an STI. She explained that partaking in an intimate relationship without knowing your partner’s sexual history is essentially the same as having a sexual experience with everyone with whom your partner has had a sexual experience.

Furthermore, detecting an STI is not always easy. George said that STIs are often “silent,” in the sense that they do not produce visible symptoms.

However, when an STI becomes visible, signs materialize in the form of lesions, sores, warts and discharge.

Yet, some STIs cause more extreme consequences, as HPV strain 4 has been found to cause cervical cancer in women. Other possible effects of STIs include ectopic pregnancy, perinatal infection, chronic pain, sterility and death, according to the Journal of the American Medical Association.

According to George, STIs most commonly affect people ages 18 to 24 years old.

However, STIs are not the only potential outcome of sex. Especially if used as a tool or if one partner feels pressured by the other, the emotional toll can significantly affect an individual and the relationship as a whole.

In an experiment conducted by the International Journal of STD and AIDS, it was found that threefourths of studied subjects experienced depression and anger after being diagnosed with HPV. Two-thirds of participants reported feeling shameful because of the disease.

And if one partner feels pressured by the - Erin Donnelly, other to have sex, these consequences can be even heavier and more daunting.

“Sex in an unbalanced or distressing relationship tends to distort ideas about oneself and one’s sexuality,” Donnelly said. “When one is in a relationship that is not respectful, mutual or fulfilling, it has the potential to wreak havoc on one’s sense of boundaries and self-image.”

According to both Collins and Donnelly, it is important to discuss what each partner wants from a physically intimate relationship to ensure there is no confusion. Otherwise such confusion leads to the possible physical and emotional consequences such as vulnerability to mood swings, anxiety difficulties, distorted self-image and poor awareness of self-worth.

“Self-reflection about whether one is or is not comfortable with herself and whether or not she

Reactions to “50 Shades of Grey” “I thought the movie was good. It went off the book so if you didn’t read the book, you wouldn’t understand.” - junior Anna Lillis “Fifty Shades is about an unhealthy relationship that has hints of psychological abuse with stalkerish tendencies.

The book has no literary merit and is just a phenomenon like 'Twilight.'” - senior Jacquie Whalen “I really liked it, but if you didn’t read the book, you wouldn’t pick up on stuff.” - junior Alexis Cutrera

“I thought the movie was good but I liked the book better.” - Izzy Romano

is ready to be in a relationship may prevent costly and painful decisions,” Abby Ness, also a UMKC clinical psychology doctoral candidate, said. “It is better to work on yourself than to hope you can be “fixed” or that you can “fix” another person.”

Ellwanger said these emotional doubts and regrets may follow the experience, and they may not even occur until years later.

“A lot of doubts follow especially if it’s not something they really were wanting, but they were just pressured into ” Ellwanger said. “Maybe sexologist it, sometimes a lot later – as you’re going to get married – you might be like ‘why did that happen,’ or ‘why did I think I needed to do that?’”

“You define your sexuality - not a relationship partner, peers or society.”

Set Boundaries When discussing a sexual relationship with a partner there are limits that need to be set, according to both Donnelly and Collins.

“If the relationship is respectful, your partner will make a strong effort to change and incorporate your boundaries into the relationship,” Donnelly said.

In “Fifty Shades of Grey” there are no evident limits. The film depicts sex in a light that seems to outrightly promote its use as a tool of control.

Portraying Steele as a submissive female to the

domineering Grey, the film places men in the seat of power. “[“Fifty Shades”] is just in general degrading to women,” sophomore Ali Odermann said.

Warning signs of unhealthy behavior are not always visible or easy to detect as some people believe. A red mark on your skin is not the only possible warning sign. The emotional and internal signals are red flags just as much as a physical mark on the body.

Finally, it is critical to have awareness of the warning signs of unhealthy behavior and to know how to handle it, which may include talking to a trusted friend or adult.

In “Fifty Shades of Grey,” Steele doesn’t seem to establish these boundaries. That is perhaps what led her to become submissive to Grey.

Dominance is not as glamorous as Hollywood tries to portray it. Just because a movie makes over $500 million doesn’t mean that Grey and Steele’s relationship is one to emulate. Dominance and submissiveness are not aspects of healthy relationships, Donnelly said. Neither are contracts, punishments and obligation.

“You define your sexuality - not a relationship partner, peers or society,” Donnelly said.

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Alyssa Moncure finished second in the Missouri State Poetry Out Loud competition on March 12. (Photo by Rachel Ergovich)

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The Magic

of Moncure Junior Alyssa Moncure’s involvement in the Poetry Out Loud competition has led her to explore her interests in social and environmental issues through an introduction to Debate and Forensics that has helped her shape her personal beliefs along the way.

BY RACHEL ERGOVICH REPORTER

S

he plants her feet in the middle of the crimson, Persian-style rug as dozens of eyes gaze up at her adoringly. The scene in this classroom turned coffee shop might seem intimidating to anyone else, but for junior Alyssa Moncure, it is a place of comfort and ease.

Moncure began her rise to poetic stardom her freshman year when everyone in Shawn Watts’ English I Honors class were required to memorize and recite one poem in front of the class. While most people viewed the assignment as just a grade, Moncure took a different approach. As the last student to recite her poem, she seemed to be reluctant, but her recitation didn’t only surprise everyone in the class, it left many in the room speechless.

Since her freshman year, Moncure has won Sion’s Poetry Out Loud competition, as well as the Kansas City South Regional competition, and she has performed at the Missouri State competition all three years. In her third year, Moncure won the school competition in a packed classroom that had been transformed into a coffee house open mic environment. She then went on to win the Kansas City South Regional on Saturday Feb. 21 and was runnerup in the state competition in Jefferson City, Missouri on Thursday March 12.

Moncure’s success and experience in the Poetry Out Loud competition helped to introduce her to the world of Debate and Forensics. After her performance at Fine Arts Day her freshman year, Debate teacher Kristin Pennock and other Debate students tried to recruit Moncure.

“We were in Debate the day after she had recited her poem in English class, and we were talking about Poetry Out Loud, and we all agreed that Alyssa was so good at reading poetry,” junior Katie Pendergast said. “I told her that she could actually compete with poetry, and the next year she signed up and ever since then has been competing really well at Debate tournaments.”

Moncure is currently ranked 10th and has the fourth most wins among high school Varsity Policy speakers in Kansas City. Not only has her involvement in Debate helped her hone her public speaking and recitation skills in poetry and prose, but it has also allowed her to explore her interests in social issues and her passion for the environment.

Because of her severe ADD as a child, Moncure had trouble listening to others. She also disliked when people tried to tell her what to do, which has led her to be skeptical of others. But all of that changed during her time at Green River Preserve (she likes to call it “hippie camp”) in Cedar Mountain, North Carolina from sixth through eighth grade, where she developed her foundation of environmentalism.

The camp was different from anything that she had ever experienced before, from the ambience and the ideals to the people and the interfaith aspect of the camp.

“We discussed spirituality to a great extent,” Moncure said. “We read prayers from a plethora of faiths, and I was able to hear different narratives that I had been hearing my entire life.”

Green River Preserve also promoted environmentalism, and the campers were taught about preservation. At the camp, Moncure was educated about ecology, farming and other environmental issues. They even played a game simulating the effects of DDT, an insecticide, that led to a lesson about the author and marine biologist Rachel Carson.

Moncure can attribute her passion for social issues and her strong belief system to a conversation about feminism that she had with her sister when she was about 13 years old.

“She just shined light on all of these issues that I had had been blind to,” Moncure said.

Moncure began to read about feminist theory and learned about all of different aspects of feminism, such as inclusion of different races, classes and religious beliefs. She continues to educate herself on the various issues and reads critical theory, something that she loves.

Moncure likes to consider herself open-minded and says that her beliefs are constantly evolving. She is always looking for an educational opportunity and says that she has been allowed a great amount of intellectual exploration at Sion with the help of her teachers.

Moncure feels comfortable discussing her beliefs with the teachers at Sion, especially English teacher Melissa Wilcox, Theology teacher Paul Kramschuster and Pennock. Wilcox is Moncure’s mentor for Poetry Out Loud, and Moncure says that she is “the most dedicated woman ever.” She enjoys Kramschuster’s classes because she can always learn something, and he frequently engages in debates with Moncure. He also offers her extra resources and books that help her to further develop and strengthen her beliefs. And she believes that Debate has helped her develop her beliefs the most, and she gives credit to Pennock for helping her in the development.

“She answers all of my questions and welcomes my inquiries,” Moncure said. “She also proposes new ideas to me that I in turn ponder. I’ve learned so much from her.”

As she walks to the center of the stage in the Harry S. Truman Building in Jefferson City, Missouri, Moncure feels calm and relaxed. She has retired from the cardinal red Persian-style rug from just a few short weeks ago. She is in her comfort zone, doing something she’s done since freshman year. Something she will do again next year. Something that led her to success in Debate and Forensics. Something that has helped her explore her passions and strengthen her beliefs. Something that has become a part of herself.

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Cultivating a Future Leaders of Students Educating and Exploring Diversity Club and Interfaith Club collaborated and led an unprecedented assembly addressing diversity misconceptions.

BY SOPHIE NEDELCO REPORTER

E

ight people were given one hour. An hour and a half including discussion. To them, it was a gift of time, but a gift that had to be opened delicately. These people are the sponsors and leaders of Students Exploring and Educating Diversity Club and Interfaith Club. How they chose to spend their gift of time: addressing the importance of diversity and the ignorance that buries it.

The chance to host an interfaith assembly is an annual gift, but this year with seniors Zoya Khan and Rose Puthumana serving as co-presidents of SEED Club as well as leaders of Interfaith Club, the March 24 assembly transpired as a joint effort between the two.

According to club sponsor Kristin Pennock, SEED Club is a forum for students to discuss issues regarding the many different forms of diversity.

Likewise, Interfaith Club inspires understanding through interacting with people of different faiths, according to club sponsor April Schendel.

Members of both clubs since freshman year, Khan and Puthumana have noticed a repetition of stories shared during the meetings. The two seniors searched for ways to share these experiences, and the assembly became the platform for just that.

“The entire school is not in SEED, and I think everyone could benefit from having those conversations and being involved in that type of dialogue,” Puthumana said.

A questionnaire seeking students to anonymously share personal stories and experiences relating to diversity was sent out Jan. 12 and became the foundation of a video that was shown at the assembly. The survey of nine questions elicited 85 eye-opening responses. “[The survey responses] are as diverse as Sion is diverse… many of them positive, some of them not as positive. I think they are a good, accurate representation of the different experiences people have had,” Pennock said.

The video, created by Interfaith Club member senior Katie Kenfield, was intended to represent students’ stories while addressing ignorance regarding diversity and the problems sprouting out of a lack of education on these topics.

“There’s a major emphasis this year on trying to eradicate ignorance when people don’t realize what they’re saying or what they’re doing is kind of offending somebody or sometimes downright hurting them,” Schendel said.

While the video was intended to focus on students’ personal stories, diversity ignorance is not initiated at Sion, but rather has historically occurred in society. The lack of communication that surfaced in Ferguson, Missouri in August was an example of this.

20LE JOURNAL MARCH

“They’re global issues and something that exists throughout the country and throughout our community for sure, but I think what makes Sion unique is that we have the space and this place to have these conversations,” Puthumana said.

Along with the video, Diversity and Inclusion Consultant Vickie Harris spoke at the assembly. Harris understands the taboo on diversity that can bar some people from maintaining healthy dialogue on this topic.

“I think people don’t always know how to have the conversation [on diversity], and I think that keeps people from having them sometimes. And that’s very natural,” Harris said.

According to Khan, acceptance of diversity is only the first tier in diminishing discrimination and prejudices. Once understanding of other groups has been achieved, society will then be able to thrive in peace. That goal coincides with the mission of Sion.

“This particular assembly [spoke] directly to who we are as Sion and how we are rooted in Sion,” Mission Director Penny Selle said.

The SEED and Interfaith Club members agree, a single assembly is not enough to conquer minds set in stone with prejudices. And extreme misconceptions may be immune to attempts of destroying them. But this group of eight has faith.

“I don’t know that you can necessarily reverse deeply rooted prejudice. I think what you can do is build a society where it doesn’t get replicated,” Pennock said.

The group knows exactly where to start in altering future prejudices and assuring an end to reproductions of them. “[Diversity misconceptions] need to be addressed in the classroom to be uprooted and by people knowing what they’re doing is wrong. By addressing these ignorances, it will definitely prove to be beneficial,” Kentfield said.

Following Harris’ talk and the video, students split into small groups to express their thoughts on the assembly and to brainstorm ways to end these misconceptions.

According to Pennock, the assembly was met with a positive response and generated productive conversations within the groups.

“We never expected to snap our fingers and change everything,” Schendel said. “But we hoped that people would listen and care and make an effort to talk about it. And they did.”

Group responses to the assembly were recorded in notes taken by SEED club members, and students filled out slips of paper detailing how they can “be the change.”

“I really think that we achieved what we wanted to achieve,” junior leader of SEED club and Interfaith club Manahil Khan said.

“I think the work they put into [the assembly] really showed with the responses, and I was really proud of that.”

Education is the only cure for ignorance, but it is a forceful cure, with a far-reaching ripple effect that expands across generations.

“We want to be active in our community,” Khan said.

“Not only by talking about it, but by positive action.”

of Understanding

“This particular assembly would speak directly to who we are as Sion and how we are rooted in Sion.�

-Mission Director Penny Selle

Clockwise from top left: junior Manahil Khan, senior Rose Puthumana, Social Studies teacher Kristin Pennock, Librarian Jennifer Campbell, senior Zoya Khan, junior Alyssa Moncure, Spanish teacher April Schendel and senior Katie Kentfield share their personal views on diversity.

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Pino Uncovers Beauty Campus Minister Stephanie PinoDressman’s talent of making the mundane extraordinary extends into her artwork and relationships.

BY ELLIE SCHWARTZ NEWS EDITOR

E

ach school Mass, Campus Minister Stephanie Pino-Dressman’s careful hands transform the drab gym into a sanctuary of worship.

Her cheerful whistle floats through the chaotic hallways. Her voice over the announcements makes the most stressful mornings a time of reflective prayer. A calming candle burns in her office after a busy day.

She has a way of making the mundane or tiresome bright and positive.

Pino’s talent of recognizing and creating beauty in the unexpected extends beyond her time at Sion, and it can be traced back to her appreciation of her family.

Growing up in a dedicated Catholic family in New Mexico, Pino attributes her strong faith to her upbringing. She was a role model as the oldest of five and was surrounded by a largely Catholic, Hispanic population. Her grandparents laid the foundation for her parents’ and siblings’ devotion to Catholicism by always bringing their troubles to God. Her grandmother prayed for everything from the cake she was baking to her sick friend and challenged Pino’s focus on Catholicism’s rules and specifics.

“I thought I was better than them because I read the Bible and knew the rules,” Pino said. “As I got older, I learned that I had the letter of the law, and they had the spirit in their hearts.”

But aside from appreciating their faith, Pino is inspired by her grandparents’ work ethic and perseverance despite never receiving a traditional education. “[They only had] a grade school education, but died without debt and successfully raised their children and grandchildren,” Pino said. “They had life education.”

Pino became the first person to graduate from college on both sides of her family. Having never seen the campus before, Pino arrived at Benedictine College for her freshman year with her supportive grandparents by her side. Her hardworking family

Above: Pino’s father Mariano Pino supported her in college. Right: Her great grandmother Genoveva Martinez, grandmother Jose Gonzales, and Susan Pino inspired Pino (seated right) and her sister Rozanna to work hard.

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inspired her to pursue an undergraduate degree in youth ministry despite not receiving their own degrees.

Eager to branch out beyond her tight-knit town and family in New Mexico, she chose Benedictine College far away in Atchison, Kansas for its Catholic foundation. Pino later received a Masters in Arts and Liberal Studies from the University of Missouri–Kansas City at the age 52.

Working tirelessly to achieve her goals is part of Pino’s DNA. After leading her church youth group in high school and organizing retreats with hundreds of attendees, Pino saw potential and value in young people in the Church. She wanted to be the voice that stood up for youth when others saw them as unrealistic or took their opinions less seriously.

“I didn’t like the language of, ‘You are the future of the Church.' I thought, ‘We are the present,’” Pino said.

Through leading her high school youth group, working with youth at Holy Cross Parish in Overland Park before coming to Sion and annually leading Kairos retreats, Pino is certainly the advocate and leader in the youth community that she originally dreamed of. She dedicates her life’s work to a community often overlooked by others.

Pino always makes an effort to recognize the gifts of the young people she works with, writing praises in the columns of her best students’ papers and looking beyond skills measured by standardized tests such as creativity, patience and artistic talent.

“I like to help young people discover their gifts, or come to help them acknowledge their gifts,” Pino said. “Some people have to be encouraged that what they have is a gift.”

Similarly, Pino sees potential in seemingly useless trinkets, wrappers or twigs, using them in recycled art. Observant enough to notice if a student changes her hairstyle throughout the day, Pino uses her attention to detail to combine these discarded objects into complex abstract art pieces.

She usually starts by writing a quote that reminds her of the person in her signature calligraphy before finding a complimentary treasure from her craft room and working from there. Although this craft room may look jumbled or confusing to others, Pino knows that every piece in her collection will eventually contribute to a

cohesive, meaningful work of art.

“There’s so much out there that can be transformed,” Pino said of her artwork.

Pino transforms daily conversation into an art as well, taking time out of her schedule to carefully listen to others’ problems and ideas.

“She is very busy, but if you need to talk to her, she instantly zones in and listens to every one of your words,” senior Kelly Lowndes said.

Ask anyone about Pino and you will hear about her deep consideration of others. She carefully observes the expressions of those around her and prays for them when she can tell something is wrong.

“She just cares so deeply about people,” theology teacher Bonnie Haghirian said when asked her favorite thing about Pino.

After seeing her family overcome educational barriers and constantly finding beauty in her environment and relationships, Pino has unshakable hope in the future. She is fascinated by people that overcome challenges, whether they are Holocaust survivors or students that manage to succeed and stay positive despite difficult home lives.

“To me, hope is a big deal. It’s an action word,” Pino said. “I know things worked out in the past, and that they will work out in the future.”

in the...

Campus Minister Stephanie Pino-Dressman uses wrappers, stickers or any item she finds when making artwork. “I found this on the stairwell today and thought it would work well,� Pino said of the pink feather. (Photo by Ellie Schwartz)

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Student Play Entertains through Satire

In attempts to solve the murder, characters gather in the Chinese restaurant putting together the clues with satire. (Photo by Anna Schroer)

With a version of the classic murder mystery novel, students entertain through a comedic performance.

BY ANNA SCHROER FEATURES EDITOR

Twelve suspects. One detective. Murder. For one night only “Murder at the Orient Express” the spring production of the parody adaptation of Agatha Christie’s 1934 novel “Murder on the Orient Express,” made its way to the Goppert Theatre at Avila University.

This satirical spin-off marks the first production in Sion’s history that has been directed by a junior. Having been interested in theatre for the past six years, junior Anna Sell accepted the

task of directing the student-run play.

“I was really surprised that I got the job as it in the past has always gone to a senior,” Sell said.“I have wanted to direct the student production since freshman year so I was really excited.”

For 20 days she, as well as the other 14 cast members, charted time in at rehearsal, only able to make the transition to Avila’s theatre a day before opening night on March 6. For Sell as director this was a daunting task as her job revolved around making sure the play went on without error, giving blocking and lighting directions to the actors and crew members.

“We had to transition to the new stage really fast,” Sell said. “We only had one day.”

The play, originally chosen to continue the

whimsical theme set at the beginning of the school year by the drama department, was picked by Sell in conjunction with assistance from Music Director Elizabeth Mulkey.

Suspense with humor is the defining nature of “Murder at the Orient Express” parodying murder mysteries as a whole according to senior Lena Kincaid who played a German waitress, a murder suspect.

“I love the student productions because they allow students to showcase their talents,” senior Maria Nessim said. “If I didn’t know it was directed by a student I would have never guessed.”

Twenty days. Fourteen cast members. One director. One show. This was “Murder at the Orient Express.”

Breaking the

Mold

In this fresh take on a high school romantic comedy, the movie “DUFF” showcases individuality.

BY ANNA CIANI REPORTER

A seemingly frumpy, overachieving, high school senior Bianca (Mae Whitman), has a rude awakening by childhood friend, neighbor and football heartthrob Wesley (Robbie Amell) when he labels her as “the DUFF.” Or otherwise known, designated ugly fat friend of her apparently more attractive two best friends, Casey (Bianca A. Santos) and Jess (Skyler Samuels).

The accuracy of the modern high school experience was spot-on and brought a sense of comfort to teenage viewers. Whitman, rising Hollywood star, hit the mark of the funny comfortable character of Bianca with unexpected one-liners and a collection of witty comebacks against the resident mean girl Madison (Bella Thorne).

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Through the tribulations and triumphs of high school characters from the movie “DUFF” unite as friends.

(Photo used with permission from CBS Films)

“unduff ” Bianca if she can help him pass chemistry.

The mission takes Bianca out of her comfort zone.

It forces her to break out of her shell, at the same time bringing her and Wesley closer.

As the movie develops, a deeper understanding of the typical high school characters is realized.

The idea that there may be much more behind the cliche high school jock, popular girl and even “DUFF” becomes ever present. The movie suggests a state of self-reflection, perpetuating the idea that maybe we all have a little bit of “DUFF” in us.

Put simply, it suggests that we all have flaws and insecurities, and that is okay.

From hilarious one-liners to the inspirational message of individuality, “DUFF” brought a new and refreshing take on the romantic comedy genre. With the help of Whitman the movie was a relatable source of insight for all teenagers.

Bianca comes to the realization she does not necessarily have to change who she was or how she acts in order to fit in, because she did fit in before.

She is led to believe that perhaps despite the label she should not be defined or held back. The film preached a sense of self and peer acceptance serving as a twist on other typical high school romantic comedies.

Focusing the Lens on Social Justice Senior Katia Milazzo puts a spotlight on social justice in her documentary about Sion.

BY CHLOE BARRETT REPORTER

When senior Katia Milazzo opened her e-mail last summer, she wasn’t expecting an e-mail from Head of School Christina Broderick. A summertime e-mail from school seems nothing but foreboding, but it wasn’t bad news; it was a request for Milazzo to create a documentary for her senior service project, to be shown at the Sion conference in Rio de Janeiro held May 2 through 10.

For the conference, each school was asked to present a project about how students do social service. Broderick thought a documentary would be the best project, and knew Milazzo would be perfect for the job. “[I asked Katia] because I know she really likes to make videos and she’s really artistic,” Broderick said. “And I know she was looking for a senior service project.”

Milazzo had originally planned to direct the grade school’s musical, but Broderick had other ideas.

“I had it thrown to me, and Mrs. Broderick was kind of just like, ‘I trust that you know what you’re doing and I know you’ll do well,’” Milazzo said. “But by her asking me, it showed me that she believes in me and knows that I can make a great documentary about our school.”

Without any direction from Broderick, Milazzo began her senior year filming instances where social service manifests itself at Sion. She started with Sock It To Poverty and Food For Thought in the fall, then filmed Tri-M singing at nursing homes and the musical cast’s performance

When interviewing, senior Katia Milazzo first speaks with the subject about the topic, running through the questions before filming so that the subject can prepare. She then recreates a similar process for the camera, making the subject more comfortable and ensuring the best responses. (Photo by Chloe Barrett)

at the grade school. More recently, she has filmed the Giving the Basics drive and the Blood Drive.

“I have filmed literally everything during this school year. I have over 20 interviews and probably over four hours of footage. I’m leaving all the editing till the end so I can put it all together at the same time,” Milazzo said.

Milazzo works on her documentary daily, filming events that illustrate social justice or interviewing girls at Sion about their what they do to serve and their experiences with that work. She watches videos to see where she can cut them when she puts it all together, or experiements with effects on iMovie to find the best ones to incorporate into her documentary.

200 students surveyed

She has the documentary planned out, but she’ll have a lot of work facing her when she edits the video, which she has filmed with the help of Director of Technology Jason Ketter.

“I have probably over 100 videos and I need to cut them and fit them into a 15 minute documentary,” Milazzo said.

Focusing on social service has been an inspirational experience for Milazzo as she learned what people feel about social service.

“It has been so great to film and talk to people that are so passionate about social justice and what they do to be involved in it,” Milazzo said. “It is really amazing to be surrounded by girls that love what they do and take action.”

Mostly TV shows

47%

use netflix more than two hours a day

44%

families subscribed

less than two hours a day

56%

93 minutes per day

Nationally

86%

How much time do you spend watching?

Le Journal Volume 3: Issue 5: Netflix

86%

What do you watch on Netflix?

Mostly movies

TV and movies equally

9%

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SURVIVAL

OF THE

BY MARY B. FREEMAN, MANAGING EDITOR; NATALIE SOPYLA, REPORTER; SYDNEY DANIELS, EDITORIAL EDITOR

Ways to stay healthy this summer while remembering to be confident in yourself.

Strong is the new beautiful. Sion girls have been immersing themselves in new workout classes around town to get lean, healthy and strong this season.

“Fusion Fitness’ high energy, positive vibes and ‘sweaty sisterhood’ have kept me coming back daily for the past year and a half," Fusion

KAYLA ITSINES

Fitness employee and senior Evie Hauptman said. "I love the healthy mind, attitude and physical changes I have experienced since going to Fusion."

Here are some of Kansas City’s local, as well as online sources, girls are visiting to get fit.

FUSION FITNESS YOGA FIX STUDIO

Location: Online E-book

Location: 10577 Mission Road, Leawood,

Location: 6124 Johnson Drive, Mission,

Description: Discover the workout tricks

Description: Trendy, fun and cutting-

Description: Yoga Fix Studio is a place to

that target fat loss just for women and how to eat for your body, In just 12 weeks or less you can see amazing results.

Class Schedule:

KS 66206

edge wraps up Fusion Fitness in a nutshell.

Fusion happily upholds the reputation as the most challenging fitness classes in the Midwest.

Class Schedule:

KS 66202

invest in yourself; taking time out of your busy day for toning, strengthening, healing and relaxing; all conveniently achieved in one location.

Class Schedule:

Requires 30-45 minutes of workout time Mon.-Sat.

Mon. 5:30 AM Fusion Mix Tues. 6 AM Bikini Boot Camp Thurs. 4 PM Barre Fight Sat. 10:30 AM Sweat Lab

Mon. - Fri. 6:15 AM Hot Yoga Mon.-Thurs. 6:30 PM Hot Yoga Fri. 5:15 PM Mixed Level Yoga Sat. - Sun. 9 AM Hot Yoga

For more information visit kaylaitsines.com

For more class times visit fusionfitness.com

For more class times visit hotyogakc.com

(Description and class times courtesy of kaylaitsines.com)

(Description and class times courtesy of fusionfitness.com)

(Description and class times courtesy of hotyogakc.com)

REbeLing Against Society’s Standards REbeL club’s annual Be You Week encouraged students to love themselves before Spring Break.

BY SYDNEY DANIELS EDITORIAL EDITOR

“I woke up like this-flawless.” Beyonce’s song “Flawless,” has inspired the theme for this year’s REbeL Be You Week. Everyone is beautiful.

Everybody counts.

Be You Week falls annually on the week before Spring Break which is typically when girls are focused on tanning, toning and dieting in anticipation of jet setting off to warm locations.

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The REbeL club is focused on promoting love for oneself and healthy body image, especially during insecurity-ridden periods like pre-spring break, according to member Emily Baranowski.

“We hope that in that crucial week before spring break everyone [took] a step back and [saw] how truly beautiful they are, inside and out,” Baranowski, a senior, said.

Lauren Pollack and Abby Ness, both clinical psychology doctoral candidates at the University of Missouri–Kansas City, are new members to the REbeL team. They focus on healthy body image promotion.

Pollack said she believes that REbeL will have

a positive impact on girls during their high school careers and beyond.

“I’m hopeful that students will hear that they’re valuable just the way they are and feel encouraged to reject the pressures of beauty by society’s standards,” Pollack said.

Ness, a vital part of organizing Be You week, said the girls in REbeL are passionate and positive about their mission to redefine beauty.

“My hope for the Be You Week is that students [felt] encouraged, loved and valuable,” Ness said.

“I hope it [served] as a reminder that our worth as women extends far beyond outward appearance.”

F

E

FITTEST Cardio Booster

Lunges

2

1

1

2

Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart. Jump out into a wide stance as you raise your arms over your head. Jump back to starting position and repeat as quickly as you can. Repeat for one minute.

1. Stand with feet shoulder-width apart 2. Swing arms left and step backward on your right leg, crossing it behind your left with your knee at a 90 degree angle. Repeat on the other side.

Repeat for one minute.

Lower Abdominals & Obliques

1. Sit on the floor with your knees bent and your heels to the floor. Lean back slightly, without moving your head or your hips.

2. Keeping your core tight, reach your left hand across your body, rotating your chest to the right. Return to the starting postition, and repeat to the other side. Alternate sides.

Repeat for one minute.

1 Boxing Abductor

2 Cardio Abdominals

Cardio Booster

1

1. Using both arms, act like you're boxing someone and vary your punches. Make sure to keep your knees bent and get as low as you can. Repeat for one minute.

1. Start with your feet shoulder-width apart. Raise your right knee, then your left, as high as you can. Alternate as quickly as possible. Repeat for one minute.

2 1.Start in a plank position. 2.Bring your left knee up to your chest. Return to starting position, alternate quickly. Repeat for one minute.

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Going for Gold

LE JOURNAL 28 28LE JOURNAL ISSUE 2 MARCH

The student body competed in the Sion Olympics on Feb. 27.

The games have been a Sion tradition for over 20 years.

TOP LEFT: Sophomore students perform their Mexican themed class dance during the Sion Olympics. (Photo by Sydney Manning) TOP RIGHT: Freshman Melissa Hamilton sits on the shoulders of classmates Mariah Lynn and Chigozie Okuagu during their class dance, representing Jamaica. (Photo by Sydney Manning) MIDDLE LEFT: Seniors Courtney Linscott and Uzo Obi celebrate the Senior class victory at the Sion Olympics with red, white and blue confetti. (Photo by Sydney Manning) MIDDLE RIGHT: Junior Maddie Kahl takes a selfie with her grade dressed as Ireland. (Photo by Sydney Manning) BOTTOM LEFT: Seniors Lille Weise, Julie Steilen, Abby Snyder and Sydney Summers show their American and class pride as they run into the gym at the start of the Sion Olympics. (Photos by Sydney Manning) BOTTOM RIGHT: Freshman Haley Ulowetz gives her grade a thumbsup after collecting two shoes, part of a task for the modified game of musical chairs. (Photo by Laney Ulowetz)