North Star November 2012 by The North Star Newspaper

THE

NORTH ST R Issue 4, Volume 27 Blue Valley North Overland Park, KS Nov. 16, 2012

Journey to advocacy

here’s plenty to do in Kansas City if you know where to look. Our metro area has it all: shops, parks and quirky cafes, all within an easy driving distance. See the North Star’s guide to the perfect day in the City of Fountains on pages 12 and 13.

Track and suit up

Abandoned dreams at Metcalf South

TECHIES BEHIND THE SCENES Freshman Jack Kirwan builds a key part in one of the props being used in “The Drowsy Chaperone”. “I really wanted to do tech because I wanted to try something new and because I’ve been an actor since 2005 and I wanted to know what happens behind the scenes.,” Kirwan said. Photo by Lindsay Rucker

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Rights to “Peter Pan” rescinded

he Broadway producers of “Peter Pan,” the musical that the theater department was scheduled to perform this year, rescinded the rights for the school to perform it. This forced drama teacher Max Brown to choose a new musical. “Broadway pulled the rights [to ‘Peter Pan’] because of the production [that] was coming through here,” Brown said. “Whenever there’s a national tour, they pull all the rights for all the cities that are in that tour zone. But [the show has] already been here, so it was their mistake.” There was not enough time for Brown to convince the producers to give the rights back and for the tech crew to begin work on building the sets, so Brown had to find something else. He had chosen “The Drowsy Chaperone,” which is scheduled to be performed on Jan. 31, Feb. 1 and 2, 2013. “[The new musical] does look very difficult,” sophomore Lauren Keller said. “We’re going to have to build extravagant sets that work into each other.” Brown said that “The Drowsy Chaperone” will be just as good as past musicals, such as “Legally Blonde” and “Phantom of the Opera.” “[I picked ‘The Drowsy Chaperone’] because I love it,” Brown said. “It has lots of parts, and so I think it will be a great fit for us. Ultimately I think it’s going to be an even better choice than ‘Peter Pan’ would have been.” There will be an issue with time, however, as the new musical was

chosen late enough to affect the tech crew’s window for building the sets. “For ‘Drowsy Chaperone,’ we started Nov. 5. For “Peter Pan,” we would have started [in mid-October],” junior techie Danielle London said. This switch does not affect actors as tryouts took place at around the same time they would have for “Peter Pan.” But there is uncertainty among the tech crew about whether they will be able to get all the set pieces done in time. “Considering he gave us a harder show and he’s cut back our time to do [all the work], I think we’ll probably be a little short on time,” Keller said. “But we’ve yet to not finish a show.” Even so, there are advantages to the switch, as now no one will have to deal with making actors fly across the stage. “‘Peter Pan’ would have been a lot of stress and hard work, especially flying,” London said. “We would’ve had to get a professional rigging crew to come in to fly the people. That would’ve been a lot of stress that wasn’t needed.” Despite the potential for extra work and the time crunch on the tech crew, students said they’re looking forward to working on the new musical. “Musicals are always a lot of work for everybody, but it’s the work that is the pleasure,” Brown said. “Our passion is to create art. So that’s what we’re doing.”

Rachel Strohkorb Staff Writer

hat night looking outside, it was very eerie- no cars, no street lights, no lights on the buildings,” 2012 North graduate Gabbie Fried said. Fried, now a freshman at New York University, faced Hurricane Sandy in her Lower Manhattan dorm Oct. 30. “I had mixed reactions to how serious this would be,” Fried said. “At home they always play up the snow storms and they end up being nothing. I wasn’t sure because I had never been in a hurricane before.” Having lived in Kansas for most of her life, Fried had been through a number of large storms; however, no tornado or thunderstorm had prepared her for a hurricane. “[Newscasters] kept saying this would be ‘the perfect storm,’ so I spent Sunday afternoon buying supplies in case the power went out. I bought a lot of things that I FALLING HOMES AND HOPES Former North student Gabbie Fried is now a freshman at NYU, which was hit hard by hurricane Sandy. Many buildings that Fried visits daily were damaged due to the storm. “When I heard about this I was scared it was my acting studio, but I’m glad it wasn’t,” Fried said. Photo provided by Gabbie Fried

knew I wouldn’t be able to use even if the power went out, but I also bought a cooler for anything that needed to be refrigerated,” Fried said. Hurricane Sandy gained strength and hit New York City that Monday. “One of the staff members said the last time the power went out was 10 years ago. The Con Edison building that supplies power to everyone below 39th Street blew up [the night the hurricane hit] so no one had power,” Fried said. “We saw a huge flash of light and heard the hum of electricity stop. Everyone ran to get flashlights and we were told our toilets would still work and we had the backup generators for the hallway.” The following morning, Fried took shelter at her sister’s apartment uptown. “The dining halls were beginning to run out of food, but the employees had to stay there so we still had [food] for the time being,” Fried said. Her classes were canceled for the remainder of the week. Extensive damage from the storm has crippled the East. Hurricane Sandy took 110 victims, according the the Los Angeles Times, and the damage is estimated to be around $50 billion according to CBS News. North’s yearbook staff challenged the other Blue Valley high schools to a oneday competition to see whcih could raise the most money for Sandy victims. North won with a total of $1053.03, defeating the other schools by a margin of over $500. Students can continue to help those affected by the disaster by texting “Redcross” to 90999 for a $10 donation and by visiting www. salvationarmyusa.org to donate household items and clothes to victims.

Ashley Ruben News Editor

BMX rider aims for the Olympics

here seems to be a common assumption that those who participate in BMX riding are accident and injury-prone. But junior Adrian Sanders smashes that stereotype into the dirt. With the goal of making it to the Olympics, she is intensifying her training and beginning her journey to the top. “[BMX] is a sport where you ride a bicycle around a dirt track that has jumps in it and there’s a starting gate and a finish line, and whoever gets to the finish line first, wins,” Sanders said. Sanders began the sport at age ten, and she now recognizes that reaching the Olympic trials will be difficult. She has put a lot of effort into practicing and training. She feels that her skill will increase her chances. “Watching [BMX] in the Olympics this summer just made me want to do it even more,” Sanders said. “It’s going to be very difficult, only two girls make the team, and I can count at least ten girls that I think are fast enough to be in the Olympics.”

She has built a training routine and practices regularly to reach her Olympic-sized goal. “There are local races four nights a week, so I go to those to practice, and I have to go to the gym to work out twice a week. [I practice riding] six nights a week, but when the weather comes in, it’s harder to practice. ” Sanders said. Sponsors are a major aspect of BMX riding, and Sanders has received more sponsorships as she has become increasingly involved. “If a sponsor sees you as a rider, then they’ll help you out. Throughout the year, they’ll give you money for races, bike parts, or uniforms.” Sanders said. Hayden Werp, another BMXer at North who has watched Sanders ride, knows the difficulty of the sport. “[Riding] is certainly difficult for someone who shows up and rides the first time. You can watch a video and think that it’s easy, but it’s really not at all. But [Adrian] is really good. I think her biggest strength is pedaling. She

gets out of the gate really quick- faster than a lot of other people,” Werp said. Senior Nathan Heeney, another BMX rider, commented on his observation of Sanders. “Whenever I see [Adrian] ride, she just kind of cruises... she does more socializing than riding. She’s good though,” Heeney said. Sanders responds by admitting that the practices are often causal. “When I get to the track, I do five first straights. And then I’ll do five first and second straights. And then I’ll kind of ride the track to get warm before the races.” Even with Sanders’ skill and hard work, she has her own setbacks. “The hardest part about riding would probably just be losing, because you work so hard at it and if you lose, you let yourself down,” Sanders said. Sanders has high hopes for the Olympics and is willing to put in the effort to win gold. “I’ll have to race junior women for two years, then there are two or three years before I can go pro. I’ll have

Junior Adrian Sanders pops a wheelie. Sanders has been riding since age 10. “The boys don’t take me seriously because there are only two fast girls on the track,” she said. Photo by Daniel Traub

one year before the Olympics. It will be hard for the year 2016, but it may happen in 2020. After I train and work at it, I think I’ll have what it takes to be in the Olympics.”

Kiera Bolden Staff Writer

04 ATHLETE OF THE

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M NTH

he commitment is 100 percent,” senior Shea Flanagan said of her dedication to tennis. She just finished her high school tennis career by placing second overall in singles at state on Oct. 13. Flanagan started playing at a young age when her dad put her in a program at her country club. “I kind of always played tennis, but when I was younger I did play other sports like basketball,” Flanagan said. “It was nice to have a mixture of team and individual sports. In middle school, however, I quit all other sports so that I could focus on tennis and hopefully get a scholarship.” She has spent a significant amount of time playing tennis in the hopes of one day

committing to a college. “I sacrificed a social life, definitely, over the last 10 years. It is an individual sport and you have to be disciplined,” Flanagan said. Flanagan has felt the pressure that comes with playing tennis. “Everyone needs to stick with a sport in order to learn to love it. Many people have quit and come back to the sport because they remember how much they love it again,” Flanagan said. “I’ve definitely thought about quitting several times, but with tennis you can take a week off and cool down.” This was Flanagan’s fourth time at state and it was an exciting time for all the girls on the team. “[State] was really fun. Everyone on the team

Shae Flanagan commits to UCONN

Her success has led her to be able to supported and cheered each other on choose a college with a great tennis during matches so it was really cool,” program that fit well with her. She teammate junior Aishwarya Gondesi visited five other colleges, such as said. Creighton and Xavier, but when she Her school coach of four years, went to the University of Connecticut, BVN girls’ tennis coach Ann Dark is she knew it was right for her. delighted with her trainee’s career. “When I visited UCONN it was the “Shea has had an incredible high perfect fit, and I made my decision school career. She has been to state a week later. For me it was the 4 times and has made it to the finals perfect balance in both singles “Getting of academics and and doubles. She committed to play athletics. I also has been such a loved the other valuable asset for is the best feeling.” girls on the [tennis] our team,” Dark team,” Flanagan said. said. She has also improved significantly Her teammates and coach were since starting on the team freshman very excited with her committing to year. UCONN with a full ride scholarship. “Shea has really developed her UCONN is a division one school for game since her freshman year. She is tennis, which means that it is the top a year-round player and often spends circuit. multiple hours a day training outside “I am thrilled that Shea has the of high school practice. She has also opportunity to go to UCONN. I know really developed into a leader that the it was her top choice and for her to get team can depend on,” Dark said. an offer is just really exciting,” Dark Her teammates and coach also said. believe that she has become a leader. “Getting committed to play is the “She’s a great role model, she works best feeling,” Flanagan said. “It’s really hard and is very dedicated to tennis and she cares a lot about tennis great because I know I essentially accomplished it myself because at and the team,” Gondesi said. “Shea is the end of the day it is an individual someone that the team can depend competition.” on. She is a natural leader and will do whatever it takes to help the team succeed.”

Senior Shae Flanagam rallies with a friend of hers at Blue Springs tennis club. Shay prepares for her next years at Yukon. “Tennis is really a selfish sport. I’m excited to go to college because it becomes a team sport again,” Flannigan said.

Faryal Jafri Online Editor

Track athletes launch college careers

enior Jasmine Smith stumbled upon track and field by accident. “My cousins were involved in AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) and ran track; they convinced me to come with them to one of their practices,” Smith said. At the age of 5, Smith decided that shot put was her domain. “AAU had me try out all of the track and field events. I hated coming to the practices at first, but then I came across shot put and loved it,” Smith said. Although Smith had just begun shot put, Smith went to the Junior Olympics for shot put in her first year. She continued to do AAU every year. “I stuck with shot put and eventually started throwing discus when I was 11,” Smith said. Smith is currently working out after school with sophomore Cameron Baker, junior Saquib Javed and senior Kevin Tenny. The group works out together three times each week. “We put in a lot of time now so we can succeed later. We want to put up some really good numbers when the track season rolls around,” Tenny said. The group shares the same goal of competing at the college level. “Everyone is very serious about training. We really push each other to work harder,” Tenny said. Smith notes that a lot of people don’t realize how

important speed and agility are to throwing, in addition to strength. “We lift weights often to improve our speed and strength. Speed is especially important because you need to be able to accelerate through your throw to get the distance you want,” Smith said. “The faster you go, the faster the discus will spin and the more hang time it will have in the air.” Coach Ryan Ritter works with this group to prepare them for track season. “Coach Ritter really pushes us. In order for Kevin

[Tenny] and I to be where we need to be for college recruits, we need to stay in the weight room and keep in shape,” Smith said. Smith notes that the techniques for shot put and discus are similar, but there are subtle differences. “I like throwing the discus a little more than throwing shot put because there is more finesse to it. Shot put involves more strength,” Smith said. Several college recruiters have contacted Smith. “Indiana Tech, University of South Dakota, Emporia State and Wichita State have contacted me; all of these schools have Division I or Division II programs,” Smith said. Coach Rick Attig has been a resource for Smith during the recruitment process. “I have kept in contact with a lot of the college coaches and have helped Jasmine meet with some of the schools and stay in touch with them,” Attig said. Although Smith understands that doing track in college will take up a good portion of her time, she is ready to commit. “I have a few friends who are doing college track. They tell me that the payoff is great because you meet a lot of new people and still have time to do all of the regular college stuff,” Smith said. Smith and Tenny have until February to decide which college they will commit to for track.

Sydney House Sports Editor

Living with llamas

hen biology teacher Montera Juraschek was 12, she moved with her family from Washington, D.C., to a farm in Virginia. At first, she was upset, but then she met a llama for the first time. “[When we moved], I needed something to do. My mom met this man who raised llamas. [I] saw the llamas and I fell in love with them,” Juraschek said. When the man’s llamas started reproducing, he gave one of the baby llamas, which are called “crias,” to Juraschek. “It was like my baby from the start,” Juraschek said. “[W]e grew our farm from that point on.” As Juraschek raised the llamas, she said she grew as a person. “[Raising llamas] made me the person I am because I was responsible for a living thing at such a young age,” Juraschek said. “[I]t made me like biology. I wanted to be a vet. I decided not to go to vet school because it was too expensive. but my experience with llamas made me want to teach biology from then on.” When the llamas were older, Juraschek took them to shows where they were judged on their physical qualities such as wool length and bone structure, as well as other

qualities, such as their gait. “Some people have hundreds of llamas. We would have, at most, 25, and we would win because we would make sure their wool was right, we would make sure their legs were straight. We bred our animals so the traits were favorable, whereas when you have a huge farm, that doesn’t always happen,” Juraschek said. Although Juraschek’s llamas usually did well at competitions, sometimes things went awry. At one competition, a flirtatious male caused a great deal of tumult. “I was showing a male llama, and there was a female llama next to him. Usually, they separate the males and females, but this particular show, they [were] together. I was standing next to a female llama, and my male llama knew that,” Juraschek said. “He decided he didn’t want to be shown anymore.” “He started to court her in the middle of the show. The female llama was not happy that my llama wanted to court her, so she ended up spitting on him, and he still wanted to court her, so we had to leave.” Juraschek doesn’t raise llamas anymore, but she talks to her students about her llama-farming past. “[When] people ask her questions, that’s usually when she talks about it,”

Biology teacher Montera Juraschek kisses her then-4-year-old llama, Quinn. Photo provided by Montera Juraschek.

senior Melissa Berger said. “I just thought it was unique. It’s something a lot of teachers don’t have,” senior Raj Kulkarni said. Meanwhile, her parents continue to raise the llamas. “My parents.... kept some [llamas] for my kids. But my kids probably won’t grow up like I did because there aren’t llama farms in this area,” Juraschek said. Juraschek goes back to the farm a

few times a year to see the llamas. “When I go home, it’s like they remember me. I have a little call, and it’s like they remember that, so they know who I am,” Juraschek said. “I miss the responsibility of taking care of them, because it’s fun to watch the cria grow up. You get a real bond when you work with the animal. I really do miss that a lot.”

Emily Levinson Staff Writer

Llama Quiz Bowl Test yourself on your llama knowledge

2. How long have llamas been domesticated? a. 5,000 years b. 1,000 years c. Since 1926

Photos from Creative Commons

3. What animals are llamas related to? a. goats b. camels c. sheep 4. What is a baby llama called? a. a calf b. a chulengo c. a cria 5. When do llamas spit? a. after eating b. when they see the color red c. to establish dominance in the herd

6. How many toes does a llama have on each foot? a. Two b. Three c. Five 7. What do llamas eat? a. cactus b. grass and leaves c. spaghetti 8. How do llamas communicate? a. humming b. bleating c. barking

Quiz information from Mount Lehman Llamas.com Answers:

1. c, 2. a, 3. b, 4. c, 5. c, 6. a, 7. b, 8. a

1. What part of the world do llamas come from? a. Central America b. Tibet c. South America

Daily naps promote healthy lifestyle

or some students, just rhythms, volunteers tended to sleep in getting through the day is an two periods, one long session at night, accomplishment. Seven hours and another shorter period in the of class can be extremely taxing on afternoon,” New York Times writer a student’s mind and body. By the Daniel Goleman wrote. time the bell rings at 2:50, it is not “It makes sense because even if I go uncommon for students to drive to bed at 9 p.m. and wake up at 6 a.m., straight home and I am still tired in the dive under the covers “Leaving time to afternoon,” junior Chloe to catch some z’s. take a siesta is Johnson said. While many Leaving time to take students may believe proven to increase a siesta is proven to that their exhaustion increase alertness and alertness” is due to their provide more energy to rigorous schedule at school, an article power through the rest of the day. in the New York Times suggests a “I read a study that stated if school different cause. started at 9 a.m., students would The article argues that the reason perform better. However, society behind regular afternoon naps is doesn’t allow for it to work that way,” simply the way our bodies function. school nurse Julia Yano said. For weeks at a time, researchers put On the other hand, taking naps volunteers in an underground room causes a person to fall into a deep isolated from all clocks and told the sleep, making it more difficult to wake volunteers they could sleep whenever up because they experience intense they wanted. grogginess and confusion when they “Left to their own natural sleep awaken. But this is seen as a minor

repercussion when compared to the benefits. “Because the urge for an afternoon nap is appreciably weaker than the need to sleep at night, naps can be suppressed when they are inconvenient,” the article states. This discovery contradicts the common belief that a demanding school schedule is the reason behind afternoon fatigue. “I take naps because school is so early that you need the extra sleep. The high school workload does not give you a choice. Even if it’s natural, work adds to the problem,” senior Matt Hendler said. The experiment, however, changed the perception that naps are an activity for lazy people or slackers. “I get sick on practically a monthly basis because I’m so busy, and sleeping always comes last to homework, dance and debate. It’s hard to fit it all in, so naps are kind of my go to,” sophomore Sophie Jerwick

Many students eagerly await their afternoon naps and can be found passed out before the clock hits 3:30 p.m. Illustration by Chris Shanklin.

said. “I love naps, but when you get your days and nights mixed up, you can’t live that. You need to find how much of a nap you can tolerate,” Yano said. When you just can’t keep your eyes open any longer, naps prove to be extremely valuable. Napping is a natural response to the way our bodies operate. Mallory Bodker Opinion Editor

Weekday Warriors: Fighting through North’s hardest classes

“[I spend] probably around nine to 12 hours a week studying for that class.” Despite the course’s difficulty, Thompson feels its small class setting is beneficial for everyone. “There are only eight students in the class, which makes it more relaxed and open for discussion and questions,” he said. Thompson also cites Baldwin as a positive force in the class. “Mr. Baldwin is brilliant, so he knows everything about the f (x) = subject, which makes it so easy for us to feel enthusiastic,” he said.

anked the number two high school in the state by U.S. News and top 300 in the nation, it’s no secret that Blue Valley North strives for academic excellence. Some classes, however, require more all-night cram sessions, careful notetaking and just plain luck than others. Three students explain what it takes to stay above water in North’s most difficult courses.

major, Zidek’s motivation in AP Physics comes from her career aspirations. “I want to be an engineer, so I’m going to be taking even harder physics in college,” she said. “I might as well get as prepared as I can so when I get there I don’t struggle.”

AP Physics

atin may be a dead language, but it’s very much alive to the students of Jonah Baldwin’s Honors Latin 4 class. “There’s constantly homework, and there are never days Seniors Jessica Zidek, Ethan Loftspring and Jack off,” senior Jack Thompson immerse themselves in their subject matter. Thompson said. Photo graphic by Sarah Evans.

he laws of gravity, kinematics and thermodynamics are no mystery to the students of Jan Cyr’s AP Physics class - they’re required knowledge. Senior Jessica Zidek feels the selfguided nature of the course makes it especially challenging. “We move through the material really fast, and it’s up to us to take the initiative to make sure we have it learned and work on all the practice problems,” she said. “I probably have about an hour of homework a night.” With her sights on an engineering

Honors Latin IV

AP Calculus BC

alculators in hand, the students of Mike Koehler’s AP Calculus BC class tackle even the most advanced challenges in mathematics. “It’s the most advanced material in any math class,” senior Ethan Loftspring said. “There’s a lot of concept studying out of school.” To be eligible for AP Calculus BC, a student must be at least one year ahead in math classes. There’s eight [students],” Loftspring said. “It’s small because you have to be prepared for the challenge by being in advanced math classes.” Though the workload is difficult, Loftspring is motivated to study by a drive for success – and admiration for Koehler. “It’s one of the most interesting classes in the school,” he said. “I also enjoy being in the presence of Mr. Koehler. He’s one of the smartest people in the Sarah Evans school.” Co-Editor in Chief

08 Student says “bonjour” to Kansas N orth has new students all the time, but there are not always kids from as far away as Lorient, Brittany. This town in France is the home of one of the newest foreign exchange students, Max Casagrande. Casagrande attended a school in France, but wanted a chance to “travel and see new places.”

France

Through a program called Pacific Intercultural Exchange (PIE) in France and American Scandinavian Student Exchange (ASSE) in the U.S., Casagrande was given the opportunity to travel to Kansas and compare life in Kansas with life in France.

Sakshi Mahajan

vs.

“I go to the beach in the summer because I live on the coast. We spend a lot of time on the beach. When it’s cold outside, I just hang out with my friends and go to movies.”

Weekend

“School in France, it’s like college. You could have a class at 9 and then nothing until 12. Last year my friends and I tried coffee from every café near us between classes. Kids aren’t as involved in school because we don’t have sports in school.”

School

“The biggest difference is drinking. In France it is legal to drink at 16 years old, so people don’t really drink to get drunk. People drink, but it’s less to get drunk and not as big a deal. The other difference is curfew. Parents are not as strict about curfew in France.” “Kids are often treated more like adults. Not everyone, but most kids are given more freedom than kids in the US.” “Girls in France don’t wear as much makeup as most girls here do. You see lots of designer brands, even if kids are dressed casually in France.”

United States

“I’ve been sightseeing; I’ve visited the WWI Museum, MU and Jefferson City. I’ve only been to a few parties.” “School has more of a schedule here, but the way kids act with teachers is very casual compared to France. There is a formal relationship between teachers and students in France, while there is not that formality in schools here.”

“Kids drink to get drunk. Alcohol is a bigger part of parties here. Kids drink a lot in France, but drinking is seen differently there because it is legal.”

Parties

“Kids are treated more like kids. Once again, not everyone, but most kids are not given as much freedom as kids in France.”

Home-Life

“Kids dress very casually. There are not as many brand names, and if there are, they are different from the ones in France.”

Dressing

“There’s less food on a plate than in the US. There are lots of bakeries, and at almost every day I stop and get different breads from the bakeries.”

“Everything, including the vegetables, tastes different here. One of the biggest changes is the amount of fried food. There is lots of fried food here. Even though France has McDonalds, it tastes different there than it does here.”

Food Photo from Creative Comons.

Shahrazad

Photo from Creative Comons.

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Junior stands with Israel

Emily Goldman promotes strong U.S.-Israel relationship

Junior Emily Goldman stands near the holy Western Wall in the Old City of Jerusalem during her time at Alexander Muss High School in Israel. Photo courtesy of Emily Goldman

s the nation wraps up an election season that focused largely on domestic issues, many young Americans are looking inward, focusing on the economy rather than the geopolitical landscape. Not so with junior Emily Goldman, who said she’s committed to an issue with impacts far beyond America’s borders: Israel advocacy. After spending a quarter of her sophomore year at a high school in Israel, Goldman was accepted to a high school internship position with StandWithUs, the second-largest pro -Israel organization in the world. According to its web site, StandWithUs is an organization dedicated to “informing the public about Israel and to combating the extremism and anti-Semitism that often distorts the issues.” In Sept., Goldman attended a StandWithUs conference where she learned the tools of Israel advocacy. “[Israel] is misunderstood,” Goldman said. “The media portrays it as this terrible, violent country with an unstable government. It’s not like

that. StandWithUs tries to help us work through our communities, and especially with our peers, to give the real view--the inside view-of Israel.” Goldman said that as she became more educated about Israel, her respect for it grew, independent of any religious associations. “To me it has nothing to do with religion,” Goldman said. “I went to Israel because, yes, I’m Jewish, and it was an initial draw. But that’s not why I support it. I think it’s pretty amazing that it’s the only democracy in its region. We have to help keep that democracy alive so it can keep that region stable in the future.” A strong U.S.-Israel relationship benefits both nations, in Goldman’s view.

“Israel is one of our greatest allies in the entire world, technologically, militarily, and together we’ve created really amazing things. The U.S. not only aids that strength but takes away some outcomes in our own country,” Goldman said. Having encountered arguments that Israel oppresses its Palestinian and Israeli Arab inhabitants, Goldman has concluded that despite the nation’s many conflicts, the goal of all parties involved is peace. “Although the two parties [Israelis and Palestinians] sometimes don’t get along, they both want peace,” Goldman said. “Everyone agrees that that’s the bottom line, so it’s really time that we come to a compromise.” Pro-Israel activism has remained an important part of Goldman’s life at home in Leawood. On Nov. 2, she invited StandWithUs’s Central Region High School Program Coordinator Vida Velasco to speak to Club 121. Velasco said the goal of the high school internship is to prepare kids for anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism they might encounter on college campuses. “A lot of times we’re facing two battles, whether it’s outward hatred

or straight up ambivalence,” Velasco said. She believes networking, like the kind in which high school interns engage, is a crucial component of activism. “I drilled it into my interns this year that it starts one on one. That’s the only way to change the dynamic on anything,” Velasco said. “I’m convinced that this is the future of advocacy.” To jumpstart that networking, Goldman said she invites questions about Israel or Israel advocacy. “Feel free to contact me with any questions,” she said. “If I can’t answer them, I will find an answer.” She also recommends that those interested in Israel read the book Start-Up Nation, which documents Israel’s rise as a miniature technological powerhouse. As for herself, Goldman said she remains devoted to the pro-Israel cause. “I don’t see myself living [in Israel], and I don’t see myself fighting,” Goldman said. “But I do see myself, through the rest of my life, being an advocate.”

Jessi Glueck Co-Editor-In-Chief

Junior Emily Goldman (center) poses with Israeli emissary Ophir Hacohen and StandWithUs’s Central Region High School Program Coordinator Vida Velasco at the “Taste of Israel” event she organized Oct. 3. “As an intern my responsibility is to educate my peers about the Israeli-American relationship,” Goldman said.

Behind the Mask: Mustang gives pep talk

VN fans may attend games, of coming together as a school when but many times they are it’s important. They just kind of do it criticized for their lack of when it is convenient for them. They spirit. Our fans often pick and choose are really bringing the spirit down,” which games they attend and which junior Korynn McDonald said. opponents they jeer. “I understand that we kind of suck “[School spirit here] is sad, pitiful at football, and we aren’t allowed to and makes you cringe because it is so grind, but we should support our awkward. school more and “[Schoo l spirit here] is It needs to contribute to it,” change,” Judy sad, pitiful and makes sophomore the Wang said. you cringe because it Mustang The Mustang said. that is so awkward. It needs observed The the student body Mustang should take to change.” epitomizes matters into their its fandom because it is always there own hands rather than complaining cheering no matter what team we and not doing anything about the face. Frustration with the lack of problem. unified school spirit comes from “Maybe have the kids decide what to students. do instead of the administration. We “I just think that people participate need to have more people participate when they want to participate instead in the dress days. I think that we need

more participation. Also, more people need to actually attend school events like games,” the Mustang said. According to the Mustang, the seniors are actually the most spirited class in the school. “I think that the seniors doing their own thing is actually okay. It’s them bonding together. I think it’s funny that the administration is so against it because they are actually participating. Isn’t that what they wanted?” the Mustang said. By jumping and dancing around at school events, the Mustang encourages spirit by modeling how students should show their spirit. “I think that showing the student body that the Mustang is spirited will help them become more excited. I think that some people are ashamed and embarrassed when they jump around,” the Mustang said.

The Mustang is a mysterious symbol of spirit whose identity remains unknown. Photo by Austin Fultz.

Faryal Jafri Staff Writer

Students lend hand through Helpers, Inc.

“Helpers, Inc. is a governmentfunded organization that basically provides helpers to families that have kids with special needs. The helpers are then provided with hours from Helpers, Inc., which gives them the ability to spend time with that kid and do things that applies to that kid’s needs,” Douglas said. Every day at work is different for Shepherd, who has been able to create a lasting bond with the kid she works with. “With Helpers, what you do every day is different and it’s not a meticulous type of thing. You’re just hanging out Junior Kayla Shepherd helps junior Hannah Vohs use flash cards to work on reading with a really strategies. “I chose Helpers because it’s something I feel passionate about. It’s too great of awesome an opportunity to pass up,” Shepherd said. Photo by Austin Fultz person,”

hen school ends, many students slam their lockers shut and head off to work at a clothing store or restaurant. These students will often go on to complain about the long hours and the ridiculous customer encounters they had while on the job. For juniors Kayla Shepherd, Brandi Bates and senior Maddie Douglas, this is not the case at their jobs at Helpers, Inc.

Shepherd said. “With [Hannah], we do some reading, swimming, bowling and other activities. Last week she went costume shopping with me and my friends. Sometimes we go to Sonic and get slushies or go to the park.” For Bates, the routine also differs depending on the day, as she spends different days working to develop certain life skills. “My Helpers family’s main focus is exercise, so I try to exercise with [Michaela] at least 30 minutes a day,” Bates said. “Another main focus is trying to get [Michaela] more independent so that she can move into her own apartment later on. We go grocery shopping, clean, do laundry...all [of] which will help her to become more independent,” Bates said. With the experiences made while working, Douglas has been able to realize new things and gain a different perspective. “[Working for Helpers] taught me you can never underestimate people that may think or appear or act

differently than you. They might have so much potential and can enlighten you in so many different ways,” Douglas said. Both Bates and Shepherd share similar sentiments, noticing that they have learned new things and been able to take a lot out of their experiences. “[Working for Helpers] humbled me in a way, which I probably needed. It has helped me not take things for granted,” Bates said. “I think my patience has grown a lot from my experience. I have learned that when I complain about certain things, they’re probably not nearly as bad as I think they are,” Shepherd said. “It’s also taught me to be more responsible with everything that I do.” As the girls continue their employment, they continue to learn. For Douglas, the job has become an important part of her life. “This boy has changed my life, and I cherish every moment I spend with him,” Douglas said. Hayley Berger Feature Editor

Local mall strives to survive

[Berger Time]

Dig deeper Hayley Berger

Many stores at Metcalf South Mall are gated and locked, remnants of the previous stores left behind. One is likely to see only select stores with their doors open. These stores have some trouble making a big income. Photo by Lindsay Rucker

ead, deserted, empty: these words are all used to describe Metcalf South Mall in Overland Park. When it opened in 1967, Metcalf South was the “hot spot” for teenagers, full of stores of all kinds. Today, however, the mall has lost its appeal as many stores have closed. “Coming here when I was little, this mall seemed so much bigger. They used to get Santa Claus up on the top floor, and models used to walk around showing off all the clothes from the stores. There would be 20, 30, 40 people over there and another 20 on that side. Every shop was full all the time,” Troy Williams, mall security, said. Though many vacant lots remain, some spaces are filled with specialty stores, such as Purrfect Pets, a cat store that has been there for nine years. “There really wasn’t a whole lot [when we opened], but there were some stores here and there that brought people in. Over years they have all moved out and left the mall pretty vacant,” Elaine Doran, president of Purrfect Pets, said. Lack of business in the mall has put a damper on the cat store and its adoption rates. “Our adoptions have fallen about 50 percent since 2007 when the recession hit; adoption numbers have not returned to the pre-recession numbers yet,” Doran said.

Many people that used to shop at the mall no longer go due to its lack of stores, leaving hallways empty. “I used to go there all the time with my parents, but soon all the stores started closing and now there’s no reason to go,” senior Timmy Williams said. Photo by Lindsay Rucker

Like Purrfect Pets, many stores have taken a hit from decreased popularity. “It’s ‘Mom and Pop Syndrome.’ These stores and their owners struggle to sell much when they’re open. Everything you can buy in this store can be found at the Walmart up the street,” Williams said. Despite slow business, the cat store has been able to survive due to its customer service.

“Over the years, [the stores] all moved out and left the mall pretty vacant.” “Many people don’t know we’re here. We get a lot of first time visitors, and they’re usually very impressed with how we run things,” Doran said. Another current attraction is Glenwood Arts Theater, known for its independent movies and ‘70s décor. “This theater has a lot of retro styles. We still use films instead of digital like a lot of theaters are starting to use more of now. We have neons, and we use an old-fashioned popcorn machine. It just has a really different style and design that’s unique to this generation,” Elizabeth Cowherd, Glenwood employee, said. While many choose to go to a bigger theater, Glenwood offers a different

selection for people to enjoy. “We have a lot of indie and foreign films that you couldn’t see somewhere else. Right now we’re showing this documentary on Harry Truman, which is an interesting piece,” Cowherd said. “These indie films can give a new perspective. It’s good for teenagers going more towards arts and entertainment.” For the theater, the number of moviegoers depends on what movies are being shown. As for the rest of the mall, business picks up due to local wholesale vendors. These vendors open a few days every month with an assortment of specialty items. “There are a lot more people now that the early voting is going on, and the wholesale group is having their shows, so the traffic picks up quite a bit,” Doran said. With plans in 2008 to revamp the mall, and more recent ideas of demolition, the future of the mall is undetermined. “The future of this mall depends on whether Macy’s decides to renew or not with their contract next year,” Williams said. As the mall’s future remains uncertain, the stores that occupy it embrace their current situation. “We just celebrated our 9th anniversary. People came in and played with the cats. I think it was a good time,” Doran said.

Hayley Berger Feature Editor

“T

Feature Editor

his famous linguist once said that of all the phrases in the English language, of all the endless combinations of words in all of history, that ‘cellar door’ is the most beautiful.” Despite all the crazy things that happen in the movie “Donnie Darko,” the thing that really stuck with me was when the teacher informs Donnie of this linguist’s saying. The scene was less than two minutes long, yet it left me wanting to learn more. Upon researching, I found an article from The New York Times discussing the phrase “cellar door” and the references made to its beauty over the years. Writers ranging from J.R.R. Tolkien to Norman Mailer have all been known to have included “cellar door” in their lists of most aesthetically-pleasing words. Before this, I’d never really stopped to think about the beauty of words. I’ve always loved learning new words, but I never thought that a word or a phrase had an intrinsic characteristic such as beauty to it. Every day, I listen to my friends complain about rhetorical devices they have to learn in their CA class. They always say, “We’ll never need to know rhetorical devices.” And maybe you won’t need to learn them, but to me at least, it’s interesting to learn about all the different aspects of language; to learn that in every thing you say or read or hear, there’s more to it than just the words that form it. Even if you don’t purposely include devices, they’re still present within your words. That’s why I find “cellar door” so interesting: the phrase is so ordinary that you’d never think there was more to it than its definition, yet writers have been able to dig deeper.

The perfect day in

amily or friends have flown in for a weekend and you want to introduce them to the quirks and beauty of Kansas City. Maybe you just want to do something other than watch football and hit up Starbucks with a friend on a free weekend. With several major shopping areas, beautiful space, and some good weather left, you don’t have to venture far. Here’s how the North star would spend...

Ellie Holcomb Co-Editor-In-Chief

Erika Brown Photographer

Kansas City K

C’s River Market is an open square of everything you could imagine. It houses an ecclectic mix of characters and goods. Walking around the colorful and packed open-aired stands, fruits and vegetables ranging from ordinary tomatoes to exotic and out-of-season mangoes are sold at reasonable prices. Tubs of spices mingle together in the air and create a spicy perfume. They’re scooped into clear plastic bags and sold for a quarter of what one would pay at a grocery store. The City Market transforms as it snakes along, giving way to restaurants, a small coffee shop, a bubble tea cafe and a bakery where a glass window reveals the kneading and baking process. The smell of a grill floats to hungry shoppers as men grill sausage and turkey legs on an open stove. Musicians play flutes, guitars, and trumpets, one man singing an old Beatles song, mixing music into the noises of the marketplace. The center of the market is reserved for farmers stalls. They sell squashes, seasonal fruits, eggs, home-raised meats and fresh vegetables. Some bring crafts to sell or fresh baked goods. At the end of the City Market is a museum depicting the Steamboat Arabia, and across from the Market are Bo Lings and The Blue Nile, two fantastic lunch choices.

10:30- The Opera House

his KC Paleo place has a rock-androll vibe, with indie music and guitars painted across the menu board. The multi-layer seating and shelves full of interesting knick-knacks make for a cozy-lodge feel. It’s definitely a place you could spend hours holed up with a laptop, good book or friends. Their pancakes and the baked goods sold at the coffee counter look impressive, and the flavor combinations are unique. The food is average or only a bit above. Their coffee drinks are a cut above the rest. The charm of The Opera House lies in the atmosphere, the friendliness of the staff. Hunker down here with guides, tickets, notebooks, family, and friends. Plan out the day ahead.

2:00-Loose Park

green reserve in KC’s busy Plaza area, Loose park is full of ancient twisting trees, worn walking trails, ducks with sparkling personalities and friendly squirrels. 75 acres provide room to breathe, walk, jog and appreciate the history of the site. Loose Park marks the grounds where the Battle of Westport took place. Fairly underrated, Loose Park isn’t often crowded and provided the perfect venue for a peaceful afternoon walk. Take a few slices of bread and feed the ducks and squirrels. (avoid the geese).

11:15-River Market

den’s Alley is in the basement of a church- so the atmosphere is a bit lacking. The all-vegetarian, partvegan and part-gluten free cafe makes due with what they have, hanging curtains for a private dining area and setting up a children’s play area. Tables are spread out, lighting is cool, and art decorates the open square space. The wait staff is friendly. The food here is a mix of fresh ingredients and classic, hearty dishes. Dishes are delicious and warm, with balanced flavors and enough body to satisfy a meat eater.

1:00-Eden’s Alley

he Country Club Plaza is mainly chain stores, but the appeal lies in more than the shopping. This KC gem is well maintained and home to beautiful architecture. Grab a camera and pose with every statue, then stop in Topsy’s Popcorn for a limeade. The shopping on the Plaza can be enjoyable, from fun shops like Sur la Table and lululemon to favorites like H&M and Barnes and Nobel. The restaurants there receive stellar reviews, such as Buca di Beppo, The Classic Cup and Zocalo. Stroll the streets while Holiday lights are up and lit for extra beauty.

12:20-Country Club Plaza

Anime-ting Freshmen the school create club celebrating Japanese animation

hile most students join clubs their freshman year, freshmen Jennifer Fu and Jordan Vorndran started the Anime Club with their friends.

“I thought that BVN already had an anime club, but they didn’t, so we [started one],” Fu said. Librarian Theresa Gonzalez agreed to sponsor the club. “It’s a good fit for the library because we have a big collection of manga,” Gonzalez said. Anime, a Japanese form of animation characterized by big-eyed characters with bright hair and small noses, Freshman Jordan Vorndran and freshman Jennifer Fu draw Manga in the new anime has gained club that they created. “We both really like anime and we wanted to see who else liked it,” Vorndran said. Photo by Austin Fultz. popularity in

recent years. “I like the style of the art, and how it’s so flexible, and I also like the plot....it’s just really fun to watch,” Vorndran said. “Most people think [anime] is just the big-eyed, pinkhaired girls thing, but it’s not always like that.” “Other [animes] are realistic. Those are the ones where the themes are more realistic.... The ones with the candy-colored hair are more lighthearted,” Fu said. Anime is related to another Japanese art form, manga, which is essentially anime in print form. Popular manga includes the “Inuyasha” and “Naruto” series. “Manga is a black and white comic from Japan.... Anime is [computerized] animation, the actual show,” Fu said.

“They’re the same as normal books, except the way they’re drawn, and the plotlines are very complex,” Vorndran said. Anime Club meets on alternate Thursdays after school in the library. “We’re looking for a room where we can use a projector to show anime... right now we’re just talking about it,” Vorndran said. Though the club is fairly new, the girls have plans for the future. “We’ll talk show anime, do crafts. We’re thinking about bringing in food like pocky, which [is] bread, it’s thin and it’s coated in cream at the top,” Fu said. Fu said that new members are welcome. “If anybody likes anime or manga, you should join Anime club,” Fu said.

Emily Levinson Staff Writer

Diabetics pursue ordinary lives

ew welcome needles into their lives, whether it’s for a routine shot or a voluntary blood donation. For some, however, this poking and prodding is a daily occurrence as they manage Type 1 diabetes. Going into eighth grade, sophomore Sara Coe became dehydrated and lost weight rapidly. “I got really sick and I went to the hospital, and they diagnosed me with Type I diabetes,” Coe said. This “classical” diagnosis, following a period of illness, doesn’t always occur. For math teacher Mark Chonko, having a diabetic brother played a role in his diagnosis. “For me, it was actually a lot easier than a lot of kids because my older brother has had it since he was 5 years old, so as long as I have memories basically, my brother was diabetic,” Mark Chonko said. “My brother had gotten a new blood sugar machine, and I was 10 years old, and it was something to try out. We did a blood

sugar [test] on me and at the time it was 267--to say the least, fairly high. They started watching me closely.” At this point, Chonko was also diagnosed with type I diabetes. Type 1 diabetes results from the body’s inability to produce any or enough insulin, which regulates blood sugar. This means that blood sugar becomes too high and makes the individual sick. Type I diabetes is chronic, meaning it affects people for life. Mark Chonko talks to a student in his classroom after school. Chonko “I’m was diagnosed with type I diabetes going in fifth grade. He wears an insulin to have pump, seen in this picture. Photo [diabetes] by Erica Emert.

for the rest of my life. I will have to deal with checking my blood sugar a couple times a day for the rest of my life,” Coe said. “It’s not the worst chronic disease I could get, but it’s still changed my life.” Diabetics manage their blood sugar through insulin injections. While insulin pumps are now common, an older method of doing this was through multiple shots a day. “I had to get four or five shots a day [when I was first diagnosed] and give seven or eight blood sugars a day,” Chonko said. He now wears an insulin pump, as does Coe, that administers insulin through tubing and a needle constantly connected to the body. “I have a needle in my body constantly. I only take my pump off when I’m either showering or swimming,” Coe said. Chonko and Coe also both strictly monitor their diets. “For me, I think it’s made me healthier, in that I never drank really,

I never allow myself to not be active,” Chonko said. “In some respects, it’s helped me in the fact that I don’t have an option to do some of the things that other people do.” Even with the amount of daily medical treatment their conditions require, Coe and Chonko said they maintain a positive outlook. “Whether you’re afraid of [needles] or not, that’s the reality. You don’t have any options, so you take your medicine and you get it through an injection,” Chonko said. And with advancing medical technology such as the insulin pump as an alternative to shots and newer methods to test blood sugar, diabetes is more manageable than ever before. “Diabetes a hundred years ago would have been a death sentence, but since all of the technology, all of these new drugs that have come out-that makes my life pretty much normal,” Coe said.

Ellie Holcomb Editor In Chief

15 Battle of the brands: “Frat” look takes over L ook around at the clothes that boys are wearing. Notice a trend? It seems as if students almost follow a “dress code” that consists of Ralph Lauren, Southern Tide, and Vineyard Vines. How did a simple trend transformed into a school wide phenomenon? “I feel like the environment has influenced this fratty style, which didn’t take a strong hold until last year with clothes like Vineyard Vines, Southern Tide and Southern Proper,” junior Allen Ye said. This style evolution has undeniably influenced some boys to view frat style as a positive movement. “It’s refreshing that people want to look nice. When you are older and work in an office, you’re going to have to look nice. You are treating school like the office,” junior Andrew Rohleder said. Junior Emma Mikulecky also approves of this popular style of dress. “When guys dress fratty, it shows they care about how they look, which is attractive,” Mikulecky said. Some, though, believe that fratty clothes don’t guarantee “frat star status.”

prevalent at other schools,” Ye said. “You’re not frat if you Some participants of the trend live at home with your have strong opinions about the parents. You can still look fratty look. nice without dressing “People who don’t dress fratty fratty,” junior Linda Yang usually have horrible style. I mean said. dressing fratty isn’t the only nice “Some kids choose way to dress, however, it’s very their look based upon classy to do so,” Ye said. others, however I Others viewed the more choose independence,” Junior Allen Ye dresses to impress with his Ralph Lauren independent students as brave and oxford. “I dress this way because of the environment. sophomore Connor If I went to a different school, I would probably dress admirable. Stewart said. “People differently,” Ye said. Photo by: Erica Emert “If we diversify our style, we’ll may dress ‘frat’ to always have diff erent groups of people. The kids conform to the unpublished standards, and some that wear cartoon shirts to school, we need those people dress as who they are. ‘Frat’ is just an kids,” Stewart said. undefined trend used by high school kids wanting Stewart said he thinks frat is just another transient to become sailors without a boat.” style phenomenon. Due to the area’s affluence, Ye believes that North “Sooner or later, we’re gonna go back to wearing is notorious in the district for this fratty style. baggy pants and neon clothes. Eventually, the “The trend is most noticeable at BVN because of fratty kids will be the ones wearing cartoon shirts,” the wealth we have. I mean look out at the student parking lot and you’ll see BMWs, Mercedes and lots Stewart said. Mallory Bodker of other nice cars which is something that is not Opinion Editor

Pop the bubble with

pon entering the crowded restaurant tucked back behind a strip mall in a tight little corner just off College and Metcalf, the warm greeting and intoxicating fragrances of Kormasutra overwhelm the senses. The initial “oh darn, this place is packed” reaction quickly faded as I watched the three best waiters I had seen in my life work the whole room and the line waiting to be seated. They served free glasses of a tart mango/yogurt smoothie to guests, both seated and standing, on the house, and carried out overflowing baskets of “naan,” an Indian flatbread. Speed is the name of Kormasutra’s game; that is, until they have you seated. Our waiter enthusiastically offered the menu but recommended the buffet and retracted the laminated list, encouraging us to get started

filling up our plates while he served us waters and iced tea. We sampled bright red chicken, brilliant green stews, meat doused in a starkly orange sauce and a plethora of vegetarian options. It’s an absolute necessity to scoop some of the dry rice into the sauces, and I found that mixing everything together created quite a fantastic plate. Before we had even taken pictures of the dishes, our waiter was smiling brightly, offering more mango smoothies and a mug of tangy, orange mango juice. The experience of Kormasutra is as much the interactions as it is the delicious brilliantly colored food. Our waiter kept us well-supplied with delicious mango juice and our plates filled with even more sumptuous delicacies. Check some of them out below:

Spicy Chicken Stew

Vegetable Creme

Green bean and chick pea casserole

Stuffed roll =Rice requried

=Spiciness

Try it for yourself! 7217 West 110th Street Overland Park, KS 66210 Northwest corner of College and Metcalf

Chris Shanklin Staff Writer

End of Twilight fandom approaches

he world of Twilight is not a new one, but with the last film adaption making its way into theatres November 16, new fans may be attracted to the allure of its sparkling vampires and shirtless werewolves. The lasting impact of the series is evident on the shelves of bookstores and in entertainment outlets, where comedians use the franchise as a punchline for their acts. The timeless love story is aimed towards teenage girls, and many are devoted fans have remained loyal to the series and its characters since the dawn of its creation. Critics have been attracted to the series as well, among these are senior Melissa Berger. “Twilight is not literature, it’s written at an eighth grade level. Stephenie Meyer used a thesaurus to make it seem like she was an elevated writer, but she is not. Her writing is crap, her characters are crap. Her plot doesn’t exist. [Bella and Edward] are in an abusive relationship.” In case you haven’t seen or heard the names Edward Cullen or Bella Swan, the plot of their relationship is this: Bella is a clumsy human who

becomes involved with the mysterious Edward. They eventually fall in love; a classic romance, but Edward is a vampire. Bella’s best friend is Jacob Black, who is madly in love with her, and he also happens to be a werewolf. Bella inevitably chooses to marry Edward. The love triangle was shortlived, but inspired a population of passionate “Team Jacob” fans. “My favorite character is Jacob Black... I thought that he was the best character for Bella, and I liked his attitude in the book,” junior Allie MacFarlane said. Fast-forward to the present movie adaption, in which Bella is a “newborn” vampire after nearly dying from giving birth to her half-vampire daughter, Renesmee. She plays a stronger role now, as a mother. She has the chance to prove this with the new conflict. The Volturi, or enforcers of vampire-law, believe that Renesmee is a threat to the public safety, and plan to kill the entire Cullen family. As opposed to the previous movies, “Breaking Dawn: Part 2 will focus less on the romance between Edward and Bella, and more on the threat of war, in addition to Bella’s recent motherhood. Perhaps this new focal point will also draw admirers of action films. But the end is near. Twilight has millions of loyal fans, but with the conclusion to the movie series and no new novels to continue the story, surely the fandom will slowly die. Senior Kayla Paget Kahn has her own theory on the end of this fandom. “After the last Harry Potter movie came out [the fandom] kind of died down. Everyone still loves Harry Potter, but no one’s as upfront about it, despite how much they love it. I think that will happen with Twilight.”

Senior Brittni Walters shows her spirit for the last movie in the series of Twilight. “I bought my tickets the minute they came on sale. I’ve gone to each midnight premiere with a group of my friends.” Photo by Lindsay Rucker

Kiera Bolden Staff Writer

The Ultimate TV Marathon

A “Go On”- NBC

This show about a man mourning the death of his wife by joining a support group is, despite its heavy premise, shockingly funny. Matthew Perry stars as the arrogant but charming sportscaster, and the supporting cast is hilarious. Each episode has its fair share of laughs, crazy scenarios, awkward encounters and touching moments. This light show about a heavy topic is perfect for family or friends and doesn’t require knowledge of the entire season to watch.

Set your DVR to bust boredom this break Ellie Holcomb

Still awesome “Modern Family”- ABC

This gut-busting show captures the hilarious truths about family life in a quirky way, without a hint of (ok, without much) sentimentality. The characters are diverse, ranging from a gay couple raising an adopted Asian daughter to an older man married to a young Columbian wife. Watch this with your extended family over Thanksgiving break and find yourselves laughing at their – and your own – wacky family trees.

Co-Editor-In-Chief Old school “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”

Grab this old classic at a video store or stream it from Netflix. This comedy about a teenager destined to turn vampires to pixie dust with nothing but a wooden stick has witty dialogue, an array of awesome monsters, enough jumpy things to keep you on the edge of your seat and nowfamiliar actors who were just getting their start. Alyson Hannigan of “How I Met Your Mother” fame plays Buffy’s dorky friend Willow and Seth Green stars as Oz the werewolf.

IT’S NOT JUST DOING HOMEWORK.

IT’S DOING WORK THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE, TRANSFORMING AMBITION INTO ACHIEVEMENT.

umkc.edu/choose

R E V I E

Imagine that you’re a successful young writer with the worst case of writer’s block. You stare at the blank screen, waiting for the words to magically type themselves. We all know the feeling. But one night an idea comes to you in a dream, an idea about a girl. She’s by no means perfect; she is quirky, flawed. Now imagine that after a long night of furious typing, that girl, the one you’re writing about, the figment of your imagination, greets you in your kitchen as she casually eats a bowl of cereal. This doesn’t seem possible, but in a recently released dramedy, it happens. From the directors of “Little Miss Sunshine” comes “Ruby Sparks,” a story of love, youth and individuality. In it, Paul Dano (“Little Miss Sunshine”) stars as Calvin, the writer who somehow dreams Ruby Sparks (Zoe Kazan) to life. At first, he is skeptical, but when he realizes that others really can see her, he falls in love. Once she appears, Calvin stops writing Ruby’s story and allows their relationship to develop. They get serious, so serious that Calvin finally introduces Ruby to his mother. But Calvin is possessive, and they start to grow apart because Ruby wants to

t’s no secret that Netflix’s movie selection is lacking. But when you spend time searching through the service’s dozens of submenus, you’ll find those obscure and outlandish shows that you otherwise wouldn’t have heard of, and they just might become your new favorites.

Jason Gann stars as Wilfred, a dog who befriends his owner’s neighbor. Photo from www. ign.com

be more independent. Selfishly, Calvin tries to rewrite Ruby to make her more dependent, but he isn’t satisfied with the result. This just goes to show that as much as you can try to change, you won’t please everyone. What I really liked about “Ruby Sparks” was its innocence. Calvin never asks the questions “how” Calvin (Paul Dano) falls in love with the main character of his latest novel (Zoe Kazan) and then she comes to life. Photo from http://wegotthiscovered.com or “why” Ruby can exist. Instead, he just lets life happen. A recommend “Ruby Sparks”. It had a strong montage of the couple at the beach showcases cast and a thought-provoking plot. the movie’s youthful disposition. As the movie drew to a close, I grew The last third of the film, however, is nervous about its ending. Was Calvin going harder to watch, as the tone shifts to more to wake up from a dream right before the dramatic and ominous. Calvin becomes credits rolled? If that had been the case, I more controlling of Ruby, and you have to would’ve thrown my laptop across the room ask yourself if what he’s doing is ethical. and smashed it to pieces. Rest assured, I’m Nonetheless, the movie was still enjoyable, still typing. mainly due to comic relief provided by Harry (Chris Messina), Calvin’s cynical brother. Danny Rosenberg Entertainment Editor All things considered, I would definitely

A hit with critics and the winner of multiple Emmy’s, “Breaking Bad” is the AMC drama about a chemistry teacher who is diagnosed with cancer and resorts to cooking and selling meth to provide for his family. “I watch [Breaking Bad] because it keeps me wanting to come back after every episode. I like how the chemistry teacher applies his knowledge to creating something that you wouldn’t normally suspect him of making,” junior Jonathan Bush said. “The irony in the show is impeccable. I love it,” junior Alex Samuelson said. “Trailer Park Boys” follows three friends and their misadventures living in a trailer park in Nova Scotia. What started as an idea for a short film turned into a seven-season series. “The show makes me respect Canadians a little more. The characters can be stupid, but I look up to Bubbles, who I identify with because of his love for kittens,” freshman David Zack said. Although Netflix is slow to update its movie

collection, it does maintain a wide range of classics. “My son watches all of those great sports movies from the ’70s and ’80s, like ‘The Bad News Bears’. And the ‘James Bonds’,” social studies teacher Jeff Breedlove said. As for TV shows, they don’t get much more unconventional than “Wilfred”, a comedy about the relationship between man and man’s best friend. The show follows Ryan (Elijah Wood), a depressed man who believes that his neighbor’s dog is actually a guy in a costume. “There’s nothing on TV like [‘Wilfred’]. It’s a person in a dog suit saying and doing inappropriate things. It’s hilarious,” senior Curan Mehra said. “Sure, the premise sounds weird, but that’s why I like it, and that’s why I watch Netflix: for the weird shows,” Mehra said.

Danny Rosenberg Entertainment Editor

Nation will be dragged down by a Democratic president

eedless to say, another four extensive health care to employees, years with Obama in office which subtracts from the pool of is not what I was hoping for. hiring money. Do we really need The economy may be starting back on another burden on the people who the right track, but it wasn’t through have the power to hire and fire? any of his efforts. With the stagnating Unemployment will only be brought job market, what we need is a boost, under control once the government and none of the president’s current or realizes it needs to make hiring future policies are going to help us out economical for business owners. on that front. Increasing taxes on entrepeneurs and Consider the looming fiscal cliff, a requiring health care for employees series of consequences set up by the will only make new hires even less Budget Control Act last year. They desirable. were designed to force Congress into Even Obama’s foreign policy has cooperating on the subject of budget taken us down the wrong road. cuts in the hopes What’s he doing of fixing some about Syria and part of the deficit, other unstable a number that countries suffering under Obama from the aftermath has increased of the Arab Spring? by nearly $5 He’s allowing trillion. If an Russia to veto any agreement isn’t efforts at stopping reached before the violence by Dec. 31, there will taking everything be a 2 percent through the UN. Illustration by: Sarah Evans tax increase on workers, And why on earth would an increase in taxes on Obama publically declare businesses and cuts on over 1,000 the year we would definitely leave government programs, including Afghanistan? All that accomplishes Medicare and the defense budget. is giving the enemy a game plan for Will the president really be able the future. They won’t give up at this to get an already uncooperative point because we’ve told them exactly Congress to find an agreement in when they’ll win. time? With Republicans controlling Honestly, I don’t know what we’re the House and Democrats the Senate, going to do for these next four years. and with Obama’s history of not Congress is still acting as bipolar as a compromising, there doesn’t seem hormone-ridden teenage girl, and I to be much hope on this front. Taxes don’t think Obama is the guy to make will go up for everyone, decreasing them do anything. Another dip into the amount of money available for recession is a huge possibility at this consumers to spend. The result would point, and Obama has proven to me be a huge blow to the economy, which that he isn’t the one capable of getting is the last thing we need in this shaky us out of this mess, both at home and recovery. abroad. Things are not looking up for Another problem is Obama’s America. health care plan. It will mandate Rachel Strohkorb that employers must supply Staff Writer

Obama continues to give Americans a hopeful future

our years ago, Obama took Korea, Romney made it clear that he charge of a diseased America did not want to be friends. Obama and brought back the vigor of on the other hand wants to remove the American dream. He was tasked all troops from Iraq, strenghten ties with solving a plethora of problems: with other countries such as China the housing market, jobs, the wars and help out other countries such as overseas and a list of more concerns Cuba and their emerging government. that were left behind. He solved He is also going to help establish a many key issues such as funding a strong democratic government in the transition to renewable and clean Middle East and bolster the countrys’ energy, bringing the unemployment economies. Most importantly, he under eight percent and helping will continue to work on disarming the poor get access to medicine. countries with nuclear weapons This is why Obama got elected; he and removing the threat from the had a solid plan underground to bring America international back and increase markets. In today’s the amount of climate, where optimism in countries are on America’s future. the brink of war Let’s first look and moods are at the economy. sour between Obama’s policies democracies and show more dictators, a weak lenience toward foreign policy is the the middle class, last thing we need which is important to keep America Illustration by: Sarah Evans because the middle secure. class is key to the economy. Overall, Obama’s A lot of the families at BVN fall into victory was a victory for American this category (yes, even at BVN), citizens. While Obama is sure to help and Romney’s policies would have strengthen the economy and lay the hurt them. foundation for recovery, Mitt Romney People believe that the economy would have undone all of this with comes from the big corporate increased taxes and inexperience with millionaires who hold yacht parties the middle class. every week, but that’s not true. It While Obama has strengthened comes from the middle class citizens relations with other countries, Mitt who each individually spend on Romney would have offended others food, houses, gasoline, and other and put the trust of America in things for their enjoyment. Obama’s jeopardy. Obama will continue with strong influence over the middle the strong policies he has begun and class means that he has control over lead America to new achievements. the economy. Now that the elections are over, it Considering other issues, foreign doesn’t matter if we are Republicans policy was Romney’s Achilles heel. or Democrats. What matters is that Unlike Obama’s well thought out we stand by the president’s goals for and balanced policy with countries the future. Ram Sivakumar such as China, Russia and South Staff Writer

Hard work should be the new focus

Concentrate on the process, not just getting the grade

Working For A Better Education Junior Caroline Adams studies for tests in math and chemistry that she has to make up because she was sick. “To study, I make notecards, read and highlight things, make study groups, and I get tutors,” Adams said. Photo by Austin Fultz

very time I’m stuck in class and the teacher introduces some pointless topic that will surely be on the test, I am left wondering, “when will I ever use this?” We have all been there, and although teachers try to present some random instances that you may need to know obscure facts about biology

and math, they may not be the most important aspects of your high school experience. School shouldn’t be about drilling random facts into our heads, but instead about teaching students how to keep a consistent work ethic and how to manage their time wisely. The truth is that we do learn important information at school, but we barely remember how to use it the next year. According to Learning Expressions, a website dedicated to the development of children, students can lose three months’ worth of information over summer breaks. And even that loss is small when you consider the years that often separate classes on related subjects in school. When we were all 13 years old, and exited middle school, we studied in depth about how atoms bonded. Yet when I walked into my chemistry class last week and we did a simple review of bond formation, it seemed

as if it was a different language. The reason we don’t remember a lot of the things is because we never apply them. We never admire the bonds in atoms all around us while we are doing our everyday tasks, we never analyze sentence structure as we read books or watch TV and we definitely don’t converse in Spanish about pre-determined topics selected by the district. Let’s be honest, no college or job is going to throw some random English questions on your desk and tell you that you have 50 minutes to complete them. They really care whether you are going to work hard and meet their expectations. In the current school system, some students just focus on getting their work done as quickly as possible, regardless of the quality of the job. To be more prepared, and see more fruitful results, it’s necessary to

re-envision the way you do your work. As opposed to seeing your homework as a stack of paperwork that has to be completed, you should split it up into different categories so you can attack your work in an organized manner. It’s more important that you grasp the way you learn something instead of focusing on the concepts you are learning. You might not remember every lesson you learned in high school, but you will remember the way you tackled all of it. As we move on from high school to higher education and a career, our superiors are not going to care about the different tidbits we learned in high school, but rather how hard we are going to work to achieve our goals. To get that promotion or to get that grade you wanted on the test, the best way you can differentiate yourself from others is by showing that you can work efficiently and effectively.

Ram Sivakumar Staff Writer

Senior stress stacks up

or years, students believed the myth that all of their hard work in high school will pay off. By the time senior year rolls around, they’ll be able to relax and enjoy their last year in high school. This myth is far from the truth. My freshman, sophomore and junior years were no walk in the park. With each year, the rumors of their intensity seemed to be proven true. Freshman year was an easy start, sophomore year was taken over by AP European History, and junior year’s homework load was often too much to carry. My expectations were accurate; at least, until senior year. My senior year, so far, has been plagued by college applications, letters of recommendation, constant stress over

my grades and parents and family friends interrogate me about my future plans. The misconception of the “senior year joy ride” has been tricking 12th graders for years. We are conned into believing that senior year is the slacker’s paradise, which is much different from what I have seen. The academic rigor of my classes has in no way been diminished. I was surprised to find myself studying for three tests, just one week into school. It didn’t take long for my work load to pile up and my free time to disappear. Finding the time to balance my social life and school work has become a task in itself. There just isn’t enough time to do it all: homework, applications, senior traditions. With so much work to

do and so much fear of missing out, our last year in high school has not been the year-long coast we were told to expect and has instead become a prioritizing game. Given the challenges that I’ve faced so far this year, I am beginning to realize a new mindset necessary. We should keep our eyes on the prize and consider how much this work is going to pay off. My hope is that the good times we were promised will come with second semester. After the applications have been finished and the test scores have been sent in, perhaps we will be able to relax. So I plead to my fellow seniors not to give up hope yet. Do your best to hold off the senioritis.

Ashley Ruben News Editor

Feeling the Pressure Senior Grace Muller sinks to the floor after a stressful school day. “At first I thought it would be easy,- but then I found out it is one of the hardest years of high school. I needed to upkeep grades to get into college and hopefully a sorority,” Muller said. Photo by Daniel Traub

21 Pressure to excel restricts opportunity

erfection is expected from teenagers today. We’re expected to maintain great grades, score high on standardized tests and be passionate about one thing – or two or three. This quest for excellence in specialized areas limits our ability to join different clubs and activities. We shouldn’t be forced to decide now what we want to do with the rest of our lives. I personally have no idea I’m passionate about, and now is supposed to be my chance to figure out what I enjoy. I’m not arguing that building a laundry list of 15 different clubs is a smart move to make. It is important to choose activities that develop and test our interests, not activities that will please

hen we think of Thanksgiving, we mainly think of the food: turkey, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes-the feast. What we don't think about is where all the leftover food goes. As a nation and community, we seem to be wasting a lot of food. Each year, about 40 percent of all food in the United States is left uneaten. We need to start thinking more about being good stewards of what we have, thinking about the food we waste, and thinking of those who have less than us. Often when we purchace items, we tend to use them to some extent, but not often to the fullest. After a while, these items become uninteresting and are left sitting in a corner, untouched and useless. We treat food the same way. For example, you spot a shiny red apple on the counter and are drawn

a distant admissions official. However, don’t make the mistake of restricting yourself to one or two activities because you feel pressured to excel and show that you are passionate in those areas. If you are not currently enjoying an activity, the time may be ripe to try something new. Continuity is not a virtue unto itself. Sometimes by cutting down the time spent in some activities, there is more time to spend learning about other clubs where you can meet new people with similar interests and accomplish something that you truly care about. We are given so many opportunities to get involved in and outside of our school. From Student Council to Environmental Club to theater, the opportunities are endless, so take advantage of them. In an excerpt from the Washington

I have seen so many students try Post, the Dean of Admissions for to hone in on one activity that they William and Mary noted that being aren’t even that passionate about actively involved in an organization because they feel that colleges want looks better than just being a to see continuity and excellence in participant. However, the dean a certain field of interest. This is a indicated that evidence of a curious mind can be more impressive than an problem that so many of us feel this; I’m guilty of it exclusive focus on too. one activity. should not We have all heard currently enjoying feelWethat we need that colleges want to know exactly a well-rounded what we we want class of students, to pursue for meaning students the rest of our who possess varying life right now. interests. But this Confusion and uncertainty are just doesn’t mean that we should close a part of growing up. Colleges know ourselves off to new opportunities that. because we feel that we need to focus So instead of spending all your time on a few select areas. on one hobby, give into your curiosity I’m not arguing that you should and go try something new. Take the cut down the time you spend on time to stop by the next Kay club an activity that you love. But if you meeting or go out for track and field are spending all of your time in an this spring. You might really enjoy activity that you are not passionate yourself and meet a lot of new people. about, you should not continue with that activity because you feel that is Sydney House what college admission officers want Sports Editor to see.

by its appearance, so you decide to eat it. After a couple of bites, you get tired of the taste. What do you do with the other half of the perfectly good apple? Simply toss it in the trash, and your problems are solved-or so you think. When food is thrown out, it stays in the landfill close to three months, releasing harmful methane gases into the atmosphere. Besides just being harmful to the environment, it is also harmful to families’ bank accounts. A large portion of a family’s budget goes into food. According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, a third of a family’s food gets tossed out a week. In another report, they stated that a family of four throws away $2,275 worth of food every year. Why not just buy less food in the first place? There will be less food waste if we consider how much we need. Consider need versus want when

you’re at the store and save the extra 5 dollars each month, you will feed money. It is a shame we have so much over 50 children that month and food waste when provide a family with others are going food for a week. You can hungry. easily save 5 dollars by If we don’t not buying food that you spend our would have tossed out money on anyway. excess food, Hunger is not only we will have a problem in other more money to nations, it’s a problem donate to food closer to home. Kansas charities around City’s Havester’s is the world. More another great way to than 41 percent share food. Harvester of people in Sub- Even wasting a little food can cost. Try feeds about 66,000 instead of wasting. Picture by Saharan Africa conserving people a week, with your Erica Emert. live on less than help this number can 1 dollar per day, and 32 percent of increase. these people are malnourished. These The next time you think about statistics are even higher in India. tossing out food, think about those Charities such as FoodBank South who don’t share in that luxury. Africa and NGO in India are great Kristen Haug Staff Writer charities to donate to. If you just give

The First Amendment painted in the 400 hallway serves as a daily reminder of our unique rights. Photo by Jessi Glueck

[Messages from Mallory]

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Find the courage to be free

alala Yousafzai, a 14-yearbasic principles of human dignity. around the world. When we debate old who had spoken out for Yousafzai’s shooting and Ershad’s an issue with our friends or campaign women’s rights and against response serve as reminders that for a political candidate or invent the Taliban, sat on a bus preparing intolerance--real, unambiguous, something or write a book, we show to leave school in Mingora, Pakistan vicious intolerance--is alive and well the world that free people of all on Oct. 9. The Guardian reports in our world today. races and genders can accomplish that a Taliban operative entered the What does that mean for us? Every incredible things. Exercising our bus and shot Yousafzai in the head. time I hear a story like Yousafzai’s liberty of thought demonstrates to She survived, but the Taliban has I’m tempted to drop my career global leaders that this is what people threatened to target her again. aspirations and become a human can do when they aren’t worried Yousafzai’s shooting is a tragedy, but rights activist--but that’s not realistic, about being shot on their way home the really horrifying thing about it is and we certainly can’t all be human from school. that this kind of thing goes on every rights activists. I do think, though, In high school, freedom of day in certain parts of the world--she that by exercising the freedoms we thought and creativity aren’t exactly just happened to make it to the press. have in America, we are in a small encouraged, either by classes which Reuters quotes an Afghan official, way pursuing the cause of freedom teach to standardized tests or by Elay Ershad, on the atrocities a social scene that on that occur in his country: the whole discourages "Every day an Afghan individuality. But on the girl is abused, raped, has other hand, we have so acid thrown on her face many opportunities to and mutilated. Yet no one explore our unique liberties, remembers or acknowledges from writing letters to the these girls.” editor to joining clubs that It’s hard to wrap our minds celebrate our identities around events like this. In a to signing petitions to country where women have Congress. As senior Jenny the right to vote and lead, Phillips put it, “The difficult the idea that there are places part is getting the courage where women and minorities to voice our opinions. The are denied the right to live outlets are there.” We should is staggering. In America have the courage to take our we may often feel that we’ve opportunities. Young people attained an enlightened era, in other nations would die in which despite enormous for them. disagreements, almost North Star staffers Ashley Ruben and Ram Sivakumar practice freedom of Jessi Glueck speech by publishing whatever they choose. Photo by Jessi Glueck. everyone recognizes certain Co-Editor-In-Chief

mon! You’re going to be late!” We hear this phrase too often. Society today has put a huge emphasis on timeliness. If you find yourself running just a few minutes late, there is a good chance that you will be penalized for it. I’ve witnessed my classmates walk into class a couple minutes late. The teacher then rants about the importance of being on time and gives the student a detention for half an hour – a whole 30 minutes of sitting in a classroom after school for being just a couple minutes tardy. This punishment seems a bit harsh. In reality, how much is really accomplished within the first five minutes of class? It is quite rare that the teacher actually begins to teach the lesson as soon as the bell rings. In my experience, the first few minutes of class are spent talking about the weekend or the latest news buzzing around the school. It is not necessary to penalize students for their absence in a discussion about the social events of last Saturday night. While some may be concerned that students would abuse the privilege of having more lenient authority figures when it comes to timeliness, maybe it would have the opposite effect. We need to shift our focus from the trivial emphasis on being exactly punctual to using the time we do have in class more efficiently. It is unreasonable to waste time punishing people for something so insignificant when we should be moving forward to accomplish what needs to be done. After all, if people miss even a few minutes of a class that’s deeply engaged in learning, then it’s their loss.

Mallory Bodker Opinion Editor

he stood 5’11, plus her teetering stilettos. Her legs were thin as twigs and her waist boasted a size 0. The photo was clearly digitally altered, but the sickest part was that it always had been- the model-esque frame belonged to Minnie Mouse, draped in a Lanvin mini dress for a Barney’s New York ad. The designer frock didn’t drape kindly over Minnie’s mouse-y and soft-edged frame, so instead of changing the dress, Disney and Barneys New York changed Minnie Mouse’s body. The adjustment sparked protests and a petition asking Disney to return Minnie Mouse to her original size.

23 Comments on the petition, listing reasons the 141,000 supporters have for signing range from a desire to keep their iconic Disney characters pure to more personal stories. “My nine-yearold girl asks weekly at least if she is too fat. She needs positive role models, not more uber-skinny images to compare herself to,” one signer wrote. A pop culture distortion of what we should look like, or who we should be, or what we can do to change this,

is nothing new. But when a childhood favorite -a Disney icon-is altered so that she can fit into a sexy mini-dress, it seems like a step too far. Ten million females and one million males battle eating disorders, the mental health disorder with the highest mortality rate, in the United States alone. With a stigma idealizing thin and children growing up fearing “being fat”, the hurdles are almost insurmountable. Does Disney need to add to the pressure?

Ellie Holcomb Co-Editor-In-Chief

Turn up the heat

ule one of Blue Valley North: layers. I never leave the house without a t-shirt, jacket and coat so I can bulk up for a freezing first hour and strip down for a boiling second hour. Hustling from my car on frosty November mornings, I rush inside to find little actual temperature change. It makes me wonder - in one of the best schools in the state, why can’t we settle on a comfortable temperature? It’s not just that I’m whiny. When I shiver through a class, I lose

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egrets of an Accomplished Child,” an editorial in the New York Times, really got on my nerves. In it, features editor Pamela Paul describes an educational career in which she worked just hard enough to get the grade and avoided actually learning anything. She blames this, of course, on society: our excessive focus on avoiding failure encouraged her to pursue the appearance of success, even at the price of meaningful knowledge and experience. These days there’s a tendency to argue that failure is okay, that exclusive concentration on grades or

focus and pay less attention to the lesson. Walking around school with perpetual goosebumps just puts me in a bad mood. While I’m put off by the cold, others have complained of stiflingly hot classrooms. It seems that when it comes to room temperatures at BVN, there is no “inbetween.” Yes, the primary focus of a school should be on education, not meeting every request by a picky student. However, shouldn’t we seek to foster an academic environment in which students are comfortable and

uninhibited by shivering or sweating? Or at least where students can stop hugging themselves for warmth and take notes? This issue may seem trivial to some, but it can manifest into a real problem with real effects on students. Hopefully, the administration at BVN can recognize the discomfort students undergo due to the very low or very high temperatures in classrooms. Hopefully, the future can bring regulation of thermometers to a reasonable temperature. Until then, try to keep your focus and remember to layer up. Sarah Evans

Ivy League acceptances is ruining us. Frankly, I’m sick of it. In real life, failure is often not okay. It can cost you your job or the trust of those you love. And failure in high school is just as important. If you don’t work to your full potential, you won’t get the future you deserve and desire. It’s that simple. Lots of successful people never learn how to fail. When they perform poorly, it makes them miserable. But that misery, that refusal to accept failure as an ordinary part of

life, inspires them to surpass their previous efforts. You can’t let failure define you, but you don’t have to resign yourself to it, either. Ambition is important. Our society needs people who care about success more than it needs people who can deal with failure. So don’t feel bad for panicking over that test or college application. Who knows? Along the way, you just might learn something.

Co-Editor in Chief

Jessi Glueck Co-Editor-In-Chief

Thanksgiving traditions range from classic to unusual Students, teachers share their holiday traditions

round this time of the year, many families get together to share the holidays with their loved ones. Some visit their grandparents, while others spend time with their immediate family. Newspaper and yearbook staffers, in fact, dress up as Pilgrims and Indians and have a Thanksgiving feast. Here are some other Thanksgiving traditions that thrive in our school. Sakshi Mahajan Staff Writer

“We go to Miami and party. We don’t do anything very traditional.” - Junior Morgan Zaslavsky “I play football with all my friends and my friends’ dads.” - Sophomore Jamie Cohen “We shave someone’s head every year. Last year we shaved KU and MU into family members’ heads depending on what team they like before the game.” - Sophomore Phoebe Frazier “I like to care for my athletes around the time of Thanksgiving.” - Social studies teacher Gregg Buehler “We put a tablecloth on the table and everyone writes what they’re thankful for on it.” - Senior Joshlin Manning “We eat lots of seafood. - Senior Connor Neal “We participate in the Turkey Trot 3k in Wisconsin with my extended family.”

- Junior Emma Mikulecky

We roadtrip to California! Our whole family goes to visit my greatgrandparents. - Freshman Autumn Carrin Each member of our family makes their own dessert. - Freshman Maria Herrera “We have a pie eating contest with our hands tied behind our backs for all the kids and whoever wins, gets first pick on the turkey.” - Junior Miranda Hall “We have a big white tablecloth that every new family member signs. I inherited this recently and looking back, we’ve got generations of family members.” - Counseling Administrative Assistant DeDee Wilkinson My birthday is that weekend so we always have cake and pie. Usually Barbie cake is what my grandma always gets me. -Senior Megan Schultz “We go to Panda Express and get a movie.” Chris Shanklin Illustrator

- Junior Allen Ye