The Express - February Issue

The increase in gun violence in the U.S. stresses the importance of safety and awareness in the event of a shooting.

NOWHERE IS

AFE

CONTENTS

4 A Plea for Safety EDITORIAL

OPINION

5 The Country Roads Didn’t Take Me Home

OPINION

6 Gen Alpha Doesn’t Read, and the World is Doomed

OPINION

7 Women Can Never Win

FEATURES

8

Behind the Beats

Aspiring artists use music platforms such as SoundCloud to showcase their creativity.

18 Striving for Sobriety

By the time students are seniors in high school, at least 62 percent will have abused alcohol and 43.7 percent of all teens have tried marijuana.

24

Kickstarting Dreams

Soccer athletes bring their talents to Sporting KC.

Nowhere Is Safe

14

The shooting at the Chiefs Super Bowl Parade and Rally was the 48th mass shooting of 2024. Senior Liam Shetterly described how the celebration turned into a scary experience. “I didn’t directly see people getting shot but I remember there was blood all over the ground and there were a couple of bodies that people were fencing off so people wouldn’t crowd around them,” Shetterly said. “I was pretty content with gun laws [but] now after experiencing that firsthand, it’s a whole new perspective change for me, so probably a little stricter gun laws enforced.”

A&E INTERACTIVE SPORTS

12 22 27

PRAJ’S PLAYS: Sports Design Editor Prajwal Adhikari revisits recent basketball games.

FITNESS FANATIC: Q&A with Power Life instructor Dasha Sandomirsky.

GUESS THE ROM-COM:

Turn to page 27 to guess the popular romantic movie based of a drawing.

A PLEA FOR

SAFETY

An estimated one million people cheered with friends and family as confetti rained down at the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl Parade and Rally, until gunshots were fired. People ran and police swarmed the area within minutes. A celebration turned to tragedy, with more than 20 injured and one person dead. And already, legislators are acting like nothing even happened. The event was meant to be historic for the happiness and pride our city experienced together, but now we will remember it as the 48th mass shooting of this year.

We have heard about countless shootings and lives lost across our gun-plagued country. We have experienced it firsthand with the shooting at the Jewish Community Center in 2014, the Olathe East High School shooting from 2022 and the Oak Park Mall shooting from last year. 2012 BVNW graduate Erin Langhofer was shot and killed while standing in line at a food truck at First Fridays in downtown KC in 2019. She was an innocent bystander and had not been involved in any kind of altercation before shots were fired, yet her life was cut short because yet another person was carrying a gun. We should not have to be afraid every time we leave our homes, nor live in a world where this is tolerated.

There are restrictions on drugs, driving and even food; almost everything we encounter in

our lives has regulations, yet logic and reason are ignored when it comes to firearms. In the United States, guns are the single greatest cause of death for our age group, yet nothing is being done about it. Lawmakers ask for our support, but do nothing to support us. They say they want to protect us, but have let us down time and time again.

After the parade and rally tragedy, KC Mayor Quinton Lucas said he had faith in the legal process and emphasized “enough is enough,” but he glazed over the fact that Missouri has some of the loosest gun laws in the country. We are appalled to hear about another shooting every day and no one doing anything to stop it. When someone says they are sending “thoughts and prayers” to victims, that is not enough and does not provide us any reassurance. In fact, it only pisses us off.

Hoping for a better society accomplishes nothing if there are no actions being taken. Listening to political figures convince you they “care” does not make the world safer, but laws would. Regulations would. Taking a stance and actually working to save lives would.

We are done feeling unsafe everywhere we go. Changes must be made and steps must be taken. We need help, guidance and safety. This is a plea for someone to take gun violence seriously and actually do something about it. Please.

Laughter may have arisen, but women’s hearts sank as comedian Jo Koy made a mockery of us at the Golden Globes.

“Oppenheimer” is based on a 721page Pulitzer Prize-winning book about the Manhattan Project, and “Barbie” is on a plastic doll with big boobies,” Koy said.

When “Barbie” came out in theaters last July, I was eager to watch a movie that would be both fun and reminiscent of my childhood. As I entered the theater on a warm summer day, dressed up in my pink outfit with my friends, I was expecting to laugh and watch a lighthearted movie. Instead, I left with a great sense of relief. “Barbie” made women, myself included, feel seen.

“It is literally impossible to be a woman,” America Ferrera’s character, Gloria, said. “Like, we always have to be extraordinary, but somehow we’re always doing it wrong.”

There are many jokes Koy could have made about the event widely known as “Barbenheimer,” but he ended up choosing the joke that defeated the entire purpose of the movie. Koy diminished the morals and depth of the film to a cheap laugh about a woman’s body. Women are more than just their bodies. Women are more than just a joke.

This incident may have been a month ago, but that does not mean we, as women, should “get over it.” In fact, small jabs at women are made constantly. It may seem like a joke to men, but being made fun of our whole lives for every little thing

WOMEN CAN NEVER WIN

Written by Sri Trikona, Designed by Sanaee Joshi

we do is absolutely exhausting. I’m done with hearing, “You’re good at this, for a girl,” or, “You just got lucky,” when a woman is successful. Is it really so difficult to recognize women for their hard work and achievements without it being backhanded?

Many women’s rights leaders worked hard to make misogyny end, but instead, it was minimized. Yes, it is better these days; we can wear pants instead of skirts and have jobs instead of being housewives if we do not want to. But still, a gender wage gap persists. The recognition women get for their hard work only comes if they do double a man’s work. We may have equal rights, but we are not treated equally.

dramatic for her reaction. Swift did not react aggressively, and the media took it out of context. News outlets claimed Swift had a “cold stare” and was overdramatic, but when actor Ryan Gosling made a face at a joke told by Koy as well, his reaction became a meme rather than calling him overdramatic.

In an ideal world, misogyny and insensitivity toward women would not exist, but this world is far from perfect. The next time you hear a degrading joke about women, do not laugh. All you are doing is validating the person’s behavior.

In an ideal world, misogyny and insensitivity toward women would not exist, but this world is far from perfect.

Double standards exist, and this was evident when an alternate comment was made about singer Taylor Swift at the Golden Globes.

“The big difference between the Golden Globes and the NFL? At the Golden Globes, we have fewer camera shots of Taylor Swift,” Koy joked.

The camera instantly panned to Swift, who simply took a sip of her drink from her champagne flute.

That clip went viral overnight. Thousands of negative social media posts were made, calling Swift

To all women out there: do not let anyone make you believe that your feelings are invalid, and never let anyone tell you that your achievements are less important than they are. Men, stop denying sexism exists, and be selfaware.

Despite the discrimination, limited opportunities and lack of support we receive, women prevail. Somehow, men can do less, mock us and still get more recognition. From scientists to singers, to athletes, it almost seems like women can never win.

OPINION

GEN ALPHA DOESN’T READ, AND THE WORLD IS DOOMED

Written by Reagan Wald , Designed by Sanaee Joshi

When I was in elementary school I read for an average of two and a half hours daily, and I still have the reading logs to prove it. Winning those monthly class competitions for logging the most hours and flying through every book written by Roald Dahl are still some of my greatest achievements, which is exactly why I am so appalled by the next generation’s lack of reading, especially for recreational purposes.

The most recent tests conducted for the Nation’s Report Card in 2022 showed only onethird of fourth graders read at proficiency levels, meaning 66% of students are not meeting literacy standards.

Technology can be attributed to these declines as it has seemed to replace all traditional activities, especially in the youth. These dependencies have become more prominent as we’ve seen them manifest in the form of “iPad kids.”

trade, right?

Children have become reliant on technology to behave in grocery stores, restaurants and more, and this dependence has transferred over to their recreational and educational lives. In the classroom, it has become incredibly common to give computers to students and let the internet teach them. This early usage of technology in classroom settings has blurred the lines between children’s academic and recreational lives.

The immediate gratification toddlers get from “CoComelon” and the silence parents get to savor feels like a fair trade, right?

Shorter attention spans seen in the younger generation are direct results of their daily access to the internet. The youth’s access to unlimited entertainment, games and media gives them an easy alternative to less instantly gratifying activities such as reading.

forces kids to use their imaginations, learn empathy, and introduces them to unique perspectives they have not yet been exposed to. These attributes are essential for curating well-rounded human beings.

Despite not having access to personal devices until late elementary or middle school, we also have experienced the ramifications of technology’s integration. My generation’s attention spans have become so shortened the majority of my AP English Class can not sit and read for 10 minutes without picking up their phone.

The “iPad Kid epidemic” is not just hampering our ability to read, but also our social development. Our phones have become crutches for encounters with awkward situations, and it seems no one can start a genuine conversation with their peers. If technology dependencies have affected our age group this drastically, I do not want to think about what will happen to kids who have had access to screens since birth.

In public, I’ve noticed a worrisome number of kids always have an iPad in front of them. Sometimes, parents just need breaks, and with the accessibility of technology, it is easy to shove a tablet in a kid’s face. The immediate gratification toddlers get from “CoComelon” and the silence parents get to savor feels like a fair

Recreational reading is directly correlated to great proficiency levels and higher test scores according to the data collected for the Nation’s Report Card of 2022. All 14% of students who reported never reading for fun scored below the basic level while 75% of those who frequently read for their enjoyment scored at the high end of the basic level.

Outside of test scores, reading is crucial to the social and emotional development of all children. Reading

So set an example for your kids or younger siblings and pick up a book. Tolerate uncomfortable silences and learn to just sit with your thoughts. And please, for the future of the world, stop raising illiterate iPad Kids.

Over the course of one year and two months, I committed to three universities to play volleyball. The last year of my life has been a rollercoaster of emotions: experiencing excitement, heartbreak and tenacity. The Division 1 (D1) recruiting process for athletes, specifically volleyball players, needs to be more efficient.

I committed to play volleyball at my dream school, the University of Oklahoma, in the fall of 2022. After about six weeks of being committed there, the head coach unexpectedly resigned. A new coach came in and waited what seemed forever to reach out to me and the other commits. At the time, I was only verbally committed, meaning this coach could make the decision to keep me or de-commit me. But who would do such a thing to a 16-yearold whose dream of playing in the SEC had just come true?

You guessed it. I was strung along for about a month and a half, thinking I was safe. The next thing I knew, I was let go from my dream school in a three-minute phone call with no place to go, no offers and no confidence left in my dream.

The NCAA needs to do a better job at protecting verbally committed athletes from having their futures ruined by coaching changes. Athletes work nearly their whole lives to achieve something as great as committing to play in college, and having it taken away for reasons that ultimately have nothing to do with them is nauseating.

Instead of verbally committing,

THE COUNTRY ROADS DIDN’T TAKE ME HOME

Written by Remi Nuss, Designed by Sanaee Joshi

athletes should sign right away with their school to ensure that the future they have earned stays in their hands. Some might argue that it’s too soon to sign with a school, but if that is the case then the entire recruiting process should take place later than June 15 after one’s sophomore year. This is when coaches are allowed to communicate with players directly.

To make the story even crazier, I ended up committing to West Virginia University a few months after Oklahoma fell through. I was really excited since it was something so unexpected and new. I signed on Nov. 8, 2023. But, again, my coaches resigned three weeks later.

There are three dates for National Signing Day throughout the school year, but many Division 1 volleyball players sign at the beginning of November. This creates a conflict of interest because the ending of the D1 collegiate volleyball season ranges from the beginning of December to right before Christmas if the team has made it far in the NCAA tournament. If a team has not made it to the tournament, their season concludes at the end of November, which is prime time for coaches to leave. Volleyball players are put into a bad position because they

play high school for several months in the fall, which does not usually entail recruiting, and then sign which could unknowingly be right before their coaches leave, resign or get fired.

I was let go from my dream school in a three-minute phone call with no place to go, no offers and no confidence left in my dream.

This time, I made the decision to de-commit quickly and find a new home instead of waiting. With that being said, I was able to come out on top of this excruciating process and will be playing volleyball at Louisiana State University in the fall. Even though my process was exhausting, I would do it all over again if it meant ending up where I am now. The coaches, support staff and players at LSU have made everything I went through worth it. Although things worked out for me, that is not always the case for other student-athletes. What I went through is just one case of athletes’ futures being impacted by poor recruiting policies. Consequently, I believe everything happens for a reason and that all athletes can overcome any recruiting frustrations or adversity in their careers. But, I also believe that the recruiting process has potential to be less confusing and complicated. When I think about the future generation of girls who are excited to go through this process like I was, my heart breaks to think that their future could be tarnished, too.

BEHIND THE BEATS

Up-and-coming music artists explore their talents on various platforms

Written by Adria Heinauer and Maggie Dahl, Photographed by Rachel King, Designed by Prajwal Adhikari

Sophomore Luke Barthol said constantly having his AirPods in and messing

COVID-19. He said he had been hanging out with friends at a sleepover when he started, but

Senior Kevin Li also creates his own music. He said he had already been playing the piano and

Senior Kevin Li uses software called FL Studio to produce music on his laptop. “I use that to create my beats,” Li said, “most of my beats are made from scratch”

for his music, as well as other websites like SoundTrack, BandLab and SoundTrap, from which he has exported his music to SoundCloud.

“I have attempted to [join Spotify], but it’s been kind of a struggle because there are third-party music companies that you have to go through to publish on Spotify,” Singh said.

Li said he posts his beats on Soundcloud and YouTube. He also reaches out to other artists to get them to use his instrumentals. One such artist he has collaborated with is Seviiyan. Together, they have released two of their songs on Soundcloud and one called “Still Holding On” on Spotify.

Senior Christopher White released a new song called “Bounce” on Jan. 31. He currently has six songs on SoundCloud and said he started producing around 2018. He produces music with his cousin RayVon Darks

“That’s something we always bond on and something we always connect on,” White said. “Just sharing different music ideas, and

kind of realized that I wanted to fully pursue it and see where it goes.”

For inspiration, Kent Barthol, Luke Barthol’s father, said that Luke references rap and hip hop, including artists like J. Cole. He said that Luke not only listens to music but also studies the artists and listens to podcasts to learn more about it.

Music can be important to somebody else because it can be a connection, emotionally or physically.

-CHRIS WHITE

really much of a drive for it,” White said. “It’s just, being able to have the ability and that gift from God to do it, you know, so, I just use my

Barthol released his first song on June 1, 2023. He said he used his school computer and free beats that he found on YouTube. He has released around 40 songs since then, his favorite being “Mr. Green.”

“I’ve been dabbling with [music] since middle school,” Barthol said. “I

“He began recording last summer right after school ended. I think he just kind of decided to take a shot at it. And so my wife bought him a $40 microphone, and he utilized different software programs on his computer,” Kent said.

Over the summer, Barthol put together three albums. Kent said he listened to all of them.

“[I’m] really excited because he’s always had such an interest in [music] and has always, I think, wanted to display his creativity. It’s been pretty fun to watch him,” Kent said.

In actual song production time, Barthol said the process can take

anywhere from 15 minutes to a couple of weeks.

“There’s just a lot going into it, and sometimes it takes a couple of takes to get a line down,” he said.

Despite the time that goes into it, music is something Barthol said he enjoys. Ideally, he said he would love to make a career out of it.

“Being brutally honest, the chances are slim but you never know,” Barthol said.

White said he does not see himself pursuing music as a career. Despite this, it is important to him and is a way to connect with his emotions.

“Music is important to me because for me, it’s my life,” White said. “But music can be important to somebody else because it can be a connection, emotionally or physically, it can make people move, it can make people cry. Music is very persuasive so it’s a really good outlet.”

Sophomore Luke Barthol puts music on Soundcloud under the name “Lil Skurb.” “I use SoundCloud, Spotify and most distributors for music,” Barthol said.

SCAN THESE QR CODES

to listen to each artist’s favorite songs

BEHIND THE BEATS

Luke Barthol

“Mr. Green”

Kevin Li “Still Holding On”

Chris White “I thought!”

12/7 vs. KICKAPOO

Sports Design Editor Prajwal Adhikari recaps the boys and girls basketball team records

Designed by Prajwal Adhikari, Photographed by Corey Jones

boys basketball

W 45-36

12/8 vs. Confluence prep academy

12/9 vs. bentonvILLE WEST

12/16 vs. VAN HORN

12/18 vs. CENTRAL

1/4 vs. TOPEKA

1/6 vs. STALEY

1/9 vs. SAINT THOMAS AQUINAS

W 79-50

W 54-41

W 76-41

W 89-61

W 77-50

W 64-53

W 71-64

1/11 vs. BLUE VALLEY SOUTHWEST

1/18 vs. JOPLIN

1/20 vs. OWASSO

1/23 vs. BELTON

1/30 vs. JUNCTION CITY

2/2 vs. LEE’S SUMMIT NORTH

2/6 vs. BISHOP MIEGE

2/9 vs. BLUE VALLEY WEST

2/13 vs. BLUE VALLEY

W 75-56

W 81-34

L 52-41

W 71-51

L 60-53

W 68-58

2/16 vs. BLUE VALLEY NORTH

W 68-54

W 66-38

W 79-47

W 63-43

Senior Joey Matteoni possesses the ball during the Sweetheart basketball game on Feb. 2. “Every single game is important to win, but the Sweetheart game you have a little bit more to play for,” Matteoni said. “It’s the [game] leading up to the dance so there’s a bigger crowd and people there that don’t normally come.” The Huskies defeated Lee’s Summit North, 68-58.

12/4 vs. NOTRE DAME DE SION

12/5 vs. uac

12/6 vs. olathe northwest

12/9 vs. lee’s summIT NORTH

1/4 vs. TOPEKA

1/10 vs. SAINT THOMAS AQUINAS

1/16 vs. GARDNER-EDGERTON

1/18 vs. CARTHAGE

1/19 vs. CARL JUNCTION

1/20 vs. KICKAPOO

1/22 vs. SHAWNEE MISSION NORTH

1/24 vs. OLATHE NORTH

1/25 vs. OLATHE WEST

girls basketball

W 56-25

L 41-33

W 44-29

1/30 vs. WASHBURN RURAL

2/2 vs. NOTRE DAME DE SION

2/6 vs. BISHOP MIEGE

W 46-45

W 59-25

W 51-29

W 57-33

W 61-29

W 63-22

L 44-39

W 62-9

W 49-34

L 45-42

W 44-37 W 40-30

L 47-40

2/9 vs. BLUE VALLEY WEST

2/13 vs. BLUE VALLEY

2/16 VS. BLUE VALLEY NORTH

W 46-19

L 56-50

W 45-40

Sophomore

“We are good at knowing our strengths and weaknesses and use that to our advantage.” The Huskies defeated the Storm, 40-30.

Rylie Edwards, left, and seniors Lainie Douglas and Ella Burvee huddle, before Douglas takes a free throw, to discuss which play they will run next during their game against Notre Dame de Sion Feb. 2. “Our chemistry has helped so much on the court,” Douglas said.

NOWHERE IS SAFE

Gun violence is prevalent in the U.S. and has impacted schools and public safety

Written by Alyssa Gagnon and Inaya Zaman, Photographed by Lila Vancrum, Designed by Avery Sigg

Senior Liam Shetterly said he heard gunshots 100 feet away from where he and his friends were standing at the Chiefs rally outside of Union Station on Feb. 14.

“We started leaving and all of a sudden we heard the shots. Everyone started running and we actually ran and hid right next to those barriers that are right in front of Union Station,” Shetterly said. “I didn’t directly see people getting shot but I remember there was blood all over the ground and there were a couple of bodies that people were fencing off so people wouldn’t crowd around them.”

21 people were injured and one person was killed in the mass shooting that day. These victims were both children and adults. According to the Gun Violence Archive, this is the 48th shooting in the U.S. since the start of 2024.

Senior Siri Gowda who was also in attendance said she and her friends hid in the bathroom at a nearby restaurant during the shooting. They were told by restaurant employees to stay there for multiple hours to make sure the area would be safe when they left.

“We heard screams, people

running, some SWAT teams with giant guns. We were running toward the crowd’s direction but [chose to] run the opposite way and decided to hide in the bathroom of the restaurant we were just in,” Gowda said. “It definitely was not hitting us [at first] but then later on, it really hit us that ‘Oh wait, something could have happened to us.”

When Shetterly first heard the gunshots, he said he and his friends were confused, however, once they realized what was happening, the scene was full of commotion.

“When we first heard [the gunshots], we all stopped, or like, ‘Wait, was that fireworks?’ And then, all of a sudden, a huge crowd of people started to run and that’s when we’re like, ‘oh, shit,’ we gotta get out of here,” Shetterly said.

Additionally, this day marks the 16th anniversary of the Northern Illinois University shooting which resulted in the death of five students and 17 injured.

Although BVNW has never had an active shooter enter the building, Overland Park police officer Jonathan Batley said Northwest is prepared if anything were to happen.

I think we do everything we can to keep our kids safe but it doesn’t mean that bad things can’t happen.

-KELSEY BAKALAR

Feb. 14 also marks the sixth anniversary of the Parkland school massacre which occurred at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. During this shooting, 17 people were injured and 17 people were killed.

Additionally, Batley said students have practiced lockdown lights-out drills multiple times and said he is trained to do a single officer response if ever needed. According to Batley, a single-officer response is when an officer in the building engages the active shooter and tries to stop them.

“If we hear shots, then I would get on my radio real quick and tell the Overland Park police officers

‘There’s an armed person in our school; I need help,’” Batley said.

Social studies teacher Bart Bates said he was part of a team made of

principals and police officers who were trained on what to do if an active shooter entered the building in his last school district. He was licensed through a company called Strategos, which he said is one of the main active shooter prevention training companies.

Depending on the situation, Bates said there are different approaches to dealing with an active school shooter.

“If you’re in a classroom and a kid pulls out a gun and they start shooting people, at that point, it’s too late to hide; you [have] to take them out. So, you [have] to be prepared to kill them,” Bates said. “Likewise, if the shooting’s out in the parking lot, we don’t run out the door. If we’re at a school assembly or at a basketball game and on the other side of the gym, somebody pulls out a gun, my best move is going to be to get outside.”

Additionally, Bates said his classroom is strategically set up so that in the event of an active shooter in the school, he is prepared.

“You’ll notice my classroom door 99 percent of [the] time is shut and locked. In the history of the world, nobody has ever been killed in a school shooting if they’re in a classroom where the door was shut and locked,” Bates said. “It’s a little bit of an inconvenience when my door is shut and a student goes to the bathroom and comes back, but that 10 seconds really isn’t that big of a deal. Why would you not at minimum have a school policy where that’s the case?”

He also recommends everyone be trained on what to do in case of an active shooter.

“I’m extremely biased, but I think 100 percent, everybody in society, should be trained,” Bates said. “You tend to think, ‘Look at our community, it’s safe here,’ but [if] you look at where the shootings are happening, it’s not in the inner city, normally. It’s in suburban, predominantly wealthy communities.”

EVERY DAY:

327

AMONG THESE:

117 210 90 90

46 23

SURVIVE INTENTIONALLY SHOT UNINTENTIONALLY SHOT MURDERED

EVERY YEAR PEOPLE ARE SHOT

117,345

safe. However, according to Batley, the Blue Valley Department of Safety and Security found that students were less likely to be hurt if they remained locked inside a classroom.

Additionally, he said a large group of students trying to leave the building could confuse responding officers.

“If I pull up and I see 500 kids just streaming out of school, trying to determine are these kids potential suspects, trying to weave my way through them to get into the school [will] take more time,” Batley said. “So, having everyone blocked in a safe room is, I think, the best option that the school district believes is available.”

However, in the event of a mass shooting such as the Chiefs rally shooting, in a follow-up email interview Batley said the best thing to do is to get away from the threat

and hide.

“If you are out in the open, such as a parade, then you need to move! If you can get behind a brick or concrete wall, do so,” Batley said.

During the shooting, Gowda said there was a mob of people running in one direction after the gunshots were fired.

“Everyone was running and screaming trying to get as far away as possible,” Gowda said. “It was really chaotic and we had no way of knowing what was going on.”

Last year, BVNW had an incident after school where an alleged armed suspect was believed to have been on campus. According to assistant principal Kelsey Bakalar, the response from the police department was quick and thorough.

said. “We were in lockdown for quite some time because they cleared the building twice.”

Since then, the school has taken further steps to ensure the safety of students and staff by getting badges from the company Centigix. Bakalar said that these badges improve communication between teachers in case of an active shooter scenario.

“Once you push [the button on the badge] every teacher is notified on their desktop and then the lights and the sounds go off,” Bakalar said. “We’ve all had training, and you have to take the training. . . every year.”

“I would say the police were here within a couple of minutes,” Bakalar

Before the Chiefs shooting, Bakalar said she felt safe with the school’s safety procedures. However, since the shooting, she does not know if preventative measures such as these can actually stop an active shooter.

“They had so much in place to

There were 82 school shootings in 2023 according to CNN. (Photo Illustration)

keep people safe, but it still didn’t prevent the shooting,” Bakalar said. “I think we do everything we can to keep our kids safe but it doesn’t mean that bad things can’t happen.”

To teach students lockdown procedures, the school conducts drills to make sure everyone is aware of what to do. In the U.S., it is common to practice these scenarios, however, according to senior foreign exchange student, Elena Santelli, she only began to experience lockdown drills after moving to America.

“We only had drills for fires and earthquakes, not for guns,” Santelli said. “I already knew what I was getting myself into [when coming to the U.S.]...[but] it was so strange because I just came here and everyone was talking about guns in the middle of the hallways.”

Before coming to the U.S., Santelli said her family was worried about school shootings and took them into account when picking out where she would live and go to school.

Now, Santelli said she has become accustomed to hearing news about gun violence.

“When I first came and we had a lockdown, that was [the newest] thing for me… now it doesn’t affect me as much as it did before. I deal with it like everyone else,” Santelli said.

According to Bates, there is a large difference between the number of Americans who keep guns in their homes and people living in other countries who keep guns in their homes.

“The Second Amendment guarantees us the right to bear arms. I think there’s something about the sport of hunting in the history of our country that people are a little more protective of it,” Bates said.

As a gun owner himself, Bates believes owning a gun is acceptable, however said something must be done to reduce gun violence in the U.S.

“I’m all for people having guns and firearms and hunting,” Bates said. “But at the same time, I think there’s some things we can do in order to make us safer, I think we need to compromise somewhere in the middle. We’ve got to do something more than what we’re doing right now as a country.”

Additionally, Shetterly said the Chiefs parade shooting caused his perspective on gun laws in the U.S. to change.

“I was pretty content with gun laws [but] now after experiencing that firsthand, it’s a whole new perspective change for me, so probably a little stricter gun laws enforced,” Shetterly said.

According to Gowda, experiencing the shooting at the parade strengthened her view on gun laws.

“I don’t think this changed my perspective [on gun control laws], it just reinforced my perspective of it,” she said.

Substance abuse and sobriety are complex issues for teens

Written by Sydney Barnett and Reagan Wald, Photographed by Remi Nuss, Designed by Bridget Hamlin

Twice a week, roughly 40 individuals in the Kansas City area attend a sobriety support group run through the FullCircle program, and 30 of them are still in high school. FullCircle is a youth-based nonprofit program focused on support, education and prevention of substance abuse.

Drug use among adolescents has been discussed for years. By the time students are seniors in high school, at least 62 percent will have abused alcohol and 43.7 percent of all teens will have tried marijuana, according to the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics (NCDAS).

Max Muller is the director of the Kansas City Chapter of FullCircle. He said he became involved in the organization after successfully getting sober through similar programs.

“The vast, vast, vast majority of high school students will at least minimally experiment with drugs and alcohol,” Muller said. “We provide a safe, fun environment for young people to get sober.”

Elaborating on the specifics of the program, Muller said the strategies employed are similar to that of Alcoholics Anonymous but adapted to resonate with younger demographics.

“The 12 Steps and Alcoholics Anonymous have been around since the [1930s], and it’s a pretty tried and true way of helping people get sober,” Muller said. “We took the 12 Steps, and we made them just slightly softer for young people.”

Muller said there are large differences between youth and

The whole first step is accepting I have a problem and being able to say that out loud.

-MAX MULLER

adults that need to be considered when adapting treatment methods, especially since adults often seek recovery out of desperation.

“The first step in Alcoholics Anonymous is [admitting] ‘I am powerless over alcohol,’” Muller said.

In contrast to adults, Muller said kids are not normally the ones admitting they need help. When kids initially attend FullCircle groups, he

said they often are forced by their parents or get into trouble at school, which made them start going.

Junior Corynn Miller, a former student at Northwest now attending Blue Valley Academy, said she began drinking at 12 years old. After that, she said her habits spun into a massive problem.

“It was my 13th birthday and I ended up in the hospital. I got alcohol poisoning,” Miller said.

“Everything started adding up and I was just so miserable with myself and life and it seemed like the only answer to everything was substances.”

Two years later, after waking up with an IV in her arm on her 15th birthday, Miller said she knew it was time to get professional help. She said her friends recommended a program called Crossroads, so she looked into it and eventually enrolled.

Crossroads is an outpatient rehabilitation and counseling center for adolescents who struggle with drug or alcohol abuse. The program is profitable and not affiliated with FullCircle, which is a nonprofit support group, but the two programs frequently host social events together.

Being surrounded by other teens who endured the same struggles

as her, Miller said Crossroads was extremely beneficial for her sobriety.

“For me, it was the first place I could really go to, and I felt safe to go to getting sober,” Miller said. “I truly don’t think I would be sober if it wasn’t for Crossroads.”

Similarly to FullCircle, Crossroads employs an adapted version of the 12 Steps to help its patients recover. Miller said that one of the most helpful steps in her journey was the very first step of the program.

“The whole first step is accepting I have a problem and being able to say that out loud,” Miller said. “I still have to think about the first step every day to remind myself of where I came from.”

Although Miller benefited from this process, everyone’s sobriety journey can look different. Some have said the methods used by FullCircle and Crossroads can be too controlling.

Blue Valley Southwest 2023 graduate Tatum Veatch, who attended Northwest for one semester during her freshman year, was a former attendant at FullCircle and said she had a negative experience with the program.

Veatch said she had many issues with FullCircle, but one of the most prominent was her not being allowed to hang out with her old friends or talk to people who were against her joining the program.

Furthermore, Veatch said she told Muller she never drank or participated in substance use when hanging out with her old friends, but he still would not let her talk to them. She said she was put on a “no social media commitment” after reaching out to one of her friends outside of the group.

“I feel like that has a lot to do with being in a cult-like group,” Veatch said. “If you go out and talk to [your old friends], they’re gonna convince you to leave that group if they see something wrong with it.”

Veatch urged people to not join the FullCircle program if they are experiencing problems with substance abuse.

“There’s so many resources out there,” Veatch said. “There’s so many places that you can go to besides FullCircle and Crossroads.”

Disputing these accusations about his program, Muller said he never controlled who his students were friends with or monitored their phone activities.

“What they do on their own time is on them, we don’t control that or try to manipulate that in any way,” Muller said. “The staff would never ever [put kids on a ‘no social media commitment’]. That is absolutely crossing the line and any sort of ethical barrier.”

Muller said that when working with teenagers in active addiction, resentment or discontent can sometimes build.

“When we confront [addiction] and we put up barriers in their ability to get drunk or high, sometimes people get resentful,” Muller said. “Our only motive is

to try to provide them the tools necessary in order to stay sober long term.”

Miller said the most critical part of staying sober long-term is taking responsibility for herself and her actions.

“I kind of just made so many excuses with [my sobriety],” Miller said. “I was just hurting so many people around me.”

In addition to her substance abuse harming her relationships with friends and family, Miller said her academic performance was severely impacted as well.

“I mean, I was failing in school,” Miller said. “I could barely even show up to school and if I did, I was not sober whatsoever.”

Senior Lane Fetters moved to Northwest from Memphis, Tenn. at

The National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics says by the time students are in high school, at least 62 percent will have abused alcohol.

BVNW’s social worker Anyssa Wells says the first thing she would recommend to students looking to find help for substance abuse is talk to a trusted adult. “Seek an adult you trust to lean on for support and figure out what you need to help you in that process,” Wells said.

the beginning of the school year.

Similar to Miller, she said she felt her friends in Tennessee, especially those who were more severely involved in substance use, started to struggle with school.

“They didn’t show up to class [and] they didn’t try,” Fetters said. “I felt like I would be dragged down by them.”

To help this, Fetters said schools need to recognize that students participate in substance use and should provide more information about its consequences.

“I feel like schools could provide more education on [drugs],” Fetters said. “They should probably be providing more outlets for help.”

Similar to Fetters, freshman Caleb Jung said high schools need to give their students more information about the impacts of drug usage.

“In middle school, we had a counselor lesson every month or so [about drugs],” Jung said. “I haven’t had anything like that since I came to high school.”

Assistant Principal and Activities Director Kelsey Bakalar said the

Blue Valley School District works to educate families as a whole on the impacts of substance abuse. She said the district has guest speakers who share information about the effects of different substances with parents.

Bakalar also said the safety committee in the district is working on what else to do to better educate students and families.

“I think you’ll see some yard signs start to pop up out front and maybe some signs within the building that are just educating about the effects of different substances,” Bakalar said. “If we have students who are using [a] substance, they can get a free evaluation where someone will help them to determine how they can get the help that they need.”

However, Bakalar said these evaluations are a more reactive action taken against substance abuse when it is better to be proactive.

Regarding education, Muller said public schools should make efforts to do more than simply tell the students drugs are bad for them.

“The common thing that kids hear

nowadays is drugs are bad and you shouldn’t do that, [but] drugs are pretty awesome or people wouldn’t be doing them,” Muller said. “Just saying ‘stop doing drugs’ and being strict about that doesn’t necessarily change or help the problem.”

Muller also said that substance abuse often starts from peer pressure and to be aware of teenage susceptibility to it.

Similarly, Bakalar said she thinks peer pressure is a significant factor in teenage substance abuse. However, she said this pressure does not have to come verbally.

“It’s simply hanging out with those people. As we’re all learning to make decisions, that can be pressure in and of itself,” Bakalar said. “You can still get in trouble if you’re with a group of people and they’re using a substance and you’re not.”

As someone who has spent time around people who engage in substance abuse, Fetters said it is important to not succumb to peer pressure.

“If you don’t want to do it, don’t do it,” Fetters said. “Don’t let them

try to pressure you into doing something that you don’t want to do.”

Miller also agreed that the commonality of substance abuse in younger generations in addition to peer pressure is important to be aware of.

“I think with a lot of teenagers it really just is our generation,” Miller said. “I don’t think people see the problem with it because they’re so used to it and no one tells them that it’s wrong.”

Although peer pressure is often a cause of teenage addiction, Muller said it can also be a part of the solution.

“What makes our program work really well is the positive peer support,” Muller said. “It’s like a net of people that help them whenever they’re struggling.”

Agreeing with Muller, Miller said she has found a very supportive group of teens through programs like Crossroads that help her stay sober daily. She also said the amazing community inspired her to stay involved with the program and help others with their sobriety.

“I truly have real friendships and real connections and I have never felt more relief in my life,” Miller said. “Seeing what getting sober has done for me [has been] a motivation to help everyone I can.”

Northwest’s Social Worker Anyssa Wells said that when trying to figure out how to help those around you maintain their sobriety, it is important to remember there is no

foolproof method or guidebook.

“I wish I had a magic trick or something to help with that,” Wells said. “I think the biggest thing is talking with someone about it and recognizing, like, ‘I don’t want to use,’ or ‘I don’t want to fall into that,’ and finding people around you that can support you.”

Bakalar said she encourages people to talk to their friends if they are concerned about their safety.

“[You are] the best person to say something because typically it’s someone you love [and] care about,” Bakalar said. “You don’t want to see them in pain.”

However, Fetters said it is important to stay amiable when working with friends or peers who participate in substance use.

“Don’t shame them for engaging in substance use,” Fetters said. “Try to provide them help if you think that it’s going to become a genuine problem for them.”

Bakalar advised students to go to a trusted adult first when dealing with substance abuse. She said going to an adult the student is comfortable talking to is the best place to start because that is someone who will support them.

Similarly, School Resource Officer Johnathan Batley said he encouraged students struggling to reach out to their parents first, then an adult in the school community.

“[Your parents are] the ones who are going to have more opportunities to get you the help you need,” Batley said. “If you don’t

feel that they are taking it seriously enough, absolutely reach out to somebody at school, another trusted adult.”

BVNW’s School Resource Officer Cameron McLain said that he and Bately genuinely want to help students struggling with substance abuse and are not out to get them.

“We’re not looking to charge people,” McLain said. “You can come in and talk to us and we’re happy to give you the resources you need.”

Miller advised the parents of teenagers with addictions to know that the recovery process isn’t going to be perfect.

“We are still gonna make mistakes but the fact that we are in recovery is the most amazing part [because] we are all trying,” Miller said.

Muller gave his advice on what to do when trying to seek help individually.

“Start by asking for help,” Muller said. “That’s a really, really tough thing to do, [but] it also brings light to the problem.”

In addition to this, Muller said it is important for people to not judge those who reach out for help.

“To the families and counselors and administrators and teachers or whoever that young adult has reached out to, make sure that you’re responding rather than reacting,” Muller said. “[Do not come] from a place of judgment if they are asking for help.”

Dasha Sandomirsky:

fitnessfanatic

Senior Dasha Sandomirsky channels her passion for fitness into the role of an instructor at Power Life Yoga Barre Fitness

Written by Blen Belachew, Photographed by Paige Mailliard and Allison Leese, Designed by Lindsay Maresh

Q:

Q:

Q:

Q:

When and why did you begin your fitness journey? A:

Do you have specific gyms you workout at?

Q:

Q:

How did you get a position and start training as an instructor at Power Life?

I have been on this journey since sophomore year. My motivation is that I was active and I used to be a swimmer but then I started to hate it. I wanted to still be active and lifting was just something that I wanted to try and then I loved it. I loved how much you can see yourself making progress and it’s just so rewarding. A:

In general, what are your opinions on health and wellness? A:

I go to Lifetime to lift. I go to Power Life Yoga for different classes and stuff and that’s where I also teach.

I love it. It’s one of my passions. I love making healthy meals, working out, meditating and just doing all the healthy wellness stuff. A:

What was your emotional process throughout training? A:

What class or classes do you instruct? A:

I had a 50-hour course twice a week, four hours a night for six weeks and I went through the certification, I taught a practice class and I auditioned and then they gave me the job. After that, to train, we learned all the postures, cueing and energetics. We had homework that we had to do every night.

Once I started training, I thought to myself ‘what are you thinking?’ I went to the first training session and all the other teacher trainees were 10 years or older than me. It was a tough thing to fit in, but I did it and I’m proud of myself for doing it.

I instruct this class called Power Sculpt. Sculpt is a mix of pilates, yoga, cardio, and weights. It’s all in a 145-minute class window. It’s in a heated room with the music blasting up really loud and it’s just such a fun class and it’s something different. Every class is different too. So, students never get bored and I never get bored of going to classes.

A: Q:

QWhat specific routines do you instruct during class?

How do you prepare for your lessons?

Is there a step-bystep routine of what you do? A:

What do you do after the lessons are over?

A:

I start with yoga, it’s a little yoga sequence like 10-15 minutes. Then we start with the weights and that’s for 30 minutes. And then for the last 10 minutes, its core and cooldown.

Q:

How do you feel about being able to pursue your passion through Power Life?

Anything else you would like to add?

A:

After the class, I make it a point to hold the door for everyone, say thank you for coming, and tell them to have a good day and just be welcoming and kind and friendly. I think that’s really important.

I am the first one to open up the studio and my class is at 8:30. I wake up at six in the morning on a Sunday and get there at 7:30 a.m. I open and heat up the studio, play the music, test my playlist, set up the mic and write my sequence. A

I can teach people some of the workouts that I do. I feel like I’m a good encourager, I like hyping people up. Overall [it’s] a fun thing for me to do since I’ve been lifting and going to classes for so long. I feel like I have the experience to do something more with it so I just wanted to become an instructor at Power Life.

Don’t be embarrassed by your [hobby] and don’t let others opinion tell you what to do. If you find a hobby and you love to do it, don’t stop at just doing it. Try to enhance your journey, and you won’t regret it.

Senior and Power Life Yoga instructor Dasha Sandomirsky stretches before teaching a class on Feb. 4. “I make $45 per class, but I don’t care about the money,” Sandomirsky said. “This is a hobby I can have for life.”

KICKSTARTING DREAMS

Three Northwest students follow the Sporting KC Academy pathway to play professionally

Written by Danielle Croom, Designed by Sri Trikona

Sophomore Kyan

Detmer moved more than 1,300 miles from Las Vegas to pursue his dream with the Sporting Kansas City Academy.

At five years old, Detmer began his soccer journey, starting with a recreation league team and later playing for the Las Vegasbased club, Heat FC. He said his dad, Phillip, previously played in Germany as a semi-professional player which inspired Detmer to follow a soccer pathway.

When Detmer was 12, he said a scout watched him play in a tournament, and he was recruited to play with Sporting.

The Academy consists of five teams (U-13, U-14, U-15, U-17, U-19) and the players can eventually join the Sporting KC first team without going through the MLS draft process, according to the SKC Academy website. Tryouts are held in May for the U-13 and U-14 teams. For others interested, candidates must complete a form for consideration. Their main way of inviting players is on a trial basis, identified through Sporting’s scouting network.

Detmer is a full-time player with the U-15 and attends practice five times a week for two hours at Swope Soccer Village in Kansas City, Mo.

In a typical week, the team plays two games. With frequent traveling tournaments and a booked practice schedule, Detmer said he spends his spare time doing homework, whether that is waking up early before school, or using AST to kick out a chunk of homework.

“Usually, I get 30 minutes before I have to get ready and go to practice after school so I try to do as much as I can,” Detmer said. “I get home at eight or nine and then finish my homework.”

Next year as a junior, Detmer said he has to drop out of sixth and seventh hour to get to practice on time. He said he plans to take virtual and summer courses to stay on an academic track.

Through this needed flexible schedule, Detmer said the continued support from his parents has made it possible to live his dream in KC.

Overland Park, Kan. in July of 2022 right before Detmer’s freshman year at BVNW. Kori, his mom, said this move was challenging for him and the family.

“Moving was a lot of big firsts for him in high school with a larger school and new team,” Kori said. “It was a hard transition but as a family, we support each other and when we have big dreams, we will follow that.”

Detmer’s dad currently lives in Vegas but said he visits at least every other week to stay for the weekend.

This is pretty hard for everyone because it is a sacrifice, not only for me but for my parents, -RONALD LOZANO

“They did everything they could to help me get here. They were even willing to have me stay with a host family just to get me out to Kansas,” Detmer said.

The Detmer family moved to

Living a similar life, sophomore Will Gertner plays on the U-15 team with Detmer. Gertner said he moved to Kansas in sixth grade and attended Oxford Middle School while playing on the U-12 team with the Sporting KC Academy.

Gertner lives with his dad while his older siblings and mom live in Oklahoma, where he was from, originally. He said that living with one parent has taught him to be responsible.

“I mean, you gotta mature from a

Sophomore Will Gertner does a drill during practice. “I think practice is big in helping perform in games,” Gertner said. “I have the freedom to try things and see what works so I can execute them in games.”(Photo courtesy of Sporting Kansas City)

young age,” Gertner said. “Without having my mom [live with me] I had to learn how to cook.”

When Gertner was 10, he said Sporting came to talk to his coach about his interest. From there, Gertner came up to Kansas for a trial and then received a spot on the U-12 team.

Throughout the season, Gertner said he trains by doing drills with the ball and running to stay in shape.

“I work hard and try to put in extra work after practice,” Gertner said. “I want to go pro or at the minimum get a D1 scholarship.”

Detmer said he aims to finish the

Academy and then focus on college and professional soccer.

“I want to make it through U-19 year, which is the last age group and then if I don’t make the second team, I will go to a good college while also playing soccer and then see if I can get drafted into the MLS,” Detmer said.

The second team is a step between the Academy and the first team within Sporting’s professional player pathway.

For the U-15, U-17 and U-19 groups, it is fully funded by the SKC Academy, meaning they do not have to pay fees associated with coaching, facilities, travel, equipment,

tournaments, etc.

Junior Ronald Lozano plays on the U-17 team. He said his goal is to get a contract with Sporting’s first or second team after he finishes his last two years with the Academy.

Lozano got recruited by a coach who came to watch the State Cup held in Kansas. Then, he said he got offered to stay with a host family for the week of tryouts, away from his home in Wichita.

For Sporting’s young athletes who live too far for daily commute, their residency program matches each athlete with a host.

Host families are expected to provide a safe and supportive environment on the field and in the classroom. According to SKC, host families receive $500/month for each player they host. Families are selected through similar interests and lifestyles after being evaluated. For more information about Sporting’s residential program, check out their website.

Lozano said living with his host, Steve Bartel is like having a role model, as Bartel was a co-founder of Sporting.

“I call him like, kind of my grandpa,” Lozano said. “He’s always there for me.”

With around a two-hour drive to Wichita, Lozano said he tries to visit his family over the weekend. Also, he said his mom typically helps him pack lunches for the upcoming school week by making the effort to drive to Overland Park.

“It’s kind of hard for me, because I’m used to always being with my sisters, so that was pretty tough,” Lozano said.

From committing at an early age, Lozano said his parents have always wanted this opportunity for him.

“I really wanted it too but I think [my parents] wanted it more than me sometimes,” Lozano said. “They want me to go pro in soccer, and become someone important.”

Living away from his family, while taking five classes at BVNW and working a job, Lozano said that is all worth given the chance to do something amazing.

“The only reason I’m doing this is because I really love the sport,”

Lozano said. “I have a passion for it and I can see it as a job for myself later.”

Their season with the Academy started in February and will end in late June. Their games are held nationwide and within the region.

These athletes had their first game on Feb.11 in Chicago. The U-15 team lost to the Chicago Fire FC 3-0, and the U-17 team lost 4-0. Their next game is scheduled to be on Mar. 2 against Minnesota United

Swope Soccer Village, where all of Sporting’s home games are.

Lozano said this lifestyle is worth getting to do something he loves, but it requires work to get there.

“If you really want it, you have

to work and not get distracted,” Lozano said. “This is pretty hard for everyone because it’s a sacrifice, not

at

Sophomore Kyan Detmer plays in a game at Swope Soccer Village last year. Detmer says his team also practices at the same venue. “In a regular week we practice every day,” he said. (Photo courtesy of Sporting Kansas City)

GUESS THE ROM-COMFROM THE SCENE

ABOUT THE EXPRESS

CONTACT INFORMATION

Mailing address: 13260 Switzer Rd., Overland Park, KS 66213

Phone: 913-239-3544

Email: BVNWnewspaper@bluevalleyk12.org

RESPONDING TO THE PUBLICATION

Letters to the editor may be submitted electronically on our website at BVNWnews.com. Letters may be published either on BVNWnews.com or in our print edition. Letters may be edited.

ABOUT US

The Express is the official high school news publication of Blue Valley Northwest High School, an open forum distributed to all students seven times a year. This is the February Issue of Volume 31. The Express is printed by Valley Print Logistics, 160 S Sheridan Ave, Valley Center, KS 67147.

DISCLAIMER

This is a student publication and may contain controversial matter. Blue Valley Unified School District No. 229 and its board members, officers and employees disclaim any responsibility for the content of this student publication; it is not an expression of School District Policy. Students and editors are solely responsible for the content of this student publication.

EQUITY POLICY STATEMENT

BVNW Publications is committed to amplifying the voices of our student body and community, no matter the color of skin, religious belief, financial status, gender or sexuality. We are an independent platform that by practice, and by law, is not a mouthpiece of the school district. We promise to cover all stories with fact and integrity. We stand in solidarity with all people who are fighting for equality. We promise to educate ourselves and represent our entire community to our audience to the best of our ability. For our students, teachers, readers, viewers and families who are struggling for equality, we deplore the injustices you face. We strive to be a unifying platform that celebrates diversity and shares your stories, and we will continue to work toward increasing minority voices internally, as well as externally. We may not always get it right, but we will try, and we will listen and be open to suggestions on how to better tell your stories.

THE EXPRESS STAFF

Editors in Chief

Lexington Jones

Lila Vancrum

Online Editor

Jenya Jithesh

Copy Editor

Hannah Rakolta

Social Media Editor

Bridget Hamlin

Design Editor

Avery Sigg

Managing Editor

Alex Cowdrey

Blue Valley School District #229

Blue Valley Northwest H.S. 15020 Metcalf Avenue

Overland Park, KS 66223

Sports Design Editor

Prajwal Adhikari

Podcast Host

Saraphina Wambi

Chief Writer

Sydney Barnett

Chief Photographer

Remi Nuss

Writers

Addie Aadland

Blen Belachew

Rishitha Bonthu

Danielle Croom

Maggie Dahl

Alyssa Gagnon

Nafsiya Hafiz

Adria Heinauer

Sanaee Joshi

Madison Kraft

Harper Latta

Lindsay Maresh

Sara Scheibel

Sri Trikona

Reagan Wald

Inaya Zaman

Assistant Adviser

Amanda Ford

Photographers

Libby Addison

Rachel King

Miles Thomas

Jordyn Johnson

Lainey Fetters

Corey Jones

Allison Leese

Paige Mailliard

Adviser

Jim McCrossen