The Tiger Print — December 2006 by The Tiger Print

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tigerprint 6001 W. 159th Stilwell, Kan. 66085 Dec. 8, 2006 â&#x20AC;˘ Vol. 37â&#x20AC;˘ Issue 4

Tigers dominate 5A State Championship page 11-13

Photo by Jay McPhail

The right gifts page 17

Alternative holidays page 16

currentevents

Dec. 8, 2006

Band, choir students compete for state recognition

anitagaller

staff writer

t 6:15 a.m. on Saturday morning senior McKenzi Foster arrives at the school to warm up for her district choir audition. Foster and 19 other choir students arrive in the choir room to get ready for their tryouts. Band and choir students arrive early to take a bus to Baldwin City, Kan., where the auditions are held. District auditions for band, choir, orchestra and jazz band took place on Saturday Nov. 11, in Baldwin City Kan. Auditions began at 8 a.m. and continued throughout the afternoon. Students auditioned in a room with a petition set up between the judges and the student, so the student and judges couldn’t see one another. The judges consisted of different music directors from the district. Three different directors judged each student. “I was nervous to go because I didn’t know what to expect,” Foster said. “I was a little nervous at first but I had done it the last two years so I felt prepared,” senior Ann Gorsuch said. Band had eight students chosen for district, which included Riley Shaw, Joel Cox, Gorsuch, Molly Hartz, Steven Qiu, Annette Ahlmann, Danny Wood, Mitchell Smith, Philip Heinrich and Emily Crooks. Once the students are selected for district they are automatically considered for state. Students will find out if they made state around the last week of February. “I don’t really expect to go to state

iger riefs

Debate Debaters will continue to compete in postseason competition today and tomorrow at the Olathe

Chambers students pose for the camera during Arts Potpourri on Nov. 2. From left to right are Alix Santa Maria, Taylor Avazpour, Megan Harris, Tyler Smith, Kelly Cosby, Ronald Morgan and Alex Solis. Photo by Nina Humphrey. because it’s really competitive, but it would be a good surprise,” junior Kelly Cosby said. If a student is selected for state they are considered part of the All-State group and will perform at the Kansas Music Educators Association in December. Choir students were required to sing parts of two songs they were given by the district. Each year the state chairmen select the music. Students were also required to sight sing a few measures. Cuts were given when they arrived at the judging.

East National Forensics League qualifier. Juniors Megan Adams and Megan Ritter,Andy Beye, Brian Israel, Andy Irwin, Alex Scott and seniors Austin Quarles and Anthony Bertolone will combine in four pairings for the competition and will be accompanied by sophomores Josh Dean and Taylor Nichols as alternates. Teams for the state competition are undetermined at press time.

“I thought the sight singing was going to be hard, but it wasn’t that bad, but the cues for the songs were difficult to come in at,” Foster said. Along with Foster other students who made district choir include Sarah Cline, Mindy Moeller, Stefanie Wienecke, Cosby, Megan Harris, Malissa Wolfe, Taylor Avazpour, Nate Chastain, Josh Dean, Cam McCallie and Tyler Smith. All choir students had the opportunity to audition for district if they wanted to, but only

Musical This year’s musical production, Crazy For You, directed by Mark Sweezy and Marsha Moeller posted its cast list the day before Thanksgiving break. The starring roles in the cast of 67 include, Taylor Avazpour, Josh Dean, Alex Nichols, Jeremiah Watkins, Mindy Moeller, Stefanie Wienecke, Brandon Mikel, Maggie Haren, Samantha Steinmetz, Annie Wade, Alex Matteo,

a certain number were allowed to go. Choir was only allowed to take 20 students. Students learned the music in class and then had the choice of auditioning. “I’m hoping they all get to go on to the next level,” choir director Marsha Moeller said. Foster said she enjoyed the experience of auditioning and is now getting the opportunity to perform at the KMEA in December. Though not all students will get to go on to state, Moeller said, those who made district still achieved a distinguished honor.

Rachel Hanson, David Hayward, Jake McNiel, Cam McCallie, Tyler Smith, Ben Ehret, Justin Prelogar, Danny Woods, Ben Stratman, Bumni Morohunfola, Michiel Weenink, Michael Reardon, Sean Elliot, and Tom Fletcher. Auditions were held on Nov 13-17. Around 90 students tried out for the musical. Crazy For You will run Feb 1517. Musical teasers will be Wednesday, Feb. 14.

Early Graduates For most students high school is a four year process, but for a group of seniors, Dec. 20 will be their last day. These students are Madeline Bailey, Katherine Baker, Aurora Barker, Whitney Benson, Christine Blair, Kristina Boyd, Cortney Copp, Katie Dallman, Lila Dickerson, Taylor Haggerty, Laura Nigro, Nu-Ngoc Phan, Shamilene Sivagnanam, Landon Springer, Kara Vaglio and Sonia Vieyra.

currentevents

Dec. 8, 2006

Sports celebrities galore

Senior Zach Rampy ac-

cepts his award as the best football player from the KC area, as Metro Sports’ Dave Stewart and1991 Simone winner Andy Murray look on. Celebrities in the crowd included Hall of Fame quarterback Len Dawson and the Chiefs’ Tony DiPardo. Photos by Sarah Hockel and Jay McPhail

Zach Rampy wins football’s Simone award KC area coaches, players honored at special assembly

Coach Steve Rampy and

broadcaster Dave Stewart share a humorous moment at the awards ceremony.

ave Stewart of Metro Sports said the Simone Award was about faith, football and family, and his statement accurately described last Tuesday’s ceremony in the Blue Valley High gymnasium. Both senior Zach Rampy and coach Steve Rampy won prestigious football honors at the 24th annual Thomas A. Simone Football Awards. As his BV community looked on, Zach, who set numerous school records, was announced as the most outstanding football player from the metro area, the Thomas A. Simone Memorial Award. “It’s a great honor to get this award,” Zach said, “not only for me but for the whole team. It’s been an awesome year for both, and this is a great way to end it.” His father Steve Rampy, who received Metro Sports Kansas coach of the year and KC Chiefs coach of the year honors, addressed the crowd about Zach’s achievements. He also commented on Zach’s winning qualities. “Zach’s greatest strength is his poise,” coach Rampy said. “He always played his best when it mattered most. He never showed nervousness.

“His other greatest attribute is his passion. He knows the Blue Valley tradition and is passionate about that tradition. He has passion about football, but I didn’t know that until his ninth grade year.” As Zach’s dad, Rampy said, he is most proud of the person Zach has become. The awards were not exclusive to the Rampys. Harrisonville’s Michael Keck won the Bobby Bell Award for small school lineman/linebackers. Presented by the KC Chiefs’ Jared Allen, the Buck Buchanan Memorial Award for large school lineman/linebacker went to Blue Springs South’s Tony Taylor. Pat Cashmore, a running back from St. Pius X earned the most outstanding football player-small school, the Frank Fontana Award. Winning the Missouri coach of the year was another 13-0 coach, Corey Oder, from Blue Springs South. Other dignitaries, who addressed the student body and guests, included Anthony Simone, award founder, BVHS graduate and 1991 Simone recipient Andy Murray and special guest Len Dawson, NFL Hall of Famer, former Chiefs’ quarterback and current KMBC-9 sports anchor. The Simone Memorial, which honors athlete Tommy Simone who died at the age of 12, also contributed $1,000 to each of the winning four high schools.

KC Chiefs’ Jared Allen presented the Buchanan lineman/line- After Zach Rampy parades his trophy around the gym, his teammates congratulate him. backer award amid lots of applause.

Hall of Famer Bobby Bell presents a defensive award to Harrisonville’s Michael Keck.

ourvoice

E.T. shouts

Dec. 8th, 2006

staff editorial

home

Ellen Thomas

All we need is 20 minutes

emember back in kindergarten when, after snack time, you would get your mat or towel out and take a nap? You didn’t want to sleep, though. It was way too exciting to be in kindergarten. Now jump forward to your third hour this year. What would you give for your teacher to give you a little cup of juice and cookies then tell you to take a nap? After looking at the National Sleep Foundation’s facts, it becomes clear that for our sanity and general well being a mandatory 20-minute naptime should be immediately built into the day. Teens need 8 1/2 to 9 1/2 hours of sleep a night. With a mountain of homework that takes two sherpas and a mountain goat (for emotional support) to simply find the top of, we really don’t have much time to get a full 8 1/2 to 9 1/2 hours. A 20-minute break in the day would help us simply make it to seventh hour. We would be more alert and active. When, in seventh hour, the teacher asked what the preterit form of the verb dormir was, the unfortunate soul who was awakened would not respond with a grunt. The reason for all of us acting like the undead are our circadian rhythms, or internal clocks; ours are set differently than most every other age group. Our hormones are a-raging and serotonin, norepinephrine and histamine, which tell us to sleep, do not kick into gear until about 11 p.m. Not until that time do teens finally get sleepy. What does not help this problem is the ungodly hour that we have to drag our sleep-deprived bodies that only survive on a caffeine fix supplied by that glorious establishment on 151st Street to this fine learning institution. The proposed 20-minute break from all the conjugating, ciphering and writing that we do here would be a student’s best friend. Blue Valley is known for our excellence in academics, athletics and all the other good things that we do. By adding a mandatory naptime after third hour, we would be making our school even more excellent. Students would be more alert with better performance and fewer accidents. The number of groggy, surly teens entering the doors would also be greatly reduced (ok, maybe not the surly aspect so much, but it helps my point). The 20-minute nap after third hour would reenergize us and give us a sunnier attitude toward our fellow inhabitants of the world. We would actually look forward to third hour and maybe even participate even more in the later hours of the day.

Too much holiday spirit at once

anitagaller

staff writer

ou’re flipping through radio stations when you hear the familiar lyrics of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” on the radio. Are they serious? Halloween just ended. Thanksgiving is almost a month away. Can they possibly be playing Christmas music this early? Every year it seems like the radio stations and retailers start earlier and earlier. Soon we will hear Christmas music in August. Many students wonder and even get annoyed at the fact that Christmas music and merchandise is advertised so early on in the season. It begins to make people feel like time is running out and they must start shopping immediately. Radio stations like 98.1 KUDL started their Christmas music at the end of October. “I think its stupid; there is no point to it; they should start at the first of December,” senior Morgan Snell said. Holiday music is great and it gets everybody in to the spirit, but starting it too early can just get too annoying. Radio stations like KUDL started their Christmas music on Nov 1. The station wanted to start playing Christmas music before anyone else. Retail stores also start unpacking their Christmas merchandise right after Halloween. Getting merchandise out early gets the customers to start thinking about Holiday needs early on. Many people wait till the last minute to do their shopping and this way they can get a head start.

Advertising so early can also get people too wrapped up in shopping and take away from the true meaning of the holidays. “I feel like having all this start so early commercializes a significant religious holiday,” teacher Anita Lemons said. With all this advertising, people tend to get caught up and forget the real meaning of the holidays. The holiday season is a time for students to be with family and friends and celebrate together. Though a lot of people think it’s annoying, there are some students who enjoy the early arrival of Christmas. “I listen to the radio every night before I go to bed, and I love the Christmas music,” senior Kenzie Ziegler said. Some students like getting into the Christmas spirit early and the music and all the merchandise just makes it feel closer to Christmas. Hearing and seeing Christmas makes students feel happy and excited. While some students may like it, starting too early is just annoying and a little obnoxious. It’s one thing to have Christmas stuff out after Thanksgiving, but when it emerges for the public right after Halloween it’s just ridiculous. People don’t even get a chance to think about Thanksgiving because Christmas gets in the way. Thanksgiving becomes the ignored holiday, and Christmas just feels forced.

ourvoice

Dec. 8, 2006

Stem Cell Research is it right? ellenthomas

saraster

features editor

editor-in-chief

n Sept. 11, 2001 we learned that airplanes have the potential to do bad. Does that mean we stop using airplanes? Of course not; we just set restrictions on how to make airplanes better and safer. The same is true of stem cell research. It has the possibility to do bad, by cloning humans, but with restrictions this research is the best medical advancement since the research on polio cures. There are two different types of stem cell research: adult stem cell research and embryonic stem cell research. Adult stem cells are harvested from living adult tissue, keeping the cures limited. Although adult stem cell research is very helpful and already has 10 Food and Drug Administration approved cures, embryonic stem cell research has the potential to go even further. People argue that embryonic stem cell research has had no success like adult stem cell research, and this is true. However, embryonic stem cell research was isolated in 1998 and has no federal funds to work with; while adult stem cell research has been around for over 50 years and has the government behind it. Embryonic cells are more useful than adult stem cells because adult stem cells are only capable of a certain functions; whereas, embryonic stem cells (or early stem cells) have the ability to transform into potentially any type of body cell. For example, a person with diabetes has inslet cells in his pancreas, which don’t function properly. With embryonic stem cells, scientists could create new inslet cells and insert them into the patient’s pancreas causing it to produce insulin again, curing diabetes. Another argument against embryonic stem cell research is that it “kills babies.” Well, this is a false argument. Embryonic stem cells can originate from leftover blastocysts from invitro fertilization labs. This arrangement of cells has no potential of becoming life unless implanted into a womb. Thousands of these blastocysts are thrown away every year in the United States. If scientists could just use these Photo illustration by Nina Humphry leftover blastocysts there would be hope for those inflicted with disease and injury to be well. They would let the blastocyst grow for only eight days before taking out its stem cells. This is not a human being; this is a blastocysts that has zero chance of survival. Embryonic stem cell research will go far if accepted by society. Just because there are not immediate results doesn’t mean we should lose hope; breast cancer research has not found any cures yet, but that doesn’t mean we should stop trying. Why should Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, and paralysis take the back seat to breast cancer? This research is just as necessary and needed. By encouraging all types of stem cell research the scientific community will be closer to curing devastating illnesses. It is important that embryonic stem cell research begin to thrive in the United States. By legalizing embryonic stem cell research, our country could keep up with the best medical and scientific advancements in the world.

he debate over embryonic stem cell research has taken new turns in the past months. Yet, when one takes a step back and actually looks at embryonic stem cell research, it’s an experiment with serious ethical issues that has yet to produce a treatment or cure. Other forms of stem cell research not only have no ethical strings attached, but have already produced results. The only types of stem cells that are controversial are the type of stem cells that are harvested from embryos. The embryos used are about four to five days old and are called blastocysts. The scientists allow the blastocysts to start the growth process of the cells, the exact same process that the embryos that are allowed to live go though in the uterus. They keep allowing the cells to divide forming cell lines, as if it were creating the body of a human, until the blastocyst fills up the petri dish it is housed in. These cells are harvested, stopping the growth process, and changed into the type of cells that are needed. But stem cells from unborn humans are not the only source of stem cells. Adult stem cells are currently being used treatments. Every person has stem cells, which normally replace damaged specialized cells in the body. The only reason that adult stem cells are not as widely used is because they do not reproduce as much as the embryonic stem cells do. While they may not reproduce in the mass quantities like the stem cells from the embryos do, adult stem cells do have advantages. Blood, organs or tissues from donors are not always accepted by the body’s immune system. Using one’s own stem cells, the risk of rejection is virtually gone. And adult stem cells are not the only other option to embryonic stem cells. If cord blood is not collected as an insurance against disease, this blood collected at the time of birth from the umbilical cord is just thrown away. Collected cord blood is kept so if the child or a family member gets sick from a condition like leukemia, the cells are already available to treat the disease. The collection of cord blood dosen’t harm either the child or the mother. Already cord blood stem cells are being used to treat many different diseases such as certain types of sickle cell anemia, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and Hodgkin’s disease. Stopping the possibility of life for stem cells cannot be easily justified when other options are available. Adult and cord blood stem cells might currently not reproduce like embryonic stem cells, but, as much of the information concerning all stem cell research says, the research is only beginning. Embryonic stem cells have yet to produce a single cure for any disease or condition so far compared to over 40 treatments credited to cord blood stem cells, according to Viacord and nine adult stem cell treatments approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Why pursue a treatment that is questionably ethical when there are two better options available?

yes

ourvoice

aise your

What is the best present you have ever received?

voice

“A Barbie

doll house

”

junior Aly Ferguson

“

A puppy

staff writer

was walking down the hall the other day minding my own business, doing the usual, helping the downtrodden, defending the weak and scoping out the ladies when something hit me. Literally. I was hit by an economy size backpack that was so large that the owner did not even know I was hurt. Why do so many students elect not to go to their lockers and carry a ton of bricks around instead? Passing periods between classes only last five minutes every day but on block days they last six. In some instances, students must make it from the 700 hall to the mobiles within a measly five minutes which makes

“ Mr. Sutcliffe”

“grand piano”

sophomore Michael Cordes

senior Scott Simpson

Photos by Gwen Bergerhofer and Morgan McMahon

brianisrael

entertainment editor

”

freshman Mary Jennings

LARGE backpacks on whe

brookethurman

Dec. 8, 2006

stopping by lockers seem ludicrous. Reasons for stuffing backpacks ranges from time constraints to merely avoiding disliked company. “I hate going to my locker every passing because a bunch of potheads hang out around there and it really really bothers me, so I just stuff everything into my backpack,” one junior said. Well, time constraints and the mere idea of not going to the lockers explain why people use huge backpacks, but one thing still trips me up. There I go with my puns again. I was being literal. Just last week I tripped on a rolling back-pack. In the spirit of the holiday season and being a true editorialist, I feel I will quickly share my feelings on rolling backpacks with the following

ls dominate halls

few words: Actually nevermind, my mom always told me if I can’t say anything nice, I shouldn’t say anything at all. So what is the true motive behind these rolling backpacks. Is it the “hot chicks and dudes” it picks up, or is it just down right more relaxing? “I think that rolling backpacks should be for college moms only, because my mom has one and that is what she is,” junior Daniel Mayer said. Other opinions on who deserve rolling backpacks do exist. “Only teachers should have rolling backpacks because students who have them just haul through everybody like a freight train,” sophomore Trevor Cornley said. There is a logical point to books

on wheels. On average a high school student’s book load weighs 40 pounds. If carried on a habitual basis, this could easily lead to future back trouble, but are those really the only two options? A huge backpackor a rolling backpack. Can there be no median? May we not be met half way? I feel it odd that a teacher puts students in a situation where you either receive scoliosis or a mediocre education, so what can be done? In a poll taken of 100 slender backpack wearing students, over 50 percent of them said that they were taking home everything they needed and getting good grades. In a similar poll taken of one hundred unbelievably “genormous” backpacks, many admitted that they were taking home more than needed.

Delightful

omework, grades, tests, essays and more are almost all over. The first semester of school is done. We can all now throw our papers in the air and relax during our winter vacation. That is if you call 13 days a vacation. A whole four months of stress and anxiety is rewarded by a break that is less than two weeks long. The first semester ends on Dec. 21 giving most students a good three days to get where they need to go and finalize all their holiday shopping

not so

Shortened holiday break irks students

before gift giving, food and family time begins. Students will have a chance to ring in 2007 and then spend the next day wondering where their winter break went as they prepare to go back to school on Jan. 3. Winter break has progressively gotten shorter

in the past few years. In 2003, winter break was 17 days. In 2004, it was 15 days and last year it was shortened to 13. Luckily the district didn’t stick with their pattern they had or else winter break would only be 11 days long this year. Junior Kelly Aubuchon has

her own thoughts on how long winter break should be. “It should at least be 17 days, if not 20,” Aubuchon said. The state of Kansas requires that school be in session for 1,116 hours for grades kindergarten through 12. However, the Blue Valley district goes at least

an extra 31 hours or almost five extra days. Those extra five days could be used to give students more time to enjoy the holidays; instead, they are spent in classrooms. Aubuchon explains the problem with the short winter breaks. “It doesn’t give you enough time to go and relax, “Aubuchon said. While winter break will be short and sweet, enjoy those 13 days as much as possible. Spend time doing nothing, drink some eggnog, unwrap a few gifts, go to a party and then be prepared because the next long break isn’t for another 71 days.

7 Students worry about being overcharged for their daily lunches ourvoice

Dec. 8, 2006

brianisrael staff writer

s I’m sure you could never tell this about me…I like food. When I go to the movies I am more entertained by the dancing condiments than I am by Jessica Alba’s unbelievable acting talent (as discussed in last issue’s Picks of the Month). I also happen to like money. Last night I dropped a dollar in change into the trashcan and I spent an hour (and a nice shirt) putting together 42 pennies, six nickels, a quarter and a dime. So it makes sense that I was furious when I heard the rumor that the fine cafeteria staff may be taking my money. I had to investigate. All prices are assigned by district office. That is how it has worked, is working and will probably work until our own children are eating chicken

strips with our best friends’ children in 20 years…so there really is no use in picketing the cafeteria. An average weeks’ worth of groceries can cost approximately $5000, and how do they afford this. The theory passing by the water fountain these days is that wrong buttons are being pressed, overcharging students. This amount of money on food seems a little much when compared to the alternatives. “The normal lunch is definitely the way to go. With the lunch you get an entrée, milks and literally all the sides you want for only two bucks,” cafeteria manager Angie O’Reilly said. Regarding the fact that students may be getting gypped, O’Reilly seemed to be very disappointed. “We aren’t trying to gyp people here, and [it] breaks my heart that people think

As students stand in line and listen to the noise of the cash register, we all wonder: How much are they really charging us for that french fry basket? Photo by Nina Humphrey that is what is going on. Our goal is to feed kids not make a profit; if someone is hungry and can’t afford food, I’ll feed them,” O’Reilly said. “I

entertainment editor

T tween her Starbucks and Caribou Coffee smoothies very difficult. Photo by Morgan McMahon

BV staff

them. That’s not the case.” So are we being gypped? Yes, but not by the cafeteria staff.

New coffee shop challenges ever-popular Starbucks brookethurman

Senior Eliza Gale finds choosing be-

see kids all the time stealing French fries and chicken tenders and when we charge them they say we’re gypping

he little green and white cups that have graced the halls of the school for many years have started to change. The talls, grandes and ventis’ are starting to disappear. The wonderful aromas of caramel macchiato’s, caffe mochas and vanilla latte’s have been replaced by a stronger aroma coming from the small, medium and large cups from Caribou Coffee. Now that Caribou has opened less than a mile away from the country’s coffee superstar, Starbucks, it’s getting a run for its money. Starbucks has been the source of

tigerprint Managing Editors Ellen Thomas Sarah Weaver News Matt Killen

coffee for most students for a long time. However, now that Caribou has opened, Starbucks is losing some fans. “One time I went to Starbucks (at 151st Street) and ordered a double chocolate chip frappucino and they gave me a mocha,” junior Stacy Yowell said. “So, then I went to Caribou and had the best drink ever.” While most Starbucks shops have the same typical look and feel, Caribou features a fireplace and comfy furniture that makes one feel like he just stepped into a Colorado ski lodge. Altogether, Caribou has a better ambiance.

2006-2007 Opinions Editor Megan Van Sooy Features Editor Sarah Weaver Entertainment Editor Brooke Thurman Sports Editors Hank Driskell

Garrett Griffin Ian Janes Photo Editor Nina Humphrey Cartoonist Garrett Griffin Reporters Jake Faber Anita Galler Mitch Smith Brian Israel

“I like the homey feel of Caribou over Starbucks,” Yowell said. While Caribou is rapidly becoming popular, there are still those students who stay loyal to Starbucks. Senior Katherine Ebling chooses Starbucks because they have more choices to accommodate her allergy to milk. “I choose Starbucks over Caribou because Caribou had less options and not as many soy drinks,” Ebling said. In the debate of Starbucks vs. Caribou, Caribou has many high points. First, it is one of the only places that we don’t share with Blue Valley West. Second, it is helpful to those who don’t know their “Starbucks” sizes.

Photographers Morgan McMahon Gwen Bergerhofer Advertising Manager Sara Ster Circulation Manager Braden Miller Adviser Susan Agee

The Tiger Print is published nine times a year for students, faculty and the surrounding community of Blue Valley High School. It is an open forum for student expression. Therefore, the opinions expressed within this newspaper do not necesarily reflect the views of the administration or Blue Valley School District #229

changingpolitics

Dec. 8, 2006

Soccer boosters looking for new site for complex mitchsmith

staff writer

ansas had the chance to become one of the “soccer capitals of America,” according to the President of the Greater Kansas City Sports Commission and Foundation Kevin Gray. This was the potential tax issue that Johnson County voters rejected in a landslide on Nov. 7. The plan that would have brought 24 youth soccer fields to the intersection of 159th Street and 69 Highway, near Blue Valley West, was rejected with an overwhelming 64 percent of voters voting against the measure. The cost would have been about $19 for each Johnson County resident each year. “It would have been a big waste of time and money,” sophomore Robert Fitzpatrick said. Although some supporters of the measure still hope that the tax question will be put on the ballot on a future election, Overland Park Mayor Carl Gerlach said that he would not support building the fields at

that location. The Johnson County Parks and Recreation District is currently considering other sites for the complex that would have likely been expanded to include a shopping center, hotel and a stadium for Major League Soccer’s Kansas City Wizards. The Kansas City Wizards are also considering other sites within Johnson County, but are not disclosing their locations. Before the site at 159th and 69 Highway was considered, a site near the Great Mall of the Great Plains in Olathe was the site of choice for the JCPRD. Before the election, local newspapers reported that the site in Olathe was available at a cheaper price than the Overland Park site was. “Olathe is wide open for business,” Olathe Mayor Mike Copeland said in an interview with the Kansas City Star in hopes of attracting the team to his city. Other students are hoping that Gerlach will change his mind and allow a soccer tax question in a future election.

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Dec. 8, 2006

spotlight

HExchange student lives different life on C T U cheese farm with a golf course in Holland D

mattkillen

news editor

t ﬁrst glace, foreign exchange students are just like you and me — except they come from a different country and a different culture. But one Blue Valley exchange student is much more than that. Few people can say that their family is as distinctive as Michiel Weeninks’. For starters, Weenink’s family is in the cheese business. The Weeninks’ produce gouda cheese at their farm in Holland. The family has enjoyed reasonable success as they have been producing cheese for 25 years. The company has around 20 employees. The family also owns its own restaurant since it is hard to live off of farming alone in Holland. But the Weenink’s don’t use the farm just to make cheese, Michiel’s father created a game, farmers’ golf, a few years ago. Farmers’ golf is a sport with similar rules to golf, only it is played between cows in a pasture with teams of four to six people, The club is a wooden stick with a wooden shoe on the end. It is played with 10 holes and, like golf, holes are played in numerical order. The sport is starting to gain popularity in Holland, and was created because, in Holland you have to pay to play golf and pass tests in order to receive a license to play. “Golf has been more for the rich [in Holland], and they want to keep it that way,” Weenink said.

One of Weenink’s hobbies is equestrian. Weenink also because I didn’t know what college to go to,” competes in equestrian competitions and has won Weenink said. “I also wanted to learn English.” several awards for his performance. Equestrian is While Weenink likes it here in America, he does the skill of riding horses and has several categories miss some things about his homeland. such as vaulting and reigning. Weenink primarily “ I miss food, friends and my family,” Weenink competes in jumping events and cross-country. In said. Holland, equestrian is popular; people can attend events every week if they wish. Weenink has participated in the sport since he was eight or nine years old and has always been around horses. “[I enjoy] just being with animals,” Weenink said. Weenink chose to be a foreign exchange student to get a taste of American culture, and have more time to decide where he wants to go to college. “I wanted to see Senior Michiel Weenink competes in equestrian events such as cross-country and how it is in other jumping events in his home country of Holland. Equestrian is a popular sport there, and countries, and people can go watch events each week. Photo submitted by Michiel Weeninks

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Let’s face it 83% I facebook

Dec. 8, 2006

Facebook is changed by addition of new features

garrettgriffin

sports editor

t’s late at night. Your homework is done (well, almost), the big game and your favorite show on TV are both over, and there is nothing to do except check your Facebook profile before hitting the sack. So you log on and enter your cyber home away from home. You talk to your “friends” for a little while, join a hero-worshipping group, maybe import some pictures of yourself in a mirror, maybe change your relationship status to “it’s complicated,” just to create some online gossiping action. Most everyone knows what Facebook is by now, but recently it had a facelift that has caused mixed emotions. One of the most significant changes occurred on Sept. 5. The news feed and mini-feed features, which document friends’ activities, changes to profiles, messages, etc., caused uproars over privacy issues. These new features couldn’t be turned off, and many thousands of people consider them to be intrusive, even though the news updates are limited to an individual’s network of friends. “Yes [it is a violation of privacy], because it shows what you say to everyone. I don’t like it at all,” sophomore Austin Smith said. Hundreds of Facebook groups sprung up at once to protest news feed and mini-feed. The largest, “Students Against Facebook News Feed (Official Petition to Facebook),” had over 750,000 members only days after the systems were installed. While there are several small groups supporting the Facebook “play-byplay” features, so many people protested the “invasion of privacy,” that Mark

Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook, apologized about it in a blog. Then privacy controls were installed to allow members to delete items off the Feeds and control the flow of information from their profiles to their networks. Beyond that, the growth of Facebook is another issue. What used to be a site for Harvard students in 2004 can now be used by anyone with an e-mail address. In late September, Facebook opened to all Internet users, causing protests from angry members. The gradual transformation into a Myspace-like site has sparked much debate. “I think that only high school and college students should be allowed to have a Facebook,” freshman Tyler McGough said. On the other hand, Facebook included groups and even candidates during the 2006 Elections. Candidates could not ignore the temptation to join such a popular site, which has eight million members and 20,000 more signing up daily. Facebook users took political sides in the battles for the Senate, the House, state governments, etc. Some are in favor of the site being a political battleground and others are against it. “There’s no harm in it,” senior Matthew Mulligan said. “I think it’s fine because people need to know [political] issues,” All these changes, whether good or bad, have only increased Facebook’s value. Facebook began talking to Yahoo in September. Yahoo wants to buy the social network, but it may have competition. After Google bought YouTube in October, rumors started that Google offered $2 billion for Facebook. Of course, the idea of selling is only adding to the number of angry protesting users.

of students have facebook

5.5

hours per week spent on facebook statistics from survey of 100 students

Photo by Gwen Bergerhofe

Students punished for pictures on Facebook

bradenmiller

staff writer

acebook can be a fun site to get to know friends from other schools and message anyone anywhere. You can also download photos of yourself and friends. Many incidents have come up in the media regarding Facebook. Employers, along with colleges, have been looking at people’s online blogs, including pictures that are posted. According to the Kansas City Star, some students from Blue Valley West and Blue Valley Northwest have been caught with inappropriate photos of illegal activities on Facebook albums.

So far, no student at Blue Valley High has gotten into any trouble for anything on Facebook; however, school resource ofﬁcer Dennis Randall shares his concerns. “We don’t do any kind of undercover work by ourselves,” Randall said. “Sometimes parents are concerned about their child’s Facebook, so they come to me and give me their child’s e-mail and password, and we look at it together.” Facebook is a site for you to stay in contact with old friends and maybe make new friends. It is not a site to place pictures of yourself engaging in inappropriate activities. Be aware of not only what you do, but what you put on Facebook.

Dec. 8, 2006

statefootball

It’s a great day to be a Fans enjoy amazing ride to State Championship, proud to call themselves a...

Tiger

Ashley Cook

bradenmiller

staff writer

-R-U-C-K, Tigers truck it all the way, T! T-R-U! Woo Woo!” This was heard at all Tiger football games from the roaring crowd, yet the last chant that echoed throughout Hummer Sports Park was those three glorious words, “We’re Number 1.” Football fans had high hopes for winning the State Championship back in September when the team was ranked number one in the state. They were not disappointed. For every game this season, students filled the student section an hour or two before the game to show the players their dedication and devotion. According to the players, the fans encouraged them to play better and harder. This was evident at the 5A state championship game against Great Bend High School, on Nov. 25 at 1 p.m. when the team crushed the Panthers, 34-3.

There were about 600 to 800 students in Topeka for the State Championship game although the school didn’t provide transportation to Topeka. “It felt like being on top of Mt. Everest,” junior Derek Carlberg said about being at the game. “It was pure and absolute domination, and I loved every second of it.” “It was the best football game ever, but I wish it would have of been closer, so it would make it more interesting and exciting,” junior Jen Santa Maria said. As seconds counted down, the fans ran on the track ready to charge the field to congratulate their team for their lopsided victory over Great Bend. The Tigers danced their way into school history, being the only team finishing with a 13-0 record after winning the State Championship. “We dominate and destroy just like always,” senior Alex Sandmoen said. “I heard some people from Great Bend say that we were the loudest and craziest fans that they had ever seen.”

statefootball

Dec. 8, 2006

statefootball

STATE CHAMPS

A Dream Come True It is the ultimate reward for a high school sports team, a State Championship. It instills a sense of pride and accomplishment. Most high school athletes never get the chance to be state champions. For most athletes it is nothing more than a dream. For the 2006 Blue Valley Tigers it began as a dream and ended up as a rewarding reality; they can call themselves...

Quarterback Zach Rampy

hands the ball off to running back Kyle Hoge in the State Championship game Nov. 25 against Great Bend High School. Rampy accounted for a school record 2,996 yards this season. Hoge ended up with over 1,000 yards rushing and 19 touchdowns for the season. Rampy passed for 170 yards and rushed for 80 in the Tigers’ 34-3 win.

High school careers end in right way for 21 senior starters hankdriskell sports editor

y friends and I were nine years old in 1998. The location of the 5A state championship was Kansas State University’s Wagner Field that year. We were at the biggest football game of our young lives. We cheered along the Tigers as they took on the Mustangs of Salina Central. Finally, after four overtimes, the Tigers pulled it off. Under a pink and orange picturesque November sunset, the players and coaches celebrated, and we watched. We dreamed of one day playing for the Tigers. We dreamed of one day playing for the State Championship. Now we are 17 and 18 years old. Saturday Nov. 25 we played at Hummer Sports Park in Topeka, Kan. for our own 5A State Championship trophy. On a perfect November afternoon we hoisted the trophy above our heads and celebrated Senior Lineafter a 34-3 win over Great Bend backer Ryan High School. The fans stormed the Heil wraps up field and celebrated with the team. Great Bend QuarThe reward was sweet. terback Brandon We made memories that will Wells Nov. 25 at last a lifetime. Sunday after the the State Chamgame I began to reflect back on pionship game the season. I realized that the State in Topeka, Kan. Championship was awesome, but at the Hummer there was so much more to the Sports Park. Heil season than just the final game. led the Tiger I understood that it all started a defense with year ago. over 100 tackles I remembered sitting on this season. The the field at Welch Stadium in Tigers held Great Emporia, Kan. after losing the Bend under 200 State Championship to Salina total yards, while Central. As a junior on the team allowing 23 yards last season, I knew I would get Photos by Jay McPhail on 24 carries. another chance. All the juniors immediately set their sites on a State Championship in 2006. From there I remembered going to Pittsburg State University in early June to football camp. There the team became a team. We sweat through seven practices in three days. We hung out in the dorm at night and got to know each other. We laughed and joked and became friends. I remembered waking up every morning in the summer to drag myself to morning weight workouts. We were up at the school as early as 6 a.m. and sometimes did not leave until 11. This was just another opportunity for us to become a team. I remembered when the games started. We were ready for our senior season. It was our last chance to do something together. We set our goals high, and we began to climb our way to the top. We made memories every Friday night. I remember absolutely everything about the season. I cannot even begin to explain how excited I am to be able to call myself a part of a state champion football team, the first team to go 13-0 in Blue Valley history and a team that broke many records. But as I really reflected on the season, those weren’t the things that stood out. What I really remember were the relationships I built, the memories we made. What I really remember is becoming part of a new family. I remember all the good times we had, all the jokes and all the laughs. What I really remember is having 70 new brothers. I finally realize that while the destination is sweet, it is the ride there that I will always hold in my heart.

Photos by Jay McPhail

Blue Valley out performs Great Bend in complete game mitchsmith

staff writer

tilwell moved west to Topeka’s Hummer Sports Park for the 5A football State Championship game Nov. 25. The Tigers rolled over the Great Bend Panthers, 34-3, in front of a capacity crowd, earning their fourth state title in 15 years. “I’ll always remember [going to state] because not many schools can say they went two years in a row,” junior running back Ronald Morgan said. After giving up a 61-yard run on Great Bend’s first drive, the Tiger defense held the Panthers to a field goal that ended the Panther’s scoring for the day. “Our defense crushed [Great Bend],” sophomore fan Danny Wood said. The Tigers answered with a 61-yard Zach Rampy pass to Trey Hobson that led to a one-yard Rampy touchdown run later on the drive. After two unsuccessful Blue Valley drives, the Tigers struck again after a Scott Hill interception set the Tigers up with good field position midway through the second quarter. After a 22-yard Zach Rampy run, Anthony Digiovanni was able to punch the ball into the endzone on the ground. Digiovanni’s run set the Tigers up to go into halftime up 14-3. Many players feel that halftime set the tone for the outcome of the remainder of the game. “At halftime coach Steve Rampy said, ‘If we score on the first drive of the second half and go up 21-3, we can hold [Great Bend] off the rest of the game,’” senior wide receiver and defensive back Hobson said. Hobson, a University of Missouri recruit, also believes that the state game will help potential collegiate careers for

Blue Valley football players. “It was great exposure,” Hobson said. Following up on the halftime talk, the Tigers drew ﬁrst blood in the second half on their ﬁrst drive. Zach Rampy once again was able to put the ball in the endzone with another one-yard run, capping a 65yard Blue Valley drive. The Tigers then held Great Bend to a three and out before capitalizing on the ensuing possession with a 36-yard pass from Zach Rampy to junior tight end Chris McDermott. “We made adjustments to what they weren’t doing well,” Morgan said. The Tiger defense continued to hold the Panthers for the duration of the game, setting up another oneyard touchdown run by Zach Rampy that sealed the deal for the Tigers. “After Rampy’s touchdown run, I knew we had won the game,” sophomore linebacker Trey Moravek said. The Tigers earned their place in the title game with decisive victories in the playoffs over Bishop Miege, 41-10, Turner, 42-0, and a 30-14 substate win against St. Thomas Aquinas. Great Bend reached the championship game after defeating Wichita-Bishop Carroll, 21-14, in its substate matchup. Although Blue Valley will only return one starter on either side of the ball next year, underclassmen football players hope to step up to the challenge of sustaining tradition next season. Sophomore center Alex Robinson said, “It’s our goal every year to win state.”

2006 Statistics Offense *Total Points: 594 *Total Yards: 5,626 Rushing Yards: 2,569 *Passing Yards: 3,057 *Points Per Game: 46 *Yards Per Game: 433

Defense *Total Points: 92 *Total Yards: 1,967 *Rushing Yards: 804 Passing Yards: 1,163 *Points Per Game: 7 *Yards Per Game: 151 * recognizes school record

statefootball

Dec. 8, 2006

statefootball

STATE CHAMPS

Quarterback Zach Rampy

High school careers end in right way for 21 senior starters hankdriskell sports editor

Photos by Jay McPhail

Blue Valley out performs Great Bend in complete game mitchsmith

staff writer

2006 Statistics Offense *Total Points: 594 *Total Yards: 5,626 Rushing Yards: 2,569 *Passing Yards: 3,057 *Points Per Game: 46 *Yards Per Game: 433

Defense *Total Points: 92 *Total Yards: 1,967 *Rushing Yards: 804 Passing Yards: 1,163 *Points Per Game: 7 *Yards Per Game: 151 * recognizes school record

communityservice

Dec. 8, 2006

f u r l e d

It’s the most

won

time of the year...

Page benefits from giving to Habitat for Humanity

Student finds joy in providing gifts, necessities for homeless this season

ninahumphrey photo editor

n the basement of junior Griffin Page’s house lies a stack of paper towels, mops, cleaning buckets and other household tools. Page is collecting these items for Habitat for Humanity for nine homeless families. Page contacted the Kansas City Branch for Habitat for Humanity and told them that he was looking to help build a house or do any other service.

“When I contacted them, they told me that a lot of these families have been homeless, so they have never had any of this stuff before and can’t afford it. So I decided to start this collection.” During the first weekend of October, Page delivered flyers to the nearby community asking households to donate cleaning supplies for the homeless. “I passed out flyers with some friends of mine around four different neighborhoods,” he said. On the flyers

it just asked for different stuff that we wanted.” The following weekend he picked up all the donations that the families left on their doorsteps. He has collected a majority of household items and cleaning materials such as brooms, towels, sponges and some yard tools. His collection will be distributed among nine families that live in the Kansas City area. “They have what they call a house blessing ceremony when the families

move in, and I bring the families a share of stuff then divide it evenly,” he said. This was Page’s first attempt at helping the homeless and helped him attain his Eagle Scout. The generous amounts of donations displayed how much success the project enjoyed. “It really feels good, especially when you give it to the families and they are so thankful because they have never had any of these things before,” Page said.

School clubs gain spirit of giving during holidays garrettgriffin

Giving back to community becomes priority for clubs, organizations

necessities to help needy families, which were due on Nov. 28. The Christmas Bureau warehouse, ational Honor Society vice president Sarah where all the donated items will be organized Nelson stood beside the other NHS leaders and processed, was open to NHS members for and watched a tide of students rushing volunteering opportunities as well. They talked from the PAC seats to sign up for community service to enrichment teacher Kristin Asquith to sign up. opportunities and donations at a November meeting. Students will assist in organizing and distributing This holiday season, school clubs and organizations the items at the warehouse, and will personally see are giving to charities and raising money for noble whom they are giving to. causes in a multitude of ways. “I’m psyched because students will have the It is a priority for many groups to do whatever opportunity to directly interact with the families they can to help others. they are helping,” Nelson said NHS helped with the Johnson County Christmas StuCo is also finding ways to give. The canned food Bureau in December. Students donated food and drive for Harvesters sent about 5,400 cans of food to those who would otherwise be hungry this winter. The StuCo members are currently planning a public service activity involving Harvesters’ warehouse, where students can work in January. StuCo also kicked off the rally for the Gift of Life program, in which students pledge to donate their organs to hospitals. Relay for Life meetings have also begun, preparing that event that will raise money to fight cancer. “I think it’s good for students to participate in community service because they can continue that participation as adults,” StuCo sponsor Mark Mosier said. Della Lamb Toy drive collects toys for children who would otherwise not The Fashion Club collected have presents during the holiday season. The football program is in charge of donated clothes for people who the project, collecting up to 2,000 toys. Photo by Nina Humphrey

sports editor

might be cold this winter without them. At the counseling office doors, one could find boxes where students deliver new or gently used clothing. There was a box for each grade level so the Fashion Club can total the items given from each class. 71 bags of clothing were sent to the Salvation Army. 28 of those bags came from the senior class, which won the class competition and received 50 points. “It’s nice to see that the Blue Valley student body has created a new tradition by helping the community and donating clothes,” Fashion Club president Laura Mendez said. The football team also organizes a yearly contribution of toys to low-income families, also known as the Della Lamb Toy Drive. “About eight years ago I saw a commercial that said 1,800 kids are not able to have a Christmas,” coach Steve Rampy said. “We started the toy drive and the kids responded unbelievably, some of them would wrap the gifts during their study hall. It was just unbelievable.” The team loads up the trucks with the toys and drive it into midtown Kansas City for over 1,300 children. The first year the drive delivered over 2,000 toys. They collected donations until Dec. 7. “We cannot solve all the problems in the world,” Rampy said, “but this one we can solve.” KAY Club is also giving this semester. They have organized an “adopt a family” event in which students help give necessities to a family in need. “We are so fortunate to not only have Christmas, but give a little bit of Christmas to others,” KAY Club president Sarah Weaver said. “It makes everyone so grateful and happy, yet giving is so much more than

communityservice

Dec. 8, 2006

to give Junior Griffin Page collects necessities for homeless families as a part of his Eagle Scout project. Along with collecting the items, he delivers and distributes them. Page said he enjoyed giving to those who need it most. Photo by Nina Humphrey

Project Warmth warms up metro with love

Student shares up-close experience while giving back to community

garrettgriffin

sports editor

here are thousands of families in the Kansas City area that are relying on local fundraisers and donations to make it through the winter. These poor families desperately need coats and blankets to stay warm these next couple of months. Project Warmth is a local fundraiser with a mission to keep families safe from the cold, and I was given the opportunity to help accomplish this goal when my father and I volunteered. In the early morning of Nov. 11, I was at Town Center Plaza working with Project Warmth. I met Kim Rosley, a captain of the project and the Kansas City Star’s promotions coordinator (The Star is a participating agency). Short, gray-haired and exuberant, Rosley spoke about her history with Project Warmth and several aspects of its operation. “I’ve been doing this for 10 years. This is a tremendous community service and we [Star volunteers] feel very blessed to be a part of it,” Rosley said. She explained that every year before Thanksgiving, Project Warmth begins. This year the Salvation Army, which organizes the project, asked for clean,

new and gently used coats and blankets from the “I love to crochet and knit, and I love donating to public. Trucks were stationed at multiple shopping charity,” Cook said. “I hope someone can enjoy the centers around Kansas City, which are loaded with afghans and keep warm this winter.” bags when people deliver their coats and blankets. Diane Scott, Kansas City Star’s community “It’s amazing the amount of clothing people drop relations’ manager, told me that last year they off,” Rosley said. collected 67 tons of items and brought in almost a All items given at the nine drop sites are sent quarter-million dollars from fundraising. directly to the Salvation Army for processing. “What’s special is that it’s an all volunteer effort. Then the items are donated to about 80 agencies One hundred percent of the money collected goes throughout the eight-county metropolitan area and back to the community. It’s a great way to bring given to the working poor. the community together and to help those less “Community outreach is vital,” fortunate,” Scott Rosley said. “The Salvation Army said. It’s easy to forget that can’t survive without people who dig “I think when through their closets and donate.” people have good there are people in need. Soon after Rosley and I hung up times, it’s easy I love to help efforts that banners and organized our bags, cars to forget that help people. began lining up beside the large truck there are people the Kansas City Star’s Diane Stafford at our drop site. The coats and blankets in need. I love to began pouring in. help efforts that Cathy Cook, a Leawood resident, help people in was one of many people who braved the chill of need,” Diane Stafford, a volunteer from the Star, the morning to donate. She opened her trunk and said. revealed 20 beautifully hand-made afghans that she All in all, it was an amazing experience. Project created just for this year’s Project Warmth. I was Warmth will be back next year, continuing its stunned, but Cook said she usually made 25 a year, mission to keep needy families warm. and she has been giving for 10 years.

“

”

happyholidays

Dec. 8, 2006

Students share how they celebrate this time of year anitagaller

staff writer

t’s Christmas Eve and junior Lauren Callison and her mom are preparing their homemade ravioli for a big dinner. Every year they make ravioli and other Italian foods for a Christmas dinner. Lauren and her family celebrate a big Italian Christmas every year and the dinner is a big part of that. Like many students each family has special holidays to celebrate and traditions that go along with it. No matter what holiday they celebrate students celebrate their holiday with family and loved ones. Callison has special traditions they practice every year. “On Christmas Eve we usually go to a church service. Then we each open one small gift,” Callison said. On Christmas morning Callison wakes up, open her presents. Then they drive to their grandparents’ house and eat a big meal. Their meal consists of their homemade ravioli, casseroles and homemade bread. Other students also celebrate different holidays in December. Senior Max Lehman celebrates Hanukkah along with Christmas. Hanukkah or “The Festival of Lights,” celebrates the victory of the Maccabbess. According to Jewish legend, only one jar of oil was found, only enough for one day but miraculously it lasted for eight days. Lehman celebrates Hanukkah with his family and close friends. “I get to see family and friends that I normally don’t see,” Lehman said. “My favorite part is the presents, of course.” Lehman and his family have a special dinner with their family and friends on the first night of Hanukkah. Each night of Hanukkah they also exchange gifts. These gifts include money and presents. To Lehman, Hanukkah is a time where he and his family can celebrate Judaism. “It’s one of the few major holidays of

Judaism,” Lehman said. celebrates when the Koran holy book, time with family and open presents. Lehman enjoys mixing both Hanukkah was brought down and Muhammad The last day celebrates the ending of and Christmas. spoke the verses. It is also a time of the fast and is a time to spend with “In my family different religions can worship and contemplation. Ramadan family and friends. get along,” Lehman said. “It isn’t a big is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar “I really like spending time with deal.” calendar. This year Ramadan began family because when it comes time to Just like Lehman, junior Andrew on Sep 24 and ended on Oct 24. The eat, that’s when we all get to sit down Bui celebrates two different holidays. holiday lasts for one month. Ramadan and be together,” Madoukh said. Around February Bui and his family is based on the moon. It starts at the full Madoukh’s dinner usually consists celebrate the Chinese New Year. The New Year is on a different day every year, but is based on the Chinese calendar. The New Year starts with the first day of the new moon and ends on the full moon. The traditional Chinese New Year is 15 days long. The Chinese New Year celebrates f a m i l y , ancestors and religion. The celebration that goes along with the Chinese Junior Andrew Bui prays in his home before a Buddha figure. Bui celebrates the Chinese New Year. Before prayNew Year ing he lights incense and kneels before the altar. He does this several days as a part of his religious observance. is similar to Photo by Nina Humphrey Thanksgiving. On New Year’s Day, Bui and his family prepare a moon and ends at the next full moon. of different kids of Arabic foods such traditional meal, which doesn’t consist During Ramadan, Madoukh and her as meats, cookies filled with dates and of much meat, and set it on their altar. family fast for one whole month. This nuts. This time of year is filled with They pray and then enjoy the feast they means she isn’t allowed to eat or drink holidays and different traditions. Even have prepared. anything until after the sun sets. “Usually in an Asian house there is “I have been doing it since I was a little though the holidays may be different, an altar, and we bring the food there kid so it’s not that hard,” Madoukh they all share the common elements of celebrating faith, family and love. and pray,” Bui said. said. Like most families, Bui’s head to their On the last day of Ramadan called Eid, Each student has special traditions grandparents to celebrate. Madoukh and her family have a big and memories of his own holidays and Freshman Leen Madoukh, celebrates dinner with their family and friends. own unique ways that he celebrates his Ramadan, the Islamic holiday. Ramadan They have the Eid prayer and spend holiday season.

happyholiday

Dec. 8, 2006

gifts

OF THE

month

Looking for that perfect gift for your loved ones? Here are some gift ideas.

gforifts girlfriend

gforifts dad

1. ring 2. jewelry 3. iPod 4. clothes 5. shoes

1.golf clubs 2.punching bag 3.cologne 4.socks 5.windbreaker

gforifts sibling

1. movies 2. board games 3. money 4. gift cards 5. clothes

gforifts boyfriend 1. cologne 2. iPod 3. car accessories 4. watch 5. shirt

gforifts mom

gforifts bestfriend

1. slippers 2. purse 3. jewelry 4. home items 5. clothes

Photos by Morgan McMahon and ideas collected from survey of students

1. picture frame 2. clothes 3. movie 4. gift card 5. memory book

STAR News

brookethurman

entertainment editor

ews Flash!Another Hollywood couple has called it quits. After two years of marriage and headline grabbing troubles, Britney Spears and Kevin Federline have finally thrown in the towel. The whole world is now in complete shock, kind of. It’s stories like these that grace the covers of STAR, People, Us Weekly, In Touch and other tabloids week after week, but the real question is why does the world care? Every week every tabloid has its new cover story about some big name in Hollywood. Has the star done something good? The answer is usually no. Most of the time they are on the cover because they are getting a divorce, having a baby, getting married or because they weigh 90 pounds. Of the thousands of issues that are plaguing the world, a majority of the media likes to focus on these “issues.” It seems like global

redcarpet

Dec. 8 2006

Tabloids continue to dominate news media

warming isn’t as big of a deal as is a celebrity who wore a global warming t-shirt to a club one night. While some news magazines, like Newsweek, try to bring real news, the other “news” givers, like People, overshadow them and entertainment “news” is infiltrating mainstream news mediums. Juniors Alyssa Sehorn and Jenn Hansen both have their magazine preference. “[I like] People, it’s more interesting and has more articles I like to read,” Sehorn said. “[I like] Newsweek. It has a perspective page I like. I don’t care about drama of celebrities lives,” Hansen said. Not only is the heavy focus on celebrities unnecessary, it is also an invasion of privacy for those it targets. Taking a picture of a willing person is one thing, while chasing after someone and their kids is just not right. These days paparazzi do whatever it takes and injure whomever they need in order to get

the picture they want. Many stars have had traffic accidents, bruises and court documents filed all because they may have been in a movie or put out an album. There are the few celebrities who bring attention to themselves. The many stars who have fallen into the new reality show trend have pretty much sent out an invitation for everyone to look at them. Nick Lachey and Jessica Simpson jumped on this wagon in 2002 to document the start of their life together. The marriage crumbled after three years and Lachey blames it all on Newlyweds. But who could blame the public for being curious when their honeymoon was in our living rooms? As the years truck on and the stories keep coming, there will without a doubt be more attention paid to Hollywood.Hopefully someday the public will realize that what a celebrity wore to an awards show just isn’t that important.

Entertainment magazines such as UsWeekly come out

weekly and are a multi-million dollar industry. Photo by Nina Humphrey

Do You Know?

BV students mirror national standard

66%

34%

of students knew who Kevin Federline is.

of those students knew who Nancy Pelosi is. 56 students surveyed

Happy Holidays from the Tiger Print Staff!

redcarpet

Dec. 8, 2006

BUY 3 KOLACHES & GET 3 FREE.

OF EQUAL OR LESSER VALUE (does not include crossants or specialties. One cupon per customer) Kolache Factory 7112 W. 135th St Overland Park, KS 66223

McDreamy vs. Burke Stars of ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ have set brawl

meganvansooy opinions editor

llen Pompeo, Patrick Dempsey, T.R. Knight, Sandra Oh, and Katherine Heigl. Wait a minute, someone’s missing. Who is it? Oh yeah, it’s Isaiah Washington. Avid watchers of Grey’s Anatomy have come to love the cardiac surgeon/ surgical resident/soon to be chief of surgery, Preston Burke, even though he is a bit stuck up to all of his coworkers on the show. So we have to wonder: does he really act like that in the real world? Or is he just a really good actor? Due to his recent quarrel with fellow cast member, Patrick Dempsey, we may

not see Preston Burke cutting open hearts in Seattle Grace Hospital every Thursday night. Has his alter ego of Preston Burke caught up to him? In early October, it was reported that Dempsey and Washington were in a violent brawl on set after an argument over cast members showing up late for work. According to Access Hollywood, Washington grabbed Dempsey by the throat. It was also reported that there was some name calling, but Dempsey and Washington are on “good terms” now according to E! online. Even though famous people ﬁght every day over unethical things that

really don’t matter when you have an income of millions of dollars a year (we’ve all seen at least one episode of MTV’s Real World Road Rules Challenge), it’s just sad to see our two favorite surgeons have to resort to ﬁghting. It is not clear whether Washington will get the boot, but we can only hope that the original cast of Grey’s Anatomy will stay intact. Even though he will probably stay on the show since he is now promoted to chief of surgery, we can only sit anxiously and watch every Thursday night to see if Preston will stay a part of the Grey’s team.

Nina Humphrey

Students enjoy ability to record

Tivo saves more than just TV shows

jakefaber

staff writer

Special Offer

for Blue Valley students

v Free Chips and Drink with

any Regular or Large Sub. Just show your Blue Valley Student ID. v If the football team wins by 10 or more, show your ticket stub that weekend to receive

50% off any SUB.

v Located in the shopping center on the corner of 127th Street and Metcalf Avenue. Phone: 913-317-9022 Now Open Late on Fridays! Come Celebrate the Big Win at Quiznos!

t’s 8 p.m on a Saturday night, and you’re stuck in trafﬁc, about to miss your favorite TV show. Normally this would be a time to panic, but not today, because today you recorded it with Tivo. For those of you who don’t know what Tivo is, Tivo is one of a few recording choices that lets you record, rewind or pause your favorite programs whenever you want. This unique system can save recorded shows, which gives you a variety of choices whenever you need them. “It’s great because I can watch all the shows I missed,” freshman Daniel Reardon said. On average six out of every 10 students have some type of Tivo, DVR from Time Warner or Everest. Another good thing about Tivo or similare programs is that you can pre-record entire seasons of a show, giving you the freedom to go out on Wednesdays when everyone else impatiently waits for Lost to come on.

For some unorganized people, Tivo is the only thing that lets them catch their favorite shows on a regular basis. “I already know that I’m recording South Park tonight,” junior Zach Dubinsky said. With TiVo you can choose from many payment plans the best priced being $12.95 a month for three years or just pre-pay and get those annoying monthly bills over with. For some students, getting Tivo was just a result of going with the ﬂow. “It was my parent’s idea to get [Tivo],” sophomore Brad Schlitzer said. For most students that’s exactly the case, it was their parent’s idea to get Tivo. Tivo is convenient for BV students because with all the sports teams and after school clubs the school has to offer, students can go to their activities carefree that they’re not missing their favorite shows. With as much gossip about predictions of what will happen next in series like Desperate Housewives and Grey’s Anatomy, with TiVo or a DVR, no one is left out of the loop.

redcarpet

Dec. 8, 2006

Orange County Boredom

Shows about America’s richest fall short in ratings in third, fourth seasons sarahweaver editor-in-chief

o matter how viewers become hooked to the shows that they can’t live without, one thing is for sure — some people love TV shows. But what happens to those people when their TV series have gone bad. The third or fourth season can’t be expected to truly satisfy as it once did when you first sat in front of the tube. This theory seems true with two popular shows that have drama, hot guys and the glorious setting of Orange County, Calif. The O.C. is a drama focused on a family living in, of course, Orange County. At the end of the second season, the main character Marissa Cooper dies. The question now arises can a popular drama kill off its main character and still survive? No pun intended. “Even though Marissa’s gone, [The O.C.] is still okay, but it is not as good,” freshman Kelsey McIntire said. MTV quickly jumped onto the Orange County bandwagon with its popular MTV reality series Laguna Beach: the Real Orange County in 2004. Teenage girls often find themselves obsessed

with watching the drama, cattiness and, of course, the guys. According to avid viewers, the third season of Laguna Beach was not up to par. Teens all over claim to love Laguna, but the third season made it a harder to enjoy. “I don’t think [this season] is as good as the other ones,” freshman Nicole Barry said. At the beginning of the show there is a disclaimer explaining that the places, people and drama are indeed real. Yet the newest season had viewers questioning how real the people were acting. “This season was more staged,” junior Taylor Hanson said. Staged or not the cattiness and mean girl theme was apparent this season of Laguna Beach. The show is notorious for its drama filled episodes, but this season didn’t fulfill the viewers’ desire for a plot. “There was not enough drama to watch,” freshman Chelsea Shumaker said. Is the drama quota too high after watching seasons one and two that the third just can’t match up? “The guys aren’t as hot and the girls aren’t as pretty,” Barry said. Can anyone really be hotter than

MTV’s popular series Laguna Beach: the real Orange County’s reality stars

are now recognizable on the streets. Kristin Cavalleri can be spotted in music videos along with magazines and tabloids. Photo by Nina Humphrey Stephen? These questions can only be answered if we keep tuning into the addicting series we call Laguna. According to senior Amanda Kistner, people don’t like the new seasons because they are different from the first

season, which they loved. No matter how “un-hot” the guys are or how catty the girls may be, teenagers are still hooked to the entertainment and drama that these Orange County based shows provide.

tigerturf

Dec. 8, 2006

Slaps don’t have to be awkward

Sports Profile

Learning to express congratulations in a more meaningful way

’m just going to admit it; I touch other men’s butts, and they touch mine. Actually, it’s usually more of a slap than a gentle touch. Now don’t jump to any conclusions before you hear me out, because it’s really not what you think it is. The butt slaps I’m talking about are totally non-sexual butt slaps. The butt slap is a form of congratulations that is widely accepted in most every sport. It’s even accepted in the newspaper room. Reporter Brian Israel and I have adopted the tradition of the butt slap to congratulate each other. He turns in a story; I give him a butt slap. I turn in a story; he gives me a butt slap. But in reality, the butt slap is so much more than just a form of congratulations. Let’s start off by clearing

up the definition of the butt slap. It must follow a very strict set of guidelines. First of all, you must slap at the appropriate time. An untimely butt slap is like a physical; it’s awkward and someone is going to feel violated. Also, the butt slap must be a relatively hard smack; too soft and it’s more like a grab. This brings me to my third and final guideline: There shall be no constricting of the fingers while the hand is in contact with the butt; this just makes things weird. Spectators often watch athletes slap each other’s butts and wonder, why? Well, let me tell you something. There are points in life where a simple high-five won’t suffice or a pound of the knuckles just isn’t enough. We are athletes, and in sports we don’t slap the hand; we slap the butt. We feel comfortable enough to say, “hey, I just slapped your butt and if you want to, you can slap mine.” To be honest, high-fives and knuckle pounds are elementary and insufficient. We’re big boys now; we do the butt slap.

Who is your most bitter rival?

College bowl games decided by computer

Favorite stadium, complex or track:

Call Me

Hank

Hank Driskell

Bowl Championship Series computer system causes controversy

ianjanes

staff writer

reshman Connor Janes anxiously sits in front of his TV awaiting the muchanticipated number one Ohio State versus Number 2 Michigan on Nov. 18. College game day has been putting a count down to this game for three weeks, because it is the game that will decide who will play for college football’s national title Jan. 8 in Glendale, Ariz. But should something so important all ride on one regular season game? “ I don’t even understand why they use the BCS system; the playoffs work great in Division II and Division 1-AA,” senior Joey Mendrala said. The BCS or Bowl Championship Series is a complicated computer system designed to sort out and pick the best teams for the national championship

game. Started in 1996, it combines three NCAA polls: the USA Today, Harris and computergenerated polls to make the BCS rankings. “I don’t think the BCS is fair to all 119 Division I football teams; I think a playoff for the top ten teams should be put in,” school resource officer and former Mississippi State linebacker Dennis Randall said. The BCS was given a test run in deciding the 1998 college football national champion. Nobody seemed to have a problem because the two best teams, Tennessee and Florida State met in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl. Tennessee defeated the Seminoles 23-16 in a great game. The BCS did not really come out as problem until 2001. The Number 2 ranked Nebraska Cornhuskers, considered to be a title contender, lost their Big 12-championship

Gwen Bergerhofer

Niki Burczyk Girls’ Tennis

Do you have any pregame rituals?

Stretch and do a really sweet cheer

Blue Valley West

Hallbrook

What are you most likely to do in your free time? Playing soccer

Favorite athlete: Ronaldo

Favorite professional team:

Gwen Bergerhofer game to the Number 3 Colorado Buffalos. The logical decision would be to put Colorado in because they own the tiebreaker. However, because Nebraska’s BCS ranking percentage was just a little higher, they met Miami in the national championship, a game in which they were routed 37-14. Ask any college football fan and he or she will tell you that college football needs a playoff and that the BCS is corrupt. However, as many times as the BCS

has created a controversy, it has also provided us with some of the greatest football games of all time. Will the BCS be the hero this year? Or will college football fans everywhere be asking themselves why a computer decides the biggest game of the year. The NCAA doesn’t plan to change the system anytime soon, so for all you college football fans out there, enjoy the college bowl season; it’s a great time of year.

The Green Bay Packers

How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood? A lot

Favorite movies:

Wedding Crashers, Top Gun, Fight Club

Personal athletic accomplishments: Beating Blue Valley West

tigerturf

Everyone loves the previews

Dec. 8, 2006

Girls’ Basketball

Boys’ Swimming

Boys’ Basketball

Wrestling

Head Coach: Andy Unrein, 2nd season Assistants: Rodney Hughes, Julie Carlberg, Jennifer Duggan, Emily Watson Returning Varsity: Kenzie Zeigler, Morgan Matile, Taylor Hanson, Mindy Smith, Emily Brown, Leslee Kinnison, Liz Stinson, Abbey Frazier ‘05-06 Record: 7-13 Current Record: 1-0 (SM South) Upcoming Games: 12/14 Blue Valley North, 1/5 Aquinas

Head Coach: Martijn Keltner, 5th Season Assistant Coach: Azie Taghizadeh Dive Coach: Bridget Allen ‘05-06 Records: 4th at EKL, tenth at State Returning Varsity: Tony Britt, Anthony Bertolone, Geoff Fichman, Brian Dess, Anthony Burdick, Andrew Katzenstein, Daniel Goergen, Austin Wright, Kyle Peterson, Tyler Duke, Jake Geoffrion, Zach Hennig

Head Coach: Chris Hansen, 3rd season Assistant Coaches: Mark Rabbitt, Greg Gehrig, Jim Seaman, Brad Rolfs, Gary Lindsey Returning Varsity: Michael Grant, Matt Killen, Nate Chastain ‘05-06 record: 5-16 Upcoming Games: Today and tomorrow’s Blue Valley Shootout, 12/12 Olathe North, 1/5 Saint Thomas Aquinas, 1/9 Blue Valley Northwest

Head Coach: Chris Paisley, 5th season Assistant Coaches: Jason Peres, Matt Ortman, Jeff Spencer, Andy Pastor, Adam Nehring, Dusty Coultis, Chad Sullivan ‘05-06: 5-3 in EKL, 9th at State Current Record: Blane Williams placed first in 119 lb division at Gardner Edgerton Returning Varsity: Robert Alexander, Joel Hill, Miles Owens, Austin Quarles, Blane Williams, Cameron Weir

December January

photos by Karen Melton, Morgan McMahon and Gwen Bergerhoffer

sunday

monday

tuesday

Break it down, now! Orchestra concert and band concert today and tomorrow 7 p.m. in the PAC

Students, sharpen your pencils

On your bubble, get set... Scantron!

Finals 1,2,3

Finals 4, 5

20062007

wednesday thursday

Sing your heart out! Choir concert 7 p.m. in the PAC

upcoming

Dec. 8, 2006

Make sure to run as fast as you can out the door today Finals 6, 7

friday saturday We’re not talking about thumb wrestling

14 Ye can take our grades, but ye cannot take our FREEDOM! Winter Break No School

Varsity and JV wrestling match 10 a.m.

“It’s the most wonderful time of the year!” NO SCHOOL — WINTER BREAK

26 Teachers have to come back early

Professional Development No School

Isn’t it ironic on the first day back from break

Festival of Sleep Day

Insert malevolent laugh here

Play God day

Get your game on! Varsity Girls’ Basketball at St. Thomas Aquinas 4:30 p.m. Put the “It” back into “Pit”!

Varsity Boys’ Basketball vs. Miege 5:30 p.m.

“I have a dream...”

Need I say more?

Celebrate good times!

Martin Luther King Day No School

National Nothing day

Tiger Print comes out!

pictureperfect

Dec. 8, 2006

school is canceled...

SNOW DAY

espite the dangerous roads and ongoing precipitation in the area last week, students threw together their marshmallow coats, extra pairs of pants and two pairs of gloves, then jumped into their cars to find an unclaimed sledding location. After only 20 minutes two of the sleds were cracked, but that didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t stop these students from enjoying the company and the cold. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only the beginning of December and there are two snow days down.