THE
TIGER PRINT BLUE VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL Vol. 42 Issue 7 February 2012 Stilwell, KS
AWARDING THE HOURS Documented community service merits Presidential Service Award page 4 FRESH FASHION New trends brighten up any spring wardrobe page 13 READY FOR RUGBY District team bonds while preparing for fourth season page 14
Manga Mania Local convention celebrates popular Japanese anime genre : pages 8-9 Ham. Photo by Jun Ham.
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inthenews
February 2012
Unprecedented number of Relay teams fuels high expectations
Scholars Bowl team wins State saranaatz co-editor
Counting money, Relay for Life committee member senior Thamara Subramanian volunteers during Bank Night. At Bank Night, team captains submit their team’s donations. “Committee helps with collecting, counting and donations,” she said. “It’s a tedious process, but worth it at the end.” Photo by Bailey Outlaw.
annawonderlich ads manager On March 2 and 3, from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., almost one thousand BV, BV West and BV Southwest students will attend Relay for Life. Sponsor Adam Wade said RFL experienced about a 50 percent growth in participants since last year. “We have more students signed up than ever before,” he said. “Right now, I think we have about 450 students on either Committee or a team, so it will be much bigger on our end. The three schools combined will probably have close to a thousand kids. Last year, we had about 300.” Committee co-chair junior Bingjie Li said she is excited about the increase in RFL participation. “I’m definitely looking forward to seeing a crowded gym because there will be so many people there,” she said. “It will definitely be nice to see all those smiling faces and people having fun.” Because 38 teams are registered, Wade said many teams will share campsites. “Due to spacing issues, we’re not going to have 38 campsites,” he said. “There will definitely be a large amount of combining two to three, and in some cases, even four campsites. We’re going to make it work because, in the end, we’re all here to fight cancer.” Wade said he expects BV to raise the most money because of all the BV students participating. Last year, BV raised $33,000, so this year the RFL
Committee wants to raise $100,000 between the three schools. “I’d like to say we’d raise more than both of them put together,” he said. “At the same time, we have to remember that all three schools are working together against cancer.” Li said events will occur every 15 minutes to keep everyone awake and excited. This year’s activities could include ceremonies, Fifth Wall and drumline performances, a bouncy house, a glow stick dance party, a talent show, a photo booth and a caricature artist. Wade said he likes being involved with RFL because he feels like he’s making a difference. “The more involved I become, and the longer I sponsor it, the more of a connection I feel to the event itself and to those dealing with cancer,” he said. “In the end, everyone unfortunately has to deal with cancer in some way or another, whether it’s a family member or friend getting sick, or even worse, themselves getting sick. To me, it’s just mind-boggling that something can be as scary and powerful as cancer can.” Wade said he understands why students are involved with RFL every year. “Students really grab a hold of the impact that they can have on society,” he said. “Raising money for such a good cause that really affects everyone is just a natural fit. It’s something that is relatable, and I think it’s something that’s really just crucial for everyone to participate in.”
On Saturday, Feb. 11, the Scholars Bowl team won its second consecutive 5A State championship. The team, consisting of juniors Calvin Cochran, Asim Zaidi and Jamie Brower, sophomores Luke Chen and Ajay Subramanian and freshman Luke Conners ended its season with a record of 70 wins and six losses. The team prepared for State by going through practice questions with sponsor Adam Wade. “We had been doing practice questions, and we had been consistently hitting 80 to 85 percent of those questions per run-through,” Cochran said. “That’s pretty amazing for just the six of us. If you get that many questions, you’re pretty much set.” Wade kept track of the team’s statistics, and Cochran said Wade provided guidance that proved to be key in the team’s success. Cochran said the team performed well in all categories, but he and Zaidi led the team in world language questions. “There’s just so much concentrated knowledge in the six of us,” he said. “It was pretty intense. We were all pretty excited. The tension, especially at the end, was evident. We all realized it was a big deal to all of us.”
In the March issue of the Tiger Print sleep deprivation the best cupcakes in town the new Hunger Games movie
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February 2012
inthenews
Serving with a
Stories by Hailey McEntee
smile
Students experience positive impact from helping others, service hour forms for Presidential Service Award due soon
LorelleKatz Sophomore Lorelle Katz volunteered a total of 270 hours of community service this year. Katz said she does a lot of Katz volunteering with her church. She helps there in the office whenever they need assistance, teaches Sunday school, and goes on mission trips. She also helps with a dance program called Access Dance. She volunteers with a couple of friends, and they help teach kids with special needs how to dance. At Access Dance, she helps teach five classes — four jazz and one tap. Each class is divided into age groups. Ages range from five-year-olds to ten-year-olds. The tap class welcomes all the age groups. “In each class, we stretch for like five to ten minutes and then each volunteer goes and finds a buddy to go across the floor with,” Katz said. “Basi-
cally we just help them with each step and make sure they are doing it right. Each class has a dance that they learn, so every week we practice that dance and then perform them at different places.” She said getting to be around the kids a lot is very enjoyable. “The kids get so attached to you,” Katz said. “There’s this one girl named Harper and every week she just runs in, and she gives everybody a hug. She’s so sweet. The emotional attachment, like the bond that you create with them, it’s like nothing that I’ve ever seen before. They’re all pretty trusting people. Once you get comfortable, and they fully figure out that you’re trying to help them, it just clicks.” Katz said she loves knowing she is truly helping others. “You can tell that the people who have asked for help are so appreciative of what you have been doing,” she said.“It’s a really good experience to be able to help out. It’s one of those things that it’s not required, but you still really want to do it.”
All community service forms going toward the Presidential Community Service Award are due Feb. 29. The hours that count for this award are hours that were earned between March 1, 2011 and the due date. Service hour forms can be submitted any time but are only counted for the Presidential Award if turned in by Feb. 29. There are three different levels for the Presidential award: bronze, silver and gold. The bronze level is for students who received 100 to 174 hours of community service. The silver is for 175 to 249 hours, and the gold is for 250 or more hours. In the past, service involving teaching religion did not count towards the Presidential Service Award. However, this rule has changed so teaching religion does count. “Besides managing sports, if you are doing something that helps those in need, it will probably count,” community service sponsor Kristin Asquith said. “I would love for kids to branch out — try to get out of Johnson County and help others.” If there is ever a dispute about whether something should count for community service, Asquith said it is discussed among a group of teachers. “We have an oversight group of teachers who, if there is ever a question about what hours count, I just send it to them if there might need to be something changed,” she said. Asquith said the Presidential Award is a good way to recognize the students who have put in effort and passion to community service. “You do service for your soul and to better yourself,” she said. “But we live in a world that people also like to be recognized for what they do.”
HannahSkidmore Senior Hannah Skidmore completed more than 300 hours of community service this school year. She began volunteering in sixth grade. She said her parents’ Skidmore influence led her to start doing community service. “My parents have always pushed me to help others,” Skidmore said. “They taught me to always put others before myself.” She receives many service hours through managing varsity volleyball, varsity boys basketball and track and field. Skidmore also does community service through her church by going to homeless shelters and on mission trips. She said one of her favorite parts about do-
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Exp. 3/31/12
ing community service is building friendships. “A couple years ago, I went to Florida, and we helped at this horse ranch,” she said. “It’s a therapeutic riding center where kids with disabilities can go and relax. A few of the people I have met there I have life-long relationships with.” She said she builds strong relationships by getting others to confide in her. “You just ask them questions, and they start to really open up to you,” Skidmore said. “You get to know them on a deeper level by asking them these questions.” People she helped come to her church to visit her regularly. She also stays connected with people she goes on mission trips with through Facebook and email. “We are so close still,” she said. “We have never broken our family bond.”
February 2012
outloud
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A Modest Proposal by Pierre Dukan
saranaatz co-editor Pierre Dukan is pretty much a genius. In his book, An Open Letter to the Future President, released Jan. 5, he made a recommendation to the future president of France: give high school students grades based on body weight. As France prepares for its next election, Dukan will be sending copies of his book to all the candidates in hopes of integrating his ideas into the French government. According to his plan, students would be judged based on a combination of weight and height that determines Body Mass Index. So, sorry short, stout kids. You may have
studied all night for the chemistry exam, but your efforts were futile. Maybe you should have put down the book and jumped on the treadmill instead. After all, studying for a test and losing 20 pounds pretty much take the same amount of time, right? Stop moping about how weight loss isn’t immediate. You’re only kidding yourself. There are plenty of quick ways to shed pounds. Take up smoking. It suppresses the appetite. Go on an all-juice diet. It’s healthy to never eat solids. Those sketchy weight loss pills you saw at 2 a.m. in an infomercial? Give them a go. It really doesn’t matter how you meet our standards for weight loss. Lose pounds and you can get good grades just like the naturally skinny kids. But what about those kids who have overweight parents, overweight grandparents and overweight great-grandparents? Psssh. Genetics. Three generations of your family may not have been able to overcome their weight issues, but that doesn’t mean a few push-ups and squats won’t make your problem magically vanish. And obviously, overweight kids don’t really have any other motivation to get thin.
Those billboards, magazine ads, commercials and Victoria’s Secret catalogues make everyone feel good about themselves, and the only way the government can really ensure people stay thin is to grade them on it. That way, fat kids won’t have any self-esteem in their personal lives or their academics. Those thin, popular kids need more of a boost, and the only way to do that is to make them superior in school, too. Let’s say there’s a big project due in AP Psychology. The thin student spent approximately 20 minutes on his, and used only ripped paper, pencil and some expired Elmer’s glue. The obese student spent his whole weekend on the project and has created a dazzling poster depicting each part of the brain, color-coded accordingly. But when it really comes down to it, it’s not the final product that matters. The thin student deserves an A, and the obese student would be lucky to get a D. Because let’s face it, that’s how the real world works. High schools need to prepare students for the work force, and jobs require all employees to be skinny. If you’re fat, you will probably just end up living out of a shopping cart.
Students on social fringe should stay true to themselves
maegankabel website editor Before we start, let me make something clear: I’m not claiming to be a victim, nor am I writing this for pity. It’s simply my story — a story I’m hoping will help others. Let’s start at the beginning. At the end of eighth grade, my two friends moved to different states. Starting high school alone almost incapacitated me. My parents reassured me that, in high school, groups would reform, and I would make new friends. They were wrong. People from the different schools already knew each other, and I felt completely alone. I wasn’t an outgoing person, and any hope of finding friends was lost. I went through my schedule without
saying a word to anyone. When the bell rang at 2:50, I left through the 200 hall doors and walked to the corner where my mom picked me up. I would go home and go straight to my room. Sometimes I did homework. Most of the time, I was in bed staring at my ceiling or in the shower, crying. As days turned into weeks, rolling out of bed in the mornings took more effort. I was miserable at school, but didn’t think I had a reason to be — I wasn’t pushed into lockers or teased. I was just lonely, which didn’t seem like enough to merit feeling bad. To try to cope, I turned to self-injury. I accumulated scars and Band-Aids under my clothes, no one noticing but me. As weeks turned into months, I became suicidal. Trying to create four-year plans was futile. I could barely imagine living into tomorrow, much less the next four years. I wasn’t happy, and I didn’t think I ever would be. After one student reached out to me, things turned around. By sophomore year, I had a group of friends. My phone constantly buzzed with texts, and I had weekend plans. I thought I’d found happiness. But
something still didn’t quite feel right. Even in a group of friends, I still felt alone. Now, let’s fast-forward to this year. I’m a senior. I have two good friends, but no group of people with whom I click. I’m virtually in the same social situation I was my freshman year: I come to school, go through the motions and go home. But I’m not depressed about the situation. Let me explain. I know depression can be debilitating. I know what it’s like to walk the halls alone or to be in a group of people but feel like you can’t truly relate to anyone. You’re physically included, but emotionally alone. I think there are more of us out there than it seems, and I’m here to tell you that it gets better, and high school isn’t worth giving up your happiness or your life. Adults told me this, but I never believed them. I hope hearing it from a high school student will make it stick. I’m not going to say, “Keep your head up and smile.” I know, when you’re there, every breath is difficult. Just remember: it isn’t about who is turning around in class to talk to you, how many people walk the hallways with you or how often your phone is ringing with texts.
It is about who you are, what you do and what you believe. It took almost four years for me to realize that happiness starts with being happy with myself. The light at the end of the tunnel is easier to see when you spend your time doing something you love, even if it isn’t popular. There will always be someone who will look down on you because of your interests. Don’t worry about them. Don’t change for them. Once you embrace who you are, friends will fall into place, even if they aren’t in high school. As I’ve started expressing interests I used to hide, I’ve found college students who are just as, if not more, passionate than I am. Try not to let the lonely days eat away at you until it seems there is only one way out. Hang on until you can get out of the high school hierarchy and find other people you may relate to. The stress and pains of today are worth enduring because you’ll be around to experience life when it opens up beyond Blue Valley. And, who knows — maybe someday you can share your story and create hope for someone else.
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outloud
February 2012
staffeditorial
the tiger print co-editors-in-chief Jordan Huesers Sara Naatz website editor Maegan Kabel photo editors Dakota Behrman Maria Fournier news editor Kelly Cordingley features editor Annie Matheis
ads manager Anna Wonderlich circulation manager Taylor Yeazel staff writers Abby Bamburg Jansen Hess Maddie Jewett Meghan Kennedy Hailey McEntee Caroline Meinzenbach Katie Wells
entertainment editor Odi Opole
photographers Jun Ham Bailey Outlaw Olivia Roudebush
opinion editor Emily Brown
cartoonist Evelyn Davis
sports editor Jordan McEntee
adviser Jill Chittum
Cartoon by Evelyn Davis.
Requiring students to complete community service hours diminishes true meaning staff editorial
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agreed
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disagreed
On almost every college application students are asked how many community service hours they have earned. But how much does community service count towards college acceptance? According to forbes.com, not as much as it used to. As surprising as it may seem, college admissions officers are aware of many schools’ mandatory community service requirements. They are becoming more and more wary of the students who merely volunteer for the sake of college applications. Unless the school you are applying to is highly selective and every correct punctuation adds to your chance of becoming the chosen one, community
service isn’t going to make or break you. So, why do colleges even ask for volunteer hours? The word volunteer hints that the person volunteering should be doing it voluntarily — out of their own free will and heart. Not because they want to remain in a specific honor society or because they want to fluff up their college application. Volunteering should be something personal, private. Something that in your heart, you can hold on to. Not something that after a few random hours here and there, you have a permission slip signed, and you are done for the rest of the school year. Because when students start counting their community service hours, they are, in a way, being ‘paid’ for being kind, helpful and empathetic to others. What kind of people does that make us? That we have to be given an incentive to help others? Every time a student brings a permission slip to a volunteer supervisor — often an adult who takes time out of their busy lives to help other people —
what must they think of us? That we are simply helping other people to help ourselves? By perpetuating the idea that every single achievement needs to be recognized with a reward or written on every single application, are colleges taking away the meaning behind volunteering? Completely. Since college admission officers have already confessed that volunteer hours count less in the admission process, colleges should stop asking for community service hours all together. Let the students find the pleasure of helping others on their own time. For those who think that requiring community service truly aids the community, think about how many things now count as community service that really don’t better our community in any way. By promoting community service, we are, in fact, diminishing it. Let students who volunteer treasure the memories, not because the community service hours helped get them into Stanford, but because they helped someone else.
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 paper do not necessarily reflect the views of the administrations of Blue Valley Unified School District #229. Letters to the editor and reader responses are encouraged for publication. The Tiger Print reserves the right to edit all submissions for both language and content and encourages letters to be no more than 350 words. Letters should be submitted to room 450, emailed to thetigerprint@yahoo.com or mailed to: The Tiger Print c/o Blue Valley High School 6001 W. 159th St. Stilwell, KS 66085 phone: 913-239-4800 Pacemaker finalist, 2009 and 2010. Member, Kansas Scholastic Press Association, National Scholastic Press Association and Columbia Scholastic Press Association.
February 2012
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payin’thebills
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cosplay
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indepth
February 2012
congregating for
Japanese genre inspires participants to dress as favorite characters at local convention Terms to know:
Information gathered from naka-kon.com anime: A style of animation developed in Japan. Manga are often developed into anime. manga: Anime graphic novels or comic books. Must be read right to left. glomp: When anime fans hug someone wearing a popular costume. cosplaying: Dressing and acting like a character. Often from anime, manga or Japanese-inspired video games. Naka-Kon: A Kansas-based anime convention that celebrates Japanese animation and the influence of anime across the globe. pocky: According to whatispocky.com, pocky is a thin Japanese biscuit, commonly covered in chocolate. keyblade: Weapons wielded by the main characters in “Kingdom Hearts.” otaku: Anime fans. shojo manga: Geared towards girls. Tends to focus on romance and emotions. shonen manga: Geared towards boys. Tends to have more action, less emotion.
a few favorites Becker shares her treasured manga books
emilybrown opinion editor Thousands of people dressed in costumes influenced by Japanese anime and manga, video games, TV shows and Japanese fashion, crowded the halls of the Overland Park Convention center. Those in the most intricate costumes were swarmed by people wanting to take photos, and strangers asking them to glomp. A girl with choppy, blue hair and sapphire eyes made her way down past the line of hundreds of people waiting to buy passes to enter. As she walked, a person called out “Aqua.” She smiled and turned. On Feb. 10 and 11, senior Jessica Becker cosplayed as Aqua from the video game “Kingdom Hearts” for the second time at the 2012 Naka-Kon anime convention. One of the first anime conventions of its kind in the Kansas City area, Naka-Kon hosts panels, costume contests and a variety of vendors selling everything from manga-inspired artwork to pocky. Becker first stepped into the world of anime and manga after her sister encouraged her to watch the first season of Naruto. She said she immediately fell in love with the series. “I was thinking, ‘Why haven’t I watched these before?’” she said. “I just love the characters. They are so easy to get attached to. You pick your favorites, and they continue on for the rest of the series.” The first manga series she read was Shaman King, and the connection she felt with the characters inspired her to continue reading other series like Beauty Pop, Bleach and Wallflower. “[Manga] is like a story with really good characters, but you also get to see what they look like and
see their actions,” she said. Later, she discovered a role playing video game called “Kingdom Hearts” that had both anime and Disney influences. Aqua, one of the main female characters in the game, quickly became one of Becker’s favorites. “When I first started playing, I was like ‘Oh, my gosh, an actual girl heroine,’” she said. “I was very excited by that. I started playing as her, and I liked how powerful she was. She had a lot of confidence.” When she decided to cosplay at the 2011 NakaKon at the Hyatt Regency, Becker chose to dress up as Aqua. Rhiannon Riesenmy, Becker’s friend and fellow cosplayer, said Becker’s cosplay selection was a good choice because of Aqua’s reputation in the gaming world. “Aqua is a character who has a strong sense of justice, cares for people and is optimistic in the face of adversity,” Riesenmy said. “Aqua is very popular among the ‘Kingdom Hearts’ fan base.” Becker started preparing her Aqua costume months in advance. After gathering all of the material needed, Becker’s grandmother, a former professional seamstress, sewed it all together. Still, Becker needed one last accessory to finish off Aqua’s costume: a keyblade. When she first looked at keyblades online, she saw that some of them cost hundreds of dollars. She found an aerial view shot of the blade and realized that she might be able to make one instead. Becker and her father went shopping for wood, and Becker drew the outline of the keyblade onto the wood. Her father cut it, and she sanded and painted it. Becker said there are two main benefits to making a costume rather than buying one online.
“You definitely save a lot,” she said. “I’ve also been told that my costume looks better than any of the ones you can buy online because the coloring. Sometimes the color that they use doesn’t exactly match what the character has. I was dead set on trying to match my character to try to make it look really good.” An average Aqua costume without the wig costs $80-$155, not including shipping. The price of the blue wig varies from $20-$40. Finally, the day to show off her costume came. With several friends, Becker traversed the hallways of the Hyatt Regency in her Aqua cosplay. “It felt so good when you are walking around, and you get stopped by people commenting on your costume and wanting to take pictures of you,” she said. “It is a good feeling knowing your hard work paid off.” Riesenmy said Becker was the most realistic Aqua she has seen in her three years of cosplaying. “She fits the part very well, and her accuracy on the cosplay speaks to that,” Riesenmy said. “Her keyblade is perfectly accurate as well.” After shopping and attending panels, Becker and other “Kingdom Hearts” cosplayers met up and took photos at a scheduled photo shoot. “There were four other Aquas, so I was kind of intimidated,” she said. “But I felt good about mine after seeing others. Some people when they cosplay, they don’t really care if it looks exactly like the character. I felt like mine was more realistic looking.”
Naruto is an animated series and manga created by Masashi Kishimoto. The series, based upon a world with numerous warring ninja villages, focuses on Uzumaki Naruto’s struggle to become a great ninja.
Beauty Pop centers around three popular boys: Narumi Shougo, the hairstylist; Minami, the nail artist; and Ochiai Kazuhiko, the stylist. They give makeovers to girls. They challenge Kiri, a master hairstylist, to a transformation showdown.
Information gathered from leafninja.com
Information gathered from amazon.com
February 2012
QA
indepth
&
Q: What made you want to volunteer at Naka-Kon? A: First of all, it was for the price drop for
the badge. Another reason was just to get in early and get a parking space.
Q: Describe your experience. A: Well, knowing I could volunteer was an
opportunity for me, and I thought it was a good experience because I got to see everyone setting up and got to meet people there.
Q: What did you do while you were volunteering? A: We set up the room for everyone to come in. I was in the gaming room, so I would set up all of the systems, TVs. I also helped set up other panels and the stage.
Q: What were the best costumes you saw? A: The best costumes that I saw were from
Final Fantasy. I also remember a girl who was ^LHYPUN H :HPSVY 4VVU V\[Ă„[ HUK OLY KYLZZ was really vivid. She had the long hair, braids.
with Naka-Kon volunteer senior Nick Kawaguchi
Q: Are you a big anime or manga fan? A: I guess you could say that. I started with Bleach, and my all-time favorites are Death Note and still Bleach.
Q: Have you been to Naka-Kon before? A: 5V [OPZ ^HZ T` Ă„YZ[ [PTL 0 MLS[ SPRL 0 ^HZ in a really diverse place. I actually had quite a bit of fun with other fans of anime.
Q: What was the best part of Naka-Kon? A: The best part of Naka-Kon was mostly
the panels, for me, and just getting to meet lots of people. I went to the Death Note Fan Panel, the J-pop Panel, the Nintendo 3DS Party Panel, and I went to the Old School Final Fantasy Panel.
Q: Would you do it again next year? A: Yes. Not only just to hang out with my
friends but also to get that same experience. I will dress up next year, too.
Shaman King centers on a young Shaman, Asakura Yoh, who can see and speak to ghosts. He wants to become the Shaman King, and the series follows his training and the friends and enemies he meets along the way.
Bleach focuses on a boy, Ichigo Kurosaki, who has the ability to see restless spirits. He befriends a Soul Reaper who helps spirits find peace. After the Soul Reaper is gravely injured, Ichigo is forced to become a temporary Soul Reaper.
Information gathered from myanimelist.net
Information gathered from amazon.com
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centerstage
February 2012
MOVIE MAYHEM Story by Anna Wonderlich.
If you’re at a Walmart, Price Chopper or McDonalds, you’ll most likely see a Redbox at the front entrance. With DVDs and Blu-rays for only $1 per day and video games for $2, it’s one of the best ideas in the movie-renting business. To rent a movie, go to a Redbox kiosk and browse through the available movies on the touchscreen — it’s fast, simple
Going to the library to check out movies might seem like a thing of the past, but there’s always a library nearby, and it doesn’t cost a thing. In fact, there are 13 locations in Johnson County alone. Plus, a library card is free and anyone can sign up for one. Libraries have a variety of books, movies and TV shows, so you’ll probably find something that’s not offered on Redbox or Netflix. If they don’t have provider. Generally new releases cost about $4, which is higher than both Redbox and Netflix’s prices. The Movies On Demand channel is different for each cable company, so check the channel guide to see if it’s available. Only certain cable companies have On Demand. and easy to use. All the movies include the rating and a short summary to help you decide. One of the best things about Redbox is that the movies can be returned to any kiosk nationwide, and there’s over 28,000 locations to choose from. With Redbox there’s no running around town searching for a specific movie.
to pick it up. Netflix can stream shows through the TV or computer or gaming devices like the Xbox 360, Wii or PS3. With a wide library to choose from and commercial-free programs, the only disadvantage is not knowing what to watch.
The company seems really flexible with no due dates or late fees and the option to cancel your subscription at any time. But why would someone want to do that? To start a free one-month trial, go to the Netflix website for more details. Information from netflix.com
a movie you’re looking for, you can suggest it for purchase on their website. The problem is, the library might not have the newest movie releases right away, or if they do, there might be a long wait to check it out. Don’t forget to pay attention to when your checkouts have to be returned. If you forget to return them by the
designated time, you will get charged 30 cents per day until it reaches a maximum of $6. The Johnson County libraries allow people to rent a DVD for up to two weeks. To find the library nearest you, visit jocolibrary.org. Information from jocolibrary.org
Some features unique to On Demand include optional parental controls, a free trailer preview, 3D movies and special 48-hour rentals instead of the usual 24 hours that On Demand offers. One thing that I like about On Demand is that you can’t get charged for not returning your movie on time — you don’t even have to return it at all. You can reserve a movie or find which kiosk it’s at by going online. Redbox requires a credit or debit card to check out a movie, which can be a downside if you don’t have one. Also, don’t forget to turn the movie in within the 24-hour period. Although Redbox makes you wait
When the 24 hours are up, the title just disappears from your list of purchased movies. Despite the higher prices, On Demand adds new selections to the library weekly and releases movies on the same day the DVD is released — usually weeks before Redbox and Netflix. Information from rentmoviesondemand.com
NETFLIX
Movies On Demand allows people with digital cable to instantly rent a movie with their remote control — no leaving the house. All you need is a digital cable subscription, digital set top box and a remote control. Prices range from $2.99 to $5.99 depending on the movie and cable
Netflix is perfect for a viewer who watches TV shows or movies all the time. For only $7.99 a month, Netflix has unlimited episodes and movies available 24/7 — more for your money. And it doesn’t involve going to a store
LIBRARY MOVIES ON REDBOX DEMAND
It’s a Friday night and you’re looking for a good movie to watch with your friends. “Let’s go to Blockbuster and pick one out,” your friend suggests. Oh, wait — the nearest Blockbuster isn’t open anymore. Since the Blockbuster on 151st Street closed in July, people can no longer go in and chose a movie to watch. You’re either forced to just buy the movie you’re looking for, drive to another Blockbuster in the area or find an alternative way to rent movies. To stay out of Blockbuster withdrawal, try one of these other ways to get movies.
longer for new releases and has a limited selection of movies, it seems like there’s new movies coming out all the time, which makes up for it. To get a free Redbox movie, start a new account on the Redbox website — valid for first-time online rentals only. Information from redbox.com
Media coverage, new technology change Academy Awards ceremony jansenhess staff writer
Two men, dressed in tuxedos, stand up on stage and attempt to get a few laughs from the 270-person audience sitting before them. The guests are dressed for the occasion — men in tuxedos and women in their evening gowns. They all sit at round tables in The Blossom Room at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel as they wait for the ceremony to begin. It was May 16, 1929. Admission for the first-ever Academy Awards ceremony, also known as the Oscars, was only $5. There was no media exposure, and the awards had already been announced three months prior to the event. At
this banquet, winners received their 13.5 inch, 8.5 pound, 24-karat gold statue, Oscar. The second Academy Awards ceremony was aired via a one-hour radio broadcast by a Los Angeles station, and the winners were not announced until the night of the ceremony. A list of winners was, however, given to an L.A. newspaper before the event so the recipients’ names could be printed in the next edition. This went on until 1940 when the newspaper printed the names in their evening edition of the paper. This edition came out before the ceremonies began, thus ruining the suspense and surprise that is the Oscars. This incident was the reason the Academy decided to switch to the sealed-envelope policy in 1941, where no
one knows the results until the envelope is opened live on stage. This method is still used today. Twelve years later, in 1953, the Oscars were televised for the first time in history. The event was only televised in Canada and the U.S. until 1969, when the Awards went international. Today, it is broadcast in more than 200 countries. Men still wear tuxedos, but women wear anything from a simple black dress and heels to a shimmering prom-like dress. Paparazzi catch every embarrassing moment and capture the night’s events. The 2012 Oscars, hosted by Billy Crystal, airs on Feb. 26, 6 p.m., from Hollywood’s Kodak Theater. Information collected from Oscars.org
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fashion February 2012
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Story by Odi Opole. Photos by Jun Ham.
It may only be February, but stores have already stocked their shelves with swimsuits and shorts for spring as fashion trends gather steam. The most popular influences include nautical, tribal and feminine styles. Here’s how to rock them this year:
Tribal Time to display your inner wild child — Rawr? The tribal trend, characterized by bright colors, bold prints and big, simple accessories, brings fun into your spring wardrobe while also toning down to a school-appropriate level. If you’re going out, a bold dress with leggings and a neutral cardigan looks best — but for school, pair a printed shirt with jeans, or try a simple shirt-and-skirt outfit with chunky necklaces and fun bangles. But make sure to remember the most important rule of this trend: don’t overdo it. One wild piece will pull together an entire outfit, so don’t you dare pair leopardprint jeans with a zebra-striped jacket.
Chunky necklace
Printed shirt
Feminine Girly girls of the world, your time has come. Pastel colors, floral prints and skirts are all huge trends this spring — and why shouldn’t we celebrate all the perks of being feminine? Dress up a pair of jeans with a blouse and some pearls, or keep it simple with a knee-length sundress and a cardigan.
Floral skirt
The trend is all about playing up femininity, so don’t be afraid to pile on the pink and have fun with flowery prints. However, be careful not to cross from soft-and-sweet to sickly-sweet. Too many frills can become overkill very quickly, and so can becoming a walking garden.
Flower headband
Nautical Slip on your Sperry shoes, sailors. This season, feel free to put your own twist on the stripes and primary colors that dominate the nautical trend. Instead of pairing navy blue with red and white all the time, pick a deeper color like maroon, or a lighter, more fun color like peach or pastel yellow. If you pick one strong color like navy blue or white as your dominant color, then stick with shades and tints of primary colors for your accents and accessories. A good pair of highwaisted denim/navy blue pants or shorts will make this trend easy to follow by providing a quick, easy and neutral dominant piece for all of your maritimeinspired outfits. This trend also translates to men’s fashion as casual-yetclassy wardrobe options. Sperry Top-Siders with a pinstriped shirt instantly dress up any pair of pants while staying casual enough for Andrew Thompson models the nautical look with everyday wear. Sperry Top-Siders and a white pinstriped shirt.
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tigerturf
February 2012
District rugby team works to build solid foundation
roughin’ it with
RUGBY jordanmcentee sports editor Fog creeps its way across the top of the field. The stillness of the black night is broken when the BV rugby team takes to the turf. “Ball, ball, ball!” One of them picks up the ball. “Ruck, ruck, ruck!” One of them tackles the man with the ball. “Down, down, down!” He falls to the cold turf and holds the ball behind him. “Right, right, right!” Another offensive player tosses the ball to the side, and the drill continues.
rules of rugby Terms to know:
Knock-on — When the ball is passed forward. Results in a turn over. Scrum down — The bigger guys (the forwards) and the smaller guys (the backs) challenge position. Ruck — Defending the ball. Tri-zone — The endzone. Touchlines — The sidelines. Jumper — The man lifted up to grab the ball on a throw-in.
Scoring:
3 points — Drop kick or penalty kick through the posts. 5 points — Downward pressure on the ball in the try zone. 2 points — Kick the ball through the posts, only after a try is scored.
The district rugby team began practicing in January for its fourth season. The team is made up of boys from BV, BV West, BV Northwest and BV North. Senior Hank Kellerman started playing for the rugby team his freshman year, the first year the team was created. “It was kind of a spur-of-the-moment decision,” he said. “I checked it out freshman year, and I just said ‘Hey, I’ll give this a try.’” The game of rugby has numerous rules and specifications, but Kellerman said both are easy to pick up. “It started off being really confusing,” he said. “But at the first game everything started clicking, and it became really easy. So that’s what we tell the new guys, ‘Just wait ‘till the first game.’” Coach Matt O’Donnell said rugby can be compared to a combination of several other sports. “It all starts with a kickoff,” O’Donnell said. “Then from there, it’s a good mix of ideas from soccer, hockey and basketball. There’s a big focus on offensive to defensive transitions and switching the field.” Rugby player senior Mark Nichols said the game requires athletes to stay in shape. Substitutions are made, but players must be fit enough to compete in the full 60-80 minutes every game. “It’s really independent,” he said. “You have to be driven. You have to work by yourself to get fit, running and going to the gym. You have to be honest with yourself. If you don’t stay in shape, you don’t play. So it just makes everything more fun if you’re in shape.” Kellerman said building up to the current team has taken quite a bit of recruiting. “It’s taken a lot of one-on-one conversations with people,” he said. “If you keep bugging people, they eventually come out, then they get hooked on the sport.” The district is in the process of starting a youth rugby team to prepare kids for the sport before they enter high school. “Most guys come into high school not
Preparing to catch the ball, senior Hank Kellerman practices at the Overland Park Soccer Complex at a weekly rugby practice. Kellerman said he was very close to his teammates. “We were best friends after one practice, everyone is so close.” Kellerman said. Photo by Olivia Roudebush.
knowing the sport, never having played the sport and some of them have never even seen it on TV,” coach John Cutter said. “But here in Kansas City, we tend to get quite a few quality young adult players.” Several boys on the rugby team previously played football. “We get a lot of young guys exposed,” Cutter said. “Especially guys who leave football for one reason or another. It’s a drag to be third string and get no playing time in football. But with rugby, there are 15 different positions for 15 different body types. There’s something for everyone.” Two of the coaches previously played for the U.S. National rugby team. “We’re really lucky to have the six or seven coaches we have,” Kellerman said. “We’re always learning new stuff because every coach has something different to bring to the table.” Kellerman said the most exciting mo-
ment on the rugby team was a fight with the team from Rockhurst High School last season. “Somebody threw the first punch, then adrenaline started pumping, and next thing you know, everybody was throwing fists,” he said. Even though the team focuses on performing well, Kellerman said they have their fair share of laughs. “No one takes anyone seriously on our team,” he said. “Things get done but only after quite a few sarcastic comments. The coaches will be like, ‘All right, take a lap.’ Then somebody will say, ‘Um, I think I’m just going to go sit down.’ It’s a good time.” Nichols said the boys on the team have become tight-knit throughout the years. “When you play for a team that fights for every single game, there’s this sense of brotherhood,” he said. “It definitely keeps me coming back for more.”
February 2012
Girls basketball team’s unity drives success jansenhess staff writer Monday, Feb. 6. Home game against BV Southwest. Final Score: 49-17. Win for BV. Leading scorers — senior Mackenzie Johnson and junior Bailey Geiman, both with 11 points. Leading rebounder — Johnson with 11. Four offensive, seven defensive. Leading stealer — sophomore Brooke Zimmerman with two. Leading 3-point shooter — senior Taylor Leathers with two three-pointers on the night. Coach Andy Unrein said the Lady Tigers have a special connection on and off the court that helps them out-will other teams. “They get along better than any group of kids we’ve ever had,” he said. “We’ve had some groups that have been really close, but there always seems to be some drama at some level. There really doesn’t seem to be any with this group at all, which I think has been a huge reason why they’ve been able to be consistent — just focus on what they’re supposed to do and not a bunch of other junk.” Johnson said the team’s chemistry is the best in the EKL. “We know what we’re doing before we do it,” she said. “I think we know each other better than we know ourselves.” Geiman said she and Johnson have a unique bond when they play together. “We always find each other open, and we always are passing to each other,” Geiman said. “I mean, I always pass to everyone, but we have something special. We know where each other is on the court.” Geiman and Johnson have been playing basketball together since fourth grade. Unrein said since they learned the fundamentals together, they play the same way. “A lot of them have been playing together for a really long time,” he said. “You start to develop a sense of what each other is doing and how they’re trying to do it. That goes a long way as them being successful as a group. We’ve had teams that have been good, but they didn’t really play well together because they didn’t understand what each other was trying to accomplish.” Geiman said learning the game with Johnson has helped throughout the years.
save the dates The State Wrestling tournament is this weekend, Feb. 24 and 25, in Wichita. Tryouts for spring sports begin the week of Monday, Feb. 27. Relay For Life will take place at BV West from 7 p.m. on Friday, March 2 until 7 a.m. on Saturday, March 3.
“We know each other’s weaknesses and strengths,” she said. “I knew when we were little what things we were good at and what things we were bad at.” Unrein said the team doesn’t have one go-to-player — everyone plays a part. During the SW game, all but one Lady Tiger scored a basket. “We have a lot of kids that share roles and that from night-to-night can fill those types of roles,” he said. “One night, it can be one of the seniors, one night it could be a junior, one night it was a bench kid that kind of lifted us. I think that’s one of the things that’s so great about it — they don’t have to lean on one person. It cuts the anxiety down.” Geiman said each player has a main role, but their responsibilities can shift depending on the night. “Kenzie’s the post, we look for her inside,” she said. “Taylor, we look for her to drive and spot up. Geiman said junior Sara Hanna is the team’s ultimate rebounder and aggressor. Sophomore Sydnie Hanson helps handle the ball. Juniors Jarin Braithwait and Kelsie Carpenter come in and bring a lot of fire. The Lady Tigers lost the State championship game last year, but Unrein said losing in the finals was not as big of a set back as people may think. “It just proves a point that we can get to that point, and it’s fun to get to that point, but it’d be a lot more fun if we were able to get it done,” he said. “So I think it creates a little bit of hunger for the kids.” Johnson said the team has a really good chance at winning State, especially if they keep improving. “I think that the more that we’re together, the more we realize each other’s goals and how we are all going for the same thing,” she said. “We definitely know how it feels to be there in the end, so I think that losing helps you realize how much better you’d feel if you win.” Unrein said the team unity will ultimately help them throughout the post season because they play for each other. “I think this is something that’s consistent every year,” he said. “You want to try and win the state title, but I think the bigger issue is they don’t want to lose because they don’t want to let each other down. I think that’s the biggest thing. They don’t want to let the school down, they don’t want to let the parents down, they don’t want to let the coaches down, but the biggest thing is they don’t want to let each other down. That pushes them even farther.”
in the news The University of Kansas and University of Missouri basketball teams face off in Lawrence on Saturday, Feb. 25. Tip-off is at 3 p.m. on CBS. The basketball teams from Kansas State University and Iowa State University go head-to-head in Manhattan on Saturday, Feb. 25. Tip off is at 12:30 p.m.
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TIGER
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BV SPORTS
sports in brief BOYS BASKETBALL Previous action: 2/10 vs Aquinas (L 58-51) 2/14 @ Gardner (L 56-46) Upcoming action: 2/24 @ BV West Record: 4-13 GIRLS BASKETBALL Previous action: 2/9 @ Aquinas (W 38-23) 2/14 @ Gardner (W 26-24) Upcoming action: 2/21 vs BV North 2/23 @ BV West Record: 14-3 WRESTLING Previous action: 2/11 EKL 2/18 Regionals Upcoming action: 2/24 - 2/25 State BOYS SWIMMING Previous Action: 2/3 - 2/4 EKL @ BVSW 2/14 Regionals 2/18 State Finals GIRLS BOWLING Previous action: 2/15 @ Olathe East Lanes Upcoming Action: 2/24 Regionals @ Topeka West Ridge Lanes
Results current as of Feb. 17
Creating cartoons 16
incolor
February 2012
(Left) Junior Becky Winegarner’s “Silly Things Hipsters Say” cartoon.
Drawing II students submit original cartoons
(Top right) Senior Austin Averkamp’s cartoon shows a senior’s struggle to make it to class on time.
(Top left) Senior Lauren Doolittle illustrates her thought that Tiger Tokens are laudable.
Check out more student cartoons on our website at bvtigernews.com