March 8, 2006 Vol. 35 Issue 7 6001 W. 159th Stilwell, Kan. 66085
tiger print
Fun in the sun Spring Break questions: slopes or sand? Sun or tanning bed? Where to go? See pages 8-9 for more.
Blue Valley High School
Struttin’ their stuff
Some students who attended Relay for Life Feb. 24-25 participated in the Queen of the Relay contest. Male team members had to dress up as females and solicit cash donations from others who attended the Relay. Other activities included basketball, dancing and balloon relays. The goal of the Relay was to raise money for cancer research. See related story on page 2. Photo by Eric Min.
Junior-senior prom arrives early sara ster
staff reporter
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o, it’s not an April Fool’s joke. Junior-Senior Prom is scheduled for April 1, just two weeks after Spring Break. Though the administrators said an early date was necessary, some students and faculty say it’s just too early. “There are a lot of events in the spring,” prom sponsor Diane O’Bryan said. “They had to work around so everyone can go.” “I think it’s too soon because after prom students seem to ‘checkout’,” teacher Michael Johnston said. Prom will be held on April 1 from 9 p.m. to midnight at the Ritz Charles. The theme is “A Black Tie Affair” and there will be classy decorations by All Seasons Rental. Ear Full Productions will play a variety of music along with requests. “There are a lot of events “They usually play a lot of things the kids like to dance to,” O’Bryan in the spring they had to said. work around.” Seniors get into the dance for free, Diane O’Bryan and tickets will be sold to juniors for $25 the week before the dance at lunch and will also be sold at the door for $35. “I like Prom being early,” senior Sean Flynn said. “You don’t have to worry about it before graduation.” After-prom will begin at midnight and end at 5 a.m. (4 a.m. Daylight Savings Time). According to teacher Mark Mosier, in the past approximately 400 students attended the after-prom. “It is established by parents so that students will have a safe, drugfree place to go after the dance,” Mosier said. After-prom is free to get in and is only for seniors and juniors and/or their dates. There will be board and card games, moon walks, sumo wrestling suits, tricycle races, temporary tattoo and caricatures, movies in the fixed forum and all the food you can eat. The more games that are played, the more money that can be won which can up the chances of winning a prize in the drawings. The prizes range from computers and mini refrigerators to car wash coupons.
Vandals help demonstrate new field’s durability sami miles
staff reporter
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andalism in Blue Valley reached a new level this month. Just recently the installation of the new $750,000 turf into the football field was completed. But on the evening of Sunday, Feb. 26, someone drove onto the field, resulting in more work to be done to finish the field. They entered from the back of the field by the tennis courts through a gate that was left unlocked, according to officer Ken Braden. By driving onto the field, new sod was torn up in the back. Several donuts were performed on the turf which affected its rubber. Mike Slagle, Blue Valley District assistant to the superintendent, said that the damage was minimal. “There was very little damage. We reported the incident but when we inspected
[the field] on Monday morning there was virtually no damage,” Slagle said. However, had this been done on the old field, the school would be spending thousands on repairs, according to Braden. Although no monetary damage was done, the school officers still went to work going through the cameras’ tapes to catch the perpetrators. Unfortunately, they had no luck. “The cameras weren’t pointed toward the fields, so there is no way of knowing who caused the damage,” officer Dennis Randall said. However, the damage did not stop the plans for the field. The school quickly went to work on redistributing the rubber, which was done the day after the incident so it would be ready for the track team to practice. This renovation began shortly after the 2005 football season ended. The turf is going to be an improvement because of its durability through all weather conditions and treatment.
2 news
March 8, 2006
Speaking Briefly
Hittin’ the lanes
Relay for Life raises over $18,000
Friday, Feb. 24 was a night of dancing, games and fundraising during the annual Relay for Life in the Blue Valley gymnasium. Participants raised over $18,000 for the American Cancer Society; over 100 participants, both students and teachers, did their parts. Each participant was asked to raise $100 for the relay, which started at 7 p.m. on Friday and ended at 7 a.m. on Saturday. Food and drink were provided for the relay participants, with donations from Pizza Hut, Smoothie King, Pippino’s and Pizza Shoppe. Participants had positive reactions. “It went really well,” chairperson Megan Ritter said. “It was more organized this year and everyone had a lot of fun.”
Bob Whitehead athletic director of year
BV Athletic Director Bob Whitehead recently received the Kansas Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association Athletic Director of the Year Award for District 3. Whitehead oversees athletic activities. Whitehead was nominated by his peers as the athletic director to represent Congressional District 3. Whitehead is one of four finalists up for the award. He was nominated for the same award in 2000 but wasn’t chosen for the state award. “Just to be nominated by your peers is cool,” Whitehead said. “I have someone to thank, but I don’t know who.” The KIAAA has a spring conference every year in Manhattan, Kan. Athletic directors listen to speakers and attend classes. The winner of the state award will be announced at a banquet on March 18.
Musical powered by strong leading roles
Junior Taylor Avazpour lit up the stage as Will Rogers on Thursday, Feb. 16, at the premiere of this year’s musical The Will Rogers Follies. Junior Stefanie Wienecke turned in another captivating performance as Will’s love interest Betty Blake. “It wasn’t awkward at all,” Wienecke said. “We were already friends,” Avazpour added. “The show brought us closer.” Also co-starring was senior Tosin Morohunfola as Will’s humorous, unsupportive father, Clem Rogers. “Tosin was really helpful and supportive,” Avazpour said. A lot of extra help occurred behind the scenes to put the musical together. A professionally-made set brought the scenes to life. Also, the technical crew, led by set director and former student Tyler Lasche, developed the lighting and sound so the show would run smoothly and be successful. “I’m very proud,” director Marsha Moeller said. “It was a hard show, and they did everything well: the singing, the acting and the dancing.” This year’s musical cast performed four full shows for the school.
kelsey frerking Senior Klarissa Skinner bowls with fellow BV journalism students at the University of Kansas during a break at journalism regionals on Feb. 24.
Journalism students compete at regionals jessica katzenstein news editor
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en Blue Valley journalism students qualified in 11 events for state at the Kansas Scholastic Press Association Regional Journalism Contest on Feb. 24 at the University of Kansas in Lawrence. Students who placed were junior Amanda Kistner, first place in advertising; senior Angela Solomon, first place in cutlines; senior Jessica Katzenstein, first place in news writing; senior Kelly Schute, second place in editing and third in yearbook copy writing; senior Adam Lary, third place in newspaper design; junior Allison Goodpasture, honorable mention in advertising; freshman Cailie Courtney, honorable mention in yearbook copy writing; senior Corey Gray, honorable mention in
sports photography; senior Andrew Robinson, honorable mention in newspaper sports writing; and junior Garrett Griffin, honorable mention in editorial cartooning. These students will compete in the state journalism competition at the University of Kansas on May 6. Overall, 23 BV yearbook and newspaper students competed at state. “It was educational in that we got to see how our talents matched up with other students in the area,” junior Ellen Thomas said. Over 538 students from 30 Kansas high schools competed at regionals in 17 categories. Other regional competitions took place at Emporia State, Fort Hays State, Pittsburg State, Wichita State and Kansas State University.
Tiger Fest money spent on jerseys, equipment sara ster
staff reporter
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ver wonder where that $71,000 earned at Tiger Fest went? For the 26 groups that participated in the fundraising event, new equipment and uniforms seem to be the most popular items purchased with these funds, but from end-of-theyear banquet expenses to coaching clinics, each group has utilized the money it earned a little differently. Football raised about $4,500. Some of their money has already been spent on new jerseys, agility bags,
throwing nets and split snakes. With approximately two thirds of the money left over, helmet decals and off-season t-shirts are also a possibility, according to coach Steve Rampy. Band raised $1,500 and used all of it to replace percussion equipment that had been worn out over many years. To raise money, the band put together baskets; the basket that included an iPod contributed the most to their earnings. “Now that we’ve learned how it works, we’ll be a bigger part of [the Fest] next year,” band director Avian Bear said. The soccer team raised approximately $4,500
and is putting its money toward team sweatshirts, banners and a pop-up tent to cover the bench for rainy games. With about $2,000 left, the soccer team can use it to buy whatever they would like. “It was worth it,” Tiger Fest soccer representative Terri Baldwin said. “I hope that next year we will have greater participation.” After the success of Tiger Fest, the committee has high hopes for involvement in next year’s event, which should have an increased attendance and thus more money to help the clubs and sports at Blue Valley, according to Tiger Fest chairperson Lynn Brown.
editorials 3
March 8, 2006
Sexual harassment definition too broad; jokes censored to prevent offense, lawsuits adam lary
editor-in-chief
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ell, helllooo there. Oh, wait, sorry. No, please don’t do that. Put down the phone. Don’t tell the boss; it was just a joke. Dangit, now I am definitely fired! I said I was sorry. Hope you feel good about that one. Be warned, what you see above could happen to you one day. These days, sexual harassment is about as prevalent as buck shot in Harry Whittington’s face. And the loose definition — any unwelcome sexual advance, action, comment, etc. — doesn’t help the situation. Though sexual harassment laws do have their place, it is getting a bit out of hand. If sexual harassment laws are to continue to be effective while weeding out frivolous cases, the definition needs to be refined and narrowed to specific, but easily understandable, situations. Most people could say they get
the staff
sexually harassed (based on the current definition) about as often as Dick Cheney hits a quail—ok, maybe that was a bad example. At the same time, most people will agree that it is generally in a joking manner. Unfortunately, there
“Unfortunately, there are people out there with little or no sense of humor that will sue over the slightest mention of their sexual orientation.” are people out there with little or no sense of humor that will sue over the slightest mention of their sexual orientation. And these are the people that got these laws enacted. Solution? Either develop a form of brain surgery that differentiates between a joke and a serious comment, or fix the laws to remove
the possibility of frivolous lawsuits. No one is saying that there shouldn’t be sexual harassment laws. Of course there should be. Especially in cases like managers and bosses using sex as a precursor for employment or advancement. In situations like these, offenders should be sentenced to wearing bright orange outside a Texas hunting ranch. But at least make it so people don’t have to watch what they say in normal conversation. No one wants to make a friend sign a release waiver before asking her to lunch. Sexual harassment laws have their place. But the definition is so broad that nearly anything can be considered sexual harassment. Laws need to be fixed so that people can speak freely in conversation without wondering about who the best sexual harassment lawyer is. Until then, be sure to keep the crude joke gun unloaded and pointed downrange. Who knows what 78-year-old man could pop out of the brush.
tiger 2005-06 print (913) 239-4946 The_Tiger_Print@yahoo.com
Blue Valley High School
Managing Editors: Adam Lary Andrew Robinson News Editor: Jessica Katzenstein
Entertainment Editor: Matt Galloway
Opinions Editor: Ellen Thomas Features Editor: Andrew Robinson Advertising Editor: Adam Lary
Photo Editor: Emily Kuykendall Artist: Garrett Griffin Adviser: Susan Agee
Sports Editors: Hank Driskell Frank Lasley
Staff Writers: Colin Brown Nina Humphrey Matt Killen Griffin Page Sara Ster Brooke Thurman Sarah Weaver Emily Kuykendall Sami Miles Photographers: Emily Reinhardt Autumn Fuller
The Tiger Print is published nine times a year for the 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 necessarily reflect the views of the administration or Blue Valley School District #229.
Speaking Adamantly adam lary
editor-in-chief
Phelps, ‘church’ take views too far in protesting funerals
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an, am I proud to be a Kansan. We altered our science standards and became the laughing stock of the nation. Attorney General Phill Kline wants all under-age sexual activity to be reported. Most of the state lives under a rock. Oh, and not to mention we are now associated with Topeka resident and “minister” Fred Phelps. Phelps, leader of the cult-like Westboro Baptist Church run out of his home in Topeka, has recently gained publicity for leading protests at military funerals. Why? Because they died “defending a country that harbors homosexuals.” Not only do Phelps and the other 200-or-so members of his church protest the funerals, they are even thankful for the bombs that have killed so many U.S. soldiers. There are hardly any words to express the contempt I feel for his lack of respect for the dead. Everyone deserves a proper, peaceful burial. Phelps denies them this right in the name of religion. The name of his website tells all — www.godhatesfags.com. How can a man that claims to preach the word of God be filled with so much hate? I don’t claim to know much about the teachings of the Bible, but I’m pretty sure this guy has missed the mark. No one wants to be surrounded by a bunch of religious zealots with signs like “God Hates Fags” when they are trying to honor a deceased family member or friend. Fortunately, there are states out there that are on the same page as me. Wisconsin recently passed a law preventing protesters from coming within 500 feet of a funeral. Protesters also can only arrive at least two hours after the funeral has ended. Why can’t I live in Wisconsin? In Kansas’ defense, we are also pursuing similar legislation, along with a few other states in the Midwest. Questions have arisen as to the constitutionality of such laws, but thus far nothing has been pursued on the legal end. Frankly, I support any legislation that limits Phelps’ protests, legal or not. Phelps even claims that Hurricane Katrina and the West Virginia mining incident are acts of God to punish those who support homosexuality, or at least are not sufficiently against it (to Phelps’ standards). The man uses vile, offensive, degrading and disgusting language that I haven’t even heard on HBO and would never even think about using myself. That fact that there are people out there who are that close-minded and violent scares me. Phelps needs to show a bit of respect for the families of the deceased. He may have the right to protest, but that doesn’t mean it is right. Hopefully, the laws passed by Wisconsin will hold and create an example for other states, such as Kansas, to follow.
aise R your VOICE! 4 editorials
March 8, 2006
Is procrastination good? Compiled by Emily Reinhardt
“Yeah. You shouldn’t have to do anything right when you get it.” - junior Will Conway
“No. You’ll get messed up.”- sophomore Brian Israel
“No. You’ll eventually have to do it anyway.”- freshman Natalie Peake
“It’s good when you know you have to get it done. You get it done sooner.” - senior Amy Ster
Procrastination not always bad; Cheney committed error when shooting Whittington, but too much made out of vice president’s miscue students prioritize differently frank lasley
co-sports editor
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hree weeks to do a project? We wait until a day or two before it is due to begin work. Wouldn’t you know it? We got an A. We are the procrastinators. While our classmates pace themselves, doing smaller amounts of work over the three-week period to finish the project, we wait until the last minute to begin work. “For me, I can’t help but procrastinate. Even when I tell myself that this time I will actually do the assignment ahead of time, I never fail to end up working on it the night before it is due,” junior Adam Foote said. Many procrastinators don’t just sit and do absolutely nothing when they could be doing their work. Many times they instead fill the time by doing less important tasks they feel are reason enough to put off the most pressing task. Sometimes they do work from other classes, sometimes they do such meaningless tasks as sharpening pencils that don’t actually need to be sharpened. Anything but actually working on what
needs to be done. While some see procrastination as a purely negative thing, the fact is, for some people procrastinating is actually beneficial. For some students, procrastination provides a needed boost to their minds, allowing them to make a high-quality finished product than. When a long-term project is assigned, the last-minute “stress” provided by the procrastination can actually cause students to do better work. “Anytime I have actually attempted to do the work ahead of time, for some reason I can’t get in the right frame of mind and whatever work I actually do ends up being really bad, but when I wait until the last minute I get in a ‘zone’.” senior Aaron Ogilvie said. “I really do much better work when I wait until the last minute. It’s weird.” While many people tell students to stop procrastinating, maybe it is best to let students make their own decisions. Why not? If procrastinating gets them the A, perhaps, gasp! procrastination is for the best.
ellen thomas
opinions editor
J
ust because Dick Cheney is the vice president, dosen’t mean he has never made a mistake. He does one stupid thing, and the press jumps all over him like fleas on an old stinky dog. Vice president Dick Cheney accidentally shot his friend Harry Whittington with birdshot while hunting quail in Texas Feb. 11. This simple mistake gave the media a whole slew of new Cheney jokes to use again and again. While Whittington was not fatally shot, and no charges were pressed against Cheney, people could not seem to drop the issue. The whole time Whittington was in the hospital, columnists and late night show hosts alike were bagging on the vice president. One has to step back and wonder why. Why was the media so obsessed with that one incident instead of the Olympics or some other actually noteworthy news event? It was an accident. It was properly reported, albeit not in the most timely matter, and no charges were filed
against Cheney. Whittington was taken to the hospital and was treated for the injury. He was released in very good condition from the hospital five days after being admitted and was deeply apologetic about the whole incident. He publicly apologized to the vice president and his family for causing the ruckus. The media hyped up the accident, yet Cheney’s accident was not even the first time a vice president shot someone, accidentally or not. In 1804, Vice President Alexander Hamilton and his political and personal rival Aaron Burr had a duel, which resulted in Hamilton’s death and Burr being wanted for murder. One can guess that the Conan O’Brian of the time was not cracking jokes for weeks after Hamilton died. Not many people remember the Hamilton-Burr duel, and that occurrence concluded with the death of one of the parties involved. If Whittington had died, would there have been such an uprising among the comedians against Cheney like there was? Would there have been Internet games reenacting the
accident? Some columnists, such as Jackie Calmes and Gregg Hitt of the Wall Street Journal, called for Cheney to step down from his position because of the accident. That is a strong reaction for something that will just be forgotten in about a month. Cheney did nothing that deserves such condemnation from the press. He made a mistake, and that should be the end of it. Whittington said it was an accident, Cheney said it was an accident, and the county sheriff said it was an accident. One should question the reporters who are making this out to be bigger than what it actually is. It’s not like they have never made a mistake. In a couple of days this commotion will wash over, and those who have made extreme comments will have forgotten about it. The country will return to how it was previously, with Cheney still the vice president. The columnists and late-night hosts, though, will continue to wait for some other politician to make a mistake.
editorials 5
March 8, 2006
Staff Editorial
Robbed
andrew robinson
editor-in-chief
Investigative reporting gets parking job done for seniors
W Filter Logix filters educational sites, but allows obscene phrases through
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ype “breast cancer” into Google.com. Don’t be shy now. Click on the first link that comes up. It’s for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Not scandalous at all. But instead of a site full of inspiring survivor stories and informative disease information, the dreaded Filter Logix screen pops up — at least it used to. Whats an innocent health student to do? Evidently nothing. The district finally realized that its filter system was faulty — the system broke down more than once and blocked sites unnecessarily — and is replacing it with a new one this week. No doubt a filtering system is needed in schools to keep students from getting distracted, but one can only hope that the new system is more pratical in the material it blocks. Filter Logix blocked sites that contained questionable material. Among the unfortunate sites were Xanga, Facebook, MySpace and anything that contained a “bad word.” When a filtering system serves to block pornography, few would, or should, object. When it blocks blogging sites, it is also useful, though annoying for students who have nothing to do after school and want to make an entry telling the world how bored they are. Internet filters prevent students from idle blogging activity in class, freeing teachers from having to tell students to put down the Facebook and pick up a real book. However, in many other ways, Filter Logix, the district’s former system of choice, was irrational and not useful. ClassKC.org has several inappropriate words (about 15, in fact) on its front page—a page that any student with book-banning tendencies could visit, even with Filter Logix in place. Simply imputing the site’s URL rewards one with a bombardment of words for which any mother would wash out her child’s mouth. Or worse. On the other side, useful sites like the Komen Foundation’s were blocked. Apparently “breast cancer” is a more offensive phrase than any of those found on Class KC’s front page. When health students wanted to research such diseases for class, the filtering system prevented them from doing so. By blocking websites that students need for class projects, Filter Logix became simply a nuisance rather than a useful tool to prevent students from getting on distracting sites. Hopefully the district realized that its only problem was not the filtering system’s lack of reliability; any system it uses needs to be more discerning in the type of material it blocks. That way, students can research breast cancer and teachers can keep students focus on class work.
atch the evening news tonight, bets are you are going to see a reporter go out into the field and uncover a problem and if it is solved it will benefit others…and embarrass others as well. If you watched Tiger TV on March 2 then you saw Senior Conner Snedden wait for juniors to arrive, park in the senior lot and then confront them. “I was sick of the seniors complaining that there were no parking spots when they were coming in after first and/or second hours,” Snedden said. Snedden’s teacher Denny Brand liked the story idea that Snedden had presented to him, and told Snedden that his crew needed to be there when the kids arrived. What Snedden got was a bunch of ignorant, impatient juniors that gave lame-o excuses. As a journalist, what Snedden did was magnificent; he uncovered a problem that had been going on for months, and he got Campus Police to take action, and they probably got writer’s cramp writing 85 tickets in February after Snedden approached them. Only 136 tickets have been issued this school-year to date. Things haven’t been too rough for Snedden since he did the story. Most reporters do not see the people they have exploited in the halls each day, nor do they socialize with them like Snedden has. “I have had threats,” Snedden said. “I do not know how serious they were.” Snedden used the power of scholastic journalism to his and 308 students’ advantage. Give the man some gold stars. There have been other examples of investigative reporting in Kansas City in which the victim had tried to avoid being exploited: following the NCAA National Basketball Championship Kansas Coach Roy Williams was approached by CBS reporter Bonnie Bernstein about the rumors swirling that Williams was headed to coach at North Carolina. Williams swiftly got back at Bernstein saying that as a person what she was doing insensitive; and that he had 12 guys in the locker room that he needed to worry about. Williams said journalistically she was okay, as a person it was just plain rude. For Snedden’s case, he deserves an A+. In the case of keeping friends that are juniors, well both Snedden and Brand agree on one thing. “I was thrilled to have people upset,” Snedden said. “You can’t really worry about what people think of you,” Brand said. Snedden doesn’t plan to pursue a career as an investigative reporter. He says that for now it is just a hobby. As for idolizing a specific investigative reporter, Snedden says he follows the lead of Anchorman’s Brian Fantana. Good work, Conner.
6 features
March 8, 2006
K Yale ansas
Missouri
DeVry
Decisions, Decisions O C U J
Texas
Stanford
K-State
Nebrask
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When it comes to college, March can be maddening andrew robinson
editor-in-chief
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hen Lori Gray goes to get the mail each day she sees a common trend. Most of it is for her senior daughter Corey. Corey is among hundreds of other senior involved in one of the most important times of their lives –– selecting a college. March and April are perhaps the busiest time for seniors as the plan for their next four years. Most decisions must be made by May, so this leaves seniors scrambling to do last minute research, ask questions and apply for financial aid. Gray started the process in November and December. Thinking it would earn her a few brownie points, she filled out all of her applications by hand. When it was all said and done, Gray settled on Clemson University. “It’s a big school with a good architecture
program,” Gray said. When students first start looking their sophomore and junior years, they look for colleges that fit them, their personalities and their wallets. As March rolls around they are deciding which dorm to request and which meal plan to live off of. Gray wishes she would have done a few things differently. “I wish I would have asked more questions,” Gray said. Some seniors aren’t feeling the stress of the March madness crunchtime as they had their decision made months ago. “I knew I was going to K-State in October,” Aaron Ogilvie said. Once students get out from under the pressure of housing applications and last minute decisions, Gray says it is smooth sailing and the fun part comes like choosing how to furnish your new dorm room.
Some people are still waiting to hear if they have even been accepted, like Eric Min who applied to Princeton and Washington University among others. And while the mail may signal a preparation for a new start in a new place, Gray doesn’t think shes prepared. “I’d be lying if I said I was ready to go to college,” Gray said. Not only has the mail load increased at the Gray household since she was accepted to five universities; but the mail load will also increase for registrar Ellen Weber at the end of the year, as she must send final transcripts to these colleges. In just a few short months seniors will become freshmen, they will pack their bags and think, “I hope I don’t regret the decision I made back in March.”
Reading Resurrection
Timeless classics still remembered by teens ellen thomas
opinions editor
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s students move into high school and other upper level learning institutions, they constantly seek to advance their learning. Math problems become harder; science classes become more in depth, and the books in English become more complex. In their attempts to constantly be looking ahead to the future, their pasts are forgotten. They forget what it is like to learn basic science facts or multiplication. But no matter how far they go in life, they almost never forget their favorite children’s book. “Good stories you hear as a child, you remember and pass on to your children, and they will on to their children,” librarian Pat McRoberts said. “Also, long ago children’s books were just black and white, but now they are full of color and life. Children remember that.” With the release of the new movie Curious George out, many people are remembering their favorite children’s books. Dr. Seuss, the Berenstain Bears, Richard Scarry and many other timeless books still grace the shelves of many homes. “I have hundreds of them (old children’s books) at home,” McRoberts said. “I’m a keeper and my wife is just the opposite, but even she hesitates to get rid of them. It’s hard to let go of that part of your life.” Among all the most common children’s books, the Dr. Seuss books seem to be
the most popular. Some think that the reason the Dr. Seuss and other colorfullyillustrated books are widely remembered is because of the “sing-song” rhythm and the unusual pictures, teacher Kristin Asquith said. People also may have a connection to their favorite children’s book for more unique reasons than just the pictures or the basic story. “My favorite children’s book author was Bill Peet,” Asquith said. “I wrote him a letter, and he wrote me back. He also included pictures from a new book of his. I was pretty impressed with it.” While the times have changed and new books have come out, the older ones are not just memories from the past. Little children today are getting to experience their parents’ favorite children’s books as well. “My son likes Touch and Feel Pony,” teacher Marsha Parr said. “But he also likes Good Night, Moon, which I remember when I was a kid.” Part of the magic of children’s books is that it brings the family together. Since many little children cannot read, the parents usually read to them, and those happy memories stay with the child through out his or her life. “Some of the earliest memories most people have is reading books with their parents,” Asquith said. “Those are some of the happiest memories.” As everyone grows up, some traits are lost while others are gained. What will always stick with them are the roots of their past, their family and their favorite book as a child.
features 7
March 8, 2006
Spring Break marks beginning of spring fashion Gauchos, mini-skirts return to spice up spring clothes sami miles
staff reporter
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he Olsen Twins. Sarah Jessica Parker. Jennifer Aniston. Carmen Electra. What do all of these stars have in common? They all have perfected the Boho chic style that has ruled the racks of all the biggest teen stores in 2005. This style will continue to be seen throughout the spring of 2006. Gauchos are a style of pants and capris that follow the loose, flowy fashion of the Boho trend. Usually paired with these are the ever-popular flip-flops that seem never to go out of style. One approach to fashion this season for bottoms is short. Mini-skirts have gotten shorter and are a must for this season. Well known for underneath skirts are the new leggings that have begun to gain popularity. Senior Jessica Smith likes to sport this look. “I feel comfortable in them. I can wear something that looks good, and I feel like I’m not showing too much,” Smith said. Shorts have also become shorter following the style Jessica Simpson wore as Daisy Duke in the 2005 film The Dukes of Hazard. But the approach to fashion for shirts seems to be long.
Tank tops and tube tops are appearing in a longer style that tends to fall just below the hips. A popular accessory to go along with the long shirts is the thicker belt that lies on the hips and ties the outfit together. Needless to say, showing one’s navel is completely last year— or maybe two. Many types of accessories are going to be seen this spring. The beach bag style purses in vibrant colors and patterns are a must for the pool. They are most popularly found at American Eagle and Target. Also in style are the large sunglasses that the stars are seen wearing on the red carpet. These chic outfits are not only fashionable, but also comfortable. So following Sarah Jessica Parker and the Olsen twins, the Boho style will be a hit throughout the 2006 spring Left: Senior Sarah Geoffrion sports a pair of gauchos. Right: Senior Jessica Smith shows off her skirt, leggings and flip-flops. These styles will continue their popularity throughout the spring season. Photos by Autumn Fuller.
Designer purse knockoffs provide women with cheap alternatives They may not be entirely legal, but women choose cheaper imitators over expensive designer brands sami miles
staff reporter
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rom Coach to Louis Vuitton, these designer purses have one important thing in common: copyright laws. These laws state that no copies can be made of designer purses and an establishment cannot pawn its fake purses off as real ones. But many people cannot afford designer bags that cost anywhere from $150 to $1000. So how do they get them? They buy these knockoffs. Designer purses make women feel wealthy, especially when celebrities sport the purses. Jessica Simpson, for example, is a huge fan of Louis Vuitton, while stars like Cameron Diaz and Uma Thurman prefer Prada. So what drives people to buy the fake version? Designer purses are pricey because of their preciseness. Instead of cheap fabric and lazy stitching jobs, bags made by Prada and Coach are precise and well made. However, some people don’t mind a little bad stitching. “I like knockoffs because they are cheaper and people don’t know the difference,” junior Kelsey Frerking said. Many stores and websites sell fake designer purses for up to half off, enticing the many people who cannot afford a $500
Tans: $4.00 Each 10 Tans for $30.00 20 Tans for $50.00
purse that they will rarely use. These fakes look so close to the original that people believe they are designer, making women feel like they got a deal. “I don’t think it’s that big of a deal because some people cannot afford real [purses],” senior Whitney Hunt said. “If it’s real then be proud of it, and if it’s not, then own it, don’t lie about it.” However, these close matches are a violation of copyright laws that each designer enforces. Many of these websites state that their purses are not an exact copy or original, so they are getting around the copyright laws. But the purses they sell are very close to the original and the differences are miniscule. According to bankrate’s website on scams, the designer companies fighting this believe that the buyers are “underwriting organized crime.” Also, it says they are “compromising the sanctity of intellectual property.” Until this dispute is settled, women will continue to flock to these knockoffs, instead of investing in their very own designer handbags.
Super Intensity Beds 50 cents Extra or $5 Single 14876 Metcalf Ave. Overland Park, Kan. 66223 (913) 85109494
“Designer purses make women feel wealthy.”
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It’s the most wonderful time of the year
Tanning provides good looks, bad outlook
Students plan to get away during week off from school brooke thurman
staff reporter
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omorrow. The one day many have been looking forward to since we got back from winter break. It’s the time when almost everyone gets away or just finds time to relax. It’s almost a miniature and compact summer vacation. It is the time for most to clear their heads and think about the next grueling and hectic nine weeks of school, which for some students includes prom, finals and graduation. Whether you’re skiing, getting sun or staying home, spring break is the one time of year where you can just relax and forget that you have to go back to school in 11 days. There are many popular places to travel to during spring break. According to MSNBC the Top 10 spring break destinations are: The U.S. Virgin Islands; Nassau, Bahamas; Key West; Las Vegas, Aruba; South Padre Island, Fort Lauderdale; Jamaica; Cancun and the number one is Riviera Maya. Spring Break is one of the most heavily traveled times of year. In a survey of 100 students approximately four out of every 10 had plans to leave town. The other 60 percent are staying home. There were many reasons for students staying home. Some of the reasons included lack of funds for traveling, parents that have to work and college siblings having a different spring break. There are many popular destinations that students are traveling to this year. Sophomores Casey Sieckman, Kelly Aubuchon and Ashley Stickler are traveling
to Sieckman’s family’s condo in Orlando, Fla. Her choice of this destination wasn’t very hard. “My parents said that I was old enough to take friends to our condo,” Sieckman said. “So, Florida it was.” In a place like Florida there are many obvious things to do. Sieckman says that her main reasons for going are to get a tan and have fun with her friends. However, she doesn’t want to spend all of her time doing just those two things. Sieckman has many ideas of what she plans to do. “[I plan to] swim, go to the happiest place on earth (Disneyworld), go to the beach and spend time with my family and guests,” Sieckman said While Sieckman is one of many students traveling to the east coast, there are also a lot of students traveling to west coast. Sophomores Kayla Pollock and Nicole Defranco are traveling to Los Angeles, CA. They also plan to make stops in Orange County and Palm Springs. Pollock has been there before and she is taking Defranco along as a family guest. They have plans to go sightseeing, visit Disneyland, Universal Studios and the beach. Pollock had a couple of good reasons for wanting to head west. “I wanted to go somewhere warm,” Pollock said. “My great uncle lives there so we’re staying with him.” Wherever you’re going for Spring Break, take time to sit back and relax. Make the most of it because it’s the last break of the school year that you’ll have. Whether you’re at home or jetting off to an exciting place, make every place an amazing destination.
griffin page
staff reporter
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alking down the hallways of Blue Valley, one notices a most peculiar phenomenon. It is the middle of winter, yet a girl passes by that looks as if she has been at the beach for two weeks. What in the world could cause this miraculous transformation? Nothing more than the dangerous and ridiculous art of tanning. Tanning has grown exponentially in popularity since its beginnings in the 1970’s. Today, there are between 20,000 and 24,000 tanning salons listed in the Yellow Pages across the U.S. These places of false beauty have over 22 million clients each year, according to coolnurse.com. The most common form of tanning is the bed, which uses UVA light to bronze the skin. UVA light, is one of the two forms of UV light, which when overexposed, can cause major damage to a person’s skin. Limited exposure to UVA light causes the skin
Commentary
to tan, but when baking in the beds for a little too long, most experts agree that it can lead to longterm skin damage. UVB light’s rays are much shorter than UVA’s and only affect the outermost layers of one’s skin. UVB rays are also known as “burning rays” and are considered much more dangerous. Because of this condition, tanning beds and lamps emit 93 to 99 percent UVA radiation increasing the benefits of a tan. This radiation, however, is three times that given off from the most natural form of light, the sun. (Still think tanning beds aren’t dangerous?) Although that tanning industries claim that UVA radiation is safe, medical research concludes that indoor tanning is directly linked to skin cancer. Since UVA rays penetrate so deep into skin, they destroy fibers and damage elasticity. This damage can lead to: premature aging, wrinkles, damage of the immune system, weakening of the skin’s inner tissue, and of course skin cancer. Now for people who claim they tan to look better, isn’t it ironic that they are giving themselves wrinkles earlier that
normal? Before the 1900’s, Caucasians were proud of their pasty color. The whiter a person was, the higher up in society he was thought to be. People were proud of being white. Then in the 1920’s a French designer by the name of Coco Chanel, took a cruise from Paris to Cannes and received an unheard of golden glow... by accident. The world then went bonkers for brownness and that leaves us at today where over one million people will develop skin cancer this year. Some “well-informed” tanners will claim that they need to tan to meet their daily requirement of Vitamin D. While the UVA light does provide this, it doesn’t take 10 minutes of tanning to meet this requirement. Hundreds of students at Blue Valley waste their time and money turning the color of our mascot, the tiger. Tanning is dangerous, expensive and in the end leads you to more beauty hazards than one could hope for. In the Olympics of health, tanning sure ain’t no gold.
Diverse destinations provide options T Slopes S vs. sarah weaver
staff reporter
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pring Break countdowns can be seen on notebooks, calendars, and almost anything in the hands of eager high school students. One kid in every class may be daydreaming about spring break right now. Some of those students are heading to the mountains to ski or snowboard. Kansas’ winter has lacked one important ingredient: snow. The number one reason why people like winter is the snow. The lack of mountains that Kansas provides encourages people to head to Vail and Breckenridge in Colorado, or Mammoth and Lake Tahoe in California and Nevada to ski. Your friends may be basting in the sun in Cancun, but you will be hitting the slopes this spring break. They might get the tan that you were dying to get since yours faded in the fall, but think of how much more fun you having. They are sweating with their sunscreen running into their eyes and what is that smell? But you on the other hand are spending your day on the slopes and your evenings warming up in a hot tub or by the fireplace. The exercise you will receive from skiing will add up to more activity than
five spring breakers on the beach. Also, for most ski bunnies a nice relaxing hot tub will await you back at your hotel. Things can pretty hot, even if it is five below outside. A string bikini may flatter those who want to flaunt, but what is cuter than rosy cheeks and a colorful stocking cap? Nothing found on a beach that is for certain. Not only you can look good, but check out the scenery of the snowy mountains. The snowcapped hills are a beautiful sight to wake up to. After a hard day of hitting the slopes, there is nothing more beautiful than the sight you see while sitting in a hot tub under the moonlight in the cold. Entertainment can be found all over the place atop a snowy mountain. Whether you are heading down a mountain at high speeds, riding on the ski lift yourself or watching other kids wipe out on the ski lift you are bound to have a good ol’ time. When back at school on March 20, your friends may have a great tan, but you will have a gnarly bruise and memories to last you a lifetime.
andrew robinson
editor-in-chief
hey call it fun in the sun. Not fun in the snow. When March and Spring Break rolls around there is only one destination that seems logical, a destination that is warm, sunny and where the suntan lotion flows like a river. High tide or low tide there is nothing better than getting away from the unpredictable Kansas weather to places where it is either sunny and 80 or sunny and 80. And since you don’t have to ride a ski lift to the beach, you don’t have to stand in annoying lines, which can consume a fourth of your day. Once you get on the beach you unload the towels, the beverages, the Frisbee and the relaxation. While laying on the beach doesn’t give you much of an adrenaline rush, you don’t have to worry about an inexperienced skier cutting you off on the slopes forcing you into a large tree, which in turns forces you into the hospital and ruins your spring break. While we’re on the issue of health, most beaches are just a few inches above sea level. Mountains are thousands of feet above sea level and when some people are exposed to this altitude they suffer from altitude sickness. When in the mountains, your health
is really at risk. Let’s talk about clothing; after a long day at the beach you can climb back into your shorts and flip flops and relax for dinner. Going to grab a bite to eat in the mountains requires a winter coat and possibly some long johns. While both destinations give you plenty of exposure to the sun while you are there, it is on the way home in which you could experience the most trouble. On your way out of a place like Miami or Cancun you never have to worry about being de-iced on the runway. There is nothing worse than sitting on a Denver runway waiting to be de-iced, when all you want to do is get back home after your bones are sore because you were not in good enough shape to ski. Sitting on the beach requires no muscles one should note. In Jimmy Buffet’s famous song “Margaritaville,” he talks about sitting on the beach with all those tourists covered in oil. The warmth and sun couldn’t get here sooner.
10 entertainment
March 8, 2006
K t n elie
EntertainMatt
Have no fear... underdog is here
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matt galloway
entertainment editor
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top the presses. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has already selected the winner of the 2007 “Motion Picture of the Year” Oscar. Yes, they have astonishingly announced the winner before the film has even begun production. The film is called “The Hours of a Million Dollar Brokeback Baby.” It is the tale of a quadriplegic Native American transsexual cowboy (who will win both the Best Actor and Actress awards), who was born with five tongues. He/she has to make a living by boxing republicans in an orphanage. To top it all off, the main character has a really ugly nose. How could one root against an underdog story like that? In all honesty, nobody would want to see that movie. Nobody but the Academy members, it seems, who have become blind fans for the independent underdog story. They’ve become caricatures of their own caricatures, if that is even possible. It only takes one glance at this year’s nominees to see the blatant favoritism for controversial, independent or liberal flicks. Brokeback Mountain was the heavy favorite going into Oscar Sunday, and it’s easy to see why. Two metrosexual Hollywood actors fit into the role of two cowboys with questionable sexualities perfectly. At least one of those attributes isn’t a huge stretch for Gyllenhaal or Ledger. Brokeback isn’t the only media darling this year; Capote is an actual biographical film about Truman Capote, another openly gay (reoccurring theme?) writer for the New York Times who traveled to Holcomb, Kan. to research a murder story. This movie was completely off the radar with the mainstream until the Academy announced it as a nominee. It grossed a domestic total of only $20.1 million in 2005. But hey, Capote does sound a lot like Chipotle, so it has to be deserving of something, right? Another controversial (yet admittedly good) film up for an Oscar this year is the politically driven Good Night, and Good Luck directed by outspoken liberal George Clooney. It chronicles the Red Scare battle between veteran radio and television host Edward R. Murrow and U.S. Senator Joseph McCarthy that took place in the 1950’s. While this is a deserving picture, one must question if the Academy would have been as willing to award this picture, if it had been directed by someone with a conservative ideology. This trend isn’t new for the Academy; they’ve been doing it for years. For example, last year’s Motion Picture of the Year was Million Dollar Baby, a movie many students had never even heard of until the nomination was announced. The film itself is interesting, if one can look past the blatant mistakes it makes about the rules of boxing, but it should have never escaped with an Oscar in this particular year. 2004 was the year of Ray. The Academy’s act is becoming about as stale as the characters that Harrison Ford chooses to portray these days.
C H A O S
Staff member loses favorite jacket, shoe in pit of mayhem; she leaves The Rocket Summer concert mortified but entertained
When the beautiful performance was over, we each decided we had had enough of the smelly, wet and annoying crowd that was practically humping he day started out badly to begin with, and us all night. I signaled for the big bouncer to come we should have seen the series of unfortunate my way. I told him to get me out of the crowd. We events coming. Emily Kuykendall, Jenna didn’t care about not seeing the headlining Relient Southerland and myself K. The only person who headlined our were on our way to thoughts was Bryce. The bouncer gave The Beaumont Club on the three of us strict orders to put our Feb. 15 to see our dearly arms around his neck as tight as we beloved, Bryce Avary could, and then lift our feet up. I was of The Rocket Summer first. I was flung out of the crowd so open for Relient K. fast that I lost my shoe. (My favorite We yelled, screamed, pair of shoes. The one shoe that Tywon cried, whined and Hubbard signed just in case he became snapped at each other famous someday.) As I stood there the whole ride there. shoeless and sweaty, I watched as my As soon as we got into closest friends were lifted over the the Beaumont, our spots barricade. Jenna went over without were pretty near the an issue, but as Emily was being lifted front. A large group of over, her pants began to reveal a side of guys was too close to us, her that we don’t get to see too often. and tried their hardest She was mortified that the people at to rip us off and get 20 the show saw her booty. Jenna went bucks for a poster they over to get our coats, and grabbed her Bryce Avary performs for the audience ripped off the wall. before Relient K, the main attraction, takescoat, and a stranger’s black jacket. She Maxeen was the first the stage at The Rocket Summer concert. failed to grab my favorite jacket that opening band, and they accompanied us to the show. successfully sucked it up on stage. The atmosphere With my one shoe, I made my way over to the wasn’t the best either. We were sweating like crazy, merchandise table to meet Bryce Avary. As I came up which led Jenna to take off her coat, and Emily to to meet him, he looked at me with such loving eyes, take off my favorite black hoodie I allowed her to and thanked me for coming to the show. We told him borrow. They set them down close to where we about our night, and how hellish it turned out to be, were, just beyond the restraining wall next to the but assured him that he was worth every moment of bouncers. Really cool people started crowd surfing, torture. and somehow a mosh pit formed. We were pushed, I did lose my favorite jacket. And my favorite shoe. kicked, shoved, hit, trampled, squashed, stepped But I didn’t lose my faith in Bryce Avary. He delivered on, jacked, punched, and surprisingly we are each a concert that still has us raving to this day. We love alive today. As soon as we thought things couldn’t Bryce. get any worse, they suddenly did. A crowd surfer fell on top of Emily and almost broke her little neck! She looked at me with such shock and horror; I immediately punched the guy in the back, dug my nails into him, and yelled a few mean things. Jenna and I made sure Emily was okay, and we told her how proud Bryce would be when he heard of all the heartache we’d suffered before seeing him. The setup for Bryce was torture. The colorful, happy rope lights were duct taped to the keyboard, and the bandmates started sound-check. And then, God seemed to finally smile upon us as Bryce Avary graced the stage. The three of us were finally happy. The joyous, upbeat, powerful, moving, inspirational, amazing and perfect performance was worth every tear, drip of sweat and broken neck we each suffered. He sang, danced, played the guitar, keyboard and drums, and when he would look at me, I swear my heart skipped a beat.
emily reinhardt
staff photographer
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Stars, stretch cars and...
entertainment 11
March 8, 2006
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78th annual Academy Awards celebrate celebrities, movies; controversial films lead nominees for Best Motion Picture Howard for Hustle and Flow, Heath Ledger for Brokeback Mountain, Joaquin Phoenix for Walk the Line and nd the Oscar goes to… were David Strathairn for Good Night, and the five Good Luck. Both words Phoenix and that were Hoffman won heard on many Golden Globes televisions this for best actor past Sunday. and Hoffman The 78th annual won the Screen Oscars were Actors Guild last Sunday and award for Best were shown live Actor. from the Kodak “Joaquin Theatre. Jon P h o e n i x Stewart hosted was just like the show. Life sized Academy Awards statues pre- Johnny Cash,” The main pare to be displayed on the red carpet s o p h o m o r e categories had on “Oscar Sunday.” The award for Best Rachel Krupco big names and Motion Picture has been presented since said. “He acted box office hits. 1929 (courtesy AP Images) and sounded In the Best like him.” Actor category In the Best there was: Philip Actress category Seymour Hoffman for Capote, Terrence there was: Judi Dench for Mrs.
brooke thurman
staff reporter
A
Henderson Presents, Felicity Huffman for Transamerica, Keira Knightley for Pride and Prejudice, Charlize Theron for North Country and Reese Witherspoon for Walk the Line. Witherspoon and Huffman both won Golden Globes for Best Actor and Witherspoon won the Screen Actors Guild award for Best Actress. “Reese Witherspoon did a good job,” Krupco said. “It was very different from her other characters.” In the Best Motion Picture category there was: Brokeback Mountain, Capote, Crash, Good Night, and Good Luck, and Munich. Brokeback Mountain won the Golden Globe for Best Picture. “Brokeback Mountain was okay,” Krupco said. “It wasn’t like any other movie I’ve seen. It was very different.” In the Best Supporting Actor category there was: George Clooney for Syriana, Matt Dillon for Crash, Paul Giamatti for Cinderella Man, Jake Gyllenhaal for Brokeback
Mountain and William Hurt for A History of Violence. Clooney won the Golden Globe in the same category and Giamatti won the Screen Actors Guild award. In the Best Supporting Actress category there was: Amy Adams for Junebug, Catherine Keener for Capote, Frances McDormand for North Country, Rachel Weisz for The Constant Gardener and Michelle Williams for Brokeback Mountain. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences puts on the Oscars, which is a professional honorary organization. It was started in May 1927. The first Oscars were on May 16, 1929 at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. The Oscars then didn’t have the same anticipation as they do today because the winners were known prior to the ceremony. The sealed-envelope system started in 1941. Ever since, the Oscars has been one of the most talked about events in Hollywood.
And the Printie goes to...
From Paul Walker to Walk the Line, staff selects best, worst of ‘05 films emily kuykendall
sami miles
Best Movie Winner: Wedding Crashers
Best Actor Winner: Heath Ledger
Best Actress Winner: Jessica Simpson
Why?:
Why?:
Why?:
emily reinhardt
sarah weaver
griffin page
Worst Movie Winner: Syriana
Worst Actor Winner: Orlando Bloom
Worst Actress Winner: Jessica Simpson
Why?:
Why?:
Why?:
photo editor
staff reporter
colin brown
staff reporter
“Best “Best “Best Actor” Actress” Movie” “You can see it over and over, but you’ll still laugh everytime because it just gets funnier.”
“His versatility was shown in “Put her on mute and she is Brokeback Mountain when he Academy Award worthy.” portrayed a character that so many would turn down.”
“Worst “Worst “Worst Movie” Actor” Actress” staff photographer
staff reporter
staff reporter
“I left the movie confused and “He is meant to be in the past “It’s okay because she is hot.” due to the fact that he is only even ‘stupider’ than I was successful in movie plots that before.” date back to 100 B.C.”
12 entertainment
March 8, 2006
Project Runway
America’s Next Top Model The Apprentice Wife Swap
American Idol
Real World/Road Rules
Laguna Beach The Biggest Loser
Dancing with the Stars
Reality TV doesn’t let up
American Idol judges include, from left, Simon Cowell,
Paula Abdul, Randy Jackson and a sometimes guest judge Mark McGrath of Sugar Ray. Photo courtesy of KRT Cam-
pus Photos.
Stephanie LaGrossa of the Yaxha tribe competes on the first episode of Survivor: Guatemala-The Maya Empire.
Photo courtesy of KRT Campus Photos.
CATFIGHTS, RACES AND MILLIONAIRES brooke thurman
staff reporter
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his is the true story, of seven strangers, picked to live in a house, work together and have their lives taped, to find out what happens, when people stop being polite, and start getting real, The Real World.” That is one of the most famous series of phrases in television; well, at least in reality television. The pioneer of reality television came about in 1990 when MTV introduced The Real World and threw seven strangers into a house for several months with no radio or television. It was an interesting concept, and for a while it was the only show of its
kind on TV. That is, until the turn of the century when reality television became about the only thing on TV. Every season, new concepts of shows would come out, sparking a new cult following of a new group of people seeking 15 minutes of fame. There was Survivor, which put 16 people on an island for 40 days where they competed to be the last survivor and win $1 million. Then there was The Amazing Race, which sent 11 teams of two on an around-the-world race for $1 million. Those two shows are still on television and are in their 10th and 12th seasons, respectively. Then, ABC introduced reality shows that hooked up singles. Its shows, The Bachelor and The Bachelorette, have
gone through eight seasons and so far only one couple has actually stayed together and got married. That is quite a number for a show whose premise is to find love for singles. The next show to hit the air was American Idol. This show was actually a show with a fairly good prize. It’s basically a talent competition with a recording contract as the prize. After these few shows hit the air, opposing networks went into a frenzy trying to develop almost the same show with a slight twist on it. The network FOX introduced Joe Millionaire, which was just like The Bachelor but with a little extra incentive. It had 15 women vying for one guy who was a multi-millionaire. The twist was that
he really wasn’t a millionaire and was actually a construction worker who made $30,000 a year. This little detail didn’t come out until the Joe had chosen a winner and she had assumed they would ride off into the sunset. This is when reality television turned somewhat vicious, and this is what continues to be the main source of television entertainment today. Since The Real World, reality shows have become some of the mostwatched programs on television. As reality television glides through its teen years, it shows no signs of slowing down or coming to an end. Hopefully, reality television will go back to its original premise and “start getting real.”
Curious George fun, colorful, heart-warming movie adam lary
editor-in-chief et’s face it. Curious George is a children’s movie. As entertaining as it may be to watch a little monkey get himself into a number of hairy situations, this movie was definitely not geared toward high school students. However, it still offers a little bit of fun for viewing pleasure. Released on Feb. 10, the animated film Curious George follows the story of museum tour guide Ted (Will Ferrell), who journeys to Africa to save his museum. There, he becomes acquainted with an inquisitive little monkey who follows him home
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and begins a series of shenanigans. The movie retains all the pleasantness of the original children’s books and is visually enjoyable as well. The bright, flashing colors are fun to watch, especially when George gets into various colors of paint at the uptight Miss Plushbottom’s (Joan Plowright) apartment. The animation is fantastic considering its two-dimensional origins. This separates it from the high-tech CGI films that have been popular in the recent past, and in a good way, too. The flick is also accompanied by some laid-back tunes from Jack Johnson that just seem to fit. The only parts that detract from the focus of the
e Sho p Littlof flowers
15111 Metcalf Overland Park, Kan. 66223 phone: (913) 897-7733 fax: (913) 897-9524
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movie are the pointless subplots, mainly Junior as the neglected child while Ted is “the son [he] never had.” Also, the budding attraction between avid museum visitor Maggie (Drew Barrymore) and Ted is unnecessary. Neither seems to add anything to the movie other than an extra few minutes (it’s still rather short at only 86 minutes). If you’re looking for a film that doesn’t sell out to mainstream audiences, or just something that will leave you with a smile on your face and a warm heart, then Curious George is the answer. The only other feeling you can take from it is an overwhelming desire for a pet monkey.
sports 13
March 8, 2006
Athletes ‘celebrate’ Spring Break with more practice Some distraught; some don’t mind colin brown
staff reporter
M
dani ashner Sophomore Kelly Nichols and junior Erin Lewis do drills during girls’ soccer tryouts last Tuesday. Some spring sports will have practices during Spring Break, upsetting some athletes because they don’t have the chance to go on vacation.
exico, Costa Rica, Hawaii and The Bahamas. These are just a few of the spring break destinations Blue Valley students will be flocking to for fun in the sun. But some will have to look no further then our own high school’s backyard for fun with Larry Hare and Eric Driskell. Senior spring break is known to some people as the greatest memories they’ll ever have in their lives. But the 11 days off school for seniors like Patrick Cocherl and Tywon Hubbard are just a means to improve their “games.” Senior Patrick Cocherl will be giving up his senior spring break for baseball and Tywon Hubbard will be sprinting down the track. “I’m not sure I would have gone anywhere anyways,” Hubbard said. Cocherl, however, was more distraught over the situation. “It kind of (stinks), but I think my love for the game will get me through it,” he said. “Besides there are some of
my friends who aren’t going anywhere either. For some athletes though staying in Kansas just isn’t an option. Senior Jacob Tupper is headed to Mexico with many of his senior friends and is leaving a week off baseball practice behind him. “This is my senior trip, and I’ve been working my butt off in the weight room anyways; I can’t wait for the trip,” Tupper said. Tupper argues that they just simply shouldn’t schedule practice over a break. “Half of the team will probably be gone anyways, and if I were a coach, I wouldn’t want to be here over spring break,” Tupper said. Not going on a spring break trip has its advantages and disadvantages. One advantage is saving a safe full of money, but in 10 years at a high school reunion will the only spring break story a “non-springbreaker” have to tell is “remember that time I fell down at practice?”
Weather heats up; spring sports kick off season Girls’ Softball Head Coach: Anthony Orrick Assistant Coaches: Jim Laughlin, Gary Lindsey, Returning Varsity: Samantha Anderson, Devin Bennett, Stacey Carabello, Adrienne Fields, McKenzi Foster, Alex Solis, Mary Thompson and Andrea Madouras Highlights from last year: The Tigers swept Sumner, Topeka and Atchison Last year’s record: 8-13 Upcoming games: Washburn Rural April 4, Sumner April 6 Quote: “We have a lot of questions, but we are looking forward to a good year,” coach Jim Laughlin said.
Girls’ Swimming
Coaches: Monique Marquette and Jessica Schlick Returning Varsity: Lindsey Kearns, Christine Hansen, Samantha Martley and Alex Gompf
Highlights from last season: All state placers and qualifiers graduated last year. (Kirsten Rottinghaus and Kati Chinery) Things to look forward to: With such a large team, and strong and loyal returnees the season looks promising. The team hasn’t had any meets yet, but is hopeful. Quote: “Our team is huge!” senior Lindsey Kearns said. “We have so much potential.”
Girls’ Soccer Head Coach: K. Dean Snell Assistant Coach: Chris Paisley Returning Varsity: Keeley McVey, Tiffany Mitchell, Nicole Burczyk, Erin Lewis, Ryann Lucansky, Sarah Rabe, Elizabeth Baldwin, Brianne Burlin, Lauren Mitchell, Sara Ster 2005 Record: 7-8-2 Highlights from Last Season: Beating BV North First Game: March 23 Quote: “I’m looking
forward to working with an experienced group of players,” K Dean Snell said.
Boys’ Golf
Head Coach: Steve Rampy Assistant Coach: Chris Hansen Highlights from last season: The Tigers won the 5A state golf tournament as a team, and senior Adam Blue took first place individually. Upcoming tournaments: Blue Valley West Monday April 10 at Deer Creek Last year’s record: Ranked first in state in 5A Quote: “The golf team has to take it one day at a time; hopefully the Lord is with us this fine golf season,” senior golf fan Robert Dercher said.
Boys’ Tennis
Head Coach: Nelson Elliot Assistant Coach: Mark Rabbitt Returning Varsity: Andrew
Robinson, Kolbe Joens Highlights from Last Season: Robinson and Joens finished their season strong as they earned seventh place at the State Doubles Tournament and finished with an overall record of 1515 on the season. Quote:“Hopefully we can pick up where we left off last season,” Joens said.
Boys’ Baseball
Head Coach: Larry Hare Assistant Coaches: Rick McNerlin, Andy Unrein, Matt Ortman and Kevin Suhr Highlights from last season: Beat 4A state champions Bishop Ward 5-2, Started season 3-1. Upcoming Games: Opens up season against Saint Thomas Aquinas on March 22. Last Years Record: 7-14 Quote: “I think our pitching is much improved,” senior Seth Gordon said.
Track Head Coaches: Paul Brown, Eric Driskell Returning Boys’ Key Players: Amr Abu Alnadi, Jayson Diedrich, Sean Flynn, Andy Gillard, Nathan Lane, Joey Long, Ryan Ogden, Timi Okah, Chris Castor, Patrick Cooley, Matt Killen, Michael McDonald, Tom McElwee, Scott Pinney, Matt Ritchie, Josh Robinson, Brock Souders, Nate Wiechmann, Kevin Butorac Returning Girls’ Key Players: Leah Brown, Kori Hawkins, Stephanie Sparling, Whitney Coulas, Kristen Daschke, Liz Minoofar, Mindy Moeller Highlight from Last Season: “It is hard to pick one highlight from last season because [track] is such an individualistic sport,” senior Stephanie Sparling said. “But the traveling meets like regionals and state are always fun to be a part of. The team has to come together as one in those track meets.”
14 sports
Quite Frankly
March 8, 2006
Same old team brand new city
New Orleans arena football team comes to Kansas City sarah weaver
staff reporter
K Mid-Majors cause madness in March
frank lasley
co-sports editor
W
ith NCAA March Madness fast approaching on March 16 the question arises, who will make it to the tournament? When many people think of strong conferences and teams that will make it into the tournament they think of the power conferences like the ACC and Big 12. The ACC has four top 25 teams in the AP poll, the Big 12 has three, the Big East has five, the Big Ten has four and the PAC 10 has two. All of these teams are thought to be strong contenders. Then there is the Missouri Valley conference. When thinking of strong contenders in the NCAA tournament, that conference is not a name that usually comes to a sane person’s mind; however, this year three teams have positioned themselves to make it to the tournament from this conference. Looking at the RPI (Ratings Percentage Index) rankings, three Missouri Valley teams are placed in the top 25. These rankings take into account teams winning percentage, their opponents winning percentage and their opponent’s opponents winning percentage. The University of Northern Iowa, Wichita State University and Missouri State University (formerly SMS) all have tournament potential. How are these mid-major colleges gaining ground? Well, losing a coach two-thirds of the way through the season, as Missouri did, may also have something to do with it. Some may also say that certain coaches staying with teams are reasons as well. On a larger scale, the problem may actually be the players. The gap between major colleges such as Duke and KU and mid-major colleges like Wichita State is closing. As NBA-bound players from major schools are staying in college for shorter amounts of time, the mid-major colleges, whose players stay longer, are gaining more of an advantage. Midmajor colleges who have a team of experienced seniors are gaining the advantage on major colleges who put less experienced freshmen players on the court. With these changes, who knows? Maybe within a few years we can expect colleges like Jacksonville, who is currently 1-25, to make the jump to the tournament and bump colleges like Duke and Texas out of the picture. We will just have to wait and see.
ansas City fans are currently enjoying arena football with their new team the Brigade. They started their season in January and will continue until May 12. However, this season came earlier than expected. The catastrophic event that occurred in the fall of 2005 turned the New Orleans Arena into unplayable territory for the New Orleans’ VooDoo. This arena football team had been calling this arena home since 2004, but now select VooDoo players find themselves playing somewhere new for home games. A group of investors was looking to bring an arena football team to Kansas City. The disaster striking in New Orleans sped the process up. It was just a few months before the season was to begin, and the KC team finally had a name, the Brigade. After a winning season, the VooDoo looked forward to keeping that record for 2006, but hurricane Katrina took that chance away. The VooDoo team decided to call off the 2006 season due to their lack of facilities. Things were not looking up for VooDoo players until the Kansas City Brigade made an early start and invited 10 VooDoo players to join the franchise. Arena football is played on a field similar to the size of a hockey rink. There are seven players on the field for each team. The game moves at a much faster pace than the traditional NFL game. There are four, 15minute quarters. On Jan. 29 the Brigade played their first game in Dallas. Coach Kevin Porter, former Chiefs safety, failed to bring a win to the Brigade. At press time, the Brigade have a 1-5 record.
Name: Leah Brown
What’s the biggest competition you’ve been a part of? State track and AAU regionals
Sport: Track Any family history in the sport? My sisters and brothers are pretty good at track, as well as my parents. Players chosen by coaches
With this record some fans are left disappointed. “They are like every other KC team. They let me down,” senior Robert Dercher. Yet senior Hoyt Banks has faith. “I have faith in every KC team,” Banks said. Senior Mark Gruber has arena fever for the Brigade. He has season tickets and attends the games with his father and brother. “I think it’s pretty interesting,” Gruber said. “The league is fan-friendly. EA sports came out with a video game, too.” Gruber enjoys watching the Chiefs during their season and during the off-season he enjoys watching arena football. With two different football franchises here in Kansas City, the competition between the two are tough. “Nothing is better than the Chiefs,” Banks said. According to Gruber, the fan base is growing due to the league’s interest in the fans. Arena football is becoming more popular for Blue Valley students. “Arena football touches me deeply,” Banks said.
What’s your favorite sport to watch on TV? I love watching basketball and ice skating.
Sports Profile
Name: Brett Bolton Sport: Golf Any family history in the sport? None what so ever.
What’s the biggest competition you’ve been a part of? Various local summer and varsity tournaments. What’s your favorite sport to watch on TV? Golf, football or curling. compiled by autumn fuller
sports 15
March 8, 2006
Seasons wind down; winter sports wrap up
Boys’ Basketball
Wrestling
The boys’ basketball team ended its season with a 56-39 sub state loss to number two seed Shawnee Mission West Thursday March 2 at Shawnee Mission West. The Tigers closed out EKL play on Friday, Feb. 25 with a 71-46 loss to Blue Valley North. The Tigers came out of the 2005-2006 with a 0-10 EKL record and an overall record of 5-16. Stephen Blumhardt led the team with 12.9 points per game. Returning varsity lettermen for next season will be juniors Hank Driskell, Trey Hobson, Matt Killen, Tyler Mikkleson and Zach Rampy and sophomore Michael Grant.
The Tigers finished the season taking second overall at regionals and sending 10 wrestlers to state including Austin Quarles, Trey Weber, Blane Williams, Cameron Weir, Zac Ansaldo, Tyler Madl, Kyle Combes, Hunter Madl, Cody Scribner and Brad Harris. Harris was state runner up in the 160-pound weight class after his regional championship. “I wish I could have pulled out a state title, but I’m happy with the effort I put forth all year,” Harris said. Tyler Madl, in the 135-pound weight class and Cody Scribner, in the 215pound weight class were also regional champions. Along with Harris, Hunter Madl, Tyler Madl and Cody Scribner were the only state placers. Scribner and Tyler Madl finished fourth while Hunter Madl finished fifth. Goddard High School eventually took home the crown Blue Valley finished ninth and will return three state qualifiers next year.
Boys’ Swimming
The swim team finished in 10th place at the state meet at Capitol Federal Natatorium in Topeka Feb. 24. Senior Parker Sargent turned in a stellar performance finishing first in the 50 Freestyle with a time of 21:51. He then captured second in the 100 Free with a time of 47:18.3. Tony Britt took fourth in the 100 Breast stroke. The relay team of Sargent, Britt, Clark Stinson and Anthony Bertolone took seventh in the 200 Medley Relay and sixth in the 200 Free Relay.
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Girls’ Basketball In sub state action last Wednesday night the Lady Tigers headed to Shawnee Mission West, losing 58-53. After a back and fourth battle in which four quarters wasn’t enough to find a winner the two teams settled on overtime, only after Taylor Hanson sunk three free-throws in the final seconds. The Tigers finished 9-12.
16 life in pictures
March 8, 2006
Race to Regionals
Members of the newspaper and yearbook staff piled on a bus and headed to regionals on Feb. 24 at the University of Kansas. Blue Valley competed against 29 other schools and came out with 11 qualifiers for the state competition.
emily kuykendall Senior Emily Reinhardt and junior Chris Swartley play with their dogs in their freetime. Those who had carry-in photo entries had the option of taking pictures of pets, social studies classes or sports. Senior Corey Gray earned an honorable mention in sports photography.
will werth