The Tiger Print — October 2012

THE

TIGER PRINT

BLUE VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL Vol. 43 Issue 3 October 2012 Stilwell, Kan.

TRADING TRADITION “Invest in BVHS” replaces traditional fundraiser. page 2 PART OF THE FAMILY Foreign exchange student, host family gather life lessons from each other. page 16 DESERTING DIFFERENCES Lacrosse teams combines students from multiple school districts for competition. page 23 Censorship in school touches multitude of subjects. Pages 12-13

Hear no evil, see no evil, do no evil: Photo illustration by Bailey Outlaw.

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inthenews

October 2012

Events calendar Oct. 19 — Pizza Dance haileymcentee design & news editor A new PTO fundraising program called “Invest in BVHS” has begun this year to replace TigerFest. There will be no TigerFest this year.

“Invest in BVHS” raises money through annual, tax-deductible donations. Anyone in the community can donate.

This fundraising technique was adopted from multiple middle schools in the Blue Valley School District.

“We felt like TigerFest had run its course,” PTO Board member Janette McElwain said. “We had done it forever and it was time for something new. Also, TigerFest was very time consuming for everyone involved so we were looking for something new to do. Some of the middle schools had already been doing it in the past, so we decided to try it.”

Without TigerFest, girls basketball

coach Andy Unrein said sports teams are going to have to adjust to these new funds.

“We used TigerFest money to buy uniforms, practice jerseys, bags, etc.,” he said. “[TigerFest] also allowed us to use our budget for a video system, a camera and annual things. We are going to have to do some type of fundraising. We have tossed around the idea of a pancake breakfast at Applebees.”

Unrein said he understands the complications and reasons for getting rid of TigerFest.

“It was a lot of work to get TigerFest organized,” he said. “Also, the timing was hard for the sports. Coaches were asking parents for donations for TigerFest while they didn’t even know if their kid was on the team. I don’t know much about [Invest in BVHS] but the concept seems like a pretty solid idea.”

The money donated is available to administrators to be used when needed.

McElwain said the money can be used for anything ranging from sports to debate.

“The cool thing is that the money goes straight to [Principal Scott] Bacon and [Athletic Director Matt] Ortman, so they can use the money directly to invest in anything the school needs, anytime they want,” McElwain said.

She said she has high expectations for this new program.

“I’m hoping that people will like it because it is efficient,” she said. “It is a quick and easy way to raise money, and it is great that the money is for the benefit of the whole school.”

Donations are accepted throughout the whole year. The PTO suggests each family invest $75 annually, but any amount is accepted.

The “Invest in BVHS” donation form can be found on the BV website.

Money can be donated by writing a check or by paying online.

Oct. 23 — Fall Choir Concert, 7:30 p.m. in the PAC Oct. 24 — Parent/Teacher Conferences, 4:30 - 7 p.m. in the gym Freshman AVID meeting, 7 p.m. in the BV Library Oct. 25 — Parent/Teacher Conferences Class Ring Delivery, 7:30 - 9 a.m.

Additional Graduation Announcements Order, 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Veteran’s Writing Project, 7 p.m. in the BV Library Oct. 26 — No School Haunt for Harvesters Food Drive ends 95.7 The Vibe at the BV v. BV West football game, 7 p.m. at the DAC Oct. 30 — Four Year Planning Night, 6:30 p.m. in the PAC Oct. 31 — Halloween Nov. 1 — Fine Arts Potpourri Nov. 5 — Pizza Hut Fundraiser Nov. 14 — CAPS Informational Session, 6-7 p.m. at CAPS building Nov. 16 — It’s Paper Day: November Tiger Print paper distributed

raineandrews Blue Valley’s debate team started their season off September 14th at Washburn Rural and Blue Valley Southwest.

At Washburn Rural, juniors Josh Jilovec and Aquib Jamil participated in the open division and placed third out of 70 teams. Senior Calvin Cochran and junior Luke Chen placed fourth in the same division.

Jamil said he and Jilovec have prepared for the season since summer.

“We did a lot of individual research before the tournament to try and get ready,” Jamil said. “It really paid off.”

At BVSW, BV placed first overall out of 18 schools with four teams bringing home medals. Seniors Archana Vasa and Blake Staley were champions of the varsity division and ended the tournament with a perfect score of 5-0.

“I was glad to have started the season off on the right track,” Vasa said. “We knew that we were doing pretty well, but we weren’t sure about the results. Not knowing made us focus for a strong finish, which helped us win.”

With the team’s strong start to the season, Vasa said there are high hopes they will bring home another State Championship title. The team has 12 overall titles, the most recent being from 2010.

“We will put in a lot of time and effort to bring the State Championship back to BV,” Vasa said.

Even though only a few teams will get to represent BV at State, Vasa said it will be a team effort that will push them to where they want to go.

“On our squad, we always want to work smart in order to beat our opponents,” Vasa said. “As long as we practice, research, work smart and work hard together as a team, I know BV Debate will have a good finish at State.”

Check out bvtigernews online for more debate news and scores

October 2012

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October 2012

kelly Numerous Internet tycoons including Facebook, Google, Amazon and eBay have come together in the first-ever Internet Lobbying group, The Internet Association. They plan to take a unified stance on piracy, copyright, privacy and cybersecurity, according to The Washington Post online.

The Stop Online Piracy Act, SOPA, pushed the group to form.

SOPA was never enacted due to protests online.

According to CNN.com, if SOPA were in effect, YouTube would be unable to function.

“Something like SOPA or PIPPA wouldn’t have changed things overnight,” Advanced Placement American Government teacher Brian Mowry said. “It would have opened the door. We could have looked back 30 years and wonder how we got here.”

Both Microsoft and Apple have opted not to be part of The Internet Association.

The Policy Platform, as stated on The Internet Association’s website, is to “support policies that protect and promote Internet freedom — information should flow freely across national borders,

uninhibited by tariffs, regulations and government censorship...”.

Mowry said he thinks a lobbying group coming together for the public interest differs from most lobbying group’s motives.

“It seems very interesting,” he said.

“The only thing against it would be people for anti piracy, it’s very interesting.”

The full list of members include Amazon, AOL, eBay, Expedia, Facebook, Google, IAC, LinkedIn, Monster Worldwide, Rackspace, salesforce.com, TripAdvisor, Yahoo! and Zynga.

According to a 2012 press release from The Internet Association’s President and CEO Michael Beckerman, “These companies are all fierce competitors in the marketplace, but they recognize the Internet needs a unified voice in Washington.”

He goes on to explain the future of the Internet is at stake.

“Policy makers must understand that the preservation of that freedom is essential to vitality of the Internet itself and the resulting economic prosperity,” he said The group will also lobby on obtaining visas for engineers and will try to influence regulations on cyber security, sales tax and revenue repatriation, according to an article on the Huffington Post online.

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ies over T-shirts

sally Science teacher Larry Hare recently began Tie Tuesday, a new competition at Blue Valley, where the staff member wearing the best tie on each Tuesday wins a prize.

“Tie Tuesday is a chance to wear a tie and have it judged by another faculty member and potentially win the Tie Tuesday contest,” he said.

The winner of the week receives a soda bought for them by Hare. Math teacher K. Dean Snell won on Tuesday, Sept. 18, wearing a soccer-ball patterned tie.

“I think it’s a fun idea, and it’s a fun way to have a competition with the other teachers,” Snell said. “Win, lose or draw.”

Past judges include cheerleading coach Michelle Wirt, communication arts teacher Kelsey Bakalar, math teacher Robin Lerner, science teacher Azie Taghizadeh and business teacher Mallory Joseph.

“I actually volunteered [to judge] because I thought it was a really positive thing for our staff to do,” Bakalar said. “I like clothes and style — it’s kind of an art form to me in and of itself.”

She chose winner art teacher Mark Mosier’s tie, which depicted the painting

Photo Illustration by Bailey Outaw.

“The Scream” by Edward Munch.

“It was actually kind of a funny story,” Bakalar said. “[Math teacher] Mr. [Kyle] Braden, who is a huge KState fan, wore KU colors, so it was hard for me not to give him the title. I’m a huge KU fan.”

Hare said the competition benefits the staff for many reasons.

“I just think it makes teachers look more professional, and it’s fun,” Hare said. “And it’s competitive.

I like competition. I think it has helped our faculty’s camaraderie.”

Snell said the competi-

tion is bringing teacher dress to a more professional standard.

“This is my 32nd year teaching, and in my first probably 20 years of teaching, I wore a tie everyday,” he said. “As time went on, the trend became more acceptable for teachers to dress more in business casual clothes. It was a blast from the past to go back to wearing a tie.”

Bakalar said students should participate, too.

“I try to encourage some of the boys,” she said. “I despise Tank Top Tuesday. I don’t want to see that much skin.”

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outloud

October 2012

Ruining the Romance elliefehlig The 1980’s.

A time when popular culture was consumed by Madonna, Nike sneakers and “Back to the Future.”

In 2012, teens are more interested in country music, Sperry’s and “The Dark Knight Rises.”

For the most part, teenagers act the same way they did 30 years ago. We come home past our curfews, get in countless arguments with our parents and just want to have fun.

However, could we say that teenage romance is the same in both generations?

Probably not, and for one reason: technology.

I know, we’ve all heard it before, “When I was your age, no one had cell phones.”

Technology diminishes face-to-face communication, value of relationships

Well, although we hate to admit it, that annoying adult who constantly reminds us how times have changed is right.

Back then, young people had to talk to each other in person. They didn’t have Facebook, Twitter, email or texting.

If a guy wanted to ask a girl out, he had to ask her while looking at her face.

There was no computer screen to hide behind if he was rejected.

And how weird would it be meeting someone at a party and not being able to Facebook stalk them afterward?

Pretty weird, if you ask me.

Nowadays, people don’t go out with someone they haven’t texted at least a few times before. But we can’t truly get to know someone by only texting them.

Sure, texting might be less nerve-wracking, and it may give us more time to think about what to say next, but it means more when we take time out of our day to hang out with each other.

When we’re physically with someone, they know we are only focusing on them.

When we are texting them, it’s hard for the other person to tell what we are actually doing at that moment.

Cartoon by Becky Winegarner.

We could be on another date, and the other person wouldn’t even know it.

Call me old-fashioned, but there are some situations that require more than just a “send” button.

The bottom line is, instead of Facebook-stalking or texting people, try talking to them face-to-face because genuine communication will be much more rewarding.

Politicians should be more concerned with the people they represent, learn to be civil kellycordingley editor-in-chief Republicans and Democrats used to get along.

Politicians crossed party lines for the good of their constituents.

Compromise was not a dirty word.

Look how far we haven’t come in the past few decades.

America is the land where voices are heard and the public matters.

Politicians are supposed to be up in Washington D.C. fighting for the average person, not for who can back their campaign the most.

When did that honor disappear?

Democrats and Republicans don’t cross the aisle, and on the rare occasion it happens, he or she better be prepared to

be the ugly stepsister of the party.

It is reprehensible the antics that go on in Washington, and yet politicians continue to blame the other side for things not getting done.

Well, as if it hasn’t been said, written and screamed enough, we the people have had it.

I know what party I align myself with, and I’m still disgusted nothing can get done.

Did the men and women up on the Hill not have mothers who told them that you can’t always get what you want?

Did no teacher ever teach a lesson about playing nice?

I’m sure they did, but maybe the message has been long forgotten in the dog-eat-dog political world.

If that’s the case, we should have a quick refresher course before the next election takes place.

Political hopefuls cannot continue to pit one group of people against another. We are a family of Americans, regardless of party affiliation, and we should treat each other as such.

Although what is best for our brother may not be best for us, compromise makes families work.

Money is material. The one with the most toys does not

always win.

According to the New York Times online, the Democratic party has spent $615.6 million, and the Republican party has spent $530.7 million.

Only a handful of American’s can fathom what that much money looks like, let alone what it could be used for.

That much money is shoveled into campaign funds to get a single person elected to office, yet that much money could feed nations.

A beachfront home should not be more important than those who elected a politician into office.

Washington wonders why their approval ratings are dismal, and why the voter turnout rarely ever hits 40 percent.

Newsflash: most American’s aren’t concerned with a beachfront home, but rather with paying the mortgage or college loans.

We listen to enough arguing in the real world, we don’t want to hear it from those who are supposed to represent us.

It is insignificant who wins the 2012 election if our politicians can’t get it together.

Go back to kindergarten, and learn how to play nice.

October 2012

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Short term thinking leads to long term consequences for violating driving laws rileymiller Teens from all over the district have been guilty of driving without following the conditions of their Learner’s Permits or Restricted Licenses.

Unlicensed teenagers may be very capable of driving well, but that doesn’t make it legal, even if their parents let them.

“You’d be amazed how many parents allow that to happen, because they’re tired of driving their kids around, so they go ahead and take that chance, but it’s just not worth the risk,” School Resource Officer Ken Braden said.

Restrictions are not just made for fun, they’re made to be followed.

Rules & Restrictions

jansenhess sports editor A referee is an individual whose job is to officiate and make sure a sporting event goes as smoothly and fairly as possible. Unfortunately, all referees don’t do their jobs as well as they should.

As an athlete, and someone who has been playing soccer for more than a decade, I seem to know the rules a little better than the referees do.

Take the offside rule — if I make my run when I am behind or even with the last defender when the ball is played, then I’m

Lately, it seems like there’s an all-time high of students driving around with no license, and in some cases, not even a restricted.

I think a lot of teenagers enjoy rebelling, whether it’s against their parents or the law.

In most cases, it doesn’t make them a bad person because their perception of fun is different, it’s just the fact they’re putting their safety in jeopardy.

That’s one of the main reasons why laws are created — safety.

Sometimes it’s not even a matter of getting hurt, it’s getting caught.

This doesn’t mean with your parents, which can be pretty bad as it is. It means getting caught with the police.

Braden said he thinks it’d be a lot easier to get 50 hours and follow restrictions opposed to waiting two years because your license was suspended when you weren’t following the rules.

“If you have a restricted license and you’re working on getting your 50 hours, I understand that in a teenager’s mind 50

hours is a long time,” he said. “My guess is in one week or in two weeks you can get those 50 hours in driving your parents to school or the store or whatever the case may be.”

Another reason why laws are made is the aspect of order.

If you’re not the type of person to abide by that, good for you.

I’m not here to tell you what or what not to do, but be prepared to deal with your consequences in the event that you get caught for something you know you’re not supposed to be doing.

Braden said teenagers in violation of the restrictions of their permit or restricted will get a ticket and go to court.

In court, they face possible suspension of their license until they’re 18 years old.

As cool as you think you may look driving around unsupervised with all of your friends, having the time of your lives, the fun will come to a quick end once you get pulled over.

Braden said since he sees students at

school everyday, he usually knows whether or not someone can legally drive.

“If I see someone that came in here, and I knew they had a restricted license and I see they have four or five people in their car, of course I would stop that person.

That’s the difference between being a school resource officer and someone that’s on a regular patrol,” he said.

So, if getting caught isn’t one of your concerns, another thing you should take into consideration is what could happen if you get into an accident.

It’s not just about your safety, it’s about the safety of others, too.

Waiting to drive when it’s actually legal and earning some extra experience with your parents now, while you can, means lowering the risk of hurting yourself and others.

I think lately this is one of the main reasons why most teenagers in general are afraid or at least intimidated by cops — because they are simply not following the rules.

A driver with a learner’s permit can only drive with an adult over 21 years old with at least one year of driving experience.

Fifteen year olds with a reSixteen-year-olds with a stricted license are allowed to less-restricted license are algo to school, work or church lowed to drive with one nonwith their siblings without an sibling passenger between 5 adult. a.m. and 9 p.m.

onsides. And if I do happen to be offside, then please feel free to make the call before I sprint 30 yards down the field.

Aside from the little calls, soccer referees don’t know what constitutes a foul. If I’m getting hacked from behind, pushed in the back or elbowed in the face, then I strongly suggest you blow your whistle. Granted, not all referees are going to call everything, but it really makes me mad when the ref only calls something because he was pressured into the call by a parent, player or coach.

For example, last year, a goalie and I were both going after the ball. We both knew neither of us was going to stop, it was just a matter of who was going to get knocked down. She ended up falling and the ref came up to me and told me to calm down.

I apologized to both the goalie and the ref, stating it was my fault and proceeded to walk away. Suddenly I heard a dad yell from the stands, “Ref, that’s a card.” The referee came over to me, after everything was said

and done, and gave me the yellow card.

I’m sorry sir, but if you’re relying on a middle-aged father who has most likely never played soccer before, then you seriously need to reevaluate yourself as a ref.

Why are you so afraid of a parent or a coach when you’re the one with all the power? Don’t let their uneducated ideas and opinions influence your calls.

Honestly, you’re the one who sat through the referee certification classes. Parents only know the rules from what players or other adults have told them.

Plus, parents are always going to protect their kids, even if it isn’t a foul.

But even though refs have all the power, they shouldn’t let it go to their heads.

I’ve seen it happen way too many times, especially when yellow cards are given for “talking back to the ref.”

Most of the time we’re just asking what the call was. Even if we are saying something derogatory, it’s most likely not towards the ref.

Assistant referees (AR) are probably worse than center referees.

My freshman year: JV girls soccer was facing off with the Saints of St. Thomas Aquinas at STA. Obviously, this is a major rivalry. We were matched up pretty evenly.

Well, that was until STA scored their first of three goals.

The girl dribbled the ball out of bounds.

Everyone, including her, stopped playing, but the AR was so far away from the touchline that he couldn’t see the ball was out of bounds.

Since nothing was called, the girl proceeded to dribble the ball back in bounds, shot and scored.

I had never seen such an uproar out of my team or my coach.

Our confidence was shot, and we ended up letting in two more goals.

Referees have, and will still, cost some teams a win, whether we like it or not. And unfortunately, refs in every sport make controversial calls.

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SiblingLove annawonderlich

“Why do you guys get along so well? Aren’t you supposed to hate each other?”

It’s a question I get asked all the time about my relationship with my sister Maria.

I find it funny people think it’s weird we’re so close.

Wouldn’t it be weird if we didn’t spend time with each other? I mean, we are just 18 months apart.

Of course Maria and I get into stupid fights about controlling the music in the car or borrowing each other’s stuff, but, for the most part, we get along — maybe even more than most siblings do. In fact, my sister and I are basically best friends.

Now, is that really so weird?

Growing up, Maria and I were always each other’s playmate, whether we were playing school, American Girl dolls or some make-believe game. At first, our parents forced us to play together, but eventually we just chose to because we had fun with each other.

Now that we’re older and both in high school, we’re still just as close — doing homework together, going on Sonic runs and just hanging out like friends do.

Siblings should get along, share close bond

I wouldn’t trade any of our late night conversations, inside jokes or memories for anything.

In general, brothers and sisters are the ultimate best friend.

You can confide in them or stay up for hours on end just having random conversations with them. You can stick together when dealing with your parents, especially when negotiating family rules like curfew.

You can easily relate to each other because you have so much in common just from being in the same family.

Plus, having a sibling means you’re guaranteed someone to endure all the family vacations, holidays and gatherings with.

So here’s my advice to all you sibs out there: just get along.

The quote “Friends come and go, but family is forever” sums it up perfectly: there’s no getting rid of our siblings for good.

However, you only have a limited number of years left together before one of you goes to college — why not enjoy that time with each other instead of wasting it by fighting?

For those of you with siblings out of the house, it’s still not too late to start getting along. My challenge for you is to do something simple to show how much you appreciate them.

Sure, all siblings get into fights — it’s an inevitable part of having brothers and sisters — but it’s just not worth your time or energy to hate each other when you could have fun together instead.

I guarantee it’s a decision both you and your siblings won’t regret.

Big Home

Go

Go or

abbybamburg entertainment editor “Good luck with that.”

“That is never going to happen.”

“Yeah, right.”

I have heard these phrases over and over again throughout my life.

I wanted to be a princess, then a ballerina and then a pop star. Unrealistic careers, I know.

But that still doesn’t give anyone the right to rain on a

Anna, 4, and her sister, Maria, 2, pose for the camera. Photo submitted by Anna Wonderlich.

People’s opinions should not

little girl’s parade.

Yes, I have grown up a little since then. I stopped thinking I was going to marry all five of the Backstreet Boys.

I stopped thinking I had the best voice on the face of the planet.

I started to focus on more realistic careers to make a living.

Going into fashion journalism is my biggest passion.

I want to move to California, go to a fashion institute for college and work at a fashion magazine.

Now, this is where most people will say, “Good luck with that,” to me sarcastically.

At first, it made me question my whole plan. It made me ask myself if all that hard work, and, maybe failure, would be worth it.

Then I realized how much better it will be to do something I actually love in a new place with new people, than just settling for a career in Johnson County.

So, I just simply say, “Thank you.”

Not because I think they are wrong, but because they should keep their opinions and doubts to themselves. Those people obviously don’t care about you enough to believe in you.

No matter what you want to do with your life, you’re always going to have people tell you that you can’t.

The good news is, there will always be those few people who tell you that you can.

Although I am completely aware of how hard it will be, I will still try.

What is the real harm in trying? That it might not work out?

If you have any chance to do what makes you happiest, then do it.

When you actually accomplish those dreams, you can laugh in all of the people’s faces that told you it will never happen.

After all, go big or go home, right?

October 2012

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staffeditorial TIGER THE

PRINT

editor-in-chief Kelly Cordingley website editor Odi Opole photo editor Bailey Outlaw

design and news editor Hailey McEntee

business manager, managing editor Anna Wonderlich staff writers Raine Andrews Sally Cochran Colin Gregory Meghan Kennedy Riley Miller Mitch Sundquist Danielle Williams

features editor Maddie Jewett

Cartoon by Becky Winegarner.

Trick-or-treating should be an activity for young kids For young children, the highlight of Halloween is running around their neighborhoods dressed agree disagree as an athlete, a princess or a superhero, ringing doorbells yelling, “Trickor-Treat.”

They take the candy back home to be sorted and traded amongst themselves. For these kids, Halloween isn’t about the scare factor — it’s all about the candy.

The older kids get, the less they trick-or-treat, or at least that’s the way it should be.

High school students shouldn’t be going to houses, dressed in a hoodie and mask and consider themselves “dressed up.”

If you’re going to go trick-or-treating, at least make an effort to dress up. Otherwise, you just look pathetic. Younger kids will go to great lengths to find the perfect costume.

It’s all about dressing up and going out trick-or-treating. No child goes without costumes. Does that suddenly change when you grow up?

Many adults don’t even want to give candy to older kids, especially if they aren’t dressed up. It’s annoying, and the

staff editorial

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adults buy that candy for little kids. If the adults won’t let their high school kids go trick-or-treating, chances are they won’t give candy to other high school kids.

It’s also creepy.

Seeing tall, dark figures running around is frightening for kids and for parents. High school students are notorious for causing trouble on Halloween. Even if that doesn’t apply to you, don’t give people a reason to suspect you.

Halloween for high school kids should be haunted houses, scary movies and costume parties.

There are tons of alternatives to trick-or-treating. If you want some candy, drive to Walmart and buy yourself a $4 bag. Go to a haunted house — there’s a bunch around Kansas City. You won’t find any young kids to bother there, and it is a great thing to do with friends.

Enjoy the fact that you’re older and able to do more than just trick-or-treat.

At a younger age, many of us wished to grow up and go to parties and haunted houses.

Think back to when you were young. Wouldn’t you be angry if some high school kid came and took all of your candy?

For younger kids, Halloween is the “treat.” For the older kids, Halloween is the “trick.”

Let this generation of kids have their time to trick-ortreat. We had ours.

photographers Megan Ball Ellie Fehlig entertainment editor Alex Kontopanos Abby Bamburg cartoonist opinion editor Becky Winegarner Caroline Meinzenbach adviser Michelle Wilmes sports editor Jansen Hess The Tiger Print is published 10 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, 2010, 2012.

Member, Kansas Scholastic Press Association, National Scholastic Press Association and Columbia Scholastic Press Association.

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October 2012

Preserving the past Writing project encourages veterans, families to write about experiences kellycordingley editor-in-chief The posters are displayed throughout the school. As one walks down the 600 hallway, a poster of the Statue of Liberty stands out with, “Veterans’ Writing Project” written across the top. The poster has hung there since this time last year, and yet the purpose is still somewhat unknown to the student body.

The Veterans’ Writing Project was started by librarian Ken Stewart and communication arts teacher Kelsey Bakalar last year.

“It is an opportunity for veterans and veteran’s families to come in,” Stewart said.

“It’s a spur to get them to start writing about their memories. They can write about a person, place or time for their own

benefit or to leave memories behind for generations who don’t know.”

The group began meeting again this year on Oct. 4 in the library and will meet every week for six weeks.

“The hardest part at the beginning is to get them writing,” Stewart said.

Veteran Writing Project participant Chris Campbell said begining the writing process was nerve-wracking for him.

“It was a long time since I’d written for someone,” he said.

Bakalar said although she was initially worried she wouldn’t be able to contribute much to the project, she said she was excited the veterans were eager to learn.

“They wanted to know what an Oxford comma was and how to organize their story,” she said “There are so many memories they have, I’m thrilled to be a writing

coach for them.”

Although last year the group was just veterans, this year it has expanded to their families.

“We included them this year because they have served from home,” Stewart said.

He said the group is especially dear to his heart because he had grown up hearing stories about war from older family members.

“I always thought ‘these stories aren’t written down. They’ll be lost,’’’ he said.

Bakalar said she got involved because of her admiration for service men and women.

“They face death to give to our country,” she said. “My calling was teaching, they say theirs was to serve. I want to give back.”

Through the project, Bakalar said she has developed a thicker skin.

“Most of them, through what they’ve been through, have become hardened,” she said. “Listening to their stories breaks you down and builds you back up. It has taught me to appreciate life more.”

The veterans in the past have written about their experiences during wartime, but Stewart said the topics can vary.

“We had one person who wrote it sounding like a report,” he said. “Then we had one person doing a deep introspection of themselves — there are just so many areas to write about.”

Another vital part of the group is the healing that can occur.

“I hope they gain camaraderie, peace

Veteran Writing Project participant Chris Campbell points at his home state sign while stationed in Central America during 1984. Each member of the squad posted what state they were from.

“There were people from all different cultural backgrounds,” he said. “There are so many life lessons. Photo submitted by Chris Campbell.

and happiness,” Bakalar said. “I want them to feel appreciated.”

Campbell said his experiences in the project have given him a chance to meet other veterans.

“I didn’t know anyone, but it gave me a chance to meet new people,” he said. “There are so many varied backgrounds.”

Bakalar said this year’s project will differ from last years in that she will be stepping back some.

“I’d like more teachers involved,” she said. “I know time is precious, and we have so many teachers involved in so many things. But if we got them there, I know they’d see the value.”

October 2012

more than a teammate maddiejewett features editor When someone is asked to describe what their teammates look like, the words “four-legged,” “furry” and “animal” would not typically come to mind.

However, for horseback riders, this is not the case.

Junior Brianna Butler and senior Juliana Himmel are just two of the students at Blue Valley who ride horses competitively.

They both spend three to five days a week at barns, practicing and taking care of the horses, as well as many weekends at horse shows.

Butler has been riding since she was two years old.

“My grandpa’s friend had horses at the Leawood stables, and he just decided to take me out one day,” she said. “Ever since then, I was hooked — and I was only two years old. I started riding competitively when I was six.”

Himmel started riding when she was nine years old.

“When I was a kid, I had a friend who rode horses,” she said. “One time, I went to one of her shows and saw her do it, and I told my mom I wanted to try it.”

Butler has had four different horses.

She takes care of them, and then boards them at a stable.

Each horse is a different level, so as she got bigger and increased in skill, she had to

Butler

Himmel

move on to a new horse.

Rather than owning her own horse, Himmel belongs to the Peeper Ranch barn, where there are about 15 different horses.

She participates in a lesson program at the barn, and also works there as an intern.

“We get the horses ready for everyone else,” she said. “Two other girls and I are the head interns. We help the little kids and teach them how to handle the horses.”

Himmel said having multiple horses to ride at her barn has helped her grow as a rider.

“I like having the chance to ride multiple horses because they are all so different,” she said. “I love them all, and they each challenge you in a different way.”

Butler said her favorite of her four horses was one named Al Capony.

“I went through a lot with him, and we went to Nationals,” she said. “The bond that I had with him is kind of like a partnership between us — we can read each other’s body language. The companionship I feel

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Horse back riding offers unique experiences, bonding opportunities with him is so strong. I loved Al Capony so much because I had him the longest and out of all of the horses I’ve had, he taught me the most about riding.”

Butler said she appreciates the emotional aspect that comes with riding horses.

“I love being able to trust the horse and having the horse trust you back,” she said.

“When you’re jumping and you’re in the air, it almost feels like you’re flying.”

Butler competes in pony jumping.

“I travel all over the U.S., mostly in the Midwest region,” she said. “Basically, I follow my trainer. I discipline jumpers, and at the competitions, they judge the horse’s accuracy and how fast they can go through the course. We are judged by our time, but we can’t knock over the rails.”

Each show gives different amounts of points to winners. In order to qualify for Nationals, a rider has to have earned a certain number of points throughout the year.

Himmel, on the other hand, rides Saddle Seat “There are two classes in saddle seat competitions — Pleasure and Equitation” she said. “In Pleasure, the judges give points based on how the rider and the horse work together. In Equitation, they give points based on how the rider actually looks on the horse.”

Himmel said patience is key when dealing with horses.

“Obviously, you can’t really talk to the horses,” she said. “So, it gets frustrating

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when they are doing something wrong. You have to be very patient with them.”

Butler said riders develop unique bonds with their horses.

“As you progress, you get to know the horse’s personality, and you get to know them really well,” she said. “They are just like any other pet — you get to know them and start to love them.”

Butler said the main thing riding horses has taught her is responsibility.

“Owning horses really is not the easiest thing in the world,” she said. “It’s taught me to love animals and have a soft spot for animals.”

In 2011, Butler competed in the National Pony Jumpers, where her team won the gold medal. Individually, Butler placed 10th out of the top 40 jumpers in the nation.

Butler said getting tenth at Nationals was a surreal experience.

“When I was standing up on the podium, I had so many emotions going through me,” she said. “I was crying with happiness and couldn’t stop smiling.”

Himmel said people don’t think riding is a sport because they typically don’t understand it.

“I’ve heard people say negative things about horseback riding, and that it isn’t really a sport,” she said. “I kind of just laugh.

I can understand why they don’t understand, but I personally know how hard the sport actually is.”

Art teacher Michael Johnston said, occasionally, censorship affects student-produced art in art classes.

“We obviously have to be careful about certain topics,” he said.

Johnston said he runs into the issue of censorship more often in photography classes than other classes because of the realism depicted in a photograph.

“One issue in photo a lot is what constitutes nude,” he said.

“We have to talk about identification of students because we are dealing with minors and students who go here.”

He said that students are not allowed to show drug or alcohol usage in their art.

“Anything that relates to alcohol, drugs or tobacco is not allowed except for a bottle or something like that to imply alcohol or tobacco.”

Art teacher Mark Mosier said he will limit what subjects students can address through the school art programs but will not discourage pursuing it elsewhere.

“I’m not going to get into telling students moral standards,” he said. “I would suggest that would be a family-parent issue.

I’m not going to say don’t do it. I will say the school can’t.”

Johnston said on the rare occasion he has to censor a student’s work, it is usually because of excessive graphic violence.

“That probably gets censored more than anything — graphically violent images,” he said. “I’ve had a few students do that, usually around Halloween.”

Johnston said material is censored due to the law.

“Mostly we avoid [censored material] because of legal issues, not because of being conservative in views,” he said.

Mosier said the school could be held responsible for negligence in certain cases.

“If I saw someone doing something dangerous [in a work of art], and if I didn’t notify a parent, a case could be made that the school was negligent,” he said. “Health-wise, safety-wise and behavior-wise, you have to consider the welfare of the student.”

Johnston said he has not censored a student’s work in many years. He has only had to do so a few times since he has been at Blue Valley.

“I have told students to pick less offensive images, and

they’re usually OK with that,” he said.

Johnston said he tries to remain open to students ideas.

“Students will give me ideas, and I’ll tell them if it crosses the line,” he said.

Mosier said we have responsibility as a school.

“We are a public institution with responsibility to the district,” he said. “We are not independent, and we can’t just do whatever.”

Theatre director Jeff Yarnell said he will cut out language or sexually explicit parts of a play.

“There’s language we won’t use, like the F-word,” Yarnell said. “[I cut out] anything overly sexual I don’t feel like my 16-year-old students need to be performing.”

Yarnell said in his Media and Pop culture class he chooses to censor certain R-rated movies that could be beneficial. He said he does so because of his religious beliefs, not school regulations.

“I think my conservative viewpoint is part of the reason,” he said. “It’s important to protect kids and keep them from growing up too fast.”

Art censorship varies based on subject, school rules

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Stories by Sally Cochran and Kelly Cordingley Photo Illustration by Bailey Outlaw

Banned Book Week prompts review of overall censorship in school

12 October 2012

“He goes, ‘Hey, you can’t wear that shirt,’ and I go, ‘But, I’m wearing it now,”’ he said. “He goes, ‘But you can’t. You have to change.’ Then he took me into the office, and then we took a poll. A couple of ladies in the office were like, ‘Is it or is it not inappropriate?’ They all voted that it was inappropriate, even though it’s not inappropriate. It just says beer in big bold letters.”

Dalton said he asked Yockey to change his shirt because of the alcohol reference.

“The reason he was wearing it was because it said beer, and he wanted to get by with it because it had a bear with deer antlers,” Dalton said. “So, one of the rules [is against promoting] alcohol or drugs. Well, that’s obviously alcohol.”

Yockey said he received a new shirt to wear in place of the “beer” shirt, which he kept.

“The shirt they gave me was really itchy, so I ripped off the sleeves and I tore it into a v-neck,” Yockey said.

Dalton said students have many clothing choices within the boundaries.

“Students have a lot of freedom to wear what they want to wear,” Dalton said. “I went to Catholic school, so [students] had to wear uniforms every day, and the [girl’s] skirt had to be a certain length and everything. Not as much in public school.”

Dalton said he frequently has to censor students clothing.

“It’s kind of your freedom of speech,” he said. “I think it goes under your freedom of speech of what you want to wear on your shirt or how you want to wear it, but it can not promote those three things.”

Dalton said BV also does not allow students to wear hats during school.

“It makes for a respectful place to be,” Dalton said. “I’ve been to different schools where they do allow it, and the atmosphere is truly different.”

1957 — Potty Mouth. An episode of “Leave It To Beaver” was pulled by CBS because a toilet seat would be depicted. Eventually, it aired, but with only the toilet tank shown.

indepth From CNN.com

2006 — Getting the Last Word. “South Park” is banned from using an image of the Prophet Muhammad. However, a tiny picture is added in the opening credits of the show.

1956 — Elvis’ Pelvis. After an appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show where his trademark gyrations are shown, the camera goes to his face as to not “over-stimulate” the public.

1964-1966 — Button Battle. Mary Ann from “GIlligan’s Island” and Jeannie from “I Dream of Jeannie,” are banned from showing their belly buttons.

1967 — Tall Order. Ed Sullivan, of The Ed Sullivan Show asked the music group The Doors to change their lyrics from “Girl, we couldn’t get much higher,” to something that sounded less like a drug reference.

1952 — Tight Lipped. Lucille Ball of “I Love Lucy” was pregnant but couldn’t utter the word “pregnant”. She had to say “with child”.

1942 — Cover Up. Tweety Bird forced to put on some clothes.

TV shows endure censorship over the years

Vice Principal Mark Dalton said he isn’t sure if it would be called censorship, but there are rules regarding what may and may not be worn at school.

“What you look at are things that promote drug and alcohol abuse, that are profane or that promote promiscuity,” he said.

“You can’t wear them in school, and the school has a right to request that students not wear a shirt that would promote any of those things.”

Senior Grayson Yockey had to change his shirt, which was decided to be inappropriate by administration.

“The shirt features a picture of a bear with deer antlers and says ‘beer’ in big bold letters,” he said. “It’s kind of provocative, but that’s not the point. My point is to draw attention to the mythological combination between a deer and a bear called a ‘beer,’ and the administrators just didn’t see it that way.”

Yockey said Dalton approached him in the hallway before seventh hour about his shirt’s content.

Student tests boundaries of school dress code

October 2012 13

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October 2012

Debate vs.

Forensics Seemingly similar classes vary in technique, structure jansenhess sports editor Debate and forensics classes often go hand-in-hand but are two very different activities.

Debate involves creating a specific speech and a plan — an affirmative side and a negative side — whereas forensics is more like a track and field event.

There is acting and speaking, partner events and singular events.

Senior Rajvi Shah, co-captain of both the debate and the forensics squads, said the captains’ main purpose is to oversee the new participants.

“We’re in charge of different functions, making sure all the students know what they’re doing, know what our end

BV

As teacher Chris Riffer reads an affirmative, senior Rajvi Shah takes notes. Shah has been involved in debate since eighth grade. “Debate has helped me become more comfortable with forming opinions and sharing my ideas,” she said. Photo by Alex Kontopanos.

goal is and pretty much facilitating the smooth transition between seasons for [debate and forensics teacher] Mr. [Chris] Riffer,” she said.

Junior Aquib Jamil has been involved in debate and forensics since his freshman year.

He said experienced debaters persuaded him to take both classes, but he enjoys debate more than forensics.

“I ended up loving [debate] because, in a sense, it’s like a word game,” Jamil said. “It’s like, they run this argument, and you have to figure out the best way to beat their argument. There’s a judge sitting right in the back room, so you have to have good people skills. You also have to be smart and be able to think on the spot about how you’re going to destroy someone’s case.”

Every year, there is a different topic that is debated throughout the course of the debate season.

“This year the topic’s infrastructure,” he said. “So, you have to make a case talking about how you want an increase in the structure. Then, the negative team has to get up and argue why that’s a bad idea. So, every tournament you go one round with your case and one round saying why the other teams case is bad.”

There are many different events forensics participants can compete in, ranging from speaking to acting to poetry.

“I do informative and extemporaneous speaking,” Jamil said. “Informative is when you write a speech about anything. I wrote one about Snickers bars. I didn’t actually take that to a tournament. Then, the one I legitimately worked on was about sleep paralysis. It has to be about seven minutes long, and you go up and present it in front of a judge.”

Another forensics event is extemporaneous speaking, where no outside preparation is done.

“In extemporaneous speaking, you pull a political question out of an envelope, and then you have 30 minutes to prep a speech for it,” Jamil said. “Then you write the speech

and memorize it. Then you give it.”

Shah said she’s more of a debater because of the speech class she took in eighth grade.

“I’ve always liked voicing my opinion and telling it like it is,” she said. “Being argumentative was something that was really big for me, and being able to construct and be logical in arguments is what I really like. You always have a partner with you, and the rounds, I feel like, are more educational.”

Jamil said forensics is more relaxed than debate.

“It’s a lot more laid back in the sense that you don’t have to do as much work throughout the year,” he said. “It’s still a lot of work when you have to prep your speech and stuff.

In debate, it’s an hour and a half of straight just getting up there and talking over and over again. If you go to quarterfinals or semi-finals, you have to do it again because each round is an hour and a half long.”

Shah said debate is much more time consuming than forensics.

“It’s definitely more of a time commitment,” she said.

“You have evidence you have to file, and you have to think of different arguments and everything; whereas, forensics is more individual, you can pick a piece, go over it in like a week, then be done with it.”

Riffer said he changes his teaching style depending on the class.

“There’s head-to-head competition in debate,” he said.

“You spend a lot more time talking about strategies, and [the class is] centered around the topic you’re debating. For forensics, it’s a lot more individually focused in teaching. I work with various speakers on their individual speeches.”

Riffer said he couldn’t see his life without debate and forensics.

“They’re both so different to me, but I have to teach both of them,” he said. “It’d be like trying to give up one of my kids — I couldn’t do it.”

October 2012

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“Happy Birthday, Mrs. Harris” Well-known building substitute reflects on time spent at Blue Valley, fond memories abbybamburg entertainment editor “Happy birthday, Mrs. Harris.”

This has been a common saying heard around Blue Valley in the past few years.

Building substitute Deborah Harris’ actual birthday is on Jan. 2 — not even a school day.

“The ‘Happy Birthday’ thing got started last year by [2012 graduates] Justin Fulks and Matt Floyd,” Harris said. “Don’t ask me why because I don’t know. They started saying it every time they saw me, and at first, I said, ‘No, no it’s not my birthday,’ and then I just thought later that it was just easier to smile and say, ‘Thank you.’ My line now is ‘Everyday is like a birthday at Blue Valley High School.’”

Harris started as a paraprofessional at BV in 1992. She then started substituting and became a main building substitute in 2000.

“I basically do the administrative work of taking roll and trying to keep the class on task for whatever lesson plans the teacher has left me,” she said. “That’s when I’m doing what they call a short-term or one-day job.”

Harris has also been a long-term substitute.

“That is a little more intense,” Harris said. “Only because you have to prepare your lesson plans, grade papers and try to keep at least a few weeks ahead of the students in terms of what you’re teaching.”

Junior Grant Dickerson wishes Harris a happy birthday every time he sees her.

“I think Mrs. Harris is a pretty intelligent person for being able to sub for pretty much any class on demand,” Dickerson said. “She also cares about all of the students and is very accepting of me wishing her a happy birthday every day.”

Harris said she enjoys the interactions with the students.

“I would describe my relationship with the students as a very fun one,” she said.

Because Harris is often in the building and everyone knows who she is, math teacher Robin Lerner said she thinks the students get a better opportunity to get to know Harris.

“Because [Harris and the students] get to know each other better than other substitutes and students would, that makes it a better relationship,” she said. “She also gets to see more of the relationships of who’s friends with whom than I might necessarily get to see.”

Dickerson gave Harris a valentine on Valentine’s Day. “It was a picture of a Care Bear,” he said. “She taped it to

Facts About

Harris

Substituting for Spanish teacher Tina Martinet, building substitute Deborah Harris lectures a student. Harris became a main building substitute at BV in 2000. “My favorite part about my job is working with the students here,” Harris said. She plans to continue substituting for a while. Photo by Ellie Fehlig.

her lunch box, so ever since then, we have been pretty tight.”

Lerner said Harris always strives to teach the lessons how the teacher would want them to be taught.

“She has subbed for me a couple of times in math, and she always wants to know ‘Am I doing it right?,”’ she said.

“She wants to teach as if she were the teacher. Everyone knows that if she’s there, she is going to do the best job that she can.”

Lerner said she thinks the staff and students have a certain respect for what Harris does.

“Mrs. Harris is there when we need her to be there,” she said. “She always gets done what we need her to get done.”

Lerner said she and Harris have a very interesting relationship.

“One December, we were in line at the holiday luncheon that the staff has, and we were discussing the snow, and I said it reminds me of Iowa,” Lerner said. “[Harris] said, ‘You lived in Iowa?,’ and I said yes. We figured out that we lived in the same area, and I asked her if she knew where Colo., [Iowa] is. She said that her mom used to teach first grade

there. I asked her what her name was and figured out that she was my first grade teacher. It’s just one of those ‘what a small world’ things.”

Since then, Harris’ mom has been down for a couple of visits and met up with Lerner.

Harris said the rest of the staff have also been very friendly.

“One school I was a para for, it was my first week there and I sat down at a table for lunch,” she said. “Some teachers there told me, ‘This is the teacher’s table. You have to sit over there.’ I’ve never had something like that happen at Blue Valley.”

Harris said her most memorable moment at BV was when all of the students came together in 1998 when three girls were killed in a car accident in front of the school.

“The thing that I remember the most was coming in that day, and all of the kids were just lined up throughout the whole halls just hanging on to each other and holding hands,” she said. “It said so much. To me it was a moment of coming together as a school.”

Has sung in the Johnson County Community Choir for 28 years Plays hand bells Enjoys traveling, theater, watching KU Basketball and reading

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Home away from Home

Host family, foreign exchange student form lifelong bonds, learn from each other

maddiejewett features editor

vili said. “I’ve never done any sports in Georgia, and now I come here and have to try and break a board in Taekwondo.”

Senior Ani Mamisashvili, a Morbeck said both Mamisashvili foreign exchange student from and Khopanlert have been great Georgia, said she came to America role models for their three-year-old for a world full of new things. daughter, Kaylee.

“I came [to America] for the “It’s really just been amazing,” new experiences, new culture and she said. “Both Lingling and Ani new friends,” she said. “I love the are incredible people. They are both adventure.” so loving and caring, and they both In order to come to America, provide a great example for Kaylee.”

Mamisashvili entered a contest with Mamisashvili said she has other students hoping to become learned a multitude of things from foreign exchange students and then her host family. became a finalist.

“They have taught me how to find For the contest, Mamisashvili a balance between relaxing and studyhad to write several essays and pass ing,” she said. “Also, I have improved multiple rounds of applications. my English a lot. I have learned so Mamisashvili said, after the apTaking a break from picking pumpkins, Ani Mamisashvili and her host family, the Morbecks, pose for a picture. many different things from the Morplication process was over, her host Mamisashvili is a foreign exchange student from Georgia. “I always say work hard, play hard,” Mamisashvili’s host becks. They are very cheerful, very family chose her. mother Amy Morbeck said. “Work hard all week, play on the weekends and clean in between.” Photo by Megan Ball. kind and very sweet. It’s sad to have Mamisashvili’s host mother Amy to think about leaving later.”

Morbeck said her family got the idea Mamisashvili said, so far, she has gained both friendOnce they had applied, the Morbecks were sent profiles of hosting a foreign exchange student from their family and ships and knowledge from her experience of being a of the students who met their criteria. friends. foreign exchange student.

After the family chose their student, both the Morbecks “We were inspired by our family and friends who had “I have made a lot of friends here,” she said. “I have seen and Mamisashvili were approved by the school. [been host families] in the past,” she said. “They all had the different cultures, and I see both positives and negatives Mamisashvili said she likes BV more than the schools in great experiences with it, and so we wanted to try it out as of both. Here, there is a huge relationship between family Georgia. well.” and friends. The education here is very different.”

“In Georgia, we don’t choose classes,” she said. “We Mamisashvili is not the Morbeck’s first foreign exchange Morbeck said being a host mother is an incredibly don’t rotate from classroom to classroom. To go to universtudent. Lingling Khopanlert lived with the Morbecks last rewarding experience. sity, you write four tests, and that’s all you do. If you have year as a foreign exchange student, and, like Mamisashvili, “I’ve gained a mountain of things,” she said. “I’ve gained good scores, you’ll go to university. The teachers here are attended Blue Valley as a senior. two beautiful daughters that I love with all my heart. When more helpful and pay attention more to each student. ” The Morbecks and Khopanlert still keep in touch via you take in students, they really are your children now, Festivals, horseback riding and Taekwondo are just a Skype and other methods. and I really do love them to pieces. I’ve also learned more few of the activities the Morbecks and Mamisashvili have In order to become a host family to both Mamisashvili than I can even begin to say about cultural differences. I’ve tried. and Khopanlert, the Morbecks applied and went through learned how fortunate we really are — freedom really is Mamisashvili said her favorite activity so far has been background checks. They then wrote essays about their understated in America. From being a host mother, I have horseback riding. family and why they had a passion for becoming a host “We did a 5K [run], and that was very hard,” Mamisash- learned that love has no boundaries.” family.

Georgia quick facts Information gathered from news.bbc.co.uk

Georgia lies where Europe meets Asia.

Georgian and Russian are the main languages.

There are approximately 4.3 million people.

Balancing act

October 2012

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School psychologist aims to work most with students

meghankennedy In college, the majority of people change their major a few times. A lot of college students end up doing something they never even imagined.

However, Blue Valley psychologist Julie Seitter said she knew she wanted to be a psychologist from a young age.

Seitter said she went into college planning to major in psychology. She has a Bachelors Degree and an Educational Specialist Degree in psychology.

“I’m one of those weird people who knew from a very early age that I was going to be a psychologist,” she said. “When I was in sixth grade and we were doing careers, we were supposed to interview two people — I interviewed a psychologist and a psychiatrist. I feel that I really enjoy helping other people, and all my friends brought their problems to me. I was always pretty good at listening and helping others solve problems. It just felt right.”

Seitter has been a psychologist for 29 years, and this is her second year at BV. She worked at BV Northwest for 18 years before coming to BV. “In complete honesty, I love both schools,” she said. “I loved being at Northwest, but I am really glad that I made the change to High. I really like the environment here. It’s a little bit more of a smalltown feel here, and I love that. Even though we are a large school, it doesn’t feel as large to me at Northwest did. I love the staff, and I quickly made friends who I’ll have for the rest of my life.”

REbeL is one of the many extracurricular activities Seitter participates in.

Before senior Oksana Spindler joined REbeL, she said the only interaction she had with Seitter was seeing her in the halls.

“I am one of the leaders of REbeL, so whenever we do activities throughout the school year, I touchbase with her about what’s going on,” she said.

“We keep each other informed. She helps me keep everything organized.”

Seitter said it’s important to balance her schedule and make time to re-energize herself.

“Sometimes it’s a tricky task,” she said. “Sometimes I get too involved and have to stay at school until 6 [p.m.]. When I came to Blue Valley High, I made the decision I would only do a few things. I

Psychologist Julie Seitter writes out a pass for one of her students. Seitter had previously worked at Blue Valley Northwest and has been at Blue Valley for two years. “I love the students [at Blue Valley] and everyone is very welcoming,” she said. Photo by Alex Kontopanos.

am on the district level Diversity Team. I am on the Suicide Prevention Task Force. I do quite a few things, but I enjoy everything I do. I have a pretty good inner radar as to, ‘OK, I need to back off a bit and get some more sleep.’”

Seitter said her biggest priority is working with the students.

“I wear a lot of hats,” she said. “I am in therapeutic situations to help support them, and if need be, I get outside help. I also work a lot with the Special Education department. I do a lot of consultations with parents, teachers, counselors, administrators, outside therapists and outside agencies.”

Spindler said she would describe her relationship with Seitter as easy-going and supportive.

“I know if I have any issues I need to discuss, I can always go talk to her, and that’s really cool,” she said.

Spindler said Seitter has taught her things that help with her everyday relationships.

“When we talk about things in our REbeL meetings, I now apply them to my own life,” she said.

“One of the things we talked about was compli-

ments and how we shouldn’t say so many superficial compliments like, ‘Oh, that shirt looks so cute on you.’ We should be saying compliments that actually mean something, like telling your friends how much you appreciate what they’ve done for you. I’ve found myself doing a lot more of that because of REbeL and knowing Mrs. Seitter.”

Even though Seitter said her job is exhausting, she said it is rewarding.

“At the end of the day I am really, really glad I came to work,” she said. “It is such a great joy to see students grow and learn more about themselves and learn ways to help themselves. It is an amazing thing to watch.”

Seitter said she always tells students to not get too caught up in high school.

“High school only lasts four years,” she said.

“Your whole life is ahead of you, while it seems this is the most important time of your life. In one way, it is because you’re living it right now, but there is so much more out there. You are going to meet so many new people in your lifetime. Learn to find joy in every day.”

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October 2012

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Making the GRADE

Middle school students attend high school math classes, adjust to new environment daniellewilliams Thought your first day of high school was stressful? Imagine starting your day off in a school packed with people you have never met, in classes full of students up to two years older than you. This is the life of certain middle school students, whose only chance at being challenged in a math class is to travel to Blue Valley for first hour.

Maci Virgillito, an eighth grader at Blue Valley Middle School, has been in an advanced level math class since kindergarten.

“I am very motivated, hardworking and responsible,” Virgillito said. “I think this separates me from other students in my grade level.”

Math teacher Richard Gill welcomes middle schoolers into his classroom each morning.

“I have had about fourteen to sixteen middle schoolers in my classes for the past few years,” Gill said.

He said you can tell if a student isn’t being challenged enough in their particular class by how bored they are or how fast they are getting through the material.

Ben Wang, a seventh grader at Prairie Star Middle School, takes Honors Geometry at BV. Wang will have completed the math credits of a junior, by the time he starts high school.

“I skipped sixth grade and seventh grade math,” he said. “I always thought my classes were easy, and I was able to figure things out faster than the rest of the students in the class.”

Gill said the students that come to the high school are above the rest, regarding math ability.

“They’re not always the ones most interested in math, but they always have a strong ability in math,” he said. “There are usually at least one or two that I know are going to become successful engineers and scientists.”

Wang and Virgillito were both approached by Gifted Education teachers or their current math teacher about starting classes in the high school.

“I was nervous and excited all at the same

time,” Virgillito said.

Most of the middle schoolers have math first hour, so they don’t have to take multiple trips to and from their school.

“I wake up at a normal time and take the bus to the high school,” Wang said. “After my math class, I take the bus back to the middle school and go straight to Spanish.”

Gill said he has always been enamored by how well the high school students welcome the middle schoolers.

“The students always seem to integrate well, and the upperclassmen seem to appreciate the intelligence of the middle schoolers,” Gill said.

Freshman Bella Carpenter said she has had her share of classes with students a grade below her.

“I always try to interact with the middle schoolers so they feel more comfortable in the class,” Carpenter said. “Last year [at the middle school], some seventh graders were in my math class, and I asked them to sit with me at lunch so they felt included.”

Wang said he enjoys his Honors Geometry class and feels very comfortable and accepted.

“Everyone is pretty nice, and I don’t find it too hard to fit in,” Wang said. “I’m just a little too short.”

Virgillito and Wang said they both feel somewhat timid about participating in class.

Virgillito said she feels even more pressure than the rest participating in class because she feels like she is being judged by students older than her.

“I am self-conscious about raising my hand because I don’t know a lot of people in my class,” Virgillito said.

Although Wang said he still doesn’t feel challenged enough in an advanced math class, he is glad he has the opportunity to take a class at the high school so early on.

“Taking classes at the high school has helped me learn to interact well with larger groups of people, as well as learn new math concepts,” Wang said.

Boarding the bus, seventh grader Ben Wang prepares to return to Prairie Star Middle School. Wang is currently enrolled in Honors Geometry with math teacher Richard Gill. Photo by Bailey Outlaw.

October 2012

Rappers

on the Rise

colingregory

Macklemore

centerstage

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You’ve all heard of rappers like Lil’ Wayne, Eminem and Kanye West. Those guys certainly have their merit. But, if you’re looking for some rappers off the beaten path, read on. These are some of my favorite artists, and I listen to these guys virtually every day. If you like rap, then you’ll certainly want to give these guys a listen.

You can find most of this music on iTunes, especially Macklemore and Lecrae. The rest can be legally downloaded for free on websites like GoodMusicAllDay.com or ThisSongIsSick.com.

OnCue

This Seattle-hailing emcee, often paired with producer Ryan Lewis, is one of my alltime favorite artists. This is due to the depth of the messages in his music. Whether he’s warning about consumerism in “Wings” or drug and alcohol addiction in “Otherside,” Macklemore makes re-listening necessary to gain the full meanings of his tracks. He recently had his biggest hit with the wonderfully off-the-wall “Thrift Shop,” which had a stint in the top 25 on iTunes.

You can check out his debut album, “The Heist,” which dropped Oct. 9 on iTunes.

OnCue, who also sings the hooks on most of his songs, is one of my favorites because of his unique sound.

At times he can sound like an alternative rock artist, as evidenced by the artists that he samples. Sounds of Modest Mouse, The Red Hot Chili Peppers and Dave Matthews Band are often heard on OnCue’s tracks. Not only is his sound different, but I also like that OnCue raps about more than just drugs, sex and money — those kind of things gets monotonous.

Best Songs: “Feel Tall,” “Crashing Down,” “All the Way,” “Running” and “It Usually Goes”

Mike Stud

Best Songs: “Otherside,” “My Oh My!,” “Make the Money” and “Same Love (featuring Mary Lambert)”

To the outside observer, Mike Stud may seem like just another “frat rapper,” which has been popularized over the last few years by guys like Mac Miller and Asher Roth.

However, Stud, a former pitcher on Duke University’s baseball team, brings something fresh to the table with his clever wordplay, catchy beats and infectious hooks.

One of my favorite songs of his is “You Don’t Know Me” because it has a good tune and funny lyrics.

Stud also proves himself as a gifted storyteller on the mic, evidenced by his best song, “Happy Ending,” which tells a trio of heartbreaking stories.

True versatility is rare these days in rap, yet the talent of Mike Stud makes him a force to be reckoned with.

Logic Logic has three mixtapes out, the best of which being the middle one, “Young Sinatra.”

He has a smoother, jazzy Drake-like style, along with a tremendous flow. He raps about a wide range of topics, making him hard to pin down to one style.

What sticks out the most about Logic is his earnest demeanor. He never talks down to the listener. He shows us that he understands what it’s like to struggle in life. He is the definition of consistency, as his releases rarely disappoint.

Best Songs: “Mind of Logic (featuring Camille Michelle Gray),” “Are You Ready (featuring Phil Ade),” “Just Another Day (In My Mind)” and “Juice”

Lecrae

Best Songs: “You Don’t Know Me (feat. Tarik),” “Happy Ending,” “Back Again (featuring Huey Mack)” and “Bottle It Up (feat. Kinetics)”

XV From Wichita, Kan., XV gets his name from the age he started rapping — fifteen. XV, currently 27, is able to bring a youthful gusto to the mic, as well as an astounding level of maturity.

His song, “T.A.L.K.,” perfectly embodies how rumors spread in high school, and “Pictures On My Wall” tells a story of how idols whom we adore can inspire and motivate us.

XV is noteworthy for his work ethic. He has produced 17 mixtapes since 2006. His first album, titled “The Kid With The Green Backpack,” is expected to come out in early 2013.

Best Songs: “T.A.L.K.” and “The Last Hero (featuring Patrick Stump)”

You might have seen Lecrae recently topping the iTunes hip-hop charts with his most recent album, “Gravity.” His hard beats and rapping style might confuse the listener, as Lecrae is perhaps the best known Christian rapper. Christian rap can often sound preachy, but Lecrae possesses a keen level of awareness on the mic. He is able to encompass the opinions of many, while at the same time imparting to us his own views.

Additionally, the amount of passion and steadfast determination shown by Lecrae is second to none.

Best Songs: “Don’t Waste Your Life (featuring Cam, Dwayne Tryumf),” “Chase That (Ambition),” “Gotta Know (featuring Benjah) ” and “New Reality (featuring Chiuna Hawk)”

Rap Terms

Frat Rap- form of hip-hop that is usually based on the Hook- the catchy, repeated part of a song, usually the chorus Mixtape- a collection of tracks compiled by artists, usually put out before they make it big, available for free Emcee (MC)- a skilled rapper or master of ceremonies Information from urbandictionary.com.

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October 2012

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October 2012 This catchy, upbeat Korean-pop song has taken the U.S. by storm as the newest dance craze. To do the “Gangnam Style” dance, all you have to do is imitate riding an invisible horse. Cross your wrists in front of you and bounce from leg to leg with a lasso motion in the air — now you can “Gangnam Style” like a pro. How is this a popular dance, one may ask?

I have no idea, but it’s still fun to do. I’ve already heard this song played on the radio several times.

I’m sure we’ll be hearing it at all of our upcoming school dances.

“Gangnam Style” by Psy July 2012

Few may know this, but the dance to the song “Jump On It” actually originated from an episode of the Fresh Prince of BelAir. Will and Carlton must raise money to afford their way home, so they enter a dance competition and perform the “Jump On It” routine. During the refrain, you place your hands on your hips and rotate to the beat. Then every time the song says “jump on it,” you do a lasso dance move and spin in a circle. The Fresh Prince characters also stick their hands out to the beat when the song says “Oh” three times in a row at the beginning.

August 1996 “Jump On It”

by Sir-Mix-A-Lot August 1996

Ah, the “Cha Cha Slide” — an oldie-butgoodie. This song takes me all the way back to those Skate City parties and my elementary school years. The words and dance are probably ingrained into our brains by now, after doing it at every single event involving a disc jockey and dancing. It’s so easy to do, and how could you not clap to the beat when Mr. C says, “Freeze! Everybody clap your hands”? However, I could never completely master the “Cha-Cha real smooth” or “Charlie Brown” steps. If you’ve been living under a rock for the past 12 years and don’t know how to do these moves, it’s OK — the words basically describe the steps you’re supposed to do, like “Left foot let’s stomp,” “Slide to the right” or “One hop this time.”

This line dance was originally made as an aerobic workout.

“Cha Cha Slide”

by Mr. C September 2000

Few people can do the “Cat Daddy” moves correctly, but for those who can, don’t be afraid to show them off. For those who can’t, you can still have fun trying. According to Urban Dictionary, the “Cat Daddy” is an addition to the Dougie.

The “Cat Daddy” is performed as if you were sitting in a wheelchair. You cross your arms in front of you and move your hands as if you were pushing an imaginary wheelchair, all while getting lower to the ground — sounds complicated, right? To remember the moves, just think, “Seatbelt, seatbelt, wheelchair.” In a MTV News interview, one of the Rej3ctz members said the dance actually came first, and the song was just created to go along with it. In 2011, hip-hop artist Chris Brown made the dance more popular by performing it in the music video.

“Cat Daddy” by The Rej3ctz February 2011

“Teach Me How to Dougie”

by Cali Swag District April 2010

n lutio evo of dance

annawonderlich business manager & managing editor

Maybe you’re at a pizza dance or Homecoming and that certain song comes on. Everyone instantly knows what song it is and arranges themselves, so they can do the dance moves that go with the song. Every time we have a school dance, it seems like the disc jockey always plays a few songs everyone automatically knows the dance to.

These popular dances are called “fad dances.” For older generations, their fad dances included “YMCA,” “Macarena,” “Electric Slide” and the “Hustle.” Nowadays, these songs are mainly hip-hop or rap songs made popular by a music video, movie or famous person. How many of these fad dances can you do?

The “Wobble” is essentially the new version of the “Cupid Shuffle” or “Cha Cha Slide” line dance because you repeat the same steps each time you turn a new direction. It was released in 2008, but it didn’t top the charts or become a BV crowd favorite until 2011.

You’ll also hear it played at weddings, cruises, etc. The “Wobble” has several variations to the dance steps. I learned the steps we do at BV are somewhat different than the ones people were doing on the cruise I took last spring break. No matter what version you do, the more people that know the steps to this line dance, the more fun it is to do as a group. The steps to the “Wobble” might seem more complicated than other fad dances, but once practiced several times, you’ll catch on quickly.

“The WOP”

by J-Dash December 2010 “The WOP” is definitely one of my favorite fad dances. The song is catchy, the dance is pretty simple — what else could you ask for? During the chorus, all you have to do is swing your arms back and forth in front of you or pretend to toss money out of your hands. At the end of the song, there are more dance moves to go along with the lyrics, like leaning to the side, turning around, wiggling, playing dead and striking a pose, but these moves are up to you.

Do whatever you want to make it your own, but just have fun while you’re doing it.

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I love the song “Teach Me How to Dougie.”

However, I wish someone would actually teach me how to Dougie, because I still don’t completely know how to do it. This song is a spin-off from the jerk dance movement, like the songs “Teach Me How to Jerk” and “You’re a Jerk.” If someone is doing the Dougie correctly, they should be swaying from side-to-side and raising their hand over their head as if they were slicking their hair back.

Then you switch hands and do the same motion to the other side of your head.

the

“Wobble” by V.I.C. July 2008

centerstage

If you didn’t think flexing your arm muscles left and right could be considered a dance move, you’re wrong. “Do the John Wall” is all about showing off your “muscles.” The song was inspired by the point guard for the Washington Wizards team, John Wall, who started the “flexing of the arm” dance at one of his college basketball games. All you have to do is hold up one or both of your arms in a fist and turn in back and forth to the beat, as if you were flexing — it’s as simple as that.

You can even toss in some basketball shooting moves if you want. It’s easy and funny, plus the song is catchy.

“Do the John Wall”

by Troop 41 May 2010 If someone told me that leaning your shoulders back and flopping your arms around would become a popular dance move, I would probably laugh in their face. Little did I know, “Moving Like Bernie” made this crazy movement popular. To successfully Bernie, you just have to lean as far backwards as physically possible and swing your arms and shoulders around as crazily as you can. Whoever can impersonate a dead person the best is doing it right. The dance was inspired by the 1980s movie Weekend at Bernie’s. I have a feeling we’ll probably look back in a few years and realize how ridiculous we looked while Bernie-ing, but at least we have fun doing it now.

“Moving Like Bernie”

by ISA November 2010

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October 2012

Switching Styles

New volleyball coach brings experience, eases transition

Laying down the law, volleyball coach Dave Johnson coaches player senior Anna Burton. Johnson has been coaching for eight years.

“I’ve been around for a while, so I’ve known most of these kids for years,” Johnson said. Photo by Ellie Fehlig.

Volleyball coach Dave Johnson talks to his players during a team huddle. Johnson took over for former volleyball coach Jessica Palmer this year. “I feel like there’s a mutual respect between me and my players,” Johnson said. Photo by Ellie Fehlig.

daniellewilliams In March of last year, an overwhelming flood of emotion surfaced inside all the members of the Blue Valley volleyball team. They were informed their beloved head coach Jessica Palmer had announced her resignation.

“When I realized Palmer was leaving, I was initially shocked,” senior Lexi Kuharich said. “When she called me, it was out of nowhere. I was sad because I loved Palmer as a coach and a teacher.”

Sophomore Mary Hastert was confident she knew who would be replacing Palmer.

“I believed that our assistant coach [Dave Johnson] would get the job,” she said. “I knew he had the trust of the players and the trust of the parents.”

Hastert was correct.

Johnson was chosen to be the head volleyball coach.

He had spent many years with the program and had more than enough volleyball experience.

“I played college volleyball in Wichita, Kan. at Newman University,” Johnson said. “ I was the captain of my team for three years.”

He played in the National Championship game his se-

nior year, but lost. He also played professionally in the sand for a couple of years.

Johnson was also recently admitted into the Hall of Fame at Newman University.

He received his first coaching opportunity in 2005 at BV. “I had just gotten done playing college volleyball, and I wanted to coach,” Johnson said. “A friend of mine, Mr. [Keil] Pittman, who was the head volleyball coach at the time, gave me my first coaching job.”

Johnson started coaching the sophomore team and later became the varsity assistant coach.

Hastert said she was glad Johnson was the new coach because she knew he could really contribute to the program.

“I was excited because I didn’t have to start over with someone new,” Hastert said. “I knew he was going to make it a difficult season so we could improve.”

Kuharich said she finds Johnson and Palmer’s coaching techniques similar in the sense that they are both intense coaches.

“They want to win just as much as we do,” she said.

“They both know what we are capable of and want to see that transferred onto the court.”

Johnson said the team this year plays a “Dave Johnson” style of volleyball. He teaches them to play with an aggres-

Coaching player senior Jarin Braithwait, volleyball coach Dave Johnson teaches volleyball techniques. He said he is more directly involved in coaching this year. “There’s a lot more responsibility, and it’s a lot more work,” Johnson said. Photo by Ellie Fehlig.

sive technique.

“I teach them to play like boys,” he said. “I hold kids accountable.”

Kuharich said Johnson knows what he’s doing and has benefited the program.

“He knows how to help out each position and knows what we need to succeed,” she said.

Kuharich credits Johnson for a lot of her success last year in volleyball. She said he gave her faith to become a better player.

“Last year I went from sophomore team to varsity, which was a big jump,” she said. “He helped me everyday and trained me with my footwork and everything. He has invested a lot of time into our team in helping everyone get better.”

Hastert said she has high hopes and expectations for this years team.

“I expect us to do better than we have in the past,” she said. “I feel like as the years go on, we get better and better, and this is the year we could go all the way to State.”

Johnson said he hopes to teach his players many important lessons by the end of the season.

“I hope to teach them to never stop hustling,” he said. “If you work hard in practice, it will show in the games.”

October 2012

Founded by Dan McNeese in the fall of 2009, the Mustangs Lacrosse Club offers an opportunity for students from Blue Valley and Blue Valley North to play lacrosse on the same team.

Before coaching the team, McNeese was an All-State midfielder in high school and played college lacrosse at Division III Washington College (Md.). In college, he was able to play in the NCAA Division III playoffs and the National Championship game.

Sophomore Luke Slagle, who plays for the Mustangs Lacrosse Club, has played lacrosse since he was young. He said he started playing lacrosse as a way to pass the time between football seasons and has played for a few teams.

“I played for a Johnson County team until sixth grade and then a team called the Blue Valley Spartans up until eighth grade,” he said. “Then played for Blue Valley North last year.”

While the Mustang Lacrosse Club has players from both BV and BVN, Slagle said the team has no trouble bonding.

“They tease us a bit, but they don’t actually hate us,” Slagle said.

McNeese said school rivalries are disregarded when the two schools come together.

“Once somebody becomes a member of the Mustang Lacrosse Club, you are embraced as a member of the team,” he said. “Rivalries between the two schools are tossed out the window.”

The Mustang Lacrosse Club is not the only lacrosse team in the district. There is also the Jaguar Lacrosse Club, which is made up of students from BV Southwest, BV West and BV Northwest.

The two teams from the district compete in the Lacrosse Association of Kansas City (LAKC). The league also consists of teams from Saint Thomas Aquinas, Olathe South, Olathe East, Shawnee Mission South, Shawnee Mission East, Leavenworth, Mill Valley, Rockhurst, Pembroke Hill, Lees Summit, Lees Summit West, Lees Summit North and Park Hill.

McNeese said the team is required to play each league team once, but is allowed to play teams outside the league as well. They have played teams from Nebraska, Iowa, Mis-

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TIGER

District lacrosse team overcomes mitchsundquist

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souri, Oklahoma and Arkansas.

The lacrosse season starts at the beginning of March and runs through the rest of spring. The team practices every night, except on game days. McNeese said lacrosse is a physically demanding sport, and he tries to center their practices around that.

“We do drills that not only mimic game situations, improve skills, and increase a players’ lacrosse I.Q., but also conditions the players,” McNeese said. “We try to cover all facets of the game in each practice if time permits.”

The playoffs include the top eight teams from the LAKC. The semi-finals and finals are played at Livestrong Sporting Park, and the JV tournament is played one week after the varsity tournament.

During the off-season, the team has conditioning beginning the week after students return from winter break.

McNeese said players are also encouraged to attend various activities around Kansas City.

“There are several camps, summer and fall ball leagues and coaching clinics in the KC Metro area,” McNeese said.

“If a person wants to learn how to play lacrosse, Kansas City is filled with opportunities.”

Although lacrosse is not a popular sport in the U.S., Slagle said he believes it is gaining popularity.

“It’s growing as a sport because it’s getting more exposure on television,” Slagle said.

Sophomore Jack Carrigan also plays for the Mustang Lacrosse Club. He said he believes Blue Valley should get a lacrosse team because of the players’ passion towards the sport.

“We have more love for the game because we practice and play in rain or shine without large crowds,” Carrigan said. “We still push ourselves harder than we think we can go.”

McNeese said he would also like to see the interest in lacrosse at BV increase so they can have their own team.

“The hope is that one day there are enough lacrosse players at Blue Valley High that they can have their own team and help to continue growing the sport,” he said.

McNeese said the teams goals for each season are very simple.

“Work hard every day, improve every day, honor the game and your teammates, make the season ending playoffs, and enjoy being a team and playing lacrosse,” he said.

If you’re interested in joining the Mustang Lacrosse Club, check out www.mustanglacrosse.org

info The Chiefs face off againt the Raiders at 4:05 p.m. Oct. 28 at Arrowhead Stadium

Winter sports practices begin Nov. 12

The World Series begins Oct. 24 and ends Nov. 1

Tomorrow, Sporting Kansas City competes at 7 p.m. against The New York Red Bulls at Red Bull Stadium

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BV SPORTS

sports in brief FOOTBALL

Previous Action: 10/4 v STA (29-28 W) 10/12 v BVSW (28-21) Upcoming Action: 10/19 v Pittsburg High School Record: (4-3)

VOLLEYBALL

Previous Action: 10/11 @ Lansing (W) 10/11 @ SMW (W) 10/11 @ SMNW (W) Upcoming Action: 10/20 Substate @ SMNW Record: (25-11)

BOYS SOCCER

Previous Action: 10/16 v BVN 10/18 v BVSW Upcoming Action: Regionals Record: (3-10-1)

CROSS COUNTRY

Previous Action: 10/11 EKL Upcoming Action: 10/20 Regionals @ Shawnee Mission Park 10/27 State @ Rim Rock Farm

GIRLS TENNIS

Previous Action: 10/13 State (6th) Record: (8-2)

GIRLS GOLF

Previous Action: 10/15 State

Results current as of Oct. 14

24

incolor

October 2012

Performing with

Purpose

Student performers participate in first annual Talent Show, raise funds for United Way Charity Photos by Bailey Outlaw.

Seniors David Cline (right) and Grayson Yockey (left) rehearse their comedic monologue in the PAC. Talent show participants met on Wed, Oct. 10 before the show to practice with technical support and did two more run-throughs the morning of Oct. 13 before the show at 7 p.m.

(Above) Working as Masters of Ceremonies, Senior Grayson Yockey and freshmen Gennifer Geer and Marie Hornung practice their opening act for the show. “When the seniors leave next year, the freshmen will have the experience to help out with the next show,” show organizer senior Anna Zheng said. “It was a good way to get freshman involved.”

Sophomore Nate Hardy plays his banjo at rehearsal on Wednesday. Students who auditioned for the show were allowed to perform whatever act they wanted to, as long as it was school-appropriate. “I like playing the banjo,” Hardy said.

“I started because of the Andy Griffith Show.”

(Left) Senior Jeni Allison practices working with a spotlight during rehearsal. While most lights are controlled by a sound booth in the PAC, two students sat in a catwalk above the audience seats to manually control spotlights. “It was really cool because you could see the whole show,” Allison said. “It was also stressful because you didn’t want to mess up.”