The Tiger Print — October 2008 by The Tiger Print

the

print TIGER

B LU E VA L L E Y H I G H S C H O O L

Vol. 39 Issue 3

October 2008

A game in the life... He runs the routes. She cheers on the sideline. He screams in the stands. He marches in the band. (pages 20-21)

Building the future (pg. 3)

Election Dissection

Spreading it out (pg. 23)

Engineering program offers new classes

(pgs. 12-13)

Football team converts to spread offense

A closer look at key issues

Stilwell, Kan.

inthenews

Hot topics from Blue Valley...

Drill team changes directors mid-season

1. Marching band takes top honors at 2 festivals The Stridin’ Tigers placed first in their class and third overall at the Lee’s Summit North Marching Festival last Saturday. The band also won best woodwind section in their class and junior Garrett Moylan’s snare drum solo also placed first in the class. At the Heart of America Marching Invitational at the University of Kansas on Oct. 4, the band again received first in their class. The band did not compete in finals due to the Homecoming dance. The band performs tonight in St. Louis at the Bands of America Super Regionals. They will finish their competitive season Oct. 25 at the Neewollah Festival in Independence, Kan. By Emily Strickland.

2. Bollywood Club founded to celebrate India The Bollywood Club held its inaugural meeting Oct. 9. “We watch Indian movies and pig out on Indian food,” sophomore member Ria Halder said. The members want to enhance knowledge about Indian movies and culture. The club members will vote at the beginning of each month to decide which movie they will watch. The movies are centered on Indian customs and culture. “They have completely different themes and concepts,” Halder said. “India’s just a completely different culture.” By Ryan O’Toole.

3. Theater department prepares for fall play The BVHS Theater Department will present the fall play Dead Man Walking on Nov. 13-15. The performances begin at 7:30 p.m. every night and cost $7 at the door. This play explores both sides of the death penalty issue. The show follows Matt Poncelet, a convict on death row. Helen Prejean, a nun, serves as Matt’s conscience and tries to save his soul. Poncelet is played by senior Brice Barnard, and Prejean is played by senior Samantha Steinmetz. This play comes from The Dead Man Walking Theatre Company, which is a charitable organization of the Sisters of St. Joseph in New Orleans. All the profits of the show will go to this organization. By Rachel McCullough.

4. Robotics Club works towards competition Members of the Robotics club are using their innovative ingenuity to develop a robot that will be used at a competition to assemble and hang a small plastic foam airplane. The Boosting Engineering, Science and Technology Competition will be Nov. 1 at Wichita State University. Members said this year’s success thus far can be attributed to the increased expectations to perform well come competition time. “I expect to win at the end of the competition and members to stay on task,” junior Jackson Cwach said. Members of the club are confident they can finish the robot before the competition deadline given the progress they are making. “I feel the progress is going along well and we’re staying on task,” Cwach said. By Nathan Lindshield.

Senior drill team captain Jordan Hinmon salutes during the national anthem. The drill team recently hired a new director after the former director resigned, citing disagreements with the administration. Photo by Tom Roudebush.

kyrastorm copy editor Former drill team director Sandie Rosenblatt resigned last month. The open position has been filled by Tess PattisonWade, a teacher at Le Dance Studio. Rosenblatt declined comment on the specifics of her resignation. While the leadership changes in the middle of the season could

affect the drill team and the marching band, band director Avian Bear is enthusiastic about welcoming a new director. “We’re really excited to have her come to Blue Valley,” Bear said. “She has a lot of goals for the team and we believe she’ll increase the size and do some great things.” The team made a good first impression on Pattison-Wade and she’s ready to continue their

transition from drill to dance team. While they’ve been focusing on their flag routine that’s performed in the marching show, they will soon begin their dance season. The drill team will be having auditions Nov. 10-14, where they hope to expand the team from its current size of eight members before rehearsals begin for the dance season.

5. Disruption from smoke alarms resolved The fire alarms at Blue Valley have been going off repeatedly during class, affecting many teachers and students’ class time and work. During the summer, the alarms sounded several times, and they started again on Sept. 15. “I’m sure it’s a disruption,” Principal Scott Bacon said. Bacon also said that all the smoke detectors were cleaned, while one was missed. The one that was missed was triggering due to dust accumulations. He said workers cleaned the alarm after it was found and that the construction was the cause of the dust. Bacon emphasizes that any future fire alarms should be taken seriously. By Brock Humphrey.

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New program provides intensive study in math, science careers andrewfiori staff writer

“Picture this: a center for students who know what they want to do in life and want to further increase their skills in that specific subject. Now most say that this is a college, but at this level, it’s known as CAPS.” That’s how engineering teacher Scott Kreshel feels about CAPS (The Center for Advanced Professional Studies). Headed by Project Lead the Way, CAPS is a new program for students who aspire to succeed in the areas of bioscience, business, engineering and human services. Blue Valley High is offering two CAPS classes this year, Introduction to Engineering Design and Principles of Engineering. Next year, the classes will move to Black and Veatch’s offices before moving permanently to the Blue Valley CAPS Center.

The center is scheduled to be built behind Blue Valley Academy in the fall of 2010. The classes are designed so that students can explore deeper into their interest area. They are taught with examples of real-world situations and by explaining the skills that are necessary to succeed in the business world. Students in the program will be paired with scientists or business partners working on the same project at the CAPS Center. “Students should be expected to spend at least half of their day at the CAPS Center,” Kreshel said. “Classes can be up to two and a half hours long, which would take up at least half a day of regular school.” Due to the amount of time CAPS courses require, the classes there will be limited to juniors and seniors. Along with Kreshel, math teacher Anna Toneva is also par-

ticipating in the CAPS project. Toneva is excited that this program gives her a chance to work with students interested in these career fields. “Students can have a lucrative career in the fields of mathematics and science, achieving personal success and applying their skills and talents where they find the most inspiration,” she said. “When I found out about this opportunity, I decided to be the first in helping with this program.” With help from Donna Deeds, CAPS Executive Director, school officials began research for the development of CAPS about three years ago. Deeds said she feels CAPS makes school real and relevant for students interested in math, science and engineering. “Innovation is what will grow our economy and ensure that every family prospers in an increasingly competitive global market,” Deeds said. “Our students must

Junior Darcy Adelmund works on a project during Anna Toneva’s engineering class. The class is part of the CAPS program that allows students to participate in a four-year study of a specific career. Photo by Amanda Blue.

acquire 21st century skills to be successful in the ‘Innovation Generation.’ Students will learn

the professional skills necessary to succeed in today’s fast-paced world.”

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the

TIGERprint

B LU E VA L L E Y H I G H S C H O O L

editor-in-chief mitch smith managing editor emily strickland in-depth editor stephanie roche news editor nathan lindshield opinion editor allison kohn sports editor aj barbosa photo editor amanda blue entertainment editor tori freisner features editor katie louis online editor matt may copy editor kyra storm staff writers kimberly dacus andrew fiori caitlin holland brock humphrey rachel mccullough ryan o’toole steven reno shannon valverde photographers conner combes tom roudebush advertising manager noopur goel circulation manager tyler duke contributing cartoonist robert kelly adviser jill chittum

The Tiger Print is published nine times a year for the students, faculty and the surrounding community of Blue Valley High School. It is an open forum for student expression. Therefore, the opinions expressed within this newspaper do not necessarily reflect the views of the administration of Blue Valley Unified School District #229. Letters to the editor and reader responses are encouraged. Letters must be signed in order to be considered 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, e-mailed to thetigerprint@yahoo.com or mailed to: The Tiger Print c/o Blue Valley High School 6001 W. 159th St. Stilwell, KS 66085 email: thetigerprint@yahoo.com 913-239-4800 The Tiger Print also encourages guest photography. Photos should be submitted to room 450 with information pertaining to the photo. Front cover: (from left) Seniors Tanner Purdon and Abby Williams, junior Connor Janes and senior Danny Wood stand on the 50-yard line after the Tigers defeated St. Thomas Aquinas 31-7. Photo illustration by Tom Roudebush.

Illustration by Robert Kelly.

Political apathy runs rampant through high school halls

staff

editorial

Whether it’s Democrat Barack Obama or Republican John McCain who has a moving van on Pennsylvania Avenue this January, it’s certain that the result of this election will have a profound impact on the nation we inherit. What’s shocking, though, is the political apathy that seems to run rampant through the halls of Blue Valley. In such a trying time for this nation and in an election that will have a significant impact on our generation, many high school students don’t know a caucus from a cactus and the Electoral College from a community college. To not at least know the basics of presidential politics is a disservice to

both your country and yourself. Whether you’re old enough to vote, a Republican or a Democrat or even know the difference, you have a vested interest in this election. Let’s face it: America has its share of problems right now. It costs an arm and a leg to fill a gas tank and we’re in the worst economic recession since the Great Depression. Throw that in with two wars in the Middle East and a mounting national debt, and you’ve got one big mess. No one is saying that you need to listen to NPR, join the Young (Insert Party Name Here) Club and scour the political section of the New York Times every morning. That being said, we all do need to take the initiative to become informed citizens. Like it or not, we’ll be adults in just a few short months or years. With that milestone comes our civic duty to become informed citizens and

conscientious voters. However, in more relevant terms, adulthood means that the winner of this election will be levying our taxes, commanding our military and signing our laws when we turn 18. This next president will be largely responsible for determining whether or not our economy returns to vitality or continues to slide deeper into recession. He will help determine whether or not we continue fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. And his policies will help decide whether or not we find alternatives to imported gasoline and whether or not a military draft is instated. The harsh reality is that our future is riding on this next election and, whether you’ll be old enough to cast a ballot next month or not, you owe it to yourself and to your country to become informed about politics.

raise

your voice What do you do to stay up to date on political news?

freshman Hank Kellerman

senior Ashleigh King

“I watch the debates and I’m in the America Decides class.”

“My AP Government class helps a lot and I watch Fox News.”

teacher Manal Siam

sophomore Nik Franklin

“I watch the national news and I talk politics with my friends.”

“I listen to Mr. Riffer and watch the debates.”

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The Edge myvoice

veryone has one life-changing moment. Some people miss it and never know that it even knocked on their door. Some capture that moment and relive it over and over again. Others might hide and run from it forever. The plane ride over to Vancouver, Canada, was long, boring and empty. It was about midnight when the plane crossed the border. It was spring break 2006 and the location was the Whistler/Blackcomb Mountain Resort. Day three of the trip: the peak of the mountain was cold and windy. The snow seemed to blow past you as though there were icy needles stabbing you in the face millions of times. The hike was difficult and the adventure lay beyond the clear-cut trails. The path was narrow and the edge of the path was just two feet away from where I had been walking. All of a sudden, I lost my footing on the edge and the soft snow broke from under me. Everything in my possession, skis and all, went flying down the mountain into a 15-foot crevasse. No one in my group heard the fall

tylerduke

Photo submitted by Tyler Duke.

Skiing parallels importance of taking risks, pulling through sticky situations because it was so windy. I had no choice. I climbed down the mountain a ways, grabbed my skis and started digging a flat ledge into the side of the cliff, just so I could get my skis back on. There was no wind in the area and I saw a good path I could ski down. I made three turns, looked ahead and all I saw was a 25-foot drop into powder snow. I jumped…and time froze. It felt like I was weightless for five minutes, even though it was really only a few seconds. It was the most amazing experience I have ever had. The feeling of peace and serenity is something I can’t explain. I hit the powder like a cannonball and snow flew everywhere. It was the closest thing to jumping into a cloud that I could imagine. Looking back, this trip represented the things in life that everyone must face. Sometimes life can be still and boring and you feel that a day can feel like years…sitting on the airplane. Your heart pumps harder and harder when things are a little shaky in life: you feel as if you’re walking

on a narrow edge. You feel that one slight move could send you tumbling downwards after you’ve worked so hard to get up. You make a wrong move and everything spirals downward uncontrollably and you don’t know which way is up. Finally, everything slows down and you sit and think, “What just happened?” You know that, no matter what, you have to get back up again and keep going or face being stuck, cold and alone. You have to dig your way out or put yourself into a situation you can handle. Soon you lose all fear and let go. Then you are free as a bird: nothing in the world can harm you now. You have gone over the edge but flew gracefully like a bird and made a giant splash into the world and you are ready to start again. Life is about balances, having the strength to hold on and the ability to pull through in sticky situations. “The edge...there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who really know where it is are the ones who have gone over,” Hunter S. Thompson.

Pint-sized beauty queens forced to grow up too quickly About a year ago I was in Atlanta, and while I was waiting in the hotel nathanlindshield lobby, I noticed a mother dragging a screaming, crying child. At first I thought this was just another ordinary kid getting on their parents’ nerves. Until I noticed that this particular child was sporting unique attire. She was wearing a white dress covered in a glitter-like substance while wearing a hairpiece half the size of her body. A few minutes later a caravan of girls dressed in similar clothing came strutting through the hotel with their mothers. I realized there was a beauty pageant nearby. It’s ironic how 5-year-old girls who probably don’t even know the alphabet or how to tie their shoes were being paraded around like a bunch of divas.

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Unfortunately, young girls in today’s society are growing up with the mindset that they must have the perfect Barbie doll body in order to be accepted by friends and society. Some parents have even gone as far as transforming their daughters into miniature beauty pageant queens. I have several problems with the idea of young girls being pressured into competitively modeling themselves before the public. The majority of these girls are between the ages of five and 10. This is a problem in itself. At this age, children should be learning how to read and enjoy all that childhood has to offer. Instead, some young girls are finding it hard to enjoy childhood when they are being pressured into modeling at an alarmingly young age. If these young girls were older and aware of the fact that life is about more than modeling, I would not have a problem. This is not the case, as these girls are being trained to think that modeling their bodies is the only thing that matters

in life. These little girls are learning nothing more than how to walk to please the judges and showing that smile under a pound of make-up. Children should enjoy the time they have as children instead of being consumed with the superficial glitz and glam of beauty. When a child is consumed with so much of one thing at an early age, that child will grow up idealizing that one thing. Young girls who are competing in these beauty pageants are being brainwashed to think that being beautiful is the only thing that matters, when in reality there is a lot more to living a successful life than attaining beauty. The ages that these girls are modeling at has several dangerous implications not only from an emotional standpoint, but also a safety standpoint. Around every corner there is always a creeper looking to prey on a small, helpless child. The 1996 murder of JonBenet Ramsey

was one of the more prominent murder cases to shock the American public. Ramsey was a model and beauty pageant participant who was found dead in the basement of her home. To this day, police still do not know who committed the murder. Children are all too often the most vulnerable to be kidnapped and be victimized in crimes like this. The danger level for a child increases when he or she is constantly in the public eye like Ramsey and many other beauty pageant queens. The parents of these beauty pageant queens must realize the danger their children face when they model before the public and act on it. The best way for a child to stay safe and healthy is to place that child in an environment where he or she feels comfortable while that child can develop the necessary social and cognitive skills to make it in a real-world environment. Modeling as a beauty pageant queen simply is not the answer.

outloud

The

Reluctant

Nominee

Step 1: The assembly

Homecoming week educates proud non dance-goer I made a commitment freshman year that I wouldn’t go to a school dance. Never. Ever. No matter what. Somehow, blowing $1,000 on fancy clothes and gourmet dinners to elect kings and princes for some shindig in the editor-in-chief • Mitch Smith school gym just didn’t sound like a great time. And, through three years of high school, I was pretty close to keeping my word. Homecomings, Sweethearts, pizza dances, a S.W.I.T.C.H dance and a prom had all passed and I had managed to escape unscathed. Homecoming this year was not to be an exception. In fact, I had already made plans to watch my Nebraska Cornhuskers take on the Missouri Tigers that night. Then I got the news that derailed my plans and sent me into a state of panic: I had been elected to the Homecoming court. The events that followed were both overwhelming and confusing but, in the end, totally worth it.

MITCH’s pitches

Who said uncomfortable clothes are cheap? Not exactly being a connoisseur of formal wear, I figured I would go to the store and buy my swanky attire without much fanfare. I thought that it might cost $250 or so for my three required outfits, but nothing too outlandish. Wrong. After being poked and prodded by an old salesmen for about an hour, I learned that the fancy brands with French names I was choosing between were all a little out of my expected price range.

“Next time, you better bring candy.” After an uneventful assembly, the good ole parade gave me another opportunity to sport a new outfit. In my time as an elementary schooler sitting along the shady curb outside Stanley, this event was a bright spot in my day. In more recent years, though, the parade came to represent marching in time for a mile while holding up my band instrument until my arms were about ready to disconnect from my torso. So, naturally, I figured sitting in the back of a ritzy sports car for 30 minutes would be a welcome reprieve from plodding along to a drum cadence. Wrong again. I would soon learn that riding in the back of a Ford Mustang convertible was much more complicated than one might expect. I quickly discovered that royalty without candy to toss little kids were scum in the eyes of Stanley Elementary parade-goers.

Being seven years removed from begging for treats myself as the parade went by, it didn’t occur to me to buy a giant bag of goodies at Wal-Mart that morning. Big mistake. Instead of being greeted with cheers and waves from the elementary crowd, I was booed, screamed at and even saw tears run down toddlers’ faces as my car went by with no Twix or Snickers flying out. As one rambunctious kindergartener so eloquently put it, “Next time, you better bring candy.” Upon surviving the wrath of the third graders, I was ready for Homecoming week’s grand finale: the dance.

Photo by Amanda Blue.

Ain’t no holla back girl? I was told that I had to be at school by 9:15 that evening for the king crowning. Normally, that wouldn’t be a problem. Normally, though, you aren’t served your dinner at 103rd and Metcalf at 8:40. So, upon shoving some delicious lobster ravioli (at least I think that’s what it was, I didn’t really have time to make sure) quickly down my throat, I hurried off towards the high school, hoping not to miss the crowning ceremony. Luckily, the traffic light god was watching over me that evening and I rarely saw red all the way down Metcalf. And, at 9:15 on the dot, I rolled into the parking lot. Another catastrophe averted. Now that the crowning was complete (No, I didn’t win, in case you wondered) I was about to embark on the real adventure. After passing the fountain of Cherry 7-Up and a giant paper maché camel (both which beg the question, “Why?”), I entered the raging inferno known as the gym. And, because the gym wasn’t hot enough, some genius thought that it would be a good idea to pitch a giant gazebo in the middle to trap everyone’s body heat in close quarters. No one, however, thought to bring a fan. Again, not being a dance regular, I expected the music to be, well, formal and classical. Boy was I wrong. My first song had something to do with “Holler back girls” (still no clue what that means) and the next three all dealt with “getting low,” “getting down” or “cha-chaing” (again, still no clue what a “cha-cha” is). And, being 6’4”, “getting low” was a bit of a challenge. Soon enough, though, the getting low and hollering back ended and everyone headed home.

Step 2: The parade

Photo by Conner Combes.

Step 3: The crowning

All’s well that ends well Looking back, I don’t regret not going to dances when I was younger. But I also don’t regret being nominated. And, although the fancy clothes, evil elementary schoolers and disturbing dance songs might have pushed me a bit outside of my comfort zone, I’m truly happy I was nominated and was able to experience just what Homecoming was all about. Just don’t expect to see me at Sweetheart.

Photo by Matt May.

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Alternative Medicine

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Junior pursues career in acupuncture after technique treats his own ailment

emilystrickland managing editor

Pressure points, needles and herbs are not the things associated with typical after-school jobs. However, for junior Andrew Lenz, it’s the norm. Lenz works for Boulevard Yoga and Healing, an acupuncture clinic downtown. “Some people at school don’t even know what acupuncture is,” Lenz said. Acupuncture is the technique of inserting thin needles into specific points on the body with the aim of relieving pain and for therapeutic purposes. According to traditional Chinese acupuncture theory, acupuncture points lie along meridians along which chi, or vital energy, flows. Lenz began attending acupuncture sessions when he was in seventh grade because of chronic leg pain. He discovered he suffers from reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD). The nerves in the legs of RSD sufferers misfire and tell the brain that the legs are in pain, even when they aren’t. Lenz’s doctor suggested acupuncture to keep him from experiencing intense pain and to help wean him off his medicine. “I didn’t think it would work and that it sounded kind of crazy,” Lenz said. “My leg hurt so much I was willing to try anything.” Lenz’s parents were also apprehensive about starting acupuncture for RSD. “I knew nothing about it,” Andrew’s mother, Deanna Lenz, said. “Plus, insurance doesn’t generally cover it, so it was a big out-of-pocket expense.”

After attending a few sessions, Andrew and his family realized the benefit of the treatments. “Once Andrew began acupuncture, I was amazed at how much it helped,” Deanna Lenz said. “It was truly the turning point in his condition. His acupuncturist, Chris Powell, is wonderful at explaining how and why it works.” Andrew’s interest in acupuncture led to an Honors Biology project his freshman year. “I just became really interested after a while,” he said. “It wasn’t like anything I had ever done before.” The following summer, he got a job working for his acupuncturist. “Once a week I mix herbs together for my doctor to make tea,” Andrew said. “Cancer patients drink it to help with the pain.” Andrew enjoys acupuncture so much that he plans on studying it in college in order to make it a career. He must first major in pre-medicine at a four-year university and then attend a college of Chinese medicine for three or four years. “That shouldn’t be too hard because after that I can start my own practice,” Andrew said. “They have quite a bit of those colleges, too. There are ones in Denver, Chicago, Houston and Seattle.” Andrew’s parents were hesitant about his decision to become an acupuncturist. “At first I thought Andrew was crazy to consider becoming a doctor,” Deanna Lenz said. “Eight years of college and he still wouldn’t even be a doctor. However, my husband and I have since talked to several

Junior Andrew Lenz mixes herbs for cancer patients at his acupuncturist’s office downtown once a week. Lenz became interested in acupuncture more than a year ago when he underwent the procedure for his own ailment. Photo submitted by Deanna Lenz.

doctors and other medical professionals and found it to be quite accepted in Western medicine today. Then I figured, it’s been around for thousands of years. There must be some merit to it.” Andrew is particularly interested in helping children. For a second job, he mentors a boy with autism four days a week after school. “I think he would be a great acupunturist,” Deanna Lenz said. “The thought of a bunch of needles can be very scary to

a child, but Andrew is very patient with kids and can get down to their level and explain things. For some reason, all the little kids love him.” Andrew said the only bad thing about acupuncture is missing the pressure points. “Some pressure points, like the balls of the feet and the ankles, are harder to hit correctly so it hurts,” he said. Andrew attends monthly acupuncture sessions to keep his RSD in remission.

Online notes act as alternative for students unwilling to read assigned novels

An anonymous student demonstrates an alternative for reading an assigned novel. Some students choose to read Spark Notes instead of the book. Photo illustration by Amanda Blue.

brockhumphrey staff writer

What began as Cliffs Notes in handy yellow study guide books has evolved on the World Wide Web for students to easily access. Now they can find what they need for free on the internet with sites such as SparkNotes.com, CliffsNotes.com and many others. “Spark Notes is a good tool if people use it correctly, but not many do,” communication arts teacher Laura Kelley said. Spark Notes is a free in-depth commentary and analysis of many different novels, poems, historical events and much more. All someone has to do to use it is look up the book they’re assigned to see study guides, chapter summaries and character analyses. “Spark Notes is the same thing as watching a baseball game compared to someone telling you

about the game,” social studies and former communication arts teacher Tim Cunningham said. “You don’t get the full experience when someone tells you about it.” Since Spark Notes launched in September 1999, it has grown into a well-known website for students to use in place of reading and finishing an assignment. “Spark Notes benefits in the short term but does not help you get an education,” Cunningham said. Spark Notes can be used as a supplement for a book; however, Cunningham and Kelley believe most use it as a replacement. Cunningham thinks reading is less emphasized in our age and Kelley agrees, predicting about 95 percent use or have used Spark Notes. She refers to Spark Notes as “the devil.” Kelley said she reads Spark Notes first so she knows what not to put on her tests or what questions not to ask on assignments.

Despite the limitless amounts of summaries and analyses on Spark Notes, she finds ways to create tests where using them wouldn’t give students an advantage. In many cases, she uses opinion or inference questions. Most teachers like Cunningham and Kelley don’t want students to use Spark Notes instead of the book. But when it comes to students, some have different opinions. “People use Spark Notes most over the summer and near holidays,” sophomore Jackson Rowe said. “They want to just get out there and be with their friends and do things that are actually fun.” Rowe also said that some teachers are suspicious of students using Spark Notes to get through a book, but that they are usually not looking for it. Not wanting to read long books is the main reason why Rowe and other students use the online notes. “I’ve always used it and [my teachers] never yell at me,” senior Michael Mackey said.

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ARABIAN

NIGHTS

1 Homecoming week provides outlet for school spirit, break from norm

1. Seniors Austin Wright and Shane Burton show off their dancing skills at the annual Homecoming dance on Oct. 4. The theme for this year’s dance was Arabian Nights. 2. Juniors Anthony Abenoja and Evan Palmer get their groove on during the dance. 3. At the bonfire on Oct. 2, seniors Sam Lutz and Travis Hyde prepare to burn the Bishop Miege Stag. Members of the National Art Honor Society created the effigy out of papier maché. 4. Building sub Pollard Caldwell gives history teacher Andy Unrein bunny ears after being crowned “Mr. Legs” at the assembly on Oct. 2. Using spare change, students voted during the week prior to the assembly. Unrein was awarded runner-up in the contest sponsored by the Future Educators of America. Photos by Amanda Blue, Conner Combes, Matt May and Tom Roudebush.

Class Color

80’s Workout

Kindergarten

Fall Sports

Black & Gold

Junior Grant Meyer.

Seniors Tess England and Tori Litardo.

Senior Alex Robinson.

Senior Alex Todd.

Seniors Drew Mundziak and Brice Barnard.

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Crowning caps great high school experience for Gallet family allisonkohn opinion editor

Above: Senior Christophe Gallet poses with his mother after being crowned Homecoming King at the dance on Oct. 4. Gallet was chosen from among eight king nominees. “We were so excited,” Christophe’s mother Anne Gallet said. “I can’t think of a better word.” Below: Gallet poses with senior Homecoming Queen Ali Foster at the dance. Photos by Matt May.

meet the queen Name: Ali Foster Activities: Chamber singers, student council, NSHS president, FCA On winning queen: “I was completely surprised.” On Gallet winning king: “I was so proud of our school for showing the kindness Christophe always shows us.”

The crowd on the dance floor grew silent. Everyone waited anxiously to hear the name of the new Homecoming king announced. Christophe Gallet’s heart pounded in his chest and he could barely hold in his excited smile. Being nominated for Homecoming royalty had been a crazy ride, but he was just happy to be at the dance with all of his friends. “And your new 2008 Homecoming king is...Christophe Gallet!” Upon hearing Christophe’s name, the entire gym erupted in cheer, and Gallet was lost in a sea of hugs and high fives. “It was all surreal when I heard his name,” Gallet’s mom, Anne Gallet said. Christophe was diagnosed with William’s syndrome when he was three years old. This chromosomal disease affects each person differently, such as developmental delays. However, he is still full of vigor and a love for life. “Christophe has an incredibly endearing personality,” Anne said. “Honestly, I have more trouble with my other kids than with him.” Being nominated for Homecoming king was the experience of a lifetime that Christophe will never forget. But the best part, by far, was receiving his crown. He insists that he wasn’t nervous while getting ready, but some butterflies did sneak up on him when he was waiting for the king’s name to be announced. “I felt extraordinary when I was crowned,” Christophe said. “I was like ‘Whoa dude!’’’ As soon as he won, every one of his family members had been texted, e-

Senior Homecoming King Christophe Gallet escorts senior queen nominee Jessie Chastain at the Homecoming assembly on Oct. 2. Gallet was crowned king two nights later at the dance. Photo by Amanda Blue.

mailed or called with the good news. “It was the craziest thing. We were all just so proud,” Christophe’s father, Bert Gallet said. Christophe’s parents said they are not only proud of their son, but also of the school. Blue Valley has always been a loving and supportive learning environment all four years. Both said since day one, the kids and faculty have had an incredible impact on Christophe. “Homecoming, the play, the school has really given him the opportunity to shine,” Anne said. “Just walking down the halls, I can see how well loved he is.” It’s true: Christophe has become known throughout the halls and the lunchroom for his sunny disposition and his ease with meeting new people. “Christophe has such a great attitude.,” junior Hannah Ebling said. “He really deserves this.”

also nominated King:

Queen:

Lance Culver

Kylie Alderman

Josh Dean

Alyssa Allen

Jake Griggs

Jessie Chastain

Ned Kellenberger

Shelby Geiman

Mitchell Smith

Ali Rios

Tyler Vollick

Danae Schlitzer

Josh Wormington

Rachel Tate

OCTOBER 2008 1 1

indepth

Elections 101: Election Day Illustration by Stephanie Roche.

Young Republicans Club

Young Democrats Club

Every citizen of legal age (who has taken the necessary steps to meet the voting requirements) can vote.

Inauguration Day

Jan. 20, 2009 The President and Vice-President take their oaths of office and are inaugurated on Jan. 20. The ceremony will take place on the steps of the Capitol Building.

There is no active Young Democrats Club at Blue Valley High School. Spanish teacher Jill Gouger has sponsored the club in the past and students interested in starting a new Young Democrats Club may speak to her.

Electoral College Total Number of Electors:

270

538

Majority needed to win

The Electoral College is a group of people who have been chosen by their states to vote for a particular candidate. Electors are free to vote for whomever they wish when they gather to officially vote. However, it is extremely rare for an elector to not vote for whom his or her state originally indicated. After Election Day, on the first Monday after the second Wednesday in December, they convene in their state capitals and select the next President. The votes of the electors are then sent to Congress, where they are counted. This takes place on Jan. 6. If no candidate receives a majority, the House of Representatives determines who the next President will be, and the Senate would decide who the next Vice-President will be.

–

The Young Republicans Club met for the first time this year on Sept. 17. “The best part is getting all the people’s ideas and opinions and trying to find unity in diversity,” club president Ned Kellenberger said. The club meets every Wednesday after school in Room 302. There are also group social events scheduled during the year. “The kids are very much aware of what’s going on in the world of politics,” sponsor Anita Lemons said. The club was dormant last year due to a lack of clear leadership. “The goal is to educate people on today’s issues, to inspire people to get involved,” Kellenberger said. “To instill people with the qualities of a good citizenry.” The students talk about the elections, economics and other issues in the world today. The meetings are student driven. “The meetings are fairly open-ended discussion,” Kellenberger said. “We have a secretary who takes notes and we plan social events for the group.” The club has about 20 active members. “We’re just trying to get off the ground right now,” Lemons said. By Ryan O’Toole.

Nov. 4, 2008

How the election process works and everything you need to know about election day

* Information provided by bensguide.gop.gov. Information collected by Emily Strickland.

Class focuses on election, politics 2004 to 209 enrolled in 2008. Buffington believes this buzzworthy and historic copy editor election could be the cause for this increase in student enrollment. Every four years a monumental opportunity arises: “Although the class is predominantly freshmen, the America Decides class is offered at Blue Valley. about 25 percent is upperclassmen and about half of America Decides follows the 2008 election, disthem are old enough to vote,” Buffington said. cusses political strategies and teaches fundamentals While few students will actually be able to cast of the voting process. Because the candidates and their ballots, many find it very engaging and worth major issues change each cycle, their time. the curriculum is very loosely set. “It’s awesome because you can “The teachers get together the “I feel like I could have a bring up controversial topics and spring before we’re going to teach conversation with get into an argument,” senior Zach the class and come up with a plan, someone who really knows Hennig said. “[America Decides we don’t really follow it though Rich]Troxel plays the what they’re talking about teacher because the class is so driven by devil’s advocate and really makes what’s happening in the present,” now.” you see both sides.” senior Christy Reinhardt America Decides teacher CourtThe benefits of the class range ney Buffington said. “The world from offering students a clearer and the news dictate the discusunderstanding of politics to presion.” paring some for the future. Students also appreciate how prevalent the class is “I feel like I could have a conversation with someto current hot topics. one who really knows what they’re talking about now,” “We’ve been focusing a lot on the economy lately,” Reinhardt said. “I’m really interested in politics and senior Christy Reinhardt said. want to go into political science in college, so I feel like The class has grown from 60 students enrolled in this class was a perfect choice for me.”

4% undecided*

Republican John McCain’s stances on the issues

The top three issues as voted by you:

Economy: • An average of $1,000 in tax relief per family, and $500 per individual. • End tax breaks for companies that outsource jobs while rewarding tax credit to companies who maintain their workers in the US. • Tax relief for small businesses. • Support unions, protect striking workers, and raise minimum wage. • Create a credit card rating system that will allow consumers to identify credibility and features of each company.

Economy: • Encourage domestic drilling to reduce dependence on foreign oil and lower gas prices. • Supports a gas tax holiday. • Supports a student loan continuity plan to help college students pay loans at a lower rate due to the economic turmoil. • Lower individual and corporate taxes.

Environment: • Implement the Cap-and-Trade program. • Reduce greenhouse emissions by 80 percent by 2050. • Reduce the carbon in fuel to 10 percent by 2020. • Create a $7,000 tax credit for the purchase of hybrid cars. • Pursue creation of 5 million new “green” jobs. • Encourage an international dialogue on the state of climate conditions.

Juniors Grant Illig and Kevin Hanson, along with other students, participate in a mock press conference in their America Decides class. The class is offered every four years and focuses on the election. Students in the class say it gives them a better understanding of politics and preparing students for the future. Photo by Conner Combes.

50%*

Democrat Barack Obama’s stances on the issues

War in Iraq: • A phased withdrawal of troops until 2010. • A small force of American soldiers will remain in Iraq for counter-terrorism missions and further training of Iraqi troops after 2010. • Stabilize Iraq by coming to diplomatic agreements with Iran and Syria. • Funding for the refugees of the war.

kyrastorm

1 2 OCTOBER 2008

46%*

For more information on Obama’s stances on these issues and many more, visit http://www.barackobama.com/issues/

War in Iraq: • Plans on continuing to send American troops until Iraqi troops are strong enough to safeguard the country on their own. • Larger role for the United Nations in the upcoming Iraqi elections. • International pressure on Syria and Iran to cease their aid to Iraqi violence. Environment: • Supports a Cap-and-Trade system for controlling green-house emissions. (Sets a limit on total amount emitted and allows entities to buy and sell their right to emit.) • Hopes to reduce amount of greenhouse gases emitted to the level in 1990 by 2012, and 66 percent below that level by 2050. • Emission permits used in the Cap-and–Trade system will be auctioned, and the proceeds will go towards the funding of advanced technologies that will help the emission rate decrease. • Will encourage an international dialogue on the state of climate conditions. For more information on McCain’s stances on these issues and many more, visit http://www.johnmccain. com/Informing/Issues/

Information on candidates collected by Noopur Goel from each campaign. * Survey of 150 students decided the top three issues and the percentage for each candidate. Survey conducted by Shannon Valverde. Photos courtesy of the United States Senate.

OCTOBER 2008 1 3

indepth

Elections 101: Election Day Illustration by Stephanie Roche.

Young Republicans Club

Young Democrats Club

Every citizen of legal age (who has taken the necessary steps to meet the voting requirements) can vote.

Inauguration Day

Jan. 20, 2009 The President and Vice-President take their oaths of office and are inaugurated on Jan. 20. The ceremony will take place on the steps of the Capitol Building.

Electoral College Total Number of Electors:

270

538

Majority needed to win

–

Nov. 4, 2008

How the election process works and everything you need to know about election day

* Information provided by bensguide.gop.gov. Information collected by Emily Strickland.

4% undecided*

Republican John McCain’s stances on the issues

The top three issues as voted by you:

50%*

Democrat Barack Obama’s stances on the issues

kyrastorm

1 2 OCTOBER 2008

46%*

For more information on Obama’s stances on these issues and many more, visit http://www.barackobama.com/issues/

OCTOBER 2008 1 3

upclose

Taking the

mainstage

Repertory Theater performs new show with Interpersonal Relations

Theater director Dan Schmidt gives direction to sophomores Josh

Edwards and Chris Ellison in rehearsal. Edwards and Ellison are both cast members of The Jellybean Conspiracy through their Interpersonal Relations class. Photo by Tom Roudebush.

Junior Caroline Lobo rehearses a

scene for The Jellybean Conspiracy, her first show at Blue Valley. Lobo held a leading role as a character with autism. “I am a little nervous and excited,” she said before performing. Photo by Tom Roudebush.

The Jellybean Conspiracy cast members

have fun in rehearsal. The cast was composed of students from both Repertory Theatre and Interpersonal Relations classes. The peer tutors in Interpersonal Relations also participated in the show. Photo by Tom Roudebush.

1 4 OCTOBER 2008

this show was different than other Rep Theater productions in the past. “The show is very simple, I want people to know katielouis that. We’re not going to blow everyone away with features editor pyrotechnic lights or sets because it’s not about that,” Schmidt said. “It’s more of a teaching show— “I know it’s tough. The only way our audience with the right amount of effort and care you can will appreciate what we’re doing is if we make these use anyone, and that’s an important thing for our scenes tight,” theater director Dan Schmidt said students to learn.” during rehearsal for The Jellybean Conspiracy Show. Not only the audience, but also the actors As Schmidt talks to his actors, senior Christophe learned from participating in the show. Gallet says goodbye from the back of the PAC to “It is a lot more tedious I would say,” junior his friends onstage. “Bye, guys,” he said. Rep Theater member Scott Bolton said. “It really “Bye, Christophe!” yelled back almost every stuteaches you patience.” dent onstage. The first act “Now let’s of The Jellybean try to shave off a teaching show — with Conspiracy was 40 minutes.” like a the right amount of effort and care you much challenged variety show can use anyone, and that’s an important with different Schmidt as the actors get back thing for our students to learn.” skits and some to rehearsing. poetry. The theater director Dan Schmidt second act porThey have a big job ahead trayed the story of them — their scenes need to be tighter, transiof Cricket, played by senior Whitney Thurman, and tions shorter. her sibling. The Jellybean Conspiracy is a unique show that Different students played Cricket’s sibling for uses actors with special needs to portray characters each show. One night, Gallet was the sibling, as with special needs. a character with Williams Syndrome. Then junior Both the Repertory Theater and Interpersonal Caroline Lobo acted in the next show, as Cricket’s Relations classes performed the show. The other sister with autism. Sophomore John Stabenow high schools in the district have already produced had the last show; his character had autism as well. The Jellybean Conspiracy Show, making Blue Valley “It’s really fun, I like the acting and getting to eat High the last BV school to do so. jellybeans,” Lobo said. “I just felt like I wanted to do it with as many Special services teacher Debbie Gray hopes people as possible—include a lot of people,” that everyone realizes what an opportunity this has Schmidt said. “Also, most Repertory Theater probeen for the actors. ductions are in the Black Box, but I wanted this one “My deal is that a lot of kids in the play have on the main stage. So, I had to find a time when we never been in one before and probably never will could use it.” be again,” Gray said. “So, this is an experience they Both the actors and Schmidt made it clear that will remember for the rest of their lives.”

“It’s more of

upclose

MADscientists

Science Outreach Program founded to engage young students’ minds katielouis

features editor

It has been an hour since the final bell rang, the parking lot has cleared out and students left for home and their various activities. However, a small group of dedicated students are still in the school, gathered around a table in Room 601. The students are obviously having fun, laughing and teasing each other. Then, as sparks fly up over their heads, it becomes apparent that they are actually working on something. Today, they are making liquid magnets, days before they had made smoking bubbles and lit dollar bills on fire. These students are part of the new Science Outreach Program started this year by chemistry teacher Charlena Sieve. The program consists of a group of students who have

Expires 11-30-08

volunteered to present chemistry demos to kids in elementary and middle schools that feed into Blue Valley High. Sieve first started the program at St. Thomas Aquinas High School in 1999. It began with only eight kids participating who traveled to several parochial grade schools to perform their experiments. “It was really neat to watch the kids and their faces when they saw the experiments,” Sieve said of her time with the program at Aquinas. “They just loved it. It gets them excited for science.” Sieve’s favorite story from her time at Aquinas is when she took the students to the school where her son attended. “We had 100 students watching and one student went home and told his mom that he couldn’t wait to take science at high school,” Sieve said. “And that made me so happy. That’s what it’s all about.” Teachers in the district have already requested demos from Sieve. Sometimes feeder schools request demos to fit the curriculum of the grade and sometimes they just want to get kids excited for science in high school. The students get the laboratory all to themselves when they meet

Sophomore Rachael Mendez and junior Monica Roy Chowdhury enjoy themselves while performing an experiment after school as part of the newly-founded Science Outreach Program. Photo by Amanda Blue.

after school. They choose any experiment to try in the lab and then pick the best ones to perform for the younger kids. “I like learning how to do experiments that I could do at my house without destroying it,” sophomore Rachael Mendez said. This leads to a unique characteristic of the program, the students are truly experimenting — they do not always know what the results will be. Junior Aziza Moolla could even point out a fragment of burnt tape

on the ceiling of Sieve’s room. It was an unexpected result of an experiment a few weeks ago. “The best thing about Science Outreach is blowing things up,” Moolla said. The program is open to all students who are interested and meets after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays. “It’s just a great program,” Sieve said. “The excitement in not only the kids who watch but also in the kids who perform is just wonderful.”

Expires 11-30-08

OCTOBER 2008 1 5

payin’thebills

After School Special 18 Years of Age & under Mon. - Thur. 3:30 - 5:00 P.M. Come Chill in a Cool Place

$12.95 uOne Game of Bowling uShoes u1 Personal Pan Pizza with 1 Topping uOne trip through the Vault

That’s

INCRED-A-BOWL 1 6 OCTOBER 2008

centerstage

What’s on your infinite playlist?

senior Maria Smithson

t s i l y a l P e t i n fi n I Nick & Norah’s nnings

Michael Cera, Kat De

junior Lorenzo Stawarz

1. Our Sick Story (Thus Far) 1. Viva La Vida - by - by Atreyu Coldplay 2. The Fight Song - by 2. Across the Universe - by Sanctus Real The Beatles 3. Foreverandever etc. - by 3. Defying Gravity1.- by the Love Lockdown - by Kanye West David Crowder Band cast of Wicked 2. Whatever You Like - by T.I. 4. Activate - by Stellar 4. Before He Cheats - byNot Over 3. I’m - by Carolina Liar Kart Love Hate and On) Carrie Underwood 4. Strange and5.Beautiful - by(On Aqua5. The Great Escape - by lung - by Disciple Boys Like Girls 5. Lost - by Coldplay

ÍÍÍÍ

The teenage pop culture market, like all good cheese, is old and moldy. I needed something fresh and Nick and Norah provided just that. It comes off as a classic teen romance, but once it gets rolling, strangeness, smarts and heart are revealed. The soundtrack keeps an otherwise slow-paced movie moving along. The film features songs by Vampire Weekend, We Are Scientists and Band of Horses. Michael Cera (Juno) plays the most adorkable character since Lloyd Dobler (played by John Cusack) in Say Anything. He is quirky and sweet. Kat Dennings (Charlie Bartlett) matches his comedic timing perfectly with her awkward, sarcastic sense of humor. The film evolves around trying to find Where’s Fluffy?, everyones favorite band. They are rumored to be playing a secret show that night somewhere in the city. Nick (Cera), the only straight member of his band, The Jerk Offs, meets Norah (Dennings) at a club. The rest of the movie is spent in a van, a yellow Yugo and various locations around New York City. Nick and Norah have to deal with getting over their exes and Norah’s drunk friend who has disappeared. It was a Big Apple night to remember. This movie is not for everyone. It’s not quite as raunchy as Superbad, but don’t take your little sister to see this one. Perfect if you’re looking to laugh, or get sick. Do not offer me any gum, though, as it has turned me off that for at least a little while. By Stephanie Roche.

Hear It Here!

Jack’s Mannequin The Glass Passenger

After spending the last three years in treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia, Jack’s Mannequin frontman Andrew McMahon returned to the top of the alternative music world with a full head of hair and an impressive sophomore album, “The Glass Passenger.” Unlike the band’s debut release, “Everything in Transit,” with songs that could cheer anyone up, “The Glass Passenger” takes a more somber tone. In this album, McMahon recalls his past years as a cancer patient with the same piano hooks and vocal rollercoasters that built his career. In stand-out tracks such as “The Resolution”, “Crashin” and “Swim”, McMahon elaborates his life attached to a morphine drip and questions his will to live and his concern if people will still care about him once his treatment is over. McMahon also pays tribute to his days in Something Corporate with sentimental piano jams such as “Hammers and Strings (A Lullaby)” that are best suited for blasting on those long rides home in the middle of the night. Despite the album’s inspirational story, “The Glass Passenger” is a departure from the band’s previous cheerful endeavors and can kill a good mood. Unlike “Everything in Transit,” the album can only be played successfully in certain settings, because each song has the same depressing tone that suits the album’s subject manner appropriately. The album can undoubtedly satisfy fans but will have a tough time engaging new listeners. By AJ Barbosa.

sophomore Sherry Farrahi

freshman Bryan Wallraff

1. Love Lockdown - by Kanye West 2. Whatever You Like - by T.I. 3. I’m Not Over - by Carolina Liar 4. Strange and Beautiful - by Aqualung 5. Lost - by Coldplay

1. Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue - by Toby Keith 2. Number of the Beast - by Iron Maiden 3. Iron Man - by Black Sabbath 4. Soldiers - by Drowning Pool 5. Mama I’m Coming Home - by Ozzy Osbourne

Information collected by Stephanie Roche.

Hear It Here! The Ting Tings

We Started Nothing

I am a law-abiding citizen. I never go more than five miles per hour over the speed limit, due to my extreme fear of having to part with $100 or more in the form of a speeding ticket. But one night, on the way home from work, I was forced to drive as fast as possible after popping in The Ting Tings “We Started Nothing.” I’m positive I made record time getting home just so I wouldn’t have to listen to that CD anymore. “We Started Nothing” should be called “We Started Nothing New and this CD sounds like it was created on ProTools.” Am I not right? The Ting Tings are the latest cockney-accented British “indie band” signed to a major label to blow up in the United States and, consequently, drive me insane. The CD starts off with, the irony of ironies, “Great DJ,” an ode to a local scene and the power of music and the effect it has on people and a lot more hipster clichés I can’t stand to think of. The most bearable songs on the record are “That’s Not My Name” and “Shut Up and Let Me Go,” which happen to be the first two singles released. But after a few listens, the pretentiousness in singer Katie White’s voice is enough to turn you off to the record entirely. Maybe, Katie, the reason why they forget your “name, name, name” is because your band is not worth remembering. At the end of the record, I’m only left with pure anger at the fact that Target ripped me off $7.98 for this CD. By Tori Freisner.

OCTOBER 2008 1 7

centerstage

Judd Apatow: The 40-Year-Old Manchild Movie producer Apatow continues to profit from immature humor, lacking innovation myvoice

torifreisner Dear Judd Apatow, Quit making movies. It’s obvious how they will go: a chubby/awkward/sex-obsessed man-child (very often Seth Rogen) with obscene/socially challenged/also sex-obsessed friends finds a girl who is too hot for him but somehow she sleeps with him anyways. Random cast members from Freaks and Geeks make appearances, the movie is slapped with an ‘R’ rating, you spend $10 on the movie and Apatow, producer/sometimes writer of these highway robberies, repeats the cycle within 3-9 months. Say hello to what Rolling Stone has dubbed the “golden age of comedy.” It’s not that these movies aren’t funny – they are, in a slightly stale way that manages to make you giggle like a Catholic schoolboy. But ever since the success of The 40-YearOld Virgin, the empire of Apatow has suffered from what I like to call the “Will Ferrell Syndrome.” It starts with one funny movie.

The buzz around it grows, and you begin to hear every 14year-old boy quoting it (“I am McLovin”). Think about it — from 2004 to 2008, Apatow has produced and/or written the major motion pictures Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, Kicking & Screaming, The 40Year-Old Virgin, Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, Knocked Up, Superbad, Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Drillbit Taylor, Step Brothers and Pineapple Express. That’s 11 movies in four years. If you wanted to get technical, that’s 2.75 movies per year. Altogether, that’s 1,182 minutes, more than 19 hours worth of 7th grade humor . That’s nearly as ridiculous as the plot of most of his films. This guy has made millions off of improvised fart jokes and sex terms. Much like Rogen and Katherine Heigl’s baby in Knocked Up, Apatow’s movies get with a classmate. keep rearing their ugly heads. It’s just as good (and cheaper) Sure, Freaks and Geeks was to watch the redband trailers on funny, and Superbad gave us the YouTube, seeing as how these awkward genius that is McLovin, films have no point whatsoever but frankly, I don’t want to spend besides out-grossing whatever another dollar to hear Jonah Hill movie Apatow made two talking about how he wants to months earlier.

Photo courtesy of Sony Pictures Publicity. Used with permission.

Besides, the best jokes are always in the trailer. Why bother wasting $10 and two hours stroking Apatow’s clearly inflated ego? These movies were funny — when I was 14. But after two years of high school, you”d be

hard-pressed to find any original joke after you take out the sex slang. Unfortunately, Apatow doesn’t seem to be slowing down — unlike your mom. See, Judd? What you do is not all that difficult. So, please, just stop.

Movies scare the corn out of viewers allisonkohn opinion editor

In honor of Halloween, here are some (excuse the pun) bloody brilliant scary movies to enjoy while you chow down on some candy. Halloween- Michael Myers brutally killed his older sister and is put in an insane asylum. Now, Myers has escaped and is set on killing a group of local teenagers. Myers’ psychiatrist enlists the help of the town sheriff to track him down on Halloween night.

1 8 OCTOBER 2008

“You see someone get stabbed in the stomach,” junior Sarah Smith said. “It’s scary because it’s a true story. I had nightmares about it.” The Exorcist-A young girl is seemingly possessed by the devil and, in an attempt to rid her of this satanic being, two priests come to perform an exorcism. Add in some fake throw-up and a dark, husky voice of a possessed girl and you have yourself one heck of a scary movie. What makes this movie even better is the fact that it’s based on an actual documented exorcism performed in 1949.

“I hate the devil’s faces you see,” junior Andrew Fraser said. “It’s so scary.”

scalp,” junior Callie Ronan said. “I had to plug my ears and cover my eyes.”

Saw- This movie centers on the serial killer, Jigsaw. Jigsaw doesn’t actually kill his victims, but instead finds ways for them to either kill themselves or each other. Jigsaw keeps his victims locked up and fighting for their lives, but to this masked killer, everything is just a game. Through multiple flashbacks, Jigsaw’s other victims and their struggle to survive are revealed. “There is a part where a Girl Scout’s hair was cranked off her

It- Based off of a Stephen King novel, this horror film portray’s the story of Pennywise, a not-quitehuman pyschotic killer dressed as a clown. Pennywise, a few years earlier, murdered some of the neighorhood kids. Now he’s is back in town, and must be killed before he can cause any more harm. “The scariest part is when there is a strangled body in a bathroom and the word ‘It’ is written on the wall in blood,” sophomore Tarryn Schantell said.

Jaws-A famous theme song, blood, gore and dark water all come together to create one scary movie. A 200-pound great white shark is menacing a quaint beach with horrible killing sprees. The bodies of the victims are left as evidence on the beach. A marine biologist, the mayor and fisherman team up to catch the “White Death”. “There is a part where the police officer is underwater and it’s pitch black,” freshman Brian Witt said. “A head pops out of a hole and the skin is all white and the eyes are bulging out. It’s pretty gross.”

tigerturf

BV SPORTS IN BRIEF

With seasons nearing end, teams seek successful finish Football

9/25 BVN W( 35-0) 10/3 Bishop Miege W (38-0) 10/10 Aquinas W (31-7) The football team remains unbeaten since its season-opening loss at Manhattan, with victories coming over EKL foes St. Thomas Aquinas, Bishop Miege and Blue Valley North. The Tigers have three regular season games remaining including Blue Valley West on Halloween. By AJ Barbosa. Catch football in action: Tonight @ Olathe North 10/24 Olathe South @ BVHS 10/31 BVW @ BVHS (away game)

Boys Soccer

10/9 Lawrence Free State D (3-3) 10/11 Gardner Edgerton W (5-2) The boys soccer team hasn’t lost in seven straight games and is tied for first place in the EKL with a 8-3-1 overall record. The Tigers celebrated senior night with their third straight win, a 5-0 victory over Turner on Oct. 1. The Tigers defeated Blue Valley Northwest 4-2, with sophomore Tom Adams scoring a hat trick and senior Ben Kerkhoff adding a goal. The team played Lawrence Free State to a 3-3 draw on Oct. 9

and earned a 5-2 victory against Gardner Edgerton on Oct. 11. This Saturday’s matchup with St. Thomas Aquinas will likely decide the regular season EKL champion. By Steven Reno. Catch boys soccer in action: 10/18 Aquinas @BVW 10/20 Ottawa @ BVW 10/23 Louisburg @ BVW

Volleyball

10/11 SMN Tournament

The team took first in the Shawnee Mission North Tournament last weekend, defeating Lansing 25-22, 22-25, 25-11. The team is 21-10 going into the final four games of the season and has not lost a match since September. On Oct. 25, varsity participates in sub state, pooled with the rest of the Blue Valley and Olathe Schools. They have to win two games to qualify for state. By Ryan O’Toole. Catch volleyball in action: 10/21 Olathe Northwest @ BV 10/25 @ Sub State

Cross Country

10/4 Metro Invitational 2 Medalists 10/9 Mill Valley Classic 9 Medalists

The girls varsity cross country team took third overall at the Rim Rock Invitational Saturday, Sept. 27. Senior Devin Freeman, junior Alyssa Luker and freshman Bailey Swimmer were all individual medalists. According to coach Anna Toneva, the boys team is also looking to improve in the coming weeks. By Shannon Valverde. Catch cross country in action: 10/25 @ Regionals 11/01 @ State Meet

Girls Tennis

10/2 St. James Academy 10/4 EKL

W 5th

Nearing the end of a historic season, the girls tennis team finished their regular season with a record of 8-2. “This was the best season we’ve had in years,” senior cocaptain Brianna Ortbals said. The team went on a 38-match win-streak, and beat St. Thomas Aquinas. Sophomore Ashley Tiefel placed fourth in regionals and also qualified for state. By Tyler Duke.

Girls Golf 9/25 BV Invitational The girls golf team played host

Junior Valerie Gaughan lines up a putt in the Heritage Tournament on Oct. 2. Gaughan and McClellan both placed in the top 10 at the Olathe South tournament. Photo by Tom Roudebush.

at the Blue Valley Invitational Sept. 23, at Leawood South Country Club. Senior Samantha McClellan won the home meet. McClellan placed seventh overall at the Lawrence Golf Invitational on Sept. 25. The Tigers played at the Olathe South tournament and

McClellan and junior Valerie Gaughan placed ninth and 10th overall. McClellan also finished ninth at the EKL Championship. She will be the team’s lone representative at the state tournament on Monday. By Steven Reno.

Dismal KC pro teams continue to upset impatient fans BUZZER beater

sports editor • AJ Barbosa

Don’t you love Kansas City? If someone came to this town without ever reading the newspapers or watching TV, it’d be easy to compare us to championship-winning Boston. Everyone in this town owns either a Chiefs or Royals shirt, and on game day, the streets are always empty because everyone is cooped up watching our hometown teams

get the snot beat out of them. People in this country don’t seem to understand how difficult it is to be a sports fan in Kansas City. They don’t understand what it feels like to watch Sportscenter and hear our teams being ridiculed. They don’t know what it’s like to sit in a stadium filled with Cardinals fans when we’re in the heart of Kansas City. Sometimes I wonder why we don’t just give up on sports in this town? I’m realizing, slowly but surely, that’s starting to happen. The Chiefs are in such bad shape that it’s possible to score $25 tickets to a game in the parking lot three hours before kickoff. Before Trent Green got knocked out and when Dante Hall and

Priest Holmes were running rampant, you’d be lucky to find upper-level tickets for a little more than face value, even after the game had started. Arrowhead even implemented ridiculous new security measures this past year, as well, that attempt to ban fans from standing for extended amounts of time during the game. At this rate, it’d be more exciting to go watch youth football games at Heritage Park all day, which doesn’t seem like such a bad idea, considering the likelihood that one of those games will be more exciting than the Chiefs’ weekly snoozers. It isn’t like the Royals are a therapeutic alternative either. While Red Sox and Yankees fans would take golf clubs to the

windshields of their respective general managers’ Ferraris, we peacefully stomach a hideous 12 game losing streak like it’s nothing new. We’ve seen so many dreadful seasons in this town that it’s hard to make a fuss when we’re shown for only 30 seconds on Baseball Tonight. When the rest of the country is biting their nails for October to come, we’ve already accepted in April that we’re going to be watching other teams in the playoffs. Still, the Royals beg fans to bite on 2009 season ticket packages as if they’re going to sell fast. Save for the home opener and when the Cardinals are in town, it’s pretty hard to fill Kauffman Stadium unless there are free T-shirts or dollar hot dogs.

You’ve got to give both organizations reasonable respect for attempting to turn things around. Long-awaited renovations are underway at both Kauffman and Arrowhead, but the work can’t stop there. Without naming names, certain GMs and coaches need to hit the road and more effort needs to be put into drafting new talent and recruiting better players. No one wants to play in Kansas City anymore, and there’s good reason for it. Both teams need to get their ducks in a row and finish the much-needed renovations in each team’s front office, and then we could pray for a Super Bowl or World Series within the next century. Considering where we live, that’s a pretty lofty ambition.

OCTOBER 2008 1 9

One Night.

tigerturf payin’thebills

Just another day in the office for fans, band, ajbarbosa sports editor

It took only a second for the ball to get to him, and his night was over. It had been a long one for senior football captain Tanner Purdon. Purdon, who had played a key role in previous games, had only been on the field for about two minutes. Even worse, it was against rivals St. Thomas Aquinas. Purdon entered the game midway through

the first quarter with the Tigers ahead by a touchdown. He played for only a drive, in which he was unable to get open for junior quarterback Anthony Abenoja. Purdon re-entered the game with a few minutes remaining in the half. He ran through two plays, before being leveled in mid-air by an Aquinas corner. Purdon couldn’t complete the catch and hobbled to the locker room as senior

running back Treveor Cornley doubled the score in front of an ecstatic home stadium. As the second half began, like earlier, Purdon viewed the one-sided game from the sideline. “I think the reason they didn’t play me much in the second half was because of my head,” Purdon said. “They knew I had gotten hit pretty hard.” Despite not being able to see the field as much as he would have liked to, Purdon

remained composed. “There are always four of us who play a lot,” Purdon said “I just do what they need me to do. I don’t really ask questions.” Purdon’s final opportunity presented itself with under five minutes left in the game with the Tigers ahead by 31 points. Despite his recovery from his earlier injury, he still was deprived of the ball for several plays until Abenoja fired a pass from outside

After sustaining a hard hit on an overthrown ball, senior football captain Tanner Purdon is evaluated by the team’s medical staff. Photo by Tom Roudebush.

ryano’toole

Abby Williams

staff writer

At 6:40 on the night of the game, the varsity cheerleading squad emerged from the west exit of the school. They were carrying the run-through, a large piece of paper attached to metal poles. Its creation had consumed the squad’s time for days. The game was against St. Thomas Aquinas, a major rival

cheerleading captain

that defeated Blue Valley last year. The crowd was sure to be intense, and the cheerleaders were ready for kickoff. The excitement of the annual Aquinas game wasn’t new to senior captain Abby Williams. She had seen the same setting three times previously, and that night would

2 0 OCTOBER 2008

be her last. “This is always one of our most competitive games because they’re one of our biggest rivals,” Williams said. Williams is well liked by her teammates, and looked up to by many of her younger teammates. “I think Abby is a

Tanner Purdon football captain

the pocket between Purdon’s hands. “I don’t really remember too much after that,” Purdon said “[Abenoja] just overthrew me and the linebacker was coming for blood and got me right underneath the chin.” Purdon sustained a concussion from the tackle and lost all memory of the inci-

dent until he watched it on Metro Sports the next day. Purdon was quickly hurried to the bench to be medically evaluated. “It was bad,” fellow senior captain Ryan Miller said. “When he came off, he couldn’t even walk.” As the team continued to play and the fans celebrated the ensuing victory, team

doctors confirmed that he was in need of medical attention. After recovering over the weekend, Purdon realized the meaning of the team’s victory Friday night. They had just defeated a team that dominated them twice before. “That same team crushed us 30-0 our freshman year,” Purdon said “We’ve been out for revenge ever since then, and it feels good to beat them the way we did.”

Cheering in her final blackout game, senior cheerleading captain Abby Williams encourages the team to an upset win over fourth-ranked St. Thomas Aquinas. Photo by Amanda Blue.

really good captain because she cares for the younger girls and makes them feel like part of the team,” freshman cheerleader Mackie Louis said. Having moved to BV before her freshman year, Williams credits her success in cheerleading to the senior cheerleaders. “The [current] senior girls as a whole were most influential on me,” Williams said. “I was new when I

moved here so they all just kind of took me under their wing and they’ve just come to be my best friends, they’ve always been there for me. I just loved being a Blue Valley cheerleader the minute I came here.” The Tigers opened the scoring with a minute left in the first quarter. The cheerleaders then began their first of what would be many touchdown cheers.

“You could just tell from the atmosphere that it was going to be a good game,” Williams said. “We scored and everything went crazy. You could tell it was going to be intense.” A 31-7 victory over one of the toughest schools on the schedule was enough to put a spring in anyone’s step, and Williams was no exception. “This game was one of our best, probably our best this year

because Aquinas is supposed to be one of the harder teams to beat,” she said. Williams found her final Aquinas game to be very emotional. “Since it’s my last Aquinas game, there’s a realization that football and cheerleading seasons are coming to a close,” Williams said. “It’s still fun, but it’s just kind of sad that we won’t be going out and supporting the football team.”

Four Stories.

tigerturf

cheerleaders and team as BV trumps undefeated Aquinas katielouis

features editor

For some fans, game day starts earlier than usual — junior Connor Janes is one of those fans. On the night of the St. Thomas Aquinas game, he and his friends unloaded a grill, a cooler, lawn chairs and even a fullsize couch at noon. “This is easily the best tailgate ever,” Janes said. “We have everything: hamburgers, hot dogs, brats and even cheese brats.”

Connor Janes super-fan

Around 2:30, a random firework went off by one of the many trucks around their tailgate. “We like fireworks,” senior tailgater Jim Keegan said, laughing. The fans set up an organized game of parking lot football around 5, with missed passes hitting only a few parked cars. When it came time to clean

up, the small amount of leftover food was split up. “I got dibs on the queso,” Janes said. “Only if you can get it out of my hands,” junior Michael Byars said. The boys entered the stadium earlier than usual to find seats closer to the front. “We’re going to dominate Aquinas,”

Janes said confidently as they headed towards the stadium, decked out in all black. His prediction was correct — in a few hours he would be celebrating in the stands as time ran out with a final score of 31-7 over Aquinas. Long before the game began, Janes staked out his spot in the stands with his friends. The first half of the game was spent cheering as he watched the

Juniors Connor Janes and Derek Hackney tailgate in the parking lot before the game. Janes and his friends arrived at the school seven hours prior to kickoff. Photo by Katie Louis.

shannonvalverde staff writer

The dedication can be seen in senior band member Danny Wood’s eyes. He is a four-year baritone player for the Stridin’ Tigers, the trumpet section leader and was chosen to mentor an eighth grade musician for last Friday’s game. To prepare for the pre-game show, the eighth graders joined the high schoolers in

an arc, the starting formation for the national anthem. The hard part for Wood and other upperclassmen came next: teaching the middle schoolers how to march into their next formation. “This was a big teaching experience,” Wood said. “They had no idea what was going on, it was our job to make sure they weren’t freaking out.” As game time drew closer, band members

began to change into their uniforms while listening to a pep talk from assistant band director Daniel Kirk. “We are a poised and professional band, we set the tone for the game,” they heard Kirk say. “Play like a tiger, not a kitty.” Wood then helped lead the band and the eighth graders to the practice field to warm up for the pre-game. “I’m excited for the biggest game of the year,” Wood said.

Tigers’ defense shut down the Saints. After senior Treveor Cornley’s two touchdowns, the game went to the half with the Tigers leading, 14-0. “Our offense was absolutely amazing and after Tyler Disney rocked one of their receivers, I knew it was over because he couldn’t even get up and that’s how Aquinas was going to play the rest of the game — scared,” Janes said. Janes spent halftime taking a friend,

Rockhurst High junior Doug Howard, from the Aquinas side, dressing him in black and bringing him to the dark side. According to Janes, Howard had chosen the wrong side to enjoy the game. “I don’t even know what he thinks he was doing over there,” Janes said jokingly. “We have better fans and it’s much more fun on our side.” With Aquinas failing to score until the end of the game, Janes felt

more than satisfied. “Can you believe this?” Janes yelled in response to the inability of the undefeated Saints to score against the Tigers. “I was relieved that we were destroying a school that I hate with a passion,” Janes said later. Janes still has lofty expectations this year. “We’re going to win the state championship, hands down,” Janes said “We’re going to dismantle every team we play.”

Senior Danny Wood marches during the half time show. Wood is a four-year member of the band, a section leader and played a solo during the performance. Photo by Tom Roudebush.

As the band members filed onto the field with their middle school buddies, Wood shared his view of the importance of the Stridin’ Tigers. “We are pivotal to the game experience,” Wood said. “We are the heart and soul of the crowd. If we’re not there, the crowd gets deflated. We’re the ones to start the chants.” After a successful pre-game run, the band left the field

Danny Wood band section leader

and crowded into the stands to watch the game. As the first touchdown was rushed in, they began to play the fight song. “Now that we’ve scored first, we have the chance at staying ahead,” Wood said. “As long as we keep up a tight defense, they’re going to struggle to

keep up with us.” The band soon began to leave the stands to prepare for the half time show. “We normally don’t leave this early for half time,” Wood said. During half time, the band displayed their competitive show, which they perform across the region.

“The primary purpose of the band is to be totally supportive of the football team and pump up the crowd,” Kirk said. “During half time, it is our job to entertain the crowd and demonstrate what we do best.” After completing the show, Wood and other exhausted band members made their way to the band room to change before going back to the stands to finish the game.

OCTOBER 2008 2 1

tigerturf (Right) Robin Hackney leads the yoga class. As well as the baseball players, there are several adults and teachers from Harmony that take the class.

A bit of a

(Below) Junior Mike Byars works on the flexibility of his arms while demonstrating the eagle pose.

STRETCH tomroudebush photographer

Most high school athletes are content with going to the weight room during their offseason training. Not the 6A baseball state champions. After weight training every Monday, they head for Harmony Middle School for a slightly different kind of training. “Yoga is where state champs are born,” junior Derek Hackney said. A few Blue Valley junior baseball players have been taking a yoga class once a week in hopes of improving their athleticism. “It helps us strengthen and lengthen our muscles,” junior Matt Higginbotham said. In addition to the athletes increasing their strength and flexibility, they also find enjoyment in this unique activity. “We’re thinking about starting a yoga club,” junior Mike Byars said. Hackney’s mother, Robin, teaches the class. She also is a yoga instructor at Loch Lloyd and other local schools and has been teaching for five years.

Junior Derek Hackney concentrates as he extends his arms into the warrior pose. This pose helps his arm strength because he must hold his arms out in this position for a long period of time.

Junior Matt Higginbotham looks up as he stretches his arm in the air with a sun salutation as he in the warrior pose. Photos by Tom Roudebush.

2 2 OCTOBER 2008

tigerturf

Innovative offensive strategy proves successful on field stevenreno staff writer

After a disappointing 29-7 season-opening loss at Manhattan, football coach Steve Rampy and his staff knew the team, specifically the offense, needed to be shaken up. “We simply were not executing the offense we had in place and we weren’t scoring,” Rampy said. The Tigers scored more than 14 points only three times last season and with a lot of starters returning this year and the sevenpoint performance in Manhattan, a change appeared to be in order. Now the Tigers run a

Every down, there are four wide receivers lining up.

spread offense where all of their wide receivers stretch out across the field. This spreads the defensive secondary but also de-emphasizes the run. “We’re doing our own thing,” Rampy said. “The biggest difference is that we are throwing the ball a lot more.” The look on the field is not the only thing that changed after Manhattan. Rampy now sits up in the press box during games and has receivers coach Paul Brown, offensive line coach Eric Driskell and tight end coach Nic Madelen signal the play call from the sideline. “I don’t see as well as I

used to, and wasn’t able to see that well on the sideline, but when I’m in the press box I can use my glasses and really see the field a whole lot better,” Rampy said. Many players find the sideline quieter without Rampy there for encouragement. “There is a lot less yelling,” junior Wesley Crouch said. Since the new offense has been implemented, the Tigers are 5-0, scoring an average of 35 points in victories over Blue Valley Northwest, Salina Central, Blue Valley North, Bishop Miege, and St. Thomas Aquinas.

Senior wide receiver Tyler VanGerpen and senior running back Treveor Cornley look back to get the play from coaches against Bishop Miege. The team’s new no-huddle offense requires them to look to the sideline for directions at the beginning of every play. Photo by Tom Roudebush.

Spread Offense 101 The new formation no longer includes a tight end.

Running backs do not get the same number of carries as they did in the old offense.

The quarterback in the spread gets the chance to really run the offense and show off his arm.

Even the offensive line has to deal with the new formation. They have to run up to the line of scrimmage after every play because the offense no longer huddles up.

Trainer joins athletic department, facilitates help to injured athletes shannonvalverde staff writer

Many haven’t had the chance to meet Blue Valley’s newest addition, athletic trainer Chris Crawford. Crawford comes to BV from Blue Valley North and has taken over the job of athletic trainer. The job of the athletic trainer is to make sure that athletes receive the proper care when injured. “We deal with injuries from start to finish,” Crawford said. “We encompass everything from the initial treatment to rehabilitation.” At games, the trainer performs an initial assessment whenever an injury occurs. During this assessment, the trainer

checks for anything out of the ordinary. An orthopedic surgeon is standing by, just in case Crawford discovers something out of place. “I partially tore my MCL at the Manhattan game and have been seeing the trainer ever since,” senior football player Luke Rampy said. “He is a really cool guy who does care about our sports programs.” To become an athletic trainer, one must pass a national board exam, in addition to obtaining the traditional four-year college degree. Crawford attended MidAmerica Nazarene University where 1,500 hours of on-the-job service was a requirement. “I went to see the trainer and

he told me I had an inflamed rotator cuff,” Senior tennis player Alex Milbourn said. “He is very willing to help anyone, and really knows what he’s doing.” Crawford’s high school experiences led to his decision to become a trainer. “I became interested in training after I got hurt junior year playing soccer,” Crawford said. “I spent a lot of time in the trainer’s room, so I just shadowed him since I was out of soccer for the season.” Helping people and building relationships with the students was the ultimate factor in Crawford’s decision to become a trainer. “I love the relationships that I build with the kids over the years,” Crawford said. “The foot-

Trainer Chris Crawford wraps senior Parker Scafe’s wrist. Wrapping wrists is one of his many daily tasks as athletic trainer. Photo by Tom Roudebush.

ball games aren’t half bad either.” Trainers have come and gone over the years, but it seems everyone is enjoying Crawford’s

presence in the BV community. “I really hope he stays around for awhile,” Rampy said. “I would hate to see him go.”

OCTOBER 2008 2 3

preview

OCTOBER Fri. 17

Band Trip The band will be heading to St. Louis to compete in the Bands of America Super Regionals competition. Debate Tournament BVHS will be hosting.

Sat. 18

Boys Soccer vs. St. Thomas Aquinas at 2 p.m. The game will be played at BV West.

Mon. 20

Girls Golf vs. Lawrence at Alvamar at 8 a.m.

Tues. 21

Volleyball vs. Olathe Northwest at 6 p.m. It is senior night.

Fri. 24

Unitown at BV West. Teaches tolerance and encourages diversity to 25 BV students who were invited.

Sat. 25

ACT Testing At various locations.

Mon. 27

Red Ribbon Week Begins today. The spirit days are as follows: Hat Day, Decade Day, Superhero Day, Halloween Costume Day and Black and Gold.

Thurs. 30

Arts Potpourri A time to see student artwork displayed around the school.

Fri. 31

Junior attendants Kaitlin Long and Tyler Disney ride in style during the Homecoming parade on Oct. 3. Long and Disney joined 16 seniors as members of the Homecoming Court. See pages10-11 for more. Photo by Conner Combes.

NOVEMBER

Halloween

Wed. 22

Parent/Teacher Conferences Today and tomorrow from 4-7 p.m.

Fri. 24

No School Teacher work day.

Football at BV West at 7 p.m. Although BV is the away team, the game will be played here. Cheerleading Shoe Drive Bring all your old shoes to the game to donate to Rainbow Radio Station in Africa.

Sat. 01

Tues. 04

Cross Country State Meet.

Election Day If you are eligible, exercise your right as an American and vote. See pages 12 and 13 for more information on the election.

Mon. 03

ClichĂ¨ Day Participating in this day is easy as pie.

[Around Town] Now - Nov. 16

Oct. 25

Oct. 19

Oct. 25

The Lion King Musical Music Hall at various times. Tickets start at $25.

Chiefs Game vs. Tennessee Titans at noon. Tickets start at $45 each.

2 4 OCTOBER 2008

Metallica Concert Sprint Center at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $55.

WaterFire Exhibit An art exhibit with music, fire and water. Features more than 55 floating bonfires on Brush Creek. Designed by artist Barnaby Evans.

Nov. 4

Elections Watch Party See who America chooses as the next President. Family friendly. At Californos at the Country Club Plaza at 7 p.m. No cover charge.