October Issue 2014 by SMS Patriot

THE

PATRIOT October 2014

No More Damsels In Distress A fight against feminismâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s worst misconceptions. Page 16

Vol.49 Issue 2 Shawnee Mission South 5800 W. 107 St, OP, KS 66207 (913) 993 -7500

CONTENTS

ACT/SAT Pa g e 5

canned food drive Page 9 Evening of Cabaret Page 8

Feminism Club Page 6

Q&A Page 20

He for She Page 12

Stats Page 7

Staff Editorial Page 11

Hobbies Page 15 Social Media Trap Page 22

The Debate Page 14

Cover Story Page 16

ON THE COVER Junior Lauren Rosenstock pays homage to classic feminist icon Rosie the Riveter. PHOTO illustration BY JENNA FACKRELL

MISSION STATEMENT The Patriot is a news magazine that aims to objectively present topics affecting Shawnee Mission South High School, as well as connect with readers on issues concerning the student body. Staff members reserve the right to express their views in the Opinions section. These pieces are labeled and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the staff as a whole, except the Lead Editorial, which represents the views of the editors. Under the First Amendment and Kansas Law, The Patriot staff is entitled to freedom of the press and neither the school nor district is responsible for any content or coverage. The staff encourages letters to the editor, but they will only be published if signed. The editor-in-chief reserves the right to refuse or edit any letters for reasons of grammar, length and good taste. Letters can be sent to Room 195 or e-mailed to patrioteditors@gmail.com.

Oct. 2014 table of contents

Twitter Photo Contest Page 23

Superhero Movies Page 24

Dressed to Impress Page 27

Photo Essay Page 31

The Final Say Page 25 NFL Scandal Page 28

Reviews Page 26

Rugby Doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Bug ME Page 29

Angles Page 32

Pre-Game Rituals Page 30

MEET THE STAFF Rola Alasmar Editor-in-Chief Opinion Editor

Emily Wilkinson Asst. Editor-in-Chief Web Editor

Rose Pollina News Editor Infographics Editor

Lauren Rosenstock Sports Editor Social Media Manager

Nanae Urano A&E Editor

Amelia Holcomb Ads Editor

Autumn Mock Features Editor

Jenna Fackrell Photo Editor

Katie Imes Photographer

Arturo Sanchez-Vera Photographer

Avery Dorsey Writer

Kendall Barker Writer

Rachel Larberg Writer

Corida Cooperwood Writer

Andrea Smith Writer

Julie Fales Adviser

table of contents

Oct. 2014

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DEBATE TAKES ON NEW LOOK

Team hosts home tournament this weekend.

rom massive tubs that carry all of their debate evidence for their rounds, that weighed an easy 3040 pounds, the debate team has moved to laptops that weigh only 2.4 pounds. With that transition being easy, it was not as smooth for the software aspect of transitioning from paper to technology. “Shawnee Mission’s new technology in particular has made certain aspects of debate more difficult. Computers are great for researching, organizing, and sharing evidence but some of the programs we used to use, Dropbox for example, are blocked on the school computers,” junior Hannah Hall said. “My partner and I have run into issues with sharing documents and being able to see each other’s work, but overall the new advancements are helpful as it is increasingly necessary to keep up in a world driven by technology.” Seasoned debaters and novice debaters, as well as debate coach Natalie Wait and debate assistant coach Jordan Baranowski, have had to change how they approach debate and how to take down their opponents. “I’ve had to change the way I teach the novice students. In the past we would print off all of their debate materials and go over them with real-

ACTs & SATs: tests help college choice

Junior Mia Duncan works on her topic before her tournament in the afternoon. photo by Arturo Sanchez-Vera life highlighters. Now I’ve had to alter my teaching to get the novices going on laptops right away, which has been very educational for everyone involved,” Wait said. While the debate team settles into their new technology, they have been preparing for their tournaments through class time and meetings after school to work as a team to get prepared for the upcoming tournaments. The NFL, National Forensics League, announced the topic for all debate students this year is whether the United States federal government should substantially increase its non-military exploration and/or development of the Earth’s oceans. Participating in multiple tournaments around the area, the

CTs and SATs are typically taken during students’ junior and senior years. “[Students should start preparing] sophomore year. Prepare by taking the ACT Plan and signing up for the PSAT. By doing this you get a good baseline of scores so that when you’re a junior you know what to work on,” gifted teacher Stan Stern said. Shawnee Mission students’ ACT scores for this year in all subject areas increased. “I’m not naturally a strong test taker so I practiced with Princeton Review Books and

debate team is ready and fired up to host their own tournament this weekend. “It’s a big task. No one on our debate squad debates in it or anywhere else that weekend so we all run the tournament,” Mountain said. Even with the big home tournament coming up, Mountain and her partner, senior Ethan Belshe, went 3-2 overall in the Olathe North tournament. Seniors Sam Mitschke and Lewis Smith competed Oct. 17 and 18 in the Novice Champs tournament held at Blue Valley North. The team placed fifth overall and Mitschke placed seventh in speaker points. The South debate team is ready and technologically prepared to compete in the upcoming tournaments in November. Rachel Larberg

worked on my timing,” senior, and recipient of a perfect ACT score, Regina Yan said, “It wasn’t something I stressed over, but I did want to do my best.” A common controversy with standardized tests is how important they really should be to colleges and how well they really depict a student’s knowledge. “As good as standardized tests are for colleges to assess a student’s knowledge, I don’t think they adequately measure a student’s ability,” Yan said. “They don’t really show you what a student is

actually like, and I don’t think numbers show you what a student’s personality or potential really are.” Test scores are used to evaluate students by applying a common standard. This helps compare students who went to different schools. “I feel like they should have more impact [on college acceptance], because if these standardized tests are showing how smart someone is and how hard someone works then they should be more important,” sophomore Kenny Chan said. Rola Alasmar

News Oct. 2014

Senior Katie Imes leads a discussion on the common misconceptions of feminism in Feminism Club. Imes is the founder of the club and leads all discussions. PHOTO by Jenna Fackrell

COME ON DOWN TO FEMINISM CLUB A new club at South seeks to empower women through discussion and awareness

ody language. Violence. Friendzone. You couldn’t imagine these topics being talked about in a high school club, but the Feminist Club covers them all, and more. “It’s a great club to join; you actually get to voice your opinion on the subject and it may open your eyes to some things that you never really thought of as sexism,” senior Danielle Laudick said. The Feminist Club meets every Friday, in sponsor Lindsey McFall’s Room 279. This club is for people to learn about why it’s not OK for people to verbally abuse young people. Senior Katie Imes, started the club to raise awareness of problems and to promote the feminist issue.

Oct. 2014

news

“It’s an opportunity for people to learn about something new or to clear up some false information that they have about feminism. It also falls in line with my favorite thing about South—the open, supportive atmosphere that the students have created,” McFall said. With that being said, a variety of students have already joined the club, not just girls. “It would be fun to be around other people who believe the same things I do and share our beliefs and ideas concerning feminist issues,” senior Ethan Stone said. This club is for anyone and everyone, especially freshmen according to Laudick. She believes this club isn’t too advanced for freshmen. “In fact a lot of freshmen should join or else the club would just die once we leave,” Laudick said. McFall agrees. “I think that anyone with an open mind and a willingness to

listen is mature enough for the club,” McFall said. When joining this club members will learn about the advancement women have made in the world, but also talk about how, to this day women, are oppressed or criticized for what they say, wear, think, and believe. “[We hope to explain] what feminism is and why we need it. We also want to talk about violence against women, entitlement, and the different generations, and just daily life for feminism,” Imes said. Members have different perspectives of what they want to talk about in future meetings. “[I want to talk about] Just certain gestures or things that you hear a lot of people, and mostly freshmen and sophomores, that are actually really degrading not just to women but everyone,” Laudick said. Corida COOPERWOOD

SMS FEMINISM STATS

A statistical breakdown of Shawnee Mission South students and their opinions and experiences regarding feminism.

of students answered “no” to whether they would think less of someone for being a feminist.

of student have experienced sexual harassment.

35.1%

80.7%

92.7% 51.4%

of students would describe themselves as a feminist.

35.1%

STATS COMPILED BY ROSE POLLINA

of students believe social media plays a role in promoting sexism.

80.7%

48.4%

71.5%

of students believe feminism is needed in today’s society. of students admitted to having been discouraged from participating in something because of their gender.

of students believe there is more pressure on females to conform to the media standard of beauty. news Oct. 2014

EVENING OF CABARET

The choir is getting ready for Evening of Cabaret Nov. 7. The cabaret was one of the biggest fundraising events for the choir. PHOTO BY ARTURO SANCHEZ-VERA

A look at choir’s biggest fundraiser.

ne of choir’s biggest fundraisers, Evening of Cabaret, is Nov 7 at 7:30 p.m. in the cafeteria. The night will include performances from each of the school’s five choirs, as well as solos and small ensembles. Students auditioned for the solos, duets and small ensembles in early October in front of a group of senior choir students and choir teacher Elise Peterson. Sophomore Zach Greer is singing “Razzle Dazzle,” a solo from the show Chicago. Greer was happy that he auditioned in front of his peers. “The pressure isn’t as big as say, adult judges that you don’t know. With people you know you kinda feel a little more relaxed because you know that they want you to succeed, whereas people you don’t know, like adult judges, is a little more nerve-racking,” Greer said. The group of three or four students that helps with judging auditions also helps with all the details for the night, including the programs, publicity, announcements

e k a T e... Not 08

ANDREA SMITH &

Oct. 2014

news

and selling tickets. Tickets cost $5 for students across the district and $10 for adults. Ticket money includes a dessert and goes to help the choir. “As we all know, school funding isn’t as good as it used to be, and therefore we use these types of funds when we do events like this to help pay for participation costs, to pay for our accompanist that the district doesn’t cover all of what she’s here. We also use it to replace things that we need in our classroom,” Peterson said. Peterson encourages everyone to come enjoy a night of music that helps the choir program. “I think it’s one of those concerts that people really enjoy because it’s very lighthearted music. It’s not as formal as per se a concert where you sit in an auditorium and you’re not supposed to make any noise and that kind of stuff…,” Peterson said. “It’s just a lighthearted, entertaining evening where it’s not the same traditional music that you might hear if you go to a choir concert.” Amelia Holcomb

Senior s Sidne y and Si dney S Holler i m mons, and ju n Sturm iors Kris and Em Tapko were s ma elected as par ti the KU cipants for Med Ce 2014 D octor f nter’s or a Da event y Oct. 15 .

graphics by Rose Pollina

rit al Me Nation alists: n Semifi Isaac s r o i n e, se lia Ros u J , n a n Lan s ee er eth W Elizab gina Yan e and R n y Ster Stanle ed 2014 am was n eacher T Gifted e of the t a c o Adv Year

THE RETURN OF THE WISHBOX

he Student Council Wish Box is back in action. Last year, the wish box was around, but not publicized as much. “I think it is cool that they have it again this year. Not a lot of people did it last year because they didn’t know about it. But since they have advertised it more this year, more people are getting involved and excited about it,” senior Bethany Brautman said. StuCo has publicized the Wish Box during assemblies, on the announcements and through social media. “It was a good thing to do in our budget and a fun thing for StuCo to spend the extra money on,” StuCo treasurer Miah Gray said. In October, they granted five wishes. In September, they granted three wishes including one from senior Gillian O’Brien. She wished for an A in Tony Budetti’s AP American government class. “I knew they were going

Mr. Pep Club: Sam Stueve Mr. Track & Field: Brendan Brooks Mr. NHS: James Jeong Mr. Latin Club: Max Oellien

Mr. Orchestra: Alejandro Diaz

Learn more about the Canned Food Drive at smsouthnews.com

Mr. AmeriCAN

Football: Ryan Donnelly Band: Ben Luancing Golf: Charlie Johnson Baseball: Joe Parsa Cross Country: Brandon Maxey KSMS: Pete McAtee

Senior Gillian O’Brien wished for an ‘’A’’ in Tony Budetti’s AP American Government class. The StuCo execs decided to give her a cardboard ‘’A’’. photo by Arturo Sanchez-Vera

Candidates

Mr. Mr. Mr. Mr. Mr. Mr.

to do something creative. I didn’t think they would take it literally,” O’Brien said. StuCo gave her a giant-sized A made out of cardboard during her class. “It was pretty cool. I made seven wishes and I’ve never had a wish granted,” O’Brien said. The rest of September wishes were granted to freshman Chris Wolfe, who wanted English teacher Caroline Ewing to rap the bell music, and senior Sidney Holler, who wanted to play music during lunch. Every Wednesday, the StuCo representatives are in the lunch room walking around or sitting in the back of the cafeteria trying to get more wishes. They are drawing one wish a week. Towards the end of the month, they will grant all the wishes. “We decide on ones that are plausible and would be fun to do,” Gray said. Andrea Smith

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news Oct. 2014

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STAFF EDITORIAL

sexual harassment is everyone’s problem

n a world where women can’t walk down the street without being whistled at, or wear a short skirt without being demeaned, thinking that sexual harassment isn’t a prevalent issue is simply just incorrect. And until we learn to stop telling people that they deserved to be raped because of what they’re wearing, that’s not going to change. Until we learn that women aren’t objects and are just as qualified as men, that’s not going to change. Until we start treating women like equal human beings, that’s not going to change. But it needs to change. How can people possibly think that it’s their right to touch someone else without their consent? How do some people find enjoyment in making people uncomfortable by making unnecessary sexual comments? No one is entitled to anyone else’s body. No one has any right to judge anyone else for what they’re wearing. We need to bring an end to slut-shaming and victim-blaming. A woman has the right to wear shorts or a crop top or whatever else she wants without dealing with the constant fear of being sexually harassed. What someone wears in no way lessens his or her value as a person. And it is definitely not an excuse for anyone to treat a woman inappropriately. And no, she was not “asking for it.” Believe it or not, sometimes people dress for themselves, to make themselves feel good. Someone’s attire is not

an invitation for you to put your hands on them. Men are human beings, not animals. They should have enough self-control to be able to refrain from forcing themselves upon a woman. Sexual harassment and rape are present everywhere. And because of it girls are told to “dress more conservatively” or “show less skin.” As if being raped is the victim’s fault and it’s their job to prevent it from happening. But how is a rapist’s lack of self-control in any way the victim’s fault? It’s about time we starting teaching people to “not rape” instead of “how to not get raped.” And without a doubt, men get raped as well, which is equally a problem. However, not only does it happen significantly less often, but no one tells a man to dress or act differently to stop it from happening. If someone has the intention to commit rape, they’re going to do it regardless of what a woman is wearing. Oscar Wilde once said, “Everything in the world is about sex, except sex. Sex is about power.” And maybe that’s why people sexually harass others. To feel powerful. In this male-dominated society where women are looked at as lesser beings than men, men feel the need to show their superiority. Once we realize that gender doesn’t determine our ability and femininity isn’t a negative quality we can start on our way towards eliminating sexual harassment.

8/8 EDITORS AGREE WITH THE VIEWS EXPRESSED IN THIS EDITORIAL

opinion Oct. 2014

H E FOR

S H E 12

photos by katie imes

Oct. 2014 opinion

Third-wave feminism opens doors for men as well as women.

am constantly surprised by how many of my male friends refuse to acknowledge feminism as a valid movement, much less support it. I confided this in my younger brother the other day to which he threw up his hands and replied, “How? Do they even know what feminism is?” For the first time in a long while, I considered my sibling’s point. Since the rise of organized first-wave feminism in the early 20th Century, “feminism” has been regarded as a scary word to men in opposition. More recently, the same fear has rang true for women, who worry of offending male friends and colleagues. “Of course I’m not a feminist!” women across America insist. “Because I think men and women are equal.” Excuse me, ma’am, you may want to take a look at what feminism means. As any dictionary or feminist within earshot will tell you, feminism is the belief in the political, social and economic equality of the sexes. Do you think women deserve equal pay? You’re a feminist. Do you think it’s only fair to split the check instead of footing the price of the date with a male partner? Feminist. Are you opposed to the unfair expectations imposed on men to be tough, testosterone-fueled, unemotional rocks? Congratulations, you’re a feminist! Now hold on a second, that sounds like an awfully beneficial movement for men. Indeed it is. You see, feminism is not a movement made exclusively for women. It wouldn’t be equality of the sexes if feminists only broke down unfair expectations for women. Men shouldn’t be held to high standards of masculinity or be ridiculed or feel embarrassed by acting feminine. “Move it, ladies!” “You fight like a girl.”

“He cried like a bitch.” Ever notice how femininity and womanhood is used an insult? Society likes to forget that men are put through similar expectations to be powerful, masculine in every facet of life. The social inequalities between men and women are at their most obvious and harmful when discussing rape culture, which is defined by Marshall University as “an environment in which rape is prevalent and in which sexual violence against women is normalized and excused in the media and popular culture.” Rape culture is destructive and, for women in particular, inescapable. Rape culture is teaching women how to avoid rape, instead of teaching men how not to rape. It’s scrutinizing a woman’s sexual history, blood alcohol level and skirt length to prove she’s telling the truth when reporting a sexual assault. And teaching our daughters how to protect themselves against sexual assault, instead of teaching our sons not to rape. Rape culture is assuming that men can never get raped, and those who do were either too weak or “enjoyed it.” Rape culture says that men must be dominant socially and sexually to be accepted and well-liked. The pressure placed on a guy to “score,” and a girl to be flattered by his advances. This normalization and tolerance of gendered violence harms women and makes men look like callused monsters. Trivializing sexual harassment with phrases like “boys will be boys” only perpetuates the idea that men

have no self-control. Yet, surprisingly, men are the first to jump on this excuse, despite all the negative connotations for their own sex that come with it. “Teenage boys are hormonal. What can you do?” You could try treating me with basic human decency. Funny enough, I have hormones too. Desires. Having female reproductive organs doesn’t count me innocent of standard teenage deviancy, just like how being male doesn’t make boys degenerates incapable of controlling themselves. Dress codes telling girls to cover their shoulders, midriffs and backs so boys can focus on schoolwork assumes that boys cannot function, much less participate in class, if they see a female’s bare skin 6 feet away from them. It’s ridiculous, and it’s unfair to force girls into modest clothing while concluding boys are so burdened by this mythical, animalistic urge every time they see a girl’s shoulders. Boys, tell me exactly how many assignments you couldn’t accomplish because of a girl’s strapless dress two desks away? Yes, feminism holds men accountable to be respectful in moments of temptation, but only because feminists know that they are capable of doing so. Equality comes with responsibility. But it’s worth it. Feminism is a movement worth fighting for, to knock down expectations neither gender can satisfy to the fullest, to build a steady playing field until men and women have the same opportunities. Equality has been an uphill battle. And it will continue to be one. American women, particularly in red states, don’t have politicians in their corner fighting for women’s healthcare, with recent Supreme Court decisions limiting contraceptive coverage, hormone treatment for trans women and access to safe abortions. Lastly, equality requires the presence of both women and men to reach attainability. Leave the entire feminist movement to be represented by only one gender? Do you even know what feminism is? Emily WIlkinson

opinion Oct. 2014

THE DEBATE F

SAT: Kendall Barker

SAT VS ACT

VS ACT: Avery Dorsey

he ACT is a nationwide test that represents to colleges your college readiness. It’s a straightforward test, measuring what you’ve taken in from your English, reading, science and math classes. The SAT on the other hand, is meant to trick you. It takes maneuvering and lots of practice to be accustomed to the SAT’s style, and that’s why I side with the ACT. The SAT intentionally tries to mislead you. Made up of 10 tests, you’re forced to lose focus by jumping from one subject to the next. If you’re not a human dictionary, then I recommend avoiding the daunting vocabulary of the SAT. The ACT looks more at your overall language skills while the SAT emphasises memorizing vocabulary. The ACT is content based and answers can be found by common sense or reading the passage. For example, on the math portion, there may be a question that you don’t remember the equation for. Well most ACT questions are direct enough and are typically integers to give you an educated guess. On the English section you can do OK by just relying on how the sentence sounds. Does it sound eloquent? By using this tip, you eliminate errors easier. I lose focus fast, so the ACT is perfect because it’s split into four sections for an overall time of 3 hours and 25 minutes with only one break of about 10 minutes. The SAT is 3 hours and 20 minutes but including all of the gaps of lengthy breaks, the time exceeds that of the ACT. The ACT is also less stressful because you have the option of busting out an essay in 30 minutes rather than 25 minutes compared to the SAT. The ACT essay prompt is much simpler because it’s relatable and controversial, allowing you to have your voice heard as the counterargument. The SAT on the other hand is over a broad issue requiring examples from history, literature, etc. Choose the ACT over the SAT. Instead of jumping from section to section, the ACT is broken up into four sections. The overall content of the ACT is mostly reasoning, straightforward, and easy to decipher. Guessing is also encouraged on the ACT because you aren’t penalized for wrong answers. On the SAT you lose one-fourth of a point per wrong answer. The ACT is the best choice over the SAT as your way to prove to colleges your college readiness.

Oct. 2014 opinion

our years of essays, tests and late-nights spent putting the finishing touches on a project lead up to one of the most stressful processes a high school student experiences: the college application process. Among the stress of sending recommendations, writing essays and persevering through interviews, students applying to colleges and universities must take either the ACT or SAT tests. In the interest of being accepted to their first-choice college and generally receiving a more accurate gauge of their composite knowledge from their high school years, students should take the SAT instead of the ACT. The SAT is prepared and administered by the College Board. The College Board defines the SAT as a globally recognized college admission test that lets you show colleges what you know and how well you can apply that knowledge. Specifically, the SAT tests reading, writing and math skills. The College Board’s attentiveness and dedication to the test is part of what makes the SAT the superior option to the ACT. College Board’s website contains numerous pages filled with practice questions, test-taking advice, and in-depth descriptions of the test that help the really dedicated student perform to the best of their ability on test day. The ACT places a greater emphasis on the test-takers’ achievement, while the SAT is more of an aptitude test. This means that the SAT measures not only knowledge, but a student’s capacity for learning and growing as well, making it the superior choice. Until recently, every Ivy League school, along with many prestigious universities along the East Coast, only accepted the SAT from applicants. Most colleges and universities only recently began to accept both the SAT and the ACT for applications. Even in the 2000s, the SAT still seems to be the popular choice amongst students applying to Ivy League schools. A study by the New York Times for the 2006-7 school year reported that 99 percent of students submitted their SAT scores with their application, and only 18 percent bothered to send ACT scores. Other highly ranked schools, such as Stanford and Cornell, reported similar numbers, with 96 percent of Stanford applicants submitting SAT scores and only 25 percent submitting ACT scores, and 98 percent of Cornell applicants submitting the SAT and 20 percent submitting ACT scores. Some students do perform better on the ACT than the SAT, but the SAT’s emphasis on aptitude rather than achievement, the fact that it is monitored and administered by the helpful and dependable college board, and the fact that many high ranking schools seem to prefer the SAT, all make the SAT the more practical test to take for students pursuing college acceptance.

The Results are in...

No 37%

Yes 63%

Total Voters: 145

Did the Shawnee Mission School District make the right decision by going paperless?

Go online to smsouthnews.com to vote for your opinion on this month’s debate!

PHOTOS BY KATIE IMES

Hobbies Paving the Way For Our Future Selves

ur hobbies have a way of defining us. The way we spend our free time contributes to who we are as a person. I’m not going to say that certain hobbies are necessarily better than others, but some definitely have more potential to shape us into more successful people. Just having hobbies in the first place can be a help. Hobbies help you recognize your talents and build your self-worth. You find things you are good at as well as what you are interested in. Spending your free time doing something such as taking up an instrument or playing a sport can be beneficial. Through doing this you learn discipline and perseverance. You come to understand that sometimes in life the end result of something is worth the time and effort you spend on it. You realize that you truly get out of life what you put into it. Hobbies in music can teach you patience. You put in hours of work to learn a piece, but the feeling you get when you succeed gives you enough motivation to keep doing it. Sports give you an understanding of what it’s like to work with others. You gain fundamental social skills and cooperation skills that will, without a doubt, come in handy in the future. So many things in life require a team effort. It’s necessary to learn how to work with others and understand their points of view. Hobbies such as music and

sports give you drive and motivation. Other common hobbies include reading books or watching movies. Hobbies such as these may not give you as many social skills, but they generate creativity and build knowledge. They shape you as a person in a different way. The list of positive hobbies is unending. However, sometimes people find themselves spending their time partaking in hobbies and habits that have a more negative impact. According to cbsnews.com, 42.5 percent of teens in the U.S. have participated in drug usage and 78 percent of teens have consumed alcohol. People who find themselves spending every waking minute of extra time they have participating in illegal activity are probably looking towards a less successful future. These people are devoting a significant amount of their time, energy and money to feeding their bad habits. They become dependent on things they might not always be able to have and can’t always function without them. Hobbies such as these make it difficult to become a high-functioning member of society. We’re all different and we all find happiness in doing different things. So find what makes you love getting up in the morning and motivates you to keep going. Find your passion. Find your hobby. Rola Alasmar

opinion Oct. 2014

No More Damsels in Distress

A fight against feminism’s worst misconceptions. graphics by rose pollina

Oct. 2014 features

he fierce violence and ruthless, manhating slander that occurred at the hands of passionate feminists in the 1960s and ‘70s has given the word “feminist” a dismally negative connotation. However, not all feminists are hardy, militant misandrists, and the term “anti-feminist” is not applicable solely to men. Young women today are ignorant of the reality of feminism because they have not faced the level of adversity that has plagued past generations, and too great a focus is placed on the destructive extremes of the fight for gender equality. The unsavory truth is that anti-feminism is an affluent issue that persists all over the world, and South is no exception. One of the most copious forms of antifeminism that can be seen today is female objectification. This form of misogyny has become so common because it can take place in public without the animadversion that cases of anti-feminism involving the infliction of physical injury often merit. “You see it daily pretty much, it’s generally men, catcalling women on the street or making obscene gestures or… casual comments towards women that make them feel objectified,” junior Kate Anderson said. Anderson is not the only student who believes women are habitually reduced to their gender. Many students at South are outraged at the level of degradation and offensive remarks that are made at the expense of women and young girls every day. “[Objectification is] like constant, ‘oh, you’re a b-word,’ and there’s more derogatory terms for females than there are for males. I can think of probably two male derogatory terms and I can think of hundreds of derogatory terms for females,” senior Abbey Loewen said. According to the American Psychological Association, women who are continually objectified are more prone to depression, have low self-esteem, lack ambition, and have lower GPA’s than women who are infrequently objectified. Furthermore, women and girls who are constantly objectified often begin to scrutinize themselves as a result. Anderson and Loewen both consider themselves feminists and are members of South’s new Feminist Club, an organization created by senior Katie Imes in an effort to raise awareness and teach South’s students about the issue of feminism. “I think feminism is mostly just common sense because the idea of equality for the sexes just makes sense to me,” Anderson said.

Women in Charge

Student Council Exec Board: Rachel Larberg, Morganne Veal, Autumn Mock and Miah Gray. “I think a lot of people see it as this man-hating culture, but I think the job that feminists have is to try to change that viewpoint of people and make it so it’s not this hateful community that feminism is, it’s that it’s more based on equality… I think the main thing we can do, one of the only things we can do, is to just bring awareness to the fact that this is an issue and we are trying to help and fix it and just bring light to this horrible thing.” A common misinterpretation of feminism is that females alone can advocate gender equality. Many men believe that they simply cannot be feminists due to their gender. This ludicrous idea is a myth, however, and South’s student body is fortunate enough to include a few male feminists among its ranks. “I’m a feminist because I think everyone deserves an equal chance no matter who they are,” freshman Jeffrey Wilkinson said. Wilkinson is proof that not all males are a source of anti-feminist aggression. The media, while often entertaining, has continually proven itself one of feminism’s most destructive opponents. The average teenager spends over 10 hours a day immersed in media consumption, which means they are constantly exposed to content that objectifies

The ladies are taking charge this year. The entire Student Council Executive Board is made up of girls, along with every class president. Photos by kaite imes

Senior Class President Rola Alasmar

Junior Class President Rachael Ashcraft

Sophomore Class President Cinthia Romo

features Oct. 2014

and distorts the female body. Essentially, young girls today are learning to see themselves as objects, and boys are being taught that the disparagement of the female form is acceptable. Despite the cyclic overtone of sexism, the media appears to be making a comeback as more and more popular celebrities are beginning to profess themselves feminists. In September, singer-songwriter Taylor Swift admitted that her friendship with actress Lena Dunham inspired her to declare herself a feminist. Swift said that she had been reluctant to call herself a feminist in the past, as she believed that feminist were over-the-top radicals. Swift’s friendship with Dunham taught her about modern feminism that focuses on gender equality rather than female supremacy. Most notably, Emma Watson’s United Nations speech provided an eloquent paradigm of Watson’s staunch belief in feminism. In her speech, Watson announced the launch of the HeForShe campaign, which will aim to educate one billion men and boys and motivate them to help reach gender equality. Watson epitomized the beliefs, hopes and fears of women all over the world, and warned that if action was not taken, it could take decades, even centuries, for women and girls to receive the same pay as men for the same work, to acquire the same level of education as men, and to be free from gender-based prejudice. Along with the HeForShe campaign, Watson addressed common gender stereotypes that affect most women. Watson discussed the fact that when most men take charge in leadership roles, they are seen as strong, adept guides, whereas when women act as leaders, they are often referred to as ‘bossy.’ This kind of inequality and disrespect is often overlooked by both men and women, and forces women to doubt themselves and their own

ability to lead. Despite the general feeling of female oppression throughout history and the fact that America has yet to see its first female president, every single Student Council executive at South this year is female, and 75 percent of the entire club is female. “I think naturally girls are more organized than guys… and that’s just something that comes naturally and may not have anything to do with ‘girls are better than guys,’ and they just take more of an interest in stuff like that because it has to do with dances and stuff like that,” junior class president Rachael Ashcraft said. “I mean, I know a lot of guys in StuCo and they think it’s pretty cool… it’s just a fun thing that everybody can do.” The abundance of female executives in South’s Student Council provides a stark contrast to the distinct lack of female politicians involved in American state and federal government. While countries such as South Korea, Germany, Argentina, and many more, have or had a female head of state, America seems to lag behind. However, the profusion of young women involved in student government today implies a future potential surge in the number of women holding a state of federal office. Women such as Madeleine Albright and Hillary Clinton have paved an impressive path for future women in the field of politics, but it is still difficult for women such as these to escape being referred to as ‘pushy,’ or ‘bossy.’ Aside from sexism at school or in the workplace, female oppression is a consistent issue in the home. Every 9 seconds, a woman in the U.S. is assaulted or beaten. Abuse between partners in their homes, called domestic violence, is anything ranging from the obstreperous infliction of profanity and ridicule to flat-out shooting. If harming one’s wife or girlfriend is not bad enough, this monstrous behavior transcends generations. Men who witness their parents’ domestic violence as children are twice as likely to mercilessly abuse their own spouses.

“Feminism means gender equality and seeing both genders as equal and also seeing people who don’t necessarily identify as one gender as equal.” -senior Abbey Loewen

EQUALITY 18

Oct. 2014 features

Feb. 19 brought with it a highly publicized example of domestic violence. The release of an elevator security tape displaying a brutal punch dealt by NFL running back Ray Rice to his then-fiancé, Janay Palmer, amassed sizeable scrutiny. The tape showed the pair enter an elevator before the eruption of what appeared to be a heated dispute that ultimately resulted in Rice throwing a punch that left Palmer out cold on the elevator floor. The disturbing tape proved itself remarkably effective in rousing domestic violence assailants all over the country. Aside from criticizing Rice for the offensive attack, advocates for women’s’ rights have also chastised Palmer’s refusal to leave Rice after the assault. In many relationships involving domestic violence, it is common for the victim to harbor feelings of shame and guilt, and it can often take years, or even a lifetime, before an abusive relationship is ended. Unfortunately, abusive relationships don’t always originate with adult couples. Abusive relationships between teenagers are commonly referred to as date violence. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, teen dating violence is sexual, physical, or psychological/emotional violence within a dating relationship, including stalking. In an average year, the number of high school students that are abused by a partner exceeds 1.5 million. Without raising proper awareness of the dangers of dating violence, teenagers can become trapped in an abusive relationship long before realizing how unhealthy their situation is. An infinitesimal 33 percent of teens who have been physically or sexually abused ever told anyone. Essentially, many of the issues faced by American women today are different from those presented to women in the 1960s and ‘70s. Women today are able to vote, can legally acquire the same jobs as men, and can achieve the same levels of education as men. However, the fight for gender equality persists in the United States today, because

The Reality of the Issue

graphics by rose pollina

while the law declares the sexes equal, women and girls still face adversity in numerous social circumstances. “Feminism means gender equality and seeing both genders as equal and also seeing people who don’t necessarily identify as one gender as equal.” Loewen said. There are many people who claim that feminism is excessive, and that complaints made by feminists are over-exaggerated. Feminists today are not masses of angry women flooding the streets with large signs and burning bras in hand. The undeniable truth, however, is that women and girls today continue to endure inequality resulting from their gender. Demeaning, anti-feminist remarks are just as unacceptable as dating violence, and both of these habits are far too widely tolerated today. Men and women are different, but one gender is not better than the other. Women have to learn that feminism is not shameful, and that gender equality is a practical, beneficial goal that holds the promise of creating a world where everyone has a voice, and every man and woman has the chance to become the best version of themselves. kendall barker

1 out of 7 women today call themselves feminists.

While women are earning 60% of degrees in college, only 14.6% are going on to hold executive positions in the workplace.

Statistics from forbes.com and loveisrespect.org 1 out of 4 high school girls have been victims of physical or sexual abuse.

1 out of 6 women are survivors of rape or attempted rape.

features Oct. 2014

Q&A with ASHLEE THAO 20

Oct. 2014 features

shlee Thao, a freshman girl who jumped right into high school, has an attitude and mindset that sets her apart from her peers. Because she is blind, many think that Thao’s life is much different, but in reality she is able to do her homework, play an instrument and take on school just like any other high school student. Thao has not shied away from getting involved at South and within the community. She is constantly buzzing around school with confidence and love for all she does.

1. What makes high school challenging? The fact that the teachers expect more out of you academically, and you have some peers that you have grown up with all your life. But no, I haven’t grown up with my peers because I have moved around three times, so my peers are going to expect more from me as well.

2. How do you navigate the hallways?

Easy enough. It’s simple. All you have to do is map and remember. I came to South a little bit last year, and then I have had a person shadowing me maybe the past three weeks to begin with and after that I felt pretty comfortable on my own.

3. How do you use the technology? It depends on what’s going on. I still use the MacBooks Airs, but there are flaws with it. But I still use my braille display. I just have to work with what I have every day.

4. What are some of the things you struggle with on a daily basis? I never really thought about it but every day is a challenge. I honestly just go with what comes my way, but the hardest thing I find in school is geometry. It’s very visual and the teacher is sometimes on the board which is not on the notes and I get very confused.

5. Can you explain your traditional school day? Usually I get up in the morning and finish my homework at five in the morning and then once I get to school it’s fly by the seat of your pants. I have to rush to print or email all my assignments to my teachers and my first hour is study hall so we work on anything I am struggling with and then Latin, orchestra, social studies, science, geometry, and then English.

6. What are you involved in inside and outside of school? Inside of school I am involved in orchestra, and most of my extracurricular activities are Student Council and Club 121 and those are the two that I am most committed to. I am also involved in my church like the youth choir which sings every Sunday, and also confirmation classes start in January.

7. What are your goals? My short term goals include, trying to get straight A’s the best I can. I also want to be more involved because as a person. As for my long term goals I want to make it to college. I think my top school ever since I was a little girl was Juilliard. Rachel Larberg photos by katie Imes

Features Oct. 2014

Social Media Trap S

Body image issues are on the rise as popular websites lure teens into their risky environments.

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Oct. 2014 Features

TWITTER PHOTO CONTEST Students tweeted @smspatriot pictures of their past Halloween costumes and The Patriot staff picked the top four photos. The next contest theme will be to send in your funniest Snapchat screenshot to @smspatriot.

1. Junior Joe Stokes 2. Senior Bethany Brautman 3. Freshman Jeffrey Wilkinson Batman Eeyore and junior Emily Wilkinson @joestokes25 @bbraut_6 Lion and mouse @jwilksswagmaster

4. Senior Kristen Shaw and senior Alexis Almloff Oompa Loompas @_kristenrenae

A&E Oct. 2014

SUPERPOWERS EMPOWER MOVIEGOERS

uperheroes are hot. Actors and actresses donning masks and costumes are becoming increasingly more commonplace in movies. Superhero movies have exploded in popularity in the 21st Century. But why are superhero movies so popular? “Superhero movies help people project their problems into something that is greater than reality,” junior Josiah Swim said. “They use these movies to escape; they create a fantasy where problems can be solved with super powers.” People like superhero movies because they can provide uplifting support to self esteem and make people feel as though they, like a superhero, are capable of anything. Superhero movies that concern the hero’s origin story are particularly uplifting. In the world of comic books, an origin story is a back-story revealing how a character or team gained their superpowers and/or the circumstances under which they became superheroes or super villains. Take Captain America for example: He is an everyday American who is too unhealthy to be drafted into the army, but he doesn’t give up trying to join the army to fight for the country he loves. Then he takes the Super Soldier Serum

and is given the tools necessary (i.e. his superhuman abilities) to save the world from the Red Skull. Origin stories like Steve Roger’s (Captain America) and Tony Stark’s (Iron Man), give hope to many viewers who perhaps think they too can someday surpass their limitations and become heroes. “An origin story is important because it shows that there has to be a beginning to the superhero,” senior Max Oellien said. “You want to seem them as human as possible.” If it isn’t obvious already, superhero movies are very popular with children. Otherwise they wouldn’t be dressing up as Batman, Iron Man, and Wonder Woman every Halloween. When they’re not idolizing their parents they’re looking up to superheroes. “I believe we need superhero movies just because they influence kids and give them role-models to look up to,” junior Antonio Phan said. The main reason superhero movies are such a box office success at this time is because when people are hit with hard times like repression and high unemployment and the seems inhospitable, superhero movies give people the courage to go on and face the issues affecting the nation. “Superhero movies show superheros solving massive problems, which can be scaled

down and give us inspiration to solve our own problems within our lives,” Swim said. Marvel is the most popular superhero universe at the moment because across the board they have the most characters with relatable flaws. “The reason why [their flaws] relate to us is because we all have strengths and weaknesses,” Phan said. “It’s just a question of how do we deal with it, how do we use our strengths to lessen our weaknesses.” Thor is rash, Captain American sometimes too good natured and Black Widow has a troubled past she will do anything to cover up. Anyone can be rash, anyone can be too good natured and many people have secrets that they would do anything to hide. The point is, flaws are what make a superhero relatable. Being relatable makes people like them. Superhero movies also provide people with morals for their everyday lives such as: saying no to prejudice (X-Men) and understanding the perils of scientific research (Iron Man). The most important thing someone can learn from the movies is that not just superheroes, but anyone can overcome their problems and help others. ROSE POLLINA

PHOTO BY ARTURO SANCHEZ-VERA

UPCOMING SUPERHERO MOVIES 2015

May 1 Avengers: Age of Ultron

Oct. 2014 A&E

July 17 Ant-Man August 7 Fantastic 4

February 12 Deadpool

2016

May 27 X-Men: Apocalypse May 6 Captain America 3

THE

FINAL SAY

Sushi: a craveable Japanese delicacy, and an expensive one at that. With Japanese restaurants popping up all over town, Emily Wilkinson, Nanae Urano and Rola Alasmar take “The Great Sushi Dive” to find the highest quality, the lowest price and the final say.

Sushi House 5041 W 117th St, Leawood

Happy hour | Mon-Sat: 3-6 p.m.

Tucked away in the heart of a Leawood strip mall, Sushi House is an unassuming restaurant right across the street from Ra. The ambiance is just as understated, with only a few tables, booths and tatami rooms near the front. The food, however, was anything but mild. After an impressively fast waiting time, we were first treated to their specialty, the Godzilla roll, which was a combination of flavors that melded beautifully. The spicy temptation roll was just as enticing. The only kicker: the price. We only consumed two menu items and left nearly $30 poorer.

PHOTO BY Rola ALASMAR

Ra 11638 Ash St, Leawood

Happy hour | Mon–Fri: 4–7 p.m., Mon–Sat: 10p.m–12 a.m., Sun: 8p.m.–12 a.m.

Next on the agenda was Ra, by far one of the more well-known sushi restaurants in the area. However, after this experience, we began to wonder as to why that might be. Ra is not a place for introverts, or really extroverts either. The atmosphere is dark, with pop music blaring and attractive workers around every corner. It’s like eating at an Abercrombie and Fitch, not a sushi restaurant. We were unimpressed with both rolls we ordered, the Tootsy Maki and crunchy calamari. Had it not been happy hour, the price would’ve been completely outrageous for the unexceptional sushi. PHOTO BY Rola ALASMAR

Sushi Gin 9559 Nall Ave, Overland Park Happy hour | Mon-Sat: 5-7 p.m.

Known to Overland Park sushi-goers as the best Japanese food on a budget, Sushi Gin truly lives up to the hype. Although the quality is by no means like Sushi House, their sushi is still pretty great. All the items on the menu are affordable, especially on happy hour when the prices go as low as $2 for one roll. In fact, everything was so affordable, our group splurged and ordered far more than our designated two-rolls-perrestaurant rule, purchasing everything from your standard California roll to eel. PHOTO BY EMILY WILKINSON

THE FINAL SAY

Although Sushi House goes above and beyond in terms of quality and overall experience, the prices are by no means teenager friendly. Sushi Gin has quality sushi and, on a young adult’s budget, it’s the place to get sushi. Emily Wilkinson

A&E Oct. 2014

REVIEWS Movie Review

‘Girl’ Takes Viewers on Lengthy Thrill Ride

arely do I find the patience to sit through a movie lasting upwards of 2 1/2 hours. Long movie syndrome: when the eyes of moviegoers start to glaze over and all of a sudden the curtains around the screen become more interesting than the movie itself. I strapped myself in for David Fincher’s latest, Gone Girl, expecting roughly the same experience. At 2 hours and 25 minutes, I was sure my interest would peak at less than halfway through. To my surprise and delight, Gone Girl made use of every minute, placing the moviegoer straight into the mystery. On the fifth anniversary of their rocky marriage, Amy Dunne (Rosamund Pike) turns up missing, accompanying what appears to be a botched cover up of a murder scene in her house, placing her husband, Nick

Album Review Up and Coming Artist’s New Album Doesn’t Disappoint

o-Fang released five amazing new songs on his new album Every Night on Oct. 21. Not only did these songs include a cello version of the song “When We’re Fire,” the album added four other entirely new songs with the longest song being 7 minutes. It is obvious that Matthew Hemerliene put a lot of effort into these songs. I even think the new version of “When We’re Fire” was better than the original. For me, this album gave me chills and makes my day much better. In the last album Blue Film, Lo-Fang wrote a song that’s called “Confusing Happiness” that is basically asking the question: if he dreamed of someone perfect would they come alive? In this album the song “Silver” goes on about how that person did come alive and the repercussions of “making a soul from scratch.” I think this was really creative and connects the two albums together. Lo Fang plays all of the instruments in his songs, that includes the bass, guitar, cello, piano and the violin. His music tries to create a balance between feminine and masculine tones by combining all of the instruments that he plays. He learned to play the violin when he was 5, and when he was older, he continued to help children learn how to play different instruments. In conclusion, Lo Fang is fantastic and he has been fantastic since he was a kid, so why not fall in love with him and his music. Katie Imes

Oct. 2014 A&E

(Ben Affleck), as the prime suspect. Gone Girl is a movie adaptation of the book by the same name written by Gillian Flynn, who is also billed as the screenwriter for the movie, and without the original writer’s influence, I doubt the plot would’ve been as well-rounded. Gone Girl is intense with a capital I. It’s gory and highly sexual and exhilarating and everything your parents probably don’t feel comfortable with you watching for 2 hours and 25 minutes. That said, go see it anyway. Gone Girl is a shining example of what the modern mystery movie should be, and that’s a story that mystifies as much as it encourages the viewer to crack the case before the characters, using every second to its advantage. It’s like long movie syndrome never even existed. EMILY WILKINSON

“I use fashion to express myself when words can’t.”

DRESSED TO IMPRESS

JUNIOR KATE ANDERSON

TOP | KOHLS SCARF | GIFT

PHOTOS BY JENNA FACKRELL

SHOES | DSW SHORTS | AMERICAN APPAREL

TOP | FOREVER 21 SKIRT | URBAN OUTFITTERS

A CLOSER LOOK WATCH FRANCESCA’S

SANDALS BIRKENSTOCKS

NECKLACE URBAN OUTFITTERS

A&E Oct. 2014

ROGER GOODELL IS NOT IN A GOOD POSITION

accusation of sexual assault. team,” senior Gillian O’Brien said. When attention to animal Senior Matthew Hollingsworth assault hit the scene due to Vick, agreed. Goodell suspended Vick six games “He hid it from the public in order to beyond his 18 month prison time. protect his players and his self-worth,” National The following Hollingsworth said. Football season, Pittsburgh TMZ’s video S t e e l e r s release of Rice League’s quarterback punching said, then Commissioner questions Roethlisberger was accused of sexual wife, Janay Palmer, how to handle new crimes need to be made. assault to a 20scandals and rumors year- old student nation’s progressing -Junior Matthew Plotas. at a nightclub in criticism and halted involving NFL althetes. a Georgia College Goodell’s streak of ince 2006, NFL commissioner town and was given escaping without Roger Goodell has been punched a six game suspension. penalty. with crisis’s left and right. The Both of these punishments seem a Goodell initially suspended Rice most recent being Ray Rice’s domestic tad light for animal abuse and sexual for two games on the understanding violence and the Adrian Peterson assault. On top of that, Goodell cut of the matter. When the video was child abuse issue. Every single one of Vick’s suspension to only two games these have brought the integrity and and Roethlisberger’s to four saying, composure of Goodell to question and “They’re making progress and there Goodell all this time to wait for proof to accusations to pop up. committed to making right decisions.” go public when the NFL probably had There’s no doubt Goodell is a seen it prior. Not only that, Peterson hardworking man, working his way crimes need to be made,” junior was indicted on charges of child up the ladder of the league since 1982. Matthew Plotas said. abuse, throwing Goodell and the NFL As commissioner though, he has been Without even allowing them to Rice will be expected to dodging issues every which way. continue counseling and that Goodell believes One such issue, is the never ending punishment, Goodell let these players Rice is sincere in his desire to learn from his problem of handling concussions. mistakes Even after multiple studies by teams. Goodell’s strategy in handling Goodell’s own committee of experts Goodell considers his job as issues and crises about the NFL and a “protection of the shield,” the damage of retired prominent shield with poor judgment. The punishments players, Goodell has being the NFL logo. placed on the NFL’s players and shown ignorance Instead of protection, owners has been soft, to what they to the facts. While The American is obsession with Goodell has escaped ought to be. head injuries still dangerous blows “He’s ignoring the issue and he occur, Goodell is football should not allow the NFL with a mere slap on needs to take his job more seriously,” only left to utter: the back of the hand. senior Erik Carmona said. “the medical experts to get away with things. He has continually Not only has Goodell been pleasing should be the ones gotten away scot the league over protecting the shield, to continue that free because of he has been covering up incidents -Senior Chris Gustanto debate.” the NFL’s soaring instead of doing what’s morally right. There are many “The American obsession with instances of Goodell using his powers owners everywhere with increasing football should not allow the NFL to to please both parties. One is Michael revenue. get away with things,” senior Chris “He wanted to protect Ray Rice and Gustanto said. Avery Dorsey and Ben Roethlisberger’s make sure he was still playing on the

“

”

Oct. 2014 sports

”

Rugby Doesn’t Bug Me

Rugby, the intense sport that is spreading to high schools all over the nation.

ozens of students, boys and girls, have participated in lacrosse, a sport which is spreading rapidly from the East coast to the rest of the country. In a similar way, rugby is reaching athletic programs in high schools and colleges. Within the past couple of years, St. Thomas Aquinas adopted rugby teams. South’s athletic department is gradually expanding, so

the real question is, should South get a rugby team? Rugby is a sport that features a mix of strength, speed and strategy in order to move the ball into an opponent’s territory. This is a full contact game where players wear little to no padding or protective equipment. In a way, rugby evolved from football, or soccer as we have learned, and is often called, “the game played in heaven,”

because athletes have been hit into an unconscious state on occasions when they do not wear protective equipment. The most interesting aspect of rugby is the scrum. The scrum is, an ordered formation of players, used to restart play. It looks like a basket beacuse players interlock arms and push forward against the opposing side. The ball is thrown into the scrum and the players try to gain possession of it by kicking it backward toward their own side. The concern is the risk of injury; the risk has dropped significantly in recent years, from three in four to one in four injuries.

[Sports Space] Rachel Larberg

[GOLF]

What are you and the team looking forward to this season? score in the actual opportunity to go to State because in the past 2 years I’ve been to State by myself and

”

thats no fun.

See what some of your seniors from fall sports have to say about this season. photos by Arturo Sanchez-Vera Quotes gathered by Andrea Smith

What are you and the team looking forward to this season?

“Having a team

Commonly, rugby doesn’t use padding or protective gear. Of course they have the ability to use safety equipment because in the end, it does not affect the outcome of the game. Seeing how dynamic South is with adopting new sports and athletic clubs made me think that rugby could eventually be a featured fall or spring sport at South. Many high schools are developing rugby teams and clubs for teens to participate in. This is a fast-paced game with aggressive athletes and interesting technique, just watching is an incredible experience. Lauren Rosenstock

“

A definite goal to improve each season. Also hopefully I can beat

” Lani Sander [TENNIS] my record last year.

What’s the best advice you’ve been given?

Alexis Almloff

“

Maddie Van Nortwick

If you’re running the race and you feel good you’re doing it wrong. It

[VOLLEYBALL]

should always hurt.

”

What are some changes to the team this year?

Brandon Maxey

“We have a lot of people coming back and new freshmen who are going to be really

”

good for the team.

[CROSS COUNTRY

]

[CROSS COUNTRY

]

What’s a fun bonding activity you all have done?

“A scavenger hunt.

Whoever won got free

”

Sonic.

sports Oct. 2014

Senior Sandis Simchuk, junior Natalie Warshaw, senior Trent Flagler and sophomore Cosmina Backs demonstrate their pre-game ritual. PHOTOS BY ARTURo SANCHEZ VERA

Mind Games

Pre-game rituals affect South athletes who share why they make a routine out of a simple action.

ake up. T-shirt, shorts. warmup jacket, pants. Eat cookies. Double check bag. Drive to South. Catch the bus. Put in music. Sleep. Unload the bus. Sleep. Warmup. Spikes, skip the socks, triple knot. Nervous sickness. Race. Every cross country meet senior Sandis Simchuk ensures that his pre-game rituals, eating cookies, not wearing socks and triple knotting his spikes, are fulfilled. “I always have cookies before a meet, no matter what time of day,” Simchuk said. With the cookies, to not only calm Simchuk down, they mentally prepare and energize him, along with his choice to not wear socks and triple knot his spikes, which add to his comfort level during the race, Simchuk is ready to succeed. Like many others, the Simchuk and junior Natalie Warshaw’s rituals started back in the middle school years when they began cross country. Warshaw has a similar ritual. Before

Oct. 2014 sports

every meet, Warshaw eats a banana, even though she claims she does not like bananas. Pre-game rituals aren’t strictly a cross country thing though. The exercise of pre-game rituals stretch across all sports. Sophomore Cameron Maxey, a varsity soccer player, is another South athlete that has an interesting pre game ritual. Before every game, he likes to spray water on himself with a Gatorade water bottle. “It happened during the summer when I was playing club soccer, and it was really hot, so I’d always dump water on myself,” Maxey said. “Then, the first game we had this year, it was really hot again, so at first I just did it to refresh myself, but now I do it to wake up and get ready for the game.” Some people may argue that having a ritual like that would have no effect on the person’s overall performance in a game, including teammates. Maxey and many other, may defend their rituals because rituals often offer a sense of relief of the stresses put on athletes mentally, physically or spiritually. Not all rituals have to be physical actions though. Sophomore varsity gymnast Cosmina Backs has a mental ritual at the start of every meet.

“I always tell myself to pretend that this is the last meet that I could ever compete in, so I try to make it my best,” Backs said. Where do people draw the line on whether something is a pre-game ritual or a superstition? Many people agree with the idea that a ritual is more of an action that has beneficial effects, while superstitions are more of an action that has no logical reason or effects, it’s simply a routine created by the individual that they rely on to be good luck. Senior varsity football player Trent Flagler has a superstition before every game. Since freshman year, the night before every football game, he hangs everything in his locker a certain way. Even he admits that it probably has zero effect on his playing. “[I do it because] I feel like it’s bad luck if it’s not, even if I’m proven wrong, I still do it,” Flagler said. No matter how understandable or ridiculous an athlete’s ritual or superstition is though, it makes the person feel better and more confident the day of a game. “Routine becomes comfortable, and it’s not good when you aren’t comfortable,” Simchuk said. Autumn Mock

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photos by Jenna Fackrell

1 Junior Laura Kariuke goes through dress rehearsal for the fall play Pippin. She was playing the narrator for the show. Kariuke has been a part of various school plays, either as a character or working behind the scenes. â&#x20AC;&#x153;[Pippin] is different because we break the fourth wall, and that we interact with the audience, which is really awesome.â&#x20AC;? Kariuke said. 2 Freshman Christian Carcamo gets his face painted green and gold at Green Friday hosted by KSMS.

3 The gymnastics team joins together for a chant after they finish performing at the Homecoming assembly. 4 Pep executives pose for the camera after they finish painting the demolition car for students to destroy at the Homecoming bonfire.

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Seniors Regina Yan and Ben Iba win Homecoming King and Queen at the Homecoming football game. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I was really excited for everyone who was nominated. It was a crazy whirlwind night, and just to experience it with these wonderful people made it especially wonderful,â&#x20AC;? Yan said.

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