Sms patriot september 2013 by SMS Patriot

patriot The

SHAWNEE MISSION SOUTH HIGH SCHOOL

THE PRIVACY ISSUE

SEPTEMBER 2013 . VOLUME 48 . ISSUE 01

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Table of contents September 2013

ISSUE 01

Arts & Entertainment

Meet the Staff CALVIN FREEMAN Editor-in-Chief

RACHEL ROSENSTOCK Asst. Editor-in-Chief A&E Editor

HAYLEIGH CHUDIK News Editor

ROLA ALASMAR Opinions Editor

LUKE HOLLAND Features Editor

GARRETT MOULD Sports Editor

ETHAN STONE Photo Editor

CHRIS MANGA Web Editor

Band performing at half time of the first football game against Shawnee Mission West on Sept. 6. PHOTO BY HANNAH HOLLANDER

MIGUEL PALOMINO Ads Editor

ROSE POLLINA Copy Editor

TERESA HEDIGER Infogaphic Editor

TRIVETTE KNOWLES Writer

GRIFFIN ZELLER Writer

LAUREN ROSENSTOCK Writer

MACKENNA BARKER Writer

DANIELLE LAUDICK Writer

EMILY WILKINSON Writer

ARIELLA DAVIDSON Writer

DEZARAE DUFFEY Photographer

JENNA FACKRELL Photographer

BROOKE HOLMES Photographer

HANNAH HOLLANDER Photographer

JULIE FALES Adviser

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. For online news go to www.smsouthnews.com

An inside look at the local high school band The Amusement

A look at how a few TV characters have changed from season to season

Senior staff writers go in depth about trending styles and our obsession with tabloids

Student reviews on Lorde, Insidious 2, Avicii, and This is Not a Writing Manual

Sports

News 04

International Club welcomes 12 new foreign exchange students

A Football insider as varsity opens up their 2013 campaign

Multiple teachers’ career decisions include returning for 2013 school year

Senior basketball star Devin Newsome signs with division 1 Omaha University

STUCO unveils new ideas, band prepares for upcoming performances

South intoduces a number of new coaches to various sports programs

Changes in pizza line cause lunch room disturbance

Sports with Garrett: an analysis of our hometown KC Royals performance over the years

opinions 08

Two staff writers debate on whether having more privacy is worth having less security

Sophomore expresses feelings on teachers’/bosses’ social media involvement

Editors share thoughts on narcissistic social media behavior

Senior voices disapproval for whistle-blowers, sophomore questions why we cover scandals

Photo Essay 24

A spread of top photos from the past month

Features 12

What are the pro’s and con’s of having social media profiles?

A peek at what those in charge have to say about different SMS clubs

Q & A with Pep Executive, Wrestling team captain and varsity Football player Rasheed

Senior and Pep Club executive Chase Allison shows his enthusiasm at the Sept. 5 assembly.

PHOTO BY JENNA FACKRELL

TOC

NEW FACES FROM FAR PLACES students discover American high school life BY MACKENNA BARKER

ver 50 students crammed themselves into Room 378 after school Aug. 30 for the first International Club meeting. The meeting, which ultimately had to be moved to the cafeteria due to the unexpectedly large attendance, saw International Club’s greatest turnout in years. The rows upon rows of cafeteria tables surrounded with numerous students from every which grade, club, sport and group, all there in order to officially meet the 12 new students, is indicative of the stronger presence of international students at South and the student body’s growing interest in them. Studying abroad is no foreign concept these days. If anyone has been to a college visit or fair, they know that the studying abroad program is brought up by counselors and college representatives everywhere. The idea of spending a year receiving an education in a different country is becoming more attractive and something that more students are seeking. In the last three decades, the amount of students studying abroad each year has increased by over 400 percent. Through programs such as Rotary or AIFS (American Institute for Foreign Study), high school students find themselves presented with this opportunity. “It’s definitely a great opportunity and it’s awesome that high school students are able to study abroad,” International

Club President Ben Bernard said. When a high schooler becomes an exchange student, not only are they enrolled in a foreign school, but they are also assigned a host family to live with for the duration of their exchange, therefore completely immersing themselves in the new culture. “It’s very different. A whole new experience,”Brazilian exchange student Marcelo Régis said. While the complete immersion approach can be intimidating, it also has the potential of being a valuable teaching experience. “It helps kids learn about different cultures. We’re so far away from where some of these foreign exchange students come from so this is a good way to learn about their cultures and become more open about different ideas and ways of thinking,” Bernard said. However, this is hardly a learning opportunity that neglects the students that have never hosted an exchange student or may never study abroad themselves. That’s where international club comes in. Meeting several times a year, it is an effective way to meet and befriend the students from abroad. “It’s the easiest way to get to know [the exchange students]. It’s the only time you’ll have them all in one place,” Bernard said.

Foreign Exchange students met in the front hall and outside the school with members of the International Club during the first week of school.

PHOTOS BY SARA RODRIGUEZ

check your

NO SCHOOL FESTIVAL

R A S E D LEN

04NEWS

Oct. 1 7p.m.

MARCHING

10/2/2013 homecoming

BONFIRE

LATEstart9:40 A.M. october third

the comeback kids

South welcomes new and returning teachers

BY LUKE HOLLAND

wo teachers that have returned with great reception to the classrooms and halls of Shawnee Mission South. Lindsay McFall and Stan Stern, favorites of staff and students alike, will be returning to their respective positions for the 2013-2014 school year. Mcfall is returning from her one year leave to the English department. She is currently teaching English for seniors, and she is enjoying being back in the class. “I wasn’t sure, but I thought I might come back,” McFall said. “I missed being in the classroom, my coworkers, and yes, even the students.” Along with her regular English classes, for the first time McFall is also teaching AP English 12. It poses a new challenge, but to her it is worth it to be back at South. “I love the sense of community here,” McFall said. “I don’t think there’s any other place like it.” Stern, on the other hand, has not had the chance to be missed. Though he planned on retiring after the closing of the 2013 school year, he returned yet again in August to continue teaching his Gifted classes. “I don’t know (how long I will stay),” Stern said. “I’ll go one year at a time.” Though he was due to be retiring after eight years at South and 40 years in the Shawnee Mission School District, Stern has no regrets over being back this year. “I’m really enjoying working with the students,” Stern said. “For me, that made it a good idea to come back.”

PHOTOS BY BROOKE HOLMES AND SARAH HARVEY

other new or returning teachers

Melissa Graham: Math Department Jay Sharbut: Industrial Technology Department Steve McGee: Industrial Technology Department Erin Murray: Business Department Leigh Rysko: Foreign Language Department Cynthia Hartwell: Foreign Language Department Allie Stanwesky: Science Department

Staff changes at South include Kristin Mesh moving from the Social Studies Department to the Business Department, and English teacher Jordan Baranowski and Business teacher Todd Nafus from half time to full time.

dance 8 pm Oct. 5

NHS

SENIOR

homecoming

MEETING 10/8/13

OCTOBER Choir TENTH Fall

Concert

october 11

NO SCHOOL

----DEBATE----

tournaments

--10/11 & 10/12-NEWS

SHAWNEE MISSION SHOW AND TELL marching band festival highlights student performance

BY LAUREN ROSENSTOCK

he Rompin’ Stompin’ Raider band hosts an annual marching festival at the South Stadium Oct. 1 at 7 p.m. The students will come to school on Tuesday and at 11 a.m. band director Steve Adams begins the day, that was planned out to the minute, with a warm up. “My first real festival was at K-State in front of thousands of people, it was just such a rush,” junior drum major Ben Luancing said. The senior drum major, junior drum major and field captain are in charge of the rehearsals before games and festivals during the season. These conductors also meet after school Thursdays to rehearse for themselves and to practice their solos. There are two competitions this year and this festival is what Adams calls, “A show-and-tell for all of the Shawnee Mission High Schools.” This festival is at the South stadium which gives the band more time to prepare and rehearse for their performances while the rest of the Shawnee Mission Schools arrive and begin to prepare as well. The dancers and cheerleaders begin to practice, they stretch, all while the band rehearses the music. “It’s insane! We leave at 11 and usually, we don’t come back until midnight. We have to warm up our instruments, our bodies, and then we have to practice,” Adams said. After the band, drill team and flag team rehearse, they wait to perform and watch the other school’s show. Most of the day consists of watching the shows and warming up to be as ready as possible to perform their best. “The show this year is, very different; it’s very interesting,” sophomore Jack Curtis said. The theme is Angels and Demons, and Adams said he is very excited to perform this piece. “I have final judgment, but I try to get feedback from the students, their families, and teachers because I thinks it’s important that they enjoy watching the halftime show at each game,” Adams said. After the band performs, the rest of the schools perform and after the finalists are announced. “I’ve been here since 1986 and we didn’t make finals all but once at a festival like this,” Adams said. If the Raiders make it to finals in October they will repeat the routine they just completed. This festival is one of the simpler ones; it is very relaxed and more of a dress rehearsal for the start of the school season. After this festival there are two more competitions, that are posted on the school calendar, and Adams is hopeful that the band will do their best.

The Rompin’ Stompin’ Raider Band entertained the crowd for the first time this year on Sep. 6 at the football game against Shawnee Mission West.

PHOTO BY HANNAH HOLLANDER

06 NEWS

On Sept. 6, STUCO held a Green and Gold spirit dance after the first football game of the year. For $5, students came and danced the night away in celebration of the upcoming football season. PHOTO BY KATIE IMES

STUCO MAKES A WISH New ideas revealed at assembly

BY CALVIN FREEMAN AND TERESA HEDIGER

he Shawnee Mission South Student Council kicked off their 2013 campaign with the first official meeting Aug. 29 and right off the bat the program planned on making a number of changes in the upcoming school year. The first big adjustment that STUCO has made is that the overall size of their group has been downsized from last year’s 60 or so students to this year’s 40. This wasn’t so much due to a lack of incoming STUCO applicants as it was part of a new vision that STUCO sponsor and science teacher, Nicolas Deffer, had for his governing body. During the assembly the wish box was introduced. A box sitting in the front office is available for students to put a wish in. The wishes could be anything from a slice of pizza to a hug. “Right now, we’re working on making things more fluid,” Student Body Vice President Lily Johnson said. Along with Johnson, there are three other main executive positions filled by Student Body President Kelly O’Connor, Student Body Treasurer Charlie Stanton and Student Body Secretary Rachel Larberg. “We all pretty much work together on the same level,” Stanton said. “Everything we do is worthwhile and has a point and a purpose.” These Executives have a number of responsibilities which include running the biweekly meetings, keeping all the representatives organized and dealing with the administration to get new things started around the school. “We want to get the student body more involved and excited about South”, O’ Connor said. STUCO is primarily built up of three categorized groups, the Dance Committee, the Service Committee and the Special Events Committee. All representatives were assigned a committee at today’s meeting that they will be a part of for the remainder of the school year. “I think the committees are going to work better because more people are working together,” Junior Class President Morgan Veal said. STUCO was not quite ready to reveal the theme for the annual Homecoming dance Oct. 5. And they still want to keep the details of their schoolwide, interactive activity underwraps to reveal at a later date. However, they were willing to share their new idea for the yearly canned food drive. The canned food fundraiser will be a Halloween event where students will be able to form teams and go trick-or-treating for cans with their friends in hopes that making the drive a friendly competition will bump up donations.

Students anxiously await in the never-ending pizza line for their lunch. Three girls finally reach their turn to choose what kind of pizza they would like. Cafeteria employees dish out pizza for hungry students.

GRAPHIC BY TERESA HEDIGER PHOTOS BY BROOKE HOLMES

THE PIZZA LINE KNEADED A CHANGE BY DANIELLE LAUDICK

oud amplified voices blur during the wait for lunch. The long winding line of hungry students sigh and slouch as one. The pizza line’s new location causes students to bump into each other and get in the way of others as they all wait to eat their food. “It’s different than last year. The lines are really long, sometimes I’m not even able to get lunch,” senior Mark Ham said. Rumors floated around, along the lines of overworked staff, students skipping to eat during first lunch and staff shortages, as to why the line changed. “We had to bring [the pizza line] down here because we had too few people to have four people down the hall and keep our kitchen fully staffed,” cafeteria manager Karen Bond said. Bond said that if the pizza line had not moved to the cafeteria, then there would have been only one pizza line in the hallway because of staff cuts. This

would’ve caused the wait to be even longer. According to Associate Principal Nicholas Platko the kitchen staff was cut,because South is the smallest school in the district and the district was looking to cut back on spending. “The district is constantly looking for ways to save money and find ways to do what we usually do but with less, which is tough,” Platko said. Is this set-up a good idea? Some students may beg to differ. Complaints about types of pizza, how many slices, and the time students are left with to eat can be heard throughout the lunch room. “The last three times I got up there, there were just empty boxes, and they didn’t have the pizza I wanted, and it took up 20 minutes of lunch so I barely had anytime to eat,” junior Carolina Alacron said. The lunch staff admits to there being delays and not getting the pizza out fast enough, but this is the first time they have done a lunch set up like this

and believe that once they get use to it, the pizza line will be back to the same speed as previous years. As for the amount of pizza, the staff can only estimate how many slices each student will buy and they would prefer not to waste any unbought pizza. When informed of the reasons for the line’s change and asked how they would change the line, some students had the idea of selling it in the hallway in front of the cafeteria. That way the cafeteria wouldn’t be so crowded. “Well, instead of having it in front of the auditorium, have it in front of the cafeteria. I’d have the pizza line be separated from any other line and have it just be for pizza,” Ham said. Senior Evan Lavender had a different idea. “Well, they used to sell donuts in the front of the lunchroom and I think they should just sell it there so there wouldn’t be so much chaos,” Lavender said.

NEWS

The

Debate

Is having more privacy worth having less security?

PHOTOS BY ETHAN STONE

magine a world where you are under constant surveillance, where your every move is being watched. Your every action is monitored and privacy is unheard of. It may seem like a scene out of a sci fi movie, but with the trend of recent events, the age of extreme security is setting in. Attacks on America bring forward our concerns over security. An attack like 9/11 or the Boston Bombing leaves citizens feeling vulnerable. We not only look for answers and motives, but for solutions as well. We often become so caught up in making ourselves feel secure, that we fail to realize what we are giving up in return for security: our privacy. Over the past decade, many laws have come into effect that restrict our personal rights, while giving more authority to the federal government. The laws are passed in order to prevent further violence, but they put too much power into the hands of a select group of people. The most recent display of our deteriorating privacy is the massive surveillance programs being run by

Pro: Garret mould

the NSA. Our leaders are assuring us that these surveillance programs will protect us from others, but who will protect us from the protectors? The secretive program records both emails and telephone records, and according to The Wall Street Journal Online, covers roughly 75 percent of U.S. communications. Internet and media companies such as Google and Facebook were all part of the NSA sweeps. This is all part of an expanding government surveillance system- one that demands transparency of it is citizens. Following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, George W. Bush passed the controversial Patriot Act. The Patriot Act gives more power to the federal government, and many agencies such as Homeland Security, the FBI and other law enforcement agencies, while restricting our freedoms. In many cases the guidelines that accompany these powers are vague, leaving many people concerned with the true intentions. Aspects of the Patriot Act contradicting the Constitution have

sparked debate between politicians and citizens alike. Rand Paul, a junior senator from Kentucky, is one of the most outspoken opponents of the Patriot Act, and NSA Spying. “There are dangers to allowing the government to snoop through our records. It doesn’t mean we don’t want to stop crime, or we don’t want to stop terrorism. It means we need to have a rule of law, and we need to pay attention to the rule of law,” Paul said on Fox News. Secret surveillance programs and US laws restricting freedoms have been put into action by the same government that was created to protect freedom. This is the same government which demands transparency from its reporters and citizens. The same government that has recently detained the journalist who leaked the NSA story. The same government which was founded on the principles of personal liberties, and distribution of power. In the end, our personal privacy is more important than security.

Con: RACHEL ROSENSTOCK

ithout realizing it, you often give up privacy in favor of greater security. When you set up a password hint on an online account, when you going through a metal detector at a museum, sign an agreement with the school to have your car and locker subject to search randomly, and go through airport security. Recent scandals involving NSA phone taps, WikiLeaks and Rupert Murdoch’s phone-hacking scandal and more are cropping up every day in our daily news. Things like phone-taps and even someone stalking your Facebook are commonplace , almost reflex, breaches into our privacy. But could you imagine not having actions such as these take place? Just simply waltzing onto an airplane

with a hundred of other strangers or refusing to let the SRO’s search your locker. Neither scenario will end well. These small security checks seem every day because in reality they aren’t severe or unnatural to hardly anyone in the world. Countries who aren’t patrolled by a police force are 10 times out 10 places you would not want to walk the streets of at night. In many of our big cities, even in New York, the police have such great control over the population, you’re safer. And how is this possible? Because the police know who the criminals are, who to watch out for, use license plate technology in police cruisers to identify criminals or those with outstanding warrants and how to prevent altercations from happening in advance with tips

from civilians and communication with surrounding areas. They keep records of license plate numbers, prior offenses and suspicious characters, all in an effort to keep our country safe, and I’d like to keep it that way. Yes, I love my privacy and I don’t know anyone who doesn’t, but I’m also comfortable having less privacy in exchange for assurance I will be safe in my home and foreign places. The probability of something worse happening to me because I gave out my email one too many times versus not having appropriate protection in a time of need are slim to none. Consider the practical side of security versus privacy in this day and the realities of our so-called treasured “privacy”.

Go online to smsouthnews.com to vote for your opinion

08 OPINIONS

Blurred Lines:

Should Bosses & Teachers Follow You on Social Media? What the students think “It’s fine if you know the teacher and they’re not creeping.” -junior Kylie Holliman “Teachers shouldn’t follow you. They don’t need to know you outside of schoool. It’s weird.” -senior Nick Oliver “It’s embarassing because the things you post aren’t for teachers.” -senior Graham Shenefield “I’m friends with Madame Gehr and it’s fun to interact with her even though she’s no longer my teacher.” -senior Madi Brooks “I think it’s totally fine because social media is open to everyone. But on the other hand it makes students have to watch what they post.” -junior Megan Stollsteimer

PHOTO BY BROOKE HOLMES

BY EMILY WILKINSON

hether it’s gripes over day-to-day annoyances or what I had for lunch, social media puts my life on full display. But like many others in the same position, I take extra precautions to keep my private life outside of school and work private. Too often I have encountered students whose posts on social media have nearly ruined their careers, both in school and out. Contrary to popular belief, the line between work and play isn’t as defined as one may think. Every tweet, status update and photo could mean the difference between a healthy career and a strained work relationship. One would think that a potential boss would get all the basic information needed about an employee in a job interview, but the truth is there are some things they just can’t ask. Subjects like relationship status, children, handicaps and a woman’s maiden name are all topics considered off-limits for an interviewer to ask a potential employee. To stay within the confines of law, questions must be vague and exclusively work-related. However, with the invention of social media, lines between work and play become blurred. Why can an employer be banned from asking certain questions in an interview, when they can just look you up on Facebook

and learn next to everything about you from your profile? Something has to be illegal in that, isn’t there? The fact of the matter is, there really isn’t. Former bills put before the House of Representatives like CISPA would have required Facebook users to give their bosses their passwords. Thankfully, no such bill has ever passed, but the issue of Facebook snooping is still a real phenomenon. In most states, it is completely legal for an employer to follow you on a social media site, and even ask for your passwords. The law is even more lenient when it comes to teachers “friending” students on social media; only a handful of states introducing bills on the subject that never passed. As someone who values privacy to the extremes, I’ve never seen the appeal of having my teachers or even my relatives being able to see my profile. Everything posted on the internet has consequences, and with the added effect of social media, every tweet, status, and photo can be observed and judged by any one of our peers. Even if your password isn’t given out, or if you decline a friend request, your profile is still an open door of information that can be accessed by anyone: boss, teacher, or otherwise. Bottom line, if you wouldn’t say it to their face, you shouldn’t say it online.

OPINONS

Staff Editorial

is Attention seeking in social media ok? N

o matter who you are, no matter what form of social media you’re involved with, it’s hard to stay away from the users who operate their accounts for their own personal, and somewhat selfish, venting purposes. The over-dramatic “tell all” sharing that is dumped onto the internet day in and day out is infesting Twitter and Facebook timelines without regard as to how the majority of their readers will naturally, and rightfully, react. All posts on social media are seeking attention to a certain extent but, at what point does it become distasteful? Whether it’s a teenager crying on her keyboard or a certain celebrity rap artist “typing so hard he might break his Macbook Air,” the constant groaning and complaining is not what people log on to see. While it is hard to deny that this kind of thing is entertaining for most of us, in the end it is ultimately embarrassing for the person who posts it. All of this whining is getting far too public. There is a time and a place for everything and even though your tweet may be timely, you are about as far from the right place as one could possibly be. Not only are the majority of these posts simply pathetic, but they are also just an annoyance for anyone who’s forced to read them. These kinds of updates are a complete waste of internet space. The web is an easy place to express dissatisfaction. That’s why so many people do it. We are all just a few clicks away from showing all of our online friends how sad, mad, fed up or miffed we are with whatever new annoyance it is that has recently presented itself. But the thing about it is that this “expressing dissatisfaction” is almost always more of an ignorant groan than it is an educated complaint.

10 OPINIONS

Another concept that these repeat offenders seem to continually forget is that it really is OK for them to have secrets. Not everything that happens to you has to have it’s own special spot on your twitter profile. Keeping things to ourselves seems to be a skill that this generation has completely forgotten even exists. According to a study out of San Diego State University, 57 percent of young people “believe their generation uses social networking sites for self-promotion, narcissism and attention seeking.” This means that we have proven ourselves to be so self centered that we use “tools” like social media to promote and encourage what over half of us acknowledge to be narcissistic behavior. So in short, the majority of us have admitted that there is an attention seeking problem but it’s a problem that very little of us are willing to proactively solve. The solution is so simple but so unrealistic. Will we stop using social media in an attempt to halt narcissism? The answer to that is probably no. But can we stop supporting those who are ruining our social media news feeds with their conceited or superficial uploads? Maybe, but rather than do that, most users would prefer just to tweet about it.

“

Keeping things to ourselves seems to be a skill that this generation has completely forgotten even exists.

”

9/11

editors agree with the views expressed in this editorial. For your voice to be heard you can bring a letter to the editor to Room 195.

Stitches For Snitches O

BY GRIFFIN ZELLER

ne of the biggest dilemmas facing the U.S. government is which is more important: freedom or security. Recently released information by former NSA and CIA employee Edward Snowden has shown us that the NSA can access copious amounts of data from the internet. Also, according to a recent Wall Street Journal the NSA has access to 75 percent of all US internet traffic. Some have called Snowden a hero, but others have called him a traitor and want him charged with treason. While he did release private information, it is clear that Snowden should be applauded for his actions. He risked his life to inform US citizens that they were being spied on by the government. Although he was a snitch, Snowden shouldn’t be arrested for his actions. The recently arraigned Chelsea Manning was sentenced to 35 years in prison for releasing private army documents. These documents contained material that showed a US helicopter firing on a group of men in Baghdad,

one of them a journalist, and two others who were mistaken for holding a grenade launcher, but were actually holding cameras. Now, what Manning did should not be tolerated. He put the US in danger by releasing classified information. But, there is no way he should have received 35 years for releasing the atrocities performed by the military. There are some things that citizens need to know. Spying on average citizens would definitely be something that we as citizens would need to know. It is wrong for the military to shoot down suspected terrorists by helicopter or by drones. Average citizens must stand up and reveal these secrets that the government is hiding. Or else we will be living in a society similar to George Orwell’s 1984. Twitter used to be filled with Shawnee Mission South rumor twitters. They would spread terrible rumors about people. These accounts aren’t helpful to anyone, they are just hurting people. Spreading rumors and snitching on someone for something petty isn’t right.

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY HANNAH HOLLANDER

Should Scandals Matter? W

BY ROSE POLLINA

hen a scandal comes to light about our country’s politicians, it’s blasted across TV, radio and social media. The public grabs it like a starving man would grab a can of beans. Though what the public should be asking is if it truly matters in the long run. If so, repercussions should be determined by what the nature of the scandal is and whether it impairs the politician’s ability to perform his duties effectively while in office. All of us have had a moment in our lives that we aren’t very proud of. Would you want the issue to define your career and who you are? Probably not. The Lewinsky scandal was an extramarital affair by former president Bill Clinton that was exposed in 1998. While he may have done something many people consider morally wrong, it is between his wife, himself and Monica Lewinsky. His sexual activities do not have anything to do with him performing his job in office. The opposite can also be said if the scandal involved corruption. In this case it should define a career because it does affect the public.

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY DEZARAE DUFFEY

A recent example would be the arrest of the Missouri State Representative Jeremy Lafaver for allegedly possessing marijuana and drug paraphernalia. No matter what side of the fence a person may be on with the marijuana issue, the law is the law and the politicians that are elected to make our laws should uphold them. The judgment has more to do with the betrayal of the public’s trust. According to “The Spitzer Myth: Sex Scandals Are Not Political Poison” of the politicians involved in scandals, 19 percent have resigned or retired their seat. However 73 percent of disgraced politicians made it to their next general election and 81 percent have won. On average the scandals cost them 5 percent in votes. Political researchers have proven that the more time passes postscandal, the better the politician does. Voters have short memories. So in the end none of it really mattered in the first place. It’s fine if the media keeps an eye on the scandals involving politicians and reports them, but it shouldn’t matter if the scandal doesn’t affect the public and doesn’t affect a politician’s performance in office.

OPINIONS

TOo much information

Pros and cons of total integration into social media

pro

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY HANNAH HOLLANDER BY LAUREN ROSENSTOCK

ocial media has the ability to connect us with people all over the world and just across the street. Parents may warn us about privacy and to be careful with how much of our personal information is out there, but how much is too much? “Online? Usually just age, sex, likes and dislikes, hobbies, but no family info or phone number!” sophomore Jacob Evans said. Putting likes and dislikes online can help new friends learn more about you, but keeping secrets or personal information off the internet can prevent problems and disagreements with others online. Keeping personal information, such as phone number, social security number, and home address a secret can reduce a person’s chances of experiencing identity theft. A survey conducted by the FBI about online privacy and identity theft says that “about 15 million United States residents suffer from identity theft each year...and about 100 million additional Americans put their identity at risk of being stolen every year.” By decreasing the chances of identity theft by limiting the amount of personal information, friends and communities can more easily communicate and can also build a stronger foundation.

12 FEATURES

“Benefits are profoundly powerful and far reaching in improving the human condition...from the individual, to small communities to the world,” Advanced Foods teacher Erin Murray said. University of New Hampshire’s Crimes Against Children Research Center director, David Finkelhor shared a paper in 2011 “The Internet, Youth Safety” which talks about the improvements in social problem and risk indicators for teens and children while on the internet. It is just as important to notice and understand the consequences of ‘in-person’ and cyber-bullying to know how to detect or ask if a friend, classmate or teammate are being bullied. Being able to identify some of these factors can help continue to provide a positive based social atmosphere. Interacting and connecting with friends over social media has been made simpler and faster because of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. Seeing pictures on social media can help people see things that are happening in your life as soon as they happen. For example, when a member of someone’s family gets married, finding out takes only a minute and makes it quicker to send them a congratulations, or when a sports team wins the championship, liking a page dedicated to them shares with friends some of the reasons they won.

An example of the speed of Facebook is shown from last school year. At South, many people experienced this when the boys’ basketball team won state. Some may not have gone to the actual game, but still were able to see shots that were taken, the team huddles at a time out, or a team photo with the championship title. Social media sites such as Twitter quickly let people know little bits of information that could be a concert a friend had gone to, or an update about a favorite band, or statistics and final scores from sporting events. “Facebook is good for expressing your feelings and emotions...I use it mostly to share my thoughts and new ideas with my friends,” sophomore Kara Byrd said. Snapchat and Vine, are meant to make people laugh and enjoy the time they spend on the app, whether it’s a minute or an hour. Apps and websites like these let people experience things another person is doing, but from their perspective. Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, Instagram, Vine, Ask. fm, and Snapchat let people express their emotions, talk with family, friends and sometimes celebrities, and share pictures, whether they are of something meaningful, school related, sports, or ones with friends.

con

BY HAYLEIGH CHUDIK

n this day and age, many would agree that social media plays a large part in our everyday lives. We depend on it to get the latest update in our friend’s lives, and to keep in touch with old ones. But sometimes it’s easy to forget that with the pros of online networking comes cons as well. “Someone made a twitter account pretending to be me,” senior Jenna Foiles said. Around a year ago, a fake Jenna Foiles’ Twitter account was created that mocked her about things like her grades and cross country, Foiles explains. “At first I didn’t think it was real because I didn’t think anyone would do that about me. Everyone thought it was a joke at first but then I was like ‘It’s not funny to me!’” Foiles said. The account was taken down soon after. Unfortunately, this type of thing is no laughing matter. Luckily for Foiles it was not a large case, but cyberbullying can lead to serious problems for all involved. Bullying is never acceptable and can leave the victim feeling worthless and alone. There are also punishments for the culprit. “If it’s obscene or harassing, or vulgar text messages [the penalty] is a misdemeanor,” School Resource Officer Richard Spandle said. Shows like “Catfish” portray the unknown, more

dangerous aspect of online networking. Is this person actually who they claim to be? The thought that someone can hide behind a fake name in order to deceive is beyond frightening. “I don’t know who made [the account] but I have suspicions,” Foiles said. Online media such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram all have privacy settings in order to

Be-

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fore posting anything always be cautious about who might see this and think about if the post might lead to regret later.

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keep personal information private. However, once something is posted, it can never be taken back. Even if a post is deleted, there is always the chance that someone could have taken a screenshot and forwarded it on. Before posting anything always be cautious about who might see

IN REVIEW

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pros

Accessibility Connectivity Stay updated Communication Entertainment

cons

Risk of identity theft Cyber-bullying Long-lasting effects Time absorber Blurred priorities

LILY JOHNSON Senior

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this and think about if the post might lead to regret later. Along with a dark side, social media also possesses a dangerous side. Depending on privacy settings, anyone can access personal information such as phone number, email address, relationship status, family members, and in some cases, home address. Sometimes exact location of the post can be found as well. Even if social media was completely safe, there’s still the matter of distraction. It’s a great cure to boredom, but what about when you’re trying to concentrate? While studying or doing homework there is always temptation to stop and check out the latest Instagram picture. A study done by ProCon.org shows that students who use social media while studying for a test scored 20 percent lower than those who did not. When all of these factors are taken into account, is social media really worth the risk? While fun and entertaining, these many cons may outweigh the pros. Whether you choose to partake in or forgo a social media account is your choice, but always remember priorities and safety before logging on.

MUG SHOTS BY ETHAN STONE

It’s actually mostly not my decision to not have a Facebook. IWt’s my parent’s. My parents think it would be a really big distraction for me and I just respect their decision!

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I enjoy posting on Instagram, especially because it shows my more artistic side, which I embrace from time to time.

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CLAYTON JOHNSON Senior

FEATURES

Not sure what South has to offer after school?

join the club QUOTES GATHERED BY ROSE POLLINA GRAPHICS BY TERESEA HEDINGER

KSMS WITH TRAVIS GATEWOOD “This is the school’s radio station. They’re responsible for putting out the TV shows for the district, DJing in the cafeteria during lunches, as well as DJing at school dances and events. Also, they put together school spirit events throughout the year. I just think it’s a unique group that do a lot of different things. It’s the school events that are exciting. Getting students excited about South would be the area they enjoy most. We have several students who have graduated from KSMS who are working in the industries and are a network of professionals for broadcast and film careers. We have several students in college right now who help on editing and videography.”

GREEN CLUB WITH CHASE ALLISON “The Shawnee Mission South Green Club is a club dedicated to the students, staff and community on environmental issues and concerns. Our club is dedicated to teaching students and staff about environmental awareness and to provide service through the form of education. So we’re not politically based but project based. The Kansas Green School gives grants and money to environmental clubs and schools in Kansas to help make the schools more green and energy efficient. There is really an unlimited amount of grants out there for making schools more green. Bridging the Gap provides a lot of volunteer opportunities for people to join and be part of. Environmental studies and environmentalism in general is becoming a bigger major.”

14FEATURES

LATIN CLUB WITH LEE DIXON

PEP CLUB WITH NICOLE BAKER “Pep Club is about promoting spirit at Shawnee Mission South and ensuring that students have an opportunity to support the Raiders. Our most popular activity is fall bonfire for Homecoming, where we offer free hot dogs. And our spirit weeks are a big success. There is a great opportunity to get leadership experience in Pep Club. Sophomores, juniors and seniors are welcome to apply for the position of Pep Exec. Pep Execs are in charge of assemblies and activities and promoting spirit at South. This is a great leadership position on a resume and it could attract some kind of scholarship. It certainly brings positive attention to the student.”

and much, much more: club 121 Robotics french club International Club forensics and debate jewish Student union Gay Straight Alliance Adacademic Decathalon fellowship of christian athletes

“Well, it’s an extension of Latin class. It allows us to do fun things that we usually wouldn’t be able to do. It’s about getting the kids from Latin class to interact with other area Latin Club students. Another thing is going to the state Latin convention. We had Ultimate Discus and Quidditch, and of course the State Latin Convention. In the past we’ve done some ice skating. We also have our big Latin Club banquet at the end of the year. Going to the State Latin Convention looks really good on college transcripts, and this year we’ll also be taking the National Latin Exam.”

RAIDER RESEARCHERS WITH JAN ALDERSON

“Raider Researchers is somewhere between a club and a sport, because it’s a club that does things that serve the community such as elementary presentations. Kids may go shadowing, and there’s other community service they can do, but there’s sport for those students who choose to compete in science research competition. They like their variety with things they can do. They can encourage competitors and provide input as to how we evolve as a club. They like the camaraderie of students with similar interests. It’s huge because of the opportunities in research. An example would be graduate Brett Wagner, he competed on a national level and he had a summer internship at KU between freshman to sophomore year which paid him, in addition to catching the interests of professors as an exemplary student.”

Q and A

with Rasheed Brady QUOTES GATHERED BY HAYLEIGH CHUDIK PHOTOS BY HANNAH HOLLANDER

Getting to know a Pep Club Executive, Varsity Football player & Wrestling team captain

Q: A: Q: A: Q: A: Q: A:

What made you first want to become a Pep Club Executive? “Seeing all the cool stuff that the Pep Execs got to do for the spirit days and I really wanted to be a part of that and try to make South more of a chill place.” For those who don’t know, what exactly does a Pep Club Executive do? “We plan assemblies and make life at Shawnee Mission South fun!” Senior Rasheed Brady prepares skits for the first pep assembly. Walk us through the process of planning an assembly. “Creativeness, creativeness, creativeness! You have to take ideas that are inside the box and completely revamp them to make it like ‘Wow, can that actually work?’” How does one become a Pep Executive?

“By the good graces of Mrs. Baker!”

Pep Club practices their human pyramid during team building activities.

Q: A: Q: A: Q: A: Q: A:

For you, what has been the most challenging thing about Pep Executives so far this year?

“Making sure everyone is on the same page is really difficult.”

What are you most excited for this year?

“All the craziness we’re all about to get ourselves into!”

What advice would you give someone wanting to be a future Pep Executive? “You cannot be lame. You can’t be an L7 square. You have to be able to be completely out of your comfort zone. You have to have jokes beyond jokes but also know when to keep it serious.” If you could be any animal, what would you be? “If I could be any kind of animal I would be a monkey because they still have their thumbs.”

FEATURES

SHOWCASE: high schoolers get

head start on music-making future BY EMILY WILKINSON

Members of The Amusement pose for glamour shots.

PHOTO BY MIKE ABELL

The cover for the band’s self-titled EP, The Amusement.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE AMUSEMENT

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Chris Nguyen performs for a live audience.

n adrenaline rush. A good feeling. These are the words members of the band The Amusement use to describe live performances. But when the moments of euphoria pass, all that’s left is to start over and begin the painstaking preparations for the next show. “It’s usually really expensive,” bass guitarist and junior Andrew Koch said. “Everyone has to have a big PA system to practice, everyone needs amps which are around $500, and then when we play a show we need to take three cars because we can’t fit all our equipment in one.” Booking a show is a tedious process that starts after the band finishes recording a sample song to send in to various venues and promoters, though a good portion of shows are the product of networking between bands. “A lot of shows come from just being friends with other bands, they’ll just let you hop on their show and you let them open for you later, so you kind swap shows with other bands,” Koch said. Then, the band must choose a set of songs to perform (usually six or seven). Throughout the whole process, it’s gathering audience members that proves to be the most important. “We try to get as many friends as we can to get there. Get as much support as we can. Have our friends tell their friends,” junior and drummer Joe Audley said. Balancing schedules, booking shows, and creating a fanbase for a show can cost a mini-fortune. Often, The Amusement’s main goal is only to cover their costs. It is the preparation however, that makes the finished product all the sweeter. “It’s a really good feeling, seeing people happy listening to our music,” rhythm guitarist and sophomore Chris Nguyen said. Aiming for an original electric sound, Nyugen describes The

Amusement as “an electronic Paramore, but less punk.” The Amusement was born with three members in February 2012, each with different talents, tastes, and passions for music. Over time, an original member left, allowing new members to join through mutual friends, other bands, and a little help from Craigslist. As of the last change over four months ago, The Amusement has been playing together cohesively ever since. “Chris Nguyen plays rhythm guitar. Joe Audley plays drums. Michael Claus plays lead guitar. Our singer is Hannah Albina,” Koch said. While all of the bandmates don’t go to South, The Amusement treat each other like family they see every day. “We’re all best friends, we all play music, and we all hang out,” Nyugen said, “just jammin’ around and stuff.”

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It’s a really good feeling, seeing people happy listening to our music. -Chris Nyugen

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The Amusement has two studio recorded songs, “Enjoy This” and “If All Else Fails.” The former was recorded at The Audio Cave, and the latter at Red Roof. Currently, the band is back in the studio recording their first full-length selftitled EP, The Amusement. “I had never been in a studio before. [Red Roof] was that professional and that well set up,” Audley said. “We’re definitely recording at Red Roof again. We made a couple of really good friends there.” While no date for the EP is scheduled yet, The Amusement is hard at work recording five new songs.

EVOLUTION OF CHARACTERS

TV SHOW CHARACTERS OVER TIME

BY ROLA ALASMAR he transformations are evident. The changes in personality are apparent. As characters experience life, they are changed. We come to find that the ones we thought we knew the best, we actually didn’t know at all. Meet Barney Stinson, Dan Humphrey and Walter White.

WALTER WHITE

BEGINNING Walter White

is an overqualified high school chemistry teacher working a part time job at a car wash. He’s living in a seemingly passionless relationship, struggling to make ends meet and lacking a feeling of masculinity and authority. But Walt is a good guy, who cares about his family and the people around him. But everything starts to change when Walter is diagnosed with terminal lung cancer and suddenly breaks bad.

MIDDLE In order to make enough money to pay for

medical treatment and for his family to have enough when he is gone, Walt partners with his former student, Jesse, to cook meth that is incredibly pure, thanks to his knowledge of chemistry. After this begins, he starts feeling more powerful. His marriage becomes more passionate. Walt and Jesse get themselves into numerous dangerous situations and are forced to commit murder. Walt begins going by “Heisenberg” to keep his identity a secret.

ENDAlthough Walt justifies everything he does

by saying that it’s for the good of his family, the real reason is for the sense of power and pride. He takes down everyone that seems to have more power than himself. Walt becomes a drug lord and the line between “Heisenberg” and “Walt” becomes blurred, the traits of his criminal persona start appearing in his personal life. He becomes more and more violent. Sociopathic. An expert liar and manipulator. He has decided that “it is better to be a pursuer than the pursued.”

DAN HUMPHREY

BARNEY STINSON

BEGINNING Dan Humphrey. The outsider. The genuinely

warm-hearted and compassionate guy, fantasizing about being part of the world of the upper east side of Manhattan, and getting the girl of his dreams. Dan is seen as the most down to Earth character on Gossip Girl, having morals and values that many of the others don’t.

MIDDLE As the show progresses, the changes in Dan’s

personality become apparent. He managed to get the girl he had always wanted, and then let her go. He befriended the elites of the upper east side, got close to them, and then betrayed them. The guy that once cared about everyone was suddenly willing to sell out all of his friends in order to achieve fame and put himself on top.

ENDDan had turned everyone against him. He

was willing to hurt everyone he ever cared about in order to achieve success, but as the series came to a close, Dan realized that the fame wasn’t worth it. He realized that losing everyone he loved wasn’t worth the feeling of importance and made amends with them. However, Dan will never be the person he was before immersing himself into the world of the upper east side.

BEGINNING

When the show began, we came to know Barney as the “ladies man,” incapable of committing to someone or having a real relationship. His love life consisted of a series of one night stands, achieved by constantly lying to women.

MIDDLE Barney

comes close to committing to a relationship with a woman named Nora, but then convinces her that he only wants to sleep with her. He later develops feelings for a woman named Quinn and even proposes to her, but they break up. Barney starts dating Robin, one of his closest friends, and although at first they claim that the relationship was only physical, he soon admits to having feelings for her. Barney realizes that the way he feels about Robin is unlike anything he’s felt about anyone before and the two fall in love.

ENDBy the end of the eighth season, Barney and

Robin are getting married, something he never expected to be doing. He gives up his “ladies man” lifestyle for good and gets ready to settle down. The fact that a few years prior he never even believed in love shows how dynamic his character is.

LOOK ONLINE at

smsouthnews.com for stories on Dr. Who and much more

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LIFE Through a MAGAZINE the american obsession with tabloids and reality TV Y

BY MIGUEL PALOMINO

oung, rich, beautiful and adored are just a few words used to describe celebrities. America has an intriguing fascination with the scandalous and dramatic lives of the rich and powerful. Countless magazines, websites and TV shows are devoted to documenting every aspect of a celebrity’s life. To most people, being a celebrity means living a carefree life, adored by millions of fans across the globe. But what really lies behind the camera is a much less glamorous and darker truth. Life under the microscope is life without privacy. In the today’s digital and fast paced world a single snap of a camera and a headline can break a person’s life. A celebrity’s public humiliation becomes the entertainment for others. When the spotlight completely shines on your life there’s no room for secrets in the shadows. “I think Americans are obsessed with celebrities because of their materialistic nature,” Miami resident and fashion blogger Lisa Blake said. “They place such high value on material possessions that they begin to idolize people who are in the limelight and appear to ‘have it all,’ when in reality these celebrities may not actually be happy at all.” The American dream used to mean working hard and creating a good life for oneself. This generation’s take on the dream has changed. The person with the most views on Youtube or landing the newest hit reality show has the best shot of having “all their dreams come true.” To the current generation, facing an altar of phony idols and fast

fame, life is just a popularity contest. But “making it big” is the farthest thing from easy. And if a person’s options are to give up or keep trying, both further intensifies their craving of the life they want but can’t have. “[Americans] working 9-5 at Geico just so they can live in mild comfort, “ junior Jonathan Wittbrodt said. “And the only thing that can entertain them at night is watching the people who have the lives they want. So those are the lives that they crave, and that’s why they have

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People tune in every week to get a daily fix of fights, name calling and drama - on whatever Real Housewife or Kardashian reality show is on.

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these obsessions with every details of these idols lives.” In Ancient Rome, whenever the empire fell on troubling times, the emperor would throw the biggest and extravagant gladiator shows as a means to distract the hungry and discontented masses of Rome, leaving them happy and entertained. In the 21st Century, this dynamic has remained. People tune in every week to get a daily fix of fights, name calling and drama - on whatever Real Housewife or Kardashian reality show is on. People read the news on the latest celeb train

wreck, divorce, affair and scandals. People are the still same roaring crowd of Plebeians, watching others suffer for own content. “Because people in our current society love the drama and they like to see the very rich fall from grace,” Blake said. “It’s ‘entertainment.’ At this point, the [audiences] are the ones who give the paparazzi a job. If people were more interested in their own lives than that of celebrities, there wouldn’t be a reason to constantly stalk down celebrities and pry into their private life.” If it isn’t enough to have flashing cameras trying to get a glimpse of all the faults, the paparazzis thirst to get a money shot crosses into a grey boundary of how far you can go before you’re breaking and entering. Not only do they hound the lives of celebrities, but their kids are also dragged into the limelight. Photos of the offspring of the rich and famous can be worth millions sold to the right tabloid. Making them just another pawn to making money. Some celebrity parents are fighting back, with a call for an antipaparazzi bill that would protect their children from the leaching photogs. “I think that is a great bill and hopefully it will come to pass,” Blake said. “The children didn’t have a choice in the matter but are constantly being photographed and their privacy is being evaded, how can they feel normal?”

Confidence is the key piece in any ensemble senior editor’s thoughts on weird fashion and why it works

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BY RACHEL ROSENSTOCK

ou’ve all seen it: celebrities, models, people in the hall, wearing oddly assorted, even mismatched outfits. Yet, it seems like it works. I follow models and celebrities such as Rihanna, Cara Delevingne and Rita Ora on Instagram and frequently see posts of their outfits and own style. At first, I laughed at some of their choices, but then I came to appreciate their unique style. They mismatch styles of clothing, pay little regard to the season and seem to have no sense of color coordination. But each outfit makes a statement and they rock it with confidence. Widely known brands such as Marc Jacobs, Urban Outfitters and even Forever 21 have adopted this crazy and a little kooky style in their collections. This style is making a statement in the fashion world for being decidedly unfashionable. But what makes it socially acceptable and widely followed? Confidence is the key. You can rock a bomber jacket with baggy sweatpants, high-tops and a T-shirt if you walk like you own it. Don’t follow the conventional rules or accepted social norms, dress in what makes

you happy, even if it’s different. Don’t follow the “hipster trend” or “sorority girl/frat guy” trend, just take what you like and make it your own. You can clash and mix and match and completely ignore the “black doesn’t go with brown” rule. Wear stripes and polka-dots together, clash animal prints and be adventurous with colors. Go out and be adventurous with where you buy your clothes: it’s not all American Eagle and Pac Sun. You often don’t have to look farther than your own closet; recycle old pieces and make new pairings. Keep that old jacket you never thought you’d wear again and spice up a plain black dress with printed leggings and statement jewelry. If you can take anything away from this, boy or girl or fashionista or avid video gamer, take away that you needn’t let someone else define what you think is “cool”. I think reading and dancing and floral prints and spending lots of money at one time is “cool”. Doesn’t mean you should nor do you ever have to. So go wear whatever feels right to you, and wear it with confidence.

September reviews

thoughts on movies, music and more INSIDIOUS 2 THE LOVE JAMES WAN CLUB EP

LORDE

BY DANIELLE LAUDICK Lorde, born in New Zealand as Ella Yelich-O’Connor, started recording music at age 12 after impressing a talent scout at a school talent show. She started her rise to fame during her sophomore and junior year of high school. Her music ranges from pop to alternative and more while her popularity extends to Australia, the U.K. and the U.S. Her EP, The Love Club, consists of five songs from her upcoming album, Pure Heroin, and was released March 19. The album went triple platinum in Australia and sold 60,000 copies in the U.S. To be completely honest, I thought, Lana Del Rey, when I first heard “Swingin’ Party,” but Lorde has her own kind of sound. Her indie sounds mixed with an alternative voice and pop lyrics makes her songs more appealing and rare. From the first time I heard “Royals” I fell in love. One of the things I like most about Lorde is some songs have these amazing back beats and just lyrics, whereas others have a dubstep-like quality with most of the music just her own lyrics and voice. I can’t contain my excitement until I can get her full album, Pure Heroin, which comes out in the U.S. Sept. 30.

TRUE AVICII BY RACHEL ROSENSTOCK

Swedish DJ, Tim Bergling, better known as Avicii, released his first album True Sept. 17. The first single of the album, “Wake Me Up!” became an international hit. Avicii’s genre is dance and electronic, not usually my preferred style of music, but after listening to True I was pleasantly surprised. While Avicii, like most DJs, does not sing on any of the tracks, just contributes the beat and music while supporting vocals of other artists, his style is prominent. While I am not personally familiar with many of the featured artists, Aloe Blacc, Nile Rogers, Audra Mae and many more, True has piqued my interest in them. “Liar Liar” feat. Aloe Blacc, Blondfire and Mike Einziger is one of my favorite tracks, with a mixture of vocals and upbeat feel, with an ethereal quality throughout. “Hope There’s Someone” feat. Linnea Henriksson is a perfect mix of melancholy and powerful and an amazing vocal performance by Henriksson. “Edom” was among my least favorite, as it featured no vocals, just a showcase of Avicii’s DJ’ing skills. True surprised me; I started dubious of how much I’d enjoy house/ electronic style music, but the featured artists and composition of Avicii’s music shocked me. I will definitely be giving True a listen in the future.

BY HAYLEIGH CHUDIK Confusion. That is the best way to describe my feelings after seeing Insidious: Chapter 2. 105 minutes of watching through my fingers left me in complete bewilderment. This is what I got: the Lambert family, from the previous Insidious, is haunted by a ghost that plagued the father (Patrick Wilson) since childhood and is now haunting his wife (Rose Byrne) and children. Throughout the movie I constantly wondered what was actually happening and what was a dream. Though confusing, Insidious: Chapter 2 was actually very scary. It made me jump (and I may or may not have screamed) probably about 200 times. The confusing plot line overshadowed a job well done in the creepy department. What I assume to be an attempt at comedic relief all throughout was dumb and ill timed. Each joke was less tasteful than the last. I couldn’t help but think that the immature jokes might entertain a middle schooler but (hopefully) no one over the age of 14. Don’t get me wrong: I didn’t hate this movie. However, I do not suggest paying $10.25 to see it. Wait until it comes to Redbox. Or on Demand. Or starts to play on TV. Or just don’t see it. You wouldn’t be missing out on too much!

THIS IS NOT A WRITING MANUEL KERRI MAJORS BY EMILY WILKINSON

Spoiler alert for This is Not a Writing Manual: it is a writing manual; one of the best I’ve read. As an aspiring writer, I thought I’d heard every piece of advice out there. To my surprise and fervent delight, This is Not a Writing Manual doesn’t mention grammar, syntax or even flow once. Rather, this book highlights the unspoken struggles of being a writer: the anxiety of staring at a blank screen, the missed movie dates with friends to secure a deadline, and those rare creative streaks of locking yourself in your room. Manual is directed toward a young adult audience, and whether it’s a short story, essay or school newspaper (wink), this book has you covered. Unlike other writing reference books, Manual goes over one piece of advice per chapter, allowing Majors to explain each step in the writing process with incredible depth. The author provides a potpourri of situations you may have never even thought about. Through relatable anecdotes, advice from writers who have “been there” and solid information, Majors manages to present writing as what it is rarely acknowledged as: an art. Whether you are interested or not in writing as a profession, you will walk away from This is Not a Writing Manual having learned an important lesson in writing of all types: each word is your own, and while putting them on paper can be hard, it’s the ultimate labor of love.

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2013 fall football kickoff A LOOK INSIDE YOUR 2013 RAIDERS PHOTOS BY HANNAH HOLLANDER AND JENNA FACKRELL

BY MACKENNA BARKER

“We’ve really prepared for the adversity that we are going to face this season” - senior Chase Allen

ith fall, comes the promise of changing colors, sweaters, haunted houses, and of course, football. The bright stadium lights and cheering crowds can be a memorable part of the high school experience, and the football team is setting out to make it even more so. As the student body saw during the fall sports assembly when the team showed off their booming breakdown, the guys are bringing the intensity this year. South is not generally well known for its football. Commonly praised for the cross country and track team, the swimming team, and most recently its basketball team, it’s not as if South is a stranger to state titles. However, a winning football team has not been in South’s boasting rights in well over a decade. But this team has set out to leave a new legacy in its wake. “We’re going to win more games than we lost. This will be a winning season,” team captain Damitrius Berry said. The schedule the team have before them is by no one’s terms an easy one. However, the team has had a solid start to their schedule with a 1-1 record so far. The first game of the season against state champ defenders, Shawnee Mission West, was highly anticipated by both the team and the fans. Though the Raiders lost with a final score of 3-10, the close game gave many a newfound hope. “It was sad, but I have to give respect to Shawnee Mission West for playing a good game, and we’ll see them in the playoffs,” Berry said. This confidence and attitude is reflected throughout the whole team. “Our mentality is different [from last year’s. We’re a tougher team. We play smarter, we play harder and we want it more this year,” senior center Marcus Neal said. The team displayed exactly how much more they wanted to win in their second game against Olathe North. Ranked 5th in the state prior to the game, Olathe North’s football team was nothing less than daunting. Nevertheless, the Raiders evaded Friday the 13ths bad luck and overcame the Eagles with a final score of 10-7. Besides seeing a completely new dynamic on the field, the team has developed a completely altered relationship beyond the turf. “It’s a brotherhood,” senior middle linebacker Rasheed Brady said. “We all put our support on Gabe Guild last year so with Gabe gone it’s like we all had to find something new to connect with and we all became friends. We came closer as a team.” Tonight, the Raiders are hoping to add another win to their record in the home game vs. Shawnee Mission Northwest.

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It was sad, but I have to give respect to Shawnee Mission West for playing a good game, and we’ll see them in the playoffs, -Dametrius Berry

20 SPORTS

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“We’re a tougher team. We play smarter. We play harder and we want it more this year” - senior Marcus Hankins

“You could be a freshman hanging out with the seniors and it’s just like a brotherhood. We came closer as a team.” - senior Rasheed Brady

Cheerleaders and Pacesetters line up to welcome the varsity football team on to the field. Raiders play against Shawnee Mission West Vikings for the first game of the season at the South Stadium. Senior Rakeem Abdul waits for the Green and Gold scrimmage to begin.

“I’m looking forward to beating East” -senior Dametrius Berry

OMaha Bound

college ball calls senior devin newsome

BY TRIVETTE KNOWLES

rom winning the State Championship to signing with the University of Omaha-Nebraska Mavericks, senior point guard Devin “Get Buckets” Newsome has had a successful year. This summer after playing in a basketball tournament located in Dallas, Texas, Newsome was approached by Darren Hansen, head coach of Omaha University. Since his sophomore year Newsome has seen many colleges interested in his talents and what he can bring to their team. The coaches were persistent and showed that they would like to invest time and effort into the guard. “He has been talking to me since last year/season. He liked my work ethic and how I could control the ball so he has taken a great interest in me,” Newsome said. Newsome, who is more of a slasher and quick guard, is moving to a system where he will be expected to keep the intensity and the energy up. With the strength and quickness not usually seen in a shorter point guard, Newsome is expected to fit well with the university. “The role the coaches wanted me to fulfill is the same role I’ve been doing here for the last two years. Where I generate the offense and just get things going. I’ll provide the spark and hopefully do what I need to do to help the team out,” Newsome said.

UNO very recently became a division one college so for the next couple of years the college will not be eligible for the NCAA tournament but will still compete along with other teams in the summit league. “The college is new and upcoming, the coaches really liked him. They’re good coaches and it’s a program on the rise,” boys basketball head coach Brett McFall said. With only three percent of high school students actually playing in college, it takes large amounts of dedication and time to achieve the level of success that has been reached by Newsome. “I know Devin was constantly working out at Shawnee Mission South on the gun [basketball practice machine] and doing other drills just to get better everyday,” McFall said. “He really worked on his jump shot over the last couple of years. He was always a decent shooter, but now he has improved his jump shot to where defenders have to guard that. He is a [double] threat” Averaging 10.6 points and 6.3 assists per game, this was Newsome’s best statistical season of his career and he still expects great things for the Raiders’ upcoming year. With five varsity players, returning the future looks bright. “Mark my words,” McFall said. “This year Devin Newsome will be balling. Straight balling.”

NebraskaOmaha University NCAA DIvision I (Summit League confernece) 2012-2013 Record: 11-20 (6-10 conference) Head Coach: Darren hansen

2012-2013 Regular Season Team Leaders: Points: Justin simmons (jr) 16.9 ppg rebounds: Alex welhouse (SR) 4.7 Rpg assists: cj carter (So) 2.8 apg

Personal foul: Athletes Privacy BY GRIFFIN ZELLER

exas A&M’s Heisman winning quarterback, Johnny Manziel, has been heavily scrutinized by media outlets such as ESPN for his off the field antics. He was seen being kicked out of a University of Texas frat party, partying in Mexico, and sitting courtside at NBA games. Athletes like Manziel seem to be scrutinized more for their off the field activities than what they do on it. But, do these athletes deserve all the grief they get? Senior David Floyd doesn’t think so. “I don’t think they deserve as much criticism as they get if it doesn’t affect their level of play. They’re just having fun like normal college students,” Floyd said. Freshman Bobby Dupin doesn’t think the media even cares about the athletes, “The media doesn’t care about how good they are on the field; they only care about how bad they are as in alcohol and drugs,” Dupin said. Athletes can’t even make one post on Twitter without being mobbed. On Aug. 8 Miami Heat forward LeBron James tweeted, “Jury duty time. Time to serve my civic duty.” The tweet caused serious discussion on ESPN. James wasn’t picked, but why would ESPN talk so much about this tweet? On the

other hand athletes can’t go saying whatever they want on social media. Wrestling coach Joel Rios thinks athletes attacking someone on Twitter could cause tensions. “Once you say something you can’t take it back, and not even sorry can fix everything,” Rios said. High school’s are especially susceptible to a public social life. With many athletes and sports programs having a Twitter, students must watch what they say. Despite the pitfalls, Rios is OK with social media. “If they had reporters at these events they would say the same things, and it would go out to more people,” Rios said. Floyd thinks that Twitter is a good tool, but students should watch what they say. “They should be smart about it and shouldn’t post something that could get them kicked off the team,” Floyd said. High school athletes must also sign a drug and alcohol policy during their season and anything stupid could get them kicked off the team.

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SUMMer hires: New additions to South squads A

BY ARIELLA DAVIDSON

fter posting numerous coaching positions for the 2013-2014 school year, six experienced athletes were chosen by the administration team. “We prefer coaches that work here, but we don’t always have that choice. We see what they have to offer and what their expertise is, and if they have experience,” Athletic Director John Johnson said. This year the volleyball team received two new coaches and a previous freshman coach was bumped to head coach. “I really enjoy coaching volleyball and it has been a great avenue to give back to the sport that gave me so much enjoyment as a player,” new JV volleyball coach Dianne O’Nele said. O’Nele has over 20 years of coaching experience, as well as officiating. She also played high school volleyball and in the national USA circuit. Previous freshman coach, Kathy Bates, is the new varsity head coach. The new freshman coach is Jack King. After being coached for 18 years by English teacher Travis Gatewood, the varsity soccer team is now being led by Coach Shane Schulze. “This year will make it my ninth season with the program [as a player and coach]. I am glad to be back, apart of a program that had a big impact in my life,” Shulze said. He played varsity soccer when he was a student at South and returned four years ago to be an assistant coach to Gatewood. Another soccer coach that will be joined to the coaches roster is Jay Sharbutt who is the new sophomore soccer coach. Shawnee Mission Northwest alumni, Allie Stankewsky, is taking on two new roles this year: teaching chemistry as well as being the head Southette [flag team] coach. As a student, Stankewsky was on the drill team and a part of marching season at SMNW.

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With flags flying during the first pep assembly the Southettes perform for the first time under the direction of chemistry teacher Allie Stankewsky. Senior Jessica Rone is captain of the team. PHOTO BY JENNA FACKRELL

“She is really nice and she’s been on the dance team herself and she applies all of the coaching aspects when she was in high school to us as well,” threeyear Southette dancer Carly Rogers said. All of the new coaches are thrilled to be a part of green and gold. “I’m excited for all of the school spirit, and going to all of the games while being back in the Shawnee Mission District. This is where I grew up and I’m excited to be back at a school that has so much school spirit,” Stankewsky said.

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The Royal City: Kansas City Begins a New Era

ver a decade has passed in Kansas City since the Royals were considered an elite team. A decade full of disappointment and heartache, which has left many Kansas Citians wondering when their time will come. Spring arrives every year, bringing a renewed sense of hope to the city. Fans boast their Royals’ blue, and playoff hopes are alive and well. Then comes the harsh reality. One hundred and sixty two

games of lackluster performances, each one stinging worse than the last. The royal blue is tossed to the back of the closet until next spring, replaced by Chiefs’ red. Over the past few seasons, however, a new wave has taken over Kansas City. Expectations are higher as prospects like Eric Hosmer and Salvador Perez transform into stars before our eyes. Attendance at Kauffman Stadium is up from previous years, and there is a buzz around Kansas City, a well deserved buzz. The Royals are only a few games back from a wild card spot. With over 20 games left to be played, anything can happen, but Kansas City has their eyes set on a playoff birth. The team has already won more games this year, than any season since 1993. You can look at that two ways. One: The Royals haven’t made the playoffs in the last 20 years, worst out of any professional sports team. Two: The owners and coaches have done a good job of turning the organization around, and creating a winning mentality. A team’s mentality is the key to being successful year after year. You have to take the field knowing you

can compete with every team, on any given day. Everything seems to be slowly coming together in Kansas City. We boast the ninth best team batting average in the league, far better than in past years. Our pitching is even better. Ervin Santana, Jeremy Guthrie and James Shields make up the fifth best ERA in the league, allowing our team to compete game in and game out. Holding opposing teams to fewer runs takes pressure off of our young offense. As a Royals fan, making the playoffs this year is not my main concern. We are playing in a good division with the Tigers, and boasting a winning record for the first time in over a decade. You can’t always measure success from playoff appearances, or even by wins and losses. You have to watch individual games and follow the individual players as the season goes on. With the way things are looking, I am very impressed with the Royals performance this year, especially that of Perez and Hosmer. I am looking forward to watching the Royals next season, when we will be playing deep into October.

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school spirit 1. During the first pep assembly Sept. 5, the new pep club executives introduced the cheerleaders by attempting their own pyramid. 2. To introduce the volleyball team, senior Sam Tankel sports his spandex. This is Tankel’s first year as a pep exec.

3. Senior Rasheed Brady pops out of a box at the recent pep assembly holding a sign that says ‘Homecoming?’ to ask senior Nia Madison to the dance after her fellow senior pacesetters held a high kick contest and she won. 4. At the first home football game of the season Sept 6-, the crowd cheers while decked out in beach apparel. KMBC Channel 9 showed up to grab footage of the game. The Raiders lost 3-10 to last year’s state champs, SMW Vikings. 5. Rocky struts his stuff for participants of the cheerleading clinic before the football game. The cheerleading clinic teaches girls K-8 some of the varsity cheers and prepares them for highschool cheerleading.

PHOTOS 1-3 BY JENNA FACKRELL PHOTOS 4-5 BY HANNAH HOLLANDER