Volume 11, Issue 5 by JagWire newspaper

the

JagW ire

JW Vol. 11, Issue 5 Feb. 4, 2011

Thinking about it? As credits become easier to get, the option to go part-time opens up to more students Page 10-11

Mill Valley High School > 5900 Monticello Road > Shawnee, KS 66226 > 913-422-4351 > www.mvnews.org

Feb. 4, 2011

{briefs}

InThisIssue News: page 6

Local road work updates 6

Feb. 4, 2011

{news}

Budget restrictions delay road projects across city sarah darby {news editor}

City maintenance and road projects postponed as the city funds face decreases Road projects across the city have been postponed indefinitely and road funding has been reduced to $1 million a year, down from $10 million a year spent in times of greater prosperity as property taxes collected by the city to fund budget have declined due to decreasing property values.

Monticello Road south is largest delayed Beginning in 2007, city manager Carol Gonzales says budget constraints started affecting the city. Today, the city is operating on a $57 million budget, about the same as in 2006. As a result of budget constraints, no new road projects are on the city’s Capitol Improvement Program or CIP, which is updated every year outlining six years into the future. Senior project engineer Paul Lindstrom said the Monticello Road south of Shawnee Mission Parkway project was the largest delayed by the city. The project, delayed in summer 2009, was planned to expand to a three-lane road with bikes lanes making it the width of a standard four-lane road. To date, over $3 million of an estimated $15 million total cost has been spent on the project, originally to ensure sufficient traffic flow for the future. “If it’s going to need to be a four-lane some day, we’re going to do it now,” Gonzales said of the decision surrounding the project. Since beginning construction, two houses were bought by the city and $2 million was spent on temporary easements, which allow the city to work on a resident’s property, and right of way agreements, which purchase land the future road will occupy. An eight inch gas pipeline as well as the hilly landscape of the road presented unique problems to road construction. Monticello Road south resident Bob Hamlett had approximately 2,500 square feet of property bought by the city in both temporary easements and right of way agreements. “Some improvements are necessary because this road is far too narrow but a wide double lane would have served the same purpose and preserved the front yard property area,” Hammlett said. “The steps they’ve taken now can best be described as destruction.” Construction of the road placed two-thirds of Hamett’s driveway in limbo, and resulted in the removal of five trees on his property. Temporary installment of telephone pulls and guy-wires have also resulted from the project. Temporary easements like the one on the Hamlett’s property expired in 2010. Postponement means that the money on the temporary easements will have to be re-spent when construction resumes sometime in the future. City council member Michelle Distler, who was the only city council member

CityCouncilUpdate

to vote against the project from the beginning, says signs of economic downturn were evident when project construction began. “We saw that the economy and budget was going that way,” Distler said. “I was thinking ‘Why are we even looking at that?’ We’ve spent $3.5 million and we got a road in a worse condition than when we started.” Now road projects have been postponed “We just don’t have any major street plans in the six-year plan,” Gonzales said. “We can’t take on that and have money to pay for basic services, everything has slowed down.”

Road construction/expansion projects postponed Although Monticello Road south was the most significant and costly project postponed by the city, a widespread delay of other projects has become a reality. Monticello Road north of Shawnee Mission Parkway, a design that would cost the city $250,000 and included a turn lane north of the high school and a widening on the bridge by Monticello Trails Middle School was taken off of the Capitol Improvement Program in 2009. Expansion of Johnson Drive to Midland Drive, Shawnee Mission Parkway to Pflumm Road, Woodland Road south to 83rd Street and street improvements and re-designs of Midland Drive and Claire and Gleason roads are all similar area projects that have also been postponed. Lindstrom is concerned that postponement will halt city development. “A lot of developers won’t be doing improvement until we get those streets in,” Lindstrom said. “Infrastructure goes bad and it’s hard to catch up on streets that haven’t had maintenance. We are going to play catch up.”

Maintenance program cut back due to funding In addition to forcing project delays, budget constraints have impacted road maintenance and repair. In times of better economic outlook, the city devoted $5 million to road repair. In 2011, the city committed $750,000 to the same cause. To rank necessary repairs, the city ranks roads on a one to 10 basis, one being the worst and 10 being the best. Gonzales says roads only ranked at a 6 or below are being addressed rather than roads ranked at a 7 or 8. “We’re just trying to do the best we can with what’s coming in,” Gonzales said. “Our goal is to have a small government and do what we can for a while.” Despite many delays, projects like the K-7 interchange, which the city paid $450,000 out of $26 million to fund will be completed in August 2011 and Silverheel Road, off Johnson Drive received roundabouts with the construction. Gonzales hopes the budget cuts won’t hurt the community. “My desire is for it to be a high quality and wonderful place to be and you don’t want to see your community deteriorate,” Gonzales said. For more information visit www.mvnews.org.

> Monticello Road south of Shawnee Mission Parkway

$3.2 million spent Postponed in 2009 MONTICELLO ROAD SOUTH was supposed to be expanded to a three-lane road with bike lanes, but was postoned due to budget. Photo by Kat Rainey

> Monticello Road north of Shawnee Mission Parkway Would cost the city

$250,000 for expansion Postponed in 2009 EXPANSION OF MONTICELLO Road north was taken off the city’s Capital Improvement Program in 2009, delaying the project. Photo by Kat Rainey

Feature: page 9 JagWire vs. Quiz Bowl www.mvnews.org

{feature}

JagWire vs. Quiz Bowl

MeetTheTeams JagWire

Green Team

The JagWire staff challenged the Quiz Bowl team to five rounds of trivia

{senior Kaitlyn “ O.G.” Butko}

kaitlyn butko {editor-in-chief}

Out of five rounds, the Quiz Bowl team won four rounds and The JagWire staff won one. This is the dialogue from

round one

three. Name the chemical element for tin. Red One. Tracy: Sn. Mattingly: Sn is correct. Math number one. You can use paper. You get 30 seconds. 80 is 200% of what number? Red Three.

{junior Kaitlin “ El Gato” Rounds}

Mattingly: First question comes from social studies. The Gunter: 40. Vietnam Memorial built in 1982 was designed by who? Red Mattingly: 40 is correct. Math number two. 30 seconds.

One. Tracy: Maya Lin. Mattingly: Yes Maya Lin is correct. Social Studies number two. Geography. Name the river that carved the Grand Canyon. Red One interruption. Tracy: Colorado. Mattingly: Colorado River is correct. Social studies number three. Name the U.S. capital city that has the smallest population. Green Two. Rounds: Bismarck. Mattingly: I cannot accept that answer. Red three. Gunter: Montpelier. Mattingly: Montpelier, Vermont is correct. Language arts. “Give the devil his dues, mum’s the word, the sky’s the limit, I smell a rat, wild goose chase.” Interruption Red Five. Zarnstorff: “Don Quixote.” Mattingly: That is correct. They are all common expressions originating from the classic novel. Language arts number two. Spell soliloquy. Red Three. Gunter: S-o-l-i-q-u-o-y. Mattingly: I cannot accept that. Green One. Butko: S-o-l-i-l-u-q-u-y. Mattingly: I’m sorry I can not accept that. S-o-l-i-l-o-qu-y. Language arts number three. Name the novel that begins… “If you really want to hear about it, the first thing you’ll probably want to know is where I was born, and what my lousy childhood was like, and my parents were-” Interruption Red Five. Zarnstorff: “Catcher in the Rye.” Mattingly: Science number one. Name the inventor who opened the first direct current central generating station in New York City. Green Three. Hodgdon: Edison. Mattingly: It is correct. Edison is right. Science Number two. What part of the cell makes energy? Green Four. Duden: Mitochondria. Mattingly: Mitochondria is correct. Science number

Two adjacent sides of a right triangle are 10 and 24. What is the hypotenuse? Red Three. Gunter: 26. Mattingly: 26 is correct. Math number three. Evaluate the following: (x-2)( x+3). Green Two. Rounds: X^2+x-6. Mattingly: You are correct. Fine arts number one. How many keys on a standard piano? Green One. Butko: 108. Mattingly: I cannot accept that answer. Red three. Gunter: 88. Mattingly: 88 is correct. Fine arts number two. Name the composer of “Maple Leaf Rag” often referred to as the “King of Rag Time.” Green Two interruption. Rounds: Scott Joplin. Mattingly: Keep in mind that these are coming from 2009. Potpourri. Who directed Beetlejuice, The Nightmare Before Christmas- Red Three. Gunter: Tim Burton. Mattingly: Correct. Potpourri number two. After twenty seasons, what president general manager of the Kansas City Chiefs resigned after- Red Five interruption. Zarnstorff: Carl Peterson. Mattingly: Carl Peterson is right.

{senior Joel “ Muscles” Hodgdon}

{junior Josh “ Swagga’” Duden}

{junior Sarah “ The Hippie” Fulton}

Quiz Bowl Red Team

Final Scores Round one

Round four

Round two

Round five

JagWire staff: 40 Quiz Bowl team: 105 JagWire staff: 5 Quiz Bowl team: 110

Round three

{senior Daniel Tracy}

JagWire staff: 50 Quiz Bowl team: 20

{senior Angela Chu}

JagWire staff: 10 Quiz Bowl team: 40

{freshman Joe Gunter}

2003: 4A State third place 2007: 5A Regional champions 2008: 5A State third place

{sophomore Cole Clay}

2009: 5A State first place 2010: 5A State second place

{junior Zach Zarnstorff}

SENIOR EDITOR-IN-Chief Kaitlyn Butko gets ready to buzz in to answer a Quiz Bowl question on Friday, Jan. 21. Photo by Taylor Young

Photos by Taylor Young and Kristina Milewski

Opinion: page 12 Mark Twain censorship 12

Feb. 4, 2011

{opinion}

StaffEditorial

Censorship of classic novel strips away its power Eliminating controversial language ignores history and fails to educate

should be not with protecting our ears, but with educating the next generation on the offensiveness of the word. We should not be Each year, juniors in our district read and polite to the point of ignorance. discuss Mark Twain’s classic novel The AdWe must recognize how lucky we are that ventures of Huckleberry Finn. However, many not only is the original book not banned here, districts have banned the novel because of but it is encouraged. Our district has chosen to derogatory language, specifically the n-word. teach the book in its full original version, and In order to circumvent this problem, Professor also has not even considered switching to the Alan Gribben of Auburn University created an censored version. edited version that replaces the n-word with We need to fully appreciate the power of “slave.” the novel and the freedom Gribben meant for the district has given the the change to be positeachers in regards to “We need to fully tive. By taking out the teaching this book. The appreciate the power n-word, the book then censorship controversy of the novel and the becomes available to any hardly seems to affect our freedom the district has district where it had been district because banning given the teachers.” banned because of the the book was never frequent use of the na consideration here. word. Though this edition The teachers have the opens the novel up to more people, the value option to teach it if that it brings is left out. they want, and they have The edited version is disrespectful to repeatedly chosen to teach it. the author. Twain included the word in his These choices provide students with an novel because that was how people spoke at example of real racism of the past, therefore the time. After taking out offensive words, giving us the opportunity to prevent history the next step would be to take out offensive from repeating itself. By seeing the cruelty, ideas, theoretically making the past disappear we can stop ourselves from spreading it. If completely. we don’t prepare ourselves, we will become How far must we go to be politically coroverwhelmed later in life. And thankfully, the rect? This book was originally published in district has decided to prepare us. 1884. We’re going 127 years into the past to This novel has tangible power, because the censor a word for the future? The concern words it employs are powerful.

that Twain chose to use. The language provides the shock value that makes people think about what they do and say. It was intended to be showcased the way people of all colors lived their everyday life, and they way they were treated. We commend the district for not letting censorship affect us and for recognizing the importance of history and the language of the past. The most powerful way to learn is through truth, and censorship masks what students can truly only learn through its harsh reality.

When you replace the powerful n-word with something neutral like “slave,” the severity of the language is lost. There was a purpose, but the purpose disappears when the word is changed. In the time that the book was written, people spoke the n-word frequently. It was harsh, but it was the way things were. If we forget the past, we’ll let it repeat itself. You can’t just ignore the past by ignoring the n-word. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is one of the best literary examples of realism we have today, precisely because of the language

Cartoon by Asia Yates

Oprah Winfrey’s new network, OWN has me Oprahed out

sarah darby {news editor}

Mega-star’s new network reflects her personality, not viewer interest At noon on Saturday, Jan. 1, the Oprah Winfrey Network, or OWN, produced by Oprah herself, replaced what was the Discovery Health network. Unfortunately for the viewer, the so-called “viewer first” network is anything but. Despite claims, the network puts Oprah first, not the audience. On this network, unless you are a known friend of Oprah’s or a celebrity with some inspiration or a reality TV hopeful, you won’t be getting much screen time. After 25 years of The Oprah Show, 17 new

2010JagWire Members of

JagWire Office

shows featuring The Oprah Show regulars and following the lives of celebrities struggling to find themselves were put into the network. The Dr. Phil Show has a new home, and so do former Oprah Show regulars, featured on Ask Oprah’s All-Stars. Coming soon to the network are a sprinkling of celebrity reality shows following stars like the Judds and Shania Twain, also well known friends of Oprah. Noticing a trend here? There also seems to be an overwhelming amount of shows on the network that are reality television based. The Oprah Show portrayed real humanity. The OWN network cannot be expected to be the same as the Oprah Show, but if Oprah was hoping to continue a similar theme with the network, a whole slew of reality television doesn’t seem to fit the mold. Oprah says her goals are to inspire the view-

er. I just don’t see it. Shows like Enough Already with organization and clutter expert Peter Walsh about getting the clutter out of your life is something I would expect to see on TLC, home of the selfhelp shows, and the opposite of what Oprah claims to embody. The large number of reality shows like these leaves a lot to be desired. The most concerning piece of the new network is the overextension of Oprah’s entertainment power and slightly egocentric tendencies in creating this network. Oprah has placed her personality and interests into a 24-hour, 7-days-a-week network. That’s a lot of Oprah. What seems egotistical is her insistence on the network mimicking her personality. Those featured on the network are celebrities and known friends of Oprah. The network limits itself to show only

Censorship Policy

to any member of the staff,

JagWire staff

ous or obscene statements,

what Oprah likes and approves. Where are the shows that have the viewer’s seal of approval on them? While Oprah has used her fame in the past for the greater good, including her Leadership Academy School for Girls in South Africa, her network does not seem to accurately portray these values she has proved to be important to her in the past. Oprah Winfrey is a respectable woman and deserves kudos for her charity prior to OWN. Her network should reflect these values. Only time will tell what kind of audience will continue watching the network and how the viewer will react to it. If anyone can make the jump from one incredibly successful show to a whole network of successful shows, I think it is Oprah. For me though, OWN is a disappointing extension of the interests and friends of Oprah, and I am most definitely Oprahed out.

Feature Editors

Hanna Torline

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Sports: page 15 Basketball hosts Lansing www.mvnews.org

{sports}

ng high oti

o Sh Photo illustration by Emily Johnson

Supporting the idea that playing at home is an advantage, last year the Jaguars won twice as many home games as they did away. Sophomore forward Nathan Stacy thinks they have improved on last year’s season. “We have lost some close games,” Stacy said. “But overall we are doing better than last year’s team.” Briggs knows this game is important when it comes to league rankings, where both Lansing, 6-0 in league, and Mill Valley, 5-1, are barely leading Basehor- Linwood, 4-1. “I admire what Coach Bogart has built at Mill Valley and we have a good rivalry with all the KVL schools,” Briggs said. “Mill Valley and Lansing have been good in the past several years in a lot of sports. Right now we are looking to upset Basehor, as is Mill Valley.” Upsetting Basehor will require some improvements. Although the Jaguars have a positive point differential, averaging 52.1 points per game and allowing 49.3 points, Basehor is averaging 60.5 points per game while their opponents are only scoring 42.3. Bogart thinks that it will be important to improve on this differential if the team wants to be successful. “We can definitely improve by rebounding better and making sure we’re taking the best shots. We also can’t turn the ball over as much,” Bogart said. The results of this game will most likely be insight into how the Jaguars will do when they travel to Lansing on Feb. 22. Every year for the past 10 years, the team that won the first game ended up also winning the second meeting that year. Regardless of the past wins or losses of either team, Bogart thinks it’s important that students come out and show their support. “It’s absolutely critical that there’s a good crowd,” Bogart said. “We have a good student section, and we play better in front of an excited crowd.”

TeamComparison > Mill Valley is currently 6-6 overall > 5-1 in league play placing them in second > Trails Lansing by one game

“We hope to win league and we will be competitive in our league. [For the Lansing game] we will come out prepared and ready to play.”

Boys Basketball

Tonight at home the team is looking to improve its record of 6-6 against Lansing, which is currently first in the league. Head coach Justin Bogart thinks this game is important when determining league standings. “Each game is important,” Bogart said. “We want to win our league.”

Wrestling

The team competes next on Wednesday, Feb. 9, at Shawnee Heights. Head coach Travis Keal hopes successful practices will help the team to improve. “We need to continue to have good practices,” Keal said. “We are going to stay healthy and get even better.”

Player spotlight

Senior Ryan Hodges: Wrestling

Lansing is currently 7-3 overall

6-0 the Lions are undefeated in league play

Leads the league

{Head coach justin bogart}

Girls Basketball

The team hosts Lansing, the defending league champions, tonight. Head coach John McFall thinks the team is strong, and the players are beginning to understand their roles. “We work hard and we are playing pretty good defense,” McFall said. “But this will be a tough game.”

hanna torline {reporter}

Hearing the roar of the crowd can add to the momentum a team has over its opponent. This could be the case tonight at the home boys basketball game against Lansing at 7:30 p.m. The Jaguars are currently 6-6, making a slightly better start to this season than last year, when they finished their first 12 games 5-7. Head coach Justin Bogart is impressed with what he has seen from the team so far. “We’ve played a challenging schedule,” Bogart said. “But we continue to improve every game. This team will not quit.” The team is trying to improve its record with a win against Lansing tonight. The Lions are 9-3, and their record is a factor in their state ranking of 42nd, while the Jaguars are currently ranked 55th in the state. Although the Lions currently have a better record, Bogart doesn’t think this will affect the outcome of the game. “If our guys come out and play, winning will take care of itself,” Bogart said. For the past four years, Mill Valley and Lansing are each 4-4 against each other. Two of the wins were home and two away, giving neither team a significant advantage over the other. Regardless of the results of the past four years, coaches generally agree that playing the game in a familiar gym can be a huge benefit for a team. Lansing assistant coach Ben Doll says that the Lions may be at a disadvantage playing away. “Basketball is a game where [playing at home] is a big advantage because you’re shooting at the goals you practice on every day,” Doll said. “You can control the crowd’s noise at home.” Although he agrees with Doll’s statement, Lansing head coach Rod Briggs points out that there are also positives to being on the road. “Sometimes playing on the road is better because of fewer distractions, but typically teams play better at home,” Briggs said.

Preview >

Boys basketball team looks to upset Lansing with a win tonight

What is your favorite wrestling memory? Going to state with the team as a sophomore. It felt good to be part of something that had been going on so long. I loved the feeling of accomplishment and sharing it with the team.

A&E: page 19 YouTube fame {a&e} 19

www.mvnews.org

You

austin gillespie {reporter}

Generation YouTube

kaitlin rounds {reporter}

mirandasings08: Chatting with a face of YouTube Colleen Ballinger, 24, has made her claim to internet fame by creating videos on YouTube as the character of Miranda. The Santa Barbara, CA native, currently living in New York City, began making these videos December 2007 as an inside joke with her friends. By March 2009, her YouTube popularity had sky rocketed. Over 40,000 YouTube users have subscribed to her channel, mirandasings08, and she has received over 13 million views on her videos total. Q: How would you describe the character of Miranda? A: Miranda is a comedic character that parodies bad singers on YouTube. Q: What gave you the idea of Miranda? A: I used to have an obsession with watching people butcher songs in their bedrooms on YouTube. I actually still have an obsession with watching people butcher songs in their bedrooms. I started to put them online as an inside joke. I never thought anyone would see them. Q: What kind of reaction do you get from your family and friends? A: They all think I’m insane. Everyone is very supportive

but they all think I’m a freak. I guess I am. I made a career out of being hideous and untalented.

Suggestions:

Q: What kind of reaction have you received from viewers on YouTube? A: I have a mixed reaction. I have wonderful fans that couldn’t be more supportive. I’m so grateful for the people who watch and love my videos. They are devoted “Mirfandas.” I also have “haters” who want nothing more than to see me hit by a bus. I almost love the haters more than the fans because they provide me with hours of laughter from their hate mail. It’s hilarious!

ethan_rounds10 The Man with the Golden Voice

“He had been on drugs, and homeless then people found him and gave him a job at this big corporation because of his amazing voice. People pay him to hear his voice.”

Q: How has your fame on YouTube affected your everyday life? A: My entire life has changed since Miranda. I was working at Disneyland and auditioning for shows in LA, and now I tour the world with my one woman show. I have agents and managers that found me through Miranda, and I have met so many of my role models because of it as well.

emily_adams11 vihart

“She does videos incorporating math into cool, fun videos. She also does music videos. She used a strip of button candy for an instrument in one of them. Just little dorky things like that.”

Q: What’s your favorite part about making videos? A: The reaction from the viewers. I love that people can comment and tell me how much they love or hate the videos. It makes me feel like they are a part of the journey. Q: What gave you the idea to start vlogging as Miranda? A: My dad actually suggested it!

kelsie_schuman12 Wizard People, Dear Reader

“It’s like a giant slice of entertainment pie where the crust is Harry Potter and the filling is pure, epic genius. Also, the whipped topping is that fact that you can download it and spend two hours of your life watching it.”

1,002,011 views Text comments (256,322)

Staff recommendations here... Alex Day: youtube.com/nerimon (3 minutes ago)

austin_gebhardt11 CollegeHumor “They’re kind of like a popculture roundup. They make fun of everything that’s become popular. And they are very humorous. Hence the term College Humor.”

Alex Day is one of the few video bloggers (vloggers), out of the thousands and thousands on YouTube who claim to be funny, who actually makes his viewers consistently laugh out loud. Day’s saracastic and slightly raunchy sense of humor is one that appeals especially to teenagers and young adults. Day, of London, found his fame after creating a series of videos where he reads the popular young adult novel Twilight chapter by chapter, adding his own commentary, most of the time critical, as he reads. Now he is also a relatively successful recording artist having recorded and sold four albums in the last couple years, compiled of songs he first performed on his YouTube channel. Recommended videos: “Alex Reads Twilight- Chapter 1,” “Pokemon What Happened to You”

cheyenne_miller11

Charlie McDonnell: youtube.com/charlieissocoollike (8 minutes ago)

Charlie McDonnell is currently the most subscribed vlogger in Great Britain. He has been making videos since 2007 and currently has over 25 million channel views. His most recent videos, from the last year, tend to fall into two categories: music videos of his original songs performed on his ukulele or Challenge Charlie. Challenge Charlie is a series started over a year ago where he accepts various challenges from his subscribers to complete in a video. So far they have included everything from painting his body completely purple, learning how to make balloon animals and, the most well known, dying his hair bright red. Charlie’s upbeat personality and sense of humor is the key to his success. Dec. 1, 2010 he released his first solo album featuring all of his most popular songs posted on his channel. Recommended videos: “A Song About Love,” “Best Friends,” “Wall of Stuff”

Robotics team prepares their robot for upcoming competition lisa joerling {reporter}

JagWire staff: 10 Quiz Bowl team: 20

MakingQuizBowlHistory

JUNIOR GRANT HEINSON makes alterations to last year’s robot base, by removing the gear box, in order to accomodate the team’s new design. Photo by Emily Johnson

tobucus (Tobbie Turner)

“He is so funny. He sings about what he sees. Almost every time [I see him] I cry. Photos by Taylor Young

Photos from YouTube

Cover illustration by Asia Yates

In its sixth year, the Robotics club is preparing for this year’s Greater KC FIRST Robotics Competition. The club builds a robot with a goal for it to perform in a game format. This year’s game is to pick up inflated tubes that are in the shapes of triangles, squares and circles and to put them in a 3-D tic tac toe board. “This year we’ve got a lot experienced seniors, strong leaders and good new people,” sponsor Mary Beth Mattingly said. Members meet every week night from 6-9 p.m and every Saturday from 9-3 p.m in the building season and once a week in the fall.

“We put a lot of time into this, especially in the building season,” Mattingly said. Members think the time commitment is worth it. “Seeing the robot being created and going to help the younger team at Mize elementary is pretty cool,” sophomore Sarah Jane Clark said. The team attends the competition every March. “To prepare for a competition we have to program it and practice driving it,” Clark said. “We just have to brainstorm ideas, which makes it fun.”

Open Mic Night

WPA changes

hanna torline {reporter}

josh duden {reporter}

Open Mic Night on Thursday, Jan. 27 included six different acts, all students putting their talent on display for their peers. The event included acts such as a Forensic speech given by sophomore Alex Maupin, senior Miranda Wagner singing and playing three songs on her guitar, and the night was rounded off with junior Anthony Vannicola and his band playing an original song. Wagner thinks that this year was more successful than it has been previously. “We had a variety of acts,” Wagner said. “The crowd was pretty receptive.” Open Mic Night was sponsored by StuCo in the commons, each person paying $1 to enter. The other students who performed were sophomore Ally Kelsey singing “Follow Me,” sophomore Carleigh Kinney singing “Bless the Broken Road,” and freshman Lexi Reidel, who sang “Stay.” “Open Mic Night is a tradition at Mill Valley,” Wagner said. “It’s a really fulfilling event.”

For the first time ever the WPA dance will occur as a mixer on Friday, Feb. 11 in the auxiliary gym. The mixer will occur immediately following the end of the game versus Bonner Springs. The WPA mixer will be informal, rather than a formal dance on a Saturday. Cost of entry is $3 before the mixer and $4 at the door. The theme is a white T-shirt graffiti party. Black lights will surround the students as they enter the auxiliary gym and as they dance. Senior Tori Couts comments on the change to a mixer. “I hope that because now it’s a mixer more people will come,” Couts said. WPA is important to the cheer team because it is one of their largest fund raisers. Couts says WPA will be something out of the ordinary from the normal dance experience. “We are definitely trying to make it something different from normal,” Couts said. For more information on this decision visit www.mvnews.org.

UpcomingEvents:

COMMUNICATION ARTS TEACHER Eric Ammerman helps his Blue 3 freshman english class understand the basics of writing essays. Photo by Kat Rainey

Teacher earns Horizon Award alyne roemerman {reporter}

Communication Arts teacher Eric Ammerman has received the 2011 Kansas Horizon Award. This award recognizes first year teachers believed to have done an exemplary job and is given to only 32 teachers in the state, half of those high school teachers. Ammerman was nominated by communication arts teacher Ashley Agre, former principal Dr. Joe Novak and former para educator Katy Thompson last year. On Thursday, Jan. 13, Ammerman learned of his award when he was called down to principal Tobie Waldeck’s office. The Superintendent-Elect Dr. Doug Sumner was also present to congratulate Ammerman, and Kansas Commisioner of Education Diane DeBacker, congratulated Ammerman over the phone. “I was extremely surprised and honored when it happened,” Ammerman said. “I’d just like to say that almost all, if not all, the teachers in this building deserve awards. We have so many great educators here at Mill Valley.” The Harlem Globetrotters will perform tonight at the Sprint Center at 7:30 p.m. They will have a second show tomorrow, Saturday, Feb. 5 at 2 p.m.

On Monday, Feb. 7, at the Uptown Theater, The Decemberists will perform. The doors open at 7 p.m., with the show beginning at 8 p.m.

At the Shawnee City Hall on Monday, Feb. 14, there will be a City Council meeting. The City Council meets on the second and fourth Mondays of each month.

www.mvnews.org

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Feb. 4, 2011

{news}

New version of Mark Twain’s classic

novels removes offensive racial slurs ByTheNumbers

alyne roemerman {reporter}

Censorship of Huckleberry Finn

219 occurrences of the n-word

District policy on banning books

0 books have been banned > Written complaint must be received by school

> Notification must be sent to the Superintendent

> An Instructional Review

Committee is held to hear testimony from building personnel

> Committee recommendation will be sent to the school board

Source: District Director of Curriculum Earl Martin Photo illustration by Sarah Darby

QandA

Publisher replaces the n-word in Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer

and a committee meeting to review the objected material. No books have ever been banned in the district, and Huckleberry Finn is a reserved book, which means that it can be taught at the junior level but is the teacher’s choice whether or not to teach it. Communication Arts teachers Lindsay Prewitt and Neil Sniffen have taught Huckleberry Finn in the past and plan to continue. “[Twain]…shows the realistic aspect of slavery in a totally different light than what people have normally seen,” Prewitt said. “[Huckleberry Finn] illustrates realism. That’s a really important part of American literature and kind of the foundation of so much of what we read today.” Students understand the impact Twain intended with his use of the n-word. “If they are educated enough to read [Huckleberry Finn,] then they are educated enough to know that when it was written and when [the n-word] was used, it was nothing like it is today,” senior Cassie White said. The primary concern regarding NewSouth Books’ edition of Twain’s novel is losing the impact that Twain intended the book to have. “In protecting our children from the n-word, it seems that we lose some of Twain’s original meaning and powerful impact of the book,” social studies teacher Jeff Wieland said. “More importantly, it seems like we are trying to gloss over a portion of our history that we find troubling. It’s hard to see how we can educate by omission.” The new edition of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer will be released by NewSouth Books this month. Only 7,500 copies will be printed.

Mark Twain’s two most famous novels, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, have long been considered classics. Though they have been taught in schools for over 40 years, both books have a history of being banned from the classroom due to offensive language. The publishing company NewSouth Books is introducing a new edition of both novels, replacing the n-word with ‘slave’ and the term ‘Injun’ with ‘Indian.’ Auburn University professor Alan Gribben, a Twain scholar, has worked with NewSouth Books to produce the new editions. Facts for new edition “My principal intention in preparing this edition was to evade the 2 racial 1 volume quiet censorship that has taken place slurs in so many public school districts in changed 2 novels which Tom Sawyer as well as Huckleberry Finn can no longer be introduced into middle and high school 7,500 copies will be classrooms, solely on account of the released for sale n-words in these novels,” Gribben said in an email. School districts often ban Huckleberry Finn because parents object to exposing students to the offensive language in the novel. The n-word is used over 219 times in Huckleberry Finn, including the table of contents. “The use of the n-word is integral to this novel,” University of Kansas English professor and fellow Twain scholar Susan K. Harris said. “It’s there to offend-it’s there to make us realize just how vicious language can be, and just how easy it is for one group of people to convince themselves that they are the only truly ‘human’ beings, and dehumanize everyone else.” According to Gribben, the new edition of Twain’s novels will not take away from the overall writing style. “I am merely substituting two words for two other words, leaving all of [Twain’s] magnificent satire intact, in order to make these books again eligible for public school classroom instruction in today’s integrated society,” Gribben said. “I am therefore enlarging Twain’s audience, which was his own lifelong aim.” The district’s policy on banning COMMUNICATION ARTS TEACHER Neil Sniffen explains a class activity to his Communication Arts 11 class on Monday, Jan. 31. Sniffen is the only teacher books requires a form to be filled out who taught Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn this year. Photo by Nichole Kennelly

With University of Kansas English professor and Mark Twain scholar Susan K. Harris

What is the History of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn censorship? > “People have been censor-

ing HF since it was first published...there have been recurring cycles of revision... ever since.”

How do you feel about censorship? > “I think it’s very dangerous to try to rewrite the

past...because if we don’t remember the past, we will make the same mistakes all over again.”

Why shouldn’t this book be censored? > “Because my field, American literature, is all

about language, it also includes coming to grips with hurtful language—understanding how it is used, and why it hurts. I think we have to come to grips with it, not whitewash it.”

How do you feel about Twain’s language? > The use of the n-word is integral to this novel.

It’s there to offend—it’s there to make us realize just how vicious language can be...it’s there to make us rethink our own assumptions about race, and our own use of offensive words.”

Why do you think the new edition of the book is being published? > “I think [Alan Gribben] did this from the best of

motives—because he believes passionately in the value of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, and he didn’t want a controversial word to stand in the way.”

What does censorship of this book say? > “I think, ‘Mark Twain was some writer! Huck

Finn really speaks to Americans, whether they realize it or not!’”

Photo of professor Harris from http://www.distinguishedprofessors.ku.edu

www.mvnews.org

{news}

New driving laws impact active teens lauren proctor {a&e editor}

Legislation complicates transportation for teens Last year the Kansas legislature passed several new driving laws, one which completely bans texting while driving and another that prevents teens not holding some type of license by Jan. 1, 2011 from getting an unrestricted license until the age of 17. Drivers affected by this new law will still be able to get an instructional driving permit by the age of 14, but the process following this initial step has changed. After teenagers have held a permit for a year and have logged 25 hours of driving experience, they may receive a restricted license for driving to school or work by themselves. Once drivers are 16 years old and have logged 50 hours of driving, they can move up to a different type of restricted license with which they may drive to school or work or anywhere else between the hours of five a.m. to nine p.m. without a license adult. Finally, when teenagers have reached the age of 17 they may receive their full, unrestricted license. Other new restrictions include a limit on passengers. Until the age of 16, drivers may not have any passenger that is not a sibling or a supervising licensed adult, and once drivers

are 16, they may have no more than one passenger that is not a sibling. Freshman Kylee McCalmon, who relies on her parents to get places, is frustrated that she did not make the cutoff to be exempt from the new law. “It’s just kind of annoying because the cutoff was Jan. 1 and my birthday was Jan. 4,” McCalmon said. McCalmon also doesn’t see the laws being very beneficial. “I don’t think waiting a year will make much of a difference on teen driving,” McCalmon said. The new laws may also make it difficult for teens who missed the cutoff to get jobs. “I was going to apply at the Shawnee pool this summer, but now you have to take [drivers education before you can get your restricted license], so I have to take that before I can get a job,” McCalmon said. Freshman Erica Leonard had her instructional permit prior to the cut off, and is exempt from the new laws. She is glad she does not have to wait an extra year, but sees both positives and negatives in the new law. “Not as many teens will be able to get jobs at an earlier age because they’re not going to have a way to get there,” Erica said. “[People] don’t want to have to rely on their parents and parents don’t want that responsi-

FRESHMEN ERICA AND Emily Leonard carpool with their older sister, senior Megan Leonard on Thursday, Jan. 27. Erica and Emily made the Jan. 1 cutoff for the new driving laws, but still only have instructional permits, so they rely on Megan for rides. Photo by Courtney Cooke

bility either.” Erica’s older sister, senior Megan Leonard, reflects on what would have been difficult if she had been subject to these new restrictions. “A few people from soccer would have been without a ride because I carpooled to and from soccer practice sophomore year,” Megan said. “I never would have been able to see my

boyfriend Kalib who lives in Olathe and it would have been hard to get to youth group.” Megan is also partially responsible for the transportation of her two younger sisters, Erica and Emily, and thinks it would be a problem if they had not made the cutoff. “Currently I have to drive Emily to piano and sometimes it conflicts

with when I get to work,” Megan said. “And a lot of times [my sisters] can’t get to youth group because it’s 20 minutes away.” While the new law presents challenges for teenagers trying to get to work, social events, and activities, hopefully it will make the roads safer with more mature, experienced drivers.

Feb. 4, 2011

{news}

Budget restrictions delay road projects across city sarah darby {news editor}

Monticello Road south is largest delayed Beginning in 2007, city manager Carol Gonzales says budget constraints started affecting the city. Today, the city is operating on a $57 million budget, about the same as in 2006. As a result of budget constraints, no new road projects are on the city’s Capitol Improvement Program or CIP, which is updated every year outlining six years into the future. Senior project engineer Paul Lindstrom said the Monticello Road south of Shawnee Mission Parkway project was the largest delayed by the city. The project, delayed in summer 2009, was planned to expand to a three-lane road with bikes lanes making it the width of a standard four-lane road. To date, over $3 million of an estimated $15 million total cost has been spent on the project, originally to ensure sufficient traffic flow for the future. “If it’s going to need to be a four-lane some day, we’re going to do it now,” Gonzales said of the decision surrounding the project. Since beginning construction, two houses were bought by the city and $2 million was spent on temporary easements, which allow the city to work on a resident’s property, and right of way agreements, which purchase land the future road will occupy. An eight inch gas pipeline as well as the hilly landscape of the road presented unique problems to road construction. Monticello Road south resident Bob Hamlett had approximately 2,500 square feet of property bought by the city in both temporary easements and right of way agreements. “Some improvements are necessary because this road is far too narrow but a wide double lane would have served the same purpose and preserved the front yard property area,” Hamlett said. “The steps they’ve taken now can best be described as destruction.” Construction of the road placed two-thirds of Hamlett’s driveway in limbo, and resulted in the removal of five trees on his property. Temporary installment of telephone poles and guy-wires have also resulted from the project. Temporary easements like the one on the Hamlett’s property expired in 2010. Postponement means that the money on the temporary easements will have to be re-spent when construction resumes sometime in the future. City council member Michelle Distler, who was the only city council member

CityCouncilUpdate > Monticello Road south of Shawnee Mission Parkway

$3.2 million spent Postponed in 2009 MONTICELLO ROAD SOUTH was supposed to be expanded to a three-lane road with bike lanes, but was postoned due to budget. Photo by Kat Rainey

> Monticello Road north of Shawnee Mission Parkway Would cost the city

$250,000 for expansion Postponed in 2009 EXPANSION OF MONTICELLO Road north was taken off the city’s Capital Improvement Program in 2009, delaying the project. Photo by Kat Rainey

www.mvnews.org

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8 {feature}

Feb. 4, 2011

AcrossTheCountry

Teens all around the country explain why they participated on the march “We want to be able to speak for those who can’t speak for themselves.”

A march to remember

{Amber, 19, Illinois}

“I love babies.”

{Aaron, 16, Maine}

GROUPS AROUND THE country gathered in Washington D.C. to protest the Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion. Photo by Kristina Milewski

kristina milewski {features editor} jill applegate {features editor}

Students march at U.S. capital to protest abortion

“I want to stand up for what I believe in. Abortion shouldn’t be accepted.”

{Marcus, 16, Michigan}

“I don’t want things like what happened in Philadelphia to keep happening.”

{David, 16, Georgia}

On the coldest day in Washington D.C. in the past five years, 400,000 people gathered on the National Mall to protest abortion. Since its legalization in the U.S. 38 years ago, people have gathered annually to protest Roe v. Wade in a peaceful rally called March for Life. This year, sophomore Anna Hughes joined the 400,000 protesters for her first year on the march. “I wanted to go because I want to support a cause that I believe in,” Hughes said. Senior Haley Bensel also went on the

pilgrimage for the first time. “I feel really strongly about abortion and this year was the first year I was able to do it,” Bensel said. All students participating in the march spent 24 hours on a bus to and from Washington D.C. “[The bus ride] was actually a lot more fun than I thought it would be. I talked to my friends and had coloring books,” Bensel said. Thirteen teenagers from Sacred Heart Catholic Church on Monticello Road participated in the march, along with 162 teenagers from the entire archdiocese of Kansas City, Kansas. Kyle Kuckelman, Sacred Heart youth minister, was excited about the turnout.

“It was a lot more stressful [than last year], but it’s awesome. You teenagers are starting to notice and care about the world around you,” Kuckelman said. “Your generation is the future of our country and world. We’re screwed if you don’t start caring now, and this shows that you really do care.” Rick Cheek, associate consulter at the office of evangelization in Kansas City, shares a similar view as Kuckelman. “The youth are the ever present here and now. Without their voice being heard, nothing will be changed,” Cheek said. The 162 teenagers and multiple supervisors from Kansas City made up a small fraction of the 400,000 people who showed up at the march “It was really amazing because we were all joining together for the same cause, and everyone there supported the same thing,” Hughes said. “I would go next year because the more people that show up, the bigger the impact.” Kuckelman was in awe at the massive amount of people that were at the march. “When you have 400,000 people there for one cause, it’s really cool,” Kuckelman said. “Primarily, it’s showing the world how much I care and how much everyone else cares. That’s the coolest thing about it.”

“I came last year because I wanted to get out of school, but I came back again because I realized that this is something I really believe in.”

{John, 17, Alabama} Photos by Kristina Milewski

TOP: AS THE RALLY began on Monday, Jan. 24, 400,000 protestors walked around the U.S. capital chanting and holding signs. LEFT: A MAN PARTICIPATES in the annual march protesting against the Roe v. Wade decision. ABOVE: SENIORS KELCIE MARQUARDT and Haley Bensel gather on the mall of Washington D.C. to listen to the speeches of congressmen and other political figures. Photos by Kristina Milewski

www.mvnews.org

JagWire vs. Quiz Bowl The JagWire staff challenged the Quiz Bowl team to five rounds of trivia

{feature}

MeetTheTeams JagWire

Green Team

{senior Kaitlyn “ O.G.” Butko}

kaitlyn butko {editor-in-chief}

Out of five rounds, the Quiz Bowl team won four rounds and The JagWire staff won one. This is the dialogue from

round one

Mattingly: First question comes from social studies. The

Vietnam Memorial built in 1982 was designed by who? Red One. Tracy: Maya Lin. Mattingly: Yes Maya Lin is correct. Social Studies number two. Geography. Name the river that carved the Grand Canyon. Red One interruption. Tracy: Colorado. Mattingly: Colorado River is correct. Social studies number three. Name the U.S. capital city that has the smallest population. Green Two. Rounds: Bismarck. Mattingly: I cannot accept that answer. Red three. Gunter: Montpelier. Mattingly: Montpelier, Vermont is correct. Language arts. “Give the devil his dues, mum’s the word, the sky’s the limit, I smell a rat, wild goose chase.” Interruption Red Five. Zarnstorff: “Don Quixote.” Mattingly: That is correct. They are all common expressions originating from the classic novel. Language arts number two. Spell soliloquy. Red Three. Gunter: S-o-l-i-q-u-o-y. Mattingly: I cannot accept that. Green One. Butko: S-o-l-i-l-u-q-u-y. Mattingly: I’m sorry I can not accept that. S-o-l-i-l-o-qu-y. Language arts number three. Name the novel that begins… “If you really want to hear about it, the first thing you’ll probably want to know is where I was born, and what my lousy childhood was like, and my parents were-” Interruption Red Five. Zarnstorff: “Catcher in the Rye.” Mattingly: Science number one. Name the inventor who opened the first direct current central generating station in New York City. Green Three. Hodgdon: Edison. Mattingly: It is correct. Edison is right. Science Number two. What part of the cell makes energy? Green Four. Duden: Mitochondria. Mattingly: Mitochondria is correct. Science number

three. Name the chemical element for tin. Red One. Tracy: Sn. Mattingly: Sn is correct. Math number one. You can use paper. You get 30 seconds. 80 is 200% of what number? Red Three. Gunter: 40. Mattingly: 40 is correct. Math number two. 30 seconds. Two adjacent sides of a right triangle are 10 and 24. What is the hypotenuse? Red Three. Gunter: 26. Mattingly: 26 is correct. Math number three. Evaluate the following: (x-2)( x+3). Green Two. Rounds: X^2+x-6. Mattingly: You are correct. Fine arts number one. How many keys on a standard piano? Green One. Butko: 108. Mattingly: I cannot accept that answer. Red three. Gunter: 88. Mattingly: 88 is correct. Fine arts number two. Name the composer of “Maple Leaf Rag” often referred to as the “King of Rag Time.” Green Two interruption. Rounds: Scott Joplin. Mattingly: Keep in mind that these are coming from 2009. Potpourri. Who directed Beetlejuice, The Nightmare Before Christmas- Red Three. Gunter: Tim Burton. Mattingly: Correct. Potpourri number two. After twenty seasons, what president general manager of the Kansas City Chiefs resigned after- Red Five interruption. Zarnstorff: Carl Peterson. Mattingly: Carl Peterson is right.

Final Scores Round one

Round four

Round two

Round five

JagWire staff: 40 Quiz Bowl team: 105 JagWire staff: 5 Quiz Bowl team: 110

Round three

JagWire staff: 50 Quiz Bowl team: 20

{junior Kaitlin “ El Gato” Rounds}

{senior Joel “ Muscles” Hodgdon}

{junior Josh “ Swagga’” Duden}

{junior Sarah “ The Hippie” Fulton}

Quiz Bowl Red Team {senior Daniel Tracy}

JagWire staff: 10 Quiz Bowl team: 20

JagWire staff: 10 Quiz Bowl team: 40

MakingQuizBowlHistory 2003: 4A State third place 2007: 5A Regional champions 2008: 5A State third place 2009: 5A State first place

{senior Angela Chu}

{freshman Joe Gunter}

{sophomore Cole Clay}

2010: 5A State second place SENIOR EDITOR-IN-Chief Kaitlyn Butko gets ready to buzz in to answer a Quiz Bowl question on Friday, Jan. 21. Photo by Taylor Young

{junior Zach Zarnstorff} Photos by Taylor Young and Kristina Milewski

10 {feature}

Feb. 4, 2011

the becoming e

i d e r C

A new policy on part-time students went into effect last semester, and as a result, fewer seniors now roam the school. With more and more students going over the amount of credits required to graduate, the district’s stance on allowing part-time students has been modified to aljoel hodgdon {reporter/ads} low more students the ability to go part-time. josh duden {reporter} Needing only 25 credits to graduate, the upcoming freshman class could earn up to 33. With no immediate solutions in sight to this credit situation, the “When I moved out of my p district will keep the required 25 credits. Assistant principal Jennifer Smith sheds light on the chance of a potential rent, and that was when I knew pay my bills,” Burke said. change in requirements. However Burke does think “To raise them we would have to do it as a district, there is always the possibility for new classes to come out,” Smith said. not for everyone. “I would only suggest it to p “Before we make any new requirements or changes, they would it,” Burke said. “If you don’t ha have to be looked at and reflected on.” Until a change in the graduation requirements is made, be bored.” Going part-time may sound some students, especially seniors, have more than enough credits to graduate. To remedy this situation, more than 15 senior Alex Kuhn believes there “You are going to have a lot seniors have currently gone part-time compared to only one Kuhn said. “There is a social d senior last school year. Counselor Patricia Chandler said the new part-time policy things and people could stereo time student is going to create is not being used the way it was intended. “The intention of the part-time student system was put in solves.” Burke agrees that part-tim place for those students who were home schooled, but wanted to take a class at the high school,” Chandler said. “But the way experiences. “I miss out on a lot of the d it is being used now was not how it was intended.” Students now become part-time for a multitude of reasons. missing a lot of my senior year Senior Ryanne Burke became a part-time student to work a while everyone else is still here Chandler says she is also b part-time job.

d i s c re

FullTimeStudent: Alex Kuhn On one of the many paths to graduation, senior Alex Kuhn is taking the highroad. On top of his class academically, Kuhn knows the importance of education. “School is a big priority in my life,” Kuhn said. “I’ve got high expectations from my parents, and of myself.” With more seniors choosing to become part-time students for many reasons, Kuhn can see why becoming part-time may be necessary. “Everyone should have the option, but it should be on a case by case basis,” Kuhn said. “I never wanted to go part-time but if I did, it would be for a really important reason.” Kuhn detailed a few circumstances when it would be beneficial to go part-time. “Being part-time is okay if you are under financial problems or need to help out your family,” Kuhn said. In his case, Kuhn chose to take more classes his senior year for more credits. “It does seem really easy to graduate with more credits than you need...but becoming a part-time student changes a lot of things,” Kuhn said. He believes that students should challenge themselves with a full class load to gain more opportunities for college and beyond. “Being a full-time student opens doors after graduation,” Kuhn said. “A part-time student wouldn’t have the same opportunities for colleges, and maybe getting a job.”

pros and con

of goin

More time to work.

Able to attend college courses at JCCC.

Less amount of classes to focus on.

Easier to stay organized.

Sources: Ryanne Burke, Alex Kuh

{feature} 11

www.mvnews.org

Due to changes in the school day schedule, credits required to graduate are easier for students to attain, making

its

dents’ separation from the social aspect of school. “The students disconnection from the school makes me sad,” Chandler said. “They are growing up too fast. There will always be work, always more school after graduation, but part-time students miss out on things that they wouldn’t have if they were here fulltime.” For students in the right situation, there are some benefits to going parttime. Burke says, for her, taking just three core classes keeps her more organized for school. “It’s easier to keep track of my classes and my homework,” Burke said. Although most part-time students take only three classes, they still have the option to take more. A minimum of six classes is required by the district for any student who wants to participate in extra-curricular activities like athletics. Kuhn believes the participation policy is understandable. “It’s reasonable that if you need to take time off of school and not have a full schedule, you shouldn’t have the time to devote yourself to a team,” Kuhn said. Smith takes a more practical approach to this conflict. “Just because a student isn’t here full-time doesn’t mean they can’t participate,” Smith said. “This is just one situation you have to look at on an individual basis. No solution fits all.” Whether a change in requirements happens or not, one things for sure, the option to become a part-time student is here to stay.

e d i te d

parents’ house, I started paying w I had to make more money to

k being a part-time student is

people who have reason to need ave a reason, like a job, you will

d attractive in some cases, but e are several downsides. t of trouble finding a real job,” downside too, you miss out on otype you. To me, being a parte a lot more problems than it

me students can lose important

day,” Burke said. “I feel like I’m r, I leave school early everyday e living their lives.” bothered by the part-time stu-

Cartoons by Asia Yates

ng part time -

Unable to participate in competitive school activities.

Disconnection from school.

Growing up too fast (i.e. work, college, etc.)

Potential to impact friendships with peers.

hn, counselor Patricia Chandler, assistant principal Jennifer Smith

PartTimeStudent: Ryanne Burke Just like most students on any typical school day senior Ryanne Burke wakes up, gets ready and heads to class; but Burke isn’t a normal student with a full schedule, she is newly part-time. Burke still attends classes here and some at Johnson County Community College as well, but work became a necessity shortly after she moved out. “I live on my own in an apartment,” Burke said. “I couldn’t attend school with a full schedule and work to support myself.” The need for more work became pressingly more important, so Burke soon applied for part-time. Through a long and time consuming process, she finally got approved. “It was a slow process,” Burke said. “I had to wait on a final to see if I would get approved or not. After I did, it was definitely positive for my situation.” For Burke to become part-time the approval process passed many administrator’s desks. It first went to her counselor Patricia Chandler, who discussed the reasons that she wanted to become part-time. Then, to principal Tobie Waldeck who then, after his approval, sent it to its last stop, Superintendent Dr. Ron Wimmer’s desk for final approval. Burke had more than just work as a reason for becoming part-time though. “I just wanted to get a head start,” Burke said. “I will be ahead in preparation for my degree because of JCCC, and I might graduate sooner in college which is an advantage.” With Burke not only working to support herself but also working towards her degree in administrative justice, becoming part-time was truly a positive change in her life. Photos by Taylor Young and Nichole Kennelly

Feb. 4, 2011

{opinion}

StaffEditorial

Censorship of classic novel strips away its power Eliminating controversial language ignores history and fails to educate

Cartoon by Asia Yates

Oprah Winfrey’s new network, OWN has me Oprahed out

sarah darby {news editor}

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{opinion} 13

www.mvnews.org ProCon

Look ahead, not behind, to future in an equal America

Bettering ourselves requires learning from past mistakes

joel hodgdon {reporter/ads}

kat rainey {photographer}

Black History Month is laudable, but remembrance is unnecessary This is not a traditional “con” article. I am not writing to argue against any group of people or to do away with the recognition African Americans deserve for helping bring racial equality to our great nation. I am writing to expose the flaws in a unnecessary remembrance of a struggle passed: Black History Month. I cannot speak for Dr. King Jr. or any of the other heroes of the movement but in today’s society their dream is practically fulfilled. Racism and bigotry are no longer tolerated by the media or by the public, and children of all racial backgrounds have the right to an equal education and opportunities in life. African Americans have achieved equality and are leaders in our communities and on the national level. Some might say the goal of the month is symbolic and the spirit of equality applies to all minorities in struggle. This is not necessarily true, for example, a specific Black History Month does nothing for a middle eastern American being discriminated against today. Black History Month is also a hypocrisy. For a movement whose goal is to rise above

racial judgement and achieve equality, doesn’t a special month set aside for just one race seem hypocritical? Commemorating a race’s accomplishments is noble, but in a now multicultural and tolerant America, race, whatever its accomplishments, shouldn’t matter. Additionally, this sends a message about the rest of the year, that it is acceptable to forget about equality for 11 months and make up for it by remembering with one. The ongoing movement for tolerance between all races should not be nailed down to one month; every month should celebrate equality and the struggles we have been through to get there.

Black History Month is more than a celebration, it is a morality check What was originally a week for atonement and remembrance is now a month that, in some places of our country, has been misrepresented by the media. The problem is that people refuse to learn or even listen when the importance of this month is explained. They

Cartoon by Asia Yates

believe that we are asking for praise when in reality we just want people to understand that this country was built and became the number one country on the backs of an unwilling race. After suffering through undisputedly the worst form of slavery in history, we continued to help this country thrive. Blacks aided the country by defending it in times of war, as well as bringing a wave of innovation with things as small as the iron to major milestones like performing the first open heart surgery and creating the first blood bank. Before dismissing the month as a whole, why not stop and think about all the things us Americans take for granted and where they came from. The most important lesson to learn is one of moral character. Just because you’re not African American doesn’t mean your history wasn’t affected by African Americans. The moral lesson I’m speaking of is simple: learning how to treat others. The interactions between African Americans and Caucasians will never be repeated in the form of slavery. However, by just saying sorry and moving on you’re not understanding that no race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation deserves less respect and understanding than another. Also it’s the most profound example that anyone that feels oppressed unjustly can fight and overcome any obstacle. But more importantly, they shouldn’t have to. As members of the human race we have a moral obligation to make everyone feel equal no matter how different.

March for Life gives teens the opportunity to create change sarah fulton {sports editor}

Protest like March for Life brings back days of public demonstration Aug. 28, 1963, approximately 250,000 people marched on Washington D.C. to protest for the civil rights of African Americans. When the leaders of the country failed to take the action the protestors felt necessary during the civil rights reform of the ‘60s, they demanded change by taking to the streets. They actively

pursued the political change they desired. political views, the March for Life teens seem to March for Life, despite not being as covered have the right idea. by the mainstream media, is a genuine and At an age when we are too young to vote, our positive glimpse back to the ‘60s and the days ability to seek political change is limited. Our of social activism. Every aspirations are mainly January 400,000 teens limited to e-mails to Contravel to Washington D.C. gress people, who most “At an age when we to peacefully protest aborlikely will not read the are too young to vote, tion on the anniversary of them, or supporting a our ability to seek politithe Roe v. Wade decision candidate we cannot vote cal change is limited.” which legalized abortion. for ourselves. In order Teenagers taking to the to create change as streets in order to ask their individuals we have to government for change is a take extraordinary modern day snapshot of the Civil Rights Movemeasures and go ment. It does not matter if you agree with their far beyond natural abil-

ity. Public demonstration seems to be one of the answers to this dilemma. By simply showing up and being both a body and a statistic, teenagers can show the leaders of the country what they believe in. They can refuse to be ignored and influence change. The days of wide swept activism may be over, but rallies and marches can still have the same effect. As a generation we can refuse to be ignored. It is a cliché, but when more people take to the streets and peacefully seek change, we might actually experience it. When the social activism of the ‘60s is revived like it is in March for Life, the country can begin to experience vast positive change.

YouSaidIt Do you believe March For Life is a good cause? “Yes, babies should be born, so that they can be adopted by a family.” {freshman Kyra Clair}

“No, because I think that as Americans we should have freedom of choice.” {sophomore Alex Reeves}

“Yes, I believe that every person has the right to live, whether it is with their biological parents or adopted parents.”

{junior Carly Doane}

“Yes, it allows me to voice my beliefs even though I can’t vote.” {senior Kaitlyn McGuire}

Feb. 4, 2011

{sports}

Coach brings positive change

High standards and heavy weights sarah fulton {reporter}

“I like everything about it. There is better and newer equipDespite doubling in size and undergoing an update, ment,” Haub said. “[If I could change it] I would just make it bigspace continues to be a concern in the weight room

sarah fulton {reporter}

Head girls basketball coach John McFall has brought a new energy to the team Structured but funny and full of energy, head girls basketball coach John McFall has brought a much needed change to the team after transferring from Shawnee Mission West High School. After issues with the previous head coach, McFall has managed to not only improve the team but make a strong connection with his players. “Our last coach gave up at times. [McFall] really pushes us to be the best we can be as individuals and as a team,” senior forward Kelsey Strobel said. “[He motivates us] by complimenting us and also giving constructive criticism.” This is no surprise considering McFall’s history as a coach. In 2009 he was inducted into the Greater Kansas City Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame and coached teams to two state championship victories. With a lifetime record of 424-186, McFall has a winning history. Despite this being McFall’s first girls team, his theory on coaching has not changed. He has focused on teaching the girls the fundamentals of the game. Understanding the intricacies of the sport you play allows you to execute the necessary plays and create a positive moment and understanding among the team. By understanding this and making it the basis for his coaching theory McFall has created the foundation for a winning team. “I’ve helped them reach a better understanding of what they have to do,” McFall said. “We are much more fundamentally sound.” According to McFall there is a “price to pay” to be good. Like most great coaches he supports that statement by working the girls hard but also putting in the work himself. According to Strobel, McFall reviews game film and records in order to constantly see where the team can improve. “He knows a lot about basketball. He believes in executing things correctly,” Strobel said. Despite working them hard to perfect their play, the girls describe McFall as funny, bubbly with a lot of energy. McFall also had plenty of things to say about the players. “They’re just a fun group to work with. I enjoy practices, it’s always nice to work with a nice young group of kids,” McFall said. “It has only been two months, it has been different but I have been pleased with the response and effort.” In just a short time ,McFall has become a vital part of the girls team. He has brought a positive spirit and outlook to coaching. The team has improved in both record and attitude. No longer is complaining about the coach a large part of the team’s basketball experience. It is a relief in a school where we have had past issues with coaches to have a genuinely good guy and a genuinely good coach. I now have high hopes for the girls basketball team and as a sports fan, I hope McFall stay as the girls basketball coach for many, many years.

ger, it would allow more kids and more activities.” According to Haub, the lack of space prevents the coaches from doing activities that would benefit the athletes. Junior Lindsay Mason, who uses the weight room both during Cardio Lift and after school for training, agrees with Haub. “The weight room is crowded most of the time. Even though it’s bigger than last year there are quite a bit more people,” Mason said. “People are more likely to get hurt and people get in the way of what you trying to do.” According to assistant football coach T.J. O’Neill, there are approximately 70 to 90 kids in the after school weights program. However this does not create a space issue. “It is tough to say anything negative. We have a lot more than most people have,” O’Neill said. “We have it set up they way it is for a reason, it allows for people to work in groups. If I could change anything I would have more kids.” Like O’Neill, head football coach Joel Applebee feels the weight room is sufficient. “I don’t believe we have a space issue. Our weight room is one of the nicest around with excellent equipment,” Applebee said.“We are very lucky to have the facilities we have.” Junior Taylor Christy, who attended De Soto High School during her freshman year and now uses the weight room during Fitness, agrees with Applebee but does feel that at times the weight room can become crowded. “At De Soto they just have the basics. This one is 18 times nicer and has a lot more up-to-date equipment,” Christy said. “Right now I think everything is okay; there are just a lot of people wanting to do the same things at the same times so it gets clustered.” Besides adding more space, how to improve the weight room is also up for debate. “I think they do a good job with what they have,” Mason said. “It would make an additional weight room or different scheduling might help.” Even though it is desirable, another addition to the weight room is unlikely due to a lack of space to expand the school. “I think right now we can do 100 to 120 kids,” O’Neill said. “As the school grows potentially we could have a problem but at TOP: COACH O’NEILL’S BLUE 5 team sports class waits for his signal to begin a series of warm-up sprints on Thursday, that point there are many conJan. 13 in the new auxilliary gym. ABOVE: JUNIOR LUKE KNEHANS hang cleans in the renovated weight room during siderations besides the weight Coach Applebee’s silver 4 fitness class. “...weights after school is hectic because there are so many people. But I do like the new additions,” Knehans commented about the crowded space. Photos by Emily Johnson room.” The numbers are impressive, 20 weight stations and 10 dumbell stations. However the new weight room has failed to live up to the hype that surrounded it during construction. A total of 1,550 square feet were added to the weight room to bring it from 1,400 feet to 2,950 square feet. Despite the improvements in both equipment and space, there are questions on whether or not the renovation was enough. Currently the weight room plays host to football, softball, girls soccer and a few track students who utilize it during the after school weights program. Softball coach Sarah Haub appreciates the update but feels the weight room could still be improved.

YouSaidIt If you could change the weight room, what would you do? “I would have more students in it. After school weights is booming and I would like for it to keep growing.”

{p.e. teacher T.J. O’Neill}

“I would make it even bigger or make an additional weight room. I think different scheduling might help also.”

{junior Lindsay Mason}

“I would obviously make it bigger. Maybe change it from a triangle into a square, it would give more space and allow more kids.”

{softball coach Sarah Haub}

www.mvnews.org

{sports}

Preview >

Photo illustration by Emily Johnson

TeamComparison > Mill Valley is currently 6-6 overall > 5-1 in league play placing them in second > Trails Lansing by one game

“We hope to win league and we will be competitive in our league. [For the Lansing game] we will come out prepared and ready to play.”

{Head coach justin bogart}

Lansing is currently 7-3 overall

6-0 the Lions are undefeated in league play

Leads the league

Girls Basketball

hanna torline {reporter}

Boys basketball team looks to upset Lansing with a win tonight

Boys Basketball

h g i h g n i t o

Wrestling

Player spotlight

Senior Ryan Hodges: Wrestling

What weight class are you in? 125 this year. How did you get into wrestling? My friend asked me to come to one of his practices. I joined his team, it was the Mill Valley Kids Club. What are your plans for wrestling after high school? Hopefully to wrestle somewhere in college. I don’t know where yet, I’m keeping my options open. What is the highest you have placed? I went two and two at state. What is your favorite wrestling memory? Going to state with the team as a sophomore. It felt good to be part of something that had been going on so long. I loved the feeling of accomplishment and sharing it with the team.

{a&e}

S T

After exploring three very different candy stores in the Legends Village West, The JagWire recommends the best

lisa joerling {reporter} mackenzie hampton {managing editor}

Feb. 4, 2011

weet reats

Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory > > > > >

They specialize in hand-dipped apples and chocolates. They are definitely the most expensive out of the three stores. Unique treats like chocolate dipped twizzlers and potato chips are one of the many things they sell. Unfortunately they are the smallest store but is convenient for getting in and out. They offer a small ice cream and refreshment selection.

CHOCOLATE, M&M, AND caramel covered apples are what Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory is known for. Photo by Ali Judy

Palmer’s

Russell Stover had the biggest jelly bean collection out of the three candy stores. With 50 different flavors, customers are sure to find their favorite. Photo by Ali Judy

WITH A FAMILY atmosphere and a wide variety of homemade fudge, Palmer’s is a perfect stop for chocolate cravings. Photo by Ali Judy

Russell Stover

Palmer’s is one of the oldest family owned candy makers in the U.S, they started in 1878.

This store had the best selection among the three stores.

An old fashioned soda fountain and homemade waffle cones go along with their selection of ice cream.

They have a huge selection of Valentine’s day gifts and chocolates.

They are the most reasonably priced among the three stores.

Russel Stover has a section for homemade chocolates, truffles and ice cream.

Their candy is unique and everything has an old fashioned feel in the store.

Their commercialism makes this store less unique than the other two.

Palmer’s has bins of chocolate treats which they will weigh and bag for you.

The prices of boxed chocolates range from $1.29 to $39.99.

{ads} 17

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Paul Boone 5354 Roberts St. Shawnee, KS 66226 Phone: 913-422-7428 pickscatering@aol.com

{a&e}

Feb. 4, 2011

what works and what... well, does not lauren proctor {a&e editor}

The JagWire takes a look at some of the most commonly seen and talked about “As seen on TV” products

Shake Weight

AFTER DOING A six minute workout with the Shake Weight, senior Jacob Weiwel has mixed feelings about the product. Photo by Nichole Kennelly

Lauren’s Opinion: I was pleasantly surprised using the Shake Weight. I could feel it working while I was using it, and even had trouble making it through the suggested six minutes. The next day my arms were noticeably more toned, which is nice because I hadn’t anticipated seeing such immediate results. While it seems a little awkward to use at first, for people who are usually unmotivated to exercise, it is an easy and effective way to slim and tone your arms. I give Shake Weight four out of four Shake Weights.

THE BIG TOP cupcake oozed with uncooked batter after cooking for the suggested time on Saturday, Jan. 29. Photo by Taylor Young

Big Top Cupcake Lauren’s Opinion: The giant cupcake mold was a major letdown. I followed the instructions but when I took the pan out after 40 minutes I was shocked at what I found. Both the sides of the pan were overflowing with cake, and when I stuck a knife in the center to see if it was fully cooked, one of the overflowing sides collapsed to reveal a soupy center full of barely-cooked batter. After a total of 55 minutes to an hour in the oven the cupcake was finally done enough to take out. Because the pan is so deep, the outside of my cupcake was overcooked, dry, and kind of crusty, while the inside was still a little gooey. The cupcake is so large that you can’t cover it to keep it moist until the frosting isn’t as sticky, which adds to the dryness of the outer layer. I would not recommend this giant cupcake pan. I give it one out of four cupcakes.

Senior Jacob Wiewel: “Well, it’s a little awkward, but I feel like I got a good work out, especially if I would have done it [for more than the suggested six minutes]. It was effective and I could feel it in my triceps. The wrestling team should start using it. I probably wouldn’t buy it though because there are other better things out there than the Shake Weight.”

Consumer Reviews:

Consumer Reviews: People online rave about the cupcake pan, which I found very surprising. Most of the reviews say that the pan requires some playing around with to get the desired results and that you shouldn’t follow the instructions that come with the pan. If you purchase this product you should definitely read reviews for helpful hints before trying to make the cupcake yourself.

Strap Perfect

Most online reviews rave about the Shake Weight, saying that it’s highly effective and yields dramatic results in a matter of a few weeks. Reviewers also praise how easy it is to build the six minute workout into your daily routine. However, some reviews say that improper use of the Shake Weight or its accompanying video leads to strained muscles.

Lauren’s Opinion: The Strap Perfect does exactly what it says it’s supposed to: it hides bra straps under shirts with abnormal backs and gives breast a slight lift. However, I found it somewhat difficult to put on by myself and once it was on, wearing it was a little uncomfortable. This discomfort can be beneficial though, because it becomes more uncomfortable when you slouch, thus improving your posture. I give the Strap Perfect three out of four Strap Perfects.

Sophomore Ally Garton: “I think that [the Strap Perfect] is a good idea, but I would never remember to take them off my bra if I used them every day. It’s kind of a hassle, so it’s better just to buy a bra with a hook on it. I would use it a lot, because I wear a lot of the shirts that require one, so they’re useful, and they definitely give you a little lift. My friends use them almost every day.”

Consumer Reviews: BEFORE USING THE Strap Perfect, sophomore Ally Garton’s bra straps were awkwardly showing. After hooking the Strap Perfect on to her bra, the straps were neatly hidden beneath her tank top. Photos by Nichole Kennelly

Online reviewers say that the Strap Perfect is very effective, very handy, and ideal for every day use. Reviewers encourage others to purchase them in stores though, and not off of the commercials or the official website, because it’s less expensive. Women with larger breasts also reported that the Strap Perfect leant them the added support that the average bra could not.

{a&e} 19

www.mvnews.org

You

austin gillespie {reporter}

Generation YouTube

kaitlin rounds {reporter}

but they all think I’m a freak. I guess I am. I made a career out of being hideous and untalented. Q: What kind of reaction have you received from viewers on YouTube? A: I have a mixed reaction. I have wonderful fans that couldn’t be more supportive. I’m so grateful for the people who watch and love my videos. They are devoted “Mirfandas.” I also have “haters” who want nothing more than to see me hit by a bus. I almost love the haters more than the fans because they provide me with hours of laughter from their hate mail. It’s hilarious! Q: How has your fame on YouTube affected your everyday life? A: My entire life has changed since Miranda. I was working at Disneyland and auditioning for shows in LA, and now I tour the world with my one woman show. I have agents and managers that found me through Miranda, and I have met so many of my role models because of it as well. Q: What’s your favorite part about making videos? A: The reaction from the viewers. I love that people can comment and tell me how much they love or hate the videos. It makes me feel like they are a part of the journey. Q: What gave you the idea to start vlogging as Miranda? A: My dad actually suggested it!

Suggestions: ethan_rounds10 The Man with the Golden Voice

“He had been on drugs, and homeless then people found him and gave him a job at this big corporation because of his amazing voice. People pay him to hear his voice.”

emily_adams11 vihart

“She does videos incorporating math into cool, fun videos. She also does music videos. She used a strip of button candy for an instrument in one of them. Just little dorky things like that.”

kelsie_schuman12 Wizard People, Dear Reader

1,002,011 views Text comments (256,322)

Staff recommendations here... Alex Day: youtube.com/nerimon (3 minutes ago)

austin_gebhardt11 Alex Day is one of the few video bloggers (vloggers), out of the thousands and thousands on YouTube who claim to be funny, who actually makes his viewers consistently laugh out loud. Day’s saracastic and slightly raunchy sense of humor is one that appeals especially to teenagers and young adults. Day, of London, found his fame after creating a series of videos where he reads the popular young adult novel Twilight chapter by chapter, adding his own commentary, most of the time critical, as he reads. Now he is also a relatively successful recording artist having recorded and sold four albums in the last couple years, compiled of songs he first performed on his YouTube channel. Recommended videos: “Alex Reads Twilight- Chapter 1,” “Pokemon What Happened to You”

Charlie McDonnell: youtube.com/charlieissocoollike (8 minutes ago)

CollegeHumor “They’re kind of like a popculture roundup. They make fun of everything that’s become popular. And they are very humorous. Hence the term College Humor.”

cheyenne_miller11 tobucus (Tobbie Turner)

“He is so funny. He sings about what he sees. Almost every time [I see him] I cry. Photos by Taylor Young

Feb. 4, 2011

{photo essay}

Students work to build

maya sudduth {reporter}

New carpentry class allows students to learn hands-on Armed with tools and knowledge from the new Residential Carpentry class, students will be able to fix household problems and apply their basic training to enter the construction field. It is a year-long class in which the students learn to do tasks such as plumbing and hanging drywall. According to Residential Carpentry teacher Arlan Vomhof, in order to meet state standards the school had to offer new hands-on classes. The class was thought to be useful for students. “It offers them the ability to work with their hands and learn how to fix things in the future when they own a home,” Vomhof said. The class schedule is divided between class work and lab work. Class work consists of learning from the textbook and taking notes. Lab work is where the students do the actual carpentry. “Some days we’re in the classroom, some days we’re in the shop,” senior Daniel Higgins said. “If we’re in the class, we take notes and if we’re in the lab, you pick up where you left off last class. It’s pretty easy.” The students can receive a certificate in basic construction knowledge at the end of the course if they pass all eight of the certification tests. The certification is from The National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER).

ABOVE: SENIOR DANIEL HIGGINS looks to carpentry teacher Arlan Vomhof for advice while working at the plumbing station in Residential Carpentry on Friday, Jan. 21. BELOW: FRESHMAN DREW MCGEE chisels away at a piece of wood on Friday, Jan. 21. Photos by Ali Judy

FAR ABOVE: ON FRIDAY, JAN. 28, senior Jeremy Spalding uses a circular table saw to cut a peice of steel rebar for his project in Residential Carpentry. ABOVE: SENIOR ANTHONY HONTZ and senior Deven Triebel work together to create a bird feeder. RIGHT: SENIOR MICHEAL HARDY and senior Kyle Brunson work together to cut a piece used to help insulate their miniature house on Friday, Jan. 21. Photos by Ali Judy