February 2014 by Le Journal

JOURNAL

Miss Represented:

The Shattered Perception of Women in Today’s Society page 10

A PUBLICATION OF NOTRE DAME DE SION

10631 WORNALL ROAD, KANSAS CITY, MO 64114

VOLUME 33 ISSUE 4 FEBRUARY 9

{

B & E’s GIRL CODE

THE

INSIDE

Heroes in Helmets

LOOK

BY MARY B. FREEMAN & ELLIE STINGLEY REPORTERS

weat floods his face as he squats for the hundredth time, one hand anchored to the ground, staring his opponent in the face. He has been here countless of times. He aches all over. But he can’t worry about that. He has a job to do. A standard to up-

PAGE 8 The 2014 Winter Olympics officially opened in Sochi, Russia on Feb. 7. (Photo by MCT Campus)

hold. The football is snapped and he jumps into action with only one word in mind: win. The Super Bowl. With the extravagant commercials, the big viewing parties, and the praise going out to the players, it is arguably one of the biggest days of the year for the sports world. The players can either perform their best to please their millions of fans or fall short of the expectations and fail to be called heroes. Breathe. In, out. In, out. Momentary reprieve. When will the shots come next? Where will the next explosion come from? When will the rescue team come? He reaches up to wipe the sweat out of his eyes

PAGE 15

Freshman Angelina Adams shares about her love for archery. (Photo submitted by Angelina Adams)

JOURNAL 2013-2014

Le Journal is the official student publication of Notre Dame de Sion High School 101631 Wornall Road Kansas City, MO 64114

PAGE 7 Sophomore Abbey Valentine works during Robotics Club. (Photo by Sydney Daniels)

ON THE ILLUSTRATION BY: KATY ZAHNER COVER

2LE JOURNAL ISSUE 4

SNOWPOCALYPSE EDITION @jazzycat_1 “What a beautiful day to take a dysfunctional picture in the snow” -senior Jasmyne Roth

CO-EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Sarah Allen Georgia Thompson MANAGING EDITOR Madison Hummel NEWS/EDITORIAL EDITOR Emma Dopheide

SPORTS EDITOR Mary Kate Hense

Senior Cory Cole performed in the musical “Hairspray” on Jan. 24-26. (Photo by Meghan Kearney)

INSTAGRAM

MEMBER Journalism Educators of Metropolitan Kansas City Missouri Interscholastic Press Association National Scholastic Press Association International Quill and Scroll

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Ashley Herring

PAGE 17

and is surprised to see his hand come back smeared in blood. Adrenaline must have numbed the pain. Only two things cross his mind: survival and the survival of his fellow soldiers. Shots ring out, targeted at him. He limps as fast as he can to find his team. No one can be left behind. Soldiers. Fighting for this country. Risking their lives to sustain our freedom. Bravery. Courage. Heart. They must keep their focus, not to please their millions of fans, but to keep safe the millions of fellow Americans back home. They do their job on a field, but it does not have end-zones or a screaming stadium; it’s a battlefield. Going to fight in a war is something unimaginable for most. So why are soldiers not the most praised people in this country? With Super Bowl ads still lingering in our minds, it can be easy to forget the real heroes. There is nothing wrong with enjoying a game of football and cheering for your favorite team, but when the term heroes is used synonymously with players, it can be easy to forget about our country’s biggest heroes: The men and women on the battlefield, risking everything they have to keep our country safe. Soldiers are overseas and although we don’t watch them every Sunday on ESPN, they are still there, fighting. B & E are going to do our best to remember who the real heroes are, and we ask you to do the same. Remember who is dying for our freedom. Remember who is being mortally wounded for our liberty. Because freedom is definitely not free. Girl Code.

FEATURES EDITOR Kim Fryer PHOTO EDITOR Kristine Sullivan MULTIMEDIA EDITOR Katy Zahner WEB-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Meghan Lally REPORTERS Sydney Daniels Georgia Evans Mary B. Freeman Sarah Harris Meghan Kearney Sydney Manning Dana Routh Anna Schroer Ellie Stingley ADVISOR Alison Long

@gsnid_3 “Hey listen I know you are probably super jealous of my Tory Burch boots I got them really exclusively and I hope you are super jealous” -freshman Grace Snider

@moiizle “the #snowpocalypse hit us all hard” -senior Moira Quinn

THE EDITOR’S INK BY SARAH ALLEN CO-EDITOR IN CHIEF The infamous ‘F’ word. Feminism.

created. This is the root of so many problems currently present in society. For example, the lack of self-confidence among girls across the nation today can be related to the rigid beauty standards set by the media.

Amidst a heated discussion with one of my friends about politics, my friend blurted out, “you’re such a feminist!” Immediately I started defending myself, allowing the negative connotations of that dreaded ‘F’ word to take over.

On page 13, there are some statistics about the widespread skewed perception and under representation of women in the U.S. and in the world.

Feminism has has become associated with words like radical, extreme, and bias. Today, to be called a feminist is almost an insult. Such negative views of feminism have not only taken over the true purpose and meaning of the cause, but have convinced women that being a feminist is bad.

These statistics prove that women are misrepresented in our society, but what but should we, as women, do about this problem? Should we keep listening to music that degrades our sex? Should we let our value in the this world be determined by what we see in the mirror? Should we keep putting women who emphasize beauty over brains on a pedestal and call them our role models?

The true roots of feminism lay in promoting equality. And not just promoting equality for women, but for all people. In history class we learn that many women involved in the early abolitionist movement went on to be important leaders in the later women’s rights and suffrage movements. These early feminists advocated first for the abolition of slavery then for their own rights. They did not just aim to gain equality for themselves but also for others. That is what has been lost in the perceptions of feminism--the purpose is not just to advocate for women’s rights but equality for all. Everybody seems to avoid talking about feminism at all costs. Even in our all girls environment here at Sion, it’s the dreaded F word. But it doesn’t need to be like that. We can talk about it. We need to talk about it. Le Journal decided to focus this issue’s cover story on a few specific issues surrounding feminism. The story, on pages 10-13, deals mostly with the significant misrepresentation of women in the workplace, the music industry, the media and in advertising. Through this misrepresentation of women in our world, unrealistic and unfair stereotypes and expectations are

Having role models is so important to young girls. As the Olympics continue, female athletes continue to emerge as positive role models. See page 8 for our Olympic roundup. We know the answers to these questions. No. As a whole, we need to rise up against society’s labels of women and become role models for the young girls we once were. I know we are capable of that. Be who you are not who you are expected to be.

From left to right: sophomore Michaela Elsbernd, senior Nicole McMindes, junior Mekam Anya, and junior Kelly Lowndes. (Photo by Anna Schroer)

Scholars Place at Meets BY ANNA SCHROER REPORTER The buzzer sounds. It’s the last round of the day. The final buzzer goes off and the pop culture question regarding the 1942 film starring Humphrey Bogart was quickly shouted in, the answer, “Casablanca,” verified by the judge. This outing marks the second weekend tournament the Scholar Bowl team has competed in this year. Varsity and JV both placed third at the Bronco Classic at Lee’s Summit North and varsity also placed fifth out of 26 teams in the North Kansas City tournament. “This is a great place for me to apply the knowledge that I learn in school in a fun and practical way,” varsity team member junior Kelly Lowndes said. This year’s varsity and JV members are seniors Cory Cole and Nicole McMindes, juniors Kelly Lowndes and Mekam Anya, sophomores Sarah Tritt, Annalise Acuff, Devon Graham and Michaela Elsbernd and freshman Mary Kate Wilcox. All compete in four rounds lasting up to an hour long. With faculty sponsors Marilyn Stewart and Jennifer Campbell, the team whips out their black and red practice buzzers every Wednesday after school preparing themselves for the real competitions. “Scholar bowl is a fantastic incentive for me to participate in class so that I have knowledge to use to help out my teammates in competition,” Cole said.

PHOTO OF THE ISSUE

ead make-up artist senior Vanessa Aklagi applies eyeliner on sophomore Olivia Neal who played the role of Velma Von Tussle in the recent “Hairspray” production. Neal’s hair was teased and ratted by hairdresser and art teacher Amy Shapley. “Olivia did such a great job, she played her character so accurately,” senior Ali Cambell said. “The audience could see her passion and commitment in every move and facial expression she made.” (Photo by Sydney Daniels) LE JOURNAL ISSUE 4

(Drawing by Jessie Brown)

Disease Caused By Having Too Texas 16 year old faces charges after possibly killing four people and uses “affluenza” as his excuse. THIS EDITORIAL REPRESENTS THE VIEWS OF THE LE JOURNAL STAFF. 19 OUT OF 19 VOTED IN SUPPORT OF THIS VIEW.

PowerSchool Scare PowerSchool shutdown over break left students in a frantic frenzy. BY MARY B. FREEMAN REPORTER Day 1: HALLELUJAH! CHRISTMAS BREAK! What should I do? I could lay in bed all day, or watch TV, or read whatever I want or...check Powerschool! I wonder how I did on my finals? Pre-Calc was rocky. But wait, I can’t check. Oh well. I will just try to forget about it until the sixth. Day 15: Where are my grades? I am thinking about going to school to demand that they hand them over immediately. Every time I refresh my page I see the same “Best wishes for a peaceful holiday” message, and all I can think is how am I supposed to be peaceful when I don’t know how I did this semester? Oh shoot it’s been two minutes, I better refresh again. The thought was always there. Finals. How did I do? What were my grades this semester? But these questions couldn’t be answered because students were locked out of PowerSchool over break, unable to put their minds at ease. Associate Head of School Steven Turner said the reasoning behind the shutdown of PowerSchool over break was that teacher’s grades were due at the end of break. In the past, the last final meant a 24-hour turnaround for grading. Because of this new system, there was no worry that a teacher would not be able to grade in time. Teachers could give essays and have ample time to grade them to the best of their ability. Registrar and chemistry teacher Elizabeth Middleton says she definitely liked having the time to grade. However, not having grades was more stressful. Especially when Jan. 6 rolled around, the day finals were supposed to be released. No grades at midnight. No grades at noon. No grades at 4. Nothing until about 6 p.m.. There is a time to laugh, a time to cry and a time to re-open PowerSchool. This year Jan. 6 brought all three about in a single whirlwind day. Middleton, the newly appointed registrar, admits that Monday was not the ideal situation. “Frankly it was me! There isn’t a big button that says ‘Turn on Powerschool’--there were a lot of steps,” Middleton said. “Monday was a busy day for everyone. There was a lot to do. It was just a hard day.” Turner says the idea behind this is to produce a lowstress environment for all. But how are students supposed to relax when they do not know their grades, and how are teachers supposed to relax when they have too little time to grade too many finals. Just use the band-aid method: just rip it off and get ‘er done. That way procrastinating teachers would have their work done and students would have time to rejoice in their successes or recover from a less-than-desired grade. According to Middleton the same method will be used for spring finals. So buckle up, because you might not find out your grades for awhile and receive that instant gratification.

4 LE JOURNAL ISSUE 4

Brakes screech, or one would have thought they would, as the colossal F-350 Ford truck barreled through a crowd of pedestrians. Ethan Couch, a 16 year old from northern Texas may have killed four people and critically wounded two others, yet the effects of his actions will not bring about the 20 year jail sentence that “ordinary” people would have received. Why is this? One word. Affluenza. As if the tragic killing of four people ranging in ages from 21 to 52 wasn’t bad enough, the fact that Couch was also three times over the legal alcohol limit and tried to flee the scene only adds to the disaster that occurred on June 15, 2013. In response to his actions Couch pleaded guilty to manslaughter and driving while intoxicated, yet the judge ruled that the teen could not be held responsible because he suffers from affluenza. This term, which saved Couch from serving jail time, basically means that because of his extremely wealthy upbringing, and his parents coddling him throughout his childhood, that he was ignorant to the difference between right and wrong and did not know that his

actions would have consequences. It is ironic how his court ruling this December did just the same thing. The families affected also agree that the verdict was misguided and are planning to sue Couch’s family for damages. The idea and practice of the wealthy getting preferential treatment in court has always been present. Take celebrities for example. Reese Witherspoon, Khloe Kardashian and Paris Hilton all together served a total of less than three days total for their crimes. Though Couch is not a celebrity, his money seemed to make the law treat him like one, possibly setting a new precedent in law where “normal” people can get out of major criminal accusations. If he can use the diagnosis of affluenza to get out of jail time for manslaughter, who’s not to say others will do the same? And this is where it all goes wrong. If only the wealthy have a scapegoat in law, what do the majority of people who aren’t in their situation have? Nothing. The people in the United States that aren’t rolling in millions of dollars have to go through a trial for the crimes they commit just like Couch did. Yet unlike him they get sent to jail not having the excuse of being too rich to know that killing is wrong. Picture this. A 16-year-old boy in Texas, just like Couch, gets arrested for the same crime, except this time he doesn’t come from a grotesquely wealthy family, and he’s also African American. You can bet this fictional young man is going to serve jail time, not just

New Pope Guides the Church in Since Pope Francis was elected head of the Catholic church last March, he has been suprising people of all faiths acorss the globe.

poverty--an economic hardship that people of all religions can relate to. This leadership style has been desperately needed. In this way, Francis appeals to many, even non-Catholics. Senior Sydney O’Dear, who is not Catholic, said she sees the Church differently since the election of FranBY EMMA DOPHEIDE cis. NEWS/EDITORIALS EDITOR “Switching its focus to an economic message has Popes are elected. They serve. They pray. They lead absolutely made non-Catholics more sympathetic to the Catholic Church. And typically, they stay in office the Church and more understanding of its position,” until death. However, in 2013, O’Dear said. Pope Benedict XVI broke from O’Dear said that although she still this custom and became the first doesn’t agree with the majority of Cathpope to resign since the 1400s. It olic teaching, she still appreciates what figures that with this unconvenFrancis has been able to do. She especialtional ending, the events to folly likes the switch he’s made from a focus low would deviate slightly from on social issues to a focus on helping the staunch tradition. poor. Benedict’s successor, Pope Although the Catholic Church is Francis, did not disappoint. From at odds with many regarding social isthe moment he was announced sues in this bitterly divided modern age, as the next pope, he was already Francis has preached tolerance toward unique. He is the first Latin those who don’t follow Church doctrine. American pope in history, and He truly embodies the Catholic value of also the first Jesuit. He is the first “loving thy neighbor” and is an excellent to choose the name Francis, emexample for some who have let their rephasizing his focus on the poor. ligious values overcome their concern He is also the first non-European for others. In a recent interview with pope in over 1,200 years--repAmerica Magazine, he made a statement resenting a new direction for a Pope Francis greets the crowd before to sum up his feelings about not judging Church that has had Italians serv- his inauguration mass. (Photo by others. ing in the highest office for much MCT Campus) “Religion has the right to express of history. its opinion in the service of the people,” During his papacy, Francis has embraced his differ- Francis said. “But God in creation has set us free. It is ences and continued to lead the Church in a new, more not possible to interfere spiritually in the life of a pertolerant direction. He preaches messages of acceptance son.” that have not been heard before. He has also switched Religion teacher Bonnie Haghirian said that she much emphasis from controversial social issues to thinks this call to not judge others and to love them

Much Money because of his economic standing in life, but his ethnicity. No aflluenza pleas for him. The rich should not have their own “get out of jail free” card. Does that mean that someone of lower social and economic standings can too? If the use of affluenza in law continues does that mean that someone coming from a homeless or low economic situation might also not know the meaning of right and wrong? This little word, coined by mental health therapist Jessie O’Neill in 1998, could threaten to further the gap between the rich and poor in the court of law. The legal system in America already works in favor of the rich, who are able to buy better lawyers and have their prosperous names to fall back on. But this case may have marked the time that money is so powerful it has the ability to wipe the slate of a guilty murderer clean. We saw Couch avoid the slammer for the manslaughter of four people. So if he can get off that easily with only 10 years of probation and a short stay at a half a million dollar rehab facility in sunny California, one could only expect that affluenza will be used to avoid jail time for other crimes such as theft, embezzlement or rape and the perpetrator would leave the courthouse with a slap on the wrist. Ethan Couch knows the difference between right and wrong. And he knows that money talks. Allegedly, the last thing he said fleeing his crime scene was, “I am Ethan Couch. I’ll get you out of this.”

New Direction

despite differences in opinion is the biggest change Pope Francis has made for the Church as a whole. She said that Francis shares some characteristics with Pope John XXIII and Pope John Paul II, and that she sees the Church continuing to grow in this direction in the future. “Many people away from the Church have come back. He is helping the public image of the Church by preaching acceptance,” Haghirian said. “He also brings a vitality to the Church that is renewing and energizing. And I love that he identifies himself as a sinner.” During his time in the papacy, Francis has appealed to the masses while still upholding Catholic doctrine and biblical values. He is taking an active role in closely interacting with the people and truly leading the Church by example. The Church under his leadership is evolving, allowing its positive message to reach more people. Modern Catholics should work on following his lead and loving and accepting everyone, regardless of who they are.

3Pope Francis

GREAT THINGS about

called Carmelite 1.Spontaneously nuns in Spain to wish them Happy New Year

2.Took a selfie with a group of

teenagers 3.Named Time Magazine’s Person of the Year

Entertainment or Addiction? An online movie streaming site, otherwise known as Netflix, has swept the world and has viewers hooked better than ever before.

players, TV set-top boxes and the Apple Mac computer. Finally in 2009, members could view movies and series completely through all electronic devices from their own homes and just about anywhere. Netflix announced availability to stream on the PS3, Internet connected TVs, iPads and all electronic devices with BY MADISON HUMMEL internet connection. Movie by mail service was an MANAGING EDITOR idea of the past, and now members didn’t have to wor The firetruck red glow ry about returning rentals at all. The creators’ dreams shines upon my face as I were unfolding right before their eyes. A once farbury my headphones in fetched idea turned into a revolutionary way of entermy ears. My hands grip tainment with now 40 million users around the world the cold, slim sides of my and growing. iPad, and I wait anxious- To say I “like” Netflix would be an understatement. ly for the next episode to As embarrassed as I am to admit, it easily consumes load. After a long day of two hours of my daily life, maybe more. I won’t even say Pre-Calc and the Spanish how much time I spent with my eyes literally glued to subjunctive form, I can’t my iPad over Christmas Break. I’ve even been guilty of wait to get my fix of my latest addiction. Episode after listing Netflix as one of my hobbies on college surveys. episode, I can’t ever seem to pull myself away, and I It’s like my electronic drug. I may sound like I’m beknow that I’m not the only one hooked on this recent ing dramatic, but the truth is, Netflix is absolutely 100 fad. It consumes half of my friends and my conversa- percent addicting, and I’m not the only only hooked. tions. I hear, “I watched six episodes of Gossip Girl last But what makes it so great? How could an internet site night, is that bad?” on a daily basis. Netflix seems to continuously keep me home on Saturday nights? have swept the world and has become a common pas- First off, the options are unlimited. Netflix provides nearly every TV series, movie and documentary one time for movie lovers across the globe. Netflix was introduced to the United States in 1997 could imagine. It would take me an hour alone just to by entrepreneur and inventor Reed Hastings, and scroll through the list of choices. It has entertainment co-founder Marc Randolph. Like many other internet for all ages and all genres. It’s a TV junkie’s heaven. Second, Netsensations, Netflix flix has recentstarted as a small ly adopted the idea trapped inInstant Queue side the brain of a aspect. After genius. Hastings finishing an received a $40 late episode of a sefee after renting the movie Apollo 13. Annoyed that he had to physical- ries, it automatically plays the next episode after five ly return the movie, Hastings cast the idea of movies by seconds. The viewer no longer has to select the next mail. The business started out much like Blockbuster, a show, and it actually takes less work to stop watching competitor Netflix would later wipe off the map. While than it does to continue. The “just one more” thought the movie by mail aspect put Netflix ahead of other process takes control, and before I know it I’m five epmovie rental businesses, creators wanted more. Hast- isodes deep. Watching is not only relaxing, but conveings and Randolph knew they had to set the business nient and almost too easy, hence the addiction factor. Netflix is a time warp that I literally crave throughout aside even more from the day. My mom is the competition to constantly harping achieve higher sucat me to put the iPad cess. They needed to away, but she has no create something that room to talk after would help the comher recent ‘Breakpany skyrocket. And ing Bad’ discovery. that’s exactly what Whether we they did. like it or not, Netflix According to the has us hooked and business’ website, hooked well. If you in 2000, Netflix don’t have Netflix, launched a personI suggest you fork alized movie recomover $8 a month to mendation that uses begin well-worth it members’ ratings to lifelong entertainaccurately predict ment, unless you possible choices for Before school senior Kristen Murphy loads another episode of “Gos- enjoy getting your Netflix members. sip Girl.” (Photo by Madison Hummel) homework done, This was a key a steady social life component in the growth of the company’s members. In 2001, viewings increased by 88 percent, and by 2007 and the outside world, of course. they ended the year with 7.5 million members. But But for those of us who have caught the Netflix fever, the progress didn’t stop there. Thanks to what turned plug in your earbuds and tip your hat to two men who to be a game-changing breakthrough, viewers could revolutionized television entertainment completely, watch Netflix without using the movie by mail system. because there is no fighting this fad. In 2008, Netflix partnered with consumer electronics companies to stream on the Xbox 360, Blu-ray disc LE JOURNAL

“I watched six episodes of ‘Gossip Girl’ last night...is that bad?”

ISSUE 4

NEWS } in BRIEF

Poetry out Loud BY GEORGIA EVANS REPORTER

Days of anticipation. Hours of memorizing. Minutes of reciting. This is Poetry Out Loud. Leader of this event is freshman and sophomore English teacher, Shawn Watts. The Poetry Out Loud competition was held Jan. 15 after school. And this year sophomore Alyssa Moncure won first place at the school-wide competition. According to English teacher Melissa Wilcox, the regional competition that takes place at the Writer’s Place in Westport was supposed to take place last Saturday, but due to weather complications, it was postponed until Thursday, Feb. 6. Ten students performed two poems each for the judges. According to Watts, the decline in participants was due to the fact that it wasn’t greatly advertised until right after Christmas break which didn’t give people adequate time to memorize their poems. Last year as a freshman, Moncure won first place at the regional competition and went on to participate in the state competition in Jefferson City. But according to Watts, Poetry Out Loud is a lot more than a contest. She thinks of it as a way to get to know her students. She said as soon as she found out about Poetry Out Loud and all they do for kids, it took no time for her to get Sion involved in 2005. “My favorite part of Poetry Out Loud is having students you’d never expect to volunteer,” Watts said. Watts says that she wants to keep participating in Poetry Out Loud because the program puts in so much work for the arts and that she will support any organization that develops the arts. For many students like Moncure and sophomore Anna Sell, Poetry Out Loud gives them a chance to show off their artistic talents. “My favorite part of Poetry Out Loud is being able to accomplish performing a poem in front of people and seeing their reaction,” Sell said. According to Moncure, it wasn’t as surprising to win this year because she won last year too. The next step for her is regionals, which she also won last year, and then to progress to the state competition. “The best part of Poetry Out Loud is seeing people’s reactions on their faces after you recite the poem,” MonSophomore Alyssa Moncure said.

6 LE JOURNAL ISSUE 4

cure. (Photo by Georgia Evans)

Welcome to

Paradise

BY DANA ROUTH REPORTER

While filling in for Chemistry, Biotechnology, Environmental Science and Forensic Science teacher Kaci Flippo while she is on maternity leave, the new substitute Mary Paradise is learning the ropes at Sion. Paradise is teaching three environmental science classes, one chemistry class, and one forensic science class. As she gets used to the work load, Paradise said that support from other teachers has been a big help. “I never feel like I’ll be behind, because all of the teachers here have offered their support and help,” Paradise said. With a degree in Biology from the University of Missouri-Kansas City and a teaching degree on the way from Avila University, Paradise plans on becoming a high school biology teacher in her future. Paradise said she also enjoys the all-girls environment Sion offers. “I played lots of sports with girls when I was younger and I have three sisters,” Paradise said. “So when it comes to teaching, I communicate with girls better.” Paradise also has a passion for improvisation. She is part of a Kansas City improv team and meets with her team weekly. Some of her other interests include the television shows “30 Rock” and “Parks and Recreation.” Paradise was pleasantly surprised when she arrived at Sion, saying that she had thought it would be completely different. “It’s not as bad as I thought, I actually think it’s better at this school,” Paradise said. “The only hard thing is the chatter which is understandable.”

College Bound

Flu Infects the Nation

BY SYDNEY MANNING REPORTER With emergency rooms across the country filled with flu ridden citizens, this winter has been hit particularly hard with the flu, according to to the Jackson County Health Department. The “Swine Flu” or H1N1 virus that caused a stir back in 2009, has been diagnosed in various places around the country. According to Dr. Ellen Dorshow-Gordon of the Jackson County Health Department, this season the flu is hitting teenagers and adults more than past years, and is not showing up as prominently in children and the elderly. Many students say that they have already experienced the misery of flu season. “It hit me like a freight train,” junior Megan Sloan said. “All of a sudden I was sick. I couldn’t eat for three or four days, and it took me another three to feel normal again.” Senior Mikaela Gill also experienced the illness over Christmas break. “I got it from my little brother and was sick for about five days,” Gill said. “I felt sick all the time, but it wasn’t as severe as it has been in the past.” Health care professionals are urging those who haven’t already been vaccinated to get a flu shot as soon as possible. There have already been five flu-related deaths in Kansas City this winter, along with hundreds others around the country, according to Dr. Mary Anne Jackson, Division Director of Infectious Diseases at Childrens’ Mercy Hospital in a Fox 4 KC interview. Dr. Dorshow-Gordon gave advice on how to avoid the flu including to make sure you wash your hands continuously throughout the day, get a flu vaccine, cough into your elbow or a tissue and stay home if you are sick. By following other basic health precautions, the flu can be avoided until the season is over come spring.

Freshman and Sophomores, along with their parents, were invited to a workshop for the scoop on college. BY SYDNEY DANIELS REPORTER The college process can be extremely stressful for both parents and students alike, according to College Counselor Erin Stein. The largest hurdle for parents is affordability, she said. On Jan. 30, the counseling department hosted their annual Planning for College Success Workshop. The workshop ran from 7 to 8 p.m. and was aimed at freshman and sophomore parents in order to help them acclimate to the application process, Stein said. “It’s important that people know that it [college preparation] starts now, from day one of freshman year,” Stein said. Furthermore, Stein believes that students need to ask themselves, “What are colleges looking for, and what can I do now to make myself a competitive applicant?” Almost 225 people attended the event, which was composed of 50 percent of the sophomore and freshman classes. According to Stein, there is one vital question that each student must address when beginning

Sophomore Anna Lillis and her mother grab schedules for the night’s events from sophomore Erin Mills. (Photo by Sydney Daniels)

the search process: how does what one does now impact their future? Whether it be extracurriculars or an impressive GPA, every thing each student brings to the table is important, she said. According to Guidance Counselor Karen Phillips, Sion has many tools available to prepare students for their next steps after high school, one being the fouryear comprehensive college and guidance counseling program. “There was a lot of information provided to sophomore and freshman parents,” Phillips said. “The college search is about finding the right fit for you, the student.”

acing obots

year in existence, therefore, they have relatively modest ambitions, according to team sponsor and Math and Science teacher Marilyn Stewart. “Really, our only goal is just to have a robot that moves,” Stewart said. Their robot is required to be able to pick up two inch blocks and place them in scoring zones as well as move autonomously for 30 seconds and extend its arm to hang from a bar. Finally, it should be able to roll itself over into a corner of the arena and complete a full 360 degree turn. The proficiency in which the robot comThe Robotics team prepares for their pletes these tasks determines the number of points it first competition this February. will receive. “It’s like nothing else you’ve ever seen: it’s loud, it’s BY SYDNEY DANIELS exciting,” Stewart said. “Everyone is in it for the greater REPORTER good. It’s not a cutthroat competition. It’s the healthi Software programs review millions of legal docest type of competition.” uments in place of lawyers and paralegals. Google is The Robotics Club meets every week for an average currently developing automated cars to increase safety of three and a half hours. The largest obstacle for the and reduce commuting time to work. Even soldiers are girls, they say, is finding an extended amount of time being replaced by drones and automated combat-proto work. grammed machines. The “The wheels are turning, Big Ten Network is already “It’s like nothing else you’ve ever seen. and they are learning how using machines to create to use power tools,” Stewsoftball and baseball cover- It’s loud, it’s exciting. Everyone is in art said. “We’re all in it age because it’s cheaper than it for the greater good. It’s not a cut together trying to further paying actual reporters. This throat competition.” the fuel, the tool that is very article may one day be - Marilyn Stewart, math/science teacher robotics.” machine generated by a ro Sophomore Beth Borgbot. meyer chose to join the robotics team after completing All signs in the workforce point toward the increasa science and technology program for girl scouts. Acing chance of human-held occupations becoming obcording to Borgmeyer, the best part of the organization solete, according to a 2012 article by NBC business is being able to find creative solutions to problems as insider Judith Aquino. a team. Borgmeyer agrees with Aquino that one day This robo-revolution is coming closer than ever. The robots will take over the world. Robotics team will compete in their first ever robotics This team allows students to showcase a variety of competition this February. The competition will take talents that would otherwise go unknown such as softplace on Feb. 1 at the University of Missouri Kansas ware designing, according to sophomore team memCity as an all day event. This is only the team’s second ber Abbey Valentine. Valentine hopes to build a robot

to clone food in order to effectively rid the world of hunger. “The most challenging aspect of building robots is the problem solving,” Valentine said. “It seemed every time one thing worked, something else just messed up.” Robotics is a unique concept in that it requires not only creativity, but also a basic understanding of mechanics and how to build something, according to junior Mary Mertes. She said that she would like to build a machine that could manipulate substances in an atomic level. “Everyone improves the club in their own way,” Mertes said. “Building a robot requires a lot of thinking outside of the box and every member has their own way of disregarding metaphorical boxes.”

Sophomore and robotics team member Abbey Valentine fixes the mechanics on the arm of the team’s robot. (Photo by Sydney Daniels)

The Rising Dangers of the SnapChat App

The popular app can pose serious threats to users’ privacy.

to sext”, with it’s name first being “Picaboo,” according to adammclane.com. More relevant to Sion girls though is the deceptive BY GEORGIA THOMPSON level of safety and protection provided by SnapChat. EDITOR-IN-CHIEF While the timer gives the impression that images are forever lost after opened, nothing sent on the Internet You snap a picture of your ugliest, funniest face and is ever truly gone, Dr. Claire McCarthy said on bossend it off to a friend’s or classmate’s phone; they open ton.com, given photos are saved on numerous Snapit and give you the laugh you had hoped for. Sound Chat and telephone provider servers when sent. familiar? This scenario is well-known in these hallways Also, those who receive your SnapChats to girls whose Snaps make up just a few of the over 400 million pictures and (Drawing by Jessie Brown) have the ability to screenshot the content and save them forever or post to social videos sent via SnapChat everyday, acmedia. Though the sender is notified of cording to abcnews.com. screenshots, now through easy hacks on “I like that I can take funny pictures the Internet, anyone has the ability to save and send them to my friends,” junior photos without the sender ever knowing. and SnapChat user Megan McKenzie “I have considered the lack of said. “I also like that you can Snapchat safety but I wouldn’t send pictures that people that you wouldn’t normally would put me in harm,” McKenzie said. text.” “I think the fact that they put a time lim When the app first came onto the it doesn’t restrict people from taking screenshots and scene in 2011, it quickly became popular for its photo, putting the pictures on the Internet. Using the time and later video, sharing abilities with a built-in, self-delimit as an excuse for why it is safe isn’t a good argustruct timer. Different from other social media outlets ment in my opinion.” such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, SnapChat Many, such as senior Kristen Murphy have taken provides users with the ability to connect with friends precautions when using the app, such as creating as with the comfort of knowing the content sent will be much privacy as possible. “destroyed.” “I don’t think about Snapchat being dangerous, be As one can imagine, a concept such as this is bound cause on mine I have the privacy settings set so that to lead to inappropriate content sent through the app. only people I accept can send and receive my Snaps. It SnapChat was actually originally created as “a safe way

is scary that people can screenshot my heinous selfies, but I’ve never felt unsafe or received scam snaps.” The solution to creating a safe SnapChat experience lies in the user’s knowledge of the dangers of image sharing on the Internet, the level of privacy they create and most of all the wisdom not to send any content they would not want exposed to the world.

BY THE NUMBERS SnapChat

30 million users

Facebook

1.4 billion users

Twitter

645 million users

Instagram 150 million (According to statisticbrain.com)

users

LE JOURNAL

ISSUE 4

Let the Games Begin

As the world watches, the best athletes from around the globe gather to represent their home countries and bring home the gold in the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia Feb. 7 - Feb. 23. BY SYDNEY MANNING, REPORTER

Sion’s Favorite Sports

Ring fails to bloom during opening ceremony on Feb. 7.

The Olympic rings take form inside Fisht Olympic Stadium during the opening spectacle. Eventually the fifth flower did open up. (Photo by MCT Campus)

USA wins first gold of the Olympics.

(Based on a poll taken of 272 students and teachers.)

Rumbles in Russia

(Photo by Wikimedia Commons)

Going For Gold

Gold was born in Newton, Mass. on Aug. 17, 1995. She was the 2014 national figure skating champion. Her twin sister Carly is also a figure skater. Gold uses juggling to calm her nerves before a competition. She wants to become a physician or orthodonist after her skating career ends. She won bronze in the Sochi Olympics for the team competition. (According to biography.com)

Women’s Ski Jumping is a new event this year. USA ski jumper Jessica Jerome answers questions about the new event during a press conference in the Main Media Center in Sochi, Russia. Competition finals for normal hill jump are on Feb. 11. (Photo by MCT Campus)

According to cnn.com, leading up to the Winter Olympic Opening Ceremony on Feb. 7 in Sochi, Russia, there were a series of suicide bombings throughout Russia. One of the attacks took place in Volgograd, a town about 400 miles from the Olympic venue. Sochi is also less than 300 miles from Caucasus, home to an Islamist extremist activity group that has threatened the Olympic Games in the past. About 10,000 United States citizens travelled to Russia for the 2014 Games. Although dangerous, Mark Caldwell, the father of aerial skier Ashley Caldwell, told the Washington Post that he views the 2014 Winter Olympics as a once in a lifetime experience, not a life threatening one. On the contrary, according to abcnews.com, US speed skater Tucker Fredricks asked his parents to remain in the US while he competed because he had fears for their safety. Since no one can be sure of the situation, athletes are being advised to avoid wearing large country logos during their travels in Sochi or outside of the protected Olympic compound. On the other side of the fence, journalists and visitors arrived in Russia to find half built hotels, water main breaks and power outages, according to the Washington Post.

Sage Kotsenburg of the United States completes his first run of the finals and eventually wins gold in Men’s Slopestyle in Sochi, Russia all while chewing gum. (Photo by MCT Campus)

Snowboarders celebrate triumph.

USA’s Jamie Anderson, center, celebrates her gold medal win with silver winner Finland’s Enni Rukajarvi and bronze winner Great Britain’s Jenny Jones in the Ladies’ Slopestyle finals. (Photo by MCT Campus)

2014 Games in Sochi

(According to sochi2014.com) Germany

Canada

History of the Winter Games

Russia

United States

Africa South America

Australia

All-Time Winter Olympic Medal Count

(According to sbnation.com)

8 LE JOURNAL ISSUE 4

• The Olympics have only been cancelled for both World War I and World War II. • One event well known to Americans was the “Miracle on Ice” in 1980 in Lake Placid, NY, where the United States hockey team upset the Soviet Union. A film was released in 2004 based on this event. • Due to warm weather, snow had to be shipped in to the Olympic venues of Innsbruck, Austria in 1964, Vancouver, Canada in 2010 and this year in Sochi, Russia.

(According to International Society of Olympic Historians Journal)

THE

GAME Sion defeats St. Teresa’s Academy 52-45.

For the full story check out lejournallive.com

BY MARY KATE HENSE SPORTS EDITOR

3 4

1. Jan. 27 was not only the night of the STA/Sion game, but also Sion family spirit night. Students from the grade school filled a bleacher section to help cheer on the team. (Photo by Sydney Manning.) 2. Senior Kristen Murphy was honored before the game for senior night. Murphy is the only senior on the team.(Photo by Molly McCarthy) 3. Sophomore Rachael Beck, Camille Keane and freshman Madeline Dercher fight for the ball against an STA player. (Photo by Molly McCarthy) 4. Senior Neda Awad, right, screams during the cheer, “Whoop there it is.” (Photo by Mary Kate Hense)

Despite Obstacles Dance Team Prevails at Nationals

The dance team placed in the top 10 in the nation for two categories.

BY KIM FRYER FEAUTRES EDITOR The hot lights of the ESPN Wide World of Sports arena beat down upon a group of dance teams, all huddled nervously together--hands held and heads down. The ESPN camera crew panned from one nervous team to the next as the announcer asked the crowd for a drum roll. The girls held their breaths as the moment they

The team erupts in celebration after winning ninth place for their pom routine. (Photo by Pam Kramer)

had worked for all year was here - the top 10 teams in the nation. The dance team ended up placing sixth in the kick division and ninth in the pom division at the UDA National Dance Championship in Orlando, Fla. on Feb. 1 and 2. Each of the 300 teams competing dance in a preliminary round and then the top 40 percent of teams advance on to the next round while the lower 60 percent does not move on in the competition. Junior Haley Buckley said that this was a change from last year, because 50 percent of teams moved on last year, meaning less teams qualified this year. The team advanced straight from prelims to finals in kick and advanced on to semi-finals in pom. “There were five possible times that we could have performed,” senior captain Madi Lamb said. “We performed every single time.” This marked history for the dance team, who, until this year, had never performed over four times at nationals or made it through so many rounds of competition. “Making it through three rounds in pom was a big deal for us,” Buckley said. “No Sion team has ever done that, and large varsity pom is one of the most competitive categories.” Senior Betsy Barnthouse, who was attending nationals for the first time, said waiting to hear if the

team qualified for finals was one of the most nerve-racking parts of the trip. “When I found out [we made pom finals], I picked up Coach Sarah [Koerper] and we were jumping up and down screaming together,” Barnthouse said. “We all wanted that so badly.” On top of making it through multiple rounds, Lamb said the teams they were competing against had stepped up their game in this competition. “The biggest difference this year was the intensity of the competition,” Lamb said. “Every single top team came back even stronger than before.” Despite the obstacles the team had to overcome at the competition, they still won a top 10 spot in the nation for both categories and were thrilled with their performances. “Even though our final placement dropped from last year, I think we actually ended up doing better, because our routines are stronger than last year’s routines,” Lamb said. “We were up against insane competition, and the fact that we placed as high as we did really is amazing.” Overall, Barnthouse said the team could not have asked for a better experience at nationals and wished she could go back again. “The adrenalin rush you get performing in front of thousands of people is unforgettable, and I will always remember that feeling,” Barnthouse said. LE JOURNAL

ISSUE 4

JOURNAL 10 10LELEJOURNAL ISSUE 1 ISSUE 4

It will pay off in the end. All this work will pay off. She is reminded of this constantly. That all the late nights and stressful study sessions will pay off in the long run. She returns home from basketball practice, grabs a quick dinner and hits the books. After working for what seems like an eternity, she looks at the clock which indicates that midnight is near. She struggles to pay attention to her Civil War study guide and resists the urge to collapse into a deep sleep. She drinks another gulp of coffee, hoping the caffeine will give her the energy to keep her heavy eyelids from drooping. A pile of books and a list of assignments sit on her desk. The night is far from

TE EN

LIE EL ND N Y A LE NE AL H AR KE ARA N S HA BY EG UT Y M AYO L YB OR ST

over. It will pay off in the end. All this work will pay off, she constantly reminds herself. All of the studying will pay off with good grades. Colleges will hopefully notice the hard work and acceptance letters will be mailed. And after college, employers will be impressed by her resume and her dream job will become a reality. On the way to success, she may face gender prejudgements and negative labels based solely on her appearance. All she can focus on right now is surviving the night and drilling the Civil War battles into her memory. She has to keep working. A strong work ethic is considered a powerful value in today’s world, especially for teenagers. Some would say it is even more important for young girls to work hard so they have the tools to succeed in a world often controlled and dominated by men. Negative labels are often pinned to women regardless of their work ethic or determination. “I think some people have gender bias,” Ray Kowalik, Director and President of the Energy Division at Burns & McDonnell, said. “In general, people that have those biases don’t get into leadership positions, don’t stay in those leadership positions or their organizations fail.” (Story continues on page 12)

D 11

LE JOURNAL JOURNAL LE ISSUE 1 ISSUE 4

As shown in the recent Pantene commercial aired in November, if a man is assertive he is called the boss. But if a woman is assertive, she is often considered bossy. When a man is called persuasive, a woman with the same skill is called pushy. These labels show the differences between the common perceptions and expectations of men versus women. “I have definitely seen this type of reaction to strong willed women. It is all a matter of how you position your authority and how you use your authority,” Kristen Krug, Vice President of Administration with the Kansas City Chiefs, said. “In the end, we have the ability to behave with a much broader spectrum of emotion than men.” When a woman walks into a job interview, she is often labeled before she even speaks. According to ABC News, a recent study performed by Yale University shows the inequalities between men and women in the workplace. A man and a woman were given the same resume and answered almost identically to interview questions. The man was given the job. The employer claimed that the woman seemed “overly aggressive” and “less likable.” Case closed. “I have known for some time that male anchors with similar experience and job title make more money than I do,” KCTV5 News co-anchor Carolyn Long said. “I don’t allow myself to fixate on that. I simply try to work hard and decrease the gap in pay every time I negotiate a new contract.” Although they may work diligently and have a terrific work ethic, women are frequently labeled as less capable of success as men and have to earn the respect of others, while men often are given respect automatically. “You need to behave in this dominant way to advance as a woman in the workplace,” Corinne Moss-Racusin, Assistant Professor at Skidmore College, said in an ABC interview. “But you’re seen negatively because that’s not the way we expect women to behave.” This problem begins with the way in which women are portrayed in the world around us. Whether through the media, television or movies, it is common to see women depicted as bodies, not brains; beauty, not grace or personality. “Actual outward accomplishments should, for sure, be a part of the mix when thinking about role models,” Associate at Scharnhorst Ast Kennard Christine Hall,

& WOMEN MUSIC

Do you listen to music that degrades, sexulizes, or labels women as being obsessed with love?

YES 70.7% NO

29.2% (Poll taken from 142 randomly selected students) said. These typical depictions can be in the lyrics of a popular song, a celebrity who is idolized purely for her physical beauty or in a Clorox commercial in which the person doing the housework with the product is almost always a woman. Part of this problem starts with reasons why people choose to view others as role models, especially in the public spotlight. “I think unfortunately young girls are so technologically plugged-in, and media inundates them with so many unrealistic expectations of ‘beauty’ and ‘success’ that real positive and productive personality traits in accomplished people get lost in the mix,” Hall said. She has long flowing hair, a slim waist and large bust. She looks flawless in every picture. Thousands, if not millions, of girls idolize her. Because she is “beautiful”. Men fantasize about her. Not necessarily because she

SMART PRETTY? IF YOU COULD ONLY BE ONE?

WHICH IS MORE IMPORTANT IN SOCIETY?

SMART

77.5% PRETTY

22.5%

(Poll taken from 140 randomly selected students)

12 LE JOURNAL ISSUE 4

20.7% PRETTY

79.2%

has worked hard to accomplish great things. Not because she has wit, intelligence or poise, but because she appears to have reached society’s normal standard of what a woman should look like: thin, sexualized and not necessarily smart. She is Kim Kardashian, Megan Fox or a Victoria’s Secret model. Living within a superficial society that defines a woman’s appearance as the most important thing, it can be hard to find a role model using standards other than physical appearance. “I think a lot of girls look up to people because they are pretty and because of their bodies,” sophomore Lauren Blando said. “I think they should look up to women because of their personality and what they have done in their community.” There are exceptions to the typical group of role models. For example, J. K. Rowling, Gabby Douglas and Jennifer Lawrence are public figures known for their hard work and personalities; not their appearance. In a professional world dominated by men, Marissa Mayer has worked her way up to the CEO position for Yahoo!, showing that women are just as capable of success as men. But the fact is, very few people are aware that the number of female CEOs in the United States is rising. In 2011 there were a total of 40 female CEOs in the United States, compared to 19 in 2005, according to women2.0.com. Although the number is rising, it is just a small fraction of the total 1.7 million CEOs in the country. “Work hard and try to surround yourself with people who will judge you based on the work you do and your strength of character and nothing else,” Hall said. Even though women such as Mayer are extremely successful, their names are rarely known or recognized, especially in comparison to the Kim Kardashians of the world. The difference in popularity is shown through Instagram accounts of Kardashian and Mayer. Mayer has almost 17 thousand followers while Kardashian has well over 12 million. If Mayer showed more skin or was more concerned with her appearance than her professional life, would she be closer to having the same 12 million followers? The superficial outlook the media encourages with photos of the “perfect” girl based solely on her looks can affect how young women choose people to look up to. “Not everything we see is always realistic in real life,” Counselor Karen Phillips said. “I think most of the things we see on screens are not what we see on the streets, and a lot of this is Photoshopped.” Movie plots and song lyrics continue this superficial cycle. While driving home from basketball practice, she hears her favorite song on the radio, but little does she know, the song is disrespecting her and all that she stands for. “You can’t have my heart and you won’t use my mind, but do what you want with my body,” sings Lady Gaga, whose hit single “Do What U Want” floods radio stations. These words tell her that she can be independent, but it is supposedly okay for her to give her body away to the will of men. Not only does music draw pictures of desperate women, but it shapes society into viewing women as purely sexual objects. Songs such as “Gas Pedal” by Sage of Gemini stretch viewers’ imaginations into seeing women simply as bodies to be used. Such influences make women believe that the more skin they show, the more attention men will show them in return. The focus is constantly on physical appeal. “Women are still considered objects of beauty,” Krug said. “I think the problem lies with how women, especially extraordinarily beautiful women, are used more as ‘props’ in music and media.” Television is yet another part of media that degrades women. Just like music, TV shows such as “Bad Girls

WOMEN ARE

MISS

REPRESENTED In 2011, only 11% of protagonists in film were female Women make up 51% of the population yet only comprise 20% of Congress Women hold only 5% of clout positions in telecommunications, entertainment, publishing and advertising 71 countries in the world have had female presidents or prime ministers; the US is not one of them. (Statistics from film.missrepresentation.org)

Club” and “Jersey Shore” display women as immature people that seem to get in trouble every time they go out in public. By getting into trouble or forgetting what they did the night before, certain women such as Snooki and JWoww in “Jersey Shore” show younger viewers that it is okay to get drunk every weekend and have male suitors who don’t respect them. Such shows perpetuate the idea that disrespecting women and oneself is normal and acceptable. “Accomplishments are valuable. So if you find someone whose life you want to emulate, great,” Hall said. “But make sure that they also are people who treat themselves and the people around them with respect and kindness.” From vulgar television episodes to romantic moments in movies that make the audience swoon, women are still seen as dependent on men. Shows and movies such as “The Notebook”, the “Twilight” series and “The Bachelor” portray women as reliant on men to keep them afloat. In “The Bachelor”, women are frequently shown saying that they can “really see a future” with the guy after knowing him for one hour and appear to be heartbroken when they are sent home after just a few more hours, claiming that they “really saw a connection”. Yet again, women are depicted as the

damsel in distress focused on finding love. “We are seen as sex objects and especially in movies it is stereotypical,” KMBZ radio host Krista Klaus said. “We are the ding bat that turns into the hero at the end of the day. It is tiresome.” She turns on the television during a much-needed homework break. A Cascade commercial comes on, showing two women talking about dirty dishes. Nothing unusual. However, it dawns on her that she cannot recall the last time a cleaning advertisement was not centered around a female. The majority of cleaning and cooking commercials on television today have female subjects. This does not seem out of the ordinary for many people, because it is the way it has always been. However, these are part of what gives society the idea that women’s main jobs are domestic. Not only are there commercials displaying the cliche role of women in the household, but there are also several that show the sexualized view of women as objects. Victoria’s Secret advertisements and a recent Hot Pocket commercial are among many that use women as a selling point; a thing that helps sell a product. The commercials use the women to sensualize the product in order to make it more attractive to customers. “I believe there are inequalities, but the more we fixate on them and make them the issue, the less people will look at what we have to offer,” Long said. “Let’s allow our talents and skills to ‘be the issue’.” Yes, there are offensive views of women that must be worked through. However, a part of society is taking steps to change this. The recent Pantene commercial and several public service announcements are among these steps to eventually dissolving sexism. They show the power, intelligence and individuality of women around the world and work to defy the negative ideas toward them. “Women have made great strides in the past 20-25 years, taking over leadership roles in practically every industry in the U.S,” Krug said. Including the growing number of female CEOs and women in the workplace, there have been several companies such as Tide and Nike that advertise using commercials that show positive depictions of women, which means the cause is not hopeless. These steps are continuing the conversation leading to a society free of pre-judgments. “I believe women who may have been labeled as ‘pushy’ yesterday are becoming appreciated today,” Kathy Collins, Chief Marketing Officer at H&R Block, said. The negative portrayals and judgments are evident, but there are two choices to handling the problem. First, there is the option to go along with the media, music and advertisements while being prepared to deal with the effects it has on forming the public view of women. Then there is the option to stand up and encourage the strides that have already been made to further the positive view of women. This doesn’t necessarily mean protesting outside the press offices or writing strongly-worded letters to the producers of the commercials. Simply refusing to listen to the degrading music or buy the products associated with certain commercials can show society that it is unacceptable. “We have to stay strong, positive and faithful that the image will fade and with hard work, we can overcome the stereotype,” Long said. The next step is paying attention to those who are considered as role models. Why are they idolized? Why are they considered admirable? Focusing on the truly praise-worthy idols could change the way young girls view older ones. The typical role model could change from a tall, thin bleach-blond woman to one

with a respectable purpose and ambitious mind. But we can’t be defeatist about it. That gets us nowhere,” Hall said. “Get mad if you need to, but just work harder for it tomorrow.” In the end, sexism will be completely erased if people stop accepting it and consuming the products associated with it. When a woman enters the workforce or steps out into the “real world”, she has to make a choice: conform to society or work against all the negativity. However, instead of getting upset or angry at the adversity, the anger and resentment can be used as motivation to prove the unfavorable female portrait wrong. “Stereotypes do not define who you are or what you can do,” Vice President and Engineering Director of Burns & McDonnell Kenda Caskey said. “It is up to yourself and your hard work to make it happen.” She walks into the interview and reviews her resume before the secretary welcomes her into the employer’s office. She might be prejudged. She might be labeled because of her gender, but she remains focused on displaying her work ethic, poise and determination. The employer is impressed and she receives the call she was waiting for. She starts on Monday. “I believe it is how one reacts to the stereotypes that can have the negative impact,” Caskey said. “Since I have never taken these personally I have never felt impacted by them.”

WORLD’S

MOST POWERFUL WOMEN

ACCORDING TO FORBES.COM

1. ANGELA MERKEL

CHANCELLOR OF GERMANY

2. DILMA ROUSSEFF PRESIDENT OF BRAZIL

3. MELINDA GATES

GATES FOUNDATION CO-CHAIR

4. MICHELLE OBAMA

FIRST LADY

5. HILLARY CLINTON

POLITICIAN LE JOURNAL

ISSUE 4

Meet Maca

T H E

Another school year means more Chileans from St. George’s College in Santiago. (Photos by Sarah Harris)

A spunky new exchange student from Spain has joined the junior class.

“Going to the Plaza was my favorite experience here so far. I also really like the family I’m staying with.” -Josephina Castro

BY SYDNEY DANIELS REPORTER

“We have high school and grade school kids all in one building, and we don’t have homework at our school.” -Paula Suez

C H I L America E 75% A 9-12 N 424 S

Maca Valiente was a part of the “Hairspray” makeup crew. She is applying eyeliner on junior Angela Griffin who played Brenda. (Photo by Sydney Daniels)

Valiente has thrown herself into the community. Almost immediately after arriving she joined the crew of “Hairspray.” Valiente is a loveable person with a great personality, according to fellow juniors and musical cast members Katie Kentfield and Maria Wagner. Kentfield said you can go from serious conversations to hilarious ones in a matter of seconds with Valiente. “She is a little ball of energy who fit in really well with Sion,” Wagner said. “She brightens everyone’s days.” Valiente has grown exponentially throughout her experience in America. Being away from her family and the only home she’s ever known has really forced her to mature in ways she didn’t know were possible. “I was completely different six months ago,” Valiente said. She will be here for the remainder of the semester until her return to Madrid, Spain in May.

“The first thing I’m going to do when I get back to Sion is eat fresh food, because the food here is unhealthy.” -Antonella Santis

{

“Dale a tu cuerpo alegria, Macarena, Hey Macarena,” goes the popular Spanish dance song. But Macarena also happens to be the name of the new Spanish student, Macarena Valiente, but she prefers to go by Maca so as to avoid the countless “Hey Macarena’s,” that usually follow an introduction. Valiente has been in the states since August, and originally she stayed with a family in Lake City, Fl. While in Florida, Valiente went to Disney World and enjoyed the multitude of roller coasters, yet she maintains that Six Flags has the best rides. Valiente wanted a change of scenery and decided to transfer to Sion for her second semester in the United States. She lives in Prairie Village, Kan. with the Thornton’s, a Grade School family well acquainted with Valiente’s aunt and uncle. The American school system is a lot different from the Spanish equivalent, Valiente said. The schools in Spain are much more strict during instruction time and talking during class is heavily restricted. Valiente prefers the classes in America to those in Spain due to the different teaching methods. Everyone expected to meet a shy, quiet girl who would need time to acclimate to a new environment junior Angela Griffin said. Yet Valiente quickly proved Griffin wrong with her confidence, enthusiasm and bluntness. “She and I are literally the same person,” Griffin said. “We both snort. When I shove food into my mouth, so does she-she actually shoves it in my mouth for me. She’s me in foreign form.”

Australia

vs.

“My favorite thing is shopping because everything is cheap like half priced compared to Chile.” -Florencia Galecio

LeJournal compares Our Lady of Sion College in Australia and Notre Dame de Sion

85% 7-12 760

Of students are Catholic

High School Grades

Students total in school

LE JOURNAL ISSUE 4

Students total in school

“The main difference between our school and yours, is that your schedules change all the time.” -Emi Concha

“The best experience I’ve had here has been getting to know the American culture and meeting new people.” -Vale Barrera

TURNING WEAKNESS INTO STRENGTH Junior Quasha Collins allows a life-altering disease to strengthen her resolve and her future.

o one knew what was going to happen that daynot a soul. No one knew that Quasha Collins’ legs and right arm would cease to work. No one knew she would have to be rushed from school to the hospital. No one knew that she would be spending the next three months of her life enduring countless tests and eventually major surgery. No one knew that from that day on, Collins’ life would never be the same. “My mom was not in a good place originally but I guess this stressed her out so much that she couldn’t take care of us,” Collins said. “I don’t live with my mom anymore.” Now living with her aunt and uncle, after many tests and a lot of therapy, Collins was officially diagnosed with reflex dystrophy. According to WebMD, the exact cause of RSDS is not understood, but it is thought to possibly be associated with injury to the nerves or trauma. Collins endured surgery and months of grueling therapy to help get her out of the wheelchair she was

confined to after that fateful day. “After the surgery I went through a couple years of therapy and suddenly I started walking again,” Collins said. But Collins’ disease did more than steal years of her life and any normalcy she once had. It gave her a new purpose for the future. The doctors still do not know why this disease happened to Collins, but she is determined to find out. “I realized that there are a lot of people like me who don’t realize what is going on,” Collins said. “For some people who don’t realize what is going on I feel like not knowing would ruin their lives. That is what got me interested in neurosurgery.” Collins’ friend, junior Maria Nessim, says that Collins is very passionate about what she is wanting to do to help others through the study of neurology. “I feel like she is really working hard to get into a good school and put herself in the position to be able to work towards her goal of becoming a neurosurgeon,” Nessim said. This past summer Collins participated in the University of Missouri Kansas City summer scholars program where she was able to take Anatomy and Chemistry and listen to many doctors speak. “This year they have a program that carries over called Saturday Academy. I got to talk to one of the

Freshman Angela Adams embraces the unique sport of archery.

BY MARY B. FREEMAN REPORTER

Quasha Collins (left) enjoys a laugh at lunch with Maria Nessim and friends. (Photo by Mary B. Freeman)

neurosurgeons and I am going to start shadowing him sometime at the end of this month,” Collins said. “I am really excited about that.” Collins continues to work towards her goal of becoming a neurosurgeon. She works to better the lives of those she will one day treat. She works to save the lives of those who will one day call her Dr. Collins.

ADAMS IN ARCHERY

BY GEORGIA EVANS REPORTER

he walks into school, still tired from waking up that morning. She sets down her backpack in front of her locker to relieve her back from the stacks of textbooks. She spies her friends and yells to them to

Freshman Angelina Adams unwinds through archery in her backyard after a long day. (Photo submitted by Angela Adams)

come over to her so she can talk about what happened in the last episode of Grey’s Anatomy. She goes throughout her day and before she knows it, school is out. This is when freshman Angelina Adams’s day becomes unlike the rest. She starts her archery practice. Adams found her passion for archery when she was only three years old with her family at home. She went to a camp for archery a year and a half ago at Girl Scout camp in Des Moines, Iowa. There, for the first time, she met a lot of new girls that shared the same passion for this sport as she did. “I made so many friends, and we became close because we all had something like this in common,” Adams said. Since no one else in her family, including her two older brothers, have taken up archery, she said that it separates her from her family, and gives her a sense of self-reliance. “Archery is fun to be a part of because it makes me stand out and makes me independent because I can do something on my own,” Adams said. Currently, Adams does not have a coach, nor does she participate in competitions, but she said she would love to start. According to Neetzan Zimmerman from gawker.com, NBC executives said archery was the hottest sport of the London Games, surpassing all other Olympic events. This has been a result of the movie and book “The Hunger Games.” For Adams, archery is a normal after school activity. She has an archery range in her backyard where she is free to be herself and get lost in her world of archery. She said that even doing it for a couple hours at a time makes such a difference in her attitude. “I love being able to participate in something as rare as archery, and be really good at it,” said Adams. LE JOURNAL

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Kim’s Declassified Survival Guide The ACT is notorious for stressing students out, but with a few tips you can easily conquer it. BY KIM FRYER FEATURES EDITOR

f you didn’t groan upon reading those three letters A-C-T, you probably aren’t a current high school student. So far, I’ve never met anyone who is genuinely excited about studying for the ACT, taking the ACT or really even discussing the ACT. But I am here to change your minds, folks, to resolve all of your concerns. Sit down, grab a cookie, and prepare to conquer your fears of standardized testing. Let me break it down for you... Survival Tip #1: ACTually do your prep work. This tip sounds pretty obvious, but I think it’s a necessary one. It’s easy to pretend you are studying for the ACT when in fact you are just using the prep book as a coaster for your soda and a backdrop to your twitter feed. Quit doing that, people. Despite my dreams, staring at the practice tests is not the same as actually taking them, and unfortunately it is not true that if you stare at the questions long enough they will answer themselves. Shocking right? You actually have to study and try to do well. I’m not going to lie and pretend that leaving school and going straight to ACT tutoring is as much fun as leaving school and sitting on the couch for two hours would be, but it does help. Ultimately, however, you don’t even need a tutor. Put your phone away for a couple hours, grab a pencil and get down to business. Make that ACT fear you.

BY ELLIE STINGLEY REPORTER

et another addicting game app has made it to center stage of the technology world. Flappy Bird has countless players frustrated as they try time -Photos Wikimedia Commons and again to get Flappy

Survival Tip #2: Get your beauty sleep. Believe it or not, sleep is actually a very essential key to doing well on a standardized test. Or just doing well in general. I generally do not function like a normal human being without sleep. Keep this in mind the night before the test, and try to go to bed early. Don’t believe me? Let me share a little story. Twas’ the night before the ACT and all through the city, not a student was stirring… except for me, who decided it would be a good idea to go to the Mumford and Sons concert. Oops. I went against my mother’s advice to skip the concert in order to get some extra beauty rest, and it backfired. But come ON, it was Mumford and Sons. And I was not about to miss that for some extra time with the backs of my eyelids. The concert was even better than I thought it would be. My adrenalin was pumping so fast that I could hardly sit still on the car ride home. It didn’t help that there was a HUGE traffic jam coming out of the venue that left us at a dead stop on the highway. All hopes of getting to bed at a decent hour flew out the window, but I had just stood within 20 feet of Marcus Mumford. I was on top of the world. By the time I got home, the night was turning into morning. And by the time I got into bed, my ears were ringing so loudly I questioned if tornado sirens were going off. Not to mention that I physically could not stop myself from singing Mumford and Sons songs in my head. It was not ideal. My alarm went off to wake me up for Another Crappy Test and it felt like I had been asleep for five minutes. And my ears were still ringing. Needless to say, I didn’t end up with my best score on that test. And I may have dozed off a few times during the science section. Sleep should have been my first priority. Survival Tip #3: Eat a hearty meal before. And bring a snack.

For those of you who have never endured the brutality of the ACT, you might not realize how long the test actually is. I’m on a tight must-consume-food-everyhour schedule, so I was a bit taken aback when I realized how long it actually was. I wouldn’t get finished with the test for four hours? No. No way. I did what any smart girl would do, and I strategized my eating plans. I found that the best way to navigate this dilemma was quite simple: eat a substantial breakfast before you go (don’t load up on those sausage McGriddles before, but definitely after) or risk your stomach growling so loudly you distract all your fellow test takers. If you have an overactive stomach like I do, I suggest bringing a snack for the breaks between sections. When the tummy starts a-rumblin the answers start a-jumblin. A full stomach is key for doing your best work. Survival Tip #4: Don’t freak out. All overreacting aside, the ACT really isn’t that big of a deal. I can assure you that when you’re laying on your death bed as a 99-year-old woman your biggest regret will not be “Dang, I really wish I had gotten one point higher on the ACT in high school.” And if it is, well, I’m sorry. Pump yourself up before the test, put on “Eye of the Tiger” and fist bump along with the music on your way. Look in the mirror and envision yourself getting that perfect score of 36. You are a Sion girl. You can do it. When the nerves kick in and you have a panic attack, repeat the above pump up. Then take a deep breath, eat some chocolate and remember-everyone else is in the same position. We’re all enduring the same trick questions in the science section and the same struggle to raise that reading score. Everything will be fine, high ACT scores or not. One final tip? The answer is always B.

Bird through the next set of pipes, one pipe from below and one from above, and beat their high score. The game can be played on an iPhone, iPad or iPod and requires at least the iOS 6.0 update. After the free download, the game is ready to play. A screen with a small round bird appears, instructing the player to “get ready.” Once the player discovers that a screen tap begins the game, it does not get much easier. The initial idea of the game seems basic; simply tap the screen to make Flappy Bird fly at the correct height to make it through the pipes as he flies. But as soon as the player begins the game, the difficulty is evident.

Similar to other game apps, players must find a certain rhythm to reach the next high score. Whether Flappy Bird makes it through the next pair of pipes depends on the way the player taps the screen: the duration of the tap as well as how hard the tap is. If the tap is too hard or not long enough, Flappy Bird collides with the pipe, and the game is over; no “three strikes and you’re out”. No second chance. “It is the most frustrating game in the entire world,” sophomore Camille Keane said. Before people allow themselves to get caught up in the craze and download the game, it may be smart to consider if yet another addicting and frustrating game is worth the 2.4 megabytes on their device.

Behind the Scenes of “Hairspray” “Hairspray” only took two and a half hours to perform, but three months to put together. BY SARAH HARRIS REPORTER Three sold-out shows. According to Musical Director Elizabeth Mulkey, the audience numbers were record breaking. But when the lights go out and the last note is sung, the production is over. The hard work, hours of rehearsals, and stressful nights were all worth it. The actors and actresses in the play have worked tirelessly for three months making the popular Broadway show, “Hairspray” come to life. The hair. The makeup. The costumes are all collected and perfected to treat audiences to an amazing show. But to make the show the best it could be, there were obstacles along the way. “The most challenging part is working on the script with the music and the scenes, but still trying to balance the communication with all of the people in charge of the outside things like the sets, props, and costumes,” Mulkey said. “You just have to breathe deeply sometimes and take it one question at a time.” Among the people in communication with Mulkey is light manager Kelly Lowndes. It is Lowndes’ job to organize and manage the other crew members. She makes sure they know their cues, where each set is placed and sometimes it means doing damage control

when something goes wrong. One thing she doesn’t do: stress. “I try not to stress out as much because I know everyone else is going to be, so I only stress the needed amount. Some people get overly stressed and I try to calm them down too,” Lowndes said. The director and the crew bring the show together, but the cast brings it to life every night on the stage. Leads seniors Samantha Ruiz and Cory Cole had to readjust their lives to keep up with the demanding rehearsal schedule. “There isn’t any down time during rehearsal and then you have to go home and start on your homework immediately,” Cole said. “There is no time for dobbling which I miss, and my Tumblr dashboard.” Although the sacrifice is considerable both of the girls treat the play like the STA game. They work all “season” for two nights against their biggest competition, the audience. On the night of the shows there is hair to do, makeup to apply and costumes to assemble. “I do my own hair, costuming and makeup which I will spend an hour on because I want it to be perfect. Then I do warm ups and drink lots and lots of water. And once I get into my costume, I become the character so I don’t need to transition much,” Ruiz said. “And a lot of hugs. Hugs are good. I get lots of hugs before I go on.” Opening night, wasn’t just another Friday night.

Students work on the sets at the Goppert Theater in Avila University for the first performance at this venue. (Photo by Sarah Harris)

It was the night where all of the hard work paid off. Where dancing in a fat suit for three hours after school everyday became worth it. Where not drinking coffee for a full week, for fear of hurting vocals, became worth it. Where not starting your homework until 9 p.m. every night for three months became worth it. It was the night where the people of the show shared with their community what they worked so hard to produce. “If you can see the excitement and the passion and the joy in performers eyes then you would understand why we do what we do, and the make the sacrifices we make in order to give the audience entertainment and an escape from the real world even for just three hours,” Ruiz said. “To allow them to enjoy themselves and get caught up in another world, it just makes us all so happy.”

Six Seconds of Fame Pays Off Dressing as Edna: Fifteen minutes of fame is too long, when the vine only takes six seconds. In the age of technology, anyone can be famous. BY KATY ZAHNER MULTIMEDIA EDITOR One six second video short. BAM! 2,000 bucks. This is how much famous Viners can make for each vine they post. These rapid videos coincide with each Viner’s rapid gain of followers and what some viewers would even call fame. “I think Vine fame qualifies as real fame because Vine is just helping them jump start their careers. A lot of the famous Viners are aspiring comedians and actors,” senior Chloe Sherkat said. On the other hand, some people are reluctant to say that famous Viners are equivalent to other celebrities. “Vine fame can be considered real fame. Once you’re known on Vine, most people know who you are. But famous Viners don’t have as much of an influence,” said junior Hannah Panjada. Others don’t think Vine fame is at all parallel to the fame of well-known celebrities in alternate forms of Pop Culture. Senior, Haleigh Presta, is one of these people. “I don’t really think vine fame qualifies as real fame because it seems more shallow and fleeting than the real fame that people get from achieving great things. I just wonder how accurately people could judge a vine famous person when all they’ve seen are 6 second videos”, Presta said. Real fame or not, entertainers in this field are making major money comparable to that of YouTube sensations for only a mere fraction of the time.

Famous Viners #1 Nash Grier

4.8M Followers

“Hairspray” required senior Cory Cole to sport a bulky body suit.

#2 King Bach

4.8M Followers

#3 Brittany Furlan 4.5M Followers

#4 Jerome Jarre 4.1M Followers

#5 Marcus John

3.9M Followers

#6 Josh Peck

3.7M Followers

#7 Curtis Lepore

3.4M Followers

#8 Alx James

“I usually keep a shirt on under the fatsuit. I just imagine it uncomfortable without one.”

“The best part is the bra. It’s going to hold everything in. And just because it’s not enough, I stuff it.”

“I mostly wear this dress, but I do have one quick change in “Welcome to the Sixties.” “And now I hope I don’t need to use the restroom.”

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5S -360 degree touch ID scanner -Offered in gold, silver and space gray -Longer battery life with an A7 chip processor -Prices starting at $199 -Smaller and thinner design, only 112 grams

iPhone VS. “I like 5S but honestly I don’t see much of a change between the 5 and the 5S. I wonder what they will do for the next iPhones that come out. I do like the new format of the apps and texting and stuff though. It looks a lot cleaner and more sophisticated than before.” - Mikaela Gill, senior “I have a pink [5C]. It’s a lot faster than my 4, weighs less and there is more to do on it. I always wanted a pink phone. And the back doesn’t crack which is good because I cracked eight iPhone 4s and I haven’t been able to crack this one yet.” - Sydney Summers, junior

than any other social media,” Neunuebell said. “A lot of the freshmen I know don’t even have Facebooks.” Although every grade has a class page on Facebook, it is easy to see that the upperclassmen use their page more often than the freshmen do. This shows the difference even in a couple of years of how teens use different social networks. Sophomore Katie Pendergast said that Facebook, in her opinion, is becoming old news. “I do think Facebook is becoming outdated and Is Facebook getting replaced with I much prefer Twitter or Instagram. I’m pretty much newer forms of social media such as obsessed with Twitter,” Pendergast said. Twitter and Instagram? With so many new apps and social networks, the options are endless. The choice among younger genBY DANA ROUTH erations is no longer Facebook. Wired.com also said REPORTER that Facebook use is more geared toward utility now instead of being a fad. Facebook has shaped the way the modern world Although Twitter and Instagram are becoming exworks. From assembling revolutions to organizing tremely popular, Facebook still has its benefits. For class pages, it is a tool used for everything by everyone. example, it is easier to upload full albums and easier to While making a path for itself, Facebook has also inhave longer converfluenced new social netsations with someworks taking its place. “A lot of the freshmen I know don’t one than Twitter or According to Wired. Instagram. com, Facebook is seen even have Facebooks.” Senior Sara as “uncool” by younger - Freshman Angela Neunuebell Dalton also says teenagers as their parents Facebook is becomand older generations are ing less popular and using it more frequently. Social apps such as Twitter believes there is a huge difference in the use of social and Instagram are commonly used among the younger networks. generations instead. “I think seniors definitely use their class pages Freshman Angela Neunuebell says she does not use and Facebook in general more than the freshman do,” Facebook much at all. Dalton said. “Instagram is really popular. I probably use it more

acebook Dead?

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5C -No finger print scanner -5 colors to choose from pink, blue, green, yellow and white -Shorter battery life with an A6 chip processor -Prices starting at $99 -Plastic design with steel reinforcements

MY LIFE IS AWKWARD: Valentine’s Day Edition “When I was in fourth grade I wrote this boy a love letter and put it on his desk and ran out of the room. When I came back he was reading it out loud, so I blamed it on my brother.”

-Ali Campbell, senior

“In grade school someone gave me a box of chocolates. I took a bite out of one and spit it on the floor. The boy who gave it to me cried.”

-Chandi Marsh, sophomore

“When I was in 5th grade, my boyfriend and I made each other cards, but we were too embarrassed to give them to each other so we had our friends do it.”

-Jackie Meister, senior

The Bachelor is back this Juan-uary The bachelor, Juan Pablo Galavis, begins his journey to find love January on ABC’s “The Bachelor.”

Staff member traveled to Springfield, Mo. to see a new and upcoming band perform. BY SYDNEY MANNING REPORTER

(Photo by Getty Images)

run. She has been my favorite since the first episode because she’s so pretty and respectful.” On episode two, Ferrell continued to catch Galavis’ eye. “Nikki’s fun. Nikki’s cute,” Galavis said on episode two. “I want to get to know Nikki better.” So, will Ferrell win Galavis’ love in the end? Continue watching “The Bachelor” to see if our very own Kansas City girl ends up taking it all, including the Spanish soccer player’s heart.

FIVE STAR FROZEN Disney’s newest production, Frozen, is one of the top box office movies. BY SYDNEY DANIELS REPORTER $639.9 million. To many, that sum of money is an exponentially large amount. That’s more money than most will see in their lifetime. Yet to the CEO of Disney, its just the amount of money that they’ve gained from their hit animated film Frozen, according to cnn. com. Frozen took the box office by storm when it debuted on Nov. 27. Despite going head to head with the hugely popular Catching Fire, the film broke the impressive records set by the Harry Potter franchise by grossing $93 million just in its first five days in theatres alone, according to cnn.com. The Nordic winter wonderland depicted in the movie was very representative of the deep freeze that a majority of the country was stuck in during the movie’s first weeks in theatres. This may have been

Shout

Never

BY ASHLEY HERRING ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR The former professional soccer player with the thick Spanish accent and admiringly good looks was a fan favorite last season on “The Bachelorette.” Some people may know this month as “Juanuary.” Juan Pablo Galavis, 32-years-old, returns to be the Bachelor this season on his quest for love. Twenty-seven love crazy girls living in the same house compete for the final rose from and hopeful engagement to Galavis. One of the competitors this season happens to come from our hometown of Kansas City. 26-year-old Nikki Ferrell is a pediatric nurse at Children’s Mercy Hospital in downtown Kansas City. “In my opinion, Nikki went on the show for the experience,” a source close to Ferrell that must remain anonymous said. “She was unsure of how things would play out but was ready for an adventure in her life and of course love.” Ferrell has been described by many, including senior Megan Neisius, as being a very hardworker with a great job on her hands. A friend of Ferrell’s who must remain anonymous described Ferrell as, “Fun-loving, goofy, sweet and intelligent all at the same time. She’s a great friend to everyone, but I would say honesty and loyalty are some of her best traits.” Neisius said, “I’m rooting for Nikki in the long

Never

When I took a road trip to Springfield, Mo over the first weekend of the 2012 summer with fellow classmate Laura Mann, I wasn’t expecting what was on the other end of that three hour long car ride. We had traveled south on I-49 to see her favorite band, Never Shout Never, for her 16th birthday. I was excited for the trip but was a little nervous considering I listened exclusively to country music at the time and only knew a few of the band’s songs. After meeting a few band members and claiming a spot in the front row, the opening band started their performance. This wasn’t just another band. I immediately loved all the songs they played and knew that I would be following this band for a while. Two and a half years later, I am proud to call myself a fan of Clockwork. With a sound and style all their own, Clockwork makes you quickly forget that their songs and performances are coming from such a new, young band. Formed in St. Louis, Mo., the band consists of Jordan Slone, Logan Slone, both 17, and Logan Mohler, 21. This band has done a wonderful job of perfecting their brand of acoustically-infused rock, slathered in memorable melodies and striking harmonies. Clockwork was started in 2011, and has played in various cities around the midwest, including St. Louis, Chicago, Kansas City and Des Moines. Their album “Out to Sea” features eight exceptional songs, including Fire, Just Breathe and my favorite, Calling You Out. Over Christmas break, they played an 18+ show at the Record Bar in Westport. Hopefully they’ll be traveling back to the MO-KAN border soon, but if not I’m totally up for a road trip to St Louis if anyone wants to join. You can “like” them on Facebook and check out their album “Out to Sea” on iTunes.

(Photo by MCT Campus)

the cause for the welcome reception that it received in theatres across the nation. Kristen Bell took on the voice of Anna, a young princess, who feels lonely and isolated due to her sister Elsa’s extremely secretive and introverted tendencies. Anna teams up with Kristoff, the hunky ice cutter with a equally icy heart. The two are in a race against time to find Elsa, the newly coronated Queen of Herondale, before her icy powers can consume her kingdom and trap her people in an eternal winter. The movie already won a Golden Globe for best animated feature and was nominated for another 29 awards, winning 18 of them, according to imbd.com. Those awards were rightfully earned; the cinematography featured in the film depicted everything from bright, powdery snow to the sharp, jagged edges of ice crystals. Not a detail lacked in the imagery department. As the country emerges from its month-long deep freeze, the frozen trance that was placed upon viewers has yet to thaw.

Clockwork opens for Never Shout Never in Springfield, Mo. at the Outland Ballroom. (Photo by Sydney Manning)

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CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK

2. S

ion celebrated Catholic Schools Week Jan. 27-31 with school-wide dress up days and events planned by Student Council. Monday kicked off the week with “Man Crush Monday” theme and a Noah’s Ark themed Maison game. The girls participated in Sion Family Spirit Night dressed in biker gear at the St. Teresa’s vs. Sion basketball game. Tuesday, students learned about vocations from their lunch and presentations from visiting Sisters. On Wednesday, Student Council provided breakfast while teachers and students switched attire for the day. Thursday girls dressed up according to their favorite Bible story and Friday we remembered our roots by wearing grade school uniforms.

3. 1. Sister Martha Keller talks about vocations with Chilean exchange students Josephina Castro and Paula Suez. (Photo by Ellie Stingley) 2. Senior Sydney O’ Dear cheers on Sion at the basketball game Monday night dressed in themed biker gear. (Photo by Sarah Allen) 3. Junior Courtney Tushaus and her Chilean exchange student Paula Suez dress as the apostles on “Favorite Bible Story” themed day. (Photo by Ellie Stingley) 4. Juniors Renae Rogge and Isabel Grojean chat with classmates while wearing their grade school uniform. (Photo by Ellie Stingley)

4. 20

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