TH
North star
Oct. 14, 2010 • Blue Valley North High School • Overland Park, Kansas • Vol. 25, No. 2
Venture into KC’s most thrilling Halloween haunts A cover by Christin Smith
s yummy as all that Halloween candy is, you can only tramp door-to-door for so many years. But rather than giving up on Halloween now that you’re past the age of ghostie costumes and pumpkin-shaped candy bags, try some of KC’s more serious All-Hallow’s Eve fare. Ranging from nostalgic to thrilling to just plain paranormal, these spots make for a frighteningly fun alternative to sitting home watching “The Ring.” (continued page 12)
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news 10.14.10
{The North Star}
f o New writing policy sparks e Tabltents debate among students, staff Con
MichaelHoffman
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{feature editor}
his year, the North faculty is instituting a school-wide policy, in which students are expected to write twice per semester in each class, to better prepare them for college. “[Over the summer] we looked at college readiness things, AP exams and college syllabi as a staff and read articles on college readiness,” curriculum and Instruction Associate Principal Mark Dalton said. “One common thread through all of [our research] was writing. It’s very important and is expected of college students in all subjects.” Writing is an effective way for students to express their knowledge of the content. “Writing helps students show a mastery of a subject and helps them to organize and formulate an argument or position,” social studies teacher Jason Smajda said. In addition to showing a mastery of a subject, writing can also help students express themselves in that subject. “Throughout all academic areas, students are asked to think critically and articulate their thoughts in writing,” communication arts department head Ken Taylor said. “While writing assignments should be designed to fit the curriculum, college courses in those disciplines will still expect students to have the ability to effectively communicate their thoughts.” Some students, however, completely disagree with the notion that they should have to write in “non-writing” classes such as math. “I think it’s unnecessary,” senior Anne Dickey said. “It’s dumb that we have to waste time in classes like calculus writing papers when we could be focusing on learning the information in the traditional way. Classes that need writing already have it, and it’s ridiculous to force us to write papers when we could be learning the information in the format that has been working for
Small wall rocks gridiron
11 Students question the idea of writing essays in gym class. Photo by Lauren Drummond
years.” “I understand where the district’s coming from by wanting to make students become better writers, but I don’t understand why it’s necessary to write in math,” junior Courtney Specker said. “Math is about learning equations and numbers, not about writing a huge essay about how y=3x+2.” Most students who dislike this new policy are math-and-science type students. “Math and science people are only going to get better at writing by doing it,” Dalton said. In addition, writing helps students become more familiar with concepts in classes such as math and science where writing wouldn’t normally be expected. “Students need to be able to communicate in all classes, including math,” math department head Mike Koehler said. “Students sometimes have trouble in math because they can’t explain what they are doing and how to do the procedure.” Other faculty members are unsure about whether or not the the new
program will be useful in their class. “I’m not sure [about the policy],” PE department head Susan O’Dell said. “It’s the first time we have been asked to do this. I wish they would require all classes to stretch [beyond their normal boundaries] every day though.” O’Dell doesn’t anticipate that the required writing policy will have a significant effect on her classes this year. “My students are not going to write any essays,” she said. “[Instead] they will write short reflections on activities we are doing in class.” All in all, the new program’s main benefit is that it will force students to become better at writing. The administration considers this a lifelong skill no matter what one does in the future. “Writing is something that we will use every day of our lives, no matter what profession or path we follow,” senior Paige Bergan said. “I love that writing is so versatile, and it’s beneficial to learn how to write in many different ways over many different subjects.”
Skiles and Breedlove face off
14 Real haunted houses get checked for legitimacy
16 Drive safely with helpful tips
{The North Star}
Sacred Steps raises money for Africa
CeliaCullom
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Senior Courtney Keplinger explains to senior Brandon Ostradick the plans for the Sacred Steps 5K. Photo by Christin Smith.
encouraged to do so. “While faith is a very big part of the lives of those of us organizing the event, we welcome all people to join us,” event coordinator Susan Mitchell said. “The suffering in Africa is a world problem; regardless of our beliefs, we all have a responsibility to do what we can to lessen the suffering…our invitation is extended to everyone.” The Sacred Steps 5K is just one of many ways that COR is involving itself in humanitarian efforts. For the past 10 years, members have spent time in Africa trying to lend a hand. “We have a super team of volunteers that truly have a heart for Africa and doing what we can to help those infected and affected by AIDS,”
Mitchell said. “In fact, the core of the team served on a mission trip to Africa to see firsthand where and how proceeds from the first years’ event were already making a difference.” Next Saturday should prove to be a success given the amount of work that has been put into planning the event. Keplinger encourages anyone to register to run, walk or volunteer. “It’s lots of fun. There’s a ton of food there. We have sponsors from Chickfil-A, Sheridan’s, Smoothie King and First Watch,” she said. “You don’t have to run. You can walk it or sign up and volunteer,” Keplinger said. More information about registration can be found at Church of the Resurrection’s website www.cor.org.
news
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Bonfire rescheduled JessiGlueck
{editor -in- chief}
ext Saturday, hundreds of local residents will make their way to Church of the Resurrection (COR) for a common cause: the Sacred Steps 5K Run/ Walk. Through this event, money will be raised for impoverished areas of Africa. “The money’s being raised for wells in Africa,” senior Courtney Keplinger said. “We’re also going to help fight AIDS.” Keplinger has run in the race since it began in 2006. This year, however, she is on the board helping to undertake the organization and promotion. “I’ve been running since it started, and I decided that I wanted to become more involved,” she said. “What I’m trying to do is market for people teenaged years and younger.” Through Student Council, Girls State and her tennis team, Keplinger has learned vital leadership skills, but her position on the board for this event is unlike any she’s ever held. “Nothing has really prepared me for this job because for the first time in my life, I’m in charge of something important and there’s no one I can go to for questions,” Keplinger said. “I have to figure it out by myself.” Though the race is organized by a religious organization, everyone interested in participating is
10.14.10
{opinion editor}
he homecoming bonfire, that exhilarating fall tradition that was canceled due to bad weather, has been rescheduled. The bonfire will now take place Oct. 21 at 7 p.m., in the parking lot behind the school. “This is an important tradition at Blue Valley North, and we…wanted to hold on to that,” Principal Dr. Tonya Merrigan said. Though it won’t fulfill its traditional role of building the excitement for homecoming, the bonfire’s new date may even have some perks. “Student government has some great ideas,” Dr. Merrigan said. These include talk of a performance by Kodiact, a D.J., food, and live “street art” by NAHS. The rescheduling was cost-effective, too. “It will not cost us any additional money. We were able to secure the permits for a new night and the fireworks were pre-paid,” Dr. Merrigan said. The rescheduled bonfire should be a fun way to enjoy one of North’s bestloved traditions and experience cool twists on customary bonfire activities. “This is a great opportunity to come out and support the mustangs,” Dr. Merrigan said. Don’t forget to catch some cool fireworks pictures and maybe some pizza while you’re at it.
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11-5/10
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Just the two of us
{The North Star}
10.14.10
feature
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History teachers are best of friends SarahSchlosberg
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{staff writer}
e have all witnessed the inexplicable chemistry between social studies teachers Jeff Breedlove and Stephen Skiles. Those of us fortunate enough to sit in the humbled audience of their AP Euro or Western World classes can vouch for this bond. Even those who have simply spotted the two laughing in the halls have noticed this connection. These men might very well be Einsteins of history, but how well do they know each other?
Jeff Breedlove
Stephen Skiles
What is Skiles’ guilty pleasure? “Twitter because he can chat with his fellow soccer geeks.”
What’s Breedlove’s guilty pleasure? “‘Project Runway’ or ‘Swamp People’ which is kind of the same thing.”
What’s your guilty pleasure? “‘Project Runway’. You have to ask why?”
What’s your guilty pleasure? “Twitter because it’s easier to stalk European soccer journalists that way.”
What historical figure is Skiles most like? “Napoleon. Come on. Figure it out.”
What historical figure is Breedlove most like? “Gustavus Adolphus because Breedlove looks somewhat Swedish and it’s fun to say.”
What historical figure are you most like? “George Washington. I have wooden teeth.” What’s Skiles’ biggest fear? “Heights because you’re so darn far up.”
What historical figure are you most like? “Napoleon, for obvious reasons.” What is Breedlove’s biggest fear ? “A stray hair.”
What’s your biggest fear? “Not getting invited to the party.”
What’s your biggest fear? “Heights.”
What is Skiles’ favorite movie? “‘Endless Summer.’”
What is Breedlove’s favorite movie? “Probably something to do with Notre Dame. I’ll say ‘Rudy’.”
What is your favorite movie? “‘Rudy’. Notre Dame. Football. Enough said.” What was Skiles like as a young boy? “The same but smaller. Seriously. He was smaller.” What were you like as a young boy? “Precocious and adorable.” What is one of Skiles’ unknown talents? “Singing.” What is one of your unknown talents? “Skiing. I’m a god on snow.” History teachers Jeff Breedlove and Stephen Skiles demonstrate their height difference, just one of the many opportunitues they take to joke around with each other. photos by Christin Smith
What is your favorite movie? “‘Endless Summer’ because it’s my annual kick-off to summer break.” What was Breedlove like as a young boy? “Dennis the Menace.” What were you like as a young boy? “Precocious and adorable.” What is one of Breedlove’s unknown talents? “He does a spot-on impersonation of the Swedish Chef from the Muppets.” What is one of your unknown talents? “Singing.”
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feature 10.14.10
{The North Star}
Student finds comfort in power of music Playing guitar can express feelings, conquer challenges
KaiBressler
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{staff writer}
enior Brandon Ostradick sits in his room with a light brown Alvarez guitar tucked under his arm with his fingers on the strings. Entranced in the melodies resonating from his guitar, Ostradick is transported into an alternate universe. “The best part of playing guitar is probably the fact that it can take my mind off anything,” Ostradick said. “If I am feeling stressed and just need a break, I can always pick up my guitar and jam for a while”.
Photo by Christin Smith.
Ostradick’s hobby came as a rseult of his parents’ initial desire for him to learn how to play the piano. “My parents thought it would be a good idea for me to learn how to read sheet music first, so they had me take piano lessons for a couple of years,” Ostradick said. “ Then for my 11th birthday, they bought me my first guitar, and after signing up for weekly guitar lessons, it has been guitar ever since.” Seven years later, Ostradick has finetuned his skills enough to play along with songs by popular bands as well as post videos of himself playing onto sites like YouTube and Facebook. “My favorite band to listen to and play on guitar is without a doubt Dave Matthews Band because of the technically challenging chords and fingerings Dave uses in many of his songs,” Ostradick said. “The songs are not the easiest to learn, but I feel a sense of accomplishment when I can play a song all the way through.” Not only does he post videos of himself playing onto the Internet, but he is also open to playing the guitar in front of his friends. “I really like that I can bring my guitar with me when I am hanging out with friends. The acoustic [guitar] is awesome to break out around a campfire or even in someone’s basement,” Ostradick said. As of now, however, Ostradick is reluctant to join a band or form his own band using his guitar skills. “I have always been a pretty shy person who works better alone than in groups,” Ostradick said. “When playing
guitar, I enjoy the sound of only my instrument over the sound of a whole band.” When it comes to writing his own songs, Ostradick is still unsure of his song-writing abilities but is willing to give it a try in the near future. “I am taking Music Theory this semester and so far it is one of my favorite classes,” Ostradick said. “We are learning so much about how music is formulated, and I am interested in applying the things I learn to my guitar. At the moment, I haven’t written any songs, but there is
a definite possibility of it happening in the future. Whether it is playing along to songs by other bands or perhaps writing his own material in the future, Ostradick will always appreciate the power of music. “Through playing guitar, I have a way of expressing myself and my emotions when words cannot describe how I feel,” Ostradick said. “Music is a powerful thing, and playing guitar has really influenced me and my interest in music.”
Leap of Faith?
ReidEggleston
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{The North Star}
10.14.10
feature
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Atheist students open up about ideas, pressures, hopes
{business manager}
hen I was little, my parents wanted me to try out going to church. I didn’t get it. And then we didn’t go to church regularly and I didn’t understand why people followed it, and then I finally figured out I don’t believe in it a few years ago,” a student said. And that was it. That was the end of a belief. But it was also the beginning-the beginning of a new life, the beginning of a new mind. The beginning was the hope of atheism. “Atheism to me is the lack of belief in any god or any real religion, just the idea that nobody can really prove to me that there is a god and if nobody can do that, I have no reason to believe in it,” junior Greg Castro said. “[It’s] not trying to bow down to a god or a government or person, just being proud of yourself. Living your life for yourself.” Atheism is starting to bud at Blue Valley North. There is a questioning spirit that lingers in the minds of many students, yet a conversion from religious student to atheist student is still rare. Why? Fear, some claim. “Kids know that there are atheists and know that they exist, but very few have considered it themselves,” Castro said. “For a long time, I wouldn’t have considered it because I’ve been raised as a Christian since birth so that kind of conversion in me almost felt like a death sentence. Like if you stop believing in Jesus, you’re going to hell. And also, there’s the big scary step of saying that as an atheist, pretty much when you die, you’re going to die and that’s it.” Atheists at North who have questioned God and have seen past the fear it creates can identify why religion causes them to reassess their beliefs. “Some people have nothing but bare necessities. Why must [religion] always be huge? Worship with the bare necessities,” senior Ian Sneid said. “I question the idea of making money off of religion, because I feel
that it seems slightly unjust. I feel like you should guide them, if they want guidance, but not force them to pay a fee in order to belong.” “There’s thousands of writings that reference Jesus and the fact that he lived, but of all those thousands of writings, the only legitimate one who claims he did anything spiritual or god-like is the Bible, and the Bible I don’t believe to be a credible source just because it’s the book propagating that faith,” Castro said. But arguments are not limited only to questioning the physical testaments of religion. For many, the mere idea that there could be a god is irrational. “An argument that people try to say is that people can’t prove that God doesn’t exist, and that’s true you can’t prove that God doesn’t exist, but nowhere in our world, in science, in literature, do you have to prove that something doesn’t exist...it’s [your] burden of proof...if you can’t prove that it’s real, then your theory probably isn’t true,” Castro said. “I’m confused about the state of a god. There are some things in the world that I could not imagine happening if there was a god: the
Holocaust, genocides in Rwanda and Darfur, little kids getting hit by cars. What kind of god would let that happen?” Sneid said. Although these students felt a similar push away from religion, the influences that pushed them were unique. “My dad was agnostic, and I’ve never been super-religious. When people think dragons and wizards and things, I think [the Bible] is like that. I think it’s just a bunch of stories. My dad definitely opened me up to the idea that it doesn’t work,” a student said. “Fiction is what drove me into atheism and showed me some insight. Ayn Rand...wrote ‘The Fountainhead’, ‘Atlas Shrugged’. She was an atheist and her work displayed that. There are others like ‘Black Boy’ and ‘The Crucible’, that gave me sort of a new perspective on life and made me attracted to atheism,” Castro said. Atheism is a polar issue. Because of the black-and-white controversy, there is tension between believers and non-believers. “Religious people get mad and think, ‘How can someone not believe what I believe in?’” a student said. “Some people get mad at other
people and say they’re going to go to hell. Some people who are really into their religion, don’t really like atheists here.” “A lot of Christians look down on other students. You can’t rectify Jewish and Muslim and Buddhist beliefs all into one; they contradict each other. So if you believe in Christianity, you’re going to have a superiority complex against the other religions. I think that just does create tension. Religion creates tension,” Castro said. The tension from religious differences in many cases leads atheist students to react and in turn criticize the God-driven world. “Our whole society is based on Christianity. If we didn’t have religion, big topics like abortion, gay marriage, wouldn’t be a problem... that’s something that frustrates mewe have so many other problems in our world, and the ones we choose to focus on are very insignificant,” Castro said. “And the only reason we choose to focus on them is due to our archaich religion.” With a greater number of atheists becoming more outspoken, many students feel that acceptance of these students is the only option. “I don’t want to tell someone what they believe in isn’t true. Everyone should believe what they think is right. Don’t force anyone to believe differently,” Castro said. “I’m not a threat to [religion]. If they want to worship the Torah, worship the Qur’an, worship the Bible let them. If they don’t believe in a god, fine...let them,” Sneid said. Non-believing students feel that sharing ideas will allow others to reach acceptance sooner than later, something considered by atheists to be pivotal.
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sports 10.14.10
{The North Star}
Oliver leads team by example KaiBressler
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{staff writer}
enior varsity soccer captain Paul Oliver is more than just a lethal threat on the field. He is also a team leader committed to the success of his team. “I take the role of being a leader very seriously,” Oliver said. “If my teammates look to me and see that I’m trying hard in practices and games, then hopefully they will take up that same mindset.” So far Oliver’s leadership appears to be paying off, as the soccer team is currently 10 and 4. “I think that much of our success can be attributed to the fact that we treat each other as if we were a family,” Oliver said. “Whenever one of my teammates is feeling down, I will try my best to lift them up.” Not only does Oliver care for his teammates on the field, but he also takes it upon himself to care for them off the field. “Being a team captain, I feel that I have the responsibility to keep my teammates out of trouble and out of uncomfortable situations such as parties,” Oliver said. Oliver has proven to be a dominant force on the soccer field this fall, helping lead the Mustangs to an
Photo by Christin Smith.
incredible victory over Blue Valley Northwest in the season opener and the emphatic 2-1 win over soccerjuggernaut Rockhurst. “Beating Northwest and playing great as a team in the win versus Rockhurst have been the best moments for our team so far,” Oliver said. At the conclusion of the boys soccer season, Oliver will begin the club season playing for the junior Wizards development team, which he has been a part of for the last three years. “After the soccer season concludes, I will immediately begin gearing up for club season, in which I will be playing for the junior Wizards club team,” Oliver said. Unlike the high school season, the Wizards junior team prepares these young athletes for the life of a professional athlete. “The Wizards juniors is the closest environment to becoming a professional that I could be exposed to because we have professionallevel coaches, equipment and
facilities,” Oliver said. “We travel like professionals and practice and play as similar to them as possible.” In regards to playing soccer in college, it is a definite possibility for Oliver. However, where he will play in college remains an uncertainty. “Right now I am not sure where I will end up playing next year. Some of the front-runners appear to be Drake University and the University of Missouri-Kansas City,” Oliver said. “One of the benefits of staying close to home is the opportunity to continue playing with the Wizards.” For Oliver, soccer has been more than just a sport. It has brought him closer to his spiritual beliefs.
“I try to glorify the Lord every time I step on the field and I thank Him for the abilities that he has given me,” Oliver said. “For example, the undershirt I wear every game says ‘All for Him’ and it also has my favorite scripture written on the back which is Psalm 93:4.” Wherever he decides to play in the future, he will certainly bring with him his skill, his beliefs and his innate abilities to lead.
Overlooked Athletes
{The North Star}
10.14.10
sports
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Students playing non-school sports merit recognition
MichaelHoffman
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{feature editor}
ost students here grew up playing one or more of the four major sports: football, soccer, basketball and baseball. These students had no trouble at all transitioning into high school sports, as these are four of the most prevalent sports offered. There are, however, students who have been working hard since they were little, in sports that aren’t offered in high school, such as ice skating, gymnastics, hockey and horseback riding. These students receive little recognition for their work compared with students who play sports offered at North. “If you accomplish a major goal [in any sport] then I think it should be more recognized. [Sports like ice
Rachel Goldstein
Club name: Silver Blades Figure Skating Hours spent practicing per week: 10 Hours spent practicing before school each week: 7.5
skating are no different,” sophomore Rachel Goldstein said. Though ice skating doesn’t get much credit because it’s uncommon, other sports such as gymnastics don’t get much of a following because people don’t understand them. “[People] don’t know enough about [gymnastics],” junior Ben Oppenheimer said. “They don’t know how difficult it can be sometimes.” Another reason why some sports aren’t recognized in Kansas is because they aren’t sports that traditionally take place here. “[Hockey doesn’t get much respect here] because it’s not something you think of when you come to Kansas,” junior Bryan Cote said. “It’s one of those winter sports that gets put aside.”
Ben Oppenheimer
Bryan Cote
Hours spent practicing per week: 23 Gymnastics experience: 11 years
Club name: Kansas City Outlaws Hours spent practicing per week: 8 Hockey experience: 13 years
Ice skating experience: 12 years Goldstein has been ice skating for over 12 years, and recently she received the honor of passing her gold test. “I passed my gold test, and I made the final round at a regional competition,” Goldstein said. “If you complete all the levels on both sides you are on ‘Olympic’ level and I passed all the levels on one side [which got me the gold level].” Becoming a good skater has cost Goldstein time that she could be using to keep up with school and sleep. “I practice for one and a half hours before school [every day] and twice a week after school. I definitely don’t get much sleep [because of this],” she said.
Other athletes take the view that it’s okay that they don’t get much respect from their peers because of the nature of their sport. “I don’t really mind the fact that non-school sports aren’t as highly recognized at BVN,” senior Kelsey Dunham said. “BVN offers a pretty wide variety of popular high school sports. I think that if you participate in the less “mainstream” sports, like horseback riding, you should expect to not get as much recognition for it at school because so few people are involved in those sports compared to the sports offered at BVN.” Though they may have different views on the degree of respect nonschool sports should get, all four athletes would appreciate receiving a little more respect for their sports.
For people like Oppenheimer, gymnastics can get as complicated and draining sometimes as swinging around a bar for two minutes straight, propelling 10 feet into the air off the bar, executing a double back flip and then landing with two feet perfectly placed on the ground. “[Gymnastics] is pretty much as hard as other sports are,” Oppenheimer said. “It makes it difficult for [gymnastics to get recognized] because less people do it than most other sports. If gymnastics was easy they would call it football.” Like Goldstein, Oppenheimer has also had recent success in his sport. “Last year I got top seven in regionals, which is made up of the [seven states surrounding] Kansas,” he said. “Since I made the top seven I got to go to the Junior Olympic Nationals.”
Cote has been playing hockey since he was 4 and lived in New Hampshire. “I moved from New Hampshire to Kansas in second grade,” he said. “When kids start playing soccer here, it’s like hockey in New England. It’s a popular sport.” Cote has been playing for the same organization, the Kansas City Outlaws, since he moved here. “This is my second year that I’ve been playing varsity for [them]. Freshman year we went undefeated and won state,” he said. Spending all his time playing hockey cuts into Cote’s time for school. “We practice Tuesdays and Thursdays after school, and I’m there for three hours,” he said. “I have to schedule my homework differently [as a result]. I leave home at 4 after school and don’t get back until 8.”
“[Ice skating] is just like every other sport. You’re exercising and working hard to get done what you want to get done,” Goldstein said. “I think that I should be announced in assemblies for being a gymnast. They also don’t put anything on my locker before a gymnastics meet,” Oppenheimer said. “[People] should come out to some of my hockey games, especially our Saturday night games. It’s a lot of fun. Last year we had a fog machine to introduce us, which was really cool,” Cote said. “Horseback riding is one of the most dangerous sports there is, and I think that both the horses and riders deserve a lot more respect for the talent they have,” Dunham said.
Kelsey Dunham Hours spent practicing per week: 9 Club name: Church Hill Farm Riding experience: 10 yrs. Dunham is a horseback rider and has been riding horses for 10 years. “I moved here from Connecticut during third grade and wanted to get involved in an activity,” she said. “I tried sports like soccer and basketball but ultimately decided horseback riding was the sport for me.” Horseback riding has made a significant impact on Dunham’s free time. “I have lessons two times a week, and I go to hack (exercising a horse on a trail) at least three times a week,” she said. “It interferes with school because of the time commitment. It takes 30 minutes to get to the barn, and I’m usually there for at least two hours. Sometimes I ride more than one horse, and it ends up being about a five hour commitment. I also sometimes miss a few days of school for horse competitions.”
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sports 10.14.10
{The North Star}
Small wall shows “little” mercy
The small wall: Junior bandit saftey P.J. Woodward no. 5, senior linebacker David Shogbamimu no. 26 and junior linebacker Luke Reed in pursuit during the Oct. 7 victory over BVSW. Photo by Christin Smith
DavidTauber
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{news editor}
he 2-4 football squad has faced some of the top-ranked teams in the state thus far in the season. Apart from the losses, in the team’s 3-4 and nickel packages one group of players has managed to excel on defense. They’re known as the small wall. The lineup consists of senior linebacker David Shogbamimu, junior linebacker Luke Reed and junior bandit (linebacker/strong safety), P.J. Woodward - all of whom line up under 5’10”. “I wouldn’t want to play in front of anyone else than the small wall; they might be small in person, but definitely not in heart,” junior offensive tackle and defensive lineman Peter Gallo said. Proving mind over matter, their raw football knowledge and teamwork have resulted in successes for the team, including the fourth quarter hold against BVNW. The players credit translating their bonds off the field to the victories on it. “Communication is key. Because we are all good friends outside of school, we are always talking after school and practice about things we can do to improve and fix [as a team]. I think it definitely helps having your best friends out there with you,” Woodward said. The linebacker position is commonly assigned to players with a combination of size, strength and
football IQ. Though Shogbamimu and Reed don’t measure up to the 6’3,” 250-pound standard, they have confirmed their value to the team this season. Thus far, Shogbamimu is the team’s leading tackler and, the three are regarded by many teammates as some of the hardest hitters on the team. “I like to think I’m one of [the hard
said. Their speed and strength have been credited by the coaches and teammates from the start of the season. Each runs the 40-yard dash under five seconds and bench presses nearly 200 pounds, more than their own body weight. After their mental and physical training, they claim to be prepared to challenge the bigger,
“Hey, we’re not here to mess around, we’re a hard hitting team, I think we put some intimidation in them.” hitters on the team],” Reed said. “At first we might not [intimidate other offenses] because of our size, but once we start hitting them with the pads and letting them know, ‘Hey, we’re not here to mess around, we’re a hard hitting team,’ I feel like we put some intimidation in them.” Positioning himself behind Reed and Shogbamimu, Woodward sets up on defense as bandit. The junior standout has proven himself on both sides of the ball (running back) as a varsity player. This season he currently ranks in the top 10 in Kansas for safety tackles and has tallied two forced fumbles, one recovered fumble and an interception. “I think [P.J.] is doing well. He’s making plays. He’s improving. I know he’s made some very critical tackles in critical situations when we had to make a play,” head coach Jason Jones
stronger, faster players. “There’s some sense of intimidation when you go out and see everyone who is 6’4” or 6’3” but we face them every week so you get to a point where you know how to handle the bigger guys in certain ways. You kind of push it to the side and not even worry about [the size disadvantage] and you just know, hey, you’re going to be smaller than everybody else, so you might as well accept it and learn how to handle it. [We handle it with our] speed, which I don’t have much of, but I’m working on it,” Reed said. “It’s definitely all mental. If you go out there and put your heart on the line every play, then there really isn’t anyone, no matter how big, that can stop you,” Shogbamimu said. Opposing teams note North’s defense size as a point of capitalization.
“We didn't really recognize the size of the [BVN] linebackers on film, so it wasn't until game time that we could truly see their size. During the game we blocked them well and got some momentum going, in part maybe to their size,” BVW senior quarterback Devin Rose said. Despite a losing record, Jones is pleased with the small wall’s showings on the field, potential and the experience they’ve gained for next season. “If guys are giving you their best effort, you can’t complain about wins and losses. It’s nice that we will have the whole linebacking crew back. That experience is invaluable. Maybe they’ll grow a little bit,” Jones said. “As long as they continue to get stronger in the weight room, it’s a huge positive to get your whole linebacking crew back [in exception to Shogbamimu].” “We’re getting better and more comfortable with our spots. We definitely have a short linebacker core. We use our quickness and speed to get past the bigger guys and trying to stay low. It plays a part [being undersized], but we just have to find different ways [to improve],” Reed said. “We are working on getting downhill fast, reading our guards, making quick decisions and hopefully getting there in time to make the tackle. Since we are so small we can’t rely on [body mass] but we rely on our quickness and speed and abilities to find the ball. We try to fly as quickly as we can.”
{The North Star}
Fresh year brings a new experience to clubs
10.14.10
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{Dave’s D.M.C.} Deep Meaningful Conversation
BerkeleyLovelace
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news
{Staff Writer]
s human beings, we’re wired to seek support and understanding; we strive to challenge ourselves and express our own individualism. Clubs, a separate entity from school, allow students to be diverse. BVN has over 33 different clubs and a wide variety of activities. Statistics show that 32 percent of boys and 40 percent of girls at our school attend club activities. Numbers also showed at the end of last year, almost all club participants viewed the outlet as a beneficial opportunity. “This school has many clubs and a lot of people benefit from them,” social studies teacher Nancy Pence said. “Science, English, social studies and even art, you name it, you can apply all of these things with the extension of clubs. You also build relationships and connections with your peers.” The activity fair, held Sept. 30, showcased student clubs in the commons. Students had their advisory period to gather information and get a feel of what they may be into. Here are a few clubs students can join:
Asian American Club
“It’s a good chance for Asians and others to understand the Asian culture,” senior Haokun Ren said. The Asian American Club focuses on the diverse Asian cultures of China, Vietnam, Korea, Japan, India and other Asian nations. “We go out to lunch, go to houses to play games and one time [we] made fortune cookies,” Ren said. The club generally meets once a month but does not have set meeting times or dates in order to work with members’ schedules. For information on the next meeting date, talk to the club president, senior Faye Chou.
Black Leadership Club
“The club is awesome,” Black Leadership Club president junior
Liberty trumps all DavidTauber
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Black Leadership Club during a Friday meeting. Robinson is club president. Photo by Lauren Drommond
“
it’s a club bigger than ourselves
Josh Robinson said. “This club is about spreading diversity throughout the school and making sure African Americans are projected in a good light. But I want to make sure to say, this club is for everyone,” Robinson serves as the club’s president, but there are still other vacant leadership positions the club is looking to fill. “This year we have a new sponsor, Mrs. [Cynthia] Younger and our previous sponsors Mr. [Paul] Roberts and Mrs. [Nancy] Pence. This is a new year and we want everyone to be a part of this. It’s a club that is bigger than ourselves,” Robinson said.
”
Black Leadership Club meets every Friday morning at 7:20.
Drawing Club
This club is similar to the National Art Honor Society, though there are no academic requirements. “This club is completely new, we’re still looking for more people to join and add more ideas to important things we can do,” junior Theresa Krause said.“This club is in a molding process. The club meets every Thursday right after school in room 308.” You can find out more about these and other clubs on the school’s web
{newseditor}
he first Monday of October marked the start of the U.S. Supreme Court hearings. One of the rare cases reviewing constitutionality comes from close to home. On Oct. 6, Fred Phelps, religious extremist, went to the highest of the federal courts in our nation to justify his freedom of speech. Phelps is the pastor of Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka. He and his congregation have been publicly protesting–notably anti-gay rallies–against various ideals since the early 1990s. In 2006, in reaction to Phelps’ inconsiderate conduct, President George W. Bush put in place the Respect for America’s Fallen Heroes Act (Restricting picketers and protesters to interfere within 100 yards of funeral sites). Phelps and his church have picketed at Blue Valley North graduations and numerous local events. Allen Snyder, father of fallen war hero Matthew Snyder, appealed his case to the Supreme Court, after the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reversed the original verdict, which had found Phelps guilty of invasion of privacy. Apart from his transgressions, as American citizens, supporting Phelps may be in our best interest. If the Supreme Court deems it unconstitutional to say, “God hates fags,” or parade around spreading Phelps’ message–as crude and abominable as it is, Americans lose the battle. What won’t we be able to say next? Freedom of speech is one of our most coveted liberties and although a select few use this liberty inappropriately, it is no one’s right to take it away from them.
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news 10.14.10
{The North Star}
As elections draw closer, tensions rise
AshleyRuben
A
{staff writer}
ll of the signs are there; television commercial breaks are dominated by mudslinging political advertisements, politicians’ signs stand at every street corner and Sarah Palin is calling your home phone. It’s that time again: the midterm elections are here. The Nov. 2 midterms determine the election of 36 governors (the other 14 are elected at the time of the presidential election) and all 435 representatives. This year, however, there’s some new competition in the game. The popularity of the Tea Party, a new conservative political movement with the support of well-known right-
wing figures such as Palin and Glenn Beck, has grown since the movement first began in 2009. According to a CBS News poll, the Tea Party’s major party planks are to reduce the roll of government and to create jobs. “I think [the Tea Party’s prominence has risen] through the voter’s frustration with the government’s spending. People are unhappy with that, and the fact that members of Congress do things for themselves in order to get re-elected,” AP Government teacher Nancy Pence said. In regard to campaigning, the races have proven to be more vicious than in past elections. Commercial breaks are filled with mud-slinging advertisements such as
Missouri Congressman Roy Blunt’s controversial ads calling Secretary of State Robin Carnahan “phony and misleading.” Rep. Blunt is running against Carnahan for the position of Missouri state Senator. “Since 1960, we’ve seen negative advertisements...Television ads only change about 20 percent of the voting population, but that can sometimes be enough to flip an election,” Pence said. Other local elections include the U.S. Kansas senator races between democrat Lisa Johnston and republican Jerry Moran. Johnston is a strong supporter of reducing the national debt, creating new jobs that benefit our nation and making education the nation’s top priority. Moran is an advocate for reducing
restrictions on firearm ownership and is pro-life. Another local race is the one for congressman of Kansas’ 3rd District (the Johnson County area) between Democrat Stephene Moore and Republican Kevin Yoder. Moore supports the government health care package, clean energy bills and investing in public education. Yoder is a proponent of fighting health care reform, securing the nation’s borders and stopping wasteful spending. The midterms will be close this year and offer the possibility of a new, and potentially improved, government. The people with the power now are the citizens of America, and only they can choose the outcome of these races.
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feature 10.14.10 {the North Star}
Venture into KC’s most thrilling H Classic: KC’s tried-and-true spooktacular spots
Worlds of Fun
4545 NE Worlds of Fun Dr., KCMO Ticket prices: All-day- $41.99 Fridays after 6 p.m., Saturdays after 4 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 28- $26.99 combination of Halloween frights and scream-inducing rides makes for a truly thrilling October activity. From Sept. 18 to Oct. 31, Worlds of Fun decks itself out in Halloweeny style, complete with chilling creatures, spooky effects and a haunted house. Special attractions like Asylum Island and the Fright Zone will raise the hairs on the back of your neck all night. The doors are open until midnight on Fridays (and Halloween night) and 1 a.m. on Saturdays.
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Chambers of Poe, Edge of Hell, the Beast
The Beast–1401 W. 13th Street, KCMO The Edge of Hell–1300 W. 12th Street, KCMO The Chambers of Poe–1100 Santa Fe, KCMO Friday-Satday 7:30 until the last victim makes it out (usually 11p.m.-1a.m.) Tickets: $27 for Beast and Edge of Hell individually, $44 for Beast and Edge combo, $20 for Chambers of Poe he trio of haunted houses in the West Bottoms is known for its chilling thrills and scream-inducing effects. Chambers of Poe drops visitors straight into the terror of Edgar Allan Poe’s twisted stories and imagination. KC’s oldest haunted house, the Edge of Hell, lurks in an old warehouse filled with frightening special effects and fearsome characters and ends in a five-story slide. In the Beast, quivering visitors are left to wander in the darkness through creepy scenes ranging from the Werewolf Forest to Jack the Ripper’s London.
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For the faint-hearted: Revisit the nostalgic old Halloween days Jack-o’-lantern Walk at Powell Gardens
1609 N.W. U.S. Highway 50, Kingsville, Mo. Dusk-8 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 17, $9.50 f chills and terrors aren’t your thing, take a look at the Jack-O-lanterns and scarecrows in Powell Gardens. The Garden path will be lined with 100 Jack-O-Lanterns and other festive lights, and visitors can explore the natural beauty at their own leisure. After, refreshments will be served in the visitor center.
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KC Corn Maze
29755 W. 191st St. Gardner, Kan. Sept. 25 to Oct. 31, Friday/Saturday 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Sunday noon-6 p.m., $8 or a little traditional autumn festivity, check out the KC Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze. Complete with an abundance of pumpkins to choose from, a corn maze and other fall activities, the Patch is a tame but fun way to enjoy Halloween season. While you’re picking out your pumpkins or navigating the maze, sip apple cider and munch on cider doughnuts and caramel apples.
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Grab for some Union Cemetery
227 E. 28th Terrace KCMO Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-3 p.m. hat screams “Halloween” more a cholera epidemic in 1849 fille them the resting places of Civil War ve The cemetery closes fairly early, but party or haunted house. There are guid crumbling headstones and spooky tree
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Haunted Ghost Tours in Ind
217 N. Main, Independence, Mo. Every Friday until Oct. 29 Tours at 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. , $18 t’s a bit of a hike, but this spooky tou some legitimate specter hunting. Th and is followed by ghost stories and a 0065 to make a tour reservation and p Main St.).
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Wornall House
6115 Wornall Rd., KCMO Oct. 22, 23, 29, 30, 6-9 p.m., $15 f you’re looking for Civil War ghosts 1858, it was used as a hospital durin take place Oct. 22, 23, 29, 30 from 6-9 demonstrations by the Missouri Paran
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AndieDavidson
{editor in chief}
{the North Star} 10.14.10 feature 13
ly: tbuster gear mal spookiness
cemetery? Union Cemetery opened in 1857 after eries. Now it holds about 55,000 graves, many of
o get into a ghostly mood before a Halloween the cemetery or you can wander among the
quare
nd Marshal’s Home in Independence, Mo., offers nied by paranormal activity group Ghost Vigil ur of historic Independence Square. Call 816-461n advance or in person at the 1859 jail (217 N.
ouse near the Plaza is the place to go. Built in d is now open to tours. Candle-lit ghost tours h stories of the spooky history of the rooms and
The be st H
loween haunts
m tu s e o s ev e c n e e “UPS truck” r w la lo Grace Daniel, freshman
“McDonald’s french fries” Muriel Eaton, freshman “Lady Gaga” Samantha David, senior “Leggo-my-Eggo waffle” Un Joo Christopher, senior “I dressed as Reid Johnston” Will Bergman, senior “The dude from ‘Saw’” Brandon Upchurch, sophomore “Can-can girl” Hillary Bernhardt, senior
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feature 10.14.10
{The North Star}
Real haunted houses get checked for legitimacy Around Halloween, some people like to check out haunted houses filled with paid actors and actresses, but what about checking out some real haunted houses? I checked out five places known to be haunted by real spirits to find out whether they are actually haunted or are just myths. BrookeHelpley
{staff writer}
Old Stanley Hotel, Overland Park, Kan.
Myth: The hotel would now be over 100 years old if it had not been torn down in 2008. The hotel was originally owned by an older man, but he was killed by a buggy in front of the hotel, leaving the place to his wife. Several unexplained incidents occurred during the period after his death and up until the building was demolished. These instances included small fires, footsteps, ghostly figures and window shades that will roll themselves up. The faint outline of the “Elevator Ghost” can be seen in the Elridge Hotel Finding: BUSTED lobby. Photo provided by the Elridge Hotel. Explanation: When it comes to the site where the Old Stanley Hotel previously stood, I found no traces of anything supernatural. There are, however, many stories online reporting unexplainable events that occurred at Old Stanley Hotel before it was torn down in 2008. It may be that the ghostly stories of the Old Stanley Hotel were always just myths, but it is also reasonable to believe that the spirits left when the hotel did. Or maybe the spirits trapped at the hotel finally came to peace with what trapped them?
Haskell Indian Nations University, Lawrence, Kan.
Myth: During the 1800s, the campus was used by the United States government to control the Native American population. Many Native American children were taken from their homes and taught how to be “respectable citizens”–and were punished if they did not participate properly. The Bell Tower, Haskell Auditorium, Hiawatha Hall, Pocahontas Hall and the area just south of Tamined Hall are all rumored to be haunted. The signs of haunting include cries, ghostly figures, slamming doors and windows and eerie presences. Finding: PLAUSIBLE Explanation: Although I didn’t visit Haskell Indian Nations University during “the haunting hours,” I did experience creepy things that lead me to believe Haskell really is haunted. Walking around the outside of the haunted places, I felt goose bumps on the back of my neck and was scared to walk around corners, not knowing what I might find on the other side of them. I wasn’t lucky enough to spot any spirits or ghostly figures, but I did hear loud noises that I couldn’t explain. The cultural center sometimes gives haunted tours Wednesday nights, for $5.
Cry Baby Bridge, S. Lakeshore Dr., Olathe, Kan.
Myth: It is rumored that hundreds of years ago when the bridge was first built, it was used in order to sacrifice babies by worshippers of dark forces. People say that if you park your car on the side of the bridge and turn it off, windows down, you’ll be able to hear babies crying. Then, when you go back to turn your car on, it won’t start. Finding: BUSTED Explanation: After new homes were built in the surrounding areas, the majority of the original bridge was torn down and restored. While visiting you will definitely feel eerie and on edge, however, this may be due to the rising fog coming from Lake Olathe or the dark, cold air. I visited the bridge close to midnight and didn’t hear any cries. Also, my car turned back on, just as it would in any other situation, busting both myths in one visit.
Elridge Hotel, Lawrence, Kan.
Myth: The original Elridge Hotel was set on fire and destroyed, but a cornerstone was used to rebuild the hotel into the magnificent structure it is today. Because parts of the original building are still intact, however, it is rumored that the fifth floor has become a portal to the spirit world, especially room 506. Guests who have stayed there have witnessed flashing lights, breath marks on recently cleaned mirrors and doors shutting on their own. It is said that the spirit is that of Col. Elridge, the original owner of the Elridge Hotel. Finding: PLAUSIBLE Explanation: After contacting the manager of the Elridge Hotel, I was sent a history of the hotel and thoughts as to why it’s assumed to be haunted. I was also sent pictures of the lobby taken around Christmas where the figure of a man is seen in the reflection of the elevator door. Many have reported their own ghost stories from their own visits online. You can read them online.
Stull Cemetery, Stull, Kan.
Myth: Stull Cemetery is known as one of the six gateways to hell. It is said that after a witch’s son was murdered, she was hung on a tree in the cemetery yard, which then fell over, creating a spiritual portal. It is rumored that after someone visits they will run into either death or misfortune. The story told most is of six young adults visiting the cemetery the night of Halloween, all found slaughtered the next day. Finding: PLAUSIBLE Explanation: Rumor and report throughout the city has confirmed that Stull Cemetery contains a spiritual presence. Many have posted pictures online of orbs they have seen floating throughout the cemetery. However, none have recorded anything about death or misfortune. The sitcom “Supernatural” used the cemetery for its final episode, in which the two brothers opened the portal to hell.
{The North Star}
How to mend teenage heartbreak
FaithRies
I
{Staff Writer}
’m sorry, I just don’t want this anymore.” It’s impossible to put the terrible feeling of hearing that sentence into words. But if I could, I’d say that it was a combination of shock, confusion, anger and mortification. We were breaking up. Like–for real. It’s hard to accept a break up in the first place–especially when you’re not ready to let go. You spend countless hours lying around, moping because the person you “love” doesn’t want you anymore. Your relationship is over. You can’t be friends. Not now, and maybe not ever. Don’t worry, this isn’t the end of your life. Make sure to keep your sanity. Your heart is still beating, even though it’s beating in about a million different pieces. Do something productive with your new free time. You are no longer tied down by a significant other. Think of it as an opportunity; now you can go where you want, do whatever you want. Nobody’s the boss of you. Take some time to get to know yourself again. Try making new friends or getting closer to someone you don’t know much about. They may be able to open your mind to
new things and help you meet new people you’ve never noticed before. According to a source from WikiHow. com, “Surrounding yourself with compassionate, supportive friends and family will help you see yourself as a worthwhile person.” Writing in a journal also helps to alleviate some stress and vent about any problems you may be having. Take risks. Try new things that will make a positive impact on your life. Make sure that these risks, however, are reasonable. Now is not the time to be stupid. Go to the gym. Not only will this help you get out pent up tension, but you’ll also get into great shape and feel a ton better (thank you, endorphins). Reading an empowering book can also help you get over an ex. Though it may not sound super interesting, it is pretty effective in taking your mind off things. Ask the librarians for some suggestions or just look in the selfhelp section of your local bookstore. “After some time passes (how much time depends on the length and/or intensity of your relationship and how dependent you let yourself become on your ex), you will start to feel better. This does not mean that you should jump into another relationship right
away, especially a serious one. Take it easy. You have all the time in the world to feel better, and just because you meet a nice guy/girl does not mean you should get involved. Your emotions may still be unstable and the first person you meet may get a version of you that is not completely healed.” WikiHow. com said. Remember, you’re trying to break free from your normal routine. Your ex was a part of that, so switch things up so you aren’t constantly remembering him or her. Remaining friends with you ex will probably be a painful experience. You are going to be emotional after a breakup. You will cry, but it’s healthy. When you don’t externally show that raw emotion, it only tears you up on the inside. Sitting in your room, isolating yourself and blasting some TSwift may sound like a good idea, but it’s not the way you should deal with the pain. Do something for yourself that you haven’t done in a long time. Get out and have a great time with your friends. Catch up on old times. See a funny movie or hang out in Town Center to get your mind off things. If you think you can’t go on without your ex, remember, just be yourself– the one person that really matters.
Hanging out with friends is a great way to have fun and not feel the stress some can have when dealing with a break up. This group of sophomore girls relax and enjoy lunch together. Photo by Christin Smith
10.14.10
feature
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{Open Mike}
Don’t overlook your Life’s “MVP”s MichaelHoffman
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{feature editor}
here is a lesson to be learned from every situation, and as comparisons are being drawn from the current 3-1 Chiefs to the 2003 Chiefs, who started 9-0, I can’t help but wonder what if. What if the Chiefs hadn’t made there single greatest mistake and jettisoned their all pro fullback Tony Richardson. Like other fullbacks he was never fully appreciated for all his amazing contributions. And on the Chiefs he definitely wasn’t appreciated. With all the offensive talent that we had such as Trent Green, Tony Gonzalez, Dante Hall and Priest Holmes to name a few, we hardly thought twice about getting rid of Richardson. As a direct result of this unfortunate decision, the Chiefs have not had a running back who has rushed for 1200 yards since 2006. During the same time, the teams that Tony Richardson have played for have had a 1,200 yard rusher each season. That’s some difference one player can make. Even now in his 16th season as Tony Richardson is playing for the Jets, he is making them better. He has made former pro bowler Ladanian Tomlinson again look like a pro bowler. Tony Richardson could have been doing all of these things for us in the past four years, but instead we made our single greatest mistake in 2006 and failed to resign our most important player. This whole situation can be a sort of allegory for most of our lives. In matters such as family and friends we get so used to how good things are with them that we think that we can do fine without them. But once we jettison friends or family from our lives we realize just how much we really need and miss them. So don’t be like the Chiefs and make the fatal mistake of letting go of your most valuble “players”.
{The North Star} 17 entertainment 10.14.10
What decade are you?
AlexGoldman
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Start:
{entertainment editor}
Your alarm goes off at 6:45am to get up for school, the station’s set to…
ver since America became a cultural world headquarters many years ago, music has been a center of focus in every era. Whether it’s the rockin’ ’60s, the a) 99.7 classic rap of the ’90s or one of the other styles of previous decades, everything we listen to today is from one of these distinct musical The first article of decades. Take the quiz clothing you grab for to figure out which in the morning is... decade you are... your favorite vintage concert tee
a motley crew of talented underground boy bands
“La La Love” - Taylor Thrash “Kids Don’t Care At All” Dino Club Suggestion from other decades:
“For What It’s Worth” – Buffalo Springfield (’60s)
“Drop It Low” by Ester Dean and Chris Brown
“Damn It Feels Good to Be a Gangsta” by Geto Boys
For all of us born in the ‘90s, this is the music we grew up listening to - the Fresh Prince theme song, original Eminem, The Notorious B.I.G, with lots of base and a the slow, flowing rhythm. There’s honestly nothing better to listen to while you slow ride down the street. Welcome back to your fresh and fly roots...
‘90s rap
“Hungry Like the Wolf ” – Duran Duran (’80s)
Songs from your decade:
The best song to jam to when you’re driving is…
If there’s anywhere you can call your music home, it’s the top 10 column on iTunes. Don’t take that as a bad thing though--you always know the newest, coolest songs right when they come out. Your highlight of the year is the MTV VMAs, especially all of the performances by hot artists like Drake, Rihanna and Eminem and the whole crew. Keep Songs from your decade: “Walk Like an Egyptian” – The checking the pop charts... Songs from your decade: Bangles “‘Till I Forget About You” “Fade to Grey” – Visage Big Time Rush “In Yer Face” - 808 State Suggestion from other decades: “Memories” - David Guetta “We No Speak Americano” Suggestion from other decades: - Yolanda Be Cool & DCup Roxanne (DiscoTech Remix) (2010) - The Police (’60s/’80s) Auto tune, synthesizers and long instrumental breaks is what head bopping ’80s techno is all about. You love the heavy, clubbing style beats that comes with this computer-generated genre, and the fact that they wore awesome, neon workout clothes in these music videos doesn’t exactly hurt either.
a Fresh Prince of Bel-Air rerun
The Real World
Current pop
Suggestion from other decades:
Well hey there indie kid. You’re one of those people who lives for finding new, unheard of bands on purevolume.com, or hitting up local battle of the bands concerts for some raw talent. Sure, some of the skinnyjean- swooshy hairedPacSun clad look may get a bit monotonous, but their music never gets old.
skip the concert and splurge on Buffalo Wild Wings 40 cent wings night with friends
‘80s techno
“Layla” – Derek and The Dominos “Magic Carpet Ride” Steppenwolf “Renegade” – Styx
go broke and buy the ticket, it’s worth it
“Gutterflowe”r by the Goo Goo Dolls and “Rooney” by Rooney
2010 alternative
‘60s rock
Songs from your decade:
a killer sounds system complete with a synthesizer
You’ve got just enough money in your bank account for the Deadmau5 concert, do you...
Your best friend is buying you some CDs for your birthday, you’re expecting to get...
So you’re keeping it classic, huh? Classic rock, that is. Your music taste is definitely geared more toward the work of the original rock stars – the Stones, the Grateful Dead, Van Morrison, the works. You’d prefer a killer guitar solo over the bubble-gum pop they play on the radio any day.
When you flop onto the couch after a long day of school, you’re more likely to tune into...
Your ideal concert is...
a v-neck
“Jump Back: the best of the Rolling Stones” and “American Beauty” by the Grateful Dead
c) 93.3
b) 96.5
Songs from your decade:
“Changes” - 2Pac and Talent “Protect Ya Neck” - Wu Tang Clan “Big Poppa” - The Notorious B.I.G Suggestion from other decades:
“Push It” – Salt-N-Pepa (’80s) photo illustration by Sarah Campbell
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feature 10.14.10
{The North Star}
Unwritten rules of the road CeliaCullom
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How to stay safe while driving
{editor-in-chief}
hether you’re just learning how to drive or consider yourself an expert behind the wheel, you can never be too careful in a car. Statistics show that teens have the highest car crash rate of any age group. In fact, people between the ages of 16 and 18 are 400 percent more likely to die in an accident than people aged 25 to 34 (www.adeptdriver.com) and almost 60 percent of teens will be in a police-reported accident this year. So, next time you’re headed out, keep these tips in mind.
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Use your signals
Even if you’re in the turn lane, you need to make sure that other drivers know exactly what you are about to do—making your actions more predictable makes everyone safer. “If you’re just changing lanes without signaling, other drivers aren’t going to know what you’re doing, and it’s a hazard,” Batalia said.
Don’t assume you know what other drivers will do
The law might be clear, but people aren’t always going to follow it. If you’re hesitant about doing something because it could cause an accident, don’t do it. For example, if you’re waiting to turn left on a green light, don’t go through until you are absolutely positive you have enough time to make it. Or, if you’re in another driver’s blind spot, be wary of hazardous moves.
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Junior Ali Fallucca’s car was totaled after another driver ignored a four-way stop sign. Nobody was hurt, but this crash proved that even the most careful drivers aren’t safe from danger. Picture provided by Ali Fallucca.
Wear a seat belt
For as long as you can probably remember, your parents have been telling you to buckle up. This should be the first thing you do when you get into the car whether you’re a driver or a passenger. “If you get in a front end accident, that force can throw you through the windshield, and people who don’t wear seat belts are risking serious injury,” Student Resource Officer C. Batalia said. “It’s a life or death kind of thing.”
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Drive the speed limit
This might seem obvious—after all, it’s the law. Going too slowly can aggravate other drivers, and nobody wants to be on the road with frustrated drivers. Speeding down the road can cause the same problem and becomes a hazard for everyone.
Put your cell phone away
You’ve heard this piece of advice more times than you can count, but it’s definitely one of the most important things to remember. Even picking up a call or texting at a stoplight can impair your focus, which is something you definitely need to get from one place to another without any problems. “When you’re driving, you have to multitask. You have to watch the road, you have to watch your mirrors...and if you’re on the cell phone, you’re taking your eyes away what you need to be focusing on,” Batalia said.
Don’t drive drowsily
Late at night or early in the morning are times to avoid the road if possible. It’s hard to concentrate on driving when you’re dozing off at the wheel, and that can cause dangerous situations. Studies have shown that accident rates soar the monday after we move our clocks forward one hour because people have lost prescious sleep.
Don’t ride with lots of friends
It might be convenient to carpool and there’s no doubt that it’s good for the environment, but a car packed full of people can be distracting. In some cases, you’re putting yourself and your friends in danger. “I don’t think it’s a bad thing to ride with a bunch of friends, but it’s kind of a distraction when you have friends yelling,” Batalia said. “You just have to be mindful and watch the road.”
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Consider the weather
Don’t think that you’ll be able to break quickly when there’s snow on the ground. Likewise, remember that you won’t be able to see as well when it’s raining or dark outside. Use common sense and don’t drive in a way that seems unsafe given the conditions. “When it’s icy or snowy, drive a littler slower than you would normally. Leave a little earlier,” Batalia said. “When it’s rainy, do the same thing: be precautionary, drive slowly.”
A student drives carefully to prevent getting himself or another person hurt. Photo by Ali Fallucca.
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0191
{The North Star}
10.14.10
opinion
19
Tweet yourself to Twitter MattMcMullen
A
{sports editor}
s the final months of the 2009-2010 school year rolled away, what started as a joke among a few friends began to sweep the halls of North and change how students communicated thoughts and ideas forever. “It started out as a joke,” senior Alex Salvato said. “At the time only like four people from North were on Twitter, and we would just post ridiculous stuff on our respective pages. It almost become a contest between four close friends to see who could have the funniest posts, but fairly quickly the Twitter community grew and our posts became more and more legitimate.” Created in 2006, Twitter is a simplified version of other social networking sites such as Facebook or MySpace, limiting users to only 140 characters per post. With over 100 million users worldwide, Twitter is widely used to connect celebrities, athletes, politicians and ordinary people alike. “At any given time there could be
Twitter has revoluionized the way students interact with eachother on a daily basis. Photo by Ali Fallucca.
a tweet from Wiz Khalifa telling me about a new song, a tweet from a classmate in response to an earlier tweet by myself or a hilarious tweet from Chelsea Handler. It’s everchanging; it’s never the same so it’s easy to hold your interest,” Salvato said. While Facebook remains the dominant way students communicate with one another outside of school, Twitter has provided a unique outlet for students to voice their ideas and opinions.
“I like that it’s more private than Facebook,” senior Caroline Johnson said. “Not many people at North have Twitters compared to Facebook. You can tweet about people, and they won’t see it because it’s not as easily accessed as Facebook is. I also like that it lets you know what people are doing right at
that moment.” Twitter, like Facebook, also tends to capture the interest of some users and, despite its simplicity, always remains exciting. “I’d say I’m actually updating it more than when I first got it just because the Twitter community has become so much more expansive, and it feels like people want to hear what you have to say,” Salvato said. The growing number of North students creating Twitter accounts
can certainly be credited with keeping veteran Twitter users around as well. “I have kept updating my page because more and more people have started to follow me,” junior Will Rebein said. “I only post things that are interesting or funny because no one wants to read pointless tweets.” Although some criticize Twitter as a waste of time and energy, its users maintain that it is an easy and healthy way to express their thoughts. “My tweets reflect me. They reflect whatever I’m feeling, doing or thinking at any given moment in time. I never have to think too hard about what I’m going to tweet-something will always come to mind,” Salvato said. The simplicity of Twitter and its ever-growing popularity bodes well for the young social networking service’s future, and the halls of North are no exception. While Twitter may not have the flash or bling of some other social networking sites, its ability to reflect the feelings, thoughts and ideas of people around the world in one tightly knit community make it worthwhile to its users.
Facebook phenomenon: why we’re addicted
BrookeHelpley
{staff writer}
F
acebook is a social phenomenon with over 350 million active users. Mark Zuckerberg didn’t just create a social networking site. He created an addiction. Facebook began as a way to keep in touch and
Photo by Ali Fallucca.
reconnect with friends, but it has evolved into a gaming network and “diary” as well, with some users updating their status and profile picture every hour. “Facebook keeps me [online],” senior Mallory Howard said. “It really wastes a lot of time.” Senior Paige Houghton uses Facebook mainly to talk to her closest friends; however, she has found herself enjoying many of the other available features. “I love the friend wheel,” said Houghton. “Pirate language is cool too! It changes all the words on Facebook into pirate lingo.” In addition to these applications, there are also games. “I checked [Sorority Life] every hour,” Howard said. “The ability to create and personalize something that wasn’t really a big deal got me addicted!” Houghton says she’s also addicted to
some of the applications and spends a majority of her time online taking Facebook quizzes. “I like finding out what character I am from books and stuff,” Houghton said. “I’m addicted to the quizzes!” “It’s like any other addiction,” psychologist and web addiction specialist Dr. Kimberly Young stated in a New York Times Article. “It’s hard to wean yourself off of.” Houghton is taking the first step in weaning herself off Facebook by deleting all ‘friends’ with whom she’s not close to, cutting her friend list down by over half. Senior Cayla Cushing, on the other hand, has never even had a Facebook. “I don’t want to conform,” Cushing said. “[Having a Facebook is] just what everyone else is doing and I don’t think I need it.” In reality, users of Facebook are all a little addicted to the site checking their page daily.
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opinion 10.14.10 {The North Star}
{the gluectionary}
To stand alone
What teenage rebellion really means JessiGlueck
I
One way to rebel is to stand up for someone you care about--or even someone you don’t know. It takes real courage to face the conformist pressures of high school society. Photo illustration by Lauren Drummond.
JessiGlueck
I
{opinion editor}
may as well be blunt about it: I’m not the typical teenage rebel. I write this article at 11:30 at night two days before it’s due, after having spent exactly six hours on other homework. Tomorrow I will skip lunch to study, come home and do the six-hour routine all over again. I work hard and play…well, I don’t have time to play much these days. But what makes a rebel, really? Is it tattoos? Funky hairstyles? Crazy weekends? Streaking across your college campus? “Streaking was a big thing…I saw a group of guys take their clothes off and run naked through the quad…It was kind of like, well, what does that mean?” social studies teacher Nancy Pence said. “Where does the real protest about the real wrong issues begin?” Where, indeed? Are our rebellions about independence—or are they just another manifestation of our desire to fit in? No good TV show, after all, is complete without the bad boy. He’ll have brooding eyes and a black leather jacket and addictions to drugs
you’ve never even heard of. Then, of course, there is the ubiquitous party girl—beautiful, desirable, generally intoxicated. Or how about the goodytwo-shoes who gets corrupted and becomes a worldly woman with a past? These characters all challenge the expectations of society that they’ll work hard, follow the rules, focus on school and legal entertainments. But they meet other expectations. They represent the ideals many teens cherish about high school: that it’s a time for unfettered fun and carefree craziness. How crazy is it if it’s what everyone expects you to do? Maybe these aren’t the stereotypes our parents and teachers hold up to us as examples. But they’re stereotypes all the same. “People…need to learn to think for themselves... Lots of high school [students] do stuff because their friends say that they should…I didn’t rebel for the sake of rebelling. If I thought something was wrong… then I would rebel,” Media Specialist Abby Cornelius said. You can be a fiery revolutionary without a drop of alcohol in your blood or a single detention on your
record. The partying, the angst—that stuff is the easy way out. Real rebels are much more courageous than that. They stand by their convictions. They are simply, boldly, unapologetically themselves. “I remember one time, at basketball practice…there was a girl who was being made to run sprints…I felt she was being picked on. And I ran with her… My coaches were so mad at me. And I told them, I don’t think what you were doing to her was right.…I still don’t think they were treating her the right way, so I stood up for her, as opposed to going out on the weekends doing something I know is illegal just because I think it’s fun,” Cornelius said. “I think people are afraid to be who they are…but people who are really rebellious actually are who they are. And that’s a very brave thing to do,” a student said. There is, in short, no such thing as a typical teenage rebel. I am a rebel. And if you ever have the courage to defend someone, to stand up for yourself, to discover a quirky passion, to do something extraordinary—then you’re a rebel too.
My new favorite show {opinion editor}
don’t own a working television. I’m only pretending to get your references to Jersey Shore and Thirty Rock. Those jokes from The Office? I might laugh, but I have no idea what you’re talking about. Over a year ago, the nation transitioned to digital TV. If you already had cable television, this transition didn’t affect you at all. But if you didn’t—like my family—your TV’s signal fizzled out. I remember plopping down on the couch one Monday night for my weekly dose of Gossip Girl only to discover that my beloved CW channel had turned to hissing snow. By the summer of 2009, we had no television at all. We made a feeble attempt with a converter box, which couldn’t accommodate our TV’s 25-year-old system. Then we gave up. And you know what? After the first couple of Chace Crawford-less Mondays, I hardly noticed it. So many of us view television as a necessity. It’s a conversation starter. It’s a glowing escape into a world infinitely better than mundane reality. But TV is also superficial, a commercialized caricature that minimizes sorrow and trivializes love. Television appeals to our basest primal instincts: the desire for glamorous violence or steamy physical attraction. There’s nothing wrong with that appeal in itself. But when it’s our favorite form of intellectual stimulation, when we find ourselves wishing that our lives were more like TV—then there’s a problem. Sure, TV’s entertaining. But the experience of living without it has reminded me that the best parts of life are things you’d never see on television. Winning a debate tournament or a cross country meet, chatting with your best friend till 2 a.m., an interesting class discussion, sharing a midnight snack with your sister—none of this makes for fun viewing. But it makes for fun living. And life’s a better show than even the wildest episode of Jersey Shore.
{The North Star}
North takes too much pride in parties EllieHolcomb
D
{staff writer}
ude, I don’t remember from like, 2 a.m. to 9 a.m. Sunday. Saturday night was crazy.” These words are spoken, rather loudly, and make their way through the hallways on a Monday morning. With the highest average ACT score in the Blue Valley School District, North has plenty to brag about. Why, then, are stories of memory failure due to alcohol consumption being passed around like badges of honor? Hearing about someone who passed out from binge drinking or seeing wild party pictures on Facebook from a Saturday night doesn’t make me admire the partier. It makes me annoyed that they are spreading their own gossip and concerned about their choices. But what I think doesn’t matter, since it seems I’m in the minority of the student population. Our student body as a whole is intelligent, driven and good at getting into selective colleges. The problem that seems so
predominant to me is not that we aren’t good enough at studying and succeeding. It’s that to so many students, it’s not only acceptable, but almost necessary for popularity to balance their studies with heavy drinking and hard partying on the weekends. I’m not saying high school should be all work and no play. Weekends are partly for unwinding, and few people I know would condemn the act of being with friends on the weekends. But take it from me, shopping with friends, catching a movie or just
hanging out in someone’s basement can be very relaxing. Partying doesn’t have to include alcohol or music so loud that police are called. My biggest worry is not that there is a party scene at North. That’s inevitable. I know students who drink and party and will still get excellent ACT scores and a very high GPA. They strike a balance. One side of their personalities gets them into trouble; the other gets them into college. What angers me is the side they choose to be known for, and which their friends admire the most.
Illustration by Berkeley Lovelace
Students make up their own minds on politics SarahSchlosberg
B
{staff writer}
lue Valley North harbors many opinionated individuals, and those opinions are often voiced through politics. Many students hold steadfast beliefs on political issues ranging from healthcare to gay marriage and countless others, but where does such passion for and against the other wing come from? Certainly our parent’s ways of thinking about politics affects us in more ways than we might care to admit. Senior Darshan Sivakumar and sophomore Liz Gaa have established their own political opinions while staying in touch with their roots and what their parents have taught them. Sivakumar’s parents tend to be more economically liberal with really conservative values. “My parents are more for traditional marriage. I believe that everyone should be able to marry who they
want to.” Sivakumar said. “My dad feels that everyone should have the right to good healthcare and that the government has to provide it. I feel that the private sector can do a better job of it, and if the government gets involved, they’ll decrease the overall quality of healthcare so we differ on those areas.” Sivakumar recognizes how his family values affect his perception on politics. “My parents raised me to be an individual. I taught myself how to ride bikes; nobody has ever had to be there for me. I’ve always had the idea of doing things on my own, and I guess once I started paying attention to politics I just realized I preferred the type of government that wasn’t so involved.” Gaa has been exposed to her parent’s conservative outlook since she can remember. “Both of my parents are Catholic,
and they both grew up in a really small town as like Cradle-catholics, meaning that it’s kind of been spoonfed to them since they were infants. My dad is in the military because that was just what you did in the town, you farmed or you joined the military, and that has left my parents uber conservative,” Gaa said. Gaa has learned to appreciate her parent’s more conservative values, but she also learns to take their strong conservative opinions with a grain of salt. “I like to consider myself independent because I feel as if people don’t think in black and white, and they shouldn’t with political issues either. For example, I think there’s a lot of good stuff in the healthcare bill, but I think that there could be a lot that could still be added, and I think it takes listening to both political parties to find that happy medium,” Gaa said.
10.14.10
opinion
21
{Thought Bubbles} Lodging a complaint against complaining AndieDavidson
F
{editor-in-chief}
rom all the lamenting over homework, unjust teachers and annoying friends, you’d think the world is about to end. Complaining is common for people of any age. But maybe we need to take a closer look at what all this griping does to us. More than just being irritating to the friends who have to listen to it, complaining is bad for the complainer too. That assignment we don’t want to do may be awful and unjust, but complaining about it only focuses on the problem without actually fixing it. Blaming someone else rarely fixes a problem either. Maybe it is someone else’s fault and the complainer has been tragically wronged, but let’s face it, that knowledge isn’t going to help much. Solving the problem ourselves and moving on will help more than simply sitting there pointing fingers. And ultimately, if all we focus on is the negative side of things, nothing is going to be very enjoyable. Projecting a negative mood is likely to draw other negative moods. That is, if all the whining doesn’t chase away exasperated friends. If constant negativity doesn’t suck the fun out of everything, I don’t know what does. Of course, everyone complains. And when worries and annoyances build up near explosion, venting is often a good thing (exploding is just messy). But after venting, move on. It’s probably not the end of the world. Rather than just moaning about something, ask for advice and try to solve the problem. Maybe that’s difficult when indignation is covering all rational thought, but it will help a lot more in the long run. If nothing else, a deep breath and a moment alone can work wonders. In the end, pushing away the dark clouds of constant complaining and negativity makes life just plain happier. Who can complain about that?
22
opinion 09.24.10 {the North Star}
{The Cullom Column}
Staff Editorial
Class warfare clashes withschool unity
T
he Homecoming olympics always bring a rush of excitement; the competition, the spirit and the tradition fire up everyone. For the majority of students, this year’s olympics brought a rush just as intense, if not more, as that of previous years. The faculty, though, spent the afternoon watching in horror at what their beloved assembly had become. Our new administration is upset about the “violent” atmosphere that the bouncy balls and baby powder caused and the clear lack of unity among the classes. In fact, there has been talk of canceling next year’s olympics if our behavior doesn’t improve. As we mentioned in our last issue, these events have been a part of North for almost as long as the school has been open. Losing them would be throwing away part of our school history. The administration and the students don’t see eye-to-eye on the issues surrounding the events that occurred Sept. 24. The seniors want nothing more than to be remembered after they’ve graduated. But their plan to end the assembly with an epic shower of bouncy balls was seen by the administration as a display of their sense of entitlement. And the administration is now concerned that next year’s seniors will have to do something “bigger and better” to outdo what happened this year. The administration’s main objective, obviously, is to keep the students safe. One clear problem at last month’s assembly was the fact that people were hurt. What should have been a celebratory occasion left members of our school community with bruises, black eyes, a chipped tooth and fat lips. Any rational person would agree that this did, in fact, cross the line. What might be a challenge, though, is getting students to acknowledge that classes need to be more unified. The olympics’ design inherently creates competition, but that combative spirit goes away after the assembly. As one student body, we need to prove that our classes don’t separate us. What happened at the Homecoming olympics didn’t indicate our potential to treat each other with respect. If we want to keep an event that the entire school gets into, one of the true traditions enduring at North, then we have to prove that we can handle it. We have to prove that at the end of the day, when the class colors are put away, we’re still one student body.
CeliaCullom Seniors throw bouncy balls and Silly String at the end of the assembly.
Juniors throw baby powder into the air, causing a mess as their royalty walks out.
Sophomores throw bouncy balls back at seniors. photos by Lauren Kenyon
Letters to the editor A comment on discrimination Dear Blue Valley North High School students, Around the 30th of September, one of our school’s Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) posters was defaced with the word “faggots”. This kind of comment is very hurtful to us. Spreading such hateful words around the community is not funny joke; it has emotional consequences for other people. We are all human beings, and whether you may agree with us or not, we would ask that you respect us as individuals just as we respect you. Diversity is what makes this country such a beautiful place; let’s keep it that way by supporting diversity in any shape or form. We understand that many people are uncomfortable with the topic of sexuality, and we are more than willing to help provide better information to anyone who is interested. Our meetings are on the 3rd and 4th Thursdays of the month, feel free to drop in then or e-mail Mrs. Pence at npence@ bluevalleyk12.org. Thank you for your cooperation. Senior Fiona Kerr
Lessons of acceptance
What is your problem?
I have been proud to call myself a Mustang for the past four years, but on Thursday, Oct. 8 during Advisory I was not proud at all. I was embarrassed to be associated with the BVN students attending the Green Assembly. This has never happened to me in the 19 years I have been teaching. It was an experience that ruined my day and hurt my heart. The rude behavior displayed by many students at this assembly was appalling. The talking, the turning around, the texting, the general immaturity of our students was shocking. This behavior even came from students I know. Students who have never displayed this kind of impolite behavior in my class were joining their friends in acting like nothing was happening other than their personal conversations. So what’s up? You just didn’t like the topic? You didn’t want to be there? You thought the visiting guests from Olathe South didn’t deserve your attention? What exactly did they do to deserve your disrespect? Since when is it okay to be impolite to guest speakers and your own teachers who were asking you to be quiet? Is this really how you want others to view you? I have seen so much better from you on other occasions, and I know you can represent our school with much more pride than your behavior at this assembly displayed. Prove it. Madame Johnson
I
{editor-in-chief}
t gets better. These are the words preached by celebrities like Ellen Degeneres, Chris Colfer, Tim Gunn and Kesha in response to the devastating string of suicides that have occurred throughout the past few weeks. The story of Tyler Clementi tugged at the heartstrings of much of the nation at the end of September. Clementi jumped off a bridge after his roommate streamed an explicit video online exposing his sexuality. Deriding someone like this shows a serious lack of decency, but the sheer power of hurtful words can be just as devastating. Raymond Chase, Billy Lucas, Seth Walsh and Asher Brown were all victims of this type of bullying, and all met fates similar to Clementi’s last moth. All of them were either openly gay or in some way different than their peers. Along with these recent tradgedies, news of Mentor High School in Ohio has been rampant. In the past two years, there have been four suicides among the student body. One student was teased for her Croatian accent, one for being a boy who wore pink, one for being gay and one for having a learning disorder. If we’re going to see an end to what’s becoming an epidemic of teen violence, we need to do more than punish the people directly responsible for these acts. But to prevent further heartbreaking incidents, we need to create a more accepting environment for everyone, regardless of sexual orientation, appearance, clothing, race, religion, learning ability or anything else. Learning about these differences is the first step to accepting them. Individuality should be cherished, not chastised. When everyone can understand this, the message that so many are struggling to get out might finally be a reality: it will be better.
{the North Star}
Sunday
•National Cake Decorating Day
Monday
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18
• V golf state @ 9 a.m.
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• Punk for a Day Day
• Winter sports pictures taken
Halloween fun facts: Editors-in-Chief
Photo Editor
Christin Smith
News Editor
David Tauber
Sports Editor
Matt McMullen
1
November
31
• Happy Halloween
Tuesday
24
• National Bologna Day
Celia Cullom Andie Davidson
October Wednesday
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• V volleyball-Tri @ Lawrence HS 5 p.m.
Opinion Editor Entertainment Editor
Berkeley Lovelace
Adviser Melinda Gilman
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21
7 p.m. Senior Night
conferences 4:30 - 8 p.m.
2
Photographers
Sarah Campbell Lauren Drummond Ali Fallucca
Jessi Glueck
Illustrator
20
3
4
Staff Writers
Kai Bressler Brooke Helpley Ellie Holcomb Berkeley Lovelace Faith Reis Ashley Ruben Sarah Schlosberg
Saturday
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• V tennis state finals • V tennis state • V volleyball-Mustang semifinals State Line Showdown • V football vs. Shawnee 8 a.m. Mission East (played @ • PLAN make-up test SM South) 7 p.m. 8-11:30 a.m.
championship • V volleyball @ Pembroke Hill • Orchestra concert in PAC 7-8:30 p.m.
• Cross country • Volleyball banquet in • V soccer quarterfinal banquet in commons commons 6 p.m. game 6 8 p.m. • Senior parent meeting in PAC/Commons 7 8:30 p.m.
Michael Hoffman
Reid Eggleston
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15
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• BVN Invitational debate 3 p.m. • V football game vs SM South. 7 p.m. w/ middle school band, National Merit & faculty recognition
•V cross country regionals • V volleyball substate • KSU Marching festival • BVN invitational debate 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. • National Mole Day
• No School • V soccer regional final game • V volleyball state semifinal
state @ Rim Rock in Lawrence • V volleyball state final
26 27 • V football vs SM 28 West • Parent/teacher
• V soccer regional • Parent/teacher conferences 3:15 - 6:45 p.m.
Feature Editor
Business Manager
Friday
• Cross country @ EKL • No School
• 4-year planning • 4-year planning meeting w/ counselors meeting w/ counselors in Little Theatre and in Little Theatre 8 commons 6:30-8 p.m. 9:30 a.m.
The movie “Halloween” was made in only 21 days in 1978 during the spring using fake autumn leaves.
Alex Goldman
Thursday
10.14.10 opinion 23
29 • V cross country30
5
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• V soccer varsity state • V soccer state championship game semifinal game • V football regional game
Halloween is the second most commercially successful holiday coming in after Christmas.
Snickers is the no. 1 rated chocolate candy bar given out on Halloween.
The North Star is the official publication of Blue Valley North High School, an open forum distributed to all students nine times a year. This publication may contain controversial material. Kansas law prohibits the suppression of a student publication solely because it may contain controversial matter. Blue Valley Unified School District No. 229 and its board members, officers and employees may disclaim any responsibility for the content of this publication; it is not an expression of school policy. Student authors and editors are solely responsible for the content of this publication. Letters to the editors are encouraged from students and non-students alike and should be less than 500 words. All letters must be signed and turned into room 411 at least one week prior to publication. All letters require a signature. Names will be published. The North Star reserves the right to edit with regard to libel, without changing the substance of the letter. The North Star will not publish obscene or libelous material. The North Star Blue Valley North High School 12200 Lamar Ave. Overland Park, KS 66209 (913) 239-3116
{The North Star}
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Page by Sarah Campbell