Hawk's Eye March 2015 Volume 23 issue 6 by Olathe East Hawk's Eye

Volume 23//Issue 6 March 2015

OE Student Section Cheers the Hawks to Victory Over South An Update on OE Student James McGinnis Pgs. 8 & 9

International Schools vs. US Schools Pgs. 12 & 13

Best Underrated Places Around KC to Visit Pg. 21

Cover Photo Courtesy of Logan Brockschmidt

SPORTS

Student Section.............................................................3 Logan Brockschmidt Cheating in Sports........................................................4 Jacob Stofer Mark Vanlandingham Award.....................................5 Brock Holmes

NEWS

Self-Medication/Prescription Pills.............................7 Brenna Thompson James McGinnis Update..........................................8-9 Matthew Gwin Horticulture.................................................................10 Lauren Heinrich

pg. 10

FEATURE

Engaged Couples........................................................11 Katie Thompson International vs. US Schools...............................12-13 Camille Denis Transgenders.........................................................14-15 Alexa Buechler & Jordan Meier

pg. 17

EDITORIAL

Netflix Addictions......................................................17 Lauren Hart Helicopter Parents......................................................18 Courtney Child Lack of Respect for Teenagers..................................19 Gavin Miller

ENTERTAINMENT

Hipster Havens...........................................................21 Natalie Friend Dog Days.....................................................................22 Annie Beurman Biographies..................................................................23 Aaron Rhodes

ADVISER

Karen Bourland

EDITORS

Courtney Child Paige Schick

COPY EDITORS Lauren Hart Lauren Heinrich

SENIOR STAFF WRITERS Annie Beurman Camille Denis Matthew Gwin Brock Holmes

Aaron Rhodes Brenna Thompson Katie Thompson

STAFF WRITERS

Logan Brockschmidt Alexa Buechler Natalie Friend Jordan Meier Gavin Miller Jacob Stofer

BUSINESS MANAGERS Hannah Cruise Amy Du

[March] 2015

Logan Brockschmidt//Staff Writer

elentless yelling. Jumping up and down. Leading the cheers in ridiculing the misfortunes of the other team. The student section reverberates the support for the team, and is a time-honored tradition with its own rules that those in must abide by; the seniors in the front, followed by the juniors and so on. However, the leaders of the student section are situated front and center, spearheaded by the “Barrel.” In the stands at games, a distinct object stands out in the crowd. The “Barrel,” the senior student chosen by the previous year’s Barrel, exemplifies school spirit, and is there to motivate not only the teams, but also the student section. The “Barrel,” started by Mark Spreckles during the 2008-09 school year, goes to the most enthusiastic senior to carry on the tradition of promoting school spirit and energy at the major sports such as basketball and football. Last year’s Barrel was Husayn Sultani, preceded by Jim Joyner. The current Barrel rests around Nathan Best like a coat, making him stand out of the student section. From the front row of the bleachers at ODAC, to the front row of the bleachers here at East, you can find him leading cheers, having fun, motivating the team. The Barrel tradition itself is unknown to Nathan, who said, “I am not sure on what ‘year’ it is of the Barrel total, but I do know that at one point, they lost it and then Jim Joyner got a new one when he was in Arkansas. For this Barrel, it is the third year.” Along with donning the Barrel, this tradition carries quite a few responsibilities. He tries to get to as many games as he can, including quite a few volleyball games, and every soccer game. However, Nathan said, “I did not go to a cross country meet all year. I mean, I kind of wish I did, but I did not really know anyone on the team so I could not really get information and details about what was going on.” While many of the fans gave up on the team after a shaky season for the football team, Nathan kept on going. “Even when we started to do badly, I still wanted to go to the games. I had many friends on the team, and I just thought that they worked hard, and they earned it from us to come out and support them.” The normal students are not the only ones pumping noise at the games, as the drill team and pep band are situated right next to the student section. Nathan, is a big fan of the fact, said, “I like having the band and drill team right next to the student section, I just feel like it makes everything a lot louder and it keeps the fans in the game even when the team might not be

doing so well. We communicate to the band with walkie-talkies to communicate their songs and our cheers, so we do not go at the same time and no one can hear them.” For the most part, the Hawk Nation class coordinates the plans for games. However, Nathan relies on his friends in that class to relay details onto him. “I take part of the planning for the ‘outs’ that take place, so when the class decides on something we talk about it and do it,” Nathan said. “One of the outs that I really wanted to do was a ‘Purge Out,’ where everyone would have dressed up and wears masks and what not, but the administration did not want us to do that.” The student section brings the hype, energy, and outside pressure that the teams themselves cannot. The Barrel will continue to be a tradition that will carry on through this year and hopefully on to next year as Nathan said, ”We have a couple guys that we are looking at potentially, but it all depends on whether or not they’ll be able to commit.” The student section is there for the wins, losses, records, and state championships, including the incredible three state championships in nine days. Even through the tough times, the student section will be behind up on the sidelines, raising team morale, and encouraging school spirit.

“I had many friends on the [football] team, and I just thought that they worked hard, and they earned it from us to come out and support them.” - Nathan Best

“I definitely think having the drill team and band add an extra element to the student presence at the game,” Best said. Photos Courtesy of Logan Brockschimdt

4 [Sports] The Hows and Whys of cheaTing in sports Teams And Players Are Trying To Break The Laws In Sports No Matter The Consquences

or years, many athletes in multiple different sports have found that if you cheat, you can win. Steroids, the Patriots’ spy gate scandal of 2007, the White Sox scandal of 1919, pine tar, and now deflate-gate. On January 18, 2015, during the New England Patriots’ massive beat down of the Indianapolis Colts in the American Football Conference Championship Game, Colts’ Linebacker D’Qwell Jackson intercepted a ball thrown by Patriots Quarterback Tom Brady. After the play, Jackson gave the ball to a Colts equipment manger. After the game, reports came out that 11 of the 12 Patriots gameday footballs were under inflated. The definition of a under inflated football is less than the required air supply of 12 ½ to 13 ½ pounds per square inch (PSI). Jackson said, “I did not know that the football had less peressure,” in an interview with NFL.com. Even after the game was played, many present and former NFL Quarterbacks came out to say they had played with deflated balls. Brad Johnson, former quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, admitted to paying over $7,500 for the balls to be altered for that game. No one knew back then, but the Buccaneers beat the Oakland Raiders, 48-21. Many people wonder why many teams cheat in sports. Some people believe it is for the money or for the fame. The only person that can answer that question is a coach, a player, or the athletic director. Luckily, Kraig Taylor, the Olathe East Athletic Director, has the answer. “People are trying to get an edge. Trying to seek an advantage. People think it is not cheating, if you aren’t caught,” said Mr. Taylor. At Olathe East, no sports scandals have occured in the tenure of Taylor as AD. If any players are trying to cheat out there, do not try so hard. The consequences are harsh, especially in the pros. However, they are very light at the high school level. “If you are caught as a player in the postseason, that player won’t participate in postseason, the same goes for the team,” said Taylor. Gronk Spike So for those that want to cheat, do not Courtesy of ESPN.com expect to be fined $100,000,000. One of the most famous cheating scandals is the the Pine Tar incident in 1983, when Kansas City Royals Hall of Famer first baseman George Brett hit a two run home run and gave the Royals a 5-4 lead. However, Yankees manger Billy Martin requested to see Brett’s bat. After the umpires saw that Brett used pine tar. He and was thrown out, and he stormed the field and charged right at home plate umpire Tim McClelland. The Yankees won the game, but the Royals protested the game, and it was later replayed at the point of Brett’s home run. The Royals won the game 5-4.

Jacob Stofer//Staff Writer

One of the more recent controversy besides deflategate, is the steroids scandal. New York Yankees star Alex Rodriguez was suspened a full baseball season (162 games) last year. On February 17 , 2015, A-Rod apologized to the Yankees, the fans, and the MLB. “I take full responsibility for the mistakes that led to my suspension for the 2014 season. I regret that my actions made the situation worse than it needed to be,” said A-Rod in an apology letter. A-Rod swinging at the plate Players of Courtesy of cbssports.com the top sports leagues in North America (NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, and MLS) have been cheating for years. Even after the game was played, new reports come out from many different sources, including ESPN, CBS, NBC, NFL Network, USA Today, and Sports Illustrated. Most people, especially sports fans, take to social media and expresses their two cents worth and believe that they know everything. They blame the coach, the player, or the team. However, they do not know the background of the situation. They just say that the balls deflated themselves, Rob Gronkowski Spiked the ball too hard, and the Patriots took the balls and squeezed the air out. “I don’t think we have the information. What we do know is the Patriots scored more points with the deflated balls. Do we know they did it? No. I look at the facts. They scored more points with the deflated balls,” said Taylor. Many people thought that the Patriots should have been disqualified and the Colts and the Balitmore Ravens replay the AFC Title Game in Indy, but nothing happened. The NFL, who has been critized for years with the Ray Rice scandal and not relasing the tapes, and the Adrian Peterson scandal, should have stepped in and made a change. It would have been different if the Colts or the Baltimore Ravens played the Seattle Seahawks in Superbowl XLIX. But the NFL did nothing and the Pats won the SuperBowl for the fourth time in 14 years. Cheating in sports will go on for years; no one can stop it. No matter what the puninshments are, teams will always find a way to beat the system each and every time. No rules will stop anyone from capturing film, deflating balls, intentionally throwing a game, or gambling. It’s just the way the players play the game, and the only way they find to win. Deflated balls, spy cameras, stickum, faking injuries, biting another player, lying about age, lying about gender, lying about cheating even when you cheated all the time. The truth is, most sucessful people in the world have, in some way, cheated or scammed their way to the top. “If you’re not cheating, you’re not trying hard enough,” a quote said by former Chicago Cubs first basemen Mark Grace.

“People are trying to get an edge. Trying to seek an advantage. People think is is not cheating, if you aren’t caught.” -Kraig Taylor

[March] 2015

Going after Goals

An Olathe East Athlete Wins a Major Accolade Brock Holmes // Senior Staff Writer

Courtesy of Logan Brockschmidt

he 2014 World Cup brought soccer into the well-deserved light, and with it, some rising starts of the sport. One such icon is Olathe East’s own Mark Vanlandingham, who, along with being named an All-American Soccer player, was recently named the Kansas City Star’s Metro Soccer Player of the Year. The team benefits from Mark’s offensive capability, as well as his always outgoing and upbeat personality. Talent requires inspiration, and Mark finds this in his family, as well as the sport’s modern greats. “Watching Messi, he’s unbelievable! I love that he’s not a jerk, but he’s still incredible at soccer,” said Mark, “I have three older brothers, so I was always playing against them trying to catch up to them.” He also takes inspiration from Coach Hair, who he had a somewhat bizarre relationship with. “Coach Hair and I had an interesting relationship at the beginning of my career here. I had three other brothers go through the program, and I’m not sure they were his favorite players, but by the end, we were tight.” Vanlandingham’s career is also marked by disappointment and overcoming tribulations. Including the devastating loss in 2013, which brought his season to a screeching halt, he also faced more personal misfortunes. “My club coach actually called me up and left me a voicemail saying I was not a man because I had left the team.” said Vanlandingham Despite the occasional obstacle, Vanlandingham, along with future Division 1 soccer player Zac Marquess, managed to persevere and complete his final season with a state victory. He will attend the University of Kansas come autumn to pursue computer science, but will not continue his soccer career there, because of the fact that KU does not have a soccer program. However, he intends to pursue his passion for the sport through other mediums. “I’m playing men’s league, casual Sunday night soccer,” said Vanlandingham, “It’s just recreation from here on out.” He leaves behind an impressive history that includes an undefeated regular season in 2013 with the Hawks, as well as a 2014 season comprised of seventeen goals and five assists. The accolade follows the Olathe East boys’ soccer team winning the state championship over Washburn Rural 2-1. Vanlandingham scored the first goal of the game, putting East up 1-0, and giving the momentum to the Hawks. The Metro Soccer Player of the year leaves his impressive legacy with the school on the field.

6 [Advertisement]

[March] 2015

Side Effects (anxiety medication)

~Mood disorders ~Rage or aggressiveness ~Dulled emotional responses ~Delusions or hallucinations ~Irregular sleep patterns ~Disorientation and confusion ~Restlessness

Narcotics

(prescription pain killers)

~Slurred Speech ~Confusion and poor judgement ~ Nausea and vomiting ~Euphoria (feeling high) ~Respiratory depression (shallow or slow breathing) ~Highly addictive

Stimulants (ADD/ADHD)

~Nausea ~Loss of appetite ~Headaches ~Dry mouth ~Dizziness ~Irritability and mood changes ~Involuntary twitches

mpulsiveness can, especially among teenagers, lead to serious consequences. High school students tend to act rather than think, and do not always weigh the possible outcomes of their actions. Whether they know the penalties of obtaining or selling prescription pills, the epidemic of recreational prescription drug use is on the rise. School nurse Nancy Johns said, “People will just raid the medicine cabinet at home and take [prescription pills] to parties and just pass them around. It is so dangerous. When people get a prescription drug, it is for that person and their specific situation. So, when someone else takes it, it’s a different person with a different situation. They could have medical issues that would interact with that drug or they could have medical issues that that drug would affect. When something is prescribed for you, it’s by that doctor who knows your whole history. They have no idea how that pill is going to affect them.” No prescription drug is safe to take without having been approved to you by your doctor; however, some types of drugs are more damaging and harmful than others. Out of the three most common categories, narcotics (painkillers), tranquilizers (anxiety medication), or stimulants (ADHD/ADD) medication, painkillers are by far the scariest. Johns said, “Hydrocodone, oxycotin -- that can feed into a heroin addiction. They’re very addictive drugs to begin with, so especially when you’re taking them when you don’t need to it would be very addictive.” Here at school, however, ADHD medication such as Adderall and Vivance seem to be the most abused drugs, whether curbing the appetite or the feeling of a stimulant, or the fact a large quantity of students are actually prescribed and sell their extra pills. Johns said, “The funny thing is they’re not going to help someone concentrate who doesn’t have ADHD.” However, medical side effects, though dangerous, aren’t even the worse possible outcomes of messing with prescription drugs. Jail awaits any eighteen-year-old obtaining prescription drugs not belonging to them or selling their own. According to the school police officer Brian Jaegers, students need to become aware of their possible consequences. Jaegers said, “There are three sets of consequences. The school consequences are you will probably get long-term suspended from school if you are selling prescription pills. Then there is the criminal side of it. You will go to the juvenile center if you are under eighteen, if you are older you will go to the jail downtown. In that case, it is a felony. If you are selling a prescription pill that is not over the counter, it’s a felony. It doesn’t matter if they are prescribed to you or not. The third consequence is whatever happens at home.” Now, the understanding is people make mistakes, especially teenagers. However, the ramifications can outweigh the temporary benefits. So, if one is ever faced with this choice, the hope is to go over the probable penalties and decide against popping that pill.

Brenna Thompson//Senior Staff Writer

Tranquilizers

S tu d e n t A b u s e of PTher Rise e sofcRecreational r i p ti oUsenamong P iTeens l ls

8 [News]

Road to Recovery

Matthew Gwin//Senior Staff Writer

James McGinnis Continues his Lengthy Rehabilitation Battle James shows the “I love you” sign to the crowd on Senior Night surrounded by his parents, girlfriend Caitlin Gosik, and her family Courtesy of Logan Brockschmidt

s the clock ticks past midnight, spilling well into the wee hours of the morning on September 13, 2014, hundreds of concerned faces pack the emergency room of the Overland Park Regional Medical Center. Several hours earlier, their brother, friend, neighbor, and classmate James McGinnis had collapsed on the field during the Olathe EastOlathe South football game. Now, they anxiously awaited some news – any news – on his condition. Finally, Pat and Susan McGinnis, James’ parents, grant them their wish. James is out of surgery. The injury is serious, but he will be all right. Everything will be all right. It’s now February 13, five months since the injury. While the initial panic of that night in September may have subsided, James still faces a long, arduous road to recovery. For the time being, James spends his days at the Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital in Lincoln, Nebraska, where he undergoes intensive therapy sessions for eight hours a day. Therapy is divided into three parts: physical therapy (PT) works on the muscles and walking, occupational therapy (OT) focuses on the hands and arms, and speech deals with the shoulders up.

Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day, so for his speech therapy, James has chosen to write a love poem to his girlfriend, fellow OE senior Caitlin Gosik. After penning a work Shakespeare himself would applaud, James gets a quick break before occupational therapy. This afternoon, OT entails some “weightlifting.” In other words, James will be strengthening his arm muscles by lifting a weighted bar 15 times using various techniques. With some help from his cheering squad – East seniors Logan Coates and Ben Schraeder – James channels his former self and pumps some serious iron. Before heading to physical therapy, James gets to enjoy another break. Taking advantage of the free time, Pat and Susan McGinnis offer to talk to us about James’ injury, daily routine, and progress so far at Madonna. Specifically, James suffered a subdural hematoma, meaning that the lining of his skull was bleeding. As a natural reaction to the pressure, his brain began to swell, forcing an emergency surgery called a craniotomy. “They took a piece out [of his skull] about the size of a hand to relieve that pressure, and had they not removed that in time, he wouldn’t have survived the injury,” Pat says. They discuss his goal to walk across the stage with the rest of the Class of 2015 at graduation in May, and James jokes that he just wants to walk, “So I can get out of here [Madonna].”

[March] 2015 With the exception of his grueling speech therapy, walking has been perhaps James’ toughest obstacle to overcome. However, each day he makes strides toward achieving his goal. “He’s always been walking with a therapist, but his walking at the beginning of this week was what would be classified as ‘minimal assistance.’ [He puts] one hand on the gate belt and one hand gets held on the outside, and he does everything else,” Pat says. “This week he’s kind of been back and forth,” Pat continues. “Usually he’ll have a good day, then he’s worn out the next day . . . At least now he’s having good days and better days – no bad days.” Next, they tell us about the aforementioned speech therapy, in which James must be hooked up to electrodes that send shocking sensations throughout his face. “With James, there’s some numbness, so the way to reconnect the brain to be able to control those muscles is to send a stimulant through those muscles,” Pat says. “While they’re doing that, they have him go through and do things like swallowing and sticking out his tongue and sucking in on a straw. All those movements help the brain reconnect because there’s a feeling accentuated by the electricity going through his cheeks.” “By far, that’s been the toughest thing he’s had to do,” he says. Susan adds, “He’ll work on diction and enunciation and just talking in general, because the more he exercises those muscles while the stimulus is going on, the stronger they get. And he hates that.” Of course, more than anything James would like to return to the comfort of home. While he hasn’t reached that point quite yet, the finish line is not too far on the horizon. “He’s at a point right now where he’s healthy enough to go home, but we’ll still have a lot of therapy left to do,” Susan says. “A lot of therapy will be very similar to what he’s doing now – the main difference is we’ll be sleeping at home and eating our meals at home.”

James gives a private concert to his visitors, OE seniors (left to right) Ben Schraeder, Logan Coates, and Matthew Gwin Courtesy of Pat McGinnis

At least for now, the McGinnis’ plan to do that therapy through a program called Rehab Day, a program similar to the one at Madonna, but that also allows patients to live at home. In Kansas City, Rehab Day is only offered at The Rehab Institute of Kansas City. “When he starts to walk on his own, we’ll go back to Kansas City and continue Rehab Day there . . . and we’ll continue that as long as he needs it. I think that may even go into the fall, but we’ll just see how he does when we get there. It’s a day-by-day thing,” Susan says. “I’m hoping to be back to Kansas City maybe by the end of March, but it’s fluid,” she continues. “I think we’re looking at probably another 2-4 weeks to get him to where he’s walking 450 feet. That’s really where I want him to be,” Pat adds. Although James’ injury brought a chaotic twist to the McGinnis’ lives, the family manages to see the bright spots in what many would view as a dark situation. “You can’t go through this without it changing your life, and not necessarily in a bad way. In a good way, it kind of helps you refocus on what’s important in life and gives you reassurance that there’s a community there to catch you if you fall,” Pat says. After the update, James treks approximately ¾-mile during physical therapy on the Lokomat, a machine which could be best described as the fancier cousin of a treadmill. Going the extra mile (literally), James walks back to his room with the assistance of his physical therapist Scott. Upon returning to his room, James smokes his competition (in this case, us) in two games of Sorry. “He’s just a little bit competitive,” Susan jokes. James simply shrugs his shoulders and flashes his signature smirk. Later that evening, James and his parents move into a transitional housing unit for the weekend. For the first time since arriving to Madonna at the beginning of October, James won’t have to sleep in the rehab wing. While a nurse squares away the details with Susan, James and Pat (mostly James, though) belt out a duet of Bruno Mars’ song James walks on the Lokomat during a physical “When I Was Your Man” for all of Nebraska to hear. As nightfall dawns, the visitors must begin the drive back therapy seesion as OE seniors Dallas Ungerhome. After the goodbyes are said, the hugs exchanged, and the buehler (left) and T.J. Rowe support him symbol for “I love you” in sign language flashed more than a couCourtesy of Pat McGinnis ple times, James turns to us with one last message, this one for all of Olathe East: “Just let them know that I love them.”

“At least now he’s having good days and better days – no bad days.” – Pat McGinnis

10 [News]

#Hort or Die

Getting to the Root of the Horticulture Community Involvement Lauren Heinrich//Copy Editor

Hort students working the garden at Harvest for Hunger Courtesy of Ms. Snozek

orticulture students learn the ins and outs of plants and how to properly care and maintain them. They are also in charge of taking care of a plant throughout the semester. The Horticulture Club and College Now students in horticulture are applying what they’ve learned in horticulture class in a more hands-on way. Alongside their teacher, Ms. Snozek, they are helping out at the Harvest for Hunger Garden in Overland Park. “We donated all of our extra tomatoes to them from our plant sale last year. Their whole focus is providing fresh produce to those in need for community kitchens and for Salvation Army and for their food pantry,” Snozek said. “The kids said they would be really interested in doing something like that and providing that food.” With the newly-formed partnership this past spring with Colonial Presbyterian church member Julie Foster, who is the head of the Harvest for Hunger Garden, Snozek and her students began working in the garden this previous fall. “Every Saturday for seven weeks, October through December, [we went to the Garden],” Snozek said. “After the first thaw, we will go back. As soon as we can work the land, we’ll start for our spring garden, which is spinach and cold tolerant vegetables, snap peas, herbs, kale, lettuce, and cabbage.” The Harvest for Hunger Garden has been thriving. In 2013, members of the garden

Sample bracelets Courtesy of Lauren Heinrich

produced 8,000 pounds of food; 3,000 of those being applied].” pounds were from the horticulture tomatoes that Snozek added, “We’re going to apply evwere provided from Ms. Snozek. erything that we’ve learned out of the book, Snozek said, “[The tomatoes were] the largest everything that we heard about, and actually amount of one food that went [to families in get to apply it and see everything that their, [the need]. That was the biggest crop that [the garden student’s] work did. To see the fruit of the labor, has] ever had.” so to speak.” “We are on the Harvest HorticultureClub secretary, Mark your calenders for Mikayla for Hunger committee at the Cates, has volunteered the Plant Sale: church. Allison Sturges, the at the garden numerous times The Horticulture Class holds an and enjoys working the land. president, and I are on that annual plant sale in the last week of “I love working at Harvest committee. They invited us to April for ten days. be a part of that. We are planfor Hunger. It makes me feel as “That’s our biggest fundraiser of if I am making a difference in ning on actually doing hours this summer, so the Hort Club the year. It’s been very successful. the community and for people wants to do community service Plant sale is to keep horticulture out there. I love working with program. Just to get extra plants, all throughout the summer Snozek and others. We are all just to get projects going that we with them,” Snozek said. coming together and supportdon’t have money for normally,” The Horticulture Club has ing a good cause,” Mikayla Snozek said. their own half of an acre of said. land for them to maintain and Various types of plants, such as Currently, community tomatoes, basil, and peppers, are grow crops on. Co-treasurer service is required for College Hannah Adams loves this idea. sold for reasonably cheap prices. Now students who are enrolled Hannah said, “I think that in horticulture. The Horthe idea and the act of giving back [from] a small ticulture Club members wanted to get a taste club of us [and how we] are able to have our own of the Harvest for Hunger Garden as well, so part of the garden that is going to help so many they joined their fellow classmates in doing the people in the community [is] really cool. We’re community service project together. Next year, not just doing it in a classroom and obtaining however, all students in horticulture can help knowledge. We’re going to be able to go to the with the garden if they need or want community farm and actually get to see [what we’ve learned service hours. The Horticulture Club is currently selling custom homemade bracelets for $1, $2, and $3. The bracelets are made out of natural and recyclable products, like cotton fibers and hemp. Bracelets can be plain or with buttons woven into them. Snozek said, “[They made bracelets] to bring awareness to agriculture sustainability; to not just buy something and throw it away that can be reused or recycled or that will biodegrade that will keep coming up year after year on its own. [Money from bracelet sales will be used to] go to Powell Gardens. We want to have a field trip and its money for a bus.” For more information, seek out Ms. Snozek in room 110 or a horticulture club member.

Engaged at Eighteen More than High School Sweethearts Being in a relationship in high school may be one thing -- being engaged is a whole different ballpark. Most high school students would not even think of having a ring on their finger during graduation, yet this is the crazy reality for Senior Brendan Carpenter. He may only be eighteen years of age, but he has already committed his life to one girl, the only problem being she lives over 800 miles away.

Brendan and Tristan

wo years ago, Brendan met his future fiancé over none other than the social media app Instagram and had an immediate connection. “Shortly after we found each other I flew out to see her and for months we visited each other. Now we fly out every few weeks to see each other,” Carpenter said. The couple has made long distance work for over two years, so when it came time to ask, the decision pretty much made itself. Brendan never saw himself being engaged this young, but he fell in love. “I did not think I would get ;engaged so young, but I could not imagine it any other way.” Many people question why Brendan would choose to get engaeged at such a young age, yet he knows love like this does not come around more than once in a lifetime. “I have always felt alone and like I don’t belong, but when I found her, something just clicked into place. I couldn’t be happy without her. I couldn’t imagine life without her. After enough years, you just know when you’re going to marry someone. You’d give your life to make them happy.” On one of his surprise visits to Pennsylvania, he made the brave choice to ask his girlfriend of a year to marry him. “I flew out to surprise her one day, walked into her room at night, woke her up, gently slid the ring on her finger and asked her.” She said yes, of course, and the two jumped into their plans for the future.

“ After enough years, you just know when you’re going to marry someone. You’d give your life to make them happy. ”

Brendan is planning on moving to Pennsylvania as early as June, and has already been accepted to the University of Pennsylvania, where he and his fiancé will attend next semester. Brendan might be engaged at eighteen, but he is not getting married young. “She gets tuition exchange (free college) since her mother works at the college. She would not get that if we were married, so we are waiting until after we graduate (3-16 is our anniversary, so on that date) and I can get the best ring/wedding for her after college,” Brendan said. Just because the couple is not able to tie the knot for a few years, this does not stop them from planning their future together. “ We want to stay on the east coast, and get an apartment. Make money for a while until we can take a perfect honeymoon and get a small house. Either way as long as we are together we will be happy.” Both of their families were apprehensive about their relationship at first, but now they fully support the engagement. “They love her, and her family loves me. They are happy for us because her and I make each other happy and that’s what matters.” Brendan may have never planned for this to be his future, but it is and he could not be more grateful. He met a girl who saved his life, and he saved hers. They are not only excited for the future, but also prepared for whatever comes their way. “She gives me a reason to live every day, and I would not be where I am today without her.”

[March] 2015

Katie Thompson//Senior Staff Writer Brendan and Tristan posing for their engagement pictures Courtesy of Brendan Carpenter

12 [Feature]

Falling Behind in Class America Continues to Fall Behind International Education Rankings Camille Denis// Senior Staff Writer

he American educational system has undergone much scrutiny and negative press in the past decade. People consistently hear that our international ranking has dropped, especially in math and science. We have found our self behind several Asian countries and even Canada and Russia. While the rest of the world strives for new methods providing effective results, American education results show a casual decline and no definite plan for improvement. But how is this possible? We are America, right? As it turns out, students of America, our educational system has not been quite as effective recently as it has been in the past. After World War II, America had the highest graduation rate in the world; however, now that graduation rate has dropped down to 22nd out of 27 countries. Compared to other countries, America ranks 14th overall which is just marginally over the average. According to their website, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, better known as OECD, “promote[s] policies that will improve the economic and social well-being of people around the world.” This organization administers the tests given to students of participating countries to compare and inform the corresponding governments of their standings. OECD compiles the test results of various tests analyzing cognitive, math, science and reading skills. Today, 34 advanced and emerging countries contribute to OECD’s goal of building “a stronger, cleaner, fairer world.” Out of the 34 countries, America ranks 27th in math which falls below the average. Even though the rank for reading (17th) and science (20th) fall closer to the average, a superior result should be expected, especially with the amount of money and resources expended on our education system compared to other countries. America spends just over three times more money per student (in equivalent US dollars) than Russia. Advancements in economy and society demand not only consumption of products, but also the minds behind the technological innovations. The

growing demand in turn produces a significant need for students with superior knowledge in math, science and engineering. According to U.S Department of Labor, only 5% of the American workforce engages in fields of science and engineering, yet they are accountable for more than 50% of our economic growth. At one point, 40% of scientists and engineers resided in America; however, that number has now shrunk to 15%. Even with the high demand for these specialized students, the government has yet to make adjustments in the school systems to attain better results. However, science and math-based companies have begun seeking innovative ways to attract young kids to these fields. The technology spearhead, IBM, has partnered with schools in New York and Chicago which focus on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education. Even in Kansas City, Olathe East students have an opportunity to participate in STEM programs and competitions with many engineering companies such as Black and Veatch, Burns and Mcdonnell, and Bayer. Today, Japan achieved the second highest standing on the education rank. But what makes many European and Asian countries succeed with better results than us? The Japanese school system is similar to the old Olathe system, which we had several years ago where the junior high included 7th, 8th and 9th graders and the high school included 10th, 11th and 12th graders. However, opposite to the American school system, Japanese students stay in their homeroom class while the teachers move to the classrooms. Studying in Japan is very rigorous so they provide a “cram school,” Juku, after actual school to help them study and get ahead. The students are expected to wear a certain uniform and certain backpack. In some stricter schools, students are not allowed to wear makeup, have their ears pierced or even date-anything that could be a distraction to the students’ learning. Mrs. Looney, the Japanese teacher, said, “I brought in a Japanese college student at JCCC a couple years ago and she talked to my students. She said that in Japan if you got caught with a cell phone, then the teacher, at least at her school, would take it for the entire semester.”

“In Japan if you got caught with a cell phone, then the teacher, at least at her school, would take it for the entire semester.” - Mrs. Looney

[March] 2015

Dr. Lovinggood proudly supports the teachers, students and parents of Japan takes education during adolescence much more seriously. Students are reportedly more respectful towards adults including teachers than students in Americaas as well as being much more competitive. Kyoko Peters, another Japanese teacher, said, “Japanese students generally think American students as more free and have a more friendly relationship between students and teachers.” One of the possible steps in achieving better standards for America would be for students to become more serious about their progress in school. Education is the pathway to securing higher paid jobs. More than half of Americans who participated in the tests said they spend at least three hours a day at a paid job. Only about one-fifth of high school students from other countries balanced a daily job along with their class work. Decreasing the amount of time spent at jobs could enable students to focus on their education. Looney said, “ In Japan its more education focused and memorization rather than higher level creative thinking.” Ideally, a balance between being creative and seriousness should be sought to improve the declining results. As a large, influencial, and knowledgable country, America should be at the top of educational standings like they once were.

Education Ranking 11. Denmark 1. South Korea 2. Japan 12. Germany 3. Singapore 13. Russia 14. USA 4. Hong Kong 15. Australia 5. Finland 6. UK 16. New Zealand 7. Canada 17. Israel 8. Netherlands 18. Belgium 19. Czech Republic 9. Ireland 20. Switzerland 10. Poland

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14 [Feature] *Disclaimer: The Hawks eye does not condone the use of the derogatory language used in this article. The use of it is purely to illustrate a point, and show the hardships the LGBTQ community faces daily.

right to use the same locker room as other people?z” “I believe that just if an individual wants to express themselves as the opposite sex, then let them. And by doing that, you should allow them to use the same locker rooms and be treated equally and fairly.” Junior Hilary Moser said, “Personally, I wouldn’t be bothered seeing someone in the bathroom that was formally the opposite sex. The stalls have doors. Besides, they have undergone emotional and physical changes, so they behave, look, and feel like the opposite sex. We should just accept who they are.”

Q Quit

anything in locker rooms. [I] just get dressed and go.” This same male indifferently shrugged when asked about what the district should have done to solve the situation. A different anonymous junior male said, “They should use whichever bathroom for the gender they most identify themselves with.” He also said, “I think [the districts] should ask the individuals which one they want to use.” Junior Briley Buckley said, “Honestly, I believe it comes down to their personal opinion. I mean, if they are living as a male or female, why should we deprive them of the

L G B Bullies

He also said, “If you’re having problems finding out about yourself, you don’t have to rush for the answer. The answers come to you, because you have all the time in the world to get there. You don’t have to get there right away. It’s okay to try new things and find out if they work for you.” The district doesn’t allow Smith the right to use the boys’ restroom,

but the reasons are more social than civil. “If we were allowed into the bathrooms, you can’t really win because you make them uncomfortable, but if we weren’t [allowed into the bathrooms] then we would feel uncomfortable,” said Smith. He also said, “I know the current policy in Kansas and Missouri. They don’t allow people who are transgender to use bathrooms we would select to use. It is becoming more of a [movement] nationally. California, the whole state, allows us to choose which bathroom no matter what. But, I do feel that people should be more open to [us using the bathrooms] because it’s not as trying to someplace where people think ‘I’ll just do it’.” “It’s been interesting,” he said, “I wouldn’t say it’s been bad though. It’s definitely been better. I feel a lot better about myself now that I don’t have to wear dresses. Even though I do confuse people because I do drag, so people get quite confused. I feel like in that sense, I can express myself because before I was being kind of who I thought others wanted, and now I am who I am, and if I dress a certain way, it doesn’t matter because inside I still know. It’s been more about myself than others.”

Get

ach day at school, the district and some school peers denied transgender students Lee Porras and Ace Smith the ability to use the restroom of the gender they identified as. Consequently, they would have to utilize the nurse’s restroom. When an anonymous junior male was asked about the situation with the restrooms, he seemed uncomfortable with the subject, and said, “Guys have unsaid rules with restrooms. You do not stand next to other guys. Past that, I guess I don’t care.” He also said, “The locker rooms are different because you don’t see

are, and it is what you bring to this world. It is not what you look for in a person because sexual orientation is what you look for in a person when you’re going to date them. The main difference, for me, is that for gender identity, it is your identity and for sexual orientation, it is what you look for in others,” said Smith.

Let’s

unior transgender student Ace Smith first said, “Saying that we know more than you do about [being a transgender person] is actually only halfway true because we don’t know that much. We know as much about it as you do.” Ace Smith has known he wanted to be a boy since about eight years old. He continues to grow more and more certain about his feelings. “It’s not necessarily a certain event, but I did realize last November that I was just so unhappy with my life, and I couldn’t keep up the façade of living as what I thought my parents wanted me to live as,” he said. When Smith told his parents, he said, “They were actually really supportive.” “I went in [to Chick-Fil-A] to receive an application, and they refused to give me one,” Smith said. When asked about their hiring policy, a Chick-Fil-A representative said, “We don’t refuse anyone an application based on what gender they are.” Some people generalize being attracted to the same gender and wanting to be a different gender as the same. They place it in the same category when the two are completely different. “Gender identity is what you identify yourself as, it is who you

Alexa Buechler//Staff Writer Jordan Meier//Staff Writer

esbian

isexual

[March] 2015

reshman Lee Porras, one of two transgender students here at East, always knew that she wanted to be a girl. From a very young age, she could be found dancing around in high heels and tutus while playing with her sister’s Barbie dolls. “I just have a biological male’s body, but my brain is not that way. I did useed to dress like a boy but not anymore; that's not my style,” Porras said. Her public transition began on June 9, 2014 when the current freshman boldy made a post on Facebook that would change her life forever. “OK, everyone needs to understand something: I'm transgender. And I need to change some things. Name: Lee. Address me: she. Please call me Lee and she,” Porras posted on her Facebook wall. To some parents this might have been unacceptable and way too uncomfortable to even deal with, but Lee's parents have been very supportive throughout the entire process. “At first I think they just thought it was a phase. That I was just going to be gay but really, really, flamboyant. Now they just accept me as their daughter,” Porras said.

ransgender

Name-calling is not the only form of discrimination members of the LGBTQ community have faced. The transgender students at our school for a long time were required to use the nurses’ bathroom instead of the bathroom of the gender they identified as. “We are in a day and age where discrimination should not exist but unfortunately it is very, very common,” Porras said. “If you see someone getting discriminated against, speak up. If it gets to a point where it seems physically harmful talk to an adult or go to the principal,” James said. Transgender people have become a major topic of conversation in recent months. With the suicide of transitioning teen Leelah Alcorn, and recent reports that reality star Bruce Jenner is going through the transition, the media is focusing Courtsey of Jordan Meier much of its attention on this community. While her family and friends have “A topic like this is, so controverproven to be very supportive of her sial and right now its very big in the transition, others have not. media, but there is such a miscon “At Applebee’s on Homecoming ception on what the reality of it is,” night, I was leaving the restaurant Porras said. after paying for dinner with my Porras hopes that sometime in the friends," Porras said. “Before we near future she can help organize an left, we went to the bathroom to assembly for schools to help educate touch up our make up, but we were teens on the transgender community basically kicked out of the restaurant and on how gender identity differs and not allowed back in, all because from your sexuality. I was using the girls’ bathroom.” “Gender identity has nothing to Porras is not the only student at do with sex. It has to do with who East that is discriminated against. you view yourself as. The most comSadly, kids are being called derogamon misconception is that I'm just tory names all the time. gay. But being gay is when a man "Just the other day a gay kid likes a man, and personally I don't in one of my classes was called a think I look like a man,” Porras said. ‘faggot’," Leader of the Gay-Straight While society may never reach a Alliance (GSA) Kayla James said. point where it becomes judgment "That's what you hear a lot of times. free, Lee encourages you to try and I've also heard transgender students withhold your judgments of her and being called 'its' and I've seen people other people like her. treat them like they aren't really “Don't judge a book before you people." have read it," Porras said. "And don't judge me before you understand who I am and what I am about. I'm just doing me.” For a very long time these issues have been swept under the rug, but able if you slip up every once and a while, but if you are purposefully doing it then that is just rude,” now they are getting national media coverage. Soon, schools will have to freshman transgender student Lee Porras said. “It was sad to hear the surrounding circumstances make changes to their policies and people will have to decide where of why she felt she had to do it. Her parents, even they stand on the issue. though she died, refuse to support her afterwards. It’s really heartbreaking to hear what someone has to go through to get it through someone’s head,” junior

uestionable/Queer

In the News-Leelah Alcorn

On December 28, 2014, a transgender person who wished to be called Leelah Alcorn committed suicide because her desire to be a female continued to be denied by her family. Her parents did not even accept just a change in sexuality. “It was very disrespectful that even after she had passed away they still used the pronoun 'he' when referring to her. I think [using incorrect pronouns] is one of the most disrespectful things you can do especially if you do it on purpose. It is understand-

transgender student Ace Smith said.

16 [Advertisement]

[March] 2015

How It Changed My Life Popular on Netflix:

Lauren Hart// Copy Editor

Recently Watched:

y first experience with Netflix all started on a bleak, snowy afternoon late last February. It was the third snow day in a row, and I was starting to get cabin fever. I was running out of DVDs to watch. I had completed more puzzles than deemed normal for any person to complete in 48 hours. My sister and I had more than exhausted our supply of board games and desperately needed something new to do. That is when the brilliant invention of Netflix changed my life forever. When my grandma had to be home-bound a year before, we had signed her up for Netflix. Knowing my grandma, she probably still had her account but most likely had not used it in the past few months. Thanks to my sister’s above average memory we were successfully able to hack into Grandma’s Netflix using all the grandchildren’s initials: the password she uses for everything. Just a few months ago, we brought up Netflix around this same grandma and she had absolutely no idea what it was. Whoops. Little did she know that she was paying each month for my entertainment. After explaining what Netflix is and what she was paying for each month, she is now also able to enjoy the endless options found in her own home. Upon successfully logging in, a world full of possibilities appeared on the TV screen and it was then that I knew that I would never ever be bored again. Snow days (if we had any) would now be consumed with hours upon hours of Netflix.

Heck, even regular days would be consumed with Netflix. This newfound method of entertainment would impact my life more in the next year than I ever imagined possible. One year after hacking into my grandma’s account, I have become a documentary connoisseur. With such a wide variety of documentaries at my fingertips, I can watch a conspiracy theory documentary one hour and then watch another concerning the slums and poverty in India the next hour. I never believed such fascination with documentaries was possible, but thanks to Netflix, it is. I also never thought such fascination with fictional television characters was possible, but I was wrong again. Thoughts of how Michael Scofield was possibly going to escape prison and what life-saving surgery Meredith Grey would perform today occupied my mind. After spending approximately 160 hours of my life watching Grey’s Anatomy, the idea of becoming a surgeon became thrilling until I remembered that I do not like hospitals and that I do not particularly enjoy being around sick people. I guess I will just be satisfied with vicariously living through the doctors and interns at Seattle Grace instead of going through years and years of medical school. Thank you, Grandma, for your donation to my life. For better or for worse, in sickness and in health, Netflix has indescribably changed my life along with the 29 million other Netflix subscribers.

18 [Editorial]

Too Close For Comfort? The Damaging Effects of Having Helicopter Parents

Courtney Child // Co-Editor

ith a cry and a push we come into this world kicking and screaming, putting our very precious lives into the hands of our sometimes very under-prepared parents. We grow and develop under their watchful eyes, but more and more parents are becoming a bit too watchful and a bit too careful for their children’s benefit. Once kids go off to college—and their parents no longer control every aspect of their lives—they often break down. These kids are terrified to take any sort of risk, endangering the future of American leadership. The “helicopter” parents unintentionally engineer young adults who don’t know how to cope with everyday life or make major decisions. “Parents who either play helicopter parents or who hover too much, or in a sense swoop in and save kids too often, [can damage a child psychologically]. I don’t think kids are able to build skills—in a sense to problem solve and think for themselves. They kind of always rely on Mom or Dad to do that for them,” school psychologist Roger Pitts said. When parents raise their children to be perfect, or nearly so, they like to toot their own horn—oh, I mean, their child’s horn—especially when it comes to academics, which puts more pressure on the kids to continually raise the bar and be praise worthy. Pitts said, “I think a lot of parents…use their kids as a stage or as a vehicle to put feathers in their hat, to make them look good…to show off what a good parent they are. I think it’s part of the status, the social piece, that they want to impress other parents.” “How accurate that is, I don’t know,” he added. What most parents don’t know is that a standard of perfection lowers a child’s ability to take risks and reduces creativity, innovation, and playfulness. Much more dangerous for their child’s future and the future of America, this has been shown to drastically lower self-esteem and increase stress. The kids don’t have a decent sense of self or an identity because their parents control every second of their lives, leaving them no time or reason to have a self-identity. “From the perspective of internal motivation, the two most important aspects are competency and the ability to recover from mistakes. If the person doesn’t practice those because someone rescues them, then they become dependent on extrinsic motivation. They aren’t very resilient because they don’t know how competency feels. They have no way to cope with challenges,” Steve Young, Olathe East anatomy teacher said. He teaches his students how to learn material in a more effective way and how to apply that way of learning to real-life situations. The mindset of relying on others for confidence doesn’t inspire healthy growth for the brain, though. We learn from our mistakes, but if our parents constantly move all obstacles out of our way, we can never make mistakes from which to learn. Obstacle-free childhoods lead to adults incapable of making decisions, big or small, totally insecure of their own abilities. “We now have a generation of students who believe that you can make one mistake and ruin everything, as if their entire future rests on every single step. That makes it so hard for them to explore. That doesn’t give them permission to fail. It doesn’t give them permission to test—because the stakes are so high. If there’s anything people need in a fast-changing world, it’s the freedom to experiment and even fail, so that they can figure out what it takes to succeed,” said Hara Estroff Marano, the author of A Nation of Wimps, a nonfiction work about the high cost of invasive parenting. While a child is young, he should be encouraged to face his fears and

We learn more from our mistakes than we do from getting things right. -Hara Estroff Marano

“

Drawings Courtesy of Katie Thompson learn that everything will be all right after doing so. Essential for normal growth and development, it’s also crucial to make sure one’s child develops self-efficacy, the ability to accomplish something on one’s own. Through the sometimes mentally-taxing process of learning, a child’s curiosity and self confidence will grow with every challenge climbed and beaten. “I think they don’t allow their kids to face adversity. They don’t allow those kids to problem solve on their own. I don’t think those people [who had helicopter parents] are as good at solving problems that will present themselves throughout their lifetime. I don’t think [helicopter parents] give [their children] the skills or the tools to be able to do that because they are always doing that for them; therefore, the kids don’t learn to do that themselves,” Pitts said. “I just think [being able to make independent decisions] creates a better, stronger person… you can improve your self-image, your self-confidence. I think you can develop some coping skills that you may not have otherwise,” added Pitts. “We learn more from our mistakes than we do from getting things right…The surprise in discovering we are wrong, scientists find, is particularly conductive to learning—it galvanizes our attention, amplifies it, and speeds up learning,” Marano argued in her novel. Children of helicopter parents remain on puppet’s strings with their parents cast as the puppeteers. Those parents suffocate their children until the time comes for their psychologically weak children to finally leave the nest and fly away to college—strings cut—where they plummet, unsure of how manage all the freedom and decisions of a normal 18-year-old. They fear taking risks and the repercussions that could accompany them. But, for kids, all they need is a little bit of trust and independence to get their own lives on track.

[March] 2015

Teenangst Dream Youth Revolt Against Predetermined Stereotypes

eenagers have a reputation for being rebellious, having contempt for authority and lacking a grasp on the concept of responsibility. Long hair, loud music, drugs, alcohol – these stereotype the image of a teenager, yet as accurate or as inaccurate as they may be, there is always something beyond the superficial. The truth is, there’s much more going on in a teen’s mind than what our actions may sometimes reflect. Surrounded by influences and absorbing pressure from all sides, it’s difficult to know who you are and define yourself in this environment. Often times, teenagers take out their frustrations with life in self expression via clothing, lifestyle choices and behavior towards parents and authority. Adults who have grown past these stages of life struggle to connect to such decisions and often forget what its like to be growing up. The human brain does not finish fully developing until the mid-20’s, making young adults especially susceptible to decision-making that could negatively affect their lives in ways they fail to foresee. While some young adults possess an acute sense of wrong/right, and how to make make choices based on said concept, many fun-loving teens fall victim to spur-of-themoment sensationalism which alters their sense of what to do and what not to. Junior Trysten Daum sais on the topic, “Teens are discriminated against and harrrassed by our elders based on what we look like, how we dress, how we act. Whether adults want to admit that they sterotype teenagers or not – we know better. I’ve been targeted by OE secruity guards multiple times and asked if I’m carrying drugs because of my long hair and appearance.” Teenagers going through puberty and in periods of confusion regarding their identity and place in the world are more likely to be looked down upon by authority figures who can’t or don’t make the effort to understand the plight of a troubled youth. When we take out these uncertainties about life in “rebellious” actions and reactions, it is a defense response -- an

“I’ve been targeted by OE secruity guards multiple times and asked if I’m carrying drugs because of my long hair and appearance.” -Trysten Daum

Gavin Miller//Staff Writer

attempt to be seen, be understood and to connect. In addition to pure confusion, teenagers tend to feel as if they have a lack of say concerning their own bodies, lives and personal decisions. Right on the cusp of being granted “adult” rights (drinking, voting), and still under the control of parental rule-making (curfews, the reserved right to get tattoos/piercing), this can feel stiflingly controlling to many independent spirited teens. Again, this lack of control leads to the reactionary behavior which in turn leads to the reputation designated for the particular age group. Of course, some unruly or disrespectful teen conduct is genuinely unacceptable and purely a reflection of a mean-spirited or irresponsible personality. Everyone is responsible for themselves, and should be held accountable for acts of true disregard for personal safety and that of others. This being said, if society’s attitude concerning teenagers wasn’t so judgmental and unfair, there would be a visible reduction of misbehavior. Everyone needs to experiment in their life, and with raging hormones and the heightened desire to experience life, the high school age seems the most popular outlet to do just that. Everyone has to go through their teenage years, and everyone reacts to the posed challenges diffferently. With an endless amount of factors, such as upbringing and hardships of the past, going into one’s personality, it’s impossible to put together a paradigm model of how we should act, dress or carry ourselves as people. As a high schooler, I think I can speak for everyone in saying that we can be selfish and irresponsible. Speaking from the same point, I also know that the teenage mind is bustling, harried, stressed and yearning for release.

20 [Advertisement]

Happy Spring Break From The Hawkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Eye! Taste of Johnson County Sample food from 20+ top area restaurants Saturday, March 28th 5:00-7:30pm at Olathe East $15 adults, $10 students $4 discount when purchased with theatre ticket Purchase tickets in OE office or at www.olatheschools.com/olatheeast Proceeds go to OE Project Graduation Questions? Contact Cathy Ash at rjeash@sbcglobal.net

[March] 2015

Hipster Hotspots

Natalie Friend//Staff Writer

Local Places, Local People...Studies Show Where Students Go

he growing demand for vintage curiosities has led to the return of our roots, or more specifically our parents’ roots. Vinyls and vinyl players, ripped jeans, high-waisted pants, Polaroid cameras, mix tapes and sweaters have all made a drastic comeback, especially with younger generations. Small, eclectic coffee shops are beginning to compete with commercial companies like Starbucks, at least in some student circles. Thrift stores have replaced name brands and vinyls have replaced CD’s.The Hawk’s Eye polled 30 students, both male and female, and from that data decided where and why people go. Senior Evan Graham said, “I like listening to vinyl because it feels cooler than just playing it out of a CD or phone. And in a lot of instances it produces a better, more full sound than an ordinary speaker.” Many people seem to agree that vinyls are worth listening to. Along with typical merchandise, popular bands have begun to sell their albums on vinyls. “They made a comeback because everyone wants to be hip,” said Graham.

Starbucks; an American global coffee company and coffeehouse chain, boasts that it’s the largest coffeehouse company in the world. Inside, you can join the group and be just like everyone else. While this popular hangout lacks the coziness and quality that the other, more unique coffee shops provide, it doesn’t lack in coffee. If you’re looking for something quick and nearby, this is the place to go.

16521 W 119th St, Olathe, KS 66061

“At Oddly Correct, they have such a high respect for the ‘culture of coffee’... they want to only sell what’s actually coffee,” said Graham.

Our runner-up, Blackdog Coffeehouse, is the place you’re looking for if enjoying a comfortable environment and delicious products is your cup of tea. Blackdog is the perfect place to meet with a friend, do work away from home or the office, catch up on your studies or simply grab a meal. Although a slight drive, once you walk through Blackdog’s doors you will find yourself among students, musicians, artists, bookworms, families, game enthusiasts, corporate men and women, and more. Blackdog holds weekly music nights, exhibitions of local art, game nights and a large conference room anyone can book for private meetings, parties or clubs. Not just a coffeehouse, Blackdog Coffeehouse is a place of community.

12815 W 87th St Pkwy, Lenexa, KS 66215

Records and vinyls, a resurrected art, seem to be found in a variety of places. Yet Vintage Stock, an entertainment retailer, came out on top. Full of video games, DVDs, CDs, LPs, comic books, toys, sports cards and other related merchandise; the company’s headquarters are actually nearby in Joplin, Missouri.

Thrift-Shopping Tips:

~ Don’t overthink about what you’re buying. ~ “Want comfy flannels & sweaters? Check the Men’s Section!” ~ Shop in larger sizes for the oversized & comfortable look. ~ No matter what you buy, you’ll look great.

12815 W 87th St Pkwy, Lenexa, KS 66215

“When you go to these places you can run away from your responsibilities,” said Junior Kayla Davis.

Savers, the top thrift store polled, is a privately held for-profit thrift store chain offering secondhand shopping. Savers receives its merchandise by paying money to non-profit organizations for donated clothing and household items, and through direct donation by individuals. Inside, you can find second-hand clothing, footwear, bedding, furniture, jewelry, electronics, toys, and housewares all often fewer than ten dollars.

Santa Fe Square Shopping Center, 13509 S Mur-Len Rd #125A, Olathe, KS 66062

22 [Entertainment]

Teacher’s Pet

Four-Legged Friends that Hold Dear to Teachers’ Hearts

Annie Beurman//Senior Staff Writer

Getting attached to a dog doesn’t take long. No matter how they misbehave or drive their owner insane, no one can resist such a cute face. Even some of our teachers have furry friends of their own.

•Teacher: Mr. Larkin- English •Dog name: Sebastian •Already had the name when they got him •Breed: Cocker Spaniel •Had dog for three years

FUN FACTS:

•A friend didn’t want him anymore and was trying to find a good home for him •Best memory: He is excited every time Mr. Larkin comes home •No tricks •Sounds like he’s purring when he’s being pet

•Teacher: Coach Wallace- PE •Dog Name: Sassy •Daughter named her •Maltese/Yorkie Mix •Had the dog for a year and a half

FUN FACTS:

•Wife bought her •Best memory: When she quit peeing on the carpet •No tricks •Most disobedient dog ever, but her cuteness saves her

•Teacher: Mr. Feaster- English •Dog name: Rusty •Breed: Rust-colored Dachshund •Had the dog for eight years

FUN FACTS:

•Got him from a Dachshund breeder in Gardner •Best memory: “The time he chased a cat into a tree. The cat upon reflection, realized that she was as big as Rusty and then jumped out of the tree onto him. Needless to say, he was in a state of frenzy until I chased the cat off of him.” •Tricks: He can stand on his hind legs for a treat •Adept at chasing squirrels and rabbits out of the backyard

•Teacher: Ms. Boggs- Cheer and Health •Dog name: LJ (Lil Jo) •Breed: Miniature Chihuahua and terrier •Had dog for 11 years

FUN FACTS:

•Daughter got the dog for her 18th birthday from a guy she was dating •He can find his own gifts under the Christmas tree and rip them open himself • Tricks: Sits, shakes, rolls over, speaks, loves to fetch and play tug of war

Total Request Literature

[March] 2015

The Books Your English Teachers Want To Teach You Aaron Rhodes // Senior Staff Writer

any harsh realities plague our education system. One of the biggest problems is constant budget cuts and shortfalls. These issues leave teachers without the resources to give students knowledge that may be deemed very important to their success. To get a perspective on the subject, The Hawk’s Eye asked Olathe East’s English teachers about what books and material they would assign to their students if they had the chance.

“Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston I like it because it demands you to step out of your comfort zone and really look through someone else’s eyes. I can’t teach it because parents would complain about racism, rape, cussing, female protagonists, and the fact that good literature often challenges cultural norms.” -Steve Franzen, junior English [This book is taught at East but not to any classes Franzen teaches] “I would like to add the non-fiction novel, Unbroken” by Lauren Hillenbrand, because it has thematic values that stand the test of time, it is easy enough for freshmen to read, and it is a compelling non-fiction read which doesn’t come along every day.” -Jennifer Rippee, freshman English “Lies My Teacher Told Me by James W. Loewen If I could only choose one, this would likely be it. It’s more fit for a history class rather than an English one, but an informed public is one of the most important goals of education and this book covers the most interesting parts of American history left out of most textbooks. I would also add, Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee by Dee Brown and The Autobiography of Malcom X by Malcom X with Alex Haley. I would encourage anyone, especially white males, to read these books for a perspective on being a minority in a white majority nation.” -Keith Larkin, sophomore & junior English “Any additional novels I would select are already used by other English classes (other grade levels) at OE. However, if I had the funds to subscribe to non-fiction materials, such as Time Magazine, etc., I definitely would.” -Cindi Kimmel, freshman English “If we’re able to dream, I’d love a subscription to the New Yorker - timely, there’s something for everyone at every level, all types of text/writing - for each and every Hawthor [Hawk author]/student at OE. And, a passage from the New Yorker was just used on the ACT.” -Jennifer Quick, junior English

Calendar Monday, March 16-Monday, March 23 No School- Spring break

Thursday, March 26 7:30 pm- Spring Mainstage Play in the Auditorium Friday, March 27 4:15 pm- Baseball: Varsity Tournament vs. Olathe Northwest @ ODAC Saturday, March 28 5:00 pm- Taste of Johnson County in the Main Gym/ Commons

Top 5 Random Holidays in March 1. March 20- International Earth Day 2. March 14- National Pi Day 3. March 11- Johnny Appleseed Day 4. March 12- Girl Scout Day 5. March 25- Waffle Day

Which Olathe East teacher can rap “Super Bass” by Nicki Minaj? Last Issue’s answer:

Mr. Flynn co-wrote on the show NUMB3ERS.