Oh, Snow!

the chronicle

Olathe North High School 600 E. Prairie Olathe, Kansas 66061

3 | 2019

Volume 6 Issue 5

2

The Chronicle | Issue 5 | March 2019

the chronicle | table of contents News National Champions Again 4 Oh, Shell No! 6 Less Than Zero 8 Page 4 | News

Oh Snow! 10 Addiction 14 Northviews 32

A&E Conspiracy Theories 18

Page 26 | A&E

What Drives the Teachers Crazy? 19 Book Releases of 2019 20 Heard in the Hallways 22 We Went Vegan for a Week 23 Smokey and Saucy 26

Page 30 | Sports

Opinion Scholarship and Skepticism 28 The Wings of Politics 29

Sports State Update 30

Page 32 | News

March 2019 | Issue 5 | The Chronicle

Letter From the Editors

3

Contact Information Mailing address: 600 E Prarie St. Olathe, KS 66061 Phone: (913) 780-7140 Email: theonchronicle@gmail.com Responding to the Publication Letters to the editors can be submitted to the email address listed above. Letters may be published in print. Letters may not be personal attacks against an individual and may be edited for brievity or legibility.

D

ear Eagles, Buckle your seat belts, we’re in the endgame now. Spring break has drawn to a close and has (hopefully) marked the end of Winter.

Three-quarters of the year has gone by and only a quarter remains-one last quarter for some. While the reality of graduation may be just now be sinking in for some seniors, others were diagnosed with senioritis sophomore year. Either way, graduation is well on its way, along with prom, AP tests and finals. And finally, summer. As the snow melts into Spring,

we prepare for the home stretch of the school year. We’ll wake up earlier, study for tests, and trade in our hoodies for shorts, all while daydreaming of summer.

Remember to breathe in these times of stress. Take a walk, hang out with friends, give yourself a five-minute break from studying-and breathe. The school year may be revving up for its climax, but you still have time to make memories. Enjoy high school while it lasts; graduation comes quicker than you would think. We would know.

Go Eagles!

Rachel Delehanty

Isabella Bray

Advertising The Chronicle accepts advertisments; these can be submitted to the email above. Pricing and other information can be obtained by contacting us at rcaveon@olatheschools.org or rdelehantyonchronicle@gmail.com.

Purpose The Chronicle is the official high school news publication of Olathe North High School, and open forum distributed to all students eight times a year. This is the fifth issue of volume six. The Chronicle is printed by the Sedalia Democrat, 700 South Massachusetts.

Sedalia, MO. 65301. This is a student publication and may contain controversial matter. The Olathe Unified School District No. 233 and its board members, officers and employees disclaim any responsibility for the content of this student publication; it is an expression of the School District Policy. Students and editors are soly responsible for this student publication.

Abigail Miles

2018 | 2019 STAFF Editors-In-Chief Isabella Bray Rachel Delehanty Abigail Miles Online Editor Bailey Flanagan Staff Writers Hayley Adams

Claire Decatur Lily Harrison Cade Heikes Sam Schaper Neha Sridhar Elizabeth Tuckness Photo Editor Jena Bright

Photographers Anna Diehm Hailey Kitivoravong Lana Tarik Editors Miles Arambula Ashley Honey Kalley Jurgielski

Andrea Martin Molly Duke Copy Editor Abby Shepherd Staff Artist Sarah Montes Advisor Robert M. Cave, Jr.

4

The Chronicle | Issue 5 | News | March 2019 | Design by: Sarah Montes

NATIONAL CHAMPIONS AGAIN By: Claire Decatur | Staff Writer

O

n January 30th, the Olathe North Eaglettes Dance Team went to Orlando, Florida for The DTU Nationals. The Varsity Eaglettes came home with 1st in Pom for the third year in a row and for the first time ever Junior Varsity Eaglettes went to Nationals.

The Eaglettes started preparation for nationals months before the competition. They started learning the dance right after tryouts but they got behind due to the field show. They had contemporary done in the beginning of the year and finished learning Pom in December.

The team left January 30th and arrived a few hours later in Orlando, Florida. “We left at 3, got to our hotel in Orlando and practiced and relaxed,” said freshman Eaglette Lily Harrison. The first day was still busy as it was filled with unpacking, rehearsing and looking around the hotel.

There was a change in coaching mid-December and it put a lot of pressure on the leadership of Varsity captain Grace Williams and JV captain Lily Matuszeski. “The responsibilities fell back us, we were now in charge of making our routines, changing dances, making formation. It was like we were the ones coaching the team,” said Williams.

Some of the girls get themselves personally ready by conditioning

before school. “Some of the senior and juniors would come out at 6:30 to work out and would practice at 7,” stated Cassie Walsh. “We tried to work on building stamina. I would prepare mentally by getting ahead on school work and doing extra credit.” The team works nonstop all year to get ready for Nationals.

For the first four days the Eaglettes mainly rehearsed and got ready for the competition on Friday and Saturday. The trip wasn’t all fun and games, as most of the days were long practices and preparation to get ready for their competition. They had different master classes they could take to get vvbetter at dances like hip-hop and jazz.

The highly anticipated competition was the fifth and sixth day and the girls were eager to dance. They woke up early and got their makeup and hair done. “One of my least favorite parts was waking up early on competition day and getting our hair and makeup ready,” stated Williams.

JV and Varsity competed on the fifth day and then found out later all their dances made it into finals.

The next day they competed in finals and received the awards later that night.

The Varsity Eaglettes team competed in Pom and Contemporary and

placed first in Pom and seventh in contemporary. The team has won pom for three years in a row. “It feels so good to be apart of that history and every time you know the work is worth it,” exclaimed Williams.

Although the Varsity team has attended Nationals for over 10 years, this is the first time Junior varsity has ever gone. The JV Eaglettes placed third in Pom and seventh in Jazz.

“You can see a difference in going to Nationals and not, it’s such a different experience and you get so close to the team because of all the time we spend together,” said Matuszeski.

On the teams last day in Florida, they got to go to Universal Studios.

“I loved going to Universal Studios because I finally got to go to Harry Potter world,” exclaimed Harrison. She adds, “It was nice to take a break from all the competitions and finally relax.” The team went to Disney World last year, but went to Universal Studios for a fun change.

Most of the girls’ favorite part of the trip was getting closer as a team.

“We would all eat dinner together in someone’s room and we had a girls’ night where we would all talk and hang out,” said Freshman Melana Zorn. The team was together for a week so they got to know each other more during the trip.

Design by: Sarah Montes | March 2019 | News | Issue 5 | The Chronicle

National Champion Eaglettes dance team practicing and performing during the 2018-2019 season.

5

6

The Chronicle | Issue 5 | News | March 2019 | Design by: Rachel Delehanty

Oh, SHELL No! By: Rachel Delehanty | Editor-in-Chief

S

pring break has come to a close, and for some Olathe North students and faculty that went to the beach to escape the never ending winter, their tropical destination is a thing of the past.

At any beach, shells are found all over whether it be in the water, in the sand, or in souvenir shops. Although a shell necklace can seem like a good keepsake, what most people don’t know is that molluscs inside of those shells are being killed at an alarming rate.

Glittered, painted, dyed—you name it, it’s been done to hundreds of thousands of creatures that once lived in the sea and this trend is becoming concerning for shelled creatures of all kinds.

Although it seems like a shell would be the perfect souvenir to remind you of the sunkissed times, the role of molluscs is very crucial in ecosystems around the world. “Every species is important to an ecosystem as a whole. The deletion of one species can cause a ripple effect, wreaking havoc for many other species,” said Animal Health Senior Julia Sketers.

Molluscs include species such as snails, slugs, clams, mussels, squid and octopi. Although each species is being affected by humans in their own way, the animals that inhabit seashells stand out as victims of mindless destruction of marine life. No one is certain of the exact amount of shells that are traded and sold annually, but it’s thought that around 5,000 species are targeted each year.

Sea shells are good for more than a decorative covering on a pic-

ture frame or bracelet. According to a National Geographic article written by Tina Deines, the living animals inside them serve “a variety of ecological roles, including providing an anchorage for epiobonts like algae that provide food for marine like ad for filter-feeding barnacles, which help clean the water.” They also provide food for animals such as turtles and a keystone species: sharks. A keystone species is a species that an ecosystem is largely dependent on in maintaining balance. It can be hard for the species to gain attention when there are thousands of species on the endangered list, however the outcome of forgetting them would leave ecosystems a wreck.

The article further states, that the main reason why there has been a decrease in molluscs in seas worldwide, is the harvesting of the animals for commercial use. The life after capture for them is very short lived and far from human. First, heaps of recently caught molluscs are laid out in the sun to dry.

“Next up for the seashells: a dunking for a few hours in large vats of oil and acid to clean them.” Later, any imperfection on the shell is scraped off to be thrown into another vat of oil. Finally, the shells go through a round or two of polishing before being decorated for whatever purpose they are chosen to serve. This entire process starts with the shells very much alive. Before the shells get dunked in oil, one of the most devastating methods of harvesting the shells takes place. A common practice used by fishermen looking

to gain hundreds of marine life in a short time is called bottom trawling. Bottom trawling involves a giant net dragging across the sea floor, decimating any sea creatures along the way. All living habitats are smashed, uprooted, and smothered as the sea bed is turned over.

“Only a few species—notably the queen conch, the chambered nautilus, the giant clam, and a few species of snails—are protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES),” states Deines. Different countries have differing rules and regulations regarding the ability to harvest molluscs. Even those who have a permit to fish for molluscs disregard species that are threatened. The main way to stop this is to decrease the demand for decorative shells. One alternative craft that can be made to replicate the structure and look of a mollusc is glass blown “shells”. They mimic the beauty of a seashell without taking a toll on the ocean ecosystems.

Life without molluscs is uncertain. Without a doubt, marine ecosystems would be unable to function with the absence of them. Although it may seem that something as small as a mollusc is insignificant, life would look much different without them. So, the next time you find yourself in a knick knack souvenir shop, ask the shop owners where the shells came from. If they don’t know, there’s a good chance they were harvested unethically.

There are 507 species of molluscs that are endangered.

March 2019 | Issue 5 | The Chronicle

7

EARN WHILE YOU LEARN! 105 W. 12th Avenue North Kansas City, MO 64116 cdalton@builerassoc.com iupatdc3training.com Office 816.595.4138 Fax 816.471.6178 Cell 816.289.3675

Painting Floor Covering Drywall Finishing Glazing

Become a Skilled Tradesperson!

Starting wages between $15 and $17.50

ZERO DEBT

8

The Chronicle | Issue 5 | News | March 2019 | Design by: Molly Duke

Less Than Zero When it seems the governent has given up on protecting the enviornment, a new wave of eco-concious individuals have taken a stand to protect it, and their future.

By: Molly Duke | Staff Editor

I

t’s always been clear that the United States has a bit of a waste problem.

Whether it be food waste, organic waste, or even just throwing away everyday items, the lack of education about what we throw away and where it really ends up is a growing problem. So it’s not seen as a surprise that a small percentage of Americans have taken it upon themselves to transition to a zero waste lifestyle.

Zero Waste is a philosophy that originally started to pick up around 1998 with the goal being to produce as little waste possible, eventually producing zero waste.

Whether it be swapping their usual items for ones that were reusable, or even producing their own goods, the Zero Waste philosophy seemed to be one of the most positive ones of it’s time. However, the popularity of it dwindled throughout the 2000’s, only to be making a reappearance in the past few years.

Many people who begin adapting their life to fit the requirements of the Zero Waste philosophy start with the way they grocery shop. Many products on store shelves arewraped in plastic, put in boxes, or sometimes even both. It’s easy to switch some of these products out, bringing your own item and shopping in bulk. However, most stores don’t offer zero waste alternatives in some products, which can cause a bit of a learning curve. Those who can get past the curve however often apply the philosophy to their entire lifestyle.

The second step is to tackle the non-food products. From laundry detergent to cleaning supplies, many find themselves amiss with how to replace the products they’ve never even thought about. Many turn to simply focusing on limiting waste in the kitchen, while some take the plunge and begin searching for alternatives. People make their own cleaning supplies, or search for ones in glass containers. Whatever peo-

ple choose, the outcome is always more ideal than their original waste management system.

Although there are plenty of assumptions as to why it’s popularity has begun to skyrocket in the past few years, many Millenial and Generation Z adults and teens attribute it to the many steps taken by President Trump and his policies which have put the environment on the bottom of his priority list.

“Last November, President Trump published a series of tweets blaming poor forest management for the deadly fires that destroyed homes and lives in California.”

Through the past two years of the Trump presidency, many laws and acts have been rolled back which had been put in place by the previous president, Barack Obama, which protected the environment.

In the past two years, America has taken more steps backwards in protecting the environment than it has taken forward.

Another issue is the lack of education when it comes to the waste industry.

For many, throwing away something makes that item out of their responsibility. However, many objects don’t make it to a landfill.

Some products end up on the side of the road, some filter through streams into the

oceans, and some even end up polluting drinking water supplies. The problem with trash is that even if you think you’ve handled it properly, odds are it won’t end up where it’s supposed to.

“There is no such thing as ‘away’.

When we throw anything away, it must go somewhere.” Annie Leonard, an environmental activist, commented in reference to the pollution epidemic. Leonard is currently a member on the board for the Global Alliance of Incinerator Alternatives, as well as having previously served on the board for the Grassroots recycling network.

Some account this call for action to the Millennials and Generation Z, the new generation of teenagers and young adults who are taking the steps necessary to save their environments - and their futures.

Near the end of July in 2018, the court case Juliana v. United States began, where 21 children attempted to sue the U.S Government for its role in causing climate change. However, when the case failed to convince the Supreme Court, the government rushed to finish the case and keep it hidden from the press. The trial still hasn’t officially been taken to court and settled.

However, even with America as a whole not taking the steps necessary to protect the environment, these individuals are making it clear they’re up to the task.

The Zero Waste lifestyle has begun to spring back to life, with activists everywhere taking the first steps to help rejuvenate the environment.

It’s obvious that the Zero Waste philosophy isn’t an easy one to live by, however the positive effects that come with it outweigh the possible negative learning curve. One thing is certain; America needs to tidy up the way it tidies up or the environment may not last another decade.

Design by: Molly Duke | March 2019 | News | Issue 5 | The Chronicle

Enviormental Impacts: How We’re Killing Earth

Of the estimated 251 million tons of consumer solid waste generated each year in the U.S., approximately 32.5 percent of the trash is recycled or composted, 12.5 percent is burned and the remaining 55 percent is buried in landfills.

The average American throws out 4.4 pounds of trash a day. Amounting to 132 pounds a month, and a over 1,584 pounds in a year. This is the highest amount in history.

The U.S. consumes

30 percent

of the world’s resources despite making up only 5 percent of the world’s population..

The U.S. has 3,091 active landfills and over 10,000 old municipal landfills, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Municipal landfills take up room for options like fields and buildings.

It’s estimated that Americans recycle 34% of the waste they create, which means that 66% is sent to one of the three-thousand active landfills across the country.

It’s estimated that Americans recycle 34% of the waste they create, which means that 66% is sent to one of the thousand active landfills across the country.

9

10 The Chronicle | Issue 5 | Feature | March 2o19 | Design by: Ashley Honey

OH, SNOW!

The Olathe High Schools are required to make up missed instructional time due to snow days, changing the way schools function after spring break.

By: Hayley Adams | Staff Writer Art by: Abigal Miles | Editor-in-Chief

W

ho doesn’t love a snow day?

A day to sleep in, catch up on homework, and maybe hang out with friends. However, due to the unprecedented amount of snow days the Olathe School District has had this year, they are quickly becoming a headache for everyone involved.

On February 25th, the Olathe Public Schools Administration sent out a newsletter to staff, parents, and students.

Since Olathe high schools are behind in student contact hours, their schedule will change in 4th quarter to ensure that the necessary time is met. According to the newsletter, Monday, March 18th, which was previously a Professional Day, will change to a full day of school for students in grades 9-12. Professional development will

By: Abby Shepherd | Copy Editor

occur on this day for elementary and middle school teachers, but their students will not have to attend school. Each high school will also add 10 minutes to the beginning of each school day, starting the day at 7:50

“It all comes down to safety.”

-Tim Brady, Athletics and Activities Director a.m. There will also no longer be a Thursday late start, and classes on that day will start at 7:50 as well. Wednesday, May 22, which is the second day of finals for grades 9-11, will change from a half day to a full day.

The Olathe School District

“I see both sides. I [understand] that legally we are required to have a certain amount of time in school but I think they are taking it a little too far.”

doesn’t have a tradition of adding extra school days at the end of the year, so discussions occurred between the district’s superintendent and his senior leadership team to decide how to gain back this lost time. “There will definitely be some extensions, a ten minute early start. We are checking our minutes with the state to make sure that the number we have so far is the number they say should be accurate,” Superintendent John Allison states.

The criteria varies when it comes to declaring a snow day, and sometimes snow isn’t even required, as was seen when Olathe schools were given a day off due to dangerously low temperatures. According to Athletics and Activities Director Tim Brady, “It all comes down to safety.

If the roads, parking lots, and sidewalks

anonymous opinions

“I understand not having late start but 7:50 is too early [to start school] and there has been research [that says] school [already] starts too early.”

Design by: Ashley Honey | March 2019 | Feature | Issue 5 | The Chronicle are safe for students, staff, and patrons, our plan is to have school. Bus transportation is also factored into the decision.”

In order to make the most informed decision before declaring a snow day, district administration looks at the possible weather conditions early on.

Since Kansas weather is often unpredictable, up to date forecasts are always necessary. Allison explained the process of consulting weather experts when severe weather is likely. “We contact meteorologists at the company Weather or Not who work 24/7. They will send us weather forecasts, and they’re available for us to call anytime,” he says. This expertise is helpful when the district has to make important decisions regarding the cancellation of school or extracurricular activities.

Once a snow day has been declared, students celebrate, knowing that they can sleep in the next day. However, for many district workers, their hard work has just begun. According to Brady, school custodial/maintenance staff usually has to come in to work on snow days, but it also depends on the weather conditions. “Typically they will come in to shovel the sidewalks and entry ways.

The operations department staff takes care of plowing the parking lots,” he says.

Allison adds on, saying, “Employees who work on snow days usually need about 9-10 hours to clear sidewalks and parking lots to make them safe.”

The Food Services Division of the district also has to deal with the consequences of snow days. Scott Kingery, head of Food Services, describes what his division must do once they are aware of a snow day. “When a snow/inclement weather day is called, Food Services has a number of menus to reschedule and cancel.” He adds, “The typical protocol is on the first day back from the snow day, the food that had already been delivered to the elementary schools and the food that had already been loaded to be delivered to the secondary schools is served.”

Food Services also has to deal with the perishable food that would have been used on the snow day. Kingery states, “The food that cannot be served prior to its expiration date or before the quality degrades is typically donated to a food reclamation organization such as Harvesters.”

Kingery adds, “There is also a significant financial loss to Food Services because the ‘business’ of selling

11

Community Impact A poll was conducted to collect the opinions of 100 Olathe students and parents.

do not believe it is reasonable to have school on

62%

March 18th. yes

no

Do you believe it is reasonable to start school at 7:50 every day during 4th quarter?

76%

do not believe it is reasonable to elimimate Thursday

late start.

12 The Chronicle | Issue 5 | Feature | March 2019 | Design by: Ashley Honey Looking Deeper

Cody Kennedy*

Communications and Media Manager at Olathe School District

Question: What’s the process of deciding a snow day?

Answer: Discussions regarding any cancellations begin often days in advance of potential inclement weather. As weather forecasts can change at a moment’s notice and every situation is different, a variety of factors are taken into consideration when canceling including temperature, precipitation, wind speed, wind chill, road and sidewalk conditions.

There is no “magic number” in regard to a cancellation.

Olathe Public Schools takes cancellations very seriously and staff members often work through the night to closely monitor conditions and then work diligently to inform the public.

Question: What is your role in decision to cancel?

Answer: Cancellations due to inclement weather take a lot of logistical work involving many moving pieces. My role as the Communication and Media Manager is to create messaging for the Olathe Public Schools mobile app, social media and/or parents/staff. I also notify local news outlets of our decision to cancel. *Photo courtesy of Cody Kennedy.

meals is closed on a snow day. No rev- room on their day off. “I post videos on enue is generated, but there’s still the Google Classroom as a supplement for full labor cost of a normal school day.” absent students or if students need extra Food Services employees occa- reinforcement, which actually allows me sionally have to come in to work during to go at a faster pace,” states Tarwater. He a snow day. “On one snow day this year, claims that he would consider teaching via a few employees came to work to frost flipped-classroom, but says, “I wouldn’t the thousands of brownies that had been necessarily teach on snow days unless evbaked the day beery teacher was refore,” Kingery claims. quired to do so.”

James TarAllison water, a Pre-Calculus states, “Right now teacher, is in charge of with the current state all matters relating to statute we wouldn’t the ACT exam at Olathe be able to count North, and he had to any of that time, so resolve the issue of the teachers instructrecently canceled ACT ing students online on February 20th. Stu- -Tim Brady, Athletics and during a snow day dents who were taking wouldn’t help with Activities Director the ACT with accommake-up of minutes.” modations took the test on February 26th, In AP classes, many teachers while students who were going to take want to stay on track so their students will the exam without any accommodations be prepared for their final exams. Principal now have to take it on April 2nd. “All of Jason Herman believes that flipped-classthe testing materials that we weren’t using rooms would be beneficial, saying, “As for accommodations this week had to be we continue to expand our technology packed up and sent in the mail,” he says. I think that it would be amazing for pacSnow days can also cause many ing, to allow our students to stay on track.” teachers to feel stress, especially AP or Allison acknowledges that not every stuHonors teachers, who have to fit in all of dent has access to the Internet at home, their curriculum before end of the year but believes that something could be exams. Some teachers have turned to worked out in the future, saying, “Mayflipped-classroom learning on snow days, be in a year or two [flipped-classrooms] or have sent out assignments for their stu- will be something we’re actually doing.” dents to complete through Google Class-

There’s also a significant financial loss to Food Services...

As of March 1, the Olathe District has had

7

snow days FEB

during the 2018-2019 school year.

NOV

JAN

JAN

FEB

FEB

FEB

26 23 30 15 20 27 07 FEB

February 7 was a parent teacher conference day. However, it still counts as a contact hour with students, so these minutes must be made up.

Design by: Ashley Honey | March 2019 | Feature | Issue 5 | The Chronicle

13

A Student Perspective Snow days are a divisive subject among teachers and students. Whether you adore them so you can play “Fortnite” all day, or hate them because your lesson plan gets messed up, we can all agree one thing: we’ve had a lot this year.

The flood of the 2018-2019 snow days began innocently enough on November 26th, our very first snow day of the year. Students were happy, and many teacher were as well. Little did they know however, that this was the beginning of a storm that would put the sanities of teachers up for debate. Since January 22nd, we have had ??? snow days.

As you can imagine, the opinions of teachers and students on the abundance of snow days this year are differing. High School students, for the most part, love the snow days. Although most students enjoy them, many

67%

have admitted that the abundance of snow days have turned into a nuisance.

Kayla Vander Meer is an ON Freshman student who has some different views on the abundance of snow days.

“They get kind of annoying after a while, honestly. They were fun at first, but when we start getting all of this catch up work for the snow days, it gets overwhelming quickly.”

The main way students find out about school cancellations is through social media; Twitter to be more specific.

The Olathe Public school’s twitter has over 16,000 followers and they are always one of the firsts to announce school day cancellations, making their twitter very popular.

So you may be wondering, who is the person behind the Olathe Schools twitter? Is it John Allison (our superintendent) himself, or perhaps, a mysterious social media star teacher? Well, it’s

actually Cody Kennedy, Olathe Schools Communications and Media Manager.

When asked if our tweets really make a difference on the decision to cancel school, Cody said “The only consideration for cancellations is the safety of the students, staff and patrons. Certainly tweets to and involving the district are monitored and read but safety is the only consideration as far as cancellations.”

To see more about Cody Kennedy, refer to the sidebar of this article.

Although it’s fun to tweet the district to convince them to cancel school, they really don’t make much of a difference.

It’s important to remember to not send hate towards the school district when school isn’t cancelled. Snow days are supposed to be fun, so let’s keep them light hearted and not full of negativity.

of surveyed Olathe students and parents believe the schedule changes are

too harsh.

Ashley wrote a poem to convince the district to have a snow day...

Tasteful Tweets

Communication between the district and students is common in the social media age. Here are some tweets posted on the Olathe Schools Twitter account regarding snowdays.

and then school was cancelled.

An account called Bruh Royale was very active on the Olathe Schools Twitter when inclement weather was in the forecast.

Coincidence?

Who is he?? Nobody knows.

14 The Chronicle | Issue 5 | News | March 2019 | Design by: Abigail Miles

By Bailey Flanagan | Online Editor Neha Sridhar | Staff Wrtier

In today’s society, social media has taken over and for some their well being revolves around the world of likes and comments.

F

rom walking through the halls, to eating in the cafeteria there is always a phone in sight. With new developments in technology the past few decades, social media is now a constant form of communication.

With the world centering around the need for attention, it’s no wonder that this form of constant connection is addicting. So addicting in fact that according to Twitter’s 2018 third quarter results, the number of Twitter users rises nine percent everyday and according to

Variety 35,000 snaps are sent every second.

When asked about her daily usage of social media, Sophomore Jahnavi Panchal said, “I’m on my phone all the time.” She adds, “[Social media] is just a habit now that’s hard to break.” This is normal, as according to Common Sense Media, teens spend an average of nine hours a day.

Since the class of 2019 started high school, according to Twitter’s 2018 third quarter results, Twitter has grown from 288 million active users in 2014 to

326 million active users in 2018. Instagram’s usership has grown from 300 million active users in 2014 to one billion active users in 2018, as reported by Instagram. According to Snapchat, usership has grown from 71 million active users in 2014 to 186 million active users in 2018.

This growth and the invention of social media has brought the world closer together than ever before, but it also has the capability to tear people apart. For some, social media can also feel inescapable. This problem is seen everyday, for

Design by: Abigail Miles | March 2019 | News | Issue 5 | The Chronicle example, students who are being bullied – the bullies can now harass them online even when they leave school grounds.

Social media provides an outlet for many to express themselves, whether that is positive or not. For many, there is a disconnect between real life and what’s on their screen, making it feel as if there isn’t a real person on the other side and allowing people to hide behind a mask of anonymity. This disconnect serves as justification for many to do or say things they would never do in real life.

Not only is social media constant, it is permanent. The things you say or do right now can impact your future. Even if you delete a post or tweet, it can still be found if someone is looking for it. Jobs and colleges now run background checks on your social media presence. Any tweets or posts that are deemed “too controversial” can be reason for rejection or dismissal. Parkland survivor and avid social media activist David Hogg has been vocal on his Twitter about colleges rejecting him due to his tweets about Parkland.

Social media is not all bad, as it provides confidence for many. Sophomore Safa Ansari believes social media has helped her gain confidence, however, she says, “It’s not mainly where my confidence comes comes from.” According to a study by Kathy Wilcox and James Laird, the less aware women are of their appearance and the state of their bodies, the happier they are after looking at a thin model. Taking it a step further, women who are unaware of or don’t pay much mind to their bodies even gain confidence from looking at models on Instagram.

We sent a survey out to the student body asking how social media makes them feel. One student said that social media has helped them be more confident in themself and made them open and accepting to the diverse society. Additionally, most students said that social media hasn’t really impacted their self image, or that it even had a positive effect on their self image when it did impact them.

On the other hand, the same study from Wilcox and Laird pointed to insecurity for the majority of women tested. In the survey that was sent out, a majority of Olathe North students stated that it was hard to stay confident in their own appearance when they were constantly seeing posts of attractive people on social media. This can be especially damaging to young and impressionable teens, as it can lead to psychological problems such as anxiety disorders or depression.

Despite the negative effects and the tight hold social media has on society, some students believe that it isn’t something that has to control our lives.

Panchal commented, saying, “I don’t think there are [benefits] to be honest. At a point people lived with it and we can still live without it.” Her comments show how even people who are the most connected with social media can separate themselves from it, which is also a benefit for their mental health.

A recent study by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania delivers new findings that limiting social media usage decreases depression, anxiety, and loneliness. The study found that when its experimental group of subjects limited their usage of platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, or Snapchat to only ten minutes a day for three weeks, they showed significant reductions in levels of depression and loneliness in comparison to the control groups and to the baseline monitoring from the first week of the study. Their anxiety also decreased as they had less fear of missing out on what was going on, since they couldn’t get too involved with what was happening online.

Despite the connections we make on social media, it might be a good time to make a change in your routine if you feel yourself getting overwhelmed. Remember, the world might be more connected than ever, but that won’t matter unless you take care of your mental health.

15

Do you think there are benefits to social media? If so, what benefits?

“The benefits include being exposed to a multitude of different cultures and opinions, well as the ability to connect with friends and family.”

Do you have anything else you want to say about social media?

“I wish it wasn’t such a necessity in today’s day and age. I always feel like I’m missing out if I don’t check social media daily and I feel bad when I don’t post for a while. I think social media has become more of something that’s expected of you than something that’s just for fun.”

“I feel social media has pros and cons, but overall using social media is your choice and how you use it. I stay away from things that make me feel bad and sad. I follow people on Instagram that post like my friends, food videos, memorable stuff, and other things that make me smile. Others might use social media for a completely different reason. Social media can’t be good or bad plain and simple, it is how you use it.”

16 The Chronicle | Issue 5 | News | March 2019 | Design by: Abigail Miles THE INCREASING Do you think there are negatives to social media? If so, what negatives?

“The idea behind social media is to basically show off. It’s human nature to compare ourselves to other so if we see someone else living better than us or prettier than us it can create jealousy or even depression in some people.”

How old were you when you got social media?

No use 13-14 years old 9-10 years old 15-16 years old 11-12 years old

Do you think your own self-image is changed by social media? If so, in what ways?

“I go through times where social media makes me feel better about my body because of an influx of inclusive body types. But I also have times where it makes me look at my body in a negative light due to what pops up on my feed.”

By Lily Harrison | Staff Writer

Before and After

Design by: Abigail Miles | March 2019 | News | Issue 5 | The Chronicle

USE OF

S

17

“ FAC E T U N E ”

crolling through instagram or twitter we see countless selfies of our friends and celebrities. I’m not talking about the selfies with the dog or deer filter im talking about the pictures that look a little too close to perfect. The before and the after it’s all about your appearance and how society sees you. People are using apps like Facetune,Airbrush, Retouch Me, and Perfect Me to slim their body figure, whiten their teeth, get rid of pimples, baggy eyes, dark circles, and smooth their skin.

Apps like these make it very easy to edit photos and have become extremely popular within the Instagram world. The heavy use of these apps have caused a body image debate. Many people edit their pictures because they feel the need to look perfect and flawless in all of their pictures or they can’t post it. These apps have words like perfect, retouch, slim, skinny, and beauty in their titles to convince the consumer that they need to change and edit their photos.

In students minds what does facetune mean to them. Students at Olathe North said “People who can’t live in real life” “Someone changing the way their body looks in a picture” “people on Insta-

gram hiding who they really are”.

With celebrities like Bella Hadid, Kim Kardashian, Dove Cameron, Hannah Stocking and James Charles who use Facetune on every picture they post, the idea that they aren’t good enough is implanted in their follower’s heads.“Celebrities and teenage girls who use it on their Instagram pictures to make themselves look better” said one anonymous student.

Teenage years are already awkward enough but then when teenagers see models on social media platforms like Instagram and VSCO, many feel as if they have to look exactly like the models. Being human doesn’t always mean you are going to have your dream body, clear skin, or bright white teeth.

Forbes.com states that “Teen depression is a real problem and it’s getting worse. Experts are starting to draw a connection between an increase in teen suicide and the rise of social media from 2010 to 2015.”

Today depression is very common in teenagers and is going up. Social media is causing a increase in teen depression. Pewinternet.org states that “73% of teens own a smartphone”

that’s a lot of teenagers who are all social media obsessed.

“The biggest thing is before all of this played a roll, everybody goes through their everyday issues, but like before we had access to devices everyone would go home go to bed and forget about it and now it just perpetuates 24 hours a day and people get obsessed with like what people are posting.” said Olathe North counselor, Nicole Etherton.

Olathe North students had a some things to tell those who do don’t feel good enough about themselves. Isabella Ferguson said “Just that it’s normal to not feel good enough around this age but you just need to constantly remind yourself that you don’t need an app to be beautiful.”

Lastly Daniel Mirakian said “ If anyone feels like they aren’t good enough then they should know that they should be confident with their own natural beauty.

They should accept how they look in reality and own it. Everyone is unique in their own way and they shouldn’t have have to use an app to make them feel better about themselves. People should also start being nicer to each other so others don’t feel like they aren’t good enough.”

With these examples of facetune, you can see the differences between the before and after pictures. Many facetuned pictures are seen of social media like instagram and facebook.

18The Chronicle | Issue 5 | A&E | March 2019 | Design by: Kalley Jurgielski

what drives the teachers CRAZY? Contributions by Ashley Honey | Staff Editor

Some of your favorite Olathe North teachers interviewed in a tell-all on the topic of their pet peeves!

Paul Williams Classroon Behavior Pet Peeve?: “Talking while teacher gives directions.”

Student Behavior Pet Peeve?: “Lining up at the door at the end of the hour, phones, and only putting first names on assignments.”

Hallway Behavior Pet Peeve?: “Walking slow.”

Deena Osness Classroon Behavior Pet Peeve?: “Cell phone usage.”

Student Behavior Pet Peeve?: “Students talking while I’m talking!”

Hallway Behavior Pet Peeve?: “Students laying around in the hallways and coves during EHT- and won’t move when you walk by.”

Deirdre Zongker Classroon Behavior Pet Peeve?: “Students not hearing directions because they’re on their phones, then asking me what we’re doing.”

Student Behavior Pet Peeve?: “Laziness.”

Hallway Behavior Pet Peeve?: “People looking at their phones instead of where they’re going.”

conspiracy theories

By Hayley Adams and Lily Harrison | Staff Writer

19

??

Design by: Kalley Jurgielski | March 2019 | A&E | Issue 5 | The Chronicle

The topic of conspiracy theories is a hot one right now and we’ve highlighted some of the craziest and most interesting ones.

Mattress stores are everywhere, literally. There will be two stores in the same shopping center or within five miles of each other.

Odds are you aren’t a buying a new mattress that often maybe once every 5-10 years and when you do get a new mattress, you go to places like Sam’s Club, Cosco or Nebraska Furniture Mall. So, what is really happening inside of these mattress stores. Are mattress stores just some sort of giant money laundering scheme?

This all started from a comment on Reddit talking about how Mattress Firms are being used to launder money. But when we talked to Mattress Firm employee, Brittney Bivens she said “We are obsessed with finding customers their new beds.” Doesn’t that sound a little creepy that they obsess over it? Maybe the money is there and maybe it’s not.

Who doesn’t love pizza? It’s America’s most popular favorite food and is beloved by all children and adults. Recently however, one popular pizzeria has been making headlines after Youtuber Shane Dawson uploaded a now viral video discussing the pizzeria’s controversial theory. The pizzeria’s name? The one and only, Chuck E Cheese.

In the video, Shane shows some pretty startling images of the Chuck E Cheese pizza. In the pictures, pieces of the pizza appeared to be older than the others and from different original pizzas. So basically, Chuck E Cheese has been accused of reusing old, uneaten pieces of pizza to save money on ingredients. Chuck E Cheese has strongly denied these claims, issuing a press release stating that all of their pizzas are made fresh.

The theory became more real however, when Shane went to his local Chuck E Cheese and received a distorted, and uneven pizza. Although Chuck E Cheese still strongly denies these claims, many have gone to their local Chuck E Cheese’s and most have received suspicious pizzas. In the end, it is just a theory however, I would proceed with caution when you go to your next 7 year old birthday party,

“Omg! I’m European! This is crazy!” A few decades ago, comments like these have become more and more common with the rise of sites like Ancestry.com and 23andme.com. With the increased popularity around these websites, come the conspiracies around the DNA testing business. The main theory is that these companies are keeping our DNA to sell to us later in life when anti-aging technology is more advanced to basically sell us our young selves again. Confused? Me too.

Medical Professions teacher Chris Elniff has strong opinions on the matter. “That’s stupid, why would I buy my own DNA?” Elniff went into a lot more intricate detail on the matter, but basically said old DNA and new DNA is very similar. He continued to say that we are nowhere close to human immortality because of the second law of thermodynamics: if it exists it breaks down. So maybe, these companies aren’t keeping our DNA samples locked top secret safes, or maybe, that’s just what they want you to believe.

20 The Chronicle | Issue 5 | A&E | March 2019 | Design by: Ashley Honey

book releases of 2019

By: Ashley Honey | Staff Editor By: Neha Sridhar | Staff Writer Art by: Sarah Montes | Staff Artist

BLOOM* BY KEVIN PANETTA | ILLUSTRATED BY SAVANNA GANUCHEAU

H

igh school graduate Ari has dreams much bigger than working at his family’s bakery. In order to leave town with his band, Ari must find a new employee to replace him at the bakery. But Ari and his replacement, Hector, become closer and closer as the story progresses, and Ari begins to question his decisions to pursue music in the city.

Bloom is perfect for graphic novel lovers, avid readers, or anyone who loves a good story. The concept of this book is quite unique to young adult fiction; it is rare to find baking as the central plot of a story. Short yet impactful, Bloom captures the tender moments of two characters de-

veloping feelings for one another while also touching on the hardships of transitioning from high school into the adult world.

Despite the overall lighthearted tone, Bloom manages to weave heavy subjects into its plot. The LGBTQ+ aspect of this book was handled masterfully, and it did not fall into negative stereotypes; Bloom serves as a wonderful example of a positive gay romance in young adult fiction.

The art style of this graphic novel is pleasing to the eye, with muted blue, gray, and white illustrations.

With beautiful panels and a heartwarming story, Bloom is a book that is difficult to put down and impossible to forget.

RELEASED ON: JANUARY 29

FAMOUS IN A SMALL TOWN* BY EMMA MILLS

F

rom fan favorite contemporary author Emma Mills comes Famous In A Small Town, another sweetly told narrative about the interactions in friendships and relationships. Enthusiasts of her previous works, such as First & Then, This Adventure Ends, and Foolish Hearts, will be sure to enjoy this novel’s refreshing take on young adult realistic fiction.

Sophie, the protagonist, is a teenage girl living in a small town with a close-knit friend group. The book starts off when August, Sophie’s new neighbor, moves to town. He has a quiet demeanor and keeps to himself, but with time he becomes a part of Sophie’s small social circle.

This book had a light-hearted and almost predictable feel, yet it also had some major plot twists that were cleverly written. Some great aspects of the book included the realistic friendships in the novel. While ro-

mance played a role in the plot, most of the narrative tended to focus on the intricacy and ongoings of the relationships between Sophie and friends. There were also a few major plot twists in this book that were hard to predict. In many contemporary novels, major changes in plot directions seem to be avoided, leading to a very linear plot line that feels familiar and similar to many other in the genre. However, this book pulled off a few twists that worked well with the plot, despite having some issues.

This novel is perfect for any fan of contemporary fiction who wants to read a fun story about what it means to have close friendships as a teenager. Taking an intimate look at the benefits of having a few close friends than having many acquaintances, Famous in a Small Town is the friendship driven novel that contemporary young adult fiction tends to lack.

RELEASED ON: JANUARY 15

Design by: Ashley Honey | March 2019 | A&E | Issue 5 | The Chronicle

21

YOU ASKED FOR PERFECT* BY LAURA SILVERMAN

A

riel Stone is the epitome of a perfectionist. From pulling all nighters to cancelling his social plans, Ariel will do anything to stay at the top of is class. But when he fails one of his Calculus quizzes and has to find a tutor, Ariel can’t help but feel like his life is spiraling out of control. Ariel and his tutor, Amir, develop a friendship along the way, and Ariel is faced with two choices: stay at the top of his class by sacrificing his health or putting his safety above all.

You Asked for Perfect is an impeccable contemporary realistic fiction book for students with a high motivation to succeed. Ariel’s mental health begins to spiral throughout the novel because he neglects his mental health in order to study and fulfill extracurricular activities that will impress his dream school: Harvard.

Not only does Silverman illustrate the harmful process of high school burnout, but she also weaves solutions to Amir’s problems into the plot. Un-

like Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher, Amir’s mental health struggle includes reaching out for help and serves as positive example for readers who may find themselves in a similar situation. The message directed towards high achieving individuals is essential for all young adults to read, especially individuals who will do anything to get an “A” in the class.

The novel is incredibly diverse with its normalization of LGBTQ+ relationships and the inclusion of Jewish main characters. This book was not about coming out, as many LGBTQ+ novels are. The relationships between characters of the same gender were casually added to the story without changing essential aspects of the plot.

Silverman’s depiction of type-A high school students is believable, and she does not rely on generic stereotypes to develop Amir’s classmates, which is refreshing when compared to other young adult novels that take place in an education setting.

RELEASED ON: MARCH 05

PARKLAND SPEAKS: SURVIVORS FROM MARJORY STONEMAN DOUGLAS SHARE THEIR STORIES*

P

arkland Speaks is a mixed media

collection of everything from photography to poetry created by the student survivors of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting that took place on February 14th, 2018. It is a powerful, heart-wrenching firsthand look at the experiences before and after a tragedy, along with the toll it takes on all, especially young people. The collection was edited by Sarah Lerner, an English and Journalism teacher at the school in Parkland, Florida. These students’ messages are eloquent and moving, no matter if their medium was a paintbrush or a pencil.

This book starts with an introduction explaining the editor’s relationship with writing and how the shooting

EDITED BY SARAH LERNER

affected her from a teacher’s perspective. It is moving from the start, placing the reader in a context that allows them to grasp the weight of the book. The book’s design resembles that of a literary magazine or yearbook designed by students. There is a “meet the contributors” section with brief biographies about each student in the back along with resources to help others who have suffered from a loss. This adds greatly to the personal feel of the book and its emotional impact. This anthology is an account of our world at its best and its worst and reminds its readers that anyone can change the world if they make their voices heard.

A devastatingly horrific and beautiful account of tragedy, told through poignant and sometimes excruciating prose, Parkland

RELEASED ON: JANUARY 22

*Review copies of these books were provided by the Young Adult Library Services Association’s Teens’ Top Ten Program in exchange for an honest review.

22 The Chronicle | Issue 5 | A&E | March 2019 | Design by: Jena Bright

Heard it

in the

By: Jena Bright | Photo Editor Your favorite article is back! Read below to see several real, out of context comments from Olathe North students. These crazy comments will make you question the sanity of the students around you.

“You look like Napolean Dynamite’s younger brother.”

“Jokes on you, I am always sad, not just when you pointed it out.”

They spilled tea and I slipped on it.”

”I felt like every strike was just a little bit of my soul leaving my body.“

“No dumbo, there is no ‘t’ in library.”

“I’m not going to have bridemaids or groomsmen at my wedding because I’m a star.”

“Do you think that I could finish this scholarship by just banging my head on the key board?”

“The clip and my chapstick were having a playdate.”

“French people flirt like nurses.”

“I’m not broke, I’m broken.”

“Stop complaining, your toe will grow back.”

Design by: Ashley Honey | March 2019 | A&E | Issue 5 | The Chronicle

23

we went

vegan for a week

By: Miles Arambula | Staff Editor

Art contributions by: Abigail Miles | Editor-in-Chief

By: Elizabeth Tuckness | Staff Writer

Newspaper staff members Miles Arambula and Elizabeth Tuckness were challenged by Ashley Honey, an experienced vegan, to follow the vegan lifestyle for a week. Here is a detailed account of their week’s journey.

the victims “As a person with texture issues with food, I know the hardest part is going to be eating weird textured foods. Stuff like tofu and potatoes are going to be hard to eat. I may or may not just live off of smoothies, avocados, and crackers.”

elizabeth

“When I first thought of going vegan for a week I thought I would hate it but I had an open mind. I always thought vegans were a little extreme but I respected their thought process.”

miles

the rules The new vegans will not be eating any foods with meat, poultry, eggs, milk, and other animal products. For every mistake they make, they will be punished on day seven with a spoonful of hot sauce.

24 The Chronicle | Issue 5 | A&E | March 2019 | Design by: Ashley Honey the preparation elizabeth “The shopping experience was an absolute mess for me. It ended up being quite expensive with a grand total close to one-hundred dollars (partly because we went to Sprouts), and I didn’t buy enough food for myself to get through the week. The worst part was not knowing where I was going in the store while I ran around looking for vegan ingredients for food. After shopping, I meal prepped myself some full-on vegetable curry.”

miles

“Elizabeth and Ashley talked a lot about preparing and meal prepping. On the other hand, I just kinda winged it. I ate a lot of pb&j sandwiches and salad the first couple of days until I expanded my horizons. It was fun, regardless.”

the experience elizabeth

the reflection elizabeth

“I tried for a solid three to four days to eat vegan, but in the end, I stopped because of the want to eat with my family when they went out. After that, I have been condemned to the hot sauce punishment of a cheating vegan.“

“In the end, I will try more vegan foods, but since I avoid eating nuts and have a texture issue with foods, I could never go full vegan again.”

miles

“I really enjoyed the experience.

In fact, I have decided that I actually want to eventually go vegan again. I’m going to start out pescatarian, then vegetarian, then vegan, so it’s a little more gradual. For me, this proved that even if it seems hard, it’s possible to go vegan even if you’re ill-prepared.”

“I learned that vegans are sneaky. “Oh, that looks vegan”... sike! It is not. Jello is not vegan. Altoids, refried beans, french fries--none are vegan! I find myself pulling out Google before I dig in. It’s a rough time. Today, I really wanted a donut, but it had icing on it. I really wanted it so I didn’t google if icing was vegan or not. We went to newspaper competition and I had a burrito bowl at Fuzzy’s Taco Shop that was bomb as heck and also vegan! That is a win in my book. Later, my family wanted chipotle so I got another burrito bowl and realized that I don’t like sofritas and also I still don’t like tofu. Tofu is a lie!“

miles

the punishments For each non-vegan meal they consumed during the week, the new vegans recieved one strike.

elizabeth

miles

Design by: Ashley Honey | March 2019 | A&E | Issue 5 | The Chronicle

25

E L B I S S O IMP

the

burger taste test

Art by: Sarah Montes | Staff Artist

W

ant to go vegan but can’t imagine giving up meat? Thanks to new technology, you can experience the juicy satisfaction of eating a burger without putting any animals in danger. There are many non-meat meat alternatives on the market from black beans burgers, experimental lab grown meat, and the Impossible Burger. According to their website, “Impossible Burger production uses a small fraction of the land and water resources and emits

vastly fewer greenhouse gas emissions.”

The USGS states that making one 1/4 pounder hamburger patty requires 150 gallons of water. In comparison, the Impossible Burger uses 75 percent less water than a “real” burger, as reported by Eat This, Not That! According to Impossible Foods, “the Impossible Burger is made mostly of water and plant proteins with heme.” They explain that “heme is what makes meat taste like meat.” However, the Impossible Burger is completely vegan, so the heme they use is a plant-based soy leghemoglobin.

However, PETA, a popular vegan advocacy organization, does not believe the Impossible Burger is vegan. Despite not containing any animal products, this product may be considered unethical by some vegans. “That’s right, Impossible Foods,

the maker of the Impossible Burger, decided voluntarily to test one of its burger ingredients--soy leghemoglobin--by feeding it to a total of 188 rats,” PETA claims.

They also claim that the rats were killed and cut open after the experiment. Many vegans are against animal testing on cosmetics, cleaning chemicals, and other products, so the Impossible Burger is not on every vegan’s nice list. Despite this complication, making the Impossible Burger part of the mainstream may be a step in the right direction to reduce the meat consumption of the average American.

We decided to put the Impossible Burger to the test and see if meat eaters could tell the difference between a traditional hamburger and the Impossible Burger without knowing which was which.

the results

In general, the test subjects could tell a difference between the Impossible Burger and a traditional ground beef hamburger. The newspaper staff members were not fooled by the thin and less greasy Impossible Burgers and could tell a distinct difference between the two. Olathe North teachers and students were also asked to partake in the experiment, and everyone but history teacher Stuart Stern was able to figure out which burger was vegan and which burger was not. Some of the subjects actually preferred the Impossible Burger when compared to the ground beef burger.

the conclusion The vegan lifestyle may not be as difficult as some people believe. With meat alternatives like the Impossible Burgers, meatless Mondays could become a reality for many families who still enjoy chomping down on a juicy burger.

The Impossible Burger can be found at many restaurants across the Kansas City metro area such as Wahlburgers, Unforked, and more.

26 The Chronicle | Issue 5 | A&E | March 2019 | Design by: Isabella Bray

Smokey

and

Saucy

By: Sam Schaper | Staff Writer

Kansas City is known for having the best barbecue in the country. But, of course, for every amazing barbeque restaurant, there is an equally awful joint. So, I went to four recommendations for barbecue restaurants and ate at each one. Here is my honest opinion so that you can eat authentic Kansas City barbecue with confidence in the food and quality of service. Enjoy!

BBQ

rating out of 5 BBQ sauce Bottles =

Q39 BBQ BBQ BBQ BBQ

Q

39 on Antioch has a reputation for having incredible, delicious barbecue. Well, after my experience there, I can only confirm this. I was quickly seated at a booth and the food was brought to me an appropriate amount of time after ordering. On the menu, I looked for the meals that had a blue ribbon next to them to signify award winning burgers, steaks, and more. I ended up ordering the Burnt-End Burger, a

burger cooked medium with burnt-ends and coleslaw on top, served with a side of fries. While the fries left something to be desired in terms of flavor and texture, the burger itself was absolutely wonderful.

The only thing that took away from the eating experience was the knowledge that if I set the burger down, it would completely fall apart, resulting in the shameful act of eating a burger with a fork. The last thing that I can’t recommend more

highly is the classic Q39 zesty barbecue sauce. I found that the sauce was perfect for dipping the burgers and the fries into! To recap, the service was excellent, the burger was exquisite, and the fries lacked the necessary kick to justify being the only side. Because of these reasons, I award Q39 four out of five Barbecue Sauce Bottles and would recommend this restaurant to anybody looking for some great Kansas City barbecue.

Design by: Isabella Bray | March 2019 | A&E | Issue 5 | The Chronicle

27

Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que BBQ

BBQ

BBQ

BBQ

BBQ

I

walked into Joe’s Kansas City Bar-BQue on Strang Line expecting their usual mile-long line but I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was a slow night, so I got my food very quickly! The woman behind the counter was very bubbly and polite as I ordered their brand new menu item, The Rocket Pig. The Rocket Pig was a pulled pork sandwich with fried jalapenos, pepper jack cheese, and hot sauce. I’ve always been extremely im-

pressed with Joe’s food in the past but this sandwich took the cake, without a doubt.

The Rocket Pig was an honor to eat. It didn’t have an overwhelming amount of heat, something most spicy burgers have to mask the lack of seasoning, which was a welcome change; the flavor of the meat was equal to that of the toppings.

The only thing I wasn’t completely blown away by was the over-seasoned french fries. I discovered, however, that if you

dip them in Joe’s signature Night of the Living Barbecue Sauce, the seasoning indiscretions can be looked past. Due to its impeccable service, mesmerizing food, and excellent atmosphere, I award Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que five out of five Barbecue Sauce Bottles and would highly recommend this award-winning restaurant to anybody and everybody.

Burnt End BBQ BBQ

BBQ

BBQ

T

he third establishment I visited was Burnt End BBQ on Metcalf.

I had been long before but due to my lack of total recall, I was going at this totally unbiased. Walking in, I was relieved the see that the line wasn’t long!

The first thing I noticed was the menus; the grossly hard to navigate, ugly, inaccessible menus. While most items on the menus looked tasty, I got lost in the overcrowded display of the screens mounted

up on the wall that listed the entrees and sides. After ordering the Two Meats & Two Sides (I chose brisket, burnt ends, fries, and onion straws), I found a seat.

The food was out very quickly but not too quick, which was appreciated. I started with the meat which is the namesake of the business and found that both it and the brisket, though cooked well, were rather flavorless. The barbecue sauce, however, rectified this issue. The sides

were the best part of the meal, in my opinion, which is no stab because the sides were delicious, especially the onion straws! The line was unnecessarily slow, the entrees were fine, but the sides were addictive, while this was a definitely positive experience overall, I award this restaurant three out five Barbecue Sauce Bottles. Burnt End BBQ wouldn’t be my first place to recommend but it definitely makes the list!

Smoke ‘N Babes BBQ BBQ

BBQ

W

BBQ

BBQ

hen I arrive at Smoke N Babes BBQ, I didn’t know what to expect. I had never eaten there before so all I knew was that it was right by Olathe North High School.

You can’t miss it! Once I was at the truck, recognizable on account of the goofy, loveable pig that is their logo, I ordered a brisket sandwich with a side of baked beans. I had already decided what I was

going to order based off of their easily accessible online menu. The wait was wonderfully short. The first thing I noticed about the simple meal I had ordered was the presentation; it looked absolutely perfect. I wasn’t remotely disappointed.

The meat was very tender and flavorful, needing almost no barbecue sauce, which if you read the previous reviews, is something I value. I only wish that the beans

had had a little more kick to them, being too sweet. I definitely plan on coming to Smoke N Babes BBQ again and I would recommend this food truck to anybody and everybody that is in the mood for quick, scrumptious, authentic Kansas City barbecue. It is because of this that I award Smoke N Babes BBQ four out of five Barbecue Sauce Bottles!

28The Chronicle | Issue 5 | Opinion | March 2019 | Design by: Sarah Montes

Scholarship and Skepticism By: Cade Heikes | Staff Writer

T

here is a problem in civil debate and discussion that is crippling the greatest benefits of discussion itself: discernment, knowledge, and discovering the truth cooperatively. People do not know what they are talking about, and more critically they truly believe that they do. The reasons why are clear, and the way to fix it is even more obvious.

Information is acquired in snippets and headlines in the world of Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and SnapChat news.

This is a result of the current technological atmosphere and instant communications. People want to learn about the world around them as long as it takes no longer than a cursory glance, leaving people regurgitating claims (which usually appear in a headline or summary of some writing) that they have not an inkling of an idea about the evidence or lack thereof that supports it.

So, let’s say person A reads that global warming is a myth in the headline of a news source. What happens is that person A will just accept that as truth because of the person who published it. Then when person A runs into person B and they talk about the climate, person A will say climate change is false because someone in the media said it was false. The claim by the source itself is not worth anything in this discussion, because while there may or may not be evidence used in the news story published, person A is ignorant to this. Similarly, person B might counter person A by saying that climate change is happening because science says so, or because studies have shown it to be true.

Again, there may be scientific studies that

support person B’s claim, but all person B uses is the claim. Both person A and B use the same poor argument, appealing to a vague authority. I would argue that this is a direct result of people reading the headlines and snippets, scraping the cheese off the 7-layer dip of an argument, and not gathering evidence and reasoning that supports the claims, the beans and the salsa.

Another source of deception that people’s claims and discussion fall victim to is emotional manipulation. A common example of this is in short videos or ads portraying some vague images and playing emotional music over it. National Geographic released an ad for a documentary where they showed images of natural disasters and had ridiculously dramatic music playing while text floated across the screen talking about the horrific effects of climate change. This is a perfect trap for those who think with their heart and emotions, the pathos will be enough for them to justify the conclusion of the ad, and so the hunt for knowledge ceases there. Of course, the documentary will likely provide reliable studies, but the ad makes no claims about how humans are the cause or studies that support this; the emotional human is not concerned with that, they have already seen what they wanted to see.

(To be clear, I am not taking any

stance on climate change, I am simply using it as an extended example.)

The problem faced now, is that in both of these situations people will consider themselves knowledgeable or credible on these topics in discussion after reading that headline or viewing that 30 second ad. Human pride and arrogance bar individuals from backing down, or admitting wrongness. In a discussion people are not willing to say that they don’t know for sure what they believe or that they have not read enough or gathered enough evidence to make a defensible conclusion. So, arguments become circular and heated, both parties dig their heels deeper into their own side, there is no appeal to wiser counsel of a third party, and nobody learns anything because no one knew anything in the first place.

The answer lies in a question.

Simple, yet effective: “How do you know?”

How do you know that what you are saying is true? What is the way in which you came about your narrative? This keeps people in check, this challenges people to research and be knowledgeable. It should not be used as a sword to win arguments, but much more gracefully, as a gentle check on the epistemic failures that plague the culture. If this question is used more frequently, then people would be forced to know more about what they wish to discuss academically or otherwise. And then the fruits of true Platonic and Socratic discussion can be found, civility, progress, wisdom, and knowledge. Again, that is the goal, rather than “own” your friend in an argument, genuinely try to discover truth and understanding through the exchange of ideas.

The Chronicle | Issue 5 | Opinion | March 2019 | Design by: Elizabeth Tuckness

29

The Wings of Politics ON’s Diverse Political Standing

Communist

Monarchist Libertarian Conservative

Socialist Liberal By: Miles Arambula | Staff Writer

H

igh schools are reflections of the real world, and the world is divided. As seen with the rise of the students in Parkland, Florida, young people are not afraid to speak their mind.

The students at Olathe North have diverse opinions on the laws and decisions that affect them. With programs such as Distinguished Scholars Political Science and Debate, students don’t have a problem sharing their ideas. The Chronicle talked to three students, all identifying on different parts of the political spectrum.

To set the record straight, what is liberal? What is conservative? Well, the answer isn’t so clean cut. Ask any student and you won’t likely get the same answer. According to sophomore Libby Schuler, to be conservative is “small gov-

Marco Bozingo

ernment to expand free market” and that liberalism is larger government with the intention to financially support citizens.

To Junior James McClung, conservatism is “usually people that are more on the Republican side of things”, and that to be liberal is simply the other side of that.

According to Wikipedia, conservatism is a “political and social philosophy promoting traditional social institutions in the context of culture and civilization” and describes liberalism as “a political and moral philosophy based on liberty and equality”.

Of course, in the last three years, if you hear the words “conservative”, you might think of Trump. But the conservatives students we talked to don’t necessarily vouch for our president. Schuler finds Trump as “unpersonable” and McClung

said “There are some things I wouldn’t, and some things I would [support].”

Is Olathe North divided? All of the students spoken to admitted that they knew that there is a difference in opinions, but that there is no true divide.

Schuler explained, “Sometimes there are misunderstandings”, but students are mature enough not to get caught on political arguments. This is a merit to the school’s teachings. And North encourages an environment for productive conversations.

While the nation (and the world) can be divided on politics, at the end of the day there is always room for agreement. High schools provide a space for young people with differing opinions to socialize together and meet in the middle.

Libby Schuler

James McClung

30 The Chronicle | Issue 5 | Sports | March 2019 | Design by: Abigail Miles

STATE UPDATE SWIMMING B oys swim and dive had a great season and the eagles worked hard all season to make sure they could hit the times they needed to make a splash at the state meet.

The boys swim and dive state meet took place February 14-16, and saw four of Olathe North’s finest swimmer hit the pool. The 200 medley relay, comprised of

Mason Askew, Jack Spanel, Derrick Yang and Aaden Lloyd qualified with a time of 1:51.72. At state the team swam 1:52.10.

The same boys also qualified for the 200 free relay, and placed 22nd in a time of 1:38.29.

Individually Derrick Yang was the sole qualifier for the boy’s state meet, while Jack Spanel was considered for the 500

BOWLING T he bowling team is already very decorated, with many state championships in the last 10 years. This is special because many of our programs have championships, but they are from over 20 years ago. The bowling team is relevantly excellent and consistently achieving.

The girls bowling team had an excellent state meet. The team placed 7th overall with a score of 2464. The team was comprised of Emily Stamper, Annabelle Bitner, Jordan Reynolds, Audrey Valdez, Skylar Valdez, and Aubrey Cox. Emily Stamper lead this outstanding girls team by placing 9th individually. She

By Cade Heikes Staff Writer

free. Yang placed 24th in the 100 fly with a time of 58.47. He placed 17th in the 100 Breast with a time of 1:03.97.

Derrick Yang and Jack spanel will be missed next year as these high performing seniors move on, but there will be spots available for young swimmers to step into.

bowled 223, 178, and 138 for a score 539.

Stamper and Skylar Valdez both were selected as first team all-state.

The boys had one individual qualifier, Trent Liles, who went to the state tournament.

Design by: Abigail Miles | March 2019 | Sports | Issue 5 | The Chronicle

31

As the first season of winter sports ends; the second season of state competitions begins.

WRESTLING T he wrestling team went to the state tournament with high hopes and a powerful precedent of excellence.

Keegan Slyter won the day for Olathe North wrestling, becoming a two-time state champion by defeating Bryce Wells of Derby 4-3 in the 126 weight class. In the

championship match he scored 2 on an early takedown and then later 2 more on a quick reversal.

The team as whole did well, scoring 73 points and placing 9th. They placed higher than every other Olathe school. Preceding state they were Sunflow-

BASKETBALL T he Olathe North boys and girls basketball teams were both crowned sub-state champions. The boys snuck by Blue Valley West in an unforeseen nailbiter. However, they proved they belonged in the state playoff by defeating Blue Valley North 73-48. In the first round of the state playoffs, Olathe North lost a close game to reigning champions Blue

Valley Northwest. The boys lost the game in the third quarter, failing to defensively clean up throughout the second half. Senior Tymer Jackson led the team in scoring, while KT Raimey punished BVNW’s big man with an electric NBA posterization.

The girls team beat Blue valley in a thrilling triple overtime win in their

er League Champions.

Coach Joshua Carroll was coming off his State championship season last year, and did not lower his standards by any means. He was not as impressed with the team performance, but only because he demands the best.

first round of their tournament. The proceeding game the girls won by 18 points in overtime against Mill Valley. After winning their sub-state, they went on to play Washburn Rural but fell short in a loss where they just couldn’t cut a 10 point lead throughout the game.

32 The Chronicle | Issue 5 | News | March, 2019 | Design by: Jena Bright

Northviews March Photography By: | Molly Duke, Lana Tarik, and Hailey Kitivoravong

Seniors Jolly Patro and Emily Martin present a color expirement during a Faraday Society performance.

Senior Tymer Jackson focuses in as he shoots a free throw in the game against Olathe South.

Students pose for a picture before the eight grade transition day to display the activities they are involved in.