Issue 1 by The Harbinger

harbinger SHAWNEE MISSION EAST

ISSUE 1, SEPTEMBER 8, 2003

What’s Inside

Page 6

Ty Vanvlimmeren suits up as the ﬁrst female football player in SM East history.

Welcome back to Lunch schedule solves trash problem, but creates others The Otis Spunkmeyer cookies might have run out midway through third lunch, but at least smashed ones aren’t found all over the ramps afterwards. Keeping students in the lunchroom rather than waiting on the ramp and overwhelming the lunch monitor is one of many changes made this year. The changes are meant to reduce class disruptionnand the amount of trash left behind. Students used to wait at the top of the ramp until the bell rang. The problem was bottles, trash, and food were left behind. According to lunch monitor David Gray, the ramp was a “complete pit.” Students are no longer allowed to leave the cafeteria or courtyard until the bell rings, to minimize the trash on the ramps. The main problem now is the crowded cafeteria and long lines. “The new lunch system is terrible. First of all there is now a line to even get in to buy food. Yesterday, they ran out of pizza and cookies. Then, they ran out of 5 and 10 dollar bills,” juniorAdam Miller, who has third lunch, said. Despite the negative opinion of the majority of the students, the new system has been very uccessful and we have received many compliments from teachers on t,” assistant principal and designer of he new system Michael Wolgast said. According to athletic director and Courtney Condron News Editor

The average East student has at least students in every class and shares a lunchroom with over And the population is growing. This year is starting to feel a little

700. cramped...

lunch monitor Lane Green, there used to be three lunches and students were upset when it switched to four. “It’s called change,” head custodian Charles Williams said, “kids don’t like change, no one does, but it has been better this way, and there’s a lot less trash.” Trash cans have been moved, because students kept throwing away their silverware last year. With the trashcans by the doors, students are able to dump their trash, trays and silverware all at the same time. “I don’t understand why there are less trash cans throughout the lunchroom when they are trying to promote picking up your trash. It makes me not want to throw it away, because I have to carry it to the door,” Junior Jordan Steadman said. As for the long lines, Wolgast says they are improving. “The first day lines were long, because there were glitches in the computers and the change hadn’t arrived yet,” Wolgast said, “however, we’ve been watching the lines ever since, and the last person has bought their food with at least 15 minutes to spare.” The administration is satisfied with the new system, and plans to keep it this way. So if students have a problem spending half of their lunch in line, they should probably think about bringing that peanut butter and jelly sandwich from home.

TIGHT SPOT: Junior Katherine Mingle tries to make her way through crouds in the lunchroom. Lunch is only one of the places East is more crowded this year. photo by Alex Helmuth

East population

by the numbers

p o p u l a t3i o n2.718 67 7567 s t u d 1,654 e n t - t6,000,000,000 e a c h e r 5 14 u14-18 n u s e5.1887 d 0 1 2 3 4 5 3.141592654 π r a t i o c l a s s r o o m s cos L a s2 t = y e5 a7r 23 55^x 2/3 µ 8÷ 24 60 86,400 31,536,000 2522880000 + >45 ƒ(x)=3 43 7 6 8 9 2 7 5 3 7 1 6 0 1 2 3 4 5 3.141592654 3 2.718 67 7567 1,654 6,000,000,000 5 14 14-18 5.1887 π cos 2 = 5 7 23 55^x 2/3 µ 8÷ 24 60 86,400 31,536,000 2522880000 + >45 ƒ(x)=3 43 7 6 8 9 2 7 5 3 7 1 6 0 1 2 3 4 5 3.141592654 3 2.718 67 7567 1,654 6,000,000,000 5 14 14-18 5.1887 π cos 2 = 5 7 23 55^x 2/3 µ 8÷ 24 60 86,400 31,536,000 2522880000 + >45 ƒ(x)=3 43 7 6 8 9 2 7 5 3 7 1 6 This year 0 1 2 3 4 5 3.141592654 3 2.718 67 7567 1,654 6,000,000,000 5 14 14-18 5.1887 π on page 2 cos 2 = 5 7 23 55^x 2/3 µ 8÷ 24 60 86,400 31,536,000 2522880000 more + >45 ƒ(x)=3

2,067

2,092

19.5

news

Crowd Control Annie Fuhrman and Evan Favreau Staff Writer/A&E Page Editor

Students at Shawnee Mission East hurry through the halls, but the growing number of students and limited amount of space, makes that harder every year. The enrollment numbers at East continue to increase, as do problems with class sizes and space. “We have limited classes, limited teachers and limited space,” head of the Science department Cole Ogdon said, “The bottom line is that class size directly effects performance.” The present solution is that teachers have gradually gone from teaching five classes a day to six. According to Ogdon, this decreases the number of students in each hour, but it also decreases the time a teacher has out of class. “That teacher still is grading assignments for the same number of students, and so it doesn’t help in terms of efficiency, and it really doesn’t provide the student with any more interaction with the teacher,” Ogdon said. Social Studies department head John Nickels and English teacher also agree. “You use to be able to teach the

students at a faster pace and get to know them better, but now, with so many in there, a lot of teachers are kind of in a survival mode, staying ahead of grading and planning, and that slows you down,” Nickels said. The main issue that has to be dealt with is space, according to associate principal Susie Ostmeyer, and the temporary portables that will arrive later this year will help with that. “It’s going to help. Period,” Ostmeyer said, “more classroom space is good. We have a classroom right now being taught in the back of the library.” The current student-teacher ratio is one certified staff member for every 19.5 students, causing space to be the problem rather than the number of teachers. The ratio is in relation to what the district funding issues are. Budget problems can raise the number of students for each staff member in the ratio. According to principal Angelo Cocolis, the ratio has increased, and is still within the district guidelines. Students have also been affected by

the increased enrollment. “It definitely makes it harder for teachers to get to know their students and teach according to their own individual needs,” sophomore Brian Speise said. Other students don’t see anything wrong. “I don’t really think there is much of a problem with overcrowding in classrooms,” sophomore Chris Burnett said, “I think the staff has done a great job with putting us where we need to be and making sure we have a good learning environment.” Temporary space such as the portables may be the best thing: district projections see the school enrollment dropping. “We’re going to see a population drop in four or five years,” Ogdon said, “The grade schools are already hurting.” According to district projections, East enrollment will rise once more next year, then start to decline until it reaches 1,850, the lowest number in 15 years, in a distant 2012.

Holly Garringer Staff Coordinator

Trailers will arrive at East on Nov. 1 Where are these trailers going to be located? They will be right outside the lunchroom by the south ramp. What are the trailers like? The trailers are brand-new and very clean and nice.

Will there be longer passing periods, because of the trailers? No, because if students can make it from the first floor to the fifth floor in five minutes, they can make it to the trailers.

ments, and fire or tornado drills inside the trailers? The trailers are connected to everything inside the school, including phones, computers, intercoms, and any alarms that could go off.

How wil you do announce-

Why do we have the trailers?

Lancer Day Get to work on those floats! Shawnee Mission East takes over Prarie Village with the Lancer Day Parade on Friday, September 19 with hopes to cheer the football team on to victory as they take on Shawnee Mission Northwest at 7 PM.

Homecoming Homecoming Nominations will take place on Thursday, September 18, and students will be able to vote for their favorite candidates Thursday, October 2. The Homecoming football game will take place on the 2nd vs. Blue Valley West.

SHARE Fair

Queries about the Trailers Q&A with principal Angelo Cocolis

News Briefs

The trailers are here because we currently use every room inside the building. Many of the rooms that used to be for teachers or other uses are now being used as classrooms. The trailers will give us more room inside the school. graphic by Courtney Condron

The SHARE assembly is tomorrow during third hour. This year, each SHARE project will have a table on the ramps or in other hallways. Students will be able to sign up for projects at these tables throughout the day.

Play Tryouts Tryouts for the Fall play, The Adding Machine, are all this week at 3 PM in the Auditorium. Students of all grades are encouraged to tryout. Students not trying out can get a look at the play during playcuts on Wednesday, November 5.

Frosh Mixer The first annual Freshman Mixer is at 7 PM this Friday, September 12. This will hopefully be a great opportunity for the freshmen to get to know each other. All freshmen are encouraged to go, however upper classmen are not.

WORD

from the editor THE HARBINGER

Hello, fellow students, and welcome to the new, improved, and (hopefully) better Harbinger. All of us here on staff hope you find the paper more helpful, fun, and involved. For this year, we are strongly encouraging letters to the paper, so we can devote a section to what you, the readers, have to say. See something in the paper you like? See something in the paper you dislike ? Write a letter, and let us know what you have to say. Thank you, and let’s hope for a great year --Alex Abnos, editor-in-chief.

SEPT. 8, 2003

��

‘Bowling’ rolls strikes DIRECTOR MOORE STRIKES HARD AT SOCIETY; GUNS L a s t weekend, despite the ten or so inches of rain, was a good weekend. A great �� m o v i e �� weekend, in fact, although we were all pretty much pinned indoors, unless you are into measuring precipitation and then plotting it on a graph (I , unfortunately, am not). So my family made up this big list of movies for me to rent when I visited the ol’ neighborhood Blockbuster, including a documentary for my mom called “Bowling for Columbine”, directed/written/ produced by Michael Moore. I guess she heard about this movie from my Uncle Lance, who has always been a client of small, art-film theaters. He was in love with this movie. I had to see what all this fuss was about. All I knew about this Moore fellow was his controversial Oscar speech, where he called the 2000 Presidential Elections “fictitious”, declaring President Bush and the war in Iraq branched out from this fictitious result. It was met with applause, initially, then widespread boos, and then the applauders rifled back boos at the booers, making the whole place sound like it was filled with specters. I immediately classified this man as some sort of anarchist who didn’t know what he was talking about. I would have to say my views changed after I saw his actual film. Moore’s film is about the widespread gun violence in the United States. It raises questions about gun control, rather than the old hat, blaming video games in television. Moore points out that most video

games come from Japan, and many foreigners (French, Canadiens, etc.) often catch wind of our violent movies (“Matrix: Reloaded” has grossed 449.2 million internationally so far). Its not poverty, statistics prove; it’s not ethnicity, either. So how come these countries’ gunrelated deaths are often under 100? Under 50? And ours waver in between 10 and 15 thousand? Moore does not provide answers to this question; nor should he. The point of this documentary is to leave the viewer pondering this national problem. The images the movie provides give great gravity to the senselessness of our gunrelated deaths. Before you see this movie, you may think the nation’s worst problem may be blackouts, computer viruses, the War on Terror, etc. While the War on Terror is a very valid and grave situation, the state of gun control in this country is the nation’s greatest lingering problem. Moore tries to trace this issue back to our country’s roots, where a culture of fear bred widespread gun use. He argues that this “fear”, perpetuated by news broadcasts and other news media outlets. The movie ends with an interview with the shaky Charlton Heston. Whether his indecisiveness was a result of not having the answer or Parkinson’s disease, I do not know, but he ineffectively dodged Michael Moore’s questions. Moore asked him why he had so many guns; he said he had the right to protect himself, and to keep those guns loaded. But Heston had never been a victim of a crime, so he had no reason to fear, and he admitted that. Moore then asked him about Columbine and the Michigan shooting of a six-year-old by her classmate, and why Heston scheduled Na-

tional Rifle Association rallies hardly days after in those cities. Heston refused to respond, and walked off. Moore then produced the picture of the sixyear-old girl, and Heston could no longer bear to face it, and he walked off holding on to his archaic Constitutional right, a microcosm of most of our country. Sure we have the right to bear arms. But is it worth it? There is no way this trend can continue. This movie has changed my views on gun control to “not my problem” to “important issue.” I don’t see why our population, in our glorious land, should be subjected to such stupid violence. “Bowling” is a film that you must see to understand; one you must see to comprehend its message. It is very presentable and strikes hard at our society, one seriously in need of changes. Life is too valuable. No one wants to be that “innocent bystander who was shot tragically” just because our Constitution allows us to buy high power assault rifles and handguns. There is no reason the media needs to portray more murders and glorify violence with in-depth reports and on-thescene news. Reporters ought to take their fake sentiment and Sat Trucks and shove ‘em. Twelve thousand people last year. I’m pretty sure not all of them deserved it.

Note: Michael Moore’s other works include a best-selling book called Stupid White Men, and films ‘Roger and Me” and “Blood in the Face.”

�� Alex Abnos Dianne Smith Libby Nelson Annie Harrigan Lindsey Melvin

�

Editor-in-chief Assistant Editors Art and Design Editors Head Copy Editor

Stephen McKim Copy Editors Corban Goble Carson Black Patrick Menihan Andrew Finnerty Corban Goble Courtney Condron Cynthia Goldman Barrett Emke Gordon Culver Katie Patrick

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Barrett Emke Staff Artists Cynthia Goldman Ian McFarland Jessie Fetterling Staff Photographers Linda Howard Joanna Cross Jessie Fetterling Staff Writers Annie Fuhrman Patrick Ryan Paul Thompson David Vranicar Dow Tate Adviser

CALLING ALL OPINIONATED STUDENTS Letters to the editor are all the rage in expressing yourself. Send ‘em to Alex Abnos at Rm. 521

SEPT. 8, 2003

THE HARBINGER

I’m with the

Photo by Tierney Weed

opinion

BRING ON THE FUNK: Senior Mary Sprouse and junior James Levy perform the show-opening drum majors’ salute.

BAND It was close to the end of Spanish class when a person sitting near me started to hum the bass drum rhythms to the beginning of “Brick House”. He did this for a few minutes, then stopped for awhile and then started humming it from the beginning again. “Cool song?” I say Stephen McKim to him as the bell rings. “Yeah, it really is. I have team games first hour and hear the band playing it every morning,” he said. Little did my classmate know that his comments made all of the hard work and cold, early morning rehearsals worth it. That night the band would march its show, “Bring on the Funk”, at the football game, a culmination of almost two months worth of hard work and teamwork. I have to admit that being in band is a huge commitment. During the summer, instead of sleepingin to the nice “early” hour of 11, I fall out of bed around 7:30 each morning to make the 8:00 rehearsal. For a week, my normal schedule of sitting on the couch or behind a computer screen all day is changed to

Dear Lancers,

four hours of standing behind a snare drum working on technique, site reading, and memorization. In addition, for all of first quarter, the band meets at 7 every morning to venture out onto a muddy, damp field to learn marching formations. On the field, the drum majors are given the incredibly

When it comes down to it, it is the teamwork and camaraderie that defines marching band.

--Stephen McKim

difficult job of setting over 100 people into large, curving patterns. Not only do I have to play my music from music from memory while moving from formation to formation, I also have crab-walk left and right, keeping within my formation, and out of the way of the other 100 people who are all moving at the same time I am. Through these challenges and preparations to make the show come together, the band develops a strong sense of teamwork. Each section must work together with the rest of the band, as well as with each other to make each form correct. Through all

Letter to the Editor

This letter is not to explain or criticize. It is merely to help everyone understand that we, as SHARE/SADD executives, plan to continue making our service program a success. We want you to know that this situation has made us stronger, more committed leaders. The three of us have thought long and hard about the events of recent days, and we have learned a life lesson ; a lesson that cannot be learned without experience. No one is invincible, no one is above the rules, and most important, no one is a lesser person because of a bad choice.

A drummer’s tale of brotherhood of the chilly mornings and frustration from having to march the same formation over and over, this sense of teamwork strengthens to the point of camaraderie. Before each game, the percussion section huddles into a circle, and shouts “East!” or “Lancer Combat!” or any other word that we think up at the last minute. It doesn’t matter what we shout, but what matters is the fact that we have worked hard together, and are now ready to show off that hard work for the night’s performance. When it comes down to it, it is the teamwork and camaraderie that defines marching band. It is a blend of talents, personalities, and even weaknesses that make it unique. The feelings I have when I finish marching the show are not disappointment or “thank God that is over with,” but feelings of satisfaction, accomplishment and pride. At the end of every performance, I know that I am a part of something bigger than just myself alone. As a member of marching band, I am part of a team that works together to create something that not only entertains and rallies school spirit, but builds a team spirit felt on and off the field.

We have learned from our experience and plan to make responsible decisions in the future and to work to influence others to make responsible decisions, as well. We would appreciate your support and understanding as we continue to build and nurture the SHARE/SADD program. Sincerely, Emily Perry, Abby Maurin, and Laura Wilkerson

features

Shattered Glass

One sophomore over comes rocky childhood with alcoholic parents

It was talked to mom,” Ralph lied. Matt accepted 3 a.m. and Matt this even though he knew mom and dad couldn’t sleep. don’t talk much anymore. After all, he was He decided to go downstairs for a glass of getting to go to World’s of Fun. Matt got in water. As he walked down the stairs he the car and looked back towards the field. heard his mother and father yelling at each Jim was looking at him in confusion. As the other. Seven-year-old Matt tiptoed across car drove off, Matt stared out the window, too the wooden floor trying to see what they afraid to make eye contact with his dad. were arguing about this time. He cautiously Ten minutes later, when practice looked around the corner into the living was over, Laura, Matt’s mother, came driving room. What he saw was nothing new. Matt’s up, ready to pick up her son. parents were in each other’s face, yelling As weeks went by after the divorce, swear words at the top of their lungs. Beer Matt’s mom and dad kept playing their son bottles were all over the maple coffee table back and fourth. “One of them would steal and the floor. Cigarette butts were spilling me and then the other would get worried over the top of the ashtray. Matt had seen sick. They stole me to try and win me over by this before. taking me to fun places like World’s of Fun. His mother threw her glass I was really confused through that whole ashtray in anger and hit Matt’s dad in the period,” Matt said, looking down at the floor. nose. Blood began flowing from his father’s Just a month or two after the nose. His dad screamed, “It’s over.” His baseball incident, Ralph made a critical mother was crying. Matt ran upstairs and decision. “After the stealing went on for a dove under the covers, crying the whole while my dad finally decided that he and my way. He didn’t understand. mother weren’t fit to be parents because of Matt*, now a sophomore at the divorce and the alcohol. My dad planned SME, is one of millions of kids who has to give me up to his ex-brother-in-law and divorced parents. Although Matt’s parents his wife until he could get his life together,” got divorced eight years ago, he is still hurt said Matt. by it today. “When they weren’t drunk they “Matt, get up. Hey, psst, Matt get got along fine. When they got drunk, they up. Come on son, rise and shine buddy,” would always fight. Alcohol wrecked their Ralph whispered to Matt. He wants to be marriage,” said Matt. extra nice this morning because, after all, Once divorced, Matt’s parents this morning is his son’s last at his house, both fought for custody of their son. at least for a while. Ralph had called his Matt was at baseball practice. Matt ex-brother-in-law and asked him to keep his loved baseball because it took his mind off son for a while until he could get his life back everything else that was going on. Matt and on track. Ralph was an alcoholic and he had his best friend Jim were talking while waiting admitted it to himself. He had realized that in line to take grounders. Jim was living on he was not fit to be a dad right now and had Matt’s street a few houses down. They talked decided to do the responsible thing. He hated about school, about the new Street Fighter sending Matt away because he loves him so game on Nintendo and decided to play it much. after practice. Now it was Jim’s turn to take Fighting back tears, Ralph got Matt grounders. As Matt was waiting his turn he and dragged him out of bed. Matt had an heard a honk and a holler, “Beer bottles were all over the maple “Matt.” Matt looked right coffee table and the floor. Cigarette butts and saw his dad in his car. were spilling over the top of the ashtray. Ian Stanford Sports Page Editor

Matt had seen this before.”

“Come here,” said Ralph, Matt’s dad. Matt knew practice wasn’t over for 10 more minutes. As he approached the car he found his dad with a smile on his face and in an enthusiastic tone he said, “Hey son. Why don’t ya get in and I’ll take you to Worlds of Fun. It’ll be great.” Matt was confused. He thought that his mom was picking him up because she had dropped him off. “I already

early morning blank look and didn’t know what was going on. Ralph started to put his son’s toys in his green duffle bag. He placed them carefully and slow, trying to savor every last minute of parenting. Ralph looked into Matt’s eyes and saw that Matt had a new expression on his face. He could tell that his son sensed that something was wrong. Ralph tried to comfort Matt by

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being as fatherly as possible. He got down on his knees and hugged his son and reassured him when he said, “Everything’s gonna be alright Matt. You’re gonna be staying with Uncle Bob and Aunt Kristin for a little bit, just for a little bit. You’ll be just fine. Mommy and I are going to sort some things out and then we’ll be a family again,” Ralph was

troubles getting a new life started, despite the fact that he had to become sober in order to get his son back. “He would keep getting drunk and call my mom up and ask her to come over. My mom would come over and then she would get drunk too and then they’d fight. Then my dad would call the cops and get my mom arrested for breaking the restraining order,” “Laura and my dad first met at Matt said. “This happened more than an AA meeting when they both once.” According to weren’t very serious about quitMatt, after a year or so ting. This time he was for real.” of constantly relying on the bottle, Ralph lying again. He knew that he would never get made a concentrated effort to stop drinking. back together with Laura. The doorbell rang He started going to Alcoholics Anonymous meetings only this time he really wanted and Ralph walked his son to the front door. Ralph opened the door and greeted to stop. “Laura and my dad first met at an Bob and Kristin, feeling both sad and AA meeting when they both weren’t very shameful. He thanked them many times. serious about quitting,” Matt said. “This Ralph could now barely hold back the tears time he was for real.” For three years Ralph as he hugged Matt and gave him his duffle went to AA meetings and half way houses to bag. He watched as Bob and Kristin walked conquer his addiction. With support from all to their station wagon with Matt and buckled his AA friends, counselors and a conviction to get his son back, Ralph, after three long him in. The first few days at Bob and years of battling, has been completely Kristin’s weren’t bad at all for Matt. “My sober since 1999. In addition, Ralph has cousin Aaron and I had a great time just remarried and has started attending Bible hanging out,” he said. “Part of the fun I had Study classes. Today Matt enjoys life at Uncle was due to my confusion. I thought it was just a sleep over and I would be going back Bob and Aunt Kristin’s home. He has two after a couple of days.” On the third day at loving guardians, a cousin who he loves his new home, Kristin explained the living as a brother, a secure environment, and situation. “She told me that I would be going great friends. He is the last person someone to a new school. That’s when it hit me that would guess as having a rocky childhood. But something is still missing from Matt’s this thing was permanent.” For the past eight years, Matt has life. “I want to go back,” says Matt. “He’s lived with his Uncle Bob and Aunt Kristin. (Ralph) turned his life around, gotten his act “Having Bob and Kristin to live with has together, and I think he deserves to have me been a tremendous blessing. I don’t even back. Plus he’s my real father and it’s time want to think about where I would be today that we become a family again,” said Matt. Matt’s long wait will probably if they hadn’t been willing to take me in,” come to an end in the near future. Very said Matt. As nice as it had been living with recently Matt and Ralph had a conversation his Uncle’s family for Matt, the transition was about their future. “Basically my dad said not easy. “I was really sad about the divorce that he wants me and he thinks that there’s and I felt like I couldn’t really express my a really good chance of the court granting feelings with anyone,” said Matt. “On the him custody of me because of how he’s other hand, I was making friends in my new changed so much,” Matt continued with school. It was almost like I was living two a smile, “Were going to try to pursue this when I turn 17, which is in two years. I am lives.” really happy about it and can hardly wait,” While Matt was adjusting to life in a new environment, Ralph’s plan of sobering continued with a smile, “Were going to try up and then applying to the court and getting to pursue this when I turn 17, which is in two custody back wasn’t going as planned. His years. I am really happy about it and can bitter divorce culminated by him and Laura hardly wait.” getting restraining orders and joint custody with each able to see Matt on every *Names have been changed to protect privacy other weekend. At first Ralph had

Bring your old prom dresses to have a chance to win prizes in our raffle! Bring dresses to room 505. Questions? Ask Kelly Kerr, Caroline Winter or Laura Fry.

All proceeds from resale go to Muscular Dystrophy Assocation. THE HARBINGER

news

on the

team

For one freshman, football isn’t just for the guys anymore

arihira Vanvlimmeren stood alone in the girls’ locker room as she weaved her football pads into her pants. It was a relief not to have a whole bunch of yelling, sweaty guys around.

“Oh my God,” Vanvlimmeren thought as she finished weaving her pads in, “I hope I don’t get killed by Colin Hertel.” After sliding into her shoulder pads, Vanvlimmeren walked out into the humid hallway by the pool, laced on her new cleats, put her helmet on. And then she walked to the practice field as the first female football player in school history. “On the break, hustle on up to the baseball field,” football coach Adam King yelled as the players gathered around. “Break!” The freshman football team trotted up the hill, Vanvlimmeren taking her time. Without instruction, the team entered the field and formed seven parallel lines, Vanvlimmeren standing second to last in the third line, almost a head shorter than the player in front of her. “Ok, high knees. Let’s go!” King instructed. Tweet! Clap!

How it all began Vanvlimmeren has always liked contact sports. The aggression. The fun. The rush. Vanvlimmeren looks forward to the family rugby game when she travels home to New Zealand every summer. “Oh gosh, I’ve been playing rugby since I was in third grade,” Vanvlimmeren said. “It is just a family thing that we do.” After flipping a coin to make two teams, Vanvlimmeren’s family enjoys a day full of family competition. After what is sometimes an aggressive game, the family usually ends the day eating newspaper-wrapped fish and chips around a patio table. In Kansas City, Vanvlimmeren couldn’t find a good rugby team for her age group. Finding that soccer wasn’t aggressive enough, football seemed to be the natural transition. “Butt Kicks! First group!” King yelled. Tweet! Clap! After talking with head coach John Stonner in 8th grade, Vanvlimmeren knew that she wanted to play football. There wasn’t a good rugby team for her age group. Soccer wasn’t aggressive enough, and the girls “cried too much,” Vanvlimmeren recalled. But football seemed to be just right. It was a sport where Vanvlimmeren could be aggressive and be herself. With football, Vanvlimmeren could truly be a part of something. “The elements that have been missing in her life: comradery, the extended sense of family, [the] belonging; that is very much a part of football,” Vanvlimmeren’s mom Athena Haynes said. “First group, lunges!” King said. Tweet! Clap! The summer after eighth grade, Vanvlimmeren was ready. Without her mother knowing, Vanvlimmeren wrote a letter to Stonner saying that she wanted to play.

THE HARBINGER

“When she got a reply in the mail,” Haynes recalled, “it was the first time I knew she wanted to play.” Stonner was not surprised at all. “Ever since I started coaching, I have heard girls talk about joining,” Stonner said. Neither was coach Shawn Roberts. Before coming to East, Roberts coached seventh grade football at Campbell Middle school in Lees Summit. One of the teammates was a female offensive and defensive lineman. “It wasn’t a big deal. She worked hard. The team looked at her as an equal,” Roberts said. “It was a non-issue.” Now, on a hot and sunny Friday afternoon, Vanvlimmeren’s presence on the team seems just as normal as anyone else’s.

Gossip by the water cooler “Jog it out! Spacing!” King yells at the football team. The team broke from their lines and started to run around the baseball field, Vanvlimmeren running close behind. “Lets GO!” some of the players yell as the team runs around the field for the seventh lap. The players breathe heavily, straining under the 20-pound. weight of their bouncing and clicking pads. “Keep going man!” shouts one of the players. “Don’t walk!” After what seems like forever, King calls the team over into a group huddle before a water break. “1, 2, 3. Break!” The team slowly walks to the water coolers set out by a small shed on the upper practice field. As they arrive, they mill around, some drinking, others talking, and others resting. “At first I thought it was pretty shocking,” freshman player Randy Martinez said as he gulped down a mouthful of water. “First, I also noticed the courage. She is brave and outgoing to do this.” “I didn’t really care,” freshman player Andrew Faerber said. “Everyone should have a chance to play. If she wants to play, that’s great.” “I don’t see any other girls trying. I respect her for that,” freshman player Zach Lehr said. “[It’s] sort of appealing that a girl is going to go out and work,” freshman player Irving Cedillo said. The sound of King’s voice catches the attention of the players, who take their last mouthful of water before grouping up around King. “Do not surrender to pain,” King says.

No restrictions, no limits Do not surrender to pain. Do not stop at anything. Do not limit your mind. “I don’t have restrictions. I don’t care for them,” Vanvlimmeren said. “I don’t believe that physical appearance shows strength. I believe what is on the inside shows this.” These are the values that Vanvlimmeren goes by as she plays football. To her, it is not only the game that matters, it is the ability to be herself, and to make a difference. It’s why she plays. “I wanted girls to know it is OK to go out and be yourself. You can go out there and have people support you,” Vanvlimmeren says. “So many people think [football] is a guy’s sport. It is a female sport too.

SUIT the g

story by Stephen McKim photos by Tierney Weed

SEPT. 8, 2003

SEPT.

features

ON THE LINE: Vanvlimmeren crouches down in her stance as preparation for the next play.

SIZE MATTERS: Vanvlimmeren measures barely over 5’3” and weighs in at 108 pounds.

GIVE A YELL: Coach Shawn Roberts encourages the players by shouting. “The coaches give the kids self-esteem and self-respect. It’s amazing,” Vanvlimmeren’s mom Athena Haynes said.

TING UP: Being the only female football player can have its perks -- Vanvlimmeren shares girls’ locker room with no other football players.

8, 2003

THE HARBINGER

COMPANY COMPANY COMPANY Three’s Three s 8

features

One’s chocolate, one’s vanilla, and one’s a swirl mix. It’s like this at the Quick’s every year— always three different birthday cakes. The triplets sit at their kitchen table with a pile of presents in front of each of them, while their family sings “Happy Birthday” to each one, in birth order. First to Emily, then to Ben, and then to Allison. Their relatives know to send them each a separate card (not just one to share), because after all, these sophomores share enough. Emily and Allison avoid sharing clothes because it gets them in fights. But even though they don’t shareclothes, they still wear the same style clothes. “Emily and I will come downstairs in the morning, and we’ll be wearing practically the exact same thing. And that would just look stupid, so we’ll fight over who has to change,” Allison said. Allison, Ben, and Emily each have their own room, but they will have to share a car when they turn 16 on September 17. They also share most of the same friends. “Everything I do on the weekends or in the summer—they come too. And I’m sometimes worried they will share personal things with people,” Emily said. If Allison is talking to her friends and Ben or Emily butts in and says, “No, it didn’t happen that way,” it bothers her. They all have different stories to tell. “When we’re all doing the same thing, we’re not as much an individual,” Ben said. They also have to share their parents’ attention. However, the triplets never had to work as hard for attention as their older sister Elizabeth, who was four when they were born. She became overwhelmed and jealous. When the triplets were babies, the focus was on them all the time. It was hectic for their mom, but she had help from family friends and their grandparents. One time Ben, who was the only one walking at three years old, climbed to the top of the refrigerator, got down the cheerios, and led Emily and Allison to their mom’s closet. Here, they all decided to eat cheerios Lindsey Melvin Head Copy Editor

off the floor, sending their mom into a panic because she couldn’t find them. The dog was the first to find them and started barking. The triplets say they were always ganging up on their mom. They laugh looking back because their mom always wanted them to be a banana split for Halloween, but they always wanted to each have different costumes. They were all in the same class up until third grade at Corinth. Then, the girls decided they didn’t want to be in the same class as each other so they took Sophomores Emily, Allison, and Ben Quick. turns being “alone” in the class, but since there eyes and light brown hair. were only two classes, one of them would They may be different in looks, but be with Ben. when it comes to talent, they are a modern Elizabeth is glad looking back that she Partridge family. Ben plays the trumpet, never had to share anything, but it’s easy to Emily’s in choir, and Allison plays the viola see how she felt excluded. in orchestra. They all had a 4.0 GPA last year, “She said our birthday was like Christmas, but Ben’s best at math; Allison, at English, but everyone was getting presents except and Emily, at science. her,” Emily said. Comparisons between the triplets are People always used to make such a inevitable and hated. However, they are alike big deal about them being triplets, and in some ways. sometimes they still do. When they first find “Allison, Ben and I always think alike. out the Quicks are triplets, people most of If I’m telling a story, Allison can finish my the time will act surprised and think it’s cool. sentences. We’ll both be humming the same t. Some seem shocked and say that they’ve song and walk by each other,” Emily said. never met a triplet before. They have been known to think of the “It’s ridiculous, but sometimes someone same random thing at the same time. will ask if we’re identical,” Emily said. Sure. They have their differences. When they’re away at camp, nobody even They crave individuality. They’d love knows they’re related. Ben has an athletic independence. Ben even said he might mind build (from soccer and track), dirty blonde if they went to the same college. They want hair, and hazel eyes. Allison has green eyes to live in their own place when they move and dark brown hair, and Emily has blue

Celcius Tannery Show your student ID to receive exclusive 2 week & 1 month (913)642-3826 8941 Metcalf Ave. unlimited specials! North Overland Park

photo by Jessie Fetterling

out. But they want to stay within driving distance. “Although sometimes they seem like just friends, they’re more than good friends. We talk a lot. There’s nothing that we would not tell each other. We know all the same people and go through the same stuff. We relate more than normal brothers and sisters would,” Allison said. Bored and lonely aren’t words frequently heard in the Quick house. They always have someone their own age to talk to and who will understand what’s going on. They’re always there for each other. Whether it’s mourning together when their grandma died or even being there when Ben’s first grade soccer team needed a couple substitutes, Emily and Allison were on the sidelines, ready to jump in and help out. They always do and they always will… because they’ve never known life without each other.

a&e

RADIOHEAD In an interstellar burst of multicolored lights and swirling fog, five Brits collectively known as Radiohead took the stage to deliver their rock from outer space to St. Louis. And otherworldly the rock ‘n’ roll was. As the band began “The Gloaming” from their June 9 release, Hail to the Thief, the depth of their live show become apparent as panels of lights flashed spastically, eerily illuminating the five men feverously playing their instruments. By the looks of it, they were having just as good a time as the audience. Radiohead’s impact and importance as a band became blatantly obvious as they managed to captivate and excite the Aug 24. audience for nearly two hours. Their

Date

Artist

Venue

9/12/03

Appleseed Cast

The Bottleneck

9/14/03

Dropkick Murphys, The Disasters, The Unseen

Liberty Hall

9/15/03

Rooney, PALOALTO, The Sounds

The Bottleneck

9/17/03

R.E.M, Ed Harcourt

Starlight Theatre

9/20/03

Q and Not U, Black Eyes, Antelope

The Bottleneck

9/21/03

Local H, Tsunami Bomb

The Bottleneck

Cher, Tommy Drake

Kemper Arena

9/22/03

SEPT. 8, 2003

Yorke graciously dedicated the first single from Hail to the Thief, “There There,” to the people on the lawn, whom the band wasn’t able to see. He also had the audience know that the show was being put on for their benefit, not for the sponsor’s, as he stated in the band’s first encore. The crowd was thoroughly engrossed in the music, boosting the sound with their own voices, illuminating the night with their lighters and screaming wildly as Yorke jumped around the stage like a madman during one of the night’s best songs, “Idioteque.” But the band was not just performing for their fans; they danced and cheered along with everyone else, just as ecstatic to play a great song as the people were to hear it, and this is what gave the show such a

powerful energy. Even after playing a four-song encore, the crowd still hadn’t had enough, and the cheering and stomping didn’t cease until the band came onstage for the third time of the night to play the pounding crowd pleaser, “The National Anthem.” All eyes were on the band as the hypnotic “Everything In Its Right Place” picked up, Yorke’s voice swirling in and out of the speakers while the audience sang along. As the band left the stage and the noise of the song slowly died down, the video screen scrolled the word “forever” for what seemed like an eternity, disappearing as the stage lights shut off and the house lights shone on, bringing everyone back to Earth.

Date

SEPTEMBER

Barrett Emke A&E Editor

set consisted of a variety of tunes from all but one of their albums, as well as one b-side and a brief cover of Neil Young’s “After the Gold Rush.” Despite the undeniable evolution of the band’s music from album to album, each song seemed to perfectly fit into the set, and never once was the flow awkward or clumsy, except for the two times the group left the stage, only to be persuaded to play a few more as the crowd howled and protested the show’s end. The most interesting aspect of Radiohead’s live show was their ability to recreate each song to sound almost identical to the album versions. Whether it was the addition of noisy talk radio to the music or scrambled loops of singer Thom Yorke’s voice, the songs always sounded full and powerful .

Setlist The Gloaming 2+2=5 Sit Down, Stand Up Where I End and You Begin Bulletproof...I Wish I Was Airbag Knives Out Talk Show Host Climbing Up the Walls Sail to the Moon Wolf at the Door Paranoid Android Go to Sleep I Might Be Wrong Idioteque No Surprises There There First Encore: Pyramid Song Myxomatosis Just How to Disappear Completely Second Encore: The National Anthem Hunting Bears After the Gold Rush Everything In Its Right Place

Artist

Venue

9/22/03

Billy Idol

Uptown Theatre

9/23/03

Yo La Tengo, The Aislers Set

Granada Theatre

9/24/03

Cave In, Every Time I Die, From Autumn to Ashes, Funeral for a Friend

Granada Theatre

9/27/03

LeAnn Rimes

Ameristar Hotel & Casino

9/28/03

Bowling For Soup, Anything But Joey, Lucky Boys Confusion, Never Heard Of It

Granada Theatre

9/29/03

Lake Trout

The Bottleneck

9/30/03

Leo Kottke

Liberty Hall

THE HARBINGER

a&e

Cupini’s offers good food, pleasing atmosphere

photo by Patrick Menihan

Heather Bartlett Feature Page Editor

A chef at Cupuni’s prepares a sandwich.

A short, balding Italian with a Mario-Brothers mustache and flour covered shirt stood in the window making pasta. He waved heartily as I stepped into the quaint little shop in Westport known as Cupini’s. Small, round, umbrellacovered tables sit outside in the pleasant sunshine. The old, wooden floorboards creak in just the right places, seemingly to invite me to the counter to place an order. Fresh pasta and Panini sits in the counter display, enticing all who enter the shop. “Each of the subs or Paninis has a very unique taste that you won’t find anywhere else,” Senior Garrett Ebelke said. The smal cafe makes you feel at home. Ebelke believes it to be one of the best places to eat in Westport. “If you came in here at lunch time during the week, the lines will be backed outside the door,” Ebelke said. I understand why. Basically, everything on the menu sounds good. The restaurant owner Eddie Cupini makes a lot of

the food himself. His brother, Award winning chef, Franco Cupini brings forty-five years of experience and cooking to Kansas City as well. A desert called “Chocolate Strawberries Belvedere” catches my eye while looking through the menu. It is a chocolate cake layered with strawberries and vanilla custard. Italian music begins to play in the background, jolting me back to my senses. “Cupini’s is very welcoming. All of the pasta that is sold is hand made in the front window where you can watch,” Ebelke said. I ordered the Italian Club Sandwich, which consisted of fresh sliced turkey, lettuce, tomato, crispy bacon, hardboiled egg, provolone cheese, and creamy garlic aioli. Every sandwich is served on a ten-inch baguette. A refrigerator stands in the corner holding every flavor of Stewart’s Soda, Honest tea, and Nantucket nectars in its selection. After paying, I grab a drink and almost as soon as I sit down, a sandwich is laid in front of me. It tasted great. There are so many different tastes to choose from. Hot Panini sandwiches include items like

Salsiccia, which is homemade Italian sausage topped with sautéed spinach and garlic. Cold Panini sandwiches include the Gangster, which is Proscuitto, salami, roasted bell peppers, eggplant, provolone cheese with garlic aioli. Soups and salads are on the menu any day. Pastas such as cannelloni, Lasagna, and Penne Rigate are a popular pick. There is also a choice of specialty pizzas like Trevi, Adriano, and Paesano which mix mozzarella cheese, tomatoes, herbs, mushrooms, pepperoni, and even eggplant or potato. The garlic bread and cheese garlic bread is a favorite. Deserts l i k e Cheesecake, Zuppa Inglese, and Cannoli are delicious. All items on the menu range from $1-7. The sandwich shop is located at 1809 Westport Road. “It is very easy to find because they own a bright yellow hummer, that is their delivery vehicle, and it is always parked on the south side of Westport Road, just east of State Line,” Ebelke said. I recommend stopping by for a great Italian treat.

Pat Ryan delivers homemade music David Vranicar Staff Writer

In order to make his debut album, Pat Ryan had to live in the recording studio. Not in the sense that he had to spend countless hours recording and re-recording his songs. He did. But he actually lived in the recording studio. It was his bedroom. “The Sounds of Tangboy” was recorded amid Ryan’s (a.k.a. Tangboy) messy desk, giant sombrero and posters paying homage to Barry Bonds and The Simpsons. It’s been in the works since the senior was in seventh grade and is slated for release in late September. The 17-track album was completed using a synthesizer, piano, guitars and a slue of digitally engineered sounds produced via a computer music program. The CD is reflective of Tangboy’s musical influences, which range from gangsta rap to easy listening.

THE HARBINGER

Tangboy, who describes the effort as a “collection of ideas that I’ve gathered through the years,” opens the CD with “Jackson Jones.” It’s as much a story (in no way an autobiographical one) as it is a song, telling a tale of despair as Jones struggles with the hardships of life as a gangster. But after flirting with early 90’s pop and classic rock sounds, Tangboy truly emerges in perhaps his strongest suit: rapping. “Collateral Dwammage” is one of the CD’s more fun songs, layering dance-coaxing lyrics on top of a discoesque beat in a way that really works. The rapping continues with “Whiteboy,” a song in which Tangboy tackles generic rap subjects like parties, guns, drug dealing, etc. It’s when he begins speaking of white rappers that have come before him-and why he’s more original, maybe even better-that we are offered one of the best chunks of the album.

big Tangboy strays from the “great one man act for the CD’s final house” and rap song: “Tha Duel.” Despite the current enlisting the help of three e c o n o m i c extremely amateur rappers, slump, Ryan “Tha Duel,” with its “What’s My continues, “In Name” (Snoop Dogg) inspired the middle of background, succeeds in making the east side the listener forget that these are of town/(He) Didn’t like the high school kids. things Pat Ryan experiments on the piano. “Smokin’ Dope” once again way proves Tangboy’s songs, hard core rap, techno s t o r y t e l l i n g Pat Ryan, dance beats and seeming Ben p r o w e s s , The Sounds of Tangboy Folds remakes finally comes rehashing to an end with “The End of the the true story Chain.” It works as the perfect of a friend’s close to an incongruent album. misfortunes with It is a rarity and a treat to have smokin’ dope at school. The song were going down.” this kind of diversity on one CD. “Lunar Space Laser,” the If taken literally, “The Sounds of is reminiscent of a 50’s pop song, and despite sub-par drumming, lone instrumental track on Tangboy” might not cut it. But it survives as one of the CD’s “Sounds,” may be better placed if you remember that this oneon an episode of “Wild On E!” man project is aiming to put a most entertaining tracks. The comic relief continues-or or during a Neo/Mr. Anderson smile on your face rather than never stops-as we are treated to fight scene. But as a song on this a tear in your eye, then Ryan “Little George.” This tune, while CD it still works, evoking a smile succeds the expectations of what about our nation’s president, is because of its cheese-factor if one should be able to do in that more humorous than politically nothing else. studio of his. The roller coaster of love charged. After alluding to W’s

1/2

SEPT. 8, 2003

a&e

Date

Artist

Venue

9/12/03

Appleseed Cast

The Bottleneck

9/14/03

Dropkick Murphys, The Disasters, The Unseen

Liberty Hall

9/15/03

Rooney, PALOALTO, The Sounds

The Bottleneck

9/17/03

R.E.M, Ed Harcourt

Starlight Theatre

9/20/03

Q and Not U, Black Eyes, Antelope

The Bottleneck

9/21/03

Local H, Tsunami Bomb

The Bottleneck

Cher, Tommy Drake

Kemper Arena

9/22/03

SEPT. 8, 2003

Date

SEPTEMBER

Barrett Emke A&E Editor

Artist

Venue

9/22/03

Billy Idol

Uptown Theatre

9/23/03

Yo La Tengo, The Aislers Set

Granada Theatre

9/24/03

Cave In, Every Time I Die, From Autumn to Ashes, Funeral for a Friend

Granada Theatre

9/27/03

LeAnn Rimes

Ameristar Hotel & Casino

9/28/03

Bowling For Soup, Anything But Joey, Lucky Boys Confusion, Never Heard Of It

Granada Theatre

9/29/03

Lake Trout

The Bottleneck

9/30/03

Leo Kottke

Liberty Hall

THE HARBINGER

sports

photo by Tierney Weed

Brand new season, same old line The Lancer football team will be led by their veteran offensive line

Gordon Culver Sports Editor

A team loses every skill position player from the two time defending district and regional champions. Only Six starters return, five on offense and one on defense. How does a team cope with such loss? They focus on what they still have. The Lancer football team is coming into a new season with a young team that has little experience, yet the team still seems upbeat. “I really think that we need to and can play well in these first couple of games. If we do we will sneak up on a few people and really show them what we have got. We are coming into these games as the underdog, but we can come out on top,” junior Andy Logan said. The five offensive linemen, seniors Bryan Miller, Tim Oestmann, Jeff Spradely, and Taylor Gravely and junior Andy Logan, are the five returning offensive players, so naturally the focus will start with the five players with the most skill and experience. The philosophy this year will to win the game on the ground. The team hopes to run behind its experienced offensive line most of the time and pass when they have to. This focus on the offensive line will take a lot of the pressure off of new

quarterback, sophomore Brett Condie. Condie has never taken a snap in a varsity game, but has plenty of experience playing at the freshmen level last year. “Brett will be able to handle himself. We have a very solid offensive line with all of us returning. With the amount of running we will do there won’t be too much pressure on him,” senior Taylor Gravely said. Defensively the team will rely on the front seven to pressure the quarterback and stop the run. In passing situations pressure on the

will go far.

PLAYING THE FIELD: Junior Andy Logan and the returning offensive line practice against the sophomores. quarterback will be key because the new defensive back crops will be running a majority of man-to-man defense so any help they can get

Coach Reed will run the defense as defensive coordinator. “We will have to play a very aggressive defensive style. Since we are not the biggest team, and can’t just power through the other team, we have to use speed and aggressiveness to be able to put pressure on the other team,” head coach John Stonner said. Even with all of the new faces in new places the team remains upbeat about how well they can do. The consensus among the team is that they can improve on last year’s last place finish in the Sunflower League and can three-peat as district and regional champions. “With a little luck, we could be in the hunt for a spot in the top half of the sunflower league, and hopefully we can again have another strong post season,” Stonner said.

SPORTS PANEL Every few issues our talented sports panel will tell you what we think about what is happening in he world of sports.

Gordon Culver

Corban Goble

David Vranicar

Ian Stanford

Super Bowl

Chiefs C

Packers

Patriots

Steelers

Sugar Bowl

Texas

Miami

Auburn

Heisman

Roy Williams R

Mike Williams

Darren Sproles

Royals Playoffs?

No comment

Yes

Sunflower Football

Olathe North O

Olathe North

SM North

Sunflower Soccer

SM East

Olathe South

Sunflower Tennis

SM East

SM Eastt