Issue 11

harbinger SHAWNEE MISSION EAST

Habitat for Humanity •

ISSUE 11, FEB. 23, 2004

town • Children’s TLC

•

What’s Inside

• •

Barbeque reviews Spring sports preview 2004 Oscars

Uni-

YMCA Stars • Knit Knots • Lancer Maestros • Restart • Oak Ridge Stables • AIDS Awareness • Storyteller Project • Franklin Center • Tennis Project • Pets ‘n’ Parties • Kaleidoscope •

Honk and Holler • Village

Every year, students rush to do community service for National Honor Society.

a great DISSERVICE? But does doing the hours

this way do everyone

Ross Boomer

Food Pantry • S.A.V.E. Home • Children’s Clothing Drive • Girl Scouts • can drive • Ambassadors • tutoring • Basketball Project • Harvesters • Cancer Awareness • Union Station •

S

tacks of blue National Honor Society service papers with scribbles and squiggles of black and blue ink compete for space with All Quiet on the Western Front on English teacher Kelly Fast’s desk.

Some forms have the community service dates going back to June. Many, though, show the service dates from the past few months.

This recent cram in service due to an NHS requirement has increased participation in some service projects. It has also raised student concern for whether the hours are worthwhile.

As the days drew near to a Feb. 13 deadline, Mr. Fast, an NHS co-sponsor, was seeing a dramatic increase in the “service surveys” that juniors signed and turned in for the requirement. Students eligible for the honor society have been aware of the program’s

requirements since October.

“Only in the past week have I gotten these papers when these kids have had them for [four] months,” Fast said.To be a member of NHS, a student must have at least a 3.6 GPA exhibit leadership, demonstrate the “Six Pillars of Character” and document 20 hours of community service. The hope of the service requirement, according to Fast, is for some kids to take the experience and continue it in the future. “[However], of the 100 to 150 students who are in NHS, I would say only 10 to 20 actually do [service] outside,” Fast said.

As a member of NHS, students are required to do at least 10 hours of community service the following year for a specific project. In the fall, many members became active in Tennis Project, a service prject that teaches inner-city children tennis. After 10 hours were completed, though, many of the students stopped participating.

Ronald “The kids [were] disappointed,” senior Carrie Yeast, a co-chair of the project, said. “They bonded with volunteers who don’t have a real love for the project.”

As the deadline for juniors approached, a similar trend in community service participation emerged.

Junior Stephanie Altoro is a SHARE chairperson for a volunteer group at Union Station. After winter break, she saw a jump in the amount of people participating because of NHS. “I used to be the one asking people to do my project.” Altoro said. “Now they come begging me.”

continued on page 2

McDonald House • salvation army • Eagle Scout • Adopt-a-Pet • blood drive • SADD • VOLUNTEER HOURS

news 2

THE HARBINGER

National Honors Society encourages community service to mixed results should already have them done.”

Junior Doug Brake admitted in increasing his service hours only recently for the honor society’s requirement.

“But I actually ended up doing quite a bit more,” Brake said, “and I’m still signing up for stuff.”

Brake recently spent a day volunteering at the City Union Mission. There he met a man was expelled from high school and later spent time in a juvenile detention center.

“I was surprised that a guy so young who grew up in Johnson County was in such a spot.” Brake said. “I felt sorry for him.”

Because of experiences like in time spent for NHS hours, Brake continues

continued from page one Senior Susan Alig feels that NHS hours are helpful for getting kids active in community service.

“I had no time, especially sophomore and junior year, and things that weren’t necessary had to go,” Alig said. “You need a reason to carve out [service] hours from your schedule and usually goodheartedness isn’t enough.”

Junior Kara Boeshaar feels that is wrong to procrastinate the service requirement for the honor society.

“It goes against the whole idea of NHS,” Boeshaar said. “If you are supposedly well-rounded enough to be nominated in the first place, you

Please Recycle Your Harbinger

to participate in community service, the reason Fast noted behind the requirement.

Brake sees NHS as an overall benefit for community, regardless of the reasons why people are doing the service.

“NHS has a quite a decent amount of members, so take each one times 20 hours,” he said. “That’s a whole lot of hours being put in to helping others out.”

The NHS Initiation for juniors is this spring, shortly before graduation. NHS members will wear a special cord on their mortarboard at their high school graduation.

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harbinger

3 news

THE HARBINGER

Students show support for suspended senior Carson Black

I thought I had a good computer chair in the making, but it didnʼt turn out too well,” senior super-fan Will Pendleton said, perfectly summing up the incident that got him suspended for five days.

The traveling super-fans that appear at every boyʼs basketball game traveled to Leavenworth on Monday the ninth, and came back with one more seat.

Santa Claus, a knight, a giant chicken and a gorilla would have been sitting front row, hassling the refs, but the group isnʼt allowed to wear their costumes to away-games. Drews and Wills ʻstreetʼ clothes would come in handy later, as they ran out of the building.

That night, the super-fans left as victors. Not only because their team won, but because they left the Leavenworth gym with a prize of their own: a folding chair.

Estimated at ʻmore than youʼd thinkʼ a chair, it was no petty theft. It was, however, coordinated.

Drew Severns stood as a look-out in the gym while Will made off with the chair, the very chair that Assistant Principals Mike Wolgast and Ron Mersch had been seated in during the game. Tim Rowe and Jeff Spradley pulled up in the get-away car, just outside the doors and waited.

Since it was a chair that symbolized everything school spirit is, Leavenworth fans and players were no doubt outraged. But the only resistance Will and Drew met during their escape was two Leavenworth students.

“Yo, that dudeʼs got one of our chairs,” one student said.

“Yea, that (expletive) is funny,” the other said. I can only imagine the chaos.

The boys drove home happy and care free, assuming they were in the clear. To celebrate their steal they went to 7 Eleven, and bought the biggest slushies possible.

Even when Mersch pulled Will from his first hour on Tuesday, Pendleton wasnʼt worried.

“It wasnʼt ʻtill we got to the office and Drew was there that I thought we were in trouble,” Will said. The four were called into Merchʼs office and sat down to have a little talk. First, Tim got a lecture for stepping on the court and giving senior Ryan Hintz a high five during the game. After a little talk, Will admitted to taking the chair.

news

“Mersch was pretty cool about it; he realized it was just a stupid mistake that I would learn from,” Pendleton said, in hindsight.

Stupid mistake or not, he automatically got five days out of school suspension and was forbidden to attend WPA. He will however be allowed to walk for graduation.

“I thought the punishment was right, but that five days was way too much,” Drew Severnʼs said. “They should have just left him in Leavenworth for a night as a punishment.”

SPORTING SUPPORT: Seniors Morgan Lafferty, Raegan Brown and Maggie Mcguire show Some of the their support for senior Will Pendleton by wearing homeade “Free Willy” shirts to the basketball parents involved game. photo by Tierney Weed were upset that he was that while his peers were in class, Will was playing Xreceived such a harsh punishment, but agreed it was stupid to Box. Hours on end. take the chair. Will received the same punishment for taking “I played video-games for about 3 days straight. Then my and returning the chair that students get for drug violations and mom got on my case and made me do some work, so I started fighting on campus. my senior paper.” Pendleton said.

“I felt bad for my parents, but I wasnʼt that upset about His mom had to get on his case from her cell phone, being suspended,” Pendleton said. in Florida. The day Wills parents found out he was being So many students thought that five days was to much, suspended, they left for a pre-planned trip to Florida. Timed that “Free Willy” signs and t-shirts started to appear. By perfectly to be gone his whole suspension, Will had to roughFriday nightʼs games, the crowd was filled with “Free Willy” it-out alone on his days home from school. revolutionists. Students wore tee-shirts and arm bands to support their friend. The irony of the “Free Willy” movement

State Music Qualifiers

BAND State Band: Jack Lynch, Andrew McGowan, Tori Olson, Garrett Parker, Jenny Stromsted, Joey Waters.

BRIEFS

State Jazz Band: Nolan Lem, Marianne Melling.

On Feb. 26-27, the Symphonic Band will compete in the State KMEA band Convention at East.

National Merit Finalists The following students are the SM East 2004 National Merit Scholarship Program finalists. There were a total of 39 finalists in the Shawnee Mission District, 19 of them from East.

Susan Alig, Rachel Ashworth, Marcus Austenfeld, Margaret Blair, Gregory Brown, Micaya Clymer, Danielle Coffyn, Perry Collins, Heather Farris, Brett Harrop, Elizabeth Hornig, Leah Jordan, Andrew Lee, John Morse, Tyler Richmond, David Sanders, Arup Sarma, Matthew Stoebner, and Lake Wooten

ORCHESTRA

Susan Alig, Erin Caplan, Rachel Dougherty, Pat Drinkwine, Ema Gross, Whitney Gudgel, Dan Ketter, Jamie Mathews, Marianne Melling, Melanie Mohn, Michael Mooney, Josh Pierson, Heather Ray

CHOIR JAZZ IT UP: Senior Nolan Lem will be participating in the state jazz band competition.

Ben Bliss, Reed Fagan, Camryn Reynolds

Fifth hour schedule change Starting today, lunches will each be shortened by five minutes and students will have an additional five minutes of class time during fifth hour.

These adjustments are a result of the four snow days and graduation being one week earlier this year. This will not give enough contact time with the senior students to meet the requirements of the State of Kansas.

New lunch schedule L1

Lunch 11:20-11:45 Class 11:50-12:50

L2

Class 11:25-11:50 Lunch 11:50-12:15 Class 12:20-12:50

L3

Class 11:25-12:25 Lunch 12:25-12:50

Rotary Club Scholarships

The Rotary Club of Shawnee Kansas will honor three outstanding high school seniors with a $500 scholarship, who have made positive contributions in our community.

Finalists will be guests at one of the club’s regular Friday breakfast meetings. At that time, each will give a two-to-three-minute address on an assigned topic. The club will provide any needed trasportation.

Applications must be received no later than March 12, 2004. Applications are available and should be returned to the club secretary: Calvin McBride 913-432-9691 cmcbride1@kc.rr.com

Executive Board Elections

Exec Board candidates will be giving their speeches over the fourth hour announcements this week, Monday through Thursday. Voting will take place on the North Ramp on Friday, Feb. 27. The following students will be running for the four spots:

President

Vice President

Rachel Beck Brady Myers

Cynthia Goldman Allison Isenberg

Secretary

Treasurer

Maddie Simpson

Ross Boomer

news 4

THE HARBINGER

Writings on the Wall

SKETCHING IT OUT: Some of Jessie Ostermann’s sketches showing different sports and activities at East.

Award Winning Senior, Jessie Ostermann, plans to complete her retro mural before graduation Bryan Dykman She helped design the SHARE logo. She won the Golden award and the Silver Key award, honors given out by the district for outstanding achievement in art. And now her artwork in Graphic Design is being sent to New York to be judged. These accomplishments are senior Jessie Ostermann’s and soon to be added to her résumé is the florescent, blossoming, retro-inspired mural, located outside the lunchroom on the north ramp.

“It started as a simple doodle,” Ostermann said. “I wanted to make the art wing brighter. After I saw the impact that Adrian Trewolla’s mural had on the students, I knew that I wanted to do a mural.”

And from there the mural took to life. After she had her sketch approved by Shelly Trewolla and the rest of the art teachers she took it to the administration. To give the administration a better idea of what the mural would look like she scanned the original sketch onto the computer and created an image of what it would look like on the wall through the means of Photo Shop. The administration held a meeting and approved the plan.

“The mural is an expression of colors inspiring art,” Ostermann said. “It’s a combination of shapes, words, and patterns to create feeling.”

The only requirement the administration had was to have it done by graduation.

Osterman works every day during her seventh hour study hall class. After school on Tuesday and Thursday Ostermann dedicates around four hours to her creation.

“Jessie was going for a retro look,” Trewolla said.

And it is evident to anyone who walks by the bright mural full of florescenblues,

CORRIDOR PAINTING: Senior Jessie Ostermann decorates the walls on the north ramp with a retro mural she has designed and painted herself. photo by Nicole Oswald oranges, and pinks.

“Because it is in such a major hallway I always get some suggestions; the kids think the hot pink is too bright.” Ostermann said.

But while some students may critique, others are grateful for the addition.

“I like the idea of our school filled with color and expression,” said sophomore Garrett Dunseth. “I would like to see more students do something this tremendous.”

Some students feel that it adds something special to the school.

“It is great to get a change from the boring brick to an exciting mural.” sophomore Alex Kane said.

5 news

THE HARBINGER

The Democrats:

How They Stand

John Kerry

John Edwards

Campaign Status

A new national poll shows that Edwards has moved up 7 points putting him right behind first place Kerry.

His upcoming stops include Georgia and New York.

With 99% of the precincts reporting in, Kerry has 40% of the votes keeping him in first place.

He has won all but two of the contests during primary season so far.

Public Education

•Create smaller public hgh schools • Improve curriculum by putting all students on a “college prep track” unless by parental request •Require community service for high school graduation

•”Education trust fund” which would increase education funding by $20 billion, give $24.8 billion for modernizing schools, money for special-ed and disruptive students, and reform No Child Left Behind to make standardized tests less so

Gay Marriage

For “I do not personally support gay marriage, but I will oppose any national legislation that prevents states from recognizing it.”

For “I do not support gay marriag, but believe that homosexuals should have the same legal benefits as all families.”

• “College for Everyone” •He will provide one year of free tuition to public universities and community colleges.

• In return, students will be required to come to college accademically prepared and to work or serve their community for an average of 10 hours each week.

• John Kerry’s College Opportunity Tax Credit will make four years of college affordable for all Americans.

He will provide a credit for each and every year of college on the first $4,000 paid in tuition •Part of his State Tax Relief and Education Fund will help state states struggling to bridge deficits resulting from Bush’s economic policies wih $50 billion to stop the education cuts and tuition increases across the country

College Access

Abortion

Pro-Choice

‘88 US Senate

Stats

•Has not served in the military

how will you

Pro-Choice •Held position on Senate Foreign Relations Committee •Lt. Gov. of Massachusetts in ‘82 •Now serving fourth term in US Senate •Served as member of the navy

caucus\’ko-kus\ n. a closed

meeting of a group of persons belonging to the same political party or faction to select candidates or to decide on Caucus Locations on March 13 Caucus District 10 Jo. Co. Shawnee Civic Center 13817 Johnson Dr.

Caucus District 37 Johnson County Community College 12345 College Blvd.

Caucus District 11 Johnson County Blue Valley North High School 12200 Lamar

Caucus District 7 Johnson County Antioch Library 8700 Shawnee Mission Pkwy Caucus District 8 Johnson County Overland Park Community Center 6300 87th St.

�ote e?

And then there’s Bush...

Stats: •Gov. of Texas from ‘94-’00 •Served in the Texas Air National Guard Public Education: • No Child Left Behind which emphasises accountability through standardized testing.

•Options exist for parents to take students out of failing schools College Access: • “As President, Governor Bush will establish a $1.5 billion College Challenge Grant. This federal funding will cover one third of state costs to establish a merit scholarship program. States wil have freedom to design their own scholarship programs, exept for a baseline requirement. Participating states would have the incentive to make available to all student courses in the recommended curriculum. The total cost of this proposal would be $1.5 billion over 5 years.”

•Does not want “quotas” but equal access without causing minority status so highly.

•Asked congress to raise federal Pell Grants for low-income students to $4,050 per student in 2004 which was a 45% rise from 2000 Gay Marriage: •Opposes gay marriage- “Marriage is a sacred institution beween a man and a woman.”

Abortion: •Pro-life Campaign Status: •He and his campaign team have released a new campaign video entitled “Unprincipaled, Chapter 1” which targets Kerry and his followers •Upcoming stops include Maine and California

Election Day 2004 Novemeber 2

How to register: Online at rockthevote.com Public faclilties such as libraries or a city hall Requirements: Must be 18 Must be mentally capable Must not be in jail or on parole

sources: presidentmatch.com; ontheissues.com; cnn.com; Seventeen magazine; candidates’ websites

editorial 6

THE HARBINGER

Staff editorial

Freedom

But if you honor your religion, you’ll never blend in with the rest of the students!

of apparel:

Finding the fine line between church and state

T

he cornerstone of this country is that people of all ethnicities, sexual and political persuasions, and religions, should be able to exist as all or none of these things without persecution. Not only is this a fair concept, it’s a beautiful one. It’s what people mean when they say, “It’s a free country.” Of course this isn’t true in all corners of the globe, or it wouldn’t be so coveted.

The French Prime Mister’s decision to ban any openly religious clothing in public schools is buzzing through our social studies classrooms, and nearly every student can stand up and proudly say that it is wrong, that it goes against a person’s basic freedoms, and that it would never happen here, in the United States. But through the guidance of any clever teacher, the question quickly becomes this, “When is it too much? Where is the line drawn between religious expression and encroaching on others rights?”

Students walk the halls of East

Editorial Board Vote

10 Votes Against: 0 Votes For:

There are eleven members on • the Editorial Board. For this issue, one member abstained and all members were present.

in shirts quoting bible passages, yarmulkes on heads and quiet prayers in lunchrooms, and are able to proudly proclaim that it’s a free country, and nobody can tell them how they should worship God, or even if they should, because of the laws of freedom of speech, of separation of church and state, and secular laws.

Freedom in this country is defined by one’s ability to seek out happiness for oneself, unto the point where it infringes on

other people’s freedoms. This means that ideally, a Jew should be able to wear his yarmulke and a Muslim girl her headscarf. The question only appears when people begin to want a clear definition between religion and government.

A headscarf on a Muslim may offend someone, but that doesn’t mean that Muslims don’t have the right to wear them.

The separation of church and state says that government cannot weigh in at all on religion in public classrooms. No specific religion should be taught as rule, no one religion should be treated as sovereign and no one should feel forced to believe certain things because of what they see (or don’t see) in school. This can both defend and condemn religious clothing. On one hand you have

the right to believe what you want to, and on the other you have the obligation to your fellow students not to impose religion on them.

It’s not a fine line, but it is a careful one. There is no small difference between something meant to worship and something meant to offend, but if the placement of that line caters too much to people’s personal sensibilities, rights are impugned. The minute we start refusing even the most extreme religious expressions we’ve crossed it and abandoned the very idea of freedom of religion in schools or anywhere.

Finally, it comes down to the fact that anyone who is offended

by a Jew’s yarmulke is not offended by the sight of the garment itself, but by Jews, and asking a Jew or Muslim to remove their yarmulke or headscarf is like asking them to pretend for seven hours of their day that they are not Jewish or Muslim. When a person is asked not to be religious in public, this is where basic rights are denied.

Asking someone to relinquish the trappings and traditions of their faith because it makes someone around them uncomfortable is the moment that careful line should be drawn. Things get out of hand when objections become not against clothing, but against people. art by Annie Harrigan

harbinger Editor-in-Chief

staff

Photo Editor

Ads/Business Manager

A&E Page Editors

Evan Favreau McFarland Ian Editorial Section Editor Asst. Ads/Business Manager Assistant Editors Page Editors Features Stephen McKim Bryan Dykman Libby Nelson Goldman Cynthia Opinion Section Editor Subscription Manager Dianne Smith Mallory Toombs Pat Menihan Art and Design Editor Holly Garringer Photo essay Editor News Section Editor Annie Harrigan Weed Tierney Courtney Condron News Page Editor Head Copy Editor Alex Abnos

Lindsey Melvin

Copy Editors Carson Black Corban Goble Stephen McKim

Tierney Weed

Joanna Cross

Features Section Editor Stacey Golub Annie Furhman Sports Page Editors A&E Section Editor Peter Goehausen Barrett Emke

Sports Section Editor Gordon Culver

Special Section Editor Amanda Allison

Curtis Shank

Op/ed Page Editor

Ellie Weed

Staff Artists Cynthia Goldman Sarah McElhaney

Staff Photographers Joanna Cross Jessie Fetterling Kevin Grunwald Pat Menihan

Staff Writers Ross Boomer Jessie Fetterling Patrick Haverty Andy Logan Pat Ryan Michael Woodsmall

Adviser Dow Tate

7 opinion

THE HARBINGER

Stand behind

your country Proving that Bush has his advantages

In my own words

Stacey Golub

We are, and have been in a war with terrorism. Suicide bombers are piercing the pride and security Americans always have had. During this time of distress and paranoia, humans are known for pointing fingers. This time it’s pointing at George W. Bush, our president (whether you like it or not).

We want to move on with our lives, but at the same time I think the lips of every American still curl with revenge when we remember 9/11, an attack that had been planned years before Bush came into power.

In 1998, Sadam offered to let us come in and take Osama. But Clinton refused, not wanting to create disorder or provoke another bombing after the earlier attack on The World Trade Center. Clinton has not disagreed once with the invasion of Iraq that Bush has ordered. It’s not a conspiracy, as some believe. It’s not just for oil in Iraq, because at the moment not one drop has left Iraq. Causing gas prices to rise and the price of the American dollar to go down.

The terrorist attacks in America, and the killing frenzies in the Middle East are not going away; this is a dispute not yet put to rest for hundreds of years. Blood is being shed by the innocent, over holy land ownership.

Which is important, but to kill a child before trying to work it out is hard to grasp. Most countries would stand by while citizens are killing their neighbors; over a reason that I bet

most of them have forgotten. But not America, we are known for interfering for the best. The U.S is notorious for having a great deal to do with other countries. I think it’s important that the U.S steps in to control international affairs that have gotten out of hand, because I know we are free and fair.

Phrases such as “ Failures in the Bush Administration” are in every headline. But the fact that we have not yet found Weapons of Mass Destruction in Iraq seems to pop up in every Bush-bashing conversation. Just because we haven’t found them yet, doesn’t mean they’re not there. We have found weapons, chemicals used for nerve gas, and gear for protection against nerve gas. But besides that, better safe than sorry right?

People get mugged everyday by strangers in public with “a gun in their pocket”. Just because a horrifying question lingers in their head “What if they do have a gun”!

Well Sadam threatened us with weapons of mass destruction/chemical welfare, I think a worse situation would be if the U.S didn’t go into Iraq, and Saddam did have weapons of mass destruction.

This is just something I don’t understand; people all talk about our hatred towards Bush.Why? Because he sent troops to stop murders in the Middle East? To me that doesn’t sound like a reason to disrespect him, it sounds like something all our great presidents before would do. Yes, their things I think Bush had should’ve done, such as vetoing certain bills. Yes, people are dying from our troops, but that’s still bar none to

Kids in the Hall

what was happening before we got there.

Bush may have not vetoed many bills that the Republican Party has wanted, that he has promised to veto. But this is because the Democrats don’t want them vetoed, so I guess Bush is trying to please both parties… wrong move Mr. President.

Our countries leader had to make a decision. President Bush had to make quick action in favor of the majority of the country to send American troops to the Middle East. Americans are crying out in foolish sympathy for the independence that every country deserves, but really, we’re trying to create order. How can we disrupt peace, when there is NO peace? It’s insulting to all us patriots when you disagree with our

are trying to stop Osama Bin Laden from building up his forces, and it’s becoming more difficult for Bush without his country behind him on this.

The president has the best intrests of Iraq in mind. Money is a major necessity in helping to make Iraq a better place. It is 120 million, Powell said, that will be used for reconstruction and humanitarian assistance in Iraq to “ease the transition from dictatorship to democracy and lay the foundation for a market economy and a political system that respects human rights and represents the voices of all Iraqis.” I think that’s a pretty good reason to spend 120 million, it’s for the well being of many people who are not as fortunate as us in the U.S. As much as the people of Iraq hate Americans being on their holy land, I bet they’ll thank us later. At the moment the people who were under Sadams rule are thanking us.

Since we have invaded, murders and public executions have ceased. Who draws the line in saying what’s ethical and what is irresponsible? In fact the president draws that line, and the president has been elected through popular vote. So I guess what I’m saying is this: Majority overrules the anti-Bush citizens.

I do not necessarily believe Bush has always made the right decision on other policies. But “getting us into a war with terrorism?” Terrorism has been happening long before Bush was ever even known.

So why blame him now? If the U.S hadn’t stepped in, they would’ve virtually been no Middle Easterners left. We need to be patriotic in this time of need; we need to join together against the wrong of terrorism. So you tell me. Is it more unethical to step in and help foreign countries make peace, or stand by and watch them kill each other? Not to mention countless innocent Americans.

Citizens in Iraq are in desparate need of a fair government, and that is the main goal Bush is trying to succeed in finishing. president when it was decision that had to be made. Were not going to stand by while there are murders taking place over something silly enough that can be fixed.

The fact that Bush’s top foreign policy is ending terrorism is an important issue.

“To eradicate terrorism, the United States must help create stable governments in nations that once supported terrorism, go after terrorist support mechanisms as well as the terrorists themselves, and help alleviate conditions in the world that enable terrorists to bring in new recruits,” Colin Powell testified To Committee Of International Relations. Citizens in Iraq are in desperate need of a fair government, and that is the main goal Bush is trying to succeed in finishing. We are also trying to stop suicide bomber recruiting. We

What’s in your CD player right now?

Freshman

Charlie Paige Adams

“ Bob Dylan because he’s awesome. Enough said.”

Sophomore

Courtney Held

“ Rascall Flatts because they’re all about the happiness.”

Junior

Libby Dix

“ Frank Sinatra because he is a classic.”

Senior

Brooke Jandl

“I like mixes, because it’s all about the random songs.”

opinion 8

THE HARBINGER

Stop kidding around America’s youth is in danger of losing a musical icon Lindsay Melvin In my own words

I admit it.

I used to be a huge fan of Michael Jackson. I have vivid memories of when I was about ten years old—rollerblading on my un-finished basement floor to the beat of “The Way You Make Me Feel” and “Heal the World.”

His songs were perfect for me and my sister to make up dances to; we each wore a white glove. Every once in a while I still enjoy belting out “Man in the Mirror.”

The man was a genius. He has been a music icon ever since his record “Thriller” went platinum. He invented the moonwalk.

He was the heart of The Jackson Five. And he was an extremely talented songwriter, singer, and dancer. It’s too bad that when I hear his name now, those are not the fist titles to come to my mind. “Freak” is more like it.

I understand that he was painfully shy and insecure growing up. His brothers called him “Big Nose.” But back then he only worried about the size of his nose. Now he has to worry about pieces of it falling off…since there is no bone left and little cartilage after so many plastic surgeries.

Not only did he alter his nose, but apparently he also bleached his skin from black to pasty white. Funny that he sings, “It doesn’t matter if you’re black or white,” but it mattered to him.

It’s the combination of his abnormally white skin smothered in foundation, his big black eyes outlined

in spooky black eyeliner, his almost nonexistent nose, his bright red lipstick, and his long black hair that makes me shudder.

I usually wouldn’t judge on appearance, but it’s his eccentricity that has driven him to look so grotesque. The man gets pleasure out of wearing surgeons’ masks in public. He loves to shock people, and that is why I just don’t trust him. He’s been a plastic surgery addict, and now he’s being charged with sexual battery and molestation. Sorry, Michael, but I just can’t defend you any more.

First of all, it’s more than a little strange that he named his $17 million Californian ranch “Neverland” and hosts sleepovers for children. That’s asking for trouble.

He claimed on E True Hollywood Story, “If I am guilty of anything, it’s of gaining sheer joy from seeing children’s innocent and smiling faces.” Michael says that his slumber parties are perfectly innocent—he gives them the bed and he sleeps on the floor. My question: what kid would enjoy this and what crazy parent would be okay with this? I can picture it now: “Mom, I’m going over to Michael’s theme park/mansion “Neverland” to spend the night, okay?”

“Okay, Sweetie, have fun! See you tomorrow! By the way, make sure if you are sleeping in the bed, he’s on the floor!”

Then the poor child rides on the roller coasters until he vomits and stays up all night eating popcorn and playing Twister with Michael Jackson. There is something incredibly wrong with that picture. Even if Michael doesn’t actually molest the children, letting random kids into not only his home, but also his bed when he is 45 years old

is going too far.

And the press still hasn’t let the whole child-dangling incident “drop.”

Who could forgetwhen our friend Michael decided tosymbolically, as in The Lion King, hold his son over a balcony?

It still makes me wonder why he calls his son “Blanket”…

Although for him, it’s one of the lesser absurdities.

Michael lives to be strange.

Maybe all of this is one giant publicity stunt—all for attention.

Maybe h e thought if he didn’t stay in the public eye we’d forget him. No way. Just two years ago my sister did a dance at dance camp to “Smooth Criminal.” She even used a couple of Michael’s genuine trademark dance moves. And every time anyone watches “Free Willy,” they’ll hear Michael’s emotional theme song, “Will You be there.”

Well, Michael, we would be there, but you’ve just bec ome way too sketchy.

SHARE the love

Volunteer for the sake of volunteering

Cynthia Goldman In my own words

With kids rushing in to turning in National Honors Society forms and college applications, it makes me stop and wonder: why are we doing all this community service? Sure, it may seem like people may care about service projects (which some may) but in reality, do we?

Ok, let’s admit it. The principle reason why high school students are suddenly interested in helping out their community is college. Obsessed with getting accepted into competitive schools, students will do anything that’ll give them that extra edge against others. Teenagers wouldn’t be cramming community service hours in the winter if it weren’t for recognitions like NHS and the Presidential Service Award. It’s no coincidence that after the required 20 hours of community

service, students will stop “volunteering” their time for the community. In fact, volunteer work really isn’t voluntary.

Students actually force themselves to work for the community in order to impress colleges. Nowadays, kids can’t just waltz into any college without doing some sort of community service.

Not only do students want to amaze colleges with their selfclaimed philanthropy, they also want to impress their peers, parents and even themselves. Volunteer work can function as a superficial way of proving that these “volunteers” actually care about others when in reality all they care about is the way others perceive them. No one wants to be thought of as a self-interested spoiled kid. Therefore, volunteer work serves as social and emotional redemption. Lots of kids may think, “ I just bought a pair of pants that cost $100, but I’m not a bad person! I care about the homeless, sick and abused! I’d much rather go shopping again, but I’ll go volunteer in SHARE! It’ll at least make me look like I care!” For this reason, community service sometimes can

be devalued. People assume you’re only trying to impress; nothing more.

But what makes me the most sick is that kids want to do in-school service projects just to skip class and maybe get some Starbucks along the way. Sure, community service should be fun, but the joy of helping people in need should be the real reason, not the food and slack time.

So in the end, self-interest wins over philanthropy. It’s so sad, and what’s worse is that this mentality is accepted. We hear Dr. Mersch over the announcements imploring us to participate in the Tennis Project only because “it’s a great way to get hours for the NHS and Presidential Service Award.” Can’t we just do community service because we care about those in need?

The next time you walk into the bright and overwhelming SHARE Fair atmosphere, don’t fake it and sign up for a service project for your own personal needs. Sign up because you truly believe in the definition of community service.

And do it out of the goodness of your own heart.

Your altered looks and bizarre behavior have taken the place in my memory of what was once a music role model.

I’ll just try my best to still enjoy the songs on my “Bad” and “Dangerous” cassettes without picturing his freaky face. And don’t expect me to be at his next sleepover. I hate roller coasters anyway.

Agree?

Disagree?

The Harbinger welcomes reader letters Send them to Alex Abnos, Editor-in-Chief, in Room 521 or e-mail them to us at smeharbie@hotmail.com Letters must be signed and may be edited for length and clarity.

Please provide any contact information with your letter.

Publishing of letters is up for the editor’s discretion.

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THE HARBINGER

Doesn’t make the cut ‘Barbershop 2’ splits some hairs with the audience Patrick Haverty If you ever find yourself having one of those, “I’m bored, let’s go see a movie ” days, and decide to see Barbershop 2, I strongly advise you to give it a second thought. It is one of the only movies where the ending is the best part.

Calvin Palmer (Ice Cube) is the owner of Calvin’s Barbershop, a shop that has made it in a primarily black Chicago neighborhood, since the riots of the ‘60s. The barbershop is where all the people from around the neighborhood go and talk about what’s going on. One day a wealthy African-American developer, Quenton Leorux

(Harry J. Lennix), decides to put a wealthy and modern hair Before going into this movie I thought I was going to a cut chain, Nappy Cuts, across the street from Calvin’s shop comedy, but coming out I realized that the word comedy is in hopes of running it out of business and turning Calvin’s being extremely generous. shop into another store.

However, there is one good thing that I The movie is filled with stupid jokes and bad got out of the movie, and that is the moral Movie Review acting. There are many quick-witted jokes that of the whole story. The writer did a good job are easy to miss, but if you do get them, they emphasizing the moral of the story– that a still are not that funny. quick buck is a short-term solution to helping a community The movie writer took way too long to get his point prosper, but the most important thing is the people because across. The climax of the movie is the first time you they will be there forever. discover what the focus of this film is, that what makes up a Although this is probably the worst movie I have ever community is the people in it, not the big corporate aspect. seen, I will not give it zero stars. I give this story a half of The rest of the movie is just a bunch of the same jokes, and a star because I like the moral of the story, I just don’t like trying to figure out what Eddie (Cedric the Entertainer) just how long it took for it to develop. said.

SNIP SNIP: Ice Cube, Kenan Thompson, and Cedric the Entertainer work work as barbers in ‘Barbershop 2: Back in Business’

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Golden Glory

THE HARBINGER

The Academy Awards are coming up in just a matter of days, and it is always hard to predict who will come out on top. To see what some of you thought, we surveyed 200 students for your predictions in the four major categories.

Wh

n?

think w o

u yo Wh o

d

il

wi

Best Director

Lost in Translation 8.5% Mystic River 5% Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King 77% City of God 2% Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World 7.5%

Comprised by Ian McFarland and Evan Favreau; Art by Annie Harrigan

o

u thi nk

Whale Rider 14% Something’s Gotta Give 34.5% In America 7% Monster 37% 21 Grams 7.5%

w i ll

Keisha Castle-Hughes Diane Keaton Samantha Morton Charlize Theron Naomi Watts

od yo

u think w

Best Actress

Sofia Coppola Clint Eastwood Peter Jackson Fernando Meirelles Peter Wier

yo

win?

Wh

o

l

n? i w

Pirates of the Caribbean 60% House of Sand and Fog 4.5% Cold Mountain 13.5% Lost in Translation 17.5% Mystic River 4.5%

i ll

Johnny Depp Ben Kingsley Jude Law Bill Murray Sean Penn

w

ill

Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King 68% Lost in Translation 9.5% Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World 2.5% Mystic River 10.5% Seabiscuit 9.5%

Best Actor

h

y o u t hi n k

w

ic

do

Best Film

in ?

THE

B

W

ho

d

11

E HARBINGER

Make sure you tune in to the Oscars this Sunday, February 29 at 7:00 on ABC

The True Best Picture We asked students what they thought the best movie of 2003 was - nominated or not.

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Past Winners

2001

A Beautiful Mind

2002

Best Picture

Chicago

Denzel Washington Best Actor Training Day Halle Berry Best Actress Monster’s Ball Ron Howard Best Director A Beautiful Mind

Adrien Brody The Pianist Nicole Kidman The Hours Roman Polanski The Pianist

Jane Clarke Sophmore

Daniel Hohensee Junior

Pirates of the Caribbean

Lord of the Rings: Return of the King

“I can watch it over and over again and never get bored.”

“I like the acting, it had good special effects, and quite a bit of it was funny.”

Perry Gross Freshman

Marie Braukmann Junior

Lord of the Rings: Return of the King

Finding Nemo

“Tolkien made this huge story...and Gollum was a baller.”

“I’m a scuba diver and the actions in the movie were so realistic.”

Our Picks Best Picture

Best Actor

Best Actress

Best Director

Alex Abnos

Master & Commander

Johnny Depp Pirates of the Caribbean

Charlize Theron Monster

Sofia Coppola Lost in Translation

Barrett Emke

Lord of the Rings

Bill Murray Lost in Translation

Naomi Watts 21 Grams

Sofia Coppola Lost in Translation

Evan Favreau

Lost in Translation

Bill Murray Lost in Translation

Charlize Theron Monster

Peter Jackson Lord of the Rings

Annie Harrigan

Lord of the Rings

Bill Murray Lost in Translation

Charlize Theron Monster

Peter Jackson Lord of the Rings

Ian McFarland

Lord of the Rings

Bill Murray Lost in Translation

Charlize Theron Monster

Peter Jackson Lord of the Rings

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MEETthe ME T

THE HARBINGER

art by Annie Harrigan

Chow down on Cowtown’s signature treat: barbeque

Wyandot Bar-B-Q 2 *Gordon Culver Zarda BBQ *Ian MacFarland

The minute I walked into Zarda BBQ, the aroma of the barbeque sauce found it’s way to my nose, and was welcomed. The food at Zarda is a lot like it’s sauce, it’s sweet for the first few seconds, but after that, it feels empty. In fact, it’s probably too tart, at least for barbeque. The roast beef, and most of the other meats, are

a little on the bland side and you almost feel like you’ve just eating fiber. The fries taste alright, but like the meat, lack a punch. By no means is Zarda a bad place for barbeque; the food is at least a little enjoyable, but in a city where you get handfuls of great options for barbeque, it just feels like a waste of time.

Gates Barb-B-Q Gates Barb-B-Q is widely available, with six locations in the area. The employees seem to have forgotten their company’s “Hi, may I help you?” slogan; none of the four employees behind the counter acknowledged me upon entering.

The sliced beef was fatty but the tangy sauce and classic Wonder bread made up for the poor quality meat. The sides also helped make up for the meat. Gates’ spicy macaroni

*

Dianne Smith

salad was delicious but the sight of the French fries made my stomach curl.

Oklahoma Joe’s

*

Location, location, location. This real estate agent’s mantra also applies to restaurants, especially Oklahoma Joe’s. The restaurant, located inside a Total gas station, is the epitome of your local barbeque joint. The atmosphere is relaxed and comfortable but the employees seemed stressed. I enjoyed the potato salad, which was curiously spiced with dill weed and onion. The baked beans lacked taste and texture; they tasted too much like run-of-themill canned grocery store beans. Stay

Dianne Smith

a w a y from the “Smokie J o e ” sandwich.

The pork, m i x e d with sliced beef in barbeque sauce, was tough and overcooked. Plus, the bun got soggy too fast.

The Wyandot Bar-B-Q, located at 75th and Metcalf, is one of the most deserted restaurants I have visited. The odd thing is, this is one of the better barbeque restaurants I have ever been to.

Sandwiches with meat and sauce falling all over the place are trademarks

of Wyandot. They have turkey, ham and beef that can be put together in any combination. The sandwiches range from $4-6.

The barbeque sauce offers a distinctly hot and very peppery sauce and captures a smoky flavor, which is the essence of good barbeque.

The atmosphere is less than friendly, sporting two rickety TVs and nameless boxers pictures and autographs.

If you are stopping for a quick meal it is definitely a place to consider, but I would not recommend any drawn out banquets be held at the Wyandot BarB-Q 2.

Jack Stack Barbecue Jack S t a c k provides a great prototype of the barbeque that Kansas City is famous for, sweet to taste and smothered in enough sauce to wash your hands with. The ribs are thick with flavor and you feel like you could eat them until your fall off. Their trademark sandwich (originally titled ‘The Jack Stack’) is without a flaw, but lacks that extra punch of taste you would usually expect out of the barbeque sauce. The fries are sweet and are missed when

*

Ian MacFarland

you’ve eaten the last one. You leave Jack Stack feeling more than satisfied and full, and that’s all you need out of a Barbeque restaurant.

Hayward’s Pit Bar-B-Que

*

Stuck in the middle of designer office buildings and a suburban strip mall Hayward’s Barbeque sits at 110th and Antioch.

Hayward’s has the standard beef, turkey, ham and pork, as well as a great sausage. The sausage is spicy but involves no sweating while eating it. Depending on whether you order a large or small sandwich, expect to spend around $10 for the meal.

The sauce however makes the

Gordon Culver

meal. Hayward’s has created a spicy sauce and given it a bite without any bitterness.

Along with god food, Hayward’s has incredible service.

Dark wood siding and old wooden chairs and booths give the large dining room a gloomy atmosphere.

For people that live north of SM East the drive seems a bit long, but the food and service make the trip worth every minute.

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THE HARBINGER

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Just another Sandler flick ‘50 First Dates’ is nothing more than a rehash of Adam Sandler’s past movies Ian McFarland I don’t care how funny Adam Sandler has been it the past– his movies are effortless moneymakers. They’ve gone from amusing to boring to complete wastes of time.

50 First Dates is the ninth carbon-copy clone of Billy Madison. Earlier copies include Happy Gilmore, The Wedding Singer, Mr. Deeds, really any live action Adam Sandler movie except Punch Drunk Love. In this clone, Sandler is Henry Roth, an easy going veterinarian residing in Hawaii afraid of commitment, until he meets the love of his life Lucy Whitmore (Drew Barrymore), who by the way, has lost her short term memory. The tried and untrue formula set in Billy Madison Movie provided juvenile humor that worked for most people, but after The Wedding Singer (which serves as this film’s muse, with the same actors and the same Feb. 13 release date) the movies became less and less funny, Sandler isn’t even the funniest things about them anymore.

The only funny actor in this movie is Sean Astin, Lucy’s brother who’s a juiced up bodybuilder with a lisp. His obnoxious personality gives the audience a chuckle here and there, although it would have been nice to see more of him. It’s too bad the movie couldn’t have focused on him; I might have had a whole-hearted laugh. Rob Schneider is funny at times too, but he’s brought down by his sheer

ugliness in the movie; it’s hard to look at his ragged face even when he’s funny. Drew Barrymore on the other hand is completely uninspired. I’m beginning to think that she will never have an ounce of acting skill outside of Donnie Darko.

The humor is limited to a scene you’ve already seen (where Barrymore pursues Schneider with a bat,) Astin’s character, and few cute walruses, but it’s still enough to throw off the balance between comedy and romance in this romantic comedy. The first half is too comedic and the second is too romance-oriented. I guess it for a decent Valentine’s day movie if your Review works feeling brain-dead, but it isn’t Valentine’s day, or even Valentine’s week any more.

The one thing about this movie that I found to be nearly perfect were the animals. The walruses and penguin were adorable, who can say no to a walrus high-fiving Adam Sandler? The only downside is seeing a walrus’ obviously fake but still uneasy vomiting Throughout the movie I found myself asking, where’s the Adam Sandler we all loved in Billy Madison and on Saturday Night Live? He obviously has the ability to make us laugh, but he isn’t exercising it in the slightest. And until he does, don’t expect anything above average out of him.

ALOHA: Adam Sandler sings to Drew Barrymore in ‘50 First Dates’

BEST FRIEND: Rob Schneider plays Adam Sandler’s buddy Ula in ‘50 First Dates’

Want to be on

Yearbook?

Listen for Application announcements soon! Photographers, writers. and designers

features

14

Wildlife

Environmental Ed students become teachers

THE HARBINGER

FUN

Annie Fuhrman In a typical SM East classroom, there are lessons being taught. There is one twist however, the students are first graders from Holy Trinity elementary school, and the teachers are the Environmental Education students of East.

East is visited by the younger guests from local elementary schools at various times and days in third and fourth quarters. The second semester schedule is organized so that the class has 44 total tours scheduled. With both morning and afternoon tours scheduled, it works out to about 22 tours in both third and fourth quarter. The kids get to spend some time learning about and meeting the animals in the science department.

Environmental ed is a different kind of science class, where the students spend half the year learning about all kinds of animals, and the other half teaching the elementary kids what they learned.

“I spend first semester teaching [the class] Zoology, so they know more about animals than the average science student,” environmental education teacher Jim Lockard said.

Although the room is often filled with elementary school students, the environmental ed. kids spend their time learning Environmental science on the non-tour days.

Lockard focuses on things like air pollution, water pollution and others.

“I took this class because I wanted to hold the animals,” senior Aubrey Peeke said. “And I heard from people who took the class before that it was cool.”

The class is divided into different groups for the presentations to the kids. At the beginning of the semester names are written down on note cards and then drawn to see what group you get to choose. The groups rotate about every month.

“I was doing arthropods and spiders,” senior Taras Zelenchuk said, pulling an iguana off his shirt. “Now I’m going to do reptiles.”

The room has many kinds of animals. “We have everything!” one student laughed. -There are birds, snakes, lizards, and frogs, even an alligator.

“My favorites are probably the tortoise, or the ferret, I don’t know why,” senior Will Pendleton said.

On this tour day, the first graders come for tenminute sessions with the “teachers” to learn about different things at each station. In the classroom at the first station the kids are looking at spiders, insects and hermit crabs. The five small boys, kneeling on chairs, lean in to get a closer look at the tarantulas in the cages.

One girl is being ushered around the room, pressed against her teacher, almost too terrified to move. Most of the other children are more than eager to touch the animals. At the amphibians table, frogs and lizards splash into a water filled tray and the kids all take turns petting them.

In the hall, boys and girls press themselves against the far lockers to stay as far away as possible from the huge snake stretched out across the floor.

“The kids are usually excited to see the big snake,” Peeke said. “Sometimes they are scared, but normally just really excited. I like this station because of the big snake.”

The students do more than just the tours for elementary schools. During the year, many students and animals go to visit school science fairs and other elementary school functions.

Cultural Adventure Paul Debarthe as told

by Andy Logan

I never realized that a Polynesian morai could put me at the brink of death and buried underneath an avalanche of boulders. My wife is a native Tahitian and my family and I make an effort to travel to the island every few years, but this time a leisurely vacation changed my life.

I was looking for an adventure and went to the island of Mou Piti. This island was not very large and I had heard that you could explore most of it within a day. So, early in the morning I had set out to begin my trek.

I was exploring the mountains and cliffs that overlooked a magnificent view of the ocean. As I rounded the hill I saw an area on a cliff that looked much older and worn down than any of the others in the area. I decided to approach the cliff carefully.

As I began to climb the short distance to the top I noticed a set of petroglyphs, which had been carved into the rock wall.

This was only the third time I had seen a set of carvings like this in Polynesia, and understandably I was thrilled. So, I called my son over to help me photograph the site, and it helped me to put the area into perspective.

The next day I was back at the site

with my family on a guided tour. When we were near the site I pointed out the morai that overlooked the petroglyphs. A morai is a figure that can hold powers or represents the embodiment of a God, and this certain one had much power according to Polynesian beliefs. When I brought it to the attention of the tour guide he refused to look directly at it. He said that any type of visual contact was taboo and that since I had taken pictures of it and disrespected its powers that I would have to give a blood sacrifice to remove the bad spell from my body. So, of course knowing that I am American and believing that I am invincible, I disregarded the omen and went on with my trip without a worry.

Things went along without a hitch until a week later when I was working on a house project. As I worked I spotted a different morai just over on the banks of the river.

Many people were standing near it to pray for a successful day of fishing. So, with the first chance I got I made my way toward the morai.

The further I climbed I realized that to get to my destination I would have to go over a rock wall, and through a small boulder field.

Not soon enough, did I realize that none of the boulders were very stable. As I was

STUDENTS AS TEACHERS: seniors Carter Holt and Paul Grindinger teach kids in environmental ed. photos by Jessie Fetterling

Teacher Paul Debarthe learns a lesson about cultural differences

scaling the wall the earth came showering down on top of me. As I tried to find a firm grip the rocks pulled me into a trap of limestone and bedrock.

At about this point I didn’t know much, but I did know that I was trapped. I could tell that I was also in much pain, and then I went blank. I have no memory of the incident from this point on. So, for the next twenty hours I lived in beneath the boulders, completely unaware of the great danger that I was in. The next day my family had sent out a group of people to search for. They knew the area that I had been in and after some time, my niece’s husband saw the pile of boulders and looked closely enough to find me trapped underneath.

Once he had pulled my body from the rubble he then tied my leg up with a leather strap from a camera to keep me from bleeding to death. He helped me stumble down to an area where an ambulance could rush me to a hospital.

When I arrived at the hospital I was immediately treated for my wounds. My scalp and head was torn up so I needed sixty stitches. The wedding ring on my finger had been crushed down to about half of its normal size while still on my finger, and much of my ear had been torn off. Both my finger and ear needed to be reconstructed.

Yet, even with all of these injuries and the horrible weight of the boulders there was

not one broken bone in my body.

I regained consciousness a day later, completely unaware of my surroundings or the events that had occurred earlier. I awoke to see my wife and children and my wife’s entire family that lives in Tahiti.

My wife’s father was praying for me, while her sister came to me and told me that she wished that she would be the one bearing the pain and not myself. Her wish came true and while she was walking out in the parking lot she fell and broke her leg. That’s when I realized that the morai’s powers were possibly the reason for all of this.

For the rest of the trip I was sore but I was altogether fine. I realized that I could now go on because I had given my blood sacrifice, but what I really saw was just how our American culture so greatly differs with that of much of the world. I did not respect the traditions and the beliefs that the Tahitian people carry, and I paid for it.

Simply because we are American it doesn’t mean that while we are in another part of the world we can just discredit their traditions and practices based on what we have been taught. Having a mountain fall on top of me at the hands of a morai proved that the little blue passport we carry doesn’t cover everything. While it might make us world travelers, it does not make us world citizens.

15 features

THE HARBINGER

The gift that keeps on giving

Students choose to give donations rather than get presents for their birthdays The milk, and they can use it for transportation,” best part he said. of birthdays, many would agree, is the Last year, Barnes collected about $130 presence of friends and family. However, the from his friends and family, which was presents of friends and family are also nice. enough to buy a goat. When he told them to Rather than lining his CD rack with hot new bring donations instead of presents, most music, sophomore Colin Barnes used his of his friends wanted to help out. Most of birthday to collect donations for the Heifer the few actual gifts he received were from Project last year and will again this year. his mother’s store, Ten-Thousand Villages, “I came to the age where I didn’t want a nonprofit organization that sells the any gifts,” Barnes said. handicrafts of third-world artisans run by That was the year his mother suggested volunteers, many from SME. he use his birthday to collect donations This year, Barnes wants to outdo last instead. Of all the charities she mentioned, time; his goal being a llama. He plans Heifer Project intrigued him most. The to achieve this by possibly renting the Heifer Project, ranked number one on the neighborhood clubhouse and by combining list of charities worthy of your attention his party with junior Natalie Vanatta, who by the Forbes 2004 Investment Guide, has the same birth date as him. is an organization Vanatta that sends animals had heard [It’s a] celebration of other of his to poverty-stricken countries. There people, instead of using it to involvement are many different with the help yourself. animals to choose project last --Natalie Vanatta year, and from, including cows, rabbits, when he buffalo and bees; approached however, if you can’t spring for an entire her with the idea of a joint party, she was animal, you can buy a share. With enough thrilled. shares the animal can be purchased and “[It’s a] celebration of other people, instead sent to wherever it is needed most. Barnes of using it to help yourself,” Vanatta said. knew that this would be a gift that would For years, she’s been helping out in the keep on giving. community through her church by going on “One llama: they get the wool from it, the mission trips, donating clothing to St. Paul’s

Sara McElhaney

Church and working in their soup kitchen.

She is an ambassador to middle schools, teaching kids about the dangers of drugs in high school. She thinks that if people get excited about it they can achieve their goal of a llama.

Freshman Amanda Allison is taking a different approach to helping. This year, instead of having a huge birthday party with tons of relatives, she’ll be asking for monetary donations and hygiene items for the Dominican Republic. On March 13, she and her mother will board a plane with a medical and construction team as well as other youths from Village Presbyterian Church and their parents. After a layover in Philadelphia, they will arrive in the Dominican Republic where they will be camped at the batay (village) of La Ramana.

There, they will spend five and a half days building pews for a new church and new desks for a local school. The medical team will give shots and de-worm the children of the village, who have become infected with parasites from the soil brought by the sugarcane.

This is way different from the usual celebration. Most other years they’ve followed KU on the NCAA tournaments and the Final Four, but this was the first year that Amanda met the age requirements for the trip to the Dominican Republic, so they decided to spend Spring Break, and Amanda’s birthday, doing something

For more information on how you can donate for a good cause, go to: www.heifer.org www.tenthousandvillages.com villagepres.org/ministries/ DominicanFlyerScreen www.pet-connection.com

different.

“I complain that I don’t have a shirt to wear, and they don’t even have shirts,” said Allison.

Even Allison’s dog, Monica, is getting in on the benevolent birthday bit. For the past few summers, her birthday has been celebrated at the local park with games, badges and treats. Family members bringing four-legged friends this year will be encouraged also to bring donations for Pet Connection, an animal shelter that doesn’t destroy animals.

So whether they’re sending money, themselves, or even a llama, changing old birthday traditions to help others is a rewarding experience.

Part-timePoet features 16

Thanks so much for serving the U.S.A. I’m proud to be an American, for you make me feel this way... …You have my respect, support, and love all the way throughYou deserve the Best for defending the Red, White, & Blue.…

Couvillion cried after he read it.

“He tracked me down and told me it was the nicest thing anyone had said to him,” Jennings said.

Even after 13 years, Jennings still remembers that day.

“Every Marine I have given that poem to has cried after they’ve read it,” Jennings said. “That’s been about 75 people to date.”

Jennings continued to write after she became a custodian here at East. Jennings writes poems and short stories for people who have affected or have made an

Custodian turns to poetry as 0utlet

impact on her life. One of those poems would eventually After sitting down and writing for three minutes or so, be published.

Jennings produced a poem entitled “What you Believe,” to “I write straight from the heart,” Jennings said. “That’s help encourage her to continue on with her goal of weight the only way I write.” loss.

Jennings started to write little poems in the form of “The poem helped me because the poem found me and notes when she was in picked me up,” Jennings said. “It set kindergarten and has me free to say ‘enough is enough’ done so ever since. and believe in myself to do it.”

“What You Believe” “I would pass notes to Jennings continued to work and You can do all things that you willingly believe, people in class,” Jennings lose weight, and finally succeeded in For there is no goal too high no too hard to achieve... recalled.

“Everyone her goal. After that, she felt like she thought I had the coolest could do anything.

It takes a lot of courage to make that first move, things to say.”

It happened that one of her But success is sweet when you’ve desired to improve...

Rather than writing a friends found a draft of the poem simple thank you note to among her papers and told Jennings So if your dream is what you truly desire, a friend, Jennings would she should get it published. After Chase after it with zeal and fire... write a short parable submitting it to the Sparrow Grass You can become whatever dream, reflecting her feelings Poetry Forum, Jennings’ poem was With a little hard work and self-esteem... towards a person. published along with other people’s “Instead of just saying poetry in a book called Poetic Voices So reach deep down inside-- where it really counts, ‘thank you,’ I make a of America in 1995.

And your little efforts will be rewarded in big amounts... point,” Jennings said. “I “They sent me a plaque with like to make and impact on my poem published on it and said Published poem by people that 20 years from now [they] I would be in their book,” Jennings Jennifer Jennings will remember.” said. “I felt goofy. I thought, ‘who After borrowing The Five People would want to read what I have to You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom from librarian Cathi say?’ It turned out a lot of people Knop, Jennings hid a small thank you note between the [did].” cover of the book. It wasn’t until Knop’s husband found the Jennings has yet to publish note that she realized how touching and personal Jennings’ another one of her poems, but writing was. she still continues to write poems “She writes stories about how actions affect people [and] and short stories to her friends. how words affect people,” Knop said. “It’s not flat writing.”

She strives to write whatever gets It was this same sort of writing and way of putting her the point across and in a way that it sticks in her reader’s thoughts to paper that helped Jennings when she was head. working to lose weight. Jennings had tried everything, But most importantly it is the impact she wants to have including what she calls all of the “really insane stuff.” on a person that stays in their minds and hearts.

Jennings tried starvation and even went through a “[My goal] is to touch somebody…to make a difference period of bulimia. But she still couldn’t lose weight. in someone’s life,” Jennings said. “That’s what’s behind it.” photo by Kevin Grumwald

Stephen McKim

Night custodian Jennifer Jennings was taking a tour of the Blue Cross Blue Shield office building when something caught her eye. There, between other occupied offices was an office that stood out.

It was bare. Nothing was left in the room. The most recent occupant, Captain David Couvillion, had left that day, called off to fight in Desert Storm. He was to be Jennings’ boss, someone she had never met before.

There was something about that empty office that made Jennings feel a wave of emotion towards someone she hadn’t even met.

It wasn’t until the night before a homecoming party for Couvillion months after Jennings was hired that she was able to show her gratitude toward Couvillion. At five in the morning Jennings stopped by Couvillion’s office to put what she calls her “Marine Poem” poem on his desk. “He was sitting at his desk and asked if he could help me,” Jennings said. I gave it to him and walked off.”

THE HARBINGER

Keep Your School Clean

17sports

THE HARBINGER

Move it back The three point line in college needs a change Corban Goble

In my own words

The

S

itting next to the pool stretching two weeks before state was not exactly how Brandon Barnds forsaw the end of the swimming season.

“I tweaked my rotator cuff,” Barnds said, “I can’t really take part in practice, all I can do is stretch it out and hope that it gets better.

I might be able to swim a little bit” Barnds hurt his shoulder on the first night of league, Feb 6. He was scheduled to take part in four events the following day, two individual and two relays. He was able to take part in all four of the races, but it was with pain.

“I swam, but it hurt. It hurt a lot,” Barnds said.

This was the time of year that Barnds was really looking forward to. He and the rest of

Gordon Culver

the team had spent the entire season training hard for the league and state titles. They were able to win the league title, and go into state predicted to get third, but without Barnds in good shape, that would be a stretch.

“We feel that we can compete for a state title. If everyone can get healthy by the time that state rolls around I think that we will definitely get at least third if not better,” Barnds said.

Coach Wylie Wright has used a very different system to get the kids ready for the season. He uses shorter practices with more intense workouts to get the team in top condition. This has really been good for Barnds, allowing him to get the most out of his training time while not allowing it to take over his entire life.

“Swimming is great because you can get

photo by Tierney Weed

What is the most devastating shot in sports?

Is it the k n o c k o u t punch, or the bender between the posts? Is it the 60 yard, g ame -winnin g field goal? So five years ago. The most devestating: the three pointer.

The three-pointer has changed onedimensional gunners into NBA scoring champs, role players into heroes. The big boys are no longer as safe a bet as they used to be.

Belmont and Richmond know the secret of the twenty- footer (as they showed Missouri and Kansas, respectively). St. Joseph’s has made a season out of it.

At the college level, the stripe stands a surprisingly un-daunting 19 feet, 9 inches from the basket; far enough to get the three point ruling, short enough to call home from without long-distance charge.

The shot has leveled the playing field, where 6’10’’ cretins are out played by sub-six footers with range. Now, I’m not saying that Belmont and Richmond will be playing for the title in April, but the hottest shooting team sure will. In a sport gaining much more European influence (i.e. shooting touch), it’s no longer who may be the biggest or the strongest, but which team is the deftest from the deepest.

Now the NBA line is a more acceptable challenge; it resides FOUR feet past the college line. Still, some shooters make that distance seem pedestrian: Bird, Reggie Miller, and now Peja Stojakavic.

Watching wild threes go in for some lucky team is not basketball to me. A team’s good record on the season is not a byproduct of good shooting; good shooting is a byproduct of team play and finding good looks. One player’s hot shooting touch should not transform an entire season. Accurate shooting from open looks is basketball. The college line should retreat, perhaps to the sanctity of 21 or 22 feet. Seeing UMKC beat Duke may be exciting, but it’s hardly fair or justified.

Hard work pays off for Barnds in a trip to State

CHILLING IN THE WATER: Luke Tanner and Brandon Barnds take a break during state preparations

better. There are a lot of sports that you have to have natural talent to be good at and no matter how hard you try you just can’t get much better,” Barnds said, “but swimming if you work hard you get better.”

All the hard work that Barnds has put in this year may have been for naught. It is possible that he will not be able to swim at state at all. If his shoulder does not get any better between before state starts he is questionable.

“I really hope that I can swim at state. I think that I will be able to because I think that I can rehab my shoulder in time,” Barnds said.

If Barnds does not make it out for the state meet it would be a big loss for the Lancers.

Tearing up the lanes

Tanner makes a big splash with instant success Ellie Weed

A

t nearly every practice, the varsity swim team spends the first couple of minutes hassling the two freshmen on the team as they make their way to the locker room. But their reasons for hassling are becoming futile as one of the freshman, Luke Tanner, makes more of a name for himself.

Tanner has qualified for three individual state events, including the 50-yard freestyle, 100-yard freestyle, and the 200yard freestyle, and nearly qualified for his backstroke, as well. On a relay team that beat the SM East record, Tanner is bound to succeed at state, along with the rest of the boys’ team. “[My coach] told me I have a chance of placing in the top eight and if I really train hard, then maybe even the top six,” Tanner said. “He’s hoping the team will get third or second place.”

With a dad that swam at Illinois, swimming is in his blood. Tanner has been

Sports Ticker

swimming for Carriage Club since he was six years old and has been participating in Swim Academy for years.

He also likes being coached by Wiley Wright who has been the varsity coach at East for nineteen years.

“He’s a good guy; everyone has a lot of fun with him,” Tanner said.

Wright has really helped Tanner improve his swimming quite a bit. Tanner has cut nearly four seconds off of his individual 200freestyle event.

At the meets, the team is always there to support Tanner by standing by the pool cheering for him as he swims his event.

His parents are also standing for him and cheering, and sometimes Tanner’s 6th grade sister, Mary, joins his parents.

During the third meet of the season, Tanner swam his best individual event, the 50-yard freestyle, and qualified for state, beating the state time of 52.64 seconds. As the rest of the season went on, he qualified

Boys Basketball

Points J.D. Christie 21.1 points per game Rebounds J.D. Christie 5.6 rebounds per game Assists Scott McElvain 3 assists per game Steals Scott McElvain 1.5 steals per game Schedule vs Lawrence Free State (10-6), 2-23 @ SM South (12-5) 2-26 Substate- 1st round* 3-4 2nd round 3-6 *1st round location TBA

for four more events, two of which were relays, and the other two were individual freestyle.

“The first time I qualified for state, I didn’t really know until I looked up at the clock on the wall. Then my coach came over and told me that I had qualified.” Tanner said. “It was really exciting,” His free relay team made up of senior Bryan Sayler, sophomore John Cook, sophomore Brandon Barnds, and Tanner has been very successful all year. After beating the school record, John Cook and the other members of the relay team have started to call themselves “Angels in the Water,” based off the movie “Angels in the Outfield”.

Weights and conditioning can be done to help Tanner stay in shape during the offseason. After a nearly perfect season for the freshman, he intends to keep up with swimming for the rest of high school.

Girls Basketball Points Sarah Parker 11.3 points per game Rebounds Jen Franklin 7.8 rebounds per game Assists Meg Stewart 3.1 assists per game Steals Brooke Jandl 2.0 steals per game Schedule vs. Larence Free State (11-1), 2-23 @ SM South (1-16), 2-26 Substate- 1st round* 3-3 2nd round 3-5 *1st round location TBA

Wrestling

125 lb. Class Marshall Martins 20-17 160 lb. Class Ryan Sonderegger 34-2 # 1 in Kansas 215 lb. Class Mark Robinson 31-4 #1 in Kansas beat the former #1 to take over position Schedule @ State Meet 2/27-28

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THE HARBINGER

B photo by Kevin Grumwald

BIG BOWLERS: Junior Michael Pope in pursuit of the perfect round

Back

single round score of 201, and a 502 three round score, the team was not pleased with their performance.

“We were pretty disappointed with our abysmal performance. All of our bowlers finished about eighty pins below our average score,” Junior Curtis Shank said

TOP BOWLER’S

Name

Average Score

Kyle Hamer

200 ppr*

Adam Lehr

200 ppr

Brad Mascal

175 ppr

The girl’s team finished last place in their Sara Dees 145 ppr competition. Sarah Dees, who had a 3 round score of 430 with a single round *ppr= pins per rouround high score of 157, led the Lancers.

For Nick Lyles it is more as a place to hang the team does during the practices. out with friends, more “Bowling is the only sport that you than a competitive sport.

“I treat it more as an excuse to meet can participate in and eat chili cheese up with my friends. I don’t really even fries at the same time, so we try to take full advantage of that,” Pop said. treat it as a sport.” Lyles said.

As the Lancers now have To fine-tune their technique, the team practices twice a week at Mission tournament experience under their Bowl, where they have three lanes belt, they look to improve every week, reserved for them. At practice, the team and most of all, have fun. gets a 10-minute warm up bowl,and then to bowl three rounds.

Roll balls at pins isn’t the only thing

Three East students take to the mat, to join the KC Fencing league

Fencing is often described as “chess with muscles.”

Freshman Olivia Etkind, however, describes it as “chess at the speed of boxing.” Fencers have to be quick, agile, and have complete concentration. Fencing has its origins rooted deep in ancient combat and is often imagined as it is seen in the movies with long harp swords and life-threatening moves. Today, fencing is not the same as what people typically think of as sword fighting,: it is a combination of modern and traditional ideas.

Fencers still salute each other before matches and wear a white uniform with a face mask. The scoring has to be with the tip of the blade above the waist, which dates back to knights on horseback during duels in which they could only strike within the torso. However, scoring today is somewhat different. It still has to be within the same area of the body to count, but during competition the score is kept by electronic padding worn by the fencers that records the points.

Most people don’t know much about fencing, To some, that is part of the attraction.

“I wanted to be different, really, just do something original,” Etkind said. She started two years ago at the KC Fencing Center and is already in the advanced class.

However, even beginners enjoy it. Juniors Marie Braukmann and Nelson Stauffer just finished their first set of classes and plan to start up the next round soon. They enjoyed how diverse the group was and how so many different age groups could work together so well. Even in

photo by Nicole Oswald

of

The Art defense

WLING Strikes

I n ste a d of running pride drills, they run to the concession stand to get chili cheese fries. Instead of drinking water, they drink Coke, and the only reason they might break a sweat is… well, they never break a sweat. Sound fun? This is exactly what the east bowling team does at their bi-weekly practices.

The team was formed when Donna Kirkwood, the League Secretary and mother of bowler Samantha Kirkwood, put up flyers around the school about the team.

“Only three girls showed up and about 12 boys,” said Kirkwood.

Obviously not many people heard about it, but for one junior that did, this announcement couldn’t of come sooner.

Michael Pope wanted to be on a school bowling team for a while, and was thrilled to hear that East was finally forming a team.

“I have been in a competitive bowling league for three years, and have always wanted to be on a team,” Pope said.

In their first tournament, the boy’s team finished in fifth place out of 7 teams. Despite Kyle Hamer having a

Patrick Haverty

SM East students partake in new bowling league

in Des Moines, Iowa and will soon be going to her first big competition in Atlanta. The North American Cup. “You can get really scared for your first big competition. It can take away from your performance, but you just have to calm your nerves,” Etkind said.

Although Etkind is only a freshman she has already considered fencing in college. She hopes to go to Northwestern because she feels that they have a good fencing program. She now practices ten hours a week, and is hoping to eventually receive a scholarship in fencing.

Mallory Toombs

MAKING A STAB- Freshman Olivia Etkind trying to stab her competition for the win. the beginning level they said they learned a lot and were able to feel fairly confident about what they were doing.

“Besides being really sore, I have learned all the basic moves, “ Stauffer said. Although the game can be physically, all three agreed that fencing takes more mental determination than physical.

“You are always on the tip of your toes. You can hardly blink,” Braukmann said, “You are always anticipating your opponents next move.”

Since participation in fencing is less than that of more common sports, fencers often have to travel for competitions. Etkind just returned from a competition

KC Fencing Center Head Instructor- Kelly Williams Location- 9900 Antioch Rd, Overland Park Next two introduction classes: March 1, Monday- Wednesday 7-8 p.m.

March 7, Sunday 3:30-5:00 p.m.

Cost- Two sessions a week $70.

One session a week $50

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THE HARBINGER

Springing Forward brett

Harrop

BATTING: .495 batting average, 34 rbi’s, 17 doubles, .607 on base percentage PITCHING: 11-0 record, 0.75 ERA, 76 strikeouts

BOY’S TENNIS Losing half of your team to graduation after a second place state tournament finish does not bode well for a strong tennnis season. Yet despite being without now-departed Brian Ebbits, Andy Faulman, and Ryan Cope, coach Sue Chipman feels this year’s team will be nearly as good as lasts. “We have three very good players in Garrett and William Gates, and Nolan Lem,” she says. “But we need some new players to step up and play well for us to make another run at state.” Chipman says these players can either be returning JV players who have greatly improved

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BASEBALL

Seven returning senior position players would be the focal point of most teams. However, this isn’t the strongest suit of this year’s Lancer baseball team.

“We have two great returning pitchers,” head coach John Stonner said. “In high school baseball, that’s just huge.”

Great may be an understatement. In summer ball, senior Brett Harrop posted an 11-0 record with a 0.75 ERA. That’s less than one run given up per game. Throw in senior Josh Crain who had a summer league record of 6-1 and a still excellent ERA

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over last year or new freshman. She cites three freshmen- Tim Akhmedov, Jay Kombrink, and Jeff Straub- as possible varsity replacements. The key to a successful season, she says, is unity.

“The obstacle will be to figure out who will play singles and who will play doubles early on in the season, so each player knows their role.” Chipman needs a new doubles partner for Lem, who won state with Cope last year and also needs someone to compliment Garrett Gates’ 4th place state finish last year. While William Gates will probably move up and play with Lem in doubles, the #2 singles position is up for grabs.

LAST YEAR: Averaged a teambest 78 per round as a sophomore THIS YEAR: Looks to qualify and place in state

photos by Tierney Weed

Robert L. Smart Jr. ABR Senior Sales Executive Chairman’s Circle 7200 College Blvd.

Overland Park, KS 66210 Office: 913-451-6660 Fax: 913-381-5029

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Gates

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German

of 3.45 and the Lancers are stacked at pitcher.•Stonner thinks this will be the difference between this season and the last few. “These seniors haven’t had a lot of success. With our experience at pitcher and in the field we can compete for the [Sunflower] league championship.” Last year was Stonner’s first year as head coach and he was mainly trying to put his own coaching style into place and “build a foundation for Lancer baseball.” If the team keeps improving there is nothing to keep this senior dominated team from the league championship.

garrett

•

charles

Our staff takes a look at some of this years spring sports

LAST YEAR: Fourth place finish in state tournament, #1 singles player on team CAREER: Four years on varsity

BOY’S GOLF In a similar predicament as the tennis team, five golfers on last year’s varsity boy’s golf team have graduated leaving only three golfers with any varsity experience. However, two of these three returning golfers, juniors Charles German and Sam Dodge, were the best on the team last year. German shot the best overall, averaging a 78 per round, and Dodge was the only person to qualify for the state tournament with a top-10 finish in regionals. Even with this lack of experience, head coach Ermanno

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Ritschl still likes his teams postseason chances. “If we play well I think we have a very good chance of making state,” Ritschl says. “At the very least we should have two or three individuals qualifying.” To do well, assistant coach Tim Burkinidine knows play by the other golfers must pick up. “I have seen very improved scores, though, by Andrew Spitsnogle and Will Noyce in particular,” Burkindine said. Still, the fate of this golf season rests in the hands of what Ritschl calls “his unknowns”- the play of the new Varsity golfers.

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photo essay

THE HARBINGER

VOICING YOUR VOTE: (Right) World History teacher Paul DeBarthe was a representative speaker for Dennis Kucinich at the caucus. After all the speeches had been heard, students moved to different coners of the auditorium in order to voice their vote for the Democratic candidate of their choice.

PONDERING HIS VOTE: (Right) Senior Dylan Jones looks on as representatives for the democratic candidates propose their speeches in a mock caucus.

Congregation

for the

Nation

Social studies classes rally for democratic Photos by Tierney Weed candidates in mock caucus

HELPING OUT: (Left) Senior Rhett Buckley volunteered to help hand out information about the process of a caucus as well as information about the candidates being represented by volunteer speakers.

REPRESENTING THE UNREPRESENTED: Seniors Dylan Tucker, BJ Adams, and Jack Keller created their own section in the middle of the auditorium to vote for Reverend Al Sharpton despite his lack of representation in the speeches.