Issue 12

»

theharbinger » »

NEWS: Bodies Revealed comes to KC » PAGE 5

A&E: ‘Drillbit Taylor’ barely earns a half-star rating » PAGE 26

ISSUE TWELVE march 3, 2008 shawnee mission east prairie village, ks

SPORTS: Brothers to improve tennis chances » PAGE 27

WIPING THE

CITY

clean

EPA initiative targets Kansas City’s dirty air BY

»

michaelstolle

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recently chosen Kansas City as the second city, in addition to Dallas, to participate in the Sustainable Skylines program. This decision came after Kansas City violated the federal smog regulations last summer.

The initiative details several projects that will reduce pollution and improve air quality in the metro area, and will be financed by independent investors and a contribution of $250,000 from the EPA. Among these plans are projects to conserve water, reduce car emissions and use alternative energy sources.

One program, entitled “Solar KC,” will promote clean, renewable energy in schools and city-owned buildings. A single one-kilowatt solar panel system on a school would reduce annual carbon emissions by 2,500 pounds and produce between 750 and 1600 kilowatts of energy per hour, the EPA said.

North Kansas City High School installed six solar cells in January 2008 and noticed a difference. The cells have produced enough energy on an average day to power one computer and three 60watt bulbs. But the project was intended more as a learning experience and to improve awareness for students.

» story continued on page 3 »karenboomer

Book fair benefit

Fifth annual used book sale planned for April BY

From money raised, previously the library has purchased Smart Boards, media cards, digital cameras, scanners and CD burners. Just last year the library raised $3,600, which bought a new Plasma TV. The library accepts any kind of books but bestsellers, children’s books, and paperbacks are the items that tend to go pretty fast. There is always a big assortment of books.

“You name it we probably have it, anything from cooking to children’s to healthcare,” Fritz said.

Prices of books will range from 50 cents to $5. There will be food and drinks at the drive such as cookies, cheez-its and hot chocolate, which will cost 50 cents each.

By donating books and by purchasing new ones at the sale, students and staff can make a huge difference on what technology and books there are in the library.

“It is a win/win situation,” Bramley said. “Not only does the library get money for technology and books, but the community gets fantastic books at great prices.”

Water war BY

» michaelcray

Seniors only.

Although most school activities are available to students of all ages, following tradition requires the annual “Assassin” game, which began March 1, to only be played by those in their fourth year.

“Assassin has been played all four years I’ve been here, and I always thought it would be a pretty cool game to play,” senior Sam Watson said. “When I was an underclassman the seniors were really strict about not letting anyone else play, so it’s exciting that it’s my turn.”

The game involves a long list of students, also called the “hit list.” Each student that enters is assigned somebody else on the list to “assassinate,” and after that player is eliminated the assassin then takes the player’s assigned victim.

The twist is while players are hunting down their victims, an unknown assassin is also hunting them. Last one standing wins.

Assassinations occur by hitting the marchvictim with water, in any way, shape or

BRIEFS

» aubreyleiter

Piles and piles of books stacked on tables are organized by category. Eager students looking through them; bargains are everywhere. This festive environment can only mean one thing: East’s annual used book sale.

The book drive is a sale of donated books, which are sold to students and the community, and all of the proceeds go towards new technology in the library. It started five years ago as a way to celebrate Dr. Seuss’ birthday and to involve the English department with the library. This year, the drive will be held April 11 in the little gym and April 12 at the Prairie Village Art Sale.

Librarians Chris Larson and Nancy Fritz have three main goals for this drive: to raise money for a new color copy machine, sell books and recycle old books.

“I think that this is a great opportunity for kids to get involved and help out the school,” Larson said. “And it is a great way to raise money for new technology.”

As part of “Read Across America” week, there will be a book collection in all of the English classes starting today through the end of the week. Students who have used books to donate can bring the books to the library before or after school sometime this week.

Students will need to mark their donations with their English teacher’s name; it is a competition among the English classes to see which teachers’ students can donate the most books for the used book sale. All students in the top three teachers’ classes get coupons for free items at the sale.

English teacher DeBe Bramley’s classes have a history of winning the competition. Although they didn’t rank last year, in the years before they have placed first.

Students will be participating in helping out in this drive, including students in the Used Book Sale committee and students that are part of Friends of the Library. The Used Book Sale committee and Friends of the Library began as a group of students and parents who want to help the library purchase new books and technology.

Senior Neil Stark is a member of the Used Book Sale Committee. Stark mostly works with moving books from the library to the small gym, a task that takes all day with over 20 students and adults helping.

“My favorite part of the book drive is being able to help out the school and help raise money.”

3

news Collage Concert The orchestra Collage Concert is March 12 at 7 p.m. in the auditorium.

Early Release There will be an early release March 6.

School dismisses at 1:45 p.m.

Spring Break Spring Break begins on March 14 with the end of the third quarter. The fourth quarter begins on March 25.

East Night at Culver’s East Night at Culver’s is March 10 from 58 p.m. ten percent of all proceeds during that time will go to East. East teachers will be on hand to serve food. Culver’s is located at 7953 State Line Road.

Science Olympiad Results

d

Use

k boo

sale

l pri d A s an ’t le i Don ok sa le gym airie r t o e b lit e P Th n the at th ale 11 i ril 12 Art S Don’t Miss:ApUsed eBook Sale lag Vil

s: mis

» sallydrape

NEWS

2

Students organize seniorexclusive assassins game

form. Whether it’s unexpectedly emptying a water bottle on the victim’s head or bruising him with a fire hose, the method of attack does not matter. However, there are some ground rules. Assassinations cannot take place on school grounds, in the workplace or in the victim’s home.

Some players play the game intensely, and some more laid back.

“It’s a nice cure for senioritis,” Watson said. “It’s a game that lasts for a long time and seniors can have fun with. I remember seeing a senior bragging about this huge new Supersoaker he bought, when his buddy he was talking to hit him with water and eliminated him from the game.”

This year Watson was originally the organizer until it was agreed that senior Ellen Clayton would host the event. “ My job as the host is just to kind of getting everything started,” Clayton said.

“Players are officially added to the list when they pay me the $5 entry fee, and I make the hit list and assign everybody

their names.”

Clayton started a group on Facebook, and over 135 players have joined and are expected to play.

It is thought that the seniors have been playing Assassin for over six years, but several other groups and clubs around the school have played the game as a team bonding experience. Last year, the junior IB program played their own version of the Assassin game. Junior Sam Benson organized the event.

“I wanted my IB class to bond and have fun together, and this was the only thing I could think of,” Benson said. “At first it was really intense and some people even waited outside houses at 5 a.m. to kill their victim. The game went on a lot longer than it was supposed to, and it all kind of fell apart when a teacher threw the hit list away over Christmas break.”

Each player’s entry fee is put in a pot, which is normally awarded to the winner.

This year however, an undetermined percentage will be donated to charity.

The Science Olympiad team placed fourth overall at the Northeast Kansas Regional competition, and placed in Astronomy, Oceanography, Rocks and Minerals, Experimental Design, Herpetology, Chemistry Lab, Ecology, Sounds of Music, Boomilever and Wright Stuff. The team will now advance to the state competition.

Horton Case Begins The first degree murder trial of John Henry Horton began Feb. 26, with attorneys presenting opening arguments in Horton’s second trial for the case. Horton is accused of luring 13 year old Lizabeth Wilson into the East with the intent to molest her in 1974. Her body was found in a field six months later. Prosecutors contend that Horton accidently killed her with an overdose of chloroform. The defense contends that the state cannot prove that Horton was involved.

Horton was previously convicted in 2004, but had his conviction overturned last year.

Class Officer Elections The deadline to sign up to run for a student council class officer position is today at 3 p.m. Class statements will be distributed next week, and elections are March 13.

WorldQuest Competition The East WorldQuest team, comprised of seniors Thomas Braslavsky, Andrew Lee, Parker Hine and Danny Mapes, took first place out of 20 teams at the city-wide competition sponsored by the International Relations Council of Kansas City. This is the second time the team has won first place. The team will now advance to the national competition in Washington D.C.

NEWS

3

Clouding

OVER

»photo illustration by michael stolle

»kansas city convention center and visitors association

The Environmental Protection Agency chooses Kansas City as the second city to participate in the Sustainable Skylines Initiative » continuedfrompageone

Biology teacher Jim Lockard proposed a similar plan to the administration to be implemented during East’s upcoming construction. “[A new solar cell] would help produce energy for the school and help the environment as well,” Lockard said.

But the cost of the cells would outweigh the return according to information given to Dr. Swift by contractors for the project. “We have explored the idea, but if it takes 20 or 30 years to get a return on [the cells], then it doesn’t make sense to put them in,” Swift said. “When you are spending tax payer money, you have to balance how much something costs, with what you can get in return.”

Lockard responded to Swift’s decision by saying, “The school board is responsible for current needs. They will worry about energy costs in 10 years, at that time. But I suggested the program for educational purposes more than energy-related reasons. I thought it would catch attention and be a good program for students to participate in.”

But Swift has planned for changes that coincide with the construction that will help make the school more environmentally friendly. According to Swift, measures will be taken to monitor CO2 emissions with newly installed de-

vices, conserve energy with insulated windows and prevent pollution during the construction process.

Also, steps will be taken to reduce the use of water with more efficient plumbing. This is an issue addressed in the EPA program “Water Wi$e,” which is directed at improving water conservation and promoting native plant species.

Finally, a large part of the construction process is directed at improving the management of storm water system at the school.

Swift explains that the system works on draining puddles that may accumulate on the parking lots and grassy areas. These areas can also gather contaminants that may evaporate into the atmosphere.

Other areas that are being focused on by the EPA initiative are the creation of idle-free zones for automobiles and attempting to reduce the effects of the urban heat island, which causes temperatures in urban areas to be increased by an average of 5 to 10 degrees. These are some of the leading causes by which ground-level ozone are produced.

The ground-level ozone, or smog, is created by nitrogen oxide mixing with volatile organic compounds, such as the gases produced by a car. The EPA plans to eliminate unnecessary time when cars are idling to reduce the amount of gas produced.

5 ways to...

GO GREEN with teacher

1) Eat lower on the food chain: Food further up on the food chain requires more land and tractors that create more emissions.

Mr. Lockard (in no particular order)

Environmental Education teacher Jim Lockard spins the knob to his hand crank flashlight. Lockard also teaches the environmental systems where he improves the students’ knowledge about environmental issues michaelstolle

The idea behind these proposed “idle free zones” is that a car produces an equal amount of emissions while running (moving or not), so if drivers could keep their cars moving or shut off their engines when it is not necessary, it would reduce these emissions.

The urban heat island is produced by a large paved area with little or no vegetation. Dark surfaces such as asphalt tend to absorb more heat from the sun and with less vegetation that would provide shade and cool the air, the temperature it increased. East could possibly look into more vegetation in the parking lot areas to help counteract these effects.

Dallas, which shares a similar project, has yet to implement its plan, but plans to see results by late 2009 and early 2010. According to Nicole Cooper, the Dallas project leader, “this is not only a problem that causes discomfort, but with increased temperature more air conditioning is required to keep buildings cool, which requires more energy, which produces more emissions. It is a cyclical process that further compacts the problem.”

According to Chrissy Wolfersburger from Kansas City’s region of the EPA, “[The initiative] is a great opportunity for the city, especially if we are able to get a large amount of people involved.”

2) Carpool: Riding together reduces emission excess.

3) Drive smaller more fuel efficient cars: This one is a no-brainer: more fuel efficient cars means less fill ups and less emissions.

4) Shop At thrift stores: buying at thrift stores reduces manufacturers’ clothing surpluses.

5) Switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs: these bulbs require around 75 percent less energy and last up to 10 times longer.

»www.energystar.gov

What is the EPA? The EPA, or Environmental Protection Agency, is a government organization concerned with the American environment and its impact on human health.

The group was founded in the 1970s during President Nixon’s term in office.

The EPA is responsible for establishing and enforcing environmental standards, such as the Clean Air Act, and employs nearly 18,000 people across the nation. » www.epa.gov

issue

12

4

NEWS

It runs in the

blood BY

Pamplet provided by the American Red Cross that was left on the cars of all seniors.

Qualifications to Donate You must be 17 years old or 16 with parental consent forms. To donate you have to weigh at least 110 pounds. You cannot have donated with in the last 56 days. According to the Red Cross healthy is defined as having no disease of the blood.

Tradition of the American Red Cross annual blood drive continues at East

»rachelbirkenmeier

Students fill the East gym, some munching away on cookies and sipping juice. Others are talking to their friends. But they all have one thing in common; they are here for a cause. The cause is the East annual Blood Drive, organized and run by SHARE execs and students.

But the blood drive almost didn’t happen this year due to one of the rules laid out by the blood bank that helps support East in the blood drive, The Community Blood Center. The Community Blood Center does not allow anyone to donate blood while friends are around, because it can distract the person who is donating.

“The Execs didn’t think this was the kind of experience that we wanted students to have,” said Blood Drive and SHARE sponsor Pat Kaufman. “Luckily, the Red Cross does not have the same policy and we were able to get a date from them to do a blood drive.”

The Red Cross has been holding blood drives for 50 years, helping to donate blood to people in need.

East, however, has been hosting a blood drive for over 15 years, happening two times annually, and with a turnout of 200 students donating each year “But the main goal of the blood drive is not

to raise as much blood as possible,” Kaufman said. “It’s to get students in the life long process of donating, by making their first experience good.”

To give blood, students must first fill out a packet regarding information about themselves, which is kept confidential. This is to make sure it is safe for them to donate blood, and that they won’t pass on any harmful diseases.The whole process takes less than 10 minutes get the onepint of blood this is donated.

Afterwards, students are given refreshments to help raise their blood sugar levels back to normal. The blood is then sent to a Red Cross Testing area to make sure it is safe to be used.

Next, it is either destroyed if found not suitable for use, or sent out to hospitals to use for blood transfusions and other needs.

According to bloodcenters.org, there are more than 4.5 million people needing blood transfusions each year in the United States, and one pint of blood can save three lives.

The Blood Drive will be held on Tuesday in the East gym. To donate, make sure that you have filled out all the proper forms, and signed up for a donation time by today.

What does it require to

donate blood ?

Tips for a Good Donation Experience 1 .Be sure to get plenty of rest the night before and avoid fatty foods that may through off the lipid test causing the blood you donated to be discarded.

Also be sure to drink plenty of water and eat a good breakfast or lunch.

2. Wear a t-shirt, so that sleeves do not get in the way of the test. If afterwards it is recommended that if you feel light-headed, you should eat.

3. Avoid strenous activity afterwards for at least 5 hours and rehydrate. » http://www.givelife2.org

Opera hits a high note BY

» jordandietrich

The next time the curtain rises at the Lyric Opera of Kansas City, the audience will view something that hasn’t been seen for the past decade. Since 1998, the opera has not shown a world premiere. However, on May 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11, the regional opera company will perform its thirdever world premiere, “John Brown.”

The opera, consisting of spiritual hymns along with choral songs, was written by composer / librettist Kirke Mechem. He specifically selected the Lyric Opera for the premiere, which will be shown to the general public, including students.

“The best thing [the Lyric Opera] offers is its location,” Shannon Sundberg, the Marketing and Communications Manager, said. “We have a lot of people interested in the subject matter since the opera is such a regional storyline. ‘John Brown’ is a great beginning play for high school students to see. They will be active participants in the opera because many of them will have previous knowledge about American history.”

The performance, which is an American historical drama, is a story that focuses on the major events that involved John Brown, a white American abolitionist. The opera begins in 1955 and ends with John Brown’s role in Harpers Ferry in 1859. march With almost all of its storyline based on history, the

3

» kelseybrown

The Steps to Donate

1. Register by filling out the necessary forms, that will ask for a health history and demographic, as well as give ID. 2. You have to give your health history as well as have your temperature, iron levels and pulse taken.

3. A staff member will insert a needle into a sterilized area of the arm. It takes 7-10 minutes to donate a bag of blood or one pint.

The Lyric Opera hopes to catch interest of high school students with their third-ever world premiere opera.

Lyric Opera hopes that it will catch the interests of high school students. At East, juniors can enroll into American History. Currently, the Lyric Opera offers 14 online lessons and additional resources for students that may be interested in seeing “John Brown.” Each lesson has a brief introduction, objectives, alignment of the lesson to Kansas and Missouri state standards, a materials list and a procedure for implementing the lesson. After each lesson, extension activities are offered to students, which are based on the viewer’s age.

“If students would look at the lessons, I think they would be intrigued to see the opera,” Barbera Haviland, a member of the Board of Directors, said. “Students will realize that they may never have another chance to see a world-premiere event performed by world-class performers.”

Since August, the Lyric Opera has sent letters to music, foreign and history teachers at area schools. They will begin promoting “John Brown” through free documentary showings and lectures presented free of charge by the Lyric Opera Guild. Essay contests have also been offered for middle school through senior students, which will conclude by March 14.

“I think that reading an overview will help a lot,”

East senior Gwen Koch, who will play a “spirit” in “The Magic Flute,” another production shown at the Lyric Opera, said. “Usually, operas are complex and there are a lot of characters and subplots. Something that will give viewers information about the opera will really help them understand the opera.”

In addition, the Lyric Opera offers a special ticket promotion to students. Student rush tickets are available for $10 (with valid ID, one ticket per ID) one hour prior to curtain at all performances. Students may buy one single ticket in advance at a 20 percent discount.

These promotions will continue until the “John Brown” premiere.

Despite these promotions, the Lyric Opera may be dealing with high school student stereotypes that would affect the popularity of opera. Some students term opera as “boring.” Nevertheless, the Lyric Opera believes that those stereotypes won’t affect its student audience.

“Stereotypes about opera really depend on the interest that students have in drama,” Paula Winans, Lyric Opera’s Director of Education, said, “But the more students learn, the more they want to know. Once people have been exposed to it, they don’t see it as a stereotype anymore.

They see it as a part of their life.”

Beneath the The human body is almost 70 percent water, with blood vessels so long that if unraveled they would wrap around the earth twice. Nerves can even transmit messages over 200 mph. The body also grows 40 yards of hair every 24 hours and sheds almost 40,000 skin cells every minute.

The mysteries of the human body and how they work have been studied for hundreds of years and will be unveiled in Kansas City this weekend.

The Bodies Revealed exhibit, showcasing about 20 real human bodies preserved and stripped of their skin for scientific education, opened this past weekend at Union Station and will remain open through Sept. 1.

The Biology 2 AP, Biology 2 IB, Chemistry 2 AP and Human Anatomy classes will be taking a field trip to view the exhibit on March 27. Normally the Anatomy classes visit the cadaver lab, but not this year. Anatomy teacher Rubye Davis believes this trip is a twoin-one deal that will help students expand their knowledge on the material covered so far in class. “[The exhibit] really puts a face on what students are learning in a different way than the cadavers,” Davis said. “It’s not everyday you get to go look at the insides o f

thinking cap

a human in such a realistic way.”

The classes will take the full tour, which lasts four hours, and they hope to get a tour guide to further educate the group on the bodies and also their preservation process.

This process, called plastination, involves removing the natural body fluids and replacing them with flexible plastic.

This method leaves the specimens odorless and dry and they are

NEWS

» bernadettemyers

BY

5

Union Station exhibit features dissected human bodies able to be placed in action poses to show how the body functions while performing everyday activities.

According to Sarah Biles, director of community relations at Union Station, the department has wanted to host the exhibit since it opened in 2004, but didn’t have the facilities required to do so until recently.

“The exhibit uses over 10,000 square feet and we just didn’t have a space big enough,” Biles said. “But now we have the new Bank of America gallery in the basement and after this space was finished we moved forward with our goal.”

One of the main goals of the Union Station education department is to promote science education for adults and students alike.

Biles emphasizes the point that the exhibit, while it may make some people cringe, is meant to be a learning process and is not meant as a horror exhibit.

“People might think it’s a freak show, but it isn’t meant to be viewed that way,” Biles said. “We want people to know the facts and information about the exhibit and not just rely on what they hear from other people.”

One rumor that Biles doesn’t want people clinging to is that this particular exhibit showcases the bodies of unidentified Chinese individuals that did not consent to the scientific use of their bodies. The exhibit showcasing these specimen, e n t i t l e d Bodies: The Exhibition, is a completely different

exhibit and is under question about the ethics behind it. However, Biles reassures that all bodies in the Bodies Revealed exhibit belong there.

“After the controversy came up, we obtained the legal affidavits signed by every person in the exhibit and giving permission for their body to be used in [the exhibit] for scientific purposes,” Biles said.

The exhibit, Biles says, is done in a dignified manner with information on exactly what the visitor is seeing next to each specimen. Volunteers with medical backgrounds are also scattered throughout the area to answer any questions.

Many students will be asking questions during the field trip, but junior Alec Hynes opted out of the trip because of the gross factor.

“I’ve been a vegetarian all my life and I just don’t feel comfortable going to look at [the bodies],” Hynes said. “I’m a little morally opposed, but mostly I just don’t think I can stomach it.”

While Hynes remains in his Biology 2 AP class because of the interesting subject matter, he still feels uncomfortable with cutting anything apart.

“I just don’t feel right around dissected bodies, human or animal,” Hynes said. “I feel like it’s wrong to do that to something.”

Senior Emma Austenfield, though easily creeped out by the subject matter, is excited to see the exhibit.

“I would like to see the heart the most because it’s always fascinated me,” Austenfield said. “It’s a really complicated organ and seeing that up close would make it more understandable.”

Along with the heart, many individual body parts and organs will be available for viewing, some of which are affected by smoking or diseases like cancer. The idea behind this is to educate people on disease and thus encourage them to make healthy lifestyle choices.

Biles doesn’t want the exhibit to impose on anyone’s beliefs or make anyone feel uncomfortable, but she does believe that it really speaks for itself.

“What we’re finding out is that after the exhibition people are coming away with a good feeling about it,” Biles said. “There’s really no way you can’t learn anything from it and we all have a body so we might as well find out how it works.”

Dates and Rates

Tickets are available at: www.unionstation.org/bodies/ (816) 460-2020 the Union Station box office

THIS plasticized body, posed as Auguste Rodin’s “The Thinker” will be featured at the Bodies Revealed Union Station exhibit. » http://www.unionstation.org/bodies/photos.cfm

And Cost: Adults (13+) $24 Children (4-12) $19 Union Station Members $19

Hours: Feb. 29 to May 22: Tuesday-Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Sunday 12 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

May 23 to Sept. 1: Tuesday-Thursday 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Friday-Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Sunday 12 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

The exhibit is closed Mondays except March 17, Memorial and Labor day.

issue

12

Spring Break

Come to

in

11 Days Congrats on

State Swim Team 4-Peat

7

theharbinger EDITOR-IN-CHIEF »lauranelson ASSISTANT EDITORS »bernadettemyers »stephennichols ART AND DESIGN EDITOR »libbynachman HEAD COPY EDITOR »adriennewood ONLINE EDITOR »halliemccormick PHOTO EDITOR »karenboomer NEWS SECTION EDITOR »paigecornwell NEWS PAGE EDITORS »phoebeunterman »michaelstolle OP/ED SECTION EDITOR »natalieeisenach OPINION PAGE EDITORS »mollycaldwell »anniesgroi FEATURES SECTION EDITOR »melissamckittrick ASST. FEATURES EDITOR »jeffrutherford FEATURES PAGE EDITORS »devino’bryan »taylortwibell SPREAD EDITOR »megshackelford ASSISTANT SPREAD EDITOR »samlogan MIXED EDITOR »rachelmayfield A&E SECTION EDITOR »ruthstark A&E PAGE EDITORS »rachelbirkenmeier »mactamblyn SPORTS SECTION EDITOR »clarkgoble SPORTS PAGE EDITORS »mikecray »joesernett FREELANCE PAGE EDITORS »jordandietrich »maxmcbride » mackenziewylie COPY EDITORS »thomasbraslavsky »timshedor »paigecornwell »jeffrutherford »samkovzan »stephennichols »bernadettemyers »lauranelson »libbynachman »adriennewood STAFF ARTISTS »alexanderson »renli ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR »sallydrape PHOTOGRAPHERS »andyallen »annaleek »marygalvin »tylerroste »taylerphillips »norasalle »mackenziewylie ONLINE SECTION EDITORS »taylorhaviland »katiefreyder »elizabethmcgranahan ADS MANAGERS »aubreyleiter »conortwibell CIRCULATION MANAGER »aubreyleiter STAFF WRITERS »gagebrummer »griffinbur »davidhenderson »mikehake »mikemazzoni »sarahluby »kevinsimpson »nickratliff »duncanmchenry »sylviashank »jordanpfeiffer »davidwebster »landonmcdonald ADVISOR »dowtate

IP

LOST

KICKED OFF TEAM

the not-so-secret life of

photoillustration »sallydrape & mackenziewylie

Students should censor the material they post online

Sandwiched between the smorgasbord of innocent applications (or as the kids familiarly call them, “apps”) and trivial wall posts lies not only a sex predator’s dream come true, but also, a potential source of red flags for everyone from employers to college admissions officers.

The information plastered upon one’s Internet profile, especially those infamous party pictures, can not only be mortally embarrassing, but for teens intent on building a solid reputation for colleges and potential careers, downright foolish.

Despite the deceiving intimacy of sites like Facebook with their “private” comment sections and opportunities to send your BFFs gifts and funny pictures, more people than you think can see these “personal” interactions. Many of whom, probably shouldn’t be. After all shouldn’t we all keep our private lives, well... private?

For those unfamiliar or uninitiated, social networking sites like Facebook and Myspace have become yet another way for adolescents to communicate. The network on Facebook for East alone has 2,172 registered profiles to current and former East students. The senior class has over 500, which is truthfully everyone but about four students. So all factors considered, that roughly means everyone has one.

And sure, since literally everyone else seems to be doing it, there seems to be little harm if a decent amount of discrepancy and responsibility is used. After all, what does it matter if Jeff from Scranton, Penn. can somehow view your profile and see that you enjoy the music of ABBA as well as your passions for knitting, miniature golf and rescuing puppies? It’s nothing too personal, nothing incriminating and perhaps Jeff is a really nice guy and could end up being a future friend.

While the odds may not be against you, the risk is still there, and growing. It is not at all uncommon now for college admissions counselors to peruse the near completely-public domain of Letters to the editor should be sent to room 521 or Facebook. And while they may simply log-in to smeharbinger@gmail.com. Letters may be edited search for a picture of you or some interesting for clarity, length, libel and mechanics and facts about you, there’s nothing to guarantee that accepted or rejected at the editor’s discretion.

RN FIRED INTE

ARSH SCHOL

EDITORIAL

a publication of shawnee mission east high school 7500 mission road, prairie village, kansas 66208 march 4, 2008 issue 12, volume 49 The Harbinger is a student run publication. The contents and views are produced solely by the staff and do not represent the Shawnee Mission East or SMSD faculty, or administration.

they don’t stumble across some of your more illicit pictures.

So go ahead, post away… just prepare for the consequences.

Because honestly, very few people seem to sincerely think about what they post when they get on Facebook.

But go ahead and disregard moderation when you can post pictures of you taking six “frosty adult beverages” from a “funnel and tube contraption” while wearing cutoff jean shorts and a D.A.R.E. shirt. Or those sweet new pictures of your tattoo. Who cares that it’s located somewhere people weren’t meant to see, and probably don’t want to? Heck, you might even get some extra street cred for your skillful bartending and giant sombrero from your Cinco de Mayo party.

C’mon, throw it up there on Facebook, for the whole world to see.

It’s as if everyone is simply racing to implicate themselves in their weekend debauchery.

Brown admissions counselors admittedly check the profiles of applicants, watching for anything to arouse suspicion.

And yes, underage-age drinking and drug use qualify as suspicious behavior.

And even once you get into college (if those photos don’t take you down), you still have to keep aware. At George Washington University in 2006, campus police found out about and broke up an underage party through – guess what – Facebook.

And we can all agree that pictures of someone passed out in MORP apparel with male genitals Sharpied across their entire body isn’t too becoming. Funny, sure (in a vicious sort of way), but not something you’d want your parents to see, let alone a complete stranger who could possibly be making a decision that drastically affects the rest of your life.

And it’s that degree of unfamiliarity that can end up being most detrimental.

Your friends and family at least know the real you. They know your personality, your traits,

your good and bad characteristics and chances are, a few questionable photographs found on Facebook won’t significantly or permanently change their opinion of you.

But to a complete stranger, it’s an entirely different scenario. Whether it be someone considering hiring you, a college admissions officer or even a police officer, just one indecent/illegal picture could be the difference between a good impression or an immediate black-listing.

And even though that picture could be completely out of character, forced by peer pressure or humorously Photoshopped, it’s near-impossible to defend it against the snap-judgments of someone unknown.

Especially when those judgments can potentially destroy any positivity surrounding you. No amount of résumé padding, extracurriculars, or community service can take back the mistake of letting that “certain picture” out.

And just think how horrible would it be to have four year’s worth of hard work and high achievement negated by a picture of you posing half-naked next to your friend’s four-foot tall bong.

Some things just shouldn’t last past the weekend, let alone get plastered across the internet.

Nobody’s labeling you as a bad kid for dressing up like one of the Village People and “overindulging” a little too much last weekend. But please, think before you recount those edgy adolescent escapades online.

What everyone really needs to do is simply exercise that responsibility; it may be the one time you were glad you did. Just follow this simple strategy: if you wouldn’t want your mother to see whatever you post online, chances are, you probably don’t want millions of strangers to see either.

Especially when the opinions of several of those million could change your life.

a

the

for VOTE 10

0

against

0

absent

The majority opinion of the Harbinger Editorial Board

3

march

Intolerable ignorance

OPINION

8

anopinionof

The members at Topeka’s Westboro Baptist Church (WBC) have a beef with America. Now they have a beef with Rockhurst High School.

They think the nation and Rockhurst are soft on homosexuality, and express their opinions loudly by picketing events releated to or having members associated with the gay community.

On Feb. 15, Rockhurst was » samlogan on the receiving end of one of these protests for their theater department’s production of the “Laramie Project,” a true story based on the murder and hate crime of a homosexual male at the University of Wyoming in 1998.

And because of that, now I have a beef with the members of the Westboro Baptist Church.

“When I saw for sure that our production was on their picket schedule, I couldn’t help but feel a little offended that the name of Rockhurst High School was on a website that is so hateful,” Annie Barney, the play’s director, said. “It was then that I realized what a presence Rockhurst and our theater program has in the community.”

The picket, just one of many from the Topeka-based congregation was a “Love Crusade,” for, according to a press release from the WBC, the story’s main character, Matthew Shepard, “was a runny-nosed little druggedup faggot trolling for perverted sex in a Cowboy Bar, in Wyoming! At midnight! He got his silly self killed. This is stupidity — not heroism.”

Sure wasn’t.

He was a homosexual male. Nothing more.

The church’s spokeswoman and third of the minister Fred Phelps’ eight daughters, Shirley, was at the picket sporting signs reveling in the recent death of actor Heath Ledger.

His sin? Portraying a cowboy in a movie. Not like Roy

Phelp’s protest of Rockhurst’s ‘Laramie Project’ exemplifies reverend’s twisted values

Rogers or Gene Autry, though. The cowboy he played in Brokeback Mountain was gay. That’s all.

Her message, along with the rest of her family’s at Rockhurst was the same: “Matthew Shepard was gay and because of that he is in hell.”

I bet.

This mindset is nothing new, as the Phelps have picketed events across the nation, spreading what they believe is God’s message.

“You almost can’t get mad at them because they’re so ignorant,” senior Stephen Gaughan said. “I just wanted to go to spite them and help sell out the show. That was the important part.”

And Barney agreed. So did the Rockhurst students…

Just everyone but Fred and his holy haters.

“At first, [the Rockhurst students] were understandably fired up. They were well aware of the WBC and its activities, so I think the response at first was that they wanted to put the WBC ‘in its place,’” Barney said.

“When it finally sank in to them that this protest was a direct response to something important happening at the school, they began to re-think their plans. I think it ignited their pride in being a member of a school community that would take on such exposure.”

Exposure. Something the Phelps didn’t get that night. Fox 4 didn’t come. No, neither did KCTV5, nor was Johnny Rowlands up above for News Chopper 9. Just the Westboro clan and their signs.

They left early that night, presumably for that lack of media attention.

The only person who cared to do anything about them coming was Mother Nature. And clearly she was put out with them, too. And now maybe my presumptions about them leaving early are ill-conceived and perhaps the little Phelps children they brought to picket with them were just cold.

Hate makes everyone colder. Clearly it’s already in their blood.

Inside, though, the Phelps were being ignored, the show was about to start and the theater was sold out.

The perfect counter-protest for a lowly picket.

“Part of the point of doing this play is for a community to join together and examine the values that may lead to such violence and intolerance.” Barney said. “We are all part of this community, no matter what individual values we hold, so attending the performance is a way of saying that you want to be a part of that group experience. It sent a definite signal: ‘We are Rockhurst, and we support this production.’”

But the Phelps couldn’t let it go without having to be seen. The WBC just had to spread its homophobic and hate-oriented messages to all those who passed on State Line, even though they were echoed right back at them.

This concept of a “love crusade” by the church has reached its pinnacle and it’s time for it to end. Legislation must be passed to keep these pickets away from such events, subduing all capabilities Phelps and his followers have of spreading their word of hate, homophobia and misguidance.

Ahem, I mean, “God’s grace.” Sorry.

Until then, if legislation of that sort is ever passed, the WBC needs to refrain from being near our soldier’s funerals, stepping foot on my rival high school’s groundsand spreading harsh and crude views into our communities.

The communities that we grow up in, where our kids will do the same and where the essence of peace is the ice cream man coming down the street, not being called a fag by a church. These communities, like Rockhurst’s, came together as, are where the morals America are based off of. The Westboro congregation says our nation is doomed, but without America they wouldn’t be able to do what they do.

Rev. Phelps, if you hate America so much, feel there is something wrong with everyone outside of your cozy, upside-down-American Flag-flying Topeka compound, seek the need to shun those involved with a high school’s theatrical performance, and most of all feel that our country is doomed… Then why wouldn’t you leave?

Separation of SPORT and STATE

Congressional intervention with MLB’s steroid problem unnecessary

anopinionof

3

march 2008

There used to be a time in sports when if an athlete cheated, he was rightfully punished by his sport. In today’s age of long, dramatic press conferences, endless steroid accusations, and just as many lies, individual league suspensions apparently aren’t enough.

Congress now has to step in. What used to be America’s favorite pastime is now being » mikehake regulated by America’s 110th Congress, and it’s wrong.

After New York Yankees pitcher Roger Clemens was mentioned 82 times in December’s infamous Mitchell Report, sports fans have seen arguably the greatest pitcher alive have his name dragged through the mud and backed over by a semi.

On Feb. 13, two months after the Mitchell Report was released, Clemens appeared before Congress, denying that he had ever used performance-enhancing drugs.

The fact that he even testified before Congress about cheating in baseball is ridiculous. I’m just as against the use of steroids as the next guy, but it should be up to the MLB to enforce punishments for the use of banned

substances. Congress has no business sanctioning professional sports.

Barry Bonds, the poster boy of what will go down as the MLB’s steroid era, was indicted on four counts of perjury and one count of obstruction of justice on Nov. 15, after the presence of anabolic steroids was found in past drug tests. He, like Jones, faces serious jail time if convicted.

Bonds tainted the sport of baseball and possibly a whole era of sports when he broke the all-time home run record last summer, and I hate him for that. But he doesn’t deserve prison time.

He deserves exactly what he’s already in line for: about 40 more years of being the biggest fraud in sports history, a personal hell in itself.

If Bonds, Clemens or any professional athlete is found to be using performance-enhancing drugs, he should be banned from the league. Period. The steroids problem in sports, especially baseball, will never end unless the MLB, not Congress, starts cracking down.

The MLB’s current steroid policy was put in place in Nov. 2005, and suspends a player 50 games for a first positive test, 100 games for a second, and a lifetime ban from the league for a third. That policy is still too lenient.

Congress is taking the action that they are because

they feel the excessive steroid use will corrupt a younger generation and turn today’s youth into steroid abusers, a respectable reason, no doubt. This is still MLB Commissioner Bud Selig’s crusade, though.

He needs to save his sport’s future by ruling with an iron fist, and enforcing a zero-tolerance policy on steroids. If players think they have a decent shot at getting away with using performance enhancers, some players will always use them and the biggest problem sports faces today will never end. If he would enforce the policy, Congress wouldn’t have to.

Even if Congress does find Clemens or Bonds guilty and doles out what they believe to be a fair punishment, they still have much bigger worries than what’s happening in professional sports.

Worry about the war that has cost taxpayers $357 billion, Washington. Or maybe our $14 trillion economy that’s supposedly falling into a recession. Let Selig worry about the MLB. Do your own job.

Both Clemens and Bonds’ cases are still in limbo, as they’ll probably remain for some time. Someday, though, fair or unfair, Congress will take their action.

If that action ends up being jail time, they better stay out of the prison leagues. I’d hate to imagine the consequences for cheating there.

Bringing all the pieces together

Individuals need to work together to make a change in the environment Kansas City is making itself sick and we’re searching for a cure.

Last summer Kansas City violated the national air quality standard for ozone. As of the end of January, Sustainable Skylines, the spearhead for increasing awareness of pollution caused by urban environments, is coming to town.

This public-private partnership, supported by the Environ» adriennewood mental Protection Agency (EPA), aims to reduce air emissions in cities and chose the KC area as the second city to participate in this pilot program.

We should take the EPA’s presence in our hometown not as a compliment on our own environmental awareness, but as a warning that our city is in dire need of a health plan.

And, rather than patting ourselves on the back for becoming a Sustainable Skyline city by name, we, as individuals and a school and a community, have to follow through on our promise and actually make KC “sustainable.” Starting with the little things.

It gives me great hope to see KC, hand-in-hand with partners like the Missouri Department of Natural Resources and the Mid-America Regional Council, giving publicity

anopinionof

»lancervoice senior

Britt Nelson

our environment is in, I would have to wear organic hemp T-shirts, drive an electric car, plant only cacti in my backyard to save water and become a vegetarian. It wouldn’t hurt to do all this (although hemp might irritate my skin), but so drastic a change in lifestyle is unrealistic.

The more I think about how much energy and material I waste, the easier it becomes to see how I can make minor changes for the better. I can replace a few light bulbs and turn them off when I leave the room. I can force myself out of the deliciously warm shower five minutes earlier, which also means sleeping an extra five minutes in the morning.

I can recycle more plastic (turns out, the recycling trucks pick up any plastic with a “1” or “2” in the triangle on the bottom. It’s that simple. Who knew?).

And we can encourage East to do its part as well.

Let’s look to North Kansas City High School. Along with two other metro area schools, it has set the bar for green high schools: a small solar panel juts off of the school building like an awning, collecting 1,500 kilowatt hours of electrical energy per year and costing $24,000, according to a media release. Not only does the panel save energy, but it also teaches science students how they can make a difference on the environment.

The East administration has dismissed suggestions from science teachers to install our own solar panel on the basis that it will not “pay for itself.” I won’t pretend to understand how our various funds function or the rules about what money can go where, but I do know that we’ve spent thousands of dollars on a plasma TV for the library (which is constantly on mute and watched by, as far as I can tell, no one), Smart Boards for classrooms and the latest technology for science classes. A solar panel would be a teaching tool just like these other purchases: Environmental Systems students could learn how solar energy works and use digital monitors to study the daily energy saved by the panels. East would set an example for the rest of the district to become greener and instill environmental awareness in its students, all while saving energy.

This summer, after construction on East property rips up the parking lots and grounds, the school should follow EPA guidelines or ask for support—the EPA web site advertises that they are “actively [looking] for ways to partner on projects”—in order to renovate the parking lots to manage storm water runoff as well as plant more native vegetation to conserve water and reduce heat emitted from pavement.

Sustainable Skylines is paying particular attention to creating awareness within KC area schools because the EPA understands how long-term a project such as this must be. The air quality of our city is not going to get better within a few years—it takes the dedication of future generations (ourselves included) to make an area truly sustainable.

It’s not just that our planet is sick—because in reality, planet Earth is going to be here for a few billion years more no matter what humans do to it. Humans are not quite as invincible as Earth and we want to ensure that in the future we’re still here to enjoy it.

9

OPINION

to our pollution problems, but at the same time I know the effectiveness of this program depends on individuals who believe that they can make a change. For Sustainable Skylines to be effective, it’s not just a matter of parks readjusting irrigation. People, myself included, must convince themselves that by turning off their cars while waiting in the parking lot, carpooling and using just a little less water, they are saving the health of our city and our planet.

A modest $250,000 from the EPA will finance the initiative, according to the EPA web site. Projects under Sustainable Skylines include an idle-reduction campaign that will limit the idling of vehicles over 8,500 pounds to 30 minutes, solar power demonstrations at schools and city-owned buildings and water conservation and landscaping projects to help homeowners and parks use less water.

I won’t preach from an organic wood soapbox and I won’t even attempt to call myself a resident who lives a green life. Yes, I believe in global warming. In theory I am all for doing everything humanly possible to protect the wildlife we still have. But walking the walk is a different story: I buy bottled water whenever I forget to bring a bottle to the gym. I let my car idle for 10 minutes in the parking lot while waiting for my carpool buddy to get out of school. My very warm house is full of energy inefficient light bulbs; I take 15-minute showers; I drive to the house where I baby-sit (which is two blocks away).

Now that I’ve confessed my sins as a polluting Kansas Citian, allow me to make a proposal. Let’s not sit back and watch the EPA drain the meager $250,000 trying to make a few parks more ecologically sound. Let’s actually make our skyline more sustainable, starting with the basics.

First we need to change our mentality. If we begin this initiative with the pessimistic attitude that the polar bears will die regardless of what we do and that soon New York City will be the new Lost City of Atlantis, then we won’t get anywhere. No one will make the first move towards a sustainable society.

From now on, I promise I will no longer think defeatist thoughts such as, “What’s the point in switching my light bulbs to fluorescent if no one else does? It won’t do anything.”

If we each replace one light bulb with an energy-efficient fluorescent one, we will prevent green house gases equivalent to the emission of 800,000 cars, according to Energy Star. So yes, it will do something.

I used to think that in order to slow the downward spiral

Kansas City is one of the first cities to start the EPA’s Sustainable Skyline program to reduce carbon emissions. What are the environmental issues that matter to East students?

junior

Evan Mumma

sophomore

Cameron Robles

freshman

Katie Griffith

QUESTION 1: What is your biggest environmental concern?

Probably the ozone layer. It’s really in danger right now and all of the climate changes and extinction of animals.

Everything.

Our water supply.

Waste fill-up. It just seems like it would be one of the bigger problems right now. Also global warming, just individually for me, waste.

Global warming. It’s going to affect our generation. And all the pollution.

Reuse, recycle.

Don’t use so much plastic. Not pollute so much and maybe walk places instead of driving.

Recycle more.

I would like to not waste so much stuff, instead of throwing away a piece of paper, just put it in the recycling bin. Little stuff, I’m not going to do big stuff.

QUESTION 2: What could people do to help reduce this problem?

Recycle, try not to use so much gas, try not to throw away so much trash, try to reuse some things.

Stop dumping things in the water, drinlk less soda from cans, because aluminum is one of the most wasteful things.

QUESTION 3:What do you do to try to reduce this problem?

I try to recycle and don’t really throw away too much stuff.

I don’t drink bottled water often and I try not to think about those kind of things.

FEATURES

10 Students search for

their money tree

Sophomore receives income from parents BY

» davidhenderson

Sophomore Andrew Mohn pulls up to the pump. As Mohn snatches the wallet from the glove compartment, he doesn’t even wonder if the money will be there or not. He walks towards the pump, the silver Visa in hand, and then swipes it. A common transaction for Mohn and many East students is buying gas, but whose pocket the money is actually coming from differs greatly.

Mohn and many other students from East receive an allowance from their parents. In a survey from Familyeducation.com, the average teen spends roughly $104 each week, which is about $5,000 per year.

“My parents gave me a credit card once I turned 16, but I only occasionally use it for gas and sometimes food,” Mohn explained.

Parents’ handing over money to their kids has been under criticism for many years. Experts say that it gives teens no sense of money and will end up hurting them as young adults, which is proven as people under the age of twenty five have been the most rapidly growing bankruptcy filers.

“I think having my credit card gives me a sense of independence and will help me spend my money more wisely when I am older,” Mohn, whose parents pay the bills after each month, said.

Mohn is uncertain if he will be employed before his high school career is over.

“Well, I guess if I need money to buy something that my parents won’t help me buy then I would consider getting a job, but I don’t really plan on getting a job while I am in high school,” Mohn said.

The economic boom of teen spending has been rapidly growing in the past decade. Teenage Research Unlimited reports that the teen market has risen from $122 billion each year to $172 billion in the past five years.

The increase has given economic experts something to talk about.

“Teens nowadays are constantly spending the money they earn, and with the increase in gas and cell phone usage the teen economic market will continue to rise,” MSNBC economic correspondent Christina Jameson said in one of her recent articles.

With the increase in gas and the constant urges to spend money on careless goods, Mohn thinks that the money that he has put away in savings will be highly beneficial in the future.

“I have a savings account, which I rarely touch, and I think that when I go off to college having the money in my bank account to fall back on will be a big step for me financially,” Mohn said.

Senior works for money in place of allowance BY

3

march 2008

» davidhenderson

When Senior Kylie Brewer is in Mexico during spring break, she will know how she got there. Not by plane, car, or even her parents.

Well, maybe her parents helped out a little.

Kylie, like 64% of East students in a recent Harbinger survey of 200, has a part-time job. She began working at The Princess Club during her sophomore year and has found her job to be paying off.

“This year I had to help with my trip to Mexico for spring break.

I paid little over half and my parents are paying the difference,” Brewer said.

Unlike many students, Brewer does not nor has ever had an allowance. According to the Harbinger survey nearly 71 percent of students receive an allowance or have received money from their parents. Brewer thinks that not relying on her parents for money has been very beneficial.

“I do think it is important for students to make their own money at some point in high school, and if time is an issue there is always summer [to work],” Brewer said.

The money that Brewer has made has gone into a bank account

that her mom helps her maintain. In a survey held annually

by Charles Schwab, 60 percent of teens have an active savings account. Economic analysts are in favor of teens starting to save money early.

“The earlier teens save money and don’t withdraw, will help set teens up better for when they are out on there own,” MSNBC economic analyst Joshua Campbell said in an article.

Although Brewer does not receive a weekly allowance from her parents, they will usually open up if she asks for money.

“I have never really had an allowance, but if I do ask for money they will usually give it to me. But I don’t ask very often,” Brewer said.

Many students end up spending all their money when once they reach college. Next year, when Brewer is off at college, she understands that having her own money will help her get through financially.

“I realize my limits on what I can and can’t spend on things, which will help me manage my money,” Brewer said.

» renli

A CCOMPLEX MOVE

FEATURES

Students attempting transfer within the East attendance area find it to be... 11

INDIAN » alexanderson and renli » libbynachman

Junior Elizabeth Braeuel was ready for her junior year. She’d enrolled in the International Baccalaureate (IB) program, organized her SHARE project at St. Vincent’s and joined Lancer Link Crew. She was a member of French Club and was planning to run track in the spring.

But after the first month of school, Braeuel decided that IB wasn’t for her. She dropped the program and enrolled in AP classes.

It wasn’t just that simple, though. Braeuel was a transfer student, and her transfer was contingent upon her participation in IB. When she dropped IB, she dropped East.

“I realized that [I’d have to leave], but I was willing to take that chance,” Braeuel said. “IB really wasn’t my thing and I didn’t think I would enjoy high school doing it when I didn’t want to be doing it.”

Transferring into and out of East has been a tricky subject since the school closed to transfers seven or eight years ago, according to Dr. Gene Johnson, Associate Superintendent Administrative Services, Secondary.

The rules are strict – only students willing to do IB are allowed to transfer to East.

Braeuel now attends South. Her home school is North, but her step-sister goes to South and she has friends there.

According to Johnson, three Shawnee Mission Schools are closed to transfers: East, Northwest and West.

“The reason those three schools are closed is because of enrollment – there’s not a lot of room in the schools for extra students,” Johnson said.

2200

“

I realized that [I’d have to leave], but I was willing to take that chance.

- Junior Elizabeth Braeuel

Showalter originally transferred to East from Northwest as a freshman in order to do the IB program.

As a freshman and a sophomore, he took a rigorous, preIB course load.

However, during Thanksgiving break of his sophomore year, Showalter was diagnosed with depression and was hospitalized for nearly a cumulative month and a half, from Thanksgiving break to Valentine’s Day. He missed all of Thanksgiving break, Christmas, New Year’s, his birthday and Valentine’s Day and missed so much school that enrolling in IB wasn’t plausible.

Still, the administration was able to work with Showalter to allow him to permanently transfer into East.

He had letters from his psychiatrist and therapist telling the administration that it would be better for him if he stayed.

“No one ever said, ‘We can’t do this, this isn’t right,’ because it was a special situation,” Showalter said. “I think under the circumstances that were there it was best that I stayed.”

Johnson doesn’t foresee any change in the current transfer policies at the moment, even though East enrollment has dropped over the past four years.

“Now East, every hour of the day, almost every room is being used,” he said. “You’ve got to keep an eye on that, so there’s a lot of factors to consider there. There was a point when every high school was open to transfers, then we just got too crowded in some schools and we had to shut it off.”

Nevertheless, transferring between schools is not too big of an issue. Shawnee Mission is the second-largest school district in Kansas, with an enrollment of 28,201 students, according to the district web site. Of those nearly 30,000 students, 421 students have transferred to another high school, according to Johnson.

“Most of the time if a student is starting off at their high school and they’re having success, they don’t want to leave,” Johnson said. “High schoolers don’t like transferring out of their home high school if they’re having success.” www.smsd.org

ENROLLMENT NUMBERS OF SHAWNEE MISSION HIGH SCHOOLS THROUGH THE YEARS

2100

ENROLLMENT NUMBERS

The only way to transfer into one of these three schools is to sign up for the school’s respective Signature Program; IB at East, Biochemistry at West and IB at Northwest (as of next year).

However, there are exceptions at times.

“There could be, in some case, some very extenuating circumstances in a family that might warrant that,” Johnson said, “but I can tell you that I’m the person that approves transfers, and that would occur extremely rarely, if at all.”

Senior Clay Showalter is one of the rare circumstances – currently, he is the only student at East who is a transfer and is not enrolled in the IB program.

“

BY

2000

THE KEY:

WEST EAST NORTH SOUTH NORTHWEST

1900 1800 1700 1600

2004

2005

YEAR

2006

2007

2008

issue

12

FEATURES

12

token friendship a new

of

» pa

tric

km ayfi e

ld

Facebook and other online communication methods are beginning to replace traditional friendships BY

» nickratliff

Last week, senior Steve Sykes waged “poke” wars, planned for East basketball games and talked to his friends. All in one place, all online.

“Facebook is my life,” Sykes said. “I go on every day.”

Facebook, started in 2004 by then-Harvard student Mark Zuckerburg, was a site originally just for Harvard freshman to get to know each other. The social networking site has now replaced instant messaging as the preferred way teens communicate. With over 64 million active users, this prompts the question, are we now generation Facebook?

Janet Rose, a professor at UMKC who also runs a brand and market consulting or “trend tracking” company called the Rose Group, has followed the Facebook trend closely and thinks that it’s the capability to personalize your profile on Facebook that draws kids to the social networking site. “[Facebook] has certainly added an avatarish dimension to socializing, although perhaps that is nothing new,” Rose said. “Facebook is visual, interactive and has the ‘entourage effect,’ which is the capability of making someone really, really popular.”

Joi McNeley-Phelps, a psychologist who practices in Lenexa, also sees many advantages to the social networking site.

“Things like Facebook and MySpace are great in that they let people meet each other without relying on physical attributes,” McNeley-Phelps said. “It can boost people’s self-confidence in that respect.”

There are downsides to social networking, though.

“In some cases, some people give too much information,” Sykes said. “They could have problems like people do on MySpace.”

One of the reasons Sykes switched from other networking systems like instant messaging is because of the more customizable and personal nature of the site.

“You can obviously do more stuff on Facebook than e-mail and IM and stuff,” Sykes said. “That’s what drew me to it.”

Rose believes that the switch from instant messaging to Facebook is a testament to teens. “[The switch from AIM] is just more evidence that teens are more socially aware and often much savvier about such things than older, more entrenched adults,” Rose said.

Despite Facebook fans being savvy about their social networking, Rose still thinks it’s just a fad.

“I’m worried about the future of Facebook,” Rose said. “The more older, entrenched adults use it for social networking, the more tendency teenagers will have to reject it. I give it two

Some Facebook users are concerned about just how permanent your data is

The Problem: The Facebook site lets users “deactivate” their accounts. However, the Facebook servers keep copies of all information indefinitely ... data is never erased from their records.

by the

2008

“I think that technology like [Facebook] will only get bigger and better,” McNeley-Phelps said. “It will just become more and more popular as time goes on.”

Sykes agrees with McNeley-Phelps.

“I think Facebook is setup for the long haul,” Sykes said. “Whether kids will keep using it will be the thing.”

introduced a new “form” that people can fill out to delete their account. However, some users who used the form discovered that their profiles were only partly deleted - through a quick google » tylerroste search, information about them could be found. Facebook, however, contests that these people may not have deleted their accounts correctly. » newyorktimes

856050 46 numbers40 25 6 1-2 Facebook

3 march

ity.

The Solution: Facebook

Once you sign on, can you really

Never leave?

years.”

McNeleyPhelps, however, thinks that Facebook is in for a long run of popular-

85% of college students used Facebook in 2005

» http://www.trendcatching.com » http://www.techcrunch.com 40 percent of US us» http://www.trendcatching.com ers are male (2007)

60 billion average monthly page views

25 and above is the fasted growing age group

50 average monthly page views per user

46 percent of users are female (2007)

6 million photos 1-2 million people are siare uploaded daily multaneously on the site

» all pictures from websites

online ways to

Communicate www.facebook.com:

a publication for an organization, such as a school or business, which helps members identify each other; also, an online version of this, with profiles including a picture, name, birth date, interests, etc. (Webster’s New Millennium™ Dictionary of English)

www.xanga.com:

users are allowed to post any number of weblog entries per day, and may also customize how their Xanga looks using pre-made templates or custom HTML. Xanga sites are most commonly used as personal journals. (www.reference.com)

www.myspace.com:

a social networking website offering an interactive, user-submitted network of friends, personal profiles, blogs, groups, photos, music and videos internationally. Its headquarters are in Beverly Hills, California (www.reference.com)

www.friendster.com:

an Internet social network service... based on the Circle of Friends (social network) and Web of Friends techniques for networking individuals in virtual communities (www.reference.com)

FEATURES

13

» mackenziewylie

With a national increase in digital assignments,

the dog can’t eat your homework anymore BY

» samkovzan

Just a decade ago, East’s classrooms were accompanied by chalkboards and old rolling overhead projectors. The Internet had not been introduced to the computer lab and schoolwork was done predominantly with pencil and paper.

However, the last three years have witnessed an integration of modern-day technology into the classroom – Airliners, ceiling-mounted projectors, portable laptops and DVD players. As teachers put the new technology to use, they are beginning to decrease their dependency on paper, a $17,000 chunk of East’s annual budget.

Assistant principal Steven Loe believes this is just the beginning of a trend that will become more and more apparent each school year. “[Paper consumption] has definitely dropped,” Loe said. “Just take a look at the teacher mailboxes. I used to have to run off 130 copies and plug them into every box.

Now we have e-mail and I’m able to get a memo out in no time.”

While teachers have benefitted mostly from e-mail, it is the students who have been treated to an array of new classroom devices.

The SmartBoard – a wireless Airliner that projects writing onto a computer screen – and the TI SmartView – a computerized graphing calculator – are new high-tech tools ideal for math classes. Ceiling-mounted projectors are equipped with DVD players and cable television and portable laptops with wireless Internet have made computer access easy for everyone.

Among the benefits of students working in a more technologically advanced environment, Loe notices that students simply perform at a higher level. Supporting his claim is the fact that Kansas State Assessment test scores have improved since East students began taking them online in fall 2006.

“I think that students were more comfortable taking the Kansas Assessments on the computer this year,” Loe said.

“Jumping from paper and pencil to the computer, we saw a rise in test scores. Since this generation is so used to computers, I think (the assessments) almost seemed easier.”

East principal Susan Swift finds that the latest tools have already changed teaching styles. Although there are no immediate plans for new equipment due to construction next year, she thinks East will continue to adapt to the new wave of technology in the future.

“As time goes on, teachers will get better and better at using these tools,” Swift said. “I think it just takes time to change the culture of the teachers as well as the culture of the students.”

The new high-tech devices have had a strong influence in the classroom, something that is most evident in the math department. Jennifer Horn, an Algebra II and Precal-

culus teacher at East, has put the SMART Boards to full use since they were introduced in August.

“The Airliner is nice because class notes are always available for kids that are absent, and I am able to add my own [notes] as a reminder to teach students certain things,” Horn said.

Since East is switching to block scheduling next year, this will give teachers an even larger opportunity to utilize the new technology next year. Horn has used the BeyondQuestions – small remotes students use to answer multiple choice questions posted on projectors – sparingly this year. Because of longer class periods, though, she sees next year as a chance to take advantage of all the technology available.

“Having this new technology [next year] will really help break the monotony of 90 minutes,” Horn said.

The topic of block scheduling has caused much speculation at East. Some like it, others don’t. But more time and new classroom instruments will allow instructors to present learning material in different ways.

“With 90 minute classes, [teachers] will have a variety of activities to do, and one of them will probably include technology,” Loe said.

East, however, is not the only place where teachers are turning from pen and paper to computers and the Internet for schoolwork. In fact, the recent trend can be noticed at most schools in eastern Kansas. Debra Waldorf, an art teacher at Blue Valley West, is very conscious about paper consumption and tries hard to utilize the technology at her school.

“I have gone virtually paperless in my classroom in that I do not keep a hard copy of my grades in a traditional grade book,” Waldorf said. “I also use front-to-back printed packets that are stapled, numbered, and reused as class sets in my art classes from year to year, replacing only the ones that get worn out.”

Waldorf has found that the Internet has been the biggest key in making the technological switch.

“Our school does a lot of online voting for things like King and Queen Candidates on our main website,” Waldorf said. “Students also have the opportunity to do career planning in the same type of link setup.”

Through this high-tech transformation, many schools have the mindset that it will better prepare students for the type of work they may face after high school. The frequent use of web pages and e-mail, according to Swift, is very common at college, thus stressing the importance of students getting used to the process.

“This is how work is going to be like in the future,” Swift said. “These tools are not going to go away.”

are a few websites used by Website Theseteachers to aid with assignments

wondersand research along with papers

www4.smsd.org

This link takes students to individual teacher websites, where many teachers post daily assignments. Students can then e-mail some teachers like European History teacher Kelli Kurle the homework for that night.

www.glencoe.com

This website accompanies the French class textbooks. Teachers like Laure Losey have students take online quizzes for practice, but it also offers most of the book online.

www.questia.com

Questia is an online library providing access to the world’s largest online collection of books and journal articles in the humanities and social sciences. Students can search every word of all of the books and journal articles in the collection.

www.conjuguemos.com This free language practice program allows students to practice conjugating verbs in Spanish, French, German, and Latin. The site also features grammar and vocabulary.

∆ «√ www.turnitin.com

Here, students can turn in their papers and are able to review and respond to other student’s papers. The site also checks for plagiarism by checking the paper against millions of other web pages.

BYthe NUMBERS

5 average number of times a document is copied

$1,100 cost of ceiling mounted projector $7.99 cost of 500 sheets of paper 90 percent of business information in document form

$1,500 cost of one SMART board $213 cost of a color inkjet printer »www.relativityinc.com

issue

12

FEATURES

14

THE

JUNIOR Andrew Chronister tests the camera outside of his woodshop class to see if he needs to make any adjustments to it.

PICTURE

BIGGER

»patrickmayfield

Student ties in skills from woodshop and photography classes by constructing a “pin-hole” camera BY

» mollycaldwell

One student, one shot, and one camera is all that it has taken to bring together three seemingly unrelated subjects. While one classroom’s atmosphere is abuzz with the sound of saws and drills, another is silent but for the whispering of students meticulously examining photos. But through the construction of a working camera, students are running towards the same goal.

First approached about the project by photography teacher Adam Finkelston, woodshop teacher Scott Shaban’s intial reaction was enthusiasm. Together, they will be collaborating to create a slide-camera, which will in turn be used by advanced photography students. Both ends have had to go through extensive research to learn not only how to build a camera out of ordinary hardware, but also how to effectively use one.

Mutually, Finkelston and Shaban hope that students not only gain an understanding of how to execute the construction and use of the camera, but that they also see how different academic departments are related.

Speaking about his work with the other teachers and the students’ reaction to what he described as a unique project, Shaban said, “It has been an experience, definitely something new, and this gives students the chance to do something that no one else has done.”

Contributing as well to the project is chemistry teacher Cole Ogdon, whose students as part of a class lab will be working to create the film that will be used

THE ANATOMY OF THE CAMERA: the slide-holder ( the photo paper is placed in here)

3

mar.

2008

50 mm. lens (behind this panel is its timer)

in the camera. “ We’re working with the other departments to create something really interesting, we’re hopefully going to incorporate the lab into the class,” Ogdon said.

One student who is involved in both photography and woodshop is junior Andrew Chronister, who is helping in the construction of the camera. He says that compared to other woodshop projects he has carried out, this is definitely more technical. He has also seen firsthand how the camera is able to bring together the two departments.

“The two classes don’t really fit together, but I am making them fit together through the camera,” Chronister said.

Finkelston is hoping to more than anything gain a connection between different classes who wants to show students how knowledge from separate interests can still work together to create something unique.

“Students can see [from this project] that knowledge is not compartmentalized, that it is interconnected, and that your knowledge in, say, photography can also help you with you knowledge in say chemistry or woodworking,” Finkelston said.

Teachers on either end say that they would definitely like to see more projects like this in the future, because it benefits students helps them to build on the knowledge that they already have. Finkelstein says.

“I just want student’s to see how knowledge from different disciplines is interrelated, “ said Finkelston.

1.

2.

3.

HOW TO USE THE CAMERA:

In the dark room, cut paper to fit the paper holder and slide it into the camera.

Whenever you want to take a picture, remove the lens cover, exposing the lens for 5-7 seconds.

The camera is light activated, with a timer behind the lens.

CHRONISTER sands the camera during woodshop so it is easier to work on.

After being exposed for this time, it should automatically Eventually he wants to make another camera that has two lenses inside. snap a picture by itself. »patrickmayfield

With eight out of nine members graduating this year, the Categories team looks to the future BY

» ruthstark

The Categories team will graduate the majority of its members this May, leaving only one returning participant of the team for the 2008 - 2009 season. The only Categories veteran, junior Michael Smythe, will be forced to lead the team next year.

“I guess it was somewhat intimidating [being the only junior],” Smythe said. “I’m the only one who can’t drive, so I always had to get rides to the events.”

Sponsor Nick Paris expects Smythe to step up.

“Michael Smythe has got to come through next year,” Paris said. “He has got to be sharp and be the leader because he will be the only one with experience. He’s got to overcome my poor planning.”

Because of all the talented players in the class of 2008, Paris was forced to cut most of the underclassmen who tried out at the beginning of this year.

“There were a lot of juniors that almost made it,” Paris said. “They can come back again and they will be in really good shape. I may alter try-outs. I may pick 15 and then have them actually play Categories to see what kind of player they are. You have to be a risk-taker to be a really good Categories player.”

Senior Jack Krieger knows that Categories can be more intense than it seems.

“It’s just going to be a fresh team basically,” Krieger said. “The first time you’re on the show you think it won’t be that bad, but it’s actually pretty nerve-wracking.”

The graduating seniors include captain Jeff Bryant, Sam Watson, Curtis Bryant, Jack Krieger, Laura Nelson, Thomas Braslavsky, Max McBride and Mark Barnett.

“We will need a lot of help from underclassmen,” Paris said. “If there is someone reading this article and would be interested, please try out next September. It’s just Monday afternoons and it’s great on your ‘resumé’ for college.”

Smythe plans on doing some recruiting to boost the team’s roster for next year.

“I know a couple of people who I am recruiting, or at least getting to take a test next year,” Smythe said. “It will probably be a lot harder to win [next year]. It will probably be a lot more difficult than this year was for sure.”

Smythe will have to let students know that Categories is more play than work.

“It’s nothing that takes a long time to get a hang of,” senior Sam Watson said. “I would definitely encourage underclassman to try out. It’s pretty fun.”

The team chemistry proved to be successful for the 2007-2008 season with three wins this season and only one loss.

» annaleek » taylerphilips “We have excellent team chemistry,” Paris said. “Even if someone isn’t playing they go to the taping at Indian Creek and cheer the team on. I’ve never had that before. Top to bottom this is the best team we’ve ever had.”

East’s one loss, 23-26 to Shawnee Mission South, could potentially cost them their shot at the play-offs in March.

They have yet to find out if they have made it into the playoffs. Making it into the Categories play-offs is based on the

HOW DO YOU MEASURE UP?

1 2 3 4

FEATURES

THE BRAINY BUNCH

15

John Lloyd Wright, the son of architect Frank Lloyd Wright, invented what classic children’s toy in 1916?

Beethoven used what poem, by what poet, as the text for the finale of his Ninth Symphony?

What is the only New York City borough connected to the mainland?

Name two national offices Thomas Jefferson held before being elected president.

5 6 7 8

percentage of questions they answered correctly through the regular season. East answered 55 percent correctly exceeded only by South with 66 percent.

“I was somewhat upset that we lost to South because they are our rival and everything,” Smythe said. “It’s fun being around people who also have a lot of unnecessary knowledge.”

SEE IF YOU CAN ANSWER THESE CATEGORIES QUESTIONS (see answers at the bottom)

What common ‘space term’ comes from the Latin words meaning star and sailor?

Is the oldest city in the Western Hemisphere Santa Fe, Lima, St. Augustine or Santo Domingo?

Dublin is the capital of Ireland. What is the capital of Northern Ireland?

What is the highest mountain outside the Himalayas and the Andes?

9 10 11 12

During World War II, which three world leaders met three times to discuss peace and plans for rebuilding Europe after the war?

Name two poets who perpetuated Roman mythology.

Name the two planets in the solar system on which the atmosphere consists chiefly of carbon dioxide.

Name the only North American tree with white bark.

ANSWERS: 1) Lincoln Logs, 2) “Ode to Joy” by Friedrich Schiller, 3) The Bronx, 4) Vice President and Secretary of State, 5) Astronaut, 6) Santo Domingo, 7) Belfast, 8) Mount McKinley, 9) Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin, 10) Virgil and Ovid, 11) Mars and Venus, 12) Birch

issue

12

SPREAD

16

s know the teams...

1. consider the mid-majors...

2. but remember the Titans...

3.

Gluing yourself to ESPN early on is a good start.

Knowing a team’s depth, coaching, wins and losses makes all the difference in picking an upset and a National Champion.

The small schools can be the most damaging schools. Teams like George Mason, Kent State, and Southern Illinois have torn up brackets in past years.

The little guys can make it far and win the big matchup, but in the final game a powerhouse almost always ends up with the “W”.

» samlogan

This year’s cinderella?

The biggest 1st round loser?

National Champ.

Favorite?

Memphis, UNC, Texas, UCLA

Brigham Young

Georgetown

North Carolina

Memphis, UNC, Kansas, UCLA

Maryland

Butler

UCLA

Memphis, UNC, Kansas, Texas

St. Mary’s

Tennessee

Texas

Who will be the #1 seeds?

clark GOBLE

“

Never sleep on a team that plays good defense. Washington State and UCLA will do just that.

“

sam LOGAN

“

Look for the teams with shaky regular

Memphis, Texas,

Georgetown

“

Look for teams like UCLA with momentum going into the tournament to play well. Coaches with tournament experience will make this happen.

“

the

[bracket] panel

be right.”

He wrote up his bracket that day d ing just that, with multiple drafts on pa course. Saving the Star until he knew h right.

“You’re never satisfied the first time th or the second,” Burch said, “It’s probab homework assignment I work the long all year.”

East students dedicate themselves to brackets year in and year out, and it all with the “scribble” stage- aimless scra on paper to move one team to the p land and the other to the bench… Cou times, until it’s the one.

Freshman Scott Watson doesn’t wea slippers but he picks the teams that d Bucknell’s, Virginia Commonwealth’s George Mason’s of the NCAA Tourname “People don’t understand how imp it is to know the teams going into the t ment,” Watson said, “If a mid-major pla against a kind of elite team in the regul son, they should be able to do the same tournament.”

Taking such an angle of attack on dance is something typically shunned b experts” but when it comes to tellin friends “I told you so,” it’s the place to g “I don’t listen to ESPN on what I sho typically, I just try and watch all the g can every w know the before it Watson said

mike CRAY

“

The strongest teams all season will be the strongest in the tournament.

UNC, Memphis and Duke will all be likely winners in later rounds.

“

theMadness Relieving HOW TO MAKE THE PERFECT BRACKET

BY

This March, college basketball junkies worldwide will do the same thing they do every year; scribble, crumple, trash.

It’s the process for which the previous four months of their lives spent in front of the TV, computer, or sporting magazines will be determined- all on a field of 65 different schools.

65 different schools with 65 different stories that make their way to Cinderella or King Kong status. They’re also 65 stories that shape every bracketologist’s philosophy. Pick the underdog or go with the favorite? Take the one-seeds all the way or find a sleeper and run with it?

Next Sunday, that field of 65 will be selected, and the process of scribbling, crumpling, and trashing will begin.

SCRIBBLE On Monday morning, Sophomore Brandon Burch sat at his kitchen table with the Kansas City Star from the day before sprawled in front.

It was time to make his picks for the NCAA Tournament the same way he had since he was a first grader at St. Agnes Catholic Schoolthe favorites being his favorites.

“Pick the higher seeds, you’ll never go wrong,” Burch said, “Most of the time you’re gonna

doaper, of he was

hrough ably the gest on

o these begins atching promise untless

ar glass do. The ’s, and ent. portant tournaays well lar seae in the

the big by “the ng your go. ould do games I week to teams starts,” d.

CRUMPLE It’s late-march and the tournament has been under way for a week now.

Spring Break isn’t over yet, but to Burch it is in a sense.

That same Kansas City Star is still on the kitchen table- just crumpled up this time, kind of like a ball. Burch’s failed bracket now has no where to go but one place- .

“By the Sweet 16 I usually can tell my bracket is headed no where,” Burch said. “By then it seems like my national champion always loses to a dud, my final four will only have one team still alive, and the upsets will have all worked against me.”

At this point there’s no worries. At least that’s how Watson sees it.

“The sleepers won’t make it that far so by then I just start to hate my bracket,” he said, “I always wonder why I pick the underdog… In the end it makes March less stressful though.”

It can, indeed, be a stressful month. Especially for those who take it so seriously.

“At times I have to just stop watching ‘cause I’ll worry about the bracket,” Burch said, “After the second round, I wish I could just throw it away… Which I usually do because it’s such a failure by then.”

TRASH By now, the Star, Burch’s picks and any chance he had at winning his pool are out at Defenbaugh.

throu

gh

School had started up again, the tournament was still going on, and the Final Four had just been set.

Watson and Burch were now just spectators- like they were for the earlier five months of the season, “Once my bracket is hopeless it’s kind of weird,” Watson said, “I know five months of college basketball are about to end and nothing good will come of it.”

Throwing away his bracket, Burch recalls a feeling of loss.

“I put so much into that piece of paper, only for it to be a failure before it’s over,” he said, “You’ve gotta wonder why we even do it.”

Most do it for the fun, the thrill, the excitement, the storylines. Others do it for money, others because it’s tradition. In this case, it’s all of those.

“It’s not at all that were addicted to it,” Watson said, “It’s just that once you get the right bracket you feel like a million bucks… Even though deep down you know you’re not going to win anything.”

BEING A HOMER... midwest schools with a shot at glory KANSAS-

SPREAD

[Maze

Ever y spr stud ing, c ents olleg stuck e ba in br sketba acke ll’s b ts... ig da all fo nce r jus has E t one ast winn er

17

A regular in late-March matchups, KU will enter the tournament with depth and experience.

Shaky losses but big wins give this Wildcat squad high hopes for a sorry tournament past.

KANSAS STATE-

The Cinderella story of the regular

March what’s your

STANCE on the BIG DANCE? know these key terms...

CINDERELLA- A team that could advance farther in the tournament than expected.

This year’s cinderellas?... SEE- Drake, Butler, Saint Mary’s

SLEEPER- A relatively quiet team all season who could pull off the big win come tournament time.

This year’s possibilities?... SEE- New Mexico, Robert Morris, VCU

POWERHOUSE- A consistent tournament contender. Highly ranked all season and a favorite among the

]

Please Recycle Your Harbinger

G O L A N C E R S !!!

Rose Nails

4175 Somerset Dr. Prairie Village Corinth Square Shopping Center (near Hen House)

Hours: Mon.-Fri.: 9:30 am- 8 p.m.

Saturday: 9:30 am- 7 p.m.

Sunday: Noon- 5 p.m.

913-383-8288

For Fast, Beautiful, Thin Looking Nails Full Set Acrylic -- $25 Fill-in -- $16 Manicure -- $12 Pedicure -- $23

Walk-ins or appointments welcome

Class Elections: Cast Your Vote!

Thursday March 13

BY

»griffinbur

Usually when someone says “I’ll ______ until the day I die,” it’s an overstatement. But when Matt Chalk replaces that blank with “play saxophone,” you get the sense he means it.

For Chalk, dedication to his instrument is not a deliberate choice, or even something he notices. He just plays. Still, his dedication is no less because of that.

“I couldn’t live without playing the saxophone.

If there’s something I like, I try to always go after it 100 percent. That’s just a part of who I am,” Chalk said.

Dedication has had its payoffs.

Chalk has been able to play with some of the most renowned jazz musicians in town, such as Bobby Watson, Paul Smith and Bob Bowman.

He’s also played festivals like the Kansas City Blues and Jazz Festival and the Rhythm and Ribs festival in the 18th and Vine district.

The latter had an attendance of over 40, 000 in one

weekend. While Chalk did not play in front of all 40,000, he did play for one of his biggest audiences yet at last year’s festival in July.

“It was a high,” Chalk said. “It’s nice playing on your own, but in front of people is awesome.

I’ve never been afraid of audiences- I’ve always really liked being open with people.”

The sophomore, also a clarinetist, practices for about an hour and a half every day at his house, besides a good 90 minutes at school.

Sometimes he’ll throw on “A Love Supreme” and play along; other times, he’ll put on a rhythm-section only CD and improvise freely.

On a good day, he also listens to about five hours worth of music from his 80-gigabyte music library. His collection spans from John Coltrane to Miles Davis; he’s ripped most of it from his local library’s jazz collection.

Since moving to the East district in the second semester of last year, Chalk has progressed from the Blue Notes jazz band to the Blue Knights, and continues to play with symphonic band. On his own, Chalk performs or jams at local clubs like Blue Room and Jardine’s.

“The audiences [at the Blue Room and Jardine’s] are really attentive- they’re not there to drink, but to listen to the music,” said Chalk.

His musical roots stretch back to his mother, Laura Chalk, who is a professional jazz singer.

He was involved with music from an early age.

His first musical experience was being a part of a youth praise group when he was five.

“I really got into that thing, man. I was always singin’ and makin’ up my own songs.”

He started playing the saxophone in the fifth grade, originally as just another activity.

However, family members quickly noticed a connection.

“From the time he picked up the saxophone, it was part of him. I never heard him sing again,” Mrs. Chalk said.

After attending a jazz class the following summer, Chalk became more interested in playing music. What sealed the deal was a festival performance by the Blue Knights that Chalk saw in sixth grade.

“I thought ‘How cool would it be to be in that band?’ I saw where I was, and I knew I wasn’t the best. But I also knew I could be there in just a few years if I worked hard enough, so that’s what I did.”

Around this period, he also acquired his first jazz album, a Savoy compilation CD featuring Dizzy Gillespie and Donald Byrd, w h o

MATT CHALK’S CONNECTION TO LOCAL MUSICIANS BOBBY WATSON PAUL SMITH BOB BOWMAN

» mackenziewylie

Born in Lawrence, Kansas in 1953.

Played with Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers before becoming their musical director. Was seriously considered for a spot in Miles Davis’ band had he not been touring with the Messengers. Appears on 26 recordings as a leader, on over 100 as a co-leader or supporting musician. Head director of Jazz Studies at UMKC.

From Bowling Green, Missouri. Came to Kansas City in 1965. Has worked with Pat Metheny, Buddy DeFranco, and Gary Burton, as well as with Matt’s mother.

From Kansas, has worked with Billy Taylor, Carl Fontana, and Joe Williams. Currently a UMKC faculty member. Has been a staff member of National Stage Band Camp, the Clark Terry Great Plains Jazz Camp.

19

FEATURES

SAX APPEAL

Sophomore Matt Chalk practices hard to become a world-class saxophone player

remain two of his favorite artists today.

Chalk still feels dedicated to his music today because of the freedom of expression it allows him.

“You’re not bound by someone else’s rules. Jazz allows you to be who you want to be. If there’s one thing you need to know about me, it’s that I’m very creative.”

If it sounds like Chalk has an independent streak, it’s because he does. Though he’ll soon be studying with the Assistant Director of Jazz Studies at UMKC, he has thus far been self-taught. Sometimes, while practicing, he’ll even ditch accompaniment entirely and solo by himself.

“You can learn a lot by playing alone,” he said.

As far as listening to music goes, he prefers to explore new artists on his own, often reading biographies about the musicians he’s interested in.

“It’s more meaningful to me if I can learn firsthand about someone’s music rather than have someone introduce me to. I can really listen to the music differently and understand it better if I know about the artist himself,” Chalk said.

Chalk’s independence is also manifested in his preference of combo playing (usually consisting of piano, bass, drums, and a lead instrument) over a big band setting like the Blue Knights. Naturally, Chalk feels like the looser combo setting allows him to be more creative.

“With a combo, you can say ‘It Could Happen To You’ in the key of D at 200 and okay, bam! Let’s go! At the end of the day, each [version] is fresh and original.”

But it’s not just the combo playing that inspires Chalk. It’s the combo playing with Watson and Smith and Bowman and the general concept of playing with musicians of that skill level that really excites him.

“I could give up eating and sleeping to play with those guys all day. [Playing with them] really shows you that there’s no limit to how you can grow as a musician.”

Chalk eventually wants to achieve this guru position himself.

“It drives me as a musician to think that one day, I’ll be there, and I can be a mentor to some kid getting into jazz,” he said.

His desire to turn his passion into a career is not an empty claim.

“He has an incredible amount of potential.

He’s one of the most motivated students I’ve had,” said his jazz ensemble and symphonic band teacher Kim Harrison.

But no matter what happens, Chalk’s commitment is not to making a career or fame but to the music. While he may play saxophone until the day he dies, he’s willing to take his dedication even further.

“If they got it there, I’ll be playing jazz in heaven, too.”

issue

12

20

BY

» landonmcdonald

A&E

If you see “Vantage Point” and call it Jason Bourne Lite, you won’t get any argument from me. With its shadowy assassination plots, frenetic car chases, constant running and leaping over obstacles and ADD camera work, the film certainly looks like a watered-down retread of last summer’s box office hit “The Bourne Ultimatum.”

B u t that might be giving it too much credit.

“Vantage Point” s h o w s the attempted m u rd e r of a U.S. presid e n t from eight different

» movieweb.com

Cliché in action and script, ‘Vantage’ could have used

A NEW

‘POINT’ OF VIEW 3

march 2008

starscale

{ } poor {

} fair {

} solid {

} excellent {

points of views. In the right hands, a set-up like this could have yielded a sinister masterpiece: think “The Manchurian Candidate” crossed with “Roshomon.”

Instead we get a C-grade action movie with an A-list cast that’s far too busy blowing stuff up to focus on setting up an interesting narrative, inventive story lines or characters worth caring about.

That said, I suppose I should be grateful for distracting entertainment, even semi-entertainment, in this mindless month of Jumpers and Larry the Cable Guy. The film actually begins somewhat promisingly, as we watch the arrival of President Ashton (William Hurt) at a crowded stadium in the beautiful city of Salamanca, Spain. The president has come to preside over a ground-breaking new treaty that will unite many Middle Eastern nations in the fight against terrorism.

We first watch his procession through the eyes of a big-shot news coordinator (Sigourney Weaver) overseeing the events.

When the president takes the stage and is suddenly felled by an unseen sniper, panic ensues and two Secret Service agents (Dennis Quaid and Matthew Fox from TV’s “Lost”) begin the hunt for the shooter. But panic turns to terror as two explosions rock the stadium, forcing an evacuation. The agents, using video shot by an American tourist (the great Forest Whitaker) and Weaver’s news footage, soon spot the apparent culprit and the chase begins.

From there, the film rewinds seven more times, showing us what we’ve already seen, but each time from the perspective of a different character. They include a falsely accused Spanish cop (Eduardo Noriega), his femme fatale girlfriend (Ayelet Zurer) who’s involved with the plot, a terrorist mastermind (Said Taghmaoui), and a man with a kidnapped brother who’s forced into killing for the bad guys (Edgar Ramirez).

There’s nothing wrong with this movie from a technical standpoint. The action, particularly a heart-stopping race through the cobbled streets of Salamanca between Quaid and a rogue agent, is serviceable enough. Extra points for the impressive fact that very little CGI seems to have been used. But we’ve seen this all before, in movies like the “The Italian Job” remake, any of the Bourne films and, of course, the immortal “The French Connection.” Every aspect of this movie seems stuck on repeat.

The script, from first-timer Barry Levy, hits every action platitude in the book. Of course Dennis Quaid’s character is a hardened pro recovering from a previous assassination attempt in which he took a bullet for the president. Of course Whitaker’s portly tourist saves a little girl from a runaway ambulance in the unlikely nick of time.

Of course the assassination conspiracy is more than it seems. The dialogue these characters are forced to share is unbelievably bad. Every other line seems to be “Get down, follow me!” or “I’ve got you!”

The script traps the film’s impressive lineup of stars and forces them into roles so thin that calling them cardboard would be a compliment. Weaver, Hurt and Whitaker barely register, and Quaid is only somewhat engaging in the same super-secret-agent role we’ve watched Harrison Ford (“Patriot Games”) and Clint Eastwood (“In the Line of Fire”) play for years.

Despite the loud explosions and breakneck editing, the audience in my theater seemed nearly bored to tears. They groaned every time the film rewound and started over from another perspective, which to be honest does seem to get kind of old and gimmicky after the first five times you see it.

They even applauded when a major character died because it signaled the film was nearly over. If there’s a lesson somewhere in “Vantage Point,” perhaps it’s this: you can’t feed your audience the same crap over and over and not expect them to choke on it after a while. { }

} masterpiece Star ratings based on writer’s opinion

[the page about...everything]

WEEK AND 4 DAYS UNTIL SPRING BREAK NUMBER OF INSTRUMENTS JUNIOR MIKE SCHEPPERS CAN PLAY AT ONE TIME: 1.) Guitar 2.) Harmonica 3.) Singing

THINGS YOU WOULD NEVER SAY TO SOMEONE IN AN ELEVATOR:

by CLARK NEAL>> 1.) “Would you like to meet my birthmark? He’s very friendly!”

2.) “Your face is so soft and supple, may I try it on?”

3.) “I’m sorry sir, I just cannot allow you to join us on our ascent, you are far too heavy for the high tension cables.”

4.) “...and just one more surgery until I’m an official woman.”

5.) “Hey, S.A.R.S. isn’t contagious is it? *Cough, hack, sneeze.*”

7

[LEGAL] THINGS TO DO WHEN YOU ARE BORED:

1.) Dolphin Olympics 2.) Beat Boxing 3.) Go in your room and make animal noises (not to be confused with beat boxing.)

4.) Find a speed monitoring trailer and see how fast you can ride your bike by it.

5.) Hug a fish 6.) Bro-out 7.) Bead-dazzle your backpack/all of your blue jeans

9

2 4

MONTHS AND 3 DAYS UNTIL SENIORS’ LAST DAY BEST SONGS TO LISTEN TO WHILE YOU WORK OUT:

1.) “One Hitta Quitta”-THREE 6 MAFIA >> 2.) “Sandstorm”DARUDE 3.) “Still DRE”-DR. DRE 4.) “Presidential”-YOUNG BLOODZ

6

8

Mix olive oil with equal quantity of vinegar and apply an hour before your bath for sunburn relief.

Dry Skin The best cleaning method for dry skin is soaking the face in luke warm water for 10 minutes. It is better to avoid using warm water to clean the face especially in the winter.

Aroma Therapy Bath Try taking an aroma therapy bath with anise oil which is used for inhalations if you have bronchitis or any common cold. http://www.greathomeremedies.com/aromatherapy.html

5.) WWI Museum 6.) College Basketball Experience at Sprint Center

» tylerroste

1.) “I love you.”-CATHERINE WARD >> 2.) “...should I pay for your meal too?”-JACK STOUT 3.) “You remind me of my ex-girlfriend.”-LAURA JERZYK 4.) “WOW...that’s really expensive...can you order something different?”-REAGAN FROMM 5.) “SO...your friend is pretty hot.”-CHARLIE OGDON 6.) “Can I paint your toenails?”

7.) “Please marry me.”-JOHN ZECY 8.) “I can fit my whole fist in my mouth.”-NEAL STARK

» tylerroste

1.) *while working in the photo lab at CVS* “Does your phone number come with those pictures?”-DENA RICE 2.)“You’re hot, what’s up?”- JORDAN HAHN 3.)*while looking at tag in back of girls shirt* “...Just as I thought...made in Heaven.”- STEVEN VAN AUKEN >> 4.) “Did it hurt? When you fell from heaven?”- MELANIE SHOEMAKER 5.) “Are those space pants? Because your butt is out of this world!” -ZACH BARNHILL 6.) “Did your dad work on the Manhattan project? Because you are the bomb!”-KAREN LEFTWRING 7.) “I lost my teddy bear, can I sleep with you?”-NEAL STARK 8.) “You are one tall glass of water...and I’m thirsty.”- DUSTIN BALLARD 9.) “Did you fart? Because you blow me away!”- CC CREIDENBERG

10

Sunburn?

PLACES TO GO IN KC ON SPRING BREAK:

1.) Great Wolf Lodge 2.) Branson 3.) Advanced Laser Tag 4.) Power Play

THINGS YOU SHOULD NEVER SAY ON A FIRST DATE:

WORST PICK UP LINES THAT I’VE EVER HEARD:

tips tricks AND

1 3 5

8

MIXED

.{ mixedpage.}

CHECK OUT THE HARBINGER ONLINE! WWW.SMEHARBINGER.NET

21

HEY LANCERS BRING A COPY OF THE HARBINGER TO YOUR SPRING BREAK DESTINATION AND TAKE A PICTURE WITH IT...YOUR PHOTO MAY END UP IN THE NEXT ISSUE! SEND PICTURES TO: HARBINGERONLINE@ GMAIL.COM here’s an example...

UNIQUE WAYS TO EXERCISE:

1.) POGO STICK-ing: burns up to 125 calories in a 30 minute work out 2.) At the mall, take the ESCALATOR but climb the stairs while you ride. 5 minutes of stair climbing burns 144 calories 3.) STANDING burn 36 more calories per hour than sitting.

4.) CHEW SUGAR-LESS GUM: the action of jaw muscles alone burns about 11 calories per hour 5.) DRINK EIGHT PINTS OF ICE WATER a day. According to “Men’s Health”

magazine, your body will expend 123 calories of heat daily to warm the water to body temperature. That amounts to losing a pound a month.

6.) ROLLER SKATING for a half hour burns 300 calories.

7.) JOG for 30 minutes to burn 300 calories 8.) 55 minutes of AQUA AEROBICS burns 300 calories 9.) 20 minutes of KICK BOXING burns 300 calories 10.) LAUGHING for 1 hour and 10 minutes burns 300 calories

http://www.weightlossresources.co.uk/slimming/slimming_tips/burn_calories.htm

issue

12

22

A&E

‘Bartlett’barely

makes the grade BY

Bueller vs. Bartlett which movie has the better:

Main Character

“Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”

Ferris can fit in no matter where he is. His personality conveys legendary cool, and he is full of charisma.

He doesn’t answer to another set of rules, but rather writes his own.

Bartlett, instead, always faces troubles and bends to outside opinions.

Plot

‘Ferris Bueller’s Day Off’

Ferris is a street-wise kid who knows all the tricks. Today he decides to take the day off school.

When Ferris takes the day off, so must his best friends, Cameron and Sloane. Cameron is reluctantly persuaded to borrow his father’s Ferrari (which is never used). And together they hatch a plan to get Sloane out of class. Suspicious principal Ed Rooney knows all about Ferris, but can never catch him. Ferris’ sister Jeanie is also frustrated that Ferris always gets away with his tricks and she doesn’t. Furthermore, Ferris is an ‘angel’ in his parents eyes. It’s Ferris’ day off, he’s out to enjoy himself, and he does!

“Charlie Bartlett”

Charlie has a quick wit, and he isn’t afraid to use it. He keeps the jokes rolling and doesn’t rely on Ferris’s clever stunts. Bartlett makes a name for himself throuh his own style.

» msn.com

» photos courtesy of movieweb.com

3

march 2008

starscale

{ } poor {

}

In case you’ve never seen...

Instead, it moves flawlessly from scene to scene, giving viewers a fun thrill and never asking personal questions. It strays true to its roots as a classic high school comedy, making the film clean-cut and simple.

Lines

As a movie hailed as “the next Ferris Bueller,” I came ready to see “Charlie Bartlett.” I wore a leopard-print vest, fitting jeans and a black beret. I hummed “Danke Shoen” on the way in. I even convinced two sidekicks, a guy and girl, to tag along.

Matthew Broderick would be proud.

But as for Bartlett, Broderick would frown. Charlie Bartlett (Anton Yelchin), sporting a suit and tie, is a fancypants rich kid who has been kicked out of nearly every private school in the country. His last resort: public school.

The first day he is beaten by the school thug, watches some kids share a joint, is denied at the cheerleaders’ table and has to sit over the bus wheel well next to Len. His mom (Hope Davis) seeks counseling immediately from the family psychiatrist who gives him some drugs and gets high, shown through a drawn-out montage that ends in underwear and Ray Charles.

After this Ritalin-driven adventure, he gets an idea to open his own pyscho-therapy shop in partnership with the school bully (Tyler Hilton), selling the drugs he receives from the psychiatrist.

Now he’s Mr. Popular.

Things begin to head down-hill after he hits it off with the principal’s daughter (Kat Dennings) at a party and then unknowingly leads a rebellion.

Charlie Bartlett is a movie whose themes revolve around high school popularity, but most teenagers won’t be able to see the R-rated flick. It’s not one to take your mother to, as it’s filled with pill-popping, boob-dropping teens and dad will have too much fun. So unless you’re 17 or older, you’re going to have to bring out the fake driver’s license.

The movie was fun to watch in the beginning, when Charlie wore his hair like Ferris, talked like Ferris and spat witty jokes like fire. There were funny scenes like the “My First Period” monologue in drama auditions, rag-time duets with mom and his first kiss in the boys’ bathroom.

But in the last third of the movie, when Ferris-Charlie slowly dissipates, Charlie gets busted and the movie becomes an anti-drug campaign. From here, the main plot is lost. Bartlett goes from rebellious trouble-maker to reformed student in three scenes. He should have been dealing Gummi-bears for the first hour to match the just as cuddly ending. I’m not a pessimist, but I would like a movie where the main character gets screwed over like the script intends him to be.

Overall, Bartlett procured few laughs. It tried too hard to be a serious comedy, with too many sub-plots: a father in the penitentionary, an alcoholic principal, and a run-away mommy. Although, I did have a hearty laugh at the last song, when everybody makes amends, no one does drugs and they all live happily ever after.

So please, before we go to the level of the great Mr. Bueller, let’s make a lighthearted movie that makes high school look fun, instead of a dirty adult flick.

{

“Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”

» timshedor

} fair {

} solid {

} excellent {

} masterpiece Star ratings based on writer’s opinion

A&E

A TWISTED TALE

23

European action film provides entertainment with dark humor BY

» sylviashank

In playwright Martin McDonaugh’s first feature-length film “In Bruges,” Ray (Colin Farrell) meets a dwarf and asks him if he’s ever thought about suicide.

“A disproportionate number of midgets try to kill themselves,” he says, causing the dwarf to fume and the audience to laugh out loud.

“Bruges” succeeds most of the time in providing entertaining dark humor and action, although some jokes try too hard.

It’s premised around two Irish hit-men who are forced to flee London due to a careless error.

There’s the caffeinated Ray, a hit-man who shot a young boy by mistake on his first job. Then there’s Ken (Brendan Gleeson), older and seemingly innocuous, until his darker side reveals itself midway through the film.

Also in the cast is Chloe (Clemence Poesy), Ray’s “femme fatale” love interest.

Farrell, who lost A-list status after a series of movie flops (Alexander, “Dare Devil”), proved himself capable of the complex character, who ranges from sarcastic to sympathetic. He’s loaded with internal energy, and when he doesn’t get his way, he sulks or quickly loses his temper.

Ray’s accidental murder torments him through the movie. The other characters are also haunted by the past, and though each seeks relief through drugs and alcohol, the substances are never strong enough to erase the guilt.

Ray’s murder is followed by regret, which eventually snow-balls into lifeor-death situations as others seek retaliation. He uses drugs as a way to escape remembering, but the lows that follow the highs plunge him into depression.

Ray and Ken are lying low in Bruges until their bullying boss Harry (Ralph Fiennes) calls with further instructions. From their arrival, Ray can’t stand the town, creating one of the film’s many on-going and politically incorrect jokes.

McDonaugh’s take on humor seems to be: if it’s not littered with profanity, it’s not funny.

McDonaugh also includes a steady stream of midget jokes that are fittingly dark. They run into a midget shooting a movie as they explore the city, which triggers the film’s dwarf antics.

While Ray and Ken sight-see to pass the time, they run into fat, sneakerclad American tourists, an overplayed scene that’s lost its juice. McDonaugh falls into the trap of relying on stereotypes for humor in this situation and a few others. Yet the majority of the jokes were witty enough to make the audience laugh out loud.

Underneath the humor and action, “Bruges” ponders the deeper questions.

In a poignant moment when Ray and Ken examine a painting of “The Judgment Day”, Ray asks, in his somber Irish accent, “Do you believe in all that?”

That prospect – of a heaven and a hell – is too bleak for Ray, Ken and Harry with their heavy hit-man consciences. The “screw it, let’s party” mindset is their reaction to guilt and hopelessness. Substances alter their consciences until they feel good again, but Ray still cannot forget the little boy who haunts him.

Though in the beginning, “Bruges” waxes comedic, its ending has a darker mood. Gore, guns and racist dwarves – it takes a strong stomach to handle the climactic gun fights and the dark humor that permeate “Bruges.”

The final shoot-out is generic, except for the medieval location and sharp camera angles. Ray has kept his guilt all along, and by the end, each character is feeling his own sense of regret.

Yet the final lines attempt catharsis by delivering more of the same humor that’s pulled us through the movie. Overall, “Bruges” keeps its promise. Its dark, comedic, and just a bit twisted. { }

starscale

{ } poor {

} fair {

} solid {

} excellent {

»movieweb.com

} masterpiece Star ratings based on writer’s opinion

issue

12

‘Cope’ing with euphoria

A&E

24

Citizen Cope rocks Liberty Hall with a high-energy show »»taylorhaviland

BYBY

Lead singer Clarence Greenwood plays “Son’s Gonna Rise” on Feb. 26, 2008 at Liberty Hall in Lawrence. mackenziewylie

In presidential company BY

3

starscale

Greenwood wasn’t the only amazing sound.

He was accompanied by a powerful drummer » who danced in his chair and pointed at band mates between strikes of the drum. The bassist rocked back and forth to the beat singing along in the background next to the keyboard player whose motions were robotic, playing steadily for about an hour.

And then they left the stage.

It was a moment of confusion and the crowd grew quiet and then hesitant. Was the show over? He didn’t even say good-bye.

Should we start chanting for an encore? And then the fears were alleviated as Greenwood approached the center of the stage once more.

But it wasn’t an encore. He worked two solo tracks by himself with a light brown acoustic guitar, joking with the crowd as he feigned the opening of “Brother Lee” once more and then stopping as the band came back on. He switched into his baby blue electric guitar and jumped into “Pablo Picasso,” ditching the soft reggae underbelly of the track and taking it to a place of Strokes-like guitar and rushed lyricism.

They finally hit their peak in “Back Together,” twisting and stretching it into an expression completely different from the original version. The lyrics that were spoken in the track now were belted with a life-anddeath urgency in his voice. Then all the music stopped.

The band members set their instruments to the side then turned around and walked off stage just as cockily as they had entered.

Greenwood began to praise the crowed as he had done so many times before. The techies entered from different directions and had begun collecting instruments but the crowd still had not left. The members of the audience stood before the stage questioning if the concert was actually over this time?

As suddenly as the show ended the mellow mix tape was re-introduced and the waves of Cope’s performance had calmly came to a close.

{

}

Unique punk-rock style and humorous lyrics make Presidents of the United States’ new album shine

» alexanderson

The Presidents of the United States could be a hard band to take seriously.

Their previous hits have included nearly comical songs such as “Some Postman,” a song about a love letter-thieving postal employee and “Peaches,” a jam about peaches and their journey from the orchard to the grocery store.

After a four year hiatus from music making, The Presidents of the United States’ new album is a welcome addition to the alternative music genre. “These Are the Good Times People” doesn’t deviate much from this almost novelty formula

march 2008

I plead ignorance, only having heard a handful of Citizen Cope tracks before the concert last Tuesday night. I was in awe by his strange style; a mix of alternative, R&B and techno. After listening to the songs I was expecting big things from Citizen Cope.

An hour before the show the floor was already packed as I took my front row seat in the balcony. After sitting for a period of time I waited expectantly for an opening band, but a mellow mix tape filled the void instead. The crowd was a miscellaneous bunch. From what I had heard of Cope so far, I could tell that his style was broad and far-reaching, touching the older generation with his smooth jazzy hooks and the middleschool to college crowd with his edgy take on the alternative rock genre and his powerfully poignant voice.

The band strutted onto stage, with lead singer Clarence Greenwood leading the way with a smile on his lips and his hands toward the ceiling. He dominated the stage with his presence and the rest of the band blended behind them as they drove into “Brother Lee,” a feisty opener with a definite South of the border feel that had middle-aged men and highschoolers moshing together into a content pulsing mass.

It ended with a crash, and dovetailed into “ S i d e w ay s ” which hit like a painkiller.

That became the trend of the night, Cope seemingly getting ahead of himself with his powerful anthems and then following up with a song that brought the pace of the crowd into a blissful peace.

Greenwood’s voice guided the concert like an ocean wave, floating along on the breezy “If There’s Love” and fittingly swelling into full height in “Hurricane Water.”

But the unique voice of

{ } poor {

found in past albums, but it doesn’t need to. The band is known almost exclusively for this style and sound.

The band’s sound is a mix of punk rock and a kind of folk soft rock that is extremely inviting for the first-time listener.

The album begins with the single titled “Mixed up S.O.B.” It’s the presidents usual mix, with clever humorous lyrics over a fast pace, slightly punk beat that happens to sound a lot like an older Weezer song.

Even with such ridiculous lyrics, the songs still sound polished, which can probably be attributed to the band’s great musi-

} fair {

} solid {

cal talent with all members at one time or another creating their own side projects to explore their talent musically.

The next song of note is an upbeat punk rock song titled “French Girl,” which definitely has the same tone as the previous hit “Some Postman.”

The album plays well as a whole not because all the songs flow together but rather because each song uses the Presidents unique sound and lyrics to create comical songs that get stuck in your head and beg you to listen again.

The Presidents aren’t afraid to mix up

} excellent {

their sound either. The album’s one all -acoustic track “Loose Balloon” is a welcome addition to the album. While the band sacrifices their punk guitar style, the lyrics and soft guitar make it a definite song to remember.

Overall, the album can get slightly repetitive and the lyrics don’t always make a lot of sense, but this is what makes the album so great. “These Are the Good Times People” is a genuinely fun album to listen to and, in today’s music business, that is becoming a very rare commodity.

{

} masterpiece Star ratings based on writer’s opinion

}

HIGH SCHOOL’S NEW VIEW

A&E

25

“High School Confidential” is a documentary series on WE that was filmed at Blue Valley Northwest High School, which shows the lives of a group of high school girls from freshman year to graduation

Q&A

» WE television

with Sharon Liese

Executive producer of High School Confidential BY » katiefreyder

What is the basis of your show “High School Confidential”?

Incredible stories of 12 girls in four years. I started documenting their lives right after eighth grade. The show consists of eight episodes each on a different issue the girls faced.

What did you do to get the girls on the show?

When my daughters grade left eighth grade I sent 200 letters to all the incoming freshman girls. Forty girls applied.

Then I had the forty girls interviewed on camera, and chose the girls from there.

How many times a year did you meet with the girls?

Toward the beginning of the show I met with each girl about four times a year but towards the end of the show, their junior and senior years we met more frequently. Not even necessarily for the show, but just because we had built a close relationship and they wanted to keep me part of their lives and informed on what was going on.

What was the process to get your show to air on WE? It was a long process. I began with doing everything on my own, but then I decided to hire a agent in LA. He then set up meetings with production companies. Three Production companies were immediately interested Newsline, Granada and Warner Brothers. Once we were partnered up we went to networks and had 15 pitch meetings. It was amazing. I was wowed because the people were so congratulatory. We got offers from MTV, WE and TLC. We ended up going with WE. How did you choose which girls would be on your show?

I selected each girl on differences. I didn’t want two cheerleaders on the show. I wanted a various assortment of girls and various assortment of their interests, hobbies and family structures. Part of choosing the girls was intuitive.

Why did you decide to create this show in the first place?

I decided to create this show when my daughter was in the end of eighth grade year of school. I was thinking about high school and I was very concerned about my daughter because she was coming from a single parent home. I wanted to know about some of the challenges girls face in high school. I went on the internet and different sources or information telling me about challenges that girls face in high school. I didn’t really find any sort of information anywhere. That is when I decided to create a show showing parents and educating children on high school and experiences that people go through in high school. High school is one of the most important things in everyone’s life. It is where people try to define themselves.

How did you choose the year of girls and what school the girls would come from?

Since the reason for starting this show was my daughter entering high school the twelve girls on the show were all girls that were in my daughters grade. My daughter Justine and I talked about her being apart of the show, but we decided it would be too awkward with me being the creator and me filming the show.

four of the girls are going to New York City next week to be on “Good Morning America” and “The Tyra Show” with host Tyra Banks.

What is the main message that this show portrays to its viewers?

My greatest hope is that this show sparks a dialogue with high school students and their parents. I hope it becomes a vehicle to talk about real issues of high school today. I hope the show is kind of like a third party and helps talk about issues and gives everyone an opportunity to talk.

The secondary message would be that there is a lot going on inside with these high school students.

How are the girls feeling now that the show is airing next week?

The girls are very anxious about the show. I am now going through and calling the girls in one by one and showing them their part of the show. They are seeing it for the first time. I showed one of the girls her show and she was overwhelmed and just filled with emotions. It renewed some dreams that she had.

How were your daughters feeling about you creating this show?

What were the questions that you asked the girls?

My daughter, Justine, was always very supportive. She knew the girls on the show and would update me and tell me things that she knew that were going on in their lives and help me understand what was going on with them.

She helped me with questions and topics that I could discuss with them.

The questions that I asked the girls were specified to what was happening and going on in the girls’ lives. These girls are not “Laguna Beach” girls wanna be’s. They had a foresight wanting to see high school and realized that they could help out girls everywhere by being witnesses to their own stories and having their stories told.

Why did you choose to just have girls on your show?

What are some of the themes within “High School Confidential?”

I would [have] loved to put boys on the show too, but I thought boys wouldn’t talk.

How were the girls parents feelings about their daughters being apart of this show?

The parents were very trusting and to me just as brave or more brave than the girls for letting their daughters being on this television show. The parents were interviewed on camera on the show. Not one parent ever asked about what their daughter told me or what we talked about on the show.

What is your relationship with the girls now?

We still keep in touch. We all still have a lot of communication between the girls and I. Especially since myself and

Some of the themes of the show were universal, like the themes of self image, self identity. Other themes were how sexual should I be. Death. Taking Risks and also relationship issues.

What do you think the girls’ opinions on this show were?

I really believe the girls appreciated this show because the show helped them to slow down and evaluate their lives.

Their lives were moving so fast that they would not have had the opportunity to sit down and discuss it if it weren’t for this show.

issue

12

A&E

26

Not a ‘bit’good

“Drillbit Tayler” proves to be Owen Wilson’s worst »movieweb.com BY

» landonmcdonald

Picture the film “Superbad” for a second. Visualize everything you enjoyed about that movie: the moronically sublime humor, the hilarious dialogue, the rare realistic portrayal of high school life, the geeky but endearing friendship between the Jonah Hill and Michael Cera characters.

Picture McLovin, for God’s sake.

Now take that all away and rate it PG-13. What’s left over is “Drillbit Taylor.”

The new Owen Wilson film about three dorks who hire themselves a bodyguard after the local bullies go too far is not really a comedy. It’s comedy afterbirth.

The film was executive-produced by Judd Apatow, the whiz kid behind “The 40 Year Old Virgin,” “Superbad” and “Knocked Up.” Seth Rogan, the star of “Knocked Up,” cowrote it. Based on that pedigree alone, the movie should be a classic. Instead, it’s the worst comedy of the year so far and a blatant insult to all that has come before from these talented sources.

The main three child actors aren’t totally untalented, but they’re just teen movie stereotypes. Ryan the fat kid (Troy Gentile from “Nacho Libre”), Wade the nerd (Nate Hartley), and Emmit the spaz (David Dorfman) are puny freshman with a big problem: the psychotic bullies Filkins (Alex Frost) and Ronnie (Josh Peck) who won’t leave them alone.

The teen tormentors themselves are also one-note performances. Aren’t we past the wedgies and locker-stuffing by now, guys? Filkins and Ronnie act like overgrown elementary school bullies. Nothing they do or say seems real.

The usually reliable Owen Wilson plays the title character, a homeless Army deserter who masquerades as a retired Black-Ops warrior to extract money from the three wimpy but wealthy kids in order to finance his dream trip to Canada. Wilson has been accused of always playing the same character before but I’ve always defended him, saying that at least he’s consistently funny in his dozens of identical roles as the lovable slacker. But with “Drillbit Taylor,” he’s officially worn out his welcome.

Wilson seems to have reached a point in his career where he thinks that everything he does is instantly funny.

He’s wrong. Watching him getting punched and kicked in the groin again and again by an obese child isn’t funny.

Watching him rock out with an Asian Jimi Hendrix imper-

3

march 2008

starscale

{ } poor {

} fair {

sonator isn’t funny.

Watching him woo a hot English teacher (Beth Littleford) isn’t even remotely funny because we’ve watched him do it before almost line for line in “Wedding Crashers,” “Starsky and Hutch,” “Zoolander” and other entertaining, solid, satisfying comedies that shouldn’t even be mentioned in the same sentence as “Drillbit Taylor.”

The script doesn’t even seem to be trying to earn our laughs. Perhaps Apatow and Rogan have discovered that money from suckers takes much less effort to make than money well-earned. You can’t count me as a sucker, because I saw the movie for free.

Yes, “Drillbit Taylor” doesn’t open in theaters until March 23. I saw it at a premiere held at the Merriam two weeks ago.

It was a lot of fun and I got to talk with the distributors from Paramount who were there supervising the event. They were more intelligent and interesting than anything in the movie. I just wished they’d warned me about what I was going to see.

The best thing about “Drillbit Taylor” is that it’s mercifully short, clocking in at just over an hour and a half. Just in time too, because the film isn’t content to merely torture us with uninspired quasi-comedy. No, the film decides to develop a conscience in its last act. Drillbit must decide whether to defend the kids he’s grown to care for, even if the audience hasn’t, or proceed with his Canadian escape.

The drama and the suspense are absolutely overwhelming here. I actually thought I would have to leave the theater, get a fake refund, and perhaps salvage some of my stolen 90 minutes.

Yes, at the very end, the film becomes an after school special of sickeningly sweet proportions. Just when I thought I couldn’t hate it anymore, it turns around and becomes a half-baked morality play about the importance of friendship and empathy!

I confess myself, both as a critic and a guy who will laugh at almost anything, disgusted and disappointed by this unapologetically pathetic excuse for a movie. This might be the first time our publication has ever published a half-star review. I couldn’t think of a film more deserving of this honor than “Drillbit Taylor.”

{ }

} solid {

} excellent {

3 t

of Wilson’s funniest performances were seen in...

Zoolander (2001)

Wilson portrayed self-absorbed male model Hansel, mortal rival of Derek Zoolander (Ben Stiller) in this hilarious 2001 spoof of the fashion industry.

Wedding Crashers-2005

Wilson, again essentially playing himself, appeared as professional wedding crasher John Beckwith opposite Vince Vaughn in this raunchy romantic comedy from 2005.

The Royal Tenenbaums-2001

Wilson embodied cocaine-addled country singer Eli Cash, friend to the eccentric Tenenbaum clan, in this quirky Wes Anderson indie from 2001

} masterpiece Star ratings based on writer’s opinion

BY

» mikemazzoni

Looking back to my sophomore year I remember the new kid. He had a mess of blonde hair, was decently tall and skinny. In Biology, he sat one row behind me and four rows to the right. He talked only to answer when his name was read during roll, “Levi Mische” my teacher would call, scanning the room. A quick “Here” was always heard from Levi’s desk in a kind of twangy voice that stood out from the rest of the class.

During labs we would work together and the few times he would talk you could count on something funny. He was hilarious.. He cussed like nobody I’d ever met, and he liked to fish. That spring when a group of us went fishing, Levi would come too; while waiting for bites his twangy jokes made us laugh and probably scared all the fish away.

I had heard about how good Levi was at swimming, I just didn’t know what exactly that meant. I couldn’t believe that the kid who wore a cut-off sleeveless t-shirt and baggy jeans when we went fishing could be that good. I couldn’t imagine his country twang fitting in with the voices of the other, state-winning varsity swimmers. I guess I couldn’t have known what exactly a good swimmer would look like, but in my mind Levi didn’t look like one.

During my first practice, I saw just how wrong I had been. As I watched him swim his lean bone-and-muscle frame slipped through the pool like a torpedo: the water seamlessly parting around his head and arms while his two propellers left the water foaming behind him as they churned beneath the surface.

He seemed so unnaturally fast in the water that first day I had to check him for webbed toes, glancing at his feet as he walked past our lane. I was a believer; the Basehor boy was one freak of a swimmer.

As an infant no one believed Levi would ever be the incredible swimmer he is today.

“When he was little, if you’d give him a bath and get his head wet, he would just scream”, Kirk Mische, Levi’s dad said with a laugh. “He didn’t want water on his face”, Levi’s mom, Annika Mische said. “He’d scream and yell in the bathtub; he hated it.”

Seemingly sensitive to water, Kirk doubted Levi would ever swim, even recreationally. But growing older the toddler slowly shed his touchiness, splashing around in the family’s pool at their house in Basehor. It was summer and Levi was eight; time for swim lessons.

“In the classes it was like kids would take one level each year”, Kirk said. “Levi went through five the first year, the first summer, and then he did the next five the next summer. And that was as far as he could go.”

Completing each level at an abnormally fast pace, Levi finished the class with kids that were considerably older than he was, at the time only 10. With the next level of classes being lifesaving and requiring a minimum age of 15, Levi would have to wait five years if he wanted to take part in organized swimming in the Basehor area.

“So we signed him up for the Kansas City Blazers Swim Team. I told him we would try it and just see if he would like it and he told me ‘well I’m not going to like it; I don’t like to swim,’ ” Annika remembers of Levi’s reluctance to continue swimming. “I just told him no, that we would try it. So we took him in and he loved it; he’s been in the pool ever since, almost everyday.”

“I don’t remember that,” Levi shrugs. “I was probably just being stupid.”

Levi’s first competitive test of determination would come later that year while he was still only 10. Levi never forgot the race.

“During one race I was beating the heck out of these kids in the butterfly; I was beating them by like, a whole pool length. The judge isn’t supposed to go from lane to lane but he came and stood right over my lane and on the last lap he raised his hand and disqualified me for flutter kicking, which I know I didn’t do.”

Kirk smiles, the day still clear in his memory. “I remember when we got back to the hotel that night Levi was

27

Senior Levi Mische overcomes childhood fear of water to become state champion

just pissed. So the next day he came back for the finals and smoked everyone in the freestyle. And that was when he was only 10.”

Most fourth graders don’t wake their parents up before dawn unless they are having a nightmare. Every morning during the summer Levi would wake his dad up before the sun began to rise.

It wasn’t out of fear that he woke up so early, it was out of dedication. From his beginning at age 10, Levi was up and ready to swim at 4:30 a.m. almost every summer morning. “I never made him get up in the mornings,” Kirk recalls. If he was going to go to practice it was because he wanted to.”

Until Levi was old enough to drive he would wake his dad up and the two would take the 20 minute highway commute from their house in Basehor to his practices in Kansas City where he would swim between two and three hours every practice.

There was no nightmare, but it was clear that Levi was dreaming big. “I always just wanted to be good at swimming; there really never has been a goal, just to try my hardest to get better.”

Levi’s main motivation came from losing.

“When you’re really good you still have to work really hard to beat yourself, to stay on top. But when you lose, you work twice as hard and you think about that one loss the whole time until you come back and win.”

Levi’s eighth grade year saw a start with his new swim team and coach. Mary Jo Klier and the Kansas City Swim Academy provided a program that not only offered a chance for Levi to hone his swimming skills, but also ended up being an opportunity to swim with high school swimmers that shared his level of competition.

Though they were two or three years older than he was at the time, East swimmers John Cook, Brandon Barnds and Luke Tanner befriended the younger Levi, taking him under their wing. “Even in eighth grade they were really nice to him,” Kirk said of Levi’s new friends and teammates. “They didn’t treat him like, ‘oh you dumb middle school kid, get out of here,’ they treated him like, ‘ok you’re a decent kid and you’re a good swimmer so come on’.”

The older boys became like mentors as Levi excelled and his times became more and more competitive with those of the high school boys two or three years older than him.

“Luke, Barnds and Cook all pushed me to get better,” Levi recalls of the East swimmers. “They knew I hated losing to them so they’d keep telling me to keep up during workout sets, to try my hardest.”

Finishing his eighth grade year, Levi was preparing to enter Basehor High School, one with no swimming programs.

“I tried to get him on a team out there near Basehor, I tried and tried with the athletic directors”, Kirk remembers. “I tried to get him on Bonner’s team and on Piper’s team. They were just like, ‘Can’t he play something else?

Can’t he do some other sport?’ And I told them ‘Well I’m sure he could but I don’t think he chooses to’.”

It was around that time, when Levi started swimming with KCSA and the boys from East, that Levi suggested taking his skill to East’s team.

“He’d say, ‘I don’t understand why I can’t swim at East, I don’t understand why I can’t go to school at East,’ ” Annika says, deepening her voice to imitate Levi’s nagging.

“We knew that if Levi was going to swim in high school we were going to have to move somewhere.”

Levi’s parents were also concerned about getting Levi and his younger sister, Lexi, a high-quality education.

“Academically Basehor Linwood isn’t what East is”, Annika remembers of their former school system.

Both of Levi’s older brothers, Jeremy 28, and Jake 25, graduated from Basehor years before Levi; neither Kirk nor Annika found the school met their high expectations.

“We wanted a better education for Levi and Lexi, and Levi

SPORTS

HYDROPHOBIA to HYDROMANIA

SENIOR Levi Mische was named swimmer of the meet at the state championships. He was a part of a 200 yard medley relay team that broke the state record. »photo by annaleek

wanted to swim so East was just a good fit,” Annika recalls.

“The actual move from Basehor wasn’t that bad” Levi remembers. Coming from Basehor High School with a total student body numbering a little over 400 students, East seemed massive.

“The sophomore class I came into at East was bigger than all the kids that went to Basehor combined. I think my freshman class was considered one of the biggest ever there and I think we had 115 kids in our grade [in Basehor].”

Coming to his first day of school, Levi didn’t know what to expect, he was just nervous. “It was weird coming to such a big school with people I didn’t know.” Levi says, then adds with a smile, “Bunch of Johnson County yuppies.”

Levi’s friends on the swim team worked to help him fit into the new school. “When I started I didn’t know anybody but the swim team, so when I saw them in the halls they would introduce me to their friends. Other that I had to meet new friends, do everything over again.”

In the pool Levi was working harder than he ever had, swimming two-a-days as his teammates pushed him to get faster. Knowing he was on a team that that had another shot at state, Levi wanted to make a difference. “I actually wanted to make a difference at state, not to just swim at state, but to be part of the reason the team won.”

Levi said.

Levi’s achievements can be measured a number of ways. His success is seen in his swimming times, dropping two seconds in the 50 freestyle and four seconds in the 100 freestyle, his two best events.

His two state rings remind him everyday of the dedication and effort he has put into East’s team. “When you win that race, or something like state, you know that your work has paid off. And that goes for the whole team.

That’s when you know you have succeeded.”

Walking into his room, light is shattered across the walls by a pile of medals and ribbons sitting on his dresser, all of them first place. A bulging shoe box of swimming medals lays open on his bed.

“I don’t have any regrets.” Levi says. “Winning three state championships with my friends, the ones that helped me get used to a new school…I wouldn’t have done it differently if I could.” Levi turns a medal over in his palm, letting it drop into the box of his life, a long history of swimming and determination to succeed. issue

12

28

SPORTS

DOUBLE

TROUBLE

Highly ranked brothers sophomore P.J. and freshman Ross Guignon hope to help the » marygalvin tennis teams’ state chances after competing in California in a national tournament » kevinsimpson BY

3

place from April 6-13, and the boys will begin their high school seasons immediately after it. Still, they will miss the first month of the season because KSHSAA rules state that a player cannot compete in outside tournaments during the season.

“That happens to somebody every year,” East head coach Sue Chipman said. “I understand that it’s part of it.

It can’t be helped. They’re looking at their tennis careers after high school, and the national rankings are important.”

Sometimes, these rankings can take a hit at the hands of their own brother.

A year ago, the pair traveled to Orlando, Flor., for the Clay Court Nationals. Glancing at the schedule, they were surprised to draw each other in the first round of the consolation bracket.

“When I saw that I played him, I had to reread it a few more times,” Ross said. “I just couldn’t believe it, because there were 200 kids in the tournament.”

Ross ended up winning the match, and a few more after that which enabled the family to stay a few days longer and cool down after the contest. Still, P.J. couldn’t help but feel disappointed from the weekend.

“I hate when I don’t do well at out-of-town tournaments,” he said. “You spend all that money on the flight and hotel room, and you want yourself to peak at the higher-level tournaments. When that didn’t happen, it was disappointing.”

The fact that Ross and P.J. faced off was a bit of a change from the past few years. They used to take turns forfeiting because the matches often ended with yelling

P.J.

and anger, signs of their fierce competition. The boys also cheated each other in a few ways, such as calling shots out that were clearly in. This continued up until the boys were 13 and 14, when they decided the matches were too important to not play.

Despite not playing against each for many years, the boys have played doubles with each other on numerous occasions, including three years ago at a team event in Oklahoma. The pair struggled greatly on the way to losing all their matches.

“Even when I made mistakes, I was getting really mad at [Ross],” he said. “We probably lost to a lot of teams we should have beaten just because I couldn’t play with him for some reason. We don’t have that problem now because we have played together a lot since then.”

P.J. and Ross will have a chance to play even more with each other this spring, when Ross will be introduced to high school sports. He is anticipating the opportunity to play tennis with a group of players.

“The whole team experience will be fun,” he said.

“Usually, tennis isn’t much of a team sport, but in high school it is.”

With the talented team East has, it will rely on the Guignon brothers for toughness and work ethic. “[P.J.] has just been a steady player for us,” Chipman said. “I’m really pleased to have Ross come along, because I know that the same work ethic is going to come to play.”

» marygalvin

Ross

» marygalvin

It was a heated match-up.

Down a point, sophomore P.J. Guignon took a deep breath. He tossed the ball up and served it to his brother, freshman Ross Guignon, and the rally was on. Back and forth. Backhands, forehands, volleys.

Ross dropped a shot just barely grazing the line. The ball bounced twice.

The game was over.

However, these two nationally-ranked tennis players were not battling it out on the concrete with a major tournament on the line. They were playing table tennis in their basement, but the competitiveness was still apparent.

This passion for the sport has led to Ross being ranked number one in the state and number 55 in the country and P.J. number five in Kansas and number 212 in the nation, for their respective age groups, according to The Tennis Recruiting Network. Ross will join P.J. on the boys’ tennis team this year.

P.J. and Ross began playing when they were eight and seven, respectively, when their mom signed them up for clinics at Homestead Country Club, just a block from their home. They are far removed from those days, and the goals have changed.

Instead of hoping to move up the Junior Tennis League ladder, they have dreams of winning the state championship.

East has a group of players up for the challenge. P.J. and Ross join junior Chris Fotopoulos and senior Jack Peterson, members of the 2006 state championship team. In order to duplicate the run from two seasons ago, they will need great contributions from the Guignon brothers.

Before getting a crack at the top teams from around the state, they first need to take care of the nation’s top 128 players in the Easter Bowl.

The Easter Bowl, an annual tournament held this year in Palm Springs, Calif., delays Ross’ debut onto march and P .J.’s return to the East team. The tournament takes 2008

Fast

29

SPORTS

paced

4X400 meter team hopes to repeat the success of last year’s team

SENIOR Darion Latson completes an open hand-off to senior Andrew Pennington during practice last Wednesday. As opposed to the 4 x 100 meter blind hand-off, the receiving runner looks back to the prior runner and “takes” the baton.

BY

» photo illustration by tylerroste

» duncanmchenry

It was the last event of the day, the stadium lights were on and senior Alex Hodges had just entered the last 100 meters of his 400-meter relay sprint. He could feel his muscles burn as he neared the finish line, his adrenaline propelling him to his best time of the year. His teammates and this year’s seniors Andrew Pennington and Eli Kaldahl cheered as Hodges passed the baton to former senior Robin Kresinzsky. Taking off at a full sprint, Kresinzsky blew by many of the runners ahead of him, bringing the race to a tight finish and coming up just short of first place.

“We were definitely proud after the race,” Pennington said. “Robin pretty much closed on a guy and at the finish it was neck-and-neck. Going in we knew we’d make finals, but we didn’t expect to finish second. This year we’ve all been working a lot, so our times will be just as good.”

Now almost a year later, the 4x400 Lancer track team, coached by Brie Meschke and Andrew’s father David Pennington, hopes to be on the podium again. However, at this year’s state meet in Wichita on May 23 at Cessna Stadium, they hope to be one-step higher. The team will be missing two of last year’s team leaders, Hodges and German exchange student Kresinzsky.

Nevertheless, Pennington, Kaldahl, transfer senior Darion Latson and sophomore Chris Clarke, who was injured during the state meet, still remain.

Pennington and Kaldahl have been working with the KC Flyers running club team in the off-season, and competing in indoor track meets at places like KU, Arkansas, Missouri and Nebraska. Pennington is one of the runners expected to have a time under 50 seconds this year, and also won state last year in the 300-meter hur-

dles. Latson has been running for the KC Extreme club team, and competed against Pennington and Kaldahl in an indoor 500meter race in which they all placed in the top three.

Latson expects that for preparation during the season, the coaches will have them run both 400s and longer distances like 600s in practice to build endurance. They also will do some shorter sprints like 100s and 200s since the 400-meter race requires speed as well. Latson has high hopes for this year’s team.

“I think we have a good chance of winning state because they’re both very strong runners,” Latson said. “We’re all very focused and everybody is into it.”

According to distance running coach Michael Chaffee, this year’s team has the potential to be just as good or better than last year’s, as long as they can find a fourth runner to go along with the core seniors Pennington, Kaldahl and Latson.

“I think there’s a definite possibility for us to win state this year, assuming that we can get a key fourth runner to go along with our other runners who can probably run 48s or 49s,” Chaffee said.

“Chris Clarke can probably do it if he runs up to his potential.”

The 4x400 consists of four legs according to Chaffee. Each team member runs a full 400-meter lap around the track, with the two fastest typically being placed at the first and fourth spots. The fourth runner is known as the “anchor” and is usually very competitive because it is necessary for him to catch up with any runners who are ahead. Hodges says that the 4x400 is one of the more difficult events in track because of how much speed must be maintained over a long

time period.

“The 4x400 is all about pacing yourself, but you also have to sprint the whole way, so it’s really difficult to learn how to do it,” Hodges said. “I know a lot of kids who would be really good at the 400 but just don’t want to do it because it’s painful.”

Meschke doesn’t have a set lineup for this year yet, but agrees with Chaffee that the senior leaders will be the keys to the squad.

“I would say we will have Eli running first in the lineup, or Darion, then the

middle is up for grabs because we have so much potential, but the anchor will definitely be Andrew,” Meschke said.

The Lancers will head to the state championship this year, hoping to be able to repeat last year’s success. Hodges thinks it is an achievable goal, but will take a lot of hard work.

“I think if they practice really hard they could do it, but other schools are always working just as hard so there’s no question that it will be tough.”

Boys 4X400 Meter Relay Class 6A- Finals Schools

Prelims

Finals

Points

SM Northwest SM East Olathe Northwest

3:24.95 3:23.95 3:26.07

3:22.24 3:22.38 3:22.85

10 8 6

Lawrence Free State 3:26.51

3:25.04

4

SM West

3:26.28

3:25.18

3

Witchita Southeast 3:23.75

3:27.19

2

Witchita Heights

3:25.18

3:27.41

1

Junction City

3:26.70

3:28.75

0 issue

12

SPORTS

30

With the Big 12 tournament tipping off on March 13 at the new Sprint Center, three rival teams in the conference are sure to make it a...

Big 12

Champion

BIG 12 BRAWL » renli

BY

» jordanpfeiffer

In the downtown old warehouse district, past the haunted houses and the streets near Kemper Arena, a spray-painted mural lies on the side of an abandoned building, displaying an ad for the Big 12 tournament.

After losing Coach Bob Huggins at the end of last season, the wildcats had After a two-year hiatus, only one thing to look forward to with the coming season, and that was a power due to the construction of forward from Washington D.C. Michael Beasley, recruited by Bob Huggins, was the Sprint Center, the Big considered the number seven recruit according to Rivals.com. Averaging just over 12 Championship has 26 points per-game, the 6- foot- 9 Beasley has been called a larger Lebron James, finally come back to and is the focal point for this Wildcat team that has struggled in past seasons.

Kansas City. The Although having a player like Beasley may be the reason city has also this team is off to such a great start, the Wildcats have been host to shown inconsistency throughout the season. They the former beat Kansas, Oklahoma State, and Texas A&M, but Big 8 lost to teams such as Missouri, George Mason, and Nebraska. This is a very young team that can be great Overall Record: 15-13 at times, but the Wildcats average 15.6 turnovers per In Conference: 5-8 game, and will get frustrated easily when their star player isn’t scoring early.

KANSAS STATE

Overall Record: 18-9 In Conference: 8-5

WILDCATS

MISSOURI

TIGERS

Official tournament bracket

Games begin on March 13 with the championship on March 16. Different ESPN channels are covering each game.

No. 8 Seed 11:30 a.m.

ESPN2

No. 9 Seed No. 5 Seed 2 p.m.

ESPN U

No. 12 Seed No. 7 Seed 6 p.m.

ESPN Plus

3 march 2008

11:30 a.m.

ESPN U

No. 1 Seed

2 p.m.

ESPN U

No. 10 Seed

6 p.m..

ESPN Plus

No. 6 Seed

No. 2 Seed

8:30 p.m.

ESPN2

No. 11 Seed

8:20 p.m.

ESPN Plus

No. 3 Seed

2 p.m.

ESPN

3:20 p.m.

ESPN2

The Jayhawks are in contention Overall Record: 24-3 for their sixth Big 12 title in the past In Conference: 9-3 11 years. After winning the past two years, the Jayhawks are a favored to win the tournament this year. With the leadership of five seniors (Russel Big 12 Champion Robinson, Darnell Jackson, Sasha Kaun, Rodrick Stewart, and Jeremy Case) and four out of last year’s five starters returning, the team is full of veterans that have gone as far as the Elite Eight. Picked to be a number one seed come March, the Jayhawks have one of the deepest teams in terms of players coming off the bench. Ranked in the top five for their backcourt, the Jayhawk guards are averaging 9.1 steals per game. This team has tendencies to make runs at different periods of games, and depending on whether or not they get shooters such as junior guard Brandon Rush, or junior guard Mario Chalmers going early could determine the outcome of the game. A team that doesn’t necessarily live and die by the three pointer, senior forward Darnell Jackson, is averaging a career high 12.5 points, and sophomore forward Darrell Arthur, who’s averaging a team high 13.5 points, have provided a good inside scoring presence for the Jayhawks. This is a KU team that likes to run the floor, but also has tendencies to break down easily in a half court offense, resulting in a turnover.

KANSAS

1 p.m.

ESPN2

No. 4 Seed

The University of Missouri has had its highs and its lows this year.

Starting off the season with good wins over teams such as Maryland and Texas, it looked as though Coach Mike Anderson might have finally gotten a struggling Missouri team back on its feet. But the Tigers fell hard again, losing four key players and their leader, senior guard Stefhon Hannah, to school suspensions.

Even with the loss of their starters, the Tigers went on to get key wins against Kansas State, and a close loss to Texas A&M. Although this team may not be a Big 12 title contender this season, they still have a chance to redeem themselves as well as their school.

Championship, which lasted from 1983 to 1996 in Kemper Arena. But as the arena consistently soldout, it was evident that a new venue was needed.

The Sprint Center fulfilled that call and has become the new focal point of downtown K.C. It has a maximum capacity of 18,000 people, the NABC College Basketball Hall of Fame is adjacent to it and the nearby Power and Light district is turning into a new hot spot.

According to Rob Carolla, the media coordinator for the Big 12 Men’s Basketball Championship, the tournament will come to K.C. this year, and then next year it will move back to Oklahoma City’s Cox Center.

“The President and the athletic directors wanted to give an opportunity to expose other fans in our conference,” Carolla said. “We obviously have a large foot print in Texas and Oklahoma and we need to expose them as well.”

Although Carolla agrees that they need to have the championship in other areas near the Big 12 schools, he believes that this year that the excitement will be at an all time high because of the newly built Sprint Center and success of all the Big 12 teams.

“With a beautiful new venue,” Carrola said. “And the excitement of all the local area teams, with the tradition of KU, and the excitement surrounding the Wildcats, the tournament has definitely turned up a notch.”

JAYHAWKS

five

SPORTS

the

31

minute guide to

SPRING SPORTS

5

questions that will be answered • Will the boys’ track team get the points it needs from the field events to win state?- The “track” team, with senior hurdlers

Andrew Pennington and Darion Latson, senior sprinter Terrance Thomas and three returning runners from the 4 x 800 relay that placed eighth at state, can hang with anybody. The problem might be in the “field” events. Seniors Quinn Conrad (left) and Alex Eisenach have potential to jump 6’4” or 6’6” in the high jump. Senior Matt Johnson took fifth in the discus at state last year. But no one who competed at state returns in the long jump, triple jump, shot put or javelin.

• How many school records will the girls’ swimming team break?-

They lost one swimmer who received points at last year’s state meet, Ingvill Tolas, who was a member of the record-breaking 200 yard medley relay. The 200 yard freestyle relay broke the school record last year and returns all of their swimmers. What can they do this year?

the panel

years ago, and then-sophomore Alex Stehl took the final pitch of the season looking for strike three. You can bet he will want another shot. Stehl, and senior P Adam Watson and SS Jay Johnson have a lot of varsity experience. A lot will depend on young pitching, namely junior Jeff Soptic.

• Could there be a country club sweep in the Sunflower League?OK, it sounds crazy now. But the tennis team returns senior Jack Peterson, who was part of the doubles team that took fourth in state in 2006 and junior Chris Fotopoulos, who has finished in the top four in singles both years he has played. Seniors Scott Willman (right) and Tommy Kennedy are the leaders of the boys’ golf team that are favorites for the state title. Girls’ swimming returns nearly everybody and are the league champions from last year. Three Sunflower League championships would make East 5/5 in country club sports this year.

• How low can senior golfer Scott Willman go?- So he shot 84

at state last year. The Nebraska-bound Willman is well past that. He shot 71 as a sophomore at state in Dodge City and took third. Expecting an even par score at state might not be the craziest thing.

NBA Finals

NCAA Basketball Coach of the Year

mike CRAY

Boston vs. LA Lakers

Keno Davis, Drake

clark GOBLE

Boston vs. LA Lakers

sam LOGAN

Keno Davis, Drake

Detroit vs. New Keno Davis, Drake Orleans

Lancer state titles in the spring?

Track

Hideo NomoSurprise or Stupid Signing?

Stupid Signing

Tiger Woods Majors?

Most Memorable March Madness Moment

Two

George Mason in the Final Four

Track, Golf

Surprise

Four

Watching #14 NW St. beating Iowa on TV in Costa Rica with Iowans

Tennis

Stupid Signing

Four

Chrisitan Laetnner fade-away

Two

Valpo’s Bryce Drew’s buzzer beater

Three

Valpo’s Bryce Drew’s buzzer beater

sam KOVZAN

Detroit vs.

Phoenix

Keno Davis, Drake

Tennis

Stupid Signing

nick RATLIFF

Boston vs.

Phoenix

Keno Davis, Drake

Track, Golf, Tennis

Stupid Signing

» karenboomer

Senior Alex Stehl, 3B, baseball- Big hitter looks for big year at the plate, the hot corner.

Senior Paige Colburn, OF, softball- All-League player roams the outfield on a mission.

Senior Terrance Thomas, track“Fastest Man in Kansas” in 2006 returns after a year hiatus.

Senior Laura Immenschuh, soccer (left)- D-1 bound defender heads strong back line.

Sophomore Mallory Kirby, track- Finished second in state 800 meters behind graduated Laura Roxberg. » taylerphillips

5

players to watch

» karenboomer

• Can the baseball team make it to Wichita for state?- They went two

issue

12

PHOTOESSAY

32

OVERCOMING THE ODDS The wrestling team placed fourth at state on Feb. 23, the best East has ever placed

ABOVE: Senior Matt Baker holds down his Olathe East opponent to win this match and qualify for a medal. Baker went on to place third in the tournament.

MEDAL WINNERS DAVID SCHRUNK 2ND PLACE 125 LBS JOEY LUTZ 3RD PLACE 140 LBS MATTHEW BAKER 3RD PLACE 189 LBS ANDREW COLLINGWOO 4TH PLACE 215 LBS DENNIS JILKA 5TH PLACE 285 LBS ABOVE: Coach Ufford consoles senior David Schrunk after he placed second in the state championship finals.

3

ABOVE: During the first consolation match, senior Joey Lutz delivers his opponent to the mat and wins by two points. “I just kept getting better throughout the day,” Lutz said. “And I peaked in my final match, where I placed third overall.”

march All photos by 2008

karenboomer

ABOVE: Supporting their teammates in the final day at the state tournament, sophomore Tanner Johnson and senior Ryan Wendorff watch the remaining wrestlers. Six wrestlers made it to the second day.