harbinger SHAWNEE MISSION EAST
What’s Inside
ISSUE 13, APRIL 5, 2004
• •
Royals preview Dealing with griefce A look at soccer
NOT TOO CHICKEN: Junior Kevin Lander films his movie for the Five-Minute Film Festival, which will be held April 8. One of Lander’s films is
minutes
composed of clips he filmed over the summer and features a chicken, played by Casey Byrom. photo by Tierney Weed
of
fame
As the fourth film festival approaches, one director prepares for his film’s time in the spotlight by Sarah McElhaney
“Sparklers are legal,” Junior Kevin Lander says with a mischievous grin as $60 worth of them sends a treetop-high streak of light into the atmosphere. This is just one example of the jackass-style antics in his film “Troublemakers,” which he submitted to the Five-Minute Film Festival. His other film is a black and white foreign-style tribute to breakfast. Dramatic toast-popping scenes are heightened by fortes in the classical music. Both films illustrate Lander’s outrageous and occasionally quirky sense of humor. Lander’s inspiration comes from one of his favorite directors, Spike Jonze, responsible for Being John Malkovich. Jonze’s music videos and others on the music video station FUSE have influenced Lander’s work, which he describes as “themed” rather than structured and planned out. Lander enjoys the challenge of squeezing a whole story into less than 5 minutes, as music videos do. Most of his films begin with just a basic idea, which he and his friends improvise and build on during the filming. After that comes Lander’s favorite part: editing. A meticulous editor, Lander could spend hours perfecting and trying new things on Vegas 4.0 and Adobe Premiere, video edit programs, until they look just right. Between homework and working at ACE Hardware, nights staying up until 3 A.M. are not uncommon. “It’s like writing... if you’re writing a good story, you don’t stop.” he said.
continued on page 2
news 2
THE HARBINGER
Film club finale Cynthia Goldman A group of desperate students huddled by the library doors spewing out ideas to raise money for their club: hold a fundraiser, ask for donations, pay for admissions, hold a hostage, rob a bank? The 4-week-old Film Club was forced to halt its movie watching meetings every other Thursday in the library, where independent films were shown. The club was notified several weeks ago that to continue watching films, it must acquire a $450 annual film license that would be renewed every year. Film Club sponsor and English teacher Kelly Fast received an e-mail from the school district warning Shawnee Mission schools that they had discovered a film club at a high school (not Shawnee Mission East) which needed to purchase a Movie Public Performance Site License in order to view movies legally at school. He then notified the Film Club creator junior Simon Kass. “My first qualm is why do we have to do this? [There’s no reason],” Kass said. “Secondly, if we get it, [the license] will be for the entire school. If that’s the case, I think the whole school should pay a part of it, not just Film Club. [Plus the license] would have to be renewed each year.” Kass had chosen the first films but was hoping to act more democratically with a vote for the future films. The mov-
ies were intended to be “usually foreign, kinda indie, things [not seen] at the big AMC” like “Donnie Darko” and “Pi.” The club was planning to see “Bottle Rocket” before postponing the meeting. “The films were abstract. Things I’d normally not see and someone had the balls to show them at school. They weren’t as mainstream,” Film Club member Lauren Gray said, “I can understand what happened but I just think it’s a bunch of b------.” Fast expressed the same confused disappointment, while understanding that “it is the law” that the whole district would have to adhere to. “Copyright violations happen at school all the time,” Fast said. “I’m pretty sure Student Council had a movie marathon without a license. Teachers show their own copies of movies in class. I like [when Funky Friday plays songs on the intercom] but when they play the whole song, they commit a copyright violation,” Fast said. Not only was Shawnee Mission East affected but other district schools as well. Shawnee Mission North senior Shawn Bowers from Shawnee Mission North also had to shut down his film club, officially called The Audio/Visual Club. After being told about the license purchase, Bowers decided to do some research of his own. “I looked briefly into copyright law and it appeared that we should fall under
Film Club shuts down after four weeks due to copyright laws
the ‘fair use’ category because not only are we sponsored by an educational institution, but we use the films for discussion and don’t charge admission,” Bowers said, “But it seems that the district has or had been doing some evaluations and they couldn’t risk the slight potential of lawsuits from ‘breaking copyrights’” While the Shawnee Mission North club has decided to switch their attention to videogame tournaments instead of film marathons, the East Film Club members have been brainstorming for solutions like asking for financial help from the senior Student Council. One Film Club member said she knew the owner of Dickinson Theaters and planned to ask if anyone would be interested in aiding the cause. Also, Kass would like the upcoming Five Minute Film Festival to hold a donations box for the club. The idea of making a district-wide film club was also suggested so that the different schools could work together. “I’m not worried about fundraising. I mean, East is freakin’ wealthy,” Kass said. “The big question that people keep asking me is if it’s worth it. To me, it is. I’ll keep it up this year and next, but when I graduate... I can’t say if anyone will be willing to get half grand.”
What it was: Film Club that would meet every other Thursday to watch independent films, “Donnie Darko” and “Pi” What happened: The club must purchase a $450 film license so that movies can be shown without violating copyright laws Want to help? Contact Simon Kass
Hobby turns into awardwinning pasttime
Roll it! - There were 28 entries this year, 14 of which were from SME. - Films are judged by a 9-person panel of kids from each Shawnee Mission school.
- Films are watched in thier entirety, which takes about 3 hours before they are rated and discussed - Three film students from KU also helped judge
continued from page 1 This year, Lander gets to try something new with sound. Because the film festival may be shown with Dolby digital surround-sound, he has been experimenting with what he can do in the programs, using online tutorials for additional help. Surround-sound would allow him to emphasize specific scenes by making the speakers play different things. Also, this year films must be submitted in either High 8 or DVD form, which should eliminate some competition, says Lander. However, competing isn’t Lander’s primary concern; he says he just wants his films to get played. With a job, he doesn’t need to save up prize money anymore. Work poses other problems though, such as little free time for filming. Problems like this, in addition to potential actors vacationing for spring break, are why he couldn’t make as many entries this year as he would have liked. The case was different his freshman year. Lander won third place in East’s festival and had the only movie made by a freshman to get played. Acting on his aunt’s suggestion, he entered an
extended version of the film in the Kan Festival in Lawrence and won first place in his division and his age group. The T-shirts, newspaper clippings, and other mementos still rest under his bed. With all of his winnings he bought his own camera- a greatly valued possession. The first camera he ever touched belonged to the father of his childhood friend Luke Clarkson. During the summer between fifth and sixth grade they began making mini mock-horror movies together with Clarkson’s younger brother and cousins as actors. What was born as an act of boredom soon matured into a hobby for both boys. Though school separates them, (Clarkson goes to Rockhurst) the two still get together to make movies in their spare time. Looking forward, Lander says he may take a film class or two at KU, but doesn’t consider filmmaking as a future career. “I think that if I were forced to do it, I might not like to do it anymore.” he says. For right now, Lander’s glad to leave it as a much-enjoyed hobby.
FB
3 news
THE HARBINGER
ighting y Walking
Stacey Golub
Research
e t a Educ s m a r g o r P e c i v r e S Advoca cy
An overnight fundraising walk to educate teenagers on the SM East Track
May 1989, Dr. Gordy Klatt ran 83-miles, in 24hour around a track in Tacoma, Washington. His efforts gained $27,000 for the American Cancer Society. The next year 220 supporters on 19 teams joined the surgeon, and the relay for life took its first baby step to what it is today. That was 15 years ago, and today the relay has broadened in leaps and bounds to over 3,800 communities in the U.S, and 8 foreign countries. Melissa A. MahoneyUmscheid, income development specialist for the American Cancer Society is holding this years relay at Shawnee Mission East. The event will be held April 16th, 7 P.M to April 17th, 7 P.M. A 12-hour overnight event of food, fun, and remembrance. “The event is overnight, because cancer never sleeps” said Mahoney-Umscheid. There will be 10 teams from East, and 7 from Barstow, 8-15 on each team. A member from each team will be walking throughout the night “Even at 4 in the morning 1 person from each team will be walking, not running around the track” Said MahoneyUmscheid. So far about 200 people are participating in the Relay For Life, and the American Cancer Society always welcomes more. The society is expecting about $32,000 from the relay, so it is an important event. “Is basically to honor those who survived <cancer>, and remember those who didn’t” Said MahoneyUmscheid. The relay will be held at the track and open to all, especially teenagers. “Cancer does affect everyone, So we try to get everyone involved, and bring cancer
the continuous walking of one person from each group around the track... a cancer survivor can’t stop, they keep going, we keep going too” said MahoneyUmscheid. Each team has a goal of $10 from friends and family donations. The donations go to the many programs the American Cancer Society have. The donations go to four different causes: Research, Educate, Advocacy, and Service programs. One program is ‘Look Good, Feel Better”, free of charge make-up and wigs for cancer patients. You can find more information about the many programs at www.cancer.org. The money can also become grants for research at KU. Such as ‘Boost’, a nutritional supplement that they provide for cancer patients, free of charge. The Relay For Life is an important as well as fun event, it also is to let the participants see the pain of cancer through new eyes, and remember those who didn’t give up.
awareness to educate youth” Said Mahoney-Umscheid. The American Cancer Society encourages people to come, have a great time with the moonwalk and karaoke machine, and remember those who have struggled with cancer. “As you know, it’s a horrible disease, and if you have it you can’t give up, so that’s why we have
A new and unique way to celebrate a special occasion!
Surprise your friends and family for birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, ect.
Contact The American Cancer Society At: 800-ACS-2345 Or www.cancer.org
news 4
THE HARBINGER
To improve or not to improve? District Votes to decide how to spend bonds renovations Courtney Condron Voting will take place tomorrow on a $184 million bond proposal for 150 capital improvement projects throughout the Shawnee Mission School District. If the bond passes, SM East would receive $10.9 million in additions, renovations, and upgrades. Projects at East would include an auxiliary gym addition, parking lot redevelopment, band and choral additions, art room renovation, locker room and weight room renovations, science lab and classroom renovations and more. This bond has been proposed in response to the increase in programs over the years. According to Pricipal Angelo Cocolis, when East was built in 1958 there weren’t AP or Honors classes, special education or the computer technology of today. It was also built before Title IX, so there were no girls’ sports, which is why there is no girls’ team locker room. “Several of our programs have inadequate space,” Cocolis said. “These renovations will give us more space to do the variety of programs essential to education.” If the bill passes the planning stage would begin immediately with engineers and architects. However the actual construction at the high school level probably wouldn’t start for two to three years. “This would definitely be a multiple year project,” SMSD deputy superintendent of operations Bob DiPierro said. “There are
five high schools in the district that will have renovations, so it just depends on each school for how soon construction will start.” According to DiPierro, the difference between high schools in the SMSD and districts such as Olathe and Blue Valley is that these districts have been building new schools with many features SMSD does not have. “I don’t feel that we have fallen behind other districts,” Cocolis said. “Our facilities are not as up-to-date, however regarding our performance in athletics, academics, and arts we haven’t fallen behind.” The renovations would focus on upgrading East’s science labs, physical education, and art programs. “Some of our science rooms weren’t designed to be used for science, so we are having to switch rooms to accommodate lab activities,” science teacher Steve Appier said. “The renovations would make labs easier and we could do more of them in a safer manner than the current conditions allow.” According to Cocolis, several programs have cramped space, such as the band and choir rooms, the drama program, and girls’ sports. “If we do these additions, not only will they provide the students with more opportunities, but some of the rooms we have can be used for other things such as larger classrooms, storage, and coaches’ offices.” Cocolis said. Right now double headers with the
news BRIEFS
Fourth Annual
Earth Fair When: Sat. April 10 from 9 a.m.- 2 p.m. Where: SM East gym What: There will be cars of the future on display, live animals, presentations on butterfly gardening and low-maintenance landscaping, used book sale, door prizes, and much more.
boys and girls basketball teams can only be played at East on days when there is no school, because the auxiliary gym is not full size. According to athletic director Lane Green, additions within the bond would include building, just south of the main gym, a full size auxiliary gym similar to those of Olathe East and BV North. If the bond passes, taxes would be raised to pay for the renovations. A person with a $200,000 home would have a raise in taxes of $46 per year. “I don’t think the raise in taxes will really be a problem,” Cocolis said. “A coke costs about a dollar and 25 cents. For someone with a $200,000 house, that’s like buying two more cokes a month.” The renovations will also increase the property value of the schools and areas around them. According to Cocolis there’s a direct correlation between good schools and property value, “These renovations are being done for the right reasons, however, and that is to continue the good things in the district regarding education,” Cocolis said. In addition to renovations at the high schools this money will go to improvements made in the district athletic facilities, renovations at middle schools, construction of six new elementary schools, and added technology to support the educational program.
Spring play This year’s Spring Play, “An Evening of One Acts,” includes four one act plays by David Ives. It will be shown April 8-10 in the auditorium.
Cast List
Mere Mortals Brad Miller - Frank Jonathan Lerner - Charlie Ed Fogel - Joe Degas C’Est Moi Marcus Austenfield - Degas Ellen Hawn - Doris Soap Opera Colin Barnes - Repairman Lizzie Griffith - Mabel The washing machine - Ellen Vessels The Lives of the Saints Bridey Maidoff - Edna Mary Walsh - Flo
Used Book Sale The library is having a Used Book Sale on Sat. April 10. They are now collecting any books, CDs, or videotapes. Students can bring them to the library. “We already have about four times as many books as last year, and have an incredible variety of books from best sellers to classics,” librarian Kathi Knop said. Books will cost from 50 cents to one dollar. The library raised $1600 last year from this sale, and hopes to raise $2500 this year. All of the money raised will be used for new technology. For questions call: Kathi Knop 993-6648 Chris Larson 993-6617
Journalism writing and photography honors and awards American Society of Newspaper The Harbinger won five national awards from the Editors/ Quil and Scroll 2004 Inter- Columbia Scholastic Press Association. Other winnational Writing and Photo contest ners were: national winners: Stephen McKim - 2nd in Personality Profile writing Alex Abnos - Review Writing 3rd in News Writing Ross Boomer - Feature Writing Lindsey Melvin - Top 6 for General Humor Column Corban Goble - Review Writing Tierney Weed - Top 6 for Photo Story Stephen McKim - News Story The staff won a Certificate of Merit for overall newsLibby Nelson - Feature Writing paper design. Celene Reynolds - Sports Photo
The National Scholastic Press Association inducted two Harbinger staff members, Libby Nelson and Stephen McKim, into its Journalism Honor Roll of Student Journalists and Scholars for academic and journalistic excellence.
Renovation Highlights
Costs: SM East - $10,945,000 Districtwide Facilities - $44,628,000 Broadmoor - $1,600,000 Football Stadiums - $6,785,000 District Total - $184,000,000
Districtwide Improvements: Soccer Complex Improvements Construct a Baseball/Softball Center Technology Upgrades: Classroom TV Installations Wide Area Network Upgrades Mobile Wireless Labs SVGA Projectors Plumbing and Electrical Updates
When: VOTING will take place April 6 from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.
Main reasons: “We want to improve our science labs, fine arts, and technology to provide extra opportunities for students in these areas as well as in extracurricular activities and athletics.” -Superintendent of Operations Bob DiPierro
Broadmoor Improvements: Special Education Classrooms, Culinary Arts and Food Service Operations Improvements
Art contests The following SM East students’ work has been chosen to compete in the National Scholastic Art Competition in New York. Sarah Burford-Product Design Megan Duggan-Product Design Trevor Howell-Product Design Ian Hutchison-Jewelry Design Kathleen Imig-Product Design Ada Johnson-Apparel Design Jessie Ostermann-Graphic Design Jessica Thompson-Lee-Mixed Media Cristin Weekley-Product Design These students received top awards at the Western Region Scholastic Showcase. Arielle Zarr-Photography-Bracker’s Award Katy Thompson-Photography-Crick Camera Award
Jazz Night at the Folly When: Sunday, April 16 at 6:30 p.m. Where: The Folly Theater What: The Blue Knights and Blue Notes from SME are performing as well as the Jazz bands from Mission Valley and Indian Hills. How: Tickets are $5 and can be purchased from any jazz band member or call Vicki Olson at 648-5808 for tickets or more information.
THE HARBINGER
Spring Break
5 opinion
of a lifetime One staff member’s alternative to laying out on the beach Amanda Allison
A
In my own words
s I sat looking out the window, my forehead pressed hard against the pane, tears came to my eyes. Maybe, if I looked hard enough, I would get once last glimpse of Lalli in her pink dress or Jose’s shy smile. Our plane rose higher and higher into the air until a layer of white clouds blocked my view. I sat back in my seat, my heart breaking at the thought of what was now gone. I did not want to leave this place. On March 13 I embarked on one of the most meaningful journeys of my life: a mission trip to the Dominican Republic. Although my group included 35 others, it’s amazing how often I found myself without them. I was not alone though; I was with the people of the Dominican. Those people were Haitian refugees, sugar cane workers, and were the poorest of the poor. Their life consisted of planting and harvesting the sugar cane that grew so abundantly in the vast fields. The men would harvest it, chopping each pole down with a machete, and load it onto wagons pulled by oxen. Looking at the oxen, you would never think that they could pull such a load; their ribs stuck out from their thin bodies in a way that you could count each one. John Deere is unheard of. Instead, wagons looking as if they were made of toothpicks carry the long poles of sugar cane. You don’t see that in America. The cane farmers and their families lived in bateys, or little villages, throughout the fields. The only way to get to them was by traveling on gravel-paved roads where, occasionally, your bus might have to pull to the side in order for an ox train to pass. I miss the friendly waves and familiar greetings of the men we saw as they rode by with their wagonloads. Although the farmers, both young and old, must have been exhausted, their face always crinkled into a happy grin as we passed. When we would arrive in our scheduled batey, the people would line up around our yellow school bus as we unloaded. Looking at their faces, in their eyes, you could see their hunger. Hunger for food, hunger for something to call their own, and hunger for love. The majority of the village was children. Often, you couldn’t tell who were siblings or who were parent and child. I gave my Meredith College hat to a girl, probably a few years younger than me, who I talked with on the first day. She was pregnant with her first child. My heart broke when I saw these girls; they were trying to raise children while being one at the same time. The way the children treated one another warmed my soul. When a little boy would be too scared to answer some of my questions, an older one would help him, beaming proudly at me showing the younger one that I was okay. I wasn’t too scary. Once the kids realized that I was there simply to play with them, they wouldn’t leave my side. I have never felt so accepted and yet so sad at the same time. I knew that when I left, the children would go back to their normal lives. They most likely would be poor,
be sick, and truth be told, die at a young age due to illness or malnutrition. It hurts so much to say that, but their fate is drawn out for them. That’s where our mission group tries to come in. We tried to give them all medical attention and actually ended up taking four to the hospital for treatment. We taught them how to treat wounds and when to take their medicine. For those in desperate need of clothing or shoes, gift bags were made up. By getting to know my friends Ferdinand and Jose at the construction batey, I learned that they needed shoes. I gave them mine. None of those gifts though, could ever match the ones
we received from them. They gave us the gift of thankfulness. Looking around at their homes, if that’s what you would call them, made me feel like the richest person on earth. They looked as if they would collapse if the slightest wind blew over them. The building materials varied between tin, rotten wood, and thatch. Some, if they were lucky, had stone walls. The people gave us their acceptance. Here in America, if you see a strange person, you would most likely avoid them. You wouldn’t look in their eyes or smile; saying hello is out of the question. In the Dominican, all are friends. The bearded ice cream man greets you with a high five; the wrinkled old women give you grandmotherly smiles as you pass; and the children smile coyly at you. The people simply love everyone. Finally, the Dominicans gave us the gift of hope. Although they had few material possessions and hardly anything to call their own, they were rich in joy. I never saw them look down upon their situation, upon their life. Songs of celebration and laughter made up the soundtrack for the week. Laughter and celebrations made up the soundtrack of the week. These people showed us what it meant to be alive. So as I sat on the plane, flying farther and farther away from the place that I had come to love, my thoughts turned to home. How had this trip changed me? Would I be a different person? Simply put, yes. The first day back at school was difficult for me. Besides missing the group that I had become so close with, I missed the atmosphere of the Dominican. There, people have no set schedules, while in America, we are run by the hands on the clock. I learned that I shouldn’t stress about the small things in life; that I should live for the moment. As long as I know that I am helping others and making a difference, I am content to be me, nothing more, nothing less. I have no reason to be sad or insecure anymore because just picturing this little girl’s face, her wide, innocent eyes staring back at me, I know that I changed one person’s life. Maybe she won’t remember the clothes I gave her or the games we played, but she’ll remember that for a few hours, someone was devoted to her. Someone loved her and cared for her. That feeling of accomplishment and fulfillment will be with me always.
Photos courtesy of Sue Heley and Amanda Allison
opinion
6
THE HARBINGER
Let everyone say ‘I do’ Gay marriage should not be banned
It came as a shock to me that the president said he was going to “defend the sanctity of marriage” when it has already been destroyed, undermined and soiled. According to Mr. Bush, homosexual couples have attacked something sacred by asking for the right to be wed. The staunch ‘defense’ hasn’t just come from Fred Phelps (Founder of www.godhatesfags.com ) and his army of gay-bashers, but hypocritical criti sism from citizens and politicians and religious clerics. They claim that gays being wed will destroy the sanctity of marriage, that it goes against their religious morals or that it would damage the legality of marriage. Whether you’re for or against gay marriage you can’t deny the fact that choosing who may and may not be married based on sexual preference, is blatant discrimination. Besides Prohibition and the Patriot Act, the anti-gay-marriage legislation would be the only law passed to take away citizens rights. Denying two people the right to be wed, is denying them a right.
Carson Black
In my own words
And apparently it’s ok to deny people their rights, as long as they’re a minority, as we learned from slavery and woman’s suffrage. It’s easy to look back and say that slavery and not allowing woman to vote was wrong, but at the time they were debatable. Less than 148 years ago, owning slaves was thought of as acceptable, and now we know that it was wrong. One day we will look back and say, “How could they deny gays the right to marry?” Not allowing a couple to marry because of race or religion or sexual preference is textbook discrimination. But if you can overlook the discrimination, which most people can, you still can’t be blind to what marriage in the US has become. At a 56 percent failure rate, the heterosexual divorce numbers in this country are appalling, but our president isn’t defending marriage from that. To see just how sacred marriage has become, travel to Las Vegas where you can get married and divorced in-between meals, or talk to one of the many men who have had more wives than shoes. I wouldn’t classify something that can be reversed with a cheap lawyer or expensive paperwork as sacred. It’s sad that one of every two straight marriages will end in the courtroom, but I doubt if gay marriages would suffer the same fate. Of all the gay
couples I’ve seen and known they are years of Separation of Church and State. genuinely in love, not concerned with Anything slightly religious, like the Ten money or looks. Just love. Commandments, is questioned and taken But the bibles definition of love to court. Some activist judges have allowed is very different than yours and mine. the commandments in public but many “Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with have not. womankind: it Gays should is abomination. not be denied ‘ Leviticus 18: the sacred 22”. Leviticus institution that We must do what is legally also says that straight people necessary to defend the sancit is ok to own are throwing slaves as long away. The tity of marriage. as they aren’t marriage of two from your men or woman country, priests will do nothing aren’t allowed to undermine to shave and you can’t wear clothes made the sanctity of marriage; it couldn’t get of two types of cloth. The claim that gay much lower. The marriage of one gay marriage isn’t morally right is one of the couple won’t have any impact on any most hypocritical things I’ve ever heard. other couple or individual, gay or straight. The Catholic Church has already paid The underlying truth to the attack of gay over 600 million dollars in legal fees and marriage is that the majority of people are settlements for molestation charges. There trying to deny a minority of people, “… the are openly gay Priests and Bishops, not to most enduring human institution, honored mention hundreds of documented deaths and encouraged in all cultures and by every of male clergy who died from sexually religious faith”. transmitted AIDS. The Catholic Church is the last institution that can attack gays and gay marriage. Saying that it goes against the bible and should therefore be outlawed would undo hundreds of
Letter to the editor
A message from the SRO officers
The following represent some issues and concerns the school police have about the senior parking lot and the parking rules in general: 1.Recently, there has been an increase in the number of students driving to school. Obviously this places a considerable strain on a parking lot that is already of insufficient size to accommodate everyone. 2. There is a misconception among some members of the senior class that the leading cause of the shortage of parking spaces is due in large part to a great many juniors who are parking in the senior lot. This simply is not the case. While we ( school police) do readily acknowledge the fact that on any given school day there are a few violating juniors and some underclassman, but to seniors as well. Some seniors, unable to find a parking space and faced with the prospect of having to park and walk what they consider to be an intolerable distance, are compounding the problem by parking in a manner or in areas that
are clearly not permissible. End result? The offending junior gets a ticket for the obvious, while the displaced and disgruntled senior receives one of his or her own for parking, for example, in the staff or visitor area. This cycle seems never-ending and certainly is not the solution to the problem at hand. 3. As the number of students who drive to school has risen, so too have the number of citations (tickets) issued by the school police. Hundreds of tickets would indicate that enforcement is failing to deter would be offenders. And this does not apply only to juniors and some underclassman, but to seniors as well. Some seniors, unable to find a parking space and faced with the prospect of having to park and walk what they consider to be an intolerable distance, are compounding the problems by parking in a manner or in areas that clearly are not permissible. End result? The offending junior gets a ticket for the obvious, while the displaced and disgruntled senior or visitor area. This cycle seems never-ending and certainly is not the
solution to the problem at hand. 4. There have been several recent episodes of vehicles being tampered with in the senior lot. It is evident by the nature of these acts that those responsible have made it their personal crusade to identify and rid the lot of perceived unauthorized vehicles. Here are a couple of reasons why this a bad idea: I.The targeted car, even without a permit, may have a valid reason and permission to be parked in the lot. This occurs far more often than most think. II.The perpitrator of what is believed to be a harmless prank may unknowingly be committing a crime, not merely punishable by suspension from school but also by arrest. Holders of parking permits are reminded that they have contractual obligation with SME High School to unconditionally obey all parking lot rules and regulations. If anyone has forgotten or is otherwise uncertain about any provisions of the rules and regulations, copies are available for review in the main office or on the bulletin board outside the campus police office.
--George Bush
Agree? Disagree? The Harbinger welcomes reader letters Send them to Alex Abnos, Editor-in-Chief, in Room 521 or e-mail them to us at smeharbie@hotmail.com Letters must be signed and may be edited for length and clarity. Please provide any contact information with your letter. Publishing of letters is up for the editor’s discretion.
7 Editorial
THE HARBINGER
issues: World Staff editorial
students should question, follow
Listening to students discuss current events in history and government classes, a popular phrase is thrown out among students, “ this doesn’t affect me, so I don’t care.” Often times youth, including students at East, mistakenly believe that politics and world events have little to no impact on daily life in Kansas, specifically Johnson County. But these students need to wake up and realize that every decision made by the government can change not only our current existence but our future as well. Staying involved is the easiest way to remain up to date in the world of politics. This may seem like a daunting task, especially when it is juggled with school, family and social life. However, there are easy ways for even the busiest of students to give their time. Should a student have a rather large amount of time on their hands,
Editorial cartoon
or should a student be interested in learning the benefits of democracy. Our country was built on the principle the inner workings of a campaign, the people appoint Editorial Board Vote that the leaders. Should you candidates are decide that voting is not always looking for young people to worth your time, then you Votes For: have no right to question help work on their elections. This can the decisions made by government officials. give you invaluable Votes Against: Voting literally takes about experience within the political arena, five seconds of your time, There are eleven members on but the impact your vote and a deeper the Editorial Board. For this has lasts forever. understanding of issue, zero members abstained how politics work It is imperative that one and three members were not be able to openly embrace within your country, present. state, or community. the ideas of others, and It is more effective be able to defend their own ideas. Discussing however, to simply politics with friends, parents and teachers use your vote and use it wisely. is another way to spread your political To not use your vote is to throw away
8
•
0
What do you know?
Annie Harrigan
Ask yourself these four questions to see how much you know about issues affecting the world today:
1.
What is the name of the person
who refuses to testify before the 9-11 commission?
2. 3.
harbinger staff Editor-in-Chief
Photo Editor
Ads/Business Manager
Alex Abnos
Tierney Weed
Joanna Cross
Assistant Editors
Editorial Section Editor Asst. Ads/Business
Libby Nelson Dianne Smith
Opinion Section Editor
Copy Editors
A&E Section Editor
Carson Black Corban Goble Stephen McKim
Sports Section Editor
Barrett Emke Gordon Culver
Special Section Editor Amanda Allison
Which three states are giving gay marriage liscenses?
4.
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viewpoint and discover the viewpoints of others. And finally there is the easiest way of all to embed yourself in the world of politics: read a newspaper. Reading a national paper, or you local paper will keep you up to date on everything that is going on within our political system. By ignoring the world around you, you are essentially ignoring your future. Too assume that problems will simply go away should you not devote attention to them is foolhardy. Listening to political issues, and questioning your own thoughts will provide you with a plethora of knowledge and insight. But perhaps more importantly it will set into motion you future, and allow you to remain connected to your community and country.
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“Payless has really good shoes that are exactly like the exercise ones.”
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Johnson
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Rebecca Rodriguez
“I look at expensive stores and see what what is in style and then find the same look inexpensively.”
EAT FRESH. RAISE FUNDS! The SM East girls softball team is joining together with Baja Fresh to raises funds for the team! When you eat at the
Ward Parkway Mall location of Baja Fresh
Baja Fresh will donate 15% of the proceeds to the softball team!
date:
Monday, April 26
time:
4-9 p.m.
where:
Baja Fresh
at Ward Parkway Mall
9 features
THE HARBINGER
142 141
143
Sleep-deprived students often find themselves
WIDE Corban Goble
144
KE
AWA
Don’t nod off!
Are you suffering from any of these disorders?
Sleep. We do it for almost 40% of our lives, and for some of us, that’s not quite enough. Usually our lack of sleep is a behavioral choice— one we make ourselves. Sometimes, however, the way we sleep can be the result of a specific medical problem. Dr. Michael Anderson, PhD, father of sophomore Erik Anderson, is a specialist in the field of neurophysiology. He works in a sleep lab regularly, administering tests to people of all ages. “The biological disorders increase as we get older. Younger people have more behavioral disorders,” Anderson said. The prescribed amount of sleep for the average person is about 8-9 hours per night. Adolescents, in particular, often need 9 or more hours to fully avoid the small (but oh so large) symptoms of fatigue and irritability. “If you just look at East, you know that is not the case,” Anderson said, speaking on the notion that all teens achieve nine hours a night. Very common among teenagers is about 5-7 hours of sleep per night during the week. So then on the weekend, they tend to crash and catch up on their lost sleep, procuring as much as 12 hours a day. When Sunday night rolls around, with the great weight of the week’s sleeping done over the
past two days, they come to an interesting revelation: they aren’t tired. This is called “delayed sleep phase syndrome,” and it is fairly rampant among teens. This is not a particular syndrome that needs medicine, just behavioral change. There are a number of disorders, however, that do require medical attention. These disorders are called “primary” disorders, and they can be either psychological, behavioral, or medical. Some examples of primary disorders include sleep apnea, insomnia, and narcolepsy, but the one that affects teens most is insomnia. How you deal with stressful situations in life may affect this particular disorder. What it entails is either having trouble falling asleep, or the inability to stay asleep. When someone carries on a stressful life packed with activities, the more likely one is to develop this primary disorder. No matter what the particular case is, sleep disorders can certainly be life threatening, even if they are simply behavioral. Several studies have revealed that alcohol’s affect is multiplied when you are sleep-deprived. Even a few drinks can have the effect of several more. However, sleep loss has similar symptoms as drunk driving, and sometimes results in disaster. “When you look in the newspaper, you often see one-car accidents at 2 in the morning. Often people think they were drunk, but they probably just fell asleep at the wheel,” Anderson said. Also, when one is sleep-deprived, the effectiveness of the immune system may be severely weakened, to the point where colds and other small sicknesses can compound and make you feel pretty terrible. “The prevailing ethos is that it is macho to brag about your (lack of sleep),” says Anderson, a serious misstep some people, although the minority, make. But what it boils down to is how you deal with stress and lack of sleep may affect whether you will have sleeping disorders.
Insomnia- Diffi-
culty falling asleep
The majority -a of the sleep issues disorder of that teens have breathing during are behavioral. They consciously sleep (apnea literdecide on the amount of sleep ally meaning “no they will get, a breath”) decision that should change before severe consequences occur. - conAlthough the typical teenager does not dition where subject suffer from a medical sleep disorder, such can fall asleep at any as sleep apnea, time, or lose muscle they can still suffer through the minor control side effects of drowsiness, loss of energy, and inattentiveness. With a little change, you may information courtesy of be able to achieve your dreams. Literally. Information courtesy of SleepNet.com and Dr. Michael Anderson, PhD
Sleep Apnea
Narcolepsy
Art by Annie Harrigan
features
10
TH
a mother’s care
L
When Rebecca Rodruigez’s mother died, she lost the counsel, her listening ears, and her best friend.
Alex Abnos The smell of rice, steak, and chicken lingers in the air f junior Rebecca Rodriguez’s home. The chicken sizzles on the pan while Rebecca’s sister, 22 year-old Diana Rodriguez, moves across the kitchen, while Rebecca mixes the red Kool-Aid behind her. Diana starts putting the rice on plates and Rebecca moves to the staircase. “Danny! Time for Dinner!” Silence. “Danny! Are you there?” Just as Rebecca starts up the stairs to get him, her brother Danny, 12, nonchalantly comes down the stairs and sits at the table. “You have to respond when I call you!” Rebecca says, like a worried parent. “Don’t hesitate to ask for more” Diana says, serving the green beans. It’s like she is the mother of the house. Because she is. She has to be. Their mother died 5 months ago. Rosemary Rodriguez, mother of five children including Rebecca, went in to the hospital in September of 2002 for what was supposed to be a normal procedure for a bladder infection. Though at least 50 members of her family were at the hospital for the surgery, Rebecca didn’t go. She had school that day, and it wasn’t supposed to be anything major. But when Rebecca did arrive at the hospital, she immediately noticed something was wrong. “I walked in right after the doctor left,” she said, “And everyone was crying and looking distraught, and I just kept asking ‘what was wrong?’ ‘what was wrong?’” But all the members of her family kept silent that day. They were trying to protect her. But eventually, she learned. Her mother had colon cancer. Rebecca broke down, physically falling to the floor after hearing the news that she never expected to hear. Diana picked her up, and though Rebecca was pulling her down, very tense, Diana comforted her. “Rebecca, I know that it is hard when you cant see something to believe in it, but you can see me, you believe me. I’m begging you right now to believe that everything is going to be OK. Even if you can’t feel God, you can feel me. I’m your sister. This wouldn’t happen for no reason.” Rebecca’s body relaxed. “OK,” She said. “OK.” Rebecca went back to school the following day, but it seemed nothing was the same. “Everything just kind of floated by. It was like, I could see it, but I wasn’t mentally there at all. All I could think about was my mother, but I knew that me just being there at the hospital wouldn’t have done anything, and she wanted me to be at school anyways.” Rosemary was in the hospital for several weeks after the surgery, but after getting out, for a while, it was like nothing was wrong at all. Rebecca’s mother was moving about the house, laughing, and being the person she
always was. This lasted almost the full year. But in a week, that all changed. “About a week before she actually passed, she was bedridden,” Rebecca said. “It’s a part of cancer that usually goes on for much longer, but for her, it was like she was holding on for so long, that in the end, she just went really fast.” Rosemary Rodriguez died on October 22nd, 2003, almost a year after the original diagnosis. For Rebecca, school the next day was less of a blur, and more of a relief. “The first day I went back it was almost like a breath of fresh air, because I had been up in the house for so long,” she said. “It was almost an escape, but then it got more and more stressful.” For most of the time her mother was sick, Rebecca’s motivation for school was to ease the stress on her mother. “School almost seemed pointless for a short period of time,” she said. “I wanted to get good grades for my mom, and after she passed away, it was almost like I had no motivation anymore.” However, her various supports were instrumental in getting her through the tough times. Her drill team, after hearing the news threw a huge surprise party for her at Winstead’s “I came as a total surprise, I didn’t expect anything like that,” She said. “ They had all of these presents that I thought were going to be distributed to everybody else, but they handed them all to me, and I never saw it coming” Her dance studio, Louis and Company, was almost as surprised to see her show up at practice the Saturday after her mother’s death. For Rebecca, however, it made sense. “ It was a good way to keep my mind off of things, dance kind of acted as an escape for me. It was good to just kind of forget about it for a while,” she said. Rebecca also found support and comfort in the simplest of places: within her own family. Diana, her sister, from the moment they talked in the hospital, became her one of her strongest supports, first emotionally, and now, physically. In the wake of her mother’s death, the weight of taking control of the house fell squarely on Diana’s shoulders. Raymond and Jenny, her eldest two siblings, had lives of their own out of town. Now, in addition to her normal routine of school (Johnson County Community College) and work, Diana has to pay the bills, do the laundry, shopping, and cooking every single night. She had never done any of these things before. The transition, however, went smoother than expected. “I guess, when it comes down to it, you just do it,” Diana said. “ You don’t have time to think about it. I think the transition was smooth for me because I had all the memories of how my mother did everything. Even when you don’t realize it, you are observing how your parents function, and I just used that, and things have worked out” For now, though, Diana, Rebecca, and Danny eat dinner in a house which is a constant reminder of their mother. Paintings Rosemary did fill the walls, and pictures of her fill the photo albums. As Rebecca looks over them, the smile never leaves her face. photo courtesy of Rebecca Rodruigez
Students cope w a mother, a father
a father
“Miss me, talk about Lindsey Melvin about it and mov
Senior Laura Wilkerson wears a silver bracelet every day. It’s not just any bracelet— it was given to her by the SHARE and SADD execs when her dad passed away. The inscription on it says “love” so every time Laura looks at it she’ll remember how much they love her. That bracelet, along with the cards and letters she’s received, help Laura deal with her grief and remember that she has the support of many friends. Laura’s father, Bill Wilkerson, passed away Feb. 7 from a heart attack. After he died, they found out he had Advanced Coronary Artery Disease; one of his arteries was clogged. His death was completely unexpected, and the family is handling the loss day by day. “Everyone says I’ve been really strong and really good,” Laura said. The night her dad died friends surrounded her. She would cry and then laugh with them and then cry some more. For the first full week she had friends sleep with her at night so when she woke up crying she would have someone to talk to. The hardest part was waking up at three in the morning and realizing what had happened in her life, realizing the next day would be hard. She says she is still in denial. Her brother, freshman Grant Wilkerson, tries not to think
the
been easy. He re laughed after his a few friends the talking about the “It hurt. The t of my mind that with him about h Grant and his a “basketball rel biggest motivato was greatly affec wore black armb him for the rest o do something m to Coach Hair. Sh Wilkerson Passi which awards a passion and goo presented on Ma banquet. There w the front display Wilkerson and th Grant has als his friends and c that people actin gets old—people making meals, s like when they d “It’s nice whe person who died
grieving
process
a boy’s music
HE HARBINGER
r’s love
t me, but live your life”
ve on, but it certainly hasn’t emembers the first time he s dad’s death. He was with e day after and they were e funny things he did. thought was still in the back he’s not there. We can’t laugh him,” Grant said. s dad had what Laura calls lationship.” His dad was his or. Grant’s basketball team cted by the loss; the team bands in remembrance of of the year. Laura wanted to more for her dad, and talked he came up with the Bill ion and Dedication Award, player on each level for their od attitude. The awards were arch 23rd at the basketball will be a plaque placed in y case as a memorial of Bill he winners of the award. so gotten a lot of support from coaches. However, he feels ng differently towards him e constantly saying sorry, saying they know what it’s don’t. en people who know the d say they’ll miss them also, but I don’t like people I
s
don’t know telling me how sorry they are or people that haven’t been nice to me in the past saying they’re there for me,” Grant said. Laura and Grant both appreciate personal stories of people who really do know what it’s like and can relate to them. And they always like to hear that people are thinking of them. “Everyone else’s lives get to go on. It’s nice to know people remember that we’re still struggling and will be for a long time,” Laura said. Laura feels so lucky to be loved by people. It lessens the pain and makes her happy that people want to be around. And the family is happy that they have one another during this tender time. They realize how important they are to each other. “Grant and I tell each other we love each other every day. Now, I like going to family dinner. We hug each other a lot,” Laura said. Their dad was well known and well liked and, according to Laura, he was a very happy man. “If he could come back he would say, ‘Miss me, talk about me, but live your life and have just as good of a life as you would have if I was here.’ He would have wanted me to have fun and keep doing my activities,” Laura said. “He would not have wanted anyone to feel sorry for him. He would want everyone to keep having a good time. That’s what I
Shock: The initial reaction to death.
Shock may include denial or disbelief; it fades as time passes and death becomes more real.
IT DIDN’T SEEM REAL.RICHIE DEAD? SophomoreLane Garner was in denial when he was interrupted by a phone call saying his band mate had died in a fight. It wasn’t until he went to the emergency room and saw the victim’s father shaking and crying, “They stabbed him!” in a loud Italian accent that denial became reality. “No more music. No more friendship. No more Richie,” he thought. On the evening of February 6 Richie Restivo, a former Rockhurst student and leader of the popular local ska band the Uprights, was fatally stabbed to death in the parking lot at Rockhurst High School. According to witnesses, Restivo was trying to end a quarrel over an accusation that a girlfriend received drugs from one of his friends. Officials accused Center High sophomore Eric Givens of the crime and have put him into custody on a $550,000 bond. He is awaiting his official arraignment on April 12 when he will be officially charged of second-degree murder and armed criminal action. Both Garner and sophomore Libby Zanders, a friend of Richie’s, agree that Richie’s murder is harder to cope with than other deaths due to natural
Anger: Anger comes after the acceptance of the reality of the death. The anger is directed at the unfairness of death or at the fact that it happened.
When Richie Resitvo was killed, the music was put on hold causes, such as the death of former East student and friend Jake Shepard. “Jake, he died from cancer,” Zanders said. “Preparation could have been done. It was tragic and sad. But when Richie died, it was completely unexpected. Then all the feelings of anger came along with it. It was shocking because it
was murder.” Along with dealing with the gruesome death, the two have to deal with the feelings of losing a close friend. Zanders misses Richie’s personality. She regularly saw him at the same concerts and hung out with him and his friends. “I think about Richie when someone says something that he wouldn’t agree with or didn’t like or how he made everything fun,” she said. “He felt about things
with such passion. He always gave you a huge hug…always was very respectful…always listened to everyone. He’s just not there anymore.” Garner misses the music. “There’s so much music now that won’t be played,” he said. On Valentine’s Day Richie’s band held a tribute concert at El Toreon, a punk rock club where he frequently performed. The songs, many of which were sung without vocals in Richie’s honor, touched friends and family. A slide show was also shown, commemorating his life “I was actually kind of angry that his band was going to play without him,” Zanders said. “[But] it forced me to cope...the concert helped a lot of other people.” For Garner, the concert was more touching and real to him than the funeral. “It was just a lot more closure in that he wasn’t there [playing with us.]” The Uprights held another tribute concert March 21 and plan on continuing to play with two more shows in late April. Using music to cope with the incident, Garner has become more accepting of Richie’s death in the past two months. “I’m trying to play a lot more,” he said. “Richie always complained about me not practicing enough.”
Offering Support
“The obvious thing is to be a listener more than an advice-giver. You don’t owe them answers – you don’t know the answers, quite frankly. It’s very healthy for the grieving people to talk. They might talk about anything.
Let them be.”
“If there is a shift towards alcohol or drugs,
safe.
make sure they are
Just nudge them, and be a true friend, and say something.”
“Tolerate them
being mellow, even if it’s not fun. It can go on for
weeks and months afterwards. loss.”
Don’t be afraid
to talk about the
Info. provided by Mike Hanson, adult and child phychologist
Bargaining:
Attempts are made to bargain with God or other natural forces/fate, usually by sacrificing something in exchange for return of the dead person.
Acceptance: Acceptance is the final
stage of grief, in which those who have experienced the loss accept it and begin to move on with their lives.
sources: Mike Hanson, University at Buffalo counseling center: The grieving process
Living with with the loss of Loss r, and a friend.
Ross Boomer
11 features
features
12
THE HARBINGER
Teaching around the WORLD Student Teacher Pam Ogle learns life lessons in South America
Pam Ogle as told to Michael Woodsmall I grew up in Overland Park and thing… and I was able to graduated from Shawnee Mission West teach them some skills High School. While I had aspirations of and tactics worthy of becoming a teacher then, I postponed their rich soccer heritage. my studies in order to pursue Christian In fact, I organized an work both in the United States and abroad. extracurricular soccer Since graduating from West, I have team and arranged traveled to nearly twenty-five different for us to compete with countries staying anywhere from two some pretty formidable weeks to three months each visit. I lived opponents. in Bogota, Colombia for three years. I have The soccer field was WORLD TRAVELER: Teaching in Latin America proves to be a big wake-up call for seen extremes of both man and nature; not always a place of student teacher Pam Ogle. Ogle lab aids for World History. from beautiful, cascading mountain sides polite nods and hand and majestic oceans to brutal murder and shakes, however. One them not only with my excellent Spanish from my love of Shakespeare and Henry children living on the streets in the worst Sunday afternoon, as I played soccer with but also with my bold move to penetrate V. I took the microphone and began to of conditions. I have swum in the Caspian my usual group of friends (of which I was their murderous rage with a cleat. My tell the students how much we appreciate Sea and climbed the Andes, Alps, and the only female), there came a new group actions bought Javier and his brother their warmth and kindness. I told them Sierra Madre. I’ve eaten guinea pig in Peru, from the university, To this day I am not enough time to slip away in a cab. While how hard it is to come so far, not knowing roasted corn in Colombia, lamb kabob sure why they came. About ten minutes I don’t remember how I “excused” myself the language and customs, and yet what in Azerbaijan, and authentic tamales in into the game, a fight broke out amongst from this violent group, I do know that we a gracious reception we had received in Mexico. Of all the places I have been, my the visitors. The next thing I knew one of didn’t return to play soccer for six weeks. their country. Still they are belligerent, favorite place to be remains the classroom, the guys, Javier, a brother of one of the My students were shocked by but less so, and some are not listening and bar none. regulars, was on the ground getting the my actions and always little more poking at their friends to quiet down. The As adventurous as my first year of very life kicked out of him by six others contemplative the next time they other teachers in the crowd looked sad teaching was, it was only a shadow of who were surrounding him. I had never considered crossing me. Nevertheless, and embarrassed by the behavior of their the adventures to come in the years that seen anything like it. I begged my friends only a few weeks later I had to break up students, yet powerless to control them. I followed. The three years I spent in Bogota, to intervene but they told my they could a fight between two of the senior boys. continued. I proceeded to invite them all Colombia offered me a new world enriched not because of the threat of retaliation, One of them accidentally punched me in to the US. I told them they would all be with a treasure of experiences. One of the and because they saw that our visitors the mouth. Once that happened, the fight welcome. At this point they are listening. first things I learned was that lines are not had guns and knives. All we could do was was over. I think they had that sick feeling Then, I dropped the “bomb.” generally done, respected, or appreciated. watch in horror as Javier lay helpless on you get when you know you’re really in Assuming they would one day come I quickly learned that if trouble. to the US, I told them that I hoped we would I was going to get home Colombia is not the only place have the opportunity to receive them with I have swum in the Caspian Sea with some milk, I had I found myself in a somewhat the same kindness and graciousness with to forget my notion of a and climbed the Andes, Alps, and compromising situation. In June of which they have received us. I continued line, shove my way up to 2001 I prepared a group of students to say that we hoped to make them feel as the cashier, and slap my Sierra Madre... of all the places I and soccer players to compete in welcomed and honored as we felt in their money on the counter. have been, my favorite place to be some cross cultural games and share school. At this point, you could have heard This behavior was neither faith and experiences in Hungary a pin drop…outside…in the presence of rude nor disrespectful. It remains the classroom, bar none. and Slovakia. Again, in soccer we approximately 200 students and faculty. was expected, and it got were outmatched and outplayed at The beauty of the situation is that they me my milk. The issue every stop. However, at one school in responded to my not so veiled challenge of line, however, was a particular our reception was less than and even started cheering for my team. the ground. I, however, could not stand by hard habit to break. Hard cordial. Until then, our hosts had been By the time we left, kids were exchanging and do nothing. I noticed that in attempting as it was to break, however, didn’t even to escape their brutal blows, Javier had wonderfully receptive, kind, and gracious. e-mails and planning to meet up later in compare to how hard it was to teach. This group of students would challenge the week. As boy’s PE instructor, I had the lost one of his cleats. In a moment of every ounce of diplomacy I possessed. As Kids everywhere just want to wonderful job of instructing them in the sheer genius or sheer madness, I retrieved we played our hearts out, and continued be respected. They want to be loved Javier’s cleat, walked right through the skills and tactics of soccer. For any of to lose, somewhat respectably, we say the unconditionally. If there is one thin I have you who know soccer, it is an interesting circle of brutes still kicking and beating crowd of host students becoming more learned in my teaching experiences both predicament to be a US soccer instructor him and said, “Javier, here is your cleat. I and more unfriendly and discourteous. in the US and abroad, it is that you have in Latin America. It was all the more found it and knew you would want it. They Then it came time for the kids to to earn the right to speak into a kid’s life. are nice cleats.” I helped him to his feet. As interesting when I attempted to line my share some experiences in life and in Once you do that, they’ll learn anything boys up for a few drills on fundamentals. I did so, my eyes were drawn to his crooked faith and the crowd became completely from you! Goethe said it best when he nose, his shirt drenched in blood, and his First of all, lines were completely foreign belligerent. Our translator was shocked observed, “Everywhere, we learn only to them. Secondly, it is a humbling task eyes filled with fear and pain. Suddenly, and amazed, not to mention embarrassed from those whom we love.” to teach fundamentals to boys whose I began to yell at those who had beaten by their behavior. I hardly knew what to soccer heritage is as rich as any in the him calling them a number of names like do. Then a clever thought occurred to me world. Still, we did finally get past the line barbarians and cowards. I think I shocked
13
THE HARBINGER YOU DON’T WANNA MESS WITH THIS GUY: The Rock in ‘Walking Tall’
a&e
Walk away from ‘Tall’ ‘Walking Tall’ is short but not sweet Movie Review
Evan Favreau Joe Don Baker’s 1973 ‘Walking Tall’
Evan Favreau The Rock wants to be an action star. He wants to fill the shoes left by the governor of California. He wants to succeed in films that entertain with fighting and stories. His role in The Rundown helped propel him forward. However, Walking Tall just holds him back. Walking Tall is a remake of a 1973 film starring Joe Don Baker, a movie that was itself based on the life of Buford Pusser. In this version, The Rock plays Chris Vaughn, who returns to his now corrupt hometown which now features a new casino. He promptly gets into a fight where he is almost killed. After recovering and throwing a tantrum with a big stick, he decides to run for sheriff so he can fix the town. It’s obvious that the actors knew what acting was required for this kind of movie, and that’s all that they gave. The Rock smiles and frowns when necessary, or laughs when it fits. Unfortunately for him this movie will only act as a stepping stone on his way to action stardom, nothing more. Along for the ride is Ray Templeton, played by Johnny Knoxville. He is supposed to be the comic relief, but most of the jokes coming from Ray aren’t funny and sometimes interfere with everything else. The biggest problem with this film is the length and pacing. The total runtime comes to about 70 minutes, making it one of the shortest movies I’ve ever seen. Maybe this measly number would be all right with proper pacing, but that’s not ever there. The
Joe Don Baker stars as Buford Pusser, a man determined to clean up his hometown by beating up a lot of bad guys with a big stick. When compared to the new remake, this film easily stands on top of the other. There is a story here that is told well enough, including a somewhat surprise ending that actually had some emotion. There is also a subplot about racism that surprisingly works, with the setting being 1973 Tennessee instead of 2004 Washington state. Sure, there are cheesy fights and horrible music, but you’ll probably find yourself enjoying nonetheless. movie spends way too much time setting up the situation and not enough on the resolution. In the beginning, we watch twenty minutes of Chris walking around wide-eyed and surprised when all we needed was a few examples. In contrast, the resolution feels rushed, especially compared with the original. A two-minute montage should never replace storytelling. There are two good things present in this movie. No matter how you look at it, seeing The Rock beat up bad guys with a cedar log is pretty cool. Unfortunately this is only during one fight. In the original, Joe Don Baker carried that thing around like it was his life support. One other positive thing is the camera angles by director Kevin Bray feel fresh compared to other action movies. It’s too bad that he didn’t apply new ideas to other aspects of the movie. In the end, this film could have been good. It could have surpassed the first film if they had taken their time. But the fact of the matter is that they didn’t, resulting in a film that feels rushed and a failed opportunity for The Rock to fully break into a star.
Movie Review
First ‘Lady’
Tom Hanks is delightful in the Coens’ ‘The Ladykillers’
Ian McFarland
Film fanboys fear not– The Coen brothers’ remake of the classic comedy The Ladykillers isn’t a slap in the face to the original, and furthermore, it’s actually pretty good. The Coens made a wise decision in relocating the setting and revamping most of the characters in the Movie from the 1955 classic with Sir Alec Guinness (best known for his role as Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Star Wars trilogy). The quirks, cinematography and acting of Guinness could not be matched-- it would be cinematic suicide. Instead of making the movie a precise remake of the original, the Coens reinvent the movie giving us quirkier and even more demented characters than the original. The greatest example is Professor Goldthwait Higginson Dorr, the ringleader of the gang, now played by Tom Hanks. This character, played excellently by Hanks, is a conniving professor of the Latin and Greek languages with a plan to steal $1.6 million from the riverboat casino. Hanks complicates the professor’s southern dialect so extensively that a scene is made funny merely by his voice inflections, and even more so by his half-snort/half-
asthma attack laugh. But Hanks gets plenty of help from his costars. J.K. Simmons plays Garth Pancake, an explosives expert with Irritable Bowel Syndrome and an unparalleled love for his amour, Mountain Girl. And you can’t help but fall in love with Irma P. Hall as Marva Munson, the god-fearing widower with a devotion to Bob Jones University. As can be expected with any Coen movie, the comedy is sharp and practically defines the word ‘witty.’ The humor might be a bit too dark for some, but the frantic laughter heard the theater was a sign that most wouldn’t be offended. The movie is doused with gospel music placed by TBone Burnett– the same guy who put together the awardwinning soundtrack for the Coens’ O Brother Where Art Thou? Ladykilllers’ score isn’t quite as delightful as the one from Brother, but it fits in perfectly with the silly subject matter. The Ladykillers is not a great movie and doesn’t even compare to the Coens’ best, Raising Arizona. But Hanks is just the just the right actor in Hollywood to understand the Coens’ twisted genius, and in the end he’s the one that makes the film.
THE PERFECT CRIME: Tom Hanks plays the leader of an elaborate scheme in ‘The Ladykillers’
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Lies, spies and
fries
TV’s best shows are easily available on DVD Evan Favreau Aqua Teen Hunger Force
Volume 1 on DVD Volume 2 availble on June 15th Episodes airing Sundays on Cartoon Network
Anything and everything will happen when a milkshake, a carton of fries, and a wad of meat join forces to fight evil. This is the basis of what is possibly the weirdest but funniest show on TV. Each episode finds them trying to save the world, or themselves, from outrageous creations. This often leads to death, dismemberment, or horrible transformations. It doesn’t really matter, though: all characters are just fine in the next episode…just don’t ask how. But no matter what happens, you will be entertained. Whether the trio is chasing down a giant robot bunny, getting rid of a vampire school bus, or trying to secretly use their neighbor’s pool, hilarity will ensue. Guaranteed.
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Alias Seasons 1 & 2 on DVD Season 3 currently airing Sundays at 8
24 Seasons 1 & 2 on DVD Season 3 currently airing Fridays at 8 on FOX
on ABC Alias is an action-drama that redefines the term “spy.” Sydney Bristow (Jennifer Garner) is a secret agent for the CIA, or so she thinks. After she tells her fiancé the taboo subject of what she does for a living he is killed. She then learns that she was working for the enemy the whole time. Only after Bristow becomes an insider for the real CIA she realizes her father is in the very same line of work. Alias contains a level of class and polish that is missing from most television shows. It contains a continuious plot line, top-notch directing, and brilliant writing that rarely fails to impress.
Something to look forward to Freaks and Geeks: The Complete Series...... April 6 Friends: Season 7........................................ April 6 The Kids in the Hall: Season 1.................... April 27 Saved by the Bell: Season 3 & 4 ................ April 27 Gilmore Girls: Season 1................................ May 4 Law & Order: Season 2................................. May 4 The Osbournes: Season 2 1/2....................... May 4 Survivor: Season1....................................... May 11 The X-Files: Season 9................................... May 11
24 is easily the most original television series spawned over the past several years. The unique concept is what brings it all together: each season is one day with each episode being one hour long, all in real time. So if someone says an event will happen in three hours, it’ll happen. The series’ main character is Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland), a special agent for CTU (Counter Terrorism Unit). Season one involves an assassination plot to kill a presidential candidate and a threat against Bauer’s family. However, he and the viewers, soon learn that nothing in this series is as it seems. With all of the plot twists mixed with the real-time concept, it is impossible to watch this series and not get excited.
The Shield
Season 1 & 2 on DVD Season 3 currently airing Tuesdays at 9 on FX The gritty cop-drama The Shield doesn’t try to protect the audience: with rough language, brutal violence and touchy subject areas (it tackles pedophilia in the first episode), it delivers the most intense experience on TV. Detective Vic Mackey (Michael Chiklis) is the leader of The Strike Team in a rough Los Angeles precinct. Mackey knows no limits, something that is very evident in the first episode after his treatment of a suspect. But the surprise ending of the first episode is enough to make you question what side he’s on. It’s mainly this tug-of-war between good and bad throughout the series that brings appeal to the show, though the other characters and stories alone are worth a viewing.
Robert L. Smart Jr. ABR Senior Sales Executive Chairman’s Circle 7200 College Blvd. Overland Park, KS 66210 Office: 913-451-6660 Fax: 913-381-5029
Local Lawn Service call Carson 302-1235 or Joe 671-7215 Lawns starting @ $20
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Sign up for Yearbook! See Mr. Tate in room 520 Hauberk 2004-2005
Why is the lion dancing?
Please Recycle
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17 sports
Rucking for position
With a big front line, the rugby team is looking to run the Merit Table Jessie Fetterling
received even worse. Andrew Without pads, rugby Esselman has dislocated all means concussions, broken ten of his fingers and also his fingers and sprained knee. And at the first practice, ankles, but with your senior Josh Novorr dove into teammates depending on a play head first, causing him you, pain means nothing. to have a concussion. “The point of the game is “We took him out of the to try to be as one, not as practice, and he didn’t know an individual,” senior Chad if he had driven to practice Vick said, “If one person and kept asking me where his tries to individually shine, keys were, to the point where it brings the whole team I had to leave it was getting so down.” annoying,” Vick said. In eighth grade, Vick Because of all the injuries looked down from baseball the players learn to be practice at his brother smarter about how they and the rest of the rugby tackle and move down the team, falling in love with field. “In football, you have the game, knowing that he pads and go into tackles with would play his freshman your head, not worrying year. about your body flailing “I like rugby because it’s around, but with rugby, you not as demanding as the have to work more on your sports at school,” Vick said, skill,” Vick said. “We only have to practice The reason that some prefer twice a week since it’s a rugby to football is because of club sport.” the fast-pace style that rugby Because of the club sport is played. The possession of status, they have to play the ball can change instantly. schools from all over the One way it can change is if Midwest, traveling to Texas someone is tackled. Then and playing in tournaments a “ruck” is formed over the in places like Missouri and ALL THE WAY TO THE GROUND: Senior Paul Grindinger is tackeled with the ball in a recent person that has been tackled, Colorado. They play on photo by Tierney Weed and the person curls up into fields in Olathe because game agaist the team from center in a Merit Table Match. the fetal possession trying to East, in fact, has the only to four hours a week, Esselman has started to see the not get hurt. Both teams start pushing at each other back rugby team in the Shawnee Mission School District. difference in playing here from playing in England. “We have a pretty good team this year; we could even “The guys here just know the basic rules and their skills and forth until the ball is pulled from the ruck by one of go undefeated because we have two new players that are aren’t as high. Here, it’s more dangerous because the guys the teams by using their feet. Then whatever team gets really educated in rugby,” Vick said. tackle like they would in football. They play the person not the ball has possession and starts playing from right there. Some other ways to change possession are just by an One of the new players is senior Andrew Esselman, the ball,” Esselman said. coming from England where rugby is emphasized like With the danger of playing without pads, comes injuries. interception or if offsides is called. “Rugby is the best sport because you’re taught to be like football is here. Going from practicing three hours a day Chad Vick has gotten a broken finger before. But some have a family. We’re trying to be brothers which makes us all
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The Boys of Summer The analysis and breakdown of the KC Royals Peter Goehausen
Coming
off their best season in the last ten years, the KC Royals are looking to do better. Though the Royals lost one of their stars in Raul Ibanez, (Seattle Mariners) GM Allard Baird reload signing five high caliber players. Though the Royals made some changes, the biggest one of all will be changing the slogan from “We Believe” to “ Juntos Podemos” meaning “Together We Can.” In Spanish the word “Pena” means grief. Pitching was the main thing that caused KC manager Tony Pena grief last season. The team ranked third from last in MLB in Earned Run Average at a hair above five runs a game. This season with some new pitchers the weak link of the team last season hopes to rebuild
Starting Pitching
Southpaws Brian Anderson and Darrel May lead the Royals pitching rotation. Both of them must have at least a fifteen win seasons and must each throw over 200 innings. These two are reliable and the Royals should be able to count on them, the bigger question is the end of the rotation. To start off the season, they Royals will most likely have a four-man rotation. The last two spots will be filled by lefties Jeremy Affeldt and rookie Jimmy Gobble. Veteran Kevin Appier, suffering from injury, will most likely fill the fifth and final spot in the rotation.
Bullpen
Imagine how bad the starters did last season, the bullpen did worse. Ranking near the bottom of the league in ERA a hair below six runs a game and 30 blown saves! Though they did improve midseason with a couple new acquisitions the bullpen was very weak last season. This season to improve on the bullpen, Allard Baird went out and signed coveted reliever Scott Sullivan. Sullivan, who was a perfect 6-0 in relief appearances last season, will fill the void for another setup man. Baird also resigned his two top relievers, Jason Grimsley and Curtis “the mechanic” Leskanic. These three, the top relievers, must be able to pitch around 75 games. Also, the other younger relievers
must pitch consistent ball and keep the Royals in the game. All-Star Mike MacDougal must return to pre-All-Star form where he converted 24 out of 25 saves with a 2.5 ERA. When Mac can hold on to his control and clock his fastball in high nineties he is one of the hardest pitchers in baseball to hit (.233 opponents B.A.). If this bullpen can avoid injury and pitch consistently, they can lead the Royals back to the glory days.
New Acquisitions
Now for the aspect of the Royals that was very successful last season, the position players. After having one of the most successful offensive seasons (100 more run then 2002) in the last decade they only got stronger. Baird first went out and signed some key bench players in second basemen Tony Graffanino and catcher Kelly Stinnet who will be able to play key backup roles. Then he signed three former All-Stars in LF Matt Stairs, coming off a career year, catcher Benito Santiago, and two-time MVP Juan Gonzalez. These five will play important everyday roles in the teams success.
Infield
The infield of the Royals will be one of the better infields in the division and a key aspect for the Royals. Infield leader Joe Randa is on track to have another big offensive and defensive season this year for the Royals. He will be backed by shortstop and AL Rookie of the Year Angel Berroa, second basemen Desi Relaford, catcher Benito Santiago, and first basemen Ken Harvey/ Mike Sweeney. Berroa must avoid the well-known sophomore slump, that ’95 Royal Bob Hamelin couldn’t, and produce another big year for the Royals. Relaford, who will most likely split day-to-day duties with Tony Graffanino, must produce consistent numbers throughout the year. Catcher Benito Santiago must continue in the paths of his recent years and have another big season offensively. Santiago, one of the players noted of taking steroids, must also avoid off-field distractions. As for the final infield position, first base, Ken Harvey the likely choice for the position must also avoid the sophomore slump and have another consistent offensive season like last year. Lastly, DH/1B Mike Sweeney cannot afford to miss another
The Royals make push for postseason W h e n Corban Goble baseball analysts get together, one thing is inevitable: the excessive use of acronyms and digits. RBI, .321, OBP, OPS, 22 K’s, W’s and L’s. Over the last five years, however, the Kansas City Royals have peaked in the most undesirable of all the numbers, for twice in that span they have surpassed the 100-loss plateau. Last season, the Royals went 83-79, substantial for a franchise coming off a horrendous 2002 campaign. The Royals simply outplayed the numbers. They out-won the Texas Rangers by 12, and the Royals only spent a paltry 57 million less than them. They were the first team in recent memory to have a winning season despite giving up more runs than they scored. In spite of all this, they must adhere to a number this season if they want to reach October and the ever-elusive postseason, the Holy Grail of the organization. That number is 95.
Ninety-five wins is what it will take. Why so many? First of all, the AL Central might be the most overlooked in baseball. Yes, it does sport the league’s favorite lesson in futility (the Detroit Tigers), but there are hungry teams bidding for the crown. Minnesota, a season removed from their ALCS run, cast aside perennial All-Star A.J. Pierzynski in favor of a highly-touted, highly-popular young gun, C Joe Mauer. Also, the stud of their staff is a 25 year-old Venezuelan named Johan Santana, whose stuff is slightly nastier than those gradeschool refried beans. Chicago, who made a desperate postseason run last year, is now managed by Ozzie Guillen, an ex-ballplayer whose enthusiasm and personality is certainly Tony Peña-esque. The Cleveland Indians are loaded with young players with nothing to lose. The Central probably packs the most future superstars of any division, rising flames that could potentially burn the Royals.
54 games like he did last year due to a bad back. Sweeney is the true leader of the team and without him they didn’t enjoy as much success (.500% without, .525 with). If Berroa and Harvey avoid a slump and Sweeney stays fairly healthy this infield is posed to have a big year.
Tony Pena D.O.B.- 6-4-1957 Birthplace- Monte Cristi, D.R. MLB Debut- 9-1-1981 Career Stats B.A.- .260
HRs-107
RBIs-708
Five Time All-Star in the ‘80s. Took over Royals in Spring of 2002 and has led them to a 132-156 record. He won the 2003 AL Manager of the Year Award
Outfield
The focal point of the team this season will definitely be the outfield. With three possible All-Star candidates this outfield is one of the best in the American League. Led by 26-year-old centerfielder Carlos Beltran this outfield is on track to have a huge year. Consisting of newly acquainted Juan Gonzalez and Aaron Guiel these three will not only be exceptional in the field but will create major problems for opposing pitchers in the middle of the lienup. Major key for the outfield is for Beltran to avoid contract negotiations or trade rumors. For Gonzalez, who missed half of the season last year due to various leg imjuries cannot get re-injured. His four million dollar salary makes him the largest offseason pickup in over a decade. He must produce worthy of that four million.
Manager
Do you believe?, because manager Tony Pena sure does. Coming off AL Manager of the Year of Award the upbeat manager must continue to instill an upbeat attitude in his players. Pena was the Royals last season, without him and his confident slogan there is know way the Royals would have made a 21 game improvement. The true key to this team isn’t how well each individual plays or who’s healthy,
Starting Lineup
BA./HRs/ RBIs .287/17/73 However, the Royals 1. Angel Berroa-SS .291/16/62 bolstered their offense with 2. Joe Randa- 3B .307/26/100 the additions of two-time 3. Carlos Beltran-CF .293/16/83 MVP Juan Gonzalez, Benito 4. Mike Sweeney - 1B .294/24/70 Santiago, and a pair of 5. Juan Gonzalez-RF .266/13/64 supersubs—Matt Stairs and 6. Ken Harvey- DH .277/15/52 Tony Graffaniño. Whether 7.Aaron Guiel- LF .279/11/56 these additions will counter 8. Benito Santiago- C .254/8/59 the losses of Runelvys 9.Desi Relaford-2B Hernandez (elbow), Kyle Snyder (elbow), and Jose Lima (free agency) command in Spring Training. RHP Kevin is forthcoming. The rotation will likely Appier has began throwing in Spring be four-man until late May, most likely Training games with good control and the tandem of RHP Brian Anderson, LHP velocity, but he may not be fully recovered Jeremy Affeldt, LHP Darrell May, and LHP until sometime in May. They will ride the Jimmy Gobble (distinctly NOT my cousin— filet mignon middle of the order, though, unless he pitches well). Affeldt, a dominant on the road to 95—Beltran, Sweeney, reliever, showed signs of brilliance on Gonzalez. But for every win the Royals the mound in his starting role. When the procure, there must be a win awarded to a innings stacked up, though, he lost control Royals pitcher. Is this staff steady enough to and velocity, due to a nasty blister-creating do it, or are they are volatile as Mike Tyson nail on his index finger. That nail has been as a press conference? Today is opening day. completely removed, and showed stunning
19 sports
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To Play for a Day Annie Harrigan
“Left knee on ball!” Jim Ricker, varsity girls soccer team coach, orders. Instantly, every player is kneeling awkwardly, their soccer balls positioned under their left knees. Four feet to the left of me, a blonde girl with her hair in a poof rolls her eyes at this. “We rarely do this,” she said, laughing. “He must be trying to show you all the ‘fun’ we have at practice.” “All right. Keep dribbling!” Ricker shouts. The players stand and kick their balls, forming a jumbled circle, with Ricker in the center. “Heads up! Move quicker, ladies!” Soon, the girls hear, “Head on ball!” The girls and I launch ourselves to the ground as if participating in a bomb drill. There are scattered giggles and groans, and a head rises. “This isn’t a frickin’ circus, you know,” senior Lauren Hodgson says, with a scowl on her face.” Ricker laughs but ignores her comment. “Everybody up! Keep dribbling!” *** It was just an idea I had. Instead of always covering sports teams from the sidelines, why not attend practices and tryouts to see the team come together before the season begins? Naturally, as the originator of this idea, I was to be the first to see it realized. So on the gray-skied afternoon of March 25, I attended a girls soccer practice on the soccer fields of Mission Valley Middle School. Upon arriving, I wave hello to the small number of girls I know on both the junior varsity and varsity teams. However, I feel literally and figuratively distanced from the girls on the teams, as they begin their stretches and I am resigned to the sidelines in order to dress myself in proper soccer practice attire. I’d never worn shin guards before this practice, and the elastic straps under my feet felt strange at first, but eventually made me feel powerful and balanced. Wearing soccer cleats was new, too; the pair Ricker provided for me fit perfectly. But a uniform alone couldn’t transform me into one of the girls around me. To become one of them, I would have to have played on a number of soccer teams in order to develop the experience and talent these girls show every day at practice. When a ball control drill is announced, the girls being hopping up and down, passing their balls from right foot to left, and sharing jokes to pass the time. I accidentally boot my ball towards the sidelines, and run after it. Senior Tina
Harris sees it go astray and passes it back to me. “Thanks, Tina,” I shout. “Don’t worry about it,” she says, smiling. “That’s how we work.” *** “I wish I’d trained more.” This thought repeated in my head throughout the first half of practice. After only a few exercises, my throat felt scratched, my stomach convulsed, and sweat melted off of me. Worse, even, was that fact that while I dribbled and jogged with great difficulty, every other girl seemed to be going through the motions effortlessly. Watching them made that thought echo even louder: “I wish I’d trained more.” Yes, I was puffing and panting and thirsting for water with every step. But there was an underlying desire that had bloomed within me as soon as I laced up my cleats: I wanted to impress the team. *** After stretching and general warm-up exercises, the group of girls split into varsity and junior varsity squads. I stayed with the varsity team, since I knew the majority of the girls on the team. With the smaller group of girls, I felt even more singled out. I felt like outsider more than ever. Although these girls play fiercely together as a team, it is different when they practice as individuals. There is a PLAYING LIKE A REGULAR: Harrigan dribbles past junior definite feeling of “every woman for herself” Megan McCaddon during the March 25 practice at Mission Valley. that makes each individual player bolder. But not one of these players are out to promote From downfield, a brunette girl shouts, “Libby!” And in themselves. Their goal is one and the same: winning. one blurry moment, Libby kicked the ball, and junior KayAfter our second water break about an hour into praclin Hertel rocketed upward and headed the ball, sending it tice, six girls took the field, and three donned jerseys of to one of her teammates. The girls not participating in the bold lime-green . I asked Harris what was going to happen. drill and I murmured in admiration. I was awed. I couldn’t “Offense drills,” she replied. believe a move like that could happen without rehearsal. The two teams of three started a small scrimmage. After But each of these girls have rehearsed. From the first practicing in groups of two’s and three’s for the majority team they played on when they were six years old was of our practice, it was truly impressive to me to see these rehearsal, as was every new passing technique learned and six girls moving as one swarming, cohesive unit. Each girl every afternoon of exhausting practice since then. wore an expression of concentration, but snapped out of The varsity team’s upcoming season will be one in their collective focus at the sound of Ricker’s voice. which every player’s hard work will prove itself on the “I want to hear more communication,” he bellowed. field. Many of the varsity girls are seniors, and preparing “Make your teammates aware that you can help them.” themselves for the culmination of their high school athletic The girls re-entered their state of motion. Junior Libby careers. Dix side-stepped senior Kirsten Gradinger, who was guardI’m just glad I could sit in on one rehearsal. ing her ferociously.
photo by Jessie Fetterling
A reporter’s perspective of the varsity girls soccer team
SPORTS PANEL Our sports panel will predict how East as well as other teams will finish.
Gordon Culver
Curtis Shank
Corban Goble
Peter Goehausen
AL Central Royals
Twins
Royals
Royals
World Series Yankees
Cubs
Royals
Red Sox
BV Northwest
SM East
Olathe South
Ladie’s Swimming SM East
SM East
SM East
SM East
Boys’ Golf BV West
SM East
SM East
BV North
Okla.State
UConn
UConn
Tony Allen
Ben Gordon
Ben Gordon
Baseball SM South
NCAA Tournament Okla. State Final Four MVP Joey Graham
photo essay
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POUNDING OUT THE NOTES: Sophomore Charlie Ehler got into his version of a song originally performed by Elton John.
Talent Show We are talented. We can dance, sing, play, and entertain. We like being the
the spotlight, making people laugh, and
showing people all that we can do. We may
be shy, but we have somthing to show you, and we did, in the first ever...
Photos by Tierney Weed and Nicole Oswald
SWING TIME!: (Above) Junior Rebecca Rodriguez participated in the talent show that took place on Friday, March 26th. She and her dancing partner performed a swing dance to the sound of swing music. JAMMINâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; OUT: (Below) Junior Matt Mahoney, along wth John Panknin, Pat Ryan, and James Wetzel , show off their bands talent.
STAND UP!:(Left) Junior Daniel Hohenseeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s act consisted of stand up comedy. After walking on stage with two pies of shaving cream, he poceeded to smash both pies into his face. In the next part of his act, he had senior George Watson help zip himself into a suitcase along with the shaving cream (Above).