Issue 14 by The Harbinger

the

Issue 14 4.18.05

harbinger

a publication of Shawnee Mission East • 7500 Mission Road • Prairie

Village, KS • 66208

Parent, congressmen seek to end the use of student directories as

Recruiting TOOLS story by Gordon Culver

ix months ago, senior Adam Miller received a call from an area military recruiter who wanted to know what he was planning to do after he graduated from high school. The recruiter also wondered if he was thinking about joining the military. Miller answered that he was going to college and that he had no interest in the military. When Miller hung up the phone, he never thought about how the armed services came by his phone number, and if it was odd that they had it. To Miller, this incident may have seemed like nothing, but to East father Toby Grotz, this represents a violation of the student’s privacy and an issue of extreme concern. The military can gain access to the contact information about every student in high school because of a federal law mandating public schools to give the military that information or risk losing federal funding. “The military goes into schools and walks into the office and simply asks for the student directory,” Grotz said. “Since every student is listed, they have information about everyone in the school.” Over the past year, there has been vocal opposition to the law by Grotz and members of Congress. Congressmen Michael Honda of California and Jim McDermott of Washington have introduced a piece of legislation that would repeal the law. At the same time they are running a public awareness campaign to inform people about the section of the legislation. The specific piece of legislation that allows the military to have access to the contact information of students at all public institutes of higher learning is section 9528 of the No Child Left Behind Act. The public, according to McDermott’s office, doesn’t know about the section because it is buried on page 559 of a 670-page program.

continued on page 3 photo illustration by Kevin Grunwald

issue 14

ARMY

news

pushing into the

Why join the Army?

Army gets all student information to try and recruit them into the army continued from page 1 “We are just trying to make it so that schools would not lose federal funding if they didn’t release student’s information,” Jan Shinpoch, legislative aide to McDermott, said. The military tries to use the information in an unintrusive manner only calling people once. If the student says that they are no interested that is the end of it. If the student says that they want more information the local recruiter arranges to send them information and to meet with them. “People have to have the interest to join the military in the first place,” Staff Sergeant Starkle said. “We aren’t going to change a lot of minds with these calls; it is just letting those who are interested know that we are interested too.” But, McDermott also views this piece of legislation as an invasion of student’s privacy. His office thinks there is no reason that the military should have more access to people’s contact information than other businesses. Businesses that are looking for interns or other employees aren’t provided with lists of contact information. In their opinion, there is no reason the military is more special than other businesses. “If a student wants to talk to the military, they will contact them,” Shinpoch said. “There is no reason the military needs to be going after them.” Along with the legislation, McDermott is also sponsoring a movement to make the public aware of the level of access the military has to information. McDertmott’s office feels that since this issue has been buried deep in NCLB and that no one has any idea that it is there. They want students to be aware that the military can gain access to their information and be able to decide for themselves whether they want the military to have it. “We have been working with different groups to get the word out that the military has student’s information,” Shinpoch said. “We have been working with different

groups including a group called Punk Voter that has had stuff published in Rolling Stone and other media outlets that would reach a younger audience about this issue.” Grotz has been trying to inform students that they don’t have to have their information released to the military. He has specifically asked that his son, sophomore Michael Grotz, not be listed in the student directory because he doesn’t want the armed forces to have access to his son’s information. He has also asked the school administration to help him make this known. The school has responded by posting the districts privacy policy in multiple media outlets. “Every year, we place an article in the Sun about what information is given out in terms of the privacy policy,” associate principal Susie Ostmeyer said. “We have to do this. We also put this information in the Lancer Newsletter at least once a year.” Grotz fears the military contacting his son because he thinks that the military misrepresents itself to get more people to join. He feels that if the students have as little contact with military recruiters as possible, they are less likely to be manipulated. The military has used the information that they are given by the schools to make phone calls. According to Starkle, the recruiters contact every student that is either 17 or 18. The military avoids calling those who are under 17 as an effort to respect the fact that the students wouldn’t be eligible to be part of the military for over a year. Starkle said that in the Johnson County area about 1 percent of students enter the armed forces. This year seniors Sam Dodge and James Rosenthal will be entering the Army, and Jessica Mathews is already there, having graduated a year early. “I approached them wanting to join,” Dodge said. “I think

• Army provides 150 Active Duty job opportunities and 120 for the Army Reserve • Benefits for the Army include money to finish education or pay off a student loan • The Army encourages continuation of education and provides classes while in service • Army provides a constant salary depending on whether you’re involved in Active Duty or Army Reserve and how many years of experience you have • Army covers housing, meals, and uniforms for soldiers • Soldiers can recieve bonuses if they complete special training or take on extra responsibilities • All participants recieve medical and dental care at very little cost or free • All soldiers on Active Duty recieve 30 days vacation time during the year, sick days, weekends off, and all national holidays are recognized information courtesy of www.goarmy.com that the telephone calls they make are not very effective. I think that they are much more effective in person when you can meet face-to-face and they have something like a demonstration with a pull up bar.” The local military recruiting agency has said that even though the number of troops that are in the military right now are lower than they should be, recruiting efforts haven’t become more aggressive. They are still calling people just as frequently as they always do and continuing their policy of not badgering people. “Recruiting stays about the same even when troop numbers are down,” Starkle said. “Our goal is to contact everyone personally and if we get the number of people we need that is great. If not, we just keep trying.”

Editor-in-chief wins national journalism award Courtney Condron

As last year’s National High School Journalist of the Year gave her speech at the opening ceremonies of the Seattle Journalism Convention, Harbinger Assistant Editor Annie Fuhrman turned to Editor-in-Chief Libby Nelson. “That’s going to be you next year,” Fuhrman whispered. Nelson just laughed. She honestly never thought she had a chance to actually win National Journalist of the Year. Nelson was entered in the competition after being named Kansas High School Journalist of the Year, but would be competing for the national award against 38 other state winners. According to Harbinger adviser Dow Tate, Nelson was really just expecting an honorable mention. “The honorable mentions were alphabetical by state and they got through Illinois and then did Michigan,” Nelson said. “I wasn’t positive my chances were over, but I was pretty sure.” However, when the announcer began reading a quote from her recommendation letter from Tate in a paragraph about the winner, Nelson knew by the second sentence she had won. “It was extremely exciting,” Nelson said. “I don’t even remember the awards ceremony that well, but I think I pretty SENIOR Libby Nelson was shocked when she was much collapsed.” announced the winner of the National High School This award is the highest honor a high school journalist can Journalist of the Year award at the Seattle Journalism receive, and Nelson is the first winner from the state of Kansas Convention on April 10. photo by Kevin Grunwald since the award began in 1984. Along with the honor, Nelson receives a $5,000 scholarship. “It’s such a nice way to finish [journalism at East] up and it’s confirmation that everything I’ve done is worthwhile and

April 18, 2005

admired by people,” Nelson said. To enter the National Journalist of the Year competition, Nelson put together a 35-page portfolio including work she has completed throughout the past three years, four letters of recommendation and an essay. “She had a lot of variety [in her portfolio] and her writing was superb to any other entry I saw,” Journalist of the Year judge H.L. Hall said. “She knows when she needs to keep digging for a story, and she makes the story as good as it can be.” Nelson has put a great deal of effort into the Harbinger, staying until after 10 p.m. on deadline nights and staying after school every day. Nelson makes the decisions regarding each issue including how many pages it will be, who will design each page and on which page each story will go. That is all in addition to writing articles and designing pages herself. “She’s so balanced whether it’s writing, designing, editing or leading,” Tate said. “She just knows what it takes to make a good story.” Nelson has put these skills to use leading the 46 Harbinger staff members by editing their articles and making suggestions for their page designs. “Every time I look over at Libby in French class, she’s always editing someone else’s paper, but she still manages to get over 100 percent in French,” senior and Staff writer Ross Boomer said. Nelson is choosing between attending Northwestern, Maryland or Vanderbilt next year where she will continue to study journalism.

Sneezing Season

features

issue 14

Spring brings indoor and outdoor allergies that affect students

Allergy Facts

2 out of every 10 Americans suffer from allergies More than 50 million Americans suffer from allergies Allergies are the 6 leading cause of chronic disease Hives affect 10% to 20% of the population some time in their lives

1 3

in people will develop an allergy at some time in their life.

40% of school children have at least one allergy. Over 9 million people have hay fever.

courtesy of National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease and www.energymedic.com

Triggers

Time: pollen count is highest in the early afternoon Temperature: changes in temperature or humidity Trees: hay fever occurs when trees and plants are producing pollen Leaves: mold is stirred up in raking Clothing: pollen and mold collect in clothing hung outside to dry Stinging Insects: bees and other stings can cause reactions Grass: Mowing the lawn stirs up pollen and mold Animals: Dander caught in hair and feathers is a common allergen Flowers: symptoms are triggered by pollen that enters through the nose and mouth Courtesy of www.webmd.com

photo illustration by Mallory Toombs

��

Treatments Antihistamines- come as pills, nasal sprays and eye drops. They are available over the counter and by prescription. They can cause drowsiness. They are best at relieving sneezing and itchy eyes and throat. Decongestants- Available over the counter or as prescriptions generally come in liquid, pill, or nasal spray. These can be taken with antihistamines or alone. Immunotherapy shots- Sometimes called desentization shots, contain a small amount of allergens so as to reduce your sensitivity to these. courtesy of www.cnn.com

April 18, 2005

��

What are allergies? It is an overreaction of the immune system. If you have allergies your immune system is overly alert and reacts to certain substances differently than others. These substances are called allergens.

Symptoms Sneezing, congestion, watery and itchy eyes, runny nose, sore and scratchy throat, wheezing, chest tightness.

features

the harbinger

Mallory Toombs

hawnee Mission East parent and former KCTV5 news anchor, Anne Peterson has been working hard with Saint Luke’s Hospital to inform the community of an alternative form of CPR. The new version, called Compression Only or Call and Pump CPR, utilizes automated external defibrillator (AED), which supplies the heart with an electric shock. On January 17, the hospital introduced the program n Kansas City to a group of five Briarwood Elementary students. The researchers behind the program view it as a simpler version that could be taught in far less time. The Compression Only CPR will never replace traditional CPR with medical professional but it is a perfect alternative for students. According to Saint Luke’s Hospital Community Coordinator Colleen Lad, the mouth-to-mouth component of CPR has led to hesitance in people to perform this procedure due to the concern of transmission of germs and diseases. The elimination of the rescue breathing is possible in this new alternate CPR because people already have enough air in them to last eight to ten minutes. “The air the body needs is in the blood stream, it just needs help to be circulated throughout the body,” KU Medical Center nurse Kim Hunter said. “When you do chest compressions you are making the heart pump the blood.” Hunter was the Briarwood parent who is very important to try to prevent these factors organized the pilot program at Briarwood. because heart disease is becoming a huge factor She found that her sixth grade among teens. When 80 percent of cardiac arrest daughter, along with the other is preventable, I feel like people could spend the students were able to pick up four minutes it takes to learn Call and Pump to the skill quite quickly. potentially save a life.” “Compression Only While both the Blue Valley and Olathe School CPR is a lot simpler for Districts teach CPR to students in health anyone to learn. for Sudden Cardiac Arrest? classes, the Shawnee Mission School While typical CPR District has chosen not to. Shawnee • SCA is the malfunction of the electrical system of has lots of steps Mission insists that CPR is offered the heart, resulting in abrupt loss of normal heartbeat. to remember, in all of its high schools. With C o m p r e s s i o n • To find out if you are at risk, get an Athletic Heart both students at teachers at risk Only can be Examination performed by a Board Certified Cardiologist of cardiac arrest they fell that it taught from a with expertise in heart evaluation. is important for the subject to be short video that I • As many as 7,000 adolescents and young athletes taught; yet, there are so many other have produced,” topics in the health curriculum that between the ages of 15-34 die of SCA each year. Peterson said. CPR was removed from the required • An estimated 15-30 high school athleres will die at Saint Luke’s health class 15 to 20 years ago. an organized sporting event each year. Hospital is aiming According to district director of • Call 816-932-6220, Option 4 this program at Student Services and Athletics, Rusty to schedule an examination younger kids, showing Newman, students can learn CPR in the exactly how simple it is. • Length: 1 hour health careers class. However, East does not offer “Teens are becoming more at • Fee: $150 a health careers class and if students wish to take this risk because an increase in obesity, class they must travel to SM West which approximately ten diabetes and smoking,” Peterson said. students per year utilize this opportunity in contrast to the “When you add up all those factors they general health class in which enrollment is required by each are at an increased risk for heart disease. It

student in order to graduate. Compression Only CPR is being taught in conjunction of traditional with the use of the AED. AED’s are being placed in schools in increasing numbers irway needs to as their effectiveness be open; do is being recognized. this by tilting the According to the head and lifting the National Center for Early Defibrillation chin. the use of the AED is of utmost importance reathing needs in the occurrence to be checked. of sudden cardiac If victim is not arrest to “deliver breathing normally, a shock that will provide two rescue eliminate the erratic breaths. If the electrical activity.” chest does not rise Although the AED is very simple to with each breath, you use and has a reopen airway and voice prompts that try again. walk you through irculation the entire scenario and analyze the victim needs to be for you, being trained in checked. Signs to using it helps people feel watch for include more comfortable in actual normal breathing, situations. With teachers, coughing or students and anyone else in movement. If no the school building at risk for signs are present, cardiac risk, it is important perform chest that students know where compressions or use their school’s defibrillator is located and how to use it. AED. “Compression only CPR takes quite a bit of the fear -courtesy of American out of typical CPR,” Peterson Heart Association said. “It allows someone to do something instead of nothing.” The National Center for Early Defibrillation states that 350,000 people die annually from sudden cardiac arrest, or SCA. This is an average of 43 deaths an hour. Of those deaths, 7,000 of them occur in adolescents who are typically student athletes. Since there are few to no detectable early symptoms, these are often not preventable without urgent intervention. “We teach our children important information for the SAT and ACT but yet we cannot teach them how to save another person’s life,“ Saint Luke’s Hospital Community Coordinator McCoy said. “We are just trying to cultivate kids to be good role models and promote citizenship.”

PUSHING for safety Parent wants new, simpler form of CPR taught in schools

Are you at

Risk

April 18, 2005

The

ABCs CPR

A B

Courtney Condron Since senior Kevin Lander gets released from school after 5th hour, he assumed parking in Staff would be OK when he returned for the pep assembly. Unfortunately, the SMSD police officers didn’t agree, and gave him a $60 ticket for parking in the spirit circle. “The ticket was issued at 2:15 p.m. and I thought that was pretty ridiculous considering no teachers are going to show up then,” Lander said. Therefore, Lander decided to fight the ticket at student Traffic Court. “I didn’t think it was very fair, because if I hadn’t had a senior sticker I could’ve just been a parent that came for the assembly,” Lander said. “So I put together a three or four minute speech to give at Traffic Court.” Lander even brought evidence to prove he was telling the truth. The day he had received his ticket, he had gone to Mr. Goodcent’s for lunch, and so he brought his receipt to show that he hadn’t been parked in Staff before 2 p.m. It all paid off when Lander’s ticket was reduced from $60 to $10. “I think it’s a very efficient system,” Lander said. “It’s a good idea that they do that, or else they could just issue tickets left and right and students would have no recourse.” Parking violations are numerous at East and may not always be fair. The goal of Traffic Court is so that students have the opportunity to argue their ticket and attempt to get it reduced or waived. It takes place every two to three weeks in the library conference room. Three StuCo members judge and make the final decisions on each ticket, and Associate

features

Trouble with tickets

Traffic court allows students to argue violations

Principal Dr. Ron Mersch and SRO officer Detective Steve Taylor also attend. Each student is given a chance to explain the circumstances surrounding their ticket and why they feel it should be reduced. Results are then posted outside of the SRO office the next day. “A lot of people get ticketed because of a mistake the officer makes and are charged 60 bucks that they shouldn’t have to pay,” senior and Traffic Court judge Evan Jarrold said.

Parking violation tickets: 1st violation: $10 ticket 2nd violation: $20 ticket 3rd violation: $30 ticket 4th violation: 6 week loss of parking privileges More than four violations: lose privileges for the semester and those eligible wouldn’t be able to apply for a permit the following year.

According to Jarrold it’s “pretty funny” when people he knows come in to argue a ticket. However, he makes sure that everyone is judged fairly. “Evan is good about only reducing the ticket if it should be,” Lander said. “If the ticket is honestly questionable, it’s worth your time to go.” According to Mersch, a lot of students come in who really don’t have a good reason to argue their ticket. Also, students will come that think they have to attend Traffic Court to pay their ticket. On average there are about five people at each Traffic Court. Not everyone gets caught parking illegally, but when they do, students don’t always have valid arguments, like Lander did. Other students have no choice but to pay their ticket. “I park in the senior lot almost every day and [I’ve only received] one ticket,” sophomore Ross Simpson said. “I just think it’s stupid, because there’s like, 50 spots left every day in the senior lot.”Despite the number of tickets handed out to students, SMSD SRO officers drive this car around to give out tickets during the school day.

April 18, 2005

photos by Emily Rappold

the harbinger

OFFICER John Betzer writes a ticket for a student parked in staff parking. There is a $50 ‘boot fee’ in addition to the regular ticket cost.

police officer John Betzer is still “amazed at the number of violations.” He and the other SMSD officers ticket as often as they can, depending on what else they have to get done that day and if the weather is permitting. According to Betzer, some days they will just do a cursory check and see if they find anyone parked where they shouldn’t be, and some days they’ll go through and check every car in both lots. “It depends on how thoroughly we look, but it can vary from five to 20 tickets a day and that can equal anywhere from only $50 up to $400,” Betzer said. Tickets off-campus, including cars on Delmar, in the sophomore lot, by Harmon Park and at the YMCA are given by Taylor. While the established school policy keeps students parked on campus from being towed, students parked at YMCA can be. “If it were up to me, I think we should take a firmer stance, maybe towing after their first violation,” Betzer said. “If they pay the fine that doesn’t mean it’s OK for them to just go and do it again.” According to Betzer, there are a handful of students who continue to break the parking rules. Therefore, a policy has been formed that states that on a student’s fourth offense, that student loses their parking privileges for six weeks. After that, the student can lose their privileges for the entire semester. “We feel like dogs chasing our own tail, going in circles, because it’s the same thing day in and day out,” Betzer said. “Students act like the [senior] parking lot is half-full of sophomores and freshmen, but really it’s just a handful of students who are parking there.” However, if the officers do a full sweep of all lots the tickets begin to pile up. According to Mersch, on April 7, 30 parking tickets were handed out to students, which begins to add up to a large sum of money. All money collected from parking tickets goes into the StuCo account. StuCo then votes on what the money should be used for. According to Mersch, at any given time the account can have $2,000$5,000 in it. Parking violations continue to be a problem at East and according to Betzer, whether students get ticketed or not, parking illegally is “a lack of respect of the privileges of others.”

14 features

the harbinger

conflict

Student lobbies against attachments to Real ID Act Clare Jordan

In one week the Senate will be voting on whether or not to pass the Real ID Act, an act that most politicians see just as a means of preventing immigrants without a green card from obtaining a drivers license. Junior Kristen Crawford spent her spring break lobbying on Capital Hill. She was attempting to make politicians see that there are several amendments attached to the act that put immigrant families in danger of being broken up. The Real ID Act, among other increasing Immigration laws, are meant to protect American borders from terrorists. Many feel that in order to protect America’s borders against terrorists they must restrict political asylum. This means that a person of any race, religion, or ethnicity being persecuted in a foreign country and seeking shelter in America must have a signed document from their native country saying they are being persecuted. Often times the country’s dictator is the one that the immigrant needs to sign the document. Another main issue the Real ID Act brings up is judicial review. Any immigrant without a green card- meaning they can still have visitor visas and student visas- doesn’t have the right in the judicial process to appeal for a higher a court. With out the right to appeal for a higher court, many immigrants are deported and forced to leave their family without a chance to a fair trial. “When we went to Washington, many of the senators didn’t know this was attached, they didn’t look past the fact about the license, which they liked.” Crawford said. Next week when the Real ID Act is voted on, senators will be voting on tsunami relief in the same act, which more then likely will be passed by the majority. Voting for tsunami relief is not a part of the Real ID Act, but anything that is closely related at all can be an attachment to the act. At Capital Hill Crawford was also battling for a more simple

What is the Real ID Act?

The Real ID Act prohibits immigrants without a green card from obtaining a driver’s license. Political asylum, which lets immigrants being persecuted in a foreign country to come to America for shelter, is also restricted by requiring documents proving persecution. Often, however, the immigrants must obtain these documents from the dictators or people persecuting them.

change to immigration laws. False Claim to Citizenship is in immigration law that permanently bars illegal immigrants from America when they say at border inspection they were born in America when in actuality they were not. Originally this law was intended for detecting false documents by immigrants claiming to be American. False Claim has now become used as border control. Upon inspection, when immigrants are asked where they are from, if they answer America by mistake they can be permanently barred from the country. It is never recorded what the question was, what the answer was, and what language it was spoken in, simply they made a false claim to citizenship when in reality they could live in American but weren’t born in America. In 1996 Immigration laws changed and Senator Kennedy changed False Claim to Citizenship by taking the possibility of a waiver out. When E-mail Sam Brownback by going to http://brownback.senate. accused of False Claim to Citizenship gov/CMEmailMe.htm or contact him at before 1996 you could apply for a 11111 West 95th Suite 245 Overland Park, KS 66214 Phone: (913) 492-6378 waiver and then have a trial.

How to Contact Senator Brownback

A passion for paintball Danny Mapes

The price of paintball Entrance fee..... $15 Guns.................... $100-$1000+ Paintball case... $70 Packages including a rental gun...... $30-$48

Crawford, her family, and two of the immigrant families affected by these laws lobbied in eight different politician’s office asking to reinstate the waiver in False Claim to Citizenship which would allow an immigrant with extreme hardship and family in America the chance to get representation. “All you have to do is reinstate the waiver which would mean [immigrants] have the representation they deserve. It takes no money, it takes no change just to put the waiver back,” Crawford said. They received an email back from Immanual Cleaver’s office saying that he would be a bipartisan supporter if Brownback were to support it. Crawford learned Brownback is the one to get behind you in these issues. “Brownback seemed receptive, they would smile and nod, but you never really know because they have good poker faces.” Crawford said. It turned out that Brownback was listening to what Crawford was saying. This week his immigration representative, Riley Scott, said he would be voting against the bill. “There are a myriad of reasons why he is voting against it, political asylum, people who are feeling political persecution have a place to go. Human dignity is an important value for Brownback.” Scott said. Crawford continues to put False Claim to Citizenship packets together of the stories of immigrants it’s effecting and sending to congressmen. She hopes to get as much press as possible on the issue and make high schoolers realize that if they show congressmen its important to them then something will be done considering they are next generation of voters. “My job is to change the law, while my parents do the law aspect, I’m the one that calls senators, I’m the one that sends out information on it,” Crawford said.

He’s lived with pink stained hair for two days after being shot in the head, he’s shot a ‘smack-talking’ teenager from pointblank range until the kid cried and he’s won a shootout to give his team a tournament victory. Senior Spencer Anderson has just about experienced it all since firing his first shot out of a paintball gun. Ever since Spencer’s eighteenth birthday, when a group of friends took Spencer to Jaeger’s Paintball facility in downtown Kansas City, Missouri to introduce him to the sport, Spencer has been paintballing nonstop. After his first time, he knew he was hooked. “ For three or four months, he was going every weekend, sometimes more than once a weekend, but since then he hasn’t been able to do it as much due to the expense,” Valerie Anderson, Spencer’s mom said. Spencer has been working until 10 p.m. at the Game Stop in Roeland Park to try to finance his pricey habit. A paintball outing includes ‘Field Time’ fee. At Jaeger’s you can pay $15 to play in one of Kansas City’s oldest limetstone mine or on the scenic, grassy outdoor field. Packages including guns and paintballs at Jaegers ranging from $30 to $48. Spencer has spent around $400 on his gun which provides him with deadly accuracy. The most costly part of consistently paintballing though, is the paintballs. Cases of paintballs cost $60 for the outdoor field and $69 for the indoor field.

April 18, 2005

“We’ll probably spend $300 every weekend on paintballs and field fees,” Anderson said. Spencer usually paintballs with a group of friends who call themselves Team Kamikaze. “We got the name because we’re crazy guys. Kind of a suicide crew,” Anderson said. Whenever Team Kamikaze goes out paintballing they never really know what to expect. Varying every day, Team Kamikaze will take on anyone from first timers to professionals. On one occasion, Spencer and his team were just out practicing when they realized they were going up against a group of girls. Only after they shook heands did they realized they had just played a women’s professional paintballing team. “They beat us really bad, but we had a great time,” Anderson said. “They gave us some great tips.” Paintballing provides great physical activity because the games are fast-paced and the players have to move fast to avoid being shot. This is why Spencer’s mom supports Spencer’s paintballing. “There are pros and cons to it,” Valerie Anderson said. “I worry about it being dangerous but I trust Spencer’s judgment to be safe.” With graduation nearing, Spencer doesn’t plan on letting college slow down his paintballing. “I will definitely be playing next year,” Anderson said.

issue 14

SPARKING controversy

Sylvia Shank

features

Opinions conflict around a website that features novel outlines

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness. . . .” These are the famous words that begin Charles Dickens’s novel, A Tale of Two Cities. “This brief chapter establishes the era in which the novel takes place: England and France in 1775.” These are the words that begin www.sparknotes.com’s version of the classic story. Currently, there is controversy between students and teachers as to the benefits and problems of Sparknotes. “Sparknotes turns everything into Hamburger Helper. It kills the flavor of the novel,” English teacher David Gray said. “Sparknotes makes the reading go by faster if I don’t really like the book,” freshman Erin Smythe said. Sparknotes.com is a website created by two Harvard students in 1999 to give summaries of books commonly read in school. It summarizes the plot in each chapter and also features quizzes, quotations, and character analyses. To an English teacher, this site can seem like it ruins classic literature, but many students feel it’s a necessary tool. “I just don’t have time to read all of the books because of soccer,” freshman Maggie Blake said. “I still read some of the book, I just don’t have time to read it all.” Sophomore Claire Ryan uses it differently. She still reads all the literature, using Sparknotes only as an aid. “I use Sparknotes when I’m reviewing for a test,” Ryan said. “I look up scenes and quotes. I used it on Othello and other Shakespeare plays.” Not all students use the site for study

purposes and teachers are aware that some students use Sparknotes as a replacement for the book. “I think it’s a problem anytime that a student uses something so poorly done and is just reading the plot,” English teacher Donna Skates said. “It’s not the real literature and often students use it to get out of the work.” The work may be just the problem. When students are reading multiple books and are expected to keep up each night, the work can become overwhelming. Books such as the Odyssey or Shakespeare have heavy plots and if a person forgets to read one night, he or she is likely to fall behind quickly and may need to resort to something like Sparknotes. “If teachers gave us more time in class to read, I wouldn’t use Sparknotes as much,” Smythe said. However, for students in honors classes, literature units are faster and more challenging. “If a student cannot handle the literature and needs to use Sparknotes, then they shouldn’t be in honors,” english teacher, Debe Bramley said. Honors students, however, are not the only ones using Sparknotes. Students in regular English classes also use Sparknotes. “It’s not that I can’t read,” Blake, who is in regular English, said. “I just don’t like it. When I have access to something like Sparknotes, why not use the chapter summaries? I could always use the extra time.” These summaries sum up each chapter in a couple of paragraphs, giving the basic plot. Each summary also has a link to all

characters mentioned which tells basic information about that person. Just because students are using this site and other summarizing tools such as Cliffnotes, or extremely short versions of school literature, it does not mean that teachers are accepting it. Many are trying to resist the use of such aids. Bramley actually looks at the site before making tests so she can see the same material students are looking at. “I try to include some details on tests so people who’ve used Sparknotes aren’t able to get an A,” Bramley said. “I read the Cliffnotes and look at the site, specifically the analyses and the quiz questions.” “When I make up my tests, I use quotes and picky plot questions, so people who’ve read the literature get the credit,” Skates said. Teachers are trying to make tests where an A cannot be achieved from using Sparknotes, yet some students who use the site aren’t having trouble in class. “I have straight As right now, so obviously it’s been working out for me,” Blake, said. “I read the chapter summaries and parts of the book.” Sparknotes creates an extra challenge for teachers trying to give fair tests to students. They have to either make tests with pickier details or accept that students may use Sparknotes instead of reading the literature. So if faced with whether or not to use Sparknotes, a student’s choice may be the opposite of a teacher’s. It all depends on the use. Is it a substitution for the book, or merely an aid?

April 18, 2005

NOVEL NOTES 11% never 12% always 21% often

How often do students use sparknotes.com?

36% sometimes

20% rarely

38% use sparknotes.com instead of reading the book. 53% use it to understand the book better. 16% need it for class paper ideas. 5% use it for fun. 8% use sparknotes.com for other reasons.

of students 88% have used sparknotes.com before. survey done by 120 East English high school students

issue 14

the section about life

Mixed

B 10 L U R B S

inside outside

behindthe scenes

the ten....

Courtney Condron

Tom Defeo, Theatre

When asked about her job, the first thing cafeteria manager Lora Dollar says is that the students are the best part. Dollar arrives at East by 5:30 a.m. and is cooking Otis Spunkmeyer cookies at 6:15, which is here favorite food served in the cafeteria. At 6:45, she starts up breakfast for the earlyarrivals. The cafeteria may seem crazy for the students, but as an every day job, Dollar enjoys talking to the people and

1 Mountain Dew is the nectar of the gods! 2 Theatre is not the relection of life; life is. 3 9-11 changed my life. 4 Classic TV can be your best friend. Always respect other people. 5 Make sure the techies are not attached to 6 the batten before you fly the backdrop! 7 The 80’s were a good decade. “Spinal Tap” is a great band! Better than 8 real ones! 9 Seven kids is still not too many to have. 10 Keep my fingers away from the blade.

30thoughts second

photo by Aimee Slater

Curriculum: The goal while attending DigiPen is to gain the skills necessary to pursue a career in the world of computer technologies and computer graphics. Students gain experience in game-making along with undergoing a rigorous academic program. DigiPen is also known for its summer sessions which are open to all interested. Redford, Washington Extrcurricular activites: There are many opportunities available with Microsoft, Nintendo, and other high tech coorperations located around Seattle, which is only minutes away and accessible by public transportation. Enrollment: DigiPen has 600 students and faculty members. Admission: The school accepts 200 students for the Real-Time Interactive Simulation (R.T.I.S.) programs and 80 students for the Animation programs each September. Students must display “a strong desire to achieve, an affinity for logical thinking, and understanding of creativity, and ability to work with others.” Tuition: Tuition cost is per semester credit hour. As a rule 1 semester credit hour of academic credit corresponds exactly to 1 lecture class hour per week during a 15-week semester. For a U.S resident, total costs are around $53,130 for 154 credits, plus books, parking, etc. Contact: phone: (425) 558-0299; web: www.digipen.edu

things learned

with

Karen Rees

•WHO WOULD FIX YOUR DREAM MEAL? Emeril •WHAT WOULD YOUR AIRLINE BE CALLED? Skyway Express •MOST IMPORTANT RIGHT WE AS AMERICANS HAVE:

mixed

The right to vote. •LOU BEGGA OR CHUMBAWUMBA? Chumbawumba •WHAT IF THE HOKEY POKEY ISN’T WHAT IT’S REALLY ALL ABOUT? But it is what it’s all about.

April 18, 2005

students. “It’s funny to see the freshmen who are usually timid and shy,” Dollar said. “By the time they’re sophomores they are a little more rambunctious and then the juniors are more mellow.” In fact Dollar, who has worked at East since 1990, can usually tell just by observing a student what grade they are in. After lunch, there is always someone in the kitchen until 2:30 p.m., preparing it for the next day. Students might not spend that much time in the cafeteria, but the kitchen is bustling all day long with people like Dollar.

topgrade what’s cool

what’s hot

today

Only another four… five… SIX weeks of school left. And that’s all I can say about this topic, for I have stopped caring. About everything requires brain cells....yeah.

yesterday

I can see it now: everything laid out on my desk. Planner out, checkmarks gradually being placed besides assignments. It was so lovely. Accomplishment! Completed homework! Motivation!

lookout

Sleep until midnight. Drive-in movies; concerts under the heated stars as the summer breeze blows across your face; chilled lemonade spritzers following a day sailing in your father’s yacht (yeah, you know you will!); the lovely, superb thoughts of carelessness and contentment. SUMMER!

20 a&e

the harbinger

the

‘HUSTLE’ Ben Whitsitt Mark it down now: “Kung Fu Hustle” is one of the greatest movies of 2005. Combine “Matrix”-like action sequences with the cleverness of writer/actor/director Stephen Chow and you have a unique film, one you will want to see again and again and again. Even though Stephen Chow is pretty much unheard of in the U.S., he has made it big in China and is expanding his humorous reputation around the world. One of the coolest scenes comes after you are first introduced to the Axe Gang. They are portrayed as relentless killers with no morals or values. The next thing you know, they are gathered around dancing with their axes in a perfectly choreographed dance sequence. Not to mention, but ‘Kung Fu Hustle’ is one the music is pretty awesome too. of the greatest movies You start to learn that you can not judge anything in this movie of 2005. on first impressions, especially Opens April 22 the members of the Pig Sty Alley village people. They are the only ABOVE: Tailor (Chi people not under the corruption of the Axe Gang, led by Chi Ling) shows Brother Sum (Chan Kwok Kwan), and they fight till the very surprising strenght end to keep it that way. What seems like an old, decrepit while battling man turns into a kung fu master thrashing his way through the Axe Gang, a gang members as if he were cutting down wheat with a group of relentless scythe. killers whose Stephen Chow adds most of the humor in this movie as fights provide for the character Sing, accompanied by his sidekick (Lam Tze some of the most Chung). Most of their appeal comes from their stupidity: exciting scenes in they try so hard to become members of the Axe Gang, but the film. RIGHT: their attempts are futile and hilarious all at the same time. Brother Sum The humor can’t take away from the special effects though, (Chan Wkok Kwan) which make for some unreal scenes. A blind musician is the leader of the takes aim at the kung fu masters as he strikes the strings Axe Gang and the of his instrument sending blades towards his victims. As most central villian he gets more complex with his song, the more complex in the film. the blades are that come out from his instrument, making the special effects cooler and cooler with each pluck of the string. Right when you think that this movie has way too much killing, that you can’t take anymore you, you find yourself laughing at an old man beating the crap out of hundreds of ugly gang members with axes. It has love interest, killing, and more killing, but you can’t predict every turn the movie takes. This is a plus, except for the predictable ending. As this movie is foreign, and contains subtitles, it might discourage some audiences, but reading lines at the bottom of a screen is a small price to pay for an hour-and-a-half of exhilerating entertainment.

Kung Fu Hustle

“ ” photos copyright Sony Pictures Classics

Also try these films on DVD... Shaolin Socccer

Iron Monkey Made in

Also starring Stepehn Chow, this special effects-riddled soccer comedy has thrived on DVD.

China before “Crouching Tiger,” high flying action scenes dominate this adventure story.

April 18, 2005

The Legend of Drunked Master This martialarts movie is one of Jackie Chan’s greatest film accomplishments.

24 photo essay

the harbinger

Organic food, craft activities, and live animals are just a little bit of the fun at the annual

Earth Fair

ABOVE: Junior Molly Knight works at the lunch table outside and helps serve organic food to hungry students, children, and adults. SOPHOMORE Allison Melia helps assist a young girl hold a rat and other live animals. Children learned lots of information about the animals from Allison and other Environmental Ed students working at the fair.

SENIOR Rachel Beck decorates buttons in the spirit of the Earth Fair. Kids were able to decorate buttons and write different messages on them to give to others.

photos by Linda Howard and Emily Rappold

FRESHMAN Ruth Stark holds a bird at the Environmental Ed station. Along with the birds, there were several other animals to be played with and held, such as snakes, tarantulas, turtles, and frogs.

April 18, 2005